Compiled by PHYL CLARKEand DEIRDRE MCQUILLAN
Perfect pout
Fans of Benefit’s complexion flattering blushers will be queuing up for the new matching lip glosses (€19.50). There are six shades, ranging from Dandelion, a pearly pink, to the sheer bright watermelon shade, Bella Bamba.
Ahead of the posse
Marion Bergin, an Irish designer in London, is building up a significant celebrity following for her streetwear brand Bitching and Junkfood. She comes from Clontarf and has a degree from Trinity College Dublin in history of art and Italian. Bergin served her apprenticeship in Dunnes Stores, Kookai and House of Fraser before setting up in London three years ago with an Australian partner, Kath Blunden. Known for denim and reworked vintage, the pair now want to make more ambitious pieces and develop their own prints, bridging the gap between high-street and high-end. Fans include Rhianna (seen wearing their shorts in Hackney), as well as Eliza Doolittle, Ellie Goulding, Kelis and Jessie J. Their big break came when a buyer from Lane Crawford spotted a pair of their vintage reworked sunglasses in Grazia "and it just snowballed from there", says Bergin. One of their headdresses currently features on the cover of Elle's August collectors' edition. See bitchingandjunkfood.com
I can't live without Lesley Dunne, Sirona Boutique
Seaweed baths I’m obsessed with seaweed baths. I use the Carraig Fhada seaweed pack, it comes dried in a net bag, which you then soak in hot bath water and it releases all the wonderful oils and minerals. It turns the bath into a dark, slimy haven fit for a mermaid. The smell is quite strong and puts a lot of people off, but I love it, I usually leave the seaweed in the bag and keep squeezing all the oil out to use as a facemask.
John Masters Organics I like to use a variety of body moisturisers, but the one I find myself going back to time and time again is the Blood Orange and Vanilla Body Milk. The milk is absorbed quickly, and I always notice the difference in the softness of my skin immediately.
My North Circular scarf My must-have piece from North Circular is the Urchin Necklace in slate. It can get quite breezy in Galway, so I always carry this with me to stay warm. The wool comes from rescued Wensleydale sheep that are allowed to live out their natural lives, grazing on organic pastures, which adds to the comfort of this cosy scarf.
Bataille de Fleurs My favourite perfume is by Cloon Keen Atelier. I use it every day, and keep one at home and one in my bag. The scent is divine; fresh and citrusy.
My dogs I have five in total, three live with my parents and the other two live with me in Galway. Their behaviour can be fascinating to watch, as they all interact with each other.
Boutique of the week
Juliana Walter set up her boutique Place three years ago, “up a side street in Gorey”, as she says. Originally it combined art and fashion, though the fashion side has taken over. The clothes, “for women who work and play”, are hand-picked exclusives from international labels, with dresses from €70-€450 and jewellery and bags from €14 to €150. Customers come from Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny and further afield. Walter’s background is an interesting one as she has both a fashion and a fine arts degree and worked as a prop buyer and stylist in Paris and on British and Italian Vogue. As a personal shopper in Selfridges for a time, she counted various celebrities, as well as members of the British royal family, among her customers. Even though she laments that her fine art interest is on a backburner, Place is very much an expression of her own creativity and style.
Place, 5 John Street, Gorey, Co Wexford, tel: 053 9481774
Fresh cheeks
Park the powder blush in favour of a multi-tasking cream that will give a just-pinched look to cheeks and add a natural hue to lips. Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks (€26) is a great summer handbag staple – the shade Powder Pink is a standout.
Bronze Beauty
Amplify a tan or add a golden glow to pale skin with Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Luminous Liquid Bronzer (€29). It’s a wash-off liquid bronzer that gives a touch of sun to cheekbones, shoulders and the rest. Summer in a bottle.
All-weather style
Bergen has been described as the rainiest city in Europe and a Norwegian clothing brand called Norwegian Rain has been gathering awards for its innovative approach to waterproof clothing. Under the guidance of creative director Alexander Helle, the brand fuses new technology used in extreme outdoor garments, traditional men's tailoring, and a Japanese design sensibility. The result is a collection of handsome waterproof, windproof and breathable unisex tailored urban coats and jackets made to suit winter or summer rainy days. Colours include khaki, navy or grey and fabrics are made from recycled fabrics and organic cotton. See norwegianrain.com
Long lashes
Love your lashes with a high impact mascara. No 7’s Fanomenal has a star-shaped brush that delivers volume, length and separation for a wide-eyed finish. The black/brown shade is perfect for summer. It costs €17.23 at Boots.
