Thursday, June 08, 2006

GUESS what?

Another week, another fashion store launch party. Surely every major brand has a presence in Dublin by now? No? Who then? Guess? Exactly! A warm and sunny Wednesday evening saw the launch party for the brand new GUESS store at 22-23 South Anne Street, which was hosted by Karl Rodgers.


Unveiled by celebrity model and socialite Calum Best, the store was full of eager ladies hoping to catch a glimpse of the playboy and son of the late legendary footballer George Best.


“He (Calum) has been an enthusiastic customer of the brand for many years both in the UK and US, so for us it made sense that he be the one to welcome the brand to his native country,” said Paolo Panizzo, director of GUESS UK.


Best was overheard saying that he did a shoot for GUESS in the U.S. when he was younger and found it funny that he was still promoting the brand so many years later. How many years, he didn’t reveal. Busy with a hectic work schedule in London at present, Calum is unable to spend time in his adopted home of L.A., where he loves spending time. Perhaps he’s cultivating a movie career? When asked if he was going to play the part of his father in the forthcoming movie, he said he would love to but it would be a bit difficult as he’s over 6ft and his dad was way shorter!


Among the throng of invited guests, who enjoyed a bar provided by Cocoon, were agents Brendan Scully and Sean Montague, Derek Carberry, models Niamh Watmore and Rachel Kelly, diamond broker Maria Collins, Karla Elliott, TV3 presenter Karen Koster, John McKibbin and Jonothan Sultan, Alan Amsby and Maria Fusco of Ave Maria, who is currently busy organising her huge fashion show which takes place in SIN next week.


As guests spilled out of the store to enjoy the setting sun they mingled with the al fresco drinkers from Keogh’s across the street to form, what looked like, one big street party. Guess who broke it up?