My Blue Suede Shoes...

With great intentions in mind, I dragged myself out of bed at 9am yesterday to catch the 10.40 train into town. After meeting up with the girls at the station, we realised that it was a bank holiday, and on bank holidays public transport has a tendency to run on Sunday schedules (I blame the ungodly hour for our ignorance). How and ever, after a good half hour of waiting in what seemed like Antarctic temperatures, the coach began to near.

Thankfully, Iarnroid Eirionn's "guaranteed 27 minute journey" policy was fully in tact, and we arrived in Dublin's Fair City just in time to savour the mid-day madness.

I must admit, I wasn't entirely impressed by the "explosive reductions" that had supposedly swept across the city since St.Stephen's Day. Yes, there were a handful of shops that had a decent array of discounted garments, but on the whole, unsuccessful summer lines seemed to steal the limelight.



Despite that minor disappointment, a great day was to be had on our girlie day out in the big smoke. And perhaps the fact that we all only came back with one bag each was a good thing? What with recessionary times and all that jazz?! In saying that, I did manage to nab a few gems: biker-style zip-up skinny jeans from ZARA, reduced from €39.95 to €25.99, a cutesy pair of floral summer shorts from PULL AND BEAR, down from €14.99 to €9.99, and subtly stripped knitted leggings from FOREVER 21, not on sale but still a steal at €3.95.

However, my winning purchase came from PENNEYS, where I bought these fab 70's inspired blue suede platforms (ah yes, a sudden rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes" fills the room). I'm loving the barred strap look almost as much as the whole snake-skin affect they've got going on. But my undying love for these babies is hugely attributable to their teeny tiny price tag.. wait for it... wait for it... €5 ladies and gentlemen. Yes, just €5. An AMAZING bargain, I know!

So the day wasn't a complete disappointment/ failure/ flop/ let down/waste of time/ faux pas or pitiful disaster. In hindsight, maybe if we had headed in on the 26th the outcome would have been more... Promising. But still, I'm sure it'd be worth the trek if you know what you're looking for! ;)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

...And a delightful New Year from Just Lolo. It's been another wonderful blogging year, thank you all for your support!

Oodles of Love,

Lolo xx

With Dedicated Shoppers in Mind...

ATTENTION SHOPPING FANATICS: THE LIST BELOW MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST.
Ah sure what the heck, 'tis the season to be jolly! Here's a compilation of all of the must-hit shops this St.Stephen's Day. A note for all of you hard-core sale shoppers: certain retailers will open from 5am, with reductions of up to 75% in many places!!


CHRISTMAS SALES IN DUBLIN:

Arnotts: Henry Street. Reductions kick off on Sunday, 26th December. (01 8050400)

Avoca: Suffolk Street (with other stores nationwide). Sale starts December 27th with up to 50% off clothing lines.(01-2867466),

Awear: Grafton Street, with other stores nationwide. Awear's sales kicked off last week, so act fast to avoid disappointment!

Benetton: Stephen’s Green Centre. Sale starts December 27th at 11am, with reductions of 30%-50%. (01 4781799)

Boots: Stephen's Green Centre, Grafton Street, Jervis Centre, with other stores nationwide. Doors will open on the 26th December from 10am (depending on the branch).

Bow Boutique: Powerscourt Townhouse Centre. Sale starts December 27th, with reductions across Ireland's top designers. (01-7071763)

Brown Thomas Stores: Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Sales start Sunday December 26th from 9am. WARNING, SERIOUS TEMPTATION: reductions of 20% – 50% off on selected lines across womenswear, menswear, accessories, footwear, lingerie and homeware.

BT2 Grafton Street sale starts on Sunday December 26th, at 10am.
BT2 Dundrum sale will commence at 11am, also on the 26th.
BT2 Blanchardstown sale will start at 9am on Monday, December 27th.
Reductions of 20% to 50% in each store.

Carl Scarpa: Grafton Street. Reductions kicked off on Wednesday 22nd of December with up to 50% off shoes and boots.

Clerys: O'Connell Street. Sale commences on Sunday 26th December at 10am. Reductions of up to 50%.

Debenhams: Henry Street. Starts Sunday 26th December with up to 70% off selected lines. Opening hours are 11am-6pm

“Dundrum Town Centre opens its doors at 10am on the 26th December and stores will be offering great offers and discounts. This year more than ever shoppers are seeking out those great offers, and there will be plenty on offer here at Dundrum”.

Fitzpatrick’s Shoes: 76 Grafton Street. Also in the CHQ building, IFSC and Dundrum Town Centre. Sales have already started with reductions on Dior, Michael Kors, Fendi and Sergio Rossi ladies shoes.

Gap: Arnotts, Henry Street and Dundrum Town Centre. Sales commenced on December 16th with up to 50% off in store.

Harvey Nichols: Dundrum Town Centre. The Harvey Nichols sale starts at 10am on St Stephen’s Day, 26th December. Savings up to 50%.

H&M: Henry Street. Also in Dundrum Town Centre and South King Street. Sales have already kicked off!

Hugo Boss: Dundrum Town Centre. Sale starts on December 27th at 10am.

Kildare Village Outlet: Opens at 12 noon on Sunday, 26th September. Boutiques will be offering up to 70% off the original RRP!!! Shops include Anya Hindmarch, Cath Kidston, Louise Kennedy and Bally.

Kilkenny: Nassau Street. Sale starts at 10am on December 27th.

Next: Jervis Shopping Centre begins at 5am on December 27th<< sheer dedication required there!

Littlewoods.ie sale starts at 8pm on December 23rd. Reductions of up to 75% on selected lines.

Reiss St Stephen’s Green. Sale starts on 26th December at 11am.

River Island: Grafton Street and branches nationwide. Grafton Street at 8am on December 27th. Stores in the Ilac Centre, Henry Street and in Liffey Valley open on Sunday, December 26th at 10am with up to 50% off many items.

Rococo: Westbury Mall. Re-opening on December 27th from 12pm

Noa Noa: Westbury Mall. Sale has already started with up to 70% off . Re-opening Sunday, December 27th from 12pm.

Tommy Hilfiger: 13 Grafton Street and stores throughout Ireland. Sale starts on December 26th in Grafton Street and on December 27th in other shops.

Topshop: St Stephen’s Green. Sale starts December 26th in selected stores with up to 50 per cent off all A/W Collections.

TK Maxx: ...are hosting a special red ticket event for shoppers, offering a further 25% off red ticketed items from December 26th to Monday 3rd January.

Urban Outfitters: Cecilia House, Cecilia Street, Temple Bar. Also in Dundrum Town Centre. Sale starts on December 24th with many items reduced by 50%.

and last but by no means least..... Zara: Henry Street, Dundrum Town Centre, Blanchardstown and South King Street. Sale starts on December 26th with reductions of up to 50%.





Happy Shopping!

Christmas at The Loft

"Christmas shopping is formally upon us and by popular demand, the loft MARKET is staying open every day until December 24th AND opening late 'till 8 from December 20th. So pop up and check out all our independent designers, jewelers, artists and vintage purveyors!"

Christmas Opening Hours
Monday 20th - Thurs 23rd 11am - 8pm
Christmas Eve 11am - 5pm

The Loft Market,

Powerscourt Centre,

59 South William Street,

Dublin 2.

A New Day, A New Collaboration...

They seem to being coming fast and furious, but make no mistake, nobody is giving out about designer collaborations this season.

We've already had Lanvin, GILES and Kate Moss, to name but a few, but now comes another fab designer/high-street amalgamation.

Ladies and gentlefolk, you've got it...Emma Cook and Topshop.

Renowned for her funky, fresh and quirky illustrations, Ms. Cook has launched a tee line focusing around just that.

Three uber-cool hanger and t-shirt combos can be sought out online at http://www.topshop.com/

I have to say that although I do love the tees, I simply adore the hangers!

A bit odd, I know, but they're just "so totally radical man"- a phrase actually overheard yesterday (I must admit, I L.O.L.d)

Prices start at £65.

Parisian Passion

Alison Arboux for Kurv Magazine #22.

The Turbo Timex..

Wow, how totally awesome is this Calculator Watch from Timex? You're practically guaranteed to be the coolest kid in the playground with this bad boy!

Joking aside, I must admit that I find this contraption to be quite slick indeed.

Gone are the days where you spend hours looking bewildered when asked to divide the bill, or see how long it took you to travel to work (though this may only apply to those of you in Ireland, braving the ice-glazed roadways) or count how many times it took you to change before you left this morning. An ideal Christmas prezzie for the men in your life too, be it dads, brothers, other halves or impossible Kris-Kindlers. They come in at £75 in Harvey Nichols, but can also be sought out in a number of other watch-shops!

Happy Timing.

Sample Sale Notice

Don't you just love sample sales?! Here's one to hit if you're venturing to the East End (London, of course) over the weekend...

HOT HOT HOT... Hosiery

Must Have Winter Accessory #1: Tights

Just because it's the party season and "L.B.D.'S" , "L.R.D.'S" along with all of the other "L.D.'s" are bursting onto the scene, doesn't mean we have to suffer. I know, I know, "slaves to fashion" and all that, but given the ever minus-ing temperatures, I think it's allowable to put warmth before fashion. And anyway who says being cosy isn't fashion-friendly?

When it comes to the itsy bitsy teeny weeny party dresses, a compromise must be made, because there's not a chance in hell that insignificant piece of cloth will toastify in any way. I may sound like a tired old granny, but sometimes you just gotta put yourself first!

Below are some exceptional high-street examples of fun, sexy, eccentric and adventurous tights to keep those pins somewhat shielded from the forces of the natural world....

House Of Holland Red Fake Suspender Tights

£12 at http://www.riverisland.com/

Pamela Man Jive Love Tights

Sold as a pack of two (yay) for €15 at http://www.littlewoods.ie/

Beige Print Emilio Cavallini Tights

£18.50 at River Island

Mustard Opaques

€7.80 at FOREVER 21.

House Of Holland Bandaknees Tights

€22.50 in Debenhams.

Armour Net Tights

£12 at http://www.topshop.com/

Pretty Polly: Black Lace and Opaque Mix Tights

€9.60 at Debenhams

Festive Frolics...

No.1: The Skate Date

"Join HN on their First Floor Restaurant and Dundrum Town Centre Ice Rink for a special winter evening. Skate and Date is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit – begin your evening soaking up the atmosphere in our Restaurant, with a delicious two course menu served with wine and followed by a romantic skate under the sparkling Christmas lights of The Pembroke District. Tickets costs €35 per person and include entry for skating and the two course dinner with wine."

Pre-skate dinner at the First Floor Restaurant is served between 6pm and 7pm, Monday - Thursday.

For more information or to book tickets, you can contact the First Floor Reception team on 353(1)2910488 or email firstfloor.reservations@harveynichols.com


What an enchanting way to ring in the festive season!

Gorgeously Glenda...

"Wear clothes, don't let them wear you!"

Just Lolo caught up with the lovely Glenda to get an insight into the mind of one of Ireland's most respected style personalities.

Glenda, Castleknock native and renowned Irish model (who has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Company magazine... to name but a few) has recently become the first STYLE AMBASSADOR for the Jervis Shopping Centre.

As part of the title, she reviews the hottest trends across all that Jervis has to offer, via style videos.

Glenda, a natural on camera, brings her usual charm and charisma to the vids, while keeping us up to date on all of the latest bargains from stores like TOPSHOP, NEW LOOK, STRADIVARIUS and FOREVER 21.

The first edition is linked a few posts down, or you can check out the Jervis website on http://www.jervis.ie/

JL:What was your reaction when you were asked to become the first Style Ambassador for Jervis?

G:I was thrilled to be asked. I couldn’t think of a better position really. After years of modelling, I’m into fashion and bargains in a big way. Also with Xpose we are always up to date with fashionable trends, so I have a good insight into what's hot and what's not right now.

JL: Do you think people are more interested in the style vids, given the recession and why?

G: Of course they are, people don’t want to waste their money on trends that will date. They want to know about the coolest trends at the right price and that’s what I do in these style vids.

JL: Which of the high-street stores in Jervis do you think best suits your personal style?

G:Topshop!!

JL: Thoughts on the arrival of New Look and Forever 21...

G: New Look has always been a favourite of mine, it has good price points and up to the minute fashion. Forever 21 is a bit young for me, but I think it’s such a cool shop and the prices are just right for young girls.

JL: For people looking for a capsule wardrobe this winter, what five items are key to include?


G: A black dress, a piece of knitwear, something leather (as it’s so hot right now) and a cool pair of winter boots in either black or brown.

JL: Ideas for ladies Christmas prezzies? (And what you have your eye on?!)

G: An aviator jacket, they are the latest trend right now. A cool party dress and knitwear- you can’t get enough of it this season!

JL: Women all over the country, and from all walks of life look up to you as a style goddess. How would you describe your style?

G: I’d describe it as individual. I’m kind of casual, with a bit of an edge. I wear a lot of high street too.

JL: And lastly, what do you think is key to putting your stamp on an outfit?

G: Comfort. Wear clothes, don’t let them wear you!

Footwear Fetish...

Presenting the Crème De La Crème of party season heels....

Lace Peeptoes

ZARA, €70.

Red Twist Strap Sandals

TOPSHOP, £75 at www.topshop.com

POISON Faux Lizard Effect Platforms

TOPSHOP, £90 at www.topshop.com

Purple Double Bow Peeptoes

RIVER ISLAND, £65 at www.riverisland.com

Tufty Top Black Suede Peeptoe Booties
OFFICE, £68 at www.office.co.uk




TED BAKER Svana Metallic Peeptoe Platforms

OFFICE, £140 at www.office.co.uk

KG Leopard Print Peeptoe Slingbacks

€348 at www.my-wardrobe.com



Bronze Glitter Platforms

MISS SELFRIDGE, £50 at www.missselfridge.com

Pink GLYNIS Studded Peeptoes

AWEAR, €69.

Collar Me Beautiful

Voila, I give you the attachable collar or, "The Ultimate Accessory" of the season.

What a perfect way to doll up any dowdy, or attention-craving garments for a night out on the town.

Ideal for adding a little zest to the oul LBD, and making a definite statement- of which you're sure to be heard loud and clear!

I've been looking around, and although I seemed to see them everywhere just weeks ago, they must be selling like gold dust, because TOPSHOP is the only place I still can count on.

Not that this hinders in the slightest, they have two gorgeous models: the vintage style embellished collar , and the "fluffy feather" cape.

Both are available in a range of colours on their website, www.topshop.com and come in at £32 an £38.