Style by Richard Lewis

Award-winning Irish couturier, Richard Lewis, unveiled his Spring-Summer 2010 collection at Dublin's RHA Art Gallery on Wednesday and created quite a stir with his wry witticisms on Irish Style (or lack thereof) during the reign of the Celtic Tiger.

"Looking forward to a new decade in fashion, I found myself looking on the last decade with dismay", he quipped. Denouncing the vulgarity of exposed flesh and achingly high heels so prevalent in the noughties, Lewis proceeded to unveil a collection "almost bordering on plain".

Plain, yes. But the collection is also effortlessly chic, with an air of understated glamour. It seems to say "dress to invest", in contrast to the "dress to impress" excesses of yesteryear.

Keep an eye out on www.richardlewis.ie for swatches (not available when this blog post was published),

In an effort to hammer home the point that Style predominates Fashion, Richard compiled "10 Style Commandments" to help Irish women to hone their sense of style:

1. Let your head look to fashion but your heart look to style.
2. Always wear the dress - never let the dress wear you.
3. Dresses should hang on your back, not your wardrobe.
4. What you wear inside can be more important than what you wear outside.
5. Check once in a full-length mirror, then enjoy the evening.
6. If your shoes hurt, it shows on your face.
7. The only initials you should wear are your own.
8. Clothes are not life and death.
9. The best accessory is a smile.
10. Rules are made to be broken.

Richard Lewis' collection is available at his flagship store at 22 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. See http://www.richardlewis.ie/ for more details.

Yours in style,
Caroline