Best of the Rest

Well there’s been a plethora of summer events boasting best dressed competitions of late and here are a couple of the winners, as judged by a host of Ireland’s foremost fashion experts (so who am I to contradict?)...

The winner of the Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed Lady Competition on Ladies Day at the Galway Races was 1. Suzanne McGarry from Sligo. Ms. McGarry wore a red vintage dress, accessorized with a Lina Stein designed dome shaped cream and black hat embellished with pearls and handmade silk roses; 2. Over at the RDS Horse Show Yvette Byrne (23) from Carlow won the best dressed lady competition sponsored by Blossom Hill; 3. Meanwhile IMAGE editrix Melanie Morris and beauty guru Triona McCarthy show them how it’s done as they wear head pieces from Michael Leong and Designs by Shimmer respectively.

(Pix: Andrew Downes / Paul Sherwood)

Best of the Rest

It’s summer, but not as we know it. With the rather, eh, changeable weather we’ve been experiencing lately it can be difficult to dress appropriately. No bother to this lot though who wear it well:

1. While Sonya Lennon may work in fashion it doesn’t preclude her from being in the Best of the Rest list. Her she is in a Tim Ryan creation pictured at the launch of Brown Thomas new AW collection It’s no accident that the same people win best dressed contests, they just know how to dress well;

2. Robert Burch and Sean Arkins are two thirds of The Original Rudeboys, an acoustic hiphop ensemble that you will be hearing a lot about. Their style (just like their music) is original, uncomplicated and effortlessly cool;

3. This is Orla Wade who hit the right note with her contemporary after-work look at the Bulmers Live at Leopardstown event where she won a heat of the Fashion Rocks contest. The finale takes place on Thursday 11 August at Leopardstown race course.

(Pix. Leon Farrell/Photocall & James Horan/Collins Photos)

Best of the Rest

It may be summer but the sun isn’t shining much. Despite this meteorological mishap we have some great fashion fixes to brighten up the day.

1. Just like Una McBreen in this vivid ensemble at the launch of the Miss Chic jewellery collection at Vanilla nightclub; 2. Scott Campbell is the weatherman fronting the Budweiser Ice Cold Index campaign in Ireland. He looks pretty cool in a suit; 3. Every inch the Golden Goddess, former Miss Ireland Yvonne Ellard radiates in this amazing dress with matching sun kissed tan at the launch of the Dublin Horse Show.

(Pix. Kieran Harnett / Leon Farrell)

Best of the Rest

Best of the Rest … those who brought a sense of style to the occasion …

1. Top model Alison Canavan proves that less really is more. Here she is at the Rockstar Tan party in La Stampa looking every inch a supermodel in a simple sweater and jeans combo. Her biggest accessory is her smile (which even the Cartier watch can’t compete with); 2. Where in the World has Theresa Lowe been? Those of you d’un certain age will remember her as one of RTE’s bright stars and, as you can see, she was shining at the opening party for Brasserie Le Pont; 3. Susie Koumarianos, aka pastry chef the Burlesque Baker, certainly has her own inimitable style (look at those shoes!) and always brings a bit of life to every party.

(Pix. McEvoy / Healy / Woods)

Best of the Rest

Best of the Rest ... It would actually be easier to pick out fashion disasters each week; far more people get it wrong than right, more’s the pity. Hopefully, however, those who need style counsel will take heed of those featured here.

This week ... 1. TV producer Debbie O’Donnell looked so chic at the M&S Garden BBQ, simple elegance that was appropriate for the occasion; 2. Annmarie O’Connor is a fashion writer and stylist, and it shows. Here she accessorises the LBD with dramatic effect (but doesn’t let the neckpiece take over) at the Wilde Literary Supper Club launch in the Westbury Hotel; 3. It’s evident that Clodagh Maguire, pictured at the Bushra Beauty launch, knows her own style and she wears this classic wrap dress very well.

(Pix. Kieran Harnett / Anthony Woods)

Best of the Rest

Best of the Rest ... who brought it to the party this week ... 1. Great print dress and bag from Amy Richards at the Divine Boutique Spring Summer fashion show in Maynooth; 2. Romy Carroll certainly brightened up the Savoy with this yellow number at the premiere of the Hangover 2, her she’s pictured with Dave Henderson; 3. Designer handbags at dawn! Georgina Pukas totes Louis Vuitton while Ruth Puidokoite grabs a Gucci at the opening of Farmleigh Craft 2011 which runs until the 24th of July 2011 at Farmleigh House Gallery.

(Pix. Harnett / McEvoy / Stedman / Photocall)

Best of the Rest

(Pix. Harnett / McEvoy)

Best of the Rest ... the guests that brought style to the party this week ... 1. Not only is she a top chef but she’s got an eye for fashion too, Clodagh McKenna is very on trend with her nude tone dress at the Angels Quest charity lunch in the Four Seasons Dublin; 2. Mary and Ruth Kelleher look so effortlessly elegant at the Jacob’s Creek ‘Add a Little Sparkle’ evening in Residence; 3. Fashion designer Grainne Walsh (of the label Ella Boo) makes a statement in this glamorous white fur at the Peter Mark NCAD show.

Best of the Rest

This week the Best of the Rest in the style wars …. 1. Laura Whiston and Lorna Weightman brought some bright cheer to West Coast Cooler’s Citra party in Residence; 2. Jane Given, pictured with her Irish footballer husband Shay, looks so glamorous in a metallic dress from Victoria Beckham’s AW11 collection at the Fashion Kicks charity show in Manchester; 3. Isabelle Traber rocks the 70s look at a TK Maxx fashion event with an outfit completely sourced from the designer-brands-for-less store.

(Pix. Harnett / Farrell / Photocall)

Best of the Rest

Best of the Rest …. this week’s fashion forward party people: 1. Theatre director Annabelle Comyn looks great in this ensemble at the opening party for her latest production, Pygmalion at the Abbey; 2. Cristine Aspen & Laura Scanlon are effortlessly chic in blue jeans at the Tommy Hilfiger do (love Christine’s oversized Stella McCartney bag); 3. Delicate prints are in vogue with Aisling O’Loughlin & Saoirse Ronan at the Cinemagic film festival launch.

(Pix. Harnett / McEvoy / Mark Stedman)

Best of the Rest

Best of the Rest in the fashion stakes ... 1. A lot of recent events require the wearing of a hat and milliner Martha Lynn certainly knows how to do that. Here she is sporting one of her own creations at the Boodles royal wedding party; 2. Another person who has tremendous style and wears a hat well is Anne Marie McManus, she regularly tops the best dressed polls and looks trés elegant here at the Fairyhouse races; 3. Aspiring politician Dylan Haskins normally rocks a minimal, tightly buttoned look but here he is, relaxed at the MindField festival, collar undone. Almost looks like a different person.

(Pix. Sherwood / Harnett / Richard Walshe)

Best of the Rest

This week’s Best of the Rest in the fashion stakes.... 1. Avila Lipsett & Norman Pratt could well have coordinated their outfits before attending the Giorgio Armani soirée (right down to the patent footwear) but I don’t think they did. It’s just a coincidence that they both look immaculate. 2. Love this quirky outfit Andrea Cullen wore to the Triumph Inspiration Awards. Andrea’s a student at LSAD and I suspect it might be one of her own designs. 3. Dylan Townsend & David Lawrence are actors, but you could tell that, right? Dylan looked so effortlessly cool at the premiere of the movie Thor this week.

(Pix. Photocall / McEvoy)

Best of the Rest

(Pix. McEvoy / Harnett / Photocall)

This week’s Best of the Rest in the fashion stakes.... 1. Elaine Butler – Doolin & Virginia Macari rock the LBD at John Fitzpatrick’s New York party; 2. Valerie O’Reilly looked effortlessly chic when she attended the Matt The Thresher opening; 3. Suzie Koumarianos channels her personality (she’s the Burlesque Baker after all) at the Veuve Cliquot awards.

Best of the Rest

(Pix. McEvoy / Harnett)

Those who really rocked it in the Style Stakes this week...

1. Lindsey Cavanagh channels a funky preppy style at the Hilfiger Denim party (pictured with Cathal Carty); 2. Yvonne Conroy & Deirdre Kelly look trés elegant at the Fashion Exposure lunch; 3. Head of Marketing at Arnotts Jayne O’Keeffe demonstrates colour good blocking at her own fashion show on Tuesday.