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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Urban Decay - Time To Start Composing Your Christmas Wishlist

Whether you're naughty or nice, Urban Decay has got you covered. With new launches and old favourites reimagined and repurposed, there are plenty of great gifting or self-gifting options coming from our go-to make-up brand this holiday season.

Yesterday, I attended an Urban Decay Make-up Masterclass with MUA Danielle Roberts in the Drury Buildings. I was so busy taking notes and photos that I forgot to actually eat anything so the make-up itself stood in for nutritional sustenance instead. But I felt pretty nourished by the end of it and left with a pretty long wishlist.

As Danielle completed her look, she talked us through the products, what was on trend and how to reuse old favourites in new and unexpected ways. She had so many nuggets of make-up wisdom that I wouldn't do a blow-by-blow account of the full process justice. Instead, I'm just going to highlight some of the points and products I found most interesting.

Now, the Vice 4 palette (RRP €48.00) was the clear star of the show and little really needs to be said about it. As insanely anticipated and popular the Naked Smoky (€46.00) might have been, this latest palette release from UD has been turning a lot of heads lately. While the Naked range is packed full of wearable neutrals that are often perfect for the everyday, go-to routine, the Vice 4 is all jewel tones that warrant a special occasion or a wearer who embraces colour. Both are stunning but the Vice 4 is majestic enough that it has swayed the heart of at least this minimalist and neutral devotee.

One of the things that Danielle kept talking about was incorporating UD's prep and setting sprays - not just at the beginning or end of the process, but throughout to bring in the skincare goodness that is infused into each one and to transform products into something new. For example, her tip to get the glowy, luminous skin that is so on trend, was to spray a little of their hero spray, the B6 Prep Spray (€14.00 for the travel size), into the palm of your hand and mix it with the foundation that you're going to use. This warms the products up so that they melt into your skin better and it gives your skin an extra boost of moisture and vitamins. Similarly, if you want to turn your favourite powder blush into a cream blush, just mix a little of the pigment with the Naked BB Cream (€30.00) and voilà!

One of the new launches that caught my eye - if you'll excuse the pun - was the Waterline eye pencils ($20.00). These are designed, you guessed it, for the waterline and offer a subtle enhancement to the eye, stay put and don't budge (seriously, I had to take my Clarisonic to the swatches on the back of a hand I had washed multiple times that day) and are also suitable for sensitive eyes. Which is all good news to me as my eyes water like crazy and tightlining my eyes is nigh on impossible.

The new Brow Beater (€18.50) brow pencil and Brow Tamer (€18.50) gel also got some love for being just the thing to create the imperfect, tousled and just wild enough brows that have been all over catwalks of late. I'm already a big fan of the Brow Tamer and the Brow Beater seems to do a great job of giving you thin lines to build up a natural-looking brow.

Another product, or range, that you might want to keep an eye out for (I apologise for that one), is the new line of Primer Potions. In addition to the original, beloved primer are ones for targeted concerns; Anti-Ageing (€21.00, Eden (a nude matte with full coverage, €21.00) and Minor Sin (sheerer version of the champagne-toned Sin, €21.00). All with the addition of a new applicator to help the product glide on more smoothly.

Finally I have to give a shout-out to the new matte lipsticks (£15.00) which are pigmented and bold with a lovely matte finish while still managing to be creamy and not too heavy - the best of all worlds! Plus, in the matte finish, the shades look truly gorgeous!

So much to look forward to! Will anything be getting a spot on your letter to Santa?

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Pamela Scott AW15 - "The Collection"

One of the most admirable things that a brand can do is take a new direction without leaving loyal customers behind or losing their identity. It's a difficult line to tread, indeed. Yet, Pamela Scott seems to have managed it.

As I walked into the press day, I noted the garments that my aunt or mother would normally visit the store for were still present on the racks; classic, warm coats, elegant knitwear, dresses fit for the office and weddings. Pamela Scott, after 40 years in business, knows what their woman wants and makes sure she'll keep returning to get it.

But they're also opening the door to a younger woman who they say is in her forties. One look at "The Collection," however, and I find I could wear much of it myself. In fact, there are some crisp pieces that I've been keeping an eye out for elsewhere to no avail.

The Collection offers pieces that look and feel much more expensive than they are. There are some pretty dresses - some exceptionally pretty dresses - suitable, again, for both office and party alike but there are also some separates that are seriously cool. One of my favourite looks from the whole collection is a pair of black, clean culottes with a floaty cream pussybow blouse. The blouse hits at the 70s trend that is everywhere but is simple enough to outlive the trend. The culottes are the perfect shape and length and utterly wearable - something I've been trying and failing to find. Pamela Scott knows real women and real bodies and these clothes are easy to put on without stressing about careful styling to make trends designed for models work on shorter or curvier forms.

Another highlight are the coats - one in camel and another in a deep, rich green. Tailored and neat, they are the perfect piece to dress any outfit up for any occasion. These are wardrobe staples that will earn their keep rather than gather dust.

Capes also appear. One is navy and structured - a little Gossip Girl, in that regard - and the other is a big, drapey knit piece in grey tones. Both are timelessly chic and on trend.

After viewing the show and being impressed by it, I ventured upstairs, at their encouragement to become better acquainted with the store at large and was taken aback by the quantity and range of formalwear. I was unaware but if you're after a Debs or bridal party dress, they've kind of got you covered!

Pamela Scott knows Irish women and a much wider cross-section of the population than I previously thought. They know how to dress our bodies and what we want and how we celebrate. And now they're also being a little more fashion-forward. They'll probably never make faddy, super on-trend pieces but, rather, garments that you'll cherish and wear over and over again with just enough awareness of current taste to be fashionable and enough timelessness to remain relevant for years to come.

Here's to the next forty years of this great Irish institution of fashion!

(Thanks to Pamela Scott, Sorcha and the team at Elevate for inviting me!)

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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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Calle Del Mar AW15

Having a serious brand crush on the colourful and seriously cool Calle Del Mar by Aza Ziegler.

With deliciously awkward lengths - whether cropped or over-sized - and a clash of masculine and feminine by combining sportswear inspired pieces with ruffles, it reads as cool without having to try very hard. It's effortless, easy.

Expect beachy motifs, re-purposed materials (raincoat material skirt, anyone?), a wide mixture of textures and fabrics, embroidery, re-imagined and dressed up casual pieces and a colourful but restrained palette. It's very Cali-inspired but with a twist of complexity and imagination.

I'll have one of everything, please.

(All images are the property of Calle Del Mar)

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