Dress for the season
Another week and another fabulous event celebrating the 10th birthday of Cork boutique Phoenix V.
The iconic Cork boutique was opened by Liza Brennan 10 years ago and is the go-to place for absolute showstopping pieces. It can be difficult to find really special occasion wear and when people think about Cork fashion and style, the boutique is one of the first stores that comes to people’s minds.
Liza has dressed everyone from Lyra to Lisa Jordan and several ladies’ day best dressed winners. The bold colour, strong silhouettes and beautiful embellishments are all part of the Phoenix V DNA.
On the night we were treated to a fashion show showcasing stunning outfits that could take you from a wedding, to race day and even for a hen or special birthday.
The looks were styled with head pieces by the talented Carol Kennelly and jewellery from another great Cork boutique Azure. A particular favourite of mine was a navy and white polka dot dress with a wide brimmed straw hat that was so chic and stylish.
I also loved a full length yellow and blue dress with cutouts that was so fresh and summery. If you’ve got an event coming up, then pop in and get expert advice from Liza and her team.
It can be stressful trying to find the right outfit for that special occasion and I find it hard to buy occasion wear online so being able to pop into a boutique is great and you can’t beat trying on the outfits and getting that honest second opinion.
Be prepared and start your search for the perfect outfit with time to spare in case you may need to do some alterations. I also like to go shopping on a day where I’ve set aside the time to try on and browse.
I also absolutely must have my hair done and some make up on as well as a little bit of tan otherwise no matter what I try on, I’m not going to like it. I also got a great tip from milliner Carol Kenelly on the night as she said if it’s for a wedding go with the dress first and then the headpiece as you want to fit in with the wedding party but if it’s for ladies’ day at the races, go for the hat first because you want the headpiece to attract all the attention to win.
Take the dress code into account and look at invites for clues as to what you should wear. The location, weather, your host’s taste and what the event is for will all come into play.
If in doubt, dress to impress and you won’t go far wrong. I would always prefer to be overdressed than underdressed.
Dress for the season and go shorter or long and flowy in lighter fabrics and with bright colours for spring and summer and play around with rich colour and texture for autumn winter.
Accessories are also key when occasion wear dressing and really you just need a few essentials that you can wear with pretty much anything. I always have a selection of clutch bags in silver and gold which can be matched to most things and for footwear comfort is absolutely key. You need to be able to walk with confidence and not discomfort. Again, I have a pair of silver and gold heels that I can wear with most things and that I can easily walk in so no matter what the outfit I always have some accessories to elevate the look to the next level.