Style Notes: A diverse Dublin boutique, Caroline Kilkenny’s summer sequins, designer awards and a jewellery collab

When Kelly Callaghan opened her boutique, there was a gasp of delight from customers because of the amount of colour and print she embraced, and nothing has changed in the family-owned store. Kelly’s daughter Emma, along with the boutique’s staff, Sharon and Amanda, all have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to buying trips and choosing a diverse range of clothing.

They stock the minimal and easy-to-wear Meimeij line and Me369, which pulses with energy and creativity. They also have Tomorrow Denim, which is certified by both the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and the EU Ecolabel, the highest possible honour within sustainability.

The Malina label comes from Stockholm, while Sort Aarhus is a new label from Denmark, which is where the comfy Lofina shoes come from.

All that glitters

I never fail to be surprised by Caroline Kilkenny, whose eponymous and Sisters ranges are available in stores around the country and on her own website.

She is always very original with her take on occasion and smart-casual designs. A real favourite this summer is the fluid ‘Logan’ dress with flip sleeve and gathered front.

She aims to achieve accessible luxury and I think she has done it in spades with this dress. carolinekilkenny.com

Copenhagen bound

When I saw Sinéad O’Dwyer’s two recent shows at London Fashion Week, I knew that this Irish designer was on the brink of something big. I didn’t have to wait long.

Sinéad, from Tullamore, Co Offaly, has been named as winner of the Zalando Visionary Award 2024 and, as a recipient of the award, she is going to make her Copenhagen Fashion Week runway debut in August.

This awards scheme aims to recognise the makers of the future and enable designers to showcase not only their sustainability efforts but also their dedication to creativity, innovation and positive social impact, supporting them to make meaningful change within the fashion industry and beyond.

Last September, Sinéad brought us back to her old alma mater, the Royal College of Art in Kensington. Sitting in front of the glazed-iron roof of the Royal Albert Hall, we watched as the Irish woman explained her collection, titled ‘Assembly’.

Recollections of her uniform from Killina secondary school informed her box-pleated culottes, rara shorts, shirting, and her first denim jean features Swarovski crystal applique.

Sinéad has a big fan base for her figure-cladding webbed dresses, which come in schoolhouse stripes, using an intricate technique that fuses picot-trimmed, shirred satin bands with robust elastication.

Beach vibes

I always love to see creatives team up together, and all the better if they are neighbours! Louise Stokes of Loulerie on Chatham Street and Rae Feather from the Westbury Mall are launching their exciting new collaboration next week.

Louise tells me, “We’ve been hard at work designing a stunning capsule jewellery collection inspired by relaxed summer travels and beach vibes.”

Check it out in both stores and online. loulerie.com; raefeather.com

Student win

Look out for the name Dennis Lawless as one to watch in years to come. The 23-year-old from Edenderry, Co Offaly, has just been named as winner of this year’s coveted River Island NCAD Fashion Design Bursary.

Now in its 20th year, the bursary has proved to be an important stepping stone for NCAD graduates to get onto the first rung of the ladder in the fashion industry.

He receives a bursary of €3,500 and will be offered a three-month paid internship at River Island’s design studio in west London.

The students were invited to consider their favourite River Island moment in time and use this to create the ultimate celebration collection.

Dennis’s talents shone with some really clever modular, gender-fluid pieces that are bold and experimental. He designed two tailored jackets that can be worn multiple ways and styled one as a skirt under a jacket for the awards lunch. riverisland.com