Sunday, September 26, 2010

Recently...

Hi guys, if there's still anyone reading.
I've really neglected this blog but with good reason, believe me. Ever since I started 3rd year I've been swamped with homework and study. Even worse, the Junior Cert starts on MY BIRTHDAY. (my so called sweet 16th too, Mam and Dad if you're reading this, I'm expecting some Tom Binns)
So I've been treating myself to some retail therapy because I have to get through somehow, don't I?

Sorry for the horrible photo quality by the way.


I scored these Alexander McQueen sandals for 5.36 plus postage. I love them to bits. They're from s/s 2004 (it took me a long, long time to trace them) and I couldn't ask for a better collection to own something from. (If you've never seen it, you owe it to yourself. But watch video, not picture as no picture can capture the beauty.)
(oh, and the toe marks are part of the design, not from wear. No idea why you would put them on a shoe, but oh well.)
I got this vintage snakeskin clutch from Ebay too. I managed to trace it back to the 1940's with the help of various vintage websites. It's gorgeous.

I went into the new TK Maxx in Newbridge today. I'd reccomend it to anyone, it's not picked over, very well organized (for TK Maxx) and if you look hard enough you can find some amazing bargains. There were loads of stunning Givenchy scarves which I'm waiting to get marked down, all either 40 euro or 50 euro. There were some Oscar De La Renta scarves and Moschino ones too. There were two tiny ChloƩ bags for 500 euro. There were lots of lovely Calvin Klein dresses for 80 euro, a Laundry full length gown for 100 euro, and the best deal there today, a Christian Dior sweater dress for 35 euro. Needless to say, I bought that. I'll post pictures soon.

Thanks so much everyone,
xoxo

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Apologies










pics from TFS

Hi guys,
Sorry for the lack of updates, and sorry for doing one of these stupid inspiration posts that everyone does when they're too lazy to do an outfit post. I just started back at school and I've been really busy with trying to get used to it.
I have ideas for where I want to take this blog, I just need time and a few other things to get it there.
xoxo

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Irish Weather.

This was Ireland on Sunday;


Jacket, shorts and bracelet; Vintage. Top and boots; Penneys. Sunglasses; Oscar De La Renta.
And this is Ireland on Tuesday.




Dress; Vintage. Cardigan; South. Faux Fur Bolero; Stradivarious. Boots; Penneys.
Bracelet; Topshop.

Ugh. I wish the weather would just make up it's mind and then I could decide whether I'm going to suck the last week out of summer or snuggle up by the fire and embrace winter.
I'll be back in school by Monday and the thought of the Junior Cert is scaring me.

I hope everyone has a good week, and if you're like me savour it because it's your last of freedom! :( (sorry to be such a killjoy)
P.S, they're not the same place. On Sunday I was at the K Club and on Tuesday I was at my Granny's house.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Arrival

So my vintage evening jacket came today! I love it so much, it's probably my favourite thing in my wardrobe right now.
Jacket and headband; Vintage. Jeans; Next. Shirt; Random shop in NYC

I hope you like the nice view of our messy shed in this picture :D



Oh and if you're wondering why I went and bought a plain white t-shirt in New York of all places, I needed one for the flight back home. (Even though you probably weren't wondering that in the first place)
I have always wanted a sequined evening jacket for daywear and I figured that now is the perfect time to get one seeing as I strongly disagree with the minimalism trend going on right now.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Kildare Village Outlet- A Review

Every time I go to Kildare Village Outlet, I notice the number of tourists increasing with each visit. I know that whenever I go somewhere foreign for shopping, I want reviews. So, I wrote a review. Go figure.
Enjoy!

Shops;
You can view the brand directory here;
I'm just going to review the ones I frequent.

7 For All Mankind;
Not my kind of place considering I'm not really someone who wears jeans all that often. There doesn't seem to be much of a discount, but I could be wrong seeing as I'm not in the market for that sort of thing. If you like jeans and like having a designer name on your back pocket, 7 For All Mankind is the holy grail of denim.
The shop itself isn't really anything to write home about, and at times it can be full to the brim with women who are far too old for pink skinny jeans but still insist on trying them on and parading around the shop in them. And then not buying them.

All Saints;
Hands down my favourite shop in the place. All Saints is a great brand and I'd say this shop is the most up to date in the outlet. It strikes the perfect balance between grungy, glamorous and wearable. The bedazzled dresses are amazing and will only set you back around 100 euro- not bad for something with so much work in it. The knitwear is so good- distressed, knitted shredded shirts that could give Alexander Wang a run for his money start at about 30 euro and don't exceed 70. . Cardigans with a washed out quality could be Rick Owens. Everything is made of beautiful material and everything looks expensive. There's serious discounts going on here. There's also a lot of men's stuff. The only disappointing thing is the shoes, they don't have any of the beautiful biker boots they're famed for. Other than that, it's a fabulous shop with great savings.

Anya Hindmarch;
Very small shop. There's not much in it really and the bags are not something that would catch my eye. There's a small selection of nice clothes, running from 80 euro and not exceeding 120. The shop assistant (s) are good and do not try to bombard you which is unusual for a small high end shop. Bags are expensive but that's expecting from Anya Hindmarch.

Bally;
Gorgeous shoes, gorgeous jackets but not so gorgeous price tags. Obviously you're not going to really get any bargains in Bally. But it's worth going into just to smell the leather. If you're in the market for high end stuff, I'm sure the markdowns are good.

Calvin Klein Jeans;
Going into that shop kind of puts me asleep. So, so boring. I am all for simple and I love what
Francisco Costa has done for Calin Klein womenswear, but his genius doesn't trickle down into the everyday wear.

Cath Kidston;
The best shop to drop money on useless stuff that you don't need. A 30 euro apron? Oh but it's floral!! It's one of those shops that you buy gifts in for people that you don't really know, so you buy them something like a box or a manicure set. The patterns they're famous for are very cute but the products they produce are mostly useless.

CorsoItalia;
It says they stock Valentino but all I see is weird dresses. And the atmosphere is also weird, the man who works there doesn't even acknowledge you and acts like he's shopping. I'm not asking to have my hand held, but a hello or even a smile would be nice. I'm assuming there's men's Valentino suits so if that's what you want then you know where to find it.

Desigual;
Umm... I'm crazy for unusual designs but sometimes I think this shops takes it too far. It's like they took a random saying and picture generator, turned it on and let it loose on everything in the shop. The words they print on the shirts make very little sense. The prices just aren't good enough to say 'well, if I don't wear it it's not the end of the world.' The cuts of the clothes are nice but it's all a little bit Art Teacher Meets Cat Lady for me. Worn in small proportions I'm sure it can look good. The coats are very beautiful.

DKNY;
Nice. The prices are good, in fact they are as cheap as the American DKNY outlets. The clothes are not really for me, but my mum loves it. You could definitely stock up on some well made basics in here. Everything is discounted and it's rare for anything to exceed 100 euro.

Elizabeth Hurley Beach;
Cannot figure out the point of this shop. Everything is very boring and overpriced, and there's only about 3 different types of bikini which all look like they came from Penneys.

Jaeger;
Not bad. Some of the shoes are very nice. The clothes are not my thing and the bags are ridiculously overpriced for what is basically a Chanel rip off. Prices are okay.

Juicy Couture;
I'm sorry but I will never be able to understand the logic behind Juicy Couture. Why oh why would you pay 100 euro for a velour tracksuit that looks like it came straight out of Jersey Shore? There's not really any other clothes apart from the tracksuits, and what they have is incredibly overpriced and boring. The jewellery is nice but again expensive, as are the bags. It's worth a look inside just for the interior, it's pretty cool.

Karen Millen;
One of the best shops in the outlet. Some great discounts on items that are still in the main shops. You really have to be a size 12 or under to find anything good. It's ideal for me but I don't really have anywhere to wear most of the clothes. I almost bought an amazing navy blue maxi dress for 25 euro but I couldn't make myself pay it because it was just too formal. You need to rummage but you can find some amazing things. The people working in the shop are very friendly and helpful without smothering you.

L.K Bennett;
Wow. Some seriously good deals here too. There's a nice selection of shoes, a lot of dresses, skirts and jackets are 50 euro. Some are 30. Honestly the style is a little bit Ladies who Lunch for me but if you're looking for some nice semi-formal wear it's worth a look. The people who work there are also nice.

Levis;
The clothes are not anything special, and it's mainly for men. The jeans are okay, as I said I'm not a jean person and the washes are too dark for me anyway. I saw a deal on that was 2 for 60 on jeans which is pretty good.

Monsoon;
It's okay. The prices are not great and it's very hard to find anything without a single sequin on it. Seriously. Everything is bedazzled. The little girl's stuff is very cute.

Polo Ralph Lauren;
Ugh. Everything about this shop is so obnoxious. The shirts are all bright with huge 'Polo Ralph Lauren' crests printed all over it. Honestly it's just a step up from Ed Hardy. The Ralph Lauren Blue Label is very nice and there's some fabulous and flattering little black dresses running from 100 to 150. The shop is big and always full. Also, if people pronouncing Ralph Lauren like 'Ralph Lauh RENN' then is one of your pet peeves then avoid this shop at all costs or you'll end up pulling your (or someone else's) hair out.

Radley;
Cute bags. I have a change purse from there that I've had it for about 4 years and it still looks new. They had a wall behind the desk with tonnes of bags for under 99 euro, and they're not just crap that no one would want either. They're decently sized and made with good leather.

The Style Gallery;
Amazing. Full of Irish designers with most dresses costing 40 euro. You'll have to cram into a tiny shop and fight for space with women who go to Lady's Day races, but it's worth it to get a stunning sequined dress for 40 euro.



The Verdict;
Not a bad place. There is bargains to be had and it's nice way to pass a day window shopping. Plus you get exercise and fresh air. The scenery is beautiful in the surrounding area, and if you get tired of shopping there's a walkway more or less in the Outlet, near the restaurant. There's a Starbucks and their own restaurant. I've never been to the restaurant but it seems to be busy so it must be nice. Parking is free and there's a lot of parking spots.

Tips;
Avoid the weekends if possible. If you have to go on a weekend, get there more or less as soon as it opens because within two hours there will be no parking left. Be prepared to put up with obnoxious women and bratty kids.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Repeat

Yes, another post with shoes.


(from left to right)
Penneys, Christian Louboutin, Alberta Ferretti


(from left to right)
Stuart Weitzman, Irregular Choice, Penneys

I only realized while taking these pictures that my collection is seriously lacking pretty. Most of my shoes are dark colors with a general kind of clunkiness about them. (Not that there's anything wrong with that)
I think the Alberta Ferretti shoes make up for the lack of pretty though. I forgot to blog about them but me and my mum bought them while we were in America. Neither of us have worn them in public yet for fear of ruining them (silk doesn't generally go well with Irish weather), they're more of a shoe you wear when you know you'll be indoors for most of the time.
I think my shoes are steadily improving... I used to live in my New Look boots with the tiny heel and pointed toe (god they were so ugly) but now shoes are becoming more of a statement in my outfits.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

A dilemma of the best kind

I went shopping again.


OH MY GOD, can you believe these are from Penneys?! (Primark) They're so perfect. I've been on the hunt for the perfect pair of military ankle boots for so long. And the best part? They were 19 euro. Seriously! I love them.
So, there I was, wondering happily around the boots section with my new boots in hand, feeling on top of the world. But then, I was stopped in my tracks as I happened upon a pair of tall, dark, handsome Ann Demeulemeester look-a-likes.
It was like a bad movie. I knew if I bought them I'd have no money, so I averted my eyes and walked away.
But I soon ran back and got them. I have no self control when it comes to shoes. I'm going to put them away and sell some stuff on Ebay. Hopefully Ebay can cough me up 20 euro so I can afford them, or else back to the shop they go. *sniff*

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Kitty Cat






Today I got a package in the post from the lovely people at Pussycatlondon! (I would have gotten it sooner if DHL hadn't messed up) Like everyone, I got very excited and proceeded to rip off the packaging and run upstairs to try it on.


Dress courtesy of Pussycatlondon, ring; Forever 21, Bracelet; Vintage Sarah Coventry, Shoes; Irregular Choice (another high street brand I love)


The color is so beautiful, and I'm definitely a girl who appreciates texture, cut and color rather than print, so this dress is perfect for me as it is an outstanding example of that. It's also an outstanding example of how good the high street can be. It can adjusted in many ways, so I'll get a lot of wear out of it.
I plan on taking it to a gorgeous garden sometime next week to get some better photos, but I wanted to upload a quick one right now because I love it so much.

Thank you so much Pussycatlondon!


(oh, and as you can see the dye didn't work. It will require bleaching, which I will do sometime but not right now.)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

I told you so...




I wasn't going to but raiding my computer for these photos convinced me otherwise, time to break out the Manic Panic and get started.
Wish me luck!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Ebay Picks

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Silver Tongue

There is only one place I know of where I feel completely dressed for the occasion when I go out in a white shift dress, heels and a clutch. And that place is Newbridge Silverware, more specifically their Museum of Style Icons. It's not that it's full of sophisticated ladies dressed directly from Net-a-Porter, but it's more that I'm residing amongst some of the most beautiful dresses by some of the best designers which were owned by people who are adored and idolized by millions of people around the world.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is the only film that has directly affected my life. I'm not sure why, but there's something about Holly Golightly that's just so enchanting that she settles into you in a way. I think there's a bit of Holly in all of us, but it just wouldn't have been the same if the part was played by anyone but Audrey Hepburn. So every time I see the beautiful pink dress she wore with the tiara when she heard that Fred died, I get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. It almost embodies both Audrey and Holly. You can see what size she was, how the little shells have sort of worn off and you can imagine Hubert de Givenchy sketching it. And it's only behind a glass case. Of course the other pieces they have belonging to her are amazing too, but it's the pink dress that's special to me.

There's pieces from Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Micheal Jackson, The Beatles, Gretta Garbo, Bette Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker... all people who had a very heavy impact on fashion, but not so much on my life. Not as much as Audrey Hepburn and the little pink dress.

Thank you Newbridge Silverware, for letting these beautiful items be on display for the public to see for free. And sorry for spamming your guestbook with 'please get McQueen pieces owned by Isabella Blow' or 'call Daphne Guiness and ask her for some of her clothes', etc etc. But you know, it would be good. Juss sayin.



image courtesy of fabaudrey.blogspot.com

Thursday, July 22, 2010

I feel a DIY blooming...







Thrifted leather jacket





Burberry Prorsum F/W 2010
style.com



All I need is some sort of scarf and some buckles.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

LOVE

(Sorry for the very inventive title)

Love is the only word I can use to describe my (one sided) relationship with Pussycatlondon. They are the sole reason I ever take a trip into the catastrophe which is New Look (other than Stargazer and Giles Deacon, but we'll get to that later). I am not the kind of person who favours dresses- I love layering and separates are much easier for that. But their dresses are my ultimate go-to pieces. When I've taken everything out of my wardrobe, tried it on, and then thrown it down in a sulk, I resort to my favourite combination- boots, leather jacket, Pussycatlondon dress. I especially love their two piece dresses, because they are just so versatile and can change the appearance of any look (usually for the better).

So here are the pieces I am really, really tempted to buy and I am going to have to buy at some stage. I'm sort of stuck in my second hand shop pricing mode, so this is going to be a real splash out.



I've never been a fan of coral but the cut of this dress sold me. It's practically impossible to find clothes with a somewhat unusual cut on the high street but not completely impossible. This nails the semi-trend of dresses that are long in the back and short in the front without being overtly noticeable.



I rarely do prints, but once again, the cut is the reason I love this dress so much. I have one with a similar cut, and it is beyond flattering. Plus, I do like the color of this print. The lilac-y grey hue is beautiful and would look good on almost anyone.




I only own two blouses- one a basic, over sized white blouse and the other a McQueen ruffled, plaid blouse. Both are worn a lot and although I don't wear a lot of black, I prefer this one to the cream one they also have in stock. I like how it's sheer without being so sheer that you have to show your underwear. Plus I love ruffles. I want to wear this with my vintage cut offs, Stuart Weitzman booties and over sized Forever 21 ring right now. Plus it's only 15 pounds.





I honestly never thought I would be attracted to leopard print. It's just not me. But anyone who reads my blog knows I have an unhealthy obsession with white dresses, so when you put a beautiful, floaty, sheer white dress over top a snow leopard print, I'm sold. And as I said before I love their 2-in-1 pieces so I may have to invest in this.

You can check out their website at http://www.pussycatlondon.com/pussycatlondon/

Now I'm off to spend some of my well earned cash while I rarely have it in my pocket!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

The T-Shirt Formerly Known as Pyjamas

I've been feeling pretty down this past week, with most of the blame going to the weather. It's not like me to wear a whole outfit of black, or a t-shirt so oversized, but I think it probably reflected my mood.



Shirt; Gift from Malta, Dress (worn under); Pussycat London, Rings; Forever 21, Bracelets; Silver- Topshop, Gold- Vintage circa 1960s, Shoes; Stuart Weitzman, Tights; Primark.

This shirt is pretty weird but I felt like cutting something up (I know, Ireland is driving me crazy) so I unleashed my scissors on this.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I really really really love my Pussycat London dresses... they always make my usually drab trip to New Look much more enjoyable. I think I'll make another post about them soon because my love for them is truly undying.
I also really really really love my Forever 21 rings!I still haven't photospammed this blog with pictures from my holiday, so be prepared.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

I can't even act calm about this

So I went to my favourite shop in the whole wide world, a second hand shop in Naas. And what you are about to see will justify my love for this amazing little shop.



Yes. Yes, they are Louboutins. I now own a pair of Louboutins. I bought a pair of Louboutins for 5 euro.
They kinda hurt but I figure if I wear them all summer I'll have broken them in and I can wear them to school. Louboutins to school. God, I can't even begin to accept this. It's like one of my weird fantasies.
They're really, really well worn but I don't really care. I got these purely because it's all dittery old ladies who frequent this shop (other than me and my mum) and they don't know what they are.


These are Stuart Weitzman, and are still on Shopbop for 435 dollars.They fit like a second skin, I never want to take them off. The suede is the softest I have ever touched, and they're so comfy to walk in. They're basically unworn.
I've got to be the luckiest second hand shopper in the world!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

I shouldn't have.

I shouldn't. I shouldn't have gone on Ebay. I shouldn't have typed (with much difficulty, I will never be able to spell her name without copy and paste (Hey, at least I admit it!) Ann Demeulemeester into the searchbar and let these shoes invade my mind.

I love them. I love them so much. They're a size too big for me and they're probably out of my budget (they're currently at 20 pounds but there's a reserve on them so God only knows how much they are) but I can't help dreaming about them at any given chance. I've even planned out how much I'm willing to pay for them, what my reaction will be when I win them, how I will wake up early every morning and pray that they will be delivered soon, and what insoles I will buy to make them fit me.
But the only problem is I most likely will not be buying them.
I'm still waiting for that sinking feeling to set in. You know the one when you finally realize that the object of your desire is completely and totally out of your reach and will be for the next 20 years?
Yeah, that feeling.
Sigh.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Back

I'm back! I had a great three weeks relaxing and soaking up the sun, and while I dived into the cool, refreshing water of Lake Ontario (It's called a lake, but it's more like an ocean, and there's no fish or weeds where I swim) I spared a thought for those less fortunate than me, you New Yorkers who were sweltering in that heat. And for the first time in my life, I thought 'God, I'd hate to be in New York right now.'

I got some great new clothes that I can't wait to play around with but for now I'm too tired to leave my bed.

P.S Pastel Pink hairdye is sitting somewhere in my suitcase waiting to be used... can't wait!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Bye


Lula 'Secret Garden' McQueen Dress.
Pic from TFS.

I'm going on holidays tomorrow! First I'm flying into JFK, driving to Woodbury Commons, then driving to Canada. I can't wait! Of course I'll be recording my outfits like most bloggers do, and I'll finlly have somewhere more photogenic to take pictures than my bedroom or back garden.

I'll be back to regular posting in 3 weeks. Theres' no internet connection at our house in Canada there so unless I get lucky with free wifi in a hotel at some stage I won't be online for almost a week.



xoxo,
Stef.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Top Net-A-Porter Summer Sale Items Under $100...

...because for some reason the UK Net-A-Porter aren't having a sale?



1.
Calvin Klein Animal Print Jersey Dress.
Perfect for the beach, and with a change of shoes it can be taken to formal. And for that price, it's a steal.
$32

2.



DKNY Niki Leather Wedge Sandals.
A well balanced wedge can be the most comfortable high heeled shoe- that is if you can master the art of practically walking on stilts. Oh, fashion, the things we do for you!
$52

3.



Mulburry Hayden Small Leather Wallet.
Sure to last you a lifetime, and you'll look chic even when you're handing over your money to buy groceries at Tesco.
$60

4.

Milly Zip Front Strapless Jersey Dress.
A sweet cocktail dress for a sweet price. Perfect for dining out while on holidays.
$85

5.


T By Alexander Wang Jersey T-Shirt Dress.
Everyone's favourite wearable wonderboy, this dress by Wang is timeless and can be accesorized to no end.
$60

6.


Diane von Furstenburg Beach Paden Jersey Maxi Dress.
Colorful, summery and oh so Sex and The City 2, this can be beachwear, formal wear or casual wear.
$88.50


But I won't be purchasing anything from the Net-A-Porter sale, because I'm heading off on a trip to New York and Canada at the end of the week, and we'll be making a stop at Woodbury Commons Outlets which has endless designer(and more affordable brands, too) stores at a discounted price. I can't wait!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

So

So, yesterday for my birthday I went to the Style Museum and shopping. I have some pictures and I'll upload them later.
For now, here's a strange similarity that I spotted while watching Gok's Fashion Fix last night. Flake Advert and Kate Moss for a McQueen Show? Yes, yes indeed.






Oh, and I thought the dress the woman in the Flake advert was the Oyster dress by McQueen but it turns out it's by Anthony Prince... Hmmm...




Anyway,
I suppose this is kind of a reflection of the influence his shows have had on the world... this is not the first time I've noticed a similarity between his shows and other TV adverts.
Oh, and just out of interest, would that ad actually make you want to eat the chocolate? I mean, the dress could've at least been brown or something.

UPDATE;
Looks like the people over at McQueen saw this advert too...
http://cocoperez.com/2010-06-11-mcqueen-to-sue-cadbury
Ha!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Birthday









 
Header Image by Colorpiano Illustration