Archive for the Category »Blanaid's Style «

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New Look picked this site as one of their favourite Irish Fashion Blogs, which was a lovely surprise. They were celebrating 20% off for Irish shoppers. It was even nicer to be mentioned alongside some of my personal favourite bloggers such as: 

Male Mode

Whisty Blogs Dublin Fashion

Ripped Knees

She’s in Vogue

Becky Dazzler 

Which got me to thinking - I’d like even more favourite blogs to be visiting along with the loveliness of the above. If you have, or know, a fashion or interiors blog, feel free to leave your link in the comments section! The more, the merrier.

(I may need to de-spam your comment with link, but will do asap!)

xBlanaid

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I had a work type trip to London recently - which happily coincided with the Lovebox festival. And a long overdue visit to my lovely friends Pa and Nico. And a return to the ‘having a good time’ thing that has been wrapped in a ball of sleep and effort for the last month or so….and what a lovely way to come back…

Here’s a little round up of the clothes from the trip, working from the top down: 

Sleeveless denim jacket : Charity shop €5.00

Sequinned dress : Charity shop €5.00

50’s style clear glasses : Penneys.

Studded belt : Bay Trading €12.00

Silver bangles : Charity shop €2.00

Boots : Zara €80.00

Black hat : H&M menswear £1.oo

Stripy sequinned waistcoat : H&M £10.00

Black t-shirt : H&M €6.00

Black mini skirt : Penneys €4.00

Tights cut in to knee socks : Penneys €2.50

Little black fringed bag (belonging to Laura) : Penneys

Green hat : Charity shop €5.00 (..ish…?)

Black jeans cut in to shorts : H&M €19.99 (apx)

Gold cuffs : Charity shop €5.00 each. 

Coral ring on little finger : K Kajoux €20.00

Green ring : YSL (birthday present)

Fringed leggings : £13.00 Public Beware, Brick Lane, London (incredible shop!)

Paisley be-shoulder-padded jacket : £31.00 Public Beware. 

Also I would particularly recommend falling in love with Chromeo, who played at Lovebox. Dave told me about them a few times, but you really do have to go and see them live to fully fall into that said same love. They’re playing Tripod in November - maybe see you there!

Thanks to Pa & Nico & Juanita for having me to stay! The backs of your heads are ridickulas! Ok-er-er-er-er?

xBlanaid

 

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Morning after the night before. Studio and head a complete mess. Showing off the pole dancing eh..’skills’ I tried very hard not to show people the night before. Loose clothes. Hat. Sore eyes. 

Lovely, lovely day : lunch at Zuni with Dave, Heather, Dave 2, Roisin and Naomi (mother of baby Zarah in above photo.) Then..trip to Penneys. Cleaned the studio. Sent in press shots. Bed. 

Rabbit felt Hat - apx €5.00 Charity shop

Top - €12.00 Urban Outfitters

Black bandeau bra - €3.00 Dunnes Stores

Shorts - €3.00 Charity shop

Boots - €80.00 Zara

YSL Ring - Gift 

xBlanaid

Photos by Dave Coffey. Thanks D!

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shutterbug-2a-copy…with Eoin (above left) …and organising an impromptu ‘wedding’..

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..with my brothers and sister Aran, Roisin and Eoin and Grandfather Paschal.

I am afraid my blog has become a mix of Fancy Fridays and outfit posts - I think I burned out on the interiors through the amount of work we just did on the studio - but I’ll be back on that side of things this week. 

Speaking of the studio (What?! Never!…I’ll stop soon, honest…) we had our launch on Saturday night - got ready at the verrrry last minute as always. Had this gúna on the styling rail in said same studio, grabbed and donned etc. Currently bingeing on these boots, I’ll aim to change them soon… but not until after the next outfit post, which is the ‘hangover’ outfit from today.

Dress - €5.00 Charity Shop

Belt - €12.00 Bay trading

Boots - €80.00 Zara

Ring - Gift.. Yves Saint Laurent

I also just want to say, from the bottom of this cold, dark heart of mine, thank you so much to everyone who came to our launch party. I cannot say enough how overwhelmed we have been by all of the support shown to our little business, and how wonderful and helpful our friends have been…Thank you times 400 million. If I could sing, I’d serenade you all with songs of love and gratitude. (Did I mention I was hungover…? I think I’ll stop typing now.)

xBlanaid

Images courtesy of Donal Foley

 

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Laura and I, as The Stylebitches, have signed with Bulmers Light - and as part of the campaign, we did a little presentation before the screening of ‘Sex and the City 2.’ I was running late so had to grab something quickly from the rail in the studio. Ended up looking a bit like Samantha in the 80’s bit of the film, but how and ever! The boots and necklace are pretty much glued to me at the moment, hence the recurrence from the last post…

Before outfit: 

Shorts : Cut up jeans from H&M (still cutting…)

Top : Cut up sun dress from Penneys. Think it was €5.00. (still cutting part 2)

Denim Jacket : Charity shop €5.00

Necklace : Topshop €38.00

Boots: Zara €80.00 

Bracelets : Mix of charity shop and Accessorize.

After outfit: 

Same as before but;

Dress : €3.00 Charity shop. 

Man, I look tired in these photos.

xBlanaid

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My 30th birthday has been most kind to me indeed. Yes, that is the Yves Saint Laurent Arty ring that I posted about back in January - you know, the one I said I’d love as an engagement ring? Well, no engagement, but my lovely brothers and sister, Eoin, Roisin and Aran clubbed together their hard earned monies to buy me something that I’d have for the rest of my life - something I could say ‘I got this for my 30th birthday’ about…it turns out my friends were all in on it too - telling me it was sold out, secretly sizing it, keeping me from saving up for it…etc. I am so thrilled. So, so thrilled. 

My luck continued -  my very thoughtful friend Dave presented me with a new ipod to replace the one that was stolen from my car… add this to the clothes pictured here, polka dot camping chairs, tie dye dress, vinyl records, jumpsuit, and my parents surprising me with the most incredibly generous gift - (more on that one next week) I’m feeling incredibly lucky, loving my thirties, and enjoying the sunshine. …To top it all, I have my studio launch/30th party to look forward to on the 5th of June. Life is good! ..and thank you for all the birthday wishes, whether it was here, facebook, text or email (all the mod-her-in technology!) - I really do appreciate it.

T-shirt - €20.00 River Island

Shorts - €30.00 River Island

Necklace - €28.00 Topshop

Ankle Boots - €80.00 Zara

Bracelets - charity shop/accessorize.

Ring - permanently glued to finger.

P.S Those are birthmarks on my leg - not bizarre sunburn! : ) 

xBlanaid

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30th

I’m 30 years old today, and I’m very excited to be heading in to a new decade..particularly if it’s anything like the last three (although memories of the first are hazy, and the third for that matter..)

So this is just a post to say - to all of the people who have made my life so incredibly FULL of dancing, laughing, talking, messing, some crying, learning, thinking, and one more time, for good measure, laughing  - THANK YOU! Today, I’m just going to be grateful and happy and excited about everything, and stay hopeful that this next decade brings more of the same, and for you too, reading this right now. 

xBlanaid

P.S this blog is also ‘one years of age’ this month  - so thank you very much for taking the time to read, or comment on, my ramblings  - I very much appreciate it all! …and to the person who made me start it - thank you - you win a prize - a pony! ;) x

P.P.S We have a habit of doing ‘hamster’ faces on nights out - no explanation…

 

 

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This may not seem like a big deal to most people - but I have never, in my life, found a pair of jeans that fit me properly. Ever. To the point where, around 6 years ago, I decided to stop wearing jeans altogether. I still dabbled with the boyfriend jeans thing about two Summers ago, and last year found a nice pair of slouchy and comfortable cropped jeans. Still didn’t love either though.

I’m not sure that I’ll ever really be a jeans girl. I feel very eh…normal in them. It’s not that I dress to impress or shock or anything like that, I just like playing around with stuff, and I think there’s only so much you can do with a pair of jeans. (I mean this for me personally, I’ve nothing against jeans in general…) Also shape wise, I have a long back and short legs so have to be careful with the old proportions, and jeans can be pretty unflattering on me. 

Anyway, rambling on, I stumbled upon this pair in River Island on Saturday while out shopping with my friend Alison. Due to work it was a ’smash and grab’ shopping trip so I took ten pairs of randomly sized and shaped jeans in with me, and ended up buying this pair. Still wondering if I actually like them, it’ll be interesting to see if they appear in an outfit post ever again… : ) 

Jeans - €48.00 River Island

T-shirt - vintage, free! (gift from a friend..)

Jacket - €30.00 vintage

Rabbit Hair Hat - €5.00 charity shop

Ankle boots - €80.00 Zara

Studded bracelets - €1.00 Charity shop

Cuff bracelet - €3.00 Accessorize sale. 

xBlanaid

 

 

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After a serious lack of outfit posts, I seem to be on a mission to make up for it in one week. The shoot with Ciúin gave me a bit of a kick to get in to my clothes again - not just shoot wise, but the day to day stuff.  Also, after my encounter with the navy polka dot dress versus the scissors, I can’t stop cutting stuff up. I like the raggedy hemlines and altered shape. I may be addicted. 

I bought this dress in Penneys’ yesterday, and started by cutting the unflattering ruffled bib from the front, then cut about an inch from the bottom. Also cut off unflattering ribbon tie thing. Had to put down the scissors before I was left with a floral cravat. May change blog name to www.howsshecutting.com

Dress - €13.00 Penneys

Parka - €20.00 ish Penneys

Belt - €10.00 Vintage

Boots - Bought them in the River Island sale around five years ago, I think they were around €60.00.

xBlanaid

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This is actually a reeeal outfit post, as I was wearing this today, although the image is from the shoot with Ciúin on Saturday.  Saved me trying to get an even remotely half as daycent photo of the rigout on the mac. Must sort out the camera situation. I really have absolutely no excuse.

Hat - €4.00 charity shop, Kilkenny

Tartan bralet - €25.00 Topshop

Belt - Vintage

Skirt - By Malene Birger (the creased look of it is part of the design, which suits me and my ironing laziness just fine..!)

Shoes - Gil Carvelho for Faith

Cape - €4.00 Sue Ryder charity shop, Thurles

Briefcase - €8.00 - Mulberry bag I found in a charity shop around five years ago, love it but it’s falling apart..

Didn’t wear the hat though, as I was in work,  and also added the navy and white mandarin style top from the tattoo shoot a few posts below. Really wish this weather would sort itself out - I blame the volcanic ash. Not sure why, I just do.

xBlanaid

Photo by Ciúin Tracey

08
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First shoot in our new studio Shutterbug! Ciuin Tracey came down from Dublin to photograph me  for a project she’s working on - which yes, involved underwear being out on show…but not in a racy way! : )  So happy with the lighting in the new studio, and the cyclorama - I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy working on all of our shoots - which is a very good feeling indeed!

 I also love working with Ciúin - we have a very similar end product in mind so we don’t even need to rabbit on at each other, just let the other do what their doing and have fun - great day’s work! There are lots and lots of set ups from yesterday’s shoot - but here’s the first one - a kind of  ’Russian Aristocrat Forgets Their Trousers While Getting Lots of New Tattoos.’ Well, obviously I photoshopped the tattoos in, but I kind of want them in real life now….

Turban - Christmas present from my sister, from the second hand shop in front of George’s Arcade in Dublin - help, what’s the name of it…!? apx €20.00

Veil - Bought in ‘Tempted’ around 2 years ago. €38.00

Feathered hairband - Penneys - €2.00

Blue bikini - Penneys - €6.00

Navy and white top - €18.00 H&M

Scarf around waist - Penneys €2.00

Wrap on chair - H&M €7.00

Stockings - Penneys (I didn’t realise how much of this was from Penneys..) €3.00

Jewellery - left hand little finger: two rings from Daisy stacking rings, green jewel ring from K Kajoux.  Ring finger: red ring from Dirty Fabulous. Right hand : Turquoise ring from Accessorise, diamond ring from ex. 

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Photography : Ciúin Tracey

Styling & Digital Art. : Blanaid Hennessy

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Hope you like the shots!

xBlanaid


 

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blanaid-clothes-fashion1bOutfit posts are back in the game! ; )

I bought this dress for a tenner in a charity shop yesterday - it was ankle length, with long sleeves, a white panel where the deep V now exist, and thick white bands at the top of the pockets - yes, I took out the scissors…! 

Dress: €10.00 Sue Ryder charity shop, Kilkenny

Belt : Vintage ‘Ray Busa’ belt.

Boots : River Island, around five years ago…

xBlanaid 

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I haven’t done an outfit post in a while, what with all the work and being a leeetle tired, I haven’t really felt that eh..camera ready. This is my baby step back into it all though - a couple of images of the amount of rings I am currently wearing. Perhaps you are the same - I seem to go through extreme phases - at times I can’t stand jewellery, and then, like now, I can’t seem to put enough of it on myself. 

Here are the details:

Red ring from Dirty Fabulous - I bought this at the Absolut Style at Set weekend, I’m incredibly in love with it - the lady who designed it worked with Christian lacroix, and you can tell…the attention to detail is astounding. The ladies in Dirty Fabulous have a fantastic eye - I wanted ALL of their stuff. Bought a stunning silk jersey dress from them too, going to use it in an upcoming shoot with Ciúin Tracey.

Green ring from K Kajoux - Also purchased at the Absolut Style at Set weekend, K Kajoux’s stand was one of the absolute highlights for me. All of her jewellery is handcrafted, and this little gem was only €10! Love it, haven’t taken it off since I bought it..Contact details for her on the way!

Daisy stacking rings - in LOVE with these rings, made to stack together or mixed in with other jewellery. These were sent to me as a gift, but I never recommend anything unless I actually like it - I’d rather send it back. I put these on the day I got them, and I literally haven’t taken them off since. Here’s the info> Daisy stack rings are available from stockist nationwide and come in sizes small, medium and large. Individual rings range in price from €30 to €94. See the full range >here<.

Diamond ring - My old engagement ring - vintage style with Rennie Macintosh detail on the sides. Odd to still wear your engagement ring? Perhaps, but I love it as a ring.

Turquoise ring - this was my ‘replacement’ engagement ring when the diamond one was being resized, I actually love it more than the real one, even though (or maybe because of the fact..) it was a fraction of the price, from Monsoon Accessorize. 

Anyway, that’s the fist step, outfit posts to follow shortly. Maybe. Yes…definitely. Definitely maybe.. ; )

xBlanaid

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 As you may or may not know from me going on and on about it, I’m organising ‘Absolut Style at Set’, a vintage fashion, film and furniture fair for Langton’s House Hotel, Kilkenny ( 2nd, 3rd and 4th of April.) It’s to showcase their new SET theatre, which is quite lovely and beautiful, designed by interiors guru David Collins.  

My brother Eoin is a photographer, so we did a shoot in the SET theatre for our press package, and here are the results!

 Hair piece : Hand dyed Silk Chiffon and Velvet headpiece/corsage adorning a birdcage veil: €100.00 and Vintage Brooch: €15.00 both from Millinery By Rebekah Patterson , The Market Slip, Kilkenny.

Dress :  1970’s Gunne Sax strapless cream lace ballerina dress: €125.00. Vertigo Vintage, Dublin and Kilkenny.

Hair : by the quite brilliant Anne, at Kieran O’Gorman Hair and Beauty Day Spa, the Butterslip, Kilkenny. (see more below)

Shoes : Dunnes Stores €15.00, but they hurt!

More info on the ‘Absolut Style at Set’ weekend to follow, or read a bit about it >here<. Tickets go on sale tomorrow…

Thanks to Eoin for taking the photos!

xBlanaid

See more of the hair-did after the jump!

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Here are a couple of images photographer Moselle Foley took on our break from the ballgown shoot in the apartamento. She used her Yashica camera for these shots - I actually think they’re my favourite, I just love the retro tones…

That’s all, just thought I’d share - thanks a million Mo! (Apologies for the mess in the background!)

xBlanaid

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One more shoot post from Ciúin Tracey, bit of a crazy/evil/demented take on a regular ball-going ‘ensemble’…There are just so many images from the shoot so these posts may continue for quite some time! Thank you Ciúin!

.My friend and I were just talking about the kind of stuff we wear on a night out, and how maybe we should ‘tone it down’ a bit…then I decided, well no, when I’m 70-odd, I’ll look back at my 20-odd year old self and say - ‘why the hell didn’t you go even crazier you silly girl.’ So in conclusion, I dress the way I do on a night out in order to keep my future self  satisfied. As good a reason as I can muster.

Gown - Around €120.00 Karen Millen, Kildare Outlet Village.

Belt - €15.00 Bay Trading

Feather Bolero - €5.00 Sue Ryder Charity Shop, Kilkenny.

Image by Ciúin Tracey. Post-production by me.

x Blanaid

P.S I am going to start doing the normal macbook camera outfit posts again though, as I don’t tend to wear ballgowns toddling about the place on a day to day basis..well, maybe every second day..

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blanaid-moselle-bMoselle Foley is just an exceptional photographer, who has a true passion for all things camera related..(she owns about 17 cameras, mix of vintage, classic and modern, legend!)

She’s also great to work with, we shot these in natural light in the sitting room of my apartment, and it was a very relaxing day altogether. 

Visit Moselle’s website >here<

and do drop in to her Flickr page too, it’s fantastic >here<

Green dress - Designed by Juliette Harvey

Fur coat - Vintage

Gold Shoes - Gil Carvelho for Faith

Jewellery - Mix of vintage, Penneys, Accessorize and Topshop. 

x Blanaid

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I have no excuses for this outfit- it’s mental. But I’m determined to make men’s tracksuit bottoms from Penneys, cut up into shorts, somewhat acceptable. Are you with me? Eh…no?

Okay I know it’s a bit beyond, but I think these are my favourite shots from the shoot with Ciuin Tracey…so had to post them. Thanks again so much to her, add her on facebook here ! >

I used some photoshop actions downloaded from deviant art to create the coloured lighting effect, I’d highly recommended them. They are the ‘50 postwork photoshop actions by Manicho.’ I started with ‘Extreme Vintage 1′, then added ‘Contrast desat 1′. Two clicks, as easy as that!

Vest : H&M

Shorts : Penneys

Belt : River Island

Corsage : Penneys

Socks : Penneys tights cut up

Shoes : Gil Carvelho for Faith.

x Blanaid

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Another outfit post from  the shoot with Ciuin Tracey…this time it’s a bit of a floaty number. I never generally leave my legs un-be-tighted or stockinged, so this is probably more for the shoot than real life..!

Silk dress - by Malene Birger, worn a little see-throughly over…

Gold bandeau and hotpants - American Apparel 

Shoes - Gil Carvelho for Faith

Necklace in hair - Accessorize

Jewellery - mix of vintage, Accessorize and Penneys.

Thanks again to Ciuin, add her on facebook >here<

x Blanaid

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New outfit post from the shoot with Ciuin Tracey - this one is a bit of a demented flapper situation….

Top - €55.oo Topshop

Belt - €15.00 Bay Trading

Shorts - €22.00 H&M

Tights - Penneys

Shoes - €80.00 apx Topshop

Sequined head band - cheap belt cut in half.

Jewellery - mix of vintage, Accessorize and Penneys. 

Thanks again so much to Ciuin for the photographs, add her on facebook >here<! 

x Blanaid

 

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I really wanted to do more outfit shoots for the blog, so was delighted when D.I.T. fashion photography student Ciúin Tracey got in touch about doing a bit of a collaboration.  She really is fantastic to work with, and there are loads and loads of images to post, so I’m pretty sorted for the outfit posts for a while! A huge thank you to her for the shoot…
This outfit is slightly mad, but I think it’s quite appropriate for War at Spy on South William St., which is my new favourite place. Quite demented. Laura and I will be DJing there this Saturday night, if you’re about the place!

Gold bandeau - American Apparel.
Fur - Vintage
Sequin skirt - Penney’s.
Layered top worn as skirt - Pringle outlet store, Rathdowney.
Man’s belt - River Island
Socks - Penney’s tights cut up.
Shoes - Gil Carvalho for Faith. 
Hair - by Joan in Anna Danielle’s, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.
Contact Ciúin through her facebook page >here<
x Blanaid

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I was quite lucky to have bought five lame, beshoulderpadded, sequinny cheap tops in Oxfam on George’s St. on Thursday, as I wore every single one of them this weekend with the fail-safe sequinned shorts from H&M! Saved on the old having to think about it situation. 

Friday

The first outfit was for the IMTV awards, which was held in The Sugar Club. Brilliant night, a little merry! 

Top - €8.00 Oxfam George’s Street. 

Shorts - €22.00 H&M Liffey Valley

Studded Belt - €15.00 Bay Trading

Tights - Penneys…Shoes - apx €80.00 Topshop

Jewellery - mix of Accessorize and vintage, the cream bracelet is from Penneys, I love it!

*My hair was by Joan in Anna Danielle’s, Main Street, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny (056) 8831208*

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Saturday

The second outfit was for our DJ set in Spy on South William St.  -

Crop top - €5.00 Oxfam 

Gold bandeau bra- American Apparel.

Mustard leather trench coat is an old one from the Urban Outfitters’ vintage section in Glasgow - £30.00

Rest-  same as above.

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The third outfit….Dublin is missing a good place to go on a Sunday night, unless anyone can recommend one? We were a tad tipsy so headed into what we affectionately refer to as Charles Fitzgerald Jenkin’s Mansion House otherwise known as Coppers. Lordy…but the dancing is fun!

Harlequin top - €12.00 Oxfam

Bra - American Apparel. 

Rest - same as above.

I swear, that’s the last post on this weekend! Unless I ever get to do another ‘Ten Favourite Things’, then it will be on that! 

x Blanaid

Thanks to Laura Cunningham and Andrew Clancy for the photos.

 

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I was quite thrilled to be asked to offer up my ‘Ten Favourite Things’ to the Evening Herald, by journalist Suzanne Yarker, except…I’m really bad at picking my favourite anything. I love music, films, books, chocolate - but ask me my first choice of anything and eh…yeah come back to me in about a week. Thankfully, both Suzanne and the lovely photographer Doug O’Connor were as easygoing as anything. Even when Doug was trying to help me out things, saying like : ‘How about that lamp, do you like that?’…it ended up as…’I do! I do like that lamp!’…’Could you live without the lamp though?’…’I could…I could live without that lamp..’ etc.

Anyway, I’m pretty happy with the results, they all mean something, or remind me of a lovely time, and that’s all you can really ask for from objects.

Feel free to tell me yours..If you can pick ten - it’s hard, try it!

x Blanaid

In no particular order by the Evening Her-dild…

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1. Nikhil & Shantu hand painted gold coat :  This is by far the most expensive thing I own. I make it earn it’s keep by hanging it on the wall when I’m not wearing it, so it moonlights as a piece of art. It keeps my guilt about the cost down a bit..

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2. Green hat : The best representation of thievery from my mother’s wardrobe: she buys it, I steal it. Luckily both she, my sister and I all love second hand shops, so my bill is pretty low. So far.

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3.  Keniche Hoshine print : This Keniche Hoshine print reads “I never stopped writing to you, sending telegrams that read like fevers.” which for me, sums up how intense and insatiable some love affairs can be…His ‘A Polite Winter’ collection is this demented adventure in love and desire, and to know that other people can  feel that way without descending in to all-out insanity, well, it’s a comfort!

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4. Vintage chair : I bought this at a car boot sale for about €15.00 I’m usually pretty disrespectful toward everything I own, but not this chair. It’s very dainty.

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5. Vintage Cameras : My brothers and I are just about to open a new studio in Kilkenny, so I have to practice the old taking photographs lark. These vintage cameras, which cost a euro each, are much cheaper to drop than my brother’s expensive stuff. And I will drop them at some stage. No doubt about it.

6.  Cuban Cigar Box : I thieved this from my Dad years back, it reminds me of him, and my brother Eoin, who are both partial to a cigar. It’s been dragged from house to house, so is looking a bit shook, bit I still love it. 

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7. Turquoise ring : This ring reminds me of a slightly foolish but fun period of my life, when I was very young and knew a whole lot about nothing, particularly relationships.

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8. Brother Sewing Machine : One of the most thoughtful birthday gifts I ever received. It works perfectly and looks beautiful. It has also saved me a lot of money.I get bored with my clothes pretty quickly, but even with my very limited sewing skill, it’s possible to alter things just enough to make them different. Such as the huge scarf from H&M that became a very inexpensive maxi dress…

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9. White silk dress : I bought this in Zara, for €99.00. It reminds me of one of my favourite nights out; one of those mad occassions that started all elegant, and ended a few days later with a dirty fry up.

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10. Photo of grandparents : I love this photo of my mother’s parents, out at a party, looking all glamorous and in love. Instead of showing lots of different photos of my friends and family, who are really all of my favourite things, I think this image sums up my life with the people I love. Laughing, getting dressed up, having fun and just enjoying the whole party.

x

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A little late posting this, but Stellar is out all month, so it’s not too late…! Around a month back,  Stellar’s lovely Fashion Editor, Corina Gaffey, organised a shoot featuring some of the fashion bloggers in Ireland, photographed by the incredibly talented Lili Forberg. It was a fantastic day, especially getting to meet Corina, Lily, the hair stylist : Maurice Flynn, the make up artists; Seana Long and Alanna Wallace from Make Up Forever, and of course, the other Irish bloggers, including:

 Arsheen from Fashion Filosofy,  (beautiful creative taste.)

Catherine from This is an OffShoot, (a real live Irish Carine Roitfeld.)

Laura from Whisty Blogs Dublin Fashion, (my kind of style, I love her looks.)

Jessica from Get Your Frocks Off  (I need all of her clothes..)

Leonn from Cosmo-Sparkle  (vintage, eclectic look.)

and Zohra from ‘Ophelia Ford  (I’ll take all of her wardrobe too…)

and of course, our very own glamorous Laura Cunningham from The Stylebitches! :)

Do pick up Stellar if you see it, it’s a fantastic read. It was actually a favourite magazine of mine before this shoot, and now, of course, most definitely is..! Thank you to all involved, I had such a brilliant time, and was absolutely thrilled to be included.

x Blanaid

P.S See way more behind the scenes shot >here< if you like! x

 

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I was up in Athlone, in Burgess Department Store, styling for an RTÉ show, (yeah, there was no reason to tell you that, but I just wanted to type it out loud! Sorry!) when I picked up this gúna from Bay Trading - reduced to €14.oo!  I’m not in any way a shop snob, as you can probably guess from my love of Penneys, but Bay is never a store that comes into my mind when shopping, so I was quite thrilled with this little number. I also bought the studded belt there for €15.oo - good day!

The rigout has also earned it’s keep, as I wore it for the show, then presenting for Style Nation at the Off The Rails roadshow, then out again on Saturday night for my friend Orla’s birthday. Oh and also on another night out with my sister Roisin, and me Laura... So yeah…in conclusion… I like it.

Dress : €14.00 Bay Trading

Belt : €15.00 Bay Trading

Tights : €2.00 Penneys

Shoes : appx. €80.00 Topshop

Jewellery : Bracelets and turquoise ring : from Accessorize.

Stacked rings : from Tempted

Diamond band : Old engagement ring

Square ring : Present from Laura from Topshop.

x Blanaid

 

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A quick thank you post…!

I had to pop down to Kilkenny for work stuff today, but had to be back in Dublin by 6pm to present a ‘Style Nation’ piece at RTÉ’s Off the Rails, The Total Experience roadshow… (which was great fun by the way, especially the fashion show..) Time was against me (Friday traffic…the seventh ring of hell and damnation) and I wasn’t going to get a chance to top in the apt on the way to fix my dreadlocked hair, so I called Anton in ‘Hair by Anton’ in the Market Yard, Kilkenny (056-7764577) on the off chance he could do something in the ten minutes I had to spare in town, and he obliged most kindly.

I’m not sure what or how he did it, but he made it all soft and wavy, piled it up high, pinned some of it up,  managed to keep it messy the way I like it, and all without a single pin sticking into my scalp. And within the ten minutes. So I just wanted to say thank you!

Forgive the crap photo, it’s late.

x Blanaid

 

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This isn’t a ‘proper shoot,’ we were just cutting through our new garden (!) into town when Andrew Clancy took a few quick snaps, so this outfit is pretty thoughtless but comfortable as anything. Also caught rapid with a dirty smoke. Anyway!

Coat : Vintage €15.00

Skirt : Topshop €20.00

Tights : Penneys €3.00

Boots : Penneys €21.00

Jewellery : Really piling on the silver at the moment, must do a post on all the rings and stuff I’ve accumulated. It’s ridiculous. 

x Blanaid

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I’m so sorry for my absence from the blog, I am currently in the middle of moving to Dublin! Luc, Heather and I moved in last night, and are right in the middle of completely re-doing the place….ripping all the  carpets up, painting walls white, taking down curtains, fixing shutters and putting in furniture etc as it was completely unfurnished, which I love. Thanks to Andrew Clancy for the photos! (I, of course, neglected to take before photos but it was yellow walls and wine carpet galore…) 

*It really is a work in progress, the mirror above the fire is still on it’s backing, another single divan bed/sofa thing will be going beside the fireplace, more rugs about the place etc etc etc..! 

In one of the shots, you can see Mr.Pete Fagan hard at work, he started helping me on Tuesday morning and he’s still here, loading vans, pulling up nails, and eh…heading out for a few pints now. He’s a legend! Also, a huge thanks to my sister Roisin, brothers Eoin and Aran, Andrew Clancy, Laura Cunningham, Heather , Catherine and Danny Condren and Lucianne White for all of their help. Starbars. 

This is my 16th move in the last ten years, the last being just six months ago. I think it’s safe to say I’m done. Feel free to remind me of this in about 8 months time, when I might be on the road again.

xBlanaid

 

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I was really very delighted to be asked by the ladies from the blog ‘Blaubushka,’ to take part in their ‘Blogging for Boobs’ campaign to raise the awareness of breast cancer. They asked bloggers to send in ‘pink’ themed images of themselves or anything at all, which they are now posting over on their blog. Such a lovely idea, and a huge congratulations to them for organising it all. There are some absolutely amazing images being posted, have a looksee at their blog >here<

For my image, I decided to do an  outfit post, so got my pink second -hand Monsoon dress, pink vintage hat, and pink TK Maxx umbrella, and toddled off to a field here in Kilkenny. The photographer was, again, Andrew Clancy, who was so great and didn’t mind a bit about the f-f-f-freezing cold and rain. Thank you Clancers!

Please visit Blaubushka, and do click on the breast cancer information links they have provided in the posts. 

Thanks for having me Blaubushka!

x Blanaid

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Here it is now, only a week late - the second part of the shoot with photographer Andrew Clancy..

All the clothes in this shoot are from the Savida collection from Dunnes Stores. I’m quite in love with the ruffled lace top and the leggings, both Savida. I picked up the cropped floral t-shirt in Dunnes for a tenner the week previous, I’m not sure if I’ll ever take it off. Maybe to wash it. For that money, I could get a few more and rotate….My next purchase shall be the skirt below, which is just €25.00…good deal!

Thanks once more to Andrew for his photograph-taking abilities. You’re a legend Clancers x

x Blanaid

*skirt below, €25.00, Savida*

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