Our pick of the day comes from the AWear day dress range.  This ‘Riveria Floral’ ruffle detail dress is so cute and quite versatile too which isn’t essential when you consider it only costs €35!

Take any of the various colours within the print and layer different longer sleeved tops underneath.  Alternatively change it around using different belts.  The first tan stitch detail belt for €12 could be teamed with boots of a similar colour, peep toe or full boot.  The red butterfly belt would add fun to the dress with that shot of colour.  The blue nautical buckle belt along with nautical accessories would be right on trend too.   Both of these belts are priced at €8!  Oasis have great nautical themed bangles.

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We gotta have this gorgeous ruffle sleeve dress at an amazing €50!!  The detailing on the ruffled shoulders would hold their own on any runway.  Team with tights, high shoes and the pretty rose zip bib necklace below, also at an AMAZING price – €15, both at AWear.  You will wear this necklace again and again teaming it with jeans and a tee, summer dresses and more.

If you are purchasing don’t forget to check out their denim Dakota line which was equally desired, have a look on-line if you can’t make their stores…

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You can’t beat AWear if you want to add to your accessories and not your overdraft!  We found this gorgeous day bag amongst other Chanel inspired chain and quilt detail bags. The bag in question is not too dissimilar in style to something you would find at Jimmy Choo but at far less damage to your bank account.

The stud and tassel shopper comes in grey, THE colour of the season, and is priced at an amazing €40!!  The Jimmy Choo bag below will set you back a cool €1295.

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If you could give grades for fashion brands it’d be fantastic… points depending on style, trends, quality and, of course, price! Well, I was at the Awear Press Day last week and all I can say is the new Spring/Summer line ticked every box.

I remember back when I was in school and my mum shopped in Awear… it was slightly less trendy, always approachable and affordable, but rarely a fashionista’s first port of call! Well how times have changed – it seems in the past eight years Awear has been giving top British brands like Topshop and River Island a run for their money and has become top of the fashion leaderboard.

This Spring is going to be a delightful array of nudes and peaches and pinks… just imagine rummaging through a ballet dancer’s trunk of goodies and hey presto. My favourite piece from the ‘Dakota’ collection has to be the stunning layered tutu-inspired skirt… toughen the look up with a cool t-shirt, denim shirt opened and flat leather boots to go for the glunge look. Or for those of you Carrie lovers… channel the opening Sex and the City credits and wear with a simple nude bodysuit underneath!

Another theme Awear is doing is the new take on last year’s military trend… a combination of utility and ethnic warrior. My must-have from this collection has to be the ultra-gorge green playsuit with ruffle detail… team with boyfriend cardi, over-sized shades and flat sandals or boots for daytime chic or go glam at night with chunky gold accessories and killer heels.

For high summer expect Miami Vice meets Cocacabana… the vivid collection is a refreshing surprise among a season so full of pastels. An array of bright and colourful dresses and individual pieces that will have you feeling like you’re on holiday even if you’re stuck in dull old Ireland. Channel Halston in these layered chiffon dreams that Nicole Ritchie and Rachel Zoe would ‘just die’ for. But your just gonna have to wait in high anticipation until June/July to get your hands on these gems. I have already put in a request for a long purple and blue maxi dress that usually I would consider too girly… but I’ve fallen in love!

And for my star buy of the season it has to be this strapless number… the neutral blush tone works perfectly with the uber soft, faux suede material, and the cut of the fabric gives the leather a new feminine look. Taking inspiration from the likes of Philip Lim and Hermes who gave leathers a much softer look for the Spring/Summer season, Awear’s new take on the must-have little leather dress from last season is ultra-girly, ultra-soft and ultra-wearable. You don’t need to be Angelina Jolie to get leather clad in this little number.

Top marks for Awear this Spring/Summer, showing that as usual… the Irish do it best!

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If you are lucky enough to be wined and dined this Valentines you better make an effort to dress up!  We’ve chosen a couple of different looks to give you some inspiration.  Our first pick had to be this lace shift dress from River Island where you’ll also find a pair of patent black platform shoes with a dark purple heel to complete the look and a treasure trove of accessories. Next we’ve chosen a fringed charcoal dress from AWear (bargain at €50!) that could be tamed with black opaques and maybe a splash of colour with some red shoes or why not add colour with a pair of red sheer tights.  If you’ve fake tanned it would be fantastic with a killer pair of sexy heels.  Either of the Carvela shoes below from BT2 would do the trick!  You could always splurge or maybe be splurged upon for Valentines and be the proud owner of these gorgeous Jimmy Choo red patent peep toe sandals for €495 (JC on line).

If you are just at the beginning stages of a relationship and don’t want to appear too keen or maybe you just want a funkier look then any of the three looks below may be what you are looking for.  The first two are by Gestuz and the last by Goldsign, all available at BT2 with Gestuz also available on asos.com. The Gestuz ‘pants’ are one of the biggest trends this season, in particular the first pair incorporating a haphazard print. Adriano Goldschmied, formerly of AG jeans, is behind Goldsign which is a new denim line to BT2.  Each pair is unique with gold detailing on the back pocket and even better they’ve just a hint of that all important skinny jean essential – stretch!

Alternatively if you want to go all cutesy and girly this Valentines then Sonia by Sonia Rykiel‘s little pink dress is a winner!  I absolutely love this dress, it’s colour and the detailing on the shoulders – detailing that WILL make your waistline appear smaller. It is probably the most discrete piece from the collection which is full of bold colours and prints. Perhaps give the sunglasses a miss if it’s dinner instead of a liquid lunch. This dress is available from BT2. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel is also available on asos.com and net-a-porter.com. Prints and a hint of 80′s combine together with this floaty girly Frill Hem dress from Warehouse and it won’t break the bank at €60! They also do a wrap style similar to this dress at the same price.  You can team this dress with opaques and boots for day wear or office wear and pumps in the summer.  Here’s hoping you are all spoiled rotten whatever you do!

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Yes after sieving through celebrity photos from last week we happened to stumble over a noticeable trend that kept popping up on several celebrities! Each one seemed to be rocking the biker chic look and making it look pretty good, the leather jacket was obviously a must-have for these girls to complete their desired look. Check out the culprits below and see if you’ll be giving the biker chic look a go….

Charlize Theron looked great above whilst attending the Artists for Peace and Justice Haiti relief brunch on the 24th January. I’m loving the feminine yellow and black spotted dress and the leather jacket just completes her look so perfectly. Demi Moore also teamed a short leather jacket with puffed-sleeved, teamed with skinny jeans and a crisp white shirt, a classic and elegant take on the biker trend.

Last Tuesday Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewan from (the ever changing!) Sugababes both demonstrated how to rock the leather look! Both girls looked great in their outfits, especially Jade in her three-quarter sleeves and cropped jacket, it really oozed coolness.

The day before we saw Eva Herzigova attended the ETAM Fashion Show in Paris, she is pictured here sporting her distressed leather jacket and over-the-knee boots (another key trend) along with a black shift dress. Personally I’m not so keen on the jacket with this outfit, however, Eva still manages to look good… surprise, surprise!

If you want to give the leather look a go, I’ve found a few you may be interested in…

To start we have the Caprice Fitted Leather Biker Jacket at €119 from littlewoods.ie. This is a black fitted zip up leather jacket, with a deep rib collar that can be turned down or zipped fully up to give it more versatility.

Next we have the Waterfall Soft Leather Jacket from AWear at €120. This black leather fitted jacket is really feminine and pretty with it’s frilled chest detail. You will definitely look the part in it and will spot many an envious eye whilst out and about in it too!

Lastly I found this Luxe Leather Jacket at Oasis for the bargain price of €94. This black 100% leather jacket is uber cool, this style has been spotted on the likes of Kate Moss to name but one in recent times. The blazer style jacket has great detailed sequins on the shoulders that complete the fabulous look.

So there you have it ladies, I’ll leave it up to you as to whether or not you will be investing in a leather luxury or leaving this latest trend by the wayside!

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Yes, it’s still FREEZING!  Can you believe the weather?  I spent the day yesterday snowboarding in Wicklow, now there’s a sentence I didn’t think I’d write!  As it is set to last for another couple of days I’ve jotted down four of my top tips for buying a coat suitable for your body shape…

Coats for pear shaped figures:

The trick here is to draw attention away from your hips, get people to look up!  So balance a bigger bottom half with an oversized collar because the extra fabric will draw peoples attention to your neckline and balance out your shape.  Littlewoods have this great coat with large collars, the neckline is still open enough to knot a scarf underneath to change the look.

Coats for big busts:

Zip it! There is nothing worse than seeing a person in a top or coat with buttons stretched and looking like they’re going to pop at any moment! Find yourself a coat with a zip as this will close easier and look an awful lot better.

Coats for Small Chests:

Get plaid, animal print or something with a design! Having a design on the coat will draw attention away from your small chest. If you want to ‘pump up the volume’ up top, get a double-breasted coat, it will get the illusion of a larger chest.  Awear are carrying this animal print, a trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.

Coats for Curvy Bodies:

Debenhams Jasper Conran Trench Coat, €109.

Belt up! A good trench coat with a belt will define your waist and instantly slims, so check out this Jasper Conran trench perfect to ‘trim and slim’ your look!  Keeping wrapped up doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your style, just work with what you have and enhance or disguise where needed.

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A perfect day dress for work, throw on your thick tights and pumps or heels and off to work you go.  There’s a real Victoria Beckham feel to this dress. This Pencil Pleat dress is so well priced at €40 and would be perfect for the office.  You could team it with coloured shoes, polka dot tights, pearls, scarves or various coloured cardis to change the look.

AWear have a huge selection of day dresses that are handy to have in the wardrobe ready to throw on.

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The tailored look is everywhere and this winters must have.

This 3 piece suit is available with Dolce & Gabbana, Brown Thomas for a mere €2225. Fear not as every high street shop is doing their own take on it.

Tweeds are mixed with silks giving real contrast. AWear have a great tweed ‘Lurex Bow Front’ grey skirt for €40 and various shirts/blouses to team up with it.

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