It was all about bright vibrant colour at Arnotts' spring show yesterday where models tripped out in multiprint shirts and satin shorts and every skirt had a carefree frill, wrap or flounce.
Kilts and patchwork minis were short and sexy and the key accessories were polka dot wellies, yellow, lime or flame opaque tights with matching high heels and Radley bags. The trend even spread into menswear, where sober pinstripe jackets were worn with short fat silk ties and tattered jeans.
Even a conventional grey and pink pinstripe Strellson suit was presented in an offhand, modern way with white runners and a striped shirt. The show introduced a number of new brands like Snob with a range of printed black and white linen dance skirts and jackets and a stylish black printed taffeta skirt worn over trousers from Esthis.
"We are looking at France, Scandinavia and Italy at the moment to find something different," Eddie Shanahan of Arnotts said. "We want to bring new points of difference and a bit of fun to the market."
Colour certainly saturated everything yesterday from bras in green lace under green cardigans to bright yellow menswear sweaters and shirts from Diesel and Sixty. Prices ranged from €30 for a jersey top from Morgan up to €465 for a pink rose embroidered coat by Aideen Bodkin.