Brilliant White: How to Wear it Right – Whisty’s Metro Column

Hello!

For those of us who don’t commute first thing in the morning in Dublin, here’s the latest Metro Herald column, How to Wear all-White, right.

Irish summer fashion tends to be a tale of two extremes, half of us are pulling on wellies, denim shorts and Parkas, while the other half are matching fascinators and clutches to Duchess satin dresses. However, in creating all-white ensembles for their S/S’12 collections, designers like Oscar de la Renta, Paul Smith and Stella McCartney (pictured, available at Brown Thomas) have inspired a fresh summer look.

For most of us the wearing of head-to-to white is usually the preserve of sacrament and ceremony. Thankfully this season’s all-white look is more classic-chic and elegance, than pure, unspoilt innocence. We’re not talking about pretty white dresses here, this fashion statement focuses on carefully chosen separates, like tailored trousers and city shorts, (pictured Hobbs €125) loosely-structured blazers and tuxes. (pictured Warehouse €78).

It is about balancing out the girlishness of white with fine, natural fabrics like silk, cotton, leather and Bouclé Tweed. It’s about keeping your silhouette sleek, simple and grown up.

You’re not aiming for a precious princess communion look. NB: Frills and ruffles must be worn with care, if at all. But on the other hand, don’t go for tight-fitting pieces either, choose well-tailored separates to flatter your figure; this look is laid-back, not try-hard.

Choosing simple accessories; plain white fedoras, (pictured River Island €20) flats (pictured Dune €180) and subtle shades are casually summery; if you wear a watch make it white or gold, and masculine (pictured €335 Certina at Brown Thomas), leave the sparkles at home.

If you’re going for all-white then it has to be pristine as do your hair and tan, wearing all-white means you will get noticed. Finally, the right underwear is essential, white shows through almost as much as black so your only option is skin-coloured underwear, under white.

The optimist in me still believes that we’ll get our week or two of summer so I can indulge in this trend. Can you remember a summer day where the threat of being splashed by a dirty puddle didn’t exist? Yeah, me too… Sigh…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

http://e-edition.metroherald.ie/2012/06/28/index.html?p=19

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

A Style Post: Dead End Street

Hello All,

I hadn’t really thought about winter hats before I saw this vintage sheepskin one. I love the bond-girl look that you get with it. Cream jumpers are pretty big for A/W’11, I like the slightly puffed shoulders and extra long cuffs of this one. It makes it really feminine and unique.

The shorts are Chloé, they were originally trousers, but after getting a hole in one of the legs, I cut them into a pair of scalloped-edge shorts. Not that I would argue with Stella McCartney (who designed the Fall 2000 collection that the trousers were in), but I prefer them as shorts now.

Hat & Jumper, Once Removed Vintage

Shorts, Chloé

Boots, River Island

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

A Tux Style Post

Hey All,

Inspired by Dries van Noten and Stella McCartney SS11 collections (see last photo) I dug out this oversized Tuxedo jacket. It kinda goes with most of my wardrobe and is so big it actually fits over most of my other coats and jackets. I like wearing it 1920′s-gangster-style; thrown over my shoulders and hanging loose. I have also lost all faith in my hair style and find that top-knots / buns are the only way I can deal with my Balayage Barnet at the moment.

All Outfit Details on HerApparel.

Images via Style.com

Yours

Whisty Xx

Brown Thomas SS11 Showcase

Hey All,

It isn’t so often that I get to write about on-trend, straight off the catwalk fashion. I do plenty of style posting, and the lines between the two often get blurred, but a post on pure fashion is a rare thing.

This morning presented me with a perfect opportunity to do so however. I was up and in town for 9:30; in time to see the Brown Thomas SS11 showcase. Namely a fashion show, watched by journo’s, TV presenters and writers (including bloggers) (sat all in a row), which featured highlights from the new season collection in B.T.’s Designer Rooms.

The phrase of the event was definitely “newness” with dozens of designer names now added to B.T.’s already big list. (see below)

The show included stunning pieces from the big Italians, like D&G, Gucci and Prada; the French, Givenchy, Lanvin and Chloé; and the Brits; Burberry, Paul Smith and McQueen.

But it was tangerine jumpsuits and peach-lined pockets from Céline; off-white tuxedo jackets and midi-length skirts from Stella McCartney; and pure print genius from Mary Katrantzou that did it for me.

Stella McCartney SS11 at Brown Thomas

Mary Katrantzou SS11 at Brown Thomas

I think  I actually have a crush on these dresses. The designs are depictions of rooms; think old-fashioned parlours decked out in turquoise and fuchsia pink, with a bit of Alice in Wonderland thrown in. Vogue.it have more info on the  Central St. Martins graduate here.

The new season Brown Thomas windows and more highlights. After the drama that the Christmas windows showed, these are utter perfection. Nothing, but nothing but fashion.

New designers to BT’s designer rooms include:

Womenswear

Project D, Valentino Red, Vince, Theyskens Theory, Opening Ceremony, Irwin & Jordan, Maison Martin Margiela, By Malene Birger, Zadig & Voltaire, Sandro.

Shoes

Beau Coops, Brian Atwood, Mulberry, Maison Martin Margiela, Isabel Marant.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Coveted by Many, Owned by You… Now

There are loads of reasons why most of us don’t by a designer gown for every special occasion… Ah who am I kidding, we all would if only we could afford it. That’s why when the Covet boutique opened in The Powerscourt Centre this august it gave us all a more realistic chance of wearing a designer gown for any special occasion. Covet basically allows you to hire a designer dress or accessories for 3 days. With prices ranging from €30 to €300, that is a relatively small amount compared to buying the same.

This weekend however Covet are hosting a sample sale of these same dresses. I.e. for this weekend only, dresses that have previously been hired out can be bought to keep. With a 95% discount, I reckon you could overlook the fact that other people have ‘enjoyed’ them. Designer dresses in the sample sale include, John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Diane Von Furstenberg and Marc Jacobs as well as a huge collection of vintage pieces. Opening times Sat: 10-6pm and Sun 12-6pm. Not long after Covet opened photographer Barry McCall and styllist Niamh O’Rourke created this gorgeous shoot. More pics after the jump.

It’s a Fashion/Rock Hissy Fit

Stella McCartney is being sued by the company that Ali Hewson co-founded, over the word Nude… (Oh the impossible puns!)

The Irish Indo covered the story today and has more on the whole debacle saying:

“At issue is the Beatle daughter’s use of the term “nude” in her eau de toilette “Stella Nude”, due to hit the shelves next month following the launch of her flesh-coloured spring/summer fashion collection.

But Ali, who is the co-founder of the Nude Skincare line founded by Northern organic food supermarket supremo Bryan Meehan, came up with the name “Nude” as a palindrome of her own eco-friendly and Fairtrade-affiliated fashion line “Edun”.”

Meh… Read the rest here if you can be bothered. I reckon Bono and Macca should settle it in the ring!

At issue is the Beatle daughter’s use of the term “nude” in her eau de toilette “Stella Nude”, due to hit the shelves next month following the launch of her flesh-coloured spring/summer fashion collection.

But Ali, who is the co-founder of the Nude Skincare line founded by Northern organic food supermarket supremo Bryan Meehan, came up with the name “Nude” as a palindrome of her own eco-friendly and Fairtrade-affiliated fashion line “Edun”.

A Model Example on the Red Carpet

Good lord there was some serious glamour last night at the gala opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition: Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion. Imagine, the honorary chair is Marc Jacobs with co-chairs Kate Moss, Justin Timberlake and Anna Wintour, could that list be anymore American cool and high fashion?

The Museum explains that the exhibition: “explores the reciprocal relationship between high fashion and evolving ideals of beauty, focusing on iconic fashion models in the latter half of the 20th century and their roles in projecting, and sometimes inspiring, the fashion of their respective eras”.

Naturally the red carpet was walked by models a-plenty and looking at some of the amazing creations they wore last night it would be impossible to deny that the exhibition has a place.

The guest list was most definitely A-list as not only did the world’s top models strut their stuff

but they were joined by some of the biggest names in fashion and entertainment too.

Model hitters: Claudia Schiffer in world class elegance; Anja Rubik, proving that short can go to the ball; Sasha Pivovarova accessorising to extremes with a peacock cape and special mention to Agyness Deyn’s ode to Marylin Monroe femininity.

Non-Model hitters: Anne Hathaway killing it with big hair, black nails and smokey eyes; Ciara showing her perfect figure with perfect style, and Jessica Biel was made to wear that red!

Not sure about Madge, that headdress, or Rihanna trousers… yay, covering up everything except your ankles (check out the gloves!) NAY…

The exhibition starts today and runs until August 9^th.

Red more about how fashion models have influenced the decades here.

Its Vintage Darling but So On Trend

With the new spring trend for blush / nudes tones this delish website has a gorgeous collection of 50′s 60′s and 70′s pieces that fit the trend impeccably: www.itsvintagedarling.co.uk

I’ve mixed up them up with some high street and designer offerings on this mood board below

I love that pieces that were on trend 40 years ago have still totally wearable today! If there was ever a reason to keep everything in your wardrobe for as long as possible then this is it!

The company are based in the UK and have pieces that are even older in their stunnig collection. The company deliver throughput europe for £8 (approx. €9) per delivery.

Other pieces in the collage are from:

www.asos.com; www.missselfridge.com; www.dorothyperkins.com; www.dune.co.uk & www.schuh.ie