London Fashion Week

Hey kids. As I'm off to LFW on Thursday morning, I'll be on blogging hiatus for a while. If you care to catch up with my shenanigans then check out the Irish Examiner for my daily catwalk reports. I'll be sure to post pics and gossip updates after the bubbly has been popped and the red carpet has been rolled back up but until then...what in the Jourdan Dunn am I going to wear?

Xpose - Work that Wardrobe Honey!

T'was rather good timing when Xpose popped round this morning to discuss recessionista styling tips. I was busy prepping my suitcase for London Fashion Week and playing 'desert island' with my many shoes and accessories. If you like many fashion fiends feel my 20kg pain then CLICK HERE for my top tips on how to work teeny tiny accessories into a rather long week!

Joanne Hynes at Brown Thomas

I'm fussy when it comes to my clothes. Really really fussy. I'm that gal that'll spend an hour in the dressing room looking at my profile from 10 different angles, two hours soliciting counsel from my friends by IM and another three pouring over the 30 or so photos I took on my camera phone...just in case. Hey, I'm thorough if nothing else. So, you can imagine my joy when I discovered the Joanne Hynes SS09 collection at Brown Thomas. Not only is it limited ed (i.e. no fashion deja vu at parties...amen!) but the edgy chic aesthetic is right up my style alley. Am loving the technically impressive moc croc on silk jersey combo and those epaulettes...swoontastic! I'm also majorly relieved that I've got a fashion week failsafe. Kudos to you Ms. Hynes!

Orthopaedic Chic?

Well burn my retina and call me blind but what in the hell are these? That's a paraphrasal of the apoplectic shock I experienced when subjecting my peepers to these Opening Ceremony atrocities. What's more chic online boutique Amelie is stocking them! Erm....more like trying to get rid of them it seems. We'll forgive the sartorial slip up. Normally OC are quite forward in foot fashion but these look like something from a hospital or old age home. I'm all about comfort but these, pardon the pun, are taking it a step too far.

Footlogics

OK admittedly a post about insoles isn't that sexy; but neither is limping in a pair of high heel gladiator sandals at London Fashion Week. Since I'll be working the BFC tents in a few days, I decided to give these Footlogics insoles a trial sashay. In comparison to Party Feet, these beauties are the shiz. I slipped them into my Sam Edelman boots while shopping for the day and didn't experience as much as a twinge of pain. Unlike standard gel cushions, these foam supports raise the inner arch and mould to the shape of your foot so there's no curling inside the shoe. CLICK HERE to get yourself a pair.

Asos.com has Acne!

From February 20th, online retailers asos.com are adding Swedish denim-mesiters Acne to their jean collection. The collection at asos.com will consist of over 40 styles, from the basic black skinny and much loved tapered low rise, through to powdery pale jeans in lemon and soft pink. But it’s not all about jeans, the Acne collection also boasts crinkle knit tops, chambray denim western shirts and slim fit chinos amongst other denim delights. Swell!

Happy Birthday to I Blog Fashion!

Fashionably late as ever, I'd like to wish a happy birthday to I Blog Fashion which was a year old on Sunday, February 9th. I was in Cork covering a makeover competition by the Irish Examiner and plum forgot to post anything. So so sorry I Blog. To make it up to me, I'm buying myself a new silk 'poppy' blouse from Jaeger. I'm just so thoughtful sometimes...

The 7th Fashion Bloggers' Brunch

There's nothing like a three-course brunch with twenty-two like-minded people to start a Saturday morning - especially when said yum fest is held at the laudable Clarence Hotel. Despite the diamond-hard frost this morning and an earlier start than usual for fashion folk (10 am = sleep deprived), we braved the elements for a feast of mini danish, toast, pancakes, fruit marscapone, smoked salmon, cheese and salami. Oh wait, did I forget to mention the freshly squeezed OJ, coffee and pink champers? And of course the killer goody bags from Clarins - can't wait to slick on my Jolie Rouge! The chat ranged from talk of the new Valentino film to what beauty prods don't work (Detox Foot Pads people!) and Solo Mag ed's hilarious real life face-to-face with her own intruder. Full to the gills we all waddled home for a fashionable nap. Sigh.

Vintage Couture Auction

There are two words every would-be bidder longs to hear at an auction - 'no reserve'. Add to this the words - 'everything must go' and you've got a recipe for something special, especially when the goods in question happen to be vintage couture. That's right. If you life for Lanvin and dream about bagging a Birkin, get thyself over to Adam's Auctioneers tomorrow at 1pm for the fashion auction bar none. 435 pieces of designer threads from the wardrobe of the late socialite Anne Bullitt will all go under the hammer in aid of Crumlin Street Children's Hospital. Miss it at your peril. For more information, check out my article in today's Irish Examiner Weekend supplement. Yep, that's me on the cover with the pleading 'please can I keep it' look on my face!

D-Aungier Street!

You see! This is what happens when I walk down Aungier Street these days. I wind up shopping! Although I'm very impressed with Pucci-esque maxi coat from Second Chance, I'm getting increasingly worried about my size zero bank balance. Having said that, this beauty was only €65 and will look perfect with skinny jeans and heels when spring has actually sprung. Until then I shall keep a fervent eye on the BBC 5-day forecast. Surely this snow will end soon. Sigh...

The Westwood has Landed

Winter sales - the gift that keeps on giving...and giving...and giving. You'd think I would be over it by now. Pah! Not when you can snag a Vivienne Westwood bowling bag for half price! Am very impressed with self and with Smock for their seasonal discounts. This butter-soft beauty is stylish, capacious and shall go be my Fashion Week failsafe. My guess is you can fit ballet flats, a slimline laptop and all sorts of gal-size shiz. Me likey - a lot.

Now is the Winter of my Discontent

Irony is a bitter mistress. No sooner has the 2nd day of spring hit and what do we get - SNOW! And not even Irish snow (see: fast-melting slush) but snow that sticks and hence proposes the question 'what shall I wear?' Hmm... Tis a tricky one. I tried the furlined suede boots today but alas, they're not waterproof. I even tried my 'donkey' wool coat but alack, it remains as sodden as drunk on Paddy's Day. My only option was to stay fleeced up indoors with a glass of red wine and America's Next Top Model (Cycle 12). I even strapped on my Slendertone in a staunch bid to assure myself that I shall look svelte when spring actually decides to arrive. I blame the feckingroundhog. Rumour has it the little rodent saw its shadow and has bequeathed unto us another six weeks of foul weather. All well and good when nature has given you a fur coat. Grrr...