THE GLOSS Magazine’s Gloss Gala 2022, held in association with Goodbody, was attended by 1,600 women from finance, banking, media, law, marketing, media, government, recruitment and tech. The impressive space was completely transformed by THE GLOSS team in elegant shades of cream, with jewel-toned flowers on the tables and huge sparkling chandeliers illuminating the 30m-long catwalk.

Michelle O’Keefe, Goodbody, Jane McDonnell, THE GLOSS and Merryn Somerset Webb.

MC for the evening, Zara King, wearing a bespoke AndTate dress, welcomed guests on behalf of Jane McDonnell, Publisher and Sarah McDonnell, Editor of THE GLOSS.

Zara King.

The theme of the event, Financial Feminism and Investing For Impact, derived from the runaway success of THE GLOSS x Goodbody Investment Club, a female-focused community created during the pandemic to promote financial literacy and candid conversations about money. The message was reiterated by publisher Jane McDonnell: “Our decision-making around money has so much power. If we have the means, we should invest in those sectors and those companies that reflect our values. We’ve learned from The Investment Club that there’s an opportunity for women to recognise the power we hold and use it for good.”

Cally Beaton.

Turning money from a source of stress to a source of strength and also a source of freedom and independence, was reinforced by two influential speakers. Firstly, business leader, broadcaster, writer and performer Callie Beaton discussed financial feminism through the prism of her own personal experience. Beaton set up an award-winning creative consultancy before joining US studio giant ViacomCBS as a Senior Vice President – overseeing budgets in excess of $500 million for brands such as Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount. She inspired with a personal anecdotes and truths: “No amount of money is going to make you happy, but not having enough money is going to make you unhappy. Being financially independent brings me power.”

Merryn Somerset Webb.

Former editor-in-chief of Moneyweek and Financial Times columnist, Clonmel-born Merryn Somerset Webb, spoke on the topic of investing for impact, and how women can influence how companies behave. She welcomed the THE GLOSS X Goodbody Investment Club initiative, and said, “Wealth comes not just in responsibility and the joy of having calmness of wealth, but an ability to make things different, an ability to articulate your own values via your choices.”

As well as hearing from these inspiring speakers, guests were treated to an amazing Look the Business fashion show, delivered by 30 models under the direction of choreographer and stylist Catherine Condell, with hair and make-up by Brown Sugar. The line-up of THE GLOSS’s favourite designers, labels and retailers included designers Helen Cody, Louise Kennedy, and AndTate by Sharon Hoey, boutiques owned by Irish businesswomen including Samui and Havana and great collections from M&S, Dundrum Town Centre, Avoca and Kildare Village. Upbeat, frothy and functional, all guests agreed this was fashion at its best.

The legendary Designer Handbag draw showered gifts on the audience, including a Grand Prize of a champagne appointment at Boodles with a voucher worth €5,000 to spend on jewellery. There was also a fabulous Louise Kennedy bag, beauty, skincare and fragrance gifts from Estée Lauder, Jimmy Choo, Charlotte Tilbury and more as well as vouchers to spend at Chapter One, Kai, Stable Magee 1866 and luxurious stays at the spectacular Ballyfin country house estate in Co Laois, Cashel Palace, The Westbury and Castlemartyr Resort in Cork.

No guest left empty handed; at each place setting was a special THE GLOSS X Goodbody goodie bag in a (reusable) Take Monday pouch with beauty gifts from Ren Skincare, Rituals, Dr Bronners, Blank Canvas, Bare by Vogue and Luna by Lisa in addition to a hair care kit from Alfaparf Milano, and of course a copy of THE GLOSS.

Click into the gallery below to see all the guests who attended the biggest and best GLOSS event yet …

Photography by Conor Healy.