a/wear in the pink with a bright spring collection

Pink polka dot sundresses, glitter tweed jackets and strawberry print tops seemed to sum up the light-hearted mood at a/wear's spring summer collection shown in Dublin's Sugar Club last night.

It was an appropriate venue for a sweet collection in every sense, with a strong emphasis on colour and print and looks that took inspiration from old Hollywood movies from the 1940s and 1950s with a fresh modern slant. There were circle skirts, cardigans with three-quarter length sleeves and Capri pants in bright summery colours, like green, turquoise and yellow, with pink predominating. "Colour is a sign of confidence", says Anne Marie Flood, a/wear's fashion director. "Young women want more colour in their lives. Our customers love every shade of pink".

Yet for all the frills and the flounces and the girlishness of the collection aimed at the 18 to 35 age group, there was much that was both pretty and practical, like tweed or denim jackets, some embellished with beading or trimmed with satin for extra interest, as well as some classy wraparound linen dresses.

Brocade coats had a prim, 1950s air and polka dot peacoats a touch of cheekiness while trenchcoats in sorbet colours were lined with floral prints. Denim was everywhere and striped matelot tops worn with turn-up jeans added a tomboyish note to the show. Prices ranged from €10 to €100.

a/wear plans to expand to 35 outlets within the next three years.