Conran, Shirley Ida (1932- )

English author, designer, and fashion editor. Initially involved with Conran Design as a fabric designer and director, from 1964 she turned to women's and life-style journalism, working with the Observer magazine, Daily Mail, and Over 21 1972-74. She wrote the best-selling Superwoman (1975), aimed at working mothers, and published her first novel, Lace, in 1982.

Superwoman was followed by four more superwoman titles, while later novels include Lace 2 (1985), Crimson (1991), and Tiger Eyes (1994).

Conran was born in London and educated at St Paul's Girls' School and Portsmouth College of Art. She was married to the design retailer Terence Conran 1955-62, and their sons Jasper Conran and Sebastian both became designers. In 1979 she moved to Monaco.