Quack + Dirk

I suppose the fashionable word for Quack and Dirk would be bijou — it’s a tiny little place filled with carefully selected clothes and accessories, some of them created and altered by the talented owner. (She will greet you from behind her sewing machine when you walk in.)
Skirts, dresses and tops form the bulk of the clothing options, but you can also buy handbags, hair clips and some statement jewellery at very reasonable prices. Just don’t bring the hen party.

Deirdre Cantwell’s reality is every aspiring fashion designer’s dream.
By day, she mans the shopfront of her latest venture, Quack + Dirk — an adorable boutique which offers a range of vintage clothing, jewellery, handbags and one-​off pieces she designed and created herself. By night she most certainly spends a large amount of time behind the sewing machine, experimenting with new styles and creating an eclectic array of outfits soon to be seen on Dublin streets.
However — and this is the best bit — on weekends she travels far and wide (to London mostly) to hand-​pick new, exciting stock for her gorgeous little store.
Hats off to this enterprising young woman who, by the tender age of 25, is already making waves in the fashion industry.
Quack + Dirk is an enchanting store located in a little laneway off Marino Mart in Fairview. It’s an interesting choice of location — Fairview isn’t exactly known for its high fashion — but that only adds to the charm of this boutique.
The store is open Wednesday to Saturday and is definitely worth a look at least once a week (Deirdre is constantly sourcing new stock). This is the perfect place to find THAT dress, a birthday gift for your bestie, or some cute little ‘just because I’m a woman and need to treat myself’ accessories. You won’t find anything of the mass-​produced Topshop-​style fare here, so if that’s what you’re looking for, avoid.
Deirdre herself is wonderfully warm and welcoming, and if you hang out in the shop long enough you may have the chance to witness her sewing skills first-​hand. The shop has that sparkling brand new appearance, which makes it hard to believe it was created from what was once an old storeroom.
The prices are very reasonable, recession-​worthy even, which makes Quack + Dirk an ideal shopping expedition for students and those on tight budgets.
Head to Quack + Dirk to fall in love with your new favourite dress before someone else beats you to it!