Deirdre Fitzgerald knits magically. Her garments are almost as much air as substance and they have the look of filigree, a butterfly net or a very flimsy kind of ladder.
Talk about dropped stitches - all intentional, of course. Result: beautiful, and original. She is a really marvellous designer, full of mood and expression.
From somewhat eccentric beginnings she has become one of Ireland's leading knitwear designers, with growing exports - Saks has just taken a small collection - and there are a dozen outlets here, including the Design Centre in Powerscourt Town House.
Despite appearances, both of self and product, she is quite practical and sensible, simply saying she is using soft yarns like chenille, silk, viscose and cotton, choosing deep colours like crimson, chocolate and copper, while describing them as "mystical and very luxurious".
Fair enough. They have texture, character and, yes, there is something slightly strange and romantic about them.
It is a fluid line, with some garlanded crochet edgings, a few scattered "roses" and glass beaded buttons. And what is so good is that these silken beauties are appropriately matched with sand-washed silk and taffeta skirts.
It is fairly unusual to get practical comfort with extreme good looks, but that is what Fitzgerald is so good at: take a coffee coloured Empire-style silk cardigan, (£259), put it over a ladder-stitch fitted top, and then add the long rich chocolate brown taffeta skirt (£169). Now that's style. And yet the wearer is warm, comfortable, relaxed. And ready for anything.
There are even out-and-out romantics like layers of organza and chiffon worn with shimmering, barely-there tops decorated with dried flowers. But it is a look that never gets out of hand. Whatever is done is done with great control and precision. Yet these are other-worldly clothes, and some of the magic will rub off on the wearer. And that's good design.