Nicky's Rag Tales

Lisbeth Salander, the hard hitting anti-heroine character is to set to light up the cinema screens soon in the Movie based on Stieg Larsson’s brilliant best selling novel ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’. Lisbeth’s street style look has now been interpreted and is due to to be launched soon in H&M stores around the world.

It won’t be difficult for any girl to work this look and the fab Muubaa leather jackets soon to be available from Lara, Dame Lane in Dublinwould be just perfect.

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 26^th – Sunday 28^th 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.

Today H&M’s headquarters in London’s Oxford street was filled with the fashion press who were there to preview the upcoming collaboration between designer Alber Elbaz for Lanvin and H&M. The collection goes on sale on November 23rd and by all accounts this may well be worth getting up at some ungodly hour and queuing for. I don’t have euro prices only sterling so add on around 25%. Prices for the cocktail dresses go from £79.99 to £149.99. A black sateen evening coat is the most expensive at £199 and has jewelled buttons and a removable fur collar. All the shoes have the trademark Lanvin bow…..I can’t wait.

When I eat meat I don’t think of the cow, or it’s life, or how it met it’s end. I know I should and believe me I’ve tried to be a conscientious vegetarian with a heart but when the barbecue is lit and I can smell the stake sizzling all hope of being a better person goes out the window.

Can the same analogy be drawn with those bargains I sometimes pick up in Penney’s or Zara or even occasionally H+M? Though bargain is stretching it a bit. I can only think of one item in the last two years that was a worthwhile piece of clothing that had longevity built into it. The garment in question is a black long tux blazer that I wear time and time again over jeans and a white shirt.All the other clothes and accessories were huge disappointments as holes suddenly appeared where none were intended or literally fell apart. Of course I never took those pieces back because lets face it if they only cost a tenner my inner voices say ‘I told you so’ or ‘what did you expect’?

Here is news that perhaps should make us think, it comes from Reuters and Associated Press Last Week……….

DHAKA, Bangladesh July 30th — Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers took to the streets, burning cars and blocking traffic in the capital Dhaka on Friday to protest against a government-announced wage hike that fell far short of their demands.

Police officers said security forces used tear gas and batons Friday to disperse the protesters in central Dhaka, where dozens of garment factories are located.

The angry workers broke into shuttered buildings and set furniture on fire in the heart of Dhaka Friday, the BBC reported.

Officers said several people were injured. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity, citing local briefing rules.

After weeks of violent protests, Bangladesh nearly doubled the minimum monthly wage Thursday for millions of workers in the key export garment industry to 3,000 taka ($43) from 1,662 taka, but it fell far short of labor union demands of 5,000 taka. The increase will take effect on November 1, 2010.

Dhaka July 30th Garment workers riot and the police wield batons

On a lighter note entirely Emma Watson has morphed into Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby by chopping her hair. she posted this image on Facebook last week. This is how I wore my hair as a teenager so I have some inkling of what this is all about. Of course Emma Watson is a really beautiful girl but I’m left wondering if this is truly a trend likely to take off?

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