Surrounded by breathing-taking views of Dublin city, the Brown Thomas Spring/Summer 2024 fashion show took place on Wednesday, 7 February, in the Exo building.
Showcasing a diverse range of trends, the 100 looks on the sky-high catwalk displayed a curation of sheer elegance, 90's nostalgia, kitten heels, Miu Miu minis, and dramatic pops of red.
This season, the iconic Irish store welcomes seven new designers including French label Courrèges (a brand recently worn by Dua Lipa at the Grammys), Holzweiler, Acler, By Malene, Christopher Esber, Helmut Lang, and Matteau.
We caught up with Shelly Corkery, Brown Thomas' Fashion Buying Director, to find out more about this season's looks.
"100 seems like quite a large edit of brand mix and looks but, overall, the trends dictate what we do," she explains.
"There's so much happening in trends this season; there's references towards the 90s, references towards utility fashion, and I think when you segregate it to make sure you have all those looks, it comes together quite easily."
Kitten Heels and Biker Boots
This season will celebrate a variety of exciting footwear trends - and they will be surprisingly comfortable. Ranging from shiny black loafers from Valentino and Celine, to retro runners with bold colors, every type of shoe seems to be in vogue.
"I think there was every toe," Shelly agrees. "There was a pointed toe, square toe, a round toe. Definitely that lower heel was very prominent, and I think with all the boots - like Khaite - you could see the lower kitten heels.
"There's still a lot of stilettoes around, but I think the shape of the shoe is very important this season. The knee high boot, where it's just grazing your knee, is really strong.
"Boots are a great and cool way to get the seasonal look with all those pencil skirts around. I think the biker boot is still very prominent, and kitten heels and shoes that keep you feminine for a different look this season."
90's Redux
Embracing the spirit of the iconic 90s, designers are paying homage to the bygone era with a minimalist and contemporary twist.
If you make one investment this season, Shelly recommends an oversized blazer: "I think an over-sized blazer is great. The larger shoulder is fantastic; you can throw it over your denim, your little dresses, your pencil skirts - anything. I think it's a key piece and you can wear it over-sized or cinch it in like Prada did with a big belt.
"There's a lot of jackets this season that are tucked in, we saw some of the jackets in Prada tucked into the shorts, and I think that's a lovely look as well."
Summer Utility
This fashion trend highlights the prominence of relaxed cargo trousers, oversized cargo mini dresses, and shorts from designers such as Dries Van Noten, Isabel Marant, Christian Dior, and JW Anderson.
"Denim is very strong," adds Shelly, "and tone-on-tone denim is something we're all wearing now. Khaite had a lot of those beautiful denim shirts this season, Balenciaga showed the beautiful over-sized jean with that denim shirt, there's lots of over-sized carrot leg, and pencil denim as well.
"I think through brands like Celine and Khaite, I think they're keeping it very street wear. There's a big focus on functionality as well. People are thinking more modern and more functional and sort of adapting to 'buy now, wear now'.
"People are buying to wear their clothes, and there's also a focus on the elevation of the materials that are being used."
White Noise
Designers embrace the enchanting allure of White Noise, a mesmerizing colour trend for SS24 celebrating the purity and serenity of angelic white tones.
Valentino unveils intricate details on pristine white fabrics, Victoria Beckham tailors chic jumpsuits in crisp white, and Courrèges merges comfort and style with versatile white shirt dresses, offering a refined aesthetic across the runways.
"We're all talking about quiet luxury," Shelly explains. "When you see a season that is not so embellished, I think white really triumphs."
Back to Black
Continuing from the winter season, black on black silhouettes dominate the runways, and Prada is a clear winner in this category.
Dressed head-to-toe in Prada herself, Shelly is a clear fan of the brand, and closed the 100-look show with a surprising leather ensemble.
Pairing sleek leather skirts with oversized outerwear, Corkery says that the look embodys elegance, sophistication, and undeniable style of this timeless shade.
Abstract Flowers
We know, we know. Devil Wears Prada fans will be thinking: "Florals? In Spring? Groundbreaking."
However, this Spring/Summer will see new life brought into traditional floral designs, pushing boundaries and embracing artistic expression.
Alexander McQueen leads with a mesmerizing rose print, while Dublin-born designer Richard Quinn bring a sense of romance and femininity through lavish bows and delicate petals.
SS24 Accessories Trends
Accessories take centre stage with diverse trends for SS24. Chain details from Loewe and Givenchy add sophistication with edgy touches, while the clutch takes center stage at Victoria Beckham and Jacquemus, offering sleek and compact elegance.
Giant bags by Loewe and Miu Miu redefine practicality with oversized designs, while summer raffia textures from JW Anderson and Chloe bring bohemian charm.
Speaking on the success of Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson - creative director at Loewe and founder of JW Anderson - and Dublin-born Richard Quinn, Corkery says it's been a delight to see homegrown talent succeed on a global stage.
"It's wonderful to see such strong directives and such new, wonderful, beautiful collections coming through from the Irish."
