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

Alila - Blitz Sale!

AGH!!!!!!!!!!! Mega mega sale kicks off at Dublin's Alila boutique this Friday @ 10 am! Owner Ali Murray says, "It is a massive clearout. Everything must go to make room for our fab new collections." You heard the woman. Now get down there. Sale ends Sunday so make sure you nab one of the following discounts:

All Antik Denim €50 reduced from over €300

All Strutt Shoes €50 reduced from €340! (Shoe boots Jolene €425 down to €150 65% off, Katie Boots €560 down to €199 65% off - pictured left)

Otazu Jewellery all 30% off

Evening gowns reduced from €600 to €99

T-shirts from €15, dresses from €39.99

All evening dresses €99

I Blog Fashion Does Sales

Loving my new shoes. Only €30 in the Topshop sale and utterly SS10-worthy. Flat sole - tick. Brogue style - tick. Nude - kinda sorta? O.K. maybe copper metallic isn't quite the hue du jour but I think I can get away with it - especially with my roll up jeans. After all, pale isn't always that interesting. I'll keep schtum if you do...

Guilt-Free Shopping

I'm such a good Catholic sometimes. Ain't no way in hell (excuse the pun) I'll ever shift my guilt complex - however lapsed I may become. Case in point - I've been lusting over this Armand Basi asymmetric sweater dress for a while now. Given my size zero bank balance, I've been loathe to splurge lest I incur the wrath of my bank manager. Being the clever clogs that I am, I've been flogging my clobber on eBay - most of it only worn once or twice - and vowing to rethink my shopping habits. Having the added liquidity to facilitate bigger buys means I don't have to addle my brain with complex swag math (1 dress = 4 nights out; or 4 month Butler's coffee habit). That my friends is the true definition of a 'win win' situation.

eBay Fun!

Interested in buying a vintage dress...or three? I'm flogging some of my prized clobber on eBay - mainly that which I bought in a magpie frenzy. The end result? Clothes that don't quite fit. So very pretty though; like this fab 70s dress. On my six foot frame, the hem hits my ankle bone so sadly its too short with heels. I also need someone to zip me up as I suck inhale like a corseted Scarlett O'Hara. The late night snacking has to stop...seriously.

Scarves

I'm having a full-on love affair with scarves at the moment. Whether knotted at the neck, in an exaggerated bow or a low-slung faux tie, silky squares are the way to go. Favourite style? Chain print but of course. Place to get 'em? The Irish Cancer Society charity shop. Make like the inner city grannies and stack 'em high at €1.50 a pop. The easiest way to update your winter wardrobe.

Lace Tights

Given my self-imposed shopping ban until September (when I can do some legit pre-LFW and PFW shopping), I've taken to frittering away the odd fiver here and there on tights. A totally sensible and therefore permissable purchase if I do say so myself. I've even extended the term 'sensible' to these gorge lacy confections - a mere €5 from Dunnes. Paired with my cream baby doll dress, chain print scarf, patent tassel loafers and tweed boyfriend jacket - I look preppy-tastic in manner of Blair Waldorf. Love you tights! xo xo.

Sale @ Dolls Boutique

In order to create room for new AW09 stock (due mid Sept), Dolls boutique is having a 4-day bargain blitz from Thursday, Aug 20th. Expect further reductions on all current sale stock, including shoes and accessories priced at €150 or less and many pieces at just €50 - or less! We love you Petria and Oonagh. And we are soooo there!

Dolls - 32b Clarendon Street, Dublin 2; +353 1 672 9004; info@dolls.ie

Sleeves - New Designer Detail

It all started when I gilet-ed my denim jacket. Then I spotted this Alexander Wang bi-textured number and my wardrobe fell asunder. Soon my trusty leather jacket circa 2004 got the chop, leaving me with some explaining to do to my tailor. And it doesn't end there. Check out the More Dash Than Cash feature in September's Vogue and you'll behold all sorts of sassy snippery. Waiscoat-ed tweed jackets snuggle up with skinny belts and woolen arm warmers; while mohair jumpers find new arm candy in houndstooth and denim. I'm in love. I also received some Gloved Up Pierrot sleeves for an upcoming shoot which will snazz up a black belted tunic to no end. Scissors - the new AW09 accessory, without a doubt.

Slow News Week

Ah the languid days of summer. Otis Reading sat on the dock of a bay, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince put their car on the cruise; while the Isley Brothers rolled around in some mental jasmine. Sweet. Unless of course you're a fashion journo with absolutely zilcho news to report. Nada. Nothing to see here folks. That's right, mosey along. With the sales wrapping up, sun holidays taken and festivals petering out, I therefore decided to amuse myself with something of my own making. Check out my homage to Dexy's Midnight Runners. What used to be a 5-year old safe Gap jacket is now a bitchin' piece of 80s retro nostalgia. Who said I shouldn't be left on my own?

Freedom Galway - Sale!

Global warming may be giving us the cold shoulder but those summer sales are still worth a look in. Take Galway's Freedom boutique (Level 2 Eyre Square SC; 091 865 989) - a must-visit for barganistas who like good basics. Roxy, Diesel, Bench, Quicksilver, Crosshatch, Outrage and Drunken Monkey are just some names in their cool label cache reduced to as low as €25. What's more, there's not a sarong or flip flop in sight; just perennial hoodies, jeans and snazzy separates that will justify the urge to splurge. We likey. Yes indeed.

Freedom, Level 2, Eyre Square SC; 091 865 989. Sale on now!

Luella's Lucky Londoners

For those within a wedge-heeled walk of Bond Street, don't miss this Thursday's Luella sample sale. With 60-90% off current and vintage lined on catwalk, ready-to-wear and accessories, it is what it is - a steal. If you fail to turn up, consider it a crime against fashion. Talk about getting things handed to you. Jeez! (cue: grumbles bitterly to herself all the while claiming she never liked that lovely Luella anyway!)

Luella sample sale: Thurs, July 2nd. Click on image for deets!

Indigo & Cloth

Sales can be a bit cut throat - 50% reduced here; 70% slashed there. Throw in that Harvey Norman eegit shouting at us to 'GO! GO!' and it all gets a bit out of hand. Luckily the good folk at Indigo & Cloth have bucked the trend and taken pause with a bit of quid pro quo. Allow me to interpret the signage - "Here's the deal. You buy something special and we buy you something special back." A bit like how you struck with your elementary school BFF. i.e. simpler times. Nice.

Car Boot Sale @ The Shaw

Me and my bargain-hunting. As if I needed a reason to go shopping, now I can defend it with the excuse that I got at a car boot sale. Yes indeedy, the George Bernard Shaw Toe Jam flog fest descended yet again on Dublin for a sunsoaked day of fashion, falafels and general good vibes. I managed to bag myself a €10 sequin dress which I'm still on the fence about. On one hand it was a steal as it is fully-embellished and in top nick; on the other hand I could easily be mistaken as a wayward Dallas extra or ice-skating champion circa 1982. Katerina Witt perhaps? Check out the pics for a goo at the guna.

Haberdashery Heaven

I'm beginning to love this whole recession deal. Not only has it curbed my shopping habit (well sort of...) but it's made me quite the haberdashing dame. Just check out these little gems from Dublin's A Rubanesque (01 672 9243). The chiffon floral collar (€15) can be stitched onto a plain tee as an epaulette (in which case I need another!) or onto a collar for instant jewellery. And those antique buttons to the left? They're going to snazz up my rather pedestrian Topshop blazer. I'm so in love. Swoon! Until we meet again A Rubanesque (i.e. payday next week), your bijoux goodies shall be on my mind. Sigh!

Mary Queen of Charity Shops

For those of you who know Mary Portas - a.k.a. Fashion Retail Guru - you've probably heard of her televised bid to remake the image of the beleagured charity shop. Inspired by the recession and alarmed by the state of Britain's 5,500 thrift stores, Portas has successfully created a template for second-hand success with a funky pop-up store in London's Westfield. With celebrity sales assistants on hand (Tamara Palmer-Tomkinson anyone?) and designer donations administered by Grazia magazine, the store has already rung £47,000 at the tills for charities Save The Children, Barnardo's and Mind. The venture's three-week tenure finishes on June 27th so if you happen to be in the London area, be sure to pop in and bag some swag!

It’s What’s Inside That Counts

Fashion gets a bad rap for being shallow. Sure, we've got a thing for the exterior (ain't nothin' like a fine exterior!) but even us sartorialists know it's what's on the inside that counts. That's why we've been making haste to snag one of Ben & Jerry's ltd ed anti-IT bags. Not only are they available in three designs (mine's a Sarah McCall 'Delightfully Untitled' number) but they also highlight the mission of its newest flavour Fair Trade Chocolate Macadamia (insert 'yum' here). The bags will be available soon at selected Dublin retailers including BT2 (Grafton Street) Circus Store & Gallery and Urban Outfitters (Temple Bar and Dundrum) but you can bag yours now at ‘Ben & Jerry’s Ireland’ Facebook, simply by posting a photo of what you think a ‘fair trade’ for one of the bags would be. Too good to pass up.

Mary Temperley Jewellery Sale

Looking to bag a bargain? Of course you are! Then check out the Mary Temperley jewellery sale at the Odessa Club on Friday, June 5th. This exclusive event is ideal for fans of the designer to swing some semi-precious swag from prices as low as €50. Make haste to that rooftop garden and check out the goods!

Sale on: June 5th, 4-8pm; Odessa Club, Dame Court, Dublin 2.

Charity Shop Chic

Ever since I opened my eyes to the wonder of charity shops, I've unearthed one gorgous gem after another. The latest addition to my cut-price couture collection is this divine Japanese kimono. It's a 100% silk real deal (check the 'made in Japan' label!) and was only...drum roll....€10! Looks fab belted up with a cami, skinnies and heels. I'm keeping the locale of this find under wraps but suffice to say it's on Dublin's second hand drag. Any guesses?

Awear Sale

Log onto Awear.com this week and snag some ritzy rags at half price. Best get in on the action fast. Gok Wan has already been raving about our Irish highstreet heroes on his Fashion Fix; along with Girls Aloud and Elle magazine. I Blog personally cannot wait for Awear's new Peter O'Brien collection launching this summer. In the meantime, there's some serious online shopping to be done... Swoon!