With 130 sleek and chic fashion looks, 30 models and the longest runway in Ireland, it’s safe to say the Look the Business fashion show at The Gloss Gala was a style extravaganza. Stylist Catherine Condell showcased an expertly-curated edit from brands such as Avoca, M&S, Kildare Village and Dundrum Town Centre to name just a few. There was ample hair and make-up inspiration too, with polished ponytails by Christian Shannon and team and glossy skin (Sculpted by Aimee’s Beauty Base in Pearl created that luminous glow) by make-up artist Dearbhla Keenan and team, both from Brown Sugar.

Dundrum Town Centre opened the show – the mood was sleek and stylish, with Pinko and Kitri at Harvey Nichols delivering feminine suiting and puff-shouldered dresses in shades of rose and fuchsia. LK Bennett’s perfect pieces will see you through a day’s work, or post-work event, with confidence and aplomb. We loved the standout emerald green satin dress and box-check coats. Pleated skirts by Hobbs and Mint Velvet are sound desk-to-dinner pieces, to dress up or down, while a pitch-perfect ivory tuxedo suit, by Pinko at Harvey Nichols, should be your go-to when cocktail hour calls. 

AndTate, the brainchild of celebrated Irish fashion designer Sharon Hoey and Richard Tate, presented a capsule collection of easy and elegant clothes. The AndTate silhouette is something special: think tulle and organza full skirts complemented by sleek raglan and tunic tops. Our favourite piece? The moonflower embossed pussy-bow blouse urges us to make our office look a little more feminine, while the feather-light but beautifully structured skirts are a thoughtfully conceived triumph of design, fabric and tailoring.

Cork boutique Samui is known for its razor-sharp edit of designer collections that speak to personal style. Cuts are refined, colours are classic and silhouettes are bold. Opening Samui’s segment was a pastel yellow roll-neck sweater and wool trousers, both by Jil Sander – a chic nod to monochromatic dressing. If you wondered whether jumpsuits are in, the answer is an emphatic yes: see the bold-shouldered black tailored all-in-one by Roksanda which stormed the runway. Note the soft tailoring by Dorothée Schumacher; suiting is relaxed this season … time to exhale!

We love M&S for workwear – and with good reason. What’s exciting now is the brand’s no-holds-barred approach that embraces colour, embellishment and comfort. Tailoring is exceptionally bold – scarlet suits as well as relaxed blouses and trousers in shades of teal and cobalt. Top tip: wear one colour from head to toe. At nighttime, it’s all about sparkle! Seek out sequined separates in shades of silver – we loved the co-ordinating sparkling jacket and tie-belt dress. Choose a forever coat that will work for your day, whatever you have in store. A fuchsia robe-tie coat turns heads, or you could go classic with a shrug-on faux fur or, the coat of the moment, a teddy style.

The doyenne of occasion dressing, Louise Kennedy is the designer of polished forever pieces. You’ll be glad to know the LBD is going nowhere. A hero piece this season is a woven cap-sleeve dress with a feathered hemline trim: a magnificent look for major meetings or after hours. The cape reigns supreme as an elegant alternative to the coat. Choose one in gold or black; it will be sure to elevate your look.

At Havana, it’s the season of the dress: good news for us! We’ll endorse an investment in an exceptional frock, particularly when it’s a frill-sleeved number by The Vampire’s Wife, a printed look by Emilia Wickstead or a softly sculpted beaded dress by homegrown talent Simone Rocha. There was practicality, too: hand-knit sweaters by Colin Burke, polo-necks by Sian Jacobs and bootcut trousers by Roisin Gartland, perfect office attire, worked the runway. As usual, the Donnybrook boutique demonstrates how avant garde brands, like Junya Watanabe and Commes des Garçons, can work for everyday dressing.

Avoca has expanded its range of fabulous fashion with labels like Selected Femme, Maison Labiche and One Hundred Stars leading the charge at the much-loved Irish retailer. This is clothing that elevates the everyday; do the commute in a box-check camel coat, go out to lunch in a printed floral skirt or slip into something a little more comfortable, a satin do-it-all wrap dress in jet black. Upgrade with accessories: Add a colour-pop cross-body by Irish label Peelo, or an on-trend burgundy leather bag by Aoife Lifestyle. Better yet: an XL quilted leather bag – the kind that holds everything – by Second Female is your new workwear saviour.

From Helen Cody came a collection of pieces that wowed the audience, with many making a mental note to commission a bespoke piece. A Bordeaux silk and tulle skirt mingled with an origami silk and Japanese grosgrain corset. Going all out? Choose between a liquorice black layered silk dress or a midnight laser-cut 1950s inspired cocktail gown. With the highest levels of craftsmanship and a fine eye for what women really want, these are clothes that are anything but ordinary.

Kildare Village closed the show, and kept the audience enthralled to the very end of the show. Key workwear looks came from Gerard Darel, Eleventy and Johnstons of Elgin. From a striking caramel cashmere knit coat, knitted top and skirt by Johnstons of Elgin to a check pleated skirt by Gerard Darel that’s a veritable multi-tasker, as well as a tan leather blazer by Eleventy. For nighttime sparkle, we are drawn to the divine sage green satin jumpsuit with leather obi belt by Roisin Linnane from Curated by Design Centre, the Village’s dedicated Irish design hub. 

See more details from The Gloss Gala 2022 and watch the event video through this link.

Photography by Conor Healy.