Dunnes happy to shout about its latest collections

Dunnes Stores stages its first major fashion show in six years tonight at its South Great George's Street flagship store in Dublin. "Dunnes is much more design- and driven-led, so we can shout about it," says Carolyn Donnelly, now in her second year as creative director.

Styled by resident head stylist Jan Brierton, the show will draw from the store's various ranges including Savida, Gallery and The Edit to illustrate the season's trends. An edited preview at Imma yesterday covered categories such as second skin (animal print, faux fur, leathers), monochrome (1960s-style shifts, stripes and tailoring), street style (parkas, puffas and graphic knits) and event dressing (lace dresses, jumpsuits, black ensembles).

The coats on offer were wide and inexpensive, from creamy Crombies in wool mixes and bright red variants (€65) to a good-looking collarless black cocoon from The Edit (€169), while parkas came in plain and waxed cotton with removable faux fur collars, from €60-€90.

Some standout pieces included a marabou feather jacket in black or red (€80)and an astrakhan coat with a faux fur collar (€90 and €10), all from Savida’s limited editions (in store from October), worn with foxy silvered black brocade skirts (€35) or stretch leather leggings.

Dunnes’s main line features short skirts and trousers in turquoise and teal from the “jewelled tones” line-up, two shades notoriously difficult to match.

In Donnelly’s own range called The Edit, she has majored on burgundy houndstooth dresses, silver knits, stylish black jewelled combos and oxblood brogues with detachable coloured flaps.

For menswear, Paul Costelloe continues his casual line featuring quilted jackets, tartan shirts and Fair Isle sweaters, with chinos par for the course.