Style season is truly upon us and standards were set very high at The Curragh as fashion lovers enjoyed the first day of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas weekend on Saturday.

Dozens of ladies stepped out in their best race day looks, with everything from pretty pastels to bold florals being seen around the course in Co Kildare.

However, there could only be one lucky lady crowned the Ashford Castle Style Icon and this year that honour went to Davinia Knight, whose sister Cleo won the accolade in 2024.

Davinia impressed the judges with her on-trend yellow dress by Needle & Thread which she rented from Nella.ie, a company based in Bunclody, Co.Wexford.

Her headpiece was also rented and by Marc Millinery, while Davinia's basket bag is from her mum's closet and her shoes are borrowed from her 21-year-old daughter.

Davinia is no stranger to raiding her family's wardrobe for accessories and outfits to wear to the races as she and her twin Dawn as well as sister Cleo often go all out for a race day.

'I'm so surprised to have won today but I'm so overjoyed, there's so much amazing fashion here today, everyone stepped up their game,' Davinia told EVOKE after she was crowned Style Icon.

Davinia continued: 'To be up on the stage with 10 others was lovely, and then it went down to three and I was delighted to get into the top three and then to win was just phenomenal. I couldn't believe it.'

Speaking a little more about the thought process behind her look for the Ashford Castle Style Icon competition, Davinia said she immediately knew she had to wear the ruffled dress.

'I went for that summer look with the yellow, it's on-trend at the moment the yellow... I saw the dress on the Nella website and thought "Oh my God, it's fabulous" and the weather has been really good the last few weeks, there's a little drizzle today but it hasn't dampened our spirits.

'To be able to rent the dress is amazing because these Needle & Thread dresses are expensive.'

As for diving into her daughter's wardrobe, Davinia said: 'She's 21 years of age and she's the same size foot as me, only a little bit taller, but has a good fashion sense and it's lovely to be able to go and just say "have you got anything to go with this" rather than going out and spending again.

'You don't want to be buying lots and you don't want to be going out spending too much just to go to the races, so it's lovely if you can just pick up pieces from family.'

Participants in the Style Icon Award received a glass of Whispering Angel when they signed up with style spotters working hard to pull out the best looks.

In charge of picking the winner was Marietta Doran, who looked fabulous in her bespoke Sook Young dress and headpiece by Sophie Hunter Millinery, and Ashford Castle’s Director Of Quality, Lisa Toomey.

As the lucky winner, Davinia will receive a luxurious two-night stay at Ashford Castle, which includes a five-course dinner in the opulent George V Dining Room and afternoon tea.

Davinia and a guest will also get to indulge in a private wine tasting in the castle’s cellars - talk about a dreamy summer staycation.

Picking between her two sisters to take along to Ashford Castle would be impossible for Davinia, so it looks like her husband will be joining her on the trip. A huge congratulations on your win, Davinia!