At the races

STYLE:The brief for women hoping to be considered for the title of Carton House most stylish lady at the Irish Grand National in Fairyhouse on Monday was "a touch of red" and, as these photographs attest, it was an instruction well-obeyed.

Becky O’Brien from Dunshaughlin accented her classic look with a pillarbox-red vintage-style hat while Sally O’Neill, Judy Conway and Lisa Jordan, all from Ratoath, Co Meath, demonstrated that Ascot’s ban on fascinators has made no difference to the style choices of Ireland’s racegoers. We loved O’Brien’s curly hair – a rarity in a nation of women seemingly glued to their GHD straighteners – while Conway’s mustard-yellow skirt suit was a really individual look in what was, all told, a sea of monochrome. Jordan’s polka-dot umbrella was another adorable touch and, as it turned out, all too practical.

One dress, three ways 

Bird-print dress, €83 by Jonathan Saunders Edition at Debenhams

For the office

Keep things simple and classic with this tan bag from Dune (below, €88), suede mid-heeled courts from Office (€95), a classy white blazer, such as this one (€34.99) from Mango’s S/S Kate Moss collection at Clerys. At weekends, mix the shoes and blazer up with boyfriend jeans and a simple grey tee.

Saturday shopping

Dress things down a bit with these Chelsea boots from Urban Outfitters (€157) and Zara's super-cool khaki and leather jacket (€99.95). Opaque tights and this classic batchel (a cross between a satchel and a bag, with a handy top handle, from £93, cambridgesatchel.co.uk) round off a very cool take on casual.

Out with the girls

Take your dress out on the town with the addition of some cute, playful details, such as Zara's zip-waist blazer (€99.95). These wedges (£30) from Boohoo.comwon't break the bank, while a quick colour top-up courtesy of YSL's latest nail lacquer La Laque Couture (€24), in orange fusion, will give an extra edge.

Brand focus: Cos

Bio: The older, more grown-up sister of HM, Cos has, in fact, got very little in common with its sibling, aside from the fact that they're both Swedish. While HM has universal appeal with its avid trend following, Cos – which turns five this year – has an aesthetic that is all its own.

Aesthetic: Swedish to the core. Clean lines, block colours and simple fabrics – think cotton, silk and wool, with very little of the figure-hugging or flattering about it. Cos is for the woman who is not concerned with accentuating anything; she's comfortable in her own skin, and all the more cool for it.

Stockists:For now, Cos is available in BT2 – but rumours have been circulating that the bigwigs in Sweden are searching for a suitable standalone in the Grafton Street area.

Price tag:Most things, bar luxe leather and coats, will leave you with change from €100. Shirts start at €49 with skirts coming in around the €60 mark, and well-made, basic tees give (small) change from €30.

Reader query

Is denim on denim a step too far?

Dear Rosemary,

I've had a lovely pale blue denim button-up shirt in my wardrobe for months now but just don't know what I should be wearing it with. I'm sure blue denim on denim is a big no-no, so I'm just wondering what you would suggest I could team it up with? Hope you can help! Sarah, by email

Dear Sarah,

Au contraire – denim-on-denim has, in the past few years, seen a big revival and will leave you looking far less “Garth Brooks fan on a bender” than you might think. That said, it’s not the easiest look to pull off – one of the best ways of styling it is by buttoning your shirt all the way up to the neck and pairing with a statement necklace, such as this piece from Asos, €15.82. The bright colours in the necklace will distract from your otherwise atonal look.

If that’s not up your alley, why not team your denim shirt with a flirty summer skirt? Tucked into a contrasting skirt, such as Warehouse’s mint lace number fromClerys, €52, it can take on a whole new personality and create a really feminine look, rather than the Western theme the denim shirt may imply. Teamed with a pair of chunky shoes – these Zara sandals, €69.95, are a real summer staple – you can get quite a glam outfit from it too.

[ topshop.com ]

Have you got a fashion query you’d like answered? Send your questions to rmaccabe@irishtimes.com

Read Rosemary Mac Cabe's fashion blog, Fash Mob, at irishtimes.com/blogs