1. Lily Allen has been saying for sometime that she is giving up her Music Career (or at least putting it on hold) to go into the Business of Fashion. Well, she’s launching her own Vintage label “Lucy In Disguise” at the Goodwood Fashion-meets Glam-Music Festival in the UK August 13-15. Lily said she would be sourcing the clothing with her sister Sarah Owen
The Festival, the first of it’s kind is the brain child of Wayne Hemingway and his wife, founders of label Red or Dead . The idea is to marry vintage with music from the 40′s 50′s 60′s and 70′s and 80′s. Simple a brilliant idea in an ideal location. To book tickets for this first of a kind festival click here… Goodwood
At the Launch of the Goodwood Festival and Lilly Allen's move into Fashion
2. Until the Mid 90′s Milan was the heart and centre of power of all the Fashion Capitals of the world. It seems as if this is certainly not true any more. Anna Wintour cut short the amount of time she spent there, more like a Fashion long week-end than a week! Read what the Guardian Newspaper reported about Milan during the week.
3 From Style.com read the report from the Burberry Prosum fantastic Catwalk show at London Fashion Week. I’m starting to save for one of these jackets right now.
Burberry Prosum Catwalk at LF 23rd February 2010
4. Closer to home, Paula Rowan had a fantastic launch of her Spring Summer Leather Shoes, Gloves and Bag collections last Thursday. Among the guests were Deirdre Mc Quillan, Richard Lewis, Eddie Shanahan and Barry Egan. There were over 200 people there who ate drank and were definitely merry… My interview with Paula will be uploaded in the next day or two so you can take a look for yourself.
I can’t pass an art gallery without looking in the window and I was stopped in my tracks today on Dublin’s Clarendon Street. The Keeling Gallery run by Vincent Keeling has some really great paintings and prints but it was a collection of bow ties painted in acrylic by Jack Kirwan and costing 65 euro each that really stood out.
So now I can wear an original work of art on my neck and with a white shirt, tuxedo and black pants I’ll be a work of walking art myself!
I’ve often thought that If Oprah walked into my living room we’d have lots to chat about. The fact that she has struggled with her weight and discussed it openly for several years. Ok, maybe we’re a tad tired about the whole weight thing but from experience it does take up a lot of thinking time if you have, like me had (or have )problems with eating and controlling your weight. Up to twelve years ago I was constantly obsessed with food and very overweight. I somehow moved out of that and into a much healthier lifestyle and have managed to keep it up ever since (give or take a few pounds here and there). For anyone who wants to know I love the Low Gl diet as it’s a diet for life full of all the foods that a) I love to eat and b) are good for me!
Here’s Oprah talking about her weight issues…..
Having just come back from London Fashion Week where most of the models still look emaciated bar the few plus size models (that’s over an English size 12!!) I read that Oprah is auctioning her wardrobe on ebay starting March 1st. This is for her South African Charity and since it is Oprah will feature clothes of varying sizes. So if you want to take a look at what’s on offer or make a bid just click here Oprah’s Wardrobe Auction
I just loving having a good root around the rails when the new Season’s clothes arrive in the shops. I’m so fed up with Winter and the horrible weather it’s time to cheer up and look forward to Summer. They say the harder the Winter the better the Summer so I was really happy to be invited to BT2′s press day in Dundrum today. BT2 made huge changes to the mini store last season which was hugely successful and have followed up this season with an even better, tighter and altogether well balanced range of clothes, shoes, accessories and not forgetting great make up brands and a brow and nail bar.
As it was mainly the clothes that I was interested in I was quick to spot lots and lots of winners. Prices range from incredibly competitive to mid priced for the designer collections and I was frankly surprised at some of the value. There are dresses for special occasions, a great Jeans Bar. All Saints and Juicy Couture alongside great T Shirts by Local Celebrity. Here are my top picks and what I think are (only) some of the winners……
Gestuz top 109.55 euro
Gestuz trouser 79.67 euro
TBA blouse
Lipsy Dress 65euro
Lipsy Leather Jacket 90euro
Great Trench by Lipsy 90euro
Fab dress by Numph
From the fantastic fun collection from Sonia Rykiel
Sonia Rykiel
Dress (from Catwalk) by Philip Lim
Marc by Marc
Great oversize metalic clutch 70 euro by Friis (my summer event bag)
New to BT2 and loved by the celebs, sandals by Sam Edelman
I remember a time when everything I saw on the catwalk bore no resemblance to any clothes that appeared in the shops and Trends were interpreted in a way so loose it was hard to see where they came from. I remember a time when trends started on the street and found their way to the catwalk. Now it seems the edges are blurred with trends swirling around from all directions. The whole world of Fashion seems to have slowed down allowing designers to be unconstrained by having to show the next new thing and more able to concentrate on wearable altogether more interesting offerings. I am reminded of the Slow Food movement where quality over quantity and a striving for excellence is the order of the day. Vivienne Westwood and other Heritage English Design Brands like Burberry (whose show was superb) Jaeger and Aquascutum are finally having their day (or longer) in the sun.
Time and time again Vivienne Westwood brings to the catwalk exciting fabulous creations that are also wearable by women of all ages Click here to watch the Vivienne Westwood Red Collection show at London Fashion Week.
More images from the Jaeger London show yesterday…….
My answer to my own question is a definite yes. Fashion has grown up (for now at least )
The answer is they were at London Fashion Week today at the Jaeger London Catwalk show. I was there too and even though the live streaming of the shows is great there’s nothing like the real thing. A wet and dreary London day was alive with the buzz of the fashion press, models, celebs, designers and in fact all those for whom this is a twice yearly pilgrimage. There are those that get VIP treatment alongside others who hope to blag a ticket for the shows. Two queues, one for the ones who live in hope and others like me who clutch onto their precious tickets like they were one of Willy Wonka’s Golden tickets.
I take the pictures first and ask questions later, hence my acute embarresment at asking who the dark haired girl was only to be told by a very haughty well informed woman that it was Erin O’Connor to which I mumbled something about being short sighted.
The Show itself was a collection of simply constructed but beautifully tailored pieces that will easily translate to the shop floor. Lots of great coats and Jackets in grey and camel. Dresses in a large blue and brown print with taped edging prominent on both. These are ageless and timeless pieces and I can’t wait to start selling them in the next couple of weeks.
So here are a few of the pictures from this afternoon…..
These are some of the visitors I snapped today at the show……. Read more
Sonia Rykiels collection of knitwear in collaboration with H&M went on sale yesterday and has been a complete sellout so if you haven’t managed to bag one of the beauties from the range I’m afraid you’re out of luck. If you have bought it and anyone has the tunic dress in a medium and don’t want it please let me know???…..
2. Following on the tragedy of Alexander Mc Queens death it was announced last week that the planned Paris Catwalk show will go ahead for this season at least and is sure to be a hit. Bear in mind that catwalk collections aren’t finished until literally the last moment but it will have the stamp if not the finish of a brilliant designer. The future for the brand is less assured… watch this space.
3. London Fashion Week is in full swing. and tomorrow I’m there for Jaeger London at 3.30. On Tuesday the highlights for me are from Ashish (at 9.00 am) and Burberry Prosum (at 4. ‘Clock). Live streaming in high quality of all the shows can be found here Londonfashionweek. The quality is so good I’m seriously wondering why I’m flying at the crack of dawn tomorrow but all will become clear and I will report back exactly what I think.
4. Click here for a very interesting article from The New York Times on the wearisome return of military influences and the blurred influences which are now very much de rigueur as a source of fashion trends.
Wow, Paul Brady said yes too… Fantastic Irish Musicians are coming on board for The Music Therapy Service in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoire. This is going to be amazing……..I’ll keep you posted…………. there’s more to come!
Back in my usual Dublin Saturday afternoon haunt for Oysters and Wine and strolling around afterwards I bumped into knitwear designer Sian Jacobs. I can’t wait for her new collection to arrive in and am looking forward to taking a peek. Her last collection of fab cashmere scarves was a sell out in Brown Thomas.
Don’t forget only ten days left to enter the competition for those beautiful gloves and all you have to do to be in the mix is register and leave a comment!!!!!
Julie Feeney has agreed to help me out with a brilliant fundraiser for the Music Therapy Service in the National rehab Hospital Dunlaoire, Dublin. I’m so excited but can’t tell you yet what it’s all about because there are other musicians coming on board too….. Watch this space for updates. You will be the first to know.
