Olivia is officially a blogger!!!

I could hardly contain my excitement when I found out that style icon Olivia Palermo had just launched a style blog. It will contain regular updates on fashion (yay) as well as travel and beauty tips from her globe trotting around the worls to style updates from various Fashion Weeks!

Prepare to get hooked peeps:

http://www.oliviapalermo.com/

Credit: http://www.oliviapalermo.com/

The September Issue...

I took a little haiatus from mylittleblogdress of late but could not resist the urge to start blogging again!

Whilst I must confess to not being the biggest fan of Spring/Summer fashion (what's the point in Ireland!?), I adore Autumn/Winter  fashion and in case you have moved to a sunny climate, you cannot but have noticed the darker evenings, the cool chilly breeze in the mornings and the need for hot water bottles!!

But fear not, as the new A/W trends are arriving in stores at the moment and there is something to suit every taste, size and shape.

Zara has produced a strong trend driven collection which is full of jewel coloured tones such as berry/crimson, mustard and jade with splashes of metallic in gold, silver and bronze adding a glamourous touch.

Animal print looks like it's here to stay too and whilst leopard print dominated the looks last season, snakeskin has replaced its spots on everything from shoes, clutch bags, scarves and wallets.

The 60s mod trend can also be seen in the form of peter pan collars, swing coats and pleating on skirts.

Skirt length has been dropped a few inches from the hem and the mid-length skirt or midi looks like it's here to stay.

Leather too is huge this season. Leather trimmed tops, leather panelling, leather tunics, skirts and leather leggings (think Isabel Marrant style) are all featuring heavily in the shops.

I will follow up this post with mylitttleblogdress's star buys for the season ahead but in the meantime I hope I have whet your appetite for a/w fashion....

Get the Whitney look!

This is a photo of me grinning inanely as I'm standing next to Whitney Port at the launch of the Summertime Festival

I was running so late that I had to beg the PR people to let me meet her and get my bag signed!

Whitney was exactly how she comes accross on screen, friendly and sweet.

I complimented her on her Topshop jacket which I think she appreciated! So if you are looking to emulate Whitney's affordable style, buy her exact jacket in Topshop priced at €99.00:

Photos courtesy of Entertainment.ie

Whitney Port launches Summertime Festival

Fashionistas/The City/Hills fans, get yourselves down to Kildare Outlet Village on Friday 01 July 2011 to meet the lovely Whitney Port!

The City star and fashion designer will be in Kildare to launch the Summertime Festival at 7.30 pm and showcase her self designed canvas tote in aid of Barrretstown!

The bag costs a mere €15.00 and all proceeds are going to a very worth cause! Support the cause and meet Whitney Port....I'll be there, just like don't tell Olivia!!

For more info check out: 
 http://www.kildarevillage.com

Olivia gets tangoed...

DO embrace colour this season like Olivia Palermo (pictured above) who looked stunning in a bright tangerine shift dress from the Victoria Beckham Dress Collection.

Olivia teamed her look with her favourite Charlotte Olympia leopard print shoes and a bright pink clutch bag for a colour blocking edge.

I love her choice of shoes with this look and I love that she has scraped back her hair and let her dress be the focus but I don't think her choice of bag works as there's enough going on already.

What are your thoughts?

Credit: Zimbio Pictures

Summer Sales.....WINNING!!

If there was a prize for getting the biggest bargains during the sales, I may just win it!

The Summer sales have well and truly begun and with most shops offering 40% - 50% reductions, now is the time to snap up some great bargains!

Sales always tend  to bring out my bad side  i.e. stalking an item that I think someone might snatch before me, spending too much money, justifying spending too much money and generally losing the run of myself whilst trying to get a 'good deal'. 

However, this time around I have managed to only spend on items that will last and carry me through to other seasons i.e. I am embracing quality over quantity. 

With this new thinking in mind, I made my way to Mulberry in Brown Thomas and found the 40% reduction in their bags too hard to resist. I have always lusted after a Mulberry bag but never been able to afford it so when I justified the purchase to myself and calculated the cost per wear ratio (v important don't you know!), I bought the Mulberry Lily Bag! (see photo below)

I always wanted a Lily bag but when I was told they would not be reduced, I accepted defeat and moved on. However the Lily was reduced in the gold leopard print design and despite my initial reluctance, I now love it and all the admiring jealous glances it gets!!

So on that note, here are my tips for sale shopping:

1. Don't simply buy something because it is reduced. Think if you are actually going to wear it and if it fits in with your existing wardrobe. If it doesn't, it's probably a mistake.

2. Invest in quality i.e. go for good tailoring, high quality leather etc

3. If you're going to invest in Designer, make sure that you're not buying into a fad trend that will be out of fashion before you know it and instead, invest in classic designs that will exude Designer luxury.
4. Try not to exceed your credit card limit!! ;)

Pippa loves Maje..

I've already proclaimed my love for French label 'Maje' in a previous post but it looks like I'm not the only one enchante by this label as Pippa Middleton proves, wearing a red floral skirt from the French label. 

Since the Royal Wedding Pippa has become an  overnight sensation and has been photographed consistently ever since. She is always championing the High Street and wears labels such as Zara, Whistles and Maje.

Whilst I love that she has teamed her Maje skirt with a simple tee and black blazer, I'm not so keen on the white gold buckled pumps (Is it just me, or is she constantly wearing these?) or the shiny flesh tights! I think black peep toes (minus the tights) and a clutch would have complimented the skirt better. What do you think?

If you fancy buying this skirt or checking out other Maje clothing, click on:

http://eboutique.maje.com/eboutique-maje/e11/silhouette-fiche,1045 

Credit: Zimbio Pictures

God Save Her Style

Whatever your personal or political views are about  Queen Elizabeth II's visit to our fair Isle,  one cannot deny her style!

The Queen arrived dressed in a green (rather appropriately I might add) and turquoise dress with a green dress coat and hat for her first historic visit to the Republic of Ireland.

She later changed into a cream dress and coat with floral detail in a moss green (I see a theme emerging) and accessorised with her usual black gloves, shoes and handbag. Her hat finished off the look nicely.

One cannot help but wonder whether the colours chosen for the Queen's visit were deliberate insofar as green is associated with Ireland and cream is symbolic of peace but whatever her reasons were behind her outfits, one cannot but salute her Majesty's royal style!

Credit: Zimbio Pictures

           Evening Herald 17/05/11