Nicky's Rag Tales

I have just returned from London and was struck by just how much black is on the rails. On the streets though it’s a different story. I counted five pairs of pink tights teamed with dark tunic dresses and coats in the space of ten minutes. Personally I love dark colours for Winter dressing and it seems a safe option in the present climate. Use highlighter colours to team with those dark classics. Draw a line with barbie pink, yellow or bright purple or blue. Accessorise in one of these colours and you will get the best of safe dressing while giving that pop addition to your wardrobe. Don’t just team them with black though, it can look a bit harsh. These brights look even better with Navy or Grey and can be bought cheaply in all the high street chain stores.

Brilliant creative designer Anthony Burrill is one of the key note speakers at Offset 2009 in Dublin from 6-8th November. A specially designed T-Shirt has been commissioned for BT2 @ 30 euro. Anthony Burrill is one of the coolest of the new wave of creative designers who work across a broad range of activities. Check out the BT2 window on Grafton Street which has been wrapped up by Anthony Burrill.

T-Shirt @ BT2 By Anthony Burrill

Guess how many fashion shops there are in Ennis Co Clare? (answer at the end of this post) A clue lies in the fact that last week was the Third Ennis Fashion Week and the self styled title ‘Fashion Capital of Ireland’ is not entirely without merit. Half an hour from Limerick City (take the Galway road, there are no signs for Ennis!)

First stop was County Boutique where Gwen and Maeve carry on the business inherited from their mother with great expertise and passion. Customers are treated to fantastic service and a stunning collection of labels bought with great thought for their customers many of whom are into the fourth generation of loyal County Boutique followers. Special Occasion wear is terrific, also Smart Casual and Coats all of which go up the size ranges. A true mini -complete store which is possible because of the close links between customers and buyers. Something that just isn’t possible in the larger Stores

Gwen is the Chairperson of Ennis Fashion Week and the majority of Fashion retailers were in full swing offering all sorts of interesting in- store promotions and events. County Boutique had Pop Up Shops from Irish Designers Heidi Higgins and Kate and Ava. County Boutique is always keen to promote the best in Irish Fashion these are two designers to watch closely. Both with a keen commercial sense with beautifully cut and executed clothing.

Kate and Ava Purple stretch Brocade Dress

County Boutique labels include Odd Molly, Save the Queen, Olsen and Bianca. Accessories are many and beautiful and include Falke Hosiery, Yummie Tummie shapewear and Jewellery by Pat Whyte. Fabulous Fascinators by Suzy Mahony Designs specially commissioned by County Boutique at the beginning of each season tie into the offer in store. A most beautiful range of scarves ,gloves and hats tie in the key looks.

Heidi Higgins fab coat

Suzy Mahony Design

Pink silk and Jersey shift from Heidi Higgins

County Boutique Reality Window

Read more

Sometimes reinventions are an unmitigated disaster and stem from panic. Commonly the problem lies in the fact that retailers depart from their core customer and lose their way. Not so in BT2 in Dundrum which has undergone huge change in the past weeks. The offer has been improved and broadened. Still catering for a younger market but now drawing in the young at heart (of which I include myself). Price points have also widened with lots of really good value ranges sitting comfortably alongside the more expensive. A huge challenge to provide high quality ‘on trend’ fashion, priced reasonably, which doesn’t look out of place alongside more expensive labels.

Labels on offer include DVF, 3.1 Philip Lim, Paul & Joe, See by Chloe, Manoush and Love Moschino. Personally I loved the Selected Femme , beautifully classic pieces and very well priced. A great trench coat from Pepe, dresses from Manoush and a fantastic accessories selection with bags from Friis particularly catching my eye.

Menswear has now gone back to Grafton Street and lets face it Men are far less likely to impulse buy and go out with serious intent so that makes a lot of sense. The shoe offer now on the ground floor is super and likewise a denim bar downstairs with Jeans starting at 69 eu (Doctor Denim) and going up to the fabulous Current Elliot.

Make-up from Mac, bareMinerals and Benefit and a Lash Bar, Manicure Bar, Pedicure Bar and Blow Bar (courtesy of Dylan Bradshaw) completes a complete, neat mini-store.

And so my trusty Olympus e510 in my hands I snapped a very small selection from the two BT2 @ Dundrum floors. Read more

Into the Light BT2

The monthly Bloggers get together took place last Saturday at the ungodly hour of 10am downstairs in the newly made over BT2 in Dundrum Shopping Centre.

The table was laid and the company was good

Arsheen from Fashion Filosofy

Arsheen Q looking Uber Trendy from Fashion Filosofy wearing a thoughtfully put together and seriously beautiful outfit. Annmarie iblogfashion who organised the event was gainfully employed in Kildare Village styling lucky women so missed out on the do in BT2.

Dandelion who does a session in BT2 on Saturdays

Who says Fashionistas don't eat ?(Before Pic)

Cathy 'Thestylestrutter'

Sassy Corkonian Cathy The Style Strutter enjoying the day.

blogger Blanaid

Catherine from 'Offshoot'

Catherine from Off Shoot and Blanaid two of the Fashion bloggers enjoying the morning.

Lipsy Jacket BT2 100 euro (now mine!)

winter warmers by nickysragtales featuring Forever21

Usually at this time of year Fashion Editors everywhere are talking coats. For some reason this season is different. This may be because of the R word or more likely it stems from the fact that there seems to be no clear fashion direction in the area of outerwear. There are however some trends, leather jackets are huge and mine came from Lipsy C/O BT2 at a very reasonable 100 euro. Leather though won’t keep a cold blooded person like me warm into Winter and whatever the weather now, sure as eggs are eggs I’m going to need warmth when I go for my regular Oyster breakfast at the Organic Food Market in Temple Bar on a Saturday. The Oyster club is a group of random, eclectic bods who love oysters (and life!). But I digress, back to coats. Apart from camel, tweed and hounds tooth which are fabric trends, no one shape is dominant and that means( to you and me) that anything goes. If you have a coat that’s in good shape then stick with it and add a hat, gloves and a statement scarf. If you do need one you can freely shop for one that suits you, is in your price range (mine came from a charity shop- see earlier post) and in a colour that is good on you.

A few weeks ago I, along with some other Fashion Bloggers, was handed a bib, given a box of bling and some glue and told to go ‘Bling a Bib‘! My living room has been full 0f glitter and beads ever since and glue is stuck to my table and my fingers! Yesterday I handed my blinged (that doesn’t sound correct?) bib over at the ISPCC launch of their recruitment drive for volunteers in order to reach a target of one million euro which they need by Christmas.

The ISPCC is Ireland’s leading Children’s Charity advocating for the rights, well being and protection of children throughout the country. They provide important services including Childline , Leanbh and Teen Focus as well as a host of others. Since they receive only 10% of their funds from government this launch for volunteers to don a bib, shake a tin and help get the money in is crucial especially in these extraordinary times.

Yesterday children, along with stylist Sonya Lennon from RTE’s ‘Off The Rails’ put on the bibs to help with the launch. To register your interest as a volunteer go to ISPCC. If you’re quick you might get one of the blinged bibs. If not bling a bib yourself!

C

A lot of Bling 'On the Rails'

Sonya Lennon dressed to collect

My Bib

To contact the I S P C C call 1850 50 40 50

Anybody been to Arnotts lately? Clutching my invitation in one hand my BF Joan and I put on our glad rags and arrived outside Arnotts Main Entrance on Henry street in Dublin at 7 O’clock this evening. We walked along the purple carpet and entered the new completely revamped Ground Floor. Champagne and fabulous teeny tiny trendy yummy eats were on offer and I quickly sloshed back the champers and grabbed my camera to capture some of the fabulous Accessories on the floor as well as the many invited guests. Read more

Dolls on Clarendon Street is in what I call ‘Indie Triangle’. Within a five minute walk either way you could spend hours shopping for food, fabulous clothes and have a choice of several cafes for a well earned break. Dolls owner Petria Lenehen has her own, distinctive and instinctive love of Clothing. There is a huge difference between Fashion and style and Petria definitely has her own unique style which is lovingly stamped all over Dolls with no compromise. Her love of fabrics, cut and above all understatement are very much in evidence and I was delighted to spend some time with her last week as she showed me around at what is on the rails now.

Strong accessories include opaque tights from Falke and hats, scarves and shawls from Jo Gordon. Fabulous bags and purses from Mimi (which I adore)

Mimi bag lined in turquoise silk

Labels to love include Peter Jensen whose collection is full of checks and prints in a beautiful English Country way

Petria in a Peter Jensen Check dress

Peter Jensen Wool Cardigan

Dolls has a great selection of LDD’s , you know the sort of dress that you put on over a pair of opaque tights and the new on trend shoe boots and you’re good to go all day and into the night (if you’re up for it?). This season Dolls have introduced their own label, Petria Lenehen Cashmere and Wool beautiful fine dresses and knits. With knitwear HUGE this season these are beautifully thought out and executed in several colours.

Petria Lenehan Cashmere/Wool dress with Jo Gordon Shawl and Hat

A Completely reversable dress from Blanc in Authentic Indian weave. Two -in- one, as the inside is completely different!

For special occasion wear Gary Graham from New York works in stunning fabrics and shapes. All the fabrics are hand dyed and the collection has a sense of History referencing an historical sillouhette. A vintage quality feel goes right through the garments which features fluid dresses, blouses and slouchy knits and trademark fitted jackets.

Coffee Organza and hand dyed Silk Gary Graham dress

From France the Catherine Andre collection is full of surprises. A simple yet beautiful Petrol blue skirt and top. A beautiful green brocade coat with blue buttons caught my eye.

Ghulam Sakina is an ethnic designer from London. Beautifully crafted pieces that take hours to make, many are hand sewn, dyed and embroidered in India. An ethical label with charm and beauty at it’s core. The Lame dress below has an equally stunning lining.

Stunning Ghulam Sakina Dress

Ghulam Sakina Jacket and Jo Gordon Pom Pom Scarf

A selection of Vintage pieces including a fabulous tweed suit and black wool dress

A large case of eye catching must have jewellery caught my eye Tatty Devine and Virginie Millefiori are two beautiful whimsical collections which are both priced reasonably adding to the eclectic mix on offer.

Shoes from Melissa for Vivienne Westwood completes the whole collection of clothing on offer in Dolls. An innate ability to ‘get it right,’ to dress beautifully without looking like you’ve tried too hard, to wear beautiful fabrics, beautifully cut with a nod to the past and an eye very much on the future sums up Petria’s style which is firmly and lovingly imprinted on her boutique.

Not content with standing still Dolls is planning to open a second shop on the South Circular Road (hopefully before Christmas) complete with Cafe. With Petria Lenehan and her sister Maisha an experienced Chef, in collaboration I can’t wait to see what they cook up, it’s sure to be another delightful success.

Dolls Boutique is at 32b Clarendon Street Dublin 2 Ireland T. 00353 1 6729004 E. info@dolls.ie

Anyone who is a regular reader of my blogs knows that I’m a huge Chanel fan and the Spring Summer 2010 collection recently shown at Paris fashion week was simply beautiful One trend that I loved and that will definitely translate easily to the high street were the clogs with a more elevated heel than we used to wear in the 70’s/80’s (or whenever I used to wear them?)