Musicians in the band Maud in Cahoots
ZOE
Describe what you're wearing:The jacket was my granny's – she used to wear trouser suits to work, a lot of them with oversized, mannish jackets like this. I wear it quite a lot. The red trousers are from the Salvation Army in New York and the shoes by Rupert Sanderson are from Brown Thomas – I like their shape. The hat is vintage, from a thrift store.
You obviously like thrift stores:Yes, I suppose I do, particularly in New York. There's one in Soho called Housing Works which is like an Oxfam. When I'm home in Dublin, the Oxfam shop is just down the road.
Your style credo?I think it's a mixture. When we perform I wear a lot of sequins – I have a pair of sequined shorts from Guess and a frock coat that belonged to Dan (my father) that I wear on stage. I am more of a tomboy than Maudie – it's a kind of Annie Hall look. When I was three, I had a brown, corduroy, three-piece suit that I wore all the time. And I used to wear a lot of tweed. At college, I would layer things. I have a lot of casual and dressing-up clothes and nothing in between and I suppose it reflects the way I live in New York – where day rolls into night.
How do you mix music and fashion?When we started performing I was a bit more casual, but I've now started to think through how we should look and become more creative. I wear hats quite a lot. As our music develops, certain aspects (of our dress) have to reflect the music.
Are you a shopper?No, I don't go shopping, I just browse around Soho where I live. I've only now learnt to appreciate tailoring and what suits when you have broad shoulders and long legs.
Do you do your own hair and make up?I have been dyeing my hair since I was 16. I hardly ever brush it. I curl it when damp around my fingers – that's become quite a science.
What about jewellery?I like wearing heavy rings when playing the cello, like this one, a Native American silver ring. I also have big ones in turquoise and amber. I can't wear necklaces because they hit the back of the cello. I like mixing gold and silver.
Is there a big difference between New York and Dublin style?Being in the music industry you tend to see a lot of extreme characters, especially in New York, which is maybe a couple of years ahead in terms of the mainstream. The older generation, who have gone through punk and are now in middle age, seem to be willing to take more risks in the way they dress – though I think the idea of being anonymous gives you a lot more freedom. New York is very casual.
Anything you wouldn't wear?I never wear track suit bottoms – I don't think they're flattering. For performance it always helps when you see images, videos, photographs of yourself, because you see how an outfit moves.
MAUD
Describe what you're wearing:There are a lot of little boutiques around where we live in New York and this seamless dress is by Lindsey Thornburg. It's simple but sparkly and I'm always happiest in something sparkly. I either wear something full length or very short – I never wear anything in between. I'm dressier than Zoe, but we like the contrast. Zoe doesn't care what people think, whereas I am hyper neurotic about what I wear. The shoes are from Stephen Madden, they're high platform peep-toes. I put in the little rips in the tights myself.
How does your music reflect your fashion?Our music is contemporary, instrumental pop with shades of Motown and soul. Fashion can portray a certain amount of your personality – whether it is outgoing or laid back. New York gives you the freedom to take risks both in music and fashion. Image and style in music influence fashion trends. A lot of musicians have been at the forefront in creating trends.
Fashion is obviously important to you?I love clothes and shopping and when I do have a lot of money I spend it on clothes and shoes. I love experimenting and have inherited from my mother a sense of what looks good on different shapes. I am not tall but I know how to make myself look taller and my waist smaller. I love experimenting with my hair – you rarely see me in the same style.
What about shoes?I love shoes and am a pro in high heels. I would love to design shoes and have my own fashion line. I've started to wear flats because in New York you do so much walking. I don't throw any of my shoes out and usually end up wearing my favourites – a pair of Doc Martens – or my latest buy, wine leather, knee-high boots which I got in a vintage store in Spitalfields in London.
You're a hoarder!I am a big keeper. I can't throw away clothes and my mother keeps a lot of stuff too. She rarely goes into first-hand shops, but prefers Oxfam and thrift stores such as TK Maxx. She got me a great sheepskin bolero by Nicole Farhi in TK Maxx.
Your big fashion influences?My mother, Serena, is my style icon. She used to collect Vogue and has an extraordinary eye, but I don't have her patience. My grandmother was a real glamour puss too and her dress-up stuff makes up a lot of my wardrobe. One of my most cherished pieces is an old black and silver sequined flapper top, beautifully made, that belonged to my mother – I wear it with black satin hot pants. I'm also influenced by seeing people in New York, who are more experimental.
Where do you shop?In New York I like the vintage shops. I rummage through mum's stuff and pick up things intermittently. I do TopShop and Urban Outfitters and up-and-coming young designers from whom you can still pick up things relatively cheaply. I might blow my budget on one good piece such as a dress or something glamorous for on stage.
So how do you describe your style?I like to mix old and new. I am quite feminine, but I like to mess around, mix feminine and masculine looks and contrast them. I try not to follow trends but do my own thing and stick to what looks good on me.
