The Fashion Doctor: April 2017

VIP Style Awards 2017: Ireland's Most Fashionable Hit the Red Carpet

The fashion capitals of the world were given a run for their money on Friday night, which saw the VIP Style Awards take place in Dublin for the 16th year in a row. Ireland's fashion scene has been on the rise for years, and Friday's red carpet style proved just that.

Top models Roz Purcell, Thalia Heffernan and Holly Carpenter were among the fashionable guests at the event, many of whom made an effort to showcase up and coming Irish designers.

Blogger Suzanne Jackson - of So Sue Me - took home the coveted award for 'Most Stylish Woman', while the award for 'Best Irish Designer' went to the talented Don O'Neill.

Check out my top ten looks from the night below.

1. Roz Purcell
The former Miss Ireland wowed on the red carpet in a dramatic dress simply borrowed from a friend.

2. Thalia Heffernan
Wearing a bespoke dress designed by James Moorcroft, the supermodel took home the award for best dressed on the night.

3. Rosie Connelly
This custom pink suit was designed by the Irish label Embe Couture. The peplum detail and silver heels tie the pink look together.

4. Holly Carpenter
Another former Miss Ireland, Holly Carpenter looked stunning in a navy number from the Dublin boutique Covet.

5. Teodora Sutra
This beautiful chiffon dress was designed by Dublin based Turkish designer Umit Kutluk.

6. Aideen Feely
This Dior style dress was designed by yet another Irish designer - Mary Grant. The tulle skirt and fishnet socks add drama to the etherial look.

A post shared by AideenFeely (@aideenfeely) on Apr 22, 2017 at 4:24am PDT

7. Karen Koster
Just on time for World Earth Day, Karen Koster wore an incredible dress from the H&M Conscious collection. Made from 'Bionic' - a material made from plastic waste from the sea - this dress shows that sustainable fashion is high fashion.

8. Grace Cahill
The editor from You magazine paired a sample Topshop Bridal dress with a pair of vintage heels to create a look that is boho-chic.

A post shared by Grace Cahill (@gracie_cahill) on Apr 21, 2017 at 2:01pm PDT

9. Tara O'Farrell
This chic outfit is surprisingly from none other than Zara.

10. Niamh Cullen
The ruffled detail, on this Toni Maticevski top, made the all-white outfit red carpet ready.

A post shared by Niamh Cullen (@niamhcullenx) on Apr 22, 2017 at 12:50pm PDT

Images: The Independent & Evoke

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The New Gucci Direction

When Gucci named Alessandro Michele as their new creative director, back in January 2015, there was only question on people’s minds: who is he? Over two years into his role, Michele’s name is on everybody’s lips. The designer’s influence has not only transformed the Gucci brand, but has had a huge impact on the industry as a whole, sparking conversation about gender and diversity in the fashion industry.

With 96 years under its (signature GG logo) belt, the Gucci brand has seen both good and bad times. Starting off as a leather goods shop, the family run business expanded into one of the world’s leading fashion houses. Following Guccio Gucci’s death, the business took a turn for the worst, with sales dropping slowly but steadily. The house was near bankruptcy when Tom Ford took over as Creative Director in 1994. Scandal continued to wrap itself around the house, when Maurizio Gucci, the founder’s son, was shot by a hit-man hired by his ex-wife.

Despite taking the helm amidst such turmoil, Tom Ford successfully rebranded Gucci as the glamorous brand it is known to be. After a ten year reign, Ford departed from the Gucci Group which was then estimated to be worth over $10 billion. Sales eventually began to drop when Ford was replaced by Frida Giannini as Creative Director. The fashion house neared disaster once again when Giannini left prematurely in January 2015, leaving Alessandro Michele only five days to put together an entirely new menswear collection for Fall/Winter 2015.

Image: Ella Universe

While his debut show was understandably imperfect, Michele’s miraculous five day turnover was the start of an entirely new Gucci look which is taking the brand from strength to strength. Ford sparked serious controversy during his years at Gucci, with his advertisements criticised for the sexual objectification of women. His more outrageous adverts were even banned in Italy. The new creative direction is blurring the lines of gender, and its androgynous feel is a far cry from the sexy Tom Ford era.

Gucci is taking a whole new path towards diversity and inclusion, recently becoming the first luxury fashion brand to join Parks, an Italian non-profit which works to help companies, such as Apple, create inclusive, diverse and respectful working environments. This decision is making a clear statement about the type of fashion house Gucci aims to be, and it is a welcome move in an industry notorious for its lack of diversity.

Under Alessandro Michele’s direction, Gucci’s latest collections have been presented by a mix of male and female models in looks that can be worn by anybody and everybody. Pussy-bow blouses and floral suits no longer have one audience, and septum piercings can be paired with 70s style glasses. The new Gucci aesthetic is nerdy and hard-core, androgynous and sensual. And it’s genius.