I Blog Fashion's Fashion Wrap Up

It's been an eventful year at I Blog Fashion; such that I've had little time to actually blog. Let's take a bit of a look back on the year that was. Wishing you all an amazing 2011 filled with good weather and absent of any water restrictions, cancelled flights or thermal 'fashion'. Here's to the new year. A xx

January

The month that gave Ireland its first installment of the Big Freeze. Unaccustomed to dressing for Baltic temperatures, I Blog Fashion spent a lot of time wearing her sister's climbing boots. Who would have guessed they'd be reprised later that autumn as footwear fashion must-haves. Good call. ;)

February
I Blog Fashion had the pleasure of joining Philip Treacy on the judging panel for the Hennessy Best Dressed Competition at Leopardstown and interviewing David Koma, Merle O'Grady and Matthew Williamson at LFW. The Matthew interview was a bit of a 'robbery' as they'd say on Jersey Shore. I snuck back stage through the back door when the bouncer wasn't looking. Jesus, I can't believe I just quoted The Situation....

March
Slow news month. Face Hunter came to Dublin. I prepared for a busy April.

 April

 I Blog Fashion took the mic on a number of awesome shows, workshops and judging panels. Starting with a capsule wardrobe workshop at 'Absolut Style at Set' organised by the lovely Blanaid Hennessy from Blanaid.com. Next Joanne Hynes and I held at trunk show at Brown Thomas Cork to introduce her s/s 10 collection. I then got my glad rags on to host the Hennessy X.O Literary Awards at Trinity College Dublin and was kindly asked to join the judging panel at Cork Fashion Week's Young Designer Awards and SaySo.ie. This was also the month that kickstarted a summer of Brown Thomas and BT2 style masterclasses and my weekly In Style column in The Dubliner.

May
My birthday, a month of Brown Thomas style masterclasses and a fun interview with Henry Holland.This was also the month that gave us 'The Plume'.

June

'Holiday! Celebrate! Just one day out of life...' And not a moment too soon. Neil (I Blog Fashion's Gaydar contributor), Joanne and I headed off to Frigliana, Spain for a week of sun, wine and poolside lounging. I managed to bring and further amass over 4kgs of jewellery which tipped my 20kg allowance at Malaga airport. Cringe!

July
More styling fun, this time a beautiful millinery shoot for The Irish Examiner shot by the very talented Miki Barlok.

August
More shoots and new people to work with -a  front cover fashion spread for The Dubliner and another front cover feature for The Irish Examiner - this time with Daithi O'Se. A major thank you to my erstwhile assistant Catherine Glasheen who was a tremendous help on all of these shoots. Dublin's loss is London's gain! Also a big hello to Maurice Flynn and Beta Bajgartova who I Blog got to work with again during the year.

September
And the madness steps up a notch...or three. Front cover a/w trend report for the The Irish Examiner, London Fashion Week which saw Joanne Hynes leather armour jacket becoming engendering a pap frenzy including Vogue Nippon, WGSN and Browns Focus. Also shot the Oxfam tee for the amazing Eilis Boyle.

October

Joanne Hynes and I team up for two more catwalk shows including The Irish Tatler Designer Showcase in Shanghai and a crazy successful trunk show at Brown Thomas with Big Brother's Caoive Guilfoyle and actress/author Amy Huberman in attendance. Also had the pleasure of styling two showcases for Image magazine at BT2.

November

Another great shoot for The Sunday Times Style (out this Feb) shot by Andreas Pettersson. I Blog Fashion also had the opportunity to host a style workshop for the Women in Business and Finance. Speakers' fees tradtionally go to a chosen charity; with mine donated to Focus Ireland. A big thanks to the gorgeous Louise O'Reilly who offered her modelling services on the day.

December

With The Big Freeze; Part Deux firmly ensconsed in Dublin, I Blog Fashion bucked the 'stay at home' trend and held a Christmas-themed shoot on the roof of The Clarence hotel. -7 degrees, snow and Christmas songs blasting from the radio. Thanks to the superlative John Geaney and Kate O'Reilly whose hair and make-up skills erased all traces of frostbite. I Blog Fashion also made the shortlist on Faye Dinsmore's 'Most Influential' list in the blog category. Many thanks missus. I Blog is currently working on a lovely project for Louis Vuitton with some exciting secrets to be revealed in 2011. Watch this space....

Irish Examiner Christmas Photoshoot

Celebrate Christmas in style with our selection of dramatic dresses, outré knits, jaunty capes and snugly furs to keep you fashionably festive.

Up on the Rooftop

 

Tim Ryan fringe bolero, Bow Boutique €1,650
Tim Ryan lurex fringe dress, Bow Boutique €895
Turquoise wedges, River Island €121
Tights, Annmarie’s own

Surprise!

 Mia O’Connell silk velvet opera coat (with detachable Tissavel fur collar), made-to-order from The Design Centre €499
1950s fur collar cardigan, Dirty Fabulous €190
Jean Cronin 1960s vintage shift, The Loft Market €98
Alcazer red rectangle ring, Rebecca Davis €260
Dries Van Noten gold shoes, Smock €415
1950s antique crocodile bag, Horse & June €320
Tights, Annmarie’s own

Christmas Cheer

Emma Manley leather floral dress, Bow Boutique €1,200
Octagon’s ‘Berry Christmas Everyone’ cocktail, The Clarence Hotel €7

Snow Queen

Small wool cape, Emé Vandal €760

Leather dress, Amanda Grogan €POA
Dries Van Noten white boots, Smock €491
Tights, Annmarie’s own

Mince Pie Thief

Eilis Boyle cashmere and tulle cardigan, Bow Boutique €450
Eilis Boyle black dress and cream sash, Bow Boutique €420; €50
MoMuse black and white mop cuff, Bow Boutique €85
Vintage sheer gloves, Bow Boutique €30
Rhinestone brooch (on mince pie), Dirty Fabulous €140
Organza ribbons, A. Rubanesque €3.75 per metre
Tights, shoes and ring, Annmarie’s own

Dear Santa...

Fur hat, Edel Ramberg Designs €300
Wool cape, Emé Vandal €780
John Rocha black and cream band dress, The Design Centre €699
1940s crochet gloves, Dirty Fabulous €30
Alcazer black oval ring, Rebecca Davis €155
Dries Van Noten ponyskin shoes, Smock €450

Silent Night

Silk chiffon top, Matt Doody €150
Silk chiffon gown with satin underling, Matt Doody €1,100
Ring, River Island €20

 

Yuletide Dreaming

Mia O’Connell silk chiffon pom pom mohawk, Etsy.com/shop/miaoconnelldesign £64.10 / €75.76

Mia O’Connell red dress, The Design Centre €595
Ring, Annmarie’s own

Angel Wings

Tim Ryan fringe cardigan, Bow Boutique €2,650
VSL cuff, Matt Doody Atelier €500

Credits
Special Thanks to The Clarence Hotel:
Christmas room rate special of €159 includes b’fast, taxes & festive cocktail at the hotel’s award-winning Octagon Bar. Pre-paid January room special of €109 includes full Irish b’fast, complimentary valet car parking & taxes. Prices subject to availability. Info@ +353 1 407 0800; reservations@theclarence.ie.
Stylist, Model and Shoot Producer: Annmarie O'Connor - iblogfashion@gmail.com; 087 976 4920
Photography: Miki Barlok - www.barlokphoto.com; 086 223 7081
Hair: John Geaney @ John Geaney for Hair - www.johngeaney.ie; 021 450 3788
Make-up: Kate O’Reilly using MAC Make-up- www.kateoreillymakeup.com; 087 298 5809
Shoot Assistants: Ellen Quinn-Banville and Cillian O’Connor

Stockists
A. Rubanesque – Powerscourt Town Centre 01 672 9243; www.arubanesque.ie
Amanda Grogan – garments made-to-order 085 786 0298; www.amandagrogan.com
Bow Boutique - Powerscourt Town Centre 01 604 0044; www.bowboutique.ie
Dirty Fabulous - Baggot Street 01 662 4249; www.dirtyfabulous.com
Edel Ramberg – by private appointment info@edelrambergdesigns.ie ;

www.edelrambergdesigns.ie; also Premoli Shoe Boutique 091 566 087 & Philip Yourell’s Hair Design 091 563 545
Emé Vandal – Dolls 01 672 9004 & Havana 01 260 2707, Dublin; www.emevandal.com
Horse & June – Drury Street 087 173 4272; http://horseandjune.wordpress.com
Matt Doody Atelier – Powerscourt Town Centre 087 232 2382; www.mattdoody.com
Mia O’Connell accessories – online at www.etsy.com/shop/miaoconnelldesign
Rebecca Davis – Westbury Mall 01 764 5694; www.rebeccadavis.com
River Island - Grafton Street  01 677  8257; and other branches
Smock - Drury Street 01 613 9000; www.smock.ie
The Design Centre - 01 679 5863 / 679 5718; www.thedesigncentre.ie
The Loft Market – 01 671 7000; http://theloftmarket.blogspot.com

 

Ireland's Most Influential in Fashion 2010

I just received an email from Irish model Faye Dinsmore whose blog Faye is running Ireland's Most Influential in Fashion 2010 awards. "You're on the shortlist," informed the e-missive of my nomination for Ireland's Top Fashion Blogger. "How sweet!" I thought. I've since taken a look at the rather stellar award categories which boast all sorts of categories from Top Editor to Photographer and Magazine. It's a really positive idea given the 'Ho-hum. Life sucks. We have no money,' climate at the moment. Log onto her site Faye and vote for your favourite fashion influences. While you're there, take a stroll around her blog entries that detail the everyday happenings in the life of one of our own homegrown fashion exports.

Inside Style - Dear Santa...

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner - December 16th

I decided to write Santa a letter this year. Given the current state of the economy, my wardrobe needed a bit of goodwill and I wasn’t averse to tapping up the North Pole for the favour.

Granted, the last time I contacted Mr. Claus for some swag, I was a mere eight years old; so I thought it time to get reacquainted.

“Dear Santa. It’s Annmarie here. Remember me? I was that little girl who asked you for a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans back in the 80s. Well, guess what? I’m back and we’ve got some catching up to do!”

Cognizant of his busy schedule, I got straight down to business. “I want shoes,” I demanded. My four year old niece used a similar ‘blitzkreig’ ploy on the jolly old soul last year with positive results.

 “Specifically,” I continued “I’d like the YSL Mohawk heels that have sold out on Net-a-Porter, those gold Dries Van Noten shoes from Smock which I can’t afford and a pair of antelope skin knee-high Mukluks that say ‘streamlined yet waterproof’....your pick.”

Not wishing to seem too greedy, I concluded the missive graciously, “Thanks again. You’re a peach!” remembering to include all updated contact details.

Let’s face it. It’s a bit rich that the pre-tweens do so well out of the bearded benefactor. Personally, I think Santa has an untapped market in the fashion community. In fact, we’re not much different to the under 10s. Our business is based on wanting what we can’t have and whining until we get it.

A Nintendo DS? I’ll see you and raise you a Hermes ‘So Black’ Kelly bag kiddo!  As for wide-eyed belief, we all live in hope that one day a careless PR girl will mistakenly post us a Chanel Haute Couture ticket; front row beside Anna Wintour and a restraining order away from Naomi Campbell. And if an H&M designer collaboration has taught us anything, it’s how to cue from 6am in the freezing cold for a lesser-spotted god. 

With my wish list so tightly edited, the probability factor looks high. All I need is a stamp - and a redirect address to Richard Branson.  It’s not that I don’t believe; I’m just hedging my bets on the number of kind bearded businessmen in this world. When it comes to shoes, I don’t take chances.

Christmas Present Panic

Image courtesy of Dorky Boy Comics
www.dorkboycomics.com

I love to shop. This is a fact undisputed. Yet every December my mojo mysteriously short-circuits resulting in an epic case of Christmas present panic.

Last week, I stood in the middle of River Island with a Galliano style Mohawk hat, a teddy bear iPod cover and a ‘Grow Your Own Sponge Bob’.  The mixture of fear and dementia in my face told a cautionary tale. I felt like I was holding kryptonite and felt an additional pang of guilt for whoever was to be schlepped with Mr. Square Pants. And with that, I dropped my armful of alms on the nearest display unit and made a dash for the door.

At home lay a further ramshackle of wrong choices prompted by a combination of too little time, too many people and Slade blasting through shop speakers.  Lest I wanted to be banned from the family Christmas forever more, I thought it wise to implement a plan – if only to avoid fobbing off those fur mittens as hand puppets to my six year old niece.

Hence, a list was made, time blocked off and blinkers adjusted. I stormed each shop like Anneka Rice on a treasure hunt – only minus the jumpsuit, headset and Richard the soundman. You get the picture...

“Do you have an oversized cross-body bag that will suit a fifteen year old who loves Twilight, eyeliner and giving peace signs?” I importuned the first shop assistant.  (It’s important to paint a picture.) “What about a scarf that could pass for Hermes in the right lighting; or a coat that says ‘cute’ but also ‘suitable for cycling’?” Given it’s the season of giving, I was hoping the ‘ask and you shall receive’ tenet would ring true.

Other tactics included repeating silent affirmations in queues (I love waiting! Only twenty-five people ahead of me!), visualising Grafton Street empty (no mean feat I can tell you) and allowing myself a treat after each successful purchase. In total, that’s two pairs of shoes, three Butler’s hot chocolates (with marshmallows) and a Kikoh Reiki session. 

Although I still have one present to nail, I’m confident my shopper’s block has lifted. The question remains, where to get a present for a classy woman who likes to garden and claims to have everything she wants? Oh dear. Note to self: never leave Mom until last!

Inside Style - Christmas Jumpers

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner - December 9th

Christmas jumpers.  Apparently they’re all the rage.  As disturbing as this may be, there’s a theory for the trend’s increasing popularity. It’s thought that in times of economic downturn, people take solace in laughter and nostalgia. This could also mean that Ryan Tubridy is either an early fashion adapter or had an inkling about the IMF bail-outs for about two years. Either way, he should be approached with caution.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for irony and rather delight in the subtext of a Jean Charles de Castelbajac dollar bill dress but the idea of stitching Santa on a sweater is just a purl below my level of parody. Then again, I’m also the gal who ran out to buy clogs last season, so who am I to judge?

If the zeitgeist is an accurate barometer, I could well be a bitter (-ly cold) curmudgeon.  Over 11,500 Facebook users belong to the Christmas Jumpers group with its ‘gammy’ counterpart garnering almost 2,000. As for flash mobs, Galway’s Latin Quarter is playing host to its own Christmas Jumper Day on December 10th with prizes for the worst Cliff Richard-inspired knitwear. Rumour has it there’s even an underground movement of Tacky Christmas Sweater Parties on the rise. Top tip: read the fine print any invitation ‘dress code’.

I suppose this would explain the popularity of Funkychristmasjumpers.com, a website started by three Glasnevin lads who saw a gap in the novelty market at €39.99 a pop, bucking incessant tales of recessionary woe.  And it’s not just knee jerk politics at play, the style set are in on the act too. D&G and Ralph Lauren Polo both feature Fair Isle pullovers and cardigans brandishing snowflakes and reindeer; although admittedly no mince pie sightings were reported on the a/w 10 runways.

It looks like there’s real commerce in kitsch which would explain the fascination with Cliff Richard. After all, Colin Firth’s ‘Bridget Jones’ reindeer jumper did fetch £1,900 at Chrstie’s, London (even if it was for charity).  This leads me to believe I’m not such a cynical old broad. In fact, I’m right on the money. It’s ironic to think that our national money diet has spawned the most unlikely fashion enterprise. How and ever, if I see the sight of an Easter Bunny roll neck come April, I’m emigrating.


Adendum: I just came across this blog which says it all - Craftastrophe - check it out!

Inside Style - Christmas Partywear

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - December 2nd

Christmas parties. Bah humbug. I’m considering cancelling my membership to the mulled wine brigade this December if only to avoid the ‘what will I wear’ conundrum. So far I’ve received six invitations to various incarnations of yuletide cheer from house parties and boozy bashes to Egg Nog tasting and ‘speed carolling’.  All I need now are half a dozen outfits that say ‘festive’ yet ‘stain-resistant’; not to mention ‘politically correct’ and ‘fire-retardant’. Let me explain.

Last party season, I chose not to follow the Christmas clobber rule of thumb: after the third drink, no one really cares about your frock. In fact, they are far more interested that you snogged Craig from Accounts who actually thinks Celine is a Canadian balladeer. The less said about that the better.

Instead, I went to Sisyphean lengths to outshine the brightest string of fairy lights, planning more outfit changes than Cher at Caesar’s Palace: big hair, big bling, big heels, little else. Merry Christmas y’all!  Unlike the best Vegas performers however, I didn’t have an entourage to ensure my safety should I take a speed wobble, catch fire, or incur the wrath of PETA.

There was the incident involving a La Roux-inspired coif, half a can of Ellnet and a wobbly candle in an unnamed bar.  An incandescent thump to the head later and hey presto...the entertainment arrived! I would have quite happily wrapped that fire blanket into a turban and kept the party going, had the smell of singed barnet not forced me to retire early.

Likewise, my five-inch Carvela heels were a stellar idea upon entering Slattery’s in Rathmines. Three hours of snow and ice later, I was pushing a cab back onto the road in stilettos that were ne’er intended to be crampons.

The torn tights and bruised knees didn’t spell quite the same damage as the time I wore my grandmother’s mink stole. ”Is that real fur?” enquired a guest at the bijou drinks do. “Was,” I retorted apologetically. Let’s just say the spirit of Christmas, much like my furry accessory, was not alive that night. Had I stayed at home in my fleece pyjamas watching George Michael warble to ‘Last Christmas’, I would have fared better.  At least the house has an alarm.

If the social calendar does get the better of me, I’m opting for a low key LBD and a low lit corner. Let’s just hope I don’t bump into that Craig fella again...