So many hats and just one head!

Three of the greats Humphrey, Frank and James knew the importance of the Hat...

This write up is all about hats...

I need to start by stating that anyone can wear a hat. Saying you don't look good in a hat is like saying you don't look good in shoes! You just need to find the perfect one that you love, then your look will fall effortlessly into place.

The hat is my favourite accessory. Whether it be a handmade Panama hat, or a stylish trilby, I simply think that when added to a look, they complete it. My love for them was passed on to me from my dad. His hats live on. When you wear a hat, you become the dream that started when the hat was conceived.  The original energy that was put into the hat doesn't die, it only changes forms and owners.  The dream is passed on from generation to generation. ( surely the inventors of the hat just wanted to keep their heads warm Style Angel? Ah yes indeed but even back then they were stylish looking!)

These Greek boyos sporting one of the earliest hats known as the 'Petasus'.

I wonder did the Greeks think that one day there would be a 'Hat Person of the Year Award'. Look what they started! The 2010's winner of the award was the effortlessly cool Johnny Depp. One day the Headwear Association will award me with 'Hat Person of the Year!' You watch this space Johnny.

Panama Hats, Bowler Hats, Top Hats, Fisherman Caps.

Hat snobs will claim you have to wear all of the above a particular way. I say wear your hat whatever way you want. I rarely wear ladies hats because they are too prim and proper for my style. I like hats which look like they are old and have a bit of history, something a bit rough around the edges,unkempt, a bit wild and wonky looking, so ladies 'racing day' hats don't do it for me!

Any male readers this is especially for you. Certain hat etiquette is expected such as the following:

In general, any circumstance where you are in the presence of a lady, you are to remove your hat. The only time when this might not be practical is outdoors in a storm (where you would get drenched) during a brief encounter.

It is also customary to remove your hat when in an lift (elevator) with a lady. This is considered a private setting, similar to an interior room, but if the elevator is very crowded, keeping your hat on saves it from getting crushed and inconveniencing other people.

I think doffing of ones hat ( taking it off) is only expected nowadays when someone enters a church or enters a persons home, but surely this is old fashioned? I don't take my hat off to anyone, but I'm a lady so I think I'm exempt from the 'gentlemans' rules. I do think I'll start 'tipping' my hat, which is the slight tilting action to the front of it. I may do this when I greet people. I think it's a very polite gesture!

Enough about hat history and lets get to what is available today.There is a vast choice online and in stores currently so I have picked out my top 10 to give you a decent selection. I think you'll be happy that there is a hat out there for any price range or occasion so here are some beauties.

No 1 : The 'Band Hat' From Beyond Retro £45 Clearly quite unusual, you may need a shot of confidence to wear this and a 'fuck it' attitude to follow up as a chaser!

  No 2 : The Straw hat from Heatons priced at €4 you can't really go wrong. Perfect for summer days..and sure if it blows away in a gust of wind it was only four euro! 



No 3 :  This Vintage 80's Blue Satin Bow hat is from http://www.itsvintagedarling.com/. Priced at £30 I think it is a beautiful statement piece that would add a special glamorous touch to any look. 



 No 4 : This fresh Corsage Trilby is from Republic and costs £14.99.

No 5 : This stunning Swarovski crystal pin-embellished straw hat is from Lanvin and costs a crisp €610





No 6 : Straw Hat from Diesel at littlewoods.ie €50


No 7 : Why not! Sherlock Holmes Hat £ 24.95 from http://www.hats&caps.co.uk/





No 8 : Beautiful Bright Straw Hat  From O'Neill  at Debenhams  €21


No 9: This sophisticated Savanna hat is incredibly slick and can be found at http://www.fanclothing.com/ for $38

No 10 : For Vintage style Fedora this bright orange spectacle is perfect. It's from Peekaboo Vintage Store and costs £45

If you don't like any of the hats above why not check out having your own custom hat made by the ultimate Hollywood Hat Maker? This is the place to get incredible hats. They have been making hats for many years for all genres of film and have celebrities queuing up outside to get their hands on their custom designs. Check it out http://www.baronhats.com/

Why hide them away in hat boxes! Bang in a few nails and get them up on a wall where they'll be superbly easy to access.

"A hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armor, and the badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothes and wearing a costume; it's the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it's the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be stylish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over, and to make all men feel masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat." - Martha Sliter

Kate Moss doing it for the girls in a leather Fisherman Hat

So here's your hat what's your hurry? Go and get yourself one of the most stylish accessories to don and join the stylish hat brigade.

Holiday Style? No bother.

Heading away on a well deserved break, whether it be to Connemara in Ireland's wild west or to a sunny hot spot in the Mediterranean brings with it a challenge. To see how much fun and relaxation you can cram into a week? Well there is that, but also there is the challenge of what to pack to wear?

It's tricky. Personally, I have always either taken away too many items or too little. I end up with too many tops and not enough shorts..or shoes that don't go with anything I've packed.This year I came up with a clever plan and I can happily say it worked like a dream.

I simply planned what I would wear each day of my vacation, from head to toe, before I left home.
For ten days away, I packed ten day outfits and ten evening outfits. I matched up each look the night before my trip, down to what underwear I would wear. Then the key part, I took a photo of each outfit with my digital camera.

This may seem quite anal but turns out it was the perfect solution to having no dress related headaches while abroad. I laid each outfit on my bed and took a photo, my memory wouldn't remember each look,but I trust my cameras brain, photos will last much longer!

It was also important that I packed each outfit together in it's own bundle so as soon as I opened my case I could grab the outfit and pop it on. As each day passed the items did get a bit jumbled up. One particular night when my bag was looking very messy I thought ughhh what am I going to wear..so I simply clicked through my camera.. 'ah yes perfect! that little number will do tonight!' And I plucked each piece from my miniature closet.

I indulged in bringing two pairs of wedges, one set of heels, a sandal and flip flops for the beach. All of which I made sure would go with at least one of the outfits I was packing! If you have limited space I'd recommend one pair of wedges and one pair of flip flops, then wear a pair of pumps/runners ( depending on your choice of style) on the way to your destination, that way each look is covered.

There are of course the essentials to bring away. The following questions will niggle in your head as you pack - Will it be hot? Will it be cold? You don't think it could rain?

So you should really pack..

• One pair of jeans
• At least two bikini's
• One long-sleeved top / long sleeve cardie for the cool evenings
• A jacket
• A hat
• Pajamas/sexy nightie - depending on who you're travelling with and how warm you'd like to be as the air conditioning blasts at your bed!

There are plenty of looks of course that easily transform from day to night, such as this red strapless dress.
I picked it up for five euro in an Indian run boutique in Tralee, Co Kerry..! For daytime wear, I had the option to wear it with flip flops, for night I painted my lips with MAC's finest Red lipstick and strapped my feet into my red polka dot wedges.

Bringing two outfits for each day is what I do because I love clothes and changing into different outfits.
It's also a good idea if you're a bit of a messy eater like I am. All sorts from hot chocolate to pollen dusting off flowers end up on my clothes so I need spares to change into like a little sloppy baby.

I wouldn't bother with fake tan heading away to sunny spots. I know many many people are afraid of the paleness of their skin. I thought I'd put a little on so I wouldn't look so pasty for my first couple days. The first day I arrived, I swam in the sea and the harsh sea water blasted every bit of tan off! So it was pointless. Scrub the tan off, embrace your pale self and let your skin breath for those few days. It probably could do with the break and your skin is beautiful the colour it is right now.

Most importantly just wear what you like, whatever makes you happy, because you're setting off on your well deserved holiday, so feeling happy is what it's all about. Chances are you'll never see your holiday pals you befriend by the pool again or that Spanish waiter who keeps giving you the eye..(damn.)
And as the locals gawk disgustedly at you as you cannon ball off a cliff into the sea in your 1950's inspired yellow polka dot bikini....somewhere off the west coast of Ireland..Just shout at them to take a photo, It'll last longer!

Better Fashion Week..

The countdown to Better Fashion Week has begun. With four days to go, the creators of the event, who are the lovely ladies of ReDress - Rosie, Kate and Kellie must be working their little fashionable socks off. Better Fashion Week will run from the 18th - 22nd of this magnificent month of May.


For people not in the know, ReDress was set up in 2008 by Rosie O Reilly, Kellie Dalton and Kate Nolan. They are dedicated to promoting better fashion practice. How exciting that they are hosting Better Fashion Week in Dublin's City Centre.

In ReDress's own words...

'Better Fashion Week is a celebration of all things sustainable in the fashion industry. Better Fashion Week is an exploration of better practice in all its forms. We look to highlight the boundaries and adversities facing all those involved in the industry while celebrating the ever diversifying ways we find to address them.'


The Better Fashion Week's schedule is bursting with unmissable talks/mentoring sessions/screenings/pop up shops and lots more. For anyone interested in fashion you will find plenty to tickle your fancy. I'd recommend checking out discussions with Simone Rocha and Industry talks with the amazingly talented Eilis Boyle. Also Saturday night will be something extraordinary as the mind-blowing Andrea Crews demonstrate a live design performance. It's not often so many creative people get together, so seize this oppourtunity, get your tickets before they have sold out and go along and meet these talented peeps.


For the day to day events go to http://www.betterfashionweek.com 
It promises to be an inspiring stimulating fabulous four days.

Festival Style on a budget...

With Oxygen creeping up on us and Electric Picnic to look forward to, it's time to start thinking about what we'll be wearing to these musical trendy hot spots. For first time festival goers you may be unaware that festivals are, along with fun/mental/exciting/non-stop/partying in the woods wild adventures, also very clothes destroying! I found this out years ago at my first one. Wet mud has an intoxicating potent, baffling sweet, disgusting smell.It will stain any bit of fabric it touches.

So you need to look good but need to spend as little as possible as you're going to get ruined!

I've done the research so you don't have to and ladies and gents for everything you need this festival season head to dazzling Pennys. Get yourself in there in approximately 3 weeks time when everything I show you will be in store nationwide.

My hat is off to them for going all out this year with their festival hoard. They have taken the seasons trends and slammed bargain prices all over them.You are in for a real treat!
So without further a do here are Style Angels top ten festival picks..

No 1 : The Wellies

These go without saying really. DON'T bother with fancy sandals and don't risk ruining your expensive converse or boots, get yourself a pair of these for €15. They come in all colours from farmer green to pretty girly pink. Pennys also stock over the knee socks to accompany your wellies. 

No 2: A jacket

This style of Barbour quilted jacket did the rounds back in January and has returned in a lighter version and in different colours for summer months.It's a bargain at  €23. Perfect for festivals as it has zip pockets to keep your money,mobile and mini bottle of jd safe while you bop around in the silent disco!

  

No.3 A decent Bag

How could you not buy this! It is an amazing ball of wacky designs and bright popping colours. Plenty of room to store everything you'll need. (This can be worn across the front of your body with it's long strap, which leaves one hand free to hold a can and the other free to hold..well whatever you want!)

No 4: Sunglasses and a hat

Leave your Ray Bans safely at home. You will either lose or break them. Get yourself a pair of these wicked slick bad boys. Pennys glasses start at  €1.50 and go up to €3.50. You'll also need a hat. They start at  €5 and will make you look 'cool' as you cover your dirty greasy smelly head of hair!

No 5 : Bikini

This may be wishful thinking but bring one in case the sun is splitting the stones. You'll be delighted to have it. This bikini top from the Maximise range is €9 and bikini briefs are €4. I'm showing this particular bikini as it's a brand new design.It features technology which increases your bust by 2 sizes! I'll say no more!

Five days of High Street style...

It's been a tricky little week dressing with the nutty Irish weather...what I've come to realise is that once you have an umbrella in your bag, you can really wear what you want! There are plenty of stylish ones in Topshop and New Look. They don't have to be black or tartan! And a boyfriend blazer is wonderfully convenient for the chilly moments of the day. The one I have below is 70euro from Topshop and I get great wear out of it. A neutral colour is good so you can bang it on with anything!

Hat - New Look
Blazer - Topshop
Hareem Trousers - Topshop
Boots - New Look
Gold Bracelets - Aldo
Lipstick - MAC ( MAC Red)