Velvet Musings

Velvet. It's back. (Cue: fulsome hurrah!) In honour of the tactile textile and its timely return, I've pulled this vintage relic from the back of my closet. It's a €20 dress from way way back (whenever I bought it). Kind of reminds me of Alena Akhmadullina with its peacock blue and paisley print. Paired with some Lady Gaga-inspired boots, it could easily transition into some winter evening chic. Winter. Sorry. That's back too...

Transitional Threads

Have you noticed the sudden bite in the air? Yep. Looks like summer is officially over. Not that we had much to begin with, but hey, that's another show folks. Anyhoo, it got me to thinking about the dreaded 'in between seasons' syndrome: too cold for skin; too warm for woolies. Rather than bitching about what to wear, I thought I'd raid the aul wardrobe to find some solutions.

Exhibit A:
Bib-front denim dress, Awear €35.
Nicole Miller tweed jacket, Urban Outfitters €50
Vintage print scarf, Tie Rack €2.49
Vintage briefcase, Oxfam €6
Brogues, Office €72
Key chain and bracelet, gifts
Ring, H&M €5.90

Style notes: Wear with lace or ribbed tights. Feeling Chung? Try some Alexa-style ankle socks.

Weekend Fashion News

It's nice to get surprises. I love the ones involving bows, ribbons and big boxes of goodies which is exactly what this weekend had on offer. First off was a visit to The Loft Market in Powerscourt Town Centre where the lovely Lisa from Perk Up Vintage sold me a 1960s Sears jacket (€30). V Eley Kishimoto. Looks just swell with my I Love Paris tee, chain link scarf and denim peg legs. Next was a goo downstairs around the newly relocated A Rubanesque. Bright and breezy with plenty of antique buttons and feathers by the yard - I now have only a few steps to go to customise any of my vintage finds. Then...drum roll please was a visit to Powerscourt's newly opened Bow Boutique. The bijou co-op is operated by Mo Muse, Matt Doody and Wendy's Wardrobe with cameo designer appearances from Eilis Boyle and Paul & Joe jewellery. I love the atelier part of shopwhere the designers alter purchases and create made-to-measure pieces. My sis got herself a Matt Doody draped tunic for €150 which we discovered can be worn in about ten different ways. Like it. Love it. To top off the day, I purchased a pair of wine brogues in Office (€72 with discount) which may well never leave my feet. With this, I ran home with the speed of acid-soaked whippet to watch X Factor (i.e. Simon Cowell). If Carlsberg made Saturdays, they'd be like this. Sigh.

Stylenation - Fashion Breakthrough

Jolie Rouge - Indeed

Autumn - season of mist and mellow fruitfulness and sweet new products. Keats may be turning in his grave at my gratuitous use of poetic licence but I feel I'm rather justified. With siren red lips doing the rounds again, the curse of Krusty the Klown isn't very far away. You know, that dodgy shade of claret that makes you look like a deranged asylum escapee? Not pretty. Clarins however have a new shade of Jolie Rogue hitting the shelves in September. Keep an eye out for Red Terra; or 729 in beauty boffin speak. Not only does the warmer hue suit most skin types, it also looks glossy, boosts collagen and smells nice too. Let the kissing season begin. Mwah!

Jolie Rouge €20.09 @ stockists nationwide from September

Chubbies

Chubbies. They're everywhere. Pink and fluffy, black and hirsute; even ones with their arms cut off. I wanted one - badly. I had images of Bianca Jagger floating through my head - all louche and rock chick; and then I tried one on. Holy sweet buttering baby Jesus! Fashion fascism at its most cruel. I looked more like a lumbering yeti than a Studio 54 hipster. Clearly size matters when wearing a chubby. In other words you need to be skinny - the kind in need of ankle weights to stand upright. Ridiculous - yes. Bitter? Moi? Perhaps just a tad.

Image: Charles Anastase @ LFW, AW09-10

Autumn Wish List

Dear Universe,

I read in a book called The Secret that if I make you a list, you'll give me what I want. Well, here it is.

This Autumn I would like....
1. A snood (even the word is groovy).
2. A pair of brogues - Oxfords or a tweed/leather combo; or Prada loafers
3. A vintage tweed man's jacket (but not man size - snug please).
4. Herringbone check harems or louche baggy roll ups.
5. A feather neck stole like Cruella de Ville.
6. Another few chain prints scarves - Chanel will do.
7. A black clutch - capacious enough to hold my crap yet not too big that my arm hurts. Not those cheap ones from Accessorize; certainly no chain link handles and only good vintage - nothing that smells of moth balls.
8. Those snakeskin peeptoes from Buffalo - the ones with the flouro- floral embellishments.
9. The restraint to buy basics like tops and trousers instead of impact statement dresses (yes - I am the victim here).
10. Gallic nous.

P.S. This is only a test run to see if this shiz flies - or if indeed, you're Santa. Pony up buddy...

Love,

Annmarie

Click here for image credit

Lace Tights

Given my self-imposed shopping ban until September (when I can do some legit pre-LFW and PFW shopping), I've taken to frittering away the odd fiver here and there on tights. A totally sensible and therefore permissable purchase if I do say so myself. I've even extended the term 'sensible' to these gorge lacy confections - a mere €5 from Dunnes. Paired with my cream baby doll dress, chain print scarf, patent tassel loafers and tweed boyfriend jacket - I look preppy-tastic in manner of Blair Waldorf. Love you tights! xo xo.

'Always Remember Me...'

Following the success of Topshop's collaboration with Florence & The Machine at this year's Glastonbury, the design team have created five outfits for Shingai Shoniwa of The Noisettes to be debuted at this weekend's V Festival. Check out the cut outs, shoulders and fringe. 'Always remember me? Yes. We think we just might...

Helmut Newton's SUMO

It was titanic as its name - SUMO: a 480-page tribute to the works of 20th century's most controversial photographer Helmut Newton. Newton, who enjoyed international success with work in French Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire also, like his namesake Isaac, embodied the principle of 'mass x acceleration = momentum' in breaking the record for SUMO in weight, dimensions, and resale price. To celebrate the book's 10th anniversary, SUMO has now been republished in an smaller, unsigned and open edition, measuring 10.5 x 14.5 with its own display stand. Get yours from September 2009 or to pre-order now - just click here.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

I'm feeling pretty smug right now. After many a year investing in lotions and potions, I've finally found the Holy Grail of foundation - NARS Sheer Glow. Fêted earlier this year at New York Fashion Week (Marc Jacobs anyone?), the satin finish foundation finally hits our shelves on September 1st with its modest sidekick - Sheer Matte. I'm all sorts of giddy about the instant air-brushed quality it gives to the skin. As I'm heading down to 'The Kingdom' this Sunday to judge the Rose of Tralee Best Dressed Lady Competition, I shall be a pinnacle of polish and poise. Love it? Much.

Get that sheer glow on September 1st from Brown Thomas counters nationwide. Price: €34.

Sale @ Dolls Boutique

In order to create room for new AW09 stock (due mid Sept), Dolls boutique is having a 4-day bargain blitz from Thursday, Aug 20th. Expect further reductions on all current sale stock, including shoes and accessories priced at €150 or less and many pieces at just €50 - or less! We love you Petria and Oonagh. And we are soooo there!

Dolls - 32b Clarendon Street, Dublin 2; +353 1 672 9004; info@dolls.ie

The Fashion Bloggers'Brunch @ Harvey Nichols

My Sundays usually comprise of laundry duty, food shopping and the Eastenders omnibus. So what better way to switch things up a bit then to while away the remains of the weekend then at Harvey Nichols First Floor Restaurant. The treat in question? The one year anniversary celebration of the Fashion Bloggers' Brunch of course! In keeping with the theme of haute couture, head chef Thomas Haughton prepared a bespoke menu for us. From the mixed summer berry starter, to the assiette of HN amouse bouches to the more-ish chargrilled beef skewer (thanks to veggie Arsheen I had two - yum!) and scrummy mango and passionfruit cheesecake - the spread was delish. Oh, the Bellinis, Bloody Marys and HN wine were pretty spesh too; as was our hospitality host -Michael! Did I mention the goody bags? NARS gloss and matte foundation, Benefit Throbb blusher, James Brown shimmer serum, Collagen marshmallows and some nifty Elemis serum, to name but a few. I'm still digesting the table talk - silent discos, Anna Wintour's bob, Beaut.ie's new book launch, American Apparel's three storey walk-up (wheez!), me channelling Jackie O - the Hyannis Port look, whether it was okay to shop in Penneys again and the buzz about a certain Grazia head hitting up Dublin shortly. Not bad for a first birthday. Top that My Super Sweet Sixteen. Ha!

Fashion Bloggers' Brunch - 1 Year Anniversary

Yay! This Sunday marks the 1 year anniversary of the Fashion Bloggers' Brunch. To celebrate, we're raising a glass at Harvey Nichols First Floor Restaurant. What started off as a monthly meeting of a dozen style scribes has blossomed into a full-blown fash fest with twenty-six bloggers...and growing. Thanks to everyone who's supported the event over the past twelve months. My gold lamé trousers are at the ready sweetie. Bring it on!

Swagger: New York

Mesdames et Messieurs. La mode de la rue va retourner à New York. Yep, Swagger: Paris is moving back to goold 'ole NYC where its unique street style blog began. Expect fly fashion from Brooklyn to the Bronx and everywhere in between. Fear not - the City of Lights will still have its Swagger paps; just with some added edge from its American cousins. Click here to get your swagger on!

Sleeves - Part Deux

The scissorhands are back - this time their beady blades are set on my Veronique Branquinho blazer. What was once a 'boyfriend' looks more granddad style on my now slimmer frame. With its architectural shoulders, I'm thinking it would look more fetch as an oversized gilet and cut off gloves. Fetch? Yes - where Gretchen failed, we can make it happen. If only to wean the young ones off 'whatever'.

Benefit's Crescent Row Perfume

You may remember back in April, I Blog bought you the skinny on Benefit's new perfume range - Crescent Row. Good news kids - it's in store now! Choose from three fragrances - Laugh with Me Lee Lee, Something About Sofia and Your Place or Mine Gina - all available for €43/ 30 ml from Brown Thomas stores nationwide. I rinsed my Sofia in about a fortnight so I'm off to stock up. Yay!

Marjan Pejoski AW/09

Cult designer and applique ace Marjan Pejoski drops his AW/09 collection today. Think studded Cuban heel brogues, lace body con dresses, feather and leather festooned gilets, logger shirts and ripped Courtney Love tights. Wear it with dichotomy a la Pejoski and become an androgynous dandy or a punk Lolita. Most of all, flaunt it. Hide that light under a bushel bitches and I'll be writing you up for a major fashion midemeanour. Pejoski rules. Repeat after me - RULES!

Laura Whitmore’s Impulse Collection by A|wear

New label alert! MTV's Laura Whitmore has collaborated with A|wear and Impulse to create a 20 piece capsule collection. ‘Laura Whitmore’s Impulse Collection by A|wear’ drops Wednesday, August 12th and promises a mix of rock and roll chic complete with this season's architectural shoulders, sequin and military deets. We likey and guarantee you will too!

Get a piece at Awear.com.

Kokon To Zai

What 'Love Angel Music Baby' was to the early half of this decade, 'Future Ghost Tribal' is to its latter. The new aphorism coined by cult label Kokon To Zai with reference to its new AW09 collection is fast becoming a credo for avant garde scenesters. The collection which makes visual references to the 1990's with bold tribal denim, oversized leathers and Fifth Element" style embellishment has already been adapted by Lady Gaga and Pixie Lott. With stores in London and Paris and a new e-boutique opening in September, it's only a matter of time before KTZ's vision of an ancient tribe discovered by futuristic party goers on a space rave hits a pavement near you.

Image credits

The Swede Beat

If you like your fashion with a Nordic twist: Cheap Monday, Acne, Filippa K, Johan Lindeberg, then log onto The Swede Beat - a new e-zine honouring Swedish style. Shoot the breeze about everything Swede-tastic - simplicity of form, attention to detail and buzz-worthy scenesters like Lagom, Minimarket and Diana Orving. Click here for your copy.

Image courtesy of www.theswedebeat.com.

Sleeves - New Designer Detail

It all started when I gilet-ed my denim jacket. Then I spotted this Alexander Wang bi-textured number and my wardrobe fell asunder. Soon my trusty leather jacket circa 2004 got the chop, leaving me with some explaining to do to my tailor. And it doesn't end there. Check out the More Dash Than Cash feature in September's Vogue and you'll behold all sorts of sassy snippery. Waiscoat-ed tweed jackets snuggle up with skinny belts and woolen arm warmers; while mohair jumpers find new arm candy in houndstooth and denim. I'm in love. I also received some Gloved Up Pierrot sleeves for an upcoming shoot which will snazz up a black belted tunic to no end. Scissors - the new AW09 accessory, without a doubt.

Anna Wintour - She Speaks!

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Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 7:18 PM

From: Neil McHale
She speaks! So Ams, I assume you also have a $200k per year personal clothing budget?

From: iblogfashion
But of course! Mine might translate more likely into yen than dollars however. Not only does she speak but she walks amongst us too! She parted the crowds walking into the Dries Van Noten show. No lackeys. No nothing. Just an uber-coiffed bob that deserves its own reality show. So excited, I nearly peed.

Boo-Boo(b)

Made a bit of a boo-boo recently. Thankfully it was just a small one - size 36A to be precise. You'd think I'd know better being a stylist but I've been walking around (like 83% of all women) in the wrong bra size for many a year. After finally getting measured I realised (much to my own chagrin) that the girls aren't a bouyant 34B after all but rather a more modest 36A. I'm consoling myself with the fact that style icon Jackie O bore similar stats. Now there's my underwear drawer to contend with. Another cull...sigh.

GranPaparazzi

O.K. It's late. I'm supposed to be on a deadline but I got sidetracked by this bitchin' blog. GranPaparazzi takes fashion photo journalism from the rarified (albeit glorious) world of Garace Dore and The Sartorialist to the lesser seen Golden Years. Apart from being a salute to a much neglected demographic, the blog cleverly showcases the cyclical nature of fashion. Sooooo needed! I'm telling you, everytime I hop on the 19A, I get totally outshone by the old dears on their way into town. Turbans, brooches, lippie, vintage bags - they kill it hands down. And they get the good seats! Damn!

Image courtesy of GranPaparazzi.com.

Fat?

O.K. I know I'm no Erin Wasson. At six foot tall, I'm a typical pear - UK 10 (US 6) on the top and UK 12 (US 8) from the waist down. Save my thighs and bum, I've got a very boyish frame - no waist, no hips, small boobs. So, I'm thankful for the nice curve that discerns me as a woman. Clearly that's not sufficient. Walking down Dame Street today, I had three young tourists laugh at me and call me fat. I must admit I was pretty taken aback - firstly at being jeered in public; secondly, for the sheer size-ist nature of the remark. Since when did a woman's size - whether she's a 2 or 22 - become cause for comment? It's like the pages of Heat taken to the street. Unnerving.
Image courtesy of Dale Harris