I’m all packed and ready to go. The snow/sleet is teeming down so we have decided it’s safest to retire to a Dublin Airport Hotel for the evening in order to be sure that we make the flight tomorrow morning. Meanwhile I am not feeling the best and am dashing to the bathroom at increasingly shorter intervals, this is accompanied by a fever. No sympathy please, (well just a little then) I’m heading to Vancouver and whilst there will hopefully seek out some interesting posts for you
Since I’m consigned to home and the computer is my only company I thought I would show you some of the Jewels once owned by Wallis Simpson, who married King Edward V111 of England who abdicated to marry the twice divorced American woman in December 1936. In his abdication speech he famously said he was doing it to ‘Marry the woman I love’ . His brother ended up on the thrown and he was given the title Duke of Windsor, with Wallis becoming Duchess of Windsor. Wallis Simpson was always controversial and had a love of the finer things in life. They spent their lives flitting across europe. After Edward’s death Wallis spent her days living a semi- reclusive life. These jewels are destined for the auction rooms shortly and the prices are a tad obscene so I didn’t bother including them. Suffice to say watch out for copies coming to a High Street Shop near you soon.
The Arnotts Beauty Hall will be transformed into a Burlesque show-stopping theatre from the 2nd – 5th December in advance of the upcoming Burlesque movie featuring Cher and Christina Aguilera! Authentic Burlesque dancers and usherettes will entertain shoppers throughout the weekend, while all customers will be in with a chance to win a once in a lifetime trip to Hollywood in Los Angeles, including an access all areas trip to the Sony Studios where the movie was made.
I can’t wait for this movie to come out, just love the idea. Start stocking up on your net tight, stockings and garter belts soon!
From U Magazine this week a great two page spread about our very own Helen Delany one part of the duo (the other half is Brenda Aherne) who are the designers of Electronic Sheep Hats and Scarves.
I love Twitter, one second there is something tweeted that makes me laugh out loud and another second later some deeply important piece of breaking news all intersperced with soemtimes banal and occasional interesting tidbits from the world of fashion. New Tweeters are following daily and one of many yesterday required further investigation. Her name is Lucia Emanuela, originally from Milan and now living and working in London as an illustrator, artist and film maker. Company Magazine High street edition for Autumn 2010.
It seems that more and more artists are using the print medium to display their work and use the humble T-Shirt as their canvas, I can think of Lady Umbrella here too. For Spring 2010 Lucia launched her own Pop Up Shop collection called ‘Red Nails in the Marmalade’ with some amazing prints, paying homage to Prada and other designers. Collecting reasonably priced limited edition T-Shirts may be an investment worth considering?
There is so much more to look at on Lucia’s website if you love where Art and fashion blur the lines
When I asked my darling friend the glamorous, generous and oh so stylish Maria Fusco to judge the competition I thought it would take a few minutes and be a doddle to pick the winners. The Style Test competition which I ran all last week with Lady Umbrella brought in lots of entries many of which were packed full of fantastic suggestions on ways to style a T-Shirt (not an obvious choice) for Christmas Day. Maria tells me she took ages over her deliberations (thanks darling!) and so I’m announcing the winners.
1st Prize goes to the Style Strutter who wins a Lady Umbrella T-Shirt of her choice
2nd Prize goes to Jessica Hart who wins a gorgeous Lady Umbrella Canvas Shopper
Thank you to all of you who entered. If you are disappointed and are in love with those T-Shirts just wanted to let you know that today there is 30% Black Friday promotion on LadyUmbrella.com (just use code Black Friday for todays discount)
I love a good magazine and even though the price of them is high and they are heavy to carry around there is something exciting, alluring and luxurious about that glossy paper and those stunning photographs. Wonderland Magazine Nov/Dec 2010 edition jumped off the shelf in my local newsagents a couple of weeks ago and I have been savouring it, dipping in and out. It’s not packed with tons of advertorials or best buys or the usual celebrities. Interesting interviews and articles with people that I didn’t know about (except one with Annie Lennox) and probably should, makes this a little mind stretcher. The photo’s of the Men are quite nice too.
I’ve always thought of Karen Millen as quite a glitzy evening wear ‘go to’ brand. I like the way the store in Dundrum Shopping Centre is laid out. It’s easy on the eye and the clothes are clearly displayed on the rails. I have always bought pieces that I have fallen in love with rather than a whole outfit and this season the emphasis seems to be on wear ability and paired back stylish modern clothing rather than their usual heavily weighted evening wear offer.
This invitation popped into my in box for next Friday and as I love Lisa Fitzpatrick , one of our best Irish stylists I think I will just have to attend, especially with 15% discount. Perhaps I will see some of you there? Come over and say hi and we can have a good look at what’s on the rails together.
Long haul travel is never a favorite for me whether I’m traveling steerage or First Class. But I am pretty good at making it the most comfortable experience possible. I’m heading to Canada very shortly which will be a 17 hour journey and top of my list is one of my cashmere pashminas. I know they were all the rage ten years ago or so but they are a wardrobe staple for me and a travel essential. Warm and cosy and smart too they are a definite comfort blanket on steroids. I have now got a collection in several colours I love the 100%cashmere in 2ply or the new Angel Weave which is 90%cashmere and 10%silk which results in a super soft uneven weave. Apart from a large Pashmina (they need to be as big as possible for travel) I will take Aspirin for a couple of days before hand and wear Falke flight socks to prevent DVT’s. I will travel in my most comfy shoe/boots, leggings and a tunic top ( I will wear shoe socks during the flight) In my bag will be a novel, my IPhone with earphones so I can listen to one of my Audio Books (if the paperback gets too heavy). I will also pack a big bag of mixed nuts for hungry moments because airport and airline food is usually packed with carbs (probably in the hopes that it will make you sleepy)
Buying Pashminas on- line is a doddle and the best site I have found and bought from is Mypashmina.co.uk where there is a huge choice clearly shown and in lots of colours, sizes and qualities.
A little frippery which even if you had this sort of money would be a complete nonsense. This is Gianni Versace’s bed in his palatial villa in Miami which is now for hire for the sum of $10,000 a night. I’m writing this as I am sitting watching the Press Conference where our Government is telling us that they are applying the IMF and Europe for a dig out of up to One hundred and twenty Billion Euro ( I can’t actually write this numerically as I’m just not sure how many noughts that amounts to!) I don’t know what is more ridiculous, sleeping in a room for ten grand a night or having to borrow that amount of money because of the excesses and bad judgment of our bankers, politicians and many many others during what is called the Celtic Tiger Years. We are a strong and very resilient people and we will be able to start to build this country back up now, hopefully in a way that is fair and which provides a decent future for all the people of Ireland.
By the way as well as all the usual luxury you will get a mini runway and seven closets!
CHRISTMAS IS COMING (bail out or no bail out)
Peter Kelly better known as Franc, will be making an exclusive appearance at the inaugural Taste of Christmas festival, Taking place in the Convention Centre Dublin from Friday 26th – Sunday 28th November, Franc will be joining the already stellar line up to give his expert advice to visitors on how to embrace the glitz at Christmas with a festive dinner table.
Joining Gino D’Acampo and Kevin Dundon in the Live Theatre Shows throughout the course of the weekend, Franc will impart his insider knowledge for creating a show-stopping Christmas dining table, offering ideas for every taste and budget. Franc will be demonstrating the importance of dressing your Christmas table to impress this season and will show how to create a beautiful table using items easily found in the home.
Handbags and Sleeping Bags at the ready in London for Valentino for Gap which launches on November 27th.
With Lanvin for H&M launching this week and available in both Dundrum and South King Street another collaboration is on the way. This one will only be available in a very few of Gaps Stores (our nearest is in London’s Oxford Street and Dover Street stores) we are not going to see it here. There are seven pieces in the collection and it looks seriously good, some of the best pieces combisne Gaps staple parka with Valentino ruffles.
Last night I was supposed to be attending a Style event in Naas but my four wheels let me down so it was the Luas into town to check out the opening night of the new Pink Nightclub on Dublin’s Dawson Street. I can really recommend travelling on the Luas in Rush hour dressed to the nines. Two men offered me a seat, something I don’t think has happened since goodness knows when! I went with Geraldine (ex Apprentice star) and Stylist Maria Fusco. The Nightclub was heaving with the usual suspects, I spotted in the huge crowd (who enjoyed free champagne, cocktails and canapes all night) Glenda Gilson, Roseanna Davison, Kathyrn Thomas, Pat Kenny and his wife and a plethora of models and would be models plus lots and lots and lots more familiar faces. The video above is of Dylan Kelly, Cocktail Barman who I found doing his amazing cocktail throwing in a slightly more quiet spot next door in SamSara.
Kate’s Favourite dresses are from Issa London and she has just done for them what Cheryl Cole has done for Muubaa Leather Jackets, or Kate Moss did for Hunter wellies or Ugg Boots. I thought I wasn’t going to post a blog tonight but I just started to think about celebrity endorsements and what that means to the business of fashion and so I find myself at my computer.
Issa couldn’t buy that publicity even if they had a mega budget. When you see the photo’s of Issa they do tend to look like lots of other dresses out there, but go try them on, feel the material and then say they look like cheaper versions. A few seasons ago they were de rigueur at every Ladies lunch outing and were mostly in multi prints. The trouble was that they were instantly recognisable and therefore didn’t offer the value for money that their big price warranted. This season there are lots of plains and in the famous interview yesterday Kate Middleton wore a blue Issa dress and looked just perfect.
By the way I’m also predicting the sales of Barbour Jackets rising as this is also a Royal favorite. There were lovely images of Kate and Wills hand in hand walking the English (or was it the Welsh) countryside. This year Barbour celebrates 75 years of their International Jacket and to celebrate they have produced 75 limited edition jackets in the original design. To buy Barbour here in Ireland I would buy on line at SportsDen.ie
