Virgin Atlantic fashion lunch

Lift Off: 1. Rebecca Maguire, Rosanna Davison and Amanda Brunker; 2. Emma Meir and Sarah Flannery; 3. Eliska Kelly, Terry Smith and Issie Brown. (Pix. BME)

The 18th annual Virgin Atlantic International Fashion Lunch in aid of the Rape Crisis Centre

was hosted at the luxury Westin Hotel, Dublin.  Dawn Fitzgerald showcased a winter preview of designer evening gowns, modelled by Rosanna Davison and Rebecca Maguire and Miss Candy wore a stunning canary yellow creation by same designer.

The First Lady of musical theatre Rebecca Storm performed some of her Broadway musical hits during the lunch, while Eurovision winner Paul Harrington and his group entertained the guests after the meal.

Guests included Ken Doherty, Lady Kathy Botham, Lorraine Keane, Norah Casey, Pamela Flood and Lisa Duffy.  The lunch which aims to raise in excess of €30,000 for the Rape Crisis Centre (and has raised millions over the years) is a favourite charity event and one that’s always much anticipated.

In other news, private car app Uber is launching in Dublin.  Using this Uber promo code you will save €20 off your first ride http://www.uber.com/invite/gamgg

Autumn at Arnotts

POB AW: 1. Peter O'Brien, Sonia Lennon and Brendan Courtney; 2. Aisling O'Loughlin; 3. Annemarie and O'Connor and Ingrid Hoey. (Pix. KH)

Peter O’Brien launched his fourth Autumn Winter capsule ladieswear collection for Arnotts.

The collection will be available exclusively at Arnotts as part of the Love Irish Design initiative at Arnotts.

The Arnotts new season launch sees the arrival of brands such as Jill Stuart, D.Efect, 2ND Day, Orla Kiely, Lennon Courtney, Lulu Guinness and Pour la Victoire.

There were 300 guests in attendance including presenter Kathryn Thomas, Aisling O’Loughlin, stylist Ingrid Hoey, actress Aoibhinn Garrighy, Emer O’Reilly Hyland, presenter Diana Bunici, Sharon Smurfitt, Lady (Anna) Oxmantown, Jenny Buckley and of course Peter O Brien, Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney.

Guests enjoyed a Jacob’s Creek wine reception and bespoke Arnotts AW13 cookies. The event was live streamed on the Arnotts website and image.ie live tweeted and blogged throughout the fashion show. 

Samsung Young Designer

Style: Brendan Courtney and Aisling Kilduff; 2. Alex Ludwig; 3. Sarah Lennon and Lavinia Gallagher. (Pix. BME)

Claire Lynam from Ratoath, Co. Meath who studies in NCAD won the overall Samsung Young Designer of the Year 2013 from an impressive shortlist of 12 designers.　 Claire’s prize package included a Samsung Galaxy smartphone; Samsung Galaxy Note tablet; a Samsung NX 300 camera, an exclusive portfolio shoot with renowned fashion photographer Barry McCall and PR representation from Limelight Communications.

The judging panel consisted of top Irish fashion photographer Barry McCall, the Design Centre’s Aisling Kilduff, fashion editor of the Sunday Independent, Constance Harris and General Manager of Samsung IT & Mobile Ireland, Gary Twohig.

Guests at the VIP reception sipped on Baileys and dined on bespoke fashion inspired canapés. The awards were hosted by one of Ireland’s leading fashion couples Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney. Also in attendance was Alexander Ludwig, star of the Hunger Games movie, Samsung DFF Ambassador Darren Kennedy, stylist Maria Fusco and fashion blogger, Emily O’Donnell.

Pandora AW

Pandora: 1. Dr Eva Orsmond and Brendan Courtney; 2. Miss Ireland Aoife Walsh; 3. Mary - Kate Murray and Andy Kelly. (Pix. RS)

Danish jewellery brand PANDORA launched its Autumn Winter 2013 collection in Dublin’s Cliff Townhouse last week. The new collection was arranged in themed displays throughout the stunning Georgian style venue depicting the Enchanted Forest of Autumn and a cool, crisp Winter Wonderland, highlighting the key trends for the coming season.

Nail artists provided charm inspired designs whilst a masquerade themed polaroid area gave guests the chance to capture the evening with their own personal photos. Irish musician Emily-Rose Conlon entertained with her dulcet tones whilst Pimms, prosecco and canapés of spiced beef with rocket pesto and goats cheese en croute were served.

Guests included Pamela Flood, modelling pieces from the PANDORA collection; Brendan Courtney, Dr. Eva Orsmond, DJ Ruth Scott, author Marisa Mackle and stylist Maria Fusco.

DFF 13

Fashion Fit: 1. Anne Marie O'Connor and Darren Kennedy; 2. Aoibhin Garrihy and Aoibheann McCaul. (Pix. Samsung)

TV presenter and style icon Laura Whitmore jetted in to Dublin city centre to officially launch this year’s Dublin Fashion Festival in association with Samsung.   Organised by DublinTown.ie, the fashion festival will run next week, from the 5^th to the 8^th of September. 

As this year’s official face of the festival, Laura Whitmore will return to Dublin town in September to take part in the packed DFF programme, which will unite fabulous fashionistas, chic city-slickers, and an eclectic mix of fashion retailers under the DFF umbrella – with more events, more participants, more special offers, live fashion events and in-store activities than ever before!

DFF in association with Samsung aims to put the fun and theatre back into shopping and socialising in the city centre by offering daytime catwalk shows, fashion parades and tailored events in bars, restaurants and special venues.  The festival will return to Dublin’s streets from Thursday the 5^th to Sunday the 8^th of September and will bring together over 100 retailers, including the city’s nine flagship retail stores - Brown Thomas, Stephen’s Green SC, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Arnotts, Clery’s, Ilac SC (incl. Debenhams), Jervis SC, Marks & Spencer, and Penneys.

One of the festival highlights last year, the Creative Quarter Fashion Show, will return again this year and feature the very best of Irish designers, vintage and one-off fashion pieces sourced from the Creative Quarter area (Clarendon Street to South Great Georges Street).  New this year is the Young Designer Fashion Event – a convention and competition which will celebrate the best in young Irish design.

Keep an eye out for show-stopping fashion moments – from spontaneous Fashmobs to a full sized Samsung ‘selfie’ photo-booth and roving DFF style teams making Dublin even more beautiful.  A new feature this year will see the Samsung DFF Beauty Bus  touring the city, decked out in latest mobile devices and notebooks – shoppers can stay connected in style while the on-board DFF beauty team offer makeovers, hair styling and goodie bags.