Well it’s that time of year when many of us will have Summer weddings, cocktail parties (I wish!) and debs so the hunt for dresses can be a little stressful.  We’ve picked out a varied selection of dresses currently on Littlewoods that may be of some help!

You will definitely turn heads in this pink Forever Unique Nadine One Shoulder Dress at €219 which is so god damn glamorous. Its single shoulder peeps through a sparkling diamante neckline and pleated fabric skims the bodycon dress beneath.  Two words on this dress – LOVE. IT.

Stripes are a bold statement this season and this Teatro Striped Prom Dress at €72 features wide stripes and an elegant graceful shape for an evening look.  Good supporting or filling underwear (depending on your size!) is essential to pull this look off!

Another dress from the Teatro collection the structure of this dress with its one shoulder makes it a real ‘occasion dress’.  This dress would actually work for a Summer or Winter wedding which is great value for money considering it is priced at €72.

A dress from Littlewoods own-brand Love Label named the Cinderella Dress at €84.  A real flirty party dress draped in pleat and ruffle detail for a textured, fun and playful night-time look.  Just be sure this colour suits your skin tone!

This really takes the LBD to a new level!  Check out this Vicky Martin Embellished Backless Dress (€72) which is a contemporary take on the little black dress as its understated design is contrasted by shimmering embellishment and backless detailing.  Definitely one to encourage you to the gym.

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Awear want us to ‘Get Glam in time for race season’ and have just sent us this pre-view of what to expect….

With race season just around the corner, A|wear has given us an exclusive preview on some of the fab dress styles due to hit stores over the next two weeks. Lia Tallon, A|wear’s stylist to the stars has picked her six must have dresses for the summer season & with prices from as little as €35, there are plenty to see you through the social whirl of summer!

“Summer is all about colour and bright prints with maxi’s being one of the hottest trends to hit the catwalk this season, from light shades to deeper tones and bright bold prints, there is definitely a shade and style to suit everyone. The shift dress is also key whether dressed up with heels for all out glamour or dressed down with flats and oversized sunnies for a relaxed daytime look”.

Dresses come in both short & long this race season. Lia’s absolute favourite is a printed chiffon maxi (€50) in shades of vivid orange, purple or jade green, worn with super high wedges or simply with gladiator flats. The shift dress is also a staple for the season ahead but now with added detailing. Think monochrome graphic prints offset with ruffle hem details (€35) or pleated styles with shades of muted grey (€50). For the girl who loves her sparkle, the pewter sequin shift dress (€60) is perfect for a laid back glam look…pair it with killer heels and a simple clutch & your set to go!

Even better news for all our Galway Girls… A|wear is hosting an exclusive Girls Night In on the 21st of July just before the Galway races. Guests on the night will be treated to 20% off all full price purchases, free drinks courtesy of Bulmers, GOSH makeovers and our in store DJ will provide hot summery sounds! To tick all the fashion boxes on your race card email party@awear.ie to RSVP.

All dresses featured here arrive in A|wear stores nationwide over the next two weeks.

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Chica Boutique have just announced the Ingenue’s Spring Summer Collection will be available in stores (and online) from the end of February.  We’ve selected some of what’s due out to whet your appetite!

Above we start with the Robe Manille – €95, then we have the puffed shoulder detailing and shaped waist on the Robe Globo also €95 and, finally the elegant Robe TchaTcha an unbelievable €92!! They certainly didn’t shy away from prints or bold colours both of which we love here at wow.ie.  Below is the last of our favourites from the collection.  We just loved the polka dot flirty Robe Fifi dress – €92.  Austin Powers springs to mind when you look at the Robe Lotus for only €94!! The most favoured of all was the almost psychedelic print Robe Cherie for €92. We can’t wait to get in and wade through the prints and colours to find something a little different to the norm.

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It really is red carpet season so we thought why not get in on the act and scour the high street for the best there is – should you be lucky enough to need it!  We were pleasantly surprised by the choice and rather frustrated at having to trim down our selection but lets hope we have saved the best.

February is after all awards month in Ireland! With the Jameson Film Festival kicking off on the 18th February, the Meteor Music Awards on the 19th February and the I.F.T.A.’s (Irish Film and Television Awards) on the 20th February, red carpets are set to showcase some serious dresses and accessories. We wanted to show you how to achieve the look from high street stores, that won’t break the bank! To whet your appetite, wow.ie have put together a selection of evening dresses and accessories to highlight this seasons hottest looks suitable for many occasions including the red carpet, 21st’s and black-tie weddings.

To begin our high street hit list was Monsoon.  Our first find was not too dissimilar to Nicole Kidman‘s Prada dress which she wore to the Grammys, minus the ruffle neck detailing! Blue was also a popular colour at the Grammys with Fergie opting for a stunning short Emilio Pucci dress, Taylor Swift in a full length Kaufman Franco ‘glitter-tastic’ dress and Miley Cyrus in a short Herve Leger by Max Azria dress teamed with gladiator heels.  Our Monsoon favourites (top) are all well priced, from left – Allepo dress €280, Westbourne Maxi Dress €305, Kalahari Dress €310 and finally the Annabelle Dress at €250.

Our second store of choice for awards attire had to be Karen Millen!  The first dress from Karen Millen has a hint of Carrie Underwood‘s Grammy dress and the last dress was taking lead from Givenchy‘s use of lace, a big ‘boudoir’ trend this season. We also saw a kaleidoscope of colour at Couture week in Paris last month with Valentino leading the charge. Also bare in mind that animal prints are STILL in.  From left here’s what we’ve listed from Karen Millen – Cream Graphic Sequin dress €235, Blue Zebra print strapless dress €199, Kaleidoscope dress €199 and the beautiful lace dress €235.

Our final hit was Coast – where else!  I will admit to being nervous when it comes to shopping at Coast with the nagging thought that most of the other guests will probably have visited the store on their quest to find a dress.  However they probably do dresses better than anyone else on the high street so we couldn’t resist.  We uncovered every type of dress but decided with a busy month of red carpet events to go with the full length options. Again from left, Blue Symphony dress €205, second dress is the same as the first dress except we preferred it in the pink (a big colour this season), Harmony Maxi dress €325, Anise Maxi dress €250 and the Zola Beaded Maxi dress at €250.

Dress sorted but look far from complete without accessories. This is such an integral part to having a complete and polished look, plus it’s a way you can add a pop of colour or ‘craziness’ to an otherwise simple or block colour dress i.e. the old reliable LBD!  If the budget is tight pick up an inexpensive dress and invest in good accessories that can be worn again and again with both day wear or evening wear.  We’ve mentioned Irish designer Ali Nash before, great  jewellery that’s not mass produced and something a little different. (Check out our previous post on Ali Nash here or her site alinash.com) Ali will also create a bespoke piece if you have something particular in mind which would add to the sense of glamour.  Failing that we’ve picked out some of the best on offer through the high street and again we were not disappointed.

Let’s start from top and work our way down!  Earrings, love them or hate them they are a must have accessory this season.  We’ve chosen accessories mostly from Accessorize.  These colours will go with any dress so you should get to wear them again and again. From left – Pearly Chandelier €20, Show Stopping Chandelier €24 and the Teardrop Earring for €20.  All well priced.

We were sticking with Accessorize for accessories but we couldn’t resist adding a twist with these necklaces from Friis at BT2.  They will had an edge to which ever dress you choose.  The first would sit so well with the pink Symphony dress from Coast where as the other two will give an 80′s funky finish to any dress, and then work with a tank top or tee and skinny jeans for casual wear.

If you don’t have an assistant or make-up artist on hand you will be lowered to carrying your own handbag!  We’ve discovered three absolute gems at Accessorize with our favourtie being the bow detail bag in the middle.  Who needs Gina when you can ‘bag’ (sorry, couldn’t resist) yourself a Sparkly Clutch for €51! Our pick, the Babylon Bow Clutch, is an amazing €42 and the Chainmail Clutch, €42.

You have almost completed your look, the finishing touches are the Mega Bling Bracelet €30.50 and/or the Pearly Queen Bangle at €27.  Add to that an obnoxiously large ring and you will fit in on any red carpet.  Rihanna is always spotted wearing large costume rings, our choice from Accessorize, the Keepsake Ring is a bargain at only €25.50!  There you are fully kitted out, now you just need the invite!

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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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As glamour seems to be the theme of the week with the Golden Globes being of such interest to us all we thought the theme of Littlewoods.ie look of the week was quite apt. ‘What’s the Occasion’?

This gorgeous corsage detail dress by Teatro is sure to prove a big hit this season – whether it’s a spring wedding, a dinner party or a night out with the girls you are bound to feel SJP-ish in this beautiful dark pink dress!  We love the detailing of this silk dress which is also lined (yay to no undies on display!), and even more so the well cut shape that leaves the dress to hang beautifully. Actress Zoe Saldana was at the Golden Globes wearing a Louis Vuitton dress of a similar colour also with ruffle detailing.

The corsage detail dress by Teatro is priced at €119 and the diamante stud box clutch €30.  Don’t expect to fit more than your lip gloss and a comb into any bag described as ‘box clutch’!  I bought one once for a wedding and was horrified to realise the rest of my make up wouldn’t fit in, needless to say that’s why mens suits have pockets.  The bag was given away with twinges of delight that I would never have to use it again!  We adore these Tamora court shoes by South with patent frill detailing whilst also adoring their price tag of €39.  They also come in this seasons hottest trend, nude which we actually prefer to the black.

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Under my Umbrella, ella, ella, eh eh could have been the song of the night at The Golden Globes 2010, the rain just didn’t stop… but that didn’t prevent our stars from gracing the red carpet in style!

Globe Goodies…

Christina Hendricks (of Mad Men fame) looked sensational! She was waving the flag for all curvilicious women out there! There are some old rules about dressing bigger frames, like stay away from volume and always dress in darker colours… well, Hendricks threw caution to the wind and wore a dress in a peachy champagne colour with extreme cascading ruffles… and she looked stunning in it! To top it all off, she was supporting young designer and project runway winner Christian Siriano.

The Brit star that seems to have taken over Keira Knightley’s former crown is Emily Blunt. She looked delicious in a rose pink tulle and chiffon strapless gown with ruffle detail by Dolce & Gabbana. It was delicate and effortless compared to some of the over-done American stars! The romantic trend is one of the biggest of Spring/Summer season and Emily wasn’t the only star rocking this floaty trend. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Elisabetta (George Clooney’s latest arm candy), Chloe Sevigny and Heidi Klum all followed this sweet fairytale look.

Fergie, who was a pleasant surprise on the night, looked like a Grecian goddess in an Elie Saab chiffon gown, again following one of the bigger colour trends of the season in a lilac colour, with a crystal embellished waistline and ruched skirt. She looked like a movie star with softer hair and make-up and has shunned that vivacious popstar look she is known so well for.

Some will absolutely hate Drew Barrymore’s dress… and I can see why! But being a fashion fiend, I have to love it, I do! I love sparkle, I love figure-hugging silk, I love the champagne colour, I love the embellishment and I love Atelier Versace… I just didn’t love them all on this dress! I also don’t know if I liked the clusters of sparkle embellishment block on her hip… why, oh why, would anyone want to add inches there? But she gets on the best-dressed list purely for old-school glamour effort.

The undecided…

Diane Kruger is always a fashion risk-taker, which I can commend; however, I still haven’t made my mind up to whether I love it or loathe it! The tie-dye mixed pink Christian Lacroix dress she wore was a little too couture for the red carpet, love Kate Hudson, and I love Marchesa just as much… so I felt bad about putting the two of them, on this list! Maybe it was the bad weather that made this frock look out of place? However, the white, origami structural-inspired creation by Marchesa just didn’t completely win me over! But like I said, it’s Kate Hudson who is gorgeous no matter what she wears!

Sandra Bullock, what can I say! Colour… gorgeous, shape and fabric… disgusting. Basically, she looked like a ‘Quality Street’ wrapper! Not good, Miss Congeniality, not good!

Lea Michele… the star of the new hit cult show Glee did look stunning at her first Globes show, but there is still something a bit off about her outfit. Oscar de la Renta is known for his dramatic dresses, and although it is a stunning dress, I think it drowned out her tiny frame. Perhaps this dress would have looked better on someone with fair features and a taller frame, Cameron Diaz for example!

Another star who usually always gets top marks for red carpet style is House actress Olivia Wilde. But her black and silver Gucci shimmery gown reminded me of a ‘90s’ Mariah Carey. The dress was exciting with a daring neckline and subtle draping. But the fabric cheapened the look a bit, which is why I am unconvinced.

Golden Grossness…

Light grey hues is a big colour trend for Spring/Summer… Patricia Arquette shows us how not to wear this colour! Her dress, made mostly of a dingy, grey flowy fabric, had a bizarre subtle animal print on it, and underneath was a gross metallic underlay. The criss-cross detail just made her look bigger than she is… a grey hot mess!

Penelope Cruz is not one to usually be on a worst-dressed list… however, borrowing a dress from Mortisha Adams wardobe is just never a good idea! Firstly, black on a red carpet is always a little too safe… so it would want to be an amazing dress. The mermaid style dress was over-fussy and the lace detailing was just too mumsy and totally lacked any of her natural sex appeal. She should have picked up some style tips while modelling for Spanish label Mango.

Another Mad Men star, Elisabeth Moss, looked like she was channeling Wendy from Peter Pan. The strapless, pastel-blue empire dress looked more a vintage nightie than a red-carpet dress and made her look frumpy, while the long necklace looked cheap and didn’t even suit the style of the dress. She gets points for on-trend pastel colour but that is it!

Dear, oh dear, there is not one positive thing I can say about Julianne Moore’s dress. It was shapeless like a bag of potatoes, an awfully dull and dark shade of grey (yes it is one of the IT colours of the season… but you got the wrong grey!!!) And then to top it all off, she had a fur trimming along the top that drooped down on her arms. I’m not even going to tell you who designed it, it’s that awful.

And the worst dressed of the night… gorgeous Avatar actress Zoe Saldana. I know it’s impossible to think anything could be disgusting on her, but this Louis Vuitton ruffle mess just did nothing for her. I have absolutely nothing positive to say about this look! At all!

See our post on Jimmy Choo at the Globes.

Images courtesy of Just Jared

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Finally Cheryl Cole has gotten rid of those hair extensions and has given herself a mini fashion makeover. Gone (hopefully) are the days of the Xfactor live shows where she tried too hard to be on trend and uber -stylish, or that hideous mesh frock disaster she wore for her birthday! Gross!! She’s now a chart-topping solo artist, and deserves a new look away from tacky pop princess, this new look is more sophisticated and polished… but still keeps her young, fresh and sexy! Go Chezza!

Out at the weekend for a Gary Barlow bash she wore a gorgeous body-con Julien MacDonald colour-block dress, teaming it with a chunky Malene Birger necklace and her new shaggy crop! What I love about this look is the muted colours (a nice change from her usual eye-popping colours), extreme structured shoulders and sheer sleeve detail… she looks delish!

If you want to channel Chez’s new look then look no further than your favourite online stores, asos.com and lipsy.co.uk. Both stock a variety of colour-block style dresses. And also the very on-trend, sheer-sleeve style dresses. And for those of you wanting to get the real thing??? Well the dress will set you back a few thousand… but the ‘By Malene Birger’ Mondi embellished felt necklace is available on net-a-porter.com for only €169… a bargain for a piece of designer heaven!  First dress €51, second asos dress €17!

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This Ballerina dress is available in black or pink and has a real SJP feel.  Accessorize this dress with cuff bracelets or a statement neck piece.  If you opt for the black wear some funky bright red shoes and go for the old movie glamour make-up with red lipstick.  This Ballerina dress will cost you an amazing €25!!

It was the price all well as the dress that caught our eye with this one! The Jacquard dress will only cost you €20 and is available in mint or silver.

The best way to approach the silly season is to spend less on your guna and more on a bag, shoes, coat or jewellery that you will use again and again.  Party dresses generally only break out of your wardrobe once or twice before you feel you can’t be seen in them again.  Therefore, it makes more sense to spend less on it and more on something like a designer bag – that’s my rational!

This is such a simple dress incorporating this seasons must have sequins without going OTT.  The sequin detail chiffon dress is also available in pink or black for only €30.  This dress may even work with leggings, pumps and a cardi to wear during the day over Christmas.

We’ll bring you more from Dunnes party dress collection later in the week.

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