Graduate Style
This outfit is by Sarah Fanning, one of this year’s 27 Limerick School of Art & Design graduates showing their collections on Thursday, May 12th, in the LSAD Gallery. It has been a good year for the college and for its head of fashion design Anne Melinn. A star graduate, Michael Stewart, currently at the RCA in London, was awarded the first Kildare Village fashion bursary worth €15,000 this month, the biggest sum received by an Irish fashion student enabling him to further his studies.
Another LSAD graduate Niamh Mannion took this year's Persil Fashion Award of €10,000 for her ensemble inspired by Hansel & Gretel, with its bomber jacket and dress in pleather, handpainted canvas, scuba jersey and mesh. Elsewhere at Kerry Fashion Week, Greta Lelyte was judged Designer of the Year and students Colin Horgan and Alanna McIntyre picked up other awards.
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Next month at the show graduates will compete for the IFIL, AIB Graduate Business Development award worth €5,000 which includes three months paid work with Irish designer Richard Malone in London. Tickets can be had from litmt.ie
Embroidery celebration
Embroidery students and past graduates of NCAD are gearing up for a unique event which college heads Helen McAllister and Nigel Cheney promise will celebrate “all that is amazing in embroidery”.
For the first time they are staging their very own fashion show, with nearly 200 outfits from guest designers – 28 alumni from around the world – along with 21 of the 31 current students across the honours BA design four-year degree and the first from the new three-year programme.
Apart from the catwalk show, the event will also incorporate video and performance work marking embroidered textiles in fashion over the past twentysomething years. Now and Then: Embroidery in Fashion takes place in The Chocolate Factory on Thursday, May 12th, with sponsorship from Peter Mark and Make Up Forever.
Sheer tight fit
Baring the leg in spring presents its own challenges in terms of comfort and good looks and one company that has created naked-look tights successfully is Marie Claire. These ultra-sheer, satin sheen tights and hold -ups are good cover ups that give less-than-perfect legs a flawless look during warmer spring and summer days. They also have “sandal toes”, open toed tights that allow a varnished pedicure to be revealed. The 8D Brilliant Liquid Shine tights and 10D open-toe tights come in medium and large and cost €10 from Debenhams, Shaws, Pamela Scott and other retailers nationwide.
Steal v Splurge
Stand out with this olive bomber for €1,170 Yeezy Season 2 at harveynichols.com or be the bomb with this khaki padded bomber for €70 from Topman.
Style Secret
“It doesn’t matter if something is €10 or €1,000 – only ever buy items that you love. Don’t buy into fashion trends for the sake of it, know what shapes work for you and have fun with the accessories.”
Freya Drohan, freelance journalist living in New York
Wear it
Stella McCartney’s Rainbow Pop Falabella Collection launched last week in Brown Thomas and we are lusting over this mini tote (€645).
Not into the hot pink? Lucky there are seven other colours to choose from. Mini tote €645 Brown Thomas.
