Dizzy Headscarf...

There is nothing particularly special about this outfit except the head scarf and wedges. The head scarf was a gift from my friend Molly. She got it for me while in London. I absolutely love it, not only is it vintage but the colouring is perfect for the coming autumn/winter. I feel this will be perfect for bad hair days in college.

The wedges are my sisters and she kindly let me borrow them for the day. The are simply gorgeous but do hurt after awhile...

The outfit was perfect for today. Was not up to much so heels was not a crazy option. A bit of blogging, working on a friend's logo and went for some ice tea a tiny shopping trip with the outrageous yet lovely Molly.

Say hi to my cat, Ellie...

Hope your Sunday was good!

Head Scarf: Beyond Retro (gift)

Top: Penneys

Jeggings: Oasis

Wedges: French Connection (belonging to my sister)

Sheepish opulence...

So there are loads of trends for autumn/winter and as well as the lady like chic I am going to try and replicate another trend. I don't really know what you would call this trend but it is pretty much chunky woolies with glamourous pieces of clothing... An interesting clash to say the least and I believe completely wearable (I am certainly on a mission with this one!). 

Now I am not going to go as far as the above picture (though it would be a great excuse to buy a gorgeous silk gown). I have been thinking about this trend for the past week and thinking how it could be made wearable and chic...

Tights: Asos, Earrings: Etsy, Dres: River Island, Heels: Bordello, Ribbon: Local Haberdashery

Heels: Ted Baker, Sweater: River Island, Earrings: Etsy, Skirt: Couture Allure, Tights: As before, Ribbon: Local Haberdashery

I have created two outfits which I have already started created in my own wardrobe. Before the winter ends I will (hopefully) wear both of them. One is less wearable but I feel if I am brave enough it could work... The first outfit is easier to create because wooly dresses are popping up everywhere and if they are teamed with extravagant heels, seamed tights and some sparkling jewellery I believe it would be a soft version of this trend... Full skirts in opulent fabrics are hard to come by (which sucks). They one above is vintage. What I plan on doing its simply taking the top of an old dress of mine which no longer fits on the bust and hey presto I will have a full raw silk skirt and I've saved myself some money. Perfect.

Are there any winter trends you are going to make your own?

Hair wish...

My hair just isn't growing fast enough for me... I wish my hair to be this length (god only knows when that will be!). This is Taghrid by the way, I also want her wardrobe but I suppose I can settle for her hair...

Grow dammit grow!

Photo shoot...

So here are most of the photos from my photo shoot at the amazing Shutterbug studio with the brilliant brother sister duo of Blanaid (blanaid.com) and Eoin Hennessy. I am delighted with the photos! They came out so well with very little help from me... These two seriously know what they are doing... If you need a photo shoot done give them a shout.

Isn't that tulle skirt just fantastic! Its by the Irish independent fashion label Bonzie. I loved it! It is so beautiful and I felt so extravagant in it... *sigh longingly* Most of the rest of the clothes were my own. I brought up a load of clothes to Blanaid and she went to town with them. Created two great outfits!

Outfit One

Gold Top/ Heels: Blanaid's own

Skirt: Bonzie

Gloves: Vintage, Ebay

Second Outfit

Beret: Haddens, Carlow

Vest/ Leather gloves: Penneys

Feather Collar: Gold

Leather Skirt: Vintage, Wild Child

Heels: Dune, my sisters (sssh!)

If you want to see the rest of that shoot and more of Shutterbug's work then why no click here.

Hope I get to do another one some day...

Lust...

Just a small little post about these beautiful Kurt Geiger shoes... I think I may just need them in my life. They'd certainly burn a whole in your purse at the whopping price of €195! 

Feel free to buy them for me, size 5, cheers...

If only...

Me? A model!?

The wonderful Blanaid Hennessy of Blanaid was inspired by an image of Crystal Renn and has hell bent on creating a sexy, vintage style, curvy photo shoot... And I was the lucky girl who was asked to do it. You could say I was excited but that would be an understatement! So in her new (and so cool) photography studio, Shutterbug, I was pampered and plucked and backcombed and put in the most amazing skirt by Blanaid (cannot stress how nice she was and how welcomed she made me feel).

So after she dolled me up like Brigitte Bardot and made me all sexy (at this point I was telling her I can't do sexy) her brother Eoin started shooting me, I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. It was so fun trying to act sexy with Blanaid moving me to get the perfect shot and giving me directions and letting me know about every trick in the book about modeling. Parts were so hard: I don't think I was meant to bend like that! But they were very nice to me and understood that it hurt...

The two looks I was put in was a sexy 1960's style hollywood starlet and then a sexy russian spy! I was told think Brigitte Bardot for my first look and Angelina Jolie for the second. Now, in my head I can only do one sexy look so I have no idea how I looked and if I did a good job at all (though Blanaid told me I was great- to which I told her she was a great liar).

Dying to see the images! And would totally do it again, even though I am no model!

Debs? Wedding? Black tie? Budget?

A few weeks ago my sister sort of set me a challenge, I had to find three outfits suitable for a debs/wedding/black-tie event in my home town on a budget. I actually had so much fun with this challenge but I must have looked so odd walking around with my camera and a notepad in the clothes shops. Oh well! It was all in the name of fashion...

So here are my recession outfits that still make you look a million dollars!

Budget: €100

Money Spent: €84.61

Although it is the end of the summer, keep that beach party vibe going in this sexy and colourful Maxi dress from New Look (or AX). To add a hint of sophistication and make the gown your own create a simple halter neck with some navy ribbon, don’t worry it is easy to do (ask your mam if you can’t, they’re great that way). Gold accessories will create that ever desired glamourous feel and keep it fun with a pair of bright pink stilettos and a matching corsage to go in your flowing tresses. Why not keep the make up simple and sun kissed: eyes should be gold and smokey, try this “Smokey Brun” palette from Rimmel that is guaranteed to make your eyes smoulder.

Budget: €150
Money Spent: €127.67

The Vintage Look is a style that is popping up everywhere lately and is a great way to be experimental with your look, not only with clothes but also with make up and hair. So channel your inner Bette Davis in this stunning red number from River Island, its figure hugging material will show case your feminine curves gloriously. Team it with a black clutch, satin heels and, if you fancy, a feather fascinator to keep that glamourous vintage feeling alive. Sparkling jewels will scream 1940s Hollywood starlet, perfect for when the cameras are flashing on the red carpet. When doing your make up keep your eyes relatively neutral with just a lashing of mascara, let the red lipstick be the statement. Finally, if your brave enough, style victory rolls into your hair, just think Dita Von Teese; Youtube has plenty of tutorials to achieve this style at home.

Budget: €200
Money Spent: €196.85

This style is meant to make you feels like a million dollars, with satin, rich colours and sparkling jewels. A shorter cut dress is perfectly acceptable for the Debs, especially if it is exceptionally fancy like this one from Alana (Dublin St.) The elegance of these turquoise heels are in keeping with the skirt of the dress and the satin finish ties with the luxurious tone of the outfit. Accessorize with some bold statement pieces of jewellery, sophisticated bling can ensure that you sparkle. Continue this theme with this peach/gold tone chainmail bag that is sure to catch the light. Finish off this sexy look by enhancing your eyes with some volumous mascara.

Even though this challenge restricted me to Carlow it is possible to get these items either in your home town or even on the net. What surprised me the most was how hard it was to actually reach my budget target (they're are more bargains out there than we think!). 

So here it is: proof that you can be the Bell of the Ball without burning a hole in your pocket! I am quite proud of myself (don't judge me).

Winter loving...

Was tipped off by a friend of mine to have a good auld look at the Autumn/Winter 2010/2011 collection. She told me that I was going to love it and she was right! So very very right! It is the nicest designer collection I have seen in awhile... I love nearly ever single bit of it!

There is a whole fifties ladylike theme surrounding this collection, with its gloves, long full skirts, velvet bow shoes and nipped in waists (if you know me you know how I love my nipped in waists!). I am also loving the selection of fabrics they used. You just gotta love the velvet straps and leather full skirts as well the tweed, heavy wool and faille. And the colours! So simple, so elegant, so perfect!

It is safe to say I am in love...

Go check out the rest of the collection at the Louis Vuitton website.

Tee off...

I know the sun is shining today but I cannot help but feel cold the past few days and the smell of autumn, I feel, is in the air (I hope I'm wrong though). 

And one item that is most definitely on my list for an autumnal wardrobe is over the knee argyle socks (I'm gonna do a post soon about what I want my autumn wardrobe to look like- but not just yet). When I think about these socks images of Clueless and Gossip Girl spring to my mind. You know what I mean: crisp white shirts under cropped sweaters, mini dresses with high heeled loafers, pretty hairbands and pearls. Seems like a great wardrobe for back to college (trust me it'll work). Will need to be sophisticated-up with some forties chic (I think everyone is lusting after the forties look, who wouldn't its fab!).

These socks below are from River Island and they are all lovely!

Electric blue in the garden of green...

Another little outfit post! 

Do own a garment that you know that no matter how you feel or how you look it is gonna look great on you? Do you have a garment so easy to get on and off? Do you have a garment that always makes a statement despite how simple it is? I do... It's this electric blue dress! I love it! I got it on Ebay for I think under €20 (I believe it is still there in purple) and when I first got it I had no idea what to wear with it. So it went unworn for awhile til I decided to create a slightly pin up sailor-ish look by adding this bow I bought in Awear. I honestly think it completes the look, to the point that I have never taken the bow off! I think I'm afraid to... 

So when I wear it I team it with some red shoes (nude ones from time to time) and saunter around in it because it fits like a glove, is ever so comfortable and shows off my curves in an elegant way... One day I might take the bow off and glam it up with some sparkly stilettos.

Out of curiosity... What would you wear with this dress? You might give me some ideas!

Dress: Ebay

Bow: Awear

Shoes: New Look

'Cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man...

In my opinion, it is very important for a man to look well in a suit... If a man can work a suit he is alright by me! I have always been a fan of men in suits: for my first parent teacher meeting when I was four I wanted my dad to wear a suit (he did not!) and my mam to wear a dress, what can I say I'm old fashioned... 

What bothers me is ill-fitting suits on young men. You know when they look like they borrowed their dads suit and are swimming in it. Guys why not invest in a good, well made suit that fits you: you're gonna need it! Men can look so dapper in a suit and what girl doesn't want a dapper looking fellow on her arm from time to time?

So suit up!

Typeface...

Noticed this website on Blanaid.com and since I am a Graphic Design student as well as a firm fan of everything vintage I just had to have a looksie! And I really liked what I saw! The website is called Typearchive and it is filled to the brim with beautiful images of old fashioned shop fronts and pretty typefaces... 

I can't help but think of a time when everything was more glamourous yet quaint at the same time! I think of fuller skirts (and pencil skirts) and lipstick, of hair that set while you slept and fur lined gloves, of little cream buns and walks on the pier... 

(I am sure that it is not what went on but in my head it was...)

Why can't we all just get along...

Ok I know these images were published in 2009 but I am slow and it really cannot be helped (sorry)... So moving along swiftly... How fab are these pictures?!?!? 

It was a shoot done by V magazine to show that any size can rock an outfit. I think it is safe to say both of these women look amazing! The models are Jacquelyn Jablonski and Crystal Renn. 

Short post I know and I wanted to post the pictures much bigger but they won't let me... Apologies!  

Carry on my wayward son...

Went to the always beautiful Altamount Gardens with the boyfriend today... Oh how I love that house 

(I seriously want to live in it: even though I'm sure it is completely derelict inside). And lets not forget the actual gardens... Stunning!

We spent the day messing around and taking photos of each other. He is a better photographer and poser than me (look at that creative pose with the pillar he he). Tis so not fair! He was trying to help me model better (as I have stated before I feel silly and nervous in front of the camera when I do shots for my blog). He really made it fun for me which I was so grateful... I mean I shouldn't feel shy in front of him of all people!

This dress is one I don't think I wear enough, or give enough credit... It is very comfy, the pattern is very seventies (who'd have thought I got it from Penneys?) and has a nice loose fit, yet still has a flattering shape! 

Dress/Leggings: Penneys

Gladiators: Dunnes

Bag: Accessorize

What I want but can't afford...

Just a very quick post on this gorgeous dress! It is called the 5 in 1 dress from Thieves and it comes in three different colours: grey, black and purple... I want it in black! I know I only have four images but there were no photos for the last style (but it is a halter neck).

The only drawback is that it is around €124, which I don't have. But when you think about it if you are getting 5 different dresses in one then it is only €24.80 per dress. Bargain! I likes me logic! Unfortunately I still don't have €24.80 per dress... Oh well! I can still look at it and sigh. 

Join me won't you?