good old fashioned party...

It's getting to that time of year again. The festive season will soon be upon us and that means sparkly parties! I know it's a little soon but don't judge me... I have my first real work party in two weeks and I am super excited! We are going for dinner, then cocktails, then dancing (with more cocktails). I felt it was a necessity for me to go all old school glamour on the situation. I feel like Christmas is the perfect excuse to truly get all dolled up like you never have before. And as I once read before, if in doubt over dress. I'm thinking Mad Men, I'm thinking Breakfast at Tiffanys. After all no one does parties like those ladies. I'm thinking that my outfit will consist of a black satin full skirted dress, shining jewellery, big hair and sparkly shoes (green sparkly shoes). Hopefully it will all look how I want it to look but I decided I didn't want to play it safe. I wanted to show off and feel fabulous! 

Anyone else have any festive soirees coming up soon? What style are going to go with? 

style@set...

Yes it's that time of year again! Style @ Set is upon us and this year it is going to be better than ever! Shopping, vintage, style, beauty, decadence, cocktails and so much more...

Affordable Vintage is the theme of this year’s Absolut Style at Set weekend in Langton House Hotel, Kilkenny on the 7th and 8th of April. Continuing on their trend for testing the concept of a fashion weekend, the Style at Set team are introducing a Vintage Kilo Sale – transforming the ballroom in to a shop with no price tags – only weighing scales. Talk about exciting! Shoppers will be provided with bags which they can fill with as much or as little as they like from the rails upon rails of vintage clothes, all sourced by Blanaid Hennessy. Once they’re satisfied with their swag, the bags are weighed, and charged at a cost of just €20.00 per kilo. Easy Peesy!

The sale begins at 11am on Saturday the 7th of April. Blanaid does stress that shoppers try and come as early if possible to avoid disappointment. However they will be replenishing the stock on Sunday morning, so those that have to work on Saturday don’t miss out on some amazing pieces.

Entry is free in to the event, which will be complemented by a health and beauty area and other fashion related events taking place over the weekend.  In keeping with tradition, they will also be hosting two big club nights in the Set theatre, featuring 90’s tribute band ‘Smash Hits’ and more.

For further information, interviews and imagery please contact:
Blanaid Hennessy
T: 056 7703312/ 083 334 6996
E: info@shutterbug.ie
W: www.facebook.com/shutterbugshop
Langton House Hotel
T: 056 7765133
W: www.set.ie

blinging it up and stressing it...

My thesis was handed up today and I am ploughing through my portfolio. So much work to do but thankfully a good bit done too. Luckily I have a bit of bling to keep me looking bright even if I am not feeling it this week. Wearing it with (almost) everything!

Next Monday cannot come fast enough...

Top: Awear

Necklace: Oasis

night out...

Of course we all know that it's that time of year again. When despite the epic coldness we head out in our finest to drink and be merry... Where mistletoe and baubles will be hung, where everything will sparkle and where mulled wine, champagne and martinis will be drank til the wee hours of the morning. But the best thing about Christmas parties is that you have the excuse to dress up. Going all out and being glamourous! The Christmas party is a very important occasion where no length is too long and no shoe is too sparkly.

Since anything goes why not try a full length gown? I know I would. I was always a slightly extravagant girl. Being dressed up was and still is so important to me. Thankfully maxi dresses and such are becoming less and less formal. They are no longer meant to be kept for that rare black tie event. Styled the right way I really think these maxi dresses could be amazing (well there amazing anyway).

Would love to be daring enough to wear a maxi dress this party season, hopefully I will.

God I love being the bell of the ball...

How do you feel about maxi dresses for this party season?

oooh pretty...

Don't know if any of you caught this stunning advert for Moet and Chandon in last week's Style magazine for the Sunday Times. Well, I spotted it anyway and was blown away by the styling of the whole thing. I mean the dress, the hair, the room, the mountains of champagne flutes! What is not too love?! If I were to have a party it must be like this. An overly decadent, alcohol fueled night of long gowns, big jewels and dancing til dawn.

I like to think that this is a shot from the morning after. Caterers are clearing up around her while she remains dazed, still her gown with her hair dishevelled. Clutching on to the very last bottle of Moet.

Cheers!

FYI I need that dress in my life... wonder whose it by?

smoulder...

So I am heading out tonight with my gang (clicks fingers) and its the night before Halloween... Now I have already done the dress up thing this week but I do want to do a little something given the occasion. So I decided that I'm gonna be a little adventurous with my eye make up. Gonna go a bit Black Swan, a bit smudgy, a bit dark, a bit mysterious, a bit glamourous. The kind of eyes that will shock and seduce, that will scare and mesmerise. 

I bought a new dress that is black and dark green, and it has a gorgeous drapey neck. So I am leaning toward dark green, gold and black for my eyes. To finish the look and gonna mess up the auld hair. Curl it and fuzz it up! Lets just hope I don't scare the boyfriend.

Any plans yourselves for Halloween? Do tell...

Images via we heart it

wish I was wearing #2

A lazy Saturday calls for a not so lazy outfit. Being a student does not lend itself to dressing fussy or fancy. I genuinely crave the days when I can dress like this on a daily basis. Perfect for heading from work to grabbing a few cocktails...

When that happens I can keep my lazy Saturday outfits.

the big deal knickers...

Lately I've become obsessed with high waisted panties. I just find them more comfortable, flattering and the hold me in so I have a much smoother silhouette, especially since I love to wear fitted dresses and skirts. The only problem is that the majority of big knickers (in my price range) that are around are those nasty granny ones (which do have their uses but can make you feel less than desirable). For years knickers were teeny and unless you had a massive budget you were forced to wear teeny knickers with cute prints and pretty fabrics or wear big knickers that would resemble your aunts!

Thankfully though, more and more places are making and stocking sexy and luxurious high waisted knickers. From the bra makers Curvy Kate to the good auld Dunnes. But I don't think that's enough. Over the past few months I've been browsing the web to find more high waisted panties to add to my collection and the majority are unnaturally expensive! People seem to link high waisted knickers to either granny pants or super sexy lingerie that only come out when you are seducing your man. And super sexy lingerie happen to have a super sexy price tag that one cannot afford. But why are they so expensive and why do only exotic boutiques stock them? Why can I not find them in Penneys or La Senza on a daily basis (and not one every year or so).

Am I alone in this? Am I the only one who loves seductive high waisted knickers? Is that why they are not trickling down into high street shops at decent prices? Does this annoy anyone else or am I just a wee bit mad?

Rant over...

Still in love with that coral sunset...

Outfit posts are slim on the ground due to my internship, I will do better. Anyway here are some recent purchases that I am still swooning over. Both coral and both oh so cool. It is my colour of choice at the moment, along with black. At least it is a summery colour, unlike black.

I love the structure of this bag: simple, boxy and sleek. It has a long handle, which is something that I'm not hugely used to though. To be honest I was half tempted to leave it there because of the handle, but the colour made me pick it up. It also fits a good bit in it, surprisingly. And I now love the handle!

The lippy was a teeny (huge) bit of an impulse buy, I saw it while working on a previous post and I went weak at the knees. It is called Vegas Volt (isn't that a brilliant name?!) I just loved that colour and my last coral lipstick was too waxy and difficult to wear. So I was delirah when I tried it on and it was perfect. One layer does the job perfectly, otherwise it would be way too bright for me to wear on a day-to-day basis.

I love both and shall be wearing both this coming Sunday when I'm out with my gang, yes I have a gang... we even click our fingers he he!

Bag: Penneys

Lipstick: MAC (Vegas Volt)

If I could wear by the pool...

When I saw these in the Elle magazine I fell in love! It is Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti. If I was super wealthy and had like a big swanky pool to sit by this is what I would choose to wear. Let me make it clear that I don't think the collection is unsuitable or not good enough to wear out on the town, it's just I would love swimwear like this! Particularly the orange one, yum! It would be so Betty Draper of me.

This mega bold colour is seriously warming the cockles of my heart! I want something in orange so badly! Maybe shoes??

Procastination + Shopping...

In the middle of writing another thesis proposal (she didn't like the last one) and this time it's the big important one (eeek!). So in the midst of researching, reading, writing and all that jazz I've been eagerly spending the last of my birthday money.

I bought two pretty amazing things, a gingham halter top and a flowery dress. Both from Vivien of Holloway, both utterly gorgeous, both screaming vintage and both on sale! The last thing I bought was a dress for my birthday which cost €114 (still have no photos of me in it yet!) so the fact that I got all this for €83 makes me feel good! 

I even know where I am going to wear that dress first. I've a 21st dinner to go to in April and I plan on wearing it with some summery/strappy/black wedges and a matt black belt (but I must also purchase a white one because it looks so darling with it!) 

Hoping I'm gonna look super cute!

A print to float around in...

This Alexander McQueen Gown that Mila Kunis wore to the SAG Awards stunned and amazed me... It is so beautiful! So floaty, so soft, so fun yet so very elegant. Obviously I wish I could have the real mccoy but I do not have the bank balance needed to support that sort of wardrobe.

But I came across Topshops new Unique  SS11 collection and it does have the same floaty, summery, fun vibe that I get when look at the Alexander McQueen dress. It's fun, it's fresh and has a slight "apocalyptic summer" feel to it (if that makes any sense). Obviously more expensive than the regular Topshop items, they are still a damn sight cheaper than any designer label. 

My favourite item is that red skirt! I wanna throw it on with a black body and some seriously demented black stilettos and a gold clutch and make my hair really really big! 

Picking at daisies...

These are just a few screen shots from a photo shoot Asos did with Daisy Lowe. It has this whole chilled out seventies vibe (and as you know that is my trend of choice this year so I likey... a lottie!

I want that green dress! It shall be mine! I think more exclamation points are needed! (!!!!!!!!) Thats enough... The colour is just stunning, the shape is divine, just gimme... please? Also that patterned blouse is so cute... If you wanna buy one seventies style piece just get that, and a big hat (you always need the hat).

Also on a nerdy design point, I love the type in the first picture. It is clean, white, pretty...

Loverly.

Birthday Shoes...

It is my 21st birthday today and among the amazing gifts that I received so far (which includes Raybans, an old watch and a gold wish bone necklace) I got these off my boyfriend. I was given them on Sunday but was forbidden to open them until this morning. I knew what I was getting (because I picked them out) but I was so excited and nervous about opening them, I was so afraid that they weren't going to fit. But they do!

He asked me back in December what I wanted and I yelped "shoes!" So I was sent on a mission to find a pair for him to get me (he wasn't going to attempt to pick a pair for - which was probably a smart move). At first I was going to get something smart, sophisticated, sexy... possibly nude/peach, satin, a killer heel. Something I could where with anything and everything.

But then I said "fudge that!" and decided I wanted these beautifully mad shoes! I feel like a modern day Marie Antoinette in them (except without all the sadness).

They are a perfect gift! What says I love you more than a pair of green tinsel shoes???

I love them...

Thank you x

Love this...

I saw this on Elle of the Ball on Sunday I felt I just had to show it to you guys. There is something about this dress that is just amazing (you may not agree). I think it's the sheer simplicity mixed with the block colouring. You kind of think it shouldn't work but it does!

I want to get my hands on it! I wanna see what it would be like with loads of accessories and then with a simple chain and then with hair down... I wanna see if this dress is truly versatile or is it just that Kate Bosworth managed to make it work when it shouldn't. 

I want to believe it is versatile just because it is so beautiful... But sure even if it's not I'll be more than happy to wear it this way...

Sure it's all pants...

 YSL

Marc Jacobs

So I was skimming through some of the spring 2010 ready-to-wear collections yesterday and I felt very uninspired. A lot of it was just a tad bland or a tad nasty... 

But, there was one trend slipping through some of the collections I did like... liked a lot actually. It was in fact the high waisted, wide leg trousers. I love a good pair of trousers but believe it or not I only own one pair (shock horror I know). I really hope this trend trickles down onto the high street. I've already seen flowery ones in Awear that I want! Unfortunately they don't seem to be selling them... yet.

The YSL look is very sleek, sexy and sophisticated... Possibly for a night out or even for the office (with a gorgeous fitted blazer). And the Marc Jacobs really interests because they are nice and colourful. Now I tend to have a more muted coloured wardrobe but I would gladly team any of those trousers with some greay/cream/black/whatever I can find or perhaps I could just start to like wearing loads of colour! Plus they remind me of the movie Evil under the Sun, but that could just be the big hats.

Have you found a trend you feel you will making your own this spring?

A little bit of festive sparkle...

Want something sparkly and fitted for this party season? Something that glitters like gold, that shows a hint of worlds both modern and old? Something you could wear with (or without) your trusty black opaques? Something that will dazzle with red lips and smoulder with a smokey eye? Something that can be dressed up or dressed down? Something that will require little thought when rushing around because you're already 20 minute late for that Christmas office party? Something that is sure to make all eyes stay on you?

Then get this dress... I would, if I had the money and there was one left in my size... Costs a bit (roughly €176 - yikes!) but in the long run will be worth it... Go on indulge yourself this Christmas (wink!)

Whoops left something important out- it's from Miss Selfridge

If Santa really loved me #3

Our next blogger wants not only the gift style, poise and elegance but she also wants the Chanel 2.55 bag as well! It could only be the whimsical Blau von T from Blaubushka (if you haven't seen her blog you should... tis fabulous!)

Like Blanaid she also feels a little speech would persuade Santa, bringing up Ms Chanel since we all know he had a soft spot for her (who doesn't?)

"For Santa you see this piece of quilted perfection is all a lady needs to look refined, groomed and to elope with royalty (just the way Coco would want me to!)"

She wants it so much she even made a collage!

If Santa really loved me #2

So who is the next blogger to divulge her most materialistic want this festive season? Well that would be Blanaid Hennessy of blanaid.com my dears... This stylish lady knows exactly what she wants, a pair of Jeffrey Campbell Lita boots in Glitter Pewter. Yummy, I know!

She believes a letter of persuasion is the way to go to win Santa over...

Dear Santa - you seem like a nice guy. These pewter Litas are also nice. Me getting stuff is nice too. Let's let the nice things collide this Christmas!

Jeffrey Campbell Lita

Think she'll convince him?

More wool is needed me thinks...

River Island

Asos

Awear

It's cold! Very cold! Very Very Cold!

Yesterday over my normal clothes I had my chunkiest scarf and my pink ugg boot slippers on around the house. Oh the shame!

So now as well as wanting wool jumpers I want seriously wooly cardigans. Quirky ones that don't have to match what your wearing because they are so big no one can see what else you have on! My three favourites are shown above. 

But my absolute favourite (that I could find) is the last one, the Awear one. I love it! It is massive, chunky and has the coolest collar! I would feel snug yet opulent in it. And the colour is nice and neutral. I would feel like an aging hollywood starlet (one from the fifties) who is still glamourous and refined but is a teeny bit crazy.

There was a cardigan in Zara that made me feel like that as well. I would have bought it on the spot if it hadn't cost an arm and a leg. And sadly I could never find a picture of it.