The very extravagant Christmas list

If I can only have one thing ever again can it be this please? Its so big that I think I'd have to get rid of everything else in my room but thatd be ok with me. Catherine you could have my giant new wardrobe, take it in each for this please.
Look how happy the robot stereo is to be playing music, and why wouldn't he be?
Unfortunately I can't find anywhere to actually buy this so it's definitley one of those things only Santy can get for me.
Speaking of Santy I forgot to post this



While travelling through Russia this summer we came accross Santy on his summer holidays, turns out during the summer he losses a few pounds (perfect beach body an all that) and heads to Olkhon Island.

It's CHRISTMAAASS

I have two official markers that signify the beginning of Christmas, I have to see this add


and hear fairy tale of New York, last week while watching Eastenders with my brother it came on the radio in the cafe and so Christmas had begun.
I think me and Catherine are more excited this year then ever before I don't really know why, I don't have any money, can't buy any presents, its cold and I have lots of exams coming up but none of that matters I'm going to make my Christmas cake, start the mulled and get ready for everyone to come home over the holidays.
This is now my official christmas outfit, I say wear all the red, green, things you own.



One thing I do have to complain about is the stupid Brown Thomas window. When I was a young'n the best day if the year was when we got to take the afternoon off school, head into town to see the unveiling of the window, which was usually Alice and Wondreland themed, then we'd go to Captain Americas for din dins and to end the best day ever The Panto. Brown Thomas has lost its Christmas magic.

Top cinq

As i am constantly referring to clothes that i bought in Paris, i thought it would be nice to do a little piece on my five favourite places to shop. It's always difficult to find interesting places to shop when you're away and i think this is especially true of Paris where many of the best shops are hidden away.

1) Free 'P' Star

There are two of these in Paris and they're both in le Marais, the uber hip gay area. My favourite was Rue de la Verrerie because there was an awful lot more space. It's a vintage shop plain and simple, with a great selection of everything. One of the many wonderfull things about it is that it's open till 11pm during the week, just in case you realise you've absolutely nothing to wear just before you go out. Never once did i enter this place without buying something. It's ridiculously good value. They have a great €3 box that is nothing short of a treasure chest. My only warning is to avoid it at the weekend. These are not big shops and they will literally be packed with people trying things on in the middle of the floor. There is only one changing room, so dress appropriately.

Top €3 and skirt €5. Playsuit €3 and belt €5.

Free 'P' Star, 8 Rue Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, 75004 and 11 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004, Paris.

2) Guerrisol

Now, as Free 'P' Star is a fairly conventional vintage shop, Guerrisol is not. They don't have charity shops per se in France so this is the next best thing. And, unlike Free 'P' Star, they are all on the outskerts of the city. They are very large warehouse style shops crammed with old clothes, shoes and bags. It's a very different experience from shopping elsewhere as many people shop here out of necessity as opposed to just wanting to find a fabulous bargain. I used to frequently run into the bum who begged outside the bakery up there, lovely guy. It is however the place to find the real bargains. Pair of lovely shoes for €1.50 and gorgeous shorts for €2, thanks very much.

Navy dress €2 and shoes €1.50. Shorts €2 and top €2.

Guerrisol, 31 avenue de Clichy and (my favourite one) 17 bis boulevard de Rochechouart, 75009, Paris.

3) Puces de Montreuil

French markets are famous and for good reason. I am conviced that this place is where vintage shop owners come to buy up all the amazing leather bags. It's not a particularly pretty market but it is well worth a visit if you have a bit of time. It's on the periphery of the city, as with all the large markets but it only takes about 20 minutes on the metro from the centre of the city. I would advise everyone to avoid the more famous Puces de St Ouen because it is just enormous and as with many of the markets, just a little too ghetto for my liking. Just remember, be prepared to haggle if you want a real bargain. I have an awful habit of getting very excited when i see something i like and destroy all chances of getting a bargain.

Both bags €8 each.

Skirt worn as dress €2 and tassle belt €3.

Puces de Montreuil, Port de Montreuil, 75020, Paris.

4) Troc en Stock

Now, this is serious stuff. Depot ventes are where wealthy Parisian women dispose of their clothes when the season is over. It's just like the old swap shops that used to be around Dublin, they leave the clothes in and take away a percentage of the profit when they're re-sold. Chanel pumps for €100, pristine condition Marni dress for a measly €200. If you just love designer clothes but do not have the budget for it then these are just perfect. Not to mention the fact that they are all over Paris, so there is plently for everyone. My favourite is Troc en Stock, which conveniently enough, i could see from my bedroom window.

Pjama dress with suede elbow patches €20 and hat €10 from Montreuil.

Troc en Stock, 6 Rue Clauzel, 75009, Paris.

5) Wochdom

I never actually bought anything here because it was a little out of my price range. That's not to say it's expensive but, i was a poor student after all. My favourite thing about this place is the layout. The clothes are organised by colour and hang on rails around the room. The shop is how i imagine my dream home - my bed surrounded by all my clothes neatly arranged around me. It is part of No Good Store on Rue des Martyrs which is a concept store/gallery. It threatened to close down while i was there but luckily is still going strong.

Wochdom, 72 rue Condorcet, 75009, Paris.

For even more great shops in Paris, look here.

Cat

More Bowties

I'm sorry the last bowtie post was far too short and left out so many of the lovely bowties that have been seen lately, its just that I saw the David Hart one thought it was gorgeous but had no time to write anything longer.
So the Bowties have been seen quite a bit in the spring/summer 09 shows.



For Sonia Rykiels 40th year in the biz a group of designers created pieces inspired by the legend, bow ties were featured heavily in the styling. There were some very cool bejewelled ones but I can't find pictures of them now.



Eley Kishimoto were also using them in their shows.



As was Luella.

















However there's only really one person that you can convincingly call Mr Bow Tie and that'd be Alexis Mabille. After leaving Dior he started his own unisex line and since has been creating the most wonderful bowties and he's been using them all over the shop.

I just don't think its very fair

I don't particularly like London, everyones seems to be in a constant rush, its too big and smelly and though it's held up as the mecca of street style I always find that everyone looks too similarly trendy. I quite like coming home to Dublin to find some people wandering around in their pyjamas while others look fabulous, variation being the spice of life an' all that. The only way I'll be back to London any time sson is for trip to the British Museum or maybe the Design Museum. However they do always seem to have great sample sales there, so if you're heading to London any time soon I'd advise going to this and picking up some of those legendary Eleykishimto prints.

Fix Up Look Sharp

Carles of Hipsterrunoff fame pointed out the emerging bow tie trend quite some time ago and quite recently the coolhunter reiterated the point and had me drooling all over this lovliness from David Hart

The price is very steep so I'm going to attempt to make and then tie my own. I don't forsee this going particularly well but I do want to look like a Scottish scholar so I'll try my damndest.

Comme On!!!

I apologise for the lateness of the very important Comme des Garcons report but Catherine had the photos and I've only just got them from her. Catherine was unable to make the launch so myself and the trusty Me and My Korg designer Anna Kealey made our way to Dundrum shopping centre at the ungodly time of half eight. When we arrived there were only five or so forty something year old ladies waiting at H&M, we were anticipating something a little more raucous. This was surely only a good thing as we'd get all we wanted so much easier, that is if they had actually stocked the pieces we were looking for. The shop was missing the round collar jacket, the matching skirt,the tux jacket, the red polka dot shirt and only had eight of the other short jacket, I was not so happy.

The sizing was also quite odd, I went a size smaller for all the shirts and then tried two sizes bigger for the dress and it still wouldn't fit, very strange altogether. Another thing that really annoyed me (perhaps a little irrationally) were the buttons, if I'm paying fifty quid for a shirt then I certainly want a lovely button on it (buttons are very important to me, my button box is one of my most prized possesions).

I'm sorry for that little rant, I did end up buying two of the polka dot shirts, one of which I hadn't seen on the website so I was pleasantly surprised. Of course my love of wearing too much of everything means I'll eventually wear both shirts together a liitle like this.

After raiding the ladies section Anna and myself buzzed it over to then mens section in search of lovely cardies and the like. Unexpectedly it was far bussier than upstairs, we were pushed out of the way by men running towards the trenches and there were frantic women on the phone to their husband or son 'WHAT SIZE ARE YOU? HERE YOU, YOU'RE SKINNY LIKE MY LAD, WHAT SIZE IS THAT COAT YOU'RE WEARING? 38? LUV WOULD A 38 DO? OK OK.'

The whole collection was a little underwhelming but we've all got a few more lovely shirts although our bank balances are considerably worse off.

This was what I was wearing the day after the big sale, unable to put off my new CDG purchases.

Shirt- CDG for H&M, Bowtie- hairclip from carboot sale made into a necklace, Polka dot belt- vintage, Skirt- Dunnes, Tights- M&S, Brogues- Topshop