Paul Galvin for Dunnes Stores

Normally I hear a lot of hype before a collab collection drops but the Paul Galvin for Dunnes Stores collection managed to sneak up on me somehow. Which is funny because I've been saying for a while that such a collection was exactly what Dunnes needed. With so many amazing designer collaborations in-house for homeware, kids and women, there was a space that was crying out for some seriously contemporary, cool menswear.

And now it has been filled. While the collection is distinctly a fashion forward departure for the brand when it comes to menswear and the pieces have urban, contemporary elements, it also presents solid, clean separates that are good quality and would fit into many a wardrobe. You don't have to be quite the urban warrior that Galvin has put forward in order to find something for you.

But if you want to be that warrior, go ahead!

See, the thing is, there's actually plenty of exciting stuff going on for menswear in Ireland but it often requires having access to a lot of capital - something which is especially daunting if you might be worried a snide remark or comment might prevent you from ever wearing something a little more daring again. This collection is a high street collaboration, admittedly on an upper scale of the high street, but is accessible for many nonetheless. And, while it's pushing in a different direction with the styling of the lookbook, some of the decorative accents and trims, silhouettes and pieces such as the cape-parka hybrid, it's not too far from the accepted to give your average Joe trying something new too difficult of a time.

Galvin himself states that he aimed to create something which is "not so much a clothing collection as a clothing movement" and which "represents new thoughts, new language, and hopefully a new direction for menswear in Ireland." Some might roll their eyes at such an ambitious claim but I'm very much on the same page. Let's level the playing field when it comes to clothing - if nothing else, it'll make commutes and walking down the street more interesting.

The "Vanguard", (which was chosen to capture the "spirit of the vanguard warriors, the risk takers, who led military movements from the front") title of the collection seems interesting as well, given the timing. 1916 commemorations are looming and are very much present in the popular mindset at the moment, giving many of us pause to consider our rather recent past and the struggle for independence as led by some of our greatest thinkers, warriors and heroes as well as a lot about the vast changes which have overcome our little island in the past century. While it's dangerous to think more adventurous menswear is anything close to synonymous with a bridging of the gap of inequality between men, women and everything between, it's still progress when freedoms of expression become more normalised. 

Outside my tangents into the symbolic and sociological elements of the collection, it's just damn wearable and cool and I'm even coveting some of the pieces for myself. The collection comprises of 21 styles and key pieces including an overcoat, bomber jacket, shirts, sweatshirts, tees, sweatpants, sweaters and footwear with prices from €25. It is available in selected Dunnes Stores and online and went on sale on Saturday the 17th of October (sorry about my delay in posting on it!).

Will any of you guys be picking any of the pieces up? What do you make of the collection?

(All images are courtesy, and property of, Dunnes Stores)

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Zoe Jordan X River Island

Last season I was checking out Zoe Jordan's AW15 collection at Somerset House with 160g Magazine and, though I couldn't head over this time around, a little bit of LFW came to me on Monday night. In the Grafton Street store, her collab with River Island was launched in Ireland and, within a couple hours, many pieces were sold out. Fear not, however, as more stock is on its way!

Why did it sell out so quickly? Well, it's got a lot to do with Zoe herself, who has a refreshingly honest and practical approach to designing. She put several of her key hero pieces (the "cold shoulder" jumpers and smoky prints) into this collection, making her famous staple items available to a wider audience, and doesn't discriminate between these pieces and those from her own collection, seeing them as complementing each other. In a more general sense, she also believes in creating trans-seasonal, timeless clothes that reward the buyer by lasting.

With cute party dresses, smart tailoring, tough outerwear, cosy knitwear and dressy tees, the collection will easily fit right into countless wardrobes. And the balance between simplicity, badassery and impeccable fit means that, as she will tell you, Zoe Jordan's girl isn't any one girl but all.

You can shop Zoe Jordan x River Island online and instore with prices beginning at €47.00.

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Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani

I normally don't write these kinds of posts, don't feel the need to repeat what's in press releases or could be summarised in tweets because I prefer to put out content that I've directly altered and made my own. However, when news in the beauty or fashion worlds really excites me and I'm in a position of privilege to hear about it early on, I cannot help but feel the need to share it with all of you!

The title has given the news away but: HOW EXCITING IS THAT? Gwen Stefani has been a major inspiration for me since I was ten years old. Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt was the first album I bought with my own money and I've always loved her fearless and experimental sense of style. Considering how bold but put-together said style is, her collab with UD is bound to be colourful and exciting - a perfect match, really.

Gwen has worked with the brand on everything for this limited edition collection from packaging to formulations and is stoked for it. She notes: “When Urban Decay came to me to collaborate, I immediately thought it was a perfect match. The way they've built their company is very similar to my aesthetic and approach. It’s all about creative self-expression, being strong and not being afraid to go outside of the box. Everyone in my life knows I absolutely love make-up. From a very young age, it was an artistic passion of mine. I actually used to be a make-up artist. I love wearing make-up and having so many ways to express myself through it. It’s my war paint. To be able to do a collaboration with people who get that concept and who are just as passionate about it is a dream come true. We've made and created products that I actually wear every single day. It’s the real thing. I'm obsessed with everything we've done, and I can’t wait to share it.”

Can't wait to actually see some of the products now!

The collection launches online from Urban Decay in late November and will be available in Ireland through House of Fraser and Debenhams from December.

Photo Credit: Jason H. Smith / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Rachel Antonoff & Other Stories

& Other Stories really are killing it with collabs lately.

But, then, they always do.

Fresh off the back of the Vans collab, we have their collection with designer, Rachel Antonoff. And the promo vid is under the creative helm of Lena Dunham. And it stars Zoe Kazan. It's like a Trifecta of female empowerment all wrapped up in the sweetest (yet tailored and professional) pastel bow.

Seriously, though. Everything about this collab is charming and bound to win every girl over. You can't help but smile along with a sense of camaraderie.

The promo vid features Kazan canvassing the neighbourhood in the run up to an election. Sadly, the people who answer the door are less than receptive and laugh in her face, tell her to go away and slam said door in said face. In light of this abuse and negative reaction, she slips into a daydream, imaging a world where she has been made president. Which is where the fun really begins.



I have seen commentary online expressing dissatisfaction with a brand wielding politics and feminism in pursuit of financial gain, noting that the whole thing misses the mark and belittles women. People are, of course, entitled to their opinions but I strongly disagree. I think this video and collection and concepts behind it are right on the money, hitting all my nostalgia buttons. What woman can't relate to being a little girl and imagining being in charge and how good a job you'd do?

A point of contention is Audrey's (Kazan) announcement that she's here to talk about "women, children and small animals". People seem to believe that this is trivialising women's issues but I think the contrary. Not only does it evoke that same sense of childhood whimsy, it also bands together groups that have one important thing in common: they are often vulnerable and made powerless. Now, she could have mentioned LGBT, race or cultural issues but that would make the video into something else entirely.

This is a promo video for a collection. It has commercial interests so, to engage too seriously with hot-button issues would be somewhat shady and disrespectful. It'd be a little closer to when Chanel missed the mark with their protest show. This is referencing things the women buying the collection know and might have faced and intends to give context for clothes intended for women on the go. Not to teach us something or change opinions.

And what it does, it does well. It shows how these items might be worn, the contexts. It makes them seem cute and wantable. It riffs on girl power in a lighthearted way. It references feminism but is not intended as serious feminist discourse.

The clothes are sweet little skirts and collared dresses that could move from office to garden party, slogan tees and sweatshirts proclaiming, "It's Time," and "We Try Harder", suiting and co-ords in slightly off cuts or unexpected materials. It's the items we expect in a working wardrobe given a twist. It's playful. It's chameleon-like - similar to the women dressing in these clothes.

I say all this being previously not particularly well-acquainted with Antonoff's ouevre, not a massive fan of Dunham's brand of storytelling and neutral towards Kazan. But this has actually made me consider all three differently.

And I still love & Other Stories. Obvs.





























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Vans x & Other Stories

In my misspent youth, I was a Converse and Doc Martens kind of girl. When I say that, I don't mean I wore them. Of course, I did wear them but it was more than that. I was devotedto them with the unquestioning, unwavering passionate loyalty only teenagers can muster. Vans, therefore, I saw as a diversion. Ridiculous, I'm aware but I felt about Vans and Converse they way some people feel about Pop and Punk or Marvel and D.C. You had to choose one altar to pray at, you couldn't dip a toe into each shoe.

Now, I have a battered old pair of Vans that are one of my default pairs of shoes. I have many, many pairs of high-top Cons, in various colours and patterns, and the trusty old Docs I crack out for gigs and festivals but both varieties of shoe require effort and time to wedge them on your feet. I've become far too lazy, and not nearly devoted enough, for things you can't slip on your feet on a regular basis.

So, you could say I'm a convert.

When I saw that Vans and (wonderful, wonderful) & Other Stories were collaborating, it was kind of magic.

It was this iconic brand, somewhat synonymous with being teenaged, getting a lesson in how to be elegant and grown up. And the results? Just charming - restrained but still fun.

The collaboration has produced three pairs of shoes, purchasable from the & Other Stories site. Two are in a pretty blushy nude leather and the other is a monochrome spotted number that's very 101 Dalmations. You can get slip-ons in the nude and spotted print and the lace-up shoe is only available in the nude.

But, really, it's the campaign images that are slaying me. I mean, trop dreamy, or what?

What do you guys think of the collab?

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URGENT: New Alexander Wang x H&M Images.

Srsly though.

This is just a quick post because I'm squeeing internally so much in the library and CANNOT HOLD IT IN.

I set a google alert for Alexander Wang x H&M a while back (yes, I'm that sad) as I wanted to see it first and show you guys asap! Casually went to check my email in the library while researching a second ago and then nearly DIED of excitement when I saw that one of today's alerts was not another article about Nicki Minaj teaching the models dances backstage at Wang SS15 but an actual article with pictures of the actual collection - or six looks anyway.

So, enjoy. I'll try and calm down enough to get back to work and I'll go circle November 6th on my calendar a few million more times.

GAH.

Okay, breathe....remember to breathe.

(Scans of Vogue Netherlands via racked.com)

Queue hyperventilating.

What do you guys think?

I NEED those sweaters in my life and on my torso.

Brand Crush: Warby Parker.

When the brand contacted me, I had heard their name before but I knew little about them. A quick browse of their site immediately won me over - great design, collaborations with the likes of Beck, matching each pair bought with one for someone in need and uber-cute campaigns...need I say more?

Going back to the charity aspect for a moment - they've actually donated over a million frames now via the Buy a Pair, Give a Pair incentive which sees Non-Profit partners given a donation with each Warby Parker purchase to buy glasses and pass them on to entrepreneurs they've trained in countries such as India and Guatemala. This means they're not just throwing money cluelessly at charities but building a system that creates jobs as well. I love that the brand is a For-Profit not only determined to deliver good design and good service at lower prices but to also positively affect the wider world.

Bonus: They're carbon-neutral.

Bonus bonus: They sell a monocle. I'm not even shitting you.

Be still, my beating heart.

Eyewear has been such a big part of my life. Since I got laser-eye surgery two years ago, I've really missed my glasses. Don't get me wrong - it's an amazing freedom to not need them! But, still. They were a comfort blanket. And part of me since I was seven. So, I sometimes long for a pair once more. On the flip-side, for the first time I can wear sunglasses and I do so almost every day now - no matter the season.

As I have this deep connection to all things eyewear, I feel I have the right to share how I would style glasses. I've chosen two pairs - eyeglasses and sunglasses - from the Warby Parker Waterways Collection which I'm kind of obsessed with. (I'm a bit of a Waterbaby so the dreamy, underwater campaign images are majorly doing it for me.) So, here goes!

So, what do you guys think? Crushing as bad as me? Check Warby Parker out on facebook and twitter and consider carefully your next eyewear purchase!