Tag: blogging

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How to machine dye old jeans with Dylon

by E, posted in Fashion

With the shops closed and the majority of us spending most of our time at home, now is a good time to go through your wardrobe.

Perhaps you need to do a purge of things that don’t fit or no longer suit your lifestyle.

Put what you don’t want into a bag for the charity shops as they’ll be in need of donations when they re-open.

Alternatively, you can take your old clothes to a clothes bank if there’s one in your local area or cut up old/stained clothing to make into dusters.

If you have an item you like but you want to breathe new life into it, why not try an upcycle? Fabric paint, dye, embroidery, zips, and studs can all inject new life into an old item.

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I’m going to share one of my favourite upcycling methods and show how machine dye transformed these vintage jeans.

When I first bought these jeans, I really liked the fit of them but I wasn’t crazy about the colour. (I took before pics but for the life of me, I can’t find them!)

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Bored in the house and I’m in the house bored

I was at a Tola Vintage kilo sale when I spotted these Levis 511 jeans. They are a slim fit but not skinny and low rise.

What I liked most about them was how thick and hardwearing the denim is. PS, I spilled water on them in the pic above, hence the weird discolouration!

I wore them a few times but I found it hard to match the weird grey/white colour and so they soon were left in a drawer.

Browsing in Hickeys one day, I saw some navy Dylon dye and I decided it was time to dye the jeans.

The process was really simple. I’d hand-dyed things before which can get messy but this was machine dye so I just had to pop the jeans into the wash with the dye capsule and run a cycle on 30C or 40C.

Then I had to wash them again with detergent on the same cycle and wait for them to dry.

The jeans emerged a gorgeous dark navy with the stitching remaining white. I hadn’t planned this but I really liked the effect.

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Levis 511 dyed jeans

However, the brown Levis patch on the back did dye which I was hoping it wouldn’t.

I don’t know if there’s a way around this but if there is, let me know!

Since I dyed the jeans, I’ve worn them much more frequently and found it easier to match them with outfits. The colour has also remained strong with numerous washes almost two years on.

This dye will remain on anything it stains, some got onto a towel I was using and it is still there to this day! So wear rubber gloves and old clothes and follow instructions carefully!

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Levis tab

The colour of the dye on the box didn’t look that dark but it came out a deep navy blue which was exactly what I wanted. As far as I can remember the shade I picked was called navy blue.

Dylon also have a dye especially for faded jeans which I may use to revive old pairs in the future.

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Levis 511 jeans

It’s important to remember that every fabric is different and dye results will depend on the permeability of the fabric and type of fabric. And some fabrics can’t be dyed, so check before you break open the dye.

The weight of the fabric and the amount of synthetic fibres will affect the final result, synthetic mixes will come out lighter.

From a sustainability point of view, obviously the dye residue will go into the water and there’s a good bit of washing involved but it’s probably still more sustainable than going out and buying a brand new item.

Machine-dying a few items with one capsule is probably the most sustainable way of doing it.

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Stitching on the back pocket

If you want to avoid artificial dyes, you can experiment with natural dyes, such as fruits and vegetables. Check out Moya (Environmental Eadai) on Instagram or Aisling Duffy Designs for natural dye inspiration.

Hope you all enjoyed this upcycling post and let me know if you decide to try machine dyes.

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My dyed Levis 511s

As for what else I’m wearing in the outfit above, it’s all vintage or thrifted except for my sunglasses. My boots were about €22 from a charity shop, shirt was about €6 from a charity shop (both River Island).

The jeans and my leather waiscoat were sold by kilo so I can’t remember what I paid but whole outfit is probably only about €55.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out the competition I’m running on my Instagram and Facebook pages at the moment.

Edel

 

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Nine free things you can do at home during quarantine

by E, posted in Blogging

A lot of us are housebound or partially housebound these days as COVID-19 fear grips the nation.

Some of us have to stay indoors due to self-isolation, self-restricting or quarantine, while others are working from home or caring for children or both.

Being stuck at home isn’t a lot of fun and normal hobbies like sports, going to events, having lunch or coffee with friends and my personal favourite, perusing charity shops, go out the window.

I have had a taste of it previously and I thought I’d share how I survived my very own housebound experience.

Almost three years ago, I broke my ankle badly. I needed surgery and was in a massive amount of pain and on medication for weeks.

Luckily, I was able to work from home but I was living by myself at the time and was very fearful of hurting myself again.

For the first two weeks, I didn’t even dare leave the house to go to the shop as I was afraid of falling off my crutches…

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My crutches

As the summer wore on, I worked, watched plenty of Netflix and gradually gained the confidence to get out and about. But there were also many difficult days and my mental health was at an all-time low. I spent a lot of time in floods of tears due to the effects of the medication I was on, loneliness and the feeling of helplessness.

I was also massively reliant on my boyfriend and our relationship hit a rough patch halfway through the summer. Coupled with this, I was also dealing with the sudden death of a beloved friend earlier in the year.

It took a long time for me to recover both mentally and physically but there were some activities that helped me pass the time and feel better.

All of these things are free to do and can be easily done from the comfort of your home.

1.Exercise

As I was on crutches, exercise didn’t seem like an option but once I got used to them, I found going out for short “walks” built up my stamina.

If this isn’t an option for you due to self-isolation/restriction, try some light weights. Obviously, if you’re sick/at risk, don’t do anything without seeking medical advice.

I found doing some shoulder presses and upper body weights in the evening a good way to unwind after working from home.

2. Experiment with cooking

Again, if you aren’t well, not a suitable activity but if you’re OK, trying a new recipe or even just experimenting can be enjoyable.

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Pancakes at Moak

I made lots of random dishes over the summer and also found some handy substitutes, i.e. one day, I was craving pancakes but had no flour so I crushed porridge oats with a hand blender to make a “flour”.

3. Care for your plants/try growing a plant

If you have houseplants, now is the perfect time to show them some TLC.

Even low-maintenance cacti need a little attention.

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My beloved cacti plants

If your plants need watering, put them in the bath or shower and drizzle them tepid water or cooled pasta water which is rich in starch and good for your plant pals (just make sure it hasn’t been salted).

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Lamp and cacti plants

If your plants are getting too big for their pots and you have a spare, you can repot them and watch them bloom.

You can also prune your plants as necessary and move them around to make sure they get adequate sunshine. Or if you’ve got some seeds and a sunny spot, see if you can grow something.

An avocado plant is an easy one to grow at home, all you need is a pit and a glass of water to start.

4. Learn to sew/knit/crochet or any creative hobby

I learned to bake, sew, crochet and knit both in school and at home, yet I hardly ever do any of those things now.

If you have a ball of wool or some clothes that need some basic alterations, why not have a go at mending them yourself?

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Sewing the buttons back on to this vintage shirt

If you don’t have any experience, look for online tutorials.

You could also clear out your wardrobe while you’re at it! And keep your unwanted clothes for the charity shops/recycling.

Other things you could try are painting, decorating your house or just a simple upcycling project.

One upcycle I enjoy is after a candle burns out, pouring in hot water to clean out the wax and repurposing the jar for something new.

So far, I’ve used one as a key dish, one as a toothbrush jar and one to display seashells in as a decoration. Or you can just recycle the glass!

Creativity is a wonderful way to channel your energy and I’ve always found it helps me feel calm.

5. Try a new beauty trend or hairstyle

If you’ve always wanted to shave your head/dye your hair a crazy colour but were too scared to, now’s your chance.

Or you can just let your hair/eyebrows/roots/nails/body hair grow out during quarantine.

Self-care can work wonders for your mental health but don’t pressure yourself to be overly groomed at this time.

Try on some crazy makeup/ a bold nail colour/ a different hairstyle/an outfit you’re unsure of, whatever makes you happy!

6. Find a book you need to finish or haven’t read before

Reading is a wonderful escape from the stresses of life and I was lucky enough to be in a house full of books at the time of my injury.

Most of them weren’t my own and I’m a pretty voracious reader so I read whatever came to hand.

I did never finish Love in a Time of Cholera though….

There are lots of virtual book and movie clubs starting out on social media so reach out and see if anyone wants to form one with you. Who says reading is a solitary hobby?!

7. Life/money admin

Yes, it’s boring but there is a certain satisfaction in deleting emails from your inbox.

If you’ve yet to file a tax return, bite the bullet and do it now. Don’t go with one of those companies who offer to do it for you, they take a percentage of your hard-earned cash and the process is simpler than it sounds. You can file online at Revenue.ie and there’s lots of information about allowances on the Citizen’s Information website.

If your employer pays any expenses for you as part of your job, now’s the time to submit them also or sort out your bills.

Cancel any old standing orders or direct debits or subscription services you no longer need and see if you can switch any of your utility bills to save some money. Switcher.ie is a great resource.

8. Make a plan to look forward to

A lot of people have seen their summer plans go out the window, with holidays and weddings called off and festivals and concerts in jeopardy also.

But you can still make a plan to do something simple, it could be going to your favourite restaurant/bar when it reopens, a day at the beach or a road trip in the future.

I had a holiday booked at the end of summer 2017 and thinking about that helped me get through the bad days.

This year, foreign travel isn’t looking so likely but I’ll be looking into staycation ideas at home.

9. Learn a new language or skill

Want to brush up on your Junior Cert French or learn to speak as Gaeilge properly? Hop over to Duolingo and start a course.

If languages aren’t your thing, check out the free courses on Alison.com and LinkedIn also sometimes have courses.

Hope you all enjoyed this post and perhaps found something you’d like to do at this difficult time. Remember, if you’re unwell, don’t push yourself to do anything major, stay in bed and watch Netflix or rest if possible.

Please remember to keep to social distancing and look out for those who are most vulnerable at this tough time. Thanks for reading and leave me a comment if you’ve any quarantine activity suggestions.

Edel

 

 

 

 

 

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Life in your 20s versus life in your 30s

by E, posted in Fashion, Irish Bloggers

Recently I was looking back at some photos of myself in my early 20s.

I felt a twinge of sadness that I’m no longer that age and more than a few regrets as I thought about things I could’ve done to improve my life and wellbeing back then.

But I’m also relieved that I’m no longer dealing with things that plagued me in my 20s, such as struggling to get by on a low income, worrying about my career prospects as well as dealing toxic friendships and dead-end relationships.

 

I turn 31 on Friday and so far, the first year of the 30s has been far better than all of my 20s put together.

When I was 21, I had only left Ireland once, I was friends with people who dragged me down and held me back, I was hopeless with relationships and I had no idea what to do with my life.

These days I might not get ID’d anymore when buying drink (they did it up until about 28) but I am a stronger, happier more confident person.

Here’s a look at how my life has changed for the better:

DRINKING/SOCIALISING

I used to go out and drink until I fell over or at least got very tipsy. Then I’d be up for work or college the next day no bother.

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Nowadays I drink a lot less and I prefer to go to my local than going into town.

I used to love nightclubs and predrinks but I haven’t been in a nightclub for over a year and I can’t even remember when I last did predrinks!

Of course, I have the odd session or weeknight drinks on a rare occasion but in general, I’m a lot more sensible.

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CAREER

I slogged it out during the recession working in retail, admin and recruitment, sometimes working two part-time jobs at once just to pay the rent.

Once I worked 32 days in a row without a single day off!

I moved to Dublin when I was 24 but found it even more challenging here due to the high rents.

Over time, I saved up and took the plunge to do my Master’s degree in journalism, something I never thought would be possible.

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Life has vastly improved since my early 20s

They say you learn more from your failures in life than your successes and for me, that is certainly true.

After doing two internships, I secured a full-time position in a great company and I’m finally earning a decent wage (enough to get by in Dublin anyway…)

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I struggled in my 20s but am flourishing now.

TRAVELLING

My family didn’t go on holidays when we were kids as my parents worked all hours on our farm and we had no money.

In my 20s, I spent two summers working in America as well as city breaks and longer holidays in the last couple of years.

While I didn’t have much money for travelling in my 20s, I couchsurfed, bunked with friends and stayed in hostels and cheap motels.

I also travelled on my own several times which built up my confidence massively.

I’ve yet to do any backpacking or round-the-world trips but who knows what opportunities may come yet?!

FASHION/STYLE SENSE

My fashion and style sense really hasn’t changed that much but I’m a lot more into charity shopping and vintage clothing these days.

My style is still pretty colourful but I don’t wear heels as much (partly because I wrecked my ankle) or really short tight dresses anymore – not quite as slim as I once was either – but I’m happy regardless!

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I still have this gorgeous jacket I found in a charity shop

In my early 20s, I was obsessed with labels and brands but these days my wardrobe is a  mix of second-hand, vintage and high-street clothing.

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Life has changed for the better

My outfit below is an example of this. I was gifted this black faux fur jacket by PrettyLittleThing and I absolutely love it.

It’s a statement piece that switches up any outfit.

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I still like loud statement pieces

I wore it with Topshop mom jeans, New Look boots and a t-shirt from Etsy.

My accessories are all cheap and cheerful, a vintage belt which was €1 in a charity shop, earrings from AliExpress, a Penneys necklace and a beret I bought for €4 in Topshop.

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I’m less concerned about labels or brands these days
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I’ve found my own sense of style

ADULTING

I don’t and maybe never will have a mortgage but that’s OK. I’ve been renting since I was 18 and last year, finally got a lease in my own name – sharing with a roomie obviously.

In the current rental climate, I feel very lucky to have a safe place to call home.

A lot of my friends are settling down now, getting married and having kids but I don’t feel under pressure. I would love to get married one day but for now, I’m very content with my relationship.

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RELATIONSHIPS/FAMILY/FRIENDSHIPS

As I’ve matured, I’ve developed a more balanced approach to friendships and relationships.

I used to put everything into a friendship or a relationship regardless of whether that person cared for me in the same way. My self-esteem was so low that I thought I needed these people.

When my dad died suddenly in 2014, something inside me snapped and I cut ties with some toxic people. Life is too short to spend it around people who bring you down.

I don’t have lots of friends but the ones I have are reliable and I’m in a long-term relationship with someone who has been there for me through the good times but also some really tough times. He even took the photos for this post!

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New Look snake print boots

I’m aware that I’m still very young and my life is bound to change so much yet but I’m happy with where it is going.

If you’re struggling with any of the issues I’ve mentioned, I hope this will give you hope.  And if you’re near the end of your 20s and dreading the 30s, honestly it’s nothing to be afraid of!

Outfit cost breakdown

Jacket – Prettylittlething but was gifted – Please note they did not ask me to blog about or review it but I absolutely love it!

Thank you to Burrell PR for the generous gift. You can find it here – not an affiliate link.

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Happy ‘cos this jacket keeps out the wind

Jeans – €55 Topshop

Beret – €4 Topshop

Belt- €1 charity shop

Necklace -€3 Penneys

T-shirt – €15.70 Pink Space Store Etsy

Boots – €18 on sale from New Look

Earrings – €1.67

Total cost: €98.37

Thanks for reading this incredibly long post. I’m going to DCU’s Fashion Show this week and I’ll be posting about it soon.

Don’t forget to check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page.

Edel

 

 

 

WIN! €50 VOUCHER FOR ATHLONE TOWNCENTRE!!

by E, posted in Blogging, Competitions, Fashion, Giveaways, Irish Bloggers

gift card

This has been a great year for my blog and I’ve decided to celebrate this with an amazing giveaway for my readers. I recently received an email from Athlone Town Centre thanking me for my entry in their recent Guest Blogger competition and as one of the shortlisted blogs they were sending me a present. I was beyond excited to hear this and hovered around my post box like a demented wasp until this arrived…

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They sent me two amazing gifts (one of which I’m about to share with my readers!):  a voucher for an express facial at Sirana Spa which is adjacent to Athlone Town Centre and a €50 voucher for Athlone Town Centre itself!

I’ve already availed of the amazing spa treatment and it was utter bliss. They  also offered me the chance to come in early and use their gym or pool if I wanted for an hour before my treatment.

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sirana spa

The facial itself was incredible, so relaxing and my skin was glowing and as soft as a baby’s by the time the therapist had completed her work. It was a really lovely afternoon and I was highly tempted to spend the voucher also but let’s face it I have (almost) enough clothes!

Instead I’ve decided to do a give-away to one of you lucky people! On a side note I’m really delighted to be promoting somewhere outside of Dublin. As I’m originally from Roscommon, this is my local shopping centre and I’ve spent many happy hours there. Athlone Town Centre is one of the best places to shop in Ireland, they have all my favourite shops including a huge H&M, Zara, Topshop and River Island. Their River Island and Topshop are particularly nice, almost the same size as flagship stores.They also have many other stores such as Coast, Next and a brand new TK Maxx.

To enter my giveaway all you have to do is pop over to my Facebook page and like the page and the post on this giveaway and tag a friend in the comments. If you’ve already liked the page, simply like the post and tag a friend. This giveaway will run until October 4th when a winner will be selected at random. Good luck!

Disclaimer: Please note this is a private competition and is not endorsed by Athlone Town Centre. This competition is only open to Irish residents. One entry per person.

Shopaholic Online

by E, posted in Accessories, Blogging, Commerce, Consumerism, Design, Fashion, Handmade Goods, Independent Labels, Online Shopping, Shopping, Vintage Fashion

internet shopping

I buy a lot of my clothing online and thought I’d share some of my favourite sites and experiences.

ASOS.com

Possibly the best online shop. Massive array of products and brands, their own brand is excellent quality, they deliver pretty quickly to Ireland and their returns procedure is simple. Standard delivery is free to most parts of the world. I’ve purchased from them in America and while the delivery took longer, it was simple to make a return there also. I love the  site layout, photography and styling. ASOS have good sales and I’ve gotten genuine bargains. Among the stuff I’ve bought includes jeans, brogues, dresses, a handbag and a bikini. I’ve tried a lot of different products and so far been happy with everything!

To order you have to create an account with Asos. You have the option of saving a credit/debit card which is very dangerous/handy depending on how you look at it!

ASOS Marketplace.

This site stocks vintage and independent labels. I haven’t bought from the site yet but it’s great for styling inspiration. Some of the boutiques can be expensive but I’ve seen some great unusual things on there also. Favourite brands include We are Hairy People and Florrie Jane’s Vintage. Plus it’s a great site for independent retailers to establish themselves.

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Cactus print shorts and top from We are Hairy People
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Party ring crop top from We are Hairy People
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Clothing from Florrie Jane’s Vintage

Etsy.com

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I love browsing Etsy. Lately I’ve been shopping for accessories like this galaxy chain from Gina’s Tie Dye.

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The chain was beautiful and I received it really quickly. Unfortunately the pendant fell off the second time I wore it! However I may have been just unlucky. Gina very kindly sent me a replacement necklace which I was thrilled with! This shop has loads of amazing stuff such as ying/yang tie-dye t-shirts and beautiful one-of-a-kind halter tops.

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Photo courtesy Gina’s Tie Dye

I’d been looking for lightweight lace bras like those from For Love and Lemons but cheaper! I struck gold when I found these beauties from Lovy House on Etsy. They are not like a traditional bra so don’t expect a lot of support from them but they are gorgeous!

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I bought the black one pictured above. The only drawback is the lace is slightly itchy! They have a gorgeous selection of lace underwear. Delivery was quite quick considering this shop is based in Vietnam.

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Lovy House lace bra- exactly like For Love and Lemons but much cheaper!

Etsy focuses on promoting handmade or customised items only and is a great promoter of independent fashion. I’ve also bought studs from them for my own customising. You can also give feedback when you receive a product and payments can be made easily through Paypal. The only annoying thing about Etsy is that if you are buying from different stores you have to make each purchase individually. As most shops are small businesses you will generally have to pay delivery charges. I haven’t had to return anything to this shop yet.

Romwe.com

This is a huge online Chinese shop which ships all over the world. Their printed sweaters are my favourite items and they have great unique clothing. They are cheap and have lots of “flash deals” where certain items will be on promotion for 24 hours only. Delivery does take a while but that’s to be expected from China.

Romwe sizes can be quite small also so bear this in mind. I haven’t bothered returning anything that didn’t fit (only once this has happened) as the return would cost the same as the original purchase. I’ve bought a sweater, a skirt, rucksack and a dress from them. The dress was the only unsuitable item being a little too small but it was only €11 so I gave it to a charity shop.

Oasap.com

Oasap is a store which I’ve only bought from once. I bought a pair of printed leggings which were very unusual and cool. The size was good but the colours were quite different in real life and also the fabric was less shiny and slightly transparent. Jury’s out for now! Delivery took some time.

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How they looked online….
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How they looked in real life!

Stradivarius.com.

I decided to try Stradivarius’ online shopping service which is quite new to Ireland. The process is quite simple, you order an item either to your home and pay for delivery or you can pick it up in store for free. I bought these cute blue espradilles.

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You get an email when the item is sent and a text when delivered in store. Returns can be done in store also.I thought it took long enough for it to be delivered considering the stock is only coming from Spain.

Nastygal.com

Previously I devoted a whole post to this site as I went through an obsession with it! Nastygal have an emphasis on daring sexy outfits and bohemian clothing. I’ve bought one dress from them which was nice but the material wasn’t great quality. They are based in America so again shipping takes some time.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN SHOPPING ONLINE!

How soon do you need this item? Many shops may take 2-3 weeks with standard shipping.

Will you be able to return it easily? Read the returns policy carefully, some shops may charge for returns or may not allow returns on sale.

How much will delivery cost? An item may appear very cheap until you add in the cost of shipping! Is it worth it when you have allowed for delivery charges? Some shops have a discount if you buy several items but you may have to spend a lot.

Will it look like this in real life? Remember the camera lies and the item may be a different colour/texture to how it appears online. If in doubt read the description to see what material it is and what care it requires before buying. Some stores will let you ask questions and others allow previous customers to leave feedback which is generally the best indicator.

What are the sizes like? Probably the most important factor to consider, check the sizing guide very carefully and read any comments/feedback regarding sizes. Some sites have vintage “free size” items which will pretty much fit a size 8-12 depending whether you want to wear it baggy/long/fitted etc. Others describe items as “runs small”, “runs large” or “true to size.”

When buying from independent retailers, check that the payment methods are secure and that sellers have good feedback. All the sites I’ve listed are reputable.

Happy shopping all! Hope you have enjoyed this post, thanks for visiting the blog as always. You can like my blog on Facebook here if you’d like to see more. I’ll be preparing my next post on the Sea Sessions festival in Donegal, stay tuned! 😉

Lana Del Rey Concert in Dublin

by E, posted in Fashion, Irish Bloggers, Music

I was really lucky to be given a ticket for Lana Del Rey for my birthday in February. I thought the day would never come but I finally got to see the gorgeous Lana with my friend Janet in Vicar St.

Lana has received criticism for her live performances and harsh comments on her appearance but I was very impressed by her.

I wasn’t sure what to expect as her music can be quite mellow and subdued but she was awesome.

It was her first Irish performance and both of her shows were a sell-out. I’ve always loved her glamorous image and find her music reminiscent and moving. In fact, the first time I heard Video Games it made me cry!

Pic: Lanadelreyfansblog.cz

I picked a rock chick outfit for the gig, frayed denim shorts, a tiger print black top, black blazer and leopard print brogues.

We also got ourselves Lana-esque floral headbands from Penneys.

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Palm trees, candelabras with creepy crows perched on them and stone lions set the scene for the gig. It invoked the paradise theme of her album and old-school glamour of her music.

First up were support act Kassidy who are a Scottish folk rock band.

Lana’s boyfriend Barrie-James O’ Neill plays guitar and sings. The band consists of Barrie(vocals), Hamish Fingland (vocals, guitar), Chris Potter(vocals, guitar) and Lewis Andrew (vocals, guitar, accordion, keyboard).

The boys were onstage when we came in at 8pm.

We managed to get close to the stage (about three rows back) after a bit of shuffling around and could enjoy their performance.

Kassidy

Lana and her band came on stage just after 9pm to much screaming and frenzy from the fans. She acknowledged the madness saying “I’m so excited to be here!”

She wore a 60′s style lacy white dress and her huge Jackie O style hair is a masterpiece! She kept touching it all night but it stayed perfect.

In the past, Lana has said she’s not a natural performer in the past and sometimes has to kneel down to stop trembling or reaches out to the fans for reassurance.

She did both several times but seemed confident in her delivery.

Pic: DublinConcerts.ie

Everyone went crazy when she came on and one fan even threw underwear up to the stage which Lana caught and twirled around!
Then she and her band launched into “Cola” which I hadn’t heard before but I loved the song immediately. Even though she’s known for what I call Ameri-melancholia, she was really upbeat and energetic from the start.
Her band and backing singers were fantastic also. It sounds mellow recorded but when sang live the chorus was really powerful with everyone singing along.
However, her voice sounds quite strained at times. Lana came down to the front afterwards and must have been blinded by all the cameras!
After that we were treated to Body Electric, Blue Jeans, Born to Die and Summertime Sadness which sounded amazing live especially the bridge.
Carmen, the narrative of a tragic heroine, “a street-walker by night, a star by day” was also a crowd-pleaser.
I was delighted when she started singing  Knocking on Heaven’s door as it’s one of my favourite songs and I loved hearing her wistful interpretation.
It’s an incredibly sad heartfelt song and although her vocal was slightly weak, this is a subdued song so it didn’t really matter.
It was a perfect conclusion to the equally sad “Without You”.
The chorus sounds so haunting with the crowd singing along. She implores us to “tell me life is beautiful/They all think I have it all/I am nothing without you.”
She introduced “Young and Beautiful” from the Great Gatsby soundtrack saying she hadn’t written many new songs recently apart from this.
As the Great Gatsby was just released a week ago here, it got a great reception from the audience.
“Ride” was introduced with her official video monologue playing in the background.
For someone who’s supposedly living on the road in a motorcycle gang as the official video suggests, she’s still ridiculously glamorous… 😛
Lana then took time to speak to the fans again, saying she really appreciated her friends and fans and received so much applause she started crying!
When you see a famous person close and sense their emotional state it reminds you that they are human and not some untouchable being.
 Lana then announced there was time for two more songs. I thought she would finish the show with “Video Games” but she sang it second last and then closed the show with a dramatic version of “National Anthem” which was amazing. She went offstage with a wave when the song finished.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her live and thought her interaction with the fans was really sweet.
My favourite performances were “Cola”, “Summertime Sadness” and “National Anthem”. Two of my other favourite songs are “Radio” and “Diet Mountain Dew” which she didn’t sing but you can find them on  Youtube.
I’d love to hear your opinions on the gig, leave me a comment and let me know what you thought.
Click the grey speech bubble on the right below to leave a comment.
Keep an eye out for my next post– it’s all about jewellery and bling! Thanks for reading as always and don’t forget to check out my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page. 

Edel

My latest ventures

by E, posted in Blogging, Fashion, Writing

I was delighted  when I found out Elena’s interview was published on The Fair’s website and even better The Fair asked me to write for them also! The Fair is a new Irish fashion magazine focusing on ethical fashion and I’m so happy I am featured on their site.
]It’s refreshing to see a new fresh Irish magazine with great contributors and the support for ethical fashion. Fashion is definitely an industry where ethics are often thrown out the window and the emphasis is on mass produced products that only last a season. Pollution, poor labour conditions in clothing factories, low pay for workers across the sector and wastefulness are often not considered.

I was brought up with the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra out of need rather than any abiding love for the planet but I try and get the most of items I wear. I try to donate all old clothes to a charity shop or recycling facility as I’m a strong believer in only using what you need. It sickens me when people throw perfectly good items away rather than donating them! I always find when buying a new item, it’s a good idea to think if it will go with at least three other things you already own and that way you’re not buying something you won’t get wear out of.(As your mammy would say!) 😛

I’m currently working on writing submissions for The Fair magazine. I’m beyond thrilled for this opportunity as I’ve done different kinds of writing for years and have always wanted to write professionally. It feels a little bit like Carrie Bradshaw and a little like being back in college! But this time I’m picking the topics. 🙂 The Fair today, Vanity Fair tomorrow..hahaha!

Think Carrie Bradshaw but a lot less money and in Dublin 😉

A bit less this….

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 And a bit more this 😉

Anyway I will be working on my submissions and hopefully not be too constrained by word limits! I will keep you all updated on them in due course. Check out The Fair for some good reading in the meantime. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Photo shoot fun

by E, posted in Blogging, customising, DIY, Fashion, Irish Bloggers, Photography, Uncategorized
Never work with children or animals!

On Easter Sunday I got together with my good friend Elena who is a fashion journalist and photographer. Both of us were feeling like orphans not being able to go home for Easter so we decided to put together a photo shoot to cheer ourselves up!

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Customised t-shirt, shoes and denim shirt I made and pvc look leggings.

We used Elena’s Canon camera and some clothes I had customised as well as a few things out of Elena’s wardrobe for styling purposes! It was a lot of fun and we ended up using unusual props such as 3D glasses, a luxurious wig and even an uncooperative dog who wanted to be in the shoot but didn’t want to pose! 🙂

As Elena’s passion is journalism she did an interview with me for her blog to accompany our photography. You can read it here. Her other passion is music and singing.

scarf print edit
Handmade shorts
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Scarf print jacket from Oxfam

We had a great time and hopefully we will be putting together a few more shoots soon! Watch this space! 😉 Thanks for checking out my blog.