Clothes Lines

Knitting Pretty
Castle of Ireland knitwear, which started as a hosiery business 75 years ago, employs two full-time designers and exports its knitwear – in quality wools such as merino – to the UK, the US, Canada and Japan.

In Dublin, it can be found in shops such as House of Ireland and Clerys. In other tourist areas, such as Kenmare, its grey cashmere palazzos and hoodies sell well to US visitors, most recently TV’s Judge Judy (Sheindlin). Its little grey cardigans, embellished with lace and pearls (right, €92.50), and long tunics and cardigans, due out next summer, are bound to be winners for chilly afternoons. The current collection features boiled-wool cardigan jackets with tweed collars and pockets.

Denim in your eyeline

Denim these days is a universal code, the use of which has even spread to sunglasses. In the latest Chanel collection, sunglasses with lenses surrounded by red, electric blue, black, brown or tortoiseshell frames have arms wrapped in black or blue denim. Even the cases for this Chic Denim eyewear are covered with quilted denim and the double-C signature. Other styles include large 1970s-style frames in graduated colour, and more classic shapes in smoky acetates with light frames based on the grid patterns of tulle fabric.

Hats off to Hollywood glamour

Kathleen McAuliffe’s millinery heritage goes back to her great aunt, Maude Legg, who was a personal milliner to Queen Elizabeth and to the late Queen Mother. McAuliffe, who studied at the London College of Fashion, sold her first hat designs at Greenwich Market. She moved to Dingle, Co Kerry, in l994, where she met and married fellow milliner Niall Mellon, and in 2003 they set up their shop there. Fans include Nicole Kidman and Elle McPherson. McAuliffe’s latest collection draws on Hollywood glamour of the 1940s, with lavish broad brims and bold floral decor, butterfly fantasies and swirls of colourful sinamay. The midnight black and silver headpiece with Swarovski crystal detail (right), costs €255. Tel: 066-9150644, www.kathleenmcauliffe.com.