This Month’s Metro Herald Style Column

Hello,

In case you missed it, here’s this month’s Metro Herald style column.

Metro Life is taking style advice from the people who really know their stuff, with a rotating panel of bloggers giving their top style tips. This week style connoisseur Whisty of whisty.wordpress.com returns

“ONE of the most interesting things about fashion blogging is getting to see clothing collections before they’re released into stores. Shops like Oasis, Penneys / Primark and River Island get in touch twice a year and invite bloggers, fashion editors and stylists to view their collections for the coming season.

If you’ve ever watched The Devil Wears Prada, you will know the cerulean speech – when magazine boss Miranda Priestly tells assistant Andy exactly how it was that she came to wear a blue sweater that day. The gist of it being, that although Andy thinks she has made a sartorial choice that separates her from her fashion mag colleagues, as Miranda explains, she is in fact, very much a part of the fashion chain, albeit the weakest link.

Another point about the speech is how trends filter down from designers to the high street and so on. Collections are shown at international fashion weeks about six months in advance of the season. From there you can see how trends, styles and colours have all been translated from the designer collections to the high street a month or two later.

For example, one trend that was big on the catwalks for SS2012 was the peplum; a kind of mini frill attached to a top or a skirt that sits on the hips. Designers like Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Nina Ricci and Jason Wu all did versions of the peplum.

By the time the high street collections were launched, just about  every shop had a version in their collections.

Clockwise from top left; AWear, Dorothy Perkins, ASOS, Topshop

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Whisty on What She Wears

Hello!

Just a quick note to say that I was asked to feature on a great Irish fashion website, WhatSheWears.ie. I really like the site and was delighted to feature as guest editor, joining such fashion leaders as Corina Gaffey from Stellar magazine, Blogger and stylist Anne Marie O’Connor and Sarah Rickard from Irish Tatler. Inspirational woman all.

So here is what I had to say:

Favourite Spring/Summer 2012 designer collection

Alexander McQueen’s S/S12 collection was breathtaking, looking at coverage of the Paris show, every piece Sarah Burton sent down the catwalk looked like it was sculpted out of coral or alabaster and tipped with gold leaf. Even the oil-slick-black gowns looked delicate and fragile. It is a stunning collection, I love when the art of fashion is so overtly expressed.

Spring/Summer trend and how you’ll be wearing it

I am head over heels with the return of the peplum. Jason Wu and Vera Wang’s S/S’12 versions are wearable and easily translatable. While Alexander McQueen and Givenchy’s are exquisite and showy, I like how the peplum has returned in different ways; the traditional version as a second layer over a skirt; on the bottom of jackets to soften sharp, fitted suits; then worn over trousers and shirts as well as skirts.

If I could wear it anyway it would be with black netting as part of a pretty floral summer dress by Nina Ricci (pictured). Peplum perfection!

Highstreet Shop

I rarely shop on the High Street; I find the idea of buying cheaply made overpriced ‘on-trend’ pieces in manmade fibre, wholly distasteful during such tough economic times. I much prefer to shop at vintage fairs and flea markets.

I also shop online through ASOS, its Marketplace; (marketplace.asos.com) is a great way to buy good quality clothes at reasonable prices. I also sell on there too on Once Removed Vintage.

Favourite Shop in Dublin

I’m afraid my favourite Dublin shop is no great revelation; Brown Thomas is without a shadow of doubt a heavenly place to be if you like anything to do with fashion. From jewellery, to perfumes, shoes to designer gowns, on every floor you’re surrounded by beautiful things and it actually makes you feel special. The staff are great, the décor is chic and the whole experience is joyful. (Made only that little bit better when you have enough in your purse to actually buy anything!).

Make-up look

Eyebrows. I’m obsessed with them at the moment; I recently had an eyebrow lesson from a consultant at Benefit Cosmetics. She showed me how to use their ‘Brow Zings’ shaping kit properly, among other things. When I look back at photographs of myself when I was at university I had really thin brows, (I actually look like I’ve attacked my eyebrows with a disposable razor) I can’t believe the difference that now having a good pair of defining brows makes.

Go-to piece in your wardrobe

Maxi dresses are my staple pieces; they’re as suited for formal events as they are for balmy summer evenings. I have a beautiful black, silk chiffon one with tiny shoestring straps that I wear for anything glamorous, and a number of cheap, brightly coloured ones that are great to throw on with flats for casual summer days.

Best bargain

A turquoise and pink bouclé tweed Chanel suit that I found in a dreadful state at a vintage kilo sale (yes, it honestly does happen). It weighed 1.05kg, and at 1kg=€20 it cost me €21. I sent it to the dry cleaners (twice in the case of the skirt), and afterwards removed all remaining marks with wool-carpet cleaner. It’s damn near perfect now.

Most Prized Pair of Shoes

All shoes make me happy, but heels even more so. I like the way they look and I like the way they make you feel. They take a lot more effort to wear than flats, but the rewards from wearing them are worth it. Brand wise I think Kurt Geiger (pictured) manage to achieve the right balance between style, price and quality. They also do great classic pairs that last for years. I have a pair of black suede knee-high boots that I bought four winters ago that I’ve looked after so well they’re still going to be wearable in two winters time.

Signature Perfume

During the daytime I wear Jo Malone, normally it’s the fresh and citrusy ‘English Pear and Freesia’ but I also adore ‘Wild Bluebell’. At night time I wear Coco Chanel. It’s such a heady, sensual scent and is as perfect for evening as a silk ball gown.

Top style tip

Even if you don’t think it’s going to suit you, your body shape or your skin tone, try anything and everything. If you don’t try everything, then you’ll never know what definitely does look bad and what looks great on you.

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 Read the full article here, and if you haven’t discovered the joy of reading What She Wears, try it out!

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Brown Thomas S/S’12 Preview Dublin

Hello,

Happy belated New Year.

Finally Something Inspiring! I’ve felt like I’ve been in style limbo since December. But with the brilliant sunshine in Dublin yesterday came the Spring / Summer 2012 Brown Thomas showcase.

Twice a year fashion eds, stylists and bloggers frock up, and bleary-eyed arrive at the invitation-only event to see the new season collection arriving in store. The event is simple and brilliant; It is a fashion show, which this featured models wearing selected pieces from 27 designers.

S/S’12′s key trends came in four main themes…

‘Flower Shower’ (New florals), ‘Sports Couture’, Modernist Monochrome’, ‘Colour’ (The new palette).

Stand out pieces included floral prints from Stella McCartney, Mary Katrantzou and Dries Van Noten. The latter doing south pacific prints on beautiful silks

Monochromes from new designer Jay Ahr (pronounced J.R.), Diane Von Furstenberg and Alexander McQueenL-R: Jay Ahr, Alexander McQueen, Jay Ahr, Jay Ahr, Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander McQueen.

New season colours from, Peter Pilotto, Roksanda Ilincic, Chloé, Lanvin and Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney, detail.

Jay Ahr, detail.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Brown Thomas Exclusives in the Marvel Room

Hello,

Not that I need an excuse to post about beautifully crafted designer pieces, but Brown Thomas opened up their Christmas Marvel Room last week.

It’s basically the perfect Christmas wish-list, which I gather is the whole point. All the exclusive and limited edition Alexander McQueen pieces, and Chanel‘s €5,350 gold and silver python bags were pretty beautiful. Prices weren’t all bonkers though YSL and Mcqueen bracelets are €160 and €120-€150 respectively.

Chanel

Chanel Classic Flap Alligator clutch (Large €25,000; Small €17,800)

Chanel, classic flap sequinned lambskin bags and 1 of only 3 silver python bags, (€5,350).

Chanel, 1 of only 2 gold python skin bags.

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen, skull print Pashmina (€225)

Alexander McQueen, silk scarf. Exclusive to The Marvel Room at Brown Thomas (294)

Alexander McQueen, silk and cashmere polka-dot skull scarf (€260)

Alexander McQueen, leather bracelets (€130-€150)

Chloé, Gabby grab bag (€2,900)

Lanvin copper metallic cosmetics pouch (€195) & YSL clutch (€595)

There was also a Tiffany & Co. craftsman installed in the room, demonstrating how their beautiful bangles and cuffs (from €490)

Now it’s all about the Christmas windows! Excited to see how they beat last years!

Happy Santa, letter writing!

Yours,

Whisty Xx

New Shoes : McQueen Slipper Pumps

Hey All,

I got new A/W ’11 shoes. I wanted plain black courts with no platforms, and I found these…

Allow me to indulge.

Alexander McQueen, calf skin, slipper pumps / court shoes from Brown Thomas.

I’m wearing them ALL weekend.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Brown Thomas A/W11 Designer collections

Hey All,

Pretty much the most stylish and important event on the Irish fashion calendar is the Brown Thomas new-season preview. It’s the closest thing to a full-on, (established) designer fashion show in Dublin, and is met with genuine excitement and anticipation.

The A/W ’11 preview was held yesterday on Grafton Street with a ‘Return to Glamour’ theme. There were four main elements to the show; ‘Colour Fall’. ‘Glamour Decades’. ‘Prints’. ‘Outerwear’.

The collection featured highlights from 23 designers, including Céline, Miu Miu, Balenciaga and Dries Van Noten, here’s a few stand out pieces:

‘Colour Fall’

‘Glamour Decades’

‘Prints’

‘Outerwear’
Some Goodies:Utter perfection in every way at Céline

Surprising inspiration from Rachel Zoe

An alternative take on the LBD at Miu Miu (amazing sleeves)

Voluminous mini-dresses at Balenciaga

Stars and leopard print-clash dress at Dolce & Gabbana

Cups detailing in velvet at Tom Ford

Man, I am ever a sucker for military detailing. The back of the Alexander McQueen coat.

I reckon it must be a pretty tough job being  a buyer at Brown Thomas. Imagine looking at every amazing piece that each design house comes up with, every season, and then having to cherry pick the most commercial and ‘less risky / outlandish’ pieces to sell in store. They’ve done it though, I think this Autumn / Winter collection is both inspiring and commercial. I don’t know if I could do that!

Yours,

Whisty Xx

McQueen’s Swan Song

I’m not going to give an opinion this time, it seems irrelevant; I’m merely informing you, dear readers, that photograph’s of Alexander McQueen’s final collection, shown yesterday in Paris, have been posted on Style.com. I have merely selected my favourite to post here and will leave you to peruse.

Alexander McQueen 1969-2010

R.I.P.

The saddest news…

Fashion Ads and Photo ops from Last Week

Couture Fashion took centre stage last week (images from Valentino, Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier below), creating a host of photo ops in Paris, but I’m starting with the first look at Alexander McQueens SS10 Ad campaign. His LFW show was one of the most important this season and has seen fashion forward ladies like Lady Gaga and Daphne Guinness getting those shoes. This snake ad is definitely the most dramatic I’ve seen in a long time, let alone this season. Amazing.

Alexander McQueen SS10 Ad Campaign, first look.

Claudia Schiffer snaps Kanye West and Amber Rose at the Chanel Couture FRow, Couture SS10 Fashion Week, Paris. (Image via WWD.com)

Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri for Valentino created a feminine, vibrant wearable collection. Mixing neon and nude tones, both the long and short dresses were the epitome of subtle, summertime glamour. The trouser-suits were equally summery but with a less glamorous, more edgy feel. Hair was as simple as make-up was striking, the neon theme was striped across eyes in thick bands of colour. A beautiful collection.

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Couture collection was an extraordinarily eclectic mix, he infused Mexican with armoured shoulders and tropical floral prints and appliques. creating a collection that stood out as exciting but completely wearable. I loved the leaf fronds that protruded from headdresses, gowns and bags and the armoured knees and shoulders created a fabulous balance to the heavily floral pieces.

The internet has been a-buzzin’ with talk of the “Minnie Mouse“ hair as seen at the Chanel couture show (see below) last week. I’m sorry Karl, but I’ve seen that somewhere before… I always knew Gary Oldman was a style icon and here he is as Bram Stoker’s Dracula sporting a pretty similar look, non?

All catwalk images via. Style.com. Last image via Fabsugar.co.uk

Gaga, oooh Lala

This morning I’ve been mostly drooling over the get-up’s Lady Gaga’s wearing in her latst video. Alexander McQueen SS10, check out those heels, and Agent Provocateur. She’s amazing.