'We're going to Dunnes.' Four little words to strike the fear of God into any child growing up in the 80s and 90s. Cue floppy kid shopping walk and dramatic sighs. These days though...no more! The Dunnes experience is a very different one and nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the newly refurbished Forestside store. Light, bright and airy, beautifully merchandised and carrying their premium brands, it's a pleasure to browse. I popped in last week and was blown away by some of the new additions- Considered by Helen James in homeware and Lennon Courtney in fashion are particularly strong. I picked out my favourite pieces that will see you through til Autumn.

Starting off with Lennon Courtney, this is a great quality brand with very strong pieces.  Classic with a serious twist, they are the holy grail of the career woman's wardrobe..garments that are smart enough to wear to work but cool enough to take you through to evening. The fabrics are beautiful, with a weight more often found in a designer range rather than high street. Bonus point for having pockets in most of their dresses- a design favourite of mine. Yes, it may be a bit more expensive than you are used to in Dunnes, but the quality is there so you have to think of these as investment pieces rather than fast fashion.

A couple of pieces really stood out. The black top with butterfly sleeves is stunning and would work for a couple of different body shapes. For an hourglass figure I would pair this with a pencil skirt to really exaggerate your shape. The statement sleeves on this would really balance out a pear shape, teamed with an A line skirt or high waisted boot cut trousers. On very slim boyish shapes it will give the illusion of curves when teamed with a pleated or tulip skirt. The two tone dress is great for anyone that worries about being top heavy, with the darker top playing down this area, just throw a blazer on top. In winter, this will look great layered over a polo neck, tights and boots.

Savida are a great brand that always deliver a few really key pieces each season. Currently they are very strong on skirts and shirts. There's a real movement towards separates in fashion, which is great from a versatility point of view. Dresses are definitely an easy option, but separates allow for a bit more styling input and more wear per item.

First up, I love their pleated print skirt. The pleats and print combined make this a strong love/ hate piece but I think it's great. This is perfect for boyish figures as the pleats give the illusion of curves. I would team it with a white or black shirt and sandals now and a chunky knit and ankle boots later in the year.

The soft blue tulle is very Carrie B. As it's such a feminine piece I would team it with a grey marl tee, necklace and heels for a nice contrast. Throw on a blazer with rolled up sleeves or a biker jacket. The Savida printed prom skirt would look great with a simple white shirt and heels. The Gallery collection doesn't often catch my eye but they have a fab grey leopard prom skirt at the moment that's worth a look, with leopard set to be a big trend next season.

A standout piece for me is the denim pussy bow blouse, which would look great tucked into skinny jeans. The contrast of the lady like shape and details with the harder edge of denim gives this a designer kinda feel. White shirts are a wardrobe staple but can be predictable. Details like a frilled bib or layered sleeves takes them to the next level.

Finally- winter wear. Yes, it's still August but if you see a coat you like snap it up now as it won't be there when the cold starts to bite. Pastel colours in soft fabrics are a nice option as they are less severe than the usual dark colours and will ease you into autumn gently. Savida's ice blue number has nice outsized details in the patch pockets and sleeves, while Carolyn Donnelly's The Edit's pink coat is a lovely soft shade that's not too saccharine. Top marks also for Savida's oversized scarf which is an unusual but nice combo of Aztec and sports luxe.