Things That Make Me Squee - Candy Stripper AW14

I mean, seriously. Come on. For real.

TOO DAMN CUTE.

I want everything.

Candy Stripper is a Japanese clothing brand akin to high-end highstreet with prices along the lines of Reiss, Karen Millen or Monsoon but an aesthetic closer to Wildfox, House of Holland, or home-grown Irish brand, Pretty Owls Drink Tea. Except with the cuteness amped up. And said adorable look doesn't come across as overly twee or ungenuine as it screams organic Harajuku style. 

Designed by Yoshie Itabashi with a concept of "No Rule, No Genre, No Age", the AW14 collection clearly mirrors the brand's mission statement exactly. It does lots of different things and adheres to no single genre but, instead, coherently mixes several together. The "No Age" part might jar with some upon looking at the styling lookbook but I think that might be a matter of said styling and a cultural issue on our part. I like that they want anyone to wear the clothes - and if they appeal, you should definitely go for it! 

To consider the mixing of genres for their AW showing, I think I've cracked the recipe:

1 part punky tartan

1 part Clueless/House of Holland colours

1 part unicorn

1 part sportswear

1 part manga

1 part schoolgirl

1 part urban styling

1,000,000 parts cuteness

So, I'll go back to squeeing in a corner and wishing they had a store in Dublin now. Bye.

(Images via candystripper.jp)

You guys feeling it too? THE NEED.

Going wild for Wildfox.

I sometimes wonder at the price of Wildfox pieces and if it's justifiable. But season after season, they win me over and their gorgeous lookbooks endear their adorable collections even further. I'll probably continue to only purchase during sale season but the one item I own kind of sealed the deal - I wore it every few days for four or five months solid without any visible wear or tear and it's the softest tee I own. If you're looking for quality over quantity I can't recommend it more highly.

The Fall 2014 collection only added to my love for the brand. I wrote about a tee with "Mrs Darcy" emblazoned across it as a favourite a while back and the lookbook is ever more perfect. Themed around Anglomania, Regency patterns and sisterly affection, it's a treat for Austen and fashion fans alike. 

Damn, I really want that Mrs Darcy tee...

Let the pictures do the talking while I go swoon in a corner.

So do you agree - has this collection taken the brand to new and Wuthering heights?

Alexander McQueen AW14 Campaign.

Ugh. So in love.

I'm feeling a witchy vibe coming on for A/W this year. I've gotten the perfect boots, next are the perfect clunky heeled loafers. And a cape. I need a damn good cape.

For this reason, my life-long romance with Gothic and Romantic literature, my deep-seated love for Robert Smith and much more, I'm DYING over the AW14 campaign images from Alexander McQueen. Srsly. So good. Loss for real words.

Featuring the lovely Edie Campbell, they're all my gothiest dreams come true. Siouxsie Sioux me now, this ones a heart-stopper.

What do you make of this? As squee-crazy over it as me?

Fashion Favourites.

Favourites lists may seem lazy but this is more of a fashion news round up than a straight-up favourites post. I've been uber-busy these days which is a lame excuse, I know, but I didn't want to leave you all in suspense too long. Have a snippet of moi for now and enjoy some of the raddest things I've ever seen lately.

The Campaign Vid - Emporio Armani Fall 2014 Campaign on Dollymount Strand.

Ireland is so gorgeous.

The Shoot - Take It To Go in Interview Magazine.

Such a cuuuute concept.

interviewmagazine.com

The Face - Kit Harington for Jimmy Choo.

So gorgeous. Srsly. In every way.

The Item - Sliders.

Comfort. The right amount of ugly. No socks necessary. What's not to love?

The Style Icon - Dev Hynes.

Why are all my style icons men?

inveterate.co.uk

harpersbazaar.com

The Take-over - Kiko Mizuhara & Grimes for NYLON Japan's 9th Anniversary Issue.

'nuff said. Rad to the bone.

eikaeika.tumblr.com

nikyniky.com

nikyniky.com