Another set known for nifty Christmas cards are photographers Barry and Mark McCall and the gang at The Studio. This year's slick production was accompanied by a silver eye-mask with the tempting words on it "Come Masquerade With Us This Christmas (Don't Bring The Car)" inviting all the great and the good of the fashion and "meedja" worlds to a party on Wednesday night.
However, even those who know the lengths the crew goes to produce a good Christmas card were surprised by the total transformation of the Ranelagh studio. Karen Stafford, who works with the McCalls, had decked the whole place from top to bottom in drapes of red, lit it with dripping gothic candles and spun images against the wall. She was wearing an amazing peacock feather concoction, while Barry and Mark were welcoming their guests in full Victorian evening dress - complete with canes - to the sounds of opera on the stereo. Even the bar staff for the night were decked out in riding breeches and stocks.
With all that effort made already, it was easy for the guests to kick back and enjoy themselves. Models there included Vivienne Connolly and Sarah Bargus, the fashion set brought forth Jen Kelly, Miriam Mone, Deirdre Fitzgerald and Cuan Hanley; Michael Leong of Peter Marks came on late in the evening as did Sonia Reynolds and Barry Lyons; dancer Jean Butler; and Chris Keegan who has opened up a juice bar called Nectar across the road in Ranelagh. Eddie Shanahan of Arnotts was there with model Marie Staunton, while the Brown Thomas gang included Clodagh Hannon and Catherine Condell. The general topic for the night was how much work still had to be done before Christmas and the general consensus was that the party started here.