Does anyone need to be reminded of the enormous chasm between fashion and the way in which most people actually dress? This summer, the most fashionable items of clothing include embroidered and beaded denim, three-quarter-length trousers, Indian-inspired prints and drawstring tops. So are these being worn by the majority (or even some) of the people of Ireland? Last week, we took to the streets of Dublin to see what was/ was not in favour at the moment, and the results, it has to be said, were rather dispiriting.

Among the most common sights: a great many women dressed entirely in black - this is high summer, remember, and colour (if not climate) is hot right now; lots and lots of sportswear drenched in the manufacturers' names and logos, as though large sections of the population were recruited to be three-dimensional advertisements; plus the inevitable, and dreary, jeans.

Notable absences included: pink, baby blue, lime green, pale yellow, lilac and all those other cute shades that have been fashionable for the past year; kitten heels or completely flat sandals (everyone seemed to be wearing the same pair of clumpy trainers - where's your sense of individuality folks?); paisley or similar prints; and ruffle-fronted tops.

Under these circumstances, tracking down distinctive dressers posed a major challenge, especially when it seemed half the people approached to be photographed were only visiting Ireland. So much for the words of the fashion press being gospel; maybe it's time to apply for a new job as agriculture correspondent.