Irish fashionistas out to make it four in a row in Cheltenham style stakes
THE luck of the Irish has held firm at Cheltenham’s Ladies’ Day for the past three years, so all eyes will be on our representatives to see if we can do it again on Wednesday.
Una O’Farrell-Feeney, from Coalisland, Co Tyrone, was Roz Purcell’s choice last year, Yvonne McAvoy, from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, was picked by Vogue Williams in 2016, while Leitrim milliner Jennifer Wrynne scooped the Best Dressed title in 2015.
The secret to surviving the infamous ‘Cheltenham cold’ is to wear thermals, according to our competing style queens. However, the secret to winning the lucrative Best Dressed prize is more complex.
The Gloucestershire course has a deep appreciation of the traditional ‘county’ look with attendees opting for tweeds, pheasant feathers and sensible suede boots.
There’s also a big appetite for fresh, ‘contemporary’ styles with statement hats. And in the middle lies a hybrid mix of county-meets-designer which fuses modern with tradition, colourful velvets with peacock plumage, furs and great hats.
Ms Wrynne, who clinched the prize three years ago wearing a short green dress from her Dublin boutique, reprised the colour again last year and recommends hopeful contestants go for a “pop of colour”.
“Definitely bring comfortable shoes because there is a lot of walking on the course. Tights are essential no matter what,” said Ms Wrynne.
Louise Allen, from Slane, Co Meath, has been going to Cheltenham since 2000 and for Ladies’ Day, she’s wearing a Carol Kennelly hat and a designer dress she bought in the Brown Thomas sales with her four-figure winnings from a €10 four-timer accumulator.
“For St Patrick’s Day, I’m going to wear a green coat. I came second in at Leopardstown in December 2016. You never know what the weather is going to be like so this year, I’m bringing two cases and four coats,” she said.