Ireland’s best known and indeed most successful fashion designer, Paul Costelloe, hosted the first show of London Fashion Week recently in in the exhibition tent in the grounds of London’s Natural History Museum.
This season he brings in the return of the tailored layered look. Influences are in the form of Hitchcock’s Rebecca meets The Secretary, waists are nipped, jackets are cropped and fitted, and the skirts are slim, finishing at mid calf for sleek silhouettes.
This Autumn/Winter 2006 trouser covers a wide spectrum with everything from the skinny cut velvet trousers to the ultra wide leg. Coats are mid calf to floor length and the double-breasted look is particularly stylish.
Key tailoring colours are chocolate, marl grey and black with highlights of ultra violet and chartreuse. The fabric is a mixture of compact tweeds, short taffetas and rich washed silks and there is also a return to tartan and large scale checks.
The show was well attended, with the likes of fashionista Isabella Blow, Michelle Collins, Amanda Holden and Lady Isabella Harvey. The Irish contingent was well represented by TV3’s Laura Birmingham, Louise Byrne and Orla Doyle of Looks One PR and Irish Times fashion editor Deirdre McQuillan. Paul’s wife Ann was also there along with their 6 sons.
The 2006 Autumn/Winter collection from Paul Costelloe epitomises sophisticated glamour from the sultry 1940’s era and showcases his signature expert tailoring.
