A series of decadent Fashion Teas are set to return to The Merchant Hotel, Belfast this September, serving up the hottest trends from some of Northern Ireland’s top independent boutiques and designers to launch the autumn/winter season in style.
On Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September, the hotel’s Rita Duffy Suite will provide an opulent backdrop for five individual Fashion Teas, showcasing cutting edge autumn/winter collections alongside sumptuous champagne afternoon teas.
Models from Style Academy will provide a round table fashion show, allowing guests to get up close and personal to the new season collections, whilst sipping Moet et Chandon champagne and enjoying melt in the mouth patisseries.
A packed schedule of three shows will kick off the autumn/winter Fashion Teas on Saturday 28th September with designs from luxury label, Goddess & Swift, the brainchild of Belfast based designer, Larissa Watson (12pm); stunning autumn/winter collections from designer Dungannon boutique, Edge Emporium (3pm); and show-stopping creations from Belfast designer, Ruedi Maguire’s REUDI Made in Belfast label (6pm).
On Sunday 29th September, luxury Moira boutique, Diamond Dolls (2.30pm) will take to the catwalk with a stunning collection, perfect for the forthcoming party season. The grand finale, courtesy of up and coming NI designer, Nor Lisa (5.30pm), will draw this season’s Fashion Teas to a stylish close.
Following each show, guests will have the opportunity to shop the collections, hot off the catwalk with pop-up boutiques for each retailer taking up residence in The Merchant for the weekend.
The fashionably feminine Goddess & Swift collection is influenced by French impressionist artist Marie Laurencin and her portraits of pale ethereal beauties. Explored through feminine lines using drape, flow, curve and a limited edition series of hand painted pieces, the collection features luxe fabrics including leather, wool sheers and silk. The colour palette moves from the soft winter pales in pink and ice blue through to confident hues of wine, crimson and red and features eastern inspired prints.
Dungannon boutique, Edge Emporium will show a sumptuous selection of key autumn /winter looks, with a focus on new season silhouettes and fabrics. Luxury lace and soft silks combine with an on-trend palette of royal reds, navy and monochrome, presenting a chic offering for AW13. Exclusive lines from ALICE By Temperley, Circle Of Gentlemen and Custo will be amongst their selection.
The RUEDI AW13 collection consists of strong sculptural shapes, ideal for women with confidence and flare. Blending soft luxurious silks and wools with metallic leathers, red gold and black tones are key to this rich, modern collection. Guests at the RUEDI show will also get a relished sneak peak at the designer’s forthcoming SS14 collection, which features softer, more relaxed structures using fun, vivid colours including pink, yellow, orange and grass green, contrasted with shiny greys and metallic silvers.
Moira boutique, Diamond Dolls will show an inspired collection where warm earthy colours such as brown, cream, beige and olive green welcome the new season in all its autumnal splendour. A regal mix of red and navy also peppers the collection, with vibrant tartans, military inspired pieces and coats complete with tails adding to the Royal theme. Classic monochrome brings some chic finesse to this diverse collection.
For Nor Lisa Fashion, this season embraces the ‘moody blooms’ trend, which consists of lush colours in overripe hues, scattered across darker tones with elegant womanly charms. The glamorous collection embraces a dark winter romance, using high end luxurious fabrics including silks, silk chiffon, soft cotton and stiff linen. With this season comes the return of Nor Lisa Fashion’s custom designed in-house prints, which gives the new collection a completely unique look that won’t be found anywhere else.
Tickets to The Merchant’s Fashion Teas cost £35 per person and include an exclusive fashion show of your choice, served with champagne afternoon tea. Tickets can be purchased by calling The Merchant Hotel’s events team on 028 9026 2717. Funds raised from a luxury ballot at the events will be donated to The Merchant’s 2013 charity partner, The Children’s MRI Scanner Appeal.