15 Irish Fashion Insiders On Their Hero Party Buys
By Sarah Macken
We asked some of the most stylish Irish women we know to provide us with party dressing inspiration – and they delivered …
Jess Colivet, personal stylist
“I don’t usually shop much on the internet, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this silver sequin dress. When it arrived, it was even more beautiful in real life: it’s the kind of piece that genuinely makes your heart skip when you slip it on. I’ve styled it here with bold blue earrings from Melissa Curry that add a playful pop of colour and my trusty silver slingbacks. It’s a look that’s elegant, a little bit sparkly and comfortable enough to dance the night away in.” @jesscolivet
Silver disc maxi dress, Arrange, €268.99; www.asos.com.
Kim Turkington, content creator
Image: Instagram @kimturkington_.
“My hero party buy this season is a pair of sequin shorts from Reiss which are the perfect mix of playful and polished. I’ll be wearing them with sheer tights, heels and an oversized knit. Cosy up top, disco on the bottom!” @kimturkington_
Burgundy sequin shorts, €170, at Reiss.
Louise Flanagan, co-founder of Kalu
“In our business, our day look needs to be elevated so it can be difficult to feel dressed up going out at night. This season, my go-to pieces are printed separates by For Restless Sleepers. I love to throw the brand’s long, velvet coat over on top which is a bit dressing gown-ish. I feel totally me wearing that kind of look: it still feels ‘fashion-y’, it’s effortless and pyjama-like and, more importantly, it’s unlike anything I would wear to work.” Meanwhile, co-founder of Kalu Kate O’Dwyer notes show-stopping dresses by brand The 2nd Skin Co as her favourites as they are “glamorous, fun, and full of personality”. @emporium_kalu
Yellow patterened top, €1,230; yellow patterned trousers, €930; both For Restless Sleepers at Emporium Kalu.
Niamh O’Donoghue, writer
Image: Instagram @niamh_not_neeme.
“I detest winter – the cold, the seemingly perpetual gloom and the arduous layering of dark, dreary clothes. Black becomes default, navy the variation, grey the punctuation. My sartorial tonic? Washed-out hues like eggshell blue, lavender and punchy chartreuse offer a welcome relief from grayscale, without being jarringly unseasonal. Shrimps’ River coat in blue tartan, below, offers a spritely colour punch for party season, and I’m pairing it with Acne Studio’s Camero bag in a rich and warm dark brown (note: not black!). It’s exactly the kind of eclectic pairing I’d wear to a Christmas party or friends-giving dinner.” @niamh_not_neeme.
Blue River tartan coat, €940; www.shrimps.com.
Johanna Dooley, personal stylist
“With lace being such a big trend right now, these Elle Sasson trousers feel right for party dressing season … they are elevated without trying too hard. They’re incredibly versatile too, I love them for night-time with a feather top and heels, and for daytime with a cosy knit and ballet flats. I’m pairing them with a vintage, sparkly Prada bag for a light, flirty, festive look.” @johannagroganxo
Black Yves wide-leg lace trousers, $426; www.ellesasson.com.
Natasha Sherling, jewellery designer and gemologist
“My hero party dressing piece this season comes from none other than Marks & Spencer. A sparkly mini skirt never fails at this time of year and I love the quilted effect of this one. The chocolate shade is a chic alternative to black; the colour really elevates the piece. And, as my style tends to be quite high/low, I have been pairing it with a crisp white shirt (if you want a niche reference, Carrie Bradshaw in season 4 episode 9 of Sex and the City served as my inspiration) or an oversize cashmere sweater. I’ve even been wearing it with boots during the day and then swapping those out for sky-high heels at night – it’s the perfect desk-to-dinner piece.” @natashasherlingjewellery
Brown satin embellished A-line skirt, M&S Collection, €54, at Marks & Spencer.
Vanessa O’Connell, model
Image: Instagram @vanessa_oconnell.
“The hero party buy I’ve purchased this season is a black maxi dress. (Editor’s note: shop our edit of brilliant black dresses here.) I’ll be styling it with big chunky earrings, gold bangles and heels.” @vanessa_oconnell
Black Philippa knotted crêpe maxi dress, €179; www.meshki.co.uk.
Chupi Sweetman, entrepreneur
“I’m a slow buyer. Whether it’s diamonds or fashion, I mull over my next piece for a few months at least. But the moment I saw this Queens of Archive coat I knew it was meant to be. I’ll wear it for glittering nights out in town and with jeans walking the dog during those long Christmas days. And I plan to be still wearing it when I’m 70!” @chupisweetman
Leopard print Priscilla faux fur jacket, €525.95; www.queensofarchive.com.
Hayley Nolan and Carol St. John, content creators
Image: Instagram @in.theedit.
“I was looking to add some fun and colour to my party wardrobe and this Sleeper cardigan, below, ticked both boxes. The Mandarin detail makes it feel super current and I love that the feather cuffs are detachable,” Hayley says. Meanwhile, Carol is embracing the sheer skirt trend. “This embellished skirt is such a statement piece so I plan to style it with it with an oversized black knit and black kitten heels for an effortlessly cool contrast,” she says. @in.theedit
Mint Crane knitted cardigan with detachable feathered sleeves, €128; eu.the-sleeper.com.
Black mesh embellished skirt, €29.99, at H&M.
Louise Byrne, content creator
Image: Instagram @louise.byrne_.
“If, like me, you want a break from sequins, I’ll be teaming a velvet dress with sheer black tights and chandelier earrings. It’s the perfect look, no matter what your age.” @louise.byrne_
Silver rhinestone chandelier earrings, €59.95, at Massimo Dutti.
Louise Stokes, founder of Loulerie
“I travel to Denmark a lot and, when I’m there, I like to buy one or two key pieces that are missing from my wardrobe. I was missing a party top exactly like this one by Cecilie Bahnsen. The crinkled fabric is great as it travels so well, so it’s ideal for going away. I love it with jeans and flats and then dressed up with leather pants and heels, and some fabulous earrings. Recently, I wore it to a wedding with wide-leg satin pants.” @louiseestokes
Black peplum top, €800; www.ceciliebahnsen.com.
Isabel Gleeson, colour consultant
Image: Instagram @styledbyisabel_.
“For me, the Suzi maxi dress by Sleeper has a gorgeously loose and elegantly refined silhouette which is perfect for comfort, especially this Christmas while I am postpartum. The feather cuffs are detachable so I get two looks with this dress: from full-on festive glamour to a more pared-back, sophisticated style without the feathers, which suits a smaller festive dinner.” @styledbyisabel_
Navy Suzi feather-detail maxi dress, €475; eu.the-sleeper.com.
Val Forde, fashion marketing and PR director
“I bought this fun top from H&M to go with a pair of Chloé trousers I got during the year, which are also cream with fringing, so they are a perfect match! I love wearing white over Christmas, I think it can be really chic.” @val_forde
Cream fringe-trim top, €19.99, at H&M.
We may earn a commission if you buy through affiliate links on our site.
READ MORE: Planning Your Party Outfits? These Minimal Looks Are Inspiring Us
