New Statement Necklaces

It's all about the statement necklace with me. I went on at length about them before HERE, so I won't bore you again but I thought I'd do a quick update on those that have joined my collection.

This absolute beauty was a birthday present from my sister in law and I've been wearing it pretty much non stop ever since. The perfect Summer shade- I think of the ocean whenever I look at it and unsurprisingly, it looks rather well with a striped tee. It's no longer available online but if you check Accessorize stores you could well be in luck.

I had spotted this art deco esque number on a lot of jewelry sites for close to €30 but then I read Aising's post on getting the same jewelry from eBay for a fraction of the price and I tried it for myself. This cost me about €6 with free postage and no taxes, even though I ordered from China. Yes, it took an age to get here but as I didn't want it for anything in particular, I was delighted with my little bargain! It goes with pretty much everything too, so quite the bonus there.

The lovely Sharon from Behind Green Eyes sent me this mint green stunner for my birthday and I love it so much. I have a thing for green stoned jewelry- always have, so this is very much my cup of tea. I generally wear this with a plain navy or grey t-shirt and let the necklace do all the talking! Just look at how pretty and ladylike it is. Swoon.

When we were on holidays in the UK, we visited a design museum and this caught my eye from outside the gift shop, as we were walking past at speed, so I knew it had to be mine. The pastel stones remind me of sweets and I love how it hangs, plus it goes with so much.

Lastly, my dear friend Eileen bought me this very cool Aztec style necklace for my birthday, which I think came from New Look. I love the neon coral- so summery and goes perfectly with a tan and a white off the shoulder t shirt (for those of you still feeling Summery, obviously. I am currently pasty white and stuck indoors). 

Are you still feeling the statement necklace love?

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Bath Fashion Museum (photo heavy!)

We went traipsing all over Cornwall and Devon a couple of months ago but our first stop took us to the very beautiful City of Bath. We loved this place (I'll no doubt have another post on that) but today I just wanted to show you some of the many photos I took from the fashion museum there. I was a bit obsessed with the place if I'm honest as I do love fashion and the opportunity to look at the styles women (and men) wore from the 18th century right up until today was fairly wonderful. I'll mostly let the photos do the talking here cause there are many of them but I took notes on all the different styles so I'll add in a few bits as we go along!

Woman's open robe & petticoat, man's hand embroidered coat (1720), red evening silk damask gown (1750), Brocaded floral silk robe (1780's), yellow woven silk damask gown (1740).

Distinctive bell-shaped skirt from the Georgian period on the left, beautiful black floral number that I annoyingly took no details for. Doh. Sack back dress there on the end, at the time considered an extremely graceful look for women (18th century).

Getting a bit more Austen-y. Mmm, Darcy.

Crazy ass (literally) dresses called 'women's court mantua'. Designed using super fancy silks with the purpose being to look as extravagant as possible. 

Slight turn to the dark side with some late Victorian frocks.

Getting more modern now, going from the 20's up to the 50's..

more 50's, 60's, 80's power dressing, 90's.

These were Princess Diana's 80's dresses. The walls were covered in sketches the designer had drawn for her outfits too, which was quite cool.

Wedding dresses. Serious swoonage at that beaded number on the end there.

Ball gowns, mostly 80's.

More recent ball gowns.

The Dress of the Year' on the left apparently, created by Henry Holland. More previous dresses of the year, including that godawful Versace J-Lo palm print yoke and some distinctly 70's looking gear.

A closer look at that 'dress of the year', and my two favourites in the entire place; last years dress of the year (Dior, swoon) and a rather beautiful glitzy number from the 70's that I think may be Biba.

There was of course a dressing up segment of the day so I went for a bit of Victoriana. Man, those dresses are heavy! Totally down with the bonnet though, perfect for an auld bad hair day. 

Anyone else as much of a ye olde timey fashion obsessive as myself? You really can't beat a bit of vintage!

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Zara Cutout Leather Sandals

I've wanted these beauties for a while so when I finally got them I felt they warranted a bit of cherry blossom action. The cherry blossoms had other ideas and stuck to the shoes plenty but you get the idea. Anyways, these are super comfortable, not too high and perfect for Summer. 

I've mostly been wearing these with knee length 50's style skirts because they make the whole look a bit less twee housewife and a bit more modern while still focusing on the shape and style of skirt, which I love. Equally, they'd be great with a pair of floral shorts and a white t-shirt.

You can get these now from Zara for €79.95, HERE and they also come in black.

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Kate Moss for Topshop

You may or may be aware that Kate Moss has collaborated with Topshop again, with a brand new collection launching tomorrow. I was a big fan of her previous collections from a few years ago so I've been looking forward to this one too. 

Most likely I'll only buy one dress that I have my eye on but otherwise it's just a bit too spendy for me. Don't get me wrong, the Kate Moss for Topshop stuff is always on the higher end price-wise, so that wasn't a surprise, it's more that I don't have quite as much of a disposable income these days as I used to in my early twenties!

Anyway, here are my picks:

There's actually a pretty good selection of typically Moss-style items; fringed festival-appropriate jackets/shorts, super glamorous sequined jackets, an androgynous slinky "tux", cute playsuits and dresses, silky camisoles and Oscars-worthy gowns. Interestingly, there's pyjamas in there too, which are very cute! 

You can see the range in full HERE. 

Anything catching your eye?

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Bee Flats From Aldo..My Perfect Summer Shoe.

Yup, you read that correctly. BEES. On my shoes. I love bee prints and bee jewellery etc (as you can see here) and so when I saw these gorgeous nude suede flats in Aldo last week, I had to have them. 

They're super comfortable, go with pretty much everything and should wear well as long as we get the same insanely beautiful weather again this year. I try and get a new pair of classic flat nudes every Summer and end up wearing them to death but I feel like I'll have to actually take care of these and not batter them about the streets of Dublin as I normally would. Which I'm ok with!

Look at how goddamn cute those bees are. Pretty sure I'll smile like an idiot every time I'll look down at my feet from now on, so..that's a bonus.

They also come in coral and black and are available in stores now. Are you as uber prepared for the good weather as I am or do you still need to find the perfect pair of Summer flats?

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Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Himself and I tend not to celebrate Valentine's Day. We have in the past of course but now we have a wedding anniversary, we tend to put all the effort into that and forget about V day, which let's face it, is a crass marketing ploy thought up by soulless greetings card makers...or something along those angst-ridden lines. 

If however you're a fan of hearts, flowers and all things romance, then look no further as I've gone and compiled a list of some rather lovely items which you may like to receive yourself on the 14th. I would suggest leaving this open on your computer for your loved one to see, or if like me, you have no shame, you could just be brazen and show it to them altogether. 

Either way, you get THINGS.  Pretty things:

1) Heart Mug

€8.00, Cath Kidston. They also have a matching "sandwich plate" if your beloved happens to be very fond of an old toasted special, as I tend to be myself.

2) Anatomical Heart Card
€3.39, Etsy. The "You are here" just gets me!

3) Vintage Orb Locket Necklace
€23.08, Not on the high street.com. As well as just being a beautiful piece of jewellery, with this you can also personalise it by adding your own customised message to the inside of the locket. Such a lovely idea.

4) Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Blush
€36.52, Asos. Look, I think this is ridiculously overpriced but I said I'd pop it in as it's so very Valentine's appropriate.

5) Heart Shaped Headphone Splitter Adaptor

I couldn't find this exact one online but here's a similar one from eBay for only a few pounds. I've also seen these in real life in New Look and Accessorize. 

6) Crochet Boot Cuffs
€16.58, Etsy.

7) LuLu Guinness Lips Clutch in Red.
Alright, so it's €344.13, which is fairly excessive for a Valentine's present but we can all dream, eh?

8) You're My Person Card
€3.39, Etsy.

Do you shun Valentine's day and its forced romantic ways or are you secretly really looking forward to it? If so, are any of these interesting you?

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The Warehouse Spring Collection is Lust-Worthy!

January is a horrible month though, isn't it? Saving the pennies, the weather is still bleak but with no more Christmas to look forward to. So then, a shot of colour in the form of the new Spring collections are just what the doctor (or the eh, nurse..ahem) ordered. I quite like high street store Warehouse because they produce well made clothing made from good quality materials at somewhat reasonable prices (I woudn't be buying from them all the time but they're nice as an odd treat. Otherwise, it's Penneys all the way!).

Here are my picks from the new Spring range, which features lots of muted florals, pastels, fine knits, oversized coats, bright yellows and roll-up jeans:

Yellow Exposed Seam Jumper

I really love yellow, generally I think mustard is a better shade for me skin-tone wise but I'm really drawn to this jumper, even though it's fairly neon. Luckily, various shades of yellow seem to be in for Spring so there's probably a shade to suit everyone.

Neon Tweed Coat

Apparently there's flecks of neon running through the tweed in this, which is why it's not particularly visible in this photo. I love tweed and I'm really digging the oversized coats that are around at the moment.

Textured Crepe Shift Dress

Again, big fan of this colour and the shape of this dress is stylish and classic.

Blurred Lily Print Dress

While I love florals, they can often be hard enough to wear throughout the year but I think this would work equally well in Summer with a pair of sparkly flats and in Winter with black tights and boots.

Ripple Yarn Jumper

This light weight knit in a neutral shade will be perfect for that transition from the bitter cold to (hopefully) warmer weather and I also love those jeans.

Pansy Print Playsuit

This pansy print is gorgeous; pretty and fun and because of the colours it can again be worn with bare legs or black tights.

Anything catching your eye?
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We Are Islanders A/W Collection 2013

Recently I was delighted to attend the debut of new Irish fashion label "We Are Islanders" at the Royal Hibernian Academy gallery. Their 2013 Autumn/Winter collection, 'Tidal', draws inspiration from how we, as islanders interact with the sea. It uses materials primarily from Ireland; yarn scarves (water resistant so it's suitable for the Irish climate) and beetle linen from Donegal, black wool from Tipperary and beautiful coats made from Wexford wool. This is a unique collection, comprising of one-of-a-kind pieces that can't be replicated and made from sustainable fabrics, such as dyed bamboo silk, organic cotton and salmon leather trims.

Yes, these will set you back a few more euros than your average outfit from Penneys but the beauty of that is that this is longevity buying- spend a bit more now for classic, well-made, beautiful clothing which you'll still be wearing in ten years time. See? Fashion sense!

There's plenty more in the collection but above are just my own favourite pieces, which, having seen in real life I can confirm are stand-out items that won't go out of style. If you want to see more and make a nice little purchase for yourself you can check out the label HERE. 

Anything you like?

Christmas Finds From Penneys

Yes, we can all officially use the C-word now that it's November. This is good news for me because I love Christmas and the build up to it is pretty fantastic too. At the moment all the shops are starting to get their stock in for the festive season but as I'm saving at the moment, I can't real indulge in anything too spendy. Step forward, Penneys. The solution to and cause of many of life's financial woes. In store, you'll find lots of the now traditional, tacky Christmas jumpers for 12 Pubs etc but they also have several different fairisle style woolly numbers like this:

For me, this is just on the wearable side of nerd chic so I'll be rocking this with a mini skirt, thick tights and Winter boots. For those with a bolder style sense, they also have skirt versions of these- handy if you enjoy sipping hot chocolate and pretending you're on the ski slopes somewhere, and not in fact on O' Connell St.

Lastly, Christmas would not be Christmas without an added shot of tack and obviously the best way to achieve that is with a pair of novelty slippers. They have a pretty good selection of cosy footwear in there at the moment so if you want to pick up a pair as a stocking filler for a loved one or for yourself to get into the spirit of things then you could do worse than these. 

Have you done any Christmas shopping yet or is it just me being a big mad early bird?!

Topshop Does Hitchcock

A brief perusal through Topshop last week left me in no doubt that the brand is going for a 1960's, ladylike aesthetic for Winter. This means that I want everything, as you'll know if you've read my Hitchcock posts HERE and HERE. I love a bit of Tippi Hedren and as I strolled through, the displays of fake fur stoles, nude courts, 60's shifts and retro handbags built an image of her in my mind. Here she is, in all her old school glory, just before being mercilessly pecked by evil birds:

My suspicions were then confirmed when I actually looked in the window display..

Nicely played, Topshop, nicely played.

I Heart The 1940's

#SBBC day 29 is to describe "an era you would have lived in and why- what attracts you to that time" and for me, that's the 40's. I've always been really interested in WW2- the war itself, the lives of those left at home, particularly women, who stepped up and took over the traditional "men's roles", such as factory work and farming. On a personal level of course, I love all the nursing propaganda from the time such as these:

I actually have that one on the left on my wall.

Because I love all of that stuff, I'm aware that it was a decade of hard work and general misery, so I'm in no way suggesting that the following are indicative of the time but I do love the associated glamour and style of the 40's. Red lips, victory rolls in hair, women drawing black lines on their calves in lieu of actual tights, tea dresses, capped sleeves, tailored skirts, jaunty hats and solid leather loafers. Glorious.

It's a look I love and seems to be one of those styles that doesn't go out of fashion- it screams Hollywood movie star and with good reason as proved by these ladies:

They sure don't make 'em like they used to but here are some modern takes on the look:

Scarlett Johansson gets her own section cause she rocks the look rather a lot.

Cest Ca. What's your favourite era and why?

XX

September Wishlist

Mostly at the moment I'm wishing for a decent Halloween costume for next month, or if that's not possible, for someone to come along and make me one. In lieu of that, I would also be quite happy with any of the following:

• Faux fur collar coat, HERE, Warehouse. This looks a bit light for Winter but would be pretty perfect for Autumn wear. Love that grey colour and the faux fur collar adds a nice retro touch.

• Polka dot jeans, HERE, Asos. I've been on the hunt for a pair of polka dot jeans for ages now but have struggled to find a pair with just the right sized dots..yes, I KNOW. Anyways, these are delightful and are on sale but not in my size.. so I guess the search shall continue. I just thought I'd share them with you lovely lot! I think these will be great with a pair of flat boots, chunky woollen knee socks and an oversized jumper.

• Wool Trench Coat, HERE, Ted Baker, I know, another Ted baker coat but with good cause- this is a beauty. Well structured, a beautiful , classic fit and style in a warm and heavy material. A good black Winter coat is a staple everyone should have and mine is currently on its last legs so a new one may need to be purchased. This one is way out of my price range though unfortunately. On reflection, this whole post is just a lesson in self inflicted cruelty really.

• Tartan dress, Penneys, in stores now for 17 euro. This is a terrible picture but I did the best with what I had, Penneys not having an official website and whatnot. Tartan is really in again this A/W and this Peter Pan collared-dress is a very cute take on the pattern.

• Andrea Garland Owl lip balm Necklace "Mr Hoots", HERE, Asos. I already have an owl pendant, so this is completely unnecessary but I do not own an owl necklace that also doubles as a lip balm pot. Functional AND cute. Plus he's called "Mr Hoots". That's a good enough reason to get it right there.

• Neon crystal necklace, HERE, Button and Bow Factory. The old statement necklaces are still pretty on trend for the new fashion season (good news for me, eh?) and I'm really liking this neon/diamante take on it, which I think would be great with a simple marl grey jumper.

• Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, HERE, Cloud 10 Beauty. I love the RT brushes and wouldn't use anything else at this stage but I'm really keen to try their newly released sponge, which supposedly gives a more natural finish to foundation and can also be used for cream blush. Interesting!

• Nars, Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi, Ce Soir palette, HERE, Selfridges. Oh, Nars. I want literally everything you make but especially this limited edition palette. The blushes! The shadows! Swoon.

• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil, HERE. I somehow have never tried any of these yet and have been convinced recently by some of my fellow bloggers to give them a go. I'm almost at the end of my favourite eyeliner- MAC Powersurge so I think I'll be picking one of these up when it's finished. 

What's on your current wish list?

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