Mini Media Meets...Suzie Mahony Designs

Tell us a little bit about Suzie Mahony Designs

When you visit Suzie Mahony Designs you get so much more than ‘just a hat’.  I provides a one stop shop for all your style and accessory needs for your special occasion.   As one of Ireland’s leading Milliners with several awards spanning a career of nearly 15 years,  I create and design bespoke hats and headpieces for ladies throughout Ireland and further afield for family weddings and race meetings such as Ascot or Cheltenham.  

I have worked with many high profile clients including designing a hat which was presented to the First Lady Michelle Obama in 2014 by Mr Henry Healy (Barrack Obama’s cousin) for St Patricks Day.  Clients have adorned my creations to Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace and my  ‘Butterfly’ Silk Collection of Hats was showcased at London Fashion Week in association with the Princes Trust.  Mothers of the Bride/Groom visit my studio by appointment where I style the complete look for them, creating the perfect hat or headpiece for their wedding.

HOUSE OF IKONS-LONDON FASHION- WEEK- 2015.  My ‘Butterfly’ Silk Collection of Hats was showcased at London Fashion Week in association with the Princes Trust.

FILMED BY @S.S.V.P-TV. SuperStarVideosProduction. HigthLigths... HOUSE OF IKONS-LONDON FASHION- WEEK- 2015. S.S.V.P/MEDIA YouTube network features coverage of fashion shows, fashion week, runway highlights, front row celebs, backstage, hair and makeup, models, designers, photo shoots, red carpets at the biggest events in LONDON, and much more.

Wow, you have an amazing studio, tell us about what you offer?

My studio is beside our home and it has been purposely adapted over the years for my Millinery business.   I see my clients on a 1-2-1 basis by appointment where I go through the whole style of my client for her special occasion.  

I give advice and tips on every aspect of her outfit from head to toe.  With knowledge garnered from doing style events I have a wealth of experience to draw from to help my clients. The hat is the crowning glory and can bring the whole outfit together.  It’s important the client is comfortable in the complete look including the hat and it’s my job to make that work.  

Hats & Headpieces

The studio is full to the ceiling with fabulous hats and headpieces, all shapes and styles.  I design for each season, focussing on new ways of working with different raw materials that inspire me. There is a perfect hat design to suit every lady and it’s important you are able to see what shapes and designs work for you.

My occasion accessory styling has been featured on Xpose TV3 showing ladies that a dress can look very different by choosing a variety of colours or shapes to accessorise it from jewellery, shoes, bag and hat.  

Your 1-2-1 Appointment with me at my studio is a complete styling experience.  I take you through your whole look for your wedding or special event.  The overall look come seamlessly together with the design of my fabulous hats and headpieces.  

With my 'Rainbow Occasion Shoes' available to order dyed to match for your event I can cater for all your requirements .  My studio stocks a vast range of all accessories to choose from.

My work has been featured on many TV shows including nationwide, Ireland AM, X-pose, Fashion TV and Irish TV, press and fashion magazines including being featured in Vogue Magazine.

Jewellery

There is a wide range of jewellery available online at www.suziemahonydesigns.com.  From costume neck pieces which can add great detail to a simple dress or classic pearl and silver selections which add a touch of sparkle without overpowering an outfit.  I also make pearl and Swarovski crystal jewellery specifically for clients needs.

Handmade Beaded Collars

My handmade beaded collars are available exclusively at my studio or via my online store www.suziemahonydesigns.com.  Offering a variety of colour combos and different precious gems and stones.  I also make bespoke collars for clients to bring in the tones which they need for a personalised collar design.

You also stock the Rainbow Occasion Shoe Collection?

As a listed stockist I have the Rainbow shoe designs which I order in dyed to match for my clients.  When dyeing the hat it makes perfect sense to match the shoe/bag if the look requires that, this ensures all your accessories are perfectly toned to match your outfit.  

Suzie Mahony Designs has a strong association with Ladies Days at Race Meetings in Ireland, tell us a little more about that?

I sponsored the ‘Most Appropriately Dressed Lady’ competition on the Monday evening of the Galway Races for a number of years with my guest judge Mr Noel Cunningham TV3, we loved the event each year meeting people from all over and soaking up the unique Galway Races atmosphere.  

I have worked with Marietta Doran for many years designing hats for her to attend race meetings throughout Ireland.  The Best Dressed Ladies Days have grown and I have been fortunate to have had many clients win on several occasions nationwide.  

Just this December I created the hat for Breda Butler who won best dressed at Limerick Races and earlier in 2016 I designed the fabulous red ‘Hepburn’ hat for Sarah Jane Moran who scooped Best Dressed at the Roscommon Races.  

I love creating hats and working through the whole look for my clients for the races and it is a bonus if they are chosen or win a prize.  I know how difficult it is when choosing a winner with so many contenders, having judged ‘best dressed’ myself at Galway and The Curragh Racecourse.

How can you help brides to be?

I explore through all aspects of what a Bride wants to achieve for her special day from working with the dress chosen, jewellery options that will suit, hair guidance on styles that bring out the best for your overall look, veils, shoes and the various designs for Bridal Headwear.  I help brides through styling/designing the perfect headpiece to be worn on their special day. 

You also set up Suzie Mahony Designs School of Millinery, tell us more.

With years of training and business experience creating hats and Millinery I set up my School of Millinery as a way of sharing my skill, passing on the art of Millinery the way I have developed it for myself.  I have a timetable of tailor made workshops available which are held at my millinery workshop/studio.  The range of workshops and courses will grow introducing many of the aspects to learn about Millinery.  

Your Millinery Hen Parties sound so much fun. What a fantastic idea for a hen party, what does it involve?

The Hen Party Millinery Workshops are a 2.5 hour class in my Millinery Studio or a location of your choice.  Hens are greeted with a glass of bubbly before learning how to create their own individual pieces to be worn at the wedding or something stylish for a fun day out at the races!!

You will all enjoy a headpiece/fascinator making class with Milliner Suzie Mahony, using specialist materials including straws, feathers, beading, lace and silks.  The class caters from 5 participants upwards with dates subject to availability (including evenings and weekends).

You are a fully qualified trainer and passionate about education, tell us about this aspect of Suzie Mahony.

I facilitate Millinery Workshops with TY Students in schools around the country.  I am a fully qualified Trainer and I am passionate about education.  This workshop is specifically designed for the students to bring out the most creativity from them through the 2 hour workshop.  I cater for groups of 20 and often do multiple workshops to accommodate larger TY classes in one day.  

How can people get in touch with you?

Call Suzie on (086) 1948315 or email info@suziemahonydesigns.ie

I also love social media so you can like me on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. I'd love to connect so get in touch.