Fashion with Compassion by Order of St. Lazarus. Last Friday the 28th of September saw a rather unique fashion event at the Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club in Dublin as over twenty of Ireland’s top designers came together to participate in the 10th annual Irish Fashion Exposure in aid of charities supported by the Order of St. Lazarus, Ireland.

This highly organised event, which is now a staple of the Irish fashion scene, provides a rare opportunity to experience fresh ideas by up and coming Irish design talent in a single coordinated show.

Those who attended were treated to a range of clothing suitable for day and evening wear presented in this salon type environment as complete ensembles.

And this is the unique appeal of Irish Fashion Exposure, it provides ideas for complete looks such as cashmere dresses by Laura Chambers accessorised with intricate neckpieces by Blaithín Ennis, special headpieces by milliner Michelle Kearns and the leather wear of Roisin Gartland and Úna Burke.

Highlights of the show included the capes of Alison Conneely which evoked the glamorous style of 1930s Hollywood but with a sumptuously modern twist.

The square outline of Alison’s Demi Knave Black waist length Cape in pure wool will compliment any body shape and add a touch of sophistication to casual or formal occasions.

Indeed, it would seem that striking sculptural silhouettes in traditional Irish fabrics were the order of the day from designers such as Fintan Mulholland, Niall Tyrall and Natalie B Colman who won applause from the audience for her Irish tweed frilled coats with large pockets, as host Marietta Doran was quick to draw attention to.

Other show stoppers included Helen Steel’s “Paint Ball” dress which was winging its way to New York as soon as the last model left the catwalk.

Don O’Neill had sent his collection in from the Big Apple earlier in the week and Claire O’Connor had flown in her designs especially for the show.

The event, organised by Fiona Foy Holland for the Order of St. Lazarus Ireland, has secured its place as a hot ticket and a date to be marked in bold red on the Irish Fashion Calendar.

Fiona is already developing the event and promises a bigger and more fabulous show next year with even more Irish design talent on show. A big congrats to the Order of St. Lazarus and all our wonderful fashion designers who participated! Article written by Derek Byrne and compiled by Kay Fitzgerald

Fashion with Compassion by Order of St. Lazarus

Photos courtesy of kieranharnett.com