The Irish Fashion Round Up

By Paige McKirahan

 

Are you feeling lucky this week, Talkingfashion travelers? We know we are as we are heading fast toward Ireland just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day this week on March 17^th. If this holiday has you feeling ready for some fresh spring fashion inspiration, these influencers are like the pot of gold at the end of your colorful couture rainbow. Though Ireland is not the home of any fun fashion week activities, it still boasts a bustling industry scene with a plethora of emerging talent coming out in high-profile cities like Dublin. Irish fashionistas understand that visibility is important in leveling up their country’s industry scene, so read on to see some our favorite influencers on the scene right now who are the perfect illustration of the country’s Irish charm!

 

 Pippa O’Connor

 

 

 

This model is one of the most popular influencers in Ireland’s online blogging landscape, with thousands visiting her website for fashion advice daily. Her popularity has only elevated her stance in the industry and has allowed her create her own online denim shop, POCO!

 

 Nuala Gorham

 

 

 

As a Vogue favorite, this blogger’s honest take on fashion, fitness, beauty, and travel has made her an Irish influencer aficionado. Her adventurous lifestyle and willingness to tag all of her best outfits on LiketoKnowit truly have made her brand into a must-follow!

 

Suzanne Jackson-O'Connor

 

 

 

This blogger-turned-businesswoman is the founder of multiple award winning brands, including her chic lifestyle blog, Sosueme. Suzanne has used her blogger platform to turn her brand into a business, andcreated the highly regarded Irish beauty brand, SOSUbySJ.

 

Joanne Larby

 

 

 

With her affinity for beauty and a great sense of style, this blogger and brand owner is making big waves in the Irish fashion landscape. Her lifestyle brand, The Makeup Fairy, is an industry favorite that stemmed from a small blog and has now grown into an online magazine with an accompanying YouTube profile with aesthetics to die for. 

 

Louise Cooney

 

 

 

This award-winning jetsetter is dominating the fashion industry with her chic takes on life, travel, fashion, and industry inspiration. She has been nominated as the Most Stylish Online Influencer and Best Influencer in the Gossies, which shows that fashionistas all over the globe can’t get enough of her “it” girl aesthetic!

If these influencers are already under your Instagram “Following” list, check out this list of 60 Irish bloggers that are sure to vamp up your timeline!

As you can see, many of Ireland's most prominent fashion brands are managed by high-profile bloggers; check out our favorite Irish jewelry finds and see if they were created by anyone you know!

 

Isle Jewellery

 

 

 

If you’re looking for a jewelry brand that makes you feel as well traveled as the bloggers above, look no further than Isle. This Irish-meets- Japanese aesthetic was created by two sisters on opposite sides of the world, taking motifs from both of their cities and combining them to create beautiful, minimalist jewelry pieces.

 

Rachel Swan

 

 

 

This Dublin-based brand boasts a multitude of simple, modern designs taking cues from the Art Deco movement. Rachel Swan, the name behind these fabulous jewels, puts an architectural finish on every piece, giving them a modern twist perfect for a chic night out.

 

Maria Dorai Raj

 

 

 

The designer behind brand her namesake brand creates contemporary designs with hints of Irish-Indian glam. The piece’s impeccable craftsmanship and modern aesthetics have made Raj’s designs some of the most sought after in the country.

 

Cosmic Boulevard

 

 

 

This dainty, festive jewelry brand was created by one of Ireland’s most eccentric makeup artists. After working in cosmetics for over ten years, Sinhead Murphy decided to take her talents to the jewelry industry; we love all of her out-of-this-world designs and her fresh take on cosmic motifs!

Since our favorite month of fashion has finally concluded, we are now looking for a new celebration! Check out these Irish fashion finds to gear up for Saint Patrick’s Day fun, and freshen up your timeline for spring by retracing our steps on our fashion journey around the globe!

 

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The Paris Fashion Round Up

By Paige McKirahan

 

Bonjour encore, TalkingFashion tourists! Following our coverage in Italy prior to Milan Fashion Week, we felt it was only appropriate to dive deep into Paris’ high-profile industry as haute heels (or chunky dad shoes) hit the sidewalks in France for the next six days for PFW. As one of the most iconic fashion capitals in the world, Paris never disappoints when it comes to high-fashion with even higher standards. There is truly no other place in the world with a style quite like the “Parisian chic” seen all over capital’s streets, so it is no surprise that their blogging landscape is one of the most active, flourishing influencer scenes that the industry has to offer. Whether it be their classic, minimalist Parisian style or a wilder approach to the chic stereotype, these French influencers have a certain je ne sais quoi that is sure to inspire your spring wardrobe haul!

 

Leiasfez

 

This creative mind has been quite the jetsetter this fashion month as she traveled to London for a fashion week and Dior exhibit fix. Her classic wardrobe featuring muted color palettes and clean tailoring provides content for her perfectly curated feed of style inspiration, making it easy to see why she has garnered over a quarter of a million followers and a spot in a Glossier campaign. 

 

Syanalaniyan

 

 

 

This Youtube-based influencer has proved that you don’t need hundreds of thousands of followers to make your mark on the industry; through her success with her Youtube channel and her “it” girl style shown on Instagram, she has formed partnerships with Marc Jacobs Beauty and Asos to create beautiful paid posts for her social media feeds.

 

Miss Pandora

 

 

 

Louise Ebel is the Parisian fashionista behind this stand-out blog, Miss Pandora. Rather than falling into the classic style guidelines set up by her chic predecessors, Ebel aims to explore new fashionable combinations whether they be unusual silhouette pairings or wild color combinations.

 

Mango and Salt

 

 

 

Victoria, the creator of Mango and Salt, uses her blog to showcase both her minimalist style aesthetic and sustainable lifestyle practices. She prides herself on being authentic and natural, so if you are looking for some style inspiration with a side of cultural commentary, Mango and Salt is the perfect blog for you! 

 

Frannfyne

 

 

 

This lifestyle and fashion blogger is one of our favorites from this list on account of her uber-cool street style looks. No two of her outfits look the same and she uses pieces from shops like Zara and Mango to create dimensional looks that are totally achievable for even the most fashion inept of her followers.

For more great Parisian bloggers that are on our must-follow list this spring, check out this article by Frenchly! 

Switching the conversation from bloggers to brands, there are just as many French accessory labels on our radar that make us thankful its tax return season! While you’re waiting on that direct deposit to hit, give these brands a follow and check out all of the beauty that they have to offer!

 

Balaboosté

 

One of the most fun and eclectic labels on this list, this 20-year-old brand is eccentric and colorful in all the right ways. Though some may struggle to create bold pieces with a chic feel, this is no problem for Balabooste as their ‘90s inspired statement pieces are made to be Instagram ready!

 

Lou.Yetu

 

 

This brand, which is named after a classic French children’s song, takes this playful element and seamlessly fuses it together with its clean aesthetics to create timeless pieces with a classic French twist. Their delicate necklaces, rings, and bracelets are made to be layered and will compliment all of your chicest looks.

 

Gerard Darel

 

 

 

This seemingly lowkey clothing and accessories brand has slowly established itself as a provider of quality basics both in France and around the world. Their reach is so wide that their simple bags have been in the hands of many of the media’s favorites, including Angelina Jolie!

 

Satellite Paris

 

 

Playing upon the industry’s love of boho-chic aesthetics, this brand boasts expertly crafted jewelry that can be found in six storefronts across Paris, along with a multitude of department stores. Started by a former ethnologist, Satellite’s pieces are delicately crafted and jewel encrusted with an art deco design inspiration to match.

 

Nouvel Amour

 

 

Popular for its simple, gold ID bracelets, rings, and necklaces, this Parisian brand offers a new way to remember your travels to the fashion capital. The versatility of their pieces paired with the ability to customize every design makes these romantic accessories a fashion round-up favorite!

Since Paris Fashion Week is already underway, make sure to give all of these French fashion finds a follow to see how they are participating in the industry fun! Be sure to stay tuned for more roundups and join us on our journey to Ireland to discover more creators worth following prior to our Saint Patrick's Day celebrations in March!

 

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London Fashion Week F/W 19 Accessory Trend Spotlight

By Paige McKirahan 

 

Now that we are on the second week of fashion’s favorite month, we are truly beginning to see this year’s cold weather trends take form on runways all around the globe. Since February 15^th, we have been watching one of the most eclectic and high-profile fashion week’s take place in London; this capital’s collections have just as enthralling as those seen in New York, with bold colors schemes and larger than life accessories taking center stage. As the location for Karl Lagerfeld’s final show for Fendi, it was only customary that London brought the heat despite the cold, dreary weather. From controversy’s surrounding Burberry’s accessories to political statements made by Vivienne Westwood, there is a lot to discuss from this avant-garde week in the Big Smoke.

 

Vivienne Westwood’s show (source)

 

Taking cues from New York, collections in London spared no expense when it came to headgear designs. From cowhide berets by House of Holland to oversized earmuffs by Ryan Lo, it is evident that fall 2019 will bring looks that stun from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Barrets and hairpins covered in pearls or gems wowed in Ashish’s collection when paired with their galactic makeup aesthetics and heightening hairstyles. Ear wraps made an eye-catching runway appearance when Ashley Williams paired her collection's colorful tights with a headwrap that featured motifs that you will have to see to believe (look below!!). We also saw function paired with fashion in Matty Boven’s headpieces, with his over-the-top, Yorkshire inspired earmuffs being the perfect avant-garde accessory for braving the bitter UK cold. Quite possibly the tamest and utilitarian piece of the bunch was created by Molly Goddard; moving away from the traditional earmuff’s and toboggans, she created a knit headscarf that protects you AND your hair from the less-than-desirable winter weather.

 

From top: House of Holland, Ashish, and Ashley Williams (source)

London collections took cues from your grandmother's closet when they incorporated brooches into looks with aesthetics ranging from abstract to western. Burberry took a step in a positive direction when creative director Ricardo Tisci accessorized his autumnal collection with sculptural pins that emulated shapes found on the beach. Toga's take on the brooch was a little less flirtatious as their bull horn pins made us feel like we were out of London and into Houston.

 

 

From top: Burberry, Toga (source)

Oversized, stackable jewelry prevailed in London just as it did in New York; from chunky gold neckwear by J.W. Anderson to bedazzled chokers spanning from collarbone to chin by Halpern, collections across the pond made a simple statement: dainty is out and chunky is in. We also saw a variety of details incorporated into jewelry designs, like the delicate pins featured in necklaces by Molly Goddard and feathers trailing on the ends of dangling earrings by Roksanda and Ports 1961.

 

From top: Halpern, Molly Goddard, and Ports 1961 (source)

Unlike New York, London boasted collections full of statement belts that were big, boisterous, and waist-cinching in style. This fun-but-functional accessory stole the show in Alexa Chung's collection with her thick, animal print belts complimenting her denim pieces to perfection. Toga's belts turned up the heat and the zoom when their larger-than-life belts were the centerpieces of their collection; this oversized piece with double buckles paired well with their thick gloves and layered fabric silhouettes.

 

From top: Alexa Chung, Toga (source)

Last but definitely not least, this season's Fashion Weeks are showing us that the idea of the "it" bag is slowly changing into a new concept entirely. Jolin Wu is a pioneer of this movement with their luxe drawstring bags that emulate ones you would see in a school locker room. Covered in fur and clutched to the chest, these were anything but elementary while still having a nostalgia-inducing style.

 

(source)

Out of all of the fabulous accessories seen walking down the runways this week, which were your favorites? We love the resurgence of the statement belt, and have plenty in our collections for those ready to hop on the trend early! 

Keep this article on hand for some great fashion inspiration for the next cold weather season, and shop our collections for some great headwear, pins, bangles, and dangling earrings of your own! For more FW coverage, be sure to stay tuned next week for our look at all things Milan!

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The Italian Fashion Round Up

By Paige McKirahan

 

Ciao, fashion-forward travelers! This week, we went wheels up on the runway towards Italy just in time for heels to touch down next week during Milan Fashion Week! In a place with such rich artistic history in endless amounts of creative industries, it is no surprise that some of the most followed fashionistas on Instagram hail from Italian states like Milan and Rome. After all, Italy did give us Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Prada, Armani, Fendi, Diesel....and the list goes on. Bloggers in this landscape have an affinity for creating a personable brand that is both authentic and fabulous, making their reach go beyond Itay's cobblestone streets. To gear up for Milan Fashion Week, check out who to follow for a first hand look at all of the runway's best fashion moments!

 

Chiara Ferragni

 

 

 

As a blogger and influencer that has risen to global fame, this Italian fashionista has been named one of the most influential bloggers in the world by Forbes. Her 15 million followers have transformed her brand, The Blond Salad, from a small blog created in 2009 to a million dollar business today.

 

Veronica Ferraro 

 

 

This top-tier influencer founded one of Italy’s most enigmatic blogs, The Fashion Fruit, in 2010. After making her way into the Instagram spotlight, she has been known to grace the pages of well-known publications like Marie Claire, Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar along with appearances in a variety of luxury advertising campaigns. Find her in the rows all fashion month long!

 

Erika Boldrin

 

This Italian model’s boho-chic style is framed by picturesque locals all around the globe. All of her best looks can be seen on the traveling fashionista's blog, My Free Choice, where she combines her two interests and displays them in a perfectly curated feed that has garnered close to half a million followers. 

 

Nicolette Reggio

 

 

Reggio is an emphatic stylist and creative director behind her site Scent of Obsession; her sleek style and focus on design, photography, and travel shows why she has one of the most visually appealing social media feeds in the industry.

 

Valentina Coco

 

 

 

An all-in-one PR professional, marketing manager, and blogger is what you get with the multitalented Coco. Her motivational tone and attention to detail on her blog, Zagufashion, makes her an Italian fashion favorite that has near half a million followers.

Now that we know who to follow for all of the hottest looks in Milan, let’s see which Italian designers and labels are going to be worth featuring on these blogs among brands like Bottega Veneta and Ferragamo!

 

Pomellato

 

As this brand is already loved by Italian jewelry enthusiasts, they have no problem partnering with influencers like Chiara Ferragni when promoting their contemporary designs. Their Instagram bio boasts their global stance in the luxury market, and we see them finding widespread fame with their stackable, glamorous designs.

 

 

Your one-stop-shop for all things handmade, this brand creates delicate accessories set in simple silver or bronze constructions. Placing a twist on classic pieces like bangles and rings, these designs can be paired with any aesthetic.

 

Bea Bongiasca 

 

This designer's creations are anything but ordinary; her designs are colorful, whimsical, and in a league of their own in terms of construction. This brand is one of our favorite new discoveries and their creative marketing campaigns make them an easy follow! 

 

Presidents Day’s Presidential Jewels

 By Paige McKirahan

As the shortest month of the year with the most to celebrate, February is chock full of fun events worth commemorating. From fashion week to Valentine’s Day to Black History Month, it is easy to get lost in the sea of dedications and themed sale emails flooding your inbox. One of the biggest sale holidays of the year just so happens to occur during this festive month, and is approaching fast on the 18^th! Presidents Day, which is a federal holiday set to honor America’s long line of presidents, is more than just a day off of work perfectly suited for shopping.

At its conception, the holiday was originally designated to recognize George Washington’s birthday on February 22^nd, 1732; when it was first initiated in 1879, it was only to be observed by Washington D.C. federal offices. Then, in 1885, it expanded to include all federal offices and established itself as the first holiday formed to celebrate a president. Though it once was celebrated on Washington’s exact birthday, the date has been changed to always fall on the third Monday in February and now aims to honor all presidents throughout history.

Early President's Day Posting (source)

In addition to the celebration of our country's leaders, Presidents Day is also used as an opportunity to award those qualifying with a Purple Heart military medal. Revived on Washington’s 200th birthday in 1932, this prestigious award is commonly given out on the holiday at both the federal level and at individual military posts.

In terms of executive- inspired accessories, the most common presidential motifs are primarily seen on coins integrated into a piece's design. Coins are versatile, malleable, and easily accessible so incorporating them into accessories and jewelry has been a long standing practice not only in the United States, but all over the world. From belts to bracelets, coins offer an easy way to show your patriotism while keeping it fashion forward. For more coin accessories, check out our collections and honor our country's rich history in style! For more presidential pieces, head over to the National Archives store to shop and support National Archives exhibits!

Sources:

AncestralFindings.comWill Moneymaker founded Ancestral Findings back in 1995. He has been involved in genealogy research for over 20 years. The thrill of the hunt. “The History of Presidents Day.” Ancestral Findings, 5 Mar. 2018, ancestralfindings.com/presidents-day/.