Here comes the bride: Niall Tyrrell and Donald Brennan, who are still enjoying the success of their dresses winning the best-dressed awards at both the Galway Races and the RDS Dublin Horse Show, have just launched a new bridal collection.
Bringing all their red-carpet experience to the fore, many of their styles have an Audrey Hepburn look - long, elegant and glamorous in silk, silk satins, chiffon, georgettes and embroidered laces. "It's not about frou-frou, or big ball gowns, but more a pared-down look," says Tyrrell. Their clients include women who are marrying for the second time, and a champagne dress - the only short one in the 20-piece collection - is a popular choice. There's a six-month booking period, with three fittings required. Prices start at about €3,500. For an appointment, call 01-6788332, or see wwwtyrrellbrennan.com.
Bijoux belle
Jennifer Kinnear's jewellery showpieces, such as the long silver braces specially created for designer Joanne Hynes, are flights of fancy. But Kinnear is best known for her three brands, Kink Bijoux, Vanilla, and Jenny Wren. Kink Bijoux picks up on current fashion trends such as layering; and includes necklaces in bright colours and unusual stones made to be worn long and short, separately or together. Vanilla is a popular mix of freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones, while Jenny Wren with its ribbon detailing, onyx and compressed coral, is cool and colourful. Prices go from €15 up to €250. JK Jewellery is at Unit 6, Crow Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
Famous five in paris
The group of Irish designers who showed last week at Paris Sur Mode, the top-end trade show held in the Tuileries Gardens during fashion week, are calling themselves The Ireland Five. Of the group, the first to gain acceptance to the highly selective exhibition was Inis Meain, which has been selling there for the past five years. Next up was Leigh Tucker, who has exhibited for the past five seasons, and was followed by knitter Lucy Downes. This season they were joined by Eilis Boyle and Helen James. All have reported significant interest from overseas buyers for their collections. Eilis Boyle has been overwhelmed with orders for her soft chiffon dresses from places as far apart as the Bahamas, Korea and Spain, along with orders from five department stores in Japan. Helen James's hand-painted silks have been snapped up by buyers from Italy, Spain, Brazil and Harvey Nichols in London, while Leigh Tucker's new butterfly prints are going to The Cross in London. Every season, Inis Meain knitwear develops new directions; its spring collection of stretch-linen tunics and neat vest tops has been a sellout, and a new collaboration with Lucy Downes will be unveiled later this year. Inis Meain knitwear is stocked in Amin Kader, a chic boutique beside the Ritz hotel on the Place Vendôme, Paris.
Wedding belles
It's hard not to be utterly enchanted by the fairytale creations of Nathalie Durieux, a couturier du coin on a quiet side street off the Rue des Saintes-Pères in the 7th arrondissement in Paris. The day I visited her shop, a bride-to-be was trying on her wedding dress, with an approving mother in tow. Durieux, the daughter of an artisan baker and a fashion-mad mother, studied history of art, then fashion at the Esmod school, followed by stints with Dorothée Bis, Thierry Mugler and Sonia Rykiel before launching her own line in 1995. Her matrimonial dresses fall into four categories, depending on the client's body shape, and her materials and embellishments are of couture quality. She also specialises in hand painting fabrics. Prices are from €2,000 to €6,000. Durieux's shops is at 3 rue Perronet, 75007 Paris, 00-33-1-42220405. You can view her collections at www.nathalie-durieux.com.
Cuddle up
This flattering drape-neck tunic suits most body shapes and comes in superfine cashmere. It costs £189 (€278) from Pure, a UK mail-order catalogue specialising in cashmere. It comes in six other colours including green, chocolate and black, and in sizes eight to 18. All of Pure's cashmere comes from Mongolia and there are also menswear and childrenswear items, plus accessories. Inexpensive items include striped iPod covers for £9.50; great boot socks for £39, and spotted dog coats (in denim or toffee spots) for spoilt mutts at £39. Order online at www.purecollection.com. Prices in the catalogue are only quoted in sterling.Overseas delivery costs £12.