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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Paul McAuley

Woman couldn't help but scream when she turned on Sky show

A woman was “thrilled” when Sky approached her to help them with its latest original drama.

Jen McNally, who owns West Derby-based vintage e-commerce clothing company, Overdress Vintage, said she was extremely proud to be involved with the series, A Town Called Malice.

Sky had tasked the 46-year-old with sourcing and supplying authentic vintage clothing and accessories that would reflect the style and culture of the mid-80s. Jen’s company worked closely with the costume designer and wardrobe department to select items that would suit the characters and scenes of the show.

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The business owner, from Kensington, told the ECHO: “It was beyond exciting to see our work on the TV. The show opened with the lead actor Jack Rowan watching a girl dancing to Ma Baker by Boney M in a nightclub and as the actress turned around to start dancing, she was wearing a gold lame 80s cocktail dress, the show had literally been on two minutes (and I saw my work) - it was such a thrill to see.

“I screamed and then it just carried on from there. The more we watched, the more of what the costume designer sourced from me kept coming into the shot. The pinnacle was to see a red disco jacket worn by the lead actress being used in all the pictures to promote the show.”

A Town Called Malice is a star-studded series that follows a London crime family who ditches the UK for a fresh start. The eight-part gangster drama is set in Costa Del Sol in the early 1980s and features the likes of Peaky Blinders’ Jack Rowan, The Goonies’ Martha Plimpton, and Mission: Impossible 2’s Dougray Scott.

The brief was extreme 80s, with lots of metallics and peacock-style after-dark looks. On set, a dramatic red silk avant-garde blazer worn by former Waterloo Road actress, Tahirah Sharif, became the "centrepiece of the publicity campaign".

Jen said: “We were delighted to be part of this exciting project and showcase our vintage clothing collection to a wider audience.

Actress Tahirah Sharif wearing Overdress Vintage's red lame 80s disco blazer and Jack Rowan (Simon Emmett Studio)

"With a passion for vintage fashion, my sole focus is helping our customers find unique pieces that express their individuality and our unique peacock style. We hope the viewers and customers enjoyed seeing our costumes on screen and were inspired by the vibrant style."

Since the show aired, Jen noticed a new spike in orders from customers who weren’t known to her prior.

Jen said: "The series has been a great chance for us to show our unique brand of premium vintage clothing. Like many retailers, we faced some challenges during the pandemic but this partnership enabled us to demonstrate our resilience.

“Helping the production team realise their vision has been immensely rewarding and to see our pieces in such a high-profile series is a great opportunity to raise our profile and get our brand name out there.”

Overdress Vintage, which specialises in maximalist vintage fashion, was founded seven years ago as a start-up by Jen - a self-confessed fashion geek. Initially launching as a Top Shop concession, the company is a labour of love for the entrepreneur who has been a devotee of vintage clothing since the age of 14. Her very first purchase was a 1960s Biba original lace Victorian blouse.

Jen said the online store has become the secret go-to in the fashion industry for its “unique glamorous and relevant vintage finds and sustainable one-off designs”. With style icons such as model Kate Moss and influencer Susie Bubble as its earliest supports, the company has since grown itself a loyal fan base of fashion editors and stylists.

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