With just over a month to go, the countdown is on to the most glamorous fashion event of the Irish racing calendar when thousands of fashionistas will don their glad rags and compete for the coveted title of Best Dressed Lady at the Galway Races.
Anthony Ryan’s Galway, sponsor of the Best Dressed Lady Competition at the Galway Races since 2003, has announced details of this year’s event which takes place on Ladies’ Day, Thursday August 1.
The stakes are high for the Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat competitions which boast a prize fund of €20,000, with the Best Dressed Lady set to scoop a prize worth €12,000.
This year’s Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed Lady will walk away with a one carat diamond solitaire pendant valued at €8,500, a shopping spree worth €1,500 in Anthony Ryans, Galway, and €1,000 cash. She will also receive a Lancôme presentation gift hamper worth more than €500 and a corporate hospitality package for the Galway Races October Bank Holiday Racing Festival including dinner and champagne reception.
The prize for the winner of the Best Hat is a €1,500 shopping spree at Anthony Ryan’s Galway. All finalists at the Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed marquee will be presented with a special collection of Lancôme cosmetics compliments of University Pharmacy, Galway.
Judging this year’s competition are two of the best known names in the Irish fashion industry – Bairbre Power, fashion editor of the Irish Independent and executive editor of the Irish Independent Weekend magazine, and PJ Gibbons, editor of Social and Personal Magazine.
They will be joined by well known faces from the Galway fashion scene Patricia McCrossan, managing director of Galway NOW, and Mandy Maher of Catwalk Model Agency.
Celebrating more than 100 years in the fashion business, award winning department store Anthony Ryan’s Ltd has sponsored the Best Dressed Lady competition since 2003.
“As Galway’s longest established independent department store, we are proud to continue our association with the Galway Races by sponsoring the Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat competition on Ladies Day,” said Anthony Ryan, managing director, Anthony Ryan’s Ltd.
“First past the post for style, flamboyance, and extravagant ensembles, Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed competition has continued to eclipse all other events and attract participation levels unmatched anywhere else in the country,” Mr Ryan added.
“Winners of the Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed competition in previous years have impressed our judges with their stylish ensembles appropriate for daytime summer racing. This year our distinguished panel of judges will be on a quest to find a lady with an innate sense of style who demonstrates the ability to put together a winning ensemble, complementing the wearer and the occasion. Individuality, elegance, and true style will be the order of the day.”
Women who intend to take part in this year’s Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed Lady competition are asked to arrive from midday as the finalists will be chosen by 2.30pm.
There is no entry required for the competition. Anthony Ryan’s scouts and judges will mingle through the crowd and will invite selected finalists to the judging marquee, which is located adjacent to the champagne tent in the race enclosure.
The winning outfits will be announced at 3.30pm at the Anthony Ryan’s marquee. The presentation of the prizes will take place in the Parade Ring later in the afternoon.
For more details follow Ladies’ Day on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ladiesday, and on Twitter @ladiesdaygalway
