Pia Bang has set up a sale table in her Grafton Street store, and we challenge die-hard modernists not to melt at sweet things such as aged mirrored tea light holders (€4), cream tin serving plates (€9), and old milk bottle candleholders (€25).
Brown Thomas Cork has re-opened its furniture department beside the main store and the large space sells home goods by Roberto Cavalli and Fendi.
Dunnes Stores has great-for-the-price new bed linen: white waffle cotton double duvet covers for €45, with matching pillowcases for €10. Also look at blue chambray stripe cottons for a boy's bedroom.
At Michael Connell Antiques on Francis Street, Dublin 8, find 19th-century Wedgewood cabbage-leaf plates (left) from €65 - sought-after and collectable (Sybil Connolly once did).
And for a really important gift: a Guerlain perfume bottle for €775 at Mitosky Antiques in Terenure, Dublin 6. Dated 1920, it was made in Paris and is rare because the glass is Baccarat crystal and the original box is incredibly beautiful. Plus, the scent still lingers ...