Knit wit:Not every knitwear company can boast of selling cashmere to Scotland, but that's what Castle of Ireland are doing with their latest collection, which says a lot about its quality and attention to detail.
Two designers, Fiona Mullen and Sinéad Stephens, produce two collections each season at Castle, one aimed at a more classic customer attracted by safe styles updated with beading or pointelle trim, whereas Elvita has items such as camis, tank tops and tunics, designed to be worn with jeans and a leather belt. Apart from cashmere and merino, yarns include angora mixed with nylon and lambswool. Sweaters and scarves in purple or green wool have cute button and beading or embroidery detail. Find a good selection in House of Ireland, Boyers, and Sue Designer Knits, Kenmare.
Hand in glove
While everybody's climbing on the bandwagon these days, long gloves are elbowing their way back into vogue. Last year Paula Rowan of the Claudio Ferrici bag shop in Dublin's Westbury Mall couldn't keep enough gloves in stock such was the demand, but this season she's prepared. The new shorter sleeve lengths have revived glamorous over-the-elbow gloves and the predominance of black this winter demands a dash of colour. She's ordered three different types of glove, two over the elbow, elbow length and below the elbow and they come in all kinds of colours and patterns including zebra prints, though she admits that she's stuck to mahogany and black for the really long ones. All the gloves are specially made for her, some to match the bags, in Tuscan leather in Italy. She also sells leather shoppers - an upmarket version of string bags - for €90. The gloves start at ¤49.95 unlined, and go up to €60 for full-length. Claudio Ferrici is at Clarendon Street, Dublin. Tel: 01-6746662 for details.
Nature's way
Award-winning designer Ali Malek, who has been living in London for nearly three years, is making an Irish comeback with a new collection, his second for a company called Kushion in London which goes on sale soon in Dolls of Clarendon Street, Dublin. It's very feminine and pretty, he says. The layered dress pictured is ¤650. A freelance stylist, he has been working for Yoo, the interior consultancy company headed by Philippe Stark and Jade Jagger on international development projects, but still likes to keep his hand on fashion. Currently he is exploring the possibilities of launching a luxury product with his sister, a London-based hedge fund manager, next year.
