Wags watch out. This month, WhatSheWears.ie reader Louisa McDonnell, an Irish expat in Manchester, gives us her stylish insider tips on shopping, eating and going out in Manchester.

With cheap flight deals available regularly and only a short flight away, Manchester is a great location to visit from Ireland.

From Manchester airport you can get a train directly into the city centre, taking about 20 minutes. You’ll be glad to hear that once you get to the city, there’s a free bus service serving the city centre.

Eating out in Manchester

First things first, you’ll need to eat once you get to your city break destination. These are all my favourite places, having lived in Manchester for some time now.

Visit Katsouris, a small continental deli on Deansgate for breakfast or lunch serving hot and cold European food. Coffees here are excellent too. It’s one of the first things I seek out in the morning, a good coffee to set me up for the day.

For mid afternoon break, try Teacup on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter for a pot of tea and a delicious cupcake. Owned by Mr Scruff, a famous Manchester DJ who is renowned for his fondness of a good cuppa and that’s exactly what you can get here with some lovely added extras, mismatched china and polka dot fabrics.

Mr Thomas’ Chop House on Cross Street is an authentic Victorian bar serving hearty traditional English fare. When you step through the door you will feel like you have stepped back in time. Even worth visiting if just for a pint of ale!

Shopping in Manchester

Manchester is the epitome of variety for shoppers.  If you are after high street shops, concentrate on Market Street and the Arndale centre, while just a minute’s walk away, you will reach King Street, with designer shops including Vivienne Westwood, Hermès, Karen Millen and Mulberry.

Visit the Designer Handbag Agency in the Triangle Shopping Centre in Exchange Square, which sells authentic pre-owned luxury handbags, shoes and accessories including Chanel and Louis Vuitton. You will find many independent boutiques in  “the Triangle” too.

Opposite the Triangle is Selfridges, the famous department store which is worth a visit alone if you’re strapped for time as it has everything under one roof in opulant surroundings from designer beauty and clothing to an amazing food court.

Vintage Shops in Manchester

For vintage clothing and accessories, stick to the Northern Quarter and visit Affleck’s Palace, a tall Edwardian red brick building containing little individual shops and stalls, including kitsch Japanese clothing and accessories, Goth and Indie wear, independent student designers, and many fantastic vintage shops. You can even get your fortune told in here! 

Shopping Centre in Manchester

If the Manchester weather proves unreliable during your visit, head to the famous Trafford Centre, just a bus ride from the city centre, where everything  is under one roof, including John Lewis and another Selfridges, plus cinemas and restaurants. 

Going out in Manchester

Manchester’s nightlife is varied and vibrant. For fabulous cocktails, go to Bluu or Walrus in the Northern Quarter. If you’re after a quirky and funky alternative with great beer, try Odd on Thomas Street or its sister bar, Odder, on Oxford Road.

Spinningfields Cinema is one of the only outdoor cinemas in the country and you don’t need a ticket, so just turn up. This cinema shows retro films as well as new releases. Carluccio’s restaurant and deli beside it, will provide hot or cold picnics which are just perfect for a date or an evening spent with friends.

For a vibrant night out with a difference, visit Manchester’s gay village, centred on Canal Street, and go to Bar Below, a tiny bar underground playing cool tunes that stays open long after all the others have closed.

Hotels in Manchester

Stay at Malmaison in Piccadilly, an opulent hotel with stunning rooms and fabulous late night bar. The hotel’s location is perfect for shops and bars.

Other Tips for your City Break

Pick up a copy of the Manchester Evening News paper, given out free in the city centre, to see the events guide of what’s on during your visit.

And finally, let’s hope you have the most stylish weekend in what I regard to be the best English city – maybe you will even need to increase that baggage allowance for your homeward journey with all the savvy shopping you’ve done.

Images: clockwise from left:Exchange Square, Afflecks Palace, Spinningfields Cinema, Odder Bar

The London based ex Pat has a quirky sense of style which we love and a huge personality that keeps audiences entertained and amused, as he presents the Style Show which is currently taking place around the country.

Here are Brendan’s Top 5 fashion tips for every woman.

1. Go get fitted for a bra

It’s estimated that 80% of women are wearing a wrong size bra.  By getting fitted for the right size bra, not only does this give you a new found asset, it will help you realise your body shape by creating a waist. Get fitted by a professional each time you need a new bra.

Off the Rails use “Intimate Lingerie” for viewer makeovers, which always starts with fitting women with proper underwear.  We here at WhatSheWears.ie have also used the wonderful bra fitting service offered by Dublin shop Intimate Lingerie, who also offer bridal underwear, corsets and custom made control underwear – Pauline gives you a one to one service and can tell what size you are even by looking at you!

2. Invest in some control underwear

No matter what your body shape or size, there is shape wear out there to make you feel more confident about how you look. Shop around.  The most expensive item doesn’t mean it’s the best one out there.

One Brendan particularly recommends is the power body shaper by Ultimo (€62 at Debenhams).  It flattens the tummy, slims the hips, smoothes the thighs and lifts the bum and looks like Spanx but has straps, (you you can still wear your own bra with it).  Brendan points out that the fact that there are straps mean that there’s no “overspill” which you get with the shorts style of control underwear.

3. Dress for your body shape

Take a look at your body and find out which shape you are. Whether it’s Apple, Pear, Ruler (also called Column= straight up and down), Hour Glass or Amazonian. Once you’ve established what you are, you will then know the areas to highlight and to hide.

Here at WhatSheWears.ie, we’re big fans of dressing to suit your body shape. In case you missed it, here are tips on swimwear, summer dresses, hats and jeans – all to suit your body shape.

4. Swap black for navy

This is one of the best tips I can give any lady looking for an instant style hit. Navy is great on every skin tone and really suits Irish women. It’s a richer colour than black and lends itself to other colours very easily.

5. It’s fashion, have fun with it

Remember; don’t be afraid to experiment with new trends in fashion. But remember, trends don’t need to be followed by everyone, try to make each look your own and have fun with it!

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Party People: Summer in Dublin

Inspired by Dannii’s unique style and Tabitha’s flair for fine design, the collection which is called “Project D” introduces their first capsule collection, featuring flowing silk day looks, cocktail chic and red-carpet-ready dresses.

Dannii Minogue, a huge favourite of mine since her sweeping style statements on the X Factor, is also an ELLE Style Award winner and amongst the top five Vogue UK’s “Best Dressed List”, has joined forces with Tabitha to create a ready-to-wear line of luxurious dresses.

The girls’ philosophy is to provide perfectly designed dresses that easily take you from day to evening, feeling great and looking fabulous.

Commenting on their collaboration (often dubbed “collab” in magazine circles), they girls said:

We’ve been friends for many years and we always dreamt that one day we’d end up working together on our own collection. We each have very different styles but essentially, we look for similar things – beautiful pieces which make you feel feminine but empowered, amazing quality and attention to detail.

We were always swapping stories of our latest finds and forever searching for the next perfect purchase when one day it just clicked…we should create our own wardrobe heaven! Fusing together sophisticated glamour (Dannii’s signature) and a rock ‘n’ roll edge (Tabitha’s touch); we think we’ve found a perfect balance in our capsule range of dresses.

We believe that there is a perfect piece here for every woman and for any occasion. We just can’t wait to see you wearing it!

Where to buy the Dannii Minogue collection in Ireland

Prices for the dresses range from €235-€450. Dannii Minogue’s collection is available in Ireland exclusively at Harvey Nichols, Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin.

Luckily for us then, that The Body Shop will be offering a Pamper Day this Saturday 7th August for all the ladies in need of some rejuvenation.

Relax and take some time out with an express Mineral Make-over, a relaxing hand and nail massage or indulge in a 15 minute mini facial for €15, redeemable off a skin care product of your choice.

As appointments are limited for the facials, we are recommending that you book your appointment in advance and secure your appointment with a €5 deposit to avoid disappointment.

The Body Shop Dundrum Telephone 01 296 3224. The Body Shop Grafton Street Telephone 01 6713725

How to enter

To be in with a chance of winning a Pamper Me Basket from The Body Shop worth €80, answer this question in the comments below. Who was the founder of The Body Shop?

What’s in the Pamper basket ?

1. Warming Mineral Mask – Enjoy a self-heating mask that draws out impurities and deep cleanses while moisturizing with the warm aroma of cinnamon and ginger.

2. Elderflower eye gel – Fragrance free, wide-awake refreshment to soothe, cool, and refresh those delicate peepers. With gentle elderflower extract and witch hazel.

3. Coconut Body Scrub – Reveal softer, glowing skin with gently-exfoliating coconut husks and ground coconut shells in a creamy, moisturizing scrub.

4. Coconut Body Butter – Drench your skin in a rich, intensive cream with a lush coconut scent that moisturizes for up to 24 hours.

5. Round Body Brush – Massage and gently exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells and stimulate blood circulation using a rounded wooden brush with soft bristles.

6. Coconut Shower Cream – Lose yourself in the creamy, coconut-scented lather of this soap-free body wash made with Community Trade pure organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil.

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The competition is open until midnight on Wednesday 11th August and a winner will be chosen at random and announced in next week’s newsletter.

Victoria Beckham presented her Ready to Wear Autumn/Winter 2010 Collection in New York’s Upper East Side with such poise and professionalism (she circled the room greeting every guest personally before beginning); it was almost as impressive as the clothes themselves. But not quite.

Mrs Beckham’s new collection is an ensemble of evening and power dresses in mostly nude, red, black and blue tones. All the dresses are in block colour and were teamed with matching shoes and black sunglasses for the presentation. She experimented with silhouettes including a flowing maxi dress, statement mini-dresses, floor-length red carpet gowns and of course her trademark pencil skirt. This season confirmed that Victoria is fast gaining multiple respect within the industry as a serious fashion contender.

Highlights included the breath-taking nude floor length gown with draping detail which Victoria hinted as a personal favourite, the red wool shift dress with nipped in waist and back zip detail and the blue silk full column gown. The collection excited fashion editors and critics worldwide and is now making its way to the exclusive department stores, including our own Brown Thomas. When Mrs Beckham came to Dublin to launch this season’s collection, she munched on Ladurée Macaroons, no less.

As per usual, designer prices apply (expect roughly to pay anything from €1,105 to €3,500 for a dress) but if you have the cash to splash this season, a Victoria Beckham dress is a beautiful, timeless gown in colours that will flatter the Irish woman.

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Victoria Beckham Collection Spring/Summer 2009

The Early Bird
If you’re like me, you systematically set reminders in your calendar each June and December to ensure that you get first crack at the best deals from your favourite shop. There’s no shame in being the early bird that catches the worm, dear readers—it’s just smart shopping.

With this comes carefully planned purchases – i.e. either you’ve saved for a big item splurge, like a winter coat or handbag,  or you’ve cried your eyes out earlier this season because you simply couldn’t afford it , then now is the time to brace the sales.

The Bargain Hunter
There there are those who love the feeling of a bargain, who go along to the sales to see “what there is” and bag themselves, what they think is “the the best bargain”. We’ve all been there and made terrible mistakes (canary yellow shoes with green bows, what was I thinking?) and sometimes even bagging the bargain of the century.

But more often than not, if you take this approach then only the oddest sizes are left in the most awful colours and you end of with junk you’ll never wear, so avoid the disappointment and turn into an early bird for a day.

If you, dear reader, have been forced into thinking “more saving, less shopping” in this weird time that is the R word, then let the drum roll begin, because all your Christmases come at once come mid June, because some carefully planned shopping =The Sales=heaps of savings.

Follow our tips to surviving the summer sales and soon, you’ll be woo-ing your friends with tales of How I survived the summer sales.

Tips to surviving the sales

1. Weigh up whether the 70% off an item worth €2000, reduced to €600 is worth sleeping on the pavement overnight like a demented sale shopper for (Some items are worth doing just that for, believe me!).

2. Find out the opening time of where you’re intending to “target” and if it’s a shop on the street or within a shopping centre.

If it’s the latter, find out what time the shopping centre opens at, because, in the event that you do go along early to queue, you’ve got to be certain that you’ll get into the building!

3. Have picked out and tried on the item of clothing that you’ve lined up and know you size and exactly where it’s located in the shop,  (although the location may change on sale day).

Ladies, note that there will be huge queues for the changing rooms, and IF you get access to them it will be CHAOS, so, go with the idea that you’ll NOT be trying anything on, as you already know what you want and in what size.

4. Wear the right shopping outfit. Ballet pumps or comtable shoes, jeans and an easy to pull off top (if you didn’t happen to follow my advice in point 3 and do happen to end up in the fitting room or in front of the most available mirror).

There’s no time for bringing along your killer heels to see if they match the dress you want, or for trying it on with your most invisible nude underwear – this should be done BEFORE the sales even begin!

5. Before the sales, i.e. find out the returns policy of where you intend to shop, especially on sales stock. You may have a cooling off period when you can take impulse buys back but note that sometimes shops change their returns policy for sales items.

6. Some shops offer a personal shopping service during the sales. So, while everyone else is fighting their way out of a clothes recycling bin, you glide into a haven filled with clothes that have been pre-selected for you. Heaven! It goes without saying that this needs to be booked in advance.

Choose a department store which has its own label brands plus plenty of high street and designer ones - that way you have an amazing selection under one roof for you and often can book in with a personal shopper beforehand. Give them your budget and the rest is easy.

7. Be prepared for the worst case scenario – a rugby scrum on the shop floor, this is after all THE most reduction on items you’ll probably get all year.

Just take it all with a pinch of salt and endure it for the couple of hours that you need to. Oh and make sure your laser card has some money there to meet your shopping spree!

Can you believe it has been two years?? But now the wait is over and its back !!!

Be one of the first to see the new Sex and the City 2 movie and support The National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI).

A night out with the girls awaits! Strap on your Manolo’s grab your Chanel bag and get ready to immerse yourself once again in the wonderful world that is Sex and the city

MSB Events in conjunction with the National Breast Cancer Research Institute will be hosting glamorous Charity evenings across the country to launch the new Sex and the City 2 movie.

The Dublin event will kick off in the Gresham hotel Dublin AT 6:45pm where guests will be welcomed with canapés and delicious cocktails on arrival.

After sipping on cosmopolitans, you will be escorted to the Savoy cinema to see Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte – the stylish New York ladies of Sex and the City in action. An arrival you will receive a goodie bag fromSex and the City 2.

After the movie you are invited to join us for the exclusive after party in Krystle Nightclub Dublin where you will gain FREE entry. This will be a girl’s night to remember …

Best Dressed Competition

Why not dress up as one of your favourite characters from the movie? Or dress in Pink – the colours of the NBCRI, and be in with a chance to win a great prizes on the night.

WhatSheWears.ie will be judging the Best Dressed Lady at the Dublin event on 29 May. The winner will receive these Steve Madden blush peep toe shoes from the designer shoe haven that is Cocobelle (Unit 19, Royal Hibernian Way, Dublin 2. Tel 01 707 1818).

Celebrities worldwide are fans of this New York designer and these very Steve Madden ” Regaal” shoes were featured in Grazia on 19 April 2010.

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Sex and the City 2 Competition

WhatSheWears.ie is offering two lucky readers a set of tickets for you and a friend to the Dublin event on 29 May.

Plus, to get the winners looking totally glamorous for the event, you’ll get a hair ‘do** with hairdresser to the stars, Dylan Bradshaw in his state of the art salon on 56 South William Street in Dublin. This award winner hairdresser is the guy who brought the 12 week blow dry to Ireland after all!

To enter to win, email giftbag@whatshewears.ie with “SATC2” in the subject line and include your name address and phone number. You must be subscribed to our FREE weekly newsletter to enter. Sign up here.

The SATC2 charity events in association with the NBCRI are running in the following cities:

Dublin 28 May (sold out)

Dublin 29 May

Naas 28 May (sold out)

Cork 28 May

Galway 28 May

Click here to buy your tickets for the event, €35, which  include:

-         Cinema Ticket*

-         Pre Cocktails and Canapés reception

-          Goodie bag

-          Free entry to Kyrstle nightclub after the movie

*This is a free seating event. Seating will be allocated on a first come first served basis. This is an over 18’s event.

** Consists of a “VIP wash and blow dry” (glass of bubbly and a shower beforehand if you need to freshen up from your day’s shopping!) at Dylan Bradshaw’s salon in South William St, Dublin 2

Competition closes on Friday 21st May and winners will be notified by email then.

What’s the Debenham’s Beauty Club?

It’s a reward card where you’ll collect points on all your beauty and fragrance purchases in store, building up to reward €s that you can spend in store to make those pampering treats that little bit easier to afford.

Visit your favourite Debenhams store and ask in the beauty hall for your free Beauty Club Reward Card. Start collecting your points straight away and even indulge in a free makeover .

As a Debenhams Beauty Club member, the V.I.P treatment doesn’t just stop at Points and Rewards you’ll also benefit from regular Beauty Gossip emails – giving you the latest news on hot new products we know you’ll just be running into store to try, information about our forthcoming exclusive events and offers so you can save the dates in your diaries and not miss out on any of our beauty exclusives (as well as some top tips for looking good).

• Exclusive Gifts and special offers from your favourite brands
• Free Beauty Makeovers whenever you want them
• Expert skincare consultations so you leave knowing the best skincare routine for you
• Tips and Advice (the insider beauty secrets that will leave you able to create professional make up at home)

Competition

Unique, quirky and 100% gorgeous, Benefit is like a sweetie-shop for grown up girlies. Founded in San Francisco in the 1970s, Benefit has made a name for itself by creating high quality products that offer simple answers to everyday beauty dilemmas. We love the multi-tasking, award winning products such as High Beam, Benetint and Dr Feelgood.

So why wait, get the Bene-bug and enter for one of three chances to win €150 worth of award-winning Benefit products!

To enter to win, email giftbag@whatshewears.ie with “Debenhams Beauty Club” in the subject line and include your address and phone number. You must be subscribed to our FREE weekly newsletter to enter. The competition closes next Friday 14th May and winners will be announced in the newsletter next week.

I am looking for a gold pair of high heel sandals under €100 that I could wear with a plain strapless red dress (pictured).

I love the look of the Jimmy Choo “Jag” heels in gold however they’re not in my price range. Do you know of anything else suitable?

Also, do you know of any decent places in Dublin (not expensive) or online that I can find gold jewellery in?

Gold Strappy Sandals

Wow, the Jag leather sling backs by Jimmy Choo are beautiful and at €252, not many of us can afford this splurge.

Luckily, I spotted a similar pair in Dunnes Stores (€20) last weekend – they’ve just hit the shelves, so much so that I don’t have a product shot for you yet but will send on as soon as they have it ready.

New Look (£18, €22) also do a pair of gold strappy sandals in this shade of gold, but they are more of a “caged” heel than the Choos and Dunnes sling backs.

A third option would be these Dune at House of Fraser strappy gold sandals (£75, €88.40) with a mesh detail.

Gold Accessories

Funny that you should ask about gold accessories because I recently spotted some fabulous gold accessories in Aldo, a place I went to looking for shoes, but was blown away by the array of dramatic, accessories there. Check out the pics below which I took on my phone in-store.

Their earrings range from chandelier types to Grecian, hooped, “coin” detail and studs.

Not only that but they also have some fab clutch handbags and great cuffs and bracelets including the “Chanel stacked bangle” look that is popular at the moment. This is not suitable for your outfit however, so I’ll get back to the point in question….

For this outfit, I’d choose the following gold accessories (they also come in silver), all of which you’ll find in Aldo (Grafton St, Henry St and Dundrum Town Centre) -

• a pair of statement earrings
• a gold cuff bracelet
• a mock croc detailed clutch bag

Enjoy putting your outfit together and let us know how you get on!

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Elizabeth Hurley’s first beachwear boutique in Ireland opens at Kildare Village Outlet Shopping on 11th March 2010.

The location for the Elizabeth Hurley Beach Boutique was chosen for its high quality and comparable brands, boasting a dream-like collection of over fifty-five designer boutiques and lifestyle labels.

The Elizabeth Hurley Beach Boutique, will be a central feature among the charming boutiques that line the captivating open air promenade of the Village.  

Elizabeth says, ‘I love Ireland and on my many visits have always had the best time. I am a huge fan of Kildare Village and can’t wait to open my first Irish store. I’m really looking forward to Launch Day on 11 March; I’m hoping to meet lots of new customers and help them choose the perfect beachwear. ”

Elizabeth will celebrate the opening of her Beach Boutique at Kildare Village Outlet Shopping with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12pm on 11 March 2010 and will be on hand to help customers choose their perfect beachwear wardrobe between 12pm and 2pm.

To commemorate the launch, Elizabeth has made a special Pink Bikini to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. She will donate 100% of the proceeds of all these bikinis sold on Launch Day to the cause.

Image: Kieran Harnett

	Elizabeth Hurley Beach Opening
When	Thursday, March 11, 2010 12:00 - 12-2pm - All Ages
Where	Kildare Village (map) Kildare