Louise Kennedy celebrates her 30th year in business

Louise Kennedy celebrated 30 years in business with a gala fashion show at the Hugh Lane gallery last night for an invited guest list of several hundred people.

Fast paced and extensive with 20 catwalk models, it lead with a series of outfits whose print motif was taken from the Chrysler building in New York.

Kennedy has always had an interest in Art Deco, particularly jewellery and the terraced arches of the famous New York building were translated into printed silks shirts and tunics, some embellished with black beading on silk jersey. “We are pushing the boat out with this show,” she said.

Though many items were reworked familiar shapes that have remained consistently her signature over the decades, the overall look was unmistakably lavish and luxurious in its use of embroidery, beading and crystal embellishment.

Skirts in supple jersey were pencil or bias cut and new shapes include draped, cocoon-style dresses or capes in black or sapphire blue.

Tunics featured throughout, either in block colours or trimmed with beading and the simplest jersey tank tops with midi skirts contrasted with coats in the most opulent fabrics such as one in gold and bronze lurex and another with “raindrop” beading on black cashmere. Prices start around €395 for tunics and knits with coats from €895 upwards.

Black dress
The finale was a line up of 20 black dresses, in lace, silk chiffon and jersey, some with elaborate Swarovski crystal necklines, others with see-through motifs worked in beading and net followed by an ornate bridal gown in French lac with a high neckline.

The designer announced she has created her first handbag in association with luxury brand Tanner Krolle and that she will launch a fragrance, her first, in November.