Chic boutique:"I was born to work for myself," says Deirdre Morahan, owner of the chic new boutique Demora in Cross Street, Galway.
An engineer with a masters in computer integrated manufacturing, Morahan worked in Tyrone as an industrial engineer and with a metal fabrication company in Athenry before realising her ambition to go out on her own on a very different career track. Her connection with fashion goes back to her schooldays when she and her friend Emily Jean O'Byrne formed a jewellery partnership, selling in the Galway market on Saturdays. Emily went on to study jewellery and now supplies the shop. Demora opened last September with a mix of stylish labels; elegant sexiness from Sara Berman in the UK, a funky 1950s look from Nanette Lepore from the US, and slick but trendy tailoring from Marella. A chandelier centrepiece sets the tone. Demora, The Cornstore, Cross Street, Galway, 091-539860.
Sexy but supportive
"The four-boob syndrome" is what those in the lingerie trade call a badly-fitting bra. Rose Reilly of Lejaby has been fitting women for the past 10 years and affirms the fact that 95 per cent of women are wearing the incorrect size. FBS occurs when the bra is too wide at the back and too small in the cup. Six years ago the most popular size was 34B, now it's 34D, DD, E & F, she says, advising that women should really be fitted every six months. The French company's new range, Elixir, specifically addresses women with larger busts, starting from D up to F in half cups and D up to G in full cups. There are 10 different styles, but with reinforced backs, three sectioned cups and breather bands, they're both sexy and supportive. For those who wear white linen trousers, Lejaby also do a skin tone invisible brief. At Brown Thomas, Dublin.
Following suit
On her return to Dublin from Sydney, banker Susan Daly found that there wasn't a shop in the city dedicated to the kind of tailored style she liked. So she decided to change career and open her own shop. Pitt & Bond (named after the two streets in Sydney where she worked) opened on March 16th in the Westbury Mall with a well-chosen mix of European and Australian brands. French brands such as Patrick Gerard, Tara Jarmon and Facconable are already well-known here, while Villa Gallo, from Spain, scores with its colour and fine detailing. Strenesse has won awards for business fashion, and Daks (pictured) have collaborated with Giles Deacon, the hip British designer who reckons that businesswomen are ignored by designers. Daly is proud of introducing the sophisticated Farage label, from Australia, along with Yasmin Velloza, a young Irish brand. The shop also stocks Egyptian cotton shirts, wrap and shirtdresses, fine knits and accessories. Pitt & Bond, Westbury Mall, 01-6728976.
Note: Last week's Clothes Lines mentioned the work of fashion illustrator Sorcha Ó Raghallaigh. Her website is www.sorchasworld.com