Fashion

Prada in Kildare Village: not like Milan, but neither are the prices

Stylefile: Electronic Sheep releases shawl for nursing mothers and McNulty’s winter knitwear

A model walks the runway at the Prada fashion show during Milan fashion week in Milan, Italy. The company has opened an outlet store in Kildare Village. Photograph: Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Deirdre McQuillan's face
Deirdre McQuillan
Sat Dec 16 2017 - 06:00

The new Prada outlet store in Kildare Village is a big one and a significant newcomer in the Irish branch of value retail. Bright and spacious, it has womenswear, menswear, bags, jewellery and other accessories all under one roof.

Spotted on a recent visit were elegant pleated navy silk dresses for about €500, stylish Miu Miu coats about €700 and various bags at reduced prices along with alluring jewellery.

Male shoppers hovered around quilted jackets with fur hoods and there was a lot of interest in shoes displayed along one wall. A major design flaw in an otherwise cool and modern interior were the double decker rails, the top one too high to access. You had to ask a staff member to hook down anything of interest. It is not comparable to Prada’s beautiful flagship in Milan, but then neither are the prices.

Electronic Sheep’s limited edition shawl for €155

Shawl for nursing mothers

Electronic Sheep, known for their graphic, printed knits have recently launched a collaboration with the National Maternity Hospital. It’s a large shawl specifically aimed at breast-feeding women to encourage and support nursing mothers.

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An oversize blanket in the signature Electronic Sheep illustrative style, it comes in 100 per cent merino in bright colours with an image of a mother feeding her baby.

Brenda Aherne who founded the brand with her London-based partner Helen Delaney has a special affinity for Holles Street as both her children were born there. The limited edition shawl sells for €155 and can be found on www.electronicsheep.com. 10% of all sales will go to the NMH Foundation.

New knitwear

The knitter Edmund McNulty will be presenting his winter collection of handknits in Frewen & Aylward in Dún Laoghaire today from 10am-5pm. It includes this blue hoodie (which also comes in grey) in camel and merino wool for €349.