Dublin's fair city

Just back from a weekend in Dublin. Eating, drinking, shopping (of course) and a little culture - don't miss the delights of the Hugh Lane Gallery. But my main hi-light was the outstanding shopping experience provided by Brown Thomas, a gem amongst department stores. Outlets of Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermes are an in-store reminder of the distance Ireland has travelled economically over the last ten years. The Molly Malone themed window of Hermes made us both smile with the shell encrusted bicycle centre stage. The main windows were a model of simplicity despite being the last few days of the sale.

But the first floor is the knock out experience - central are the shoes, stunningly displayed around a central seating area designed to dump husbands while you get on with the real stuff. The carefully selected concessions of designer label and more affordable clothing flow easily from space to space and the assistants were friendly and helpful but not pushy. I spent a happy hour or so trawling the two fashion floors with an occasional sidle past my other half to see if he was still amused - at the last he was translating a Max Mara brochure from Italian so I thought I'd better not push my luck!

Did I buy anything? Yes a perfect, simple, long white cotton shirt to wear with skinny jeans for the rest of the summer and under a tux later in the year - and it was sale price despite being bang on the button for A/W - a timeless piece and a bargain. I can recommend a trip!