Marc Jacob's Daisy perfume

Its Name Is Lola


If Marc Jacob's Daisy perfume smelt of innocence and newly mown grass and freshly washed hair (not really, but you get the drift), his latest scent Lola, being more vampish and sassy, is strictly for the grown-ups. It's got top notes of pink peppercorn, ruby red grapefruit, and pear d'anjou, with fuchsia peony, rose, and geranium serving as the middle notes, and hits of vanilla, tonka bean, and creamy musk. It's arguably better suited to glammed-up nights out on the town than it is for everyday wear. The bottle is just as seductive as the scent, with its memorable cap of red, fuchsia and violet flowers. €78 for 100ml, available at Harvey Nichols, Dundrum.


Golden Delicious


When it comes to bags, the reign of the clutch continues unchallenged. It's a little bit confusing because you can never really fit much more than credit card, key and lippy, even into the oversized versions. But why let practical matters interfere with a great fashion look? We like them every which way: snake-skin, embellished, shiny, satiny. Topping our list is this gold clutch from River Island (€33.50) which we are going to claim will contribute to your recommended five-a-day.


Putting a spin on it


The economic downturn has resulted in some interesting growth areas and many of them seem rooted in nostalgia. Witness the return to comfort-food classics like spag bol and old-school desserts like jelly and ice cream. Vinyl record sales are also up dramatically, 45% on last year, according to Tower Records, although vinyl fans will say that the rest of the word is just catching up on what they've always known: that despite this being the era of digital downloads, records always sound better. The Skytec iPhono USB Turntable (€99.99 at Tower) offers the best of both worlds, a vinyl player with the added bonus of converting the records into MP3 format to take with you on the iPod, thus saving your records for special occasions.


All White


What is the staple of every celebrity's diet? Why, the egg-white omelette of course. High in protein, low in calories and cholesterol and of course, low carb, it's a dish that has taken on almost mythical proportions in terms of the holy quest for weight-loss. While some enlightened restaurants do offer them, replicating them at home can be a bit fiddly – all that separating – so we're surprised that fresh liquid egg white hasn't been available in supermarkets until now. Say hello to Two Chicks, which contains the equivalent of 15 egg whites but at €3.79 works out at much cheaper than paying for that number of whole eggs. Will it result in a Jennifer Aniston-like physique? Here's hoping. Available at selected Dunnes Stores.


The Shopping Audit


* We love Mr Hudson on Frenchconnection.com


French Connection's autumn/winter website has just launched, featuring the new collection and an exclusive 'Sessions' section by hot new musicians. Featuring a different act every two weeks, it kicks off with the sought-after blond bombshell Mr Hudson. There'll be a blog and the chance to win tickets to see him. frenchconnection.com/blog.htm


* We're not sure Chanel-inspired wellies


"A girl should be two things," said Coco Chanel. "Classy and fabulous!" These pink-quilted wellies, supposedly inspired by the French brand, are neither. The new Coco film has started a mini Chanel trend but if you're for real, don't buy these.


* We're buying Intermix


US boutique Intermix has just launched its online shop globally. There's a vast choice, so start making your wish list now – and look out for the Olsen twins' fantastic label Elizabeth and James, whose ruffled jersey dress is pictured above. Check out intermixonline.com.


* We're lusting after New Look's autumn/winter gear


Hurrah for New Look which is taking it to another level with its latest collection. There are some real gems to be had: our favourite is this fun fur coat (€80) which could be a little bit Bet Lynch or very Kate Moss – it's all down to how you wear it, darlings.