Hi all,

Here’s July’s Metro Fashion blogger column…

The first magazine interview I was ever asked to do was with Ben De Lisi; I met him in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin 2 I was pretty nervous, I’ll admit. We chatted about his latest collection for Debenhams and another project he was involved in at the time. Afterwards, he told me one of his pet dislikes about the way women dress.

To paraphrase, he said, “I don’t like it when women dress incorrectly for the weather”. Sadly, I was sitting next to him in a woollen dress and black opaques; while outside, mother nature had given us one of those rare warm summer days in Dublin. Through a combination of nerves and 26 degree heat, I was ‘glowing’. It wasn’t a great moment, but it’s a comment, directed toward me or not, that has forever stuck in my head.

And so, when warm days do arrive, I say forgo the LBD and black trouser suit; wear dresses and skirts, teamed with short-sleeve blouses and loose vest-tops. The trend for feminine-inspired collections, means Spring/Summer 2013 offers a plethora of skirts to choose from; Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs and Carven offered geo-prints, textures and art-prints respectively. This Marni embellished skirt, (pictured £999 at theoutnet.com) teamed with a loose silk vest in pale cream, is an ideal eveningwear solution.

The high street has answered back with a bang too; colour schemes from gold, to pale pink to cerise and orange will keep us cool, in both senses of the word. Next (pictured €62 approx.) has this sleek, pale pink lace pencil skirt to wear at the office or elsewhere, and Fran & Jane (Pictured €139)have created this grey and orange, geo-print pencil skirt with side pleats, which serve to give you curves. Whether you wear nude-tights or tan your pins, show you can handle the heat with a summer-suitable skirt.

whisty.wordpress.com

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Hi all,

Here’s August’s Metro Fashion Blogger column.

Twice a year fashion writers jump over themselves to write about the new season collections and trends. Me included. Every august, post summer sale-fervour, the time comes to study the Autumn/Winter trends. I always find myself thinking it’s just too early; surely we still have weeks of sunshine left, in which to enjoy our summer wardrobe? Then I find myself fidgeting in pastel chiffon dresses, craving cosy wool layering and edgy winter separates.

Happily, the top three A/W’13 trends in the new season’s Trend Agenda are transitional; allowing you to hint that you’ve been studying the catwalk, rather than boast. No one likes a know-it-all. Adding one of these key A/W trends to your late-summer wardrobe will refresh your look; rather than give it an ‘I-got-it-before-you’ (zzzzzzzzzz) arrogance.

Pink Coats; a huge trend seen at Céline, Jonathan Saunders and Simone Rocha, are a buy now wear now A/W’13 trend. Pink coats came in dozens of shapes; overcoat, Crombie, cocoon and tailored; this trend is all about the shade. Pale, rose, frosted and dusky made up the palette of pink at shows last February. This Penneys/Primark Crombie-style coat (Pictured €40) sets off the pretty shade with masculine tailoring.

High-Shine Shoes; patent leather was seen on the feet of models in collections from Christopher Kane to Prada to Chanel. Black high-shine is here in a big way. These patent leather loafers from Pied a Terre (pictured available at Arnotts, €175) combine high-shine with classic loafers – flats (anything but ballet) are high on the A/W12 trend agenda – see Michael Kors, Boss and Louis Vuitton.

Leather Skirts; This season the leather skirt is either full-on voluminous or sleek and tight, but always comes past the knee. Calvin Klein and Prada – in bright red – created glorious full skirts while Simone Rocha created the pencil skirt in super high-shine. This is a leather take on the Hitchcockian screen siren; cinch in waists or team with oversize sweaters. Fran and Jane’s silver leather pencil skirt (pictured €119) gets it right.

I’m ready. Bring on the new season… just bit by bit.

whisty.wordpress.com

Hi all,

Here is September’s Fashion Blogger column.

Autumn Winter 2013 trend agenda cont… Festival season is over people. Electric Picnic has spewed forth its sea of carefully ragged denim, Hunter wellies and fake Ramones T-shirts for another year. It’s time to concentrate on clothes that don’t suit being covered in mud and beer. Last month, ignoring the go-to ‘what to wear at a festival’ column idea, I talked about the top three trends for this season; pink coats (you don’t say), high shine loafers and leather pencil skirts.

Happily, this season’s trends don’t stop at three key pieces, so we’re adding more to the A/W’13 trend agenda list.  If you ever read my blog you’d know I was into vintage in a big way. This season rather than create a cringe-worth pastiche designers have incorporated the most appealing elements of the vintage vibe of the ultra-fem 40’s and 50’s; the full skirts, the neutral colours, the elegant, quality tailoring etc. The full skirts aren’t floral printed with voluminous netted underskirts, they’re ox-blood coloured leather, the leather gives them volume instead. Zara claims dibs on this one (pictured €159). Handbags have two handles and come in classic bowler shapes, but in buttery claret leather and have a cross-body strap for modern versatility.

I’m jumping on the M&S bandwagon, have you seen those ads? If it’s good enough for Dame Mirren… I love this one (Pictured €99). And the cable knit jumper – happily adorning every fisherman from here to Kenmare – has finally found its feminine side. Hobbs added flowers to its knitting pattern and created this Wheatsheaf cable knit (pictured €130).

These pieces are modern day classics; like the Macintosh of the 30’s, the tuxedo suit of the 20’s or the shift dress of the 60’s. We know where the style originated but we’re adopting it and taking it into our era. This style is ours and the very last thing it is, is vintage.

whisty.wordpress.com

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Tagged: AW13, Hobbs, Leather Skirts, M&S, Midi Skirts, Trends, Zara

Above Average… Maximise your Midi-Length

Hello all,

The midi-length skirt trend often eludes me. I think it’s partly to do with my trouble deciding how to wear it. This AW’13 I was determined to get to grips with it and bought two midi-length skirts; a fitted one in grey jersey and a full, voluminous one in soft black leather.

My initial attempts at styling the full midi skirt had me looking like a lumpy, frumpy granny; missing only a knitting bag and a set of rollers. After a bit of trial and error, however, I established what actually works – for me at least. Balancing out the volume of fabric below the waist was the key. A full midi skirt needs a loose yet tailored blouse, in a pale, silky (not shiny) fabric. Best worn with sleeves rolled up and top button undone, just to show a bit of skin. Topshop.com has this polka dot print shirt (pictured £38.00), which is a great alternative to the Mulberry heart print phenomenon. Heels are a must too, unless you’re lucky enough to be over 5’11” that is; flats found me channelling Little Bo Peep or one of those extras in Grease with no date at the prom.

Getting the jersey tube skirt to look OK on me took a bit more practise; I was hoping for Molly Ringwald circa The Breakfast Club style…

Though substantially less than the full midi skirt, the tube skirt still has a lot of fabric, and worn with long tops I looked strange and misshapen. Shoulders/lower arms/décolletage, and if you’re 17 (or Nicole Scherzinger) midriffs, need to be flaunted with the midi-length tube skirt. Inspired by Louis Vuitton AW’13, I chose this this lace camisole by Zara (pictured €69.95) and wore it tucked in; with hair up it actually looked quite dressy.

By happy chance I also discovered that a fitted cashmere polo neck looks good with both skirts too. Pushing the sleeves of this Bottega Veneta (pictured £728.90 farfetch.com) up past my elbows, I’d be happy to say the midi is all mine this season.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Hello!

For Kurt Geiger, spring summer 2014 is a celebration of its signature spike heel; toasted with luxury leather bags and fantastic flats. Here are the stand out pieces (imho) from their preview show; the bags in particular are a leap forward from the classic clutch-with-shoulder-strap we’re used to from Kurt Geiger.

Red patent spike heel Kurt Geiger S/S14 shoe

Patent black and pale pink leather, hot pink suede Kurt Geiger spike heel S/S14 shoes

Nude and black snake print, two-strap spike heeled, Kurt Geiger S/S14 shoes

More snake print spike heels for Kurt Geiger S/S’14 – this time with no ankle strap

Perspex sided, classic courts with gold spike heels

THE Spring/Summer 2014 BAGS
 

THE Kurt Geiger Spring/Summer 2014 FLATSMasculine tan and snake-skin embossed flats – beautiful

Black & white Harlequin and gold woven loafers

Cut-out black patent and white Oxfords

Next spring, and for the first season since I’ve been a fan of Kurt Geiger shoes, the flats run home with the ‘most-coveted’ prize.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Hello!

At House of Fraser designer labels, like Acne, Sportsmax and MCQ a separated from the every-day labels, like Dickens & Jones, Label Lab and Linea… and then there’s Biba, a mix of both day and evening wear. Now in its 4th season for House of Fraser, Biba’s S/S’14 collection is its best yet. Hot pink leather coats, sparkling bead-work, statement clutch bags and that Mac. are some of the key pieces…Here are some that caught my eye…

It is also worth mentioning the Biba interiors collection; thick fluffy throw-pillows, monogrammed towels and gold, black and white porcelain dining sets… and gold cutlery.

Other stand out pieces included:

Pretty pastel tweed from Linea

Label Lab and its inclusion of Graduates’ graphic prints for their ‘British Talent’ collection.Yours,

Whisty Xx