Nicky's Rag Tales

Well 2010 is nearly here and it’s time to look forward and welcome the New Year. Everywhere I turn there are articles and discussion about 2009 and predictions for 2010 so I thought I should throw in a few of my own for what it’s worth. It will be really interesting to look back and see if I did have that crystal ball after all?

My top ten Fashion Predictions for 2010

1. There will be a growth of Slow Fashion, like the Slow Food movement which moves apace (is that a pun?) Slow Fashion will be of the sustainable type with an organic utilitarian feel to it.

2. Lots of names we know and love (or not) will fall by the wayside. I have my own list of who these might be but I will keep those to myself. Celebrity labels will be among them but Victoria Beckham will continue to be centre stage

3. Social Media including bloggers will get together to create easier to navigate sites.

4. In my own business Jaeger London will be introduced to Ireland and will be a success

5. Hosiery and especially leggings and textured tights will continue to sell well.

6. People will wear more casual clothes rather than dressing up and cycling will become ever more popular

7. Denim will see a resurgence and overalls will be everywhere

8. The 80′s will continue to be a trend for 2010

9. Good quality basics will at last be available and appreciated

10. I will be at London Fashion week and Paris Fashion Week ( with a new camera) and will still be writing this blog this time next year!

Well it’s raining hard, it’s freezing cold, I’ve got a fever and a blinding headache and I’m afraid to try on my clothes as I’ve eaten far too much over the past week. Sound familiar? As I have a hectic schedule for January and February and am doing a piece on trends for Spring Summer for ‘Off the Rails’ I thought I would try to cheer myself up with more of what’s to come. I have long been a fan of Vivienne Westwood. I have to admit to not being fond of looking at her but I do love looking at the clothes she produces. They haven’t changed that much over the years. Lots of dramatic draping and waists topped by really good necklines keep giving us sexy wearable shapes. What’s really lovely this coming Spring/ Summer is the colour combinations. A glimpse of what’s to come……….

Well, the turkey leftovers have been consigned to the bin, I’ve eaten most of the Christmas Cake, lost my shirt at the races and have an awful head cold as a result! All in all a pretty normal Christmas.

The space between Christmas and new Year is akin to limbo. A time to look back and forward in turns. One reason to be cheerful is the continuing collaboration between Sonia Rykiel, that fantastic Parisian designer,( she of the original big striped jumper and first to put seams on the outside) and H&M that Swedish cheapo chain) Part two hits the stores next February. The first Sonia Rykiel lingerie Collection for H&M was a complete sell out last month. So here is a preview of some of the next instalment to cheer us all up.

Good wishes to you all for a Happy Holiday and a Peaceful and Healthy Year ahead. I’m just back from the shops and am about to indulge in my guilty pleasure which is cooking and baking while listening to BBC Radio 4. The choir from Kings College are about to kick off at 3 pm . So happy times to you all and don’t do too much damage in the sales.

If I go I will be heading for the rails of classics which invariably get hugely discounted and which often get looked over because they aren’t the latest fashion. I buy cashmere jumpers and cardigans and lingerie which is great value plus hosiery which can be bought in bulk. Trends looking forward to watch out for. Lace, nude colours, pastels, ocean blues, anything in navy or sailor stripes. Think feminine yet strong.

It’s cold outside, well certainly here on this side of the world and as we wrap up warm and shop the High Street we are bundled up in scarves, hats, gloves and warm jackets plus thick socks and fur lined boots. Well that’s me anyway. Trouble is when I enter the shops, a welcome blast of warm air hits me, this to those in the know is called the ‘transient thermal comfort temperature’. Great for a few minutes then the shvitz starts and I begin to feel uncomfortable. I debate whether to peel off some of the layers but this involves carrying them and as I’m already carrying a couple of bags at this stage I opt to shop on regardless. Familiar story? When I finally get to the stage where I just have to get out the cold blast of air is as welcome as the warm one was on entering. The Close the Door campaign in the UK is actively trying to encourage retailers to keep the doors shut and save on the total waste of hot air. I’d like a campaign to turn down the heat too.

Close The Door from Oliver Riley-Smith on Vimeo.

I wonder in Australia right now are they campaigning to turn down the air conditioning?

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This is definitely the silly season. In between guest blogging for Social Stylists in Chicago and writing for Irish Boutiques.com I’m wrapping presents. My little girls are all grown up with my youngest aged 16. Chloe is stranded in London after a Youth group week end and being looked after by a total stranger called Tanya who I will be in debt to forever for her kindness. We are hoping to have her home tomorrow if the snow lets up.

The Iconic Barbie, she of many different hair styles, skin colours and choice of clothes and professions has now had a make over by Christian Loubouton. Cat Woman Barbie complete with four pairs of red soled shoes are now on sale at Net-a -Porter and retail at 115 euro. They are selling like hot cakes, expect them on e-bay within days as these are a collectors item. Barbie fixation anyone?

Barbies boots complete with bag

Cat Woman Barbie

With one foot in the showroom planning for 2010 and another on the street wrapped up as warm as I can get shopping for Christmas presents, cheeses and wine I started to thinking about what I might write about today. Ireland is cold until at least April and unless we are all abandoning ship for warmer climes ( that sounds like a good idea) we need to dress for the weather. I’m still thinking about the girl in the sleeveless dress and no coat last Friday (late) outside the Shelbourne Hotel trying to flag a taxi. Why I ask myself would you put yourself through such torture never mind make an idiot of yourself.

I met Rachel Mackay at a charity lunch in Mullingar a few weeks ago when I had to compere a fashion show at short notice and was lucky enough to get to see her clothes at close quarters. They are truly beautiful, produced in the most glorious fabrics, eco-friendly cashmere, silk, cotton and wool often with hand embellished detailing effect. Her non obvious approach to design means these are really pieces to keep with the true touch of an artist. Many of them have surprise elements thrown in and that I think sums up Rachel.

Rachel Mackay Winter 2009

Rachel Mackay Winter 2009

Rachel Mackay can be contacted at t. 00353 1 28855591 e. rachelmackay.ie

The Premier of the second film this year about Mademoiselle Coco (Gabrielle) Chanel took place in Paris entitled ‘Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky’, directed by Jan Kounen it tells the story of the affair and relationship between these two artistic and highly talented people. Igor Stravinsky’s The beautiful ‘Rite of Spring’ features in the opening scenes. The part of Coco Chanel is played by Anna Mouglalis. By all accounts a film full of guilty pleasures which I look forward to it.

SALES NEWS Tuesday 27th of December is the day it all kicks off with M&S opening their doors at 8 am while Arnotts, Brown Thomas and Clerys are up and running at 9 O’Clock. Reductions of 20%-50% to start off are sure to wet the appetite for all of you sales addicts.

ETHICAL TRADING While the meeting of all the world leaders on climate change went on and on in Copenhagen to a spluttering finale another conference was taking place a short distance away from the main event. Fashion Industry leaders got together to discuss ethical fashion which before the world recession was starting to make an impact. No news has emerged from that meeting yet but the outcome will be interesting as at the moment it’s all down to price price price and sod the ethics. That’s if Penney’s sales are any indicator. Personally I would love to think the Industry leaders could get it together and device an ethical code which would be sensible and followed by the whole industry based on fair trading but then pigs might fly too!

I’m writing this the day after the night (and day) before. Before that is one of the marathon pre Christmas lunch into late night gatherings that are a feature of the Irish version of a certain madness that grips the nation in the run up to Christmas Day. It is assumed that if we haven’t seen everyone that we still want to maintain any sort of a relationship with after the aforementioned day then terrible things will happen. Based on this premise, no matter what age we are it is assumed that we will meet and have fun for hours (and I do mean hours) at a time. Dancing, alcohol and food plus the odd sing song all feature. Meantime us women will want to maintain that well dressed, well groomed fresh faced look all the way through. So here are my tips for not only surviving but maintaining the ‘just out the door’ party look late into the night.

1. A certain amount of pre- planning is necessary. Your little clutch won’t do the job here you really need a big bag to make sure you have a few emergency supplies.

2. Eat before you go out. Even if a table is booked for lunch for one O’clock you probably won’t eat till 2.30 or even 3 so have a bowl of porridge or if you aren’t a porridge person have pasta or an omelet. The last thing you want is to be hungry. I always carry a small bag of mixed nuts and berries for energy in case I get peckish.

3. Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste. There’s nothing worse than alcohol (poo) breath.

4. Also into your bag bring an extra pair of tights. I didn’t last night and dragged my big cocktail ring right through mine early on and spent the rest of the evening explaining that holes in my tights were a new fashion trend! (to the men, I might add). If you are wearing Stay-Ups don’t put body cream on your legs or they will be down at your ankles and if you do feel them slipping ,rubbing a little water across the silicone band should have them gripping and staying put.

4. I know it’s tempting to wear glitter and shine makeup but beware. If you have any crows feet or lines, glitter will settle right there, so not a good look. Added shine is fine but less is more so just a sweep from the cheep bones outwards. Put a little glitter eyeshadow in the centre of your eyelid if you really must. Bobbi Brown do the best.

5. Even though I’m a lover of red lipstick this is impossible to maintain over a long session. It ends up everywhere but on your lips and you can end up looking like Cruella de Ville. Use a natural colour liner and colour in the whole lip with it. Lip gloss over it (which it’s ok to take out and reapply) without having to jostle your way to the ladies.

6. Do either dramatic eyes or lips. I know it can look good in the magazines but believe me in ordinary light and without photoshop it just doesn’t work.

7. Carry some fold up flats in that bag for when your feet give up the will to walk

8. Take off the make-up when you finally make it home no matter how tired/amorous/drunk you are. Mascara, eyeshadow and foundation look awful on the pillowslip plus your skin is for life ‘not just for Christmas’!

9. If you do find yourself flagging ,bring some facial water and spritz it on it has the effect of waking you up and freshening up your makeup

10 Enjoy the party season and have as much fun now as you can who knows what’s around the corner!

I got a call from Heidi Higgins asking me to view some of her Spring Summer samples. As it was a really dreary day in Dublin, cold with intermittent sleet-threatening sn0w I felt in need of a pick me up. There’s nothing like a dash of Ocean blue to bring you up to the waters edge on a Summers day. Colour, like music has the power to change our moods and transport us to another place. Heidi tells me she is opening a shop in her home town of Portlaoise. At present she is alongside her beautiful clothes in The Loft in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre Dublin. Incredibly talented and with a keen commercial edge Heidi is much older than her years in terms of skill and raw talent. I can’t wait for the opening, I will be first through the door wishing her all the best.

'Izzy' Silk crepe de chine in Ocean Blue with pleat detail

'Pia' polka dot silk satin (all clothes modeled by Heidi Higgins in the Loft, Powerscourt Townhouse Dublin