THE FIRST person with whom you come into contact in the morning can set the tone for the rest of your day. We're lucky enough to get our a.m. cup of joe - and a super-friendly "Good mornin' " - from an adorably stylish server, Niamh Murphy, at the Cranberry Café. And this always-smiling Irish cutie also has a fabulous sense of style. Yes, the servers at the Cran wear a uniform of black
T-shirts and jeans, but we happen to know that Murphy doubles as a fashionista because we've bumped into her while shopping. But even if we hadn't, it's easy to spot a stylish gal, uniform and all. She regularly changes up her hair (she's a redhead right now), wears impeccably applied on-trend makeup, and always sports bold, beautiful earrings. So on a recent morning, after ordering our medium Snickerdoodle with milk and sugar, we decided to stick around and find out more.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I think it just comes together naturally. I would probably go with "hip," but I try not to wear styles that are only of the moment. For me, it's really about always being comfortable.
Q: What kind of things make you feel comfortable?
A: I love T-shirts and sexy PJs. Also, I have a lot of big, baggy hipster pants and Puma sneakers. I'm really into the Ugg boots. In the summertime, I'm a jeans and flip-flops kind of girl.
Q: What are your favorite local shopping spots?
A: I love Habit and Ku de Ta in South Boston. I can't get enough of them. You walk in and they know exactly what you want. You feel comfortable, where in other stores you walk in and they are all over you. I also love Urban Outfitters and Diesel.
Q: What are some of your wardrobe staples?
A: Jeans, T-shirts - loads and loads of T-shirts! Oh, and way too many going-out tops, and a lot of stilettos, and earrings. I'm always wearing big earrings, no matter what, in all kinds of colors. They can really touch up your outfit; especially when I'm so dressed down all of the time, they add a lot to any outfit.
Q: Do you prefer dressing up or dressing down?
A: It's 50-50. I love my comfort, but I also love to dress up to go out. But in the end, it really comes down to your accessories. They can add a lot and make you look really sexy even if you are dressed down.
Q: Who do you consider style icons?
A: I love Sienna Miller. She is unbelievable - everything she wears is just cool. Not a lot of people can pull it together like that. I also like Lindsay Lohan; her style is great. She also pulls it together really well - well, her style. I also love the '40s pin-up girl look that a lot of the celebs are wearing. The hair and makeup is great.
Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures?
A: I spend too much money on clothes. I have clothes sitting in my closet that I don't wear. I love to shop, I really do. I have four stores I love to go to over and over again. That and Chinese food at 2 a.m. It's not fashion-related, but it's true.
Q: Do you find shopping better here or in Ireland?
A: I prefer shopping over there. Clothing in European stores just fits better. I love European clothes. They're more expensive but seem to fit better and last longer.
Q: What do you miss about shopping in Ireland?
A: The smaller local boutiques in smaller towns. The stores were always right next door and still offered a better variety. I just like the shopping experience better there.
Q: What local neighborhoods do you like shopping in?
A: Aside from South Boston, I like shopping in the North End; there are so many great little small shops that are cute, rare, and quaint. It's a really nice neighborhood, and I really like walking through there. @
[Photo by Tim Gray]
