The price is right

By Emma Blain

It's better than Sex And The City - shopping in the summer sales.

Not even the downpours could dampen the spirits of the capital's shoppers who hit the city's stores as the first of the summer sales began. And heavy showers, credit crunches and thrifty purses couldn't combine to placate the hordes of hungry shoppers who converged on Dublin's major department stores.

The major outlets are only too aware of the supposed recession as they fight with competing discounts to try to attract an army of shoppers who should be otherwise tightening their belts. Today is officially the day that the city has been advertising as the start of the summer sales, but some got off the starting block early. Champion Sports launched their sale last week, offering up to 50pc off premier sports brands. And, yesterday, three of Dublin's major Department Stores, Arnotts, Clery's and Debenhams, launched their sales, offering bargains of up to 70pc off their clothing, up to 50pc off shoes and accessories and discounts on electrical goods and homewares.

Not to be outdone, Brown Thomas are starting their sale on Saturday at 8am. Over 500 people were in the door of Arnotts on Henry St within 10 minutes of its opening at 9am. Queues had formed outside since the early hours of the morning as shoppers had waited on the street to get their hands on the first bargains and to be in with the chance of winning winning a designer Natuzi couch, a 32-inch Philips TV or a Sealy Millionaire double bed.

Upstairs on the women's fashion floor in Arnotts, fashionistas were working themselves into a frenzy over the huge discounts on some of the world's most wanted fashion lines.

Gorgeous

The most desirable bargain on the second floor was undoubtedly a gorgeous Nicole Miller maxi dress, like that which Angelina Jolie was pictured wearing in Cannes recently. It is reduced by 40pc from €935 to €561.

Tracey Reece, a favourite designer of Beyonce, was also on sale with 40pc reductions, as was Vivienne Westwood, and hot designer BCBG Max Azria. New York label Twelfth Street was also offering 50pc off with a gorgeous little black dress on sale reduced from €310 to €115.

Across the road in Debenhams, there was plenty on offer too, as bargain thirsty women tossed tops and skirts to the floor and left rails in disarray in the hunt for the perfect purchase. Brides-to-be could get their hands on wedding dresses by Pierce Fionda for just €50, one reduced from €620, another reduced from €315.

But if you've already walked down the aisle and are in domestic bliss, Debenhams are offering Dyson vacuum cleaners reduced from €434 to €279 and a special offer of a top brand Delonghi kettle and free toaster for just €62.

Of course the men aren't forgotten at sale time either, with 30pc off formal wear in Arnotts, or, more importantly, if you want to buy the woman in your life something, there's always the option of 50pc off Elle McPherson Intimates.

- Emma Blain