June 21, 2009

VOL 26 NO 25

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The Fix - This Week's Greatest Hits

Kevin McCloud's Grand Designs Handbook

Jelly shoes

New bag to promote Ben & Jerry's fair trade Chocolate Macadamia

Zarahome.com

The Powerscourt Centre

Monsoon Pip dress

fashionair.com

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From the Ground Up

How appropriate for the Mr Fix-It of architecture and design to appear in The Fix. Kevin McCloud's Grand Designs Handbook is an accompaniment to his brilliant Channel 4 series. Divided into three sections, 'Thinking', 'Dreaming' and 'Doing', McCloud takes you through all the stages of the self-build process, illustrating the book with some of the most successful houses from the TV series. Whether or not this is the time for anyone to embark upon a grand project is debatable – if you had the cash, it's probably an excellent time to do so – but this book is full of practical advice and an enjoyable read for anyone interested in design. €19.50 from Eason's.

Jelly Babies

Jelly gladiators? We say yes. Opinion seems to be divided as to whether they're a terrible '80s throwback or a hip 2009 update of this childhood favourite. Designer offerings from Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and See by Chloe (the most amazing yellow pair ever) have made them almost respectable but we're favouring this red pair from TopShop, which are €15. They're not necessarily just beach or holiday wear. Team them with a pair of navy city shorts and you'll get away with them in the office.

Melt Your Heart

'Free' is a very sweet word right now. Three of Ireland's most interesting young creatives have joined forces with Ben & Jerry's to create (free) limited-edition organic cotton bags to launch a new flavour of ice cream, Fair Trade Chocolate Macadamia. Designer Sarah McCall, photographer Richard Gilligan and long-time favourite of The Fix, illustrator Chris Judge (whose bag is pictured), have come up with three different and great designs. They are going to be giving them out at BT2, Circus Store and Gallery in the Powerscourt Centre and Urban Outfitters this weekend, while stocks last. But anyone can get them for free by visiting. www.facebook.com/benandjerrysireland. Recession-tastic.

Flying Carpets

It's become increasingly hard to find shops that we don't have in Ireland when abroad. Remember those heady days when you'd trudge around European capitals trying to track down a H&M? Long gone. Zara Home, the ultimate in fashionable household furnishings, has continued to elude us and prohibitive airline baggage restrictions stopped us picking up anything on visits to Spain. But of course, there is an easier way to tap into the Spanish label's look, via the magic of the interweb. At www.zarahome.com, there's free delivery to Ireland for orders over €200 and we're especially loving their ethnic-inspired range.

The Shopping Audit

We're heading to the Powerscourt Centre

As part of a summer-fun family weekend, there's face painting, music, fashion, food and lots more happening at the Dublin shopping centre today. It's a good chance to check out the eclectic fashion wares at the Loft and drop into that bastion of London cool, All Saints. Not that we can resist French Connection either…

We're not sure Ill-fitting sandals

If they aren't rubbing your heels, then they're munching on the baby-soft ridge above your toes. Why can't sandals just fit and be comfortable? This summer's super-gladiator trend is a minefield: all those extra straps mean you'll have bleeding sores all the way up to your inner thighs. Is it time to give up and get a pair of Scholls? Of course it isn't; the Audit was just testing you.

We're buying Monsoon

To be perfectly honest, Monsoon generally isn't a high-street store we gravitate towards. It lacks the coolness of TopShop and the elegance of Reiss. Nor is it cheap as chips like Penneys. But to put such retail snobbishness to one side, we have to admit that Monsoon's current collection is gorgeous. Pictured is the Pip dress, €110.

We can't wait for Fashionair

Simon Fuller (the man behind the Spice Girls but who also backs Roland Mouret) has joined forces with Sojin Lee, formerly of Chanel and Net a Porter, to create a brand-new fashion website, going live in September. There's shopping, fashion-insider tips, exclusive interviews and lots more and we are ridiculously excited about it. Get a sneak preview at www.fashionair.com.

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This issue 5 years ago

1. African tour pay dispute resolved
2. The Valley of dearth
3. Clarke two off lead at Wentworth
4. Two legends of the game call time
5. The end of the affair

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