A look with a view – a style post

Hey All,

I thought I would get to work on managing this new palette. I’ve since discovered that  when wearing leather in trench coat form, chocolate-brown is pretty much the only colour you can get away with. Black is a bit Goth and grey is a bit Schindler’s List… Also, showing a slightly unhinged obsessive personality trait, I went to 4 Topshops before I finally managed to get this hat.

This coat was actually my Da’s when he was, quite evidently, a ‘cool-cat’ a long time before I was born…

All other outfit details on HerApparel.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Shoes & Swatches

Hey All,

I’m having a busy worky weekend. Deadlines looming and being too skint to go out to play = plenty of pressure, and I love a bit of pressure!

So while I was busy writing about non-fashion related things, my subconscious decided that it would rather think of other things. Like shoes (and ships and sealing wax?) and frivolous stuff like pretty colours. My last style post was an excess of black, as is the way of Northern Europeans in wintertime. (A grandly sweeping statement, yes… well it’s probably true.)

I love dark colours, Navy blue is a favourite but I’m finding myself moving towards maroon and chocolate-brown. I never really wear brown, except maybe the odd pair of shoes or a bag now and again, but I love the idea of maroon wool, and dark-brown leather teamed with light beige silks.

Rummaging through the Pantone archives (can you rummage on-line?) I made a mini palette of colours I’ll be wearing for the next while at least: Deep plum-browns and maroons, rich creams, rose-greys and antique pinks.

I also quite like the idea of a pale tangerine, these suede Carvela (Brown Thomas) block heel sandals are along the right lines and are the exact shape I EDIT: want have. No new spindly spike heels for me this season. Give me good, solid, could-almost-run-for-the-bus-in-these, heels.

I’d already bought these shoes from New Look and luckily they fit right into this new palette.

Seeing as I can’t actually dash out and buy a whole new wardrobe, I have to compromise. Like rediscovering my Revlon Nail Enamel in ‘Vixen 570’.

Because neither my nails are as fabulous as these nor my nail-painting as precise, I have borrowed this photo from Glitz Bliss here.

Then it’s just a matter of adding in some delicious cream pieces… My trusty Céline trousers perhaps…
Anyway, that’s me done for today, I think this post took about 12 hours to do…

Rubbish!

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

River Island SS11 Showcase

Hi All,

I’m pretty certain by now that you all know what we’re going to be wearing between now and Autumn. I’m not going to go into which new season trends I’ve fallen for or even what each trend is because there’s no point and it makes for boring (and lazy) blogging.

I know what I like and will probably wear, you know what you like etc… So I think it’s just a matter of seeing how the high-street has interpreted the trends and whether we like them or not.

River Island had their Spring / Summer preview on Wednesday, which featured two main themes; a kind of casual, luxury line, and a neutral-heavy textured collection.

Textured Neutrals

(From RiverIsland.com)

Casual Luxury

I really like this jacket. Were I a 9-5 office-goer I would absolutely be adding this to my wardrobe. I like the way it doesn’t scream “SPRING 2011” at me; it’s great to find pieces that you can buy and wear for time.

I was wearing a huge tuxedo jacket previous to trying it on, had no idea that the River jacket would suit the same outfit.

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

Current Musings – A good start to 2011

OR: First week back to reality… 7 things that kept me sane over the last 7 days!

– Without which I could easily have drowned in a blue-mood lagoon.

1. Movies at the IFI. I watched and loved Catfish, and I EDIT: intend to watch and love also watched and loved The Kings Speech. If not just to drool over the wardrobe of (the magnificent) Helena Bonham-Carter, as the Queen mum in her youth.

2. Vintage Window-Shopping: Dublin is becoming a feast of vintage shopping. I inadvertently discovered two new shops – 9 Crow Street and Horse & June – this week. (More on these later in the week)

3. New Music: Both British Sea Power and White Lies have new albums out this month. The anticipation of which has me all of a dither.

4. New Shoe Style: Platform, suede, colour block – Because of dreams of shoes like this; I’m saving up now. (Asos.com)

5. New season Fashion: The previews are go. I’m thinking floral embroidery detailing, and 70’s, Riviera chic – just get me out of black. – See Christopher Kane (below left) and Marc Jacobs (below right), respectively. (images via style.com)

6. Food: Bad, bad, bad but oh-so-good food at that: Mooz, 3 Angier Street, D2. Pick your favourite chocolate bar and they’ll blend it into a milk-shake… they do hot ones too, if the weather’s doing your head in.

7. Prudence Magazine: Included musings from yours truly in their vintage directory this month. I am honoured, and just a little proud to be included!

Transcription:

“Fashion blogger Laura Whiston of Whisty feels the same: “Being fashionable is one thing but turning up to a party in the same high-street dress as three of your friends really will make you feel like a fashion victim” she says.

“The great thing about vintage is the history behind it. When I put on a dress or coat that was made 60 years ago, I immediately wonder about the woman who owned it before me.”

…”From a moral point of view it’s [vintage] very appealing because people are genuinely horrified by reports of sweat-shop working conditions. Many fast-fashion, high-street shops have been the subject of revealing documentaries exposing child labour and poor pay.”

Here’s to a fantastic 2011!

Yours,

Whisty Xx