Press releases pop into my email box at an enormous rate ,something I hadn’t at all figured on when I started this blog. I try to speed read through them all lest I miss something truly incredible. One I missed from last year was an invitation to a dinner at which Lady Gaga was a guest (and no, it was real, I saw the pics after) which I only looked at when it was too late to change my ticket to LFW!
Today I spotted one from Brown Thomas (and as I’m heading very early tomorrow morning to Galway to share what I know about Hosiery and Falke in particular to anyone who will listen), I opened it. Surprise to find that their Christmas shop in the Dublin store is opening this Friday!!!! What? I hadn’t even begun to think about Halloween yet, not until I opened a second email from Etsy and saw these pictures that cheered me up no end . No I don’t want to know anything about Santa, Sleighs, snow men or anything with bells or baubles on it…..
There is only one rule in fashion it is that every fashion rule at some point is made to be broken. This Autumn/Winter it’s the wearing of socks. What has, up to now been considered a total faux pas is now de rigeur. It’s open season for socks. Worn with open shoes, over tights, over other socks and with slim trousers tucked into socks. Seen on the catwalks of designers Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Celine & Alexander Wang to name a few. Worn short, knee high, over the knee and thigh high. Worn with bare legs, over hosiery knee highs, worn with sheer or opaque tights. Whatever you’re having yourself mam! Not an easy look to wear and one which can make less than perfect legs look, well yes, less than perfect! If you want to rock this trend without going full on you can show a little sock peeping over a shoe or boot. Light grey sock works well with beige and camel colours and dark grey works with chocolate shades of browns for that country look. Wear black socks over skin tone tights or black opaques with the new (old) calf length skirts.
I will be holding a Falke Hosiery Style workshop in Brown Thomas Galway 2nd Sept, Limerick 3rd Sept, Dublin 4th Sept and Cork 25th September. For further information check out the Brown Thomas website Diary of events
1. No surprise that the Kate Moss for Top Shop collaboration is ending and that the last collection will be launched in October. Often photographed with BF Sir Philip Green there is no talk of any huge bust up just a natural end following 14 collections. Originally it was 6 collections a year and last year it was down to 2. The last one I looked at was decidedly dull and boring a complete damp squib so my feeling is that the poor sales made it non viable and so the end is now in sight. Perhaps take a good look at the last one to see if there is anything worth bagging for future ebay investment selling?
2. Pucci, the pioneering Italian fashion brand
Two versions of a fabulous new book fantastically written and with beautiful images on the History of this Iconic Italian print house. One a limited edition of 10,000 copies @ £ 135 and the second a Vintage Art Edition limited to just 500 signed and numbered copies. Each book is bound in an original vintage Pucci fabric and is accompanied by four art prints of original drawings from the designer Emilio Pucci. Each book will be signed by his daughter Laudomia Pucci who continued to design under the Pucci name after Emilio’s death in 1992 and who is Image Director and Deputy Chairman of the company since 2000.
Available to buy online from September from Taschen
Anna and Grace Rag Dolls
3. How appropriate that two women who work in the Rag trade have had rag dolls made in their image. The Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington dolls were commissioned by Barneys NY. Brooklyn based artist Andrew Yang was given the task of making the dolls. Apparently the hair gave him some minor problems and he decided quite rightly to make outfits ‘that reflects their individual style’ rather than copy any specific outfits. The dolls will be auctioned on Charitybuzz.com starting on August 31st all proceeds going to the New York City Aids Fund.
I tweeted last week about the best (in my opinion) pedicure on the South Side of Dublin and was delighted to pass on information to lots of people who asked for it. When I started going to Andrea at Special Beauty in Aikens Village, Kilternan (tel. 086 323 6992) it was on a recommendation uttered in hushed tones and I had to promise not to pass it on for fear that there would be no possibility of getting an appointment at short notice. All that is well and truly over now and everyone who gives a really good service at a reasonable price should have their names shouted loudly from the rooftops (which is what I’m doing here today!!)
Telephone Number 00353 1 4945606
There is still bad service and bad value for money everywhere in Ireland recession or no recession and this needs to change fast if we are to get out of the economic mess we find ourselves in. Today I headed down the road to the Red Apple Hair & Beauty Salon in the Eden Shopping Centre in Rathfarnham on the Grange road to have my nails done by Fran ( who has been doing them for seven years) and my hair cut by Dee the owner of the salon who is a change of hairdresser for me. These are people for whom spending an hour or two with is a pleasure. Red Apple Salon has a friendly, relaxed professional feel to it and all the customers are regulars who enjoy a natter while they get coiffed and manicured. They have great stylists who do really seriously good blow dries and perfect upstyles.
Fran is the most professional nail technician I have ever had do my nails and I’m a regular gel, french polish woman who likes them quite short.
Fran is the most professional nail technician I have ever had do my nails and I’m a regular gel, french polish woman who likes them quite short. I noticed her nails looked fabulous and when I asked she told me they were the new system she has been waiting for.
I’ve heard about the new two week perfect manicure so asked Fran to show me the Shellac system that is proving extremely popular. For €30 you get beautiful chip free extended wear colour which applies like polish but is set under UV lights. The nails don’t have to be filed down and the results are spectacular with no possibility of messing up the polish when you reach for your car keys or touch a door handle minutes after leaving. It takes ten minutes to remove the polish with wraps so no messing or time wasting. Fran tells me that this system from Creative nails is brilliant for special occasions and holidays. There are 12 colours at present and more on the way. I thought the colours on offer looked beautiful and will definitely think about having this done next time.
Shellac, On like Polish, Wears like Gel
Frans Hand with Shellac manicure
Today I had my nails done and a total new( Mary Portas style|) hair do following some gentle persuasion. It was definitely time for a change so I said to Dee to go for it and another regular client sitting next to me helped in the decision making process. Once I decided to go for it and take the advise I just relaxed and kept thinking if all else fails I have some terrific hats! I’m delighted with the result though it will take a few days to get used to. My hair cut was €60 and my nails cost €40.
Red Apple Hair & Beauty Salon, Eden Shopping Centre Grange Road Rathfarnham, Telephone 00353 1 4945606
I’ve just arrived home from the launch of the new Dublin Festival of Fashion which took place this evening in the Westin Hotel. A really exciting festival taking place 1-3rd October will take over the Capitals leading shopping areas. Fashion and beauty master classes, once off events and discounts throughout the festival as well as very late night shopping and catwalk shows on both Grafton and Henry Street are just some of the highlights. Featuring fashion from every area, high end to high street, and retro to vintage. Modelled on similar events in both New York and London this festival should be a fantastic celebration of the fashionable face of Dublin.
Ist Options Model wearing Sonia Rykiel Dress
Oxfam have commissioned a collection of T- Shirts called ’We are Tee’All the T-Shirts will be on sale during the festival, they are 100%Fairtrade organic cotton and will cost €25-€35 each. Designed by leading Irish illustrators and designers including Peter O’Brien, Eilis Boyle and Joanne Hynes. They will be available from all participating stores and from Oxfam Ireland during the festival.
The Down Syndrome Centre went live two days ago with their Buy My Dress Online website. Beautiful dresses lightly worn and in good condition all for sale for between €10-30. So when I checked back today I wasn’t surprised to see that out of a large selection, lots had been sold. I’m sure they underestimated exactly how successful this site would be. In fact the site crashed in the first few hours as people went crazy shopping!!! What a great way to look fabulous for very little money and give to a great cause at the same time.
Ideal if you have a debs or a once off special occasion coming up and where price is a consideration. The Images are good quality and payment is easily made by credit card or laser. There are some fabulous dresses in all sizes for both day and evening with a bridal and children’s offer, so plenty of choice.
If you have any dresses that you will no longer wear, are clean and in good condition and that you would like to give to a great cause then you can send them to this address; ‘Free Post’ Buy My Dress, Down Syndrome Centre, 62-63 Lower Mounttown Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
This is most probably Alexander Mc Queens very last creation and one that he had his hands on. A really rather beautiful gown, it didn’t figure in the final collection shown shortly after his death. It was made specially for his long time friend Annabelle Neilson who is also a very good pal of Kate Moss. A society girl who was often photographed wearing Mc Queen and referred to as his muse on occasion. Ms Neilson wore the dress last June to Elton John’s White tie and Tiara Ball.
I’m glad to see my views on strapless wedding gowns are so far being vindicated. I feel this is a trend that needs stopping in it’s tracks. Look at all the women whom we can save from dodgy boob and underarm spillage in wedding albums which will end up being hidden due to embarrassment! Keep commenting and voting in the post below and lets nail this one.
I’ve noticed lots of MAMILS all around this past week. ’Middle Aged Men in Lycra’ and will have something to say on that subject on the radio tomorrow. For now I will keep shtum but will let you know what I think during the week ahead.
I have been to quite a few weddings in the past year or so and I am pasting my colours to the mast here by saying that strapless wedding gowns are NOT a good look. Phew now that I’ve got that off my chest so to speak it seems only fair that I explain myself a little more. 90% of the weddings these days feature brides of all sizes wearing strapless numbers and Chelsea Clinton was the latest ‘celebrity wedding’ to add to the collection.
I don’t know what either Vera Wang was thinking when she made this dress. I’m not saying this isn’t a beautiful dress nor am I saying that the bride does not look beautiful. I am saying that I believe she could have done better. The women who can wear this style are few in number. They need to have fabulous neck and shoulder lines, and have a small bust and slender body type. Grace Kelly springs to mind. The last three weddings I was at were of girls who were an average size 14/16 and they each wore a strapless number. All I can remember were the big arms and expanse of bare flesh. Everyone at these weddings politely said ooh and aah and how beautiful the brides were. Secretly I think many of them were thinking like me.
I thought it was worth taking a little look at the fashionable and beautiful Grace Kelly in her wedding dress. I know times have changes but I’m hoping to start a trend for brides to be, to think about what suits their bodies rather than what is perceived to be in fashion. Here is a little look to cheer us all up of the Grace Kelly Exhibition at the V&A in London. A feast for the eyes just to calm me down after my bare necked rant.
An absolute makeup junkie describes me to a tee. I love the stuff, a lifelong addiction which started in my mothers dressing room as a child. Waiting for her to go out for the night offered endless opportunities to try the makeup and clothes that were a treasure chest. A Leichner pot of green eyeshadow in a beautiful glass pot, Estee Lauder Youth Dew perfume and an episode with a string of pearls that ended in tragedy with the string breaking and the pearls falling out a window are firmly etched in my memory bank.
When mineral makeup hit these shores I was first in line to buy the starter kit from Bare Minerals and I did love it though found that travelling with the various pots (there are too many in the original kit) became problematic as not all of it landed on my face! I bought the Laura Mercier one too and didn’t like it at all as it wasn’t an even finish and I was never happy with the colour match. An invitation to come to the launch of the new Matte Mineral Powder from Bare Minerals was too good to pass up so I brought my friend Susan Fox ( who knows a thing or two about the beauty business) from Eden Beauty in Wicklow and we headed to the Dylan Hotel to check it out.
The first good news is the new container that the matte mineral powder comes in has a great twist and lock cap that stops those spillage events that were the main reason I stopped using the original version. It has 15 spf in-built sunscreen which is always useful though I don’t think 15spf is enough. I wear 30 spf every day so got really excited when I spotted another new product from Bare Mineral called simply ‘natural sunscreen’ which comes in a fantastic easy to use container which includes a great brush. It comes in three shades. Perfect for use anywhere on the body but particularly good over makeup and can be used as a touch up powder during the day. It’s already won Beauty awards and I’m predicting this one will be a keeper.
Susan Fox being buffed in the Dylan Hotel by the Bare Minerals makeup artist
Susan opted to have her makeup done and we all admitted the results looked really good. I couldn’t wait to get the Matte Powder home and try it out myself. I’m not a fan of the glowing look opting to control where and when I add a little gloss. There are days when a Matte finish seems just right and this product is excellent. It seems to go on extremely easily, a much quicker application time than my usual liquid makeup. I did use a good primer but you just can’t believe that a quick tap, swirl and buff using a great brush is all you need and you are good to go. I have been using it every day for a couple of weeks now and for now am really happy with it. Bare Minerals Matte along with the full range of products including the ‘Natural Sunscreen’ is available from BT2 in Ireland.
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