Dancing with Stars judge will seek Friday's Most Stylish at Galway Races

Athlone Towncentre enters its eleventh year leading the Friday’s Most Stylish competition at the internationally renowned Galway Races next month.

This year the prizes are better than ever with celebrity judges Arthur Gourounlian and Marietta Doran seeking strong fashion energy with sustainability in mind from attendees on the day.

Taking place on Friday, August 4 from 4pm, Friday’s Most Stylish sponsored by Athlone Towncentre is expected to be one of the biggest gatherings of racegoing fashion lovers to date on the fifth day of the festival.

Judges for the competition Arthur Gourounlian, a TV broadcaster and creative director, and Marietta Doran, fashion stylist and racing style presenter will seek out the best style efforts at Galway Racecourse on the day, with a focus as always on women who bring their own personal style to accessible high street pieces.

This year it is hoped entrants will restyle some clothing or accessories they already have in their wardrobes. Both judges will be joined by General Manager of Athlone Towncentre Shirley Delahunt who, together with Marietta, has formed part of the judging panel for the last eleven years. The chosen judges have a keen eye for style due to their involvement with international fashion styling, race meetings and retailers throughout their careers.

This year sees the biggest prize fund on offer to date for the competition winner with a shop & stay break courtesy of Athlone Towncentre. The lucky winner will leave Galway Racecourse with a €2,000 Athlone Towncentre Gift Card, a luxury two night break in the four-star Sheraton Athlone Hotel in a Deluxe Tower Room with dinner and spa treatments and a €500 voucher courtesy of Fields The Jeweller, who are one of the many retailers located in Athlone Towncentre.

Talking about his excitement ahead of the competition judge Arthur Gourounlian, who many will know from TV's Dancing with the Stars said: "I am thrilled to be a judge for this year's Athlone Towncentre's ‘Friday's Most Stylish’ event at the Galway Races. When adjudicating, I look for originality, uniqueness, confidence, and a certain "je ne sais quoi" attitude in their attire. Fashion is a way to express yourself and impress me by taking that extra step. To win the title of ‘Friday's Most Stylish’ it's important to wear clothes with confidence, that make you feel good and embrace the moment.”

Athlone Towncentre General Manager Shirley Delahunt added: “We are delighted to once again be involved in highlighting the incredible style the Galway Races are known for. This is our eleventh year sponsoring ‘Friday’s Most Stylish’ and we have seen the competition explode in popularity. Last year saw the largest numbers of the festival attend on Friday with many of the racegoers dressed in the hope of winning the outstanding prize we bring to the competition. The competition is accessible and focuses on the building blocks of an outfit being from the high street blended with pieces from boutiques and Irish designers, some of which people already have in their own wardrobes.

"We anticipate the event and the fashion showcased by racegoers on the day will be at an all time high. The Friday evening of race week has undoubtedly found its place on the calendars of stylish race goers across the country. We have seen a real evolution of style at the races over the last number of years which perfectly complements the high street stores and boutiques we house in Athlone Towncentre," she said.

"This competition and its previous winners have demonstrated that racing style is now more about reflecting ones ’individual personality and style creativity as opposed to spending an exorbitant amount of money on clothing one cannot wear more than a handful of times. We’re looking forward to seeing how racegoers blend high street and high end fashion at Galway Racecourse,” said Shirley Delahunt.

As always highlights of the event can be viewed on the Athlone Towncentre social media channels on the day.