MY STYLE

SHARON GREENEBuilding conservation consultant, festival trader and co-founder of the Dublin flea market

DESCRIBE WHAT YOU'RE WEARINGThe cardigan is from Penneys, the apron came from Tarifa in Spain, the polka-dot skirt is from Sabotage on Wicklow Street and the tulle underskirt was picked up in a market. The vest is from Mexico and I nicked the knee-socks off my sister. The red shoes are from Melbourne and the yellow necklace from St Vincent de Paul – I bought 10 necklaces that were all knotted up. The earrings are from a friend who sells vintage jewellery. The red bracelet is from Juvi. The scarf is from Bolivia and the bag from Lisbon.

YOU CERTAINLY TRAVEL A LOT! I wear comfortable colourful clothes when I travel, and I go to all the local markets and avoid the tourist ones. I love the flea markets in Berlin and Paris and the second-hand shops in Lisbon are really good – so are the ones in Amsterdam.

DESCRIBE YOUR STYLEI don't have a fixed style – it changes to suit the situation. I love beautiful patterns, bright colours and fun clothes. At the car-boot sales my partner Amo and I go to under the name of Queens of Neon, we wear wigs and colourful clothes – it makes us happy and other people happy.

SO YOU NEVER WEAR BLACK?I do sometimes, at night. I have a few black pieces, such as a black T-shirt and a leather jacket, but I've always been pretty colourful.

FAVOURITE SHOPS? Second-hand stores that would include Camden Street shops and abroad, and I've also started shopping at the Dublin Flea Market which has hidden gems.

GREATEST FIND? A pair of brown leather boots that cost €280 from a new shop in Spain, the most I've ever spent.

ANYTHING YOU WOULDN'T WEAR? It's a good rule of thumb not to repeat fashion disasters, and I might never repeat culottes and batwing jumpers, but never say never.

ANY INFLUENCES? I don't read fashion magazines and have no interest in high street fashion and designer labels, so it is much more liberating. I prefer to find pieces that I like and co-ordinate them.

SO WHAT DO YOU WEAR ON BUILDING SITES? Totally different: jeans, steel-toe boots, raincoat, high-visibility jacket and hard hat.

ANY PARTICULAR PASSIONS? I'm particularly interested in shoes and bags. I have lots of bags and shoes – I'm an Imelda Marcos – but I use them as decoration in my house. I am also addicted to knee-length colourful socks; I'm not into tights. I also love hats.

DO PEOPLE COMMENT ON YOUR ATTIRE? I have a 1940s jacket and when I wear it people say I look like an air hostess. I change my style – some days I am 1940s, sometimes 1950s. In fashion, people always look back. I am quite influenced by the 1940s and 1950s and I think it's fun to be influenced by the past, but to create a modern look.

WHAT ABOUT GROOMING? I wear Boots No 7 lipstick and I do my own hair. I recently got it cut by John McClory in the Iveagh Trust in Werburgh Street – I asked him for a 1940s-style Mohican mullet, a backwards mullet, and he thought I was mad.

DO YOU SPEND A LOT ON JEWELLERY? I like costume jewellery, which is fun and affordable. I think that in Ireland people don't have enough fun getting dressed up, but I think that the recession will have a silver lining. It will create an alternative style culture and people will try to find their own way of being creative and self-styling.