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Ladies Day Tips from Grainne McMahon
16 Jul 2010
Grainne Mcmahon, journalist, fashionista and head of news and sport with award winning regional radio station i102104fm. shares her tips on looking your best and surviving Ladies Day!
Ladies day is the highlight of my year, recession or no recession it's an excuse to get the gladrags on and feel fabulous for the day. The best bit is often the lead up to the event, trekking all over the country trying to get the right accessories, guna and hat only to find it is often under your nose from the very start and the night before I usually have a range of outfits to choose from only to go for the original one in the first place. But they're never wasted, as I'm an avid race goer for that week, I wear the rest of the outfits and hats that weekend so it's like a 4 day wedding and you feel on top of the world! These are my top ten tips to help achieve that perfect race look, I'm not an expert but I've ended up as a finalist so hopefully you will too this year!
10. four days before the big day, I start exfoliating and preparing my milk bottle skin to be transformed into that of a tanned goddess! I don't do salon tans, mainly because I have always done it myself and it has worked fine so far and it gives you extra cash for the all important dress. I really recommend dove tan, I use medium to dark which develops an even natural looking tan for Irish skin, you can get it for about 5euro if you shop around but the key is to start putting it on a few nights before as you can achieve the right glow that way. If you have to leave it until the night before, try one coat and then one about two hours later.
9. Three days before, I ensure my roots are covered. As my hair has red tones in it, it tends to develop that brassy tone you get with highlights so I may get a toner and a treatment if the roots aren't too bad. Philip Kingsley is amazing and cheapest online, for curly hair like mine it works wonders and puts a good gloss in which comes in handy for those photos! If you plan on wearing your hair up on ladies day, make sure you get your roots sorted at the back for the pics. If you're lucky enough to have a natural colour then put the feet up!
8. Speaking of feet, the paws will be out on the big day and the tv cameras will pick up on toes that aren't half presentable. I'm not into coloured nail polish, mainly because I may change my outfit at the last minute and I like the French polish look. Two days before, treat yourself and get them done. Lots of salons are doing great deals and for less than 15euro you'll have picture perfect toes!
7. The day before the races I often venture back to the salon to sort out my eyes, they'll have to do a lot of smiling so I recommend getting the brows sorted, they will really open up your face and an eye lash tint always comes in handy for the long partying ahead when the mascara may run out.20euro later and you're like a super star!
6. The evening before is usually summed up in one word: chaos! Susie Mahony has been making hats for me for the past 3 years and she is amazing. Each year she advises me on which outfit will work well and I leave it with her to coordinate against the hat she makes for me. I'll travel to her studio in Loughrea and we'll do the last minute adjustments and tweak the outfit and hat to how it should look. Feathers usually fly! it is usually the night before that we will decide on the final outfit, Susie always has a backup plan for me hat wise in case the first option doesn't work out!
5. The outfit. Where to buy that winning outfit! I usually start looking out for something a few months ahead and usually abroad as I like my holidays! The Anthony Ryans fashion show is always another vital port of call because you'll pick up the trends for the summer season and get some ideas and I often pick up a few bits the day after the show. Despite often having something to wear, I always have another look around and get something as a backup. Vital tip: If you're ordering online, don't make my mistake and do it two weeks beforehand. Last year my feather dress arrived two days before the races, the hat had been made, shoes and bag bought but no dress. Cue a last minute shopping trip to limerick and Dublin to try and get the dress or a similar one I'd seen. I forked out a fortune for another dress, bag etc only for the online dress to arrive two days beforehand. Panic over!
4. Accessorise, Accessorise, Accessorise! This is the key to having a complete outfit but make sure you don't over Accessorise. Your bag, hat, shoes and dress don't have to be the same colour etc, you don't want to look like a coordinated cheerleader, it's about an individual look but ensuring that everything complements each other. Getting a handbag that is big enough yet not clunky so that it can hold your essentials on the day is useful and a little purse to hold all your winnings. And you can get great bargains in the sale on Accessories, also sometimes less is more!
3. Check your makeup and fingers! My nails aren't my best asset but ahead of the big day I try and get them into shape, even with a nice clear varnish or French tips if I can manage it. When it comes to makeup, paint the canvass for a day event and don't go overboard on the night time look but do bring enough to freshen up as the day goes on. Strawberries are handy for achieving less tarnished gnashers so you'll be all set for the cameras.
2. Prepare to dazzle! The morning of the big day, Make sure you get your underwear right, check for tan marks, ensure your hair is perfectly coiffed: even a blow dry will work great and keep the frizz at bay and make sure you eat breakfast so your tummy is lined for any Champers on the day ahead. Don't forget your camera and flat pumps for your bag if you think your feet will be sore later in the day!
1. Smile smile smile! get to the races early if you are hoping to make your tv debut and catch the eye of the camera men or photographers. It will also mean you get a good spot to check out the fashion and horses of course. And make sure you have fun, that's the aim of the day after all!