Belter

It seems like Gok Wan’s fashion solution to everything is ‘put a belt on it’. Now for the most part I am not mad on Gok and part of it is that I feel he relies on belts a little too much as being key to every outfit and shape, but with some things in my closet a belt is exactly what is needed.

They can instantly transform a dress that doesn’t do much for your waistline or in something patterned they break it up a bit, making the busy-ness a bit easier on the eye.

I have a ‘strictly for purpose’ plain black belt, which has reached a stage where it should really be replaced, to wear with jeans and trousers and a number of ‘fashion belts’. As pictured, one of these was removed from a pair of vintage trousers that I got in a family haul and the other has been featured previously as being a TJ Maxx, or TK Maxx, depending upon which side of the pond you are on, find. I have a few others that get used for nipping in various dresses – and I think pretty much all of these are from H&M (like the bow belt above). I also tend to use scarves or long chains as belts.

  

Dream belts...my mom has an amazing vintage brown leather belt from the 70s...you know the ones with a painted scene carved in that includes rainbows and snow-topped mountains...I keep contemplating stealing it. And I have also been keeping my eye out on Ebay for a reversible Hermes belt, preferably in turquoise and black or chocolate brown with a silver H buckle. I think both of these will remain a dream for a good while longer.

Autumnal Tones

I have recently renewed my love affair with thrift shops. I’ve always popped in and out, but as bridesmaidly duties approach and an ever shrinking bank account, it was time to start making a bit of time to hunt down a pair of silver shoes on the cheap.

Of course on my first outing to the thrift shops, I did not find silver shoes, but I did find these amazing Bally heels for 8 yos, hardly worn and in my size. Last night was the perfect night out for them and I decided to go for variety of autumnal tones...maroon dress from H&M, navy blue tights and vintage forest green leather cluth.

Oh and I found the perfect Buffalo silver satin shoes for less than a fiver, also hardly worn on my next outing...wonder what I’ll find next?

Festival Fetish

The fear is slowly fading after the Electric Picnic, all to be faced with the Festival of Fashion, the Dublin Fringe Festival, and Dublin Contemporary 2011 (they really should have thrown an f-word into that last one to indulge my love of alliteration).

I am super excited about everything going on in Dublin this months, however my body and wallet recoil in horror. I have a feeling that both sides will win some and lose some. 


Anyhow, how does one accessorise for a weekend of frolics and music in the Irish outdoors? Wellies, sunglasses and tights are mandatory. The name necklace slightly vital to make striking up conversations eith strangers a bit easier. After that it’s whatever takes my fancy – this year it was the Hello Kitty ear headband from H&M and wristwear – I’ll let you guess which cost over €200 and which came out of a Christmas Cracker.

Bead it!

I have been a bad blogger lately. Not sure if it’s a bit of writer’s block or if I’ve been occupied with so many other things that I just don’t have the energy for writing. I have a feeling the blogging may be a bit intermittent until the end of October, so please be patient with me!

I like to refer to these beads as my flapper beads. My lovely friend Jan purchased them for me many moons ago in H&M after I nearly swiped some vintage glass beads of the same colour that she possessed. I have searched for a vintage glass version, but they’re a bit pricey for my purse strings these days. I love beads in their many forms, especially long beads because they can have a bit of swing and you can play with them when you’re bored.

I hadn’t worn these in quite a while, but have a feeling they will be in rotation quite a bit this autumn/winter. I’m looking forward to deep jewel tones and bought myself a little rust coloured dress at H&M on Sunday. I look forward to pairing it with these beads, a number of other necklaces, scarves, a top underneath, a cardigan on top, various tights, brown shoes, black shoes...I was going to try and hold off wearing it until September, but have a feeling it will make its first appearance this week...

Accent Enough

Sometimes even I wear something that doesn’t require accessorising. This dress is one of those somethings. It’s Marks and Sparks from last A/W, I’m thinking if I can find the right pair of trousers I can use this top to pull of the tunic and trousers look. Of course finding trousers that suit my pear shape and the money in my budget for them is another matter...

Favourite T

You know you have one. It has faded, has holes, the screenprint is cracked or has faded beyond recognition and it has absolutely no shape to it whatsoever. It has survived purge after purge. You might have purchased it yourself or stole it off a parent/significant other/not-so significant other...it’s your favourite T...used to wear it everyday...

This beauty is from a gig I went in Houston, Texas at the age of 14. I was (probably still am a little) obsessed with Evan Dando and while it wasn’t my first gig – that honour goes to Milli Vanilli, redeemed by the fact that Young MC opened – it was one of my most memorable. My glasses got kicked off my face in the mosh pit because everyone was so angry in the mid-90s that you moshed even at a Lemonheads concert and I actually couldn’t see the gig.

These calamities did not prevent the t-shirt my father bought me that night from taking pride of place in my wardrobe for over 15 years. It doesn’t really get worn in public these days, but it does get slept in frequently enough.

Luckily in 2007 I was able to see my teen hero play Dublin with my friend Yvonne and courtesy of her mate Trev, who got us on the guest list. We had a bit to drink beforehand and were squealing like teenage girls. This time I wore my contacts just in case there was a mosh pit and I made sure to make my way as close to the stage as I could for a good part of the gig. 

Lurking Good

There is a rather large pile of laundry in my room and I just can’t seem to find the will to tackle it. It really wouldn’t take much to do...

This of course required the wearing of clothes that have been lurking in the drawers for a while.  I am pleased that they got a bit of an outing and that I got to let out a bit of my inner hippy.  At the age of 13 I was obsessed with tie-dye shirts and bell-bottoms...at times the song remains the same...though this shirt is a lot more revealing then one I'd have worn then.

Top:Urban Outfitters

Jeans: Gap

Bag: Ebay

Sunglasses: American Eagle Outfitters

Bracelets: Stolen from my mom and Bernard Shaw Carboot Sale

P.S. You can’t see them in the photos here, but I have persevered with the wedges of pain and was able to walk around in them for most of today without a problem - vaseline on the skin where the shoes are rubbing seems to have finally done the trick!