The Great Speedo Debate

Today on The Tubridy Show we debated whether Irish lads showed any sartorial promise poolside. GAA jersies, sock/sandal combos and speedos were discussed; the latter which sparked my fascination into what the Aussie's term the budgie smuggler. Allegedly, the unforgiving swimwear garment is making a comeback, and if you can believe some hack in The Guardian - it's hem rise is index-linked to an uplift in the economy. I'm more fascinated by the following pointless facts:

• Alton Towers banned the banana hammock last summer for being 'not appropriate for a family venue'.
• There's been a 400% increase in searches for the word "Speedo" in the past six months, compared with the same time last year.
• Aussies and Slavics are grand with the 'aul lolly bags; our American counterparts are less forgiving however (with the exception of Mark Spitz and Magnum PI).
• Cristiano Ronaldo looks good in one.

Still not convinced? Blame Brazil. The most divisive beach fashion stems from Ipanema - home to the first male crochet g-string. Don't believe me? Check out the episode where The Simpsons go to Rio; even Homer is wearing one!

LFW - The Clothes Issue

Only three more sleeps until LFW. Yay! Despite my bubbling joy, there's the tricky little issue of what to wear. The will to stand out will always spar with the deep-rooted need for comfort - especially when running between shows. Then there's the issue of styling it large without being profiled for credit card debt; not to mention a meagre 15k baggage allowance. My secret weapon this season? Maxi dresses! Lean on space and huge on potential. Pair them with a blazer or leather jacket or layer them with clashing separates and accessorise at will. Oh, satchels, turbans, clogs, brogues, jeans and genie pants get the thumbs up too. Somerset House here I come!

Sunday Times Style - The Power of Drag

Want to make an entrance this party season? Pick up a copy of The Sunday Times Style today and check out my article The Power of Drag where I get top tips from Ireland's alpha drag queen Veda Beaux Reves.

Styling: Annmarie O'Connor
Photography: Andreas Pettersson @ Morgan The Agency (01 661 4572; www.morgantheagency.com)
Annmarie's hair and make-up: Brown Sugar, Dublin (01 616 9967; www.brownsugar.ie)
Sofa: Alila boutique (01 679 9547; www.alila.ie)

'Tis the Season

...to fret over festive frocks. Oh yes indeedy. And it all seems to start this week. Drinks in the Westbury on Tuesday, the Fashion Bloggers' Xmas Bash @ miniZine on Thursday; and let's not even talk about next week. It's beginning to feel like Formula One fashion - dress up, strip off, redress. So far I've got Armand Basi, Complex Geometries and some vintage finds lined up with my RSI-inducing 40 mm pearl cocktail ring to jazz things up a bit. I did learn a thing or three however about 'owning the room' from an expert. Want to find out? Check out The Sunday Times Style magazine on Sunday, December 6th. Armed with my top tips, I've no excuses. Party time here we come! x

Complex Geometries

I never was a star pupil at maths. I always maintained however that if they used fashion to elucidate the formula of an isosceles triangle, I'd be a genius. It didn't take me long to twig that this here top by Complex Geometries belongs in my wardrobe. The measured draping, the equilateral sides and asymmetrical racer back equal = 'must+have'². Just as well I nabbed the last one from Circus Store in Powerscourt. Click here to get your style soduku online!

Transitional Threads

Have you noticed the sudden bite in the air? Yep. Looks like summer is officially over. Not that we had much to begin with, but hey, that's another show folks. Anyhoo, it got me to thinking about the dreaded 'in between seasons' syndrome: too cold for skin; too warm for woolies. Rather than bitching about what to wear, I thought I'd raid the aul wardrobe to find some solutions.

Exhibit A:
Bib-front denim dress, Awear €35.
Nicole Miller tweed jacket, Urban Outfitters €50
Vintage print scarf, Tie Rack €2.49
Vintage briefcase, Oxfam €6
Brogues, Office €72
Key chain and bracelet, gifts
Ring, H&M €5.90

Style notes: Wear with lace or ribbed tights. Feeling Chung? Try some Alexa-style ankle socks.

Sleeves - Part Deux

The scissorhands are back - this time their beady blades are set on my Veronique Branquinho blazer. What was once a 'boyfriend' looks more granddad style on my now slimmer frame. With its architectural shoulders, I'm thinking it would look more fetch as an oversized gilet and cut off gloves. Fetch? Yes - where Gretchen failed, we can make it happen. If only to wean the young ones off 'whatever'.

Boo-Boo(b)

Made a bit of a boo-boo recently. Thankfully it was just a small one - size 36A to be precise. You'd think I'd know better being a stylist but I've been walking around (like 83% of all women) in the wrong bra size for many a year. After finally getting measured I realised (much to my own chagrin) that the girls aren't a bouyant 34B after all but rather a more modest 36A. I'm consoling myself with the fact that style icon Jackie O bore similar stats. Now there's my underwear drawer to contend with. Another cull...sigh.

New Schuhs

Liking my Lady Gaga-inspired ankle boots? Me too - only I can't quite decide what to wear them with. Go totally 80s on it with leopard print leggings, tee and man blazer or simple with a shift dress. Decisions decisions. There's always the sequin hotpant combo - inside the house methinks.

Toreador Chic

I blame it on Jean Paul Gaultier. I wouldn't have such an obsession with Toreador chic if he didn't catwalk sexy Spanish look every haute couture season. His 2009 ode to the bullfighter which featured razor-sharp tuxedo jackets, lace toreador trousers, hooped skirts and dresses suspended on straps of filigree was by far his strongest show yet. But what of menswear? After gushing Monday night at Culloden House's showing of Carmen the opera for all the wrong reasons (ie: Escamillo's bum in those tight trousers) I got to thinking - could bullfighting style cues be the next trend? Think of it - the embellished epaulettes and strong shoulders of a Toreador jacket are far more fashion-forward than standard military garb which is punted out every season. Surely the lads would benefit from some spicy bling. After all, every woman loves a man in uniform. Ole!

Pic: courtesy of Paris Rive Gauche

Wood Wedge - Would Ya?

Wedges. I don't think people appreciate the merits of said footwear. Not only are they comfy to wear for long periods of time but they are the ideal sandal substitute for Irish 'summers'. Let's face it. How often can we wear those flat embellished foot thongs. Cute? Not so much when Armaggedon decides to rip from the heavens and soak your feet. Can you wear them to the office with a suit? Nah. We didn't think so. These little beauties to my right can do all that and more. Just check out the gentle slope in the arch. No sciatic nerve pain there and cute as all hell. Now for a bit of shoe stroking. Good shoe... Nice shoe... Prrrr....

To Facebook is Human, To Tweet Divine

Someone once asked what the point of Twitter was - to which I had no reply. I was then countered with the accusation that these micro updates are not dissimilar to Facebook status updates (which came first the FB or the tweet?) and thus pointless. Unlike Facebook however, the mini newsfeeds are totally noiseless - no photos, no vids, no wall-to-wall convos from other people's friends; just uninterrupted fly-on-the-wall goss from fashion's inner sanctum. I'm now addicted. Women's Wear Daily are the shiz. Their minute-by-minute accounts of the Met Gala shenanigans have made my Kimmage-bound bank holiday weekend somewhat more palatable. It's like a Jane Austen novel dripped in couture. What's not to love?

1. womensweardailyCarolina Herrera asked "Is Madonna here with the toy boy or the boy toy?" Indeed she was.about 7 hours ago from HootSuite
2. womensweardailyMadonna is in the house, wearing Vuitton.about 8 hours ago from HootSuite
3. womensweardailyElizabeth Hurley is in a nude Elie Saab; Anne Hathaway is channeling Jackie Susann, at least in hair, wearing Marc Jacobs.about 9 hours ago from HootSuite
4. womensweardailyIsaac Mizrahi, just walking in with Coco Rocha, says he is feeling unwell. He thinks it is "bovine flu".about 9 hours ago from HootSuite
5. womensweardailyNadja Auermann is looking like a teutonic goddess in Lanvin, Natalia Vodianova soft in a vintage Fortuny her husband gave her.about 9 hours ago from HootSuite

The New Handbag Semantics

It wasn't too long ago I acquired a Vivienne Westwood bowling bag - my treasure. I even christened it Viv; and when Viv wasn't tucked in her cotton monogrammed covering, her handles were wrenched grannylike in the crook of my arm. Viv wasn't just a bag, she was a stylish keeper of secrets - from receipts to schedules, make-up and stealth purchases - zipped dutifully from the public eye. You can therefore imagine my confusion upon reading in this month's Vogue that Viv and I are all but 'déclassé' and 'démodé'. Handbags are now subject to a new set of rules which are ironically louche.

Thou 'now' shalt 'wear' thine bag; rather than carry it. Zips shall remain open as shall clasps and buttons. Never do, 'trophy', 'big' and 'stuffed' - too gauche and by all means ditch the handles, lest you be tarred and feathered.

This was all too much for me. A bit of lower back pain and carpel tunnel syndrome never hurt anyone. And then I read on... Not only am I being encouraged to ditch Viv P. Hilton-style; but I now must learn the methodology behind 'wearing' one's bag. There's the Scramble, The Dangle, The Cuddle and The Twiddle. I can't help but thinking if it's conjugation applies in similar manner to that of Twitter. If I Twiddled, did I twaddle or have I twiddled? Great, now I've got to add Strunk and White into the debacle. Who knows, maybe Conde Nast have a copy of The Elements of Style?

Self-Gifting - Part Deux

I'm not fond of four-letter words but I'm prepared to make an exception for 'sale' - especially when followed by 50-70% off. Unlike traditional post-Christmas tat fests, this season's sales have proven more than prodigious. I am especially enamoured with my Peter O'Brien "WAS €180; NOW €100" dress. I was perfectly prepared not to subject my credit card to further acts of cruelty until my sister pointed out its suitability for Paris Fashion Week. Who was I to argue? I wonder could it be regarded as a legit business expense? Tax deductable? A charitable donation to moi? Hmmm. Could be worth a try...

Hair of the Matter

There's nothing like a good brouhaha - especially when it involves politicians. Oh how we love to see the mighty crumble in this country. The latest 'scandal' in question involves none other than a $410 beauty bill allegedly clocked up by Mary Harney on an official trip to Florida. In the broader context the bill was red-flagged due to excessive spending by government officials. In isolation, it's small beans = €300. Would we rather our political representatives dock up to Cape Canaveral looking like the poor 'Oirish' cousins? After spending a morning at 'Leaders' Questions' in the Dail, I can tell you I'd be more than happy to shell out my taxpaying euros on sharpening up our political posse. Most of them looked like they slept in their clothes over summer recess. Surely a few bob for a wash and blowdry isn't a misappropriation of funds? It should be considered willful negligence not to do so. Case in point: Nicholas Sarkozy's security unit fashionably upstaged Cowan & Co on the French PM's July visit. It's time for serious sartorial measures. Let the $410 be waived I say. Lord knows we could use the help...

Vintage Blues

There's nothing worse than having to diet into a dress you love. Yesterday, after receiving this 50s jacquard dress from my favourite online vintage store, I was faced with the smarting realisation that duct taping my mouth is real possibility. As eating is far to fun to consider giving up, I thought about getting a body wrap or altering the dress. Neither seemed appealing; in particular the latter which could ruin the garment. I've decided instead to go down the Spanx route. Rumour has it if you get the smallest size into which you can be shoehorned, you can lose a good inch. And a good inch is all that's required with this beauty. God forbid I should darken the doors of Carlisle Fitness. If only my credit card were as prisitine as that of my gym membership.