CLOTHES LINES:Marie Harty is a boutique owner with her finger on the pulse who is deliberately mixing high-end pieces with practical everyday wear that's colourful and fun to lift customer spirits. A former Sainsbury's food buyer in the UK, she returned to her native Cork some years ago to set up her boutique Lisboa (because she loves Lisbon).
Being the mother of three small children, she brings a common-sense approach to her buying. Along with favourite brands such as Hoss, Malene Birger and Tara Jamon, this season she has introduced two new ones, Soaked in Luxury from Denmark and Fever from the UK. Already, her best seller has been Fever’s tunic dress for €99, an adaptable piece that can be worn with leggings or a T-shirt. Lisboa is the sort of shop where one can find an on-trend peacock maxidress in cotton and organza for under €100 alongside good-looking waxed linen raincoats from Barbour International collection (pictured, €249).
Lisboa, 39 Maylor Street, Cork; see www.lisboa.ie or call 021-4270032.