Oh our hearts are still a flutter since we spotted this colour a couple of months ago, it’s definitely love people.  It’s time to share, Chanel’s Nouvelle Vague is arousing feelings of sheer ecstacy at every glance!  Sad?  Yes.  But how could one not fall head over heals in love with this ocean greeny blue hue?  There are of course plenty of imitations on the market but we’ve yet to spot one as good here at Wow.ie head quarters, we are however open to correction!

It will cost you in the region of €20-€22 but the price per pleasurable application and wear is well worth it.  It’s one to grab before the weather turns cold otherwise you may just look like you’re sporting a fungal infection!

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There’s a lot of love out there for the nautical trend, here here from the girls at wow!  Hence our excitement on the discovery of this little gem at Penneys.

The canvas striped pouch bag is only €7.00 (where else would you get that!!) and hit the stores at the beginning of last month so hurry if you need it to complete your nautical look this Summer.  The nautical style of the bag echoes French Riviera chic fused with a tint of young, and as always you won’t have to live on beans and toast for the rest of the month to buy it!  For inspiration on how to add a hint of nautical check out Chanel‘s marine themed bangle.  Oasis are carrying a great range of nautical accessories this season if Chanel is out of your budget!

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When Chanel release a new colour for the season you can be guaranteed it will be THE hottest colour to wear, that and it will be sold out, gone without a trace just as you give in to buying a bottle!  If you want to know what to have drooled all over you talons this Summer this is it, Chanel Nouvelle Vague.  The limited edition Summer 2010 colour has hit the Chanel counters so be quick if you like it, they honestly do seem to sell out remarkably quick.

The varnish has a creamy textured look with pearl veining through the shade of bright turquoise – which will work best with a tan!  Chanel have brought out other shots of colour for your nails including Mistral (517) and Riviera (537) above but it’s definitely the turquoise Nouvelle Vague (527) that will get you noticed.  OPI have a great silvery blue in their latest collection called Breathe Life (in fact they have a great selection of ‘greens’).

Illamasqua do a couple of shades similar to this (see here for our previous post on these lovely pastels) and good old M&S have a gorgeous Baby Blue – plus one very similar to this offering from Chanel.  Gosh have produced a pearlized blue – Oceanic, which is definitely a little more neon in colour than most of the other takes on this trend.  I am finding it hard to let go of my Chanel Rouge Noir (thanks sis!), although it seems we can still get away with dark colours even if Winter is allegedly behind us.

As always, DON’T FORGET YOUR BASECOAT!!

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Clog – such a funny word for a funny-looking shoe.  Associated with many Eurpoean cultures but most notably the Dutch, clogs have managed to creep their way into the trends this Spring, much like the brogue has done before.  Shoes are the one thing in fashion that tend to go full circle, dating back a number of years and all of a sudden explode onto the catwalks and filter down to the streets in a matter of months.

Once predominantly made out of wood, the clog has been tweaked since the 19th Century and has been reinvented by designers such as Chanel and Miu Miu (below).  Soon you will no longer need to learn how to clog-dance before stepping out in a pair of these wooden wonders.

Karl Lagerfeld came under a lot of criticism when he styled his models for Spring/Summer 2010 in custom made clogs with the Chanel logo encrusted onto the familiar bronze studs that attach the linen to the wooden sole.  But anything Vogue praises tends to become an instant hit, and when Alexa Chung sat cross legged on the cover last month donning a pair of these Chanel (below left) clogs, it has been all that fashionista’s can talk about.  She admitted herself that they are quite difficult to walk in, especially with tights, but since when has fashion been practical?  Louis Vuitton pictured right.

With an array of fabrics to choose from, such as linen, leather or suede, clogs are set to be this seasons ‘it’ shoe. Try a pair of Miu Miu’s sheepskin lined ankle boot clogs, or stick to the traditional silhouette but with a patchwork twist, the chunkier the heel the better.  And it doesn’t have to have a designer stamp, high street stores such as Topshop (below left) and River Island (below right) have imported their clogs straight from the Netherlands (well, from their factories, but who knows, they could have one in Amsterdam). Not to be mistaken with the extremely comfortable crocs, these new takes on the traditional comfortable clog are far from clumpy and frumpy as they have once been described.  So, you have to ask yourself, are you a cloggy?

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We had to do a double take when we spotted this jacket… Oooh, nice Chanel jacket we thought… hang on a second – that’s not Chanel!  And we were right – damn close copy though.  What a gorgeous little jacket and it’s a limited edition so it won’t walk the streets alone.

This Boucle Bead & Bow Jacket is available from New Look at £55.  M&S did an even better copy last year (below) that sent every self respecting recessionista Chanel fan into a frenzy.  The New Look version has a 2010 twist by adding the bow detailing and embellishement.  New Look’s version has a ribbon trim where as Chanel used a crocheted black rubber braid trim but who’s nit picking!

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On the back of her recent Brit award for Best Female Artist, which she accepted whilst wearing an orange afro wig, Lily Allen has revealed that she is quitting music for the foreseeable future (two years is quite seeable but we’ll let her away with that one) in order to pursue the different pathways life has to offer.

As face of the Spring/Summer ’10 Chanel campaign, Lily joined a long list of singers and actresses who have gone before her in the hop from one business to the other, such as Emma Watson for Burberry, Chloe Sevingy for Chloe and indeed her own collection for Opening Ceremony. But what better way to hone your love for shopping by turning that talent into a business venture. Lily will channel the creative juices that were once used for gold-chained melodies to a more down to earth job, such as running a shop.

The boutique Lucy in Disguise which will be co-run with her sister, will offer customers items which they can hire rather than splurge on. She insists her ideals are politically flavoured, stating that “It’s about making fashion democratic”. Surely it’s not just a way to keep the money flowing whilst her music career is on hiatus and a way of finding use for her abundance of designer gear that has be thrown at her in recent years. “It’s about getting really nice clothes but letting people rent them for affordable prices so they can go out and feel like a million dollars and it won’t cost them a million dollars.” Let’s hope it won’t end up looking like the costume shop where that dreadful luminous wig was found.

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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!

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It’s like a pick ‘n mix of Hollywood Glamour, the Oscars are the night when the most perfect are dolled up to the nines to look their best, but some still fall short.  Here are my picks for best dressed, worst dressed and a few other observations.

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.

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This is a little gem if you are looking for a neutral nail polish with a bit of umph!!  The darker neutral shades of polish can be hard to wear but if you want a shade that will go with just about anything this is it!

The secret from this Chanel product is that they have added a Lavender undertone to the mix of grey/brown which has given it a wonderful warm lift.   Chanel Particuliere (particular) Le Verins nail colour could be described as taupe or mushroom.  Whatever way it’s described this colour is another in the latest trend – Nude!  Nude for nails is as on trend as nude shades for your wardrobe.  This colour was launched during Paris Fashion Week last October and is now filtering it’s way to everyday wear.  Why not give it a go, at €20 it won’t break the bank.  If that seems steep check out other high street brands, although I’ve already bought Mivala and their take is a greyer version with a high shine that doesn’t resemble Chanel’s version AT ALL!

It’s an alternative to the pastel shades that some of you may not feel comfortable wearing.  See our previous post on pastel nail colours.  Chanel’s Spring 2010 nail polish colours – Particulière, Tendresse and Inattendu are pictured below.  Happy painting ‘au natural’!

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Date for your diary ladies, Friday 12th March – Mount Juliet, Image Magazine and Harvey Nichols are holding this Spring Salon Fashion Event at Mount Juliet.  The event is in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, featuring an exclusive salon-style showing of the Harvey Nichols Spring/Summer 2010 Fashion Collection, as well as an opportunity to Shop the Show in the luxurious surroundings of the Mount Juliet House Presidential Suite.  It’s set to be an unmissable evening of fabulous fashion and beauty… Ooh la la, I’m there!

Fashionistas will have an opportunity to view the latest designs from the collections of Vivienne Westwood, Armani Collezioni, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Donna Karan, Sportmax, Alexander McQueen, D&G and Elie Tahari in the unique setting of the historic Mount Juliet House. Accessories will be key for 2010 and the Spring Salon will offer ladies a preview of pieces from Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Jimmy Choo. Harvey Nichols will also be previewing their exclusive range of DVF sunglasses in addition to Tom Ford, Chanel and Tiffany, while IMAGE magazine’s resident wardrobe mistress Triona McCarthy will share her style nous in an ultra-exclusive fashion workshop on the evening.

Guests will also have an exclusive opportunity to shop this season’s trends in fashion and beauty with expert advice from the Harvey Nichols team of Personal Shopping and beauty experts, and will be treated to hand massages and mini-facials, making this event the ultimate Spring Summer Treat.

The event starts at 6.30pm, tickets for the Mount Juliet Spring Salon Fashion Event, in association with IMAGE magazine and Harvey Nichols, cost €65pp. Fashion show starts at 8pm. Tickets include fashion show and after-party with music from DJ Poppy Lloyd, champagne reception, canapés, Harvey Nichols goody bag and access to the Shop the Show event in the Presidential Suite. Overnight accommodation in Mount Juliet House costs €94.50 pps and club house accommodation is available from €79.50 pps.

Please call Tracy Ryan on 086 0436490 to purchase your ticket. For further information on the Mount Juliet Spring Salon Fashion Event please log on to www.mountjuliet.ie/fashion.

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