Finally...

American Apparel's first store in Dublin will open it's doors at 10am tomorrow morning. It is the world's biggest AA and will stock all the usual as well as some of their California select vintage. After my first trip to Ikea earlier today i am really looking forward to popping in tomorrow and topping off my exciting retail week (i got a lovely new chair in Ikea for only 20 notes-home decoration swoon). I am particularly excited about trying on all the new micro-mesh stuff.

I also cannot help but be very curious about who will be working there, and if they can get me a discount.

-Catherine

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Things have been a bit slow on the blog front for the last while i have been coming to terms with going solo. Lillian has packed up and headed off to India for the Summer and has left me to look after things all by myself. I have been in the process of organising a bit of a re-design for the blog which with a bit of luck i will be able to unveil at the beginning of August. Exciting stuff.

-Catherine

Bright Lights, Big City

Photo of H&H Bagels from the New York Times.

I am off to New York for a few days in September and as it's my first time i welcome any suggestions on places to shop, eat (i am so excited about the food, loads of bagels and pancakes-yum yum) and hang out. I'm not too bothered about the usual stuff like the Empire State Building, but if any you guys have any suggestions for things to do that are a little bit different, it would be much appreciated.

-Catherine

Life before fashion

Top, Gabrielle in 1909 and bottom, in 1935.

I was lucky enough to get a chance to go and see Coco avant Chanel on Tuesday morning (thanks Neil) before it is released here on July 31st. I really was ridiculously excited about this film and i think that's the reason why i was a little bit disappointed by it. In saying that, it is a great biopic and Audrey Tautou really is wonderful as Coco. I was so intrigued by Chanel's life that i headed off to the library yesterday and picked up The World of Coco Chanel by Edmonde-Charles Roux.

In other exciting Chanel news, this new colour will be launched in October.

-Catherine

Public Image

When i think of Clarks, i think of those great little devices they used to use to measure my feet whenever i needed a new pair of patent Mary Janes when i was little. But unfortunately i haven't owned a pair of those Mary Janes since my mom stopped buying all my clothes. Clarks was just one of those shops that seemed a bit old-fashioned and boring. That was until there image revamp in 2001. Nice (comfortable) shoes and a good advertising campaign have allowed the company to maintain there position, along with Reebok and Nike, as one of the biggest shoe brands in the world.

As i have recently started back in a job that requires me to stand for long periods of time, i needed a pair of shoes that were comfortable and pretty. And hey presto, for only €27.50 (reduced from €70) my lovely new Clarks Mary Janes. They really are the most comfortable shoes i have ever owned.

-Catherine

Bags of deliciousness

I received the Ben & Jerry's canvas bag in the post last week from the lovely Matt (thank you) and thought i would pop it up here for you all to see. The gorgeous Sarah McCall designed my particular bag but illustrator Chris Judge and photographer Richard Gilligan are also involved. The bags were designed for the launch of Ben and Jerry's new fair trade Chocolate Macadamia-yummers. They are available at BT2, Urban Outfitters and Circus store and gallery. You can also have a gander over on their facebook page here.

-Catherine

Fashion games

Every once in a while eBay send me an email with a lovely list of new items from my favourite sellers. And every time the email arrives i am amazed by the pieces offered by Playground Vintage. It is clear this girl has a very keen eye, as well as sewing ability because many of the items are great 80's prom dresses that have been adjusted to a more modern length. It's a little more pricey than what most people are used to on ebay, these dresses are at €23 and €29 respectively, but for what you're getting i think it's probably worth it.

-Catherine