hat of cat.....

The cat hat has gone designer! Anna Sui AW11. It's expensive though. it's going to cost you €160. Alternatively, you could go to River Island and be done with it for under twenty euro....just saying

THE DREADFUL DIARIES : I'm leeeeeavin on a cut price airline...don't know when I'll be back again

THE DREADFUL DIARIES : ponderland....minus Russel Brand

All talk has turned to emigration in the Dreadful household. With my sister about to flee our shores there has been a lot of talk about what we can expect from Penny. Since I am meant to be the older and wiser one. (I'm definately older anyway)
A few of the girls have been talking about staying in Ireland. But most have gone. I have been thinking about a move to London since 2007. I've put it off for valid reasons such as degrees, masters and jobs. Now I am about to do the craziest thing I have ever done - I'm going to put it off again, for love. I know from where I am standing that I wont get a job here, I wont get anything bar the dole here once I graduate from college.
But for once, I have someone amazing in my life which has made me not want to leave. I've never ever cared about someone that much. I have always chosen my career over anything. So London will just have to wait another few months while I figure this stuff out!!!
It does make your head hurt though. The thought of moving. I've just moved back from Cork to Dublin and am finding it very confusing to figure out just where everything I own is! Half of it is in Dublin and half in Cork. One thing is for sure. Once I graduate, I am looking forward to moving in somewhere where all my stuff is! All of the time!
URGH. Stupid masters!
XOXOXOXO

Gifting ideas for idiots......or possibly genius ideas.....I don't know....

Ah yes...I get all confused whenever it's time for my friends or other halves birthdays! I am the girl who bought the boy a pair of fake glasses for Christmas and E got a jar of olives off me one year. (to be fair I did make up a kit for her with martinis in it - so you godda have the olives right?) I still didn't get the other half anything for Valentines day which makes me the worst girlfriend ever! I did give them a plastic spoon last night from the bottom of my handbag after three pints....does that count?
No?
Damn....
........anyway, my beloved perpetualkid.com is here to help me with all my gifting needs!
tabloid glasses : Because you have one friend who enjoys looking like a tosser on facebook.

slut noodles - OH! the memories of being a drunken broke student with nothing to eat bar Koka noodles and ketchup. Fuck that! I still do it! But I never quite got around to eating slut noodles....the mind boggles! Or if your friend is more student then ho bag check out the alternative below :

Bitch magnetic poetry : So you can write lovely love letters on the sluts fridge....

Ninja Breadmen - possibly the best thing post fridge mustache I have ever seen. I want this in my life.


- everything here is available from perpetualkid.com folks -

UPDATE : Galliano

UPDATE :
It doesn't take long for someone to start a wicked whisper which echoes around blogs, twitters and other media outlets. This one is interesting though unconfirmed. Apparently Dior execs have been thinking of getting rid of Galliano for some time now and all the recent problems may have given them the perfect excuse to do so.
Galliano has been with the company for sixteen years now. If he is still suspended by March 4th it will mean he will miss his first bow on the catwalk since he joined the company. Sadness.
Although, this rumour could confirm why Dior were so quick to suspend the designer....amongst other things.
But remember kids, this is just a rumour. Nothing confirmed yet!

- UPDATE -
Galliano is facing his attacker today in Paris. News as we get it!

WHEN BAD CLOTHES HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE : Madonna and child

Oh for the love of all that is holy! Would you look at the hack of that!?!?! Madonna, love, I speak out of kindness, it's bad day when your daughter outshines you at the age of thirteen and leaves you looking like a dried up old slapper on the red carpet. Either ditch the dress or ditch the child. Go stand next to Britney, she always looks bad!
Anyway, this was Madonna's effort to the Vanity Fair Oscars party last night. What are we thinking? or more importantly, what was she thinking?

QUOTAGE!

"She's amazing, I feel like her reputation comes from the fact she's a woman and she's incredibly successful so people like to speculate about whether she's cut-throat and mean, when she's actually not. She's a really smart businesswoman just getting her job done."


- Alexa Chung on meeting Anna Wintour and how the media have her all wrong.

UPDATE!

UPDATE - The Sun website have released footage of Galliano in the cafe in Paris. It's only a few seconds long and shot with a camera phone but it's clearly him and it's clearly not very nice. Given that someone somewhere has been paid an awful lot of money for this clip, it is not available for nabbing online!
So you'll have to go to the Huffington post to watch it : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/28/galliano-hitler-racist-rant-arrest_n_828955.html - I warn you, it is offensive and you have been warned, so please - no emails!

It's going to be interesting to see how the fashion pack respond to this. They have a tendency to look after each other, for example Kate Moss and the cocaine scandal, but can you come back from this? I don't know. I think it might actually be a step waaaaaaay too far.

also, how pissed is he!?!?!? Seriously - he seems to be struggling to talk!

the wonderful world of......style noir

I am in love with this. I found these images on my travels around the vast internet and immediately fell in love with everything I saw.
They are the work of style noir. http://www.stylenoir.co.uk/blog/index.php/bridget-blonde-moulin-noire/ - you can check out more of their work here....LOVE LOVE LOVE!
There is such a huge side of me that is very attracted to rubber and PVC in fashion. Just look at the images and think how many of these pieces have made their way into fashion. Why, we all own a pair of fake PVC leggings from the high street. How I long for a good pair of the real thing.
The model is Bridget Blonde and the shoot is styled by Style Noir. Perfection.
As if that wasn't reason enough to visit their site, they also have an online store which allows you to buy the wonderful stuff pictured above and view their look book. I think I have a new style crush!

WHATS ON : Dublin : Carnaval!

WHATS ON : DUBLIN

Dublin's South William bar is to host the 1st Dublin carnaval! Wooo hoo! It sounds like an amazing amount of fun with a lot of events on for free! Happy days. But there are DJs, live music, food, dancers and movies happening from the 3rd of March to the 8th! Plenty to keep us entertained. Along with a free BBQ on the Sunday! Sold!

Here comes the line up :

THURSDAY 3RD MARCH
• Brazilian Lunch from 1pm
• Carnaval 'MASH-up' with DJs Baby Dave + Guy
- (Brazilian & Caribbean Sounds)
• Live Sambista Dancers
- main bar 8pm-12am. FREE ENTRY

FRIDAY 4TH MARCH
• Brazilian Lunch from 1pm
• AFROBASS with Lex Woo + Riaktor (Trinidad)
- (Soca, Calypso, Dancehall, Reggae, DubHouse, Jungle)
• Live Sambista Dancers
- main bar 9pm-3am. FREE ENTRY
• DISCO-BRASIL! with Mundo Capoeira + DJ Sansao & DoubleV
- (Batucada, Samba-Reggae, Forro & Baile Funk)
- basement 9pm-3am. Entry €7 (basement only)

SATURDAY 5TH MARCH
• Brazilian Lunch from 1pm with LIVE SAMBA ROCK
• BABALONIA with Lex Woo + DJ Izem
- (ElectroSamba, Drum&Bossa, RioFunk, SambaSoul, Disco + Tropicalia)
• Live Sambista Dancers
- main bar 9pm-3am. FREE ENTRY
• ZOUK PARTY vol.1 featuring: DJ Pag'Na
- (French Caribbean Zouk & Dancehall)
- basement 9pm-3am. €10 (basement only)

SUNDAY 6TH MARCH
• ELBOW ROOM SOUL FOOD BBQ with DJs Ben E See & Brother Luke
- (Brazilian & Caribbean Sunshine Flavas & Mardi Gras Vibes:
- Disco, Soul, Funk, Jazz + Hip-Hop)
• 'MADU' live soul-reggae at 6pm
• FREE Caribbean Soul Food BBQ back yard at 7pm
- main bar + back yard 7pm-11pm. FREE ENTRY

MONDAY 7TH MARCH
• ISLAND CULTURE with MC Little Tree
- (Roots Reggae, Jamaican Soul, Calypso, Dancehall, Ragga + Afro-Dub)
• Afro-Caribbean Soul Food served from 7pm
- main bar 8pm-12am. FREE ENTRY

TUESDAY 8TH MARCH
• GROOVALIZACION 'PHAT CHEWSDAY' with DJs Izem & Marina Diniz
+ Live Guests
- (Full Brazilian Musical Spectrum + Caribbean Delights!)
• Brazilian Food served from 7pm
- main bar 8pm-12am. FREE ENTRY


see you there! or alternatively check out their facebook page at : http://www.facebook.com/carnavaldublin

READER COMMENTARY

A reader pointed out that Vivienne Westwood's new collection reminded her of this, genius!!!!!

WHAT I WORE TODAY.......A headscarf and a LOT of earrings

Today my fringe was a write off. Leading to one of the best headscarf days I've had yet. I had loads of stuff to bring back to Dublin, including two scarves. So I wore one and carried the other. on my head.
scarf = vintage
I also rocked a load of small earrings I found knocking around my jewelry box. Well, what remains of my jewelry box.
dice = clares accessories
bird = topshop
rose = urban outfitters
owl = topshop
white rose = topshop
pearl earring = i made it myself
I actually have my ears pierced 8 times on one side and four on the other. Down from nine on one side and six on the other. Lost all those piercings though over time.....

god the face on me! Was exhausted and tired from the general election work yesterday and couldn't be ARSED throwing on a full face of make-up or even trying today. Plus I left my studio fix in Dublin plus I have a sore tooth which is making me cranky.
blazer = Topshop

Alexander McQueen, the exhibition

I've resisted blogging about the new Alexander McQueen exhibition in the Met for a while now. For the simple reason : I'm jealous.
As a huge fan and a non New Yorker, I am sickened that I am going to miss this one.
But for those reading who might be from New York, then the exhibition runs from the 4th of May to the 31st of July. Oh the heartfelt sadness that I will not be there. Running my fingers through the silks, ignoring the sounds of sirens as security tackle me to the ground post robbery....
In the meantime while I plan the daring liberation of some of the greatest pieces of fashion history, enjoy a few photographs from the preview....sigh....




gorgeous. just gorgeous

braaaaaaas

I have to do the one thing I can't stand in the next few weeks and actually get a bra fitted. I normally don't wear a bra as I have small boobs and am forgetful. But, in my weight loss it means that all the ones I have don't fit me! sad times.
But as much as I love the above bra, it's €72 from Urban Outfitters. Apparently it's listed as a parrot bra, whatever that is. I worked in Ann Summers and I haven't a clue, answers on a postcard lads!
There isn't even a parrot in the print....the mind boggles!

SS11 LOOKBOOK : Primark

Believe it or not, this isn't vintage or Topshop. It's Primark (that's Pennys to you and me), I know! Amazing.
These are images from the Primark lookbook for SS11! and my god aren't they great? Hitting most of the summer trends bang on.
Mid length skirts? check! maxi skirts? check! 70's flared trousers? check - although I have yet to decide if I can wear those without tripping over myself. Time will tell....
Stripes, floppy hats - there is actually a lot to choose from!

Who rocked the NME awards ? who cares, who wore what is more important!

Oh no she didn't! Juliette Lewis be rocking those Chanel sequinned pants at the NME awards. You go girl! No one rocks it quite like her. She looks insane most of the time but how well she wears it!
Marina from Marina and the Diamonds rocking several trends from next season and the season beyond that....including the thigh high split. Brilliant. Loving that multi colored hairbow as well. Prettiness!

Goodbye my friends

I never say goodbye.
I just don't do it.
But I have to say goodbye to two people.
It's never goodbye to my friends, only a while before we meet again.
Jack and Natalie, my best gay and my sister are leaving.
Both are wonderful people who are leaving to make new lives in London and the Canaries.
I wish them the best of luck and to spare a thought for those of us left behind in this farce of a place. I will see them again. I will be there sleeping on couches and begging for spare change to buy a breakfast roll! But it's the first time I and my family have experienced emigration.
A few of my friends have already left. This however, is different. As I said, I wish both the best of luck and god speed with everything.
Good luck out there kittens!

just what does a 3.8 million handbag look like? answer - shite

You know how it is....money can buy you a lot of things. But taste isn't one of them. It's many a time I have been wondering around the place with a spare £3.8 million in my purse (it's a big purse okay) and wandered into a shop and bought the first thing I could find.
Now if that thing happens to be a packet of chewing gum and a box of fags - your likely to get a fair few million in change.
But sadly not the case with the above purse. Which is currently on the market for just that. Now who do we know with more money then sense, no taste and a spare few millions hanging around? (I clearly spent mine on chewing gum and fags)
Hello?!?!? Paris Hilton? we have the perfect bag for you...

THE INTERN DIARIES : DAY SEVEN : All I have ever wanted is for you to be proud....

THE INTERN DIARIES : Deep brev luv, zover now innit!

Yesterday I did something terrifying. I worked at the election. (for non Irish readers who may have missed international news, vanity fair's article and all the gloating SKY coverage - we had a massive general election)

So I rocked up to the door of city hall wrecked from very little sleep, nerves and the strokes new song on repeat. By the time my dad pulled up outside Brown Thomas (one cannot start the day without a fresh pair of shoes) I was begging him to say nothing and drive away silently. I would begin my new life as an accountant tommorow. Alas, dad was having none of it and dropped me outside the door. Kicking me out as he pulled up.

I had no time to rest. I started work at eleven and finally finished at 10. It was non stop. Between finding ministers for interviews, strolling around listening in on conversations, organizing count figures and updating internet stuff. All of this meant I was wired beyond belief by the time I got home. Drained but buzzing. There was a real energy in the place. I somehow went without food from 12 -10 before collapsing on a pizza in the press box at half 9. but it is why I went into journalism. That buzz and that adrenaline. Pushing yourself further and further to the point of exhaustion.

In fact I was so exhausted that my eye started twitching! Which has only ever happened to me four times.
1 - first day of secondary school aged 13
2 - first day of college aged 19
3 - first ever event I organised opening to a crowd of 500 aged 20
4 - here and now
I looked terrifying. My make-up had slid down my face, I stank from running and I had a birds nest for a hair do. Not even the bathrooms at City Hall were ready for this level of carnage. I scared small children. I also kneed one in the face after I couldn't see her under my laptop. Apologies to the parents who had to deal with said child after. But not my fault. Parents! do not let your children run around when there are Journos running around. We just don't care and will take each other out!
Getting home I was awarded the biggest reward I could get. Not only did my father, who is normally allergic to praise and emotion, make me a gin and tonic, but he hung my press pass on the frame of his drawing of a car along with his Le Man pass. Praise and Pride indeed.
I took a photo and tried not to cry. It was his way of showing me, he loved me and was proud of me.
I went to bed slightly drunk, wired and fell asleep watching Starsky and Hutch. Woke up with face stuck to the DVD box. Business as usual then....

UPDATE

UPDATE - GALLIANO has filed for defamation and there are now doubts about the Dior show, booked for the 4th of March, if it will go ahead or not.

UPDATE : GALLIANO CONSIDERS DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST COUPLE

This just in Kittens, Galliano has denied making anti Jewish statements in a Parisian cafe. He believes Dior's response was excessive and is considering taking a Defamation case against the couple.


- Please excuse the lack of pics folks, I am working at the elections with the radio station and can't get images pulled in time. Stay tuned for the latest complete with pretty pics tonight after 11!

- including the next installment from the intern diaries, which I know you all love....you slags!

We as women.....

One of my readers wrote a comment underneath a picture I posted of Vivienne Westwood's RTW A/W collection at London Fashion Week. Reading over it, it played on my mind. She used a term 'Distresses me' which I found interesting, as it did the same to me. Normally I accept anything Westwood puts out there with open arms. But this I found hard. I also found her ad campaign with the over bronzed women hard to take as well. I think, as women we are expected to be so picture perfect all the time. To have the perfect make-up and outfit. Westwood is playing with this and in doing so appears to be challenging us as women in how we accept ourselves.
I know myself, I can't step out of the house without my eyebrows done and my red lipstick tweaked to perfection. So the thought of walking down a catwalk with layers of incorrect make-up with all eyes on me makes me feel ill.
Westwood is one of the original punks and has always played with concept and our traditional views of what something should look like. Adding an extra layer or fold here and a stitch there to create something beautiful.
This is designed to shock us. Not in the way most designers do it. By adding something sexual or rooted in fetish. But to challenge how we conduct ourselves as women. Alexander McQueen did it when he sent a model down the catwalk in 1995 in Highland Rape with her tampon string hanging out. It just makes us cringe.
The idea of being less then picture perfect.
Agree or disagree?

More 4 documentary

Just finished watching the Channel four documentary about the life of McQueen. It was an incredibly well done interesting piece. Presenting McQueen as he was, an ordinary British man harboring an fantastic talent and intense mind. He truly was a genius.

RIP MCQUEEN.
XXXX

Dresses? for under 50 yoyos? can't be...your havin' a laff

I am not a blogger who is afraid to admit when I'm wrong. So here goes : I was sort of kinda wrong. I've been giving out about Zara for quite some time now. Thing is, they don't really make clothes for women of my size (aka - 6ft tall) and they don't cater for women with shoulders (i have rugby man shoulders) so I had given up on finding something I loved in there.
However, upon my travels I came across a hot pink vision of loveliness. I almost went in. But then I clocked it was Zara and didn't. But two hours of work past by where I could not stop thinking about the dress. About the shoes I could wear with it, the hairstyle I would rock with it or the leather jacket which would look pure sex over it. So back I went. I found the material good quality and the cut perfect for those of us with long legs and no boobs. I touched the price tag for a few minutes, €30! Nah, couldn't be. I walked away feeling smug. There was no WAY that dress was €30. Clearly the shop or I had made a mistake.
But several days have passed and my longing remains. So I went online. The dress is indeed €30. It's one of a collection of dresses for under €50. Result! I do however know I am going to have to buy a size 12/14 in Zara sizes to get it to fit me. But it's worth the confidence hit to wear such a beautiful dress. It is perfect for the season trend of color pop and acid tones. Teaming it with black tights for the winter and ankle boots before a knee high sock for the summer. Given that fashion weeks are predicting color for next season, its a win win buy.
See the dress below - that's it.
I wrote before about H&M's summer collection of basics for under €10. It seems the best in show on the high street are getting in on the action by displaying some of the hottest new trends with prices to rival Primark. I love it. I still wear my H&M black and white stripy skirt which I bought for €3 in the summer. It's clear that the high street are aware of our money problems and keen to encourage shoppers through the doors. At whatever cost. VIVA LA ZARA! I say, keep 'em coming!

tits by american apparel...i mean swimwear

More of the same. You know the drill. Pretend to be all shocked and outraged and stuff while secretly shopping there anyway. I mean someone is. If they still have the money to make this stuff....