Local girls are Kilkenny's next top models
For a picture gallery of the event, click here EIGHT young women were selected to train with professional Kilkenny-based modelling agency Hype Model Management and to model in MacDonagh Junction's annual Spring/Summer Fashion Show after taking part in an open casting call.
Hype's director Karen Morrissey auditioned, interviewed and photographed more than 60 people in one long day in March before selecting the eight models she thought had the most potential and taking them under her wing.
The models then spent several weeks training with Karen in the areas of catwalk, grooming and deportment before they were runway ready. Then, on Thursday night last week, they finally hit the catwalk - many for the first time in their lives.
The eight new models - Mary Kate Lanigan, Rebecca Kennedy, Kate Sutherland, Catriona Downey, Charlotte Murphy, Ania Adamowska, Olena Strokina and Kristina Bartaseviciute - were joined on the catwalk by several male models and Katriona Fitzpatrick O'Keefe from last year's model search and fashion show.
All the women are living locally and while some have modelled on a runway or in photoshoots before, many were first-timers but they all have one thing in common - the desire to be a top model.
"This is the first time on the catwalk for most of the girls and I think they're doing an incredible job," Karen said on the night. "All the girls were so good fitting in lessons and fittings and the mummies brought their babies along to the fittings, so we have to say a huge thank you to them. Isn't it lovely to see local girls from the local community on the stage? I think it's fantastic," she added.
There is not a lot of opportunity for models in Ireland and Karen said anyone wanting to be a success in the industry was better off going to the UK, but she felt the annual model search, now in its second year, was a great opportunity for people in the South East to get a foot in the door and some great experience.
"We had a great time training the models and the standard has exceeded expectations," she said.
Speaking to the Kilkenny People about her experience, Kate Sutherland, 15, said it had always been her "childhood dream" to be a model. "This is the first time I'd ever done anything like this, but I'm so glad I did," she said. "It's been so fun."
Kate is the youngest ever model search contestant to take to the catwalk for MacDonagh Junction and loved the whole the process. She was a huge hit on the catwalk and had a massive cheer squad applauding her every appearance.
She said she'd enjoyed learning how to walk the catwalk and strike poses at the weekly training sessions with Hype and hoped the whole experience would propel her into a a future career.
"Walking in heels and trying on clothes was great fun," she said, adding that she was now going to try her luck with some modelling agencies in Dublin to see if she had top model potential.
Windgap woman Catriona Downey, 20, had had a small taste of the modelling world before she was chosen in the 2010 Model Search. A former St Brigid's College, Callan student, Catriona took part in the annual Transition Year fashion show.
"That definitely helped me a bit going into this," she said. "I already knew how a fashion show worked and what we had to do." But she said getting the extra training from Hype Model Management had made this experience extra special. "It was great fun learning how to walk properly. It was brilliant," she said, adding that she hoped she'd get the opportunity to do more modelling in the future.
"Modelling was something I'd always wanted to do, but never thought I actually would," Catriona said She will use the experience to help her in her quest to become Kilkenny's Rose of Tralee at the Rose Selection Ball next Saturday night.
Thursday's fashion show was not a first for Mary Kate Lanigan or Rebecca Kennedy. Both are Leaving Cert students but manage to combine their love of modelling with their studies. The two friends last appeared in a high-profile fashion show in Kilkenny Castle wearing designs by local couturier Mary McGuinness.
"Both girls are studying for their Leaving Cert at the moment and we're so happy that they've honoured us with their presence tonight," Karen told a cheering crowd. "They're great girls for making the time."
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Anna opened the show for United Colours of Benetton in skinny jeans, a banded top and striking orange coat. She was followed on stage by Charlotte, Kristina, Rebecca, Kate, Katriona, Mary Kate, Catriona and Olena - all of whom received massive cheers from the crowd. Benetton showed some on-trend styles for the coming seasons, including long white shorts, cropped pants, harem pants and wedges.
Dunnes Stores was up next and opened their campaign in style, with a beach look in contemporary monochrome colours, which will be huge this season. Summer hit the catwalk in a big way with nautical stripes in red, blue and white, long white pants and plenty of coral colour. The male models appeared on stage for Dunnes, to a raucous cheer from the crowd, which never died down as the night wore on.
Military-inspired outfits, pretty pastels and the first jumpsuit of the show, bravely worn by a smiling Kate, were all part of No Name/Sasha's time on the catwalk. Mary Kate wowed the crowd in a beautiful full-length maxi dress in bright yellow and pink. The on-trend 'boyfriend jacket' also showed up and will be the "one thing everyone's talking about this season" according to Karen.
Apollo, which is known mainly for menswear, opened their show with a new range of ladies' stock including checked dresses - "a nice change to the shirt" said Karen - a beautiful blue Diesel dress and long cardigan and a light trench coat - a must have cover-up for the cool summers.
Clothes by Carraig Donn and shoes by Barratts were shown next and the obvious trends here were the nude platform shoes and gladiator sandals, which will be everywhere this season. More trench coats, monochrome dresses and nautical minis showed that Carraig Donn are spot on with their trends for spring and summer.
"Combats are back girls, so get them out of your wardrobe or get yourself a new pair," Karen exclaimed as a pair strode down the catwalk.
Carlos and Sean stole the show once again in suits by Hennnessy's Dress Hire in John Street before the girls claimed the spotlight back in styles by Mexx. Many of the pieces here had a Bohemian, almost vintage feel and indicated a return of the festival-dress for the upcoming summer.
After a brief interval, River Island was up with kaftan-style tops, skinny almost stonewashed jeans and long sheer white socks with mid-calf boots - all of which got the tick of approval from fashion expert Karen. "All these nudes and pales are very popular at the minute and very flattering as well," she said. "Chino is the colour both men and women will be wearing all Summer."
Colourful tracksuits in fuschia pink electric blue and sunlit yellow are all instore at Champion Sports this season.
The festival look will be big in Next this season with a lot of knee-length dresses, as well as racer-back vests and dresses. TK Maxx took the show to a more glamourous level with a stunning floor-length evening gown in beautiful green with a bejewelled neckline. Karen extolled the virtues of TK Maxx as a place to find one-off designer pieces at low prices. "My own dress tonight is from TK Maxx and it's Valentino," she said, dressed in a beautiful, slim-fitting coral-coloured creation.
The Josef Store - MacDonagh's newest tenant - was the penultimate collection and showed some great jeans, monochrome print tops and body con skirts - "which are back in a big way this summer", Karen said. And Sisley closed the show with a variety of pieces including white-tiered skits, linen dresses, statement pieces in one-block colour and some faded denim vests and jumpsuits.
Prizes were awarded on the night for Best Dressed and Best Hair. Emer Bergin was named the Best Dressed and received a bag from Sisley as her prize, while Sarah Palmer - a model from last year's Model Search - had the Best Hair and won a GHD from Peter Mark.
All hair on the night was done by Peter Mark and the models' makeup was from the Smashbox counter at Health Express Pharmacy.
The MacDonagh Junction fashion show was in aid of the local branch Samaritans and manager Gina Delaney spoke to the crowd to thank them for their support on the night.
"I'd like to thank MacDonagh Junction for this event, all the models who have done really well tonight, the Samaritans volunteers who are helping out and all of you for supporting us," she said. Funds raised from the fashion show will go towards the local branch, which moved into its new premises in Dean Street last year.
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Weather for Kilkenny
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
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