Party power

Two Cork celebrities have been voted Ireland’s most ideal party companions as part of a new winter fashion survey.

The survey, carried out by fashion outlet Very, saw Cillian Murphy voted Ireland’s dream male Christmas party date with 39% of women choosing the Cork native. Murphy fended off the likes of Jamie Dornan (33%), Niall Horan (31%), and Paul Mescal (29%).

In the ideal party wing woman category, Cork’s own ‘Derry Girls’ star and TV presenter, Siobhan McSweeney comfortably topped the list with 43%, followed by Joanne McNally (28%), Emma Doran (23%), and CMAT (23%).

The survey also found that 81% of Irish women plan their party outfits in advance, with only 9% leaving it to the day of the event.

Meanwhile, 47% struggle to balance comfort and style, with 56% opting for flats over heels for all-night wearability.

More than half of women surveyed prefer a classic, simple look while two-thirds say they’re braver with fashion at Christmas. 86% said they plan to rewear a special party outfit rather than buy a once-off look.

When it comes to the festive season, red was the top colour choice, standing out as the ultimate Christmas shade. For textures, sequins (30%) narrowly outshone velvet (28%), while understated elegance (42%) remains a popular approach.

The survey coincides with the launch of influencer Carol Byrne’s exclusive partywear fashion edit.

Carol said: “This time of year is such a fun one for partywear fashion — you can really play around with your style but still keep it comfy and confident.”