HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE KITTENS!

Incase I don't get to post tommorow then I wish all my readers a happy new year and a wonderful 2012. I am so happy that you guys keep returning, keep emailing and keep leaving comments. You've really made my year a fantastic one. I am also happy to report that the blog has seen a massive increase in readership lately which really makes me feel as if someone out there if reading and making my hardwork worth it!

Best of luck in 2012 and to celebrate - here is a cat with a party hat on!

dressssssssses.....

I am in love with this dress - its the Cobra dress from Aqua clothing and its gorgeous. Not hot on the orange but I really like it.

The Edie hat....

 I saw a picture of this hat on the River Island website while cruising the shoe department...don't ask, the site knows how to lure idiots like me in....but it made me think since I am on a roll with the vintage celebrity ladies right now, about my all time biggest girl fashion crush ever - Edie Sedgwick. The ultimate 60s it girl. Well, for those of us who are alternative and none girly girls. If your not sure who she is then for god sake google it....go on...I'll wait!
Okay, you back?

Good. While the hat is nothing I would ever wear since I hate those floppy brim hats due to a near death experience in a brown one in Dublin eight years ago, I just don't do them. (Incase anyone is wondering about the near death thing? The wind blew the brim down as I crossed the road - how I didn't get killed is beyond me) Anyway - I could think of nothing but Edie when I saw it. I think it's perfect.  Especially since she wore a lot of leopard print back then.

The Irish Independent in a bold yet totally mind numbingly boring move spelled out the biggest trends for next season and listed the 60s as a big influence for next season - er, tell us something that we don't know! Where have you guys been? Oh wait, I forget there are no young journalists in this country anymore - only old ones clinging to former glory.....Ouch! Basically, the Indo decided to remind us of a trend for next season which has already been around last season as if it something totally shocking and reminded us that the 70s are behind us as 'so 2011...' Again tell us something we don't know!

Side note on the Indo - is it just me or is it becoming a bit tabloid? The language I've been reading in it lately is a bit.....off....a bit Irish slang....

Right my bitter rantings aside - so as I searched for a picture of Edie in leopard, another wonderful thing came up - EDIE IN STRIPES! OH MY WORD!

(Incase you have missed the stripes jokes then see the below two posts! then read this again)

Once again is confirmation that I am only in the right with my stripes assumption. Yes...indeed....

If its good enough for Audrey......

 One final note on the idea that I might be investing in stripes for next season (yes post THAT Jil Sander collection - jesus how behind the times am I?) and it is this my friends. Yes stripes may be done to death, yes they might be a little bit 'thrown on chic' and indeed they have been fashionably done to distraction for Spring Summer - but if it's good enough  for Audrey....then hell, it's good enough for me!

LOOK! Even her home is stripy! Sometimes the classics really are the best!

Mulberry and River Island inspire me to think stripes for next season

 Mulberry always know how to have fun with their adverts. Their campaign for AW11 was really cute and one of my personal favorites from the past year. I did see their new adverts featuring Lindsey Wixon earlier and thought Oooh! but nothing more then that....then I saw this handbag from River Island and I realised something. I hadn't taken a blind bit of notice concerning what the models were wearing but rather the deckchairs and Brighton Pier background had given me the ooh factor!

I think I feel a vintage stripes by the seaside moment for SS12 coming on! Oh dear! Nautical for Spring? Has this not been done to death Penny???? Indeed I think it has..... You can have a quick look at the bag here : Bag love

Topshop's first SS12 pieces!

 And so it begins....Topshop's SS12 looks began hitting the high street today with the first of their Spring collections debuting online this morning. It's called Surf Luxe and as with a lot of high street collections in the UK for SS12, it's sportswear influenced!

 It's also bad news for those of us who like to wear black as the collection is almost all pastels, metallics and light prints. There are very few black or at least plain black pieces to choose from.

 The collection is full of seperates so you can achieve that thrown on surf look at home. It's everything from pastel purple leggings to metallic loose fitting tops - which I might add are looking pretty good to me right now. I do have to admit that I am not a fan of Spring Summer collections as I find them....well....not black. It's hard when your uniform is black and you need to buy pieces because you can never find enough on the high street! Mind you....those shoes below are screaming at me to buy them...

How gorgeous? You can view these pieces and more at : Topshop new collection

THE FACE I WORE TODAY : Judas

 Official proof that I have way too much time on my hands - I sat down and copied Lady Gaga's Judas eye make-up this morning! I even dyed my hair - for now! I'm washing it out in the morning!

 I changed a few bits around as she has black eyebrows in the video and it was a step too far that early in the morning! It also reminded me that I have to buy cotton wool buds - it drives me mad trying to fix make-up without them! Its also the one thing I can never remember to buy at the shop!

So how did I dye my hair? By rubbing black eyeliner on my fingertips and running it through my hair - no seriously.....I actually did! It washes straight out and believe me, if I can get it back out using normal shampoo - anyone can!!!!

So here is the face list
concealer + foundation : Make -up store blemish concealer + Rimmel 25 hour foundation
Black eyeliner - Rimmel
Brown eyeshadow - No. 17
Highlighter used on eyes and cheeks - Benefit High Beam
eyebrows - Rimmel
Lipstick - Rebel by MAC
Mascara - studio Fix lash MAC
eye pencil - MAC smoulder

Ab Fab is to hit the big screen!

so Ab Fab is to become a movie! Or so the rumors I heard today go! Which is fantastic because I frickin' love Patsy and the Xmas special totally proved the two girls still got it.

It's been a long time coming since the show originally started in 1992, but come on, did anyone else see the Xmas special? If you haven't then download it quick because the next episode is on Sunday, New Years day. Not to mention the special olympics episode in 2012!

“I’m definitely going to do it. I’m aiming to shoot this in a beautiful part of the Riviera. I fancy the south of France in the spring.” Jennifer Saunder told NY mag this week in an interview. So this clearly means that they haven't started filming it yet which means time to catch up on old episodes....thank god.

THE DREADFUL DIARIES : And the New Year starts now!

So new years is once again upon us and the question turns to - what and where am I going to wear what?!?!?!?!? I hate this time of year and the wardrobe issues it poses.
I guess I am lucky to be healthy this year considering I was so sick last year. I am also really lucky to have one of the best celebrations ever to look forward to. I am going to be joined by three of my friends from Dublin for a Spanish house party followed by a bar or three later on! Followed by the biggest girly sleepover ever to take place in my new house!
I am so excited that I am getting all the supplies in now! I am talking rashers, eggs and pudding and a large stash of vodka for the trouble! I am so excited to see the back of what has been a really hard year. It was hard until recently and now I am in a job I love, living, working and hanging out with people I really admire and like and I have a new wardrobe I have worked hard for. Bills be paid, rent be done and I can now kick back and relax a little bit!!!! I think back even four months ago and if you had told me I would be here - I would have laughed. I never thought I could be this happy. At least not without valium.
In other more business related tones - the blog has come on so much in recent times. I am pleased to announce a HUGE jump in readership figures, which has completely amazed me. I am so happy to still be writing stuff that apparently you like to read. Mind you, I think I would still be writing even after you had given up on me! So I hope next year I can continue to keep thrilling you and providing you with reasons to waste time/not do homework/ not study or in general do anything bar what your supposed to be doing!
Love you!
XOXOXOXOXOXOX

I am in love with these bird claw rings!

 Looks like someone is hot on the heels of Reid Peppard in unusual jewelry! This is from Snash Jewelry who sell through etsy.com. Where else really!?!??! But this company makes amazing pieces from casts of the talons of birds feet such as pheasants.

 I think I like the birds talon bracelets the best. There is something menacingly beautiful about them!

The pieces retail for roughly about $96 and you can access the rest of the collection here : I want one of those!

WHAT I WORE TODAY : MTV and Daphne Guinness

 This is the Daphne Guinness for MAC nail varnish I speak of in the below post. I am wearing the mint green shade with a deeper purple on the tips. Typically after I did my nails - I ripped one fingernail on my front key - don't even ask me how I manage this stuff!!!!

I also decided to post a picture of my new sweater. I bought it in Topman for €20 yesterday and so far it has been keeping me warm in bed all day. I completely love it! I'm crawling with hoodies and jumpers right now because its so fecking cold in the house. The jumper joins a selection of woolly brown ones and an I heart NY sweater!!!

Daphne Guinness for MAC is amazing

 I got to play with the new Daphne Guinness collection today and it's AMAZING! Guinness has designed a collection with MAC cosmetics which I have been not so patiently waiting for!!!

 There are three items in particular which I am dying to get my hands on! First up is the amazing two toned blusher which has a dip dye effect. MAC have released collections with this pattern before and they were gorgeous. I used it today and it leaves a light frosty pink on the skin. It comes in two shades, one lighter and one darker. I used the darker of the two and I am dying to test the other as I think it would be better for my skin tone.

I also loved the mint green nail varnish - which I am wearing - pictures to follow! I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the mint green lip gloss that accompanies it. It's gorgeous. It's really quite crazy looking in the bottle but it comes out a very fresh clear color with a hint of minty-ness to it. The deep purple gloss was also amazing and gave a very dark yet beautiful tone and the bubblegum pink was just a shade too light for me but still lovely. It's great for younger customers or more girly customers I think.

Topshop jacket lust

I am totally loving (for an unknown reason) this PVC jacket from Topshop Boutique today. I think it hits the right notes of Gareth Pugh mixed with Fetish underground club victim.....want....

£150 here

Alessandra Ambrosio is pregnant.......

This is what supermodels look like when they are pregnant....like the rest of us after a big lunch or a post drinking kebab.....

THE FACE I WORE TODAY : Pink and brown

 More make-up related stuff but here is my face for today! I am wearing :
face - Rimmel 25 hour foundation, Make-up Forever concealer in medium
Eyes - MAC pink pigment mixed with No 17 in Darkness with NARS Night Flight at the edges!
Liner - Avon in duo stick (green/black) and Rimmel eyeliner liquid in black

 my hair! dear lord!

Lipstick - MAC in rebel.
Oh and my eyebrows are once again by rimmel!

Mary Katrantzou for Longchamp revealed

Just quickly before I go to work! The new collection by Mary Katrantzou will be available from Longchamp from the 23rd of January! Incase you needed something to get excited about - here is a sneak peek of a bag from the collection!

This is England will return in the 90s!

Very excited - This is England is to make it into the 90s! I have been watching '88 and its been announced that there will be a 90s version!

Although no release date for it yet!

Soap and Glory sets are half price!

Just a note to say that Soap and Glory 'Yum at heart' tins have been reduced to half price in boots for their sale! Huzzah! So the sets have gone down to €11.50! For this you can get a lovely Breakfast scrub pot, hand cream and...an apron!??!?!
I'm not really feeling the apron but  the scrub yes!!!!

Kanye designs again.....

Oh good grief! How much humiliation can one person take? Okay so Kanye crashed and burned with his collection at Paris Fashion week and was panned by critics and bloggers alike. But do you think that has stopped him? er, no.....

KW has announced to his staff at the DW xmas party that he is relocating to London for good so he can work on his collection for fall and try to make the fashion thing a go. He's also going to set up a new studio - which is great news for the people he employs, but bad news for the fashion world in general.....


You got to at least give the guy credit for trying.....kinda....

Which headphones would you rather????

 Just when I thought my lust over Beats had vanished - here are the new Oscar De La Renta beats!!!! Complete with furry head bits! OMG!  The bad news is that they cost $680 to buy. I haven't even bother to translate the price because its so expensive!!!!

But not to be outdone comes Prada with their headphones for $480. Meh.....ODLR rules!

Cambridge Satchel company

 The Cambridge Satchel company are now making metallic satchels! Rejoice!

However my heart still belongs to the fluro bags...sigh... satchel me!

One Vintage have sold out of their SS12 stock already!

 Wow, someone is having a good morning! I logged onto Netaporter.com to have a gander at whats new, whats on sale and whose selling and, I was shocked to discover one brand in particular have already sold all of their Spring Summer stock....

 One Vintage have managed to shift everything bar one frock! I am perplexed by this because I don't think the dresses are stunning and they are certainly not cheap. The below dress is €2,201!!!!! It's more then likely because its not my style but I think there is something a little tacky about them.

Especially this one - which is also sold out! If I had that sort of money spare I would be running to McQueen immediately!

Jay Z T-shirts at Topman

If you havin' girl problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but this T-shirt ain't one! (Sorry) T-shirt from Topman Jay Z T-shirt

Snood love

I love a good snood. They are just beyond comfortable and seem to go with everything! So I love this tie dye snood from Topshop. £16 snood!

THE YEAR IN REVIEW : January and Feb 2011

The stories, scandals and lifestyles of the rich, the famous and myself over the past year in review...
 
JANUARY 

Fashion news 

Mary Katrantzou for Topshop announced
The last good Dior couture show takes place
Spring Summer high street lookbooks are revealed
Tom Ford is rumored to be broke - but isnt
The Brown Thomas catwalk show takes place and announces a return to glamour for 2011
Isabella Caro, the model who campaigned for eating disorders awareness at Milan Fashion week looses her battle with the disease.
Turquoise Flamingo opens and brings affordable vintage to Cork city
MAC release their wonder woman collection
Make-up Forever reveal a new face powder which turns white under photographic light and makes people look as if they have savage coke problems - this by the way was an accident
A new editor of French Vogue is announced

Lust list

We lusted over :

I pig Iphone/pod docks
Box shaped handbags
Beats headphones
cardigans because it was bloody cold in the office!

Where was Penny?

I launched the Intern diaries which told the warts and all stories of being an intern
I was still studying my masters in college!
Faye Dinsmore announces a list of influential bloggers in Ireland we are named as one of the Top Five! Thanks to the votes of our lovely readers and well wishers. Thank you again!
I was working for Newstalk for Eamon Dunphy as a researcher on Sundays and I loved it!
I was working as a columist for THE magazine under the title : 'Confessions of a Lesbian'

FEBUARY

FASHION NEWS

• Rihanna released S&M and was sued by LaChapelle over the video which he claimed ripped off his work - he had a point.
• Jamie Hince proposed to Kate Moss
• Kenneth Cole landed himself in hot water when he tweeted a racial insensitive sale joke which was blown up and plastered over windows of his store in New York
• New York Fashion Week hit and we had shows from DVF, Jason Wu and Victoria Beckham
• London Fashion Week followed with shows from Topshop Unique, House of Holland and Vivienne Westwood proving that London is possibly the most fun fashion week ever!
• Zara releases a collection of dresses for €40 which end up being a repeat collection due to the success.
• Galliano shocks the fashion world by being arrested for racial insults in Paris and throws the future of his career, Dior and his label into question.
• The general election happens in Ireland - this is not fashion news but in a way it was, because I worked it and I was working some serious looks....
• MCQ exhibit opens in New York and becomes one of the most successful exhibits ever held

Lust list

• We got introduced to the SS11 lookbooks
• Cardigans because it was still bloody cold in the office
• The Carrie skirt mania begins as it is revealed that fashion editors the world over have sold out stores by snapping them up

Where was Penny?

•  
• I worked on the new Rubberbandits video as runner and got to write a piece on it. It was hard work though!
• THE magazine took to Newstalk to discuss the latest issue but sadly it was to be our last broadcast with Global Village.
• I write a piece for EQ magazine on youth an equality
• I worked for Newstalk covering the general election and learn how to have a heart attack and report at the same time.