Elle’s Bells! That’s a good idea.

Dear Readers,

I tell you what, I was up and at ‘em early this morning! Good grief. But for good reason, I had to be in Urban Outfitters, Temple Bar first thing to meet some lovely ladies from Elle Magazine. Including, their awesome Accessories Editor, Donna Wallace. They were here all day to check out Dublin’s styling talent.

The mag is running an intern competition with a wicked twist. They are asking anyone who works in clothing retail to enter by uploading a photograph of a look they’ve styled. Be it on themselves or someone else. (Kind of like a personal style photo would be). Then fill out a cool little questionnaire afterwards. It just asks who your style icons are, your favourite Brit designer and your own personal style etc.You don’t have to be a VM or personal shopper you just have to work in fashion retail.

To get as many entrants as possible from Dublin stores, Elle ran mini competitions in H&M and Urban Outfitters today. All the shop girls / boys there, got into teams were asked to style 1 of 5 mannequins. The winners were then chosen by the Elle ladies. I have to say, I adored the UO winner, it stood out a mile. Man, why don’t turbans suit me! Actually the H&M one had a turban too come to think of it! Nuff said people, Elle’s accessories ed is loving the turban. Word.

Urban Outfitters winners, pictured top; Anne Loewenguth, Katie Smyth and Ella Reilly.

All 5 Urban Outfitters styled mannequins and Donna Wallace.

All 5 styled H&M mannequins

The H&M styling winners; Chloe Murphy, Agnieszka Wyrzykowska, Jenny Rooney, Anna Maguire and Roisin Kiely.

Enter Shopgirl (or boy) to Stylist here, the competition closes Friday, June 4th.

Xx

NCAD Student Wins River Island Bursary 2010

Hey Readers,

The offices at River Island were buzzing with anticipation this morning. The ten NCAD student finalists of the stores student bursary award were gathered together with their designs. All waiting to find out which one of them had won the 3 month-internship, £3k prize.

As I was looking at each of the mannequins, there was one particular design that I was blown away by. A sheer silk, yellow blouse, slim fitting trousers and the coat. The coat was incredible it was the print that I was obsessed with. I was told that the designer, Sile O’Shea had designed the print and after being inspired by the documentary, Grey Gardens. I was like, this girl is genuinely a creative genius.

Last years winner, Rebecca Flanagan was there to hand over the prize which I thought was the loveliest gesture. I had a quick word with her and she told me that going to work at in the River Island design studio in London was an amazing experience.

With my fingers secretly crossed for the Grey Gardens girl, the winner was announced. Yes! She did it, Sile won and one of her other designs was shown. A silk jumpsuit, printed on the reverse, which was absolutely beautiful.

Jumpsuit by Sile O’Shea.

Sile O’Shea with model in her design.

Congrats Sile!

Xx

Deep Seeded Urban Decay

OR, Sunsets and Smocks

Dear Readers,

Today started off warm but cloudy; by lunchtime though all the clouds had gone, and so had these socks funnily enough.

I took the photos earlier but I kinda wish I had waited. Because the clouds had dissolved the sunset was really pretty. It would have been lovely to get the photos with that, though the clouds were great anyway.

I actually bought the tunic a couple of sizes too big so it would have more of a dress feel to it. Though I have to wear shorts with it anyway so I guess it kind of defeats the object. It was definitely a great purchase, I wear it all the time and it goes with so much of my wardrobe.

The background’s pretty grimy, a bit “Deep Seeded Urban Decay”, but the dress and the clouds are pretty enough to balance out the photographs.

Outfit details and more photos on HerApparel

Xx

Lily Allen gets Ivor Novello-ed in Ivory

Dear Readers,

Have a bit of Friday inspiration.

Love Lily; for her honesty and don’t give a darn attitude? Probably. But love her style too, and as she picked up 3 Ivor Novello awards (including Songwriter of the Year, along with co-writer Greg Kurstin) last night she wore this:

Amazing, I want it.

Have a fabulously, sunny weekend.

Xx

Images Via Dailymail.co.uk

Dublin Dolls & Warehouse (knit)wear

Dear Readers,

Nice day!

Best thing about sunshine is, it gets you up and at ‘em. I woke up early, pulled on a tee, jeans and sandals and hit the road. Sans jacket, amazing!

I fancied a bit of window shopping and went to that new shop, Soho Market, in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. It’s pretty cheap and cheerful, floral tea dresses around €25, maxi’s around €35. Plenty of accessories and a few pieces of quirky homewear. It reminded me of a cheaper Urban Outfitters. If you need a few  dresses for your holidays then you’d do worse than popping in here for a gander.

I then went to Dolls Boutique on South William Street. Talk about from one extreme to the other, just for a bit of dressing up fun, I tried on a beautiful navy-blue silk dress, which was definitely not cheap at €780.

Unfortunately my shopping appetite was whetted so I went high street for the first time in ages. Seeing as I was in the area, H&M and Warehouse got my cash. I bought two pairs of plain cotton shorts from H&M, black and white for €9.95 each. I’ve been mad to get some summer crochet / knitwear for a few weeks, so I got this dress / tunic and this cardi in warehouse:

Dress €52 / Cardi €46. I’m going to wear the cardi backwards otherwise I’d have to worry about wearing a top underneath it and it would just look a bit wrong. Outfit post laters.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Xx

Deirdre Barlow v’s Dunnes Stores

Dear Readers,

Hoo and indeed Ray! Apparently we’re all set weather-wise, for not only a great coming weekend but a darn hot summer. I know, I know they say it every year, but my eternal optimism means I believe them every year too; I’m all for hoping they’re right.

Plus, any excuse to think about face candy… I have  pricey shades. The ones that you defo don’t take to Oxegen / pub garden / mates BBQ. But I also like to buy an on-trend cheap, pair each summer. Ones that it won’t really matter if I loose. I’ve had a bit of an issue with that this year though. My vintage / retro obsession means that I fell in love with these shades.  Dandelion Daydreamer first alerted me to them).

The thing is, even though $20 is pretty cheap, I have also a problem with getting sunglasses to fit me. They either sit too high or they’re too loose and fall off or, and most annoyingly, they look plain ridiculous. So even though I will probably be ordering a pair of these retro shades, I need a back up plan.

As the title may have suggested, Dunnes Delivered. Of course they aren’t actually retro but they are fake retro in a Deirdre Barlow’s spectacles kind of way. Plus at €3, that’s a pretty old school price. Oh Deirdre if I’d've known you’d be my style icon this summer…

Dunnes Stores €3:

I went to a new boutique, Bow & Bangle in Ranelagh this afternoon too… They were loving the Deirdre style €21:

Oh, you know you will!

Xx

Deirdre image via the corro blog, plenty more lush specs there to look at.

Romantic? Moi? Never.

Dear Readers,

Happy Monday,

I have to tell you, I was chatting away to my friend Nic on Friday night as were walking along. I randomly looked up and saw the brightest rainbow. I’m quite keen on a nice bit of sky, clouds (see later in the week), moons, stars, you know the stuff. But Rainbows are quite magic, just mix a bit of rain and sun, and pow, you’ve got a light show.

I nodded toward the sky and said, “oh look at that!”. Nic stopped nearly dead in her tracks. She said, “I never had you down as a auld rosemantic”. I faltered, mumbled something incoherent and changed the subject. To something along the lines of, off licence and vino if I remember correctly.

Romance… I just don’t do it. I don’t know why. It’s definitely an irrational reaction I have. I mean I love it when my friends are in love, when I see them all glowing and smiley. I’m a total sucker for  Romeo and Juliet, and don’t get me started on Poetry – Sir John Betjeman – ok so I started. But that’s all made up sentiment and other people’s love.

I dunno, romance just seems so forced and cheesy to me. Like chivalry, it belongs in a Jane Austen novel and certainly not in Dublin, 2010. So Instead, I went and looked at the (prints of) The Meeting on the Turret Stairs in the National Gallery by Sir Frederick William Burton.

Inspired, I put on this vintage 70′s coat and dress and went and wandered about in a field. Apparently that’s what you do when you’re in love (which I’m not). Well, it is according to Jane Austen. Madness.

More Photographs and outfit details at HerApparel.wordpress.com

Forever 21 takes a Dublin Project

Dear Readers,

I may be a little behind the times but I heard some great news today. (oh boy). Apparently, American budget fashion store, Forever 21 is to take up the retail space on Henry Street, that was formerly the Arnotts Project. The last I heard was that New Look were set to take over the site, but I was told at lunchtime today that actually Forever 21 will be the hottest new store in the city this year.

Due to open in the Autumn according to the Irish Times, I reckon it will be a massive pull to the Henry Street shopping area. I am very excited about it, F21 is a shop I always go to a hundred times when I’m in NY to stock up on as much as possible. I was actually wearing a dress from there at lunchtime when I was told, which is a little freaky!

Anyway, here’s to crossing our fingers that the Euro mark-up won’t be as high as it is in American Apparel!

EDIT: It’s open, see the photos here.

Xx

Image via GlamChic

Reiss and Robin Hood

Hey Readers,

I was sitting having coffee yesterday afternoon, when I commented on a woman who walked by; she looked absolutely pristine. Her make-up, hair, tan, pretty white trench, pressed blouse and polished heels were all perfect. She was walking at that pace that says, I’m in a bit of a hurry, so I presumed she wasn’t just out for an afternoon stroll.

I said to Ryan, “you know I’m so in awe of women like that. They just look so perfect all the time”.

I’m one of those people that no matter how long I could spend getting ready, the second I walk out of the front door the following will happen: The heavens will open / I will get puddle-splashed by a car / my tights will get caught and ladder / I will have forgotten to apply mascara, (or if I do remember I will get something in my eye and the mascara will end up down my cheek), etc, etc..

You see, I think I’m actually a bit of a scruff-bag and so I dress appropriately, which means I shop in places that sell clothes that suit me / my chaotic life.

As for Mrs. Pristine, “I bet she shops in places like Reiss” I continued.

To which Ryan replied, “I love Reiss!”. Now this came as no shock, Ry always looks wicked smart, but he was shocked that I had never been in there.

So it was bye-bye coffee and hello Reiss and their accessories.

Yes I bought it, it was €32 and I can’t thing of a better way to pop my Reiss cherry. Well pleased with it! Not only that, but I wore it to the Robin Hood screening at Dundrum last night. I’m a complete sucker for Robin Hood (and Russell Crowe) so as you can imagine, this film did not disappoint. I’m definitely going to do a Maid Marion inspired personal style post too.

Other Reiss accessories that I didn’t buy, but so would’ve:

(Massive thanks to Joanne and Sinead for wangling the Robin Hood ticket for me!)

Xx

The Beauty Spot – Dakota

Dear Readers,

A quick note.

This looks like it’s going to be a good auld shin-dig and something totally different for Dublin nightlife.

Dakota Bar is teaming up with ‘Style Nation’ to bring “fashion, fun and frolics to going out on Thursday Nights”.

It starts at 7pm tonight  (Thursday May 13th)  and each week will feature regular beauty tips and advice given by Top Make Up Artists, Hair Stylists as well as a ‘Pop Up Shop’ with vintage & contemporary fashion and accessories.

Apparently there will be €5 cocktails to get you into a shopping / beautifying mood too! Dakota is on South William Street and it’s free in.

Xx