Fashion forward: Galway Fashion Week, empowering lingerie and denim delights

WEAR IT

Gucci furry loafers are impossible for many reasons but here are three.

1) They are about £650; 2) Since their appearance in shops last autumn they are constantly sold out; 3)They are furry shoes.

GRAND DESIGNS

Opening on Monday, February 29th, in Kildare Village is So Collective, (So being the Irish for treat or luxury) a contemporary Irish lifestyle store encompassing fashion, design and craft. It is an ambitious and pioneering venture for Value Retail in Ireland as it is the first in the Village solely dedicated to Irish products that have been carefully selected for sale.

Some of those signed up include fashion designers Mariad Whisker, Helen Steele, Helen McAlinden and  Umit Kutluk (outfit from his spring 2015 collection pictured), along with fine jeweller Natasha Sherling, milliner Aisling Ahern, footwear designer Maurice Clarke and ceramicist Rebecca Killen. The stylish interior, created by Irish architects Jennifer Chan and Jonathan Legge, will tell the story of the makers and their materials and a programme of exhibitions and installations is also planned. The official opening will be in April.

STEAL VS SPLURGE

This €507 bomber jacket from Acne Studios at Harvey Nichols (centre) is what dreams are made of.

Or you could sleep soundly with this version from

[ missguided.com ]

for €49 (right)

FASHION FEVER

This elaborate butterfly confection is by Caitriona King, one of the finalists at the Fashion Innovation Awards, a highlight of Galway Fashion Week, taking place on Thursday, March 10th, at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Up-and-coming and established talents will compete for five awards in millinery, jewellery, accessory and student design along with the top title of Fashion Designer of the Year. Tickets are €35 from

[ goldenegg.ie  ]

or call 091 384350.

During the festival, the city centre will become a catwalk with up to 60 models parading student designs from the Galway Technical Institute and a fashion trail will take place on Saturday, March 12th.

DELIGHTFUL DENIM

There may be a stretch in the evenings these days, but stretch in fabric may not be so welcome as many are tiring of elastane and Lycra in shirts, particularly in white shirts which go grey quickly.  100 per cent cotton denim jeans are particularly hard to find and with the growing trend for looser fits like the Levis 501 for boys, some of the only places stocking authentic non-stretch jeans are Envoy of Belfast, which imports premium quality selvedge denim from Japan, and in Margaret Howell’s collection at 99b in Rathgar, Dublin.

Expect to pay for them, but 100 per cent cotton denim doesn’t sag, ages well and skims rather than clings to the pins. These indigo denim twill worker jeans cost €260 from Margaret Howell.

THE STYLIST SAYS

“Wearing really gorgeous underwear/ lingerie under your clothes for no reason and for no one except you is pretty empowering. Makes you feel bad ass all day.”

[ anouska.net ]