A series of decadent Fashion Teas will return to The Merchant Hotel, Belfast this October, serving up the hottest trends from some of Northern Ireland’s top independent boutiques and designers to tantalise fashion taste buds for autumn/winter 2014.
On Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October, the 5*star hotel’s Rita Duffy Suite will provide a striking setting 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. Guests will also have the opportunity to shop the collections hot off the catwalk, with pop-up boutiques for all five retailers housed in The Merchant for the whole weekend.
A packed schedule of three shows will kick off The Merchant’s autumn/winter Fashion Teas on Saturday 11th October with decadent accessories from designer boutique, Harper and leading milliner and jewellery designer, Grainne Maher (12.30pm); stunning autumn/winter collections from quirky homegrown label, Art on Fashion (3pm) and beautiful bridal collections from Castle Couture (5.30pm). On Sunday 12th October, Dungannon boutique, The Boudoir will present two fashion-forward shows at 1pm and 3.30pm.
This autumn/winter is all about the accessories and in a fitting fashion pairing, luxury designer boutique, Harper at The Merchant Hotel and top NI designer, Gráinne Maher are joining forces to open this season’s Fashion Teas in style. Exclusive Northern Ireland stockists of Christian Louboutin, Charlotte Olympia and Rachel Zoe, Harper at The Merchant’s coveted red soled heels will be a key feature in this opening show, with a mix of classic shapes and colours and fashion forward styles ensuring fashion lovers are well heeled for A/W 14.
Alongside Harper, renowned Belfast based milliner and jewellery designer, Gráinne Maher will showcase a range of striking pieces at The Merchant’s Fashion Teas including a selection from her new SS15 collection, which recently made its debut at London Fashion Week. The collection, entitled ‘Bláthanna’ (Irish for flowers), includes a range of statement Perspex millinery, jewellery and limited edition bags with a colour palette punctuated by rich pinks and pale greys. Combining traditional materials with Perspex and Swarovski, her work is sultry, sculptural and perfectly balances form with function.
In an exciting first, niche homegrown online clothing brand, Art on Fashion will showcase an exciting new collection at The Merchant’s Fashion Teas. Taking the work of cool and edgy international artists and transforming it into stunning garments, Art on Fashion creates wearable pieces of art for your wardrobe. Their latest collection is characterised by sophisticated elegance, featuring digital placement prints of original artworks fused with faux-leather and embroideries to create a look that is suitable for all occasions. Staking out new territory with the latest bodycon silhouettes and asymmetric dresses, the A/W 14 Art on Fashion collection offers unique, stand-out contemporary pieces that would be a timeless addition to any capsule wardrobe.
Closing the series of Saturday Fashion Teas, Castle Couture presents a show with stunning new designs from a host of award-winning bridalwear designers including Amanda Wakeley, Suzanne Neville, Jenny Packham, Badgley Mischka and David Fielden. Taking guests on a glamourous journey, the Castle Couture Fashion Tea will feature an eclectic mix of vintage and more modern styles in beautiful fabrics and trimmings. Ranging from intricate to simplistic designs, this show is sure to provide inspiration for all brides to be searching for their perfect dress.
The Boudoir at The Linen Green Designer Village, Dungannon, specialises in occasion and casual ladies fashion and accessories. Owners Anita and Donna Ross have travelled extensively to create a stunning autumn/winter collection. Their two Fashion Teas shows on Sunday 12th October will feature an array of the latest trends including, fur, leather and sequin pieces in ruby, navy and purple and will showcase Milly Mackintosh’s new clothing range and an extensive collection from Kate Middleton’s milliner, Jane Taylor, which is exclusive to The Boudoir in Ireland.
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 2014 charity partner, Northern Ireland Chest, Heart & Stroke.