What Colour is Your Parachute?

Deb Hook - sassy frontwoman of the kick-ass Plastic Parachute gives us the benefit of her style kudos!!

1. What's your definition of style?

Well, if I was writing my own dictionary....my personal definition of style would have to somehow incorporate the two words: Audrey Hepburn. There's something about her energy & her sweet spirit which I adore, admire and constantly aspire to understand. But it is also about confidence. Confidence is the single most sexy thing a person can wear. In my opinion...Sophia Loren is the quintessential look of C O N F I D E N C E. Look at that Strength!!





2. Who would you kill to (un)dress?

Hmmmm... is this a trick question?? ;) Stylistically speaking I would love to take the very frocks from Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face!! From the fabulous skinny pants & ballerina flats in the club dance scene to the amazing strapless Givenchy gown she wore on the runway. She was just impeccable...in every imaginable way. Realtime undressings would have to be Leigh Lezark (shown here with Agyness Deyn)She has such new wave attitude mixed with Classic grace and I just adore Selma Blair. Everything she does is pure brilliance & daring, carefree fun.



3. What fashion faux pas is the most unforgiving? Be ruthless.

Oooo for me, MY fashion faux pas has always been white dress shoes. I am fearful of them. I think this goes back to a girl in my elementary school who wore hideous scuffed white dress shoes in the winter with dark stockings. I always wondered why?? Didn't someone tell her that's a no no? As I've grown older I've realized that daring can be fabulous...but I STILL cannot make myself buy a pair of white dress shoes (no matter how fabulous or expensive) uhuh. No way. Can't do it. Maybe I'll work on that fear this year...




4. What is your fashion weakness?

VINTAGE. I cannot stop with the vintage sickness. I have trunks full of vintage jackets and dresses and pieces which need to be tailored in order to fit me properly. Ooooo if only I would actually get it all done!! I'm desperately trying to stop the madness and only buy pieces which actually fit...but sometimes the temptation (and the FABRIC!!) is just too delightful to pass on.. ;)
AND Moschino. I can't get enough Moschino. It's getting bad...but the sense of style & whimsy is 2nd to none in my opinion.





5. How many models does it take to change a lightbulb?

OOooo these days I think maybe just one! :) Models seem to be more & more intelligent & more & more sophisticated. A trend I am happy to see. I am also quite happy with the bit more full figured models which keep popping up on the scene. Real women with real bodies and real thoughts...hmmmmmm What a concept!!

Mary-Jane is a Slut!

Mary-Jane used to be such a nice girl, that is before she ditched the low heel and single button strap in favour of the grown up goods. Check out Topshop's latest patent leather de rigeur three-strap action. We're thinking 'Lolita' with a mini skirt, office fetish with a pencil skirt and bedroom action with....

Very versatile. ;)

Chanel-ing Coco

Big air kisses to Oasis for avoiding the heady descent into 'trend hell' this summer. The Big O has instead opted for 50s feminity in pieces that will take you from work to play, across the weekend and possibly into next season. We like.... especially these Chanel-inspired LBDs. Very haute-street!

Bubbly and Bargains

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the Bubbly and Bargain sale at The Patricia Field Boutique on Saturday, February 23rd. It is true that from 5 pm to 9 pm, fshionable New Yorkers will be subjected to 50-75% reduction on lingerie, shoes, womenswear, menswear, and accessories. Some ski jackets will even be sold for $10. I'd like to extend my condolences to everyone living outside of the Triborough area. We'll be thinking of you as we sip champers and bag some serious fashionista swag. Toodles!

One is Amused

"I love costume jewellery. It is much more amusing than the real thing."

Princess Caroline of Monaco

I love it too but only because I can't afford the real thing. Thankfully Waterford Crystal have seen fit to launch a jewellery line for folks like me - skint with impeccable taste. At €200 a pop for a crystal hallmarked ring, I can be amused too. Pah! Take that Caroline!

Bag Borrow or Steal

Previewing designer collections is always a treat. The combination of mystery and privilege is a heady one but with every great high there is an equivalent tumbling thud to reality.

"It costs HOW MUCH?" Of course, you'd never hear me uttering those words. I nod and smile with appropriate sprinklings of 'fabulous', grateful the fashion police don't actually credit check their editors. Cut to the press day for Brown Thomas' SSo8 collection. As I lurched towards the Alexander McQueen 'Evie' bag, I could see that episode of Ab Fab reeling in my head. "If you have to ask, you can't afford it," barks Patsy. "Now, get out!" With that seared on my grey matter, I declined from asking about price points, settling for a gentle stroke of the metallic exterior and avowing to Google it upon exit. €1,275...ouch! Small change for some but for the financially-challenged, a bit of swag math is in order.

Subtract:

a) 2 month's socialising

b) 2 week sun holiday

c) 1 month's rent

d) 1 year's gym membership+ surplus on credit card

Since The Viper was shot outside of Carlisle Fitness, I feel it only fitting that I throw in the towel and decline renewal of my gym membership. Far too risky. After all, I've got a new baby (complete with structured pleats) to look after.

Shoe Envy

Shoe Envy: (slang) a modern malady often affecting those with any fashionable predisposition, especially women.

Bitches please, if it weren't for Topshop, I'd be wandering Sloane Street with a foaming mouth and perpetually grinding teeth. Fortunately my size zero wallet can actually afford these beauties from the TS Unique range at a mere £115. Justice has been served.

Back in the Closet

Style snafus - we all have 'em. Tucked meticulously away in the back of the closet is an inadmission (or two) to looking like a pillock. Why we hold on to our dirty little secrets is another question. Surely the answer is at the bottom of black sack destined for the local jumble sale, no? Not quite. See: exhibit A - my 'could be mistaken for Missoni dress but actually resembles a Bertie Bassett sweet' purchase from New Orleans. In defence your honour, it was a hot day in the French Quarter and I did have a few Hurricanes. Can't be blamed. Impared judgement. Nuff said. Despite my 100 proof case (they don't call those cherry bombs Hurricanes for nothing), I still can't be exonerated for holding onto this rag like an old love I just can't quit. Maybe it's a humble reminder of the depths of bad taste into which we can unwittingly be plunged: a cautionary tale if you will. Beware of drunk shopping. This too can happen to you!

Going Dutch

Henry Holland is my new crush. Yes, I know he's gay but my infatuation with the London-based designer goes deeper than that. I had a rare 'fashion moment' upon espying his iconic range of slogan t-shirts. Sure 'Frankie Says Relax' may have pipped him to the Shoreditch post but 'Flick Yer Bean For Agyness Deyn' is sheer genius. I am humbled and hoping 'Adopt Me Angelina' will be next!

www.houseofholland.co.uk

Tie-Dye

Be prepared to channel your inner hippie this summer as the highstreet goes retro. River Island, Warehouse and New Look have all seemingly taken a toke off Matthew Williamson's tie-die joint and created some cute 70's-inspired numbers. Knee length skirts, racer-back tees, mini and maxi dresses all get the psychedelic dip but be warned...

Bold prints can look downright scary on Irish skin. Avoid a Meg Matthews incident by keeping the palette neutral with a flash of colour. The 'human popsicle' is not a good look.

UGG puh-lease!!!!

Guilty pleasures - we all have them. Curly Wurlies, ABBA and Diarmuid Gavin fantasies are all part that freakish sub-stratum outside of collective good taste. But we all have them, don't we? So please don't judge me when I tell you that I L-O-V-E my UGG boots. Once an avid naysayer of the preferred Drummie Jimmy Choos, I am now an offical convert. Yes they may be ugly, common and bad for your instep but put slip those puppies on and you'll coo like Colleen McLoughlin with a Black Amex in Harvey Nicks. Let's face it. Feet are not sexy and these my friends, are the zipless fuck of footwear. I rest my furlined case.

This Week's Swag Math

Classical mythology describes the Cyclops as single-eyed giant. I just call it the next best ring - that is from Yves Saint Laurent. This chuky gold beauty with the coral centre can be bought for €120 at Harvey Nichols, Dublin. In swag math, that's the equivalent of 8 cab journeys home. Minus that twice a week for one month and you've got that third eye required to alight any public transportation after the stroke of midnight. Soooooo worth it!!!

Beyond a Joke

I über-heart Beyond Retro in manner of disturbed high school crush. In fact I've got BR and AOC carved in a heart on my desk. Sad but true. My days of living in East London were populated by many a stalker-esque trip to this Shoreditch style emporium. Prom dresses, cowboy boots, leather jackets, old skool Adidas and grandma's old brooches aplenty - Beyond is a bargain slice of vintage heaven. I would quite happily take up residence in heaven but for the curious incident of being escorted out for loitering with intent. Anyhoo...
So what is this I espy in la Retro's SS08 collection? An homage to Krusty the Klown? Since when did circus chic become hip? I am shocked and appalled. Granted, Beyond always danced along the edge of kitch and cool. That's what they're about. But this? Let's hope it's just a slip up or they may need to rethink that restraining order!

The Onesy

Fashion kills the thing it loves or so the saying goes. No more so than in the case of translating trends from runway to highstreet. This season saw the renaissance of the jumpsuit - a 70's fashion idiosyncrasy best left to lithe glamazons than Jo Public. The rule of thumb for wearing jumpsuits, as with dungarees, is that you must be a) 6ft tall or b) a cute toddler in order to pull it off. If you fall in neither of these two categories, you have no business donning an all-in-one. You will only look like a binman...or a convict.

Despite my sartorial protestations, fashion will still claim its victims one sucker at a time. Sure, Temperley, Versace, Sonya Rykel and Stella all paraded sexy silk jersey and diaphanous chiffon numbers in their SS08 collections. Kate Moss has already iconised Chanel's star-studdded version. But what about the highstreet? Reference an already tricky pattern in chintzy material and you've got a cheap imitation of Kate Jackson in Charlie's Angels. See: Debenhams' brown capri length abomination. I have a strong feeling what will be lining the summer sale racks this year. Shame!

Bag Lady

As if I wasn't already a bag lady in training, I've been given another excuse to indulge my weakness. Carga - a new line of bags created by designer Mauro Bianucci - has become my SS08 must must must-have. Handcrafted using industrial wool felt, distressed leather and hardware parts, the bags are batch-produced and hand-assembled in a socially-responsible workshop in Beunos Aires and come in three different sizes – Notebook Tote, Messenger and Weekend. They're perfect for carrying around anything from small laptops to bigger briefcases or simply to get away for a few days in style. The 03/Weekend bag even comes with its own detatchable iPod case. Too cute! I'm hooked!

Retailing between $175 and $345, the Carga bag has only been made available in a handful of specially selected stores in key cities around the world. If you're in Dublin, check out Circus (2nd floor Powerscourt Townhouse Centre) or go to http://www.cargabags.com for a full list of stockists.

Interpreting the Brief

I'll admit it, I like my pants fairly functional. Don't get my wrong. I dig the whole sexy lace routine but practicality insists that my knickers do more than make me into the sex kitten I'm not. Having said that, I'm more than impressed at the ingenuity of lingerie purveyor Nona de Samim.

Known for her Gallic take on the humble brief, de Samim's 'Basics' collection is a style solution for those days when suspenders just won't do. Each garment functions as 'outer underwear' and can be worn sans or avec clothing. I'm loving the charmeuse 'Souffle' top complete wth trademark backless undies. Granted, a bit chilly for Irish climes, but pair it with a bra and jeans and we're good to go. On y va!

http://www.ndesamim.com/

Return of the Mac

Don't call it a comeback! The mac is back but let's face it, Burberry's bitch never went anywhere; she just nipped out for a little 'work'.
Yep - the ubiquitous post-war trench has had its SS08 makeover and can I say, she looks good for an old broad. Despite a couple of highstreet offenders trying to pass off piss poor cotton and a shoddy cut, some unusual suspects have come up with the goods. I'm loving the work of Dotty P and Next. No, seriously. I won't be mocked. We're talking quality, design and killer price points here. Next's classic tan trench at €98 is made of Dorian Grey-esque cotton that won't show you up in an Irish rainstorm. Our Dorothy on the other hand, thought ahead and made a cute little black beauty at €80. Wrinkle if you will, no one will see it. Nice work!

Shouldering the Blame

OK - I am over this whole winter thing. Yep, done and done. Really, I'm not one for arctic temperatures and as for wind, well it's just plain rude. So you can probably imagine my excitement when faced with the SS08 collections. Or not...

Having previewed the trends for this season, I am playing Pandora when I tell you it's all about the 'one-shoulder': the one-shoulder body-conscious dress that is. Great. Many thanks to Mr. Josh Goot for his two-toned clingy rendition which sent me into apopleptic shock. Is this another incredibly facist fashion trend on the horizon? After a winter of curve-loving 50's glamour, are we now faced with the prospect of draconian dieting in manner of evil skinny jeans?

What about 'one-shoulder' sunburn?! Clearly I am not fabulous enough for this trend. Exit..

If you need to find me I will be wearing last year's strapless maxi dress in the corner. Thank you...