Fashion fever hits boiling point as Billion Dollar Babes jet in

IT’S being hailed as one of the country’s largest ever fashion extravaganzas and judging by the level of interest, it just might live up to the billing.

Billion Dollar Babes, the invitation-only event which was born out of a small fashion sale experience on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip five years ago and has travelled the world since, will mark its debut on Irish soil tomorrow with a massive designer sample sale at CHQ on Dublin’s docklands.

Hoping to inject some serious international style into the wardrobes of fashion-conscious Irish females, Kate Nobelius, 30, and Shelli-Anne Couch, 36, are expecting to attract up to 8,000 women to tomorrow’s fashion event, which features designer duds at wholesale prices.

Our booming economy and young, fashion-conscious society were the main factors which led the duo to locate the event here.

And such has been the phenomenal response so far, the pair are now planning to host two further shows over the coming months.

Kate said: “We’re thrilled to be giving the savvy, chic Irish a chance to buy their favourite labels at wholesale without having to make the trek to designer showrooms in London or New York.

“There’s an innocence to Irish style. Irish women aren’t constrained when it comes to fashion.”

With a savings potential of up to 50% on designer gear, previous sales have shown that the average punter splashes out around €200.

That means tomorrow’s event could net the dexterous duo a whopping €1.5 million in sales.

Boasting an impressive roster of clients, including Miss Sixty, Ted Baker, Diane von Furstenberg, Jenny Packham and Louise Kennedy, the event generally attracts as many celebrity fashion followers as it does everyday bargain hunters.

“Paula Abdul spent €3,000 at the event last weekend in LA and when Marilyn Manson visited he purchased bags of female clothing for himself,” said Kate, who said if the show was successful, it could return before Christmas.

A host of high-profile guests, including fashion heiress Margherita Missoni and actor Gabriel Byrne, are expected to attend a special preview sale tonight in advance of tomorrow’s main event.

When she’s not en route to JFK or Heathrow to attend a Billion Dollar Babes event, Kate spends her free time holding court with royalty in Saint Moritz, storytelling with her Caribbean-based grandmother and studying the form at high-profile race meets.

“I’ve been coming to the Irish Derby for years and I enjoy every minute of it. I’m even thinking about buying an Irish racehorse,” says the Melbourne-born fashionista.

“My boyfriend calls me his little pony, but I see myself more as a thoroughbred filly.”

With two toddler daughters, meanwhile, Shelli-Anne has her own mantra: “I’m not domestic, I’m international.”

More than 35 contemporary fashion designers will feature at tomorrow’s Billion Dollar Babes extravaganza in Dublin.