Ripped

...or the closest I'll ever get to that description.

I'm all about the boyfriend jeans for comfort and breathing room and just looking cool. Rips and fraying only improve the look. Yet, however much I love this pair found in a random boutique by a brand I never remember and have never heard of before, they sacrifice the comfort factor for the aesthetic appeal. Layers of stiff treated denim make them look the way they do. Which is cool as they have a more fitted look, more tailored (for lack of a better word). Not cool is trying to cycle in them. Especially cycling twelve and a half kilometres in them.

Still, despite the casual flannel, the tousled hair, the Cons and rips and tears...the jeans pull it all together and dress up casual looks despite their own casual nature. They're just such a talking piece that they elevate an outfit from merely being comfortable to making a statement. And I do love when an outfit will do the talking for me or a single piece will make me look like a together human being with a plan in mind while getting dressed...

Flannel - Urban Renewal, Top - Primark (similar here), Cons, Jeans (similar here)

You guys have any pieces that do the talking/work for you?

Festival Necessities.

With Glasto behind us and many more festivals yet to come, here are my essentials for survival and style.

1. Glitter.

Love it. Embrace it. Become one with it.

2. Hair Chalk.

Like the glitter, this allows you to temporarily go crazy with your look...and then wash it away when the festival is over.

3. Statement Sunglasses.

In general, sunglasses are a wardrobe staple for me and for festivals, they're even more important. You're outside, possibly hungover and it's hopefully going to be sunny. Necessity. Then, when you're trying to pack light, they can be a great way of taking an outfit to the next level.

4. Docs.

Docs have taken me through many a festival and gig. They're better and more durable than wellies and you'll feel it less if someone stand on your foot.

5. Hair accessories.

Because second day hair is great, third day is...less so. Everyone and their aunt is over flower crowns but I think cute alicebands are a sweet, playful alternative to suit any look.

6. A coat.

If you're in Ireland or the UK, you're probably going to need one. Be honest with yourself, be realistic, be dry. Ones that can pack away or are light are your best bets.

7. Light layers.

Leggings, tanks, baggy sweaters - these things will be essential for temperature and weather changes. Build up your outfit starting lightest layers first and leave yourself the opportunity to add or lose more. A festival is shit when you're cold or damp...but then, maybe I'm getting old.

8. A flannel shirt.

Following on from above, flannel shirts are an easy layer to add warmth which can be easily worn around the waist when unnecessary and can double up as a waist-belt.

9. A towel.

Look, you'll probably get wet at some point, this is just so key I barely need to say it. Do I?

10. Baby wipes.

To bathe, to remove all that glitter, to wipe at drink stains when someone in a pit spills on you...it's obvious but it's a major essential.

What are your festival necessities?

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.

Freshers' Week Day One - Grunge

I said I'd try to post my music inspired outfits each day and I've managed not to disappoint so far - one for one! Go me! Musical inspiration for today was grunge and I went with it (a) for the warmth flannel lends on a windy day on a stand and (b) because chronologically it comes first as a music influence in my life.

In other news, read my articles for The Fair magazine here: http://www.thefairmagazine.com/?p=15572 

And don't forget to check out the magazine itself, too!

Kinda cool.

These pictures are from the first day of my holidays and were taken during the journey when the sibs and I went for a wander after lunch. I'm pretty casual because there was lots of being smushed in the backseat with said sibs. We've all gotten grown up and it's now a pretty tight squeeze. With this horror in mind, I went for my trusty Urban Renewal flannel, a fleecey Penney's varsity jacket and River Island skinnies. According to my sister (who rarely compliments anyone) I looked "kinda cool". Careful, with rave reviews like that, I may just get a big head.

Being an onion.

Went to wear the crop I bought while shopping yesterday with Sarah D today but failed as it was unreasonably cold. Damn you, Irish weather! Didn't you get the memo? It's sum-mer! But fret not, dear reader, the crop-top is still there, just under many, many layers. 

Began with the crop (with a fluorescent-green lace bra from UO underneath as there's a cut-out in back and I figure if the bra's gonna be showing you might as well make it a statement) and a skirt but soon the skirt became skinny jeans and I was adding a sweater and then a flannel shirt. As a result, the outfit's a little ramshackle but I was only lounging about the house today. Don't worry about my having the stomach out, either, I'm merely illustrating my onion-ness! I would never have my belly-button visible in public, (probably not even on the beach) the skirt I was originally wearing was high-waisted!

Shirt - Urban Renewal for UO - Bra - UO - Skinnies - Pieces - Sweater - Petit Bateau - My Docs - Chain - DIY store

Plaid is my friend.

The nineties (except the really bad jeans) and grunge style are clearly (from the briefest of glances at this blog) huge influences for me. Joseph did an amazing job with plaid on plaid on the runways for S/S 2012 and made it look expensive and grown up. What began as a punk and Japanese influenced outfit, grew layers and became something closer to what Joseph was after. I quite like the result! Comfy as all heck, too!

Skirt - Dorothy Perkins - Shirt-dress - River Island - Flannel shirt - Urban Renewal - Runners - Office - Garter - Passionata - Stockings - Wolford