M&S SS13

Springtime: 1. Melanie Morris and Constance Harris; 2. Aisling O’Loughlin; 3. Ciara O Connell and Declan Leavy. (Pix. KH)

Over 100 of Ireland’s top fashion and lifestyle media were treated to an exclusive preview this week of the M&S Spring Summer 2013 collections, which are now available to purchase in-store and online.

The static press show was hosted in the exquisite Georgian surrounds of Wilson Hartnell offices and showcased the key trends from M&S for the season ahead. Stylist Catherine Condell and Marketing Manager of M&S Ireland Carmel Breheny were on hand to talk to media about the trends, which this
season include Print Fusion, Mono Pop, Modern Luxe and Urban Utility.

Among the fashion fans were stylists Aisling Farinella and Courtney Smith, TV presenter Aisling O’Loughlin (sporting a sparkling smile from Dental Plus Ireland), Edward Smith of Suburbia magazine and writer Anne Boylan, Emily O’Donnell and Sive O’Brien of IMAGE.

Lennon Courtney

In Vogue: 1. Helen Sweeney and Peter O'Brien; 2. Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney; 3. Sharon Bannerton and Margaret Nelson. (Pix. KH)

Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney launched their first capsule collection Lennon Courtney in Arnotts and what a debut it is! The collection of 32 styles consists of wardrobe solutions for a busy woman who is style conscious but not trend led. Eight models showcased the 32 pieces on a 21ft black catwalk in front of some of the industry’s top fashion media and VIP’s.

Collectively, Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney have 35 years experience in the fashion industry, both known for their personal style and are respected fashion commentators.

The Lennon Courtney offering is distinctive yet understated and Irish designed. Built on their strong philosophy of developing a style prescription based on an analysis of body shape and lifestyle needs, each seasonal offering will include wardrobe basics and accent pieces and will work with previous season’s offerings.

According to the style duo: “We want our customers to open their wardrobes and see loyal friends and hard working pieces relevant to them, based on their body shape and lifestyle. Our woman is smart, stylish and doesn’t like to get caught in a trend-rush, she does however, want to look current and confident. We give her an easily digestible edit of key pieces to furnish a fully functional wardrobe.

“Our inspiration is the women that we work with, real women in the real world. We know that the length of the sleeve is as important as the length of a skirt. We know where women need help concealing and what to accent.”

In attendance on the night were Lorraine Keane, Kathryn Thomas, Pamela Flood, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh, Alison Canavan, designer Peter O’Brien, Ingrid Hoey, Sonia Reynolds, publicist Sharon Bannerton, IMAGE editrix Melanie Morris and Arnotts’ Fashion Director Deirdre Devaney.

Odeon luxe

At the Movies: 1. Sarah McGovern and Aoibhin Garrihy; 2. Mairead Farrell; 3. Lorna Davis and Catherine Browne.

ODEON Cinema Blanchardstown is giving everyone the chance to live the VIP lifestyle.  The cinema has unveiled brand new luxury leather seating installed throughout the isense theatre (screen 1). I

Invited guests got the chance to enjoy the comfort of the new seating and the isense experience with a special screening of new hit comedy ‘This is 40’.  Guests on the night included Mairead Farrell, GAA player Eamon Fennell, Irish Cricketer Alex Cusack, Nikki Hayes, actress Norma Sheehan and model Sarah McGovern.

The new isense premium seating in the 382 seat isense screen in ODEON Blanchardstown is designed to give movie fans the most comfortable viewing environment in which to experience the crystal sharp picture, booming 360° sound and awesome 3 storey screen of isense.  

Fighting Blindness ball

The fifth annual Sporting Dinner and Awards night hosted by the Irish research charity Fighting Blindness took place at The Shelbourne. Sporting and medical professionals alike came together to celebrate 30 years of world-leading research into treatments and cures for blindness.

Pictured: 1. Sorcha Horan and Jenny Lee Masterson; 2. Caroline O Leary and Siobhan Kelleher; 3. Sinead McClusky and Barbara O’Neil. (Pix. COS / Photocall)

Indie Dhaba

Dhaba do: 1. Rachel Copeland and Louis Copeland; 2. Barbara McGowan and Vivienne Doyle; 3. Cormac Lynch and Liv Morgan. (Pix. BMcE)

Guests were invited to ‘be seduced by spices, a touch of mystique and a heady feast for the senses’ by Tariq and Kamrun Salahuddin to celebrate the opening of Indie Dhaba Restaurant on Anne’s Lane, off Dublin’s Grafton St. 

The new Indian ‘dhaba dining’ concept has been introduced to Ireland for the first time at Indie Dhaba which has already become something of a celebrity hot spot having welcomed a number of well known faces since opening its doors just 2 months ago (the Midday girls held their Christmas bash there).

Guests at the Bollywood style bash at Indie Dhaba included Voice of Ireland presenter Kathryn Thomas, artist Guggi, model Alison Canavan, singer Brian Kennedy, John Norton and Vivienne Connolly, stylist Darren Kennedy and Andrea Hayes.

Some guests arrived in the authentic Indie Dhaba rickshaw and all were greeted by an exotic fire display and a stunning Bollywood themed entrance and journey down to the gastronomic delight of the restaurant.

Traditional royalty would graze their way through a succession of grilled delicacies from the Tawa, Sigri and Tandoor, then finish with a single grand dish of a special curry with rice/bread or a Biryani.  Indie Dhaba opens until 1.30am and offers an eclectic mix of innovative Indian Tapas, sharing plates and authentic Indian recipes along with award winning cocktails. The place takes its inspiration from an age old approach to Indian fine dining. 

JDIFF

JDIFF: 1. Emma Liz Regan  and Randal Plunkett; 2. Tim Roth; 3. Cillian Murphy. (Pix. BMcE)

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival opened with a bang this week, presenting the Gala screening of Broken, with stars Tim Roth and Cillian Murphy in attendance, along with director Rufus Norris, writer Mark O’Rowe and producers Dixie Linder, Tally Gardner and Nick Marston. The very special event also saw Cillian Murphy present a Volta, the festival career achievement award, to Tim Roth before the screening, celebrating Roth’s roles in some of the most iconic films of his three decade long career.

The festival continues until 24th February, with special guests including Danny DeVito for the Jameson Cult Film Club screening of LA Confidential and a Volta presentation by Brendan Gleeson after the screening of The War of the Roses; actor James D’Arcy who will attend the screening of Cloud Atlas; director Costa-Gavras who will attend the screening of his new film Capital along with actor Gabriel Byrne.

Love & the Goddess

Litterati: 1. Mary Lee and Jane Lundon; 2. Mary Coen; 3. Rebecca Coen and Bobby Mahon. 
(Pix. Richie Stokes)

Fashion Editor Constance Harris launched Love & the Goddess, Mary Elizabeth Coen’s debut novel in Lost Society this week. Both the glitterati and the litterati of Dublin’s society turned up to support Mary, with many friends and family too.

PJ Gibbons of Social & Personal attended along with Rebecca Morgan and upcoming model Emma Carey. Sunday Independent columnist Barry Egan was with Tom Blake.  Fashion designers Pauric Sweeney, Mary Grant and Claire Garvey attended along with top stylists Cathy O’Connor and Maria Fusco. JJ Gibbons of The Irish Times arrived looking dapper as usual.

Goddess cocktails were served; hibiscus flowers in champagne and Bellini cocktails along with delicious hors d’oeuvres and cupcakes topped with edible versions of the book.  Mary read two passages from the new novel to a gathering who embraced it as “the Irish Eat, Pray, Love”.