Tuesday 19 June 2012

Penneys delivers once more

Hi all, long time no speak!
I found out I was expecting a baby in February and all that excitement and wonder has filled all non-essential bits of my mind since then. Also tying one's jeans closed with a big rubber band has the effect of making you very sure fashion is something for someone else to concern themselves with and not you. But today when my jaw literally dropped upon seeing pictures from the Penneys/Primark Autumn/Winter 2012 lookbook I felt that fashion love again!
Here are some of my favourite pieces, I've had to rob them from a fellow blogger thefashionnomad as I cannot get access to the lookbook through my usual avenues!

There is, as my fellow blogger points out, no coherent common thread running through the collection, except that it is very retro, more 60s/70s than the 50s/60s Summer collection but also very quirky and much less populist than the average Penneys collection. The cape/blouse below in particular is a case in point, it is striking and unusual and a brave piece to choose for a shop that aims for mass appeal.

The pieces remind me of items you would come across in a really good vintage shop, and the models all look like that girl you know who has her own unique style, you will not like everything she wears but you can't deny that she looks good. None of these pieces are obvious Penneys pieces, in particular the ornately detailed trousers, pencil skirts and peplum top which could pass for designer garments.

I'm assuming Ms.Chung was the inspiration here. Note the different tone between top and bottom of the dress, and the beautiful fitted jacket.

I will be buying all the pencil skirts I can find from this collection, it's a very flattering length for me. Again I can't see it appealing to the vast majority of Penney's customer base who tend to be very young but I appreciate their choice! The 3/4 length sleeve on the jumper is very cute, and the detailing on the shirt is great.


These tweed look trousers are fantastic

I adore these boots, the ultimate 60s chelsea boot.


This skirt is a lovely elegant length with a 1930s feel and would look amazing worn any number of ways. No fear of me fitting into it for a while but I may buy one in the hope I'll get back into normal clothes eventually!

Pictures all from thefashionnomad's blog

Franzi the blog's author makes the point that she hopes the clothes will be better than the usual Penney's quality. Personally I think the clothes are so cheap it makes sense to buy two of the same item if you love it, I always do. You may not get that long out of the first admittedly but I'm always delighted to crack open the fresh second item as I'm deeply in love with the top/dress/whatever at that stage, and by the time you've worn out that second item there will be a new season to shop for. The total cost will still have only been a fraction of what you would spend elsewhere. Shopping sensibly helps of course, patterns printed onto woven/knitted material will never survive more than a few washes, nor will very brightly coloured items or very detailed patterns but by and large the stitching is sound ( or can be repaired if not) and the items often made of pure cotton, not a problem in my book!
Can't wait!

Friday 17 February 2012

Diamond alternatives

Aren't these lovely? I am always impressed by those with unusual engagement rings but there's the unfortunate risk that your intended will be thought of as a cheapskate for actually putting a bit of thought into the procedure and not just turning up with the usual boring old diamond. Sorry! Personally I don't like diamonds, I much prefer a bit of colour or just something with a bit of imagination. And something with less of a tainted reputation? Here are some favourites from Etsy:

Black pearl, amethyst and pink pearl ring from shinyi on Etsy. €117

I love black pearls, they have such a beautiful lustre to them and are so much more mysterious and exotic than their paler cousins.

Rainbow sapphire €172 Etsy
Ok, you'd need to be particularly fun loving for this one, but wouldn't it just cheer you up every morning!?


Blue sapphire ring €1072 Etsy
This one is rather like my own heh heh. A lovely vivid blue.

Madagascan ruby & gold ring €328 Etsy

Amazing sculptural pink gold & emerald ring €593 Etsy

Pearl ring ChrisMueller jewellery Etsy €95
And now I want them all!

Saturday 28 January 2012

Beautiful bargain of the day

Spotted this fantastic bargain on the Urban Outfitters website today........

Cambridge Satchel Company 11 inch satchel reduced from £88 to £40

Don't dilly-dally if you like it, the gold has already sold out!

Monday 23 January 2012

Pencil Skirt Perfection

 I spotted some printed pencil skirts lately and want them all. These are almost works of art! There is no more flattering shape to the curvier lady either. Well perhaps the A-line skirt would work for the taller curvier lady, it unfortunately renders me very mushroom-like.



Penneys Meadow Print pncil skirt €13


Aztec Ponti pencil skirt £22 River Island
Oasis Kaleidoscope skirt £56 but the most beautiful of all!!!
Topshop tropical skirt £38

Black print skirt £25 River Island




 These last two could easily pass for something straight out of the Givenchy Resort 2012 collection, with their amazing colours and tribal or floral detail. Waaaaaaant!


Monday 9 January 2012

Little peep at 2012

Very pleased to see my most recent bargain buy on ASOS is very similar to some beautiful dresses and skirts with floral keyhole crochet detailing Louis Vuitton's Summer 2012 collection. And for €22!

ASOS Premium Shift Dress €22

Kate Moss and fellow models wearing pieces from the Louis Vuitton Summer 2012 collection

Lots of 50s housewife detailing in the Spring/Summer collections, knee length pencil dresses from Caroline Herrera, housecoats from Derek Lam, wasp waisted tweed jackets from Burberry. This is good news for average sized women everywhere, there is nothing more flattering than a knee length fitted pencil dress.

Alexander McQueen on the other hand doesn't seem to obviously reference any era. I think he is making fairytales for adult women, he is just pure crazy creative genius. If his Savage Beauty exhibition comes to London I am there! The black corset with stiff collar is almost exactly the dress I have wanted for years and never found. A little impractical if you plan on eating anything for the day but hey! Worth it!

Savage Beauty exhibition pieces

Saturday 10 December 2011

Alternative wedding bouquets

Since my wedding I keep coming across dresses I would have preferred, hairstyles that would have worked better, and now bouquets I would have LOVED if I'd come across them in time! So I'm going to share these to hopefully save someone else that annoyance!


Button bouquet €250 by LillyBudBouquets on Etsy


Leather flower ball €173 BloomRiver on  Etsy

Vintage Brooch Bouquet €242.00 MousePhotography on Etsy
Royal Wedding teardrop bouquet-LillyBud Bouquets on Etsy €490
Butterfly bouquet €230 My Haley Girl on Etsy

Bright designer bouquet Mattheppelstone on Etsy €728-ouch!


I realise these prices are ridiculous but there's absolutely no reason you couldn't copy these, vintage brooches and all, for a tiny fraction of the cost. They're just so cheery!

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Sequinned beauties

Spotted this on ASOS. Sequinned but understated, love it!

Ashish Breton stripe sequin top
Although after spending €573.98 on an item of clothing I may not want to look understated!

ASOS embellished top with paillette sequins €71.75
I like this a lot despite the obvious madness, the colour is great and it's very sculptural but it would be extremely unflattering and is more than a little odd. And how the hell would you wash it?

Religion dress with mirrors ASOS €84.79
A less girly take on polka dots maybe? I love the asymmetrical hem.