Go west with the Tweed Project
Galway stylist and designer Triona Lillis and Aoibheann MacNamara, the duo committed to the west of Ireland for inspiration and production, continue to develop their Tweed Project using specially woven Irish Donegal tweeds and linens. Part of the Slow Fashion Movement, the collection has a growing fanbase and is currently part of Create in Brown Thomas until August 13th. Their new items include a woollen Aran sweater with cap rather than long sleeves, shawls with their signature fringing in grey and yellow, hoodies and tailored tweed separates for casual wear. There are also soft shoulder bags and even a handsome tweed apron. Visit them at thetweedproject.com
Baroque rocks at Fee G
Fee G’s creative director Fiona Heaney (whose customers include Sabina Higgins and Laura Whitmore) rocks the baroque – with its grandeur and excess – for her latest women’s wear collection for autumn/winter 2017. That’s an excuse to highlight three-dimensional embellishments and print on luxurious fabrics while also not excluding plain block-coloured ensembles. So there are dresses with crystal or sequin details, long sleeve lengths (many sheer), along with fringed cocoon or wrap coats. Evening dresses are in pleated lace worn with faux fur jackets. This printed dress with a black wrap top is €308, pictured here with a new 100 per cent leather shoulder bag by Fee G, a first for them which comes in three colours, €179. There is also a stylish suit – a cream peplum top and skirt €200 and €165, and the top also comes in magenta and black. Visit feeg.ie
Homage to a silent screen Vamp
Theda Bara, a sultry star of the silent movies known as the Vamp, was the silver screen’s first sex symbol, and she has inspired a number of items in the new Circa jewellery collection by Lisa Salzer for the Lulu Frost brand, including black rose earrings with crystal sequins, €299, which arrive in Loulerie in Chatham Street, Dublin 2 this month. The extensive collection draws from Victorian mourning jewellery with its jet and velvet to dramatic smoky crystal statement pieces inspired by the famous avant garde US soprano, composer and performance artist Diamanda Galas, known for her “unnerving vocal terror” and similarity to Maria Callas. See the whole collection at loulerie.ie
Charitable charms
There’s no better way to mark an occasion than with a piece of thoughtful jewellery. Irish jeweller Lauryn Rose makes unique sterling silver and rose gold-plated bracelets that can be decorated with charms that best represent your family, friends or loved ones. The “boy” and “girl” charms are perfect for occasions like a birth, communion or confirmation, and you can feel happy in the knowledge that 10 per cent of all sales from this range go to the charity LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. See laurynrose.com.
Wear it
This season’s collection from online retailer Stella and Dot is taking flight with a bird motif representing freedom and strength. We’re flocking to these Wisten Feather Earrings (€52 stelladot.eu) which would look great with hair worn up and a crisp white shirt.
Steal vs splurge
This silk chiffon dress for €1,125 from Dolce and Gabbana would go great with a G&T, but if life has given you lemons, try this white lemon print shirt dress for €20.56 from shein.com.
Style secret
“It’s all about the accessories, a pop of colour, print or sparkle in a bag, statement earring or shoe makes your outfit unique. Just don’t overdo it!”
– Nicki Hoyne, My Shining Armour
