Rocking in Socks (and Sandals).

I bought a fab pair of studded, black-suede platform sandals (€21) from Penney’s and at the same time I bought some plain white ankle socks… so I put them on together a la Burberry Prorsum SS10.

For as long as I can remember wearing socks with sandals was about as unfashionable as it gets. Way before bubble perms or shellsuits, before wearing fur or nylon trousers became passé, the only people who wore socks avec sandals, (is it weird that I keep typing SADals?) were Religion teachers and retired old men who now live on the Costa Del Sol.

Well today they seemed to me, like a pretty on-trend gang that I wanted to be a part of. I teamed my snazzy new foot rig-out with a vintage Jeff Banks dress from the late 60′s and gave it a whirl… I really like the look, the socks dress down the seriously fierce heels, making them totally wearable for daytime. They make the look softer and more feminine and therefore ultimately more flattering. I think the look also works so well because the sandals have quite high ankle straps, it wouldn’t work as well if the straps were lower down; the higher straps are needed to break up the block colour of the socks. The best part is that they are so comfy and for me, that alone is enough of a reason to advocate this quirky look.

The Loft Market Fashion Show 2009

Word up… next Wednesday (October 7th) the annual Loft Market fashion is on, when the main hall of the Powerscourt Shopping Centre will be taken over by some seriously fashion forward folk. The Loft Market has become a must-visit for people who love buying pieces from the collections of the rising stars of Irish fashion design.  Designers like Sinead Doyle of Sinead Doyle Design, who showcased some amazing pieces in the Fashion Breakthrough event last month; some of her pieces will also be featured in this show.

Oh yeah, by the way The Loft Market fashion show is F.R.E.E… So pay it back with 10% discount on the night and indulge in some amazing, designer fashion. For more info about The Loft Market here is a video from on old episode of Xposé… it’s the first story…

It’s a TG4 / RTÉ Television Fash-off.

This evening, both RTÉ1 and TG4 are showing Irish fashion shows at 8pm. Which is incredibly frustrating as there is so little programming based around Irish fashion on TV as it is, so, way to go there, scheduling people. But anyway…

Last week TG4 launched their re-formatted fashion make-over show, Stíl na Réalt, into a 6-part series mixing the makeover concept with celebrity style. This new format sees two teams challenged to re-create celebrity looks for a non-celebrity, €200. The teams each get 4 hours to put together both an evening and daytime look representative of  a celebrity style icon. Tonight’s episode (September 30th) sees Dublin contestants attempting to recreate Kate Moss’ style.

“The series is presented by Céara Ní Chuinn who is joined each week by a panel of expert judges, including Dublin’s famous tailor Louis Copeland, image consultant Fiona McKeon, TV presenter Bláthnaid Ní Dhonnchadha and model / fashion writer Emma Jane Power“.

RTÉ however are launching their latest series of Off The Rails, tonights show sees Brendan Courtney and Sonya Lennon make-over a busy single mum who works a 60 hour week. Plus they will be showing viewers this years autumn / winter trends and how they have translated from the catwalk to the high street.

If you are planning to stay in and watch TV this eve, I would say watch Stíl na Réalt as it airs and then Off the Rails on the RTÉ player. That thing is awesome!

Free Tommy Hilfiger Headphones when you Buy Jeans

Just a quick note, from tomorrow, (Thursday) October 1st, until stocks last, you get a free Tommy Hilfiger headset with every pair of jeans bought at the their store in Swords Pavillions.

This is the headset  (left) which isn’t bad for a freebie and it’s quite a good idea I thought. It means that as cool and laid back as your new denims may be, no-one will know that you’re actually listening to Barry Manilow, thus maintaining the cool laid-back vibe.

Pepe’s AW09 Collection isn’t Just About Jeans

I was asked along to the Pepe AW09 preview in Dundrum this morning to view a collection that was so far removed from what I imagined it would be I came away delighted.

Yes, it’s true there was a fab collection of denim pieces; distressed jeans, skirts with button detailing and mini’s with multi-coloured rivets and badges pinned all over the back pockets. But it was the other elements of the collection that surprised me; namely the soft leather jackets in colours from classic black to red, lilac and grey. All with individual details, like visible zips, laces, stud buttons and belts. I also noted a beautiful tuxedo jacket, fully lined with striped satin and featuring welt and flap pocket detailing.

The AW09 collection, incorporates femininity in a big way, with pussy-bow blouses, ruffles, lace, fur detailing, crochet panels, ribbons beading and an abundance of dresses. From pencil skirts to floaty silk shifts in deep jewel colours there is a dress here for every eventuality, from the boardroom to the bar. The company have channelled a hybrid 70′s style;  kind of hippie chic with a groupie edge. Think Almost Famous at Woodstock, they have combined dresses with loose, sheer sleeves and bold prints; fitted knits and large floppy hats.

Another look that Pepe have included, is a kind of chic, rock chick; the usual vintage / distressed elements of this

Sharon Stone for Spanish Vogue Causes Conflict

My friend recently returned from a trip to Spain and I asked him to pick me up a copy of Vogue España on his way through the airport. He graciously did so and even though, me hablo no Espanol, Vogue is Vogue and the spreads are always stunning no matter what language or country they are shot in. I also feel that Spanish women are underestimated when it comes to European style and I’m often inspired by the way they dress.

Ironically though, it is American actress, Sharon Stone who is the cover star and I was blown away by the 16 page feature inside. It sees the 51 year old actress “Clad in black leather, studs and [thigh-high] boots… [she] plays a dramatic role for Vogue; [the] wildest of her life”. I pour over the pictures, some of which include her brother Mike and can’t believe not only how beautiful Sharon Stone looks but also the amazing styling throughout the shoot. I was just saying to a pal of mine last week that I was getting a little tired of the Rock Chic look but after seeing, this I’m taking that back immediately. From Balmain to American Apparel the pieces and styling in this shoot are all incredible.

I have an issue though, my conflict is the old photoshopping debate. Now, I am under no illusion that Sharon Stone doesn’t look absolutely fantastic for a woman of 20 years her junior let alone 51. Her picture from the red carpet at Cannes is proof alone that she looks fantastic. My question is, is it right to promote pictures that seem to be so obviously photoshopped? I have already said here that it’s the styling as well as the subject herself that has prompted me to blog about this shoot but would I have been so enamoured had the lens interpretation been more accurately represented in print? I doubt it. But so what? As far as I can tell the images have been photoshopped, for heaven’s sake her legs look like the plastic perfection of a shop mannequin, but Sharon Stone is not a mannequin, she’s not even a model.

The argument then should be why use an actress to feature in a fashion shoot, why not just do some au natural shots and leave the fashion shoots to the models?

Tesco Fashion Shoulders it’s way through for AW09

I was invited to the preview of the Tesco clothing collections for AW09 on Friday and it seems the supermarket chain is shouldering its way into the party season. After finally finding the venue having gained some nicely blistered toes – I had been running around Grand Canal Quay like a loony in 5 inch heels only to find I was on the wrong road. – I entered what I hoped was the correct warehouse slightly clammy and harassed. I pressed the button and the lift opened, two men appeared in front of me carrying what looked like bodies wrapped in cellophane. I swear my heart skipped a beat, I stood frozen to the spot for a second until they reassured me that they were simply mannequins from the preview. I sighed with relief and dashed past them into the lift.

As Tesco do a huge range of clothes, from Kids to Menswear, work wear to casual wear, I headed straight for the womenswear party collection. It was a myriad of sequins, shoulders, lamé and structured dresses and jackets. Stand out pieces included: Silver sequinned, shoulder detail tunic €14, Black sequinned boyfriend jacket, €35; Statement-shoulder tuxedo jacket, €35;

Kelly Rowland in Dublin in AW09 Trends

After a weekend of recovering from the successful celebrations of Arthur’s Day in Dublin, I’m only now realising exactly who was here celebrating 250 years with us: Razorlight, Imelda May, Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal, The Kooks, Jamie Cullum, David Gray, Sir Tom Jones, Ronan Keating, The Enemy, Soul II Soul, Estelle and Kasabian were all here, among others.

I was lucky enough to be given a ticket to the Vicar Street venue where Dizzee Rascal, Razorlight, The Blizzards, Ronnie Wood played.

All over the city, stars flew in to join us in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the day that Arthur Guinness signed the lease to the St. James Gate Brewery. None more glamorous than Kelly Rowland, rocking a few of the major AW09 trends and looking fabulous to boot. (pun intended). The studded dress, the boyfriend tux-style jacket and the ultimate, only-beautiful-people-can-wear-them AW09 footwear; thigh-high boots, hers are by Gucci.

I love the way she still has her mic with her in the street, (possibly South William Street), but is she flipping the bird here??? Hmmm, I think she might be, but who cares, that outfit is great and I love those boots; if only I could convince myself that I wouldn’t be channelling Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, I’d get a pair. It’s also pretty awesome to have another Destiny’s Child in Dublin.

Ronnie Wood and Black Swan Effect at BT2

Even though he was two hours late, the great Mr. Ronnie Wood still totally wowed the thronging crowd with an impromptu set in the window of BT2 on Grafton Street, yesterday. The gig was lined up to celebrate Arthur’s Day and to kick-start BT2′s ‘Funk Month’.

The rock legend is also in Dublin for the launch of his new clothing line, Ronnie Wood for Liberty of London which is to be stocked exclusively in Brown Thomas. It seems the chance to jam with his son Jessie’s band, The Black Swan Effect, was a promotional opportunity too good to miss. – He also jumped on stage later that evening as the band celebrated Arthur’s Day in Vicar Street to my utter joy and amazement!

Grafton Street was packed out and pretty much came to a stand-still as the Rolling Stone wielded his axe in the shop window wearing a T-Shirt from his own collection. The collaboration with Liberty was developed by the store’s creative director, Tamara Salmon, using a selection of Ronnie’s own paintings.

Of the collection he said, “I wanted to work with Liberty of London because of the great tradition that Liberty has of artistic collaborations going back to its very early days. It’s inspiring for me to work with such a prestigious company that has, in the last century, worked with amazing talents such as William Morris and A. Knox – so I’m very excited to have completed my first collection with them.”

The capsule collection launches next week and uses prints of three of Ronnie’s paintings; “I Feel Like Painting”, “Hawaiian Guitar” and my favorite, “Orchid”. The majority of the collection has been designed for women, not just rock and roll dads and includes, scarves, clutch and shopper bags shift and vest dresses and these amazing racer-back dresses…. I think I’ll be mostly desiring the Orchid print dress, (left). Prices start at £196 for the “I Feel Like Painting” vest dress and these dresses are £375.

Irish Designer, Joanne Hynes in Brown Thomas This Evening

If the Arthur’s Day celebrations get a bit too much and a fashionable respite is required, the serene surroundings of Grafton’s Street’s exclusive department store should do the trick. This evening, (Thursday September 24th), Brown Thomas, Dublin are giving us the chance to meet Irish fashion and jewellery designer, Joanne Hynes and preview her new AW09 collection. Her and her sales team (let this be a sufficient warning!) will be there to offer style advice on how to wear the pieces with “confidence and finesse”.

If these three looks are anything to go by, then it’s going to be quite the showcase. I think with this latest collection, Joanne Hynes has proved once and for all that she is a design force to be reckoned with, not only in Ireland but globally too. Having only launched her debut collection in 2003/04, Joanne Hynes has since become the hottest designer in the country, supermodel Jacquetta Wheeler was even voted best dressed by Harpers & Queen wearing a piece by Joanne in 2005. These pieces alone are statement enough that this new collection is a standout one for the designer, I for one have never wanted to channel Aladdin so much before in my life, but with these turban-inspired headdresses a la Kate Moss at the Met Gala Ball, who wouldn’t? The shoulder cut-outs and oval detailing on the white dress create a fabulous silhouette; the sheer panelling and studs (?) on the dress in the centre are painfully this season and the quilted, cropped leather jacket with statement shoulders is possibly the most amazing leather jacket Dublin will see all year.

The event starts at 5.30pm and will take place on Level 2; there will also be 3 collection-previews at 6, 7 & 8 pm with the event closing at 9pm.