A Style Post: Christmas Sparkle at Dublin Castle

Hey All,

When I first saw Dublin Castle, I have to admit I was a little bit disappointed. The 70’s Brutalist civic offices distract and detract from the towers, and there are better examples of Georgian Dublin around – Henrietta Street is a particular favourite. But having spent more time there, I now appreciate the quiet grandeur of the turret and the church, the huge cobbled courtyard and on a sunny day, I love sitting on the grass in the garden outside the library. I like walking there, as I did today…

I haven’t posted a street-style post for months… But I booked the day off after going to watch Richard Hawley at Vicar Street and spent the day wandering around my favourite parts of the city – hence the non-heeled styling today. These riding boots are a rare pair of flats in my wardrobe; I walk in and out of the city as much as I can, and so they’re great for both wet and chilly weather…

I wear it so much, but this dress was originally owned by my Mum, and I found the velvet kimono in a vintage store. I’ve never worn the two together, I love that some elements of style and fashion transcend generations.  Lastly, I finally bought a cheap ‘gold’ watch to match my chunky ‘gold’ chain.

I love the light in Dublin, the clear crisp skies in winter allow that light to infiltrate and reflect into streets that would normally not be in direct sunlight… The sunshine is reflected onto me and the Castle pavement, from the windows on the buildings opposite on Dame Street.

Dress, Vintage Jeff Banks

Velvet & Glitter Kimono/Cape ORVintage

‘Gold’ Boyfriend Watch, ASOS

Boots, Ted Baker

Accessories, Thrifted

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Ossie Clarke 2013 Spring Summer Preview

Hey All,

Debenhams announced its latest fashion designer collaboration at the beginning of November, along with it, two images. Both maxi dresses, one floral the other monochrome stripes. The new collaboration is with Ossie Clark, the brand. Now owned by Alison Mansell Ltd Ossie Clark has St. Martins Collage of art graduate, Nicholas Georgiou, is at the design helm – Ossie Clark the man, was tragically murdered in London in 1996.

Ossie Clark and his wife Celia Birtwell defined the King’s Road style in the late 1960’s. Together they pushed the boundaries of fashion and print-styles and created ethereal, flowing collections that epitomised the psychedelic era.

Image via google

His story is summed up in the words of a fellow blogger at styleblood.wordpress.com

“In the late 1960s, Clark hit a rich vein for his flamboyant clothing range. The fashion press dubbed Ossie “The King Of King’s Road”. Clark pronounced himself a “master cutter. It’s all in my brain and fingers and there’s no-one in the world to touch me. I can do everything myself.” Clark’s great idol was the famous dancer Vaslav Nijinsky and his love of dance inspired his clothes to be free moving and not to restrict the female form. This style of dressing became quite popular in the 1970s thanks in large part to the popularity of Clark’s clothing. Ossie Clark is well known for his use of muted colours and moss crepe fabric. He also designed shoes, paper dresses, and snakeskin jackets.”

So really, I reckon it’s not so much a Debenhams collaboration with Ossie Clark, it’s a Debenhams collaboration with his name. Still I was excited to see the collection, hoping to find reproductions of the dresses that so many women have adored over the last half century. There were just four pieces from the 95-piece collection there:

I was hoping for more floor-grazing, dramatic, fashion pieces. As I left I was given a brochure which included an image of this dress…

Longer, yes, what I dreamed of? I dunno. But with 90 stylish pieces still to view I can’t call it. The print on those trousers is pretty fabulous, and will definitely fit in with the rest of my wardrobe.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

New Look spring/summer fashion 2013 preview

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. New Look manages to grasp the trends and styles of the current designer fashion trends and give it a unique wearable edge, by interpretation rather than simply copying what’s going on, on the runway.

Perfect pastel fashion

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Warehouse SS’13 Collection Round Up

Hey all,

So it’s time once again to dream about next season and decide which pieces and trends are going on our wish list over the next couple of months.

I posted a couple of weeks ago about how surreal it is to look at next season’s trends while we’re still buying our favourite ‘now’ pieces. There is something exciting about sneaking a peek at the future of fashion; spring/summer previews make us happy while we’re thinking about spending warm evenings and sunny days in short sleeves and high heels. While autumn/winter makes us think of sparkling dresses at festive parties and luxurious layers for cold clear days…

And so it was to Warehouse I went this week; the collection was brimming with brilliant white lace, bold monochrome stripes and unique must-have pieces

Must Haves…

60’s-Inspired Backless Dress

Leopard Print

Monochromes

White Lace

The Finer Details

Accessories: Luscious Clutches…

Ostrich Leather

Mock Croc

The Leather Envelope

Clear Blue

Yours,

Whisty Xx

London’s Liberty arrives @ Arnotts Dublin

Hello all,

Carnaby Street in the city’s West End epitomised London’s swinging sixties; it was an exciting mix of independent clothing shops and boutiques, including Mary Quant and the infamous I Was Lord Kitchener’s Valet, a shop selling vintage and ex-issue military clothing. Formerly of Portobello Road, the shop helped popularised the wearing of ex-military clothing as fashion pieces. ‘They’ say Jimi Hendrix bought this Royal Hussars jacket at the shop… along with another jacket that according to this website, he was ordered to remove by a group of policemen, as it was disrespectful to its previous wearers(!).

Its not just fashion that made the street so notorious; the musical connections to Carnaby Street are endless; The Kinks, The Stones, Paul Weller and The Who, have all been photographed there – often by Philip Townsend.

Images via NME.com

More recently Liam Gallagher opened a Pretty Green store there, and The Stones have made a spiritual return this month opening a pop up store to celebrate their 50th anniversary. It’s basically a Rolling Stones Carnaby Street Christmas, the street’s arches have been decorated with Sir Mick’s red lips, and Stones-emblazoned gold discs have replaced more traditional festive baubles… The group also has its own store on the street, selling everything from Stones-inspired fashoin to posters and other pop memorabilia.

At one end of Carnaby Street is a rather spectacular Tudor Revival department store (c. 1920), which was purpose built, (from the timbers of two ships) as the home of Liberty‘s London.

image via

Liberty is famous for producing fine printed fabrics, from satin to silk crepe de chine, wool to cotton jersey. Incidentally it was its archive of Art Nouveau designs that enjoyed popularity in the 1960’s when the trend resurfaced. As a child, I remember having adorable dresses made for me from Liberty fabrics. I also remember visiting the store, it is incredible. With its rows upon rows of ribbons and yarn, fabrics and buttons; dark wooden floors, shiny old lifts and painted ceilings. The best view is from the wooden balcony on each floor, which allowing you to view the whole store from floor to ceiling.

So a little touch of that Tudor-inspired London fashion has popped up in Arnotts this week.

Liberty @Arnotts…

Here are a few pieces available…

(Dear Santa!)

Embossed Leather stationery, purses, wallets and ipad cases

A lavender bag

Scarves…

Fabric covered stationery…

Rather nicely, Liberty‘s founder Arthur Lasenby Liberty was born in 1843, the same year that Arnotts was established.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post: Country Tweed & Urban Heels

Hello All,

You know, I was just looking back through a few past posts and I’ve only just realised how much I comment on the weather; it really is a lot.

It’s probably something to do with the fact that our Northern European climate and its unpredictable weather dictates exactly what we wear… Maybe my references to it are just an excuse when I write style posts as to why I’m wearing what I’m wearing. i.e. when I sat down to write this post, the first thing I typed was something along the lies of bright sunny autumn days. A description which easily explains why I’m wearing layers, which are necessary for those kind of days.

I love this outfit. The layers keep it fashion-forward but also wearable. The boots and coat are set to be my autumn/winter 2012 staples; the Burberry cardigan, which I have had since last year, is a really loose knit so isn’t warm enough for the depths of winter, but it’s perfect for now.

Tweed Coat Zara

Vest Top River Island

Scarf Louis Vuitton

Cardigan Burberry

Trousers Karen Millen

Bag & Boots Kurt Geiger

Yours,

Whisty Xx