Old friends, New hobbies

My oldest friend came to me last week with a request to have some sewing done. Nothing unusual there. That was until she told me that she needed it for a competition she was entering-Ireland's Next Top Burlesque Star. She is a very brave woman, and her bravery paid off when she scooped third place for her solo act at the Morrison Hotel last Saturday. Congratulations Binne.

-Catherine

The most important 'how to' guide you'll ever read

Refinery 29's guide to getting shot by The Sartorialist. If you want to be one of the chosen one's you can have a look at it over here.

-Catherine

New Favourites

Lately I am all about new favourites-new favourite people, music, pubs and as of yesterday my new favourite jeweller. I was down in Kilkenny visiting a friend and popped into the Castlecomer Craft Centre just outside the city. It's a really nice little place where the workshops are combined with a small front of house shop where you can have a browse but chat away to the different jewellers while they are making their pieces.

There was one in particular that really stood out. I have a weakness for pearls, i find them endlessly fascinating and pretty so when i saw that Carl Parker specialises in tahitian (black) pearls i got very excited indeed. He has one a number of competitions, one of which being the Tahitian Pearl Trophy by Perles de Tahiti in 2006 and 2008. His style is quite modern while also maintaining a classical edge, so it's just modern enough. Many of the pieces are also very affordable as he uses 9ct gold to keep the price down.

-Catherine

Keeping up Appearances

For those of you who read the Irish Times you might have seen some of us blogger's in last Saturday's magazine. Very exciting stuff altogether. It was an article about networking online and as Annmarie from iblogfashion had been interviewed for the piece they came along to our monthly Fashion Blogger's Brunch in Marks & Spencer last month (which was yummers) and took some pictures. You can read the article here if you so wish.

-Catherine

This Model Life

A very good friend of mine (the lovely Anna seen messing in some of these pictures) is currently working on a graphic design zine called Puking Rainbows that you can all look forward to reading in September. As well as some interesting graphic design articles they are also including a bit of fashion and as a favour, i agreed to be one of the models for the shoot. The concept is really deadly but i don't want to give away too much here so you'll have to wait until it comes out to find out more. Here are just a few of my favourite shots.

Photography by Jaime Saunders.

-Catherine

Fabric Fun

Late yesterday evening I got a text message from my (very thoughtful) Mom telling me to go straight to Murphy Sheehy in the morning and have a look at the new designer fabric they were getting in. And I must say I was very impressed. Prada, Armani, Missoni and Roberto Cavalli fabrics for as little as €15 per metre.

Missoni coat fabric.

Armani.

Left: Missoni €22 per metre and Right: Prada €15 per metre.

These are the two I went for in the end. I have no idea what I am going to do with them yet but I couldn't just leave them there so I'm sure ill think of something.

-Catherine

Dress Disaster

Last week I went to the Dubliner of the Year party in the Merrion, but for some reason i had a bout of outfit anxiety. I don't think i have ever been so worried about what i was going to wear to an event, i found it easier to decide what to wear to my debs than i have for this occasion. And, it is not for lack of planning. The previous week i headed into town and bought some lovely silk in Murphy Sheehy to make a dress that was going very well until two days before when i had to admit defeat and start looking for something else to wear. Although the dress i was making looked lovely on my dress makers mannequin, it somehow managed to look absolutely crap on me.

So I ended up doing a mad dash around town on the day trying to find something and in the end i picked up this lovely pink dress in Zara for only €14.99. I haven't worn pink in years but I think I am coming around to it again. I wore my studded belt that I had from when I was younger and wore baggy jeans just to take away from the prettiness of the pink a bit and my white shoes are from Bershka ages ago.

Me looking a little bit uncomfortable, photo by Leon Farrell, more of those here.

-Catherine