PHOTOS: "An absolute vision" - Punchestown regular wins Best Dressed with 'show-stopper' look

placeholder image — Wexford fashion designer, Julie Caulfield

Wexford fashion designer, Julie Caulfield has won the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition today.

A regular at the Punchestown Festival, Julie always opts to wear her own designs to enjoy the fashion, racing and social scene at the County Kildare venue.

Donning a power blue beautifully textured two-piece from her own collection, a boater style custom made hat by Catriona King Designs and a bag which she cleverly covered in dead stock material, Julie was quickly identified as a firm favourite in the Bollinger best dressed competition today.

READ NEXT: SEE ALL THE STYLE SO FAR FROM PUNCHESTOWN.

Guest Judge, Niamh Devereux, Acting Editor of Irish Country Magazine said “She really stood out to me from early doors. Irish designed from head to toe. It was just the most exquisite, dainty, beautiful look and it was a total show-stopper.”

In keeping with the theme “something old, something new…” Julie completed her look with shoes she borrowed from a friend, Dylan Oaks earrings she won in a goodie bag previously and her sister’s bracelet, which she was terrified she would lose!

Describing the inspiration for the look, Julie Caulfield said “I love the structured style of the 40’s and 50’s. I think they just knew how to dress women back then - bringing in the waist of everything but with that structure of the top so I loved designing and wearing it today because it is so structured at the top yet so floaty and romantic at the bottom, I’m delighted with the win and thrilled the judges loved it too!”

Head judge Jess Colivet said, “Julie Caulfield is an absolute vision today in powder blue and from the moment we saw her, she was the one everyone had to beat. Our decision was unanimous and we are delighted to see her fast tracked through to tomorrow’s grand finale, she absolutely deserves it.”

Remarkably, the best dressed final line up included five ladies and one man today, a wild card introduced at the judges’ request, Jess explained “The standard among the men was incredibly high, we saw some truly exceptional looks. But there was one gentleman who was simply outstanding, and we couldn’t let that moment pass. His tailoring was impeccable, his style absolutely immaculate just really, truly stunning. We weren’t willing to take a place away from any of the women on stage, so instead we made the decision to add Raymond Gilbourne in as our wild card and he looks amazing up there. It was absolutely the right decision.”

Widely regarded as Ireland’s most prestigious style competition, The Bollinger Best Dressed competition takes place across the first four days of the festival from Tuesday 28th April to the final on Friday 1st May inclusive. Today's winner, Louisa Murphy has been fast-tracked to the grand finale on Friday when the overall Bollinger Best Dressed Winner for 2026 will receive a ‘money can’t buy’ trip for 2 to the Bollinger Estate. The overall prize includes flights to Paris, 5* Hotel, Michelin Star dining, private chauffeur, an exclusive Champagne Bollinger experience including private tour of the cellars, vineyards, gardens, house and overnight stay in the beautiful capital of the champagne region Reims plus a year’s supply of Bollinger.