Stars in (and all ’round) their Eyes.

or “I was made for loving you, baby…”

I was having a bit of a spring clean-out, of my make-up bag trunk this morning, and found loads of multi-coloured / sparkly shadows, liners and pencils that I’d kind of forgotten I had. While I was doing said Spring-clean I had this weeks Top40 countdown on MTV and realised how much I love the revival of dramatic eye / face make-up in pop music at the moment. Apart from Lady Gaga who is pretty much leading the way when it comes dramatic anything, there are loads of other ladies grabbing the glitter pen too:

Lady Gaga

Lily Allen

Florence Welch

and Ke$ha (above & below).

…are all doing their own awesome versions of dramatic / stage eye make-up. (Love this last picture!)

Not forgetting, either, the men that led the way in the 70′s.

Gene Simmons, KISS

David Bowie, Aladdin Sane Album

… so I thought, I’d have a go at this myself … one subtle (ish), silver and glitter pattern over one eye later and what do you know, I kinda like it.

I’d just prefer something a little darker and more dramatic…

Now we’re talking, Plus I like it so much I have to keep nipping off to the bathroom to have a look, it’s so sparkly! Close-up:

Alexa Chung, Pepe SS2010 Campaign

Ah, who cares whether Alexa Chung was axed or she quit from her MTV US show ‘It’s on with Alexa Chung‘. I certainly couldn’t give two hoots. As far as the Transatlantic trendsetter is concerned, all I care about is;

1. The fact that I want that flippin’ Mulberry ‘Alexa‘ bag more than I have ever wanted a bag before in my life; I saw it in Brown Thomas last week and could only marvel at its magnificence. Upon clutching it in my grabby mitts, the sales assistant asked me if I needed “assistance” (!) I told her, ruefully that I was only playing dress up with it…

2. She’s a bit on the skinny side since the move (please don’t lose any more dear girl); but 3. and most importantly, I love that she still manages to look so ridiculously fabulous after four years on the top of the style stakes.

Take her new ad campaign for Pepe jeans par example. These candid / behind the scenes shots (whether real or staged) show just how utterly fantastic the Chung is, especially in this first pic.

Alexa in Navy Satin at New Moon Premiere

You know how it is, you dream of the perfect dress, you search for the perfect dress, you find the perfect dress. You dream of the next perfect dress… repeat to fade. Mere hours after I thought I was to be dress-satisfied for this season, pictures emerged today of the inimitable Alexa Chung in a perfect blue satin dress. She wore it at the New Moon Premier in NYC last night.

As always her laid back style makes the look; the scruffy hair and leopard print bag work perfectly against the classic femininity of the dress. (I am yet to find out who is responsible for such sartorial perfection). I am, however un-enamoured with the footwear choice, though in saying that, am delighted that she is not wearing not ankle boots, which have been stomping all over red carpets everywhere. These shoes just look a bit cheap or something? Anyway who cares when the dress is so fab? Love it.

Her necklace on the other hand is drool inducing, I have been searching for a skull ring for the last month or so, only to discover that when I do find one, it is big enough to wear as  a bangle. Obv. skull rings are only intended to be worn by hairy bikers with giant hands… *sad face*. Alexa Chung may have inspired me to think outside the box with this skull pendant. Cute and spooky. Perfect!

Images courtesy of Fabsugar.co.uk and Google.

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.

Kemberley Walsh is the face of New Look

I was pretty much ‘meh’ when I heard that Kimberley Walsh had been recruited as the face of New Look. Another celeb, another collaboration, another collection etc… She is a member of the most successful girl-band in Britain and she comes across as a very sweet, likeable chica. So it would be no great surprise if any of the mainstream high street fashion stores would want her to represent their brand. The pictures, over all, are okay but this look is the one that really suits the Girls Aloud girl. I think it’s because I find it so totally not Girls Aloud, that I find it so refreshing. It’s cutesy but grown up, it’s laid-back cool, it’s American lumberjack meets Kiera Knightly on a day off. I also don’t think I’ve seem Kimberley look so relaxed and at home in something either.

Alexa in Red

Mark Ronson’s sister Samantha held a party on Thursday evening to celebrate the launch of her clothing line with US store JC Penny. She had one heck of a guest list, including, Mischa Barton, Hilary Duff, Sophia Bush and rock offspring, Zoe Kravitz and Sean Lennon. I will happily admit I am not a fan of her style in very many cases but by far the best dressed on the night was Alexa Chung.

More often than not, she seems to me to look like a  poor-man’s, Chloe Sevigny, but there wasn’t a buttoned-up, prim blouse to be seen. Showing she can do simple, sexy chic, Alexa looked great in this red Calvin Klein dress, booties, clutch and check out that amazing necklace. Nice.

SHARE THIS POST
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Laura Whitmore x AWear

Hey All,

Last night I was at Ely Place as it played host to the official launch of the Laura Whitmore inspired collection for A|wear. The sleek, Royal Hibernian Academy was the venue as Dublin’s fashion crown mingled, (very closely) surrounded by models in the new collection. Angela Scanlon; singer (Dirty Epics) SJ Wai O’Flynn; DJ Sophie De Vere; artist, Sarah McCall; as well as models, Kate McDaid and Niamh Clinton, were all wearing a piece from the collection.

SHARE THIS POST
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Look to Love – Sienna Miller

Okay, don’t hate me here; I’m looking at the fashion alone… but I adore this Thakoon Resort 2010 dress! I reckon Sienna Miller has risen once again in the style stakes. Her sartorial choices seemed to fail miserably after the collapse of boho but she has risen from the ashes of her gypsy skirts triumphantly. Her recent promotional campaign for G.I. Joe (or G.I. Joan as a friend of mine called it last week!) proved that she can still pull-off a decent outfit or two. (The less said about the movie the better though). Last night’s NYC premier of fashion documentary film, The September Issue, had the red carpet a-jumping and Sienna stole the show, not mention broke the ice that is the usual demeanor of the film’s star. Anna Wintour appeared to joke about with the actress as the pair posed for pics at the event.

The subject of the documentary is the creation of US Vogue’s September issue. It is the magazines biggest yearly edition and Sienna is this years cover star.

SHARE THIS POST
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Look to Love – Emmanuelle Chriqui

Entourage actress, Emmanuelle Chriqui, put together a great look at the NYC premiere of Inglourious Basterds last night. I’m not sure whether it is particularly suitable for the Red Carpet but I love its simplicity. The grey shiny blazer, the slouchy white Kain Label tee, the distressed denim mini and the cuffed-ankle shoes are all elements that work perfectly together. What gives the outfit its edge is the rolled up sleeves, simple hair and make-up and that electric-blue clutch. This is my perfect summer-to-autumn look. I love it.

Think I’ll have to do a Get the Look for Less for this outfit? I’m sure I saw a blazer like that in Oasis today… Hmmm.

NB: If I could find a replica of the celebrity fave, Kain Label Tee I would be the happiest girl in Dublin… sigh.

How To Wear… Little Booties with Little Dresses

A week or so ago I posted about the AW09 trend for Booties and it’s high time I followed it up with a how to wear… them piece. It’s all about the little dresses when it comes to the little booties and there are a couple of simple rules;

1. The absolute max height of your chosen bootie is about 5-8 cm above the ankle bone.

2. The absolute max length of your dress is mid-thigh.

The rules mean that if you go any longer with your dress / taller with your booties you risk making your lovely pins look as short as a Gringotts Goblin’s. The idea is to make sure you show enough leg length so that the eye isn’t fooled into thinking that your legs are shorter than they are. A longer dress or taller boot will seem to cut your leg length in half.

It’s a little more demure and a whole lot more edgy to wear your evening or day dress with booties.Here a few fashionable young females setting the standard, you’ll get what I mean!

Taylor wears hers short, silver and slouched over. Chloe’s are amazing ( I need these) and from her collection for Opening Ceremony. Mischa Barton teams her sparkling dress with flat biker booties. Gwyneth keeps hers suede, short and sweet. Rihanna, who loves this trend, has fierce peep toe lace-up booties which look amazing against her day dress. Emma Roberts and V.B. keep their booties plain and simple to flatter their dress styles – though I still love the embellished neckline on Emma Robert’s short white dress.

SHARE THIS POST
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::