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For half a century a small Dublin shop has quietly become a national treasure. Jenny Vander, Ireland’s longest-running vintage store, marked its 50th anniversary in 2024 and remains a destination for collectors, costume designers and anyone after one-off pieces with real history.
A trove of eras and craftsmanship
Behind the unassuming frontage at 50 Drury Street sits a carefully curated collection spanning the 1920s to the 1980s. The rails contain everything from elaborately beaded Twenties flapper gowns to wasp-waisted Fifties dresses, bohemian Seventies kaftans and Eighties power-shoulder jackets.
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The shop also holds an impressive selection of costume jewellery in colour-coded cases — **Victorian jet**, **Edwardian brooches**, strings of vintage pearls and examples by sought-after makers such as Miriam Haskell. Retro bags, gloves and wraps complete the edit.
That distinct inventory has attracted both style devotees and high-profile customers. The shop has served names including Florence Welch, Debbie Harry, Naomi Campbell, Yasmin Le Bon, Kate Moss, Michael Jackson and Holly Johnson. Gail Kinsella, who runs the store, says she protects clients’ privacy and will sometimes quietly close the door for well-known visitors.
How the shop survived changing times
Gail is the custodian of Jenny Vander after taking over the business at just 20 years old from Eve Linders. The store’s origins stretch back to 1974, and its longevity has depended on persistence as much as taste.
She has navigated cycles of fashion and the sharp economic downturns that hit retail hard. The financial crash was an especially difficult era: Gail was battling cancer, had small children, and her husband Aidan was self-employed. Long-term staff support, notably from Marian Sullivan, helped the business through.
In the 1990s the couple expanded upstairs in the George’s Street Arcade with a men’s outlet, dressing local bands and touring acts. Aidan later returned to his original career, and Gail moved Jenny Vander to its current Drury Street location.
Curating, restoring and selling real vintage
Running a vintage shop involves detailed work. Gail inspects every incoming item, often repairing or altering garments herself. “Everything that comes in here goes through my hands first,” she says.
Finding high-quality stock is increasingly tricky, and true vintage presents sizing challenges because historical garments were made to smaller measurements. Gail notes that many beautiful dresses simply won’t fit modern bodies — a frustration when a piece is otherwise perfect.
The shop’s evening and cocktail gowns are popular for debs and weddings. Prices start at around €90, with most dresses averaging roughly €160. To help customers afford special pieces, Jenny Vander offers staged payment options.
From screen wardrobes to styling advice
Jenny Vander has also contributed to costume work. Several dresses from the shop were used for the Marianne character in the TV adaptation of Normal People. One coral dress remained in the shop for two years before the costume designer selected it — partly because it was very small.
Many customers arrive unsure how to incorporate vintage into a modern wardrobe. Gail and her staff, including her daughter Sally, often style clients in-store. “It’s all how you put it together,” she says, emphasising that confidence and pairing matter more than following trends.
Independent, curated and family-run
Despite the rise of resale platforms, Jenny Vander has seen steadier footfall in recent years. Gail attributes that to the shop’s curated approach and the tactile, trusted experience it offers. She admits to being protective of the business: regulars notice the care in both stock and presentation.
The shop remains family orientated. The original owner, Corey Fegan, now in her seventies, still drops in when she’s in Dublin. Gail’s daughter Sally is learning the trade and appears set to continue the store’s legacy.
Jenny Vander, 50 Drury Street, Dublin. (01-6770406)
