Subtle this look is not but it’s certainly an easy one to put together and doesn’t take too much money to do it well. On the high street check out East, River Island and Monsoon and don’t forget the market stalls where you can pick up great tribal print scarves that work as a skirt, sarong or wrapped turban style on the head. The tribal look is one that is very strong this Summer. Tunics are everywhere and a good one is an investment piece. I prefer the longer Kaftan tunics and wear them with a belt and some gold sandals for an evening barbecue or over a bathing costume (my bikini days are over!) on holidays. Go as mad as you want with the tribal look. Clashing colours and geometric patterns are perfect in fact just don’t do matching, do clashing and you will be ready to do a war dance!
Trivia is the key theme in this weeks news round up with the release of ‘That’ film top of everyone’s agenda. It seems the red carpet events and Charity Premieres of which there were many were themselves far more interesting than the film itself. Many critics have been getting their knickers in a twist over this film and citing all sorts of deep meanings as to why they think it’s a dog. My feeling is that women are able to have a laugh and generally speaking, (even though this is a pretty dreadful film, critically speaking ) will get some enjoyment from it on a purely superficial level and what in these pretty dreadful times,is wrong with that?
So to follow a trivial trend I spotted a fun piece in the Guardian (read the article by clicking on the link here) which discusses the theory… Wait for it…. That short Swimming trunks worn by men has some bearing (excuse the pun) on economic recovery. I think I will lodge that one under counting and saluting magpies, weeping and moving statues and other strange goings on.
Amazing how often Miliner Philip Treacy is referred to as from the UK or ‘London based’. He is IRISH, born in Ahascragh, Co Galway in the West of Irelandand as far as I am aware very much proud of it. An exhibition of his most famous hats which he has re-created specially is now on at the Museum of London. It’s open from 10-6 daily and entrance is free.
Suspend all your critical faculties, suspend all memories of the original Sex and The City TV series and enjoy if you can the second movie. The first movie was highly forgettable and so I suspect this one will go the same way. A movie to be watched on DVD when you’re feeling in a totally trivial mood.
Last nights Premiere was in Dundrum and in aid of Down Syndrome Wicklow. What was great about the movie last night was the fantastic women who came along. All beautifully dressed and barely a man in sight. In short women doing it for themeselves and if there is one strong message that’s still relevevent from the series it is that women can obsess about clothes and shoes, be great friends through thick and thin and that it’s ok to cry about losing your heel one minute and then cry about the deeper issues of life the next.
The Movie is peppered with endorsements and more clothes changes than is humanly possible. There are some very humorous moments. The Gay wedding is pretty good fun. Liza Minnelli makes an appearance and though her pins can still move and look good, her face is unfortunately unable to move at all!
The scenes in Abu Dhabi left me, well they left me feeling a tad uncomfortable. I’m sure it was another endorsement but was wholly tasteless and patronising. I much prefer the New York original vibe. There is no need to climb on a camel and wander through the desert in Monohlo’s ( I had a little snooze at that point)
Go along with girl friends or gay men but leave everyone else behind and have a laugh but don’t say I didn’t warn you…..
Etsy is one of those sites that’s fat on content but has so much going on that unless you have searching time is sometimes too much of a chore. Often I dip in to take a quick look and can’t find anything that shouts ‘that’s interesting’. One good thing about Etsy is that if you do find something you like it’s invariably a really good value bargain.
I just dipped in tonight and found this great vintage shop Prance & Swagger where what’s on offer looks interesting. So I picked a few of my favorites for you to browse.
The new Tom Ford Private blend lip colour collection lipsticks are very expensive but curiosity and the continual life search for the perfect pucker colour had me checking the 12 shades in Brown Thomas, Dublin yesterday. I don’t know about you but I must have at least twenty lipsticks ranging from the cheap right up to the outrageous and none of them satisfying. Yesterday I wasn’t taking any chances, true they look fab in true Tom Ford style, true the shades look good enough to eat. I picked the coral shade and tried it on. It felt really comfortable, looked great and voila it was in my bag as quick as lightening. Now the real test. One cup of coffee and two hours later I checked and yes it was still in place, still looking good and still comfortable.
It looks like my lifelong search is finally over, I think I will have to go back and try that nude shade that looks like it might just be the next one on my list. Oh and by the way I’m trying desperately to think of a new word to describe the colour I know as nude. It’s nude on my skin but not on black skins. I read an article in the Guardian newspaper the other day and I can’t get it out of my mind. Is nude racist? After all it’s not a skin tone shade on Michelle Obama..
I’m in a White mood these days and the Halston dress worn by the Carrie Bradshaw character in SATC2 does it for me. The great thing about white is that it screams Summer and puts us all in a good mood. It can be paired with any colour. Team it with gold for a luxe look. Tan for city sophistication and if you want to go down the bright route just take your pick.
Just a couple of words of caution though. Choose your white carefully and if it has a tinge of yellow or grey don’t go there. It needs to be a crisp fresh shade. Wear skin coloured underwear and wear a slip under a dress. Don’t spend a fortune on a white garment as it’s not a long term investment. Lastly it’s one of those colours that needs regular wardrobe replenishment so go shop!
The long awaited Premiere of SATC2 is happening tonight in NYC and I’ll be watching the live stream of the event and who is wearing what at 10.30 tonight for a bit of well needed fun. A click away on Entertainment.ie
There is still time to bag a ticket to the Premiere here next Friday in Dundrum. I will be there having a ball and supporting charity. This event is in aid of 2 great charities: Downs Syndrome Wicklow and Bray Lakers – both of these worthy causes support children and young adults with special needs. Susan Fox owner of Boutique Belle is the woman behind the event
Sex and the City 2 – Charity Event- May 28th 2010
Your evening starts in the chic surroundings of Harvey Nichols restaurant with bubbly and American themed food. Then walk the red carpet into Movies@ Dundrum, pick up your complimentary drink and popcorn then settle back with the girls to enjoy the most anticipated movie of the year.
In true Carrie style you better put on those high heels anddress to impress as Xpose’s Aisling O’Loughlin will be judging the best dressed lady competition – first prize isthis fabulous pendant by Irish designer Michael O’Dwyer
Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda take another bite out of the Big Apple in the sequel to the 2008 blockbuster. Returning in their starring roles, as the four great friends are Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon. Of course, where would these women be without their men? Also back for the much-anticipated sequel are Chris Noth as Mr. Big, David Eigenberg as Steve, Evan Handler as Harry, Jason Lewis as Smith, Mario Cantone as Anthony and Willie Garson as Stanford Blatch. Click here to see the official trailer.
Tickets are priced at €80 and are available by contacting Susanat Boutique Belle – or call 0404 42757.
I have a serious shoe problem at the moment. Too many and nowhere to put them. It’s got to the stage where even if I need a new pair I seriously don’t know where they can go. I have tried those shoe storage things from Argos which were pretty useless taking up too much space and too little shoes.
I’m hoping that this company and it’s shoe storage solutions are going to sort the problem for me and judging from what I can see the omens are good.
The website is Tszuji and the wheel is 64.95. I really like the look of the handbag storage system as they are a major headache too.
There is one reason that will definitely bring me back to the beautiful Island of Ischia and it is the stunning La Mortella Garden. It’s difficult to know where to start in talking about this magical place. The more I discover about it the more fantastic it becomes. It is the creation of Susana Walton wife of Sir William Walton, British Classical Music composer. Susana came from Argentina where she met William in October 1948 when she was 22 and he was 46. He was a renowned womaniser and she was a beautiful young woman with perfect English from a wealthy family. Much to her fathers disapproval they married two months later and travelled to England where Susana discovered that her new husband was a womaniser, that he did not want children and that he had very little money. Despite adversity Susana set about supporting her composer husband and embarked on a remarkable life.
Susana and William Walton
William decided that they should live in Italy and the Island of Ischia where his friend and benefactor Edith Sitwell had stayed. They rented a house and set about finding some land to build a home. When they found the land that was to become La Mortella their friend Laurence Olivier was visiting and told them not to buy a ‘stone quarry’. Mortella means ‘Divine Myrtle’ the plant which sprouts all over the place. They employed the garden landscape architect Russel Page to design the garden and interpret their dreams. The garden came before the house, essentially it became a collaboration between Page and Susana in which he interpreted her instructions and she set about the work of gardening.
Rare water lilies from the Amazon basin and the lush valley rain forest foliage is at the base of the garden which climbs up to sun baked terraces and a Thai temple and on to Williams rock and the views of the sea. A garden that is both laterally and vertically beautiful encompasses the different climates and the plants that reside. More architectural than floral with foliage being carefully placed, stunning trees ,dry stone walls and the natural rock all working together in beautiful harmony.
A garden is a living piece of art and the artist in this case was a stunning looking woman who despite all the odds created a fantastic garden and also succeeded in becoming a wonderful wife. Sir William Walton died in 1983, his ashes are entombed in ‘Williams Rock’ which is perched on the uppermost tier of the garden overlooking the bay and the surrounding countryside.
Susana Walton was a regular visitor to Dublin and the Wexford Opera Festival. A flamboyant dresser with a penchant for Philip Treacy hats and a good friend of renowned artist Patricia Jorgensen who spent many months at La Mortella painting the flowers there.
Susana Walton with Philip Treacy Hat
After Sir Williams death Susana founded the William Walton foundation and set about maintaining his memory. She opened a museum and recital room and an outdoor Greek Amphitheater. Young musicians from around the world play regularly at the Saturday concerts.
Susana Walton died last March aged 83. A memorial which she planned houses her ashes and the garden which she loved is now a wonderful tribute not only to her composer husband but to a remarkable woman whose presence is felt throughout the beauty that is La Mortella.
The beautiful Island of Ischia is beside the Island of Capri, a short journey from Positano and an hour by ferry from the Port of Naples. That is where I spent last week. Ischia is a Volcanic Island peppered by thermal springs. Ischia Porto is where I stayed and the busiest town on the Island where the constant sound of fog horns and anchors being dropped are reminders of Island life.
I had thought that I would go by one of the many ferries around the Island and perhaps spend some time visiting Capri and Positano but actually there was so much to see and do on Ischia that I spent the whole week there. I didn’t meet any Irish people, nor see an Irish bar or in fact spot a burger joint which was actually really refreshing. The food, from the caff in the Ferry terminal to every restaurant I ate in was superb. Italians don’t do bad food in my experience though they do love pomp and ceremony with suited waiters at even the smallest bistro’s.
If you google Ischia you find reports of an impending Volcanic eruption so I was keen to find out the truth behind the story. If Berlusconni is on the right then Ischia is on the left and the politician who uttered the dire warnings of a possible disaster is a colleague of Berlusconni. The local business people I talked to had nothing but derision for this story and they described it as a trumped up hatchet job. All volcano’s have the possibility of erupting but I think it’s safe to say that the one on Ischia is fast asleep now as it has been for the past 700 years and is not expected to wake up from it’s slumber any time soon.
Ischia has great beaches, beautiful scenery, great food and is totally unpretentious. I would describe it as a little shabby and in need of a little TLC but there is something rather endearing about peeling paint in Italy in the sun, unlike Dublin where buildings in need of attention just look depressing.
If you like Spa’s then you will be in Thermal heaven. If like me you can take them or leave them (except for Monart which is my Spa exception) there is plenty else to see and do. The local buses took me everywhere I wanted to go even if the journeys were sometimes hair raising on small winding roads with hardly enough room to swing a cat. Somehow the chattering passengers jostling for space didn’t bother me at all. There is something pleasant about listening to Italian being spoken and somehow I think I understood the gist of lots of conversations which are always accompanied by lots of hand and arm waiving.
I stayed at the Aragona Palace Hotel in Ischia Porto which I found on Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor is always worth trawling through, though watch out for trumped up reviews and booked through Booking.com It was the only website that didn’t require the full amount up front or a deposit and offered the best price. The hotel was around the corner from the main shopping streets with its cobbled streets, beautiful boutiques and coffee houses. The main bus station was a two minute walk where for €5 return you can travel the Island.
