A yarn over a cup of tea
WHEN Barry's Tea, which initiated the unique Afternoon Tea Awards, asked me to suggest a clothes designer that I thought would epitomise what their awards were all about, I had to have a long think.
The people behind the Barry's Tea Afternoon Tea Awards are a pretty selective lot. The list of nominees for the award is not that long. Likewise, even though there are plenty of wonderful designers in Ireland, not many produce the type of subtle, easy, chic clothes I would consider right for afternoon tea.
Afternoon tea has always required a special sartorial quality; comfortable, semi-formal, graceful wear. I have always cited knitwear as the most comfortable clothing, so who is a particularly chic, effortless-looking, go-anywhere clothes designer? It was then I thought of Michelina Stacpoole.
Michelina is an Italian woman who came to Ireland to work as a designer for a Limerick-based knitwear company. But before she could even consider returning home to Italy, she met and married George Stacpoole. She became the first non-national 'Irish' designer.
Michelina's knitwear carries all that is fantastic about the woman herself. Michelina is a gorgeous, sexy, stylish, petite dynamo. Although she's been in the business for yonks, her enthusiasm for fashion is boundless she is au fait with all the trends. And although she speaks English with mainly Irish pronunciation, there is always something Italian about her speech.
So it is with her clothes. While she caters for Irish women's needs, she cannot help but inject a lot of Italian style into her designs. All the better for you.
For winter 2002, Michelina has chosen black, spicy paprika, tan, pink and red as principle colours for her yarns which are generally wool, silk or viscose. Despite my general reluctance for black, I found I was drawn to hers. I particularly loved her wide scoop-neck tunic with lace sleeves worn with lace-knit trousers with a scalloped edge. I have long held the opinion that knitwear and trousers together are an anachronism but Michelina's lace trousers looked so elegant over a pair of high heels, I am now revising that.
Michelina's range features trendy V-neck sleeveless tops so loved by London designers, as well as the broad collection of black clothes which are essential for this season's favourite theme, Gothic. There are zippy A-line knee-length and maxi skirts in all colours, simple yet effective evening dresses, as well as coats and separates for day and night. She makes to order too, so sizing is not an issue.
Looking at Michelina's collection as it was photographed in the relaxed but very modern environs of the Herbert Park Hotel, I felt she was the right choice for Barry's Tea Afternoon Tea Awards. These clothes looked comfortable and elegant at the same time. They were dressy, but never made you ill-at-ease the mark of real class.
The one thing the Barry's Tea Afternoon Tea Awards have succeeded in doing is to make me realise that there are plenty of unlikely oases of calm to be found in our frenetic noisy towns and cities. In the Herbert Park Hotel, which is one of the finalists, sweet staff serve sumptuous afternoon tea in a sun-drenched lounge, where one can breathe in the fresh air from the park itself.
Ah, the simple pleasures tea, fashion and relaxation. Could it be any sweeter?
