Hats off to the fashionable ladies who didn’t let the weather dampen their efforts at a stylish Ladies Day at Limerick racecourse yesterday.While a strong gust of wind is every well coiffured lady’s nightmare, those with the most stylish dresses and tresses were rewarded for making an effort to look their best.
The five finalists in the best dressed competition all proved they were very much on trend showcasing various takes of the monochrome combination, a popular catwalk trend this year that looks set to continue into next year.
Muriel Callaghan (38) from Ballinalee, Co Longford, won the title of best dressed wearing a black-and-cream Diva dress and a cream coat from Zara. Her outfit was topped off with a black-and-cream hat from Michael H.
“We go to the Galway races a lot but I have never entered a best dressed contest. I just wouldn’t be confident enough,” she said.
“We are here with some of my fiancé’s work colleagues and all the girls were dressing up so I thought it would be a bit of craic. I didn’t even enter myself today. Somebody just came up to me.”
Ms Callaghan won a two-night stay for four people at the Strand Hotel in Limerick for her efforts and dinner in the Mustard Seed restaurant at Echo Lodge, Ballingarry, Co Limerick.
For the 40 women involved in the competition, there was a novel addition to yesterday’s proceedings with a prize for the best tresses. The judging panel, who had scouted all areas of the racecourse, was made up of fashion designer Marion Murphy Cooney, milliner Aisling Maher and fashion editor of the Irish Independent Bairbre Power.
Birthday girl Michelle Lenahan, from Castletroy in Co Limerick, walked away with the title of best tressed.
The stylish 25-year-old, who was enjoying Ladies Day with eight friends, won a VIP appointment with top hair stylist Dylan Bradshaw and a year’s supply of Herbal Essences hair products.
“We decided to come to the races for my birthday and nine of us decided to dress up. I’m absolutely thrilled. I can’t believe it and I can’t wait to get my hair cut by Dylan Bradshaw,” she said.
Ms Lenahan, who was wearing a black-and-cream Jesire coat, had had her long brown hair blow-dried before yesterday’s races. “I borrowed the coat from my aunt. She was here yesterday but she wasn’t wearing it,” she said.
Meanwhile, the most stylish lady and man competitions took place at Leopardstown races yesterday, judged by Heidi Higgins and milliner Mark T Burke.
The Mount Juliet and Tatler Most Stylish Lady winner was mother of four, Geraldine Walsh from Kinsale, Co Cork who wore a cream coat with fur trim which she had from six years ago, accessorised with a vintage orange hat and an orange leather belt from Kilkenny Design. Matt Mackensie-Smith from Newbridge, Co Kildare won the most stylish man award. He wore a tweed-style jacket from Penneys, Louis Copeland shirt and a tweed cap.