New Look SS’13 Round Up

Hey All,

I’m sitting here covered in green clothing dye having failed to save a 50′s ball gown from the perils of mildew stains… Oh Vintage, you contrary vixen. As wonderful as vintage is, I do sometimes wonder why I, we, don’t just buy on the high street; it’s so much simpler.

Anyway, last week I went to the New Look SS’13 preview… Here are a few of the stand out pieces, check the lattice work / cut out leather bags, the pretty pale salmon shift, peplum dresses, hiiiiigh heels and stunning summer wedges.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

River Island – S/S’12 Preview

Hi!

All the retro inspiration of both runway and street style over the last few seasons has translated into some interesting High Street collections. River Island‘s S/S’12 collection is a mash-up of ’90′s RnB culture and Versace – inspired pieces Vs 60′s Chelsea Girl and psychedelic prints. Makes me want to dress like Salt’n'Pepa and listen to the The Velvet Underground.

Chelsea Girl was originally a British High Street store that opened in 1965, before transforming itself into River Island in 1988. The design of the modern Chelsea Girl collection is headed up by River Island 2007 Bursary winner, Lucy Moller. A graduate from Dublin’s NCAD. The collection includes original print designs taken from Chelsea Girl pieces that were both bought from eBay, and sourced from staff members at River Island.

Versace Face-Off

Mother of Pearl Pastels

Neoprene Monochrome

Chelsea Girl

P.S. I want this glorious vulgarity on me. (below)

Sarah Morrissey.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Whistles S/S ’12 Round Up

Hi all,

The high street stores are showcasing and previewing their Spring / Summer 2012 collections. Most recently in to visit Dublin were COS and Whistles.

Before I saw the collection, I wouldn’t really consider myself a Whistles customer, but having seen highlights from the collection, I can say I’m definitely sold.

There were two main themes:

A bright, bold collection of neon colours and androgynous tailoring…

…including lots of matching separates, a blue tux jacket with tapered trousers,

…a pink tux with lighter pink contrast detail…

Striped separates…

Beautiful floral-print top and trousers…

The second collection was beautifully feminine, embellished nudes and pastels…

Including, new for Whistles leather pieces – scalloped nude leather…

…and laser-cut black leather…

…as well as classic shift dresses…

Good to see that the pleated midi skirt is still a wardrobe staple for S/S’12, especially in this powder-blue.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Whistles is available in Brown Thomas Grafton Street.

COS S/S’12 Round Up

Hi all,

Here’s few highlights from the COS S/S’12 preview, shown in Dublin last week.

Blues and greens were key colours and dresses came in various guises, all unique but quintessentially COS.

50′s inspired

Padded bodice and cut-outs

Rough-edged & backless

Sheer back and exposed zip

Full-length, backless and sheer (perfection)

Yours,

Whisty Xx

COS is available in BT2, Grafton Street

Karen Millen A/W’11 Round-Up

Hello Strangers!

Karen Millen: the high-end, High Street store known for its classic pieces and quality tailoring with edgy hardware; creates pieces that you’re unlikely to find elsewhere on the High Street.

I always think of Karen Millen as the shop that the senior girl in the office shops at. The girl who you not only have career envy of, but also style envy. She always manages to look professional, and classic but with a cool edge.

I went to the preview on Grafton Street this morning…

Think leather, velvet, textures and plenty of studs.

Note: Claret velvet suit – left.

Coats

Footwear

Bags

Tan leather 70′s-inspired suit

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Penney’s / Primark Aumtum Collection 2011 – Rails & Details

Hey all,

Last week I had a look at the latest mid-season offerings from Penney’s / Primark*. Most of the high street stores do two main drops; Spring / Summer and Autumn / Winter, with maybe a high summer drop of bikinis and that kind of thing.

Scrabble Cushions

But with such a vast range of pieces that consistently manage to hit the latest catwalk trends spot on, you can understand why Penney’s / Primark have more than two ‘seasons’.

Their latest collections due in stores from July – October, are a mix of colour blocking, country casual, 60′s monochrome and vintage 70′s inspired deliciousness.

Rails:

 And Details:

Knits, Heels & Coats:

Dear Tapestry bag, I’m going to get you.

Faux-Ostrich leather in maroon and dark blue

Shades of aquamarine

Oh I know we’re not ‘sposed to be loving platforms any more… but this is red suede people!

Simple Stripes

Vintage-inspired prints

Knitted shorts…? Gimme a brea… Oh hello!

Fair Isle Knitted shorts. Erm, I think so!

I love this, it’s a bit 90′s and I like the faux-fur shoulder detail

Padded pleather. Ah yeah, why not?

Now the sun’s decided to make an appearance, it feels OK to talk Autumn / Winter…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

* The majority of the collections in the two stores is the same. There are however some pieces that are chosen specifically for Penney’s and the Irish market.

New Vintage – The high street hits back.

Hey All,

Right If I’m going to embrace this 70′s thing – knowing that if I do, I’m going all the way through to Autumn / Winter 2011 – then I’m doing it with gusto. I’m thinking 70′s secretary; pussy-bow blouses, big shades; A-Line minis, or midi-length skirts worn with chunky heeled knee-high boots. I’m thinking Jane Fonda’s secretary chic from the movie ‘9 to 5‘:

mixed with the platform sandals,  floppy hats and high waisted shorts of Jodie Foster’s, Iris in Taxi Driver:

With the the rise of vintage and the rocky economy, High Street stores have literally had to take a step back in time to keep their heads above water. Many of the stores on the Irish High Street come from the UK, where there has been pretty subdued sales growth so far this year which is not set to change any time soon. Therefore, these stores have had to up their ante and tackle the fashion-buying-public’s vintage obsession head on.

Luckily, there are a few things that work in their favour when it comes to vintage clothing; for starters there is always a ‘tell’ with vintage that gives its age away; be it colour, skirt-length, fabric etc… So by reproducing a vintage piece for mass production in their stores, high-street designers are able to tweak a design to make it more on-trend and most importantly more commercial.

There is also the fact that most women, don’t have the time or the inclination to rummage through vintage shops and fairs looking for the perfect dress / blouse / skirt, only to find that it isn’t even in their size. Another thing about vintage is that some people just simply don’t like wearing second-hand clothes.

Seeing as the summer has (barely) begun, it’s now the norm that the glossies (see the latest issues of Elle and Vogue) are looking to Autumn / Winter 2011 already. The High-Street’s AW11 collection previews began in London months ago and having seen a few twitter sneak-peaks, this winter is all about the vintage-inspired.

Dropping at the River Island AW11 preview, I saw just how successful a collection that takes inspiration from previous eras and adapts then to a more modern style, can be. By acknowledging and incorporating some of the key elements that make vintage so appealing; voluminous, luxurious-feeling fabrics, bold prints and colours, and attention-getting style, the designers at River Island have created a lustful, AW11 collection that will tempt even the most dedicated chasers of vintage fashion.

Straight in with Wintery textures and fabrics: Faux-fur, leather and wool. All in black and white, with the odd flash of red.

More wool and faux-fur; loving the faux-snow leopard coat.

AW11 colours; notably mustard and cerulean (see ‘Raquel Heels’ shoes).

Loose crochet, Barbour-inspired riding boots, bright Trilbies and gypsy-print shawls…

More mustard and cerulean, along with turquoise, purple and ochre.

The skirt shape I’ll be wearing ASAP.

Faux-Camel-hair anything, makes me crave AW11…

Enter disco-glamour – tiger-print wedges…

Chunky-heeled, round-toe knee-high boots (with (‘Mezzie Tassel’) or without fringing).

Open fronted-silky blouses with huge poet-sleeves (‘Rouge Pusybow Blouse’).

The red secretary dress (‘Blush Pussybow Dress’).

And quite possibly the best shirt I’ve ever seen… Rumour has it there WILL be matching trousers! Oh MY!

‘Story’ names include; ‘Gigi’ – 60′s-inspired pillbox hats, bow-front pumps and carpet bags. ‘White Savage’ – white faux-fur out sized knits and beige leather accessories. ‘London Girl‘ – Brothel-creeper brogues, monochrome and Houndstooth prints. And ‘Hustler’ (see Iris, Taxi Driver reference above) – Cerulean Trilbies, silky shirts, huge wedges and disco-gold accents.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Warehouse Spring Summer ’11 Preview

Hey All,

I don’t know about you but I go through these mini, trend phases. For example, at the beginning of the week I was completely into wearing black and white; last week was all about brights and colour blocking. It seems the end of the week has filled me with the want to wear neutrals.

The Warehouse SS11 preview was held yesterday, and I was immediately drawn to the crisp cottons, simple silhouettes and subtle shades of their ‘New Neutrals’ story. It was one of three that was showcased, and colour-wise it comprised, subtle shades from mid-brown to lightest blush-pink, and lots of white.

Rather than the usual tired pastel colours in frilly floaty fabrics, these New Neutrals are more about classic silhouettes and pieces that will serve to lighten and complement the rest of your wardrobe. NB: I loved the shell-hem cotton shorts.

There were two other stories pulled together for the preview; one a strong, vibrant holiday story and the other, a more subtle, tribal/ festival story.

If there was ever an argument for having a tan, then that collection is it. The next photographs are a little on the shoddy side as I had to use the flash, but you get the idea.

Unfortunately the snaps I took last night, don’t really do the collection justice: I’ve posted a few press shots to give you a better idea.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

 

A Style Post – Flowers and Florals

Hey All,

White and pink blossom, yellow Daffodils and purple crocuses, hazy sunshine long shadows and fresh-cut grass. I love when spring arrives. It also wants me to wear this shawl with its floral embroidery.

I have a park near my house that always has people in it; I ventured out on a much-needed walk, yesterday afternoon having dealt with a major laptop malfunction… 

How to mix vintage and High Street; hat, T.Shirt and Jeans and Shoes – High Street

Jacket, Belt and embroidered shawl – Vintage

More photos and outfit details on HerApparel.

I took a few pics of the flowers too…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

AWear SS11 Highlights

Hey All,

Continuing the new season collections review – Hard when there is a hurricane blowing outside, I know – AWear have launched their latest offerings. I was in store on Monday and had to stop myself buying a fantastic pair of ‘peg-leg’* Chinos let alone anything else.

Their major trend  is a kind of soft Safari-Chic. All subtle animal prints and pretty neutrals; think tan, beige, cream and Khaki It’s been launched with RTÉ‘s The Model Scouts winner, Tabea Weyrauch (IMG). Click here for AWear‘s behind-the-scenes blog post on her shoot.

In case you missed it the first time… and if I could’ve tried anything on at all, it would’ve been this skirt (€35)… I haven’t seen anything like this so far on the High Street this season.

‘70′s Glamour’

‘Festival Festivities’

See that stripey jumper? That’s GOING to be mine…

Yep, there are definitely a few pieces there that blow my skirt up, so to speak. Oh and their shorts…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

*You know the kind, high-waisted with a tapered leg that ends just around or above the ankle.