Form is key in fashion stakes
Form is everything in both the equine and fashion worlds as events at Punchestown proved yesterday when MariaMcCullen-Harvey from Stamullen, Co Meath emergedvictorious from a large field in the Arnotts Best Dressed Lady competition on Ladies Day at the National Hunt Festival.
For the 37-year-old mother of one, it represented what was animpressive hat-trick of wins in such contests.
She had previously won the Best Dressed Lady title in Galway in 2002 and followed that with The Curragh in 2006.
Maria works as a podiatrist at the Navan Foot and Ankle Clinic in Navan, Co Meath and the Charlemont Clinic in Dublin.
“It’s great. I can’t believe it, I’m really shocked,” said Maria, who was accompanied to the races by her mother.
Maria’s winning outfit consisted of a cream coat, an intricate floral hat from Rhinestones and matching shoes from LK Bennett.
The delighted winner was presented with her prize of an Arnotts voucher worth €10,000, as well as an overnight stay at the Gresham Hotel in Dublin.
Maria explained that her stunning coat was a present from her husband for the birth of the couple’s only child five years ago.
“I honestly don’t know how much it is worth. I didn’t ask,” she smiled.
Judges for the event included TV presenter Gráinne Seoige and Arnotts general manager Leesa Kavanagh.
“I just thought she looked really elegant and beautiful and dressed for the weather,” said the RTÉ broadcaster on her choice of winner.
Grainne, a well-known horse-racing fan, was also suitably attired herself for the rainy conditions in a snug, grey VivienneWestwood suit.
A presenter of ITV’s Daybreak, she confessed that she was still buzzing from covering last week’s British royal wedding live on air.
“It’s obviously different to the style at a race meeting,” she laughed.
Meanwhile, the runners up in the Best DressedLady competition were Ciara Devitt from Dublin who wore a Gladys vintage red and cream lace dress, hat by Wendy Louise and shoes from Hoss Intropia and Sue McAuley from Naas, Co Kildare, who wore a black lace dress and black and champagne pink hat from Couture in Naas and champagne pink patent shoes from Fabucci in Naas.
