My husband used to say: ‘In the name of God, would you ever clean out that bloody loft?’” laughs Celia Holman Lee.

“But it was all leading to this.”

‘This’ being Celia Holman Lee: Limerick Style Icon – the spring exhibition at Limerick’s Hunt Museum, showcasing almost 40 years in the fashion industry through some of her most celebrated looks.

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“The first thing they said was: ‘We only need about 15 dresses.’ I said: ‘Surely I have that?’” says Celia, who was first approached about the exhibition last March. “So, up I went to the loft – and I had forgotten what I had.

“The collection is 40 or so pieces and I could still have given them another 20. But I was trying to pick the pieces that I felt had a bit of history.”

Indeed, one piece that is included in the exhibit is Celia’s “going away” outfit – a mini dress that she wore on her honeymoon to Spain.

“I’m 43 years married this March,” she explains. “I remember we got off the flight in Malaga and it was Easter weekend and they were all going around with crosses and Franco was in charge – there I was with this mini on me. I’ll never forget it.”

Irish designers are very much to the fore of the exhibition, with pieces by Peter O’Brien, Paul Costello, Richard Lewis and Don O’Neill accompanied by a particularly strong focus on designers from the midwest region, including Caroline Mitchell, Marion Murphy Cooney, Michelina Stacpoole and Fiona Whyte, with Celia crediting her good friend, John McNamara, for helping her to whittle down the final selection.

The exhibit also features photographs of Celia from her early modelling days right up to her position today as one of Ireland’s most stylish women – indeed, she is very proud that she was the first winner of the VIP style award 15 years ago and graces the nomination list once again this year.

While she says that the ’80s was probably her favourite decade for fashion – she admits to being fond of Joan Collins’ power-dressing style – Celia says the key to her enduring style is not staying static.

“I don’t ever stay in a decade,” she says. “If you are into your style and you like to look good, you must always move with the times and move with the look.”

And that includes never being afraid to pull out all the stops.

“I’m not a great one for wearing clothes for comfort,” Celia admits.

Needless to say, being the focus of such a major exhibition in her home city is a tremendous source of pride.

“I’m so honoured, I’m trying to pinch myself,” says Celia. “Looking through the exhibition, I can see my style evolving and myself evolving as a human being.”

And Irish Country Living suspects Celia’s style journey is set to continue …

Celia Holman Lee: Limerick Style Icon runs at the Hunt Museum, Limerick, until 3 May. For further information, visit www.huntmuseum.com.