Fashion Forward: Steal vs Splurge and Louise Kennedy's Spring collection

Kennedy Gold

This daffodil yellow jersey dress, called Palma (€1,595) is one of the highlights of Louise Kennedy’s luxurious spring collection: an elegant cocoon accessorised here with a Natalia pendant (POA). It also comes also in pink and navy. A similar version but full length, called the Winona gown, is in navy or optic white.

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Hat by Krisztina Reisini

Kennedy broke with tradition this season, opting for a face-to-face customer event instead of her usual catwalk presentation, showing how a collection is brought together.

Standout ensembles included an ivory three-piece consisting of a cashmere coat with crepe tunic and skirt and an embossed rose-print full skirt in silk with matching tent coat which is perfect for summer weddings and beyond. A 1950s style fluffy pink jacket is aptly called Brigitte and a double-breasted coat in pale gold brocade with a Peter Pan collar makes a demure cover up. Prices start at €395 for navy sweaters and tops, €495 for jersey trousers up to €1,995 for the Winona. For more details visit louisekennedy.com

Computing to catwalk
Dylan Moran (22) is in a new generation of Irish male models getting a foothold internationally propelled by his distinctive looks and personality. The student of enterprise computing in DCU, was persuaded by his girlfriend last March to go for a test with the fledging NotAnother modelling agency in Dublin and he has not looked back. Recently returned from New York, where he walked for Alexander Wang's show, he has worked in London for Adidas Originals, has walked for Dries Van Noten in Paris and on the Urban Outfitters spring/summer campaign. From Offaly, he says modelling is "a strange job, it is not easy, you can't compare to any other. At least I don't have to wear high heels."

Bold Jewellery
"Safe to say my pieces are not for the faint-hearted," says jeweller Stuart McGrath of his new collection which he has been working on for the past year. It includes some of the boldest and most powerful statement rings, such as the Egyptian inspired Sphinx consisting of two sphinxes guarding an enormous octagon facet cut ruby.

Another, called Icarus, depicts two men protecting a large round diamond; and a wondrous creation called the Moonlight is made of a large cat’s eye cabochon moonstone and blue sapphires with yellow citrines and diamonds representing twinkling stars. All can be viewed on his website armoura.com

From 2013-2015 McGrath designed and developed the Riverdance range of jewellery as well as products for Tipperary Crystal and more recently collaborated with Pauric Sweeney. His own work is inspired by his travels and love of architecture, nature and antiquity.

Steal V Splurge
Protect your peepers with these So Real round sunglasses for €460 from Dior at Brown Thomas or protect your bank balance with these €4 spectacles, available from Penneys

The Stylist Says... Jennie McGinn, OPSH
"My style advice is to embrace more pink. It's more versatile than you think, lifts your mood and the moods of others.

“That, and invest in seamless knickers!”

Wear It
Belfast readers are in for a treat on April 7th when the Milan-based, Hungarian-born, milliner Krisztina Reisini brings her trunk show to concept store Real on the Lisburn Road (shop-real.com). The shapes of her head-turning hats have been compared to those of Frank Gehry and she has collaborated with Yves St Laurent and Borsalino among others. Watch her manipulate straw on her site kreisicouture.com