The Secret has been revealed!

A trip to Howth is always a pleasant experience on a sunny day, even more so when you stumble across its best kept secret..(well not anymore!) Looking for stylish people to photograph I wandered into 'The Secret Closet'. I found a lot more than just stylish people! I was suddenly in Ireland's most incredible boutique.

Never before have I met such a friendly and helpful shop owner. I interrupt during her lunch yet Karen is more than happy to show me around and pull out the most luxurious labels for me to look gooey eyed at. She co-owns the store with her sister Leslie, and tells me it's a second hand store. Second Hand? It doesn't look second hand. It simply looks like a beautiful store with wonderful designer pieces!

She explains how growing up she couldn't afford designer items but loved their quality so she decided on creating this wonderful haven of mint condition second hand designer treasures.

Jimmy Choo's €167

The prices are staggering. Jimmy Choo's for under €200! Prada shoes for €150! D&G skirts and cardigans for under €70! Where have these pieces come from and how are they so cheap???

Reiss dress €99

The items come from all over, from boutiques, stylish celebrities and the general public. Everything in the store is in perfect, mint condition and is no older then two years. There are pieces coming in every day so you'll always see something new. I'd recommend visiting the store even if it's just to see the magnificent black Christian Dior gown from London Fashion Week worth £9,000 that is going for under €1,000!

Christian Dior

The amazing thing about each item is that there is only one of them. A lot of the pieces still have their tags on them. Nothing looks used! Designs from Mochino, Mulberry, Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenberg, Gucci, Christian Dior, Prada.  The only high street they stock is Karen Millen and the rare Coast item. Writing this piece I am so excited because I have discovered a truly magnificent store and cannot wait to return to it.

Moschino Dress €245

Diane Von Furstenberg €149

Every customer who comes through 'The Secret Closet's door is greeted with the same helpful, pleasant manner. Even their newest edition to their team Nadine is at it while I am there. I over hear her enthusiasm towards customers welcoming them inside. The service is five star. I am told if someone is looking for something special, maybe a particular style dress or a designer handbag and they don't have any in stock, their number will be taken down and they will be called when something suitable comes in. This is incredibly good customer service.

Jimmy Choo's for  €199!

Aside from being wonderfully pleasant owners Karen and Leslie are stylists. They have that personal touch when you arrive in store looking for help. They will dress you from head to toe, picking out all sorts for you to try on. Whether you're looking for an outfit to wear to a special occasion such as a wedding, christening, to the races, or maybe just for a night out on the town there is something here for you. The lovely ladies will help you. If it's more your cup of tea to go it alone you're more than welcome to rummage around and find little sparkling gems.

Karen among the wall to wall designer creations

Marc Jacobs cardigan €67 Ta Ta Naka dress €149

Chloe skirt €127

I have more than enjoyed my trip to 'The Secret Closet' and by the time I'm leaving I feel I know Karen the co-owner. I imagine she would nearly invite me to stay for the mid day coffee her and Nadine are about to have just to chit chat about all things designer and stylish.

A trip to this store is a must for anyone who loves getting a good deal on a designer piece. If you're looking for something nice to wear this is the spot. Go with a few euro and a bit of time so you can take in every inch of this intimate three floor wonderland.

I guarantee you will enjoy the experience, whether it's Karen, Leslie, Nadine or Ali who looks after you. They will treat you like an A-Lister and you will leave with a smile on your face.

Ireland’s First Carbon Neutral Vintage Fashion Show

Emission and vintage fashion boutique Quack + Dirk played host last Thursday to Ireland's first carbon neutral fashion show. The Sycamore Club, in Dublin's Temple Bar was the appropriate place to have the show as it is Ireland’s first Carbon Neutral Nightclub. The club has incorporated a number of Eco solutions into its design including; a heat exchange system, bio ethanol stoves in place of patio heaters and rain water harvesting system for the club’s grey water supply.


Now to the show itself. It was spread over the venues three floors and its open top roof on the third floor let in the perfect amount of fresh air to the 250 vibrant crowd of guests in attendance. The music was loud with kicking beats such as Springsteen's, I'm on fire remixed. This accompanied with the balmy summer evening made for a perfect setting.

Running through the list of clothes which were to appear in the show my colour taste buds were set alight. I spotted a cobalt blue cami, a bumble bee dress, pink cocktail dress, turquoise nautical dress and many other little colourful creations.I instantly couldn't wait for the first model to appear.

With the most expensive item on the list costing 79 euro, I wondered as to why I and many others don't shop more often in vintage shops. Was it because we're afraid vintage couldn't possibly be up to date enough for 2011?...I would certainly find out.

Conor O'Riain, founder of Emissions Zero announces over the microphone that the show is to start, the beat kicks in and up walks the first model.

It's an Alice in Wonderland bright and beautiful outfit. A soft yellow dreamy knit cardie with a well made mint striped skirt and both pieces cost an incredible 47 euro! A blue floral wrap blouse follows with a long pink skirt. The skirt is an intense neon floor length pink creation. It is amazing.

As each model delicately walks up the stairs and poses for the cameras, the 1950's set TV show, 'Mad Men' pops into my head. The show is a wonderful display of below the knee skirts in floral prints, unusual blouses, lace bits here, unusual collars there. Some look like what you may wear at a drive thru movie theatre or maybe what you would go for a walk in on a sunny day. But we don't have drive thru movies in Ireland or many sunny days.. I'm waiting to see what I'd wear...I don't wait too long.

A white playsuit fitting perfectly with a beautiful blue scarf . I am struck suddenly by how on trend these vintage pieces are. The styling of the show is done to perfection. One of the models dons a binoculars bag with a blue and white striped playsuit. I am most definitely going to raid my Dads old bits to find one of these.

As I scribble down notes,  the crowd suddenly oohs and aws. There were plenty of dresses suitable for dinner parties, summer weddings or just for days when a girl feels like looking pretty in a dress. What suddenly appears before me as I looked up from my notes is to be worn to no such place. A hot grey mini dress. It is sexy, delicate, light grey mink and the lace trim made it look simply stunning.. The model oozes confidence in the piece. I imagine her being at the trendiest nightclub opening fighting off men in it!

My favourite look of the show was the Vintage red and grey blouse with a red high waisted mini. The mini looked like it had hand painted leaves on it. It had a story to tell. You don't get that on the high street.

The show proved to me vintage fashion will stand the test of time. What's more we need to show case more vintage fashion shows and show what's already out there that people can get their fashion hungry hands on. It's about time the world uses what it has instead of churning out more and more poorly made cheap garments. A very well done to Ciara O'Connor pictured below right who organised the night.

To have a look at wonderful vintage pieces from the show and more go to http://www.quackanddirk.com/

The Stylish Streets of Dublin City!

Ciara , Dublin

Dress - Second hand shop, London

Jacket - Pennys

Shoes - Dr Martins, London

Bargain buy of outfit? Dress for 2 pound! cheap as chips!

Orla , Dublin

Jumpsuit - H&M
Shirt - Pennys
Shoes - Forever 21
Feather Belt - Was a headband from Urban Outfitters and cleverly turned into a belt

Bargain buy of outfit? Jumpsuit for 19 euro!

Isabel, Wales

T-shirt - H&M

Cardie - Asda

Shorts - Republic

Shoes - Office

Headband - From her Mums wardrobe...love to the trendy mums out there

Bracelets - H&M and Primark

Bargain buy of outfit? Beatles t-shirt for 8 pound!

Roisin , Dublin

Bow bought in New York

Glasses - New Look

T-shirt and hoodie - American Apparel

Skirt - H&M

Tights - Urban Outfitters

Converse - Schuh

Bargain buy of outfit? - T-shirt which cost only 6 euro! Orla got a scissors to it and turned it into the perfect t!

Samantha , Dublin



Denim Waistcoat - Fresh

Leopard print cardie - No Name

Black top and denim skirt - Pennys

Tights and shoes - Pennys

Bargain Buy of outfit? - Tights were only a euro and the leopard print cardie 5 euro!

Sylvia , Dublin

Each piece Sylvia has on her cost under 10 Euro. She is head to toe in gear which is all from vaious charity shops. She buys an item if she likes a particular detail on it, maybe if it has a certain structure to it or certain buttons..she hones in on details rather than the overall piece..then will take the garment home, take it apart, add it to something, re-jig it, turning it into its very own new creation. An amazing way of reusing clothes and putting her own stamp on each piece.

Marie , Wales

Necklaces - Gifts

T-shirt - E-bay

Waistcoat - from a friend

Skirt - E-bay...it was a top but Marie made it into a skirt..nice work!

Belt - Glastonbury

Bracelets - Bought at various festivals

Boots - from a friend

So everyone..befriend generous stylish people in hope they will pass a few bits your way! 

Colour?!!!

I LOVE colour. In my hair , on my lips, a lick of it on my nails, wherever I can immerse myself in it I go for it with full gusto. This season is all about colour with a huge, beaming, vibrant capital C. I am in heaven.


Living in Dublin I have trudged through the wintry months of past in greys and browns and now I am fully ready to get on the colourful love train and have everyone jump on board with me.


I know there are many people who will stay in the safety of black, but I urge you people to give colour a chance. I wish the LBD (little black dress for those of you who are not in the know) didn't exist. I long for it to be replaced with the LRD or how about the LYD?
How wonderful it would be to see fabulous luscious vivacious pink dresses, mouth watering orange dresses, dare I dream of a little blue dress, on you previous black dress addicts! Wearers of black prepare yourselves, because if you haven't been to the shops in awhile, the colour brigade is about to blind you.


The Spring/Summer 2011catwalks were engulfed with bright hues. Across the board it was a rainbow of boldly clashing blocks of colour. Jill Sander, Gucci and Prada fell deeply for the clashing of colours. Jill Sander showed a magnificent fusion of a pink blouse, tangerine flared trousers and blue over sized cardie/coat. While Diane Von Furstenberg sent a wonderful green silk flowing skirt accompanied with a yellow soft halter neck down the runway. My rainbow friends I know you are getting excited.


For our ladies who love to wear black don't go into hiding just yet. These bold beauties can be teamed with your best colour friend. If you are too nerved at full on colour blocking opt for a bright shoe perhaps. Christian Dior does a fabulous blue pair. Or if not a shoe maybe a scarf or a tangerine bag done exquisitely by Marc Jacobs. By dabbling just a little in having a small pop of colour, you'll be on trend and still feel oh so safe.


If you do feel like saying stuff it to the black ( come on even just for the sunny days! ) try teaming your colourful pieces with neutral tones. A white blouse and coloured jeans=perfect. A colourful top and camel trousers=oh so nice. A yellow top, pink flared jeans, blue wedges and red lipstick= now you're talking!


The high street does colour terrifically. Topshop have a great selection of eye popping electric yellows and cobalt blues and fuchsia pink wedges. (that made my heart skip a beat)
The newest of the New Look stores in Dublin's City Centre is known for it's great selection of comfortable on trend shoes and it doesn't disappoint this season. It has every colour you could possibly want. H&M have perfect gold jewellery to accompany your colourful outfit.(And the dinkiest little belts)


Everywhere on the high street you'll see colour splashed, so there will be no getting away from it.
It's a happy and fun trend so please just go for it and enjoy it.The only rule I would keep to is to Try It On.
It may just surprise you and work splendidly.
All aboard the colourful train. Next stop wide stripes..(Oh dear..)