Bollinger Best Dressed – Full Stop.
As Punchestown Festival 2023 draws closer, there are two distinct battles about to hit the leading national hunt course next week. While leading trainers and jockeys will compete on the track for lucrative winnings and top honours, the real battle for many of us is the Bollinger Best Dressed 2023.
And this year, the judges – aka the Style Council – consisting of some Irish leading style influencers and celebrities are inviting ALL fashionistas, young or mature, to have a go and get fitted out for the style stakes.

From Tuesday 25 to Friday 28, the judges will be watching out that one special outfit, that ensemble that just wows everyone and the wearer will go home with the most prestigious prize in racecourse style!
The Cheltenham of Ireland, it was Carlow woman Deirdre Kane who scooped the overall award last year in a divine mint green cape with matching dress, from Cranbrook Designs in Kildare, accessorized with a silver feather brooch and an eye catching head piece.

Sadly, there were no Dublin women featured in the final last year – finalist included Ms Kane, Wexford’s Julie Caulfield, Killarney’s Charlene Brosnan, Longford’s Oniesa Owens, and four Kildare women Dearbhaile Donagh, Clodagh Healy, Joanne Byrne, and Barretstown CEO Dee Ahearn.

Well, Dublin Gazette viewers, let’s put a stop to that this year. Get into your classy gear and let’s go racing!.
The overall winner and guest will enjoy a ‘money-can’t-buy’ trip of a lifetime to the home of Bollinger. This is not a cliché – you literally cannot buy this prize so exclusive is this trip.
Flights to a 5* Hotel in Parish, Michelin Star dining, private chauffeur. An exclusive Champagne Bollinger experience including private tour of the cellars, vineyards, gardens, house and overnight stay in the beautiful capital of the champagne region Reims. One year supply of Bollinger (case = 12 bottles)
Daily winners and finalists will enjoy a deluxe goodie bag.

Remember, anybody, you, me – anyone could win this year’s concept ‘Bollinger Best Dressed – Full Stop’.
The competition is open to ALL regardless of age, gender or shape. Could this be the year of change? Could this be you? The Bollinger Best Dressed judging starts on Tuesday, April 25 and runs through to the grand final on Friday, April 28.
The ‘Style Council’ will scout the crowds and enclosures looking for daily finalists from 1.30pm.

While The Style Council will cover as many locations around the enclosures, pavilions and restaurants as possible, The Bollinger Champagne Bar and Garden located in the reserved enclosure will be the Style Quarter for the festival. This is where daily and grand finalists will take to the stage for judging each day straight after the second race.
A winner will be selected from the daily finalists by 4.30pm each day so please arrive early.

The Style Council challenges entrants to bring something different “A fresh take on race day and occasion dressing.”
“Style does not mean spending a fortune. It means being creative with what you’ve got, it should be less about fashion and more about how the person wears the clothes.
“Presentation is key. A great fit, well pressed/ironed, neat and tidy, perfect grooming of hair, nails etc. Is the outfit appropriate, did you dress for the weather and let’s think sustainability. The most sustainable thing you can do is wear you have, or borrow, swap, tailor or re-invent!”
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