Yesterday I had lunch with Marc O’Polo in Fade Street Social restaurant to hear about their summer and autumn collections and meet their marketing team who were over from Marc O’Polo HQ in Germany.

Marc O’Polo has been around since 1967 and was founded in Sweden but is now based outside Munich, Germany and has stores in Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and the Nordics . Their clothes can be described as “premium casual“ and this year for menswear, they’ve signed up actor Jeff Bridges, to front a collection of knitwear, casual wear and leather accessories.

For women, for AW13, I was excited see their collaboration with Garance Doré (that’s Scott Schuman, The Sartorialist’s girlfriend,  who is a fashion blogger and illustrator in her own right).

The famous Frenchwoman has designed a capsule collection of high-quality t-shirts and sweaters with her illustrations and made of organically grown cotton, something she insisted on for the collaboration. They come in white, grey and burgundy and are definitely something I want to get my hands on given the current sway towards comfy sweatshirts.

You can check out Garance Doré for Marc O’Polo  in the gallery below.

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Availability: Marc O’Polo is only stocked in one shop in Ireland (at MissE boutique in Sandycove, Co. Dublin. Tel 01-2809849)  but can also be ordered online at www.marc-o-polo.com. The Garance Doré collection lands in August.

When I was in London last week, I visited Bicester Village, sister to our own Kildare Village outlet. It’s located about 60 miles between London and Birmingham and as it turned out, it’s well worth the trip as the outlet boutiques there are out of this world!

If you follow WhatSheWears on Instragram you can see what I bought on Friday but top of my list was visiting the British Designers’ Collective pop up boutique which is currently running there.

The layout of the pop-up shop is amazing – Mawi jewellery is displayed in a butcher’s counters while sunglasses are laid out on ice within see-through fridges. Rita Ora opened the boutique on May 2^nd and there’s a film of her permanently projected onto the floor of the pop up. Jonathan Saunders scarves are displayed on a standing rack which sits on bookshelf wallpaper (where can I buy this wall paper please?) and Holly Fulton’s clutches are strewn amongst rails of graphic print dresses, shirts and skirts from Mary Katrantzou, Petter Pilotto and Preen.  And it’s not just the layout that’s catching. Prices at the boutique are 40% off normal retail for these designers.

The collective offers a selection of iconic pieces inspired by British fashion past and present. Designers taking part include Holly Fulton (who I had the pleasure of meeting at the Scottish Fashion Awards) , Noel Stewart, Annina Vogel, Athena Procopiou, House of Holland, Hussein Chalayan, J.W.Anderson, Linda Farrow, Lucas Nascimento, Mary Katrantzou, Meadham Kirchhoff, Piers Atkinson, Richard Nicoll, David Koma, Prism, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi and Roksanda Ilincic; as well as jewellery from Mawi and Imogen Belfield.

Here’s a pic of the designers at the launch party on May 2nd, from left to right: Christopher De Vos, Piers Atkinson, Peter Pilotto, Noel Stewart, Desirée Bollier, Justin Thornton, Thea Bregazzi, Yasmin Sewell, Rita Ora, Henry Holland, Anna Laub, Holly Fulton and Athena Procopiou.

Pop-up aside, Bicester village is well worth a day trip from London (the Shopping Express,  a daily coach service runs from London; ) with outlet shops including Mulberry, Bally, Diane von Furstenberg, Missoni, Tory Burch, Yves Saint Laurent, Anya Hindmarch, Temperley London, Matthew Williamson, Smythson and Vivienne Westwood, all offering up to 60% off the recommended retail price.

BicesterVillage.com

We love a lady in a red dress and with a red statement lip, so when we saw this picture of Georgia May Jagger at the Great Gatsby premiere at the Cannes Film Festival we simply had to find out how to get this look.

Georgia lit up the red carpet in a red Roberto Cavalli dress and as the face of Rimmel; her makeup look came together with:

Skin: Rimmel’s 9in1 BB Cream in Light made her skin look camera ready while her natural fresh face look was then complemented with a light summer glow on her cheekbones using Rimmel’s Natural Bronzer.

Eyes: Jagger’s eyes were accentuated with Rimmel’s Glam’Eyes Quad Eye Shadow in Smokey Brun to give a subtle touch of highlight to her eyelids, and finished with a coat of Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara in Black.

Lips: We love a red lip and Giorgia’s statement red lip was created with Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Big Bang Red 004 (€7.95), which we raved about in our March Beauty Picks.

Nails: Rimmel Salon Pro with Lycra polish in Rock n Roll (€6.45). This salon ready nail polish just hit the shelves last month and is currently our favourite polish here at WhatSheWears.ie.

The Great Gatsby look perfected and personified.

Yesterday we were in London to catch the M&S autumn winter 13 collection unveiling. This was no ordinary press showcase you see.

Belinda Earl, formerly of Jaeger and Debenhams, is at the forefront of this line which, from what we could see, has clearly had a fashion makeover. So how did she do it?

She started by asking the M&S customer. They’re typically a 45 year old woman and the new collection not only caters for them but for the thirty something too. They wanted quality, timeless classics and wearable trends. These include:

Modern Elegance: Clean and simple in luxe fabrics and muted colours with a touch of masculine. Just like something out of the Celine catwalk. Key pieces: Burgundy biker jacket and cream coat.

Wild Opulence: Luxurious leathers, faux furs. Key pieces: Faux fur gilets and jackets.

Dark Drama: This caters for the vintage lover with dramatic evening dresses from a scene out of Mad Men.

Femme Fatale: Strong colours and delicate textures to accentuate the female form. Key pieces: Leopard print pencil skirt worn with a heart print blouse and pink coat.

London Calling: Bold tartans, checks, leathers and animal prints in a red and black palette.

The flattering clothes collection sees dresses and coats as leading pieces. In fact there will be destination dress and coat departments in every shop, with prices ranging from €55 to €110 approx.  M&S will also have mannequins in store showing us how to put a look together.

Our favourite pieces: The snakeskin little black dress, practically all of the coats and the animal print pencil skirts. Oh and the costume jewellery earrings (both clip on and pierced earrings)!

Availability: This hits M&S stores and marksandspencer.ie in July- October 2013.

See the collection in our gallery below.

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If you were following WhatSheWears on Instagram recently, you may have seen the photos of my new HD brows, which I was treated to at Empower studio.

Empower Studio is located on Dublin’s South William Street and is headed up by rising Irish makeup star, Aisling Powell.

It’s the first time that Ive had HD brows done and what with all the fuss over Kate Middleton and how to get the perfect brow, I was up totally up for some “new” brows.

HD brows are the latest must-have eyebrow treatment, with celebrities such as The Saturdays swearing by the seven step procedure. It involves  a patch test 24 hours before you get it done and then on the day it starts with eyebrow tinting (Aisling Powell customises the tint colour to suit you), waxing and threading. It takes an hour-for the consultation to create the ultimate in High Definition brows.

I loved the result and what surprised me most about it is that during the threading part, Aisling also threaded above the brow line – something that a lot of beauty therapists daren’t do.

The result was a clean, defined and darker “power brow” which I’ve been complemented on.

I’ve included the end result of what I looked like above right and of another lady who I met at Empower’s official opening on the bottom left – she was delighted with the result, as she had said that with blonde hair, her brows were barely visible before the treatment. There are lots of “after” shots of others on Empower Studio’s Facebook page too.

Price: HD Brows cost €70. Check for offers on Empower Studio’s Facebook page. They are currently running #wowbrow Wednesday: Tweet @EmpowerStudio a time (12,1,2,3 or 4) with the hashtag #wowbrow, and if you’re first to pick that time , you get that HD Brow appointment at that time on Wednesday for just €15!

Empower Studio, above Project 51, South William Street, Dublin 2. Tel 01 443 4820 www.empowerstudio.ie

Photos by Dermot Byrne

A striped Breton top has been a wardrobe staple ever since Coco Chanel included it in her 1917 nautical collection. Here’s how to wear yours three ways:

Weekend

A striped Breton will look great on your downtime with jeans, ballet flats and a ladylike jacket – just how Kate Moss wears here (pictured above). Wear a trench coat if the weather’s bad.

Ladylike jacket Boohoo Boutique, Boohoo.com

Ballet flats, €92,  Vince Camuto, Arnotts

Trench coat, €79.95, Zara

Work

Wear with a pencil skirt and heels to work.  If you work in a more creative field, you could try a pair of perpex heels and a leather pencil skirt.

Leather Pencil skirt, £85, Oasis

Black Perspex Sandals, €77,  Marks & Spencer

Night out

Wear your Breton top with a pair of bright jeans or trousers, a statement necklace, clutch bag and black pointed courts.

Green trousers, €135, Reiss

Black pointed courts, Carvela Galaxy €119, Brown Thomas

Jayna Irregular Stone Necklace, €15, Boohoo.com

Pink clutch

Where to Buy a Breton Top

Jaeger (£50/ €60) Broderie Breton Top is probably the best version out there – top quality that will last a lift time.

Otherwise Zara have Breton tops in heaps of different colours for €19.99.

The shopping landscape in Ireland has changed. Recession-friendly shops have sprung up  all over the country in recent times, be it a swop shop where you can clothes swop, a designer consignment store where you can buy or sell nearly-new designer clothes or dress hire shops, where you can hire a dress for a black tie event, wedding or a special  occasion.

What to do with those designer pieces in your wardrobe that you no longer have a use for? There are ways to make your money back through designer consignment shops, who will sell your clothes for you, taking a cut for themselves. Even if you’ve nothing to sell, they are great places to shop for high-end designer pieces at a fraction of their original price.

For swop shops, your clothes don’t have to be designer, but certainly should be in good shape or only worn once. Swopshop in Dublin’s Temple Bar is making waves in this area and post their newest items to their Facebook page, encouraging users to “pimp their wardrobe”.

Save your used clothes for charity shops.

Here’s a list of shops in Ireland and online where you can sell your clothes or swap them for new items:

Online consignments stores

iLoveLoveLove.com

Preloved designer handbags, dresses, shoes and coats from Prada, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Tod’s and Manola Blahnik.

http://www.ilovelovelove.com

Facebook Page

Netrouge.com

Netrouge stock Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Louboutin, Paule Ka, Burberry, Vintage, Marchesa, Gucci, Christian Dior, Oscar de la renta, Jenny Packham, & delivers nationwide & worldwide.
15% FEE

http://www.netrouge.com

Cork

Naphisa Boutique
4 Cook Street, 1^st Floor, Cork.

(021) 4273787

Specialising in new and nearly new designer labels  with labels including Miu Miu, Jimmy Choo, Versus by Versace, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana; Naphisa are on Facebook, online at http://www.thefashionshed.com/

Next To New Fashions
Southside Shopping Centre, Togher, Cork
021 496 6490

The Pre-loved Boutique

8 Maylor Street, Cork

021 427 9282

Dublin and County Dublin

Cari’s Closet Dress Hire

www.cariscloset.ie  11 New Street, Malahide, Co Dublin.  Tel 01 8457593

Dress rentals range from €30 to €250 for a three day rental.  Cari’s Closet offers a temporary alterations service which means you get the perfect fit.  Dry cleaning is included in the price of all dress rentals and we can also provide a courier service all over Ireland so you get the dress you want delivered straight to your door. Brands offered to customers on hire include Herve Leger, Alexander Mc Queen, Roland Mouret, Badgley Mischka, DVF, Sass and Bide, Jovani, Sherri Hill, Michael Kors, Louise Kennedy and Monique L’Hullier.

Changes Boutique
Upstairs, 24 Main Street, Blackrock, Co Dublin
01 288 4872

Covet (designer dress hire)

Top Floor, Powerscourt Town Centre, Dublin 2

www.covet.ie

Vintage and designer dress hire.

Couture For Hire (designer dress hire)

14 Duke Street

Dublin 2

T: 016337982

W: www.coutureforhire.com

Designer dress hire from Roberto Cavalli, Marchesa, Jovani, Terani Couture, Victoria Beckham Inspired and Badgley Mischka and a selection of hats for hire.   They are having a big sale on Saturday 18th May from 10am to 6pm with Terry de Havilland shoes reduced from 549 to 199.

Designer Clothing Exchange
2 Trimbleston Ave
Booterstown, Co Dublin
01 260 6070

Frock n Fabulous (dress hire and rent a hat)

no.4, 57 Main Street Dundrum, Dublin 14

Ladies who wish to avail of a personal consultation can do so by calling 086 347 1100, or emailing info@frocknfabulous.ie  www.frocknfabulous.ie

This online designer dress and hat rental company, have a showroom in Dundrum, Dublin. You can hire a hat from leading Irish milliners Aisling Ahern, Edel Staunton, Fiona Mangan, Edel Ramberg and Sarah McGahon or hire a dress by Rachel Gilbert, Jennifer Rothwell, Niamh O’Neill and Roberto Cavalli.

New To You
3 Convent Road, Dalkey, Co Dublin
01 285 1980

Pandoras Box
10A Grattan Crescent, Dublin 8
01 454 4889

Preloved Style Ireland

These guys take in old or dull furniture and give it new life from comic books to family photos to old newspapers. Preloved style also customises furniture.

Rare Clothing Company

53 Dawson St, Dublin 2.

Rare stock stock top brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Michael Kors, DKNY, Rock & Republic, J Brand, COS and French Connection. All items are professionally dry cleaned before they reach the shop floor and we have new stock coming in daily. Rare trade in items and offer 3 options:

1- Credit for their store, choose from a wide range of stock all 50-80% off RRP. If you wish to take a credit note there is no expiry date.

2-Cash, we pay you up front for your items so no waiting until they sell.

3-Rare Anywhere Credit, this is something than no other retailer is doing. This credit allows you to purchase an item(s) from any other store. For example, you have €50 off this credit and you want a bag in Brown Thomas for €250. We then go and get your bag for you and you can collect it in our store and pay the balance to us. We are your very own personal shopper.

Ruby Ruby
Royal Hibernian Way, Dublin 2
http://www.rubyruby.ie/

01 672 5870 info@rubyruby.ie

Ruby Ruby is a designer consignment store which sells on products for others at a cut. “Spring clean your way to cash” is their strap line – five simple words which hooked me in immediately. My sisters paid a visit, one buying an amazing Chloe black blazer and the other a mink coat!

Siopaella (swap boutique in Dublin)

9 crow street, temple bar, dublin 2, ireland

Tel 086 840 7825

www.siopaella.ie

www.facebook.com/siopaella

http://twitter.com/siopaella

Run by Ella de Guzman, Siopaella specialises in the buying, selling, swapping and consigning of designer men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, handbags and shoes. They are unique in Dublin in that we are the only place that has the three options available (to buy, swap or consign both men’s and women’s wear). Florence Welsh bought a dress here on her last trip to Dublin!

Second Avenue

22 Seafort Avenue,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4

Tel. 01 269 1110

This is the best-kept secret in Dublin with Sandymount’s well-heeled popping in to buy second-hand goods such as Prada and Gucci.

Swopshop

Crow Street Bazaar, 7 Crow Street, Dublin 2 (just off Dame Street, behind the Foggy Dew)

www.swopshop.ie

Tel 01 657 87 02

They say that any reasonably fashionable and wearable item of clothing can be swopped, providing it is in immaculate condition. Swopshop also accepts certain jewellery, belts, hats etc. Unfortunately they cannot accept: worn footwear, lingerie, or piercing jewellery. Like for like swops cost €5 – €10 with “upgrade” swops costing €30.

Stock Xchange Designer Swop Shop
21 Upper George’s Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
01 202 0720

Wear It Again Pre Loved Clothes

Baggott Street, Dublin 2 (Opposite Tesco)

County Meath

The Designer Circle,
Bridle House Farm, Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, Co. Meath

http://www.thedesignercircle.com/

085-7146152
Elizabeth Nazum offers a wide range of new and nearly new ladies designer clothes, shoes and bags at a fraction of their original cost.

Renata
Rathnally, Trim, Co. Meath
046 943 72 47

County Clare

Encore

Ennis, Co. Clare
Situated above the Vodaphone shop in Ennis, Encore sells amazing ‘preloved’ clothes and handbags. It looks like a boutique when you walk in and is a real treasure.

Galway

Designer Swop Shop
The Bridge Mills, Galway
091 562 882

County Kildare

Attic Swap Shop
Derron House, Dublin Road, Maynooth, Co Kildare
01 601 6725

Designer Exchange

Celbridge, Co Kildare

Tel: 01 654 4358.5

Serendipity
Dublin Road, Naas, Co Kildare
045 875 383

County Wicklow

Second Image
1st Floor, 9 Dublin Road, Bray
01 286 9916

Waterford

Deja Vu

Deja Vu in Waterford sells on all accessories for clients. You decide the price and when it sells you receive 70% of the sale price! Currently they have Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Burberry and much more in stock.  Facebook (DejaVuWaterford) or call 0863347650 for more info.

The Style Exchange

Based in Waterford/South Kilkenny – also offers a swapping service. Credits are awarded for clothes submitted and these credits can be spent on items in stock….if you use your credits wisely, you can update your wardrobe for as little as the €5 flat swapping fee. The Style Exchange operates an appointment system so as to be totally discreet. A sample of items can be viewed on Facebook through ‘The Style Exchange’ page. Tel 087 6165440 for more detail.

Laois

Closet C

Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Selling Ladies Nearly New Occasion Wear, Smart Casual Wear, Costume Jewellery, Bags and Accessories. Facebook Page “Closet C (Portlaoise)”

Limerick

Mrs Quins
41 William Street Upper, Limerick
061 317 471

The Ivory Closet

1st floor
18 Shannon Street
Limerick

087 7516684
087 9957578

www.theivorycloset.com

Ivory Closet’s Facebook Page

Stocking great designers such as Rachel Gilbert and Catherine Malandrino, since opening in August 2010, they have received an amazing following nationwide and furthermore from celebrities around the globe. Vogue Williams,Pippa O’Connor and Rozanna Purcell to name but a few. The Ivory Closet have also been featured throughout many television programmes such as Come Dine With Me Ireland, ICA Bootcamp, The Saturday Night Show, The Late Late Show and Love/Hate.

Mayo

Deja Vu

James Street, Westport

Deja Vu is a sister business of Netrouge.com. Deja stock highend Designers, Vintage Gowns, Wedding Dresses, Day & Evening Dresses & Jewellery as well as a large selection of designer bags. Deja Vu also do a rental section for vintage and designer dresses.

Pre-loved Designer Kids’ Clothes

It’s Nearly New – Pre-Loved Baby Gear
Dublin’s First Baby and Kids Consignment Shop.

Follow us on Facebook for regular stock updates!
https://www.facebook.com/ItsNearlyNewBabyGear

http://itsnearlynew.wix.com/itsnearlynew

Twice Smitten

Twice Smitten offers stunning boys’ and girls’ couture, for 0 to 12 year olds, from designers  & high street stores such as Chloe, Bonpoint, Catimini, Ralph Lauren, Timberland, Boss, Gap and more – from at least 70% less than retail prices. Twice Smitten’s next sales event will take place on Saturday, May 18th, from 10.30am to 3.30pm at St. Paul’s Parish Centre, Silchester Road, Glenageary, Co. Dublin. 10% of the days profits will be donated to Oxfam. The event will feature over 1,200 flawless pre-loved clothing & never worn before items.

info@twicesmitten.ie

www.twicesmitten.ie

www.facebook.com/TwiceSmitten

If you know of any others, please share them with our readers by adding them to the list via the comments below. Thanks!

Images via Bigwardrobe.com

If it’s a rail sale you’re after check out our article on The Rise of The Rail Sale

Pictured L to R: Rachel Ivie, Karen Finnerty and Jonathan Legg.

Earlier This week Matteo Alessi launched the Peroni Design Awards at the opening of the exhibition Icons of Italian Design in The Gallery of Photography, Meeting House Square, Dublin 2.

The national design competition, organised by Peroni Nastro Azzurro, is seeking to push the boundaries of excellence and design by challenging designers to create an original item to enhance the enjoyment of Peroni beer during a special occasion.

The competition will be judged by Matteo Alessi, of international design house Alessi, in conjunction with key members of the Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) and Design Week 2013 with the winner receiving a €2,000 cash prize.

The exhibition in The Gallery of Photography, Meeting House Square,  Temple Bar, is free to attend and open until 18^th May.

See who was at the launch in the gallery below.

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She of stellar Irish blog The Licentiate and contributor to many high profile Irish publications, Corkonian Sarah Waldron is What She Wears’ Guest Editor for the month of May. Leading us into the summer months with insider tips on vintage shopping in Cork and her take on the overriding need fabulous shoes bring out in every woman, Sarah Waldron’s Guest Edit is a treat to behold.

Spring Summer ‘13 trends and how you’ll be wearing them

I’m a simple girl in terms of my wardrobe so I’ll be making the most of the monochrome trend. I’ll be wearing a crisp white COS shirt with skinny leather trousers – the leather helps you to not be mistaken for a waiter (which has happened to me before) – and a pile of statement jewellery. I also love Op-Art inspired geometric prints like the above dress from ASOS. If the print is busy, the rest of the outfit can be kept relatively unfussy.

Favourite indigenous shop in Ireland

Miss Daisy Blue is a vintage shop in The English Market in Cork City. With salvaged interiors, the shop itself is lovely. The stock is great and what the manager Breda doesn’t know about vintage isn’t worth knowing. They also have an excellent range of vintage costume jewellery.

Favourite Shop (clothing or otherwise) in another country

Uniqlo is the one high-street store that can break my heart. Its basics are fantastically made and the best part is that they’re not available in Ireland! Every time I go there I end up with a huge pile of their Heat-Tech tops and skinny jeans (some Uniqlo branches do free in-store alterations and I have very stubby legs).

Go-to piece in your wardrobe

My go-to piece is most definitely a pair of black Kurt Geiger ankle boots that can be worn everywhere with absolutely everything. They look incredibly battered and knackered – just the way I like them.

Shoes

If we’re indulging in a bit of harmless retail fantasy, the Valentino Rockstud shoe would be quite nice to own. It’s a weird mix of ladylike (kitten heel, T-bars) and kick-ass (all those studs).

Handbag

It’s difficult to go out nowadays with a clutch bag without fearing that you’ll be mugged so I’ve been buying bags that have wrist straps and doing everything possible to keep it next to me bar super-gluing the leather to my skin. Penneys have an Alexander Wang-alike studded black envelope clutch with such a wrist attachment in store for only nine euro. With that, if we do get mugged, at least the bag will be easy to replace!

Perfume

Even if I go out without make-up, wearing biker boots and a scrappy men’s jumper, I never forget to dab on some Chanel No 5. Some people can’t leave the house without lipstick, or perfect eyebrows, but I’m definitely one for scent. I also like Viktor and Rolf’s Flowerbomb, which is a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it scent.

Beauty Salon & Treatment you get there

I’m not a salon person and prefer to do as much as I can at home. I have however heard amazing things about Wexford-based facialist, Mariga Sheedy, whose no-nonsense, pragmatic approach to skincare yields great results (I’ve seen a friend emerge from her salon glowing – literally).

Best Bargain Buy

A pair of earrings, a cuff and a pendant from a Merle O’Grady sample sale which would have cost me four times as much at the original RRP.

Biggest splurge

My first year in university in Dublin I lived on Lidl Scotch Broth for a month so I could buy a pair of black Terry de Havilland wedges – which I still wear – although I can’t help but think of Scotch Broth every time I put them on. More recently, I lived on beans while saving up for a pair of Nicholas Kirkwood x Erdem shoes, which I cannot walk in.

3 words to describe your personal style

Tailored, eccentric and scruffy!

Fashion pet hate

Peplums! It is so hard to find a good, structured peplum – the ones on the high street look so sad and droopy. I also hate catch-all words like ‘ethnic’ that never actually mean what they’re supposed to mean and can be borderline (or actually) offensive.

Fashion gadget

The Bloglovin’ app for the iPhone aggregates the content of blogs you read into one place, so it’s a ready source of inspiration and entertainment on the go.

Top style tip

You can wear anything if you wear it with confidence – but make sure it fits properly.

Most insane thing you’ve ever done for your love of fashion or beauty

Probably living on beans to buy a pair of shoes that I can’t actually wear – which I’ll most likely do again!

Follow Sarah on Twitter and on Instagram @the_licentiate. Read her in-depth musings on all things fashion and pop culture here.

- Meghan Costelloe

It’s sun-holiday season again and it’s time to start shopping for some women’s swimwear.  OK, take a deep breath!

A one piece is a swimsuit to suit most body shapes  – it can hide a multitude of sins and show off your best assests if you get the right style. Here are some of our favourites which are in the shops right now.

Pictured clockwise from Left: Black and white Seaview twist halterneck swimsuit, Seafolly at Brown Thomas,  Scandale red swimwsuit €70 Brown Thomas , Leopard panel control swimsuit €16 Heatons (also comes in plain red), Fringe Trim Swimsuit €10 Sunglasses €2 Bracelets €5, all Penneys, Reger by Janet Reger Dark Floral Swimsuit, €70 Debenhams.ie .

All you need to do is arm yourself with a little knowledge of the style most flattering for you and remember that nobody is perfect. We all have something that we´re a little self conscious about, but really it’s about finding something that suits you and then wearing it with confidence. Here are some tips on which swimwear suits your body type.

Swimwear to suit your skin tone

Before you decide on the best shape swimsuit or bikini, keep in mind colours that suit you. You want to have a little bit of fun with the colour but you don’t want to end up looking like the lifeguard either!

Paler skin tones should opt for dark’ish colours as light colours can make you look even paler on the beach.  The ¨professional¨ sunworshipers wear neutral coloured bikinis at the start of the holiday moving on to whites and brights the more tanned you get. This means at least four bikinis for a seven day trip though!

My word of warning when you´re choosing the colour – be careful if you choose white. Make sure the swimwear is well lined or you may end up with some unwanted attention!

Swimwear to suit your body shape

Tummies

Swimsuits can work best if you’re conscious of your tum as bikini bottoms can tend to squeeze around the mid section. From muffin tops to a less than flat stomachs, look out for swimsuits with rouching (a detail which is slightly scrunched up material) as this deflects from the tummy area. Pleats and ruffles too can hide a multitude of sins too.

Ensure the suit has a good Lycra content; this will help to keep your stomach looking flatter.

Strapless or one shoulder swimsuits work well and can add a little VA VA voom.

Avoid horizontal stripes, they´re just going to draw the eyes across.

Hippies and Booties

For the fuller pear shaped figure, go for a touch of flamboyancy on yout top half. Choose a bikini or swimsuit with a bold print or colour on the top and dark bottoms to draw attention up to the ear and away from the rear!

Disguise a large bottom by going one size down with your bikini  – going a size up leads to too much fabric on show.

The skirt style bikini bottom works great for your figure, a sleek short style that just covers what it needs to.

Avoid string bikini bottoms which provide little support and lots of unnecessary detail on the hip area.

For those of you with smaller hips string bikini bottoms work well because you can tie them tighter on this side.

You have the option of going a bit crazy with the prints, stripes and colour, so go ahead!

Busties

For the more voluptuous lady on top, look for halter neck bikinis. They provide good support and pull you up and in. Bikini tops with wide straps are also a good choice because they help support and are more comfortable all round.

Here the opposite applies to ´The Hippies’ – bikinis that are dark on top and lighter on the bottom draw attention away from those larger than life assets.

Avoid the bandeau or triangle style top styles. An underwired bra top is crucial for you too – you need all the support you can get (you wouldn’t go bra less in a dress, so don’t go without and underwire in a bikini or swimtogs).

`Little Gems` (small bust)

If you´re small on top, you may want a little bit of enhancement – padding, underwire and push up tops can give you a little bit of oomph.

Demi-cups (half cup style) also give the illusion of being a little more busty by showing off some more flesh.

You are one of the few that can pull off the bandeau and cutesy ruffle style bikini tops.

Avoid tops with excess fabric. Remember the skimpier the better here!

Taller Flower (long torso)

For those of you a little longer on the upper body, tankinis are a great option. They make the body appear in proportion and also get to show off a little mid riff flesh.

Choose a style with a V-neck to show off some cleavage too.

Slightly high-waisted bottoms, (don’t go extreme) can make your legs appear longer.

The latest cut-out swimsuits are great for your body type because they break up the torso - again making it appear shorter.

Short and Sweet (short legs and torso)

If you find gravity is pulling you down, choose swimwear that will lengthen your body. Don’t think that by pulling your bottoms up higher makes your legs look longer -it just looks silly. A hipster style bikini bottom (think Sophia Loren) suits every body shape.

Here you have the option of vertical stripes in a bikini or swimsuit. They will make you appear taller.

A solid colour one piece creates a long appearance; try the one strap for that sexy look.

A great source for bathing suits including plus size swimwear is Swimsuitsforall.com.

Accessorize

Be sure to pick yourself up a sarong for those several trips to the bar! A woman always looks good from the waist up, so cover down below with a sarong. It’s not just about your choice of swimwear – a matching kaftan and wedges will complete your look perfectly. Top it off with a straw trilby hat, Penneys do them for a fiver.

So go on, get out there and strut your stuff!

 - Ann-Marie Proudfoot