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'Irish grannies have a particular look': Street style portraits of older women in Dublin

Photographer Lorcan Finnegan says this is the “end of an era”.

Source: Lorcan Finnegan

PHOTOGRAPHER LORCAN Finnegan has been taking street portraits of what older Irish women are wearing for some time.

It all started a few years ago when he took a photo of two older people, and posted it on Instagram.

Irish grannies have a particular look that everybody knows but nobody really explored. I just took a pic of two older ladies and posted it, and there were loads of comments [about what they were wearing]. And I just started noticing that there is a particular style.

Source: Lorcan Finnegan

This started something. He now collects them on his Instagram - where his images have amassed more than 17,000 followers – under the hashtag #grannyfashion, and also posts them to Tumblr here.

Source: Lorcan Finnegan

This is the “end of an era” for granny fashion, says Finnegan – the last time when significant portions of an entire generation will wear clothing that is recognisably of a type.

The more I did it, the more I realised that it’s kind of the end of an era for Irish granny fashion. I can’t imagine that people of my generation are going to go to Guineys and buy floral dresses when they reach a certain age.

Source: Lorcan Finnegan

So what is granny fashion, other than floral dresses? Lorcan names some colours.

“A lot of lilacs and beiges and reds,” he says. “Really bright reds.”

Source: Lorcan Finnegan

Finnegan’s photographs have now been published in book form, as part of the Where We Are project. You can buy the book at whereweare.ie.

Source: Lorcan Finnegan

To see more #grannyfashion, or to buy the book, click here>

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Michael Freeman

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