I was lucky enough to attend the Karen Millen 2010 press event this morning and boy are we in for a treat.  Expect a beautiful soft colour palette and accessories with a high end look…. we’ll bring you more on that later.

Enter Sonia Lennon – and enter she did in serious style!  Sonia looked so good she reminded me of A-lister Kylie Minogue with her petite frame and funky ensemble.  This photo does not do what she was wearing justice, trust me – photographer I am not!  Sonia was rocking this seasons colours of yellow and green along with bejeweled shoes to DIE FOR, not forgetting the obligatory tote.  Her hair was pinned up in a this seasons tossed manner but still looked groomed.  Big thumbs up to Sonia for her style and obliging me with a picture

We’ve been bargain hunting again!  Stripes are big this season (spots ‘n dots too!) and trenches are here to stay for another while.  This trench by McQ By Alexander McQueen marries the two trends so well managing to cover animal print along the way.  The tiger stripe cotton trench used contrasting stripe print giving more depth to the design.  Favourite part – the wide colour detail and it’s adjustable waist giving a great silhouette.

The RRP for this coat is $1,001.54, however on the Asos outlet you can call it yours for $572.65!!!  They also have a fab collection of LBD’s reduced including a McQ By Alexander McQueen Strapless Bustier dress reduced to $196.58.

Print was huge on the runways with Emilio Pucci and Erdem springing to mind.  Abstract graphics in various colours made an appearance, see our previous post on LFW for more.

If the high end fashion houses are out of your budget then take note (if you are a size 8-10!!), we found this print detailed Miss Sixty dress on adverts.ie for the bargain price of €30!!  The black and white print bubble Summer dress will work with heels, flats or even with leggings.  How you accessorise this dress will determine the looks you can achieve.

As always read the details before purchasing on line, but we reckon this is great little bargain.  Click here for more..

Well boys, it’s not often you get a look in so we thought why not give you the low down on what’s what this season!   Men’s fashion has taken a change of direction this Spring Summer going with a more laid back unstructured vibe.  The colour palette sees a contrast between cool crisp colours against really strong colours with teal, baby blues and shades of turquoise at the forefront.  Rest assured that check is still in (oh how we love a man in a fitted check shirt… oh.. sorry… think typing!), J.C. Rags (bottom) showing how to wear your check this season.   As with women’s fashion grey also features heavily in men’s.  The old days are here boys, shop for retro-classics like Argyles, tartans and cable knit cricket jumpers – think slim chino’s.

THE key trend for all this season is denim.  Baring that in mind gentlemen look for anything 50’s inspired, this season we say goodbye 80’s hello 30’s, 40’s and 50’s!  Revivalist look classic dark-rinse denim plus charred and battered finishes are all up there, basically a hero look minus hanging out in blazing buildings!   BT2 stock a SERIOUS selection of denim and are always introducing new labels to their collection so make them your first port of call on the hunt for denim.  This Lee denim shirt pictured is available at BT2 and Urban Outfitters.  G-Star loose tapered jeans at various high street stores, we found these on Asos.com.

Military is still ok just go for older classic looks, plus green is another big colour this season, that and vibrant pimento red, canary yellow and grape tones!!  To create the 50’s look chinos have been gently tapered this season, check out Franklin and Marshall for a great pair of palm green chinos at BT2 (label also stocked at Urban Outfitters).  On the green theme see Balenciaga’s Spring/Summer ‘10 (top left) almost old war style jacket, we found a high street version at BT2 by a new label to the store, J.C. Rags (top right).  Let’s just hope that shoot was done in Movember!  If green is not your thing check out French Connection’s charcoal grey corporal jacket (image on intro).

Picking up a couple of the key items mentioned above will see you through the season in true style!

As we’ve already seen in our Oscars Fashion report nude was the theme of the night.  Marry that with THE must have bag for at least the last couple of years, the quilted Chanel and you’ll understand why we chose this as our pick of the day.  We regularly see celebs dressed yummy and slummy photographed with their quilted Chanel bags.  Straight away Lily Allen springs but check out Paris Hilton and Lauren Conrad donning theirs.

There have been so many copies done at most of the high street stores but this one has to be one of the best to date.   Found on asos.com this pastel quilted bag is a frugal friendly €18.  Best bit… the woven chainlink shoulder strap, it’s all about the attention to detail ladies!

Best Dressed

Sandra Bullock looked fab in this beaded Marchesa gown.  So pretty and glamorous and suited the occasion perfectly.  Because of the amount of detailing and lush fabric this is a look not easily replicated by us mere mortals.

Jennifer Lopez’s irrediscent pink Armani Privé (Armani Haute Couture) gown showcases a trend that Jennifer Hudson wore at this years golden globes – origami folds.  Jo Lo really got it right this year compared to last years gold mess.  The iridescent pink combines two other major trends in colour this year – blush tones and metallic.  Poor Amanda Seyfried wore a very similar dress also by Armani – ouch someone’s in trouble.

Not so Nice

Nicole Richie got a great response in this Reem Acra vintage gown but sorry I just don’t like it.  I think it swamps her tiny frame and makes her look about ten years older than she is.  The dark hair, dark make-up and dark dress combined are just so depressing.

Demi Moore gets marks for a good effort in this Versace but unfortunately her fake tan blends in with the dress, and I’m so over blush ruffles, Penelope Cruz did this look at the 2007 Oscars in a gown also by Versace.

Risk Takers

Sarah Jessica Parker often takes risks on the red carpet and somehow she always manages to pull it off.  It must be her off centre beauty as I don’t think this dress would look half as nice on a classic beauty.  By the way it’s Chanel Coture.

What the Hec?

Poor Charlize Theron.  She is the face of Dior but some cruel person at Dior put her in this awful creation.  It looks like one of Madonna’s corsets got wrapped in a bridesmaid dress.  I know it’s Haute Couture but that’s no excuse for making someone look just plain silly.

To help celebrate International Women’s Day Styletonic.ie are offering one lucky wow.ie reader a €100 voucher to spend on their site!

Styletonic.ie is a unique website offering fashion solutions for stylish Irish women. The site is a portal to the foremost fashion boutiques in the country and features the latest clothing from Temperley, Proenza Schouler, Fabiana Filippi, John Rocha, Collette Dinnigan, Peter Jensen, Tadashi Shoji and other leading Irish and International designers.

The brainchild of Dubliner Michelle Jones, StyleTonic.ie has been designed to meet the needs of time-poor, style-conscious Irish women: “Women today have so many demands on their time – the economic downturn means that we are all working harder and being more efficient with our time and our money.  StyleTonic.ie offers the savvy shopper a chance to shop – or indeed window-shop – from home or the office”.

So if you fancy winning a chance to shop some of the best designer labels all you have to do is tell us who is your favourite designer in the comments box below.

We selected two dresses just to give you a taste of what to expect, first dress is Tadashi Shoji and the second is a typically colourful Peter Jensen design.  Good luck all

The Sligo born jewellery designer Melissa Curry has made a welcome comeback to Dublin, after five years away, with a wonderful collection created from the traditional and popular ‘Chinese lacquer’ jewellery.  Melissa’s unusual range was inspired by her trip to China in the 1990’s, with the circle being her trademark.

This collection featuring necklaces and bangles are worked from the cinnbar – coloured wood of China.  Each individual piece is moulded in a different way before being painted red or black.  The pieces are then mounted on sterling silver chains.

In China traditional Chinese lacquer jewellery is as an important part of their culture as our Claddagh design is to us here in Ireland, though with a more modern setting maybe more so like our own renowned Newbridge Silver traditional designs.

Melissa Curry, known for her adventurous designs was chosen as the ‘Cutting Edge’ jewellery designer for the London Millennium Year during Liberty’s International campaign for that big event.  Through her unique design skills she has also worked with Toni & Guy, Swarovski and many more big names.

If you are tempted and want something completely different, Melissa Curry’s collection can be seen at Havana in Donnybrook, and will shortly be in Dublin’s Kilkenny Design Shop.  Another Irish talent we can be proud of!

Prices vary from €250 upwards for the bangles and neckpieces.

Images courtesy of melissacurrydesign.ie.

Are you a big perfume addict will piles of bottles stacked in your bathroom?  Do you fancy learning a little more about your perfume?  Well then, Harvey Nichols in Dundrum is the place to be tomorrow evening (March 9th) at 7pm.

The world’s only ‘professeur de parfums’ Roja Dove, will be sharing his vast knowledge about perfumes giving you the opportunity to learn all you ever wanted to know about your perfume.  He will also be promoting his book ‘The Essence of Perfume’ – a great gift idea for the mother that has everything including a healthy perfume collection!  This book is so informative for all of you who have any interest on the subject of fragrance.  Dove has also created a Haute Parfumerie in Harrods, one of World’s most famous department stores.  Tickets are €10 which also includes a glass of bubbly and are redeemable against a purchase, we love ‘redeemable’ deposits and tickets.  If you are feeling flush you can purchase a VIP ticket at €35 which will include a three course menu – we presume of food and not perfume!   It sounds like an interesting evening and something different so if you go let us know how you get on and enjoy…

Ladies, throw your hand (left or right, choice is yours) over your shoulder and pat yourselves on the back… it’s International Women’s Day!  Whether you are at your desk in work, at home with the kids, single, married, of any nationality or penniless you can still feel safe in the knowledge that today is your day, as it is for women worldwide.

Today’s the day we celebrate not having to burn our bras to be heard and thank those who fought for our vote.  We did bore you with the details last year so we’ll spare you today   Enjoy, spoil yourselves, get the girls over, eat lots of chocolate and put your feet up.