First Furlong Launch

Launch of First Furlong

Wow!! it certainly was a day for stunning colours and fabulous hats!!  In the glorious sunshine, I
attended the launch of the First Furlong Event at the Ardilaun Hotel Galway.   Sharing some of my own pics from the day. Guests included the Galway Milliners who will showcase at First Furlong 2016.  Suzie Mahony Designs, Emily Jean O'Byrne, Catriona King and Majella Dalton.


The array of colours for this photo shoot were amazing and made for very colourful pictures taken by Julia from Wonderfulife Productions.  Along with the weather and of course the stunning gardens of the Ardilaun.

Attending the launch were John Ryan Owner of the Ardilaun Hotel, Maria Kelly - The Ardilaun Hotel who host First Furlong each year.  Maria is seen here wearing pinks, black and ivory mix, with a Suzie Mahony Designs Hat.


Cora Casserley - Anthony Ryans who are sponsors of the Best Dressed Lady at the event.  Cora wore the soft aqua tones and we teamed it with a silk aqua and ivory orchid Suzie Mahony hat.

 Christine Costello from Breast Cancer Research.  First Furlong is in aid of Breast Cancer Research.

 Probably my two favourite colours Emerald and Cerise Pink so it was very easy to design this silk Suzie Percher hat trimmed with a sharp green feather to match my dress.  Ideal summer look for the launch!!

With Eliska McAndrew from Catwalk Modelling Agency looking amazing sipping lemonade wearing a Suzie Mahony Peacock trimmed hat in purples and greens.

First Furlong will be held on Tuesday 26th July during the Galway Races.  Hosted by the Ardilaun Hotel the event is a sell out each year in aid of Breast Cancer Research.  Arriving from late morning ladies and gentlemen are treated to drinks reception, lunch, music, amazing raffle and a stunning Millinery Showcase from Ireland's Leading Milliners all from the Capital of Millinery - Galway!!

Looking forward to seeing you there!!

Ladies Day at Naas Races 2016

Ladies Day at Naas Races 2016

I am very excited to tell you about Naas Ladies Day.

Lorna Duffy wins Best Irish Design prize wearing a purple velvet and tweed hat made by Suzie Mahony Designs Exclusive for the Catriona Hanly AW16 Collection.  The overall outfit was very striking and individual.  It is this vibrant mix that Lorna loved for her days racing and she looked amazing!

I am particularly excited about Lorna's win which highlights the collaboration between Catriona and I bringing together the best of Irish Design.  The aw16 collection offers an amazing array of colours in vibrant tweed and velvet.  Being part of moulding these beautiful fabrics together in Millinery really gives unique options for ladies fashion.

On the day the fashion was judged by Emma Manley one of Ireland's leading contemporary Fashion Designers.

With no specific theme to follow for ladiesday the fashion competition really portrayed very quirky and individual styles which is what I love to see.

I hope I will be reporting on many more Ladies Days through Summer 2016 Racing Season.

Thank you for reading.
Suzie x

Punchestown Festival  - Throwback

Well, its nearly that time of the year again.  In a few weeks we will see Punchestown National Hunt Festival 2016 running from Tuesday April 26th to Saturday April 30th.

The Punchestown Festival is regarded as the Grande Finale of the Hunt Season and features top class horses, trainers and jockeys from both sides of the Irish Sea.  The atmosphere for the festival combines the brilliant racing, live entertainment and the fabulous style every day with much more besides.

I have been very lucky to have designed the wining hats for some of the best dressed ladies at the Punchestown Festival.  I have enjoyed the festival first hand many times and I'm sure we will return again.

The highlight for me was when two of my clients scooped the  'Best Dressed' prize, wining twice in the same year was wonderful.



Here we see Oniesa Owens with her win, styled from the high street with her own Wedding Shoes!!

I designed this dyed to match hat to complete the overall look.



This is the first festival of the year for many ladies to show off their stunning fashion and I love designing hats for them introducing some spring/summer colours.









Kay Mulcaire won 'Best Dresssed' wearing this beautiful metallic and citrus outfit.

Again I designed her hat dyed to match and trimmed it with pheasant feathers.




I am looking forward to the TV coverage for this year and all the style that we can enjoy.   Maybe some Suzie Mahony Designs Hats will feature again!!

Make Your Colours Work for YOU!!

Make Your Colours Work for You

Each season we welcome some fabulous colours to choose from when buying our fashion.  From high street to high end occasion wear, the choice is endless.   

For 2016 we see beautiful pastels coming through from last year, nude pink, pale blue, mint, lemon and lavender.  On the other end of the spectrum there are many rich strong tones from coral, cerise, turquoise, emerald, teal and purple.

Fashion designers and well known labels catering to the Mother of the Bride market are giving us a real treat by combining these tones with soft golds, navy or a lovely soft pale grey.

Millinery is no different, planning collections of key colours, designs and fabrics. This year introducing a rich silk collection of hat designs.  

With the beautiful softness of the silk it gives a stunning sheen to a hat. 

Dye to match ensures that your overall look works together perfectly and the tones complement each other. 

When choosing a hat or headpiece, make the colours work for you and your outfit.  

Its important to have the colour which suits you next to your face as the base of the piece.  

Some dresses and accessories look best with a very simple elegant structured hat, where others need a quirky design or a splash of bold colour to enhance a key detail of the dress.

Look at your outfit 'Head to Toe' and see what Colour can do!!

KeaneonStyle at Harvey's Point Hotel

KeaneonStyle at Harvey's Point

I have say a huge thanks the staff at Harvey’s Point who gave me the warmest of welcomes for #keaneonstylehp. Thanks to Noel Cunningham an absolute gentleman, who made sure I was comfortable and relaxed after my long trip from Galway.   I extend a huge thank you to Lorraine Keane for inviting me to be part of her amazing event and experience the whole keaneonstyle atmosphere.

My guest Sinead Carroll from YummyMummy was great company for the evening, we certainly kept the show on social media for spot prizes!! I was delighted to introduce her to the wonders of Harvey's Point.
  
Having got over the shock of leaving my dress at home!!! I made a quick stop at Magees in Donegal town where I picked up a glitzy silver top with very smart black trousers.  I was so comfortable and felt great I was quiet happy not to have my dress!!

The evening began with a glass of bubbly and every guest received a packed goody bag. With a fabulous buffet dinner the event got off to a great start.  “Keane on Style” included a glamorous fashion show featuring the new collection from Deborah Veale who opened the show, McElhinneys, Magees, Divine Boutique, Aria V Jewellery, The Style Room  Irish Designer Marion Murphy Cooney, Pearls & Lace showing us beautiful bridal and party dresses. I showcased my couture Suzie Mahony Hats and Headpieces.

There was no shortage of ‘experts’ with lots of tips on skincare from Peggy Stringer, Monkstown Laser Skin Clinic, Dr. Garrett Brady, Lowell Medical Clinic, Non-invasive treatment Ultherapy and Rita from ATIR Shapewear.  

We were treated to hair demonstrations from The award winning Hair Stylist Rossa Danagher, Rossano’s Hair Group, Donegal, Ballyshannon and Janice Doherty, SometimesJenny showed us how to apply a make-up party look.

Throughout the entire evening there were lots of spot prizes, table prizes and the raffle, I event won our table prize Shapewear from ATIR.  The fashion show was modelled by Lockdown Models, a delight to work with.

Looking forwarding to doing it all again in the City North Hotel, 15 minutes from Dublin airport (Exit 7, M1), 30th January girls!

Come and join us!

Galway Fashion Trail

Galway Fashion Trail 2015

On a relatively mild weathered Saturday 7th November I was delighted to be invited as part of the inaugural Galway Fashion Trail.  The event organised by Galway Now Magazine saw retailers throughout the city hosting fashion shows to highlight a Galway Designer and modelled by Catwalk Modelling Agency.

An Cupan Tae

The day started in the beautiful An Cupan Tae where a host of invited bloggers met for breakfast to receive their goody bags which included treats from lots of the businesses involved to get them started on their day of blogging in Galway.






The fashion shows began in Collette Latchford showcasing Heather Finn knitwear, then on to GOSH shoes and the Hatshop to check out their great winter collections, followed by My Shop Granny Likes it!! where there is a wide variety of Irish Designs on show.

My Shop Granny Likes It

The next Fashion Show was at The Treasure Chest, complete with the Christmas Store looking like Lapland.  You could spend hours just browsing through the beautiful array on offer.  Upstairs they stock some of the leading labels in wedding occasion fashion and ladies wear, the guests were treated to the fashion show.

Highlighting Milliner Suzie Mahony Designs, my designs are stocked in store and I was delighted to showcase my designs for the event.  My recent collection from London Fashion Week was displayed beautifully on the Shop Street Window for the event.

Suzie Mahony Designs Millinery with Fashion from The Treasure Chest

All our lovely Bloggers!!

Hartmanns Jewellers showed us their amazing pieces from Natasha Heaslip Galway Designer.

Enjoying the show with Many Maher

Selfie time with the fab Catwalk Team!!

Further down Shop Street guests and bloggers were treated to shows at Anthony Ryans, PIA, MUSE by me, The Kilkenny Shop and Willow.  Brilliant to see some new boutiques in Galway stepping up and showing off the great collections they have to offer.  We even had some street Fashion shows!!  CASK on Middle Street was the scheduled and much needed stop for lunch to catch up on the tweeting and social media!! and a visit to Cloon Keen Atelier Parfums was also enroute.

The Galway Fashion Trail wrap party was hosted by The House Hotel where everyone had a well earned drink after a fabulous day of Galway Fashion and Designer Showcases.

Keeping Stylish with Winter Hats

Keeping Stylish with Winter Hats

With the clocks changing this weekend it is time to get your winter wardrobe sorted.  It certainly is a challenge to get dressed up for those chilly days and still manage to look stylish and seasonally appropriate.  We all have winter coats or jackets, winter wool coat in classic black or camel, leather coats or jackets.  Winter styling is more about how to put the outfit together and finish it than having the right items in your wardrobe.






Many forget that it is the accessories that really finish your look for winter.   Hats, belts, boots or bags, any or all off these can change your look and also bring a look together to look stylishly winter!!  This red beret style is handmade trimmed with a simple twist and available in many colours in wool felt.


The Winter colour palate is huge, when you look out the window from rusts, greys, deep greens, wine, burgundy, black, rusts and lots more.  All these tones work together, so have fun when choosing your look.   To complete that winter coat or jacket it is a must to have some accessories.  From handmade wool felt designs available at my studio or why not try a bespoke hat designed to match your winter coat.  Wool felt hats will last for season after season.





 Not forgetting the Winter Race Season.  Again a beautiful felt hat will look amazing on any Best Dressed Lady and don't forget those leather gloves or a wide belt and umbrella.   This burnt orange felt design is trimmed with pheasant feathers, mounted on elastics and very comfortable and stylish to wear.

There are a huge variety of fun and stylish hats out there from high street to designers.   A winter hat always looks beautiful on a lady so why not try it out this season.  Play around with your accessories whilst staying warm!!