Accessories – The Joy of Blogs

Bargain Hunt: The best of the summer sales under €30

July 10, 2017July 26, 2017 by E, posted in Accessories, Blogging, Fashion, Festival Fashion, Lingerie, Online Shopping, S/S 17 Fashion, Sales, Shoes, Shopping, Skirts, Spring/Summer 17 Fashion, Spring/Summer Fashion, Style, Swimwear, swimwear, Thrifty Fashion

Summer sale season is here and as I’m pretty much confined to the house, I’m fighting the urge to spend all my money online.

I think shopping the sales online often beats trawling through shops that are busy at the best of times and complete pandemonium during sale (e.g. Zara).

While you can’t try things on, have you ever faced changing rooms during sale? Not a pretty sight! These are some of my favourite items from the summer sales and everything is under €30.

Missguided

One item which caught my eye (and that of many stylish Instagrammers) is this white denim buckled skirt.

It’s reduced from €44 to €22 and would be perfect for a sun holiday abroad. I’ve ordered this and it still hasn’t arrived … beginning to think it is lost! Anyway I’ll keep you posted on the fit.

alt= — White denim buckle skirt. Pic: Missguided.com

I’m equally taken with the light blue version which is now €27, reduced from €44. (I have no idea why the blue one is €5 more btw). It also comes in navy and black, for those of you who prefer a darker hue.

Asos

If you’re heading to a festival this year, then hit up Asos’s sale before you go. The Asos sale is the perfect place to get yourself a festival bargain like these cut-out shorts.

Cut-out denim shorts. Pic: Asos.com

Featuring a funky lolly pop applique on the back, they’re bound to keep you feeling summery even if it’s chucking it down in Stradbally/Marlay Park/delete as appropriate.

These come in at €28/£21. I’m sure I don’t need to remind regular readers but buy in sterling from Asos, click here to find out why.

Another festival-worthy pick are these cute lilac shorts reduced from €37 to €26 – just don’t get them filthy!

PS- Asos don’t have a sale banner or sale section on their site anymore but these items are still available and reduced- you just have to search by description.

alt= — Lilac mom fit shorts. Pic: Asos.com

New Look

One spring trend I absolutely loved was chinoiserie/ jacquard prints. I’m on the lookout for a backpack in this print and can’t decide between these two New Look beauties.

Floral backpack. Pic: NewLook.com

Mini backpack.Pic: NewLook.com

The larger one is now €20, reduced from €29.99 and the cute mini one is €17, reduced from €24.99.

PLT

I spotted these unusual pink cracked vinyl trousers over on PLT and I think they are awesome. They don’t look like something you would find on PLT and are a real statement piece. €20, reduced from €39.

Another deadly PLT bargain is this bright pink swimsuit which is quite similar to Kylie J’s infamous Body Glove swimsuit. Reduced from €25 to €11.

Zara

Now away from the crazy colours to a classic black bargain from Zara. This cute little dress with lace-up sleeves is now €29.99 down from €49.95.

alt= — Black dress with lace-up sleeves. Pic: Zara.com

And how about this denim and gingham skirt for only €9.99??

alt= — Denim and gingham mini skirt. Pic: Zara.com

Bershka

I recently bought these cute espadrilles in the Bershka sale, although I can only wear the left one at the moment. Reduced from €19.99 to €9.99.

alt= — Bershka espadrilles. Pic: Bershka.com

Another great Bershka bargain is this bleached denim jacket reduced from €39.99 to €17.99. (I need to stop talking about festivals now… I’m so jealous I can’t go to Longitude!)

River Island

River Island always has adorable PJ’s and underwear but they can be pricey. Embrace your inner Ariel with this adorable seashell detail bra and briefs. These are both about a third of the original price with the bra reduced from €22 to €8 and the knickers down from €17 to €4.

Pic: RiverIsland.com

I’m also loving this tropical palm print underwear set, again the bra is €8 and briefs €4 – Penneys prices!

alt= — Palm print underwear set. Pic: River Island.com

Hope you guys enjoyed this bargain-busting post – I love hunting down bargains to share with you!

I’m off to flex my debit card, so leave me a comment below and let me know if you liked any of the items I featured.

PS- this is not a sponsored post.

I often post bargains I find over on my Facebook page, so if you want to see more of the same give it a like. You can find me here on Instagram and Twitter would love to connect with other Irish bloggers on there. Thanks for reading as always and I’ll be back soon with a new post – possibly a festival one, watch this space.

Edel

Flat shoe frolics

May 20, 2017July 10, 2017 by E, posted in Accessories, Fashion, Irish Bloggers, Online Shopping, Shoes, Spring/Summer 17 Fashion, Spring/Summer Fashion, Style, Thrifty Fashion

I’m currently laid up with a broken ankle after an accident involving a seven-foot fall off a ladder onto concrete. This was followed by a 13 hour wait in A & E and a five day wait for surgery to put me back together.

But I’ll stop the “woe-is-me” diatribe now… I’m very lucky that it wasn’t a lot worse!

The day before my accident, I was enjoying myself browsing summer shoes in town.

From sliders to espadrilles to trainers, there are so many cute flat shoes available at the moment. So although I won’t be wearing two shoes for quite some time, here’s a post on summer shoes for all you lucky people with two working ankles.

Espadrilles

Espadrilles are Spanish for summer (maybe that’s not true) and they are always a staple in my summer wardrobe.

Penneys have some really nice espadrilles right now in gingham, denim and tropical prints.

However, I tried on a denim pair and my normal size didn’t fit right or feel very comfortable. If you are looking for long-lasting espadrilles, maybe give Penneys a miss.

alt= — Tropical print and gingham espadrilles. Pic: Primark.com

Asos shoes are generally good quality and I love these black espadrilles scattered with tiny plastic flowers.

At €56, they are pricey but check out my online shopping hacks post for tips on getting a discount.

alt= — Embellished espadrilles. Pic: Asos.com

Asos stock Soludos espadrilles which are one of my favourite summer shoe brands.

You can even buy two packs of Asos’ own brand espadrilles from Asos if you really really love your espadrilles!

You can buy espadrilles with a slight wedge for a bit of height or lace-up styles but I like the simple slip-on flat style the best.

alt= — Soludos denim espadrilles. Pic: C21.com

For the perfect summer holiday espadrilles it has to be this pair from Bershka.

alt= — Bershka espadrilles. Pic: Bershka.com

I love the nautical stripes and adorable gold design, I can almost see myself strolling the sands of Biarritz in them. Life consists of hopping on crutches and lying down right now…

Runners

I love finding comfy runners in cute summery shades, the day before my accident I bought pastel blue suede trainers from Penneys.

The material makes them look more expensive than their very purse-friendly price tag of €15. They are also available in pink.

Several pairs of runners caught my eye in Penneys including this holographic silver pair, also only €15.

alt= — Silver trainers. Pic: Primark.com

If I said “denim shoes”, you’d probably reply with “Get the fuck out” but bear with me. Denim shoes are having a moment. Take these cute embellished runners from Missguided, for example.

alt= — Embroidered denim runners. Pic: Missguided.com

They are also available in white and I’m a big fan. Embellishment isn’t just for jackets, you know!

alt= — White embellished trainers. Pic: Missguided.com

Sliders

Sliders are absolutely HUGE this summer, there is no escaping them.

I’m not sold on all the fluffy styles that seem to be very popular but there are some that I do like.

alt= — Fluffy sliders from the River Island High Summer press day

I know for a fact my amazing orthopaedic surgeon would wince at these silver backless sliders and I probably won’t be wearing them any time soon but how cute are they?

alt= — Silver frill sliders. Pic: Bershka.com

I also like these white ones featuring a lip design from Missguided.

alt= — White sliders with lips. Pic: Missguided.com

If you aren’t already following O-Mighty/OmWeekend on Insta, then you need to get following, their denim sliders are UNREAL.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTwYKrRDXgF/?taken-by=omweekend

They also have adorable satin sliders in oriental prints, one of this summer’s biggest trends.

Frill details and western-style buckles are really popular slider trends this summer.

Sandals

I personally don’t like flip-flops very much and will always go for a pair of sandals where possible.

I know this post is already overloaded with denim shoes but I love these denim bow Miss KG sandals from Topshop.

alt= — Denim cork sandals. Pic: Topshop.com

To be honest, most of these sandals are just pimped slides.

Mango have an amazing range of summer slides and sandals this year, check out these lilac slip-on beauts with frayed details and these flower applique sandals.

alt= — Lilac slip on shoes. Pic: Mango.com

It’s hard to finish this post because there are so many gorgeous shoes I would love to include in it!

For now, stylish footwear (and any kind of style) will be taking a back seat in my life. I’m currently hobbling around in a giant orthopaedic boot, taking precarious showers perched on a stool and taking an assortment of painkillers everywhere I go.

Hope you all enjoyed this post, leave me a comment below and let me know.

Thanks for reading and if you would like to follow me on social media, check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page here.

Edel

Wardrobe Transitions – Spring to Summer

April 19, 2017April 20, 2017 by E, posted in Accessories, Blogging, Fashion, Handbags, Irish Bloggers, Online Shopping, Shopping, Spring/Summer 17 Fashion, Spring/Summer Fashion, Style, Thrift Shopping

Is your wardrobe overflowing but you still find yourself wearing the same jeans and jumper combos over and over again?

It’s said we wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time and I’m definitely guilty of this. At work, I’m usually wearing a pair of black jeans or black leather trousers and a blouse and at the weekend, I’m in blue jeans and a jumper or my PJ’s…

I have so many other items in my wardrobe that don’t get rotated often so on Easter Sunday I decided to wear something slightly different.

The weather was nice and I found a pair of Levi’s cut-off’s I’d bought for €2 in a charity shop over winter.

I rummaged around for a pair of black tights and added my Guns ‘n’ Roses band t-shirt, River Island boots and my satin blue bomber jacket.

Voila, I had a really cute outfit which didn’t suit the occasion theme whatsoever but at least it wasn’t a jumper and jeans!

A brown belt, simple black choker and my pretty floral bag from Spitalfields Market completed the look.

I liked this outfit so much that I wore it again the next day with runners when I was at the National Botanic Gardens.

Not only do I wear the same clothes over and over (#outfitrepeater) but I also tend to use the same handbag even though I own approximately 20 bags.

Although I really just want to be Stormzy’s mum and have 100 bags… (Stormzy fans will know what I’m on about!)

Shoes are the same, I own a crazy amount of shoes and boots, yet I’m always in one of two pairs of runners. My boots looked way better with this outfit and suited the outfit “theme” more.

Was there ever a less Easter-y outfit?!

It got me thinking how many other items are in my wardrobe that I could wear more often? At this time of the year, it’s a good idea to reassess what’s in your wardrobe.

These are some my favourite items for this time of the year.

1. Leather jacket

Stylish, practical and a plain black one is always fashionable. My one is floral and loud however…

2. Ghillie shoes or loafers

Time to let your feet breathe. I was bravely wearing loafers in January like an idiot yet I have barely worn them outside the office in the past few months.

3. A gilet

You can begin retiring your bulkier jackets and use gilets to stay cosy during the chilly spring evenings.

4. White jeans

White jeans are the ultimate summery look and although they’re a pain in the arse to keep clean, they are a really simple wardrobe update.

5. Patterned trousers or jeans

Leave your blue and black jeans aside and try a patterned pair or a different colour for a change.

6. Shorts or skirts with black tights

It’s definitely mild enough to get your cute shorts and skirts out of the wardrobe and dress them up with boots or go casual with your favourite runners.

7. Printed playsuit or jumpsuit

These are a perfect alternative to your jeans, you can wear tights with a playsuit until it gets properly warm.

8. Camisoles over a plain white long sleeve top.

This is one of my favourite outfit looks and recently I’ve been layering dressy tops that I used to keep for nights out over a white top for a cute casual look at home or at work.

9. Suede jacket

If you don’t have a leather jacket, a suede jacket is perfect for a spring/summer evening cover-up. I love this brown fringe one from Tola Vintage, great for festivals.

I’ve decided to add a total at the end of my outfit posts to let you know exactly how much my thrifty outfits really cost.

This one was a little more expensive as the boots are real leather but overall it is still quite good value.

Outfit Cost

Belt- Charity shop €1.

Shorts- Charity shop €2.

Jacket- Gifted from @bomberjacketgirls.

Boots- €45 on sale from €90 River Island.

Choker- €3.50 for set of two in Penneys.

Tights- €2 Penneys.

Bag- £12/€14 Spitalfields Market.

T-shirt- £15/€18 Missguided.

Total= €85.50.

PS- the jacket was a gift but I’m not being paid to promote it.

Hope you guys liked this look and the tips on transitional dressing. Leave me a comment below and let me know.

Thanks for reading as always and click the links to check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page here.

Edel

All about that waist

January 16, 2017January 20, 2017 by E, posted in Accessories, Blogging, Fashion, Irish Bloggers, Lingerie, Online Shopping, S/S 17 Fashion, Spring/Summer Fashion, Style, Thrifty Fashion

Accentuating the waist is one of fashion’s most tried and tested formulas. But chunky waist belts went out in 2007 and no-one rational would entertain a waist trainer! Enter the corset belt, the sexy and not-so-subtle waist cincher.

Beloved by Bella Hadid, Rihanna and the Kardashian klan, the latest reincarnation of the corset belt has many celebrity fans.

bella-corset-belt — Bella Hadid doesn’t really need help accentuating her waist…Pic: Pinterest.com

Corset belts were last seen back when The Pussycat Dolls had a hit and the aforementioned group were probably responsible for their demise.

pcd corset belt.jpg — The girls were known for their lingerie inspired outfits!

However, corset belts don’t have to be trashy. Back in 2011, Alexander McQueen created this beauty, the grandaddy of all corset belts.

alt= — Alexander McQueen corset belt. Pic: Pinterest.com

Designers such as Manish Aurora and Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini have given the corset belt a 2017 twist with their own unique interpretations of the trend.

alt=< Manish Aurora corset belt> — Manish Aurora butterfly belt. Pic: Pinterest.com

alt=< denim corset belt> — Philosophy denim belt. Pic: Pinterest.com

The corset belt can be worn multiple ways, over a over-sized t-shirt, a plain shirt, a jumper or a dress.

Although many celebrities have chosen to amp up the sex factor by wearing it with a long t-shirt and knee high boots, personally I prefer it with a casual outfit.

This blue denim corset belt from Bershka is ideal for layering over a jumper dress or t-shirt.

denim-bershka-corset-belt — Blue denim corset belt, Bershka. Pic: Bershka.com

This Rare London black belt has a corset detail in front but plain on the reverse, perfect for daywear.

Boohoo.com even have a two-in-one corset belt and t-shirt dress for only €20!

This black leather look belt is one of my favourite corset belts and is currently only €14 on Boohoo.com.

alt=< black corset belt> — Black leather look corset belt. Pic: Boohoo.com

If the Goth/vamp vibe isn’t your thing, try a white or cream belt and pair it with cotton or denim. The high street corset belts are usually about €15 but if you want to try a DIY one, here’s a simple tutorial.

I’ll definitely be trying out this trend, after all it beats going on a diet! Do you like corset belts or do you think they are overrated? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

Thanks for reading as always and don’t forget to check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page here.

Edel

Thrift Alert: Dublin’s best charity shops

January 6, 2017 by E, posted in Accessories, Blogging, charity shops, Consumerism, Designers, Fashion, Irish Bloggers, Shoes, Thrifty Fashion

There’s nothing better than getting your fashion fix while also doing a good deed. For years I’ve shopped in charity shops and am still amazed by the bargains. We’re talking brand new items with tags on, designer and leather handbags and beautiful vintage clothing.

Enable Ireland

This is one of my favourite charity shops with branches in Phibsborough, George’s Street, Capel Street, Camden Street, Finglas and Thomas Street. Enable Ireland have a good selection of items from workwear to children’s clothes and shoes. 100% of their profits go to funding disability services.

My best recent bargain from there has to be these black patent loafers which were brand new with a €70 sticker but sold for just €20. For more of my Enable Ireland bargains, check out my Charity Shopping Haul post.

I also found this lovely brand new Missguided playsuit in Enable Ireland’s Phibsborough branch. I got so many compliments when I wore this and it was only €4!

Irish Cancer Society

The Irish Cancer Society shops tend to be quite small but I always enjoy browsing around. I’ve found some good stuff in their Rathmines, Phibsborough and Capel Street shops. The Rathmines one is the most attractive and in general Rathmines charity shops tend to be of a very high calibre!

Oxfam (George’s St)

Oxfam have several stores around Dublin but their George’s Street store is the jewel in the crown. They have both ladieswear and menswear, vintage and a dedicated bridal section with many brand new and designer wedding dresses from sizes 6-22. Brides on a budget, look no further! Oxfam’s profits go to alleviating poverty in third world countries.

I bought these black leather shorts for about €4 in their Stephen’s Green store.

Another gorgeous bargain was this Versace-esque silky bomber.

St. Vincent de Paul

SVP are dedicated to helping those living in dire poverty in Ireland and assist thousands each year. Their George’s Street store is a must visit for any thrift shop maven. I’ve seen Versace and Moschino items here and they even have their their own vintage line.

I bought this oversized denim jacket and this cropped red shirt in their Phibsborough branch. (These are both Penneys items but I was on a strict budget at the time!) The jacket was brand new with tags, €8 and the shirt was about €4.

Respect (Stoneybatter)

And now for one slightly off the beaten track, the Respect shop in Stoneybatter is one of the most amazing charity shops I’ve ever been in. It looks quite unassuming but is one of the best for a genuine bargain. Among the items I’ve bought there include a black leather DKNY backpack for €6, a €2 Longchamps bag and a red leather American Apparel skirt for €10. I’ve also picked up some great vintage belts here. Respect support people with intellectual disabilities so it’s a really worthy cause.

Macro Shop, Macro Community Centre (North King’s Street)

I love shopping here as the Macro centre gives back to the local community. It also pays to shop here in winter, I recently found real Levi’s cut-offs and a red suede effect H&M skirt for €2 each! Their community centre provides services such as free legal aid, citizen’s information and advocacy to the local residents.

There are other second hand shops around such as the Second Abbey on Abbey Street which has an incredible selection of clothes, homewares and bric a brac. In some senses, it’s more of a museum!

In general, I prefer to shop in a registered charity shop where possible. That way, you can be sure your purchases or donations always go to a genuine charity. If you want to detox your wardrobe, these shops always welcome donations of clean clothing and shoes.

Do you shop in charity shops? Leave me a comment and let me know if I’ve missed any good ones. Hope you all had a good new year and enjoyed this post.

Thanks for reading as always and don’t forget to check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page here.

Edel

Bargain Bonanza: My Sale Shopping Picks

December 29, 2016January 19, 2020 by E, posted in 90s, A/W 16 Fashion, Accessories, autumn/winter fashion, Blogging, Christmas, Fashion, Irish Bloggers, Online Shopping, Sales, Shoes, Shopping, Trends, Winter Fashion

There’s only one cure for the post-Christmas blues: online shopping and hot whiskey. 😛 I’m currently lying in bed feeling very sick and sorry for myself so what better time to browse the best sale bargains?

Missguided is offering up to 75% off sale items. FYI if you have a holiday booked, their swimwear is massively reduced right now. Go forth and shop…

They also have some gorgeous dresses in sale, from causal slip dresses to more glamorous styles. New Year’s Eve outfit dilemmas sorted!

This 2-in 1 leopard camisole dress is reduced from €37.50 to €18.75, great for casual wear.

alt= — Leopard print 2-in-1 dress. Pic: Missguided.com

This black cold shoulder dress is a new twist on the classic slip dress. It’s reduced from €42 to €16.80.

alt= — Black slip dress with white t-shirt. Pic: Missguided.com

For a New Year’s outfit, I love this Balmain-esque floral red dress.

It has all the Balmain details with zip front and black piping but has a more affordable price tag! This was €105 but now just €42.

alt=< Missguided zip through dress> — Red floral zip through dress. Pic: Misguided.com

Asos is offering up 50% off sale items. Among the shoes I’m lusting after are these own brand silver loafers, €16, reduced from €27.

Another own brand bargain are these studded black flats. At only €22 now, they will be ideal for spring. They were €38 full price.

alt=< black studded flats> — Studded black ballet flats. Pic: Asos.com

Daisy Street is one of my favourite footwear brands available on Asos, they have amazing statement ankle boots including these two-tone snakeskin beauties. These are reduced from €47 to €27.33.

alt=< ankle boots> — Two tone snakeprint ankle boots.

I’m a big fan of Zara jeans as they are quite hard-wearing and a good fit. They have lots funky styles in sale from grungy paint-spattered jeggings to pink mom fit jeans.

These are all reduced from €29.95 to €19.95. Word of advice, Zara tends to stagger their reductions so these may go down further in price if you can wait.

Fray hem jeans. Pic: Zara.com

Pink mom fit jeans. Pic: Zara.com

Grey paint spattered jegging. Pic: Zara.com

Denim-lovers will also appreciate these Zara shirts. These are reduced to €39.99 from €49.95. Still relatively pricey but may be reduced further.

Grey denim shirt. Pic: Zara.com

Denim shirt with floral embroidery. Pic: Zara.com

Pretty Little Thing is offering up to 50% off sale items at the moment.

They have some beautiful sequin playsuits and dresses if you’re looking for a little sparkle this New Year’s.

Premium sequin dress PLT. Was €70, now €42. Pic: Prettylittlething.com

Green sequin playsuit. Was €42, now €16.80. Pic: PrettyLittlething.com

One thing to note about PLT’s sale is that an item may be reduced in one colour but not in another.

For example, the sequin playsuit is reduced from €42 to €16.80 in green, silver and gold but a multi-colour version is still full-price. The premium sequin dress is reduced from €70 to €42.

They also have statement bombers and cute accessories like this chain detail bag and multi-colour scarf. The purple bomber is now 50% off (was €49, now €24), the scarf is €8.40 (was €11.25) and the bag €21 down from €31.

Purple sequin bomber. Pic: PrettyLittleThing.com

Multi colour check scarf. Pic: PrettyLittleThing.com

Chain detail handbag. Pic: PrettyLittleThing.com

River Island have some great discounts on winter coats at the moment. The cream puffer is half price at €60 and both the brown and pink coats are marked down from €95 to €45.

Brown swing coat with faux fur collar. Pic: RiverIsland.com

Pink overcoat. Pic: RiverIsland.com

Cream puffy jacket. Pic: River Island.com

For sale shopping tips, check out my previous post and for online sale shopping hacks and discounts click here. I’ve rounded up some of the prices as decimal points frustrate me. 😛

Remember to check the returns policy, it will save you a lot of hassle. I recently attempted returning a full-price choker to Forever 21 only to find they don’t accept returns on jewellery.

It was in perfect condition, still in packaging and the receipt was in date! *shakes fist*

I hope you all had a good Christmas and have a lovely New Year also. Do you love or loathe sale shopping? Leave me a comment below.

PS- these are all my personal choices, I didn’t receive any payment or incentive to promote these brands. Thanks for reading as always and don’t forget to check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page here.

Edel

Wrapping up warm:OOTD at Dublin Zoo

December 20, 2016December 20, 2016 by E, posted in A/W 16 Fashion, Accessories, autumn/winter fashion, Blogging, Christmas, Fashion, Irish Bloggers, Jackets, Online Shopping, Outerwear, Shoes, Shopping, Style, Thrift Shopping, Trends, Warm Clothing, Winter Fashion

What’s the only thing better than clothes? Why clothes and cute animals of course!

A trip to Dublin Zoo in December calls for a practical and warm outfit. Some colour co-ordination is vital also of course.

You may have seen this pink jacket with fur collar in my previous posts and on my social media. I’ve been obsessing about it for so long and finally bought it in Asos’s Black Friday sale.

Of course I had to pair with some Penneys accessories. Well half this outfit is Penneys actually…

My khaki green hat has a pink rose embroidered on the side which matched my coat and bag perfectly. As for the houndstooth scarf, about 2/3 of the female population own this by now… If you’re reading this, you too are probably wearing it!

Both the hat and scarf are from Penneys and were €5 each. My trusty tote bag is from Bershka and usually doubles up as a shopping bag. However for a day like this, a rucksack is a better choice. This one hurt my arms dragging it around all day!

To complete the outfit I’m wearing black push-up jeans from Bershka which were €5.99 in sale and fit like a glove.

I find myself wearing these simple white runners from Penneys almost everyday. They are a great basic item that go with every outfit and if you squint a bit they could be Stan Smiths…. 😛

The outfit was perfect for the cold weather and kept me cosy while we strolled around. I hadn’t been to the zoo since primary school (despite the fact I live within 10 mins walk!) and I really enjoyed it.

I actually had my Christmas jumper on underneath this outfit but it was way too cold to show it off! Which is a shame as I consider it quite stylish.

Winter is actually a good time to visit the zoo as it’s not crowded and there are no school tours! That didn’t deter some very excited children from banging on a glass pane at a bewildered gorilla though…

Here are just a few of the gorgeous animals we saw from and you may find them a lot more interesting than my outfit! 😛

I may have developed somewhat of a fixation with monkeys during this trip but how cute are this little troop just chilling by the lake?!

The zoo has an amazing array of creatures from orangutans to okapis and everything in between.

The zoo farm is a small section with all the regular farmyard animals, such as goats and cows. Here I embarrassed myself by mistaking a pig for a Shetland pony and a statue of a sheep for a donkey! I think I need to get my eyes tested…

After the zoo excursion, I headed out to a friend’s birthday in House. Here’s my #OOTN for good measure! I’m wearing a halterneck top with beaded fringing from a charity shop, black leather pants from H&M and my holographic shoes from Missguided.

This may be my final post before Christmas so just hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and thanks for your support throughout the year.

For more zoo photos and possibly some OOTDs, check out my Instagram. Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter and keep up with the blog on Facebook here. Thanks so much for reading and feel free to leave me a comment below.

Edel

Fishnet Frenzy

December 15, 2016 by E, posted in 90s, A/W 16 Fashion, Accessories, autumn/winter fashion, Blogging, customising, DIY, Fashion, Irish Bloggers, Online Shopping, Shopping, Winter Fashion

It may be one of the most bizarre trends of 2016 but fishnet tights underneath jeans are having a sartorial moment. And if someone told me that a year ago, I’d have thought they were certifiably insane!

When I bought a pair of fishnet tights for my Halloween outfit I didn’t think I’d ever be wearing them again. Little did I know…

But with this unseasonably warm weather, there’s never been a better time to try it out! Last week I decided to dig out mine and layer them under baggy Zara jeans with ripped knees.

Halfway to town I shed my coat and scarf, it was ROASTING but at least my legs were cool in the fishnet and rips combo! I may have gotten the odd strange look but not as many as I’d anticipated.

There are several ways to wear fishnets and jeans. They can be layered under loose ripped jeans or pulled up over the waistband of your jeans with a crop top or cropped hoody.

Blue or black jeans in a boyfriend or mom fit work best with this combination.

For a more daring look, jeans with cut-out panels will showcase your fishnets also.

alt= — Fishnets and jeans. Pic: Pinterest.com

You can customise old jeans by ripping them up or chopping out a side panel if you want to experiment with this look.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOAer_vB42r/?tagged=fishnets

Fishnet socks with runners or loafers are really cute and don’t require you to freeze to death or flash flesh. They look especially good with raw hem or cropped jeans.White fishnet socks are also great with runners.

alt=<black fishnets> — Black fishnet socks with Gucci loafers. Pic: Pinterest.com

A white t-shirt, cropped hoody or long coat all compliment this look. Casual flats or runners are the best accompaniment.

Fishnet tights come in all sizes and colours so don’t feel you have to conform to the bog standard black ones. Red ones look great with blue jeans and white or nude fishnets are more subtle. You can even get embellished crystallized fishnets on Etsy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOCM65ZACcy/?tagged=fishnets

My fishnets were €7.99 from H & M but you can get them in most shops. If you’re having trouble finding some, then just hit up Ann Summers you’re bound to get them there!

My Zara jeans and H & M fishnets.

You can buy fishnet socks and oversize fishnet tights on Asos.com. I really like these as they have a reinforced toe making them less likely to rip.

Fishnet socks. Pic: Asos.com

Red fishnets. Pic: Asos.com

White fishnet tights. Pic: Asos.com

Fishnets are actually quite versatile and when it gets warmer I’ll be wearing mine with skirts and vintage Levis cut-offs. The downsides are they rip easily, are handwash only and can leave a diamond imprint on your legs and waist!

What do you guys make of this trend? Would you try it out? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

Thanks for reading as always and don’t forget to check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page here.

What to wear to a Christmas party: Festive Fashion Edit

December 5, 2016December 11, 2017 by E, posted in A/W 16 Fashion, Accessories, autumn/winter fashion, Blogging, Design, Fashion, Online Shopping, Shoes, Shopping, Skirts, Style, Trends

Sick of all your dresses? Contemplating wearing a Christmas jumper to the work do instead? Never fear, I have some Christmas outfit inspiration for you! And it’s not just dresses…

Sparkle always looks great at Christmas whether you choose a glittery accessory or a little sequin number. Glitter, sequins and embellishment are practically a requirement at this time of the year.

Folkster.com always have gorgeous glittery dresses in stock, ideal for a festive celebration.

These pink glittery shoes from Bershka add some festive cheer to any outfit. If you can’t afford to buy an entire new outfit for a Christmas party, these are only €29.99. A new statement accessory is great way to liven up an old outfit.

alt= — Pink glitter shoes. Pic: Bershka.com

Christmas parties are synonymous with donning your best frock but a skirt and top combo can be equally glamorous. These sequin skirts from Pretty Little Thing are festive and fun.

Silver sequin skirt. Pic: Pretty Little Thing.com

Blue sequin skirt. Pic: Pretty Little Thing.com

Metallics also look great at Christmas like this patent silver mini from Bershka. This is a fitted skirt so a bodysuit is the best option for underneath.

alt=< silver mini skirt> — Silver miniskirt. Pic: Bershka.com

If you don’t like short skirts or glitzy dresses don’t feel pressured to wear one just for the Christmas party. Wear whatever you feel most confident in whether that’s a playsuit, jumpsuit, culottes or jeans and a top.

Longer skirts can be equally pretty like this sequined midi with tassel details from Zara. It has a side split but is not overly revealing.

alt= — Black sequin dress. Pic: Zara.com

These gorgeous emerald green culottes from Bershka are a lovely satin material and are a loose fit.

alt= — Green satin culottes. Pic: Bershka.com

This perfect party top would look great with jeans, black trousers or culottes.

alt= — Blue strappy sequin top. Pic: Zara.com

Culotte jumpsuits have been hugely popular this year and this rich burgundy one from Missguided is beautiful.

alt=< burgundy culotte jumpsuit> — Burgundy culotte jumpsuit. Pic: Missguided.com

Missguided have come up trumps with this simple but elegant green cowl neck dress for €37.50.

alt= — Green cowl neck dress. Pic: Missguided.com

They also have some fab dresses on sale right now. The black velvet and red bodycon dresses below are just €13.50 each! The metallic plunge neck one is just €22.50.

Silver plunge neck dress. Pic: Missguided.com

Red harness dress. Pic: Missguided.com

Black strappy dress. Pic: Missguided.com

For my own Christmas party, I wore this black dress with floral detail and a deep mesh V neck. I actually bought this dress in Catch for €26 and it’s an exact dupe for one I spotted in River Island a couple of months back.

The only issue I had with this dress was the floral appliques are slightly loose in places and may come off!

christmas-outfit — Black dress with floral details

floral-river-island-dress — Floral detail dress River Island. Pic: River Island.com

The only differences are my dress has slightly less floral detail and a lower V neck. The River Island one was about €50-60 as I recall. Both dresses are similar to a Dolce & Gabbana one worn by both Kendall AND Kylie! Who knows, maybe they share clothes too…

Red and green hues, velvet and jewel details are all great for a Christmassy vibe. That said, if you look great in white lace just go for it!

Hope you all enjoyed this post and got some inspiration for a party outfit. Do you like getting dressed up for Christmas? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

Enjoy the party season and if you have to work over Christmas, you have my sympathies.

Thanks for reading as always and don’t forget to check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page here.

Edel

Leopards never change their spots

November 10, 2016November 16, 2016 by E, posted in A/W 16 Fashion, Accessories, autumn/winter fashion, Blogging, Fashion, Irish Bloggers, Jackets, Trends, Vintage Fashion, Warm Clothing, Winter Fashion

If I could describe how wearing leopard print makes me feel in one word, it’d be empowered. From Pat Butcher to Hollywood femme fatales, leopard print has always been a trademark of a strong confident woman.

Some may say it’s trashy, I say it’s sassy. If you too want to feel sassy this winter, then you need to add at least one leopard print piece to your wardrobe.

Being the fashion fortuneteller that I am, I picked up a vintage leopard print blouse in the Tola Vintage kilo sale in Galway. I haven’t worn it yet but now it’s on trend and will look amazing with black jeans and boots.

alt= — Leopard print blouse from Tola Vintage.

I’ve styled it with my oversize denim jacket and a Stella McCartney lookalike bag that my housemate kindly brought me back from holidays.

alt= — The leopard print looks great with an oversize denim jacket.

If you feel anxious about wearing leopard print, try a subtle pattern or a leopard print accessory first. Devotees can head straight for the faux fur coats!

These are some of my favourite leopard print lovelies on the high street at the moment. This Topshop belt would look great on blue or black jeans for a subtle leopard print accent.

alt= — Leopard print pony hair belt. Pic: Topshop.com

If you want to go all out, then a leopard coat is the best way to make a statement.

Topshop have this fabulous faux fur one for €125. Definitely the most glamorous way to stay warm on a chilly winter night out !

alt=<topshop leopard coat> — Faux fur leopard coat. Pic: Topshop.com

If that’s completely out of your budget, here are two less expensive options. This brown leopard coat with an oversize collar is €84 from Missguided.

alt= — Leopard coat. Pic: Missguided.com

Bershka have a shorter style with a bold print for €59.99.

alt=< Bershka faux fur coat> — Faux fur leopard coat. Pic: Bershka.com

I also love this delicate leopard print blouse from Bershka. It’s only €19.99 and doubles up as workwear.

alt= — Leopard print blouse. Pic: Bershka.com

River Island have some great leopard print items, including this cosy looking stole which is a great alternative to a woolly scarf.

alt=<leopard print stole> — Leopard print stole. Pic: River Island.com

This biker beaury is courtesy of Zara, I’m dying to get this myself. I’ve seen Niamh Cullen from BehindtheBraids wearing it and it looked stunning on her! It’s not biker season but I digress…

For a daring night out look, I love this bardot playsuit from Missguided, €30.80.

alt=<leopard print playsuit> — Leopard print playsuit. Pic: Missguided.com

No trend post of mine is complete without a few footwear options naturally. Topshop have great leather ankle boots for just under €100.

alt= — Topshop ankle boots €98. Pic: Topshop.com

For a casual option, try these leopard lace-ups from Asos, on sale right now for just under €20!

alt= — Leopard print flats. Pic: Asos.com

Hope you all enjoyed this post as much as I did. Leave me a comment below and let me know if you like leopard print.

Thanks for reading as always and don’t forget to check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page here.

Edel

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