Go nude… and blush!

With Summer finally here (we’ve been waiting aaages!) it’s time to say hello again to… culottes!  Yep, that’s right, they’re back and I couldn’t be happier!  Topshop, Oasis and River Island have all been freshly delivered with the cute shorts but Penneys have done it again and caught my attention first.  These cute salmon pink culottes with black polka dots are only €11 from the pocket friendly store.  I’ll be wearing mine with a little black crop top and pumps!

The hat is also from Penneys and is an unbelievable €4.  A safer bet if you are not a sequin headpiece kinda gal.

Continuing to embrace neutrals I’ve paired them with this blush pink top.  It’s from Topshop and is priced at €58.  It has a zipper back and victorian style sleeves.  Yes please!

The Balmain inspired peep-toe heels have a touch of military about them to toughen up this look.  They are from New Look and are priced at €19.  They’re very comfy too… trust me!

This Turquoise bag with gold chain detail and mock croc effect is sure to brighten up the dullest of outfits.  It is priced at €28 and is from Asos.

Oh Summer, we love you!

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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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How fabulous are these Miu Miu patent leather slingback sandals!!  Favourite part?  The peep toe cut out detail… no, hang on…. the 1 inch platform!!  With the sun shining outside it almost makes these a necessity, doesn’t it??

Spotted on net-a-porter for $575… hopefully next spotted in my wardrobe.

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Nude is THE colour palette of the season and one we are loving for it’s ease of wear.  Anything nude is so inoffensive and discrete you can almost get away with wearing anything once it’s nude!  This colour will work so well coming into summer with nude shoes blending seemlessly and elongating your leg rather than cutting off the length at your calf or ankle – yay for us small people!  Not forgetting to mention they are also a discrete way of wearing the gladiator shoe/sandal, one to have been previously avoided if you are short of stature!

We’ve picked out some of the best on offer and hope we’ve found something to suit all styles and budgets. Jimmy Choo‘s patent leather sandals won our first pick hands down.  With the zip detailing to the back of these shoes they will work well with everything from skinny jeans to floral print dresses.   Next to JC comes a fab studded pair of gladiators by Italian designer Giuseppe Zanotti.  Both available on Net-a-porter with the first coming in at $950 and the gladiators at $790.

Next we had a look at what Asos had to offer and we weren’t disappointed – excluding Bertie‘s brogue, (the shoe label Bertie and not the ‘give us a dig out’ Bertie)!  If you like brogues Asos have a great selection but we chose these as we loved their description of ‘distressed’ suede lace-up shoe, more like ‘devastated’!  Priced at €94.74 not a shoe we favour. These peep toe ankle boots are Steven by Steve Madden and are so versatile, and being of soft leather you won’t have to sacrifice your comforts – €214.74. The last pair above are at Dorothy Perkins and priced at €60, they were released in December so be quick if you fancy these as there may not be many left in stock.

Below the cream/nude crisscross lace up sandals are part of the Spring/Summer collection at Tesco, £18.  Faith brought out these fab peek-a-boo style sandals in January as part of their Spring/Summer range. They are another favourite here at wow.ie as they not only knock nude of the ‘must have’ check list but also the platform AND the gladiator!  If pumps are your thing check out Littlewoods.ie for these Love Label courtesan jewelled ballerinas for an amazing €27!!  There are more great pumps on Asos…

See our previous post on brogues here or our post on nude fashion at the IFTA’s to see which Irish celebs champion this trend..

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Yes, it’s true we have had a nosey at Karen Millen’s 2010 collection and let’s just say we weren’t disappointed, but a little surprised as the collection is different to their usual style in that most of it is very wearable!  There seems to be a more relaxed approach to the designs yet they are still elegantly tailored and the main theme – layering! We here at wow.ie are fans of Karen Millen but not all their previous collections have been as wearable as their latest.  Anyway, you can make up your own mind after reading through our review starting with neutrals, a key trend this season…

The New Neutrals

Cool, calm neutrals from bone and oyster to dove grey and charcoal, take centre stage this season and I for one adore them (having recently purchased four light and dark grey tops!!). A relaxed silhouette dominates, from beautifully cut fluid trousers in jersey or silky Cupro to a seductively draped light suede jacket, none of which are excessively tailored. Separates are key and versatile; the palest grey silk top is decorated with delicate ruffles (€99), the new trench coat (€325) a must have this season is cut in a subtle ombred, while their cocktail dresses are finished with embellished jeweled shoulders.  Embellished clothing has been around for a while so root out any pieces from the back of your wardrobe as we sense it’s not going to go on forever! The grey tailored trousers are priced at €140 and the leopard shoe boot at €199, with animal prints being another wardrobe staple for the season.

Sports Luxe

Alexander Wang lead the charge on this almost football meets fashion look with all the high street stores opting for their own take on the new ‘Sports Wear’ look. See our previous post on Track Pants for more on this trend. KM have given sporty pieces a luxe make-over; the parka is reworked in fine grey knit, classic tees are softened up with feminine drapery and the classic biker jacket is reimagined in soft blonde washed leathers. Body-con continues this spring with sporty bandage dresses in white or cobalt blue so put down the burger and get exercising! Pictured above is a slightly more palatable take on the sports trend – washed leather gilet €325, draped jersey dress €175 and metallic cage sandals at €199.

Underwear as Outerwear

Another trend we recently wrote about, see here for more on this look. Underwear becomes outerwear as lingerie and corsetry details appear in elegant tops and dresses.  Remember there is a fine line between carrying this look successfully and looking like an extra from Pretty Woman! A sculpted black jumpsuit and form-fitting dress are cut with corsetry details along side peek-a-boo chiffon panels. Vintage slips inspire a nude silk halter-top trimmed with delicate lace. Beautiful French lace is cut into a delicate jacket to dress up or down, or into feminine dresses with seductive drape details.  Should your budget be tight invest in some lace from the likes of Murphy Sheehy (back of Powerscourt Town House or Dun Laoghaire), and have it sown on to a fitted jacket or worked on a silk top or tee. Crepe jersey jumpsuit, €199 – leopard shoe boot also €199.

Monochrome Mantra

Black and white provides some of the season’s most graphic combinations; we found a sharply-cut body con dress with origami fold neckline comes in strong monochromatic stripes. A tailored gingham dress has a softly voluminous skirt which has such a flirty feel, while crisp white shirts are cut with drape and ruche details. A black and white oversized clutch or white leather bags with tassels or fringe continue the monochrome theme and will sit with so many looks in your wardrobe so you can justify the investment! To recreate the look the tailored cropped jacket €250, Metallic jacquard skirt €125 and stacked bangles gladiator sandal €175.

Hot Tropical Colour

Vibrant cobalt blue, coral and sunshine yellow add pops of bold uplifting colour to KM’s collection this season. Abstract digital prints give summer dresses a cool, futuristic feel while a taffeta trench in dazzling chartreuse is spring’s ultimate eye-catching cover-up. DVF did a very similar dress to this last season which I just missed out on buying during BT‘s sale, I won’t miss out on this one! Kaleidoscope print dress €199, gladiator sandal as before.

Accessories

The gladiator (no, it’s not going anywhere!), gets an update with studding, metallic finishes or sparkling crystal embellishment. Bags continue the soft and slouchy aesthetic of the main collection with oversized super-soft leather bags in primary brights, cool neutrals or chic leopard prints. Fringing, tassles and circle cut-outs in leather add texture to day bags while bangles embellished with glittering crystals provide the perfect finishing bling! You can always count on Karen Millen for footwear, my weakness being their boots.

So now you have a round up of KM’s 2010 collection, let us know if you take a closer look…

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Once a gentleman’s outdoor shoe, now a staple in anyone’s wardrobe, the brogue has transformed its outlook to suit every style. The resurgence of the brogue, mainly the classic Oxford shape but the introduction of the Correspondent brogue in recent collections has proved to be a favourite.

Instead of walking in the countryside in the hardwearing leather shoe, both men and women have opted to don the brogue at summer festivals and on the streets. The now unisex shoe has become a hit with celebrities, with Alex Turner and Alexa Chung both wearing them, and also Agyness Deyn, Sienna Miller and Chloe Sevigny.

How do you avoid looking like the gent that wore them in the 19th Century? If teamed with a floral dress for spring, the brogue will add a touch of androgyny to an already girly get-up, and tan brogue look best with blue jeans to set a nice contrast. If it is the male look you are channelling this season, try wearing them with high-waisted chino’s to stay on trend, or classic black trousers echoing YSL’s ‘Le Smoking’ silhouette – if the leg is not tapered however, make sure the brogue has somewhat of a heel to them to keep the elegant look. Most styles are available with a mid-heel to take office wear into night.

There are many places to buy the ultimate brogue to suit your own personal style. The best place would be vintage stores, such as Wild Child in Georges Street Arcade or the Harlequin just outside it. Urban Outfitters cater for the ‘already worn’ brogue look. But also offer brand new pairs that will look perfect with their Spring/Summer ensembles. Topshop have a lot of different styles on offer, from classic tan to patent black, and come with a reasonable price tag. Office has both a classic brogue version and a reworked ankle boot type that combines both styles excellently. Whether it’s tan, patent or two-tone with tweed or studded, be sure and exude your inner masculinity whilst power-walking through the streets with a new air of exuberance.

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The fashion world has lost it’s true visionary. News of Alexander McQueen’s sudden death on Thursday (11th Feb 2010) at his London home has sent shock-waves through the industry, as New York Fashion week began, instead of celebrating the new creative talents, we were mourning the loss of fashion’s Dark Prince. No doubt it will be a long time before someone of his innovative and creative ability steps into the limelight again.

Lee McQueen as he was known began his career in fashion at the early age of 16. He learned his craft as an apprentice in Savile Row and it was this early on that we got a glimpse of his twisted and naughty nature, when he revealed in an interview that he sewed ‘I am a cunt’ into the lining of a coat made for Prince Charles.

He then went on to graduate with a masters in fashion design from the prestigious Central Saint Martins College and revealed at his debut show his unique, raw vision that we know and love today. His designs caught the eye of Isabella Blow, an aristocratic British eccentric and former editor of British Tatler who became his mentor and bought his entire first collection.

His work evolved into that of a true artist, taking his inspiration from nature and death, using predatory birds and lethal snakes to influence his designs. His work, however extreme in design, was always skillfully crafted using his early tailoring experiences and managed to have a romantic softness even in their bizarreness. His families Scottish heritage also had an impact on his imaginative designs and he showed tartan, kilts and feathers in a whole new light in his work!

Lee was made the head designer for Givenchy in 1996 but, was then was poached by the Gucci group, which supported and developed his own label, Alexander McQueen. His label has gone from strength to strength and had even opened up his own stores in London, New York, Los Angeles, Milan, and Las Vegas. He unsurprisingly won British Designer of Year four times throughout his career, and his fashion shows are the one spectacle that will be sorely missed on the fashion circuit as he was known for his extravagant displays of showmanship.

His most recent show for Spring/Summer 2010 was his most brilliant to date… a collaboration with friend Lady Gaga previewing her bad romance video while the models tottered down the catwalk in the now infamous mythological hoof-style shoes (see ‘extreme fashionistas’ article). The unique graphic-print designs from this collection were a combination of bug and beast influences, the bright colours remind me of when you would make those butterfly prints as a child where you would splodge paint on paper and then fold it to create a beautiful print. It is mesmerizing to watch what he puts down the catwalk every season, and it is deeply saddening to know there will be no more! No doubt his last ever collection will at some stage brace the catwalk in a final tribute to the influential designer.

Alexander McQueen was a designer like no other, he pushed the creative and artistic boundaries and truly made his mark in fashion history. RIP.

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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 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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