Another thin news week but that’s not surprising since everyone is focused on selling, selling, selling for the holiday season and planning for the next one. With trading conditions here in Ireland so difficult I’m predicting a bit of a blood bath post Christmas with some retailers in all sectors (not just fashion) closing the doors for good. Of course we are continually told that this is a world wide recession (which I don’t dispute) but why does it feel worse here? In Milan this week 350 workers at Versace were laid off. Versace has never embraced the commercial ready to wear collection route and for me symbolises the worst of the fashion excess of the past few years so no surprise to me there.
One notable article comes from the Independent on Sunday. Primark AKA Penneys have been accused by charity War On Want of treating workers in Bangladesh abysmally. The claim is that they are worked for up to 84hours per week and are not paid enough to feed themselves properly and are suffering from malnutrition. If true it’s no surprise to me. Ever wondered how you can buy a dress for 13 euro or a pair of knickers for 1.50 euro in a store in Dublin and not think about how much these items are costing to produce?
I spend some time trawling the net and have found two websites really worth taking a look at. First a blog, Advanced Style which chronicles really stylish and interesting older people from New York. We have quite a few of them here too and I have a friend Monica Murray who is one of the most stylish ladies I know. I’m trying to persuade her to let me into her wardrobe one day. You’ll be the first to know if I do!.
The second website is a list of all the online fashion retailers in the UK. So Much Easier I’m not usually a lover of lists preferring to do my own searching which is generally much more fun and satisfying, a bit like shopping in a new city (NOT). This one is good in that its, a) comprehensive b) gives a really good description of what it is before you click and c) offers discount codes to be applied if you are buying.
As I have a tendency to be a bit obsessive the knitting is taking over. Our weekly knitting circle is growing at Smock boutique on a Wednesday evening and my snood is growing at a fierce rate. The mistakes are I keep telling myself adding to the uniqueness of it. I can’t think of a better Christmas present for any young girl (or boy) than a few balls of wool and some knitting needles. Check out Wool and The Gang who sell amazing kits. The video tutorials on the site are particularly clear and cover everything a complete beginner needs to know, there are also great free patterns. You can buy wool and needles here in Dublin upstairs in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre or in Hickeys on Henry Street
One of the good things to come out of this recession is the ever increasing Designer collaborations with the high Street. When Karl Lagerfeld started the trend in 2004 the queues were down the street and the collection was a sell out hit. Quite why Mr Lagerfeld did it is debatable as I’m sure at that stage it wasn’t necessarily a purely commercial decision. Since then we’ve had a plethora of others. Other High Street chains have jumped on the band wagon with Top Shop doing it several times over. Most notable was Kate Moss for top Shop (though hardly a designer) another huge success story. For some designers this has been an important method of garnering much needed funds for others street cred was the order of the day. While I wasn’t a fan of the recent Jimmy Choo for H&M it was an undoubted success. As the recession bites commercial reasons are definitely top of the agenda. So a win win for designers, the Chains and of course us the customers.
This week saw another worthy addition to the list. Sonia Rykiel for H&M has produced a first class range of lingerie, night wear and soft ballet shoes and accessories. Bra’s priced at 22.95euro with knickers at the same price. Silk nightdresses and dressing gowns good enough to wear out and all produced with great attention to detail. Great Christmas presents for any woman of any age.
I like the idea of Craft Fairs but the reality is sometimes different, they are popping up at the speed of light at the moment and the thoughts of buying hand crafted unique goods is appealing. The idea of paying to go to one of these fairs I find objectionable unless they are for charity. After all, the stall holders are paying to be there and all the public, (ie you and me) are doing is looking and possibly buying.
This weekend the National Crafts and Design Fair is on at the RDS in Dublin. The entrance price has come down though and now costs a more reasonable 10euro. I had in my mind thoughts of finding ten top picks but of course that didn’t quite work out. I did however find four that I really liked. The food hall by the way is really good and there are loads of really great Irish artisan Cheeses, breads, chocolate and several Christmas specific goodies. I bought some seriously good Indian sauces which I tried and bought gorgeous chocolate from Chez Emily which I was delighted to see because we miss them in the Organic Food Market Temple Bar on a Saturday where the Oyster Club meets (Oyster club is a loose collection of bods who meet up on a Saturday and have become firm friends over the years!)
Lorsha Design is by Loretta Gallagher, a textile designer who hand paints each piece of her collection. A combination of silk and Irish Linen makes fabulous wall hangings, table runners, as well as fashion accessories. Reasonably priced and in a beautiful range of colours
Wall Hanging by Lorsha 95 Euro
By Lorsha
Bag by Lorsha Design
Michele Hannan’s Ceramics were by far the best from a large selection at the fair, I really liked the colour and textures used.
Two dishes by Michele Hannan
I’ve been having a love affair with scarves in the last few years, I suspect it may be an age thing but they really have the ability to transform an otherwise plain outfit and bring some colour to the face so I was really quite taken with these substantial silk scarves designed and printed by Susannagh Grogan. They were reasonably priced at 98 euro
Silk Scarf Susannagh Grogan
Silk Square by Susannagh Grogan
There were lots of hats on offer but the best of these comes from Marian Flood who makes her cloches in both velvet, felt and wax. They are available in a wide range of colours, the jewel ones being the most striking. Marian has been making hats since the 80′s and I met lots of women who were returning customers. The Hats and Scarves are 50 euro’s each with felt Fascinators staring at 35euro.
Marian Flood’s Hats are available from Linen and Ware in Greystones and can be contacted at marflood@unison.ie
My favorite Lingerie company Victoria’s Secret had their latest catwalk show on the 19th November. I have been buying my underwear from them for the past six years either online, in person or getting friends and family (including my pilot brother) to buy for me. Finally news that they are actively looking for retail spacein London (ok Dublin is just a step too far, these days at least, but maybe in the future). The last time I was in a store was in Orange County CA last year. I gave the assistant my size (I’m not telling you that!!!) and she brought a beautiful box to a very large changing room with every style of bra in my size for me to try. Now that’s quality service.
Here’s a clip from the latest show, take note that Heidi Klum who had her fourth baby only a few weeks ago is a HUGE fan of Yummie Tummie shapewear though of course she can’t possibly say…
This evening we had our second knitting circle evening in Smock boutique. I haven’t knitted for about 20 years so It’s really interesting to be sitting with a group of women none of whom I know well and ‘knit and bitch’. I’m knitting a snood which I hope will be finished while the weather is still cold. I’ve already changed the pattern through mistakes and not design but I’m assuring myself that it will be truly unique! One woman is knitting socks using several needles and I can’t imagine why, another is knitting a fabulous shawl using what looks like a long thread instead of a traditional needle. A very experienced knitter turned up and showed me a minuscule (and I mean tiny, about the size of a postage stamp) jacket complete with three miniature buttons the size of a pin head. It seems there are knitting groups all over the city and though they have been huge in the states for the past few years they’ve only reached our shores recently.
Heidi Higginsis one of my favorite young Irish Designers and is in the Loft ‘Pop Up Shop’ in the Powerscourt Shopping Centre ,Dublin every Weekend. This weekend she is holding a 20% off sale so I will definitely be going in to see if that beautiful silk jersey dress that I tried on is still there!
Heidi Higggins Coat
Jersey dress with Leather Jacket (all Heidi Higgins)
Heidi Higgins is selling her collection in the Loft, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin. Friday-Sunday. ( 20% off this weekend)
Fashion is everywhere but really I’m much more of a lover of style as opposed to a slavish follower of fashion trends. I thought it was time to look back at 2009 and see what will be consigned to that big discount shop in the universe. I’ve often wondered what happens to all those mistakes? You know the rails and rails of heavily marked down clothes and racks and racks of shoes that are still in the stores just before the new seasons offer arrives?
These are the ones that readily came to mind. I don’t understand the lumberjack Plaid everywhere, I like it in pyjamas but that’s about it. Thigh high boots don’t do any favours for anyone and ruin the top half unless you’re a dominatrix in which case they are perfect. I predict lots of these at 70% (and more) off and if you have a good cobbler who can cut them down you could make a clever purchase and end up with a lovely pair of boots.
Open toe boots and booties are just plain silly and I can’t see what you could do with these to recycle them. The Maxi Dress makes the list too and I have to admit to having a couple of Summer ones which I bought while imagining myself sipping cocktails at a beach party. Hence they are still in the wardrobe! The tie die effect which Diane Von Furstenberg showed and which was copied ‘ad nauseum’ was for me, very unflattering and I really think it pretty ugly. Finally the ‘piece de resistance’ Harem Pants which it would be too rude to comment on.
If you would like to add to this list feel free. Just remember this is my opinion and feel free to disagree, just give me a good argument eh?
