This day two weeks brings Ladies' Day at the Galway Races and the official best dressed events sponsored by the g Hotel & Spa. Join the conversation by posting your 2017 Ladies' Day photos using the official hashtag of #gHotelBestDressed to be in with a chance to win a stay at the fabulous five star g Hotel & Spa.
For the past few months, milliners of Ireland have been working flat out to cater for the busy racing season culminating in the Galway Races. Galway hosts the largest Ladies' Day in Ireland and the magnificent millinery on show is a testament to the home-grown talent on our doorstep.
Philip Treacy is probably now the most famous milliner in the world placing his home county of Galway firmly on the world fashion map. Also design director of the g Hotel & Spa, Treacy can be credited with reviving and crafting what we know as modern millinery when he brought hats back to the catwalk in the 1990s. His more sculptural pieces were endorsed and loved by celebrities, ensuring he was never far from the headlines. He also inspired many more Irish designers to take up the mantle so that now we have a wealth of skill and artistry in Galway and beyond.
There is something magical about a truly great hat from timeless classics to show-stopping fashion, a custom made hat is something to cherish. The Galway Races offer an opportunity showcase innovative hats of all shapes and sizes as well as incredible colour combinations. Supporters of Irish design, the g Hotel team always try to highlight our local milliners and are delighted to host their annual Ladies' Day after party every year with a Philip Treacy prize for the best hat acknowledging all the wonderful style on show.
Local Caithriona King, a recipient of an Irish Fashion Innovation Award for Millinery, is well known for her showstopping pieces, and Emily Jean O’Byrne captures the imagination by combining her studies in jewellery, silversmithing, and millinery. Edel Ramberg once trained with Philip Treacy, as did Mark T Burke. Coming from a more structural background, both Michelle Kearns and Fiona Mangan transferred from the world of architecture into millinery. Zara Philips was so impressed with Fiona Mangan that she wore one of her pieces to Royal Ascot and was featured in both Hello and OK magazines. Not to be outdone another Galway milliner, Michael Mullins, has been featured in both Vogue and Tatler, and Suzie Mahony’s pieces are regularly on TV. Mayo milliner Mary White was winner of Best Irish Design at the 2015 Galway Races and both Gillian Duggan and Michelle O’Connor are popular with the fashionistas of Galway and beyond.
To turn heads, choose a piece from one of our many Galway and Irish milliners, and be seen by the g Hotel Best Dressed judges on Ladies Day, Thursday August 3. Gates open at 11am and the judges will be making their way around the enclosure from 12 noon. For more information see www.theghotel.ie and www.galwayraces.com
