Fashion Innovation Awards 2013

Well as you guys know, I attended this years Fashion Innovation Awards in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Galway on Thursday night. It was all GLAM and the style was impeccable. I was aware that there would be other bloggers there but I got so over excited by everything, I didn't get to talk to as many as I had hoped. But I did see their outfits and they all looked beautiful. I attended the show with fellow blogger and classmate, Adam Devlin (http://cuzimadam.blogspot.ie/), along with a few other close friends from my class.

I was also there to support my classmates from the GTI Studios who had been chosen to take part in the Student Designer of the year category. They all did us so proud and it was amazing to be able to see their pieces after spending weeks watching hours of blood, sweat and tears go into making them. They may not have won the award but they sure won the attention of the public.Well done girls and I can't wait to see what you produce for us in the future! The other categories were also a pleasure to watch and I most definitely plan on going again next year.  

Not only were we presented with Sushi and Wine on the door, we then got to attend the after party and were given free Mojitos (courtesy of Smirnoff). I also got to bring home a lovely goody bag. My favourite item from it has got to be the diary. It has such a beautiful cover and the content of it is lovely! And of course, me being me, I forgot to take a picture of what I was wearing...... Well it wasn't anything outstanding. Just a black skirt, studded blazer, a cream vintage top, brown platform boots, gold belt and lots of jewelry. I had my hair pinned back and curled. A photographer took my picture so if I find it, I'll be sure to post it :) Here are some pictures from the night and again, apologies for the poor quality. I was forced to use my iPod as my proper camera is broken.

To all the rest of you who went, I hope you had as good of a time as me :)

Much Love,

Shannon.

xoxo

Photos from https://www.facebook.com/darachphotography?fref=ts

My Inspiration Angel

How excited are you guys for Easter Holidays? Well it's been all go this week. Finally got started on actually piecing my dress together for the end of the year show (which I am super excited about). My excitement got me thinking about my Nan, who's 2 year anniversary is coming up this May. You see, my Nan was so supportive about my interest in Fashion. She would often ask me what I would need to get into College and she would always stand over my shoulder when I was designing.

So role models. Do you have one? Well mine was my Nanny Olive who lived with us for seven years. She use to live in London and whenever she visited, she would always, without fail, bring me back a new pair of shoes. They were never a pair of ordinary shoes. They were usually from Camden or she would pick them up in random vintage shops. I use to be a Spice Girls fanatic and my favourite member was Baby Spice so my Nan searched all over the UK to find me a mini sized pair of Baby Spices glitter platform wedged strap shoes for Christmas when I was 6. I wore them until they were literally falling apart. Nan bought me dresses throughout the years and my entire Communion ensemble! She then continued to get me boots upon boots and when I got older, she bought me my first pair of heels. They were only kitten heels but they were amazing all the same. The thing that made my Nan so inspirational was her ability to see the strengths in others. She always told me not to let anyone tell me that I couldn't do something. And if they did, it was because they were envious.

I received my Junior Cert results on my birthday and unfortunately, my Nan was in hospital. I went in to see her and she had a present for me all wrapped up, despite the fact that she was ill. She asked how my exams were and when I told her how I did, she went round telling the whole ward and would stop any nurse who would listen. Seeing how proud she was of me made me smile so much, even though it was just the junior cert. I went to the Junior Cert disco that evening and she asked me to wear my outfit into her the next day. It was a thing we had. She stayed in the room at the very end of the hall and each time I was going out or had anything new, she would make me walk up the hallway and into her room so that she could evaluate my outfit. Over her years of staying with us, we grew incredibly close. I talked to her about my first "boyfriend", I gave her facials and did her nails and hair every week when she became quite weak, I'd take her to town in her wheelchair whenever she was feeling down. Her jewelry collection was amazing and she would spend hours talking me through where each piece came from. 

My Nanny died on a beautiful summers evening in May 2011. I was given the honor of picking out her burial clothes. Of course I put her in baby pink because it looked so pretty on her and she loved the colour. She was buried next to her mother in Dublin but not before the community showed their love by giving her a beautiful farewell ceremony. During the whole funeral process, the sun did not stop shining and for the first time in years, the rose bush that she planted in our garden began to bud (freaky right?). The room that she use to stay in is now my studio space and I use her chair as my desk chair. It may be kind of morbid but I feel close to her when I'm in there designing. I feel like she's still looking over my shoulder. I was left all her jewelry and a beautiful vintage jewelry box. I keep it all very safe of course.

The overall result of this post is that my Nan is the reason that I have the courage and confidence to pursue my dream in fashion design. She picked me up when I was down, always told me how it was and supported me unconditionally. I owe it to her to at least let this new community know who inspires me. It is her, my beautiful, sweet, shining grandmother who I miss everyday but I know will be with me on my journey to excellence. Thank you my Angel and hopefully I'll continue to do you proud.

Some of my favourites from her 

Much Love to all of you and your loved ones,

Shannon.

xoxo

Missguided Must-Haves

Yay! Bank holiday! Hope you all had a nice, safe weekend. I've spent today browsing through websites in search of an outfit for a few upcoming events. I've heard from a few people that Missguided was amazing and that it was worth a look, so I did. OH MY GOD. I want everything on it. They have such a large variety of colours, styles, cuts and trends. They have a tonne of accessories too. I think I must have spent about two hours going through all their stuff and I saved a few things to put on my Missguided wishlist. The prices aren't too bad either when you compare them to the like of River Island. So here's a quick gawk at the few.......(many) items I have put on my wishlist :P

My Missguided Wishlist

                       

 Click HERE to be directed to their website!

Hope you find something to treat yourself with!

Much Love,

Shannon.

xoxo

Love/Hate, Hate/Love

Happy Friday to you all! Any upcoming festivities for this St. Patrick's weekend? Will you be daring enough to paint the town green or play it all down. I got my subject for this post from Paddy's day. I use to love going into town for the parade and then strutting up to Eyre Square to meet nearly everyone from all the schools around Galway (going to the square meant you were cool, back in second year....). Anyways, as the years have gone by, so has my interest in the day itself. Have you ever had anything you loved then ended up getting sick of it? Or has it been the opposite where you thought you hated something then started coming round to ADORE it? 

Hate/Love
On a fashion note, I once hated skirts. I know right? Me, hating skirts? It's unheard of these days. My classmates would laugh right now because I wear a skirt of some sort to college every single day. Pants scare me now :P I think that skirts are so feminine and there are so many things you can do to change it up into a completely different outfit. You can sometimes even create the illusion that it's a dress. Skirts make me feel like a woman and I feel pretty in them. The one downer is my current living situation. I live on the coast in the west of Ireland where it is constantly windy (I've flashed more people than I'd care to admit). For any skirt girls out there like myself, River Island and New Look are amazing for them. They have cool patterns too ;) River Island are a bit steep in prices but the quality of the skirts are impeccable. I'm still wearing one that I bought back in September. It basically lives in the washing machine but it's still going strong.

Other things I use to hate but now love: Wearing my hair up, fur coats, soup, lipstick, Transformers.........

This is my best friend right here :P

Love/Hate

I use to live in boyfriend cadi's when they first hit the rails back when I was in 3rd year. You could throw it on over a top and leggings. Add a pair of UGG boots and you had an outfit. These days, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEM. I get it if your a mammy of like four kids but when your young and able to get away with bold choices, why not make an effort!?! Maybe I'm bias because of being a Fashion student but I would have thought that everyone my age would want to experiment and take chances when it came to dressing themselves. Anyone can throw on a cardigan! I just don't think that they have any personality whatsoever. BE ADVENTUROUS!

Other things I use to love but now hate: Meringues, jeans, hairbands.

And just a quick shout out about another trend that, unfortunately, is still sweeping the nation: To all you secondary schoolers out there. Stop wearing your hair on your forehead..... you will never be a unicorn.

Much Love and have an eventful weekend,

Shannon.

xoxo

Styling Gig #1

Hello my lovelies. Well it's all happening lately. Between getting ready for the end of year show, finding outfits for both that and the Innovation awards, searching for a job and on top of all that, being asked to style, choreograph and be the photographer on a shoot for a Vintage shop called "Love Vintage" that is based out in Clifden. 

It really was a "stumble upon" experience. I was up there over the weekend visiting some family friends and we were just strolling about the tiny town. Of course once I saw "vintage" imprinted on a small building, I ran to it like a fish to water. It was in the midst of all these touristy shops and cafes. I went in and immediately spotted this gorgeous 1940's strapless wedding dress. It really was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Who needs kids when you have a dress like that!?! I nearly died when the shop owner told me it was only €120!! We got chatting and she started asking me about my course and my plans for the future. She got so excited when I told her I was a fashion student and told me that she was interested in making a bit of an ad campaign for her shop. that's when she asked me if I would be interested in styling and photographing the entire thing. I felt like I was going to throw up rainbows (< If that's not excitement then I don't know what is). Obviously I said yes!

Since then we've been in contact and talking about the concept, model, makeup, props, dates, etc. I'm so so excited to work with Carolanne Joyce (shop owner). She was so bubbly and helpful. Will keep you all updated on the process of course! But for now, here are some snipits of the shop. Enjoy!

Click on the link below to read Carolanne's interview with RTE Fashion.

https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/fashion/best-of-irish/2012/0221/291640-shop-alert-love-vintage/

Much Love, 

Shannon.

xoxo

Model of the Moment

Have you heard of Cara Delevinge? Well if you haven't then it's time to get out from under your rock and get a life.... and a computer. Born and raised in Britain, this 20 year old bombshell is the most demanded model of this years Autumn/ Winter 2013 fashion season. She was even asked to take part in 2012's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show! Look at what sh'e done already. Some say she's the next Kate Moss. What do you think? 

Her catwalk face gives you the impression that  she's this hardcore badass but in reality, she's a bubbly and loving person who's doing something that she loves and I say, YOU GO GIRLIE!

Much Love,

Shannon.

xoxo