t h e w r e n returns to you today (here in its new home on the site) with our edit of useful and beautiful things, a love letter to concepts and creations we admire - from style, art, beauty, food, interiors and any other lovely things we feel you’ll like - for when a little aesthetic distraction is required - curated by Marie Kelly and Ellie Balfe…

A mother and daughter mission

Mise Tusa is a mother-daughter fashion brand, based in the west of Ireland, designing sustainable pieces that celebrate women’s individuality. Meritta and Bridget are both qualified yoga teachers and they work to integrate the philosophy of yoga into their business, centring it on craft, community and environment.

The garments they design, as well as their accessories collaborations with Irish makers, are the epitome of ageless style, with pieces showcased on models of a variety of ages and stages in life. The quality of fabrics (Irish tweed, Italian wool crepe and luxurious silks) and the authenticity of the design and production process mean they’re not cheap, but then forever pieces rarely are.

If you want to buy into this gorgeous brand, but can’t stretch to a few hundred euro, then these beautiful arm cuffs are just €45. I adore the jewellery collaboration with Rowena Sheen, and you can pick up a stunning pendant for €55.
MK.

Cashmere for a song

Irish cashmere designer Ros Duke is having a sample sale next week, during which press samples, deadstock scarves and archive styles will be sold off to make way for the Dublin designer’s new spring/summer collection. A designer focused on ethical and sustainable processes, Duke’s pieces are inspired by the sea, which she walks beside almost daily. If you’re not a newsletter subscriber, sign up now for access to the sale 24 hours before the general public.
MK.

Art for everyone

If you’re an art enthusiast, without a collector’s budget (like me!), take a look at Irish artist Paul Doran on Instagram (@paul_doran_artist_). Many of his pieces are on sale for €100-€150. They’re colourful, textured, modern works on canvas, and small in size so they will not overwhelm a space. The work above, entitled Beam, is an acrylic on canvas and costs €100.
MK.

New brand to know

I know it’s spring, but I can never have enough throws around my home. They bring beautiful colour and texture, as well personality, to a space. Irish brand YAWUW (You Are What U Wear) produces exquisite 100% recycled wool throws, none of which are exactly the same, so the item you buy will be wholly unique to you. The throw pictured costs €75 and doubles as a scarf – even better!

Founded by a group of Cork-based, first-time parents only last year, who were concerned about what the future of the planet would look like for their children, the brand makes fashion and accessories from recycled ocean waste, recycled wool or organic textiles, and they are 100% ethically produced.
MK.

Eyes to heaven

It’s hard to write about mascara. In my years as a beauty editor, I always found it hard - probably because after trying so many, I found the majority to be - well, the same - and, dare I say, I bit boring - it’s black, it goes on your lashes, you hope it will give you volume and length and not cake, crumble or give you red eyes. The End.

My reality was that a lot of them irritated me, so I turned to eyelash extensions which gave me years of long, luscious lashes without the red eyes (or eye makeup remover - what a win!). However, once the pandemic closed down both salons and purse strings, extensions were to be no more for me. And in fact, for a lot of the pandemic, I didn’t wear makeup at all, preferring my bare face, preferring the real me (all that’s another story). BUT, lately, I was sent Maybelline’s new offering - The Colossal Curl - and after leaving it to languish a while in the bag it arrived in, I decided to give it a whirl at last. And so, my friends, I began a love affair. It’s a fantastic product. It’s not clumpy or cakey, instead coating my sparse and unloved lashes with a sort of scaffolding that makes them look long and curly and black. As we age, our lashes often lose colour - mine, which were once black from root to tip, are now sort of invisible from halfway. But, yes, no more! No red eyes and it glides off with cleanser at the end of the day. Regarding the curl - it holds the curl I pre-position with a curling tool, so I’m not sure how much it curls by itself, but at only €13.99, it won’t be a costly mistake if you don’t like it.
EB.

The scent of a store

Do you remember Colette? The near-mythical concept store in Paris that closed down a while back to much sadness of its retail devotees, all sold into its perfect lifestyle edit? I visited it once and wandered around it feeling fascinated by its mystique and attitude - all that French insouciant ‘you can buy me, but you can’t afford me’ - so perfectly Parisian. Anyway - this candle, by Lola James Harper is the smell of the store - created in collaboration with them and now for sale by them only. The brand Lola James Harper is a lovely one overall - full of identity and storytelling - the candles are sold in Brown Thomas now, and I’ve bought the vetivert cologne from the brand directly which is evocatively named, Everything Will Come Together. I have also bought The First Morning of Spring candle which smells like daffodils - so perfect for now.
EB.

Take your vitamins

Do you know about the benefits of a high-grade vitamin C serum for your skin? As we age, it’s vital to supplement your usual skincare with something targeted to add glow and reduce pigmentation - which is the main task of a good C serum. I’ve tried loads and my latest love is this one by Medik8.

C-Tetra is fortified with stable vitamin C (if it’s not in a dark, opaque glass bottle for this reason, don’t bother) and vitamin E and together, they serve the skin with a potent, but lightweight and not greasy serum to enhance glow, protect against damage and minimise fine lines. It has a lovely orangey smell too, which is nicer to use as, frankly, some other serums are a bit too smelly and are not nice to use.

This is on Look Fantastic and really reasonable at only €39.45, (you get a sign-up discount too).
EB.

revellers

If you follow West Cork-based Aisling O’Leary on Instagram, you will have seen that she and her new husband have just launched a concept and coffee store in Clonakilty. Called Revel, it’s a gorgeous mix of relaxed, chic, accessible style and house bits, as well as what looks like great coffee and gorgeous bakes. Follow them here and put a pin in the map for your next trip.

glasses for grown-ups

Seeing as the majority of us midlifers will be wearing glasses, either for reading (holding the page away from your face - doesn’t it happen so quick!) or for protecting us against the blue lights of our screens, it’s so great to see serious style taking over what was solely the realm of Specsavers.

This range, Glas, is a great find - they have lots of impactful frames, designed not to fade away, but stand out. Just like us.
EB.

out of the kitchen

Have you watched Boiling Point on Netflix yet? It’s a masterful work featuring the sublimely talented Stephen Graham as a chef with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Shot entirely in one long take with no edits, apparently they aimed to shoot it in six potential takes but nailed it on the second. It’s intense, it’s funny, it’s sad. It’s hard to watch, but it’s human. Watch it almost as a piece of theatre (as those who have worked in kitchens know it often feels like) and watch it to be seriously impressed with the performances - stellar all round. One scene blew me open - the one with the blonde pastry chef and the younger chef beside her - so raw, so real - gut-wrenchingly beautiful and sad in equal measure. Perfectly played by Hannah Walters, Graham’s real-life wife.

It’s incredible - art with heart. Watch the trailer here.
EB.