THE stunning Treehouse area of the Fitzgerald’s Woodland House Hotel was turned into an oasis of Christmas style last Friday (December 1) as RTE’s Fiona Hayes hosted her Christmas Unwrapped event alongside Ally Garvey and Natasha Rocca Devine.
What was really special about this event was the focus on Christmas being a time for self-care rather than the usual hustle and bustle of festivities that we are used to. In line with this theme, the event opened with kinesiologist Sheila O’Hanlon, who spoke to the audience about the benefits of the muscle monitoring practice and the healing properties it possesses.
There was a real sense of community throughout, with the floor opened up for questions for guests to put their own personal ailments to Sheila for some expert advise, as well as picking the brain of resident RTÉ Today Show beauty expert Ally Garvey.
The day also featured a cooking demonstration from Woodlands House Hotel’s chef Vicky Scott, before moving on to beauty demos from some brands in attendance. The demos focused on self care and taking the stress out of Christmas, including how to do an at home manicure from 14 Day Manicure and how to look after your skin with tan/skincare brand Naked Glow.
The pop-up shops heavily focused on female-led Irish businesses with 15 beauty, fashion and homeware brands featured at the event including Veronica’s Closet, Raw Botanicals, Espy and Irish eyewear, Mama is a Dreamer jewellery, and Lush pressed flowers.
Speaking on the success of the event, which is now in it’s second year, Fiona told The Ensemble: “Christmas unwrapped was a celebration of a sustainable approach to Christmas without compromising on style or taste from our executive chef Vicky with her homemade Christmas dinner ideas to all our contributors in beauty fashion and design.”
“We couldn’t make this work without the support of our pop up brands and leaders in the fashion, beauty, and design industry across Ireland. Female-led design and business built with passion and expertise, all of this made for a gorgeous evening in The Woodlands.”
If you missed out on the Christmas event, not to worry, Fiona teased there is a Spring Revamp style event on the way in the new year.
