Irish designer dresses the Ryder GWAGs for war of the wardrobes

RYDER CUP: PAUL COSTELLOE who once confessed to The Irish Times that he found golf "boring" will be in the sporting spotlight…

RYDER CUP:PAUL COSTELLOE who once confessed to The Irish Timesthat he found golf "boring" will be in the sporting spotlight in Louisville, Kentucky this week when the US plays host to Europe for the 37th Ryder Cup.

European GWAGs (golf wives and girlfriends) will step out wearing outfits designed by him in what has been called "the war of the wardrobes," a visual pre match sparring between the teams.

Unlike the US identikit matching wardrobe, his 30 tailor made pieces in neutral shades of beige, brown, cream and blue consist of four to five different trousers, skirts, rainwear, five or six tops and various jackets.

"It's not a uniform," he said. "They can choose what they want to wear depending on their mood and how they feel, be it a short sleeved suit or a top and trousers." Fabrics in cotton/linen and cotton/lycra come in neutral colours "because the stark light in Kentucky will make bright colours look silly", he said. Admitting his golfing skills are otherwise "non existent, but there's still time," he found the design challenge enjoyable "as I am an outdoors person myself and it was easy to interpret their style sense."

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On Saturday week he will be making a personal appearance in Belfast showing his winter collection at two fashion shows in House of Fraser.

Deirdre McQuillan

Deirdre McQuillan

Deirdre McQuillan is Irish Times Fashion Editor, a freelance feature writer and an author