Fashion

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Inside Style - Posing

posing...yet again
Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - July 1st 2010

Well known factoid – I pose. A lot. Not around the house or in queues mind you; just in photographs...and where large groups of people gather.  Whether nurture or nature, it can’t be helped.  Examine early baby pictures and you’ll find mini O’Connor working her angles. I like to look at it as a life skill; my friends however would beg to differ.

Take a recent group holiday in Spain. Every time someone played shutterbug, I pulled a Tyra and smiled with my eyes whilst mastering the half-stone-lighter silhouette; in the pool, on the sun lounger, at the rent-a-car queue. “Jesus Annie! Stop posing!” admonished my fellow vacationers. It wasn’t until we reviewed the photographic evidence, that I felt suitably vindicated.  No reservations about being unwittingly tagged on Facebook, or bartering to have that beer belly/bikini combo photoshopped (or ideally removed). No siree. Nothing to see here folks. Move it along.

Regardless, my so-called ‘skill’ remained incontestable proof of vanity in the eyes of my thirtysomething coterie.  “Even your passport picture is posed!” (Didn’t they hear about the booths that let you review each shot?) Yet as each flash snapped, the naysayers tensed like mummies, parlayed pained faces and wondered why treble chins sprouted like a case of prickly heat.  

Then I heard the fateful words “Can you do me a favour?” One of the guys wanted tips on how to pull a Men’s Health for the lens.  “That eyebrow of mine has a life of its own,” he sighed. “I’m beginning to resemble Winston Churchill.” And so we had a mini-pose off on the QT – before being ridiculed into submission.

It made me wonder, does our generation still bear the stigma of ye old Ireland?  “That girl thinks well of herself,” was one of my nana’s favourite put-downs. Where I grew up in America, such a quip would translate as “What a well-adjusted young lady!” Or is it perhaps that unlike our Yankee compadres, we Irish are less simply less smug about our mugs.

“It’s not that,” admits one of the villa vilifiers. “There’s just no fun with digital cameras. I miss the old days of waiting to get your holiday snaps developed. Good or bad – the results were far more honest.”
With that I took a moment’s pause to consider her point, declaring honesty an overrated virtue...and that someone had far too much wine. 

mundane is lovely

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Today has been an immensely lazy day. It started on the sofa underneath my duvet catching up on recorded episodes of The Culture Show. Then, hoorah, my green cord Jamie trousers from Topshop.com arrived. After writing the previous post, I thought about trainers and how they'd look quite cool with the new jamies and then had a brainwave remembering my old loved reeboks in the back of my wardrobe. (unworn since my first year of sixth form). I drank quite a few cups of coffee from this mug which my Mum gave me for my birthday; it's an illustration of the view from the park beside our house so that I can drink from it and think of home when I'm at University (in only a couple of weeks!). I rediscovered how perfect biscuits from Aldi (or Lidl) are when dipped in coffee. I washed my bedding and then hung it outside on the line. I noticed the autumn nip in the air. I meant to list some old clothes on eBay but ended up buying a secondhand canon camera instead. I reheated last night's prawn, mint and broad bean risotto for lunch. and then again for tea. Ah, the most delicious of mundane days spent at home.

style notes for the guys

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beck, mick jagger, new balance running team, timex heritage camper watch, take ivy by teruyoshi hayashida, dad, young paul mccartney, new balance 420 trainers.

On the topic of New Balance trainers.. Josh and I spotted a very cool girl cycling past us last night. She had a nice shiny bob (think Eleonore from Ytligheter) and was wearing blue chinos with her own battered pair of New Balance and looked fantastically cool and casual as the late afternoon sun was shining down on the hill. This combined with Lisa Corneliusson's trainer collection, that Tux-n-adidas Kate Moss outfit and the running shoes from The Big Chill I well and truly have trainers on the brain.

along with this brilliant musical mash-up from DJ O-Face..

<a href="http://djoface.bandcamp.com/track/dirt-on-your-crown">Dirt On Your Crown by DJ O-Face</a>

Inside Style - Specs Appeal

Mickey Lady Gaga Flip Glasses
@ Amazon.com
Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - June 24th 2010

I popped into Specsavers recently for an overdue eye exam. For four years I’ve been dodging ‘reminders’ to get my peepers tested; convinced that although short-sighted, I had the bigger picture in view. There was no way the windows to my soul were going to be clad in glass. No way. No how. Until now...
My attempts at spectacle-free vision thus far have incurred a host of personal woes from the presence of a loathsome frown line to unwittingly scowling at approaching passersby.  Let’s not even get started on ordering coffee at Starbucks.

“You’re so vain,” my sister informs me regularly. “Why don’t you just wear glasses?” With this I am apt to inform her that my sight is only mildly distance-deficient, thus not requiring any additional aid. Revealing that four eyes will totally mess with my wardrobe choices is simply not an option.  (See: “You’re so vain.”)

With this in mind, I’ve taken to covering my back so as not to frame my face.  Skin Doctors Instant Facelift from Arnotts has been a lifesaver for the furrowed brow. Slap it on and in five minutes –insta-lift and tuck! As for identifying people more than ten feet away, I’ve found that smiling and greeting willy nilly has its merits. It has also worked a treat for my reputation around town. 

Reading the Astons on The Afternoon Show style slots is still a challenge but has endowed me with a unique ability to recite prices of highstreet items at will. “Gypsy blouse from River Island - €33.50, bangles - €2 from Penneys; Warehouse denim shorts - €33.” Damn, I’m good.

No such compensatory skills however can overcome being seated (gasp!) in the back row at fashion week. Despite the social slur, the blur from the cheap seats is just all too much. I had to cave.  “Think of all the stylists who wear glasses,” assured a kind friend as she named off Gok Wan, Caryn Franklin and Nicky Hambeldon Jones. “Yes, but do any of them have an ear that’s half an inch higher than the other?” I balked.
“Ah, I see,” she conceded. At least that’s one of us. I guess I’ll just have to devise another tactic like cocking my head slightly to the side or attaching distracting Mickey Mouse ears in manner of Lady GaGa.  Then again I could just get contact lenses.

Inside Style - Toes

Yogatoes®
Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - June 17th 2010

I hate my toes. Fact. I spent many a year pretending to be a size 7 shoe when really I'm an 8. Yet another fact. Given my unfortunate digital inheritance and years of surreptitious foot binding, I am not privy to use of the term 'flip flop'. This is a source of great anxiety for me each summer. A few years ago I went to Greece and was told by a complete stranger that something could be done about my toes. She went so far as to recommend Harley Street. I spent the rest of that holiday knee-deep in sand. With my 2010 Spanish break looming, I've been desperate to find sandals that can double up as a cunning disguise.

Thus far, I found a pair of fringed gladiators on Asos.com; and a jewel/feather offering from River Island – neither of which cloaks said offending piggies.  With little or no choice, I’ve been forced to engage in D.I.Y. tactics – if you can call them that. Let’s just say my sartorial strategy isn’t exactly military precise. I bought some peacock feathers (as you do) from A. Rubanesque, convinced that I could successfully glue them onto the sandal toe post. I also cut tassels from a cross-body bag in the hope creating some boho toe camouflage. No go. Both missions bore the hallmark of WW2 scrim netting; rather than haute haberdashery.

Time for a Plan B: a toe ring. Eureka! How very clever of me. Or was it? Perhaps the adhesive fumes from the previous exercise clouded my judgement but I don’t think I bargained on just how many would be required to cover my prodigious phalanges. Something tells me circus freak chic is an oxymoron.  Maybe I could just make like Lady Godiva and wear bells on my toes? Then again she was starkers so I doubt anyone was really looking at her feet.

Failing that, there’s a contraption called Yogatoes® - a big hit Stateside according to the bloggers at Beaut.ie. With the help of a gelatinous toe separator (and $50), one’s trotters can allegedly achieve Zen-like perfection.  Hmm, smells like marketing hokum methinks. (Rich words from the girl who just purchased a ‘millionizing’ mascara.) With that, my quest (and neurosis) continues. In the meantime, if you hear the distant sound of bells, you know where to hide.

Inside Style - Online Shopping

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - June 3rd 2010

I got my credit card bill the other day.  Staggered at how much I spent, I took the time to scoop my jaw off the floor and assess the damage. iTunes, Asos, my-wardrobe.com – the list of e-tailers with whom I do business is, well, ‘robust’.  Pity my disposable income doesn’t share the same constitution.  Determined to get back in black, I vowed to examine my spending patterns with the help of some DIY behavioural therapy. Can’t afford a real financial advisor; hmm, wonder why?

My virtual shopping cart doth overfloweth; this cannot be denied. Why this month I bought a Charlie Chaplin bowler hat, chainmail shoulder epaulettes and Janet Jackson’s entire back catalogue of hits is anyone’s guess.  My Google shrink calls it the ‘cognitive disconnect’ – that sense of non-spending when clicking virtually at will. I suppose it’s a bit like ‘the Boots effect’ where going in to buy toothpaste, you invariably come out with an obscene amount of 3-for-2 offers and no idea of what you actually purchased.

Acknowledging your weakness is half the battle according to the popular psychology community. Clearly these folk haven’t heard of TheOutnet.com.  The last time I bid on their ‘Going, Going, Gone’ reverse auction, I clicked ‘Add to Bag’ too early and overpaid for a pair of Chloe wedges. Compelled to address my trigger finger issues and have a more salubrious tale of haggling to tell, I raised my virtual paddle just in time to snag a Marc Jacobs tote for  a mere €85.  In isolation, this is a prime example of chic-o-nomics; cumulatively, it speaks of a shop-a-holic.

Identifying one’s danger zones is another suggested way to kick the habit. Fancy a glass or three of vino on a Friday night?  Step away from the laptop lady! Maybe Google Labs could invent an add-on similar to ‘Mail Goggles’ whereby a series of math questions must be answered before being allowed access to eBay. ‘What is your current credit card balance?’ would do nicely or ‘How many months would it take to pay off that Tibi silk dress at a 9.5% APR?’ 

I prefer the idea of a real-time Skype intervention with one’s bank manager each time that ‘purchase’ button is pressed. Much scarier. I just need a savvier excuse than ‘it’s for a photoshoot’ or ‘my job requires it’.  Or, I could just apply some old-fashioned restraint.  Insert chuckle here.

Inside Style - Vanity Sizing

Someone in retail has been reading this!
@ Amazon.com
Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - May 27th 2010

In an ideal world I would be a size 10. I wouldn’t have to call myself ‘an 11, really’ and would never cast a glance at a 12. I would also eat be able to eat Wagon Wheels unchecked- but I digress.

Rumour has it that some clever retailers have pipped me to the post with a trend called ‘vanity sizing’.  By making clothes bigger, women are forced to buy smaller and thus emotionally connect with the shop in question. Having a fat day? Not anymore!  The skinnier the tag, the fatter the profit margins - cha-ching!

To be frank, this Machiavellian marketing seems the stuff of urban legend. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against being duped into believing myself thinner – and will quite happily pay for the privilege. I’ve just yet to squeeze myself into an apocryphal 10. If anything, I think the high street has adopted a certain NAMA-like quality – a belt-tightening, pinch-inducing inability to make ends meet. It’s the classic example of ‘why give an inch, if it’s going to cost in fabric?’

Case in point – last week I purchased a size 16 guna in error at a certain Grafton Street store. Already at home and curious to see how it looked; I tried it on. It fit. I broke out the Sauvignon Blanc and turned up the Radiohead. This just couldn’t be right, could it? Who knows? Maybe denial isn’t a river in Africa after all. Or maybe, like Alice, I’ve been viewing my figure through the looking glass – a bit like those ‘magic mirrors’ in changing rooms.

But I’m not alone. Recently, a friend called me about a betrayal most foul. Two letters and an ampersand cheated her of a trusty size 14. “It wouldn’t zip!” she admitted shamefully.  “It was stuck just below my boobs and that’s my thinnest part!” Another cohort refuses to buy clothes bigger than her reported size. This often results in shopping boycotts peppered by the words, “I won’t cave; ever!”

With such strong anecdotal evidence of body bashing, there has never been a more appropriate time for minimisation.  Consider ‘vanity sizing’ a bit like an actor’s playing age - technically a 12, I can still pass for a 10; or with good lighting, an 8. Result. Now will someone please pass those Wagon Wheels.

Inside Style - Birthdays

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - May 20th 2010

It’s my birthday this week.  Rather than painting the town red, I’m looking forward to some low key interior decorating.  You see the sofa arrives this week; as does the new comfy chair. It’s all very exciting. So much so, I might actually be distracted from the thought of turning thirty-seven.  Contemplating the arrival of my late thirties is heavy; although according to my gay BFF Neil, late thirties start officially at thirty-nine...and a half. I like his thinking.

Despite his delightful miscalculations, the fact is I’m feeling it - old that is. Apart from cheating on fashion with furniture; to paraphrase Miss Carrie Bradshaw, I’ve been cheating on fashion full stop. From the presence of flat shoes in my closet to resisting hip yet pointless clothing, my inner sartorialist is growing up.  It’s not a fact to which I wilfully admit; but one that is admittedly a fact.

With age comes an insidious deference to practicality. Much like the 19A, it appears with little warning and never when you anticipated. Fashion-forward suddenly becomes fashion ‘wait a minute, just how short is that hem?’ Before you know it, you’ve got a capsule wardrobe of sensible basics and an aversion to the words ‘mini’ and ‘body con’.

Not that it’s such a bad thing. My twenty-something days of grabbing the Sunday paper in a Pat Butcher fur chubby never did pass as quirky at the local newsagent’s.  As for braving Old Testament-size hailstones while wearing a sleeveless jumpsuit? Been there, done that; bought the t-shirt two sizes too small and never wore it.
With reinforced logic comes an attendant disdain for fashion’s folly.

The other day, I overheard two girls discussing potential new hairstyles. “I want those white extensions like J-Woww on ‘Jersey Shore’,” said one; while the other extolled the virtues of Snooki’s vertiginous poof. In me rose an acute maternal urge to stage intervention. Given I am part-owner in a cat share with little skills in motherhood, I took this as read. 

That doesn’t mean I’ve totally sold out.  My new furniture may be a compensatory exercise in dodging the age bullet but I’m a tough old broad. Where there’s a will, there’s a jewel-encrusted Matthew Williamson kaftan, that’s what I say. Just don’t pan down to my feet. I’m probably wearing Fit Flops.

Inside Style - Plumes

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - May 13th 2010

Plumes.  For us fashion folk, that means feathers – ideally large decorative ones.  Flamingo, pheasant, ostrich – we’re not fussy. Factor in one volcanic hiccup and it’s a whole other catwalk.  Since Iceland began messing with our airspace and the ability to jet off at will, there’s a new sense of urgency afoot. Fashion Week frenzy? Puh-leez.  I’ll see you and raise you a stranded designer in Dublin Airport. 

You see it’s all about the patois. Ash won’t do and – too recession.  Plumes evoke a sense of power and majesty – even if that does entail less than regal ferry travel.  My most recent exchange involved Henry Holland’s PR. “Henry’s flight back home has been cancelled on account of the plume,” she explained. “Can you by any chance interview him earlier so he can catch the ferry?” How theatrical! Delighted to be part of the fashion histrionics, I made haste to our rendezvous where he and I chatted about kyboshed schedules and the elusive ‘arrival’ factor.  Will Henry make it to London to film another episode of Frock Me with gal pal Alexa Chung? Thank God for twitter updates; and yes, he did.

The last time I heard a PR get so flustered was London Fashion Week when front row royalty Naomi Campbell (finally) arrived for Vivienne Westwood’s Red Label show. “It’s fine; it’s fine,” the charge panted. “She’s here. It can all begin.” There’s nothing like a delayed arrival in fashion to pique interest; hence the term ‘fashionably late’.

With reports of said plume not dispersing for another five months, the worst may be yet to come.  Just imagine the fall-out: models being forced to inter-rail from Paris to Milan, couture couriered by jet ski, photoshoots directed by Skype; Anna Wintour travelling Stena Line.  Then again, the kerfuffle may well foster a new style order; think Moet snipes on ferry crossings (with straw of course), an Orient Express revival and Breton stripes as standard.  No measly 10kg luggage allowance, no 8”x8” plastic bag challenge for cosmetics and most of all, no taking off your shoes to walk through a metal detector. Result.

Sure, it might take twice as long to get anywhere. And yes, the term ‘sail and rail’ may take some getting used to but us lot are all about the arrival. Now, if we could only engineer a red carpet at Dun Laoghaire port...

Inside Style - Holidays

Matthew Williamson @ Net-a-Porter.com
Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine – May 6th 2010 

 It’s that time of year again. The inaugural summer holiday booking season has begun. Where to go? Who to go with? And most importantly, what to pack? Clickini.com is winging a selection of Betty-Paige inspired two-pieces to chez Kimmage as we speak. As for that pesky 10kg clothing allowance? Just call me McGyver. Done and done. Er...not quite. One critical question still hangs in the balance – when do we go? You see, there’s a rumour afoot that Ireland may only see sun in the month of June. July and August? Welly time. Personally, I’d like to increase the cost-per-wear ratio of my silk backless jumpsuit; not to mention the pile of pristine maxi dresses waiting to fulfil their manifest destiny. Booking that Costa del Sol break later in the summer can only mean two things – kids and humidity. Not that I have anything against kids, I just don’t want tone splashing pool water into my margarita. As for humidity, one drop and my hair expands like Ready Brek. (Think J-Lo ‘The Early Years’.)

This isn’t a fair trade-off. Now I’m forced into actually watching weather reports on RTE, BBC and Sky, and reading the Farmer’s Almanac to see if there’s the slightest possibility this rumour could be just trash talk. A few things I’ve noted: the worse the weather, the more avant-garde Jean Byrne’s clothing choices. Good call on the use of metallics when telling us global warming has dealt us the short straw. Also, Xpose made reference recently to a Donegal postman who claims this year will be tantamount to the Elysian summer of 1995. Aisling O’Loughlin – the heat’s on you missus, if you’re even a centrigrade off the mark! The last thing I want is to be greeted at Dublin Airport with grey skies and the sympathetic (yet smug) quip, “It was so sunny while you were away!”

If it so happens that we’ll relive another Irish ‘summer’, I’ve invested in some back-up threads. Next to my diaphanous floaty tunics are some slick-as-Rick tribal and animal print ponchos (£55) from Rainwave.co.uk. One hundred per cent waterproof and kitted out with their own travel bag, these bad boys stick two manicured fingers up to the sky. Sure, I’ll be grumbling, my tan may have faded but dammit I’ll look fabulous!

Inside Style - Jeggings

My Secret Weapon
Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine – April 29th 2010

Jeggings. The name alone makes me wince. Call me old-fashioned but why does denim require genetically modification? More disturbingly, why the hell are these hybrids taking over the high street? From what I understand, the stretchy jean imposter is both comfy and easy on the thigh. This puts it at an advantage to its more draconian skinny counterpart. Much like Marxism however, the jegging is sound in principle; untenable in practice. Cast your glance at a pair thrust into Uggs with nowt but a crop top for company and it can well scar your retina for life. Nothing socially democratic there. 

I wasn't about to take that chance. The memory of extracting myself from a pair of spray-ons in the BT2 changing rooms was enough. Skinning a sausage would have looked sexier. Since then my pear like curves have taken a vow of chastity - a promise that this season's denim trend has caused me to rethink. Despite my unwillingness to put out for a pair of skinnies, let alone jeggings, my quest for 'the one' remains. Boyfriend? Too fat rapper. Harem? Insta-man bits. Overalls? No John Boy. No. There's a reason why skinnies are only worn by the super thin and the super young - because they can. Do you think Kate Moss frets about possible loss of circulation in her thighs? Hardly. Fashion at its most fascist.

Funnily enough, it took a pregnant woman and The Afternoon Show to change my mind about jeggings. While styling a maternity fashion segment for the programme, I sneakily tried on a pair from Topshop (€53) meant for one of the models. Not only did they achieve what skinny jeans couldn't (i.e. not turning me into a human turnip), their discrete expandable elastic panel proved commodious enough to accommodate any fat day. Oh joy. Oh insane rapture. Equality achieved! The possibilities were endless - the ability to breathe, cross one's legs, bend at the knee. Whether wearing maternity jeggings will ever be taken seriously by the fashion elite is a moot point but I'm prepared to preach like a crazy convert. It's a new revolution - one that holds manifold possibilities for all body types. Go on, laugh. But if I start seeing less-than-pregnant looking girls milling around Mamas and Papas, I'll know my work is done. In the meantime, I've got a soapbox to mount.

Inside Style - Clogged Up

Instrument of Mass Destruction
Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magzine - April 23rd 2010

Clogs. I blame Karl L. If Chanel didn't resurrect the Dutch footwear on the SS/10 catwalks, maybe I wouldn't flinch passing Temple Bar. Let me explain. Last Saturday, the sun decided to shine and dare I say, it was warm. With the Fashion Bloggers' Brunch at Milano's that afternoon, I thought it fitting to don my Gestutz maxi dress, satchel and Zara clogs. How very 'Alexa'. After some chow and chat, I made haste to Crow Street for my four o'clock hair appointment at Anthony Murray's. Call it sunny confidence, or two glasses of Pinot Grigio, but I felt cavalier enough to dismount the foot path and traverse the cobbles on five-inch wooden stacks.

Not a good idea. No sooner had I made contact with the inhospitable terrain when I experienced the mother of all speed wobbles...in front of an audience of teenage boys. Kindly they spared my mortification by stifling their laughter. Pride aside, it made me consider the ramifications of literally becoming a fashion victim. Blisters - check, bunions - check, pain-induced weeping - check. Hmm, surely there has to be a way to have one's heels and wear 'em too?

Well, according to London's Institute of Physics, there is a clever formula that can calculate an individual's maximum heel height. Based on Pythagoras' theorem (and you thought you'd never use that outside of the Leaving Cert!), the quantum mechanics takes into account variables such as shoe size, 'pull' factor, cost, years of experience, fashionability and alcohol consumption. If I, for example - a size eight veteran heel fan with almost twenty years' experience, wear the this season's clogs when sober; I can handle an five-inch heel height. However, if I consume three units of alcohol (two small glasses of wine), the 'safe' heel height plummets (along with yours truly).  Factor in a stony catwalk and its curtains folks.

Not one to be defeated by fashion's foibles, I've since invested in some sole grips from Aldo which provide enough traction to avoid becoming roadkill. Now it just remains for me to avoid losing a shoe mid-stride. Geisha steps are an option as is the customary toe curl. Although the latter is often accompanied by a constipated grimace. Not a good look. The verdict it seems is still out. Although, most would agree not to trust a man who wears shades indoors; let alone one carrying a mantilla fan. I've got my eye on you Lagerfeld.

Inside Style - 'Irish Tans'

Doors to my shame
Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor – as featured in The Dubliner magazine - April 15th 2010

Summer. Pah. I don’t believe a word of it. If the past three years are anything to go by, I should be buying wellies and rain ponchos rather than ditsy floral playsuits. Although I do admit the former to be rather handy at Electric Picnic. Regardless, our fickle clime does little to dissuade my inner American from pining after a good ‘aul tan. You know, the kind that makes you look less like a pasty corpse, more like a Ralph Lauren campaign model. Sigh. If only...

It seems the melanin gods have a less colourful life in store for me. Since emigrating in reverse so many years ago, my skin has adjusted to the rain/wind/possibly hail/maybe sunshine combo that besets our fair isle. I guess that puts me out of the running as the face of Rockstar Tan. Auditions are being held in Arnotts on Saturday April 24th in a nationwide search to find a potential model for the brand. The prize of a 1st Option contract, a Lili Forberg shoot and a spread in Stellar magazine can do little however to persuade my limbs for a shot at the big time.

Let me fill you in. Not so long ago I was having dinner in Saba with a stylist friend of mine from LA. So keen was I to emulate her West Coast sheen, we hit up Brown Thomas for some Fake Bake before our Pad Thai. Without any liquid courage, she somehow convinces me to be sprayed in the toilets. Just my legs of course. Would only take a minute. Soon I find myself stripped to the smalls and making like John Wayne at Glastonbury.

Then...the smoke alarm goes off. Somehow (a member of staff?) knocks on the toilet door telling us to get out. Panicked, I try getting dressed; something the bottle says is a bad idea (see: streaks). Not so fast. What about the brown goo all over the toilet, the floor, the sink, the wall? After desperately trying to clean the mess with my cardigan, (much to my friend’s amusement) we exit hastily through the restaurant, hoping not to be noticed. Several glances from unsuspecting diners confirm that hope is indeed a medicine for the miserable. What’s more, it starts to rain.

Needless to say, my scarred psyche still smarts when passing a beauty counter. As for Clarendon Street? Let’s not even go there...

Inside Style - Street Style Paps

Hermes girl en rue
Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - April 8th 2010 

Street style paps - they're everywhere. They've even infiltrated the rarefied Gallic style sanctum of Hermes. That's right. Enshrined in the Brown Thomas window display are two campaign posters of an Hermes girl and woman shot 'en rue'. A candid camera ploy designed to edge up the brand? Perhaps and how very clever. If the recent Face Hunter (www.facehunter.blogspot.com) book signing at Noble and Beggerman was anything to go by, hipster Dublin seems to have an insatiable thirst for this burgeoning fashion medium. The face hunter in question - Swiss blogger Yvan Rodic - owes his cult status to those insouciantly chic pics of passersby we could only wish to emulate. Lest you think everyone from London and Paris bears a unique posing gene (pigeon toes and dislocated shoulders), think again. Rodic admits to taking up to twenty frames of a subject before committing to a shot.

Pity that kindness wasn't extended to me when recently stopped by The Style Scout (www.thestylescout.com). It was the last day of London Fashion Week. Sore feet, back-to-back deadlines and an eye allergy added to my 'wilted' look. Cosmic spite being just that, I was asked to pose for my likeness. One click and Mr. Scout was gone. Two weeks later and I receive an email from a colleague entitled 'Look What I Found'. It was yours truly looking truly awful. I felt like the girl in the bottom two on Top Model with the least frames.  Has it come to this? Is full-hair and make-up a requirement before attempting the cobbles at Somerset House? Or do you need an arsenal of poses to square up to the Dublin Streets (www.dublinstreets.blogspot.com) duo?

Still, I don't see how the common man's catwalk can increase the Hermes bottom line - what with NAMA so very now. The closest I'll get to a Birkin bag is pressing my nose against the glass. I bet even that will be taxed. But hey, there's always Tesco. The supermarket chain has launched its own tribute to the iconic tote without the waiting list and €10,000 price tag. For just €20 you can make like Posh and snap up your own collection in teal and purple. What's more, you can leave it behind you on the Luas without having a mild stroke over the insurance policy. Sure, you may never get papped 'en rue' by Hermes (summarily ignored perhaps) but then again, maybe that's a good thing.

Jordan Becomes an IT Girl

Katie Price unveils her own brand of iPods
From: Andy
To: Neil, Annmarie
Subject: I'm wiping out the Pritt Stick and iPods

Check this out. It says 'techie yet practical'.


From: Neil
To: Andy, Annmarie
Subject: Re: I'm wiping out the Pritt Stick and iPods

This is exactly what the IT gays have been waiting for, the collision of of tech & tat. Next up will be Girls Aloud being shot around the Large Hadron Collider.

From: Andy
To: Neil, Annmarie
Subject: Re: Re: I'm wiping out the Pritt Stick and iPods

I thought it was the Sugarbabes getting loaded with Froyo; or maybe that's Katie Price as well.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Falling into Autumn

To say I was 'off the mark' about this summer was, well, off the mark. I mistook former lazy days of the season as a continuum - ones that would extend into that of 2010 with trademark languidness. I booked a holiday, planned little and prepared to go with the flow. Little did I know that flow would spiral into a vortex of back-to-back photoshoots and general fashion frenzy. Hey, it's been a blast but gosh gee golly, I'm beat. With the snugly wools of autumn nestling back onto the shop shelves, here are a few things to look forward to:


Irish Examiner Weeeknd A/W 10 11 Trend Report
Out this Saturday, September 4th featuring the must-haves for the season. Photographer - Miki Barlok, Model and stylist - Annmarie O'Connor, Make-up - Kate O'Reilly, Hair - Suzanne Malone.

Brown Thomas Style Workshops
This Thursday, September 2nd pop into Brown Thomas from 5.30 pm for some late night shopping; and to see me talk through the latest trends of the season.

TK Maxx
I had the privilege of styling the TK Maxx media day last week and discovering Gold Label which launches Thursday, September 3rd. What is Gold Label? A merchandised rack front-and-centre of all the top catwalk designers - current season - from €129.99. Nice!

Redesign
You may have noticed a new look I Blog Fashion. I've been dragged kicking and screaming into a new Blogger redesign. I'm still playing around with it so some tweaks are in order but it's getting there.

Shhh!
I was honoured to play a part in a charity initiative with one of Ireland's foremost designers. Very honoured indeed. Details to-be-announced. Watch this space!!

Photo: behind the scenes at The Dubliner A/W 10 photoshoot

Saturday, August 28, 2010

caping

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One thing has become pretty clear this week and that's the onset of Autumn. Three days of solid, sheet rain and some brooding black clouds have brought a chill to the air and earlier in the week I made a trip to 'The Cupboard Upstairs' which now houses rather a nice collection of coats. This is thanks to buying them out of season and then over the course of Summer forgetting that I even owned them. 

I was struck with a sense of cosy smugness when I was reunited with this camel raincape I bought from eBay and had subsequently forgotten. So much for all of that cooing over the Asos cape when this was hanging upstairs in all it's £9 glory. Did I mention it's reversible with a waterproof layer inside and camel fleece on the outside? And it has a hood? This might explain why I felt like a child who had been dressed for practical purpose by their parents when I wore it for drinks and bowling with friends. But I secretly quite liked that. 

One of the downsides that comes with wearing a cape however is the handbag question. I tried carrying a tote swag bag style (just to really go the whole hog with feeling like a child dressed as a Superhero). I also managed to wear my usual handbag on my shoulder without the strap getting in the way but this just felt silly. There are always clutch bags but they don't seem daytime appropriate and I'm now thinking that going without a bag is a sensible option and actually quite liberating. I remember reading an article by Jess Carter-Morely in Vogue a year or so back in which she challenged herself to do Fashion Week bagless. Naturally, I don't have a personal assistant to carry my necessities like she did but I remember her emphasising the importance of pockets and how it feels rather nice to have a few of the essentials nestled deep down inside them with your arms free. And you know what you do with free arms? That's right, you swing them as you marvel at just how superb you feel without a bag and why didn't ou try this bafore and then- 'o-oh shit, I left my make up bag at home..'

Percival

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I've just come across Menswear line Percival and if like me, you're impartial to a nice boyish rainmac then this should be right up your street. The collection is pleasingly small and their website overall very polished and '2010 hipster design' but also easy to navigate. Though the video that accompanies the collection is all a bit too Topman for my liking (lads -note not 'men'- with carefully coiffed bouncing hair running through a forest and giving each other nosebleeds and all rather Private School) I can't fault that Yellow Wax Mac. Infact I'll go one better, I want that Yellow Wax Mac with it's thin grey pinstriped lining and it's 'scottish beeswax cotton'. If dazzling descriptions like 'scottish beeswax cotton' whets your appetite then you haven't seen anything yet. May I interest you in some fine Portuguese cotton melange? How about a little 'heavyweight melton from Yorkshire'?

The online store apparently launches in August though at the moment there doesn't seem to be any sign of one so keep your eyes peeled in the meantime.

alexa chung for madewell

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alexa-chung-madewell-ads-1.jpg

The Alexa Chung for Madewell adverts have been released and with the collection launching in under two weeks and Madewell refusing to ship internationally (bar the lucky few that live in Canada and Japan..) I'm wondering if we should hatch some sort of plan. Anybody Stateside willing to become the middle man, take orders and ship? And of course take a cut that doesn't absolutely take the piss? It would be good if we could settle this sensibly, instead I envisage hoards of it ending up on eBay with superduper price tags attached.

I'd love to act all blase and 'oh, what a fuss for items you could find second hand, it's only because they have Chung's name stitched inside' but as somebody who regularly hunts for flattering shorts in cord or velvet I'm bored of the trial and error of finding the right size and willing to hand over money. And besides who could resist Peter Pan collars and fuss-free dresses? The collection is abundant with pretty go-to pieces to bad out any in-transistion Autumn wardrobe.




Alexa Chung for Madewell will be available online from September 9th and in stores on September 11th.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Zulily Daily Deal - Power Capes up to 60% Off

Zulily Daily Deal - Power Capes up to 60% Off


Check out Zulily's Daily Deal Power Capes: Super-Fun Superhero Gear. There's something super-fun about dressing like a superhero! This event is full of satin capes, masks, and blaster arm cuffs. Perfect for Halloween or anytime dress-up. Sign up at Zulily now to take advantage of this special event that ends on 9/1.

More details on Power Capes....
Start a crime-fighting super-family with these amazing capes, masks, and cuffs! Sized to fit ages two and up, everyone can get in on the action. Choose your signature hero color and emblem, place your order, and soon it'll be "up, up, and away!" Now all you need is a hero name.

More details on Zulily...
Zulily is a fabulous new online store offering daily sales on top-quality apparel, gear and other goodies for moms, babies and kids. Members can enjoy savings of up to 70% off retail prices—not to mention discover some exciting new brands and products. Membership is FREE - sign up today!

Laura Yatim - Dashin Fashion Global Kids Clothing Magazine & Guide

P.S. from Aeropostale Stock Up Sale - Back to School!

P.S. from Aeropostale Stock Up, Back to School Sale!


P.S. from Aeropostale is having it's Stock Up Sale just in time for Back to School! Graphic tees are now only $7.99, Hoodies are $14.99 and you'll find a well stocked uniform shop.

From now unitl August 29th save $25 off on your purchase of $100+ with Code: PS25FOR

Plus get an extra 30% off on clearance items...

Laura Yatim - Dashin Fashion Global Children's Clothes Magazine & Guide

$10 off Your First Order at Everything But The Princess Girl's Boutique

$10 off Your First Order at Everything But The Princess Girl's Boutique


Online Girls Boutique Everything But The Princess is offering $10 off your first order with code: DASH10.

Shop new Fall/Winter Collections from over 60 designers: Oilily, Halabaloo, Me Too, Miss Me Jeans, Charabia, Carbone, Catimini, Eliane Et Lena, Mim-Pi, Cakewalk, Oilily, Jottum, Room Seven, Biscotti, No Added Sugar, Deux Par Deux, Haven Girl, One Kid, Pom Pom and more!

Plus low cost shipping worldwide!!!

Laura Yatim - Dashin Fashion Online Kids Clothes Magazine & Guide

Childrensalon Fall/Winter 2010/11 Luxury Designer Kids Collection

Childrensalon Fall/Winter 2010/11 Luxury Designer Kids Collection


Childrensalon's new Fall/Winter 2010/2011 Collection includes over 200 Designers of Luxury Children's Clothes & Shoes.

Check out the latest collections by: ALBERTA FERRETTI, ANTIK BATIK, ARMANI, BABY GRAZIELLA, BURBERRY, CHLOÉ, DIOR, DOLCE & GABBANA, ESCADA, I PINCO PALLINO, JOHN GALLIANO, JOTTUM, KENZO, MISS GRANT and many more!!

Laura Yatim - Dashin Fashion Online Children's Clothing Magazine & Guide

Servane Barrau Designs Back to School $25 Pettisirt Sale

Servane Barrau Designs  Back to School $25 Pettisirt Sale


Wanting your little girl to look the prettiest at school this year Servane Barrau Designs , has a special offer on Pettiskirts starting at $25!

Stock up now and start filling those wardrobes with some must-have pieces that are perfect for school and as always very unique!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

badass girls

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Over the past couple of months I've got so much enjoyment from devouring posts by both Lulu Kennedy and Maria of Fedtysent. Both pretty badass, both fantastically committed bloggers and all round the kind of women I'd like to be I'm a big, bad, scary adult. With maybe a little Carrie Bradshaw thrown in (except when she shrieks at 1000 decibels, which really grates.) As Maria is a Dane, much of what she writes is lost on me (Google Translater isn't the most reliable) and so I can't be sure what exactly she does. Somewhere along the line I remember she and her boyfriend were in America testing out hotels and restaurants but that may well have been temporary. Lulu is of course the director of Fashion East (which is about to celebrate it's 10th Birthday) and all round london fashion scene queen. And they also happen to bare a bit of a resemblance to each other, well what do you know...

On the subject of badass, I'm listening to this track by Howling Bells a lot at the moment:

a little bird told me


Alexa Chung's Fashion Week checklist:
1. "A camera. I know everyone is digital but I still love film and disposable cameras."
2. "A good umbrella because it always pisses it down during Fashion Week in New York."
3. "No stupid shoes! I'll definitely be wearing lots of flats."

"I’m trying to find a new pair of jeans, which I know is the ultimate quest for every woman. My ideal jean would be the Levi’s that Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis wore in Thelma and Louise. (Those) Levi’s makes every ass look really great. I want the Thelma & Louise ass." Chloe Sevigny.

'I'm in Maison, ah, Martin Margiela.' Jay Z, Run This Town.

'My style rules are: drag for the over-40s is never particularly becoming; pure white is too harsh and best avoided; and save black for special occasions- I used to wear it a lot, but I save it now as it's such an extraordinary and persuasive colour.' Stephen Jones.

[loser.jpg]


"I kept thrashing her at drafts, but boy she was hellbent on winning. When she eventually managed to beat me she savoured the moment by gleefully presenting me with this badge." Lulu Kennedy on her 'Loser' badge from Juergen Teller's daughter, Lola.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

new wear


This week I bought my final piece of Topshop uniform, these leather shorts. This was after a little second guessing in the fitting room and asking Eve (while she handed customers tags and manned fitting room) if 'Please be honest, are they a little bit obscene?' Thankfully I can count on Eve to be honest (its this honesty that when we first met prevented me from seeing just how brilliant and witty and amazingly deadpan she is). She kind of twisted her mouth and said 'they are a little bit. but only a tiny bit and that's probably because I'd feel uncomfortable if they were tight.' I thanked her, pondered and then realised that as I seem to be making a habit out of wearing vaguely inappropriate bottoms at the moment I may as well throw down the gauntlet and get these too. I concluded that come Autumn with a nice modest jumper and some thick tights they'd look somewhat less obscene and though I kind of got over my leather short moment a while ago there was something about these calling me back. I wore changed into them tonight after another successful run (50 minutes in the pouring rain which felt amazing) and tried them out whilst making a wholemeal pesto and feta pizza. For those of you curious they're one of those awkward Topshop sizes that sits in-between dress sizes and leaves you wondering which way to swing. I opted for the smaller, asking myself if leather has the ability to stretch. I shall report back when I know the answer.

On the subject of honest opinions in the fitting room, I know sometimes it can be scary admitting to someone if what they're trying on doesn't work but do. Otherwise you'll be inflicting onto them that awful moment when they return home with their goods and realise as they look into their own mirror that you told a porkie. And then you'll be in trouble. Besides, you'd always want to know the truth, wouldn't you?

tavi and sassy

Click on the image of the video to view it..

I love Tavi. I think she's great and well, along with most people I think, I'm in awe of her. There was a brief spell last year when I didn't really get the fuss, I didn't go a bundle on her personal style and seeing a 13 year old so entrenched in the fashion world kind of freaked me out; could children not be children anymore? But then I watched some of the videos of her speaking at various conferences and gave her more of a chance, catching up with her writing and I was in love. This video is half an hour long but is such easy watching and is so inspiring. Tavi is as cool and articulate as ever. She is generally kickstarting the same conversation that I and my friend Emily find ourselves having whenever we go to the pub (albeit Tavi in a much more comprehensive way) and I'm so proud that she's talking about putting Women's Rights back on the agenda for teenage girls. I used to get so frustrated when my peers at school would wrinkle their noses at the word 'feminist' which is just crazy because all feminism means is that you believe in equal rights so surely everyone regardless of gender should be able to call themselves a feminism without it being unjustifiably embarrassing.

Hearing her talk about Sassy Magazine actually taught me a lot. I know some of you will have cherished Sassy back in the day or since discovered it of your own accord but I've never known an awful lot about it. Tavi really delves in its history and I can't believe its taken me this long to notice the gaping hole in the magazine market when it comes to teenage girls reading something good. I think the closest we ever came to Sassy was Ellegirl which folded and seems tragic proof of the difficulty that comes with running a magazine that prioritises positive messages over adhering to the mainstream.What I really love about this talk is that Tavi continues to emphasise that girls want to read a magazine that is ultimately fun and isn't hard hitting but simply promotes values of self respect.

After she mentioned it I've gone away and googled the 'Dear Boy' feature which had famous male musicians offering readers the most stellar and cool advice. What's brilliant is that the answers revolve around them saying things like 'hey, this guy is clearly acting like an asshole and tell him I said so' rather than the samey gently-gently approach such a column would take in another magazine. Say, Cosmogirl's 'Ask Him Anything' as Mish Way points out.

Here are some of the best Dear Boy Q&As I foraged from here and here.
They are brilliant and reaffirm that those silly boys who act interesting one moment and then cool and aloof the next are just bad apples amongst a very good bunch.

Thurston Moore
There's this guy that I really like. He tells everyone that he doesn't even like me as a friend, but when we're alone together we do things that are reserved for people who think of each other as more than friends. What do I do? A friend, more, or less? Huntley, IL

The guy's a jerk. I know that won't discourage you from liking him, but he's got a major personality flaw: disrespecting you. Be careful of this kind of butthead, because his sleaze behaviour may rub off on you, and then your life will become more and more hellish. Next time you're alone with him and he tried to get "friendly," tell him your friend Thurston Moore wants to kick his ass. And then tell him why.


Deen Ween
I used to have a lot of friends last year, but this year all my friends are ditching me because I don't have a boyfriend yet. They say that I can come to their parties if I bring a guy. These girls are really funny and nice, and I still want to be their friend. What do I do? Boyfriendless and confused.

I've never heard of anything like that in my life. Go to the party alone, and leave with someone else's boyfriend.

Billy Corgan
I have a thing about Gary Oldman and what I don't understand is why no one else does. I'm 14 and no one understands! Does this mean I like older guys? Sophisticated in Shorewood, IL.

It's very funny that you ask me this, because my wife, Chris, has a thing about Gary Oldman. It started about four years ago. It was "Can we go see the Gary Oldman movie?" And "Can we rent this Gary Oldman movie?" And of course she saw Dracula right when it came out. If Gary Oldman showed up at our door, she would start packing. So you are not alone. Liking Gary Oldman does not neccessarily mean you like older men. Gary Oldman is not old or young; he is Everyman at every age.

Beck
Here's my problem. Whenever my boyfriend and I go out, I have to pay for everything. I work and he doesn't, so if I want to do something I have to pay. It's starting to make me really mad. How can I get him to start paying his fair share? Becoming broke.


This slacker scourge is ravaging the minds of our youth. Tell this guy to get motivated Tony Robbins style: "Yesterday is a canceled paycheck. Your maximum point of power is now."

10% off Fall/Winter Pre Orders and New Arrivals at Peach and Plum

10% off Fall/Winter Pre Orders and New Arrivals at Peach and Plum


Peach and Plum has a special offer for Dashin Fashion readers!

Take 10% off Fall 2010 Pre-Orders and New Arrivals from Monnalisa, Miss Grant/Microbe, Catimini, IKKS and Junior Gaultier.

Enter promo code DFFALL10 at checkout (discount off original prices and cannot be combined with other offers).

Discount not valid for Halabaloo and Matooka.

Plus, take 25% off this week on new Monnalisa Fall/Winter collection. Take 25% off Monnalisa Fall New Arrivals and Pre-Orders with promo code MNSPECIAL25.

i'm feeling

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adidas classics with suits, white nikes with bare bottoms, plastic laundry bags, jumpers with personalised stitching, 'ginsberg is god', verdant council flat balconies, this minidress/fur gilet/cowboy boot combination just because, chloe sevigny channelling lauren hutton, bowie and his metal kettle.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

west side

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Like a true gap year cliche I've spent a lot of time missing the adventures that Joanna and I had in the US in the Spring. I find myself thinking about random moments from the trip without even realising. This morning it was as I poured hot water over a chai tea bag and instantly the smell took me back to Brooklyn where we consumed heaps of the stuff. Lately it's been the California leg mostly on my brain, just before the end when we went to Coachella and had Patrice introduce us to the joys of Denny's. I was thinking about it all as I walked home the other day and I'm so pleased the way everything worked out. When I'm older and wiser (here's hoping) I really think I'll look back on those 7 weeks surfing on people's couches and napping in greyhound stations as one of the greatest experiences as a youngster. This month I've begun saving for Round Two. Here's hoping there'll be enough pennies in my pot come next April.

granny annie

I've already featured my Dad and his aviator jacketed, dungaree wearing, beret posing self (back in the day). So it only seems fair that I push my Granny into the limelight too as it's thanks to that indispensable stack of magazines next to her loo that whet my appetite for fashion in the first place. I've mentioned her a couple of times already as she is the self proclaimed number one fan of Discotheque Confusion and reads often.

Granny is the one behind my love of sitting in cafes with reading and writing materials and she always encouraged an appreciation of individual style. In turn I introduced her to the world of blogs and she now has her own brilliant one chronicling the world of Allie Allbright.

I remember she once bought us two matching scrapbooks and we spent an afternoon together in her cosy flat with scissors, glue, magazines (and probably caramel biscuits and lemonade too) creating collages. Hers was filled with quotations and bright colours. It was the image on her front cover that sticks in my mind; an image of Betsey Johnson sitting in her bedroom, a mish-mash palace of pink furs and batenburg cake shades, the perfect ode to growing old disgracefully.

My Granny has the perfect mix where growing older (she's still in her sixties, hardly old) is concerned with a few fantastic trouser suits (in oatmeal and turquoise), lots of go-to classics but also some dabbling with flirty thigh high boots and inappropriate fancy dress outfits here and there..


I think for a lot of women their relationship with their Grandmother is always a very special one and just sitting and writing this should show this is certainly true in my case. Our relationship only mirrors the one she had with her own Grandmother (though likely minus giggling together through Samantha's infamous scenes in Sex and The City) who would bring her back sacred copies of Seventeen from trips to America.


I should really show some pictures of her style now but that's perhaps another time as Granny back in the day (think floppy hats, 60s minis and army surplus wears) in very in line with my current 60s/70s fixation. And so follows the scans I made from her photo albums some time last year.

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Britney Spears in Pop Magazine


The cover of the latest Pop Magazine is insane! In the best way possible. Britney Spears is the unlikely cover star and comes over all Japanese schoolgirl thanks to artist Takashi Murakami who collaborated on the cover. Inside of the issue you'll find Manga style stickers and a shoot with a wedding dress clad Britney lying in a field of daisies. 

This issue, which is the third under the helm of Dasha Zhukova only goes to cement my view of her as an amazing editor. She has a great eye and a knack for bringing together an incredible bunch of collaborators. I also love that Dasha has taken the magazine in a more arts focused direction. It feels like the publication is more worthy and packed with interesting features post-Katie Grand who took what Pop was all about in the first place (lots of glossy fashion and curiously chosen celebrities in head to toe Louis Vuitton) with her to Love Magazine. In one sense the choice of Britney as cover girl is surprising purely because it seems a very Katie Grand thing to do. But I've relished every issue of Pop and actually prefer it to Love Magazine. How fitting after I posted a Britney Spears video a couple of days ago. With her Glee appearance in the pipeline I can see a fond Britney revival, one shrouded in nostalgia for the grinning 90s Britney you could easily imagine giving the peace sign from the pages of a Japanese magazine. The issue hits shelves on 1st September.

Monday, August 23, 2010

five outfits

camel ribbed zara top, ebay. jeans, charity. casio watch, amazon.

purple silky top, charity. button down skirt, ebay.

black sheer shirt, charity. brown suede highwaist trousers, ebay.
green shirt, beyond retro. scalloped shorts from topshop (they've temporarily disappeared from the site but you should find them still in store.)
'nbc decision' 1988 presidential race tee, urban jungle vintage, bushwick NY. skirt as before.

Five outfits I have on current rotation. It feels like something has clicked this year with my style. I feel so much more at ease with more of an understanding of what I like and what works for me. I stick to the same formula with shapes (a-line mini skirts, trousers with high waists) and textures (suedes or comfortable cottons). I've also utilised eBay this year, it's now where a majority of my clothes from and being able to search for exact keywords is a godsend over charity shop trawling where I find my success is completely mood dependant. As somebody who is pretty frugal (I try to live below my means and prioritise saving for travel) I find it difficult to justify the price tags of even high street stores and buying second hand means that you're not confined to the trends in the shops.  Maybe I'm just growing up, I feel like there's been a lot of that this year. With September just around the corner I'm finding myself already feeling sentimental about my Gap Year before it's even finished..

But back to clothes ('this is a fashion blog,' I hear you say 'less of the deep stuff!') I seem to be taking my commitment to the camel trend pretty seriously at the moment where trousers are concerned. Literally. I was walking through the park the other day, wondering if my Topshop Camel Jamie jeans were given their name for a reason besides the colour when I kid you not some charmingly mannered 15 year old shouted 'camel toe bitch!' at me. After one of her comrades had chucked a stone at me! I have to applaud her brilliant insult based on pure value for comedy but all the same.. I arrived home in a rage with my Mum standing patiently as I ranted about how these days nobody stands up to shitty mouthed teenagers and what happened to youths having a healthy fear of their elders? and yadda yadda and then I moved onto knife crime before we both became bored of my general tirade and quietly crept off to go about some other business. Needless to say my camel jamies are now worn with tops just covering the crotch. Lond aran jumpers were never so handy..
Fashion