Deirdre McQuillan's style file
BAGS OF TALENT Two third-year fashion students at NCAD have won €250 each and an opportunity to work with Edmund Chesneau in his design studios in a competition sponsored by the Irish leather goods label. There were three categories to the brief, which included an analysis of the brand and practical development ideas. The winners were Ann-Marie Rigney from Shankill, Co Dublin with a collection based on the shapes, colours and knots of tallships (top bag), and Eileen Tyrrell of Allihies, Co Cork with one inspired by armour and the colours and textures of marble and flowers (right) . Both will have the opportunity to see their collection, if successful, go into commercial production. The course tutors were Nigel Cheney and Linda Byrne.
GOOD BUY We love the stone-coloured leather jacket (€134.50) with its delicate punching and tiny scalloped edging, from River Island's latest collection. This is an item which would look as good with jeans as with a tailored skirt. The collection also features metallic fabrics such as blouses and bell skirts in metallic linen, worn with ropes of beads that look exactly like green olives. Another cute item is a cinch belt (€50.50) in black leather with big metal eyelets at the front, through which the belt is tied. In stores now.
HOT TO TROT Classic dance movies inspire the shoes made by footwear newcomer, Courtney Crawford, a young US designer already being hailed as "the new Manolo". His premier collection, called The Tease, is out this spring and the Pink Room in Carlingford, Co Louth and Cabinteely, Co Dublin has secured some of the styles, exclusive in Ireland. Crawford is 26 years old and from St Louis. He drew his first portrait of a shoe at the age of three. His collection is all about red carpet glamour and heels as high as they come, with names such as Flash Dance and Wait Until Dark. Made by craftsmen in the Veneto region of Italy, they cost around €430 a pair.