Nicky's Rag Tales

I was trying to pretend for weeks that I wasn’t really interested in the Royal wedding, partly in reverence to my English mother who was a most vigorous anti royalist. Every time they came up in conversation she would mutter under her breath ‘bloomin waste of space’ or words to that effect!! I can see her point though and she was in some part sympathetic to the notion that people would have to spend their entire life ‘being nice’. The job basically entails shaking hands and saying and doing nothing very important at all, save for turning up at openings and reading speeches that one has written for one, once a year. The Queens speech happens each Christmas just in time for the people (commoners) who at that stage are so full of Christmas Pudding and alcohol that the couch and the telly are as far as they can manage. There is something though about pomp and circumstance that has a collective comfort blanket effect and today was one of those days when some of us were transfixed at a Royal Fairy Tale wedding.

I couldn’t however resist the invitation from Boodles on Grafton Street to watch the wedding and sip champagne and Pims while being surrounded by the most beautiful gems from one of Britain’s leading Jewellers. The weather was beautiful, the setting was perfect and we all agreed to a woman that ‘The Dress’ was very Grace Kelly, very beautiful. We all laughed when the ring had to be forced on, we all thought the Queen at nearly 85 looked very smart in yellow and we all thought that the Bridesmaid was super gorgeous and the bridesmaids adorable. We debated heavily (if you can call it that) about whether Kate had done her own make up and thought she looked a little tired. All in all the event was a winner, We drank Champagne, Pims, Bellini’s, and Mint tea, we ate little cucumber and smoked salmon sandwiches (with the crusts cut off) and beautiful cup cakes decorated in the British flag colours all catered beautifully by The Right Catering Company

Champers with Camilla

Watching

on the telly

Each year Brown Thomas does their bit for charity and in particular Breast Cancer Awareness and research. This year is no exception and today 19-year-old Georgia May Jagger, darling model daughter of Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger was in town to launch the ‘It’ charity bag for this Summer. A tote designed by Marc Jacobs which goes on sale in Brown Thomas tomorrow at 9 am and selling for €35, this is a must have for all those who love a designer bargain and want to do their bit for Action Breast Cancer and the Europa Donna Ireland charities.

There is something very beautiful about dresses that show off good shoulders. It’s not a look sadly that I can pull off but still one to be admired. The one shouldered dresses and tops that have been around for a couple of Seasons seem to be everywhere this Summer. Definitely to be worn without a statement necklace. Leave the jewellery for another day and keep the look pared down to best effect.

I heard my name being called and turned around at 3.30 am last Saturday morning to find my darling friend ‘Ireland’s Top Fashion Stylist’ Maria Fusco behind me. Looking gorgeous and fresh (even at that hour) the light was pretty dim mind you! I noticed she was wearing fox fur cuffs which looked oh so chi chi as only Maria can.

The last few seasons have seen fur creeping onto the catwalks again but for next Autumn watch out for it to hit the big time. Seen to best effect in Milan with Prada and Gucci it came in all types, styles and colours. I suggest the Animal activists should start collecting together their old banners because I predict fur to fly. Maria and I will be wearing our fur especially if it’s a cold Winter and we make no apologies. Mine is my Mums Siberian fox jacket circa 1970.

Navy is having a moment, no, actually it’s more than a moment. I think this is a colour that will work for Summer and also into the Autumn too and beyond. It’s smart and works beautifully in a way that black can’t for the Summer. A great way to get into navy is to wear it on your feet. Navy shoes are now plentiful in all styles and price ranges in all the shoe stores. Paired with neutrals and brights for Summer if you aren’t in the navy yet and are considering a new shoe for Summer then look no further. If you buy carefully this is a shoe in a colour you can wear all year long.

In the Navy by nickysragtales featuring wedge heels

I didn’t move out of the Showroom due to work and more work. We are getting ready for our first ( and perhaps only ) sample sale which starts on Wednesday this week for three days only!! Generally I love a mooch at lunchtime just to see what’s going on but today it was just the internet. I love looking at Net a Porter but it’s pretty darn dear and so next stop for me today was ASOS which starts off at much more affordable price points. The relatively new Marketplace on the site is very interesting with lots of independent boutiques and designers plying their wares. Here is my pick of the Vintage bags from ASOS today. All of them reasonable and all guaranteed to refresh your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Not my title, but the headline for the Arnotts Showcase fashion show held last night to herald the upcoming Punchestown Racing Festival which takes place from Tuesday 3rd May-Saturday 7th. Now anyone who knows me, knows that I love the racing and the fact that there are Best Dressed competitions taking place every day with the penultimate Best Dressed Lady competition on the Friday is a lovely distraction. There are daily prizes all sponsored by Arnotts and the overall winner takes home a €10,000 voucher for Arnotts. Ladies take this very seriously indeed and it is lovely to be surrounded by wonderfully dressed women doing it for the love of the event and for themselves. I love dressing up myself appropriate for racing which is somewhat different to a wedding or other special occasion although the rules do get a little blurred sometimes. ( I’m going to post a tips for dressing for the races soon). Some of the judges for the daily competitions were in Arnotts last night and they included Lisa Cannon and Sile Seioge. The main judge for the big day has yet to be announced though a little birdie told me that they ‘almost’ have her in the bag!!

Arnotts have some really beautiful labels and were spoiled for choice. If you wanted to go racing in wonderful attire or indeed have any special occasion coming up this Summer be inspired by some of my photographs and check out Arnotts for yourself. Some of the labels to take note of include Jaeger, Pinko,Lungta da fancy, Heidi Higgins, Marc Cain, Tara Jarmon and Nicole Miller.