In a Discotheque at Dawn #2

Hey all,

So after Tuesday’s post, I was kinda of inspired by the music; specifically the lyrics. ‘In a Discotheque at Dawn‘, makes me think of  stuff  that only really happens at festivals. Dancing till the sun comes up is usually the preserve of summertime and being outdoors.

Anyway I went to the student night at Kling on Blooms Lane the other night and got talking to the Daddy or Chips club-night organiser. (When you pay in to the club, you 15% off vouchers for Kling and other places). So the subject turned to blogging then that Bryan Ferry post. Then to the idea to do a style-post, on an empty dance floor, in an empty discotheque as it were, at ‘dawn,’ so to speak.

Hot pants and discotheques go hand in hand and I love the dressed down chic of a fitted sweater or cardi so that’s what I went with. I just had my fringe trimmed too, which I’m delighted about. (I’ve missed peering out from under it, and it always ends up being pushed to the side, emo-like when it’s not kept trimmed.)

I’ve always wanted one of these egg chairs too, may have to invest in an Hermès Kellydoscope bag so I can smuggle this one out of the club.

My word this last photo makes me want red hair…

More photos and all outfit details on HerApparel

Xx

In a discotheque at dawn…

OR: Models and Music #4,327

Hey All,

I have to immediately point out (for fear of being told off), the title of this post must be solely credited to Bryan Ferry. The words are lyrics from a song on his new album, Olympia. As much as I love Roxy Music and therefore Mr. Ferry himself, he doesn’t half do great album covers. This latest one;

Yeah, Kate Moss looking divine.

That could’ve been all, but I thought I’d post a few more model-on-album-cover pictures.

Jerry Hall on Roxy Music’s Siren Album Cover:

Twiggy (and Bowie) on David Bowie’s Pin-Ups album Cover:

Bettie Paige on Fats Waller’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ album cover:

Jean Shrimpton on Will Glahé’s Accordion Pops 1 album cover:

Bizarre? yes. Included here, purely because of the Vespa? Yes.

Xx

 

Brown Thomas previews Peter Pilotto SS11

OR:  What’s Peruvian/Italian/Austrian/Belgian for; “Don’t get any of your cheap make-up on that dress sample, you blogger!”

Hey All,

I was a bit cheeky last night if truth be known. I love Brown Thomas, as you may already know, even when I’m not actually buying anything in there; when I’m just shoe-perving, or clothes-lusting, or trying perfume samples and eating Laudrée Macaroons, it’s great.

Anyway, last night, in the company of designers Christopher de Vos and Peter Pilotto, Brown Thomas showcased the new Peter Pilotto SS11 collection. (Though named after only one designer, the collections are created by both men; Pilotto focuses on textiles and prints, De Vos on silhouette and draping).

The collection is gorgeous; It’s feminine, yet edgy; the fabrics move and flow yet the dresses are structured. Soft draping enhances the fact that the pieces are also perfectly tailored to the figure. The prints are beautiful – a small pallette was used to create a kind of abstract, butterfly wing / leopard-print, design. What’s more, the collection is completely wearable; I’m more of an Autumn / Winter kind of gal, but this collection has me all of a flutter for spring, 2011.

To cut a long story short I accosted a Peter Pilotto personal assistant, politely enquired as to whether I could try on a piece from the SS11 collection. Having spent a good part of the afternoon drooling over photos of it on Style.com, I was positively anxious to get myself into at least one piece. Specifically the dress on the left below.

I was informed that if I was to allow said assistant to ‘dress’ me, (and keep a very close eye on me) then I was allowed to try to get into the sample.

… then I realised I am not actually in anyway sample-size proportions… This is going to be embarrassing. Little did I know.

So there I am, in the 1st floor dressing rooms in BT’s:

Stripped to the waist, (“if you take off your bra the dress might fit better”;

Bent over with arms forward like I’m mimicking Superman;

A scarf over my face to prevent my nasty make-up smearing the couture, (thus rendering me temporarily blind),

and with a very patient assistant attempting to pull a designer dress onto me.

My thoughts? Oh Lord if this gets stuck…  Breathe in…

Oh what?! People are queueing now?

But the changing room door’s open and my arms are stuck in the air…

Yup, that was a flash of boob…

Oh God just get the bloody thing on…

Ah there we go… wait, what do you mean there are still buttons and a zip to do up…?

…And now I have to walk in it?

OK slowly does it, out to the shop floor so my pal can take a few snaps with the camera phone. (Listen I needed evidence that this dress was on me).

And straight back to the changing rooms we go…

Buttons undone, zip undone, deep reviving breaths – I haven’t taken a breath for 10 minutes – starting to go faint. Scarf over face, bent over, arms out, dress up and over, another boob-flash and it’s off… Phew…

Ah, it was so worth it though. – FYI or amusement, this is me looking ever-so slightly embarrassed in the middle of Brown Thomas, unable to breathe! Nice frock though right?

Love the detail, the contrast collar and placket (where the buttons are) really stands out and the draped / folded detail around the waist is really flattering. Man these men know how to dress women.

In case you’re wondering what the meaning of the subtitle is, Peter Pilotto is half Austrian / half Italian, Christopher De Vos is half Belgian / half Peruvian; they met while studying at The Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

Xx

New Jewellery Shop actually is Unique

Hey All,

During the latter part of the 80′s there was a kind of back lash to all the plastic fantastic, big shoulders and brash colours. It saw the rise in popularity in shops like Laura Ashley and  fabrics like muslin and flowery Chintz . – Think Cassandra in Only Fools and Horses and you get the idea.

This florally, pot-pourri-scented niceness also lead to an explosion of gift shops selling things like, miniature wheelbarrows filled with teddy bears and dried flowers. The kind of shops that make you feel ever so slightly nauseous when you walk in. The smell from the scented candles and pot-pourri hits you like a sledge-hammer when you open the door.

Anyway, these kind of places put me off all shops with ‘gift’ in the title. Until I went into Unique Jewellery & Gifts on South William Street last week. The shop has taken over the space that A. Rubanesque used to occupy (no. 27) and sells mostly jewellery. In any case, the pieces they have are really edgy and different. They stock  lots of different designers and the jewellery is made from things like shells, coral and wood as well as silver and gold.

Wood and Silver Collection

Shell Pendants

Silver Square Rings

Silver and Gemstone Pendants

Gold and Shell Rings

Silver and Coral Collection

Silver and Shell Ring

The prices are great too, earrings approx. €15, rings around €38, pendants around €60.

Unique Jewellery and Gifts on Facebook.

Xx

A Style Post – Inspired by Edwardians

Hey All,

I was invited to a friends house-warming at the weekend. She moved into a house that was built in 1908, and is in the process of ‘doing it up’. The plan was to have a house-warming before the carpets and other pricey home improvements / renovations are completed. Clever girl.

Anyway, she’d said she wanted to make it a bit of a glam do; roughly in-keeping with the era of the house. (Possibly to  distract from the lack of wallpaper, paint, bathroom sink, etc…) Anyway she wanted lots of diamonds (real or otherwise), long dresses and Gin cocktails. Never one to shy away from glamming up, I did a bit of research  into Edwardian fashion; the results made for a pretty interesting read.

The era saw the end of the bustle, the corset and the ‘rise’ of the hem-line (to the ankle, nothing too drastic…). The overall silhouette became slimmer and women began to wear masculine influenced pieces, like high-neck collars and ties. French  artistic influence had grown across Europe; Art Nouveau had a huge influence in many aspects of design; from theatre posters to architecture and Haute Couture was fully established.

I decided on a vintage coat with an Art Nouveau-inspired belt and an Art Deco ‘diamond’ necklace. (OK so Art Deco came along about a decade later than the house, but after a couple of Martini’s and a Singapore Sling, really, who’s going to care?). I wanted to keep the silhouette simple so I pulled out the wig tape (for the top of the coat) and hotpants to hide my modesty. I also wanted to update the outfit; bring it into this millennia. So I decided it was about time to christen the Wolford Bondage tights…

Red Coat and Necklace, both Once Removed Vintage

Hotpants, Topshop

Wolford Bondage Tights, tightsplease.co.uk

Shoes, KG by Kurt Geiger

More photo and all outfit details at HerApparel.

Xx

Keith Haring’s Footwear for Tommy Hilfiger

Hey All,

I needed a new pair of jeans; plain, simple, straight-leg blue jeans. (Yeah I know, zzzzz) But anyway, when the need to buy classic jeans comes round, I always go  for an American brand. Like J Brand, True Religion, 7 for all Mankind, etc. They always fit perfectly – they usually contain Lycra, they don’t fade, go baggy, or rip easily, i.e.  they last for time. The thing is, you get what you pay for with these brands, and what you pay is pretty big dollar.

So I decided to keep it US, but go a little less cash-drastic. Hilfiger Denim on Trinity Street, D2, ought to sort me out, and it did. I bought a perfect pair of dark indigo, stretch denim, straight-leg jeans with retro orange stitching.

But whatevs about the jeans, the store was showcasing the  fantastic new Keith Haring for Tommy Hilfiger footwear collection. Keith Haring was a New York graffiti artist who set up the Keith Haring Foundation. The foundation “supports organizations that assist underprivileged children, as well as organizations engaged in education, research and care with respect to AIDS and HIV“.

The collection, released last week, includes runners (trainers), wellies, flip-flops, ballet pumps and high-tops, for men, women and kids.

Incidentally, the Keith Haring Foundation is also collaborating with Nicholas Kirkwood; in case Wellington boots aren’t your footwear of choice…

Xx

All Aboard! The Oasis bus is on the Road.

Hey All,

Just a really quick post to let you know that the Oasis / Xposé fashion bus, is actually worth a gander. I dropped by this afternoon to have a look; not knowing what kind of  event to expect, but I was actually really impressed.

I arrived about half past 11 and found a queue of ladies waiting to have their hair and / or make up done on the top deck. Experts from Peter Mark and L’Oréal were on hand to answer any queries and questions they had. There was a really nice atmosphere and everyone was chatting  as they were waiting.

I ended up having a chin wag with David Greene, the winner of Style Wars and a genuinely nice guy. He was ‘on board’ giving style advice, and with the help of two gorgeous models from Morgan the Agency, was showcasing the Oasis AW10 collections. Part of his prize for winning Style Wars was to intern at both Oasis and Karen Millen.

The bus is heading off to Dundrum tomorrow and finally arrives at Patrick Street, Cork on Saturday. All the advice and make-overs are free; I would suggest you get there as early as possible as the queues may get a little  long. As far as I know the bus will be open for business from 11am.

There’s even styling workshops going on in-store.

Oh and I have an enormous desire to wear either / all of these dresses ALL winter.

Xx

Vintage goes mainstream

Hey All,

Happy Monday.

I’m not sure if it was because board games were boring; we had a bizarre sense of enjoyment or it was simply because we weren’t allowed to watch Grange Hill, but while my sister and I were growing up, our favourite game, by a million miles, was dressing up. We actually had a ‘dressing up box’ which was a big trunk filled with an amazing collection of my Gran’s old clothes, a lot of dodgy 70′s & 80′s stuff, random bridesmaids dresses and fancy dress costumes. Shoes, hats, bags, gloves, scarves, cravats, you name it, we had it in our dressing-up box.

I’m not sure if it’s because of the dressing-up box,  but I still can’t resist the urge to try stuff on that will quite obviously serve no purpose in my day-to-day life. If you are a regular reader here, you’ll know that I like old clothes for a hundred reason’s (most of them pretty obvious). One particular reason I like it so much is because it causes a bit of a divide. Some people just don’t like it, they complain about the way it smells or that someone else has worn it, or that vintage shops are crowded and dark. The reasons go on, none of which I agree with of course.

If anyone says this to me in future however, rather than argue the point, I have the following sentence to use in retort:

“Go and visit Hayworth Vintage in Arnotts, and come back to me with those thoughts”.

I was talking to a friend of a friend who was wearing an amazing vintage fur coat last week. When I hinted gushed that I loved it, she told me about the concession in Arnotts. I was over the top excited to go and have a look around, so I did, last Friday and this is what I saw.

Wow.

So I tried a couple on. They were reduced from €180 to around €120.

This one was definitely my favourite,  I felt like an extra in Cry Baby.

P.S. Hayworth Vintage are celebrating their 2nd birthday by offering a 10% discount for the month of October,

Xx