The Shoes

Clockwise from top left: Jimmy Choo, Corsica; Roberto Cavalli; Lanvin; Alexander McQueen

Elemental herbology: Facial Glow

I'm currently on a diet divised by a John Pagano to rid me of my psoriasis. It's pretty intense-very little floury products (no white flour products at all), no sugar, no nightshades (potatoes, peppers etc), no tomatoes, no...no..etc. anything nice pretty much has a big no after it..sigh
What I can have is lots of wonderful fruit and vegetables...yay!
*Ahem*
This may seem rambling but hear me out. As a result of this week and a half of torture-accompanied by lots of water too-my skin is looking pretty damn good. It hasn't been "bad" now for quite a while due to the help of my good dermatologist, but it certainly looks clearer and brighter...which leads me on to Facial Glow by Elemental Herbology.
Now I've been using this since about November of last year so well before the new diet regime. Firstly it smells absolutely wonderful-another of those products which you're tempted to taste. It contains orange peel and papaya (vitamin C and enzymes) to encourage your skin's renewal as well as manuka honey and macadamia oil to calm it down again. I've been generally using it once a week and leaving it on for about 10mins (the recommended time is 5mins so watch it if you've sensitive skin). It's the perfect antidote for skin thats looking a little sluggish especially skin which is suffering from central heating syndrome in this cold weather.
It costs 48e or 36 sterling (8-)) if you're in the Uk, so it's rather expensive, but I like to think it's better than the temporary action of a facial scrub and would even go so far as to say mini micro-dermabrasion lite? Get it in Space NK, Dundrum

Camilla Staerk

Camilla Staerk, a Danish brand eponymous with a soft gothic style announced that it would cease trading back in October 2008. Expect lots of leather and black, softened with silks and knits. Its founder, Staerk, already left the line to create her new label-Staerk-back in 2006. Camilla Staerk A/W 08 collection is stocked at Circus, Powerscourt Town Centre in Dublin and is currently on sale, Circus(left). The Staerk label is a slightly more theatrical affair and is available from the website Staerk(below right)

It's my birthday soon....

Ysl old gold arty ring. Also available with white and light blue stones. Beautiful...

A Merry New Year

A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone who mistakenly strays in here! Apologies for the lack of blogging, exams and being in Limerick with no Internet access threw me a bit (and the the inevitable laziness), but now here I am!

Firstly a bit of an update on my last post; the flea market was excellent, I made off with a hot pink dress for only 5e, I'll see if I can get a picture of that up eventually, and a wonderful cake stand! I think it's about time I profess my fondness for all things baked and I hear what I make is pretty popular too;) Anyway the cake stand was a steal at only 5e too! Bargain! If you missed the follow up in December, another runs on the 25th of this month-see you there:D

Secondly on the Billion Dollar Babes sale-if you went based on anything you read here then I have to profess my ignorance. A complete sham. No wonder they had to send around apologies to everyone. Most people I saw left empty handed and rightly so, it was pretty much a sale Cheap Monday apparel and very little else. If I wanted Cheap Monday I'd just pop into Urban Outfitters...the pricing was very similar too. A big thumbs down

Being rather broke at the moment (yes tell us something we don't know-I hear you), along with most of the country I'm abstaining from spending my Christmas vouchers on over-priced merchandise from English chains (the 10% reduction due to exchange rates just don't cut it I'm afraid) and am instead planning a speedy trip up north to spend my hundred sterling that I've had squirreled away for the last few months..expect price comparisons to follow-oh yes

Christmas Outfit -a last minute effort I tells you:

Headband from Santa (he shops at Pennys apparently;))
Cream fc dress
Silver Monet chain

A Dublin Flea Market you say...sounds a bit dodgy, however this promises to be the first of many and certainly with the success of many Temple Bar Markets there may be hope yet. It's scheduled to make its first appearance this weekend in the Dublin Food Coop building, Newmarket (just off Cork Street). It's all indoors and there are plans for musicians, food stalls, organic produce, vintage goods, art pieces, furniture etc. A worthy enough way to spend a Sunday afternoon for sure...







Also-and I'm quite excited about this-Billion Dollar Babes is coming to the RDS! The sale opens to the public on Friday 28 November
till Sunday 30 November. You will find
discounts of up to 70% and there are some real bargains to be had provided you arrive early. It's in the RDS Industries Halls and is open from 10am. For more information: billion dollar babes

Accessories

Some of my favourite recent finds from smaller shops around Dublin and Limerick..

Indian vintage silk scarf, from a selection at A Store is Born, Clarendon Row, Dublin
Dove earrings, 30e, from Circus at Powerscourt Town Centre
Pearls, from a selection at Crown Jewels, Castle Market Dublin

Check out lovehate for similar style jewellery




Dragonfly clip-on earrings about 150e, from The Foolish Fairy, Adare Co. Limerick
Pearls from a selection at Crown Jewels, Castle Market Dublin

PPQ

If I had the talent to design something that did not look like a scratchy potato sack, I could only hope that it would look like PPQ's latest designs...*sigh*

1. PPQ dress from asos, now 402.38e
2. PPQ skirt from asos, now 214.97e
3. PPQ cardigan from oli, 60 sterling
4. Marc Jacobs patent flats from net-a-porter, 260e
5. Siegerson Morrison flats from net-a-porter, 395e
6. Marni blue flats from net-a-porter, 304e

Catwalk photo from vogue

Hot Highstreet:November

1. Alexander McQueen Leather pants, 1,990e, net-a-porter


2. Warehouse Leather pants, 185e, warehouse

3. Marc by Marc Jacobs black beret with bow detail, 84e, net-a-porter and Brown Thomas Dublin


4. Warehouse black cloche with bow detail, 25e, warehouse

5. Anya Hindmarch box clutch, 343e, net-a-porter

6. Asos oval clutch, 34.45e, asos

7. Warehouse Janet Double Flat Strap Shoe, 105e, warehouse

8. Burberry Prorsum Ruched Platform Pumps, 500e, net-a-porter

Sewn in Earnest: The new "it" jean

To find the perfect pair of black jeans is becoming an increasingly difficult task quite simply because we are spoilt for choice. New jeans companies are flooding the market at the moment as all eyes turn to celebrities to show us the way forward.
I, myself, have been clinging to a pair of River Island black skinnies for the past couple of years. Although not necessarily the best quality, they certainly hug all the right places. Alas! The colour fade really is beginning to get a bit much now and while they await a little DIY dyeing I decided to seize the opportunity to pick up a pair whilst in Seattle.

Despite the buzz surrounding Earnest Sewn, they're still relatively under the radar-here in Ireland at least. The shop assistant in Barney's co-op didn't hesitate in telling me all about them, making me feel woefully under-informed.
Scott Morrisson, co-founder of Paper Denim & Cloth, founded Earnest Sewn and "The Earnest Co." in 2004 in attempt to create premium quality denim. The moniker quite literally refers to "products sewn in earnest", where the production of each pair of jeans is overseen by 3 people, whose names are printed on the inside.

Putting on a pair felt amazing-they blew any competing jeans in my changing room out of the water-the fit to these jeans is phenomenal. The material feels very soft for denim and is pleasant next to the skin with the just the right amount of stretch. The hype surrounding these jeans, at least, is justified. I left the store with my wallet significantly lighter ( The Harlan jeans came in at just under $200 incl. tax) but also with the elusive perfect pair of jeans in hand.

www.earnestsewn.com
Buy now from: www.net-a-porter.com