Girls, you can put the hats and feathers away - the last event of the Fashions on the Turf season took place at the Darley Oaks race day in the Curragh on Sunday. I attended as a guest of Thalgo, the marine beauty experts, who hosted a lunch in the St. Leger Suite, and if the style there was anything to go by then the judges had a tough decision.
The Grand Finale of the last Fashions on the Turf selection at the Darley Irish Oaks Dubai themed day offered the most amazing prize pool yet - a 5 star holiday to Dubai courtesy of Dubai Duty Free, Emirate Airlines, Jumeirah International, and Dubai Golf Club.
Winners and runners up from the 3 Fashions on the Turf faced the judges one last time, and finally Judith Devine from Newry was named the overall 2005 Fashion on the Turf Winner. Runner up was Noreen Savage, from Newry, who was presented with a weekend at the Thalgo Spa at the Hilton Mount Wolseley.
Enjoying a days racing and the hospitality of Thalgo were TV producer Debbie O'Donnell, who's Gina shoes were the envy of all the girls; Ireland AM presenter Alan Hughes; Mary Fitzgerald, looking fab in black and white; RTE presenter Derek Mooney and Suzanne O'Connell of Channel 4's The Salon, who was accompanied by her mother Margaret and sister Ella. Style mavan Celia Holman - Lee stole the show in an amazing jacket and skirt combination topped off with a Philip Treacy.
Question of the day: Which well-known tipster had not a single winner on the day? Better off keeping your money in your pocket!
Never Novelli?
Last night was to be the official opening of Novelli at La Stampa, Dublin's most prestigious new restaurant. A co-venture between La Stampa's Louis Murray and top chef Jean Christophe Novelli, it promises to be a place of excellence and has the city's gastro group abuzz with excitement. This will be Novelli's first restaurant outside of the UK.
The first launch night was postoned due to the London bombing atrosity and last night the event was postponed yet again, circumstances unknown. Maybe Chef Novelli is as difficult as some say? Watch out Naomi!
However, the restaurant has so far gained a huge amount of publicity, even before it's grand opening, so whether this much talked about event takes place is anyone's guess. Not that anyone really minds - it's the fact that Novelli is in Dublin that really matters.
