Ladies throw hats in ring for style prize
Stilettos at dawn in battle for best dressed
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By Lise Hand in Galway
Friday Jul 31 2009
RECESSION my hat. Actually, make that recession my feather-covered, planet-sized, fruit-laden, ribbon-riddled hat.
Yesterday, there was little evidence that the country is on its uppers. For this is Ladies Day at the Galway races, and nothing as paltry as a global economic meltdown was gonna stop these ladies from resurrecting the Celtic Tiger -- even if it was for just a few brief glorious hours.
It was like old times (ie last year), with the ground awash with frou-frou, frothy fripperies, complicated hats, fabulous frocks (and the odd frocky horror), vertiginous heels and frivolous fascinators.
Some of the outfits were a triumph of vanity over sanity, with women precariously balanced atop five-inch spiked heels gingerly picking their way across the uneven gravel while attempting to hold down the hems of wispy silk mini dresses in the blustery wind.
It was a riot of colour, a psychedelic confection of satin, lace, silk, glittery silver and spangly synthetics which would've had Coco Chanel crying into the sleeve of her little black dress.
And given the amount of bare flesh on display it was a blessing that the fickle Galway sun decided to shine all day.
The hugely outnumbered male racegoers were also counting their blessings as they were distracted from studying the equine form to examine the females forms sashaying by.
"You should be wearing blinkers today," one chap nudged his open-mouthed pal as the prodigious breasts of a Brigitte Nielsen lookalike cast a shadow over his racecard.
Some of the more nervous male photographers were looking a little rattled, for as soon as they lifted a lens they were stampeded by eager subjects. It was stilettos at dawn out there -- with an €8,000 diamond pendant, €2,000 cash and €2,000 in shopping vouchers up for grabs.
Stylish
The judges, who included TV3's Sinead Desmond, whittled the hopefuls down to 50 finalists.
The overall Best Dressed gong went to Dublin-based Mayo woman Mary Therese McDonnell, who was sporting a fuschia-pink flower hat from Jack L boutique in Dalkey and a silk kaftan Pucci-print style dress from Neola boutique in Malahide.
And the second prize for Best Hat was scooped by Sinead Purcell from Galway, for a lovely and stylish chapeau designed by milliner Lina Stein of Westport.
Then into this female fray wandered broadcaster Gerry Ryan. Even Gerry -- a man rarely lost for words -- looked somewhat alarmed at the dizzying level of oestrogen in the tent.
"I'm absolutely bursting with excitement to meet the winner," he proclaimed with a straight face. He was almost shamefaced in admitting that this was his first-ever visit to Ballybrit, and that gambling wasn't among his favourite hobbies. "I can't even play snap," he confessed.
Oh yes -- and there was the small matter of a few horses running around the track as well. Buoyed by a couple of good days, the large crowd of punters were hoping for more wins but alas for the 42,415 racegoers it thewas the bookies' day in the sun.
Four well-backed favourites bit the dust, with three of them coming second. "It's been a fantastic day for us," admitted a spokesman for Boylesports. "The punters came close, but Deutschland losing was a big blow."
Indeed, many a shirt had gone on this Willie Mullins-trained horse -- one unlucky soul in Dublin had placed an online bet of €20,000 at 2/1 on him. But he was beaten into second place by outsider Bahrain Storm. There was a mass exodus after his defeat -- all those high heels began to pinch, and goose pimples began to rise under the flimsy frocks. Only one group left the course light of foot, heavy of pocket and happily humming 'Deutschland uber alles'.
It was those damn bookies.
- Lise Hand in Galway
