Floral prints were in full bloom yesterday at Brown Thomas's spring show, held for private clients at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.
A selection of designs from 19 international collections each had their own way of coming up roses, whether in floor-length maxi-dresses from Roberto Cavalli, Diane von Furstenberg and Balenciaga, or in the dark pannier prints of Prada and bold 1950s daisy patterns from Dolce & Gabbana.
The new-season trends for maxi-dresses, fuller skirts and tuxedos were all expressed in botanical print formats. Dresses rather than suits predominated, one of the most beautiful being a dark, iris-print caped dress from Prada.
Colours, from pastels to primaries, were as varied as a spring bouquet, while ruffle-edged blouses, ruched shifts and pintucked chiffon dresses showed that fabrics are lightening up.
Colour-blocked maxi-dresses added high-summer glamour, but Stella McCartney's wide-leg trousers with chiffon print blouse and patent peep toes had grittier city-girl appeal. Winning numbers from Gucci were a chic trenchcoat and an elegant coral shift, while Michael Kors provided the perfect white sundress.
"There are a lot of extremes and contrast," said Brown Thomas fashion director Shelly Corkery as Burberry's "luxury warrior" military coats closed the show. "Black is just so in the background this season," she added. Nevertheless, there were a number of slinky black dresses from Lanvin and Balenciaga, while Dolce & Gabbana's black-and-white print "skater" skirt with matching cardigan summed up the season's 1950s modernity perfectly.