Louise Kennedy AW25 Is The Grown-Up Festive Collection We All Need

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOUISE KENNEDY

If the season calls for partywear then we want it to be sophisticated, with an edge. These after-dark buys from Louise Kennedy’s winter collection heighten the mood …

If, at this time of year, the avalanche of party tops, sparkles and ill-fitting dresses that commandeer the fashion world leaves you feeling less than inspired, just know you have options. And, by options, we mean you should look no further than Louise Kennedy‘s festive drop which promptly puts the elegance back into party dressing. Smouldering with moody sophistication, this season sees one of Kennedy’s strongest collections to date, with smart tailoring, elevated outerwear, nifty accessorising and the right amount of glitter to have us hooked: would we expect anything less from the doyenne of Irish fashion?

Whether you’re browsing Kennedy’s Instagram page, or perhaps you saw the Look The Business fashion show at The Gloss Gala where Kennedy’s take on tuxedo dressing was a stand-out moment, one thing is clear: the storied designer knows how to get glamour just right. For this season, her inspiration is equally as intriguing. The designer counts The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as a source of delight. “Walking through its galleries, we are repeatedly drawn to the emotive power of Franz Kline’s bold brushstrokes and the immersive fields of colour in Rothko’s work. These influences are expressed in our silk prints and in the depth of our black novelty lurex tweeds – each piece a textural interpretation of modern expressionist art,” Kennedy says.

Perhaps, what is the most evocative about the collection is the colour palette. Starting with a base of navy, shades of ivory mingle with French woven jacquards and midnight black wool crêpes and silks. Then there are the jolts of shimmering silver lurex which artfully blend to make scintillating tweed jackets and coats. Speaking of outerwear, it’s particularly appealing for AW25. Look to the Pera lurex tweed coat which comes in striking silver – it’s the kind of piece that makes your coat your entire look. Equally, it’s the elevation of the every day that sees Kennedy’s design talent shine. The Rumi biker jacket, which is hand-embellished with pearls, is pure luxury. There are other embellishments, too. The Kaya beaded sleeveless top and Kamari skirt are a striking duo – we can’t think of any other way to wear feathers that is as chic. Classic dressers will lean into the black Phoebe knitted dress – the jewel detail on the neckline makes it a low-effort piece that has high impact, working just as well for post-work cocktails as it would Christmas day dressing. Lastly, the details matter. If you can only buy one accessory, make it the Bibi corsage: pin it onto an ivory silk blouse to offset black suiting – and let the compliments flood in.