Amour Aztec

Rayne Aztec Boxy
Crop Tee £10

Sophie Aztec Cardigan £18

Boohoo's 'Geo Traveller' trend captivated me upon arrival of the website. The beauty of this trend is that the majority of the pieces coincide with my beloved black and white colour palette; slouchy cardi's, crop tops and aztec prints. Monochrome aztec prints that can transcend into Autumn/Winter! 

Zena Aztec Print Plastic
Block Heel Boot £35

The boxy crop top (opposite) with its structured shoulders and high neckline make it an ideal staple for A/W13' - the monochrome/Aztec effect only accentuates it's desirability!

Red ravaged the London Fashion Week catwalk with Punk screaming for revival in tartan attires and black eyeliner galore. Although the slouchy cardigan (right) doesn't exactly ooze rebellion or teen angst, layering and oversize knits are essential for next season, as always. Covering up in this Aztec print cardi and blending it into the Punk trend with some statement fiery pieces would soon roughen up the look.

This laced up ankle boot (right) is another favourite of mine solely based on the Perspex heel. The plastic block heel contrasted against the strong Aztec print creates an edgy appeal. This platform would go superbly with a girly lace dress to toughen it up or teamed with a pair of skinnies to add some edginess.

Definitely worth having a wee gander...

raebelle
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Escapism

I have been thinking long and hard about running away recently; Putting everything on hold and disappearing from the world, if even for a couple of days. I want to clear my head and just breath; no thinking required. None of 'The Fear' casting a shadow over my life. Indecisiveness and worrying is my forte. Nothing major is happening right now but we all need to relax every now and then, right? Take a step back from where we are at. I need to escape somewhere... somewhere by the sea, alone. I could visit a castle and pretend to be a Princess for a day. Maybe I could write a book - that's always been a dream of mine that hopefully one day I will fulfil. Maybe escaping to The Highlands of Scotland will clear my head and allow me to do that? Now all I need to do is gather some funds together and find a pretty place in Scotland to get some inspiration into my life...

raebelle
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Welcome Baby Prince

Yes, I'm Irish and therefore I have no need to be loyal and rejoice with the Royal Family but how often do your neighbours give birth to a baby Prince !? And seeing as I've been living in Scotland for the past four years I think it's only polite to welcome the little cherub into the world :)

So welcome Royal Baby George Alexander and best wishes to mammy Kate Middleton and daddy Will on their little Prince coming home with them safe and sound. I have no doubt in my mind that you will be spoilt rotten!

On another note, how amazing does Kate look?? I'm very excited as to what outfits the Duchess will reveal post-baby.......I'm sure she will keep up the good work!

raebelle
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Living Life in Black & White

Roland Mouret AW13

The monochrome trend is successful due to its versatility, formality and edgy appeal. This Sixties trend permeated the Autumn/Winter 2012 catwalks and has strongly transcended into this season. This trend has been fundamental for S/S13' with black and white prints, stripes and patterns raiding the high street.

Monochrome will continue to flourish in A/W13'. I embrace the monochrome trend religiously – it's chic, flattering and sophisticated with a hint of edge. The simplistic colour palette makes it the most covetable trend regardless of the season as it is easy to manipulate and update. Also, it suits my adopted nickname 'Penguin' so surely a link for my love of this trend has to be established from there?

Roland Mouret AW13

Roland Mouret AW13

According to an interview with Elle (2012) with Roland Mouret assured us that monochrome was the fundamental trend; “You know what to expect. What else is there but black and white? Is there anything else this season?”. And it seems his philosophy hasn't changed for AW13'. Roland Mouret's collection epitomises the new monochrome with a twist trend. Subtely reversing the prevailing layout of white on black, Mouret challenges the trend by using white as the canvas with traces of black and colourful leopard print. I love Mouret's unorthodox hints of colouful leopard print and indigo to break up the established look. I have a feeling indigo will be a dominant colour this season. Mouret is reknowned for this intuitive nature regarding the female form and this reputation can be evidently seen in this collection. I adore how he has included peplum as this structure suits us curvy ladies down to the ground!

Burberry AW13

Burberry's Christopher Bailey has also given monochrome a modern twist makeover with contrasting animal print mink and calfskin. Each of Bailey's printed pieces exudes sophistication and power in shift dresses and pencil skirts. My favourite piece is the structured coat in calfskin with horizontal lines contrasting against the print! It seems both Mouret and Bailey were on the same wavelength including swatches of animal print to their monochrome masterpieces.

  

raebelle
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Playing Safe

Black & Taupe Platform Heel

This black and taupe platform heel has been my rock for the past two occasions. They successfully glided me across the stage and gracefully (as I possibly can!) down the steps at my Graduation. They also performed remarkably well for the Graduation Ball and perfectly complimented my bright corally-pink gown. And they will step out of their Dorothy Perkins box once again to assist me for my cousin’s Irish wedding. And this particular wedding is set to be a weekend session so comfort is of the utmost importance in this situation!

I was conscious of the suede-like upper of the heel as dirt may gravitate towards that area but so far so good! The snake skin detail border accentuated my love for these shoes and the comfort of the thick black heel enticed me in. These are sturdy heels that I can walk in miles for and be comfortable. Yes, I know, ‘beauty is pain’, but sometimes practicality for such immense occasions is as an important factor as the design itself. I want to actually enjoy the celebrations. Luckily I acquired comfy shoes, in the non-frumpy sense of course!

Comfort is fundamental.

Nude is best.

raebelle

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Graduation Present

What constitutes as an acceptable graduation present? Are these presents extravagant gifts or simply money in a card? Originality or a keepsake gift? How do we define what is the epitome of a graduation present?

I would never expect a flamboyant gift that costs hundreds of euro. The recession hit Ireland hard. We suffered our own demise ever since the Celtic Tiger disappeared and have been struggling ever since. We can’t afford the luxury to splash out on outrageous gifts from Harrods or Brown Thomas. Keepsakes are more personal and sentimental.  They are timeless pieces that we can hold onto for a lifetime.

I am a hoarder. I love memorabilia. I have around 20 memory boxes and a well organised photo album collection throughout the years. Jewellery makes me happy as you can wear it with the occasion in mind and smile remembering the special day. It seemed only fitting to mark my graduation with a piece of jewellery that I can treasure forever and wear every day.

Choosing the brand was easy. Choosing the piece of jewellery proved a much more difficult task. Pandora is the most distinction and modern brand of our generation. The company has flourished in such a short space of time ever since promoting the concept of the ‘charm bracelet’ with a twist back in 2000. The Danish company quickly expanded into international distribution with its strong marketing concepts and unique pieces of jewellery.

Silver birthstone ring 'May'

I acquired a Pandora bracelet and numerous charms that suited my personality over the years. However, this piece of jewellery was a gift from my ex-boyfriend and can stir old memories that are best laid to rest. I love rings and there is not a day goes by without me donning at least 3 costume rings daintily on my fingers. To commemorate my 21^st birthday my best friend bought me the most beautiful Pandora silver navy-blue cocktail ring with mixed stones. I treasure it for special occasions. 

Silver ring, cubic zirconia

For Christmas my Mam surprised me with a Pandora birthstone ring (she lied and says they were out of stock!).  This chrysoprase stone in a striking turquoise gets worn religiously everyday. Then it started to get lonely so what better way to commemorate my graduation that to showcase a new Pandora silver ring of flowers with zirconia? Stacker rings are my new favourite gift because I love to mix and match J

raebelle

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Graduation

Breaking the mould and venturing over alone to Scotland to study has proved a successful task as I am now officially a Graduate! Always apart of the Robert Gordon University family - never a 'former' graduate. Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’ has always been a poem close to my heart. Straying off the path and moving away from home was the best decision I have ever made. I’m now officially a grown up and being forced into the real world with my 2:1 degree to flaunt :) 

It’s so surreal how quickly the graduation passes. There’s so much hype – booking the fancy graduation dinner, the outfit (restricted to black or white makes it difficult!) and the inevitable worries of falling or tripping on stage - but then the day arrives and it’s over in a flash.

Dressing up in your Harry Potter gown, posing for countless pictures, strolling onto stage and departing with a massive grin because the stress is finally over…Done and dusted! Then, of course, there’s the old style American tossing of the hats – trying to capture that ‘spontaneous’ moment celebrating the end of our education. 

My Mam and little sister (for the first time ever!) graced Aberdeen with their presence and cheered me on as I accepted my degree. I reckon they witnessed more than they bargained for with Scotsman in their kilts and a parade of bagpipes at the ceremony. I am the eldest in the family to graduate so may as well have given them something to remember compared to an Irish graduation (not that I've ever been to one!). Then the day progressed quietly...Family photos were taken, lunch with friends at a cocktail bar was shared, and an intense game of competitive bowling was had. 

Simplicity at its finest.

raebelle

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Accessories Hunting

I have moved onto my next mission – accessories. However, the dress now serves multiple purposes as I’m attending a ball. Well, I’m actually gate crashing a Physio Graduation Ball with not one, but two dates on Friday! My lad besties in kilts (who aren't even graduating this year!), my fellow Irish graduates (albeit scientifically minded peers unlike myself) and me in my pink laced beauty celebrating my Grad…We are gonna be in for some great craic J

I love monochrome chic, always have and always will. So naturally, I’m delighted the trend is sailing through again into Autumn/Winter. The minimalistic look is so sophisticated and easy to pull off but I’m not sure if it will work with the Warehouse dress (see post 2). I’m sick of the generic wedding guest accessories colours of silver or gold. Maybe orange or mint? Or keep on trend with a vibrant yellow clutch to clash? That may daunt my poor Granny though! On the other end of the spectrum I could possibly tame it down with bronze?

New look, River Island and H&M will be my go-to high street lifesavers so fingers crossed all goes well! A colourful, oversize clutch and wedges will be the order of the day – accessories that will suit my Graduation, Ball and Wedding all in one go! Got to love the life of the money conscious…

I’m having some fair trouble keeping up-to-date on blogging when my flat is

internet-less so bear with me. Thanks a mill for whoever is actually reading these posts – means the world! If anyone wants to follow I’ll more than happily return the favour J

raebelle

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Indecisiveness

This day next week I will officially be a Fashion Management Graduate.

That statement scares me senseless. For the sole reason I am incredibly indecisive and will have to start considering making some serious life altering decisions. With my Mam hounding me to 'come home and get a real job' and dreading what my fellow classmates are up to, it's fair to say I'm veering towards a nervous breakdown. I can only imagine the wonderfully exciting and glamorous internships some of the girls have bagged down in London...Whereas I'd have to save for a year just to become an intern and live there!

I suppose my Mam makes a fair point to move back home and save. I could put money aside to go travelling...get a placement in London...save more money...But it all comes back to that one minor detail - I would be living at home. I'd be taking a severe step back. I love my independence, I love my friends over here, my part-time job is surprisingly challenging for achieving monthly targets, and I want to hold onto my freedom while I'm young. The fact I can't drive also throws a spanner in the works even though Mam's new house is 5 minutes from town. Except that town will have nothing to offer me. I would have to commute to Dublin - on a bus/train/tram you're talking over 2 hours a day! And I distinctly remember being absolutely shattered doing that commute throughout my placement at a Buying Head Office.

I know what areas I enjoyed studying and what fields I would maybe like to pursue a career in. I just need time to narrow them down and sort out some internships. Is it really the end of the world to take a 'year out' and that time to make those decisions? I don't want to make the wrong choice but what exactly is the right one? I'm exhausted after 4th year and my job pays the rent so what's the real issue here? Fair enough, the majority of folk take a 'year out' to go travelling but I don't have that luxury. I'll have to take a year out to save and then travel. And surely I'll be somewhat wiser with what I intend to do with my life by then...

raebelle
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