Today I spotted one from Brown Thomas (and as I’m heading very early tomorrow morning to Galway to share what I know about Hosiery and Falke in particular to anyone who will listen), I opened it.  Surprise to find that their Christmas shop in the Dublin store  is opening this Friday!!!!  What? I hadn’t even begun to think about Halloween yet, not until I opened a second email from Etsy and saw these pictures that cheered me up no end .  No  I don’t want to know anything about Santa, Sleighs, snow men  or anything with bells or baubles on it…..

All of these costumes are for sale

Etsy

Etsy

Etsy

I will be holding a Falke Hosiery Style workshop in Brown Thomas Galway 2nd Sept, Limerick 3rd Sept, Dublin 4th Sept and Cork 25th September.  For further information check out the Brown Thomas website Diary of events

1. No surprise that the Kate Moss for Top Shop collaboration is ending and  that the last collection will be launched in October.  Often photographed with BF Sir Philip Green there is no talk of any huge bust up just a natural end following 14 collections.  Originally it was 6 collections a year and last year it was down to 2.   The last one I looked at was decidedly dull and boring a complete damp squib so my feeling is that the poor sales made it non viable and so the end is now in sight.  Perhaps take a good look at the last one to see if there is anything worth bagging for future ebay investment selling?

2. Pucci, the pioneering Italian fashion brand

Two versions of a fabulous new book fantastically written and with beautiful images  on the History of this Iconic Italian print house.  One a limited edition of 10,000 copies @ £ 135  and the second a Vintage Art Edition limited to just 500 signed and numbered copies. Each book is bound in an original vintage Pucci fabric and is accompanied by four art prints of original drawings from the designer Emilio Pucci. Each book will be signed by his daughter  Laudomia Pucci who continued to design under the Pucci name after Emilio’s death in 1992 and who is Image Director and Deputy Chairman of the company since 2000.

Available to buy online from September from Taschen

Anna and Grace Rag Dolls

3. How appropriate that two women who work in the Rag trade have had rag dolls made in their image.  The Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington dolls were commissioned by Barneys NY.  Brooklyn based artist Andrew Yang was given the task of making the dolls.  Apparently the hair gave him some minor problems and he decided quite rightly to make outfits ‘that reflects their individual style’ rather than copy any specific outfits.  The dolls will be auctioned on Charitybuzz.com starting on August 31st all proceeds going to the New York City Aids Fund.

Telephone Number 00353 1 4945606

There is still bad service and bad  value for money everywhere in Ireland  recession or no recession and this needs to change fast if we are to get out of the economic mess we find ourselves in.  Today I headed down the road to the Red Apple Hair & Beauty Salon in the Eden Shopping Centre in Rathfarnham on the Grange road to have my nails done by Fran ( who has been doing them for seven years) and my hair cut by Dee the owner of the salon who is a change of hairdresser for me.  These are people for whom spending an hour or two with is a pleasure.  Red Apple Salon has a friendly, relaxed professional feel to it and all the customers are regulars who enjoy a natter while they get coiffed and manicured.  They have great stylists who do really seriously good blow dries and perfect upstyles.

Fran is the most professional nail technician I have ever had do my nails and I’m a regular gel, french polish woman who likes them quite short.

Fran is the most professional nail technician I have ever had do my nails and I’m a regular gel, french polish woman who likes them quite short.  I noticed her nails looked fabulous and when I asked she told me they were the new system she has been waiting for.
I’ve heard about the new two week perfect manicure so asked Fran to  show me the Shellac system that is proving extremely popular.  For €30 you get beautiful chip free extended wear colour which applies like polish but is set under UV lights.  The nails don’t have to be filed down and the results are spectacular with no possibility of messing up the polish when you reach for your car keys or touch a door handle minutes after leaving.  It takes ten minutes to remove the polish with wraps  so no messing or time wasting.  Fran tells me that this system from Creative nails is brilliant for special occasions and holidays.  There are 12 colours at present and more on the way. I thought the colours on offer looked beautiful and will definitely think about having this done next time.

Shellac, On like Polish, Wears like Gel

Frans Hand with Shellac manicure

Today I had my nails done and a total new( Mary Portas style|) hair do following some gentle persuasion.   It was definitely time for a change so I said to Dee to go for it and another regular client sitting next to me helped in the decision making process.  Once I decided to go for it and take the advise I just relaxed and kept thinking if all else fails I have some terrific hats!   I’m delighted  with the result though it will take a few days to get used to.  My hair cut was €60  and my nails cost €40.

Red Apple Hair & Beauty Salon, Eden Shopping Centre Grange Road Rathfarnham, Telephone 00353 1 4945606

I’ve just arrived home from the launch of the new Dublin Festival of Fashion  which took place this evening in the Westin Hotel.  A really exciting festival  taking place 1-3rd October will take over the Capitals leading shopping areas.  Fashion and beauty master classes, once off events and discounts throughout the festival as well as very late night shopping and  catwalk shows on both Grafton and Henry Street are just some of the highlights.    Featuring fashion from every area, high end to high street, and retro to vintage.  Modelled on similar events in both New York and London this festival should be a fantastic celebration of the fashionable face of Dublin.

Ist Options Model wearing Sonia Rykiel Dress

Oxfam have commissioned  a collection of T- Shirts called  ’We are Tee’All the T-Shirts will be on sale during the festival, they are 100%Fairtrade organic cotton and will cost €25-€35  each.   Designed by leading Irish illustrators and designers including Peter O’Brien, Eilis Boyle and Joanne Hynes. They will be available from all participating stores and from  Oxfam Ireland during the festival.

'We are Tee'

Ideal if you have a debs or a once off special occasion coming up and where price is a consideration. The Images are good quality and payment is easily made  by credit card or laser.  There are some fabulous dresses in all sizes for both day and evening  with a bridal and children’s offer, so plenty of choice.

If you have any dresses that you will no longer wear, are clean and in good condition  and that you would like to  give to a great cause then you can send them  to this address;   ‘Free Post’  Buy My Dress, Down Syndrome Centre, 62-63 Lower Mounttown Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

This is most probably Alexander Mc Queens very last creation and one that he had his hands on. A really rather beautiful gown, it didn’t figure in the final collection shown shortly after his death. It was  made  specially for his long time friend Annabelle Neilson who is also a very good pal of Kate Moss.  A society girl who was  often photographed wearing Mc Queen and referred to as his muse on occasion.  Ms Neilson wore the dress last June to Elton John’s White tie and Tiara Ball.

I’ve noticed lots of MAMILS all around this past week.  ’Middle Aged Men in Lycra’ and will have something to say on that subject on the radio tomorrow. For now I will keep shtum but will let you know what I think during the week ahead.

Models  Kim Noorda and  Bette Franke shot by  Guilia Noni in a beautiful shoot for  L’officiel September

2010

Erin O’Connor by Brooke Nipar for Oyster August 2010 styled by Kate Ruth in a stunningly seductive  hard edged shoot.

I don’t know what either Vera Wang was thinking when she made this dress.  I’m not saying this isn’t a beautiful dress nor am I saying that the bride does not look beautiful.  I am saying that I believe she could have done better.  The women who can wear this style are few in number.  They need to have fabulous neck and shoulder lines, and have a small bust and slender body type.  Grace Kelly springs to mind.  The last three weddings I was at were of girls who were an average size 14/16 and they each wore a strapless number.  All I can remember were the big arms and expanse of bare flesh.  Everyone at these weddings politely said ooh and aah and how beautiful the brides were.  Secretly I think many of them  were thinking like me.

I thought it was worth taking a little look at the fashionable and beautiful Grace Kelly in her wedding dress.  I know times have changes but I’m hoping to start a trend for brides to be, to think about what suits their bodies rather than what is perceived to be in fashion.  Here is a little look to cheer us all up of the Grace Kelly Exhibition at the V&A in London.  A feast for the eyes just to calm me down after my  bare necked rant.

When mineral makeup hit these shores I was first in line to buy the starter kit from Bare Minerals and I did love it though found that travelling with the various pots (there are too many in the original kit)  became problematic as not all of it landed on my face!    I bought the Laura Mercier one too and didn’t like it  at all as it wasn’t an even finish and I was never happy with the colour match.   An invitation to come to the launch of the new Matte Mineral Powder from Bare Minerals was too good to pass up so I brought my friend Susan Fox ( who knows a thing or two about the beauty business) from  Eden Beauty in Wicklow and we headed to the Dylan Hotel to check it out.

The first good news is the new container that the matte mineral powder comes in  has a great twist and lock cap that stops those spillage events that were the main reason I stopped using the original version. It has 15 spf  in-built sunscreen which is always useful though I don’t think 15spf is enough. I wear 30 spf every day so got really excited when I spotted another new product from Bare Mineral called simply ‘natural sunscreen’ which comes in a fantastic easy to use container which includes a great brush. It comes in three shades. Perfect for use anywhere on the body but particularly good over makeup and can be used as a touch up powder during the day. It’s already won Beauty awards and I’m predicting this one will be a keeper.

Susan Fox being buffed in the Dylan Hotel by the Bare Minerals makeup artist

Susan opted to have her makeup done and we all admitted the results looked really good. I couldn’t wait to get the Matte Powder  home and try it out myself.   I’m not a fan of the glowing  look opting to control where and when I add a little gloss.  There are days when a Matte finish seems just right and this product is excellent.  It seems to go on extremely easily, a much quicker application time than my usual liquid makeup. I did use a good primer but you just can’t believe that a quick tap, swirl and buff using a great brush is all you need and you are good to go.  I have been using it every day for a couple of weeks now and for now am really happy with it.  Bare Minerals Matte along with the full range of products including the ‘Natural Sunscreen’ is available from BT2 in Ireland.

Natural Sunscreen from Bare Mineral