Brasil is an amazing country, if you haven’t been there and are tempted then I’d definitely recommend it. All the women I went with it dumped most of the clothes they brought with them and filled their bags with Havaianas, pronounced Hi Ya Nas (in a guttural way)in Brasil but commonly known as Hav ee a nas here (who said you had to have a catchy pronounceable name to be a success?!!)
They are themost comfortable footwear ever. None of the blistered skin between the toe posts and soft on the ground. In gazillions of colours they were born in 1962 and have become one of Brasil’s most famous fashion exports besides Giselle Bunchen. They cost about €3 on the streets of Rio and around €30 here.
Great news then from BT2 Grafton Street who are bringing ‘Make Your Own Havaianas’ to Dublin whereby customers can customize any pair of the cult Brazilian flip flops. With over 900 killer colour combinations of soles and straps to choose from no two pairs will be the same! There is also a large selection of Swarovski crystals to add some ‘bling’ and an array of badges and motifs to make each pair truly unique…. I will definitely be adding to my collection for a Summer bespoke fashion fix so bling it on then!
Holiday dresses are difficult to find but when you do find one that ticks all the boxes you wear it to death. My old faithful has become just that and even though I’m reluctant to part with it, I’m afraid the time has come to consign it to the charity bin. It came from Argentina, a drop waist jersey dress that looked fab over jeans, leggings or bare legged. It travelled all over the world and if dresses could talk this one would have some stories to tell.
I’m heading to Italy next week and am about to check my travel insurance to make sure I’m covered for ‘Acts of God’ since it’s a volcanic Island I’m going to and knowing my luck it may just decide that having laid dormant for 700 years it’s time to re-awaken!
I stopped off in Ashford a few days ago and dropped into Boutique Belle to say hello to Susan and there I found it, my replacement, incredibly versatile, go anywhere, pack in a ball , great Holiday dress. It’s by Butter By Nadia and some of you may have seen it or have one already but if you don’t or haven’t then this may be for you. Mine is in turquoise blue and I’m practising several ways I’m going to wear it. Believe me if I can work it out anyone can, as I’m pretty bad at that sort of thing and can’t follow instructions at all!
We’re having a great night on the 20th May and you are all invited. We did it two years ago and I’ve been asked ever since to repeat it. It’s for the National Rehabilitation Hospital Dun Laoire Music Therapy Service, Children’s Unit which is very close to my heart. The Music will be dance Jazz ( not the depressing variety!) and will go on till late. It’s all happening in Joys Nightclub on Dublin’s Baggot street and there’s a barbecue. The tickets are only €25 each. If you want a ticket email me nickyharris@ireland.com
Double Denim is everywhere, except on the street. Jessica Biel on the cover of the February edition of Vogue says it clearly. It’s an easy trend to wear just not so good to look at……yet. It’s a throw back to the 70′s for me. I remember wearing denim jeans, a denim waistcoat and a denim jacket all at the same time. I thought we had moved on since then, denim jeans with Blazers or a military jacket became a much cooler look Denim dresses are a far easier option and I’m wondering what the consensus on this look is? Personally I have my doubts.
Cross Body Bags are everywhere and in every price range. I bought one recently and have been wondering if this is a bag trend likely to last. On the plus side they leave your hands free. On the minus side you end up carrying other bags, generally shoppers to carry the stuff that doesn’t fit in the small one! On the plus side they look pretty cool in a casual way. On the minus if you stuff too much in they bulge horribly. The straps sit across the shoulder and if you do carry too much then the pain in the shoulder area is pretty horrible.
We’ve all got used to carrying loads in our over sized totes so if we can de-specthe contents and lighten the load they have a future, if not it’s back to the big bags. My advice if you like the trend is to buy a cheaper one and if it suits then you could think about investing.
There was only one piece of news this week for me. Heidi Higgins winning best dressed at Punchestown on Friday. I’ve known Heidi for the past year and hope that I have become a mentor of sorts. A few weeks ago whilst having a chat in my showrooms , (actually Heidi chats and I listen) she mentioned she was going to enter Best Dressed at Punchestown. I said I would be there and thought she would have a great chance. At almost 25 years of age it’s almost unbelievable that the designs and quality of her collection is one that is both mature and fresh and I love her use of colour and simplicity of design. Of course Heidi is the best advert for her clothes and she always looks stunning.
Did I see her winning? Did I even know Heidi won? Was I at the races at all? The truth is that as much as I love fashion and dressing up for Punchestown I’m actually far more interested in the actual racing! I read the race card, study the form and when I can, place my (small) bets in the betting ring rather than on the Tote. So, on Friday, my friend Moyra and I parked ourselves right outside the champagne bar at a table with a great view of the final fence and the winning post and that is where I stayed for most of the day.
Yesterday I called Heidi to discuss the Interns that I am about to interview for her next week and during the conversation she finally asked me if I had been at Punchestown on Friday and did I know she had won the competition. I was gobsmacked and absolutely delighted and while we were talking dashed to the nearest newsagents to see Heidi in her beautiful blue dress and jacket photographed on the cover of every paper in town! We both agreed that you couldn’t buy that level of publicity. I predicted a great future for the Heidi Higgins Label last year and I was right. I had two great wins on the horses on Friday but backing Heidi Higgins is proving far more satisfying!
Heidi Higgins in her Portlaoise Studio/Boutique
Selina (my assistant) in Heidi Higgins Boutique/Studio
Today I was in a rare non fashion mood. With Punchestown fading, the streets of Dublin is where I found myself this Saturday. Catching up with friends in Dublin’s Temple Bar food Market. Guzzling oysters and good bread, picking up cheeses, breads and wonderful veg that can’t be got anywhere else with a bunch of beautifully scented wild flowers thrown in for a little treat. As I wondered back up Grafton street I couldn’t help notice all the great buskers, I stopped to listen to Captain Magic Wonderland.
Dublin is a very diverse city and at the Stephen’s Green end the Musical contrast was stark. Here charity Aidlink were having a busking marathon and the foot tapping traditional Irish Music was in full session.
Here’s a few photographs from a great day at Punchestown. I could only manage a few as I got a bit squiffy pretty quickly. Quote of the day in the queue for the Tote… ‘My feet are killing me so I’ll have just have to drink more..’
Gorey has lots of Fashion shops and like lots of towns in Ireland offers real choice that is sometimes hard to find in Dublin. Independent owners buying and knowing exactly what their customers want.
Ruby Rouge is one such destination boutique in Gorey Co Wexford. The owner Niamh Byrne does a great PR job and shouts out loudly about Ruby Rouge and well she might. The short clip above gives a small taste of what’s on offer. Colour colour everywhere and lots and lots of choice. Service is key as the rails are packed tight and this is a huge part of the success of this boutique. Niamh and her staff offer it in spades. There are thirty labels on offer, two that stood out today Manoush, and, Just In Case. If you love clothes, have a special occasion or just want something new Ruby Rouge may just be where it’s at.
Catherine Crowley’s dream of owning her own boutique came true last Friday. I happened to be passing through the Westbury Mall and spotted her in her spanking new welcoming shop. If Chica, which is opposite opposite, is hot, then UCCA is decidedly cool. If Chica dresses girls for the races and weddings, then Ucca dresses them for long lunches in the company of good friends and barbecues. The look is one that smacks of understated chic.
Catherine’s style icon is, she tells me Kate Moss and it shows in what she has bought. Some of the collections include Superfine skinny jeans, American Vintage gorgeous layering T’s and dresses in cotton, silk and linen. Blouses and shirts from Twist & Tango . Beautiful dresses and cardigans from Alberta Marani and a selection of scarves to set it all off. All of the clothes in soft fabrics in natural and very wearable colours.
Ucca is in Dublin’s Westbury Mall, just beside the Westbury Hotel, a stones throw from Grafton Street. Telephone 003531 6776321
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