Executive style from Irish designers

Supporting sustainable Irish style is a key objective for many top executives as they build a stylish workable wardrobe that enhances their company’s image. Management teams and brand leaders are keenly aware of making a positive impression at business conferences by wearing clothes that promote the unique talents of Irish designers as well as promoting their own unique charm and acumen.

Last month a new fashion boutique dedicated to showcasing leading Irish designers was opened by Ashling Kilduff at Kildare Village with distinctive rails of signature creations. It puts Irish design back into business under one umbrella. Curated by Design Centre has a gallery of contemporary looks for businesswomen and socialites with busy summer diaries. It is ideal for fashionistas who have missed the brilliance of the former Irish Design Centre based in the Powerscourt Centre in South William Street, Dublin.

The brands and collections have been carefully selected and chosen by Ashling who is a catwalk connoisseur of 27 years renown. According to Ashling: “The collections draw on the ethos of the original Design Centre to hone the skills of a guild of talented Irish designers.” The new store will include the cream of Irish talent with firm favourites such as Paul Costello, Deborah Veale, Catriona Hanly, Caroline Kilkenny, Roisin Linnane, Helen McAlinden and Synan O’Mahony. There are also exciting new designers including Electric Sheep, Banshee of Saville Row and Emma Manley. The chic platform has a creative spot to introduce young and emerging designers to buyers and international customers via the London-based online site “The Bicester Village”, as well as mentorship through marketing and retail.

For established designers like Deborah Veale whose designs have dressed a parade of TV personalities, presidents to top industry leaders — this is also an inspirational location for rebooting after the last couple of years. Her summer collection keeps up the couture standards with sharp daytime silhouettes and luxury cocktail dresses.

Menswear is also strong in Kildare Village — boutiques include Polo by Ralph Lauren, Savoy Taylors Guild and Barbour with sizeable summer reductions across the board. Irish designer menswear is always a special purchase and Nicky Wallace is a maestro with incredible flair. If you feel like motoring onwards you can visit his flagship Wexford shop. It stands out from the banal high street with directional silk and linen jackets as well as eclectic shirts, waistcoats and scarves and a touch of Great Gatsby romance. Wallace also has a womenswear section that suits any aspirational Daisy with exclusive woven fabrics and cuts that will outlast the fleeting fast fashion.

As Irish design gets back into full swing from the artistic contours of Roisin Linnane’s dresses or the fine tailoring of a Helen McAlinden trouser suit — there is a sense of celebration for discerning dressers in search of a smart workwear wardrobe.

The talented lineup at Curated also comes at a critical time when many of our young fashion graduate collections have not seen the light of day as graduate catwalk shows were cancelled since 2019 due to the pandemic restrictions.

Back on the ramps

Many of our emerging student designers in Dublin, Limerick and Cork lost golden opportunities to display their final collections at their graduate college fashion shows and lost the chance of a bursary or internship at a leading Parisian, Italian or London fashion house. Fortunately, colleges such as NCAD are back on the ramps and getting a chance to strut their stuff with aplomb once again.

The Curated boutique will also include inspiring pieces from accessory designers, craftspeople, jewellers and milliners including the internationally renowned Pauric Sweeney, as well as Deb Fanning Millinery and Leonora Fergusson. Directional jewellery from Loulerie, Christina Goldston, Scribble and Stone and Blaithin Ennis also add a talking point for trendsetters.

As fashion moves away from cheap disposable items into more long-lasting classic purchases it is less concerned with seasonal collections and more with diffusive designer lines. By spending that bit more on investment pieces rather than bargains designer divas could even build up their own signature collections.