Style notes: silk jumpsuits with star appeal, feather bags to snap up, and velour tracksuits make a comeback

independent.ie-Anyone watching the singer Loah step onto the stage of St James’ Church in Dingle for the Other Voices concert last month was left in no doubt about her personal style. She has a graceful, generous presence on stage, is gifted with a fantastic voice, and she also has great fashion sense.

On the night, Loah wore a jumpsuit designed by her good friend, Violet Ogden. Violet’s signature one-pieces are made in a luxurious silk charmeuse she buys from a factory in China, and the good news is that a new batch of her jumpsuits are becoming available to buy on violetogden.com.

Violet, a mum-of-one from Dublin, keeps her manufacturing programme very small. This only adds to the demand, as once people see the jumpsuits, they instantly want one, like they did when Loah wore her design on The Late Late Show and the enquiries started coming through.

“It’s just me making them and that is why it is all so slow,” explains Violet. “Gallons of tea, a Spotify playlist, The Blindboy Podcast and also my new favourite, My Therapist Ghosted Me with Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally,” keeps Violet going though her labour of love.

“I love the long leg, and then cinching them in at the waist. I feel like, sometimes, a dress is too dressy and formal, and with a jumpsuit, you just pull it on and it’s a bit cooler than a dress.”

The silk jumpsuit (€480) will be available to buy this month, and it will be sold in two colours (hot pink and also in a dark teal) and in three sizes (small, medium and large).

If print is your thing, check out her cotton African wax print jumpsuits (€265). The print is called ‘Jumping Horse’, which Violet buys in Nigeria.

Special alert! Sorcha O’Raghallaigh’s highly covetable feather bags made with marabou feather are a thing of beauty. A consignment of these €400 gems with diamanté handles have just arrived into Brown Thomas on Grafton Street and I don’t expect they will be there for too long.

Blazer action

Congratulations to Primark, who have opened their 400th store in the world, with Sicily taking the honours this time. I was lucky enough to have a front seat on proceedings when they opened their first French store in Marseille, and it was very interesting to see how the French, with their defined Gallic style, shopped the rails while remaining loyal to their rock chic roots.

In recent weeks, Primark have had a lot of success with their Emily in Paris range, which drills down to key looks worn by TV character Emily Cooper as she navigates her new life in the City of Light.

The Christmas range for Primark has just landed in store, and it includes a lot of useful, and very colourful, glam pieces. I know it’s not the Christmas we thought it might be — while cosy jumpers were the big thing last year, everyone thought it would be sequins central this month. Yes, they will be in the mix, but watching shoppers lately, it is clear they are working on yet another recalibrated wardrobe for the season.

I forecast that Primark will have a lot of demand for their blazers, from the navy velvet version (€45) to the neon pink tux blazer dress (€30).

Blast from the past

Talk about a blast of nostalgia. I came across Juicy Couture, the iconic Noughties brand, in Arnotts of Henry Street, and you will also find it in Brown Thomas. There was a time when you could not visit New York without calling to the store on Madison Avenue to see what the brand was doing with velour, the fabric of the moment.

A huge favourite with teenagers and students alike, it was the velour tracksuits and handbags which drew their attention.

The new collection is described as “a dynamic fusion of loungewear and streetwear, released at a time when Juicy Couture is being adopted and re-adopted by intergenerational audiences the world over.”

The Juicy Couture Black Label is stocked in both stores, where you will find tracksuits with rhinestone-embellished logos. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I am sure there will be old committed fans who might want to drop by to check it out.

The prices include joggers (€75), hoodies (€80), satin shorts (€40) and cropped tops (€35).

Under the Christmas tree

I wrote a few weeks ago about how the Juvi jewellery brand had teamed up with chef Clodagh McKenna on a charm collection based around the seasons.

In a new range launched in time for Christmas, they have introduced the Icon Collection, featuring an array of contemporary symbols — cube, spike, hexagon and bar, all with matching necklaces, rings, huggies and studs. Mix and match to create your own look, stack the rings or create a curated earring look by combining studs and huggies.

Pop-up shop

Siobhan McKenna’s gorgeous knitwear brand, Moss + Cable, is having a pop-up at 6 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2, open from 11-7pm on Saturday, December 11, and from 11-6pm on Sunday, December 12.

Expect to find Siobhan’s core range of Aran sweaters, her ‘Forever Cardigan’ and a range of knitted accessories and blankets. Prices start at €16 for socks, and €45 for hats, while the jumpers and cardigans sell for between €165 and €315.

It’s a lovely opportunity to meet the Donegal designer, whose knit pieces make hearts beat a little faster.