THERE'S nothing like the sight of the "beautiful people" dancing to make the rest of us feel distinctly inclined to stay sitting down. Following the Hudson Blue competition for the best club look on Wednesday, the Pod's dancefloor was jumping with flares, fluff and unseasonably tanned flesh as the winner, Brenda Aherne, was joined by models John Dixon (wearing her knitted plastic baggies entitled, intriguingly, "Electronic Sheep"), Ally Phelan, Marie Staunton, Laura Bermingham, Vivienne Connolly and Natasha Byram.
One of the judges, DJ Johnny Moy, took a back seat to chat to designer Grainne Walsh. In the more relaxed atmosphere of the Chocolate Bar, the other judges - designer Cuan Hanley and Red or Dead's creative director, Wayne Hemingway - had escaped to play pool. Hanley talked of his long term plans to market his clothes in Japan: after his stint working with Paul Smith, a designer much loved by the Japanese, he has almost more contacts there than here.
Hemingway received his heart's desire (a Dualite toaster) as thanks for his trouble. He said the awards were an admirable excuse for a holiday in Ireland, which he raved about on Channel 4's The Big Breakfast on Thursday.