Clotheslines

One for the kids:A former buyer with Dunnes Stores, Hilary Behan moved to live in Singapore with her husband and three children and on a trip to Paris more than two years ago discovered a children's brand called Du Pareil Au Même.

Now she is back in Ireland and has become the distributor of this very successful French brand, originally set up in 1986, known for its clever design and high quality at very affordable prices. Current items include a zany little jumper with embroidered rabbits and striped sleeves (€23) and some great junior jeans (around €13) all free of identifying labels. There are consignments of new items every week to the boutiques in Kilkenny, Dundrum, Cork, Pavilion in Swords and Athlone, the five outlets that have already opened in the last year and a half. Behan's plan is to have 10 up and running in five years. The clothes make great gifts for newborns, particularly since they come packaged in boxes decorated with colourful cartoons.

Carry it off

Tucked away behind the sculpture of Oscar Wilde, in a little cul-de-sac off William Street in Galway, is the Premoli Shoe Boutique, owned by the McFadden family, who, when not in Galway, are usually haunting shoemakers in Italy. The shop stocks not only unusual shoes and boots, but also handbags, including a tempting array of embroidered clutches, the season's hottest accessories. This royal blue bag, for instance, is typical of the style at €100. Shoes and boots include a triple-strap riding boot for €215, a red patent shoe boot for €120 and a suede peep-toe court for €165.

High society

This amazing little boot in black lace, underlined with bright pink, is one of the unattainable creations from the current couture collection of Roger Vivier, now designed by Bruno Frisoni. The great Vivier, who invented the stiletto in 1954 and created footwear for Dior, died in 1998 at the age of 90, but his legend lives on. Should you desire these "Boots Instables" or any of the other items from this collection, which includes other extraordinary shoes and bags, you would have to travel to Paris to the Rue Faubourg St Honore and wait 10 weeks for them to be made specially for you; don't even dare ask the price. The nearest ready-to-wear Vivier collection can be found in Sloane Street in London, in Harrods or in Vivier's flagship store in New York.