Why, oh why, do we have to watch Irish models clapping at the end of a catwalk show? Are they clapping the audience?
The designer? The clothes? Themselves? They don't do it in Paris. They don't do it in London, New York or Milan, so what is Dublin trying to prove? It looks silly and unprofessional, so folks, please, give it a break.
HERE COME THE BRIDAL DRESSES
Some 200 Irish brides-to-be turned up to preview the new Vera Wang 2006 bridal collection in Brown Thomas recently. There were some 25 dresses flown in from the US, at prices ranging from €2,500 up to €17,500, with shoes and accessories to match. They were mostly in cream and the new "blush" shades, and all were floor-length, with the exception of one prom style. One notable model in blush organza had layered skirts of tissue organza, silk-faced organza and satin organza with a simple jewelled bodice and a velvet bow. Others came in French Chantilly and Lyon lace, with another in very detailed hand-stitched white crochet lace. The collection will be in Brown Thomas from this month and, although orders can be completed in a matter of weeks, Wang prefers a lead-in time of six months.
STRAP TRAP
Everybody knows that M & S makes great underwear, and its latest lingerie collection includes some cute polka-dot bras, and shorts of all kinds in stripes, lace, cotton print and gingham. Though the bras also come in a similar variety of fabrics, their straps are all quite narrow: bad news for D cups or larger. It's a common feature of lingerie collections and, with much solid evidence that women's bust sizes are getting bigger, it's surprising that bigger cup sizes don't feature wider straps. "Truly You", M & S's black and white polka dot bra costs €21, and while it won't burn a hole in your pocket, it may carve unwanted marks on your shoulderline.
COSTELLOE'S CLUBHOUSE CLOTHING
Paul Costelloe is to design the outfits for the European Ryder Cup spouses and partners for the opening ceremony in September in Straffan. The 15-piece collection, from which the women can choose what they want, will offer various options in jackets, skirts and trousers in the Costelloe style along with heavy-gauge cashmere knitwear. Colours are classic: camel, brown, blue and mulberry. The collection - which is still subject to approval by the women for whom it has been designed - also includes a blazer, windcheater and a raincoat and the idea is "to give a sense of continuity rather than uniformity" according to Costelloe. He himself admits to being a "dreadful" golfer. "I get nervous at the sight of gorse and if there is water I will find it." Nevertheless as official dresser for the Ryder Cup spouses, he has certainly scored a hole-in-one with this collection.
LEWIS WOMEN
The National Library was the unusual setting for Richard Lewis's recent show. It's a venue as elegant as the collection, though many in the audience strained to get a view past the entrance pillars. It was Lewis at his best and directed very precisely at women wanting safe classics for a wedding or special occasion. What added to the effect was the strict grooming of the models, hair shining and scraped back, dramatic eye make-up, discreet jewels and the occasional flamboyant hat. Prices start at around €290 for skirts, and rise to€800 for some dresses.
MUSE IN BRIEF
On the subject of bags - and we never seem to get away from this particular accessory - the YSL Muse has become one of the season's successes. Just about every celebrity has been seen with it, including actress Michelle Williams in LA, holding a baby under one arm and the Muse under the other. It is big and capacious, in keeping with its price tag; it has the requisite metal padlock, a topstitched Y; and it comes in medium, large and oversized with a small, practical version new this season. At Brown Thomas from around €645.
SHOES FOR STRETCHING
For enthusiasts of yoga, Nike has come up with what it calls the Mescolisi, lightweight washable slip-on footwear specially designed for low-intensity sports such as yoga or Pilates. It is sleek and streamlined and has, according to the press release, "a low-to-the-ground structured podular minimal outsole . . . with a functional sockliner design and integrated stretch upper and outsole to allow the toes to spread apart for maximal grip". Got it? €90 from Lifestyle Sports, 40 Mary Street, Dublin 1, 01-8044125
ALL AT C
Nouvelle vague took on a whole new meaning when Chanel decided to surf the waves for a sportswear collection designed for surfers. You could take to the seas with its black boards (also in scarlet) branded with interlocking Cs, though it would take some nerve to paddle out to the barrels wearing this white neoprene wet suit in a "Pearl Fisher" print and silver compass rose belt.