Hats off to recessionistas

IT was the races of the recessionista. Post-Celtic Tiger, it was all about borrowed beauty and bags of creativity.

No one embodied this ethos quite like the winner of the Best Hat competition, Aoife Ryan of Salthill, Galway.
“To be honest, the hat is my sister Ailish’s. We went to New York together and she bought the hat. She bought two hats, in fact. She preferred the other one and wore that today, so I ended up wearing this one. It is ring-layered and is very classic. It is something a bit different,” Aoife revealed, adding that her gloves and shawl on the day were presents from friends.
Roseanne McDonald from Shanagolden was one of the 40 women shortlisted for Best Dressed. She was one of the only women in the Anthony Ryan’s marquee wearing a full hat, instead of a fascinator or headpiece. Her crowning glory was also borrowed.
“I was to wear a hat I got a few years ago for my brother’s wedding. My sister Yvonne’s sister-in-law gave me this hat last night because she thought it would match my dress. It is recession dressing, borrow and reconstruct everything,” she explained.
New York resident, Regina McCarthy made her own hat in an effort to co-ordinate with her Saks Fifth Avenue outfit.
“I did a hat course with Lena Stein in Westport and designed and created this hat. This is the result of five days’ work. I did this about a week ago. I’m staying near there so I decided I wanted to do something up there and I loved her workshop and I love the hat,” she explained.
Another woman who went the make-and-do route was Sinéad Conneely from Glenamaddy in Galway.
“I decided to make a hat but that turned out a bit complicated, so in the end I got one made by Suzie Mahony in Loughrea. The dress is one shouldered and multicoloured and is bright anyway, so it all tied in well in the end,” she said.
Aisling Carney from Kinvara was at her first Ladies Day and was shortlisted for the top prize after recycling and customising her outfit.
“I bought my outfit in Treasure Chest in Galway for my son Gavin’s communion in May. It is a cream dress and bolero so I felt it was smart for the church and suitable for today because it is such a comfortable outfit to wear and I love cream. I wear so much of it. I spent a bit more than I normally would on the outfit because it was for a special day. The hat is from Concepts in Oranmore and then I put a €2 brooch from Penneys on it. I am comfortable in it and I was happy with it on the day of the communion. It is an easy outfit to wear,” she commented.
Two other ladies in the Best Dressed marquee also bought their hats at the last minute. Faith Almond from Carlow bought her Philip Treacy-designed hat on Wednesday and Siobhán Walsh from Newcastle West also picked up a last-minute hat from Carol Kennelly.
The mantra from the Best Dressed marquee was simple, maybe you can’t buy love but you can definitely borrow style.