Tuesday 11 February 2014

Star Buy of the Week: Bag some Love this Valentine's Day with Parfois



The arrival of Portuguese accessories chain, Parfois on the Irish street has seen me add considerably to my already ample handbag collection! My addiction to beautiful scarves, jewels, shoulder-bags, clutch-bags, totes, shoes- and gorgeous accessories which transform any outfit in my wardrobe for dull to wow on application, has reached new levels since the excellently priced, top quality brand Parfois opened its doors to the style savvy women of Ireland last year. There is sure to be a Parfois store near you- with stores in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, as well as in Terminal 1 in Dublin airport-the perfect way to get your holidays off to a stylish start!

This weeks Star Buy from Parfois is a an extra special one, as this Friday is Valentine's day- the day where you'll either weep into your cornflakes ( I don't think so!), as you  'celebrate' another year of singledom- or the day where you startle the guy delivering the flowers and chocolates for the second year running with a bear hug and lipstick kiss!


Well, this year will be different whether you're loved up or single- as my Star Buy this week are two gorgeous, affordable shoulder-bags from Parfois' SS14 collection- one in a neutral taupe shade at just e19.90, and the other in a beautiful berry hue at a reasonable e29.90- a nice little guilt-free treat to buy for yourself, boyfriend or no boyfriend!

 I couldn't decide which one to crown 'Star Buy' this week, so hopefully you'll be able to choose your favourite- or find the handbag of your dreams this Valentine's on www.parfois.com, where you can shop online with delivery to Ireland. And remember girls (and boyfriends and husbands)- a girl can never have too many handbags or pairs of shoes!


Thursday 6 February 2014

Warehouse SS14 Collection Preview: Elegant, edgy, effervescent!





The hotly anticipated Warehouse SS14 collection preview which I attended last week- where I checked out the newest offerings from this high street gem (and personal favourite of mine) with bated breath and high expectation last week did not- I am glad to report, disappoint! In fact the effect on me was the direct opposite. The collection was a like a bright ray of  '70s style summer sunshine illuminating the edgy, modernist store and cutting through the damp, windswept weather we've treated to for the last few weeks.








Casual wear, occasion wear, beach wear- or 'just shooting the breeze' wear, I'm excited to report that Warehouse has got it all in the bag for you this season. Good quality pieces with an excellent fit, that you'd perhaps expect to have to dig a bit deeper in your boyfriend-style jeans for, are reliably and stylishly studded throughout the collection as usual- I was relieved to find. These are the core characteristics of a high street brand that can count me into their loyal fan base, and which keeps me returning to this high street gem season after season- or whenever I have 'nothing to wear moment' or a hot date to wow!






The Spring/ Summer collection from Warehouse is a total feast for the senses- a riot of eye-popping colour, tropical prints, soft sorbet shades, acid bights, and always-in monochrome. Hem lengths are either mini or midi- and the presence of neoprene (the material used to make scuba-diving suits!) is an interesting accent in the collection- with a superb ability to add full-on girly swing and swirl to a skirt. The strong themes of lace, palest pastels, logo t-shirts and saintly all over white  (just grab your halo girls!) are also strong themes in the collection- and prevalent SS14 trends to look out for in all your high street favourites.


      

The collection itself is split like a dreamy dessert trolley in to eight delicious segments, each telling their own story and channelling their own unique vibe- with gorgeous, evocative names like 'Botanic Acid', 'Night Circus', 'Poetic Garden' and 'St Etienne'. My favourites pieces include the two piece cobalt blue tropical print peg-leg trouser and loose tee ensemble (wear with flats for a great daytime look or dress it up for evening-wear with a pair of killer heels), the white mesh-ended mini (this piece will goo with literally everything in your summer wardrobe!) and the stunning cream evening dress embellished with beautiful gold beading- a timeless, vintage style piece designed to get heads swivelling- when nothing but high-octane glamour will do! The million dollar question is which 'dessert' will you choose to indulge in- or will you throw cation to the wind and savour a slice of all eight? It would be rude not to, I think!








Friday 31 January 2014

Star Buy of the week: Bastyan Amazon Prints



Sleek, stylish  label Bastyan, founded by designer Tonia Bastyan in 2009 has has always been one of my top 'go-to' labels. You can always rely on Bastyan to conjure up a titillating trouseau of expertly tailored, flawlessly feminine pieces to update your waning wardrobe every new season- and the SS14 collection is an absolute dream for women of all ages and sizes.

 Lady-like glamour and casual- luxe are firm fixtures in every Bastyan collection- elements which are guaranteed to win me over every time. However, trying to choose this weeks Star Buy was an especially tough task this week, as the entire collection is so beautifully wearable, ultra stylish- and yet sexy, which is no mean feat for any brand to pull off successfully!

So, after changing my mind about three million times, the magnetic lure of three amazing Amazonian print pieces from Bastyan won out the day. These gorgeous pieces which will add a definitively cool, tropical feel to your new warmer season wardrobe- sans the vibe of the vile Hawaiian-print shirt which I still get nightmares about my Dad wearing on family holidays as a teenager!

So flattering and easy to wear- (just pop on with a pair of skinny jeans- try Bastyan's legendary Italian made ones for a fabulous fit, with no dreaded bunching) choose from the classic silk tunic, the softly tailored silk blouse- or the quirky silk shift dress to capture the ethereal beauty and lush colours of the Amazon in your SS14 wardrobe- and channel your inner Jane if you dare!

The Bastyan SS14 collection is available from Brown Thomas stores in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway- and BT2 stores in Dundrum and Blanchardstown. Now all that remains to complete this ensemble is a suitably buff Tarzan- the must-have accessory this season!




Monday 27 January 2014

Good Karma at the Thomas Sabo SS14 collection launch



I've always been a believer in the importance of good karma- and in looking good while exchanging the positive vibes also, of course! The Thomas Sabo SS14 collection launch which I attended last week in the Marker hotel in Dublin's Docklands certainly ticked both of these two boxes in my stylish book, with a stunning array of stylish new designs and updates to existing the Thomas Sabo, Glam and Soul and Rebel at Heart collections. My favourite addition to Thomas Sabo has to be the stylish, yet funky Karma Beads jewellery range to to the Glam and Soul collection which include funky customisable bracelets, necklaces, pendants, rings and creole earrings- all guaranteed to inject style and karma into your wardrobe in the warm sunny days ahead. Well thankfully, there's always the backup plan of hopping on a Ryanair flight to one of the Costas if our summer decides to make a non appearance!
The word 'karma' comes from Sanskrit, and means 'action' or 'deed'- which I think is an apt name for the Thomas Sabo Karma Beads range, as the wearer can choose how she wants to express or portray herself by dipping into the treasure chest of beautiful, blinging beads. The combination options are infinite, with 72 beads to choose from- and starting at just e19. The Karma Beads particularly appeal to me, as they are a very personal piece of jewellery, and the choice of beads which you choose to wear- or to buy for a friend all weave a special and unique story that other jewellery ranges physically cannot. Also, from a personal point of view- we all grow and change as we go through life, and the beauty of the Karma Beads- and almost all Thomas Sabo pieces, is their ability to grow and change with the wearer- or even perhaps signify a secret ambition or heartfelt wish for the future!


The beautifully designed Karma Wheel (which symbolises inner balance),along with the 72 intricately designed beads make up the Karma Beads range, and all are crafted from sterling silver, rose gold or yellow gold plating and are are adorned with luxuriously pretty embellishments such as semi-precious stones and cultivated freshwater pearls. Check out the stunning photoshoot of the collection shot by top fashion photographer, Ellen Von Unwerth, and modelled by hot model of the moment, Georgia May Jagger (daughter of the legendary Mick Jagger and supermodel Jerry Hall) for seriously fabulous inspiration on how how to sport the range to its best- www.thomassabo.com

The Karma Beads range and the Thomas Sabo collections are available from dedicated counters in Arnotts, Dublin, Brown Thomas, Cork and House of Fraser, Dundrum- as well as from quality, independent jewellers nationwide.