Baby I Blog Fashion

Even at a year and a half I knew how to work my angles. And check out those beads - how very folk boho of me. And the onesy - don't get me started. If you can believe it, I actually remember this being taken. My aunt was fabulously fashionable and I loved to play with her jewellery. Why she ever let me I'll never know! Nevertheless, it gave me the chance to cut my fashion milk teeth.

They Don't Call it the Grapevine for Nothing

Friday night at my house. I had my prized gays Neil and Andy over and my friend Joanne for some vino and style counsel. You see, I'm doing some TV styling in about a week's time and I needed the no bullshit seal of approval. All three are fabulously forthright so I knew I wouldn't be sartorially screwed.

However, the model's outfits became secondary as the night progressed. We lashed into that wine with gusto and soon the convo turned to:

1) The gays need a new Abercrombie. It's getting too much like a uniform says Neil.
2) Hiking clothes are the new couture - at least in price anyhow. Joanne's charity trek to Patagonia has ironically bankrupted her.
3) What type of beauty prods does one bring to Patagonia? I suggested James Brown dry shampoo. No excuse for limp hair; not even at the end of God's speed.
4) I needed to style myself for the upcoming TV gig. My new dress, albeit super cute, is super short. Even with 80 denier tights this could present a problem. The verdict still is not out...
5) Gaydar is a hyper-evolved Mean Girls. Andy posted a rather Shoreditch-esque pic of himself in Kanye West sunnies. I loved it; the gays thought otherwise. His pic stats plummeted. It has since been changed.
6) I got my first I Blog fan mail. I am touched. :)
7) There's a new bar that's opened above L'Gueuleton restaurant on Fade Street. Neil loves it. It's very NYC: exposed brick and NO NAME. How I've been waiting for one of these!
8) Neil might know more about fashion than me. His knowledge is disturbingly encyclopedic down to Gucci AW02. I am seriously using him as a sounding board from now on. I'm also sure he has Allegra Versace on speed dial.

Three bottles of wine still lurk in my fridge....

Murad and My Hot Ass!

Recession tip of the week! So the cost of electricity and oil is rising this year by up to 30%. Big whoop. Why burn fossil fuels when you can burn your own fat to stay warm...without moving from your sofa? This top tip I discovered courtesy of MURAD - the cellulite-busting cream favoured by svelte celebs like Jennifer Aniston. Slap some of this cayenne pepper-infused serum on the body and feel it heat up to to any uncomfortably warm stage. If you're living in Ireland, that would equate to room temperature. The last time I felt heat in this country was 1995 but enough of that. Safe to say it really works. I've been using it a while now and I'd vouch for their 'improves cellulite by up to 69%' claim. I may have wobbly pins but dayum they're smooth! Be warned - the heat you'll feel is pretty intense. I applied some to my booty the other night and nearly had to stick it out the window to cool it down. Thankfully I like my neighbours too much to ever do that to them. They bring in my bins.

Dublin Fashion Week

It's luvvie week; champagne, parties and nothing to wear. Seriously. I looked into my wardrobe this morning and I may as well have been gazing down a black abyss. I shall be combing the streets in search of some sartorial satisfaction and back on Thursday my pretties.

Flimsy Excuses

No sweetie, you can't. And yes, that is shit; especially when us ordinary folk will be quaffing bubbles en masse at London Fashion Week. Looks like the size zero brigade will be back on the catwalks in their bandy-legged glory. The empty talk of implementing a size zero ban during Fashion Week was just that. The suggestion by the industry commission that each model pay $500 for a health check was considered too expensive. True when you consider a model earns just that per runway show. However, if the collective will were there, surely a better way could be introduced. The Council of Fashion Designers of America, the Chambre Syndicale in Paris and Italy's Camera Nazionale della Moda now all seem to be of the same naysaying disposition; advocating the provision of a 'voluntary' health policy instead. Pah! I'm not buying it. If you need me, you can find me in the kitchen sublimating my rage with a chocolate croissant.

Photo cred: Because I'm Addicted (courtesy of French Vogue)
Source: The Associated Press

The Not-So-Wet Look

I was in French Connection today just prior to the deluge and shortly before the four horsemen of the Apocalypse galloped past Powerscourt Town Centre. If nothing else, the floods got me thinking about practicality. Why forsake pragmatism for style when there are such things as wax trousers around. I know! These low-slung pencil leg beauties come courtesy of FC and would no doubt leave you less of a pissy person than if the heavens were to open on you in a pair of jeans. What's more they've rolled out the not-so-wet look into leggings and tops. Sweet.

The Girl's Got Moxie!

If it weren't for my beloved JC Report, I'd shudder to think at the sartorial state I'd be in. Alas, my forward thinking dual-initialed friends are always the first to put me in front and centre at all things fashion. Take for example I Love Boxie: a new London-based t-shirt company that makes slogan tees seem...dare I say hip? Be gone with your 'I'm with the Band' and (God forbid) 'That's Hot!' Now we've got some twisted epithets to call our own thanks to company brainchild Moxie. And dayum!! The girl's certainly got some! If you're dad's a revolutionary, perhaps you should pay a visit to www.iloveboxie.com.

Goody Bag...in style of Asos.com

Handbags and shoes are the female equivalent of the male boobs or butt conundrum. For me, I've always been a handbag kinda gal. Ain't nothing that sends me into a boyband frenzy like a good purse, clutch, tote.... So you can imagine the banshee like screams at my house this weekend when I discovered a delivery of these beauties to my right. The lovely folks at Asos.com kindly donated a shipment of ASOS Circle Stud Chain Bags in the style of Agyness Deyn for our inaugural fashion bloggers' brunch. Multiply those screams to the power of 13 and you've got an idea of the noise level which took over Odessa on Sunday. I'm still squealing!!

Kudos to you Asos! ******

Green as a Cucumber

Shame oh shame! I was reporting over the weekend with London's no. 1 radio station Magic 105.4 when the world's biggest DUH!!!! moment slapped me upside the head and then proceeded to wantonly laugh and point at me. Promoting Dublin as the 'in' place to be, the brief involved eating, drinking and blagging my way through the city. The words - 'my kinda job' come to mind; in particular when said 'job'/junket involves a three night stay at The Morgan hotel along with private cocktail making lessons. On our last night as I was interviewing our bar impresario, I sort of had a brain nap. Maybe it was the bottle of wine earlier at Town Bar and Grill but as Mr. Cocktail was making a Cucumber Martini, I could have sworn he said Jimmy Hendrix used to drink them. In the middle of recording, I chortled audibly at how strange that seemed. Silence shot across the room like a hot bogey as Mr Cocktail shot me a bemused stare. 'I was actually talking about Hendrix Gin which happens to be cucumber-infused,'he said. 'Ohhhh,'I replied; at which point I sucked back that martini and thanked God for pre-recording.

Fashion Bloggers' Brunch - the Aftermath

It's not easy being a gal about town. Not only does it wear your heels down but your shut eye quota takes a beating too.
Anyhoo...the weekend was choctastic with fabulousness, not least the Fashion Bloggers' Brunch which was a total hit. The best in blogs converged on Odessa for the meanest French toast this side of the Liffey. The goody bags, it has to be said, stole the show. SKIN.NY, Murad, St. Tropez, Benefit, Nars, Jo Woods Organics, Bumble & Bumble, Aveda, Nails Inc, Liz Earle, Paul & Joe and James Brown London all made the cut in addition to the cutest bags supplied by Asos.com. Plans are already in motion for the September bash which includes a rather special guest (if we can convince him to come!). If you blog fashion and fancy hanging with the chicest geeks, drop me a line and we'll add you to the brunch bunch!

The Weekend Starts Here

Hey kids. I Blog is stepping away from her crystal-encrusted mouse for some well-deserved weekend R&R. So what's on the agenda? Shopping, sightseeing, lunch on the MV Cill Airne, cocktails at The Morgan, the fashion bloggers' brunch at Odessa and some dinner at Saba. I'll be back on Monday with loads of FBB pics and deets on possibly the biggest goody bags EVER... Excited? Just a tad!

Interview of the Week - Tootise Royale

This week's interview comes courtesy of Irish milliner and burlesque fave Tootsie Royale. With 40s glamour part of this season's must-have looks, Tootsie knows a thing or two about perfecting the 'Von Teese'. Check out her style creds...

1. What's your definition of style?
Being comfortable in your own skin is paramount. If you can walk into a room and feel confident about yourself - it doesn't matter if your dressed as a fairy or a 50's bombshell. That's the most important style tip I was ever given.

2. Who would you kill to (un)dress?
Hmmm, undress as in 'Oh my god that is Hideous! Take it off, take it off' or 'Grrr...Hotness! Take it off baby!'. The first on would have to be Amy Winehouse. God that girl needs a brush and a good hug. The second, would have to be the Scottish actor James McAvoy. Down to earth style, non-pretentious and looks great in simple jeans and a white shirt. Yum!
3. What fashion faux pas is most unforgiving. Be ruthless?
VPL's and tights with open toe shoes...unless they are cuban heel/re-inforced toe stockings from Agent Provacateur, then it's so Dita Von Teese, which is fine.
4. What is your fashion weakness?
Shoes, corsets, shoes, Hats, shoes......mostly shoes.

5. How many models does it take to change a lightbulb?
It depends on how much they're getting paid :)

If you would like to get something made or see some of Tootsie's other creations you can contact her at tootsieroyale@gmail.com or www.myspace.com/tootsieroyale

XPOSÉ-d!

Tune into XPOSÉ on TV3, Friday @ 6pm to hear me talk about fashion blogging. The lovely Aisling O'Loughlin interviewed me in situ at the kitchen table where all the 'magic' happens! Along with a cuppa, we had a good yarn about beauty products, a root through my wardrobe and I of course had a rant about being 'splogged'! Now IcyFashion.com and her evil Juicy Couture ways have been exposed on national television. I told you it would get nasty. Ha! Don't mess with me Icy!

Counting Shoes

I've been having a bad bout of insomnia lately, so much so that I'm beginning to grow bags under my eyes and will soon be taxed for excess weight. To avoid looking like a bunch of angry Ryanair passengers, I've opted to count shoes to lull me to sleep. (I don't care if shearling is very AW08, I'm not counting sheep!) Here's a sneaky peek at what soothes my soul....Louey B's. Sigh. Snooze....

Splogged!

Let's face it. No one likes a cheap imitation, especially when one is the subject of said rip off. Case in point, I come aross a 'splog' (spam blog) which features at least five of my blog posts by some fake blogger Icy Fashion. I tried contacting said Icy to find out why she is masquerading as moi but alas, no contact deets on the homepage. Not cool. Sweetie, I can smell the cheap imitation leather from here. Knock it off, or it'll get nasty! Probably wears Juicy Couture. (meow!)

Absolut Fab

The Fashion Bloggers' Brunch seems to be causing quite a buzz. There was a nice little write up in the Evening Herald about our impending Bloody Mary Quant fest. To quote the About Town section, the event "will bring together all of Ireland's most stylish web-writers for an evening to showcase and discuss the latest catwalk trends". Em...brunch normally happens pre-midday. Click here for a read.

My Daily Fix

This post may prove somewhat redundant in the current climate, but nevertheless, I shall persist. Despite the deluge, the wellingtons, the canoe stationed outside my front door, I'm loving Fix Make-Up: a new product from Clarins designed to do..er...exactly that. A bit like Ronseal: no nonsense save for the fact that it won't stain your skin and prevent you from getting root rot. The mist, made from a scientific mash-up 30 times stronger than rosewater, keeps your makeup intact and your face looking bright and soft. Trust me on this. I, like my nana before me, have been using rosewater tonics for many a year. At 35, I can easily be accused of being 25 (go on...I dare you...please...pretty please?) so I'd like to think that the elixir has its attributes. Combine that with all the groovy talk of polymers and antioxidants and you've got a nifty little atomiser that keeps you radiant in a pinch. I could mention the words air conditioning and extreme heat but mockery isn't my style. Suffice to say, it's good; good enough on which to splurge €25. Until such time as rain can be infused with Vitamin C and grapefruit extract, I'll be buying this beauty.

Couture Cheat - courtesy of Canal Street

What a nice surprise I just got! Rooting through my wardrobe I found a oversized paisley scarf from Canal Street in a natty combo of burnt sienna and black. As I threw it around my neck, I realised it resembles, quite convincingly, the Hermes AW08/09 line. Throw a thin belt around the middle and pair with some folk inspired suede boots and we've got a couture hustle in the making. Given my lacklustre bank account, I'm allowing myself the odd shortcut. A girl's gotta represent.

Recession Dressing

Check out the Sunday Tribune tomorrow for I Blog Fashion's tips on Recession Dressing. Interview by Ciara Elliott.

08/08/08 - a milestone

Oh memories! Or flashbacks even. T'was on this day twenty years ago I had my first official snog. The 8th of the 8th 1988. It definitely was a charmed day. I was a bit of a late bloomer and at age 15 got my first smackeroo playing 'pass the polo'. Practical, dontcha think? In honour of my first halitosis-free smooch, I bring you some cutesy breath spray courtesy of Anatomicals. Go on, get it on. It's your lucky day!

Fancy Flat Irons

It may be bad for your hair and just a touch WAG but let's face it, into every follicle some humidity must fall and when it does, you better have those flat irons ready! I Blog is loving the new C2 Crystal irons from Corioliss. Encrusted with 2,553 genuine Swarovski crystals, these babies should put real some bling into your barnet. If you fancy yourself a bit more Gwen than Beyonce, check out the Red Leopard print inspired by Louis Vuitton or the ltd ed Skulls a la McQueen at Corioliss.com.

J'adore le Topshop

Oh yummy-ness! Gallic pants purveyor Fifi Chachnil is bringing some 'oh la la' to Topshop.com. If you like your lingerie with a bit of 'oomph' then mark August 12th in your diaries toute de suite! The lovely Fifi certainly does have a knack for knicks. We're talking lace and tulle bras, babydolls, basques and knickers in a beautiful palette of nude, navy and scarlet all exclusively for Topshop.com. On y va!

Freeness

Check it out at Brown Thomas!

JC Report - The Death of the Trend

Remember The Wizard of Oz? Remember when the house fell on the Wicked Witch of the West and all the little people danced around singing of her demise. Well, the big old fad hag has popped her clogs my lovelies. Get those Louey B's out. It's time for a party. According to my beloved JC Report, the trend is dead. Unlike the prescriptive dictates of style from 80s yuppy to 90s grunge, the 00s has created an "anything-goes" aesthetic. Couple that with having to tighten our skinny belts and you've got designers and retailers offering anything from gladiator sandals, prom dresses and tuxedo jackets in one season. Maybe the economic crunch has created a 'liberté, égalité, fraternité' among the fashion rank and file. So long quarterly trend reports, season previews and masonic 'must-have' madness. Oh pants. That's me out of a job. I didn't think of that. Irony...thou art a bitter mistress.

Natural Beauty

Waterford Radio interviewed me this morning about an article I wrote for the Irish Examiner on Natural Beauty. The piece involved a 'makeunder' with the help of Zeba salon and Make Up Forever. Low-glam is where it's at. Good news for lazy girls like me who prefer an extra half hour in the bed to primping and preening in the morning. We likey...

Blinded by the Light

I met my friend Claire this afternoon for coffee. Claire is an L.A.-based stylist, broadcaster and diamond fanatic; she is also my accomplice on the infamous Fake Bake disaster. We have serious fashion history. Serious. So it seemed only appropriate that we seek out a shot of bling with that double espresso. Claire can clock a killer carat from space and en route to Bewley's she registered six. There in the window of a Drury Street jewellers sat half a mortgage. Claire tried it on. I tried it on. Four hours later, I am still trying to adjust my gaze to the natural light, convinced I have somehow cinged my retina. This must be what Santa brings very very very good girls. I wonder would he cover the insurance too if I asked nicely?

Mine's a Size Zero

Seems Ireland's cult cobbler Eileen Shields has fashioned a stylish collaboration with Maria Cornejo - the creative Latina force behind the elegant Zero line. Check out these pink haircalf Oxfords. The masculine line contrasts perfectly with Cornejo's feminine patterns and aptly reflect the abiding butch/femme aesthetic in a lot of the upcoming AW08 collections. Thanks to the ever fabulous JC Report for this fashion tip.

Persian Promise

I've been writing up the AW08 preview over the past few days and there's a lot of Persian promise in the air. Expect lots of embroidered and fur gilets, fringing on boots and bags and diaphonous blousons finished off with gypsy-inspired scarves and jewellery. We likey. Big time...

Fashion Bloggers' Brunch

Just a reminder that the Fashion Bloggers' Brunch is being held on August 17th at Odessa restaurant. Expect lots of style snacks, fashion bingo and designer cocktails like Bloody Mary Quants and Central Saint Martinis. Hey tomato juice and limes count as fruit! We may have room for one or two more pairs of Manolos, so if you'd like to book your blog, give me a shout at iblogfashion(at)gmail(dot)com. Toodles! x