LAINEY Keogh's triumphs during London Fashion Week look set to have a major spin-off for the Dublin designer. From a business point of view the stunning success of her show has, in a matter of days, already brought in orders from Saks Fifth Avenue, Fred Siegel of Los Angeles, Barneys and Niemann Marcus.
South Anne Street art dealer Isabel Smith had first-hand evidence of the head-turning effect of Lainey's designs recently when she was at a dinner party in Gianni Versace's New York apartment. The Italian maestro was so taken by her blue Lainey Keogh dress that he made her do a twirl for the other guests. Versace has since become one of the designer's many big-name fans, joining a list which includes Naomi Campbell and Cher.
Isabel Smith was one of the guests in Renards on Wednesday night at a celebration party to mark, the Fashion Week success. Organised by one of Lainey's eight sisters Irene, Cindy Cafolla, Caroline Downey and Catriona Ward, the event was attended by Pat and Kathy Kenny, Jim Fitzpatrick, Boyzone manager Louis Walsh, Def Leppard drummer Rick Savage, Garech De Brun John Hurt (whose rendition of a Seamus Heaney poem was one of the highlights of the catwalk show in London), and former model Terry Bradley, who opened an exhibition of his own work in the Chocolate Bar on Monday night.
Keogh's show is on display in Claridges, while someone else planning to grab the attention of the fashion conscious is ISPCC committee chairwoman Caroline Downey, who is staging a fashion show in Dublin Castle in aid of the charity on March 12th.