Wedding Hat Collection Part 1

Face Masks - Cotton

NEW YEAR, FRESH START

NEW YEAR, FRESH START

Good to be back on my blogg!! 

I haven't posted for a while, laying low on here after loosing my amazing Mum in 2018.  Massive change for us all to adjust to.  My Mum taught me how to sew in 1st Class and she never ceased to be my inspiration and encouragement throughout my career and everything else besides.

To ease myself back I have put together some of my favourite looks from last year which I designed at my studio.

Royal Ascot is THE place to be to hat watch and there are some new trends on show.

The trend of wearing Halo Headbands and Beaded Headbands shows no sign of slowing down following the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a beautiful halo piece to Prince Louis' Christening.

Blush Silk and Beaded Headband 

Black Wired design

Black Silk Abaca Headband 

Here is a selection of Racing Looks showcased by Olivia Danielle Boutique with my Racing Hats in the run up to the Galway Races.  Modelled by Catwalk Modelling Agency.

Every year I have the pleasure of designing a hat for Mandy Maher from Catwalk Modelling Agency.   I choose a block yellow straw and silk headband style here trimmed with butterflies which work perfectly with her fab suit and yellow sandals. 

A classic wide brimmed Suzie Mahony Designs Wave Hat designed all in red to enhance the dress detail, worn by Rebecca Rose Stylist at the Galway Races.

Thank you to all the models above from Catwalk Modelling Agency.

This year make your hat your crowning glory, let your hat bring the whole outfit together. 

Whether you wear a bespoke design or a studio piece, have it styled to suit you and your personality.

Wearing a hat should be fun!!

I hope you enjoyed my first blogg of 2020!! and Happy New Year !!

Suzie x

Wedding Style Tips

Wedding Style Tips 2019

Each year fashion trends change but there are basic guidelines we can all use no matter what the season.  Here are some tips I use to help my wedding clients. I hope you find something useful for your special occasion!

Know your Style:-

Do you know what style dress suits your shape?  Classic shift dress, structured, a-line etc.. 

Many ladies like a little sleeve or maybe a jacket over the dress.  

We all love a flattering neckline that sits well.  

Consider the length of your dress, don't go too short, knee length or a little below is perfect.

Always buy the right size and be comfortable in your outfit. 

Colour is Key:-

What colours suit you?  Soft pastels or bold tones such as cerise, royal or yellow?. Don't be afraid to go bold.

Yes it is okay to wear White or Ivory for Mother of the Bride but use a nice accent in your outfit or accessories.  You can add soft golds and the hat design can transform this look for you to get the balance right.

Here, Mother of the Bride Michelle is wearing a bespoke Hat I designed in beige and cream to tone in with her accessories.  

The perfect Hat:-

Your hat is your finishing touch, your crowning glory for your overall look.  Your hat can bring your complete outfit together in a style that suits you perfectly.

Anna wearing a bespoke dyed to match hat I designed for her daughters wedding.

Wedding guest Michelle wearing this dyed to match structured headpiece with a rose gold accent to pick up her accessory colour. 

Have your hat designed to complement your outfit and in a style that suits you.  Wearing the perfectly dyed hat for your outfit always looks stunning. 

Do you like veiling?  some ladies love the idea of wearing veiling, just be careful not to cover your face and try it on to see if it suits you. I often incorporate veiling into my designs without using it over your eyes. 

We all love flowers but finding the balance with your outfit is key.

Lace and pearls give a beautiful finish to this hat.

For a more striking look, adding volume but it is still a very elegant light hat.

  

I hope you enjoyed my tips and thank you for reading my blog. If you need help with your wedding millinery contact my studio Suzie Mahony Designs info@suziemahonydesigns.ie. 

Suzie x

Friday Fair Lady at the Galway Races

FRIDAY FAIR LADY

Looking back on the Galway Races, I put together a little blog from our Friday Fair Lady evening at the Races.  Each year this Best Dressed Competition just gets better and better.  

Sponsored by Athlone Town Centre it offers an amazing prize packet over €2,000 worth of prizes.  The lucky lady receives a bespoke Suzie Mahony Designs Hat as part of her prize and lots of other goodies.

I opted for a Navy Trousers look with a striped jacket with ivory top and of course a fab hat!!  An excuse to add a pop of colour to my outfit and I love red.

I couldn't leave out this photo with my best buddy Annette, looking very trendy in monochrome mixes topped off with a funky headpiece.

Joined by Athlone Town Centre Frieda, Pamela and Shirley all wearing Suzie Mahony Designs Hats and fashion from the centre.

Catwalk Modelling Agency showcasing Suzie Mahony Designs Headpieces and Jewellery.

Tanya Hennigan (My Little Love Stories Blog) with Jane Swarbrigg Managing Director Inglot Makeup

Celebrity Stylist and Judge Marietta Doran, Shirley Delahunt Athlone Towncentre with Suzie.

Shirley Delahunt, Jane Swarbrigg, Marietta Doran and Doireann Garrihy Snapchat Queen.

The Prize:-

A €1000 Shopping Spree at Athlone Towncentre

A 2 Night Hotel & Spa Break at Sheraton Athlone HotelA €500 Inglot VoucherA Bespoke Headpiece from Suzie Mahony Designs

Catwalk Models looking fantastic.

Choosing a top 10 not to mention a winner is a very difficult job, so many different and unique looks to choose from.   You can check out the live video I did in the Champagne Tent to see all the ladies here!! Friday Fair Lady

Spotted this lady wearing one of my hats, doesn't she look so elegant with soft pink and ivory.

Couldn't resist checking out Eilis Dempsey wearing one of my silk hats.

Winner Alright:-

The Wining Ladies and Judges

Rebecca Rose is the fairest of them all!

Meet our new Friday's Fair Lady.

Rebecca Rose stole the show with her floral and stripe combination

Hope you enjoyed my blog.

Suzie x

'Ladies Day' HATS / STYLE Galway Races 2017

LADIES DAY AT THE GALWAY RACES 2017

It was a manic few weeks in the run up to the Galway Races this year.  However much you plan your outfit for the day it always comes together at the last minute!!  

This year for the first time in over 15 years I didn't attend ladies day!!   

Attending the races is brilliant but when your working right up until the Wednesday night late, you can only do so much.  I was certainly there in spirit with lots of beautiful ladies wearing my hats. I attended the races on Friday and also a number of events during the week so I didn't miss out.

I love sharing some of the looks from my customers for Ladies Day.  The biggest Ladies Day Competition in Ireland sponsored by The g Hotel Galway.  Ladies wear hats every day now to the festival but I wanted to do a showcase for Ladies Day because there was such a variety of styles and hats on display.  I love to see the complete look head to toe so here are a few for you to enjoy.

Fiona Glynn - Fit and Fabulous - wearing one of my new designs which I tweaked to work with the detail on her dress, love her green bag!

Lorraine was the lucky winner of the Clarenbridge Oyster Pearl this year and as a result I sponsored her hat for Ladies Day,  I styled her lemon dress with a Navy and Lemon Silk Hat, Shoes and Royal Bag from my studio collection.  

I love butterflies and designing this stunning silk hat for Caroline Glancy I used the colours from the butterflies on the coat to create a splash of colour with a Bespoke silk Suzie Mahony Designs Hat.  Her outfit is from Olivia Danielle Athlone.  

Orange is one of the best colours on Dearbhla Silke from Catwalk Modelling Agency,  I ignored her height with this hat because it is Ladies Day!!  Think she looks amazing.

Tara Moran and the Team from Maximum Media got all their hats from my studio this year.  Tara is wearing a red Suzie Wave hat.

Rosanna Davison wearing a soft Gold Headpiece I designed to complement her look for Ladies Day.

Judy Fitzgerald looking radiant in blue with a white Percher I designed with loads of height using wired feathers, flowers and silk swirls.

I have had so many complements about this look on Katie Geoghegan who was chosen by Bairbre Power as a finalist for the Best Dressed Competition.  I introduced this striking red angular hat because red is fabulous on Katie with her dress from Harper.  So delighted for her.

Eileen Lundon - Olympic Saddlery - wearing Suzie Mahony Designs for Ladies Day.

Aoife O'Hanlon Top 10 Finalist for the g Hotel Best Dressed Lady Competition

Aoife's hat is a bespoke Red trimmed with lots of flowers and silk swirls.

Ladies attending Ladies Day are a very important part of the attraction and atmosphere and indeed the style for the overall week at Galway.   I love the addition of the selfie wall this year, maybe we need another one near the Fashion Action!!   

Susan Flanagan wearing all Ivory Phoenix_V Dress with an accent of Gold.  Her hat is embellished with ivory roses and gold silk swirls.  Her LIPS gold clutch is also from my studio collection.  Susan was also chosen as a finalist at the Galway Races Best Dressed Dressed Competition.

There is so much effort and planning for ladies for the day it is such a shame we only see a few chosen or highlighted.   Social Media  is probably the best forum to catch a glimpse of the style,  wouldn't be great to see more of our Racing Ladies on the TV, a little balance like they achieve at other race meetings around the world.

I was delighted to have customers picked for Best Dressed, designing hats for race meetings throughout Ireland and further afield for the past 15 years, it's still the one closest to home that is the sweetest!! Galway. 

The showcase of Millinery at the Galway Races puts us on the International Stage when it comes to quality bespoke designs.   Looking forward to seeing even more as the racecourse continues its development for 2018.  Exciting times ahead!!

Thank you for reading my blog.

Suzie x

First Furlong Millinery Showcase 2017

First Furlong Millinery Showcase 2017 

The First Furlong Event is one of the highlight of Raceweek in Galway.  Held each year on the Tuesday of Galway Race Week at the Ardilaun Hotel.  Showcasing the best of Galway Millinery with Catwalk Modelling Agency to a fabulous audience all in support of Breast Cancer Research.

I have been part of the event since it started, now in its 7th year and look forward to many more happy years supporting it. Organised by the brilliant team at the Ardilaun Hotel everyone is spoilt from once they arrive from 12 noon with sparkling wine drinks reception surrounded by the Guinness Jazz Band.  Guests all dress up and wear hats ready for the Races and enjoy a sumptuous four course lunch with wine.  

 

Selfie time with our Guest Lisa McGowan Lisa's Lust List who is wearing a hat I designed for her dyed to match her orange dress and cerise accessories. 

Lisa McGowan from Lisa’s Lust List judged the ‘Raciest Lady’ and ‘Bookies Favourite Gent’ sponsored by Anthony Ryans. Entertainment included a special performance by classical tenors Duo Vocis featuring Frank Naughton and Sean Costello.

I love catching up with lots of familiar customers.  Siobhan McDonagh stunning in pink.

Lynn McLoughlin from Anthony Ryans and I enjoying the sunshine.  Lynn is wearing the new collection from Anthone Ryans Green Jumpsuit with a #suziemahonydesigns Black Bow Hat.

This lady always looks so stylish.  Tina Munroe wearing a gold pheasant hat from my collection.

Maria Kelly - Ardilaun Hotel, Lisa McGowan, Lynn McLoughlin and Jennifer Skeffington from Breast Cancer Research.

Every girl loves a diamond!! 
Lisa checking out the bling on display from Noel Finan Fine Cut Diamonds. 

Another beautiful look Helen in nude pink wearing #suziemahonydesigns Vogue Hat.

Our MC for the Day Mandy Maher of Catwalk Modelling Agency.  Wearing soft pink dress from Olivia Danielle.

Mandy Maher and Lisa McGowan 

Millinery Showcase with Catwalk Modelling Agency, featuring Galway’s most popular milliners including Suzie Mahony Designs. 

The Suzie Mahony Designs Hat Collection for the Millinery Showcase with Catwalk Modelling Agency.

I always take this opportunity to introduce new designs and edgy styles to the event, giving the audience a unique taste of hats available from my studio.  Emerald Green Wave embellished with lots of sparkle. 

After a brilliant afternoon guests are taken treated to an evening at the Galway Races on shuttle buses.  Proceeds from the event support Breast Cancer Research (formerly NBCRI), a charity that is positively impacting future outcomes for breast cancer patients by funding world-class breast cancer research at NUI Galway.


I work with these ladies throughout the year so I think I deserve some love!!  jokers. xx

Hope you enjoyed my blog.

Suzie x