A Philosophical Reflection on the New Year

A tiny bubble of wisdom from Bubbles herself. Now break open the bubbly and have a good one! Happy 2009 from I Blog Fashion! xxx

Self-Gifting - Part Deux

I'm not fond of four-letter words but I'm prepared to make an exception for 'sale' - especially when followed by 50-70% off. Unlike traditional post-Christmas tat fests, this season's sales have proven more than prodigious. I am especially enamoured with my Peter O'Brien "WAS €180; NOW €100" dress. I was perfectly prepared not to subject my credit card to further acts of cruelty until my sister pointed out its suitability for Paris Fashion Week. Who was I to argue? I wonder could it be regarded as a legit business expense? Tax deductable? A charitable donation to moi? Hmmm. Could be worth a try...

Christmas Cocktails with Diana Vreeland

Last night saw my reintegration back onto the social scene. After compressing a month of fashion features into two weeks, I finally got to have a well-deserved Crimbo tipple..or eight. Vintaged to the max, I perched cocktail in hand at Bar Upstairs with Solo Ed Karina and my two GBFFs - Neil and Andy. The conversation (abridged version) went something like this.
Andy: "You look hot as balls!!!"
Me: "Thanks! I'm channelling Jackie O!"
Neil: "Will we have a cocktail."
Me: "Sure, why not? It's the holiday season."
Andy: "My brother just called me. He's getting married next year. Oh my God! What am I going to wear?!"
Karina: "Will we have another cocktail?"
Neil: "Why not? It is Christmas after all."
Me: "I actually can't pee unless I pull the dress off over my head and put it back on again."
Andy: "Doesn't matter. You look savage."
Me: "Let's have another cocktail - just to be festive."
Neil: "I bought you a little present. It's a book on Diana Vreeland."
Me: "Oh my god. You're so good to me! I love you! (hic!) "
Neil: "I think it's time we went home."
In bed at 10.30 p.m. on a Friday. Rock 'n' roll!

Eye Con-dy

Seasonal backlash is an awful bitch. For every moment of festive cheer there's a blurred memory, sore head and enough undereye bags to make Ryanair leap with joy. And to think, it's not even New Year. Fear not. If there's one product that will fool people into thinking you've had eight hous uninterrupted kip, it's BeneFit's Eye Con. This little gem fades dark circles and smoothes dehydration lines with orange and apple fruit extact leaving you instantly refreshed. It won't make the embarrassment of snogging Craig from accounts disappear. That you'll have to figure out yourself...

Buy it now at Asos.com €25.93

Crushing on Alterations

I've got a new crush - The Alterations Centre on Sth Anne Street (01 677 6258). Nestled above La Cave wine bar, this gaff is the biz for small nips and tucks or major satorial surgery. I recently bought in two of my prized vintage frocks - one for some hem work; the other for full-on inch reduction and both returned looking like fresh versions of their retro selves. If someone can explain why there's a sticker on the front door that says 'I Love Eamon' - I'd be really interested to know. Maybe Eamon works there and it's some major fan love. I love you too Eamon - you rock! Now bring on the Christmas parties!

Perk (You) Up Vintage!

Having a fat day? Broke yet again? Life just getting you down? Why not perk yourself up with a trip to Perk Up! Vintage. Nestled away in The Loft Market, Powerscourt, this little gem of retroness is an instant fix for fashion lovers. Trust me. I bought a gold 70's maxi dress there yesterday after having my heart pummelled like a freight train on crystal meth. The result? Sooooo cured? Who was that boy? Can't remember. I've been too busy for the past few hours practising my Studio 54 poses. "Le freak. C'est chic..." Fancy an online hit? CLICK HERE!

Hoodies - Dave Fanning Tonight at 7

Catch me tonight on RTE 1's Dave Fanning show talking about our most loved and loathed piece of fashion iconography - The Hoodie. From monks to athlethes; hip hop stars to asbo kiddies, we examine the rise and rise of the hoodie up the sartorial ranks. Like it or not!
Image: www.antonioansaldi.com

Poll Results - Best Beauty Secret Weapon?

The poll results are in. Gosh we're a tame lot! It may be the silly season but we're all very serious when it comes to our shut eye; so much so, we'd rate it over sex, botox or red wine as part of our beauty arsenal. Only 5% of us are getting jiggy with a further 20% laughing our way to a youthful glow. The rest of us are tucked up in the scratchers. Cosy is the new rock 'n' roll. Nice one!
Image credit: www.luxury-duvet.com

Mo Kelly's Must-See Exhibition

Hey kids. Mommy is really busy this week and doesn't have too much time to blog so why don't you head down to Mo Kelly's solo Irish exhibition at Green Nineteen this week. The uber cool artist/DJ is showing her last collection before exhibiting across the pond in the US next year. This is your chance to see why Sienna Miller calles her 'A rock n roll Modigliani' and why the Taoiseach totally digs her shiz. She's also a super groovy chick. Be good!

Mo Kelly's solo Irish exhibition
December 11th - 26th

Green Nineteen, 19 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2
http://www.mokelly.com/

Amelie - Not Just a Quirky French Chick

Check it out at www.amelieboutique.com

The Fifth Fashion Bloggers' Brunch

The 5th FBB sponsored by Audi was held yesterday at Dublin's Old Harcourt Street Station. Champers, croissants and smoked salmon were the order of the day with yummy goody bags courtesy of Benefit, James Brown, Bumble & Bumble and Aveda. In keeping with the season, the style set all had good cheer to spread. Catwalkgenius.com has gotten a thumbs up from Vogue and The Guardian, Indigo & Cloth have been featured in HYR Collective and on Off The Rails, Solo Magazine is now blogging for Maybefriends.com, Ms Scalon and I Blog were both featured in The Irish Times with I Blog making a second appearance in next Tuesday's Evening Herald. To celebrate the good news, the festivities continued over at Odeon where the chit chat took a seedy turn. Whatever you do - if you go to Thailand, never hold the balloon! You've been warned!

Audi - Music and Motors

It's starting to really feel like Christmas. Apart from the biting cold (not so good), there are lots of festive shindigs happening around town (always good) - namely two hosted by the superlative folks at Audi. Last night the Fashion Bloggers' Bunch (not to be confused with Marky Mark and that of the Funky) hooked up at the Old Harcourt Street Station for a taste of some vintage music and motors. Gary Newman took to the decks as we sipped rather yummy cocktails and cooed over beauties like the one to my right. What's more, Audi is kindly sponsoring the 4th Fashion Bloggers' Brunch tomorrow at which the Bunch will be present. I'm off to buy some Christmas stockings (faux fur-trimmed of course) for our Jades. That's FBB rhyming slang for goody bags. We're so trendy us lot. ;)

Vintage Giving

I'm beginning to feel a tad remoreseful about my self-gifting post. It is Christmas after all and I should rise above my beef with Santa. Thus in the spirit of giving, I'm giving you - my gentle readers - an insider tip on where to bag some retro swag. Enchanted Vintage is a killer Irish online vintage store that would make Dita Von Teese swoon with envy. This 1950s wiggle dress to my right is winging its way to Chez I Blog, along with a 1940s pumpkin number which I nabbed this weekend. CLICK HERE to check out the goods...and mighty good they are!