Compiled by Deirdre McQuilan
BAG THIS BARGAIN Heading for Paris? Make sure you have an extra bag in which to carry home all your holiday purchases by calling into La Maroquinerie Parisienne at 30, rue Tronchet (between the Madeleine and Boulevard Haussman), where Parisians in the know go to buy bags, gloves and belts at reduced prices. This Aladdin's Cave, two floors up but with a ground-floor window display, has all the best-selling French ranges, including Longchamp, Sequoia and Didier Lamarthe, and prices are so keen that queues often form all the way down the stairs. Service is good, though, and they even shorten belts on the premises as you wait. Opening hours are: Monday, 1-7p.m.; Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Nearest Metro stations are Madeleine and Hauvre-Caumartin. Marie-Claire Digby
NEW ROMANTIC For those who hate suits, the clothes of Lezley George are aimed at a more romantic, less constrained spirit. The secret is a mixture of good shape with emphasis on the waist and more free and easy fabrics such as taffeta, scrunched velvets and organza in heavenly colours such as plum, magenta, chocolate, cinnamon and dusty pink. This velvet "smock" jacket (€665), for example, is worn here with a chocolate silk satin skirt (€470) and chunky bracelet by Pebble. Monica John, South Anne Street, Dublin 2 and French Church Street, Cork are the sole Irish stockists.
CRYSTAL CLEAR Elva Robins's new collection of jewellery is bright, colourful and feminine, her materials Parisian glass, crystal, silver and semi precious stones. One range, called Rajasthan, followed a trip to India and consists of clusters of faceted peridot and tourmaline drops beaded onto fine gold chain, delicate work with strong colour and a new departure for this talented jeweller. The pieces, earrings, necklaces and bracelets cost from €75 up to €480, while other ranges such as Frill and Rose in which small crystals are woven into rose shapes and clipped into the hair or sewn on satin bows for wrist and neck, cost from €75 to €275. Elva Robins is at 20 Railway Road, Dalkey, Co Dublin (01-2856827).