Local woman wins Style Icon award at The Curragh

Gracefield native Cleo Knight was named the Ashford Castle Style Icon at the Curragh racecourse over the weekend. The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival was bursting with fashion and fun, with spirits remaining high despite the occasional shower.

Cleo Knight, aged 33, is a business lecturer in Ballyfermot College in Dublin. She prioritised sustainable styling on her way to the big prize. Her 1980s vintage suit was a dusty pink that complimented her hat, which was purchased in a NCBI charity shop. Cleo said that her love of fashion was inspired by her mother, who runs a shop for a local hospice.

The Style Icon award was judged by Moët & Chandon's Clémentine MacNeice, Ashford Castle's Lisa Toomey, LK Bennett's Dawn Fulcher, and RTÉ's Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh. As part of her reward, Cleo won a stay at the five-star Ashford Castle, and plans to enjoy her stay with her fiancé Stephen.

Cleo was joined at the Curragh by her sisters Davinia and Dawn, who also entered into the style competition. Part of Cleo's award-winning outfit was Davinia's clutch bag!

On her win, Cleo said: “I was completely shocked to have won. I love fashion and dressing up for events, especially the races. Just after my name was announced I paused, as it just did not feel real, it was like a wonderful dream that I didn’t want to wake up from. It was an absolute pinch me moment!”

“The other ladies looked so stunning and the standard was so high, so my imposter syndrome was at an all-time high after I learned I had won the day.”