Big days out – today’s fashion page
Did you catch it? And, more importantly, have you a fashion query I could answer? Email them to rmaccabe@irishtimes.com!
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Dressing for spring – man-repel
This is now my advice for all kinds of dressing: work hard to repel men. I will now give you an example from my own wardrobe, an outfit I wore to work the other day and one of my editors, his upper lip slightly curled, remarked, “What’s with all the power dressing?” Note that he did not say, “wow, amazing shoes!” as I expected him to; nor did he say, “you look lovely!” MAN-REPELLING, it is the future.
There is a method to this madness, and it is not just to show you how attractive I look in mustard drop-crotch trousers. The point is: dressing, whatever the season, is about fun. For me it’s about mixing textures and toughness levels – so I’ve got the soft chiffon of the black top (barely seen, granted) and the femininity of the Diane von Furstenberg shoes (LOVE!) juxtaposed against the masculinity of the trousers, the straight lines of the blazer and the old-school Americana of the shirts.
Really, moving on from that photograph of me (and yes, my room is very cluttered), let’s talk about layering, because to me that’s what spring is all about. It’s not quite warm enough to strip down to the bare essentials, and it’s not cold enough to continue dressing for the big freeze – so think about light layers that will look good no matter how many of them you’re left with at the end of the day. What does this mean? Light cardigans, shirts (think of wearing them open, over dresses, for a different take on covering up) and layered skirts – yes, you heard me, layered skirts. Try a body-con skirt under a sheer midi, or two A-line skirts, one over the other (light fabrics work best, and if you can clash patterns, so much the better).
Then we come to the eternal Irishwoman’s conundrum: tights. What to do, what to do – it’s too near May to be still wearing your black opaques, no matter how much you love them, and skin coloured tights are for old ladies, aren’t they? Well you have two choices (and no, bare legs is not one of them, ladies who frequent the Wright Venue – think again): coloured opaques or, well, skin coloured tights. Coloured opaques serve a purpose in being less wintery than black, but still keeping you warm – because, let’s face it, we’re hardly facing into a tropical spring. My favourites are grey and navy, which are close enough to black to still work with your existing wardrobe, but that little shade lighter to brighten up your style. Plus, grey works with all of those neutrals we’re being told to wear this spring.
Skin-coloured tights, so – what am I even talking about?! They’re hideous, most of the time. But there is one variety that will honestly be your saviour this spring – Marks & Spencer’s bare cooling tights in natural tan. They are amazing. I think they’ll set you back around €5.50, they won’t last forever and you’d be better off handwashing them if you want them to go the distance, but they look ridiculously natural and give your legs a lovely, eh, natural tan. Behold.
So, wow, this really has turned into the post where I talk about myself. But only to demonstrate (a) my ability to repel men, more of which later, and (b) the amazingness of those tights. Over and out.
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How do you get dressed in the morning?
It’s a question that comes up, time and time again – and there is no right answer to it. Unfortunately, we’re not blessed with the computer facilities of Cher Horowitz (although, now that I mention it, why aren’t we?) and have to work these things out for ourselves.
Can you believe that Clueless was released in 1995? That is, 16 years ago?!! Also, upon viewing this segment, it occurs to me that actresses nowadays are much skinnier than they were then. Do you think, if Hollywood made a movie today about young, rich kids in Beverly Hills, they wouldn’t have fake tans, nails, surgery, blown out hair . . . ? We are living in frightening times.
ANYWAY! The point is, there’s something quite fascinating about how people pick out their clothes – which is why blogs such as Sea of Shoes, Fashiontoast and Frassy are so popular.
Personally, I start by wondering what I’m doing that day, which often determines the shape of what I’m going to wear. Do I need to wear heels? If so, I’m probably going to go for a dress (as heels + jeans on me = upside-down triangle). Do I need to cycle? If so, my dress can’t be tight, and I can rule out any pencil or mini skirts. Am I going to the office, meaning minimal cleavage and office-appropriate skirt length? Or am I going to something “fashion-y” where I might just need to look as if I have a clue, in which case I usually go for something quite new and – shudder – “on-trend”?
You’ll see that there’s more madness than method to my routine. How about you? How do you decide? While you’re thinking, here’s a sweet video by one of my favourite style / lifestyle / baby bloggers, Jen Lula. I’m not in a relationship, I don’t have a baby and I don’t much care for group activities, craft, religion or cookery, so you can take it from me that Jen just has that special something that keeps me coming back for more.
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A|Wear’s S/S 2011 photocall
So the other day, A|Wear held a S/S 2011 photocall, and at some stage during the day, this photograph was taken:
This photograph has all of my favourite things in it. Country roads! Fashion! High heels! Little dogs! An old lady looking grumpy but still standing there for the photo! Love love love.
It would almost be enough to make me want to shop in A|Wear forever, but for now I will give you my top tips (because I know you’re screaming out for them) for A|Wear shopping.
1. Try everything on. That may seem really simplistic, but I have purchased the same pair of jeans twice in that store, and had to buy a different size. The exact same style of jean! I don’t understand it, but the store’s sizing is a bit nuts.
2. Beware of knitwear. Their knits may look great, but a lot of them are quite low quality and will not survive a wash. Just be warned - you may need to spend a lifetime handwashing if you’re to get any wear out of them (and really, who has the time?).
3. (Another basic) Read the label. If something from A|Wear says dry-clean only, you can bet your bottom dollar I ain’t buying it – or I am buying it because it’s too cheap to pass up, and handwashing it. I hate dry-cleaning anything that’s not designer – it just seems like such a waste of my hard-earned post-USC dollahs.
4. Check out the jewellery. I have got loads of little bits from A|Wear that people always admire, and they’ve been cheap as chips. They do great necklaces especially – although they will make the back of your neck green. Ditto for rings, bracelets. Except, obviously not the back of your neck.
Et voila! Enjoy!
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In which I turn the tables: should I buy this, friends?
This is the time of the day where I turn the focus to you, dear readers, and ask: should I buy this amazing coat, for £75 from Asos?
Realists would say no: I have enough coats, they’d say. I don’t really need a faux fur patchwork coat. Men also say no. It’s disgusting, they say. It looks . . . gross, they say. (Excellent wordsmiths, my male friends.)
But what say you, loyal Fash Mob readers? I care not if it is man repellant, but is it amazing or do I fool myself? Please advise.
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What I bought this weekend
In the interest of full disclosure, and in the vain hope that seeing these things written down will shock me into some sense of reality (hello, recession!), I’ve decided to do a weekly roundup of things I bought. To whit:
(All of the above from Topshop, the cads)
Can I in any way justify these purchases by saying: look at what I’m trying to do! Create a capsule wardrobe! All of those things are very versatile! Look! That peach shirt is entirely different to the other peach shirts I own! And that black bag is entirely unique! Even though I have no idea what size it is!
Then there were these shoes from Office, a high-resolution image of which I can’t find . . . I have no justification for them. None whatsoever, but aren’t they amazing?!
Then, lest you should think I’m finished, I purchased these three tops in River Island. Now I’m going to sit down in a quiet, dark room.
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Wardrobe mayhem: fishnets, thigh-high boots AND a leather mini?
Doreen writes: I have just invested in a pair of thigh leather boots, (but i would say they are just above the knee) my boyfriend wants me to wear them with the shortist leather mini available. would they look well and fishnet stockings as well, your advice would be appreciated.Doreen, my initial reaction (and I hope you don’t mind) is to recoil in horror, and I will explain why, as sensitively as I can. All three of the items you have named, while being very fashionable this winter and last, are also familiar to, let’s say, ladies who walk the night. Now, I’m not one to sit in judgment on said women, but unless you want to look like one, combining all three of those sartorial delights at once would be a folly worthy of Jodi Marsh.Might I suggest teaming your leather mini with a T-shirt and a pair of Converse, or flat pumps (alternatively, mix with a ladylike blouse and opaques); keeping your thigh-high boots for oversized knits and flowy dresses, and your fishnets for a time in the future when fishnets will once again be acceptable. The key, you see, to keeping on the correct side of hooch, is to mix risqué items with decidedly un-risqué trends (knits, autumnal patterns, loose clothing).But really, the question becomes: do you usually take advice from your boyfriend? Does your boyfriend offer fashion advice, willy-nilly? This would, without a doubt, be something worth squashing at the earliest opportunity. Men are good for a lot of things (DIY being at the forefront of my mind at the moment), but fashion advice is, 99% of the time, not one of those things. Leave him to fix the plumbing and play with his XBox, and really, dress whatever way you see fit. -
Bid, borrow, steal. . .
EBay is one of those sites that I rarely think of for shopping – mostly because I’m lazy, and I like to find things easily, without having to search through acres of other junk to find them. (See also, my inability to find anything, ever, in TK Maxx.) So when EBay did this Style Clinic video, I kind of perked up – nothing whets my shopping appetite more than being shown how someone else does it.
I’m also really jealous - I love clothes, and have a lot of them, but I’d like nothing more than for someone to come over and tell me what to wear with what, for the lazy days when nothing seems to be working! Am I the only one? Would you pay for someone to come and overhaul your wardrobe?
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Jeans, trousers, cargo pants . . .
I have a problem. I am a serial dressaholic. Or, without being too limited, I’d say I am a skirtaholic – anything that doesn’t require trousers is a goer for me. I have what they in the circles of hell refer to as an “apple” shape. I’m bigger on the top than I am on the bottom and, though my legs aren’t my worst asset, without the addition of a floaty shape on my upper half, they resemble upside-down triangles that taper down towards tiny ankles.
Sometimes I find trousers that I like – most recently, a pair of Cheap Monday jeans at Urban Outfitters. And, in the same Urban Outfitters just the other day, I came across a pair of BDG stretchy, dark denim jeans that I quite liked the cut of, until I realised that they were, despite the presence of a zipper and a waistband, glorified jeggings. Aside from my issues with made-up words (the recent culprit being, brace yourselves, the skegging), there is something about the jegging (denim legging, for the uninitiated) that just reminds me why I don’t wear tracksuit bottoms outside (because it’s too easy, and they’re never flattering).
Therefore, I refuse to allow my jeggings to be categorised as trousers; they are leggings that are made out of denim, they cannot be worn without a top that covers the derriere, and they do very little for anybody. Their one saving grace is that they are unfailingly comfortable, and will give you no lines under anything, as they are bodycon taken to its extremes.
So here it is: my own, personal wardrobe mayhem. Next week, I am embarking on a mission: to find not one, not two, but three pairs of trousers that I like, that fit, and that flatter, with our without heels (because c’mon, everything looks better with heels). Watch this space.
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Monday morning. . .
Having been without internet for the weekend, I’m just now catching up on what went on. I moved house, y’see, which is an ordeal in itself, although I have epic wardrobe space, which pleases me muchly. But back to you! Did anyone go to Sonia Rykiel at H&M? I hear it’s sold out – but would love to hear from anyone who made the effort to get down there.
If you don’t subscribe to Asos‘s newsletter, do it. (Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored post. I will happily endorse Asos because I think it is Galliano’s gift to online shoppers, or some such ilk.) I have a point here, despite these digressions – Asos does the best little newsletter, with new products, and then a handy little segment on how to work a specific look. Today’s advice column?
The Burberry coat is just gorgeous – and was just as gorgeous on Billie Piper, remember?! But I especially love Look #1. The problem with these kinds of things is, aside from the fact that it makes it look like anyone can wear anything (in an ideal world, this would be true but, sadly, it is not), it makes me want to buy entire identikit outfits, and I’m sure that there are an average of 2,375 people with the exact same idea in the UK or Ireland.
Finally, Breffni got back to us on Wardrobe Mayhem (part two), to say thanks – and that she’s now considering covering or dyeing her shoes. Glad we could be of some assistance, let us know how things go – and, better yet, email your details and photographs to vows [at] irishtimes.com and we could feature you in the magazine. Hurrah!
(As an addendum to the finally, someone nominated us for an Irish Blog Award! So, whether or not Fash Mob gets shortlisted, a huge thank you, and thanks for reading, and commenting, and sorry I don’t wash my hair enough, and so on and so forth.)
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