Nicky's Rag Tales

Carrying a camera and announcing that I’m a blogger lets me indulge wonderfully in one of my great enjoyments, having a nosey around beautiful shops. Castle Market in Dublin (a stones throw from my Showrooms and Grafton Street) is home to No 6. This beautiful store houses both the Foxford Home Collection and Helen Mc Alinden’s beautiful range of women’s clothing. Warm pure wool Foxford rugs (from that wonderful Irish heritage woolen mills) and throws jostle for space with lavish Christmas decorations and sumptuous scented candles. Upstairs houses the bed linen and bathroom range of beautifully co-ordinated sheets and quilts. Long dressing gowns hang on a rail and a beautifully dressed bed looks altogether too comfortable.

Helen McAlinden is a multi focused designer who launched her own label in 2001. Helen collaborates with Foxford designing the full Home Collection, hence there are fabulous black and white hounds tooth throws alongside all the colours of the season. Alongside the home wear is a quieter space which houses Helen McALinden’s clothing range. Beautifully cut dresses, skirts, jackets, blouses jeans and coats. Great weekend classics and special occasion wear with accessories to compliment the clothes all combine make up a unique Irish collection. I personally love the wrap cardigan which comes in several colours and can be worn many different ways, the red dress and the great short tweed jacket with a removable faux fur collar.

Table laden with Christmas goodies

Throws, Foxford

Beautiful blankets and rugs from Foxford @ No 6

Purple Wrap cardi 99 euro (comes in black and grey)

Mink jacket and skirt with Black Bag from Anna Faye

Tweed Jacket with removable collar

The LRD (little red dress)

All clothes from Helen Mc ALinden @ No 6 Castle Market Dublin 2. Homewear from the Foxford Collection at No 6. helenmcalinden@dawsonridge.ie t- 00353 1 670 8846

I spent some time today in my local shopping centre, just browsing and sifting my way through the rails in all the chain stores. I bought a beautiful pale gold shift dress from young Irish designers Kate and Ava some weeks ago. A classic shift with lovely detail on the shoulders and a deep V at the back. This dress will be worn over and over and was well worth the money spent on it. Clever accessorising of classics are what will take a dress like this to different events and so when I picked up a pair of shoes in Penney’s I instantly thought that these would be perfect with the dress. I tried them on and they fitted like a glove. It’s not true that expensive shoes are somehow comfortable and my collection of hardly worn designer shoes is testament to this. These babies ( I’m a sucker for leopard print) were marked at 19 euro and I thought that’s cheap. When I got to the till the assistant said ‘that will be 5 euro please’. 5 euro !!!! You wouldn’t have much change from that if you bought a cappuccino! I think I just found my inner recessionista.

Kate and Ava dress (mine is in pale gold)

Shoes 5 euro Penneys

I like the idea of Craft Fairs but the reality is sometimes different, they are popping up at the speed of light at the moment and the thoughts of buying hand crafted unique goods is appealing. The idea of paying to go to one of these fairs I find objectionable unless they are for charity. After all, the stall holders are paying to be there and all the public, (ie you and me) are doing is looking and possibly buying.
This weekend the National Crafts and Design Fair is on at the RDS in Dublin. The entrance price has come down though and now costs a more reasonable 10euro. I had in my mind thoughts of finding ten top picks but of course that didn’t quite work out. I did however find four that I really liked. The food hall by the way is really good and there are loads of really great Irish artisan Cheeses, breads, chocolate and several Christmas specific goodies. I bought some seriously good Indian sauces which I tried and bought gorgeous chocolate from Chez Emily which I was delighted to see because we miss them in the Organic Food Market Temple Bar on a Saturday where the Oyster Club meets (Oyster club is a loose collection of bods who meet up on a Saturday and have become firm friends over the years!)

Lorsha Design is by Loretta Gallagher, a textile designer who hand paints each piece of her collection. A combination of silk and Irish Linen makes fabulous wall hangings, table runners, as well as fashion accessories. Reasonably priced and in a beautiful range of colours

Wall Hanging by Lorsha 95 Euro

By Lorsha

Bag by Lorsha Design

Michele Hannan’s Ceramics were by far the best from a large selection at the fair, I really liked the colour and textures used.

Two dishes by Michele Hannan

I’ve been having a love affair with scarves in the last few years, I suspect it may be an age thing but they really have the ability to transform an otherwise plain outfit and bring some colour to the face so I was really quite taken with these substantial silk scarves designed and printed by Susannagh Grogan. They were reasonably priced at 98 euro

Silk Scarf Susannagh Grogan

Silk Square by Susannagh Grogan

There were lots of hats on offer but the best of these comes from Marian Flood who makes her cloches in both velvet, felt and wax. They are available in a wide range of colours, the jewel ones being the most striking. Marian has been making hats since the 80’s and I met lots of women who were returning customers. The Hats and Scarves are 50 euro’s each with felt Fascinators staring at 35euro.

Marian Flood’s Hats are available from Linen and Ware in Greystones and can be contacted at marflood@unison.ie

This evening we had our second knitting circle evening in Smock boutique. I haven’t knitted for about 20 years so It’s really interesting to be sitting with a group of women none of whom I know well and ‘knit and bitch’. I’m knitting a snood which I hope will be finished while the weather is still cold. I’ve already changed the pattern through mistakes and not design but I’m assuring myself that it will be truly unique! One woman is knitting socks using several needles and I can’t imagine why, another is knitting a fabulous shawl using what looks like a long thread instead of a traditional needle. A very experienced knitter turned up and showed me a minuscule (and I mean tiny, about the size of a postage stamp) jacket complete with three miniature buttons the size of a pin head. It seems there are knitting groups all over the city and though they have been huge in the states for the past few years they’ve only reached our shores recently.

Heidi Higgins is one of my favorite young Irish Designers and is in the Loft ‘Pop Up Shop’ in the Powerscourt Shopping Centre ,Dublin every Weekend. This weekend she is holding a 20% off sale so I will definitely be going in to see if that beautiful silk jersey dress that I tried on is still there!

Heidi Higggins Coat

Jersey dress with Leather Jacket (all Heidi Higgins)

Heidi Higgins is selling her collection in the Loft, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin. Friday-Sunday. ( 20% off this weekend)

Louise Kennedy is probably one of Ireland’s best known designers. Today I spent the afternoon at her home and flagship store here in Dublin. Situated in a beautiful Georgian House on one of Dublin’s most famous squares it oozes style, elegance and luxury. For the first time this year I felt that warm and wonderful Christmas feeling. Perhaps it was the Christmas tree or the scent of mulled wine and mince pies that were too too tempting. But perhaps it was the most gorgeous gifts displayed in the most beautifully relaxed atmosphere. No awful piped music or tacky Christmas decorations here. Number 56Merrion Square is also Louise Kennedy’s home and the collections here which include her crystal and home- wares plus accessories and clothing span three floors. Everything here has been chosen with great care and displayed accordingly. I was looking for gifts and so with my trusty camera in hand took some photographs of items and clothes that I would like to buy or have bought for me. I suggest that if you are not already a fan and loyal customer of Louise Kennedy (and they include, Yasmin Le Bon, Meryl Streep and Anjelica Huston) then you should definitely knock on the door and enter this wonderland. Read more

Guess how many fashion shops there are in Ennis Co Clare? (answer at the end of this post) A clue lies in the fact that last week was the Third Ennis Fashion Week and the self styled title ‘Fashion Capital of Ireland’ is not entirely without merit. Half an hour from Limerick City (take the Galway road, there are no signs for Ennis!)

First stop was County Boutique where Gwen and Maeve carry on the business inherited from their mother with great expertise and passion. Customers are treated to fantastic service and a stunning collection of labels bought with great thought for their customers many of whom are into the fourth generation of loyal County Boutique followers. Special Occasion wear is terrific, also Smart Casual and Coats all of which go up the size ranges. A true mini -complete store which is possible because of the close links between customers and buyers. Something that just isn’t possible in the larger Stores

Gwen is the Chairperson of Ennis Fashion Week and the majority of Fashion retailers were in full swing offering all sorts of interesting in- store promotions and events. County Boutique had Pop Up Shops from Irish Designers Heidi Higgins and Kate and Ava. County Boutique is always keen to promote the best in Irish Fashion these are two designers to watch closely. Both with a keen commercial sense with beautifully cut and executed clothing.

Kate and Ava Purple stretch Brocade Dress

County Boutique labels include Odd Molly, Save the Queen, Olsen and Bianca. Accessories are many and beautiful and include Falke Hosiery, Yummie Tummie shapewear and Jewellery by Pat Whyte. Fabulous Fascinators by Suzy Mahony Designs specially commissioned by County Boutique at the beginning of each season tie into the offer in store. A most beautiful range of scarves ,gloves and hats tie in the key looks.

Heidi Higgins fab coat

Suzy Mahony Design

Pink silk and Jersey shift from Heidi Higgins

County Boutique Reality Window

Read more

Dolls on Clarendon Street is in what I call ‘Indie Triangle’. Within a five minute walk either way you could spend hours shopping for food, fabulous clothes and have a choice of several cafes for a well earned break. Dolls owner Petria Lenehen has her own, distinctive and instinctive love of Clothing. There is a huge difference between Fashion and style and Petria definitely has her own unique style which is lovingly stamped all over Dolls with no compromise. Her love of fabrics, cut and above all understatement are very much in evidence and I was delighted to spend some time with her last week as she showed me around at what is on the rails now.

Strong accessories include opaque tights from Falke and hats, scarves and shawls from Jo Gordon. Fabulous bags and purses from Mimi (which I adore)

Mimi bag lined in turquoise silk

Labels to love include Peter Jensen whose collection is full of checks and prints in a beautiful English Country way

Petria in a Peter Jensen Check dress

Peter Jensen Wool Cardigan

Dolls has a great selection of LDD’s , you know the sort of dress that you put on over a pair of opaque tights and the new on trend shoe boots and you’re good to go all day and into the night (if you’re up for it?). This season Dolls have introduced their own label, Petria Lenehen Cashmere and Wool beautiful fine dresses and knits. With knitwear HUGE this season these are beautifully thought out and executed in several colours.

Petria Lenehan Cashmere/Wool dress with Jo Gordon Shawl and Hat

A Completely reversable dress from Blanc in Authentic Indian weave. Two -in- one, as the inside is completely different!

For special occasion wear Gary Graham from New York works in stunning fabrics and shapes. All the fabrics are hand dyed and the collection has a sense of History referencing an historical sillouhette. A vintage quality feel goes right through the garments which features fluid dresses, blouses and slouchy knits and trademark fitted jackets.

Coffee Organza and hand dyed Silk Gary Graham dress

From France the Catherine Andre collection is full of surprises. A simple yet beautiful Petrol blue skirt and top. A beautiful green brocade coat with blue buttons caught my eye.

Ghulam Sakina is an ethnic designer from London. Beautifully crafted pieces that take hours to make, many are hand sewn, dyed and embroidered in India. An ethical label with charm and beauty at it’s core. The Lame dress below has an equally stunning lining.

Stunning Ghulam Sakina Dress

Ghulam Sakina Jacket and Jo Gordon Pom Pom Scarf

A selection of Vintage pieces including a fabulous tweed suit and black wool dress

A large case of eye catching must have jewellery caught my eye Tatty Devine and Virginie Millefiori are two beautiful whimsical collections which are both priced reasonably adding to the eclectic mix on offer.

Shoes from Melissa for Vivienne Westwood completes the whole collection of clothing on offer in Dolls. An innate ability to ‘get it right,’ to dress beautifully without looking like you’ve tried too hard, to wear beautiful fabrics, beautifully cut with a nod to the past and an eye very much on the future sums up Petria’s style which is firmly and lovingly imprinted on her boutique.

Not content with standing still Dolls is planning to open a second shop on the South Circular Road (hopefully before Christmas) complete with Cafe. With Petria Lenehan and her sister Maisha an experienced Chef, in collaboration I can’t wait to see what they cook up, it’s sure to be another delightful success.

Dolls Boutique is at 32b Clarendon Street Dublin 2 Ireland T. 00353 1 6729004 E. info@dolls.ie