EMBROIDERY GEMS AT FLOURISH FESTIVAL
The decorative paintings of Jennifer Cavey O'Donoghue reveal the influence of her time working in Lesage, the famous embroidery house in Paris whose craftsmanship underpins haute couture.
This fine arts NCAD graduate who was recently commissioned by Anthony Peto for his hat shop in Dublin has also attracted the attention of a UK collector following a piece about her in Vogue's Gallery.
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Her new exhibition featuring women portrayed as marble busts has some pieces that have involved over 100 hours of hand embroidery, Japanese silk ribbon and appliqué along with vintage fabrics and beads which she has been collecting from all around the world.
The peacock feathers, however, are from her own birds Ernest and Gwendolen who shed their feathers once a year. "Flourish" opens at Shankill Castle, Paulstown, Co Kilkenny, on Sunday, August 7th, and runs until August 14th. La Scala Lady: acrylic, ink, hand embroidery.
SUPER SAVINGS ON SUMMER COLLECTION
Irish designer Gillian Leavy, one of the new names in Arnotts, had two of her outfits in the store's recent show, one a long black embossed velvet gown with a Prussian green fake fur and the second a black cropped button back jacket (cut from a traditional blazer stripe) in wool and cotton mix with crop trousers. The Dundalk-based designer based in a studio in Clanbrassil Street is concentrating on her own label having closed her shop, Eden. Her summer collection is currently on sale in the Design Centre in Powerscourt with 30 per cent off everything including this "Dotty Stardust" black number which is now €345.
SONY SHINES Sony has partnered with sustainable swimwear label Auria to create a capsule collection made from old headphone wires. The collaboration was inspired by Sony's new wireless headphones, which leave tangled, old, headphones a little redundant.
The colourful collection includes a lime yellow passport cover, a pink sunglasses case, a red beach bag, a blue smartphone case and charcoal black beach sliders. Finally an excuse to clear out that drawer at home.
STYLE SECRET
“I wish I didn’t but pressure on myself when I was younger to buy into trends. A few years ago I started to save up for pieces that were going to last and every time I took them out of my wardrobe make me feel excited.
"Last year I bought a pair of red satin no.21 slip-on shoes that I adore – a male friend told me they looked like slipper pretzels and he hated them, this made me love them more." – Jessica Blake, fashion blogger @ihavethisthingfor
WEAR IT
This silk pocket square showing the Dublin skyline is the perfect present for the man in your life (€29.99 from Mr Jenks at mrjenks.com).
STEAL V SPLURGE
Style through to autumn with this Silk Midi Dress for €1,245 from Preen by Thornton Bregazzi at Brown Thomas or with this bad moon rising maxi dress for €85 from nastygal.com.
