LA College of Creative Arts Sample Sale ft. NATALIEBCOLEMAN, Danielle Romeril, Manley and Joanne Hynes

If you know anything about me at all, you'll know two things pertinent to this post:

(1) I love sales/bargains
(2) I love Irish design

These two loves came together today at the opening day of the (not so) Secret Sample Sale at the LA College of Creative Arts on (achingly hip) South William street. On today until Saturday, 10am-8pm, there's ample time to get in there and root out a bargain for yourself! Four rad Irish designers are represented and also hanging about themselves if you want the opportunity to squee/fangirl in person.

I popped along, picked up a sweet pair of Joanne Hynes earrings and papped the following shots. There was plenty more I could have picked up but you have to draw the line somewhere! Plus, maybe one of those pieces is waiting for one of you lovely peeps now. If so, it's like, kismet and shit.

Anyway, have a gawk and pop along if have the chance!

PS It's on on the first floor...not in Natalie's studio...which I barged into like the clodhopper that I am today. Sigh, if only I were a calm and collected human.

Le purchase

Anything catch your eye?

Little Gem: Lennon Courtney

Lennon and Courtney are names familiar to anyone interested in the Irish fashion scene. I'd been meaning to check out their label and headquarters in person for some time now and finally got around to it today. I popped in and stumbled upon a sample sale and my dream coat. Egads, it's a thing of beauty. I'm so utterly obsessed.

The store was being manned by the lovely Deborah Courtney who gave me sneak peaks of pieces from next season, showed me how different dresses were constructed to suit different women and the knitwear piece she designed which is proving to be a great seller. In fact, we end up chatting for ages as I get my shots of the place and we float around the shop and studio. I buy the very first thing I put my hands on and which was her immediate recommendation to me. Bizarrely, it's a piece I've been hunting down for my wardrobe for some time.

Set on Stephen Street in an 18th century building with a historic 20th century store-front, the HQ is both lovely to look at and lovely to shop in. Places that you buzz into can seem intimidating but I'm completely at ease as I browse the rails. And as I wasn't meant to be buying anything, I control myself as best I can. But it's difficult to resist the clothes inside. They're well-made, elegant and timeless. I tell myself it's an investment and allow the one purchase I hadn't planned for.

If you get a chance do pop in, it's well worth it! And, if you can't wait until then, check out their site, facebook page and follow them at @Lennon_Courtney on twitter and @lennoncourtney on Instagram.

P.S. There's a sale going on right now.