Priestess NYC - Extreme Regime!

Heading to NYC for Fashion Week? Be sure to check out my friend Cody Ross' S/S12 collection for Priestess NYC. Exhibiting at Extreme Regime - an avant-garde in-your-face mash-up of art and fashion. Now how many hyphenates was that? CLICK HERE for details or see below to RSVP.

Ireland Does the September Issue

It's pretty damn hot when Irish fashion hits Vogue, let alone the hallowed September Issue. It's damn near incandescent when captured by Mario Testino. Prepare to come over all patriotic as Joanne Hynes' iconic crystal neckpiece is featured in a Master Class on Antwerp austerity; with Vogue Spy giving the Galway girl's embellished tee a manicured thumbs up. Who needs Paddy's Day when we've got talent like this!

COS It's a Snip at €89

Ohhhh behold the glory that is COS. Trust our Swedish fashion friends to turn out a Lanvin-inspired guna for the more streamlined of bank accounts. Although Alber Elbaz gets our fantasy frock vote, this asymmetric drape dress with drop shoulder steals our hearts at a mere €89. Nice one.

COS A/W 11 €89

Lanvin A/W 11 courtesy of Colline Michaelis @ Style.com

Zoe Wong - Gepetto

Gepetto

Fancy crowdfunding a new Irish fashion collection? Dublin boutique owner and Parsons grad Zoe Wong is launching her debut line of ethereal frocks at this summer's Kilkenny Arts Festival. By donating as little as €10, you can participate in the birth of a new homegrown fashion name. Rewards range from signed sketches to custom tailored gowns. CLICK HERE for more info, or why don't you pop into Horse & June on Drury Street for a chat with the lovely lady herself. Don't miss out!

Horse & June, 22 Drury Street, Dublin 2. Ph: 01 672 9748. www.horseandjune.wordpress.com.

Lucy in Disguise

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure to have breakfast with Lily Allen and her sister Sarah Owen at Brown's Cafe for a special press preview of their debut fashion line Lucy in Disguise. Inspired by their collective prediliction for vintage, the collection boasts micro-stories based on time-travelling: `20s flapper dresses, `60s billowy Biba frocks and `70s Halston-esque jumpsuits. The result is a little something for everyone: every shape and every era. The pieces really do resonate when seen on the girls. Lily wore a `50s bandana dress with an oversized cardi; while Sarah opted for the teal South Kensington maxi. We also got a sneak peek at A/W 11 which boasts a fringe shift - a favourite of Lily's; and mine too. Oh, if you happen to be tall like me, you'll be delighted to know that lengths are surprisingly long (yay!). Look out for the concession in Brown Thomas and BT2 Dundrum (www.brownthomas.com; 01 605 6666).

Win €150 Voucher for Freedom Clothing

Freedom Clothing, Galway is giving away a €150 voucher to spend in store on any of their men’s or women’s clothing. All you need to do is like Freedom Clothing on Facebook and finish the following sentence “I like Freedom Clothing because...” in less than 20 words. Post your answer on their wall before 5th June. The best chosen entry will win.  Terms and Conditions apply. Join Freedom Clothing on Facebook for details. 

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Freedom Clothing: 10 Abbeygate Street, Galway. Ph: 091-865 989

Sandro

If you happen to be about Dublin town tomorrow, do pop in to Brown Thomas where I'll be presenting key looks from French go-to label Sandro. Combining classic pieces with a contemporary twist, the SS/11 collection draws on an eclectic moodboard of references from The Virgin Suicides to `50s Pink Ladies; Harvard and The Hamptons. There are even some flamingoes to be seen - winner! Garment runs are limited and apparently Alexa Chung is a big fan, so claim your favourite pieces while you can.

Sandro SS/11 Style Platforms with Annmarie O'Connor

Saturday, 7th May @Brown Thomas: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. 4pm.

Best Shoe Ad Ever

Visit Solestruck.com

Jeffrey Campbell 'Benched' - BACK OFF - THESE BABIES ARE MINE!

Minimarket

United Nude 'Abstract'

www.solestruck.com

Joanne Hynes Accessories

Fashion gets an injection of the exotic thanks to Joanne Hynes’ new accessory collection. Influenced by her homes in India and Ireland, the line of handbags and neckpieces bear a distinctly artisan hallmark in its combination of textures from calfskin and crystal to ethnic style bearding and metal piping work. Hynes’ signature edgy elegance is ever present with fluro box formations, mock croc and silver foil as standard. Get a taste of this ‘Automated Glamour’ @ www.joannehynes.com and  on Joanne's OWJO site for Facebook. CLICK HERE to enter!

Queen Mother Skull Neckpiece €195

Queen Mary Necklace €160

Symmetric Butterfly Necklace €220

Snail Trail Necklace €220

Butterfly 2 Necklace €220

Butterfly Belt €220

Metatron Belt €220

Maximus Clutch €245

Sucker Clutch €245

 

Pauric Sweeney and Divine Intervention

I'm not known for my timing. I'm the gal who shows up a day early to parties (it has happened but at least my priorities are straight), a day late to the dentist and who forgets daylight savings (cue: mass panic this morning). This inability to sync in with the cosmos has lead me to miss out on many a sale (Anne Bullitt's vintage wardrobe at Adam's auctioneers comes to mind) , hot date or as my move to London from 2002 - 2006 predicated - an SSIA. As a wise man once said, "them's the breaks!"

What the wise man didn't forsee was a reprival streak where one could recoup time and opportunities lost; mine so happened to be this week. A hot tip from Irish Tatler about a Pauric Sweeney sample sale came over my desk and low and behold - I actually had some cash in the attic to spare this time. Defying the laws of gravity, time and space continuum et al, I managed to get from Kimmage to Fitzwilliam Square South about five minutes early without my feet actually touching the ground (Dublin Bus beware!) and slapped my name on a metallic snakeskin beauty. When I came back the following day to pay for and collect my winnings, I found two ladies (gasp!) posing with my baby in the mirror! Too late missus - that bad boy is mine! (Mind you I didn't actually say that but my interior monologue can be very dramatic.) I am now the proud owner of a Pauric Sweeney bag. I'd like to thank the universe for rewiring me to the greater sartorial consciousness. Next stop, dinner with Antonio Marras, a wardrobe swap with Anna dello Russo and free shoes for a year from Net-a-Porter.

Joanne Hynes / Helen Steele AW/11 - Les Guerriers

The Joanne Hynes / Helen Steele collaborative label launched this season at London Fashion Week with its inaugural AW/11 collection entitled 'Les Guerriers'.  Drawing inspiration from the West of Ireland, pirate queen Grainne Ni Mhuiel (Grace O’Malley) and Steele's frenetic paintings, the result is a celebration of bravery; celebrating the empowerment of art fashion. It's been an enormous honour to style this collection and to interpret the vision of two inspiring and fearless women. Enjoy the show shots below - all by photographer Brian O'Sullivan.