Style Notes: Lennon Courtney’s new collection at Kilkenny Design and Fran + Jane marks 21st birthday

On the awards night, the pair were presented with the Favourite Irish Designer award. Next Tuesday, they launch Bealtaine, their third collection for Kilkenny Design, and on Friday, the pieces in sizes XS-XXL go on sale in stores around the country.

Sonya says, “The story of our models is really important to us. They are all retail staff in Kilkenny Design and we really wanted the women who sell our clothes to understand them, to feel what it was like to enjoy them, and I think when you look at the range of shapes and sizes, heights and skin tones that can wear these colours, they universally work.”

To prove their point, they took the A-line, V-neck dress in the ‘Freedom’ print and put it on women of different shapes and heights.

“That image is responsive to queries and questions like, ‘Oh, I can’t wear Lennon Courtney because I’m not tall enough’ and us constantly saying, ‘But Sonya is five foot two inches’,” says Brendan. “We wanted to really drive that home so people didn’t feel excluded from the possibility of wearing it.”

The vibrant print has been used in a number of separates, including a camisole, trousers, an overshirt, a long tunic dress, two scarves, printed canvas tote, crossbody bag and through into metal enamelled homewares, including a large bowl. They have used up all the printed fabric in a very sustainable method of production, which means each piece has a unique print placement.

“The cami has straps wide enough to hide your bra straps and an adjustable slider at the back so you can fix it for your height, and it’s just all those little things, to be mindful that we are all different, we all have different bits and pieces going on,” says Sonya.

There are 53 pieces costing between €24 and €330 in the clothing and homewares collection. The design duo built them out to include a full-on colour “punch” and also a “sleeper” palette “to sit alongside that, not just for different women but different moods of the same woman,” says Sonya.

Elsewhere, there is a classic fit-and-flare-shaped dress in tangerine with slash neck and cap sleeves that “conceal and reveal”, which Sonya especially loves.

They have also designed a number of pieces in anthracite/slate grey. The ‘Armour’ top (€75) and matching bell-shaped skirt (€95) in a glazed cotton fabric with 3pc elastane will be popular, as will the ‘Anna May’ cape-sleeve dress (€140), with slashed neckline and relaxed bell sleeve in a viscose and nylon fabric.

The fit-and-flare-shaped ‘Moonray’ pleat stripe knit dress (€130) has a deep crossover V-neck and a cap sleeve. “It’s like a fortuny knit and is super comfortable. A perfect travel garment — roll it up in a ball, shake it out and off you go.”

Sonya adds, “There’s possibilities in this collection for people regardless of age, and we love that.” kilkennydesign.com

Boutique’s 21st birthday

I dropped in to see Fran Nolan and Jane Baker as they prepare to celebrate the 21st birthday of their Fran + Jane store on Main Street, Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Fran + Jane was a big manufacturing brand back in the day and I got to know it very well after I was chosen as Best Dressed Lady at Leopardstown Races and had a big voucher from them to spend.

Two decades later, I still have many of their pieces, which only goes to show what a fantastic eye the dynamic duo have for enduring wardrobe pleasers.

The two businesswomen left the manufacturing scene to concentrate on retail and will mark the big birthday of their Blackrock boutique in style on May 15.

They stock a selection of handy brands, including Silk95Five, a fabulous, washable stretch silk collection; Hale Bob from LA; Levete Room from Denmark; and the Italian brand Lavi, whose dresses with and without sleeves are quite special.

New this season, they have introduced a lovely French label, Valérie Khalfon, which is exclusive to them in Dublin. Summer pieces include the ‘Bona’ top in a knit fabric which has a fluid fall and comes with matching pants in the same ‘Portimao’ orange pattern.

I love finding summer dresses that work equally well on a casual night out to a special occasion and, with that in mind, the Valérie Khalfon ‘Klein’ flared maxi dress (€399) with navy and cream embroidery and pretty sleeve detail in 97pc cotton/3pc elastane gets my vote.

The store also has a very strong accessories offering with an especially fab selection of lightweight earrings. franandjane.com