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Off the rails and on to the catwalk for TV duo

THE SOCIAL NETWORK: Dublin’s fashion pack – those not at London Fashion Week, at any rate – were out on Tuesday night for the…

Sonia Reynolds, Laura Keane, Nigel Blow, Sarah Lamb, Taryn Casey, Ingrid O'Toole, Sonya Lennon, Brendan Courtney and Ciara O'Callaghan at the launch of the new clothing line by Lennon Courtney at Arnotts. photographs: kieran harnett

JAMES GIBBONS
Sat Feb 23 2013 - 00:00

THE SOCIAL NETWORK:Dublin's fashion pack – those not at London Fashion Week, at any rate – were out on Tuesday night for the launch of the new clothing line Lennon Courtney at Arnotts. The first capsule collection by Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney, of RTÉ'S Off the Rails, was 18 months in the making and consists of 32 pieces. Courtney said he was more nervous than he'd ever been, as the collection was their "baby". Lennon wore a "sneak preview" piece from their autumn-winter collection.

A host of television faces also came out to support the show. In the front row, Kathryn Thomas sat with Lorraine Keane. Thomas was wearing pieces from A-wear and HM; Keane was dressed from two of her favourite boutiques, Seagreen in Monkstown and Divine in Maynooth. She was recovering from the Justin Bieber concert the previous evening at the O2, to which she brought her kids – “I was the cool mom” – but forgot earplugs. Pamela Flood, Cathy O’Connor and Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh attended as well.

The fashion designer Peter O’Brien was also in the front row and gave the collection the thumbs-up. His ready-to-wear line also sells at Arnotts.

The designer Deborah Veale was wearing a piece from Gharani Strok and her own label’s trousers. She was admiring the style of the Irish women in attendance, including Hilda O’Connor.

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The TV and radio presenter Seán Munsanje attended with his mother, Sandra. He is preparing for his civil partnership ceremony at the five-star Aghadoe Heights, in Co Kerry, in June to Chris Doyle, the CEO of 98FM.

The make-up artist Derrick Carberry was sporting very natural make-up. “Men are embracing it now; there are men in the rugby and football world who would be upset if you didn’t put make-up on them.”

What we ateBespoke canapes created by Clodagh McKenna, which included monogrammed choux buns and rosewater white marshmallows dusted in edible black glitter.

Who we spottedThe model Alison Canavan; the TV presenter Diana Bunici; Margaret Nelson, the CEO of FM104; Wayne Cronin, managing director of the concierge service Quintessentially Ireland; Noel Sutton, the fashion editor of GCN; Arnotts personal shopper Clara Halpin.