The Wood Quay Venue behind the Civic Offices – featuring parts of the original Viking walls of Dublin – was the location for a breakfast presentation of Arnott’s spring-summer 2015 collections.
It was telling that the show was divided almost equally between menswear and womenswear, the former’s more buttoned-up look in contrast to the airier and zanier printed separates of the latter which featured only one black item – a trenchcoat.
New arrivals in womenswear this season are three Irish brands – Emma Manley, Caroline Kilkenny and Umit Kutluk, the talented Turkish designer who has made Ireland his home.
Encouraged by its success with Peter O Brien (75 per cent of online sales for the designer were outside Ireland including Australia), Arnotts see a real opportunity in encouraging Irish design and will launch an Irish Fashion Week in February.
"There is a real appetite for Irish fashion and a huge number of Irish designers who don't get the chance to experience a platform in the more commercial environment that we can offer," says Deirdre Devaney, fashion director.
Styled by Sinead Keenan, key items in the show for spring were the fuller skirt, sometimes pleated but in soft chiffons and silks, worn with a squared but structured top as in a floral print by Emma Cook with a lime silk top by Raoul.
Bright coral
Some colours like bright coral were stylishly realised in a Capri pant suit by
Tara Jarmon
while Milly’s foxy floral prints and neon snakeskin sandals caught the summer mood.
More subtle was the mixture of blush and silver grey in a soft dress by Lennon Courtney and the fun shoe motifs by Orla Kiely on ladylike silk dresses.
Menswear had a tailored casual look with suits, jackets and trousers narrow and close fitting offset by colourful printed shirts and shoes worn without socks.
Shorts featured for city wear including a navy pair by Farah worn with a navy blazer, gingham shirt and tie that neatly combined elements of formal wear with a sportier relaxed look the modish modern way.
