Clothes lines

Covetous Closet

A new upmarket hire shop in Malahide called Cari's Closet offers designer dresses that can be rented at affordable prices. For a wedding, a debs or some other special occasion, the shop stocks dresses and vintage collectables at a fraction of their retail price. For instance, a Badgley Mischka short blue dress costs €80 for a three-day hire, while a sweet black lace and chiffon prom dress by Sherri Hill is €100 for three days. The shop is owned by Lisa Duffy, a social worker, who saw the need for luxurious lends in north Dublin. It is named after her daughter Cari. Customers have the advantage of an alteration service (which means everything will fit well), and they can also buy the dresses if they wish. Some of the brands on offer include Hervé Léger, Alexander McQueen, Roland Mouret, Elie Saab, Sass Bide and DVF. Cari's Closet, 108 New Street Mall, Malahide, Co Dublin, cariscloset.ie, tel: 01-8457593.

Annoushka gems

A jade and emerald pendant given to jewellery designer Annoushka by her mother following a trip to the Alhambra Palace in Spain was the starting point for these elegant (and expensive) earrings, in which the colour of the central stone is complemented by a cascade of faceted or cabochon stones. It’s part of her new collection called Foundry, which also includes unusual bronze and oxidised silver necklaces. The designer will be in Brown Thomas, Dublin, next Friday, November 9th, from 10am to noon and from 2pm to 4pm.

Village people

Visitors to Kildare Village from November 15th will be greeted by a display of specially designed and illuminated Christmas boxes as part of an art-deco-themed “Charm of Christmas” spectacular. The initiative, spearheaded by Chic Outlet shopping villages in tandem with design schools in Europe such as London’s RCA, Esmod in Paris and our own NCAD, invited students to design the artistic theme of the villages’ festive campaign. The competition will be judged by design luminaries and the winner of the €9,000 prize will be announced on December 1st. A selection of the designs will be brought to life on the boulevards of the various villages.