Sonia Reynolds has done it again. Next week, more than 200 buyers from the UK, US and Ireland will flock to the capital for the fourth Dublin Fashion Week, this year sponsored by Motorola.
Over 35 labels will be showcased at the Fitzwilliam Hotel on St Stephen's Green, and a number of fashion shows, lectures and talks will be open to the public. Eddie Shanahan will talk about building a brand at 6.30pm on Monday. On Tuesday, the brains behind Motorola designer phones will reveal the marketing strategies linked to product design. Joanne Hynes will show her always-inventive clothes on Wednesday at 1pm (doors open at 12.30pm) and that evening there will be a gala fashion show by Matthew Williamson in the Mansion House at 7pm. For ticket information, see www.dublinfashionweek.com
Fiona McCannasks three department stores for their top three trends for spring/summer
SHELLEY CORKERY, head fashion buyer, Brown Thomas, says:
DRESS TO IMPRESSDrop your trousers girls - this season, it's all about dresses. Whether it's empire line, tube, flute, mini or tunic, no wardrobe is complete without one, and ideally several more than that. According to Shelley Corkery: "If you've three or four dresses in your wardrobe this season, you're dressed." The good news for leggie types and fake-tan manufacturers is that while every style of dress is in, short lengths are the byword, with mini-style 1960s shift dresses making a pronounced return to catwalks.Gucci silver tile print shift dress, €1,850.
THINK BIG Anemphasis on volume continues through fashion trends through this spring/summer, but Corkery emphasises that it's volume with a difference. Remember those delightfully bouncy ballooned skirts? Well, the bad news is they are so last season, sweetie. This year, the fashion gurus are insisting on a more controlled volume, neater and tidier, with straight lines dominating. Confused? Well, the A-line shape is a safe bet, says Corkery, incorporating volume but with a clean line. It's also going to last, with the A-line skirt and dress shape making its presence felt all the way through to the winter season. Chloe brown pinafore style dress, €1,195 and white bell sleeve blouse, €1,340.
KEEP IT GIRLYSo you want to be sporty but without sacrificing femininity? Fear not - one of this spring's big new trends breaks down traditional sportswear styles and reapplies them to a sophisticated look that is all lady. Straight from the Paris catwalks, Corkery says that designers have been focusing on turning athletic looks into very polished attire, and the result is pleasingly versatile. Think cargo dress - pockets, fasteners and zippers are all present, but the look remains supremely feminine. It's sporty but with a sophisticated edge, making it ideal for evening as well as daywear. Moschino knicker-bocker shorts, €370 with chocolate satin blouse, €595.
DEE BREEN, Harvey Nichols head of PR and Marketing, says:
BE A DISCO DIVAGlitter, glitter and more glitter - it's all a girl ever really needs to shine. And for true diva glam this season, it's all about the sequins, sweetie. The 70s and 80s are coming back to shine for spring/summer 07. Bring back Studio 54 with some serious sparkle, and shimmer through soirees with satin, lamé and lurex. Disco dresses, long dresses and plenty of sparkle, a party number from Andrew Gn (€2,150).
REMEMBER ROMANCEThink tulle, chiffon, lace and plenty of flowers - romance has been rekindled in the fashion world for spring/summer '07. With soft, washed pastels and faded neutrals, there is plenty of pretty in the muted tones. According to Breen, silhouettes are more relaxed, but still structured, given hints of volume through layering and decoration. Big names such as Galliano, Lanvin and Donna Karan have all focused on romance for their collections, as has Matthew Williamson ( €1,930).
BAG THIS ONEForewarned is fore-armed, ladies, but nothing can quite prepare you for the Zagliani Bag. Harvey Nichol's piece de resistance, this is more than just a handbag. It's a statement. Made from crocodile and python skin, this aspirational accessory is not only visually stylish with touches of retro combined with a modern touch, but sinfully soft to the touch. This latter effect is thanks to their creator Mauro Orietti-Carella, a trained dermatologist, who developed the special silicone solution injected into each skin to ensure the resulting bag is kept subtle, durable and touchable. It's decadence at your fingertips. And it holds your lipstick, too. From €2,000. (Needless to say, more affordable lookalikes will abound.)
MARIE ROCHE, head of fashion direction, Arnotts, says:
GO HEAVY ON METALMetallics are in with a bling this season. Those not quite ready to wrap themselves head to toe in silver and gold can rest assured - Roche promises there are plenty of low-key options in silks and lines, with muted palettes like ivory or beige worked through with softened metallics. But if you're brave enough, you don't have to stick to subtle, as this silver sequin & white stripe dress testifies. It's from French Connection, €165.
IT'S A BLACK AND WHITE WORLDSome things really are black and white, like the current fashion trend for all things monochromatic. Bring out your inner Audrey Hepburn or Jackie O with simple, black-and-white shift dresses and tied macs. Roche explains that these clean tones are perfectly suited to the feminine, baby-doll look that's floating off catwalks as the world emerges from its winter hibernation and gets out and about again. Finding it all a little 1960s? Then add a touch of technicolour, like this fantastic Daite raincoat with pink Hermès lining for €400.
DARE TO TRY YELLOWYellow may not be not the ideal colour for the Irish complexion, but there's no ignoring it this season, says Roche. The good news is there are plenty of ways to introduce it to your wardrobe while avoiding stepping out like a giant canary. Plenty of softer tones are available, with options to break up the colour with accessories, or to avoid the full-colour impact by pursuing yellow-toned prints. Pure yellow patent handbag, €45.
BUBBLE BUBBLE . . .Pink champagne, quail, lobster, chocolate and raspberries. It's a tempting line-up, and there will be fresh new spring/summer fashions to feast your eyes on, too, at the Clarence Hotel's charity dinner, in association with Pannier Champagne, on Thursday night. Executive chef Fred Cordonnier has designed a decadent menu around five different offerings from the champagne house, and city-centre boutiques Costume, Lara and Smock are providing the fashion interest. And it's all in a good cause, with the Irish Cancer Society as the beneficiary. Tickets are €160 each and can be booked by calling 01-4070813. Marie-Claire Digby