Archive for » September, 2009 «

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Niamh from ‘The Accidental Boutique’ in Clontarf, Dublin 3 is having an open night, tomorrow (Thursday) from 7-9pm. Niamh has accumulated a fantastic selection of proper, good quality vintage clothing, which she is selling from a store behind her house, hence the lovely name - the ‘Accidental Boutique’! I love it! To have a look at some more images/prices, and to contact Niamh, visit the ‘Accidental Boutique’s’ facebook page, then round up a few pals and head on over for a couple of hours of browsing and chatting and whatnot! A lovely way to relax of an evening! 

Visit her >>HERE<<

x Blanaid

 

Part of the absence from the blog last week was due to the fact that I was filming my very first piece for Style Nation.ie. In a new programme entitled ‘All of This’, I travel to charity shops around the country and put together a few outfits. Then YOU have the opportunity to win one of the outfits by playing the ‘All of This’ guessing name on Style Nation! Simples.

This week, we travelled to Oxfam on George’s Street and put together three or four outfits…and out of ‘all of this’ (!) we chose the H-AMAZING Karen Millen gold sequinned, drape back, long sleeved mini-dress as the prize of prizes. Watch the video above and get over to Style Nation.ie to guess the OXFAM price of the dress, not the original price, and you may just have a shiny, sparkly new number in your wardrobe for Christmas!

A HUGE thank you to the producer - Helen O’ Reilly from Straywave, who is a seriously multi-skilled multi-tasker, and made me feel incredibly at ease on this, my first time presenting to camera on my own. She’s a Burlesque dancer too, legend. And also to Dawn, our model, who was very patient and kind, and gorgeous! Which is handy…!

VISIT >> STYLE NATION.ie << TO ENTER THE COMPETITION OR DIRECT MESSAGE THEM ON >> TWITTER<<

My outfit : 

Vintage red fringed leather jacket : €45.00 Oxfam, George’s St. 

Black Double U neck dress : €38.00 American Apparel

Shoes : €80.00 Topshop

Hope you like the video!

x Blanaid

P.S Here’s a hint to the price : it was a seriously expensive dress to buy originally, so remember that Oxfam wanted to get the most they could for it, as it is a ‘future classic’… think less than a hundred euro but….;)

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Perfection. Via ‘The Sunday Times’ columnist India Knight’s blog, which was via the brilliant ‘I-do -it - yourself ‘wedding blog, originally from the groom’s blog, Metal Mother.

Thoughts?

x Blanaid

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Meant to post this ages ago, but anyway - here it is! Taken from the Irish Examiner’s ‘Fashionista Files’ with Annmarie O’Connor (from I Blog Fashion) complete with the interview, if you’d like to read it…

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FASHIONISTA FILE

 What are you wearing today?

Vintage cape and second hand cropped tux jacket, which were €5.00 each. A backless dress, gothic leggings and platform shoe boots, all from a huge splurge on Topshop.co.uk back when the sterling was weak. Finally, black tights from Penneys cut into stockings, and a vintage rip-off Chanel suede bag.  

How much did it cost?

The entire outfit cost around €192.00, with the shoes accounting for around half of that. A pretty expensive outfit for me!

What do you love most about it?

I don’t have a definite style and tend to flit between a kind of rocker/homeless look and a French style all-too-much glamour look, so this kind of marries the two. Like a kind of ‘demented French homeless coiffured rocker who raided her Grandmother’s wardrobe’ look. If that’s what’s in next season, then I’m all over it.

 Who is your fashion icon?

I don’t really have a fashion icon, but I do love to look through fashion blogs such as Knightcat, FashionToast, Lefashionimage and browse through streetstyle websites, like Dublin Streets, Garance Dore and Fashion Filosofy.  

Which designers do you admire?

Balmain, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Alexander Wang, Philip Lim, Comme des Garcons, Isabel Marant, Band of Outsiders and Malene Birger. I’ll have everything they’ve ever made, thanks!

 What is the last thing you bought?

I bought a vintage navy velvet flock long sleeved mini-dress for €6.00 in a charity shop. It is my new ‘if all else fails’ going out dress.

 What was your biggest splurge?

I bought a Custo Barcelona graphic printed, fur sleeved, bell shaped coat about 2 years ago. It’s slightly Henry VIII-esque, but I love it. I intend to have it for the rest of my, or it’s, life.

 What is your best bargain buy?

This fur cape is high on the list, as is a pair of unworn vintage Italian leather boots, which I bought at a car boot sale for €4.00.

 Where do you like to shop? 

I like to shop in places that accept imaginary money. Failing that : charity shops, followed by Penneys, H&M and Zara.

 What has been your biggest fashion faux pas?

The James Dean printed leggings, which I wore to my sister’s communion, complete with matching orange James Dean t-shirt, still makes me shudder. Sometimes I tell people that as a child, I thought everyone wore fancy dress to communions.

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Thanks for having me, Annmarie! 

x Blanaid

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Sorry it’s late! A completely random selection this week, heavy on the musings, and a bit of graffiti genius at the end…I have to do this to one ’stop’ sign before I die. Putting it on my bucket list. 

x Blanaid

Category: Fancy Friday  3 Comments

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I’ve been absent from the blog, but with good reason! My ‘bestest!’ friend Shonagh got married to the lovely Glenn yesterday, and as the boss ninja chief bridesmaid, I was away doing my thing with her this week. I’ll do a proper post on the wedding next week, as it was truly the most  brilliant, emotional, beautiful, hilarious, fun and epic day ever…

x Blanaid

Category: This Website  2 Comments

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 A random selection of images, the story is up to you… From the epic image blogs > themthangs < and > lolita <. and > ffffound <..pay them a visit if you need to while away some time. Sorry about the cursing. 

x Blanaid

Category: Fancy Friday  2 Comments

A selection of kitchens - some of which I love in their entirety, some of which I love aspects of - hope you find a few you like too! 

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This kitchen (above) is pretty much perfection in my eyes - the mix of grey and white units, with some stainless steal detail. Modern and rustic mixed together so seamlessly - I love it. 

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I love the symmetry of this kitchen (above), the perfectly balanced units, the run of drawers on the bottom, the space left above the top, and the balance of wood and white. So easy to recreate using Ikea units etc, but still quite individual. 

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Leaving a planting space underneath a feature wall is a simple but amazing addition to a space - perfect for a kitchen or a bathroom, get some advice from your tiler and your builder though..

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I love the idea of a lack of top units - they tend to make the space look quite cluttered in my opinion. This kitchen is so perfectly balanced and underwhelming - in a perfectly subtle way!

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Running a low level of units similar or the same as your kitchen units in the dining part of an open plan space can act as a fantastic alternative to a sideboard while tying the two spaces together. 

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The combination of the kitchen units on the left, complete with amazing grey and white retro tiles, and the dining chairs on the right - one of my dream kitchen/diners.

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Stainless steal island unit - looks amazing- probably a nightmare to keep clean!

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The flooring in the two photos above pleases me! Such a simple, subdued way to add character to the space, these tiles are both retro and rustic. Perfect. 

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 Thinking outside the box (above), an unusual creation that really is almost a work of art. A functional unit that allows the space to still feel open and light. 

That’s it for now…sitting rooms next week!

x Blanaid

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 The perfect combination of trashy, try hard and vintage looking - just the way I like it. I think I’ll take all three, thanks Jill…no honestly, thank you, just post them to me and we’ll say no more. 

x Blanaid

On repeat - one of my all time favourite songs : ‘Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl.’ 

x Blanaid

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How exciting! The Grazia photo is now online! Exclamation mark! Click here to see it > Grazia

Apologies for the frowny face but it was very sunny and I was squinting a bit…Thanks a million once more to Annmarie at I Blog Fashion.!

Outfit : 

Shoulder pad top : Oxfam at Electric Picnin €7.00 

Elasticated belt : Sue Ryder 50c

Studded belt : Tempted

Trousers : Topshop €40.00

Shoes : Penneys €20.00

Bag : Zara €10.00 (Thanks D!)

So go on and vote and comment away if your heart so desires *money/brown envelope situation* - I’m just utterly thrilled to be next or near Grazia - it’s a good day!

x Blanaid

P.S Thank you VERY much to the lovely Whisty who put my rigout in her top 3! - check it out on her blog >here< x

 

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Love the pendant light in the first photo,  the white panelled storage in the second, the metal shutters in the third, and the calm of the fourth. 

All via Remodelista.

x Blanaid

13
Sep

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I won’t DIE if I don’t get this YSL ring (sold out everywhere), but I would probably feel a little faint on the occasions when I catch a glance at my fingers and realise it isn’t there. That amount of fainting could do me harm, for instance, I may bang my head on something during one particular faint, so technically, I MIGHT die if I don’t get this YSL ring. 

x Blanaid

‘Hoppipolla’ by Sigur Ros. 

Love,

Blanaid 

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An absolutely amazing post and interview with Melbourne street artist; Miso, over on The Design Files. I am so glad I stumbled upon this, as she is truly, truly talented and inspiring. She is also making me feel incredibly untalented through her being truly, truly talented and inspiring..! Her use of sketching and paper as a form of street art is just brilliant, as is her collaborations with other artists, and her positioning of her work on the street. Check out her website >here< after reading the full wonderful article on The Design Files.

x Blanaid

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It’s that time of the week again! This week, I’ve gone for a more vibrant collection than usual, red and orange and blue tones.Not sure if I can take all the colour on the site, think it’s back to the pale or dark tones next week.

The last image is by artist Greg Gossel. The rest of the images have been picked up along the way, via sites like ffffound and etc…if you’ve got some time to kill and want to get lost in a land of pretty or interesting images, visit both those sites - brilliant.

x Blanaid

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An exciting couple of days - so a few quick gratitudes..!

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Met up with the Grazia Stylehunters yesterday evening (with thanks to Arsheen at Fashion Filosofy and Annmarie at I Blog Fashion ), and the lovely Hannah from Grazia was on Ireland AM this morning, and showed my photo - that was a thrill! Watch it >here< if you like! x

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Irish Examiner with Annmarie O’Connor

Annmarie O’Connor featured me in her Fashionista Files in the Irish Examiner on Saturday, I was away at the Electric Picnic that day, so here’s just  a BAD photo I took of the page (please accept is as proof..!) Once I get the image and the interview, I’ll post them here.. A huge thank you to Annmarie, she has been a fantastic supporter, not just of this blog, but of any new fashion bloggers in Ireland. I would also HIGHLY recommend you buy the Irish Examiner on a Saturday, the magazine that comes with it is brilliant! 

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Irish Web Awards

Three websites I was involved in have been nominated for an Irish Web Award..!  A huuuge thank you to those who niminated, hopefully they’ll make the final list so fingers crossed…!

I designed this website, and along with Caroline Niland from Make- Media and Conor Langon, had a hand in the design for ‘The Stylebitches’ - both are up in the ‘most Beautiful Website’ category.I also designed ‘The Coffey Filter‘, which is up with ’The Stylebitche’; in ‘Best Entertainment Website’..let the battle commence! : ) 

For a full list of the nominees visit >here<!

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That’s all for now and thank you, thank you, thank you for visiting blanaid.com!

x Blanaid


 

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A clean and fresh post from the inspiring blog ‘Desire to Inspire‘, featuring a modernist apartment in France. I am in love with the folowing : The couch. The lightbox art work. The dining chairs. The stunning parquet flooring. The light and space. The fact that it’s in France. *sigh*

Read the full post >here<

x Blanaid

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I haven’t got a lot of photos yet from EP, but no doubt more to come, I didn’t bring a camera with me so relying on the others!

 I don’t really know what’s going in the top photo but I imagine my state of mind is still on the random planet that is the Electric Picnic. What a fantastic weekend…. MGMT, Orbital, Marina & The Diamonds, Billy Bragg, Brian Wilson, Chic, 2 Many DJs, Simian Mobile Disco, Florence & The Machine, Fleet Foxes, Passion Pitt (**BEST GIG**) and The Flaming Lips…

Hair by Joan in Anna Danielle’s again - she’s just great! The static in the tent however, meant it went from ‘Krusty the Klown Goes Ghetto’ on Thursday (bottom picture) to fairly tame (top picture), but it was still the best, low maintenance hairstyle for the weekend. Oh and I got the big shoulder padded 80’s style top in Oxfam for 7 euro, I have no intention of ever wearing anything ever again!

With all the best intentions,  I missed meeting Pa and am gutted!… Next year , we’ll make it a mission. 

x Blanaid

Below…’Passion Pit’ - best gig at E.P in my humble opinion..

more…

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Love this poster from the fantastic online store ‘Three Potato Four’. It’s just such a fantastic illustration, and  would look great in either a child’s room or a modernist living room. Perfecto!

Buy it >here< for $48.00..

x Blanaid

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With a little random fesitval feel/field to it….I’ll get to linking to the images next week. Honest…I’m not even packed for EP yet so forgive me..

Have a great weekend wherever you are in the world, and say a little prayer for some sunny days! 

x Blanaid

01
Sep

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A selection of images of stuff I’d like to wear at Electric Picnic from blogs such as etc, le-fashion, elle and studded hearts - I’ll link them all when I get back this evening/tomorrow. 

I’ve decided to go mental at this year’s Electric Picnic. Afro - gold sequins - panther t-shirt from Pa - over the knee boots - red eyeshadow - gothic leggings - blazers….simply because I was just thinking… (prepare thyself..>) we all wait and wait for opportunities to go demented, to play dress up, and then we can chicken out at the last minute. Forget that….I’m going make an effort this year. I draw the line at fairy wings though. 

x Blanaid

Lisa Mitchell : ‘Neopolitan Dreams’..the lovely, tinkly song from that detergent ad…

x Blanaid