Groovy Times

If a decade can be summed up by a fabric, the Seventies was polyester – yards and yards and yards of it. Fashion of the 70s is a smile-inducing little book that relives the 1970s look, from bell-bottoms and platform shoes and beyond, covering hippie, disco and punk via clothes ads from the era. There were certainly some crazy things happening back then. ¤5.99 from Tower Records

Triple fun at Airfield

Not that you need a reason to visit Airfield, the amazing working farm/gardens in Dundrum, but we'd like to alert you to two things. Firstly, to celebrate National Tree Week, this Sunday their gardeners will take you on a tour of some of their more interesting trees. Secondly, Edwina the goat has given birth to triplets, they're unspeakably cute and you can visit them. Even if you don't make it out there today, do try and visit at some point as the snowdrops and crocuses are in bloom, the tulips and daffodils are budding and the baby lambs are expected around St Patrick's Day. www.airfield.ie Adults €6 Children €3

Just a whiff of Balmain

They're calling it Bal-mania, and indeed it's hard not to be enthralled by anything from the French fashion house. Balmain had fallen off the fashion radar until head designer Christophe Decarnin made it oh-so-relevant again – you can blame him for fashion's ongoing obsession with studs. Sadly, proper Balmain couture is slightly beyond our budgets at present but we're satisfying our retail urges with Balmain Ambre Gris, a lush woodsy-oriental scent that makes us feel completely sophisticated. €86 for 100ml, from Brown Thomas.

Move over darling

Oh, we do like it when we find a new label to get excited about. Darling is a divine up-and-coming label that's all about the 1930s shoreside holiday this season – think hourglass shapes, cap sleeves, retro prints and a palette of mint green, duck egg blues and light lemons. It's also very keenly priced with everything under €90. There are plenty of on-trend floral pieces too. Say hello to the gorgeous Courtney dress (€47). Available from O'Couture, Dublin, Imasa, Limerick and Madison in Galway.

The Shopping Audit

* We're loving... Illamasqua nail polishes

Arriving in BT2 stores on 15 March and exclusive to them, the range comes in four totally on-trend sorbet shades ? Blow, Wink, Nudge and Caress – and are €15 each.

* We're not sure about... Patchwork

We're all for the home spun look – and we especially love people who are adept with a pair of knitting needles – but save us from the Little House on the Prairie vibe. This is from Monsoon, €102.

* We're stocking up on... Flirty minis

Bodycon skirts are just too unforgiving. The new crop of flouncy, bouncy minis is much more to our liking, especially when teemed with ankle boots. Skirt from Penneys, €11.

* We can't wait for... Grace Kelly at the V&A

Grace Kelly: Style Icon opens at the London museum next month and features dresses from her films, as well as her lace wedding dress and 35 haute couture gowns Even if we don't make the exhibition, we'll be donning pearls and shift dresses in her honour.