Eileen Shields
Encyclopedia
Eileen Shields is a footwear designer and owner of the EILEEN SHIELDS label and the Dublin-based store/gallery “5 Scarlet Row”. She has been a featured designer at Harvey Nichols
in London and Hong Kong, and at Brown Thomas
in Dublin and Cork.
Eileen is most noted for her "Bette" shoes being worn by Eva Longoria's character on Desperate Housewives
which had originally aired April 8, 2007. Shields has custom-made shoes for Bono
and P.J. Harvey, and counts Halle Berry, Eva Longoria, Samantha Morton, Courteney Cox Arquette, Drew Barrymore and Andie MacDowell amongst her many fans.
in Dublin with a Bachelors of Arts degree, Shields moved to New York in 1988 to begin her design career. She took classes at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
, and went to work as a show designer for Anne Klein
. Shields went on to work for Donna Karan
, and was a key player in launching and building the DKNY
footwear line, including Men's and Women's. Shields was responsible for the innovative D by DKNY line, which was nominated for "Best New Line" at the VH1
Fashion Awards.
“5 Scarlet Row” is the flagship store to showcase the entire EILEEN SHIELDS collection alongside clothes and accessories exclusive to Ireland by other prominent international designers including Eley Kishimoto, Sharon Wauchob, Collection Privée, Zero Maria Cornejo, VPL (Visible Panty Line), Irish designer Helen James and UNIS. The store is an event-driven space that features invitation-only shopping evenings with the designers and launch parties for the in-store “Gallery for One” art exhibitions.
Her collections are also sold at over 40 high-end boutiques and department stores across the US, Europe, and Asia and can be purchased through her own website. Shields is set to open a retail store in New York in 2008.
of My Bloody Valentine and Jimi Shields
, best-known for his work in Rollerskate Skinny
. Her sister, Anne Marie, had worked extensively in the music industry and has managed the tours of their brothers' respective bands.
Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols, founded in 1813, is an upmarket department store chain. Its original store is in London. Founded in 1813 as a linen shop, it sells many international brands of clothing for women and men, fashion accessories, beauty products, wine and food...
in London and Hong Kong, and at Brown Thomas
Brown Thomas
Brown Thomas & Company Limited is a chain of four Irish department stores, located in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick. Owned by Wittington Investments, Brown Thomas is an upmarket chain, akin to Canada's Holt Renfrew chain and Britain's Selfridges stores, which are also controlled by the Weston...
in Dublin and Cork.
Eileen is most noted for her "Bette" shoes being worn by Eva Longoria's character on Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
which had originally aired April 8, 2007. Shields has custom-made shoes for Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
and P.J. Harvey, and counts Halle Berry, Eva Longoria, Samantha Morton, Courteney Cox Arquette, Drew Barrymore and Andie MacDowell amongst her many fans.
Biography
Eileen is youngest of five siblings born to a mother who worked as a nurse and a food-industry executive father. The family had moved from New York to Dublin when Eileen was 2.Early career
After graduating from the National College of Art and DesignNational College of Art and Design
The National College of Art and Design is a national art and design school in Dublin, Ireland.-History:Situated on Thomas Street, the NCAD started as a private drawing school and has become a national institution educating over 1,500 day and evening students as artists, designers and art educators...
in Dublin with a Bachelors of Arts degree, Shields moved to New York in 1988 to begin her design career. She took classes at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
, and went to work as a show designer for Anne Klein
Anne Klein
Anne Klein was an American fashion designer who founded her own women's sportswear and apparel label.-Biography:Anne Klein was born as Hannah Golofski in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York on August 3, 1923...
. Shields went on to work for Donna Karan
Donna Karan
Donna Karan is an American fashion designer and the creator of the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels.-Early life:...
, and was a key player in launching and building the DKNY
DKNY
DKNY is a label of fashion designer Donna Karan. It is also the name of a clothing store in New York City featuring Donna Karan's associated line.-History:...
footwear line, including Men's and Women's. Shields was responsible for the innovative D by DKNY line, which was nominated for "Best New Line" at the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
Fashion Awards.
EILEEN SHIELDS Label
The EILEEN SHIELDS label was launched in February 2004, and she went on to open her own flagship store and gallery, “5 Scarlet Row” in the Old City district of Dublin in September 2004. The store was created in collaboration with renowned curator/gallerist Vaari Claffey.“5 Scarlet Row” is the flagship store to showcase the entire EILEEN SHIELDS collection alongside clothes and accessories exclusive to Ireland by other prominent international designers including Eley Kishimoto, Sharon Wauchob, Collection Privée, Zero Maria Cornejo, VPL (Visible Panty Line), Irish designer Helen James and UNIS. The store is an event-driven space that features invitation-only shopping evenings with the designers and launch parties for the in-store “Gallery for One” art exhibitions.
Her collections are also sold at over 40 high-end boutiques and department stores across the US, Europe, and Asia and can be purchased through her own website. Shields is set to open a retail store in New York in 2008.
Personal life
Shields is married to artist Mark Orange who helps run EILEEN SHIELDS. They have two sons named Sam and Jaime. Her brothers are musicians Kevin ShieldsKevin Shields
Kevin Patrick Shields is an American-born, Irish vocalist, guitarist, and producer of alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine....
of My Bloody Valentine and Jimi Shields
Jimi Shields
Jimi Shields was previously best known for his work with 1990s indie rock group Rollerskate Skinny. He is the co-director of TTT, thirtythreetrees, LTD in Dublin, Ireland, which is a landscape art and garden design practice...
, best-known for his work in Rollerskate Skinny
Rollerskate Skinny
Rollerskate Skinny were an Irish band that enjoyed their greatest success during the 1990s.-History:Ken Griffin, Ger Griffin and Steve Murray had been in The Hippyshakes in the 1980s. Later the band became "Shake" and was characterized by a strawberry logo...
. Her sister, Anne Marie, had worked extensively in the music industry and has managed the tours of their brothers' respective bands.