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!

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!