Inside Style - Fashionably Freezing

A 22-yr old toyboy - the new 'keep warm' accessory!
Photo by Alan Davidson

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - November 27th

We don’t do cold in Ireland. We’d rather talk about it than dress for it. This could prove quite the dilemma if last winter’s ‘Big Freeze’ makes its rumoured comeback. Even Gerald Fleming’s wink looks a bit frosty these days.

This doesn’t please me in the slightest. The idea of sporting a lagging jacket and reinforced rubber boots only copperfastens my belief that Mother Nature can be bested or at best, taught a lesson.

Granted, this abstinence didn’t exactly stand me in good stead last season. My Lanvin ribbon brogues espoused several speed wobbles; one of which sent me kissing pavement like a drunken snow angel. Refusing Puffas and thermals and anything bearing the term ‘thin-sulate’ meant I spent a lot of time inside – a lot.

House arrest does give one time to think however and thus I’m prepared to test drive a few looks should the brass monkeys come out again to play. In fact, I’ve already stocked up on a few basics that could well merge fashion and function.

Cossack hats, shearling hand muffs, fur sleeve gauntlets and mukluks evoke images of Ana Karenina; whereas a headband, jumpsuit and moon boots speak ‘Vail snow bunny’. The question is whether I can pass for a Russian aristocrat or someone who legitimately engages in winter sports. Given my last ski experience involved repeatedly using my instructor as an airbag; I’m thinking Slavic chic might be the one.

My frank friends aren’t so sure. “All you’re missing is the husky-driven sleigh,” laughed one. “You look more like Ivana Trump,” scoffed the other. “Especially with that hand muff; it’s like an anti-gold digging device.” So much for wafting through Stephen’s Green like a tortured heroine. It was time to group.

Inspired, I extracted my ear flap trapper hat and outre fur coat from the wardrobe. “How about this,” I enquired hopefully. “You look like you shot your kill and wore it,” advised a voice from the other room. I was even getting style advice in absentia. I suppose it’s heartening to know my friends had my back even when East Enders is on.

Slightly exasperated, I got changed into my fleece PJs and decided to Slanket up in front of the telly. “Much better,” was the general consensus. Looks like pyjama trend wins again. Time to get cosy; it’s going to be a long winter.

Inside Style - Wardrobe Malfunctions

The 'Before' Shot

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - November 18th

Wardrobe malfunctions; why do they always seem to happen at the most inopportune moment? It’s as if cosmic spite and shoddy tailoring have aligned to create instances of gross mortification almost exclusively at public outings. Let me explain.

Last weekend I attended the wedding of one of my close friends. The Galway nuptials involved a prolific congregation and an ill-fated sense of preparation on my part. I was keen to perfect the art of capsule dressing and bring with me only that which would fit into an overnight case.

Given the art of ‘light packing’ (literally) isn’t my bag; this feat was no mean one. After all, I was the girl who saw fit to bring four kilogrammes of jewellery on a Spanish beach holiday. Reported sightings of Mr. T in Andalusia were big news that summer. Despite such atavistic hoarding tendencies, my edit was merciless and the results, smug-worthy.

It wasn’t until I unpacked my wheelie bag at the hotel, a mere hour before the marital vows, that I made the ill-fated discovery - a rip the size of the San Andreas fault under each arm of my 1960s embellished dress. I somehow managed to overlook these seismic gaps after wearing it to this year’s Rose of Tralee festival. If memory serves me correctly I also suffered an exploding dress in The Kingdom the year prior. Note to self: avoid Kerry. 

With no sewing kit, back-up dress and little time to spare, I was forced to enter the church like Tin Tin Tracy from the Thunderbirds. Hugs and handshakes were swapped for a more bucolic ‘how’s it going’ wink as I attempted to cleverly disguise my unsuspecting air vents with a rigid arm lock. 

The reception didn’t fare much better. Strangers seemed nonplussed to hear I was a ‘fashion writer’; not to mention my attempts at raising a toast, passing the salt or cutting a rug. Indeed my rigid dance floor shuffle resulted in two sequins interlocking, ripping and letting loose an Armageddon of beads. Let’s just say it gave the Siege of Venice a new twist.

Chastened by the event’s unholy dress disaster, I chose to bow out early and head back to my hotel.  Exiting the venue in manner of Courtney Love’s long lost twin, I heard a passer-by exclaim, ‘Christ, that must have been some party!’ If only he knew the half of it!

The Silent Gallery

Shh!! Don't tell anyone but Irish designer Eilis Boyle has created an online pop-up shop in time for the Christmas shopping season. The Silent Gallery has ironically become the worst kept secret in fashion; in part due to my own loquacious nature. Anything this good can't be kept shtum. And by good I mean superlative cashmere scarves, bow clad arm warmers and shrugs that feel like a big cuddle on a Monday. Be sure to log on now and check out Eilis' virtual cabinet of curiosities. It's only open until December 10th so don't miss out.

The Silent Gallery @ www.thesilentgallery.com

Designer Eilis Boyle's Fashion Flash Mob

10th collection from Eilis Boyle on Vimeo.

~ A few words from designer Eilis Boyle ~

What?
'Earlier this year while chatting with Aisling Farinella I mentioned I had started working on my 10th collection. She said we should do something special and came up with the idea of doing a fashion film.  So she put together a dream team Rich Gilligan, Christine Lucignano, Zara Cox, Caitlyn Leckey and Fergal Brennan. We shot the film in a day.It was an exercise of the creative community coming together to make something different.'

Why?
'We wanted to do something new and video seems to have an important role in the industry at the moment. In a few minutes you can communicate a concept, a mood and it translates really well online.'

Who?
'We decided that we would do a simultaneous online launch, working with a lot of our virtual friends and colleagues. When the idea was proposed on Silent Storyteller people responded immediately and to date there are around 27 blogs from Australia to Canada who are taking part in the simultaneous launch.'

For more details log onto www.silentstoryteller.typepad.com.

Inside Style - Texture

Image coutresy of Net-a-Porter.com

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor - as featured in The Dubliner magazine - November 11th

I’m a sucker for texture. If there’s a furry gilet or mohair jumper within arms reach, chances are I’m stroking it gently whilst purring like a kitten. This has proven problematic in the past, in particular when such garments are on a person rather than a hanger.  Such is my visceral reaction to fabrics that I’m fairly sure I’ve been profiled in several retail establishments.  You can therefore imagine how divided I felt when this season’s catwalks made sublime all things tactile: 3D knitwear, Yeti coats, Cossack hats.

Shopping has now become quite the kinaesthetic landmine with not so pleasant results.  The strange looks I received in Office while rubbing a pair of shearling Converse against my face was only the start of it. I blame that divine purple Isabel Marant fur for the inappropriate groan I omitted in Costume and no, I don’t think it strange to slurp loudly when in the presence of a Nappa leather dress; but clearly others do.  With this and my will to live in Dublin for the foreseeable future, I thought it best to apply some aversion therapy tactics lest I’m relegated to the ascetic domain of online shopping.

According to my non-fee charging friends at NetDoctor.com, it’s best to associate unwanted behavioural pattern with an unpleasant stimulus. In my case, snugly fabrics should be seen as suffocating or silly. Right. Passing a Mongolian fur chubby or Honey Monster style boots, I tried imagining myself sodden and wading like a wet animal over Capel Street Bridge.  No joy.  Whilst gripping those Elie Tahari suede trousers in Harvey Nichols, I envisaged a four figure dry cleaning bill. Still nothing. And that River Island feather mini skirt? Despite visualising the trauma of being plucked clean by a group of animal rights activists, the raven ra-ra still found pride of place in my wardrobe. 

Of course, I could always cover my hands in cling film or spray myself with Teflon; maybe even hire an assistant to Tazer me at moments of weakness. There again, a pair of blinkers could come in handy; perhaps a crystal-studded leather number? What a pitch that would make on Dragon’s Den! With season three of the series fast approaching on RTE, it might be time to fashion that executive summary. “Mask that fabric fetish with your own couture blinder!” Hmm, perhaps not.

Procrastination

Image courtesy of Productivitycoaching.com/au

Procrastination is a bit like sex - lots of dithering and foreplay before actually getting down to business. This blog post may as well be an ear nibble as there's a job staring me in the face that I just don't want to go near. Beset by multiple-deadline syndrome, I've reached the end of my bandwith. Plain speaking - I'm wrecked. In fact, I could easily cite a headache and roll over but I'm no where near a bed. Instead, I'm tapping away at my keyboard hoping that something might spurt out. It's going to be a long night.

Helen Steele

I had the pleasure of working on a recent shoot with artist/stylist/designer Helen Steele who kindly gifted me with this amazing cuff. I first became aquainted with her work at a Harvey Nichols fashion show which she produced based on a six day play of Austrian artist Herman Nitch. The chainsaw-wielding clowns and paint-strewn catwalk had me hooked. If you've got an eye for art, log on to her website for a peek at her Donnie Darko-inspired acrylic on perspex offerings. Accessory hawks be sure to pop in to Harvey Nichols from December 1st where Helen's cuffs will be selling for €150 with all proceeds going to Crumlin Children's Hospital.

Queen Mary and Dvora

Image courtesy of Dvora at Fashionistable

I'm a bit late posting this (er...very late!) but I just wanted to extend a 'thank you' to street style photographer Dvora who kindly stopped me to take my picture after the Nicole Farhi show at LFW. A shortlistee for Vogue's Photoblog Competition, Dvora has a real kinship with Ireland having spent lived in Belfast. She took a liking to my coiff and my Queen Mary necklace. Those who know me know that this piece is from Joanne Hynes' a/w 10 collection and is rarely seen off my neck! I'm always fascinated at what a photographer can see and their ability to capture a mood.When you consider the chaos that ensues outside of a show, I appear surprisingly pensive! Thanks again Dvora and pop in for a cuppa, next time you're in Ireland! Axx

Wagner

Inside Style by Annmarie O'Connor 

as featured in The Dubliner magazine - November 4th

X Factor has a lot to answer for. Despite the fact that my foreseeable weekends are now indentured to the talent show, I’ve also developed an unlikely style crush on its underdog Wagner. The ironically hairy Brazilian may have been sheared from the show by the time this goes to print but something tells me there’s life in those snake hips yet.

Maybe it’s the J-Lo hoop earrings, the Hugh Heffner smoking jacket, the way those grey chest hair ripple over his open shirt but Wagner (or rather “V-AH-G-NAIR, Louis!”) has my vote; not to mention my unmitigated attention.  Let’s recap.

Week 1 – Wagner slaps some naughty bongos to a ‘She Bangs’ / ‘Love Shack’ mash-up in a velvet jacket, open shirt, hermetically-sealed jeans and winkle-picking boots, clad with enough chains to conduct a current of electricity through that glistening hot sweat.

Week 2 – Wagner channels fellow gyrator Tom Jones in a rendition of ‘Just Help Yourself’ dressed shirtless in another velvet jacket and sperm-suffocating trousers, this time with enough chains to rival Mr. T in a chain-off. Who’s the fool now?

Week 3 – Wagner unleashes his Latino love machine in a Spice Girls / Ricky Martin mash-up rescinding the ‘no white after Labour Day’ rule and looking hot in dream catchers and a mesh wife beater. Phwoar!

Back off Judgy Mc Judgersons. I can peer up your curled nostrils from where I’m sitting and it’s not pretty. Dare I say, I’m not alone in my style crush. Just ask Henry Holland who recently tweeted of the Mr. Carrilho’s boho sensibilities “Can't wait to buy some incense and a sarong off Wagner next holiday” and quite astutely likened him to John Galliano (albeit after eating carbs).

Sure, the Dudley domicile may be the 159-1 rank outsider to win the ITV talent show but I’m really not too bothered as to whether he can sing or not.  Personally I’m more curious to see if rose-embroidered cowboy shirts, Cherokee chokers and Tom Selleck moustaches will make resurgence at next season’s Dior menswear show.

As for Louis Walsh, it’s time to get that advertising deal in place before our crooner is sent packing. That fulsome ponytail has cash cow written all over it; and is a damn sight easier to manage that the Jedward coif. Make haste Louis; fashion waits for no one.

Smock - New Label Launch - November 4th

That's today folks! Be sure to pop by Drury Street's Smock boutique from 5pm to check out a bevy of new labels...and maybe have a bevvie too!

Karen and Susan are excited to introduce one new Danish label  LUCKY BOY SUNDAY.  Not to mention eco-friendly children's label POP UP SHOP and another one for the little'uns - LOU LOU and BALTHAZAR.

There are also some more beautiful creations from DAVID SZETO.  Inspired by the laid back glamour of hollywood actresses from the 1930's and 40's, Katherine Hepburn, Barbara Stanwyick, Ingrid Bergman and Greta Garbot. What's not to love?

Smock - 31 Drury Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 613 9000

The World's Largest Bag...Really!

This is just a heads up to those who slag me off for carrying bags too big to pass as cabin luggage on Aer Lingus. I'll see you and raise you a 12 foot tall Hermes Kellydoscope. Ha! In your face!

And it actually is; right inside the Brown Thomas accessory hall to be precise. Officially the largest bag in the world, the gargantuan tote has been cinched as a global exclusive for Dublin. Be the first to step inside this glamourous toy and experience what its like to be the contents of someone's bag. I won't give it away but suffice to say it warrants the dizzy spell! Being jostled inside the leather structure is about as close to an Hermes I'm likely to get this side of marrying Simon Cowell, George Clooney or Keanu Reeves. I haven't quite decided yet. While I ponder my future husband, take a closer look at every woman's dream bag.

Step Inside!

The short experiential film

The Dirty Fabulous Gals are Back

Come visit our favourite Fabulettes Kathy and Caroline at their new Wickow Street digs. Fall in love with the same fabulous edit of vintage finds...only now in the centre of town!! I could gush for Ireland but I will let the pics do the talking. Am I excited. Er, just a tad! Squeek!

Dirty Fabulous, 21 Wicklow St, Dublin 2 (above Molton Brown). Tel: 01 611 1842

Kathy and Caroline!

Irish Tatler Designer Showcase - Shanghai

A few weeks ago Joanne Hynes and I styled up 6 signature looks from her collection to go to Shaghai for the Irish Tatler Designer Showcase. Here are some of the photos from the prestigious event. Enjoy!

Matt Doody Atelier Now Open

Matt Doody - Powerscourt Town Centre

Kerry’s crown jewel Matt Doody has opened his own atelier in Dublin’s Powerscourt Town Centre (www.mattdoody.com; 087 232 2382). The former Bow Boutique resident has only moved next door so he's easy to spot. Just look for his signature sumptuously draped dresses in the window. Exciting times to see so many Irish designers proliferating in Powerscourt. Well done Matt!