Spring into summer in style

Paula Reed, former style director of Grazia magazine, now group fashion director of Harvey Nichols, was in Dublin yesterday to present a capsule collection of summer trends and new brands in the Dundrum store.

“I cut my fashion teeth in Dublin,” said the Derry-born Trinity graduate who worked as a model during her student years in the 1980s. “And Dublin people are a fashionable bunch, and I think we can do better for them.”

Among the new brands she has introduced such as Goat – “women-friendly clothes that started as a kitchen table enterprise” – the casual Californian label Joie, and the Versace Collection which is exclusive in Ireland, are the Irish brands Fee Gee, (also in Harvey Nichols Bristol), millinery from Galway-based Edel Ramberg, Paula Rowan gloves and Susannagh Grogan scarves. “We are highlighting local design talent when we can,” she said.

Fee Gee’s fitted dress and crop jacket in a metallic fabric was successful because it was “not too shiny and suited Irish complexions”, she said in her catwalk commentary. The 18 looks focused on trends like the reworked tuxedo and bomber jacket, new look jeans, “fantasy frocks” and colour prints.

Many items were long, special-occasion affairs, but some standout items were a below-the-knee dress by Bombshell in a monochrome horse print, a simple, white fitted shift and jacket with embellishment by Tara Jarmon, and a China blue and white printed soft trouser suit by Pinko.

Tickets for the spring-summer fashion show on Friday, February 15th, in Dundrum will be on sale from today in store and at harveynichols.com