Mindful drinking and multifunctional menswear: Experts pick the trends to watch in 2019
From ‘swackets’ to seaweed, art to armcuffs, asks the experts to tap into the trends we should watch out for in 2019.
Chef Andy McFadden: ‘2019 will be all about zero waste’.
My motto in the kitchen has always been “nothing goes in the bin”.
There will always be some form of food waste — skins from vegetables, scallop shells, egg shells, used coffee grounds etc — but we try to minimise it where possible.
These could also be used for compost which you could then use to grow your own fruit and vegetables, which is something we will be looking at for next year at Glovers Alley.
We also only use whole animals in Glovers Alley, so we have to use every part of that animal for something.
At the moment we have whole sika deer, Comeragh mountain lamb, suckling pig, pigeon, and various game including pheasant, partridge, and hare.
It’s amazing for the young chef on the meat section who has to butcher-cook these animals every day.
There’s already a huge interest in pickling and fermentation over the past few years, with different brands of Kombucha on the market, kimchi, pickles, tempeh, kefir, etc.
I think the main idea and focus will be to consume less processed foods in general.
We will incorporate more plant-based foods into our diet, such as wholegrains, sprouts, and seeds, including for health reasons.
Vegetables will also become more prominent on restaurant menus.
The philosophy of using the whole animal will also be applied to fish and vegetables, which also makes the food become more interesting and furthermore comes back to the food waste point.
More people will be eating seaweed. It has some very diverse flavours, from the almost spicy, peppery dulse to the nutty wakame. It’s also very abundant and readily available.
Raw foods will see a continued growth in popularity as the lack of cooking helps preserve nutrients.
More people are becoming more aware of where food comes from. We will see more healthy and delicious- tasting convenience food rather than stodgy
takeaways.
The war on single-use plastic will gain even more traction. We will see greater transparency around food labelling.
Natasha Rocca Devine: ‘Get ready to stage and style’
I believe home styling and staging will be a key trend in 2019. Akin to that of personal stylists, people are becoming practical in their spending, particularly in their home or office spaces, as there are various options to save costs.
A staging or styling specialist is key to making the best choices, short and long-term.
Art is the core essence to this style of design. As a staging specialist, each project space I see as a new ‘gallery’ to curate.
So, my choices are fundamental to the sale of the home for the agents and clients I work with for my business. Particularly where there are large homes, or over various floors, the art and sculpture can connect everything together.
Select one piece of art, ideally from an artist of your choice, or one recommended, to create a statement in key rooms in your home, office or commercial space.
Place a variety of art on a feature wall using different artists, frames, and styles. Like flowers, hang them in threes or uneven numbers. Ideal for halls, stairs, or feature walls. Also perfect for art collectors or those with limited spaces.
Use art to subdivide a space. Ideal for open plan offices or within larger homes. Choosing different styles of art, placed with different furniture, can create a variety of moods within one space without adding walls or panels.
On a large open-facing bookshelf, invest in beautiful books (eg by ROADS) along with your personal collection.
Combined with some sculptures or small paintings framed on a stand, they can create a wonderful gallery and functional effect, for homes or offices alike.
Combine beautiful art and a similar style of pendant or lamp (eg modern or vintage) on a feature wall or space in your home or office.
This can be a very effective tool to highlight your art, lighting and/or a specific space.
I used art from a project for RTÉ’s Find Me A Home , where the art assisted in the 10% increase of the sale price.
I chose a charcoal piece of art by Gay O’Neill from The Open Window Gallery, Rathmines, combined with a bespoke table from DUA Studio (architects) along with Harvey Norman, Ikea, Kitchenrespray.com and vintage pieces to transform the space.
Carl D'Alton: ‘Mindful drinking is going to come to the fore for customers’
People have become much more conscious of what we eat and where our food comes from and I see this crossing over into our drinking habits.
I think the concept of “mindful drinking” will be a big trend this year. That is, not just having any G&T, but picking one based on where and how it was made. Is it local? Does the distillery have a sustainability ethos?
Another example of mindful drinking is a project I worked on when taking part in this year’s World Class Global Finals.
We were tasked to not only come up with a cocktail, but also to create a community project around it.
Mine was an initiative called “BeePositive” which involved distributing wildflower seed bombs every time a cocktail was sold to help create wildflower havens for our declining bee population. Mindful drinking is drinking with a positive purpose!
Regarding spirits, gin will still be king this year. As a nation, our palates are becoming more discerning. We know what we like and Irish gin seems to be it!
One tip for people throwing parties at home this year would be this — stock up on ice! It’s the most important ingredient in your drink.
Also don’t be afraid to experiment and blur the lines between cooking and mixing a drink.
Try making your own syrups with your favourite flavours and then combine them with your favourite spirit.
At Cask, we pride ourselves on producing four award-winning menus every year and we’re not going to stop!
We let mother nature dictate our ingredients, which is a wonderful way for us to learn to forage and also meet some amazing people who know so much about our island’s offerings — so this year, expect even more natural Irish cocktails.
Esther McCarthy: ‘Be prepared to go crazy for coral’
Brace yourselves: The Pantone colour of the year for 2019 is Living Coral 16-1546. So get ready for all things aquatic to swim into your colour schemes.
Think soft and warm, peachy coral intertwined with summer days, sunsets and tropical reefs.
You are going to see this seep into everything from the throw on your sofa to the lipstick on in your make up bag.
From neon pops in accessories like bags and earrings to neckties for the boys and goldfish lamps for the bedrooms.
New Look have a coral pleated midi skirt, Next Ireland are stocking kids coral fleecy jackets,River Island have a cute coral bikini and Debenhams are carrying coral chunky platforms by Faith.
Pictured above are Eames style dining armchairs by Danetti.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says: “Colour is an equalizing lens through which we experience our natural and digital realities and this is particularly true for Living Coral.
"With consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the heartening qualities displayed by the convivial Pantone Living Coral hit a responsive chord.”
Louis Copeland: ‘Functional travel coats will be key’
Men wearing “classic suits” on a daily basis are predominantly dying out and their suits are now more for client meetings and events.
We are helping men from all backgrounds make that change while still looking smart and feeling comfortable.
The modern man needs to buy “pieces” for his wardrobe that are multi-functional.
A good example of this is the swacket (sweater & jacket). You can pair this with jeans and chinos which makes it extremely versatile.
Every man needs a well-tailored pair of jeans. Throwaway denim always seem like a clever purchase but they always lack a professional fit and don’t last.
Tailored jeans like Jacob Cohens will last you for years and consistently feel great. Also, keep an eye out for our new Richard J Brown jeans coming next season.
Fine knitwear is key to completing a look and can be used stylishly in both winter and summer. Make sure to get extra fine wool in summer.
Another key trend is functional travel coats and bags.
Manufacturers are using knowledge from the sportswear industry and applying it to coats for the travelling businessman.
A great example of this is UBR coats, started by the former chief designer from Helly Hansen. These coats have a 4-way stretch, they’re super light, fully waterproof and fully breathable.
Mairead de Bláca: ‘Layering, armcuffs, and feathers’
A wave of brooches, piles of layering and a cornucopia of arm cuffs — here are the jewellery trends I spotted on the New York, London, Milan, and Paris Spring/Summer 2019 runways, that we all will be wearing in no time.
Overshadowed in recent seasons by statement earrings, bracelets are back for 2019.
You can stack the arm above and below the elbow or wear them as carefully chosen arty cuffs — and you’ll get extra style points come next season if you wear them over sweaters.
Apparently the 80s are back, or nostalgia for them is! With that nostalgia the brooch has re-emerged.
Lots of extra-large over-the-top brooches were spotted on the catwalks, but some lovely polite brooches are there for the less dramatic of us, who don’t wish to go back to the 80s.
Lots of layering of necklaces, ideal for any jewellery-lover. Large long necklaces are being mixed with shorter, lighter pieces.
Mixing and matching of different styles will also be a hit, giving a vintage allure.
Dig deep into your wardrobe in 2019 and find your classic pieces to complete your vintage look.
Feathers in lots of vibrant colours are back. We saw this western wind look on the 2018 catwalks and it appears this trend is going nowhere.
Feathers aplenty aligned with a vibe of independent style and a look of tribal, these are fun, light to wear, and will be perfect for a night on the tiles in 2019.
