Desire Lines: This made in Ireland watermelon margarita is a delightful summer drink

Plus the shower water filter to protect your hair from hard water

Check out this week's highlights from the Weekend team.

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026 - 01:00

Jennifer Slattery - 2 piece set - limited edition €450

The two-piece

Jennifer Slattery is celebrating 15 years in business, and what better birthday gift than the opportunity to showcase at Brown Thomas as part of CREATE 2026. At the heart of the Irish label is a desire to reimagine heritage Irish textiles through a contemporary lens, with premium Irish linen and authentic Donegal tweed playing starring roles. Rooted in small-scale production and exceptional craftsmanship, each collection is defined by understated elegance, with signature embroidery designed and created in Jennifer’s Dublin studio.

Our favourite? This stunning gingham two-piece, priced at €450. The label will be showcased on Level 2 at Brown Thomas Grafton Street until Wednesday, July 29. Other designers featuring as part of CREATE 2026 over the coming weeks include Donegal label Tríona, Leitrim designer Pearl Reddington, and Caoimhe Grant’s August Night.

brownthomas.com

The cocktail

Harry Styles’ historic 12-night run at Wembley might have come to an end, but we are still in a watermelon sugar state of mind. Enter Craft Cocktails latest creation: the watermelon margarita. Made in Ireland using premium 100% agave tequila, real watermelon and fresh lime, this delightful summer drink delivers a fresh, fruit-forward take on the classic.

Pour over ice in a salt-rimmed glass with a wedge of fresh lime, or blend into a vibrant frozen slushie €12.50 for 200ml (2 serves) or €25 for 500ml (five serves).

craftcocktails.ie

The water filter

If you’re blonde, it’s likely your hairdresser has filled you in on the perils of Ireland’s notoriously hard water, which is rich in minerals.

These can lead to discolouration, faster colour fade and dullness. The Gaia shower filter, the brainchild of environmental scientist April McGrath, is well worth considering. Its five-stage filtration system is designed to reduce chlorine, heavy metals and other impurities commonly found in our water. It’s easy to install, replacement filters are recommended every three months, and there’s no noticeable impact on water pressure.

gaiafilters.ie

We love this Yellow linen dress with floral applique designed by Liza Brennan of Phoenix V

The competition

We recently attended the launch of the Continentally Classic Most Stylish Competition at the Ice Bar in the InterContinental Dublin where we were struck by this stunning yellow linen dress with floral applique designed by Liza Brennan of Phoenix V in Cork city. This perfect race day look is completed by a beautiful straw boater hat by milliner Carol Kennelly based in Tralee, Co Kerry along with gloves by Paula Rowan whose designs recently featured in The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Now in its eighth year, the Continentally Classic competition is free to enter (roving judges will select the winners on the day) and launched with a celebration of contemporary Irish design from brands including Kindred of Ireland, SIX ROADS, Tina Griffin, Phoenix V, Carol Kennelly, Michelle Kearns, Éadach by Sara O’Neill and Paul Costelloe at Curated by Design Centre. The winner of the Most Stylish award will win two return flights to Miami with Aer Lingus, a three-night stay at InterContinental Miami and five star stays in Ireland. The competition will take place at the hotel after the Dublin Horse Show Best Dressed on Thursday, August 6.

intercontinentaldublin.ie

The body oil

We’re big fans of Kerry-based cellular biochemist Dr Helena McMahon’s Seabody, a beauty brand that has earned a reputation for harnessing the power of marine biotechnology in its innovative formulas.

The new Movement Body Oil blends bioactive extracts derived from Atlantic seaweed with ocean-sourced magnesium and arnica, while warming notes of ginger, black pepper and clove awaken the senses.

Perfect before or after exercise, it’s also an ideal mini ritual to ease tired muscles after a long day at a desk.

seabody.com

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Integrate 28 (€69)

The supplement

One thing we’ve certainly learned from editing this week’s beauty edition is that supporting your skin from the inside out is increasingly being recognised as just as important as topical treatments or even more intensive in-clinic procedures.

We’ve long been fans of Advanced Nutrition Programme’s range, crediting its Skin Accumax supplement with helping to keep acne-prone skin at bay, but its latest launch feels like a true all-rounder. Formulated with vitamins A, C, D and biotin, alongside zinc, selenium, a blend of prebiotics and probiotics, and a source of plant fibres with polyphenols, Skin Integrate 28 Biome Powder is designed with the increasingly recognised connection between gut and skin health in mind, while also helping address our growing awareness of the importance of getting more fibre into our diets.

advancednutritionprogramme.com

The sweetest thing

The salted caramel ice cream from Tesco Finest has long been one of our supermarket favourites, so we were suitably tempted when we spotted the new ice cream sandwich version in stores.

A seriously decadent combination of salted caramel ice cream from Co Cork, swirled with rich salted caramel sauce and encased in crisp chocolate, it’s a deliciously indulgent treat to keep in the freezer for warm summer evenings.