IrishFashion Awards – Outfit Dilemma

Hey All.

I was asked by RTÉs RedRadar to guest post on their blog and discuss what I will be wearing to the big Irish Fashion Event at the Mansion house next Wed, (March 31st). Thing is I couldn’t decide what to go with… Any help would be greatly appreciated…

There are very few times when I feel under pressure deciding what to wear for a certain occasion. I’m happy with my personal style and there aren’t many events in the Irish fashion calendar that call for a show-stopping outfit.

However, on March 31st in Dublin, the inaugural Ireland’s Most Influential in Fashion Awards Night will take place; spearheaded by Irish fashion model Faye Dinsmore. Although not actually nominated, yours truly will be in attendance, supporting my fellow bloggers.

But what to wear!? Click HERE to read the rest of the post on RedRadar, and  there’s a photo of the 3 dresses I have to choose from!

Yours

Whisty, Xx

Elle Magazine Scores a Great Cover… Again.

I’m not 100 percent sure what you’ll think of this confession but, I have an extraordinarily short attention span. Short as in, if I were back in infants class I might just be given Ritalin for it. I’m not sure if it’s just that I’m easily distracted or easily bored or both but I find it very hard to concentrate for longer than about ten mins. Still, at least I have found the right subject to write about. I’m not complaining at all, it’s just a little window into my world. It may also go some way to explaining why it’s taken me about two weeks to post these beautiful pictures of Natalie Portman from this months UK Elle magazine.

She is impossibly pretty and proper. She talks about the perils of de-robing in movies. “You see actresses who marketed themselves on their bodies, and they might be good, but overtime they just lose it because that sort of thing doesn’t last“. Talking about her role as an assassins side kick in Léon, she says, “The good girl image was something I consciously cultivated after Léon. There was a lot of controversy about the Lolita thing… I didn’t want to be seen as a s*x object, so I went the opposite direction“.

She also talks about red carpet fashion and how it relates to her everyday wardrobe: “I’m lucky because when I have events to go to, I get to borrow incredibly beautiful dresses that have been made by wonderful artists, like Laura and Kate Mulleavy from Rodarte and Alber Elbaz from Lanvin“… “It’s funny, some of my actress friends and I talk about how none of us have the big wedding obsession that other girls our age have, and I think it’s because what girls experience on their wedding day happens a few times a year for us. Any time you go to a premiere…“. All the pomp and ceremony has a knock on effect on her everyday clothes and creates a desire for her to feel comfortable when she’s not working; “Sometimes I see pictures of myself and I’m like, “What am I wearing?”"

That may well be the case, but thankfully doing a shoot for Elle magazine is work, (whatevs, sucks to be you Natalie…) which means that what she is wearing is divine. Styled by Sasa Thomann and Photographed by David Slijper.

In Lanvin

In D&G, Ella Moss, Sophia Kokosalaki

BFC Fashion Awards and 25 Most Powerful People in Fashion 2009

The British Fashion Awards 2009 (sponsored by Swarovski) were held in London last night and proved to be a veritable model-fest. Among those there were: Kate Moss, who won the Grazia / British Fashion Council (BFC) London 25 Award, Natalia Vodianova, Twiggy, Jacquetta Wheeler, Georgia May Jagger, who won best model, Daisy Lowe, Claudia Schiffer, Eva Herzigova and Erin O’Connor.

The red carpet saw lots of black and lots of floor length gowns; Kate Moss, Daisy Lowe, Erin O’Connor and Eva Herigova all chose full-on gothic glam for the evening. There were an equal amount of women who went for colour, and two ladies really stood out for me.

Firstly Model of the Year award winner Georgia May Jagger; Anyone else wearing that colour with such porcelain skin would probably look washed out, but her the rest of her colouring and that lush red pout, meant that she looked more ice queen than out in the cold. I’m also delighted that she chose to go fashion hardcore in Vivienne Westwood to collect her well deserved award; her UK Vogue cover last month was a knockout. Other nominees in this category included Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Daisy Lowe.

Secondly, host Lauren Laverne wore this gorgeous Matthew Williamson SS10 embellished dress.

Winners were:

• Swarovski Emerging Talent Award for Accessories – Holly Fulton
• Swarovski Emerging Talent Award for Ready-to-Wear – Peter Pilotto
• Designer Brand – Christopher Bailey for Burberry
• Model of the year – Georgia May Jagger (pictured above)
  
• Accessory Designer – Katie Hillier
• Menswear Designer – Kim Jones
• BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design – John Galliano
• Grazia and BFC London 25 – Kate Moss
• Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator – Grace Coddington
• BFC British Collection of the Year – Christopher Kane
• BFC Designer of the Year – Christopher Bailey for Burberry

Earlier in the day, the British Fashion Council, also annonced a list of the most influencial people in British Fashion:

• Alexander McQueen – designer
• Anna Whiting & Sam Gainsbury – fashion show and shoot producers
• Anya Hindmarch – designer
• Christopher Bailey – creative director, Burberry
• Dame Vivienne Westwood – designer
• David Bailey – photographer
• Erin O’Connor – model and industry figurehead
• Guido Palau – hairdresser
• Harold Tillman – BFC chairman
• Hilary Riva – ex CEO and BFC member
• Hussein Chalayan – designer
• Joan Burstein – owner of Browns boutique
• John Galliano – designer
• Kate Moss – model and Topshop designer
• Louise Wilson – head of MA fashion at Central Saint Martins
• Lulu Kennedy – director of Fashion East
• Mandi Lennard – PR
• Naomi Campbell – model
• Nick Knight – photographer
• Pat McGrath – makeup artist
• Russell Marsh – casting director
• Sir Paul Smith – designer
• Sir Philip Green – owner, Arcadia
• Sir Stuart Rose – executive chairman, Marks & Spencer
• Stephen Jones – milliner

Images courtesy fabsugar.co.uk.

Contender for Model of the Year 2009. #1 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

I have no idea how many contenders there will be maybe 2, maybe 10, but I’m starting with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Discovered at 15 on a school work experience placement, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has since secured jobs with some seriously high-profile and high-fashion companies. Now, at 22, she has already worked for Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger DKNY, Burberry, Clinique, BCBG Max Azria and Victoria’s Secret as well as scoring Agent Provocateur earlier this year.

In February, she was named Model of the Year at the Elle Style awards, but this is not my reason for considering her. It is her versatility as a model that puts her at the top of the list in my book and it was in July that she really made her mark. An editorial photographed by James Meakin was published in Exit magazine and it blew my socks off. I had seen Rosie in dozens of photographs; editorial, advertorial, candid and red carpet, where she looks incredibly pretty, sexy and commercial…

For Burberry … with Sam Riley

…but this shoot showed just how high-fashion she could be. Incredible.

James Meakin Editorial Pics courtesy of The Photography Link all others google and Burberry.

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.

Chloe Sevigny Full of Grace

I just got an email from Harvey Nichols saying that they are the exclusive stockists of the Lana Marks, Cleopatra Clutch that Chloe Sevigny wore to the Emmy awards last weekend. It’s an utterly beautiful, highly coveted piece of arm candy that was apparently inspired by Elizabeth Taylor. This one has been especially modified for Chloe, her snake-skin version has “a detachable silver shoulder strap to match the bags silver hardware”.

She has worn it at a number of events and has one in alligator skin too by all accounts. But it was the quote that came with the email that really got me thinking because it shows an insight into how she is so painfully stylish. During an interview with Marie Claire magazine she said of her clutch,

“Too many bags flaunt huge labels. I prefer a more discreet look.”

Good grief, she’s so right.

The Cleopatra clutch is available from Harvey Nichols for a Wa-hopping £5,400. (yup, that’s pounds sterling). If anyone does buy one, do let me have a lend of it won’t you!

Brown Thomas is Definitely F.A.B

No matter how skint I am I always feel a little bit wealthier by going into Brown Thomas. It’s so weird, I get all precious and check my lipstick and straighten myself out before I walk in there. It’s like going back in time when you’re inside; it’s like you can imagine how it was at the turn of the last century when all the elegant ladies in there would have been showing off their furs and silks and high heels.

Mostly now it’s tourists and bedraggled, be-suited businesswomen hiding from the rain. But I love department stores, and I love designer fashion so it makes sense that I love BT’s. Their Fashion and Beauty (FAB) event starts today and runs untill October 4th. Now before you dismiss this as, “just another in-store promotion” then wait just a sec. There are actually some pretty good goings on:

Today and tomorrow (10th & 11th) is Make-Up by Dior, giving us the chance to have a consultation with Dior’s make-up artist, Martin Aitken. For €25 (redeemable) you get first hand tips from a man who’s done the faces on the BAFTA red carpet for the last three years. Good non?

It’s the fashion part of FAB that I like the sound of;  mini fashions shows will be hosted each saturday afternoon (12.30 and 4pm) of the new collections from: Diane Von Furstenberg (12th Sept) Hugo Boss (19th Sept), Moschino Cheap & Chic (26th Sept) and Escada (3rd October). This saturday you also get to see a special showing of the AW09 collection from Maxmara whilst enjoying a glass of Champagne from midday.

They are also doing the cutest idea ever; from next Saturday (19th) for a week they have installed an Hermès Silk Installation in the Designer Room Level 1 where you can go and learn how to tie your scarf in dozens of different ways. The BT site has all the info anyway.

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
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

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.