First Dublin, next stop New York for fashion icon Louise

A LOVE of flowers and nature inspired Louise Kennedy’s SS17 collection, which she showcased at her Merrion Square home and salon under an entrance bough of fragrant pink roses and eucalyptus.

This season Louise introduced two very special, woven floral jacquard fabrics, both set against white backgrounds.

A sapphire blue print seen here in the ‘Thea’ coat (€1,795), worn by Yomiko, and the ‘Nina’, full-skirted dress (€1,995), worn by Sarah, features a midnight blue metallic thread and a black tone which gives the fabric impact and a 3D quality.

With her philosophy of “buy well and wear lots”, Louise’s collarless, threequarter length coat with bracelet sleeves is designed both for special occasions, such as shown above with a ‘Nadia’ lace blouse (€695) and ‘Avery’ jersey skirt (€695).

Or it can be dressed down and paired with perhaps a pair of casual white jeans, T-shirt and suede loafers.

The ‘Lila’ fuchsia crepe dress (€695), worn by Yomiko, will please those professional travellers who know that Louise’s jerseys travel like a dream and spring into action on arrival.

The ‘Iris’ pink kaftan (€1,195) will go down a treat with US customers when Louise brings her SS17 pop up shop to New York’s Carlyle Hotel in two weeks’ time.

It is the second time in a few months that Ireland’s uncrowned queen of fashion has visited the swish Manhattan hotel with a pop-up store.

Her AW16 range sold well across the board and while last time the customers loved the evening wear, Louise will travel the Atlantic in full knowledge that her colour palette of white, pinks, fuchsia and blues will go down a treat with US arbiters of good fashion.

Her summer break in America last year will have given her a good grounding in what US customers want from their wardrobes.