partypeople watching

What do you get when you add a week of Haute Couture shows, four impending Fashion Weeks, OSCAR season, and you mix them all up in a bubbling pot? A big old style soup and a whole lot of fabulous parties!

Wednesday night saw a bash thrown in celebration of the opening of Stella McCartney's first (that's premiere, all you francophiles) store in Paris, and with Catherine Deneuve, Marianne Faithful, Lara Stone, Lily Donaldson, Stefano Pilati (deep breath!), Sasha Pivovorova, Daphne Guinness and fashion industry bigwigs all in attendance, it was of course a very stylish affair.

Lily Donaldson wins in the dress department for her LBD, but Lara Stone's magenta dress trumps in the colour category. What does everyone think of Sasha P's effort?

style.com

Sam Edelman - the Shoemeister

It was like Christmas all over again today. The doorbell rang and there the UPS man stood with my box of Sam Edelman shoe boots. "Is this the fashion boutique?" he enquired without as much as a sniff of irony. "Yes," I replied blithely while the word RECESSION flashed in fairy dust before my eyes. Not that I should be worried. These butter-soft beauties only cost €126 avec p&p. Not bad, eh? What's more they look the biz with my Veronique Branchino boyfriend blazer and even sport a nifty map of New York on the sole. How clever! Next time I'm lost in the East Village (a common occurence), I'll just have to gaze at my shoes. Sam - you're a peach!

Catwalk Fever!

I blame Trinny. Ever since Ms. Woodall decided to out me as big arsed at Style in the City, I've felt nothing but reproach towards my pear shape. With London and Paris Fashion Week now fast approaching, it seems I have choice but to take some action. Given the sum total of time I spent at Carlisle Fitness last year (12 - half were just to use the sauna), there seems little point in mounting a treadmill. Luckily, I was asked by Slendertone to try their System-Abs and System-Mini to get my tum and bum in svelte shape. What's involved? Why just slipping on a band with clever muscle-toning electrodes five day a week for 30 minutes. As it's a six-week trial and catwalk season starts in three, I've decided to treble up on my sessions. I'm promised that I'll lose 1.4 inches off my waist and will have a derriere you can bounce a quarter off. Will keep you posted...

being young

just pounding the sunny streets with five pairs of sunglasses in the bag, some bubblegum in the mouth, a cigarette in the hand and a juicy burger on the mind.

Elle Italia
November 2008
"LA Woman" with Shelby Keeton
By Michael Evanet

fotodecadent

Suecomme Bonnie Sale at Alila

I feel like Crazy Eddie. Remember him? The guy who kept shouting about his prices being INSANE! And then he died of a heart attack. No joke. Well God rest his soul and give me succour because I may just bust a major artery myself. Word on the street is Alila boutique is having a Suecomma Bonnie shoe sale on Thursday, January 29th. Just check out these tela satin Swarovski studded babies to my right. Wouldn't they just make you weep? And the price? WAS: €480 NOW: €360! Swoon. Collapse. Ambulance! Please!

if i was in new york right now

I would jump at the chance of interning with supreme management for the upcoming fashion week!

if you are lucky enough to be in the big city, or anywhere near it, or hell, nowhere near, but just willing then you should drop them an email offering your services.

What they say:

Fashion week is upon us and Supreme Management is looking for a few good interns to help with books and portfolio management in the coming weeks. Applicants must be based in New York City and have at least three days a week available to work. Also, potential interns should have a general knowledge of working models, and a passion for this industry. If you’re interested in interning for Supreme, please send a copy of your resume to supremeinterns@gmail.com and we will contact you if we’re interested.

This is a great opportunity to get first-hand experience in the fashion industry, particularly during it’s busiest time of the year, Fashion Week! If you’ve ever wanted to be a part of the modeling industry or to work for Supreme, this could be your chance.

This was posted on the Supreme blog on Thursday, so I'd be speedy!

missoni pre-fall 2009

j&b&c

this post is dedicated to one of my best mates, emily, because she is courtney love's biggest fan. we're meant to be in an english lesson, but somehow ended up on the internet..

and we just realised that her trip to nyc coincides with fashion week. we're so excited.

scans from russh mag via beautyliesintheye

the shape of things to come

the pictures of the Chanel Couture aren't up on style.com

so while we wait, here are a couple of pieces from the gorgeous paper themed collection!

head to toe white simplicity, I predict it's the look of 2009..

Covert Candy

If you're a fan of swap shopping, you'll be glad to hear about 'Covert Candy' - an online fashion exchange due to inject some elan into tired wardrobes. The premise is simple. For each item of unwanted clothing you wish to 'sell', upload a pic and receive a set of points. The more you 'sell', the more virtual cash you accrue which can be used to 'buy' an item on your wishlist. There's not a of choice at the mo but with an estimated 11 million people intending to use swap sites in 2009 (ICM poll for TalkTalk), this could well change. Worth having a goo...

Fashion at JDIFF

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival was launched last night to a teeming Monday night crowd in the Odeon. Maybe it was all those whiskey and ginger cocktails (yum) but I'm feeling some serious snooze time is in order soon. That aside, there are some plum fashion flicks worth seeing this year including Confessions of a Shopaholic and Valentino: The Last Emperor. Both films are being screened at Movies @ Dundrum where they have their own VIP seating area. Book your seats now and a free glass of wine with your cinema ticket. How fabulous!

hip hip hooray

When the Katie Holmes for Miu Miu ads were revealed and quickly met with little sighs of disappointment, the Pamela Anderson for Vivienne Westwood campaign remained the light at the end of the spring advertisement tunnel. a glimmer of hope sparkled, as surely such a pairing, along with juergen teller as photographer could be executed in an imaginative and humorous way..

When the first of the photographs (see the third here) hit the internet this morning, I thought it had all gone a bit, ahem, tits up. i wanted to see Pamela looking cutely trashy. maybe in a gushing pink dress with one of her tits out on a sofa in a trailer park (that's the setting we were promised after all) surrounded by cheeto packets. and what stared back at me was pam on, rather predictably, a beach, with the boring outfit taking a backseat to her boobs.

But hoorah, the other adverts have saved what i thought was a shattered dream (forgive the X Factor contestant style metaphors) with her prancing beside Mr and Mrs Westwood; what a twist that Vivienne herself is featured! Juergen Teller's photography, now instantly recognised (or just associated) for it's "marc jacobs haze" tones down the deliciously bright orange colour palette that is Pamela's life and makes it all the more high fashion.

Take one unfashiony type star, add some trashy imagery and the forgiving arty focus of a hazy camera and hey presto, one top notch advertisement is the result!

refinery29

bottoms up

lovely matching underwear

(and bums in bed and perching on window sills lost in translation style..)

maketh the world go round.

top"i may be biased as i work there but love it just as much as you do.." shop

Current/Elliott

Psst! Rumour has it BT2 is set to stock America's most exclusive denim label Current/ Elliot. "Hurrah!" I hear you squeal. Yes, that's right. Now we'll all get to size up those customised vintage denims as loved by Hollywood A-listers. Rachel Bilson roll ups anyone? Ripped Nicole Richies? How about some high-waisted Katie Holmes flares? No in-store date has been given yet but being the dutiful blogger that I am, I'll keep you posted. I myself am living in hope they'll be in before I hit London and Paris fashion weeks. Gotta represent!

Osis Dust It

Laziness gets a bad rap. Some of my niftiest ideas come from my armchair / remote control combo or when suffocating my alarm clock at 7 a.m. My most recent ruse for snooze has to be Osis Dust It. This lightweight mattifying powder is the biz for late mornings when your less-than-fresh barnet needs that extra day. Alternatively, use it to mess your tresses and get that sexy bedhead look. You see, sloth has its own merits. Don't knock it.

Your Fashion Zip File

The end of January may feel as sexy as a wet tube sock; but it's not all 'boo hiss, when the hell is it going to be spring already?' I can assure you there are a few things to look out for, such as:

1) My menswear special in today's Irish Examiner featuring The Spikes and some nifty finds from Indigo & Cloth and Ciaran Sweeney.
2) Some groovy hair styles for SS09 as previewed from Schwarzkopf. Deets to follow. In the meantime, process the following style cues: Edie Segdewick, Dorothy Hamill and Britt Eckland.
3) Maser's latest Dublin docks graffitti featuring Gary Coleman. It's pink. It's cheery. It's killer 70s nostalgia. (We'll try and ignore the set of lungs to the left.)

Sales Love!

Gush. Flutter. Swoon. No, it's not a George Clooney sighting but rather a case of major sales love. No cluttered racks and sweaty clamouring masses here. I'm referring to some of the coolest mark downs from haunts such as Smock and Indigo & Cloth. I only popped out to meet my sis for a coffee and the two of us manage to bag some serious swag. I am now the proud recipient of a Veronique Branchino boyfriend blazer (Smock) slashed from €915 to €268.50. My sibling - an equally pleased punter with a half price Rick Owens dress (Smock) and Matt & Nic bag (Indigo & Cloth). There's only a week left, so get your shop on while the getting's good!

watching a model in motion

happy saturday!

a video of an editorial being shot is like gold dust. there is something quite mesmerising about watching an established model mould her body into pose after pose, making it look so seemingly easy. yet simultaneously proving that you have to have an imagination with the capacity of eternity to produce something that actually looks good.

in this case, it's lily donaldson modelling a hoard of SS09 pieces for V Magazine; balenciaga, margiela and the like, so all look sculpted in a pleasingly simple way.

the shoot was for the v's feburary issue, and SHOWstudio.com, which photographer Nick Knight is Director of, has dedicated a project, which is deliciously time consumming and shows the filming and behind the scenes of the editorial. you can find each of the looks broken down, as well as interviews with Nick Knight, Lily Donaldson, Sam McKnight and those involved.

click here for the time portal of a page; it'll swallow up your time!

the fantastic fantastic music is Paris - Friendly Fires ft Au Revoir Simone. Aeroplane remix. cue the sound of a thousand fingers hitting the download button!

calvin klein white

i can't stop thinking about the simplest of simple silhouettes.

and just look at those white clumpy shoes!

Sovereign Beck

I love New York for many reasons. Number one - I was born and raised there. Number two - I have a phenomenal amount of New York readers (thanks guys!). Number three - the shopping rocks. From that seamless segue I'd like to introduce Soverign Beck - both readers of I Blog and purveyors of fine ties. The duo made up of Ryan Sovereign and William Beck, make up the small Brooklyn, New York based men's accessories design company which produce quirky neck ties, bow ties and pocket squares. Working on their sixth collection, it's obvious that the pair know their threads. I love the radial symmetry of the 'crystalize' tie, the 2D relief of the 'scatter pink' and their utterly original campaign shots. What's more, the limited prints ensure you fellas aren't rocking the same neck candy as your brethern. We likey? You betcha! Click here to get your shop on.

Hotshots 2009

Pick up a copy of IMAGE today for a look at the Hotshots 2009 feature. Nestled between the Obamas, uber-cool actress Jade Yourell and must-have Dior heels is little old me (p.49). I'm very pleased and honoured and all sorts of excited about the whole thing. Thanks again to IMAGE for thinking of me and for reading I Blog Fashion. xxx

Industry Insider; Taylor Tomasi

My ears prick up and I go hawk-eyed when contributors or the fashion elite start talking about their jobs. It's the same nosily intrigued reaction that has me drooling over stranger's houses...

Taylor Tomasi, walking style inspiration and Accessories Director at Teen Vogue, talks to teenvogue.com about her job, and shares plenty of insight.

I am always on the lookout for cool, interesting accessories to include in the magazine. I attend all the major fashion shows in New York and Europe, which is where I spot new trends and come up with story ideas. Outside of Fashion Week, a typical day starts early, as I jump between showrooms to pick out all the accessories used in our photo shoots. I have an average of 15 to 20 appointments per day and pull anywhere from 200 to 300 accessories for each shoot. I head back to the office in the afternoon to sign off on paperwork, check credits for stories, organize accessories that have come in, and work with the stylists on upcoming shoots.

I have a Bachelor of Industrial Design degree from Pratt Institute. My first internship was at W magazine, in the accessories department, which led to a full-time position. I eventually became the fashion-market editor there and assisted Alex White, Fashion Director of W, on all her shoots, which really helped me to understand the full scope of market work. Then I became the senior fashion editor at Teen Vogue, before finally switching back to accessories.

My best tip for jump-starting a career in fashion is to take an internship very seriously—and if you love where you are working, try to stay there as long as possible. Showing initiative may lead to something more. Working in fashion, however, is not always as glamorous as what you see on television. It's a very demanding, high-stress environment—but if you thrive under pressure, it may be the perfect fit for you.

SS09 Trend Alert - Xpose

Fancy a sneaky peek at some SS09 trends? Tune into TV3's Xpose tomorrow at 6pm where I'll be sharing tips with the lovely Aisling O'Loughlin on what's big for the season ahead. Miss it and be left thinking plaid, studs and prom dresses still count. Now you don't want to do that, do you? CLICK HERE to tune in online.

how to be cool in 2009

Ah, 2009. Here we stand with the year stretched ahead of us. Whatever it holds it seems like rather a significant 345 days, with Obama a few hours away from Office and a lovely unpredictable financial market. As we leave the noughties and enter into the 2010s, how will fashion evolve? Which variables will swing our style, and into which direction? They're all interesting questions, but for now, let us forget about this for a moment, with a tongue in cheek guide of How To Be Cool in 2009. Of course skipping this post would technically make you cool. But it would also make you a spoil sport and a teensy bit egotistic, so maybe you ought to read it just to be sure.

CREATE YOUR OWN TRENDS

What do you do when confronted with the reality of a SS09 worth of catwalks lacking of any dominant or remarkable trends? Why, you "feel" out your own. Look to people on the streets, current cinema, or even, as I have look to Americans circa 1930, on the cusp of the depression. It may seem, just that, depressing, but from a historical point of view, it's most interesting. Take some of your favourite pieces from the wardrobe, using these as a good base and work around, adding the elements that you loved from the spring collections, to create a tailor made collection of 2009, just for yourself.

WATCH THE INAUGURATION

No matter how late you have to stay up (or early, we're an international community here..) you'll know that you saw the moment when Barack Obama became President. And you'll always remember it.

DEVELOP OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER

This is not OCD of the handwashing variety. This is OCD of the "obsessively work your way through the Top 100 Book List" variety. Or watch every film starring your favourite actor. Either way, frostbite threatening temperatures (for Brits, Canadians and all other winter sufferers) and/or frozen financial funds keeping you indoors, an addiction must be allowed to develop.

BROADEN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF NEW DESIGNERS

I'm as impartial to Alexander Wang as the next person. But with rips and holes, over-zipper-exposure and supersexy leather becoming a bit of an urban uniform, I'm keen to find out who else is out there in the way of young talent. Start with Gar-De and Maria Francesca Pepe for long Calvin Klein-esque dress silhouettes, a good contender for the basic of 2009.

DATE SOMEBODY OLDER

With a beard.

EMBRACE DENIAL

Stop talking about the world's monetary woes and economic climate. Infact discuss the old climate of choice if you're stuck for small talk. Ah, remember the good old days when we disected overcast skies in depth rather than plummeting interest rates? If you must insist on panicking (it's boring) then please do it in your head.

DON'T DECLARE TEA DRINKING AS A HOBBY..

..as if you're the first person to have done this.

Fancy Being a Fashion Journo?

If one of your New Year's ressies included front rowing it at London Fashion Week then you've either got some serious blag skills to perfect or a press pass to acquire. If the latter appeals, why not book yourself a 48-hour swotting sesh? Georgina Heffernan's Fashion Journalism course takes place on January 31st at Bewley's Hotel and promises a super juggernaut intro into the world of style writing, along with trade secrets from guest speakers like me! CLICK HERE for booking info.

Pat Butcher - Style Icon

Dangly earrings, bitchin' furs and uber fierce coral lippie. It can only be one woman. That's right. Pat Butcher is rapdily puffing her way through fashion's rank and file with the strength of a 2-sugar builder's cuppa. She's the bitch with kitsch and we love her. Sure, Marc Jacobs and Balmain may have you believing SS09's 'new eclectic' is just that but it's roots are in Walford, love. So, if you're looking for some sartorial edge, best rock it East End style. G&T and fag ash optional.

70% Sale at Smock!

Dontcha love January - especially those last few days where you get to play magic tricks with your money. I'm a big fan of the 'let's see if I can buy shoes while still having enough money to eat' game. That one's always a winner, particularly when there are still major sales on like the 70% humdinger at Smock. Kicking off on Friday January 23rd for one week, Karen and Jennifer will be practically giving away their AW08 wares to make room for SS09 goodies. We're talking uber hip labels like Maison Martin Margiela, Acne, Rue de Mail and A.P.C. to name but a few. Get down and show some love.

Smock, 31 Drury Street, Dublin 2
01 613 9000; www.smock.ie

brigitte bardot

images from life magazine

Poll Results: Harem Scare-em

Oh dear. Looks like there will never be another Hammer time. According to I Blog's latest poll results, a resounding 67% aren't feeling the SS09's harem trend. I'm reluctantly inclined to agree. Having bought these tailored versions to my right, I'm still bemused as to how they are worn sans nappy effect. I was hoping for some uber-sass as demonstrated by Ms. Leggy Model. Instead, I am a walking crotch. And my sale rail prediction is...