A clothing designer who was crowned Bollinger ‘Best Dressed’ at the Punchestown Racing Festival turned judges’ heads with her own ‘nifty’ design.
Julia Caulfield, from Wexford, was crowned the penultimate finalist of Bollinger’s Best Dressed at the Co Kildare racing festival on Thursday.
Speaking to EVOKE after her win, she said: ‘I’m so so happy. I’m delighted to win. It’s brilliant.’
Winner of the Bollinger Best Dressed at the third day of the Punchestown Racing Festival 2026 was Julie Caulfield from Killmore Quay, Co. Waterford. Pic: Michael Chester
Julia nabbed the judges’ attention in a blue ‘nifty two-piece’ that she designed herself.
‘I’m a clothing designer. My outfit is my own design and is a skirt and a top. It’s a very nifty two-piece for when you have to drive from Wexford in the morning. The headpiece is from Caithriona King Designs in Galway. The bag has been recovered, the shoes are borrowed, the bracelets are borrowed, and the earrings are Lucky.
‘I actually won here at Punchestown on a Thursday three years ago. I’ve been in the final a couple of times, but always the bridesmaid for the big one. Thursday might just be my lucky day.
Finalist in the Bollinger Best Dressed at the third day of the Punchestown Racing Festival 2026 were Julie Caulfield. Pic: Michael Chester
‘I have a wedding tomorrow, which is actually only 20 minutes away from here so it is quite handy. I might just have to be a tiny bit late for the wedding,’ she said. ‘I’ll rewear this dress, and then I’ll get changed in the car park.
‘My real job is I’m a makeup artist for years, and I work in film and TV, so the girl who’s getting married tomorrow is actually my makeup assistant. So there is no way that I would miss it anyway. So, yeah, it’s just a bit of a bit of a juggle. And I have two little people as well. They’re four and one.
‘So I think it got maybe an hour and a half asleep last night, and so the effort was real now coming up this morning.’
Winner of the Bollinger Best Dressed at the third day of the Punchestown Racing Festival 2026 was Julie Caulfield from Killmore quay Co Waterford. Pic: Michael Chester
Julia will now join fellow finalists Louisa Murphy and Olivia Clayton for the grand finale on Friday.
The overall Bollinger Best Dressed Winner will receive a ‘money can’t buy’ trip for two to the Bollinger Estate, with the prize including flights to Paris, 5* Hotel, Michelin Star dining, and a private chauffeur.
They will also receive an exclusive Champagne Bollinger experience, including a 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.