Deirdre McQuillan's style file
SET IN STONE Vivien Walsh's summer jewellery is big and bold and marks a new development in her ever-changing style. Her introduction of semi-precious stones - smoky and rose quartz, jade, amazonite, amber and carnelian in subtle earth colours - make her necklaces, layered one on top of the other, the most dramatic items in the collection. "Each stone is different because they are natural, and it is something I have wanted to do for some time," she says. Other materials include freshwater pearls, coral shells and wooden beads. Walsh also works to commission and has created many bespoke pieces for weddings and other special occasions. Her boutique is on Lower Stephen Street, Dublin, but stockists also include: Diffusion, Clontarf; Khan, Blackrock; Cobou, Ballina; and Kalu, Naas. Prices start at €20 for corsages, with necklaces from €75 to €195 and earrings from €50-€65. Photograph by Conor Horgan.
KEEP IT BRIEF Pronounced "deem", DIM is France's best selling lingerie brand and it's going on sale here in leading department stores and lingerie boutiques from the beginning of August. This high-fashion underwear carries equally attractive price tags, with nothing higher than €27. Trends come straight from the catwalk and there are some great prints and checks, polka-dot designs and even reversible bras that are plain on one side and metallic on the other. DIM also has a completely seamless bra in optic white or black with pretty scalloped edging. Prices: briefs €8.50-€11.50; bras €14.50-€27; boxers €10-€11.50.
BEST FOOT FORWARD Clarks has always been associated with sensible school shoes, but its somewhat dowdy image is a thing of the past following significant styling improvements and a major management shake-up. In China where the company has opened offices in Shanghai, it's a brand name considered as desirable as Burberry. In a highly publicised recent incident, 700 Chinese businessmen and women, many bearing paper cutouts of shoe sizes, cleared out a Clarks store in a factory outlet in Oxfordshire. Last year the 180-year-old firm sold 49 million pairs of shoes worldwide. This season, the brand's silver sequinned and metallic summer sandals have been winners, and for winter gold and silver sequinned pumps will no doubt top the must-have lists of the shiny set. Prices from €30 to €75.
VIKING SPLASH "The Danes Land in Dublin" was the slogan used to promote the recent opening of the first Irish Noa Noa store in Dublin's Westbury Centre. Now another Viking label has invaded boutiques from Clontarf to Clare. It's called Kiilerich and though its brochure is written in questionable English ("Endorse yourself by getting the boots of your dreams"), it claims its production is environmentally friendly and carried out "in good working conditions", although they don't say where. Some of the clothes have a strong 1950s touch, such as high-collared coats with big buttons, and the colour green features prominently, along with rose, grey and brown. A line of 100 per cent cashmere sweaters has been included for just under €200. Prices are around €150 for pants and skirts, jackets €280-€380 and tops from €99. Stockists include: Melie B Killaloe; Ottiva, Enniscorthy; Serendipity, Kilkenny; Erre-Esse, Tullow; JuJu, Greystones; Kimono, Newcastle West; and Pearl, Clontarf.
WEDDING PRESENT Hardly a week goes by but we hear of yet another jewellery design début, usually targeting the wedding market. One of the most focused and well established is Links of London, better known for its charm bracelets. It has a collection specifically aimed at the wedding party with ideas for maids of honour, bridesmaids, best men and flower girls. These include handbag mirrors, "flutter" and silver charm bracelets, three-wishes pendants, "sugar cane" cuffs, snaffle cufflinks, and silver collar stiffeners at prices from €55 upwards. Links is stocked by Elements in Blackrock and House of Fraser in Dundrum.