Nicky's Rag Tales

There is only one rule in fashion it is that every fashion rule at some point is made to be broken. This Autumn/Winter it’s the wearing of socks. What has, up to now been considered a total faux pas is now de rigeur. It’s open season for socks. Worn with open shoes, over tights, over other socks and with slim trousers tucked into socks. Seen on the catwalks of designers Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Celine & Alexander Wang to name a few. Worn short, knee high, over the knee and thigh high. Worn with bare legs, over hosiery knee highs, worn with sheer or opaque tights. Whatever you’re having yourself mam! Not an easy look to wear and one which can make less than perfect legs look, well yes, less than perfect! If you want to rock this trend without going full on you can show a little sock peeping over a shoe or boot. Light grey sock works well with beige and camel colours and dark grey works with chocolate shades of browns for that country look. Wear black socks over skin tone tights or black opaques with the new (old) calf length skirts.

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

This is the time of year when we are still wearing our Summer clothes but with an eye on Autumn. The fashion forward amongst us already shopping for their Winter updates. So what are the trends? and more importantly are there any that you may already have in your wardrobes. One trend seen on the catwalks which translates easily onto the streets and which will be easy to wear is the button up shirt. This is not a continuation of last years Boyfriend Blazer/shirt/ Jeans combo. It’s more demure and ladylike though not with out a certain sexiness. There are many different collars to choose from but the most important rule is that they must be done right up. Tux collars, Contrasting coloured, embellished ones, Peter Pan collars, standard and cutaway are just some of the possibilities and you probably already have at least one of them in your wardrobe.

Pair with leather pieces, ie skirt or jacket or work it into the military look. Add knee high/over the knee socks or simple wear with a pair of high waisted proper wide trousers which will be my preferred look. Use a narrow ribbon in velvet tied in a bow to ddd to the look. One thing though, no men’s ties this time around, it’s not androgynous.

Celine 2010

Dries Van Noten 2010