Clothes Lines

In great shape

The three-panel technology that made Yummie Tummie shapewear from the US an overnight success has been cleverly extended by founder Heather Thomson into a whole new range good enough to be worn on its own, as outerwear.

The new collection, due in shops next month, includes body contouring ruffle tops, leggings (in black or grey) and a double tank top with a detachable scoop necklace. Yummie Tummie was founded two years ago and its pieces were specifically designed to slim and smooth out the midsection, which come in soft, comfortable yarns. What’s best about the pieces is that they don’t cling, are extra long and can be worn inside or over pants or skirts. They are on sale in Arnotts, Brown Thomas and boutiques nationwide. A full list of Irish stockists is at yummietummie.co.uk.

Danish design

Like the Icelandic volcano, the name might be impossible to pronounce, but the clothes are impossible to resist. Nygardsanna is a Swedish label with individual style and substance. The clothes are mostly in linen, and are loose and languid, yet indisputably modern and beautiful. Pinafore dresses, waistcoats and wide leg cropped pants come in soft, neutral colours or real indigo, and the use of Liberty print is very Swedish. The collection can be found in Dolls of Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 and Emorville Avenue, Dublin 8, or view it online at nygardsanna.se.

Click and go

Clickini.com, which is based in Galway, ships top-end (and bottom-end) bikinis and beachwear by designers such as Jil Sander, Tomas Maier, Heidi Klein, Anya Hindmarch and Melissa Odabash to more than 40 countries worldwide, including Ireland. Owner Jonathan McKeever celebrates two years in business today. It's an upmarket site that has been recommended by American, British and German Vogueand McKeever, who is a former PR of the Dorchester's Principe Hotel in Milan, says that business has increased 12-fold since last year.

“It’s a lot less seasonal that you might think. It’s a business 12 months of the year; I’m shipping to Australia and California,” he says, adding that his best seller this season is a ruched nude one-piece (€345) by Tomas Maier, a designer who has an international cult following. “The most expensive pieces sell the best,” he says. The site also sells hats, bags and beachwear tunics. dmcquillan@irishtimes.com