Friday 30 August 2013

My excitement for the new KARA album is in Full Bloom!

I'm majorly excited for the sound and look of KARA's upcoming album "Full Bloom". So much amazingness in one preview! I mean, the androgynous suiting? DYING. And the Dolce (actually Dolce or no? I can't find any info online!) looks? Perfect. The contrast between friggin' princess attire and white dresses and sharp suits makes for an interesting look for the album. The wardrobe and its more cohesive nature seem to match the snippets of the sounds we've been getting. KARA have always been great but these songs seem to up the ante. It's all very sharp, put together and on point.

Girls, you're looking and sounding hot.





Also: can you say SPARKLY?



And a song from the album!



Wednesday 28 August 2013

Hold on to your hats!


Hats

Hats by fitzpac featuring a fedora hat



More and more, I've been vibing on hats. I don't know when they started being synonymous with doucheyness but, despite the delicate balance often needed in their styling, they can be the perfect accessory to pull an outfit together. The right hat and the right attitude just elevate an outfit to the next level. I definitely need to buy me some more and build up a collection of some reliable favourites. All of the above are adorable but I'm mostly in the market for a good Saint Laurent-style fedora, a page boy cap, a baseball cap and a few more cute beanies. Expect to see a little less of my cranium in the future.

Saturday 24 August 2013

Face.

So, over the past couple of days I've been at a bit of a loose end and without the sibs (busy being formal and debutantes - and the male version, whatever that is...). Being tripodless and equipped with a camera with a broken timer - I have mentioned this/whined about this before, I believe - I couldn't shoot outfit photos. But I remained camera-happy. As a result, I did make-up or "beauty" shots instead. The results are below. I had a lot of fun doing it. I'm a much more patient subject than any others I've had for a while.

I went for a dusted, berry-lipped editorial look a little too daring for my own everyday, a glittery, discotastic retro look and a classic red-lip + cat eye combo with a strong brow.

Images 1-3: Isadora Triple Eye Shadow in 06 Sandy Sky (white shade used on eyelids and brows), Loreal Paris Volume Million Lashes in Black Diamatissime and Topshop Lipstick in Vamp

Images 4-6: Garnier BB Cream in Light, Million Lashes Mascara as above, Topshop Eye Crayon in Cosmic and Topshop Lip Glaze in Bronze

Images 7-11: Million Lashes as above, Topshop Lip Marker in Parade and Topshop Eye Crayon in Tarnish.











Friday 16 August 2013

Radio Lulu.

Went with one of my best friends (of over fourteen years) to Kildare Village (an outlet centre in Co. Kildare, Ireland) for a wander the other day. The place kind of caters for preppy casual wear, event outfits and largely a somewhat older audience. However, there are pretty good bargains to be found and one can obtain a VIP day pass through various media in order to obtain an additional 10% off.

I love me a discount. TBH, shopping doesn't quite do it for me without the rush of a bargain. Like, y'know when you grab something, see the price and look around suspiciously thinking, "Well, this can't be right?". That's the feeling I'm after. I don't think I'll ever quite get the rush of finding a pair of Stella's worth over a grand, in my size for a tenner ever again...

This Lulu Guinness pouch, however, was under twenty euro which is a decent bargain. I'm pretty crazy for their bags - a touch of cute kitsch to liven simple outfits! This radio pouch kinda spoke to me the moment I saw it. I think it suits me mightily!

A mention must go to Oohlala Magazine. They had their launch party and blog awards the other day. Other engagements meant I only got to pop in for a while but they put on a good show and really packed the place out! The winning bloggers were really touched and it was sweet to see the level of pride and joy bouncing around the place. Congrats to all the winners and the magazine!

1185236_598943603489306_176797100_n

20506_598943533489313_1052801254_n

1009852_598948720155461_1154076802_n

Thursday 15 August 2013

Afternoon Tea.

Afternoon tea in Killashee House with the family and the granny a couple of days ago. The cakes are pretty damn good and the building is super interesting and pretty. Light seems to fall perfectly everywhere around it.












Boots - Topshop - Jeans - Topshop - Shirt - Dunnes - Jacket - random boutique.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Icon - Chet Baker

Where has this sense of casual togetherness and glamour gone in male dressing? Why does donning a blazer mean you're going somewhere/working/dressed up? Why can men no longer wear hats without, by and large, looking somewhat douchey? What has happened?

Maybe things have gotten too complicated, too easy, too disposable. 

We no longer invest. We pick fads over timelessness. Outlandish wins over elegant and restrained.

Shrugging limitations is a good thing but has freedom continued to foster creativity? Or has it made something stagnant? Have we lost something more than just etiquette in dress? 

Check Chet and his music out. Simplicity never ages.


Wednesday 7 August 2013

Les Petits Joueurs Lego Mondrian Clutch

Harper's Bazaar - I'm liking your taste in...well, everything.

Grimes + Angel Haze + Lagerfeld + Roitfeld = a singularly perfect combination of fashion and It-Girl elements in order to produce a spread entitled "Singular Beauty - An Homage to the Diversity of Women" for the September 2013 issue of Harper's.

The two musicians were among a host of amazing women from various industries that came together to make the piece. And, no offence, to the others but they were the figures of most interest to me. Aside from the fact that I'm a major fan of the music of both, I also love the styling going down for both - especially Angel Haze. That is some awesome androgyny right there. Sharp.

However, I do think the baseball cap with the Saint Laurent look on Grimes is rather inspired. Who would have guessed that it would work so well?


Monday 5 August 2013

Bonjour, Au Revoir Simone.

From the architecture perving, to the on-point styling, to the vignettes of the accessories, to the enviable bangs, to the adorableness/fierceness of the ladies in question, to the music (obviously) - Au Revoir Simone's new music video, Somebody Who, is perfection. The cinematography with its sweeping shots up stairs and through rooms, the symmetrical organisation of the band in stark, empty rooms and the clean, simplicity of it all is an aesthetic I really dig. And the coordinating outfits? Amazing.

Welcome back, gals.

Sunday 4 August 2013

Gah of the moment - Nastygal Bustier Dress

Restyling classic teen movies.

I set myself the challenge of styling looks inspired by some of my favourite teen movies of all time; Heathers, Empire Records, Mean Girls, Clueless and The Craft. However, I limited myself to sale items only, to make it more interesting. Here are my up-to-date takes on these classics.


Heathers

Heathers by fitzpac featuring topshop


The Craft



Empire Records



Topshop crop top, €15 / Topshop circle skirt, €11 / Pointed-toe boots, €85 / Strap backpack, €44

Mean Girls



Clueless