The C Word

It's official. As Thanksgiving has passed, I am now at liberty to use the C word. With Christmas less than a month away,I'm pulling all the stops out - like it or not. I've already been besieged on Facebook for admitting to having put up my yuletide decs but hey, that's the price one pays for being an early adapter. I'll be the last one laughing (Egg Nog in hand) while everyone else loses their God-given reason come mid-December. Next weekend it's present-shopping and then I'm at liberty to shimmy around to Wham until the 25th. Smug - maybe. Just look at this awesome Chritmas wreath I concocted last night:

Wreath, Brown Thomas
Mini candy canes, Brown Thomas

Cinnamon bunches, A. Rubanesque
Gingham ribbon, A. Rubanesque
Mini heart pins, A. Rubanesque

Kildare Village Private Sale

Get set my festive friends! Kildare Village in association with The Gloss magazine is hosting the 2011 Christmas Private Sale event  from the 1st until 4th December. An invitation to the private sale entitles  Kildare Village members to an additional 20% off already reduced prices in plum designer outlet boutiques including Louise Kennedy, L.K. Bennett and Ted Baker; not to mention new brands Hobbs, Pandora and  Gerard Darel opening before December 25th. Looking to bag some swag? Simply register online at KildareVillage.com for an invitation to what promises to be the shopping event of the season. Present your invitation in the Tourist Information Centre and you'll  receive a wristband entitling you  to a sleigh-full of savvy savings around the Village. That simple!

What's more this hotly-anticipated event all takes place in a dreamy winter wonderland setting with rich pickings for the whole family.Kildare Village is open seven days a week until 7pm Monday –Wednesday and until 8pm Thursday to Sunday from 1st December. For further details of opening hours and more information about Christmas at Kildare Village visit www.KildareVillage.com. Become a fan on Facebook too for the latest updates http://www.facebook.com/kildarevillage.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The Brown Thomas Christmas Windows

One Christmas, when I was eight, I went with my best friend to Radio City Music Hall to see The Nutcracker Suite. Twenty-five Christmases later, I went to see Anthony Minghella's adaptation of Madame Butterfly at the English National Opera. It's that time of year again. Thank you Brown Thomas! 

Where Are You Snow?

On November 28th, 2010 Dublin woke up to a clanger of a surprise - snow. Not just a dusty blanket or a some ertswhile flurries but a expletive-inducing a 12-inch dump of crystalline ice that continued to pile higher...and higher...and higher. As giddy as I was at the prospect of being under house arrest with Xmas FM and a bottle of Baileys, the fact was I had to venture outside at some point. That point was precisely 2 hours later when I needed milk. Needless to say, my wardrobe was ne'er equipped to navigate this new terrain and I made firm friends with my sister's hiking boots to get from a to b over the following weeks. Determined not to let crampons cramp my style for another season, I decided to get the big guns out...

Exhibit A - Karl Donoghue Waxed Lambskin Cape

Not just a pretty face, this glossy gal boats a waxed exterior and super soft shearling interior. You'll be warmer than a mug of Butler's marshmallow hot chocolate and just waterproofed enough should a rogue snow shower make its presence felt while out Christmas shopping. Oh, you'll also look kick ass hot.

Exhibit B - SuperBlizz FitFlop Boots

Check out these bad boys. If the weather decides to play dirty, it's got me and my cosy feet to deal with! Water-resistant shearling-clad leather with super tread rubber heels. Ha! Try saying that after a few glasses of Egg Nog!

Now that I'm good to go, all that's needed is for Mother Nature to PMS. Do your thing weather! Please....

How to Wear It - Irish Examiner - Nov 19th

HOW TO WEAR IT...LEATHER SKIRT

One leather skirt – three ways to wear it.  Annmarie O’Connor shows you how.

Channel your inner Jagger with this fun lips tee, add in a red leather jacket, et voila – a new spin on ‘rock chick’.

Red leather biker jacket, French Connection €400
Markus Lupfer lips tee, BT2 €105
Fenn Wright Manson leather skirt, Brown Thomas €286
Black zip ankle boots, Topshop €114

Credits
Styled by Annmarie O’Connor
Assisted by Bríd Ní Laochdha
Photos by Maura Hickey 

For the rest of this feature, pick up today's Irish Examiner

Glam Party Shoes @ Brown Thomas

On the hunt for festive foot candy? Check out some of the looks I featured in yesterday's Glam Party Shoes presentation at Brown Thomas, Dublin.

Dress - Moschino Cheap & Chic
Bag - YSL
Shoes - Miu Miu

Dress - Balenciaga
Bag - Mulberry
Jewellery - Annoushka
Shoes - Prada

Dress - Mary Katrantzou
Bag - Anya Hinmarch
Jewellery - Annoushka
Shoes - YSL

Dress - Marc by Marc Jacobs
Bag - Anya Hundmarch
Jewellery - Annoushka
Shoes - Miu Miu

Jacket - Helmut Lang
Top - Elie Tahari
Trouses - Marc by Marc Jacobs
Bag - Anya Hindmarch
Shoes - Dolce & Gabbana

Dress - Helmut Lang
Bag - Anya Hidmarch
Jewellery - Annoushka
Shoes - Prada

Dress - 3.1 Philip Lim
Bag - Chloe
Shoes - Charlotte Olympia

Retro Musings

Last night I chatted with my friend Karina about our teenage fashion foibles and obsessions. The revelations were amusing. How many of these do you remember?

1. L.A. Gear high top sneakers (with the double contrast colour laces). A
2. Bottle cap Doc Martens (in manner of any respectable Bross-ette). K
3. That A|wear used to be called Gaywear! A and K
4. Fisherman rib sweaters that weighed more than a small child and completely usurped the female form. Usually worn with a polo neck. A and K
5. Hairspraying one's fringe OVER the rim of a bowler hat. K
6. Wearing two pairs of knee socks bunched mid-calf (with L.A. Gears or Docs). A
7. Puff ball skirts! A and K
8. 13 magazine. I bought my first copy aged 12 and re-read it about 1,200 times. A
9. Concert pianist shirts worn with tartan skirts and a man’s tuxedo jacket...with a polo neck. K
10. Braces worn off the shoulder, with shorts, L.A. Gears, double socks...and a polo neck. A

What the fascination was with polo necks is anyone's guess....

1

How to Wear It - Irish Examiner - Nov 12th

HOW TO WEAR IT...YELLOW
Hello Yellow! Nix the winter blues with a shot of summer sunshine.  Annmarie O’Connor shows you how.

 Tall? A yellow sweatshirt breaks up the length of a black silhouette; as so the combined proportions of a mini skirt and ankle boots.

Cos yellow sweatshirt, BT2 €59
Cos black polo neck, BT2 €49
Black pleated leather skirt, River Island €100
‘Joby’ biker boots, French Connection €250
Shearling bag, River Island €202

Credits
Styled by Annmarie O’Connor
Assisted by Bríd Ní Laochdha
Photos by Maura Hickey

A full version of this feature is availble in the Irish Examiner.

Party Shoes!

Shopping this Saturday? Come join me at Brown Thomas, Dublin where I'll be presenting hourly Party Shoe workshops from 12pm-4pm. Discover the latest Christmas season styles including Miu Miu, Charlotte Olympia and Alexander McQueen with tips on how to how to wear them.

The Shoe Rooms - Brown Thomas, Dublin. Saturday, 12th November: 12pm - 4pm. www.brownthomas.com.