To the trained eye, there's a different pink fever taking over Ireland, and one that has nothing to do with Barbie.
Hot pink heels, accented with a dramatic bow, have become the accessory of the season thanks to designer Nicki Hoyne and her iconic pink block heel shoes – which have already sold out online twice, cementing them as something of a zeitgeist design in Irish fashion.
Worn by the likes of Vogue Williams, Elaine Cassidy and more, Hoyne's designs are created with comfort in mind, without sacrificing style in the process.
We caught up with her at this year's BT Create, an ambitious showcase of up-and-coming Irish creative design, now running until 20 August in Brown Thomas's Grafton St store, where she launched a limited edition run of bow flat shoes in her now-synonymous bright colours and bold patterns.
Describing it as "a slow fashion footwear and handbag brand", Hoyne said her collections are "all about empowering you to enjoy your clothes and just lean into comfortable, fun fashion that's still sustainable and really unique".
"For me, it's about taking back that, post-Covid. The current collection is called Power Player Collection, it's all about playing with the power you feel when you dress for yourself and I think the boundaries have been broken down about what is workwear, what is comfort.
"I think that's why it's been so popular because we're stepping into that, 'okay let's go back to heels but not too high and not painful at all."
Her Oversized Bow Heels in particular have a 7cm block heel, ensuring that they're "high enough to be fabulous but not high enough that you can't walk in them and you won't survive the night".
Hoyne has also found herself creating in an interesting time in fashion, when the Barbie movie press tour is bringing back pink in all its glory, making it a colour that has as much staying power now as it did in the 90s. She added that she designed the style last year, long before the Barbie movie kicked off, and that she very often gets an urge to create something hyper-specific, whether it's a hot pink heel or a giant bow on flats.
"When I was developing them, the factory was like, that's very big now. I was like, no, no, bigger. Let's go bigger, let's do it really oversized and in your face", she laughed.
"I think they've just landed really well and I think a lot of people were just [drawn to] the colour. It's a moment in time, I don't know how I'll ever replicate it."
She also notes that she doesn't hold steadfast to every line she draws in her creations, saying that she's "not a huge pink person but I was asked a lot to do a pink shoe [eventually came arond] I'll say no and no and no ... and then I'll just change".
"I get these feelings about things, about colours and about trends and I probably was very influenced by the Valentino pink", she said, referencing the fashion house's use of magenta pink in past collections, which dominated trends immediately after.
As it happens, Valentino's couture show took place day before our chat, where they showed bow shoes – there's something to that instinct of hers.
Creating a viral product isn't something you can plan for, but it certainly offers its share of lessons, Hoyne said.
"The thing I learnt is I should have showed them to more people. I showed them to my sister in law, I showed them to a few of my friends and they were like, 'they're really nice', but if I'd shown them to more people I probably would have had more and they wouldn't be selling out."
As for how she'd accessorise a bold bag, shoes or other piece, Hoyne said paring things down and playing with contrasts is the way to go.
"You could do a black dress or a baby pink dress and then you've got your pop of pink. If you're wearing a long gown that's floor length, why no put some flats on? Or if it's a midi dress.
"I personally would tone down, if you've got a wild patterned dress go with a block colour shoe and alternatively you could go a bit wilder if your dress is very plain.
"If you're going to do something, do it loud and that's how I would style them, very minimalist and let the shoes be the pop.
