Our Oscar Fantasy Fashion!

Ok, ok we've seen some awards season fashion but nothing compares to the Oscars. The lights are brighter, the dresses are better and I even think the carpet is redder!

So mark the 24th of Feb in your diary and get ready for some serious fashion. But to tide you over until then we've had a little look at the latest collections to see which dresses might be contenders for the night. The more couture the better!

Some people are against wearing red on a red carpet but an exception has to be made for a Valentino red, right? This dress is from their SS'13 Couture collection and does what the house always strives to do; it makes the wearer beautiful. 

Possible wearer: I'm thinking this would look unreal on Mila Kunis.

We've seen Jennifer Lawrence in a navy dress similar to this at the SAG awards. At least with this one we won't have the 'did it rip, or is it mean to be like that' debate (FYI it didn't rip, the top tier got folded up!). This Christian Dior Haute Couture gown is something that you might only get away with at the Oscars; yellow, sculptural, cutouts. But it still manages to be simple and chic!

Possible wearer: It's got to be Marion Cotillard, doesn't it?

Who said that black is the safe choice? If Elie Saab can do anything, it's make a gorgeous gown and his SS'13 Couture show was no different. Elegant but so intricate, this would photograph beautifully and look great on the red carpet. 

Possible wearer: Gwyneth Paltrow maybe?

Chanel always makes an appearance at the Oscars and I doubt this year will be any different. With a change of accessories - and maybe less eye makeup - this could wow on the red carpet. Soft and super-feminine, a light lining would make it a stronger presence and put a halt to all those 'granny pants' headlines. 

Possible wearer: Can't you see Anne Hathaway rock this?

If there's ever a time to break out the metallic fish-tail it's on Oscar night. Clean up the accessories and this Jean Paul Gaulier Couture gown could blow the rest of the red carpet away. I'm not a massive fish-tail fan but for this, I could make an exception!

Possible wearer: I would love to see Jennifer Lawrence in something like this!

So what do you think? What have been your favourite Oscar looks ever? Let us know! And don't forget to check out our Facebook for all our news and stock photos. 

:) Katie

Award Season Style: SAG Awards

Ooh award season is heating up! With just a month to go until the Oscars, the fashionable and fabulous of Hollywood are showing their sartorial credentials at every possible awards ceremony. 

The Screen Actors Guild awards took place last night in LA and saw the likes of Jennifer Lawrence (or J.La) and Anne Hathaway snag Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. 

But we don't really care who won what, do we? Let's face it, it's all about the best and worst from the red carpet. Here's some of our favourites!

Mad Men actress Kiernan Shipka killed it in Oscar de la Renta - did we mention she's 13?!!

Marion Cotillard was back in Dior (pre-fall '13-'14) and looking beautiful - love the simplicity in a sea of sequins!

Kerry Washington has a new stylist and it shows. She's been topping 'Best Dressed' lists from the last few events. She kept it simple last night wore white Rodarte.

Not one for taking risks, Nina Dobrev looked fresh & chic in this pink Elie Saab - refreshing and & so age-appropriate!

Zac Posen is a red carpet favourite but this pre-fall '13-'14 gown stands apart for it's amazing colour - it's so good with Amanda Seyfried's blonde hair!

Fresh off the Parisian catwalk this Christian Dior Haute Couture gown is simple, clean & beautiful (did it rip or was it meant to, we don't know!). A more pared-back look might have worked better with it though?

And we always like to support brave fashion decisions but there were some dresses that even we couldn't defend. What do you guys think of these?: 

Chanel Haute Couture. Julianne Moore. All arrows point to PERFECT! But is it just me or does this  dress neither fit nor flatter the actress?

I think we all got where Claire Danes was going with the Givenchy and the dark lip but it came across more 90's than anything else. Also, aren't we over the slits yet?

14 year old Ariel Winter was transformed into a 30-something year old last night! Swamped in her Alex Perry gown, she looks over done and washed out. 

Usually a fashion favourite but, for me, this Valentino Pre-Spring'13 dress looks a bit washed out with the heavy make-up and very 'done' hair. Thoughts?

Get in touch! We want to hear what your favourite looks were, and which ones didn't quite do it for you. Do you agree with my list or am I totally wrong? Let me know!!

:) Katie

Super Spring Trends!

It mightn't feel like it but we're told that it's almost spring! So once we manage to emerge from the pile of knits and duvets we're currently buried under, we'll have a whole new set of trends to get on top of. 

But because we don't want you to brave the icy high street uninformed, we've put together a list of some of the biggest trends of the season to come; or you can stay under the duvet and get on-trend with online shopping!

TREND #1: Monochrome

Get *back to basics* with black and white. It appeared in several shows but is most memorable from the Louis Vuitton show, mainly because the poor models had to manage escalators in their eye-bending attire! 

This one is a super-easy look to adopt because it's chic, it's always in style and, well, you can probably use pieces already in your wardrobe to get the look. Perfect if the purse-strings won't stretch to a whole new wardrobe!

TREND #2: Sheer

Ah, there's always one trend that's a minefield for possible fashion disasters, and this season it's sheer. From the bright coloured blouses at Roberto Cavalli to the semi-transparent skirts at Rick Owens, you can really interpret this trend any way you like. 

Whatever sheer item you choose, keep it loose-fitting. It will help dodge some of the pitfalls of the trend and can even make you look smaller!

TREND #3: Cool Collage

This one has been around for a few seasons now, basically the more textures and prints you can fit on your person the better! Proenza Schouler did it with clean lines and neon, while Alexander McQueen brought the drama with their bee inspired looks. 

The joy of this trend is that you can take it as far as you like. Go for a simple mix of leather and wool or go all out with faux furs, fringe and everything else you can think of. We so want to see how you work this trend!!


TREND #4: Ruffles

Before you discard this as just another ultra-feminine summer trend, take a second look. This season the ruffle was everywhere but not as we knew it. The likes of Gucci and Givenchy showed theirs with clean lines and a minimalist feel. Irish designer JW Anderson might have shown the coolest summer dress of the season!

Go for wide ruffles, nothing too fussy or dainty. An easy way to keep things simple is to choose an item in a solid colour, red or white are great choices. 

TREND #5: Alpha Female

The power suit is well and truly back but it's come a long way! Raf Simons gave us the perfect work suit at Christian Dior, while Victoria Beckham styled her super-skinny ones with a bra top. If you want to make more of a statement, take inspiration from Jonathan Saunders and go for a bright red trouser suit. 

This is another all-rounder. Not only can your suit be broken down into highly wearable seperates but it can be taken from day to night with just a few adjustments. It's also a trend that can work for someone of any age, shape or size, it's just a matter of finding the right style for you.

                               *

So what do you think? What looks will you be going for and, more importantly, which would you not touch with a bargepole? We want to know!!

We'll be getting a whole new batch of stock in over the next couple of weeks, so make sure to check out the pictures on Facebook or call in when you're passing to say hello :) 

Festive Fashion Favourites!

Your wardrobe never works harder than at Christmas. It's the time of nights out, meals with family and countless events; all of which call for some fantastic, festive fashion. 

Whether you're an all-out glamour puss or more of a laid-back lady siopaella has you covered for every occassion this party season!


LOOK #1 - After work drinks

Black velvet jacket, Exhibit; gold brocade trousers; black studded top, Topshop; embellished heels, Buffalo London; gold and stone owl necklace; faux croc bag,
Johanna.

LOOK #2 - Last dash around the shops!

Top, French Connection; skirt, TFNY; suede bag, River Island; patent black shoes, vintage necklaces.

LOOK #3 - Ultimate day-to-night

Animal print blazer, Zara; black wrap dress, COS; black leather peep-toes; faux snake clutch, Nine West; black leather belt, vintage.

LOOK #4: The Christmas party

Tan suede trench; black, gold and silver brocade dress, Coast; gold bag, River Island; gold shoes, Buffalo London; brown leather gloves.

LOOK #5 - Black tie ball

Grey-flecked coat with metallic thread, Monsoon; black halter dress with lace underskirt, Karen Millen, clip-on blue and clear stone earrings, vintage; black pumps, Dune; blue velvet scarf.

LOOK #6 - Girls night out

Faux sheepskin coat, Bay; green sequin dress, vintage; purple and green bag, Miss Sixty; clip-on earrings, vintage; flat black shoes.

So there you have it, just a taster of the amazing pieces we've got in-store at the minute. Check out more on our Facebook or call in and say hello :) 

PHOTOSHOOT: Skyfall Style

With all the buzz surrounding the latest Bond movie, we thought it was only right to base our latest shoot on all things 007. 

We raided the rails for the suavest suits and most sultry dresses and were lucky enough to have Sarah and Darrach to braved the Dublin chill on the roof!

Sarah: Karen Millen dress & clutch, own shoes; Darrach: FCUK suit, Hugo Boss shoes,  Ted Baker shirt, bow-tie from Tango, Temple Bar.

Sarah: Burberry silver/grey silk dress with cap sleeves, double-strand pearl necklace, own shoes.

Darrach: FCUK 3-piece suit, Ted Baker shirt & Liberty print tie.

Sarah: Whistles red velvet suit with satin trim; Darrach: Zara pink shirt, FCUK grey trousers, Zara navy trench coat.

Sarah: Zara tan trench coat, Guess navy jersey dress, own shoes; Darrac; Guess wool coat, Gucci black shirt, FCUK trousers, Hugo Boss shoes.

Models:        Sarah @ Andrea Roche
               Darrach @ Fraser Models

Shot & styled: Katie Clinton

Handmade Halloween Goodies!!

Do you have your costume ready? There's just one week to go! We're starting to get siopaella all dressed up for Halloween(Ella wanted to do it two weeks ago but we managed to convince her to wait!). We've gotten some amazing, handmande decorations from the very talented Maeve Murphy.

The Mayo-born, Dublin based designer graduated with a degree in textiles from GMIT before going on to a MA in cultural policy and arts management in UCD. And that's where Handmade by Maeve began.

Aside from bunting, Maeve also makes yoga mats and plush toys known as little monsters. Or if you have any idea you need help bringing to life, she's the woman to talk to. 

You can check out all of Maeve's work on her Etsy site or her Facebook page! Or call into us at siopaella to pick up your own handmade bunting for just €20!

Craziest Looks from the Catwalks

Chanel ... because he's Karl Lagerfeld and he felt like it!

Phew, that was one crazy fashion month! From PRs getting slapped, to designers facing off, to Twitter rants, there was more drama off the runway than on. Saying that, some designers are always good for a, let's say, unusual piece. A dress inspired by bees, a hula-hoop handbag or a chessboard dress; which look are you brave enough to sport next summer?

What do you think of Vivienne Westwood's new beauty look?

Sheer, monochrome, Louis Vuitton and check ... check!

Gareth Pugh ... just what we need for a rainy Irish summer?

It's always the 80's at Balmain.

If McQueen say bees are in fashion, who are we to argue?

If your mother ever told you to brush that bird's nest out of your hair, Galliano has given you a comeback! 

In a Dolce & Gabbana world, this is what we wear!

Is it a bag or a very chic ball and chain? I don't know, ask the nice folks at Moschino!

Don't really know what to say about this except that it's Meadham Kirchhoff!

Did we miss any really crazy pieces? If we did let us know! I think it's safe to say that next summer is going to be ... interesting, to say the least  :)

Calling All Ugly Christmas Jumpers!

We want your ugly Christmas jumpers. We're talking the really ugly ones - the brightest, weirdest, flashiest there is; extra points if it can actually light up!!

Purple Reign

Go as bright and bold as you dare with the ruling colour this season

There’s always one colour that comes out on top for autumn/winter and this season it’s purple. This is one shade that’s got all sorts of good connotations – it’s the colour of royal robes and luxury of all sorts. 

It’s got richness and passion sewn right in there. What’s not to love? We’ve got some princely pieces at both the Siopaella stores right now that have this trend all sewn up, whether you want to go all-out or just dabble.

For those a little unsure about the all-over colour, siopaella has some great accessories like this cosy knit hat. And if it's something to fight the frost you're after then this vintage knit jumper with a lurex thread will keep you warm and stylish. 

For something longer the full-length, super chunky cardigan below is a great choice. Just wrap a skinny belt around it for that perfect hourglass figure!

Don't rule out purple for the office either! This Helen McAlinden (above) paisley piece will hit two trends with one ... skirt; and it's a great day to nighter. 

For something a little more formal then velvet is the only way to go. This winey-purple dress is a great office alternative to black and, what do you know, velvet is another massive winter trend!

We've so many more purple goodies in-store - call in to say hello and have a gander, & don't forget to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for all the goings-on :)

Catwalk images: ElleUK