Deirdre McQuillanwith a round-up of this week's fashion news
Over the moon for stones
Philippe Benaksas, founder of New Moon, a corner fixture of Drury Street and George's Street Arcade in Dublin 2 since 1994, has been designing and collecting jewellery and sourcing unusual gemstones from around the world for more than 25 years. There's a compelling selection of antique, ethnic and one-off pieces in stock, along with home- made creations in sterling silver and gold. Prices range from around €50 up to more than €1,000 and latest offerings include a new range of 18ct gold rings and earrings set with grey India-cut diamonds, rubies and pink tourmaline. The ring pictured costs €750.
Wow for Mawi
Mawi jewellery puts a wow factor into any outfit. Edel Lennon of Shabby Chic in Ratoath has bought quite a few outstanding pieces from the collection, such as this necklace with its elaborate mix of stones, crystal and pearls. The collection is the work of a London-based Chinese designer, whose flamboyant style incorporates beautiful stone work with fabrics such as leather and velvet. Prices start at around €200 for a bracelet and go up to €450 for the more intricate pieces. This collar (left), costs €320. Shabby Chic is in Corballis Shopping Centre, Ratoath, Co Meath, tel: 01-6896297, or see www.shabbychicboutique.ie.
In the red
Doctor and fashion designer Sheila Considine, who always finds unusual and interesting fabrics for her collections, prescribes boiled wool for winter warmth, with her coats in bright, optimistic colours, such as the red one pictured (€265). She has also designed a number of dresses and tunics in a very beautiful patterned wool challis from Gianfranco Ferre in Italy, which is exclusive to her in Ireland. Though she has perfected certain classic shapes, her variety of fabrics continues to be wide and interesting, from silk taffetas in luminous colours to dress-weight wools, Liberty print jerseys and linen/cotton mixes that are good for winter, and for travelling. Her shop is at Unit 5, Lower George's Street, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, tel: 01-2311925.