Punchestown Racecourse will host this year’s National Hunt Festival from Tuesday next and as any regular racegoer will tell you, it’s usually bucketing down rain with sharp winds sweeping through the venue!
So dressing with style while trying to remain warm and comfortable is tricky, to say the least!
I’m loving the classy look of Magee’s 1866 Women’s Spring Summer 2023 collection. ‘Summer’, well that’s a bit ambitious but this year’s collection extols luxurious fabrics and rich colour definition.
So I’m thinking, if you had a big, baggy coat or a stylish cape, topped off with a felt hat, you could escape the worst impact of the elements, cast off your coat when you enter any of the venue’s many bars, corporate suites and restaurants – and you will be the envy of many in a superbly tailored suit or shirt dress.
And voila, you’d have any one of Magee chic suits or mix and match casuals combined with formal cut jackets and pants. They’re just sooo stylish, a great collection of statement pieces that won’t date!
This Molly Irish Linen Jacket in raspberry stripe for €375, with Tina Irish linen trousers in raspberry stripe for €129. Pricey? Yes, but worth every euro, the quality and finish is impeccable – truly this would be an investment!
Experts in tailoring since the 1940s, Magee 1866 knows what it takes to find a great fit and I’m loving the collection of sharp but clean cut silhouettes. Relaxed but so well sculpted, new styles in Irish Linen, designed and woven at the Magee 1866 mill in Donegal will integrate with your existing wardrobe, offering maximum flexibility.
The new Molly double breasted blazer – our feature photo – is presented in a bold raspberry and pink pinstripe, contrasted with bottle green, sky blue and pale yellow. This blazer is a versatile addition to your wardrobe with an option to style with the coordinating Tina Irish Linen trousers.
Contemporary Tailoring
With capsule dressing in mind, the Mourne blazer (below) and matching Tina trousers in a rich, inky navy-blue Irish Linen can be dressed up with heels or paired with the light merino knit Jane jumper and trainers for a weekend look. Confident style with endless opportunities for coordination.
The blazer range also features styles in lightweight summer silk and cotton blends for warmer months, like the Aoife patch pocket blazer in a luxurious soft peachy-pink herringbone.
Whether it’s a family day out, trips away or an outdoor party at home (with the gazebos weighted down, and gas heaters staving off the cold evenings of our Irish summers), the new carefree styles of this year’s collection, there’s lots to choose from Magee.
ina Irish linen trousers in navy blue €149 also available
The focus is on natural fibre fabrics with Irish Linen featuring heavily. Renewable, biodegradable, and coming from an all-natural source, linen offers a rich, soft feeling that cannot be imitated by manmade fibres.
Commercial imagery by Suzy McCanny Photography
Styles designed to take the guesswork out of summer dressing, the Rebecca is a standout piece. Crafted in a rich blend of silk and cotton, this midi length shirt dress in a neutral oat and pale blue check is an outfit on its own. Another easy to wear piece, the oversized Aisling shirt in Irish Linen is lightweight and comfortable with an exaggerated shape inspired by men’s shirting.
Just throw a pashmina or warm shawl over you, pinned with a dynamic brooch, and most of these pieces will adapt to your social engagements, whether it’s a day at the races, a business lunch, an evening out at the theatre, etc.
Classic Tweeds
Staying true to their roots in Donegal Tweeds, which they have been designing and weaving at their mill on the banks of Lough Eske for over 150 years, this season sees a selection of jackets in timeless tweeds. The styles range from the casual Clodagh overshirt to the new, longline Molly blazer. The colourful flecks synonymous with Donegal Tweeds are visible throughout and are perfectly complemented by the colourful new season knitwear in merino wool.
As you would expect from Magee 1866, each piece in this collection is carefully executed from concept to design to make, ensuring that they stand the test of time.
Shop in their Magee of Donegal and Magee 1866 at South Anne Street stores – or online at magee1866.com.
