Opportunities to see an international fashion collection in this country are rare. So next month's charity ball in aid of Angels Quest will prove particularly popular as it includes a showing of the Rochas spring/summer 1998 collection designed by Dubliner Peter O'Brien. This was presented in Paris a week ago in the newly-opened Laduree on the Champs Elysees, where our picture above was taken.
As usual at a Rochas show, guests were presented with a booklet containing Peter O'Brien's amusing sketches of the clothes he had designed. Set up to provide respite care facilities for parents and families looking after disabled children full time, Angels Quest held its first ball last year. On that occasion, 12 of the country's leading designers, such as Lainey Keogh, John Rocha, Marc O'Neill and Louise Kennedy, each presented a one-off "Angel" outfit for auction. This time, the evening's fashion focus will be on Rochas, which is bringing the house's new women's collection to Ireland for the event. Two evening dresses from the spring/summer line will be auctioned after the show. Rochas plans to focus attention on Peter O'Brien's Irish origins by inviting a large contingent of international fashion journalists to Dublin for the Angel Ball.
Representatives from French Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan as well as British Elle have all agreed to attend as guests of Rochas. Some of these journalists will join a judging panel before the ball to select an Irish "angel" for the evening. Any woman in this country aged between 18 and 23, at least five foot eight inches tall and size eight or 10 is eligible to enter this model competition. Whoever is selected will not only take part in the Angel Ball fashion show but also be flown to Paris for a week next spring during which she will model the Rochas autumn/winter 1998 collection. To qualify, aspiring models should contact Catherine Condell of Brown Thomas, which is sponsoring the ball.
The Brown Thomas Angel Ball takes place in the O'Reilly Hall, UCD on Friday, November 14th. For further information, please contact Angels Quest at 01-6056601.