The **X in XFactor Continued

Ok so yes, this post is a little late and should have gone up last week but I work in Retail and it's the busiest time of the year so I have put the blog slightly on the back burner while working my tush off. This is the second last of my Xfactor Posts, I will cover the final weekend on a separate post.
As per usual Kelly "Smashed it" when it came to the fashion competition between her and Tulisa.

From Left Week 7:
Saturday:
Sass & Bide Spring/Summer 2012 Dress, Christian Louboutin Shoes, Lorraine Schwartz Earrings, Rings from Asprey and De Beers
OMG, OMG, OMG I literally DIE for this dress. I took such a sharp intake of breathe when I saw this dress that my husband had to ask me if I was ok. ITS AMAZING!!! I am now truly obsessed with Sass & Bide's 2012 Spring Summer Collection. (I will be doing loads more posts on the line coming up over the next few months)

Sunday:
Philip Armstrong Dress, Giuseppe Zanotti Shoes, MCL Earrings and Dolce and Gabbana Bangles
I love the colour.....that's about it really. Not sure of this shape of Kelly at all. She looks like a goddess in the maxi styles but just don't love the "Irish Dancing Style" of this dress or the Atelier Versache dress in Week 1 (Seen Here)

 Week 8:
Saturday: Georges Chakra Dress, Christian Louboutin Shoes, Lorraine Schwartz Earrings, Asprey Rings and Georg Jensen Bangles
Not a massive fan of this either. I would have preferred it without the unnecessary white ruffle on the shoulder.

Sunday:Hugo Boss Dress, Giuseppe Zanotti Shoes, Lorraine Schwartz Earrings and Bangles and Asprey Rings
I really love this dress, very ethereal, Grecian and very beautiful however I think had it been accessorized more in line with the style of the dress, I think it could have been breathtaking. A simple gold strappy Jimmy Choo instead of the blue Giuseppe Zanottis would have done the trick.

 

Week 9:
Saturday: Osman Dress, Nicholas Kirkwood Shoes and Georg Jensen Jewellery
Love this. It rocks. I am getting more into the cut outs on the waists of dresses and seriously with washboard abs like hers, why not rock the cuts. Love the monochrome with the harsher shapes and angles of the slits and the shoulders teamed with the straight fringe and the poker straight hair. Perfect

Sunday:
Jenny Packham Dress, Nicholas Kirkwood Shoes and MCL Jewellery
My Sweet Divine. PERFECTION in every way. If only every dress looked like this and every person to wear a dress looked this good.

Kelly Rowland has truly put herself into Style Icon status this series for me. As ya'll know Queen B has rocked it for a long time, in my opinion, but now Kelly has thrust herself in to my Style Star Rankings. Props to her and her stylist, who is, by the looks of things, Fantastic.

Keeping the **X in Xfactor

Two weeks ago I gave you the first of my Xfactor Updates in my post The **X in Xfactor and because 2 weeks has past for my Style Star, the ever gorgeous Kelly Rowland, that means four more outfits. I said in my last post, for me Tulisa just isn't hitting the mark. She's urban, she's cool and she's dressing too old for me. The dresses are beautiful and she's beautiful but they're just not her.
Kelly however is FIERCE!!

From Left Week 5: 
Saturday: John Galliano Dress and Nicholas Kirkwood Heels
I like this dress, I don't love it but it works

Sunday: Alberta Ferretti Dress, Christian Louboutin Heels, An Asprey London Necklace worth £125,000 with Lorraine Schwartz Earrings and Ring
I loooovvvveee this. The dress is gorgeous, the red really looks great on Kelly and WOWZA that necklace. I have to admit I was staring at that necklace all through the show. It's Amazing! Everything in this look is Spot On

Week 6:
Saturday: Stella McCartney Suit, Anne Fontaine Shirt, Giuseppe Zanotti Shoes and Lorraine Schwartz Jewels
I love this look. It's rocking out. Not everyone would have the balls to rock a mens wear look on a show like this. It's totally different from everything else she's worn thus far. Totally fab and really pulling out on of the hottest trends for this season, Masculine Tailoring and Androgyny. Love it! And seriously, do those legs ever end?

Sunday: Corrie Nielson Blouse, Elie Tahari Skirt, Nicholas Kirkwood Shoes and Lorraine Schwartz Jewellery.
This again for me is so beautiful. You would never guess that the blouse and skirt were seperate pieces from different designers because they blend so beautifully together. Absolutely gorgeous. With that mega watt smile to accessorize the look. Fab!!

And as for the music of Xfactor. Finally Frankie has gone and it can actually turn into a music competition. The rumours whether or not are they are true are disgusting. I absolutely detest any Muppet that takes drugs and what makes it even worse is when they boast about it. I find it absolutely deplorable. As a mother of a young girl I hope she grows up to want to emulate people like Michelle Obama, an educated woman who holds herself with grace instead of known drug users and people who are famous because they're famous.... Anyway I'm still loving Misha B, however, I don't actually know if winning the competition is the best thing for her. Look at JLS, One Direction, Cher Lloyd and Jedward to name but a few. You nearly seem to do better by not winning. Just saying.
Drop back again for more upcoming posts on the further fashion spotting in Xfactor in the coming weeks.
What do you think of Kelly's style? Do you prefer Tulisa?

Ballet Beauties

I know this is old news now but I've had this post sitting here for a while just not quite finished. As much as it isn't really news it is never too old to show some beautiful pictures of some inspirational designs. A celebration of beauty where designer collaborations are concerned. These collaborations between a varied selection of designers and the English National Ballet have resulted in some stunning personal versions of the Ultimate Ballet Tutu and Ballet Slippers. The costume pieces were auctioned off on the 29th June by a silent auction held at the English National Ballet's Summer Party at the Orangery, Kensington Palace.

Giles Deacon

Kinder Aggugini

Agent Provocateur

Jacques Azagury

Beatrix Ong

House of Worth

Roxsanda Ilincic

Erdem

Julien McDonald

Moschino

Beatrix Ong

Christian Louboutin

See Vogue for the full story and quotes from the Designers. I was sure I wanted to show these pictures especially after focusing on the Ethereal Trend and doing a ballering like style skirt for my ONE X 5 and Ballet inspired outfit in my Special Spot the Style. Due to the crazieness of my schedule lately not all of my planned posts have gone up on time and some have even been scrapped but I felt I loved these pictures so much that I still wanted to go ahead and share them.
What do you think of these desginer collaborations? And what about those Louboutins?!?!?

Wedding Guest Check list

As I have told you before in my wedding feature in the Royal Wedding run up, my Dad is getting remarried and the wedding is today. As a guest for a large wedding I think it's super important to look your best while still making sure that I don't have a dress the same colour as the bride and secondly the bridesmaids. I have been searching for quite a long time for the perfect dress. It's not been easy I have to say. I briefly looked into hiring a dress from an amazing little boutique in Limerick, The Ivory Closet, but due to lack of a car, time and money I decided against it. That being said I will most definitely be hiring from the girls at the Ivory Closet in the future and I ordered my jewellery from them so at least I'll sparkle in a small way.
Finding the perfect outfit for a wedding is a long and arduous journey. What style do you go for, what length. Do you get a maxi or a mini or even a midi. The few things we know for certain are we are going to be wearing it all day and into the night and we must be comfortable while remaining fabulous.

The dress I ended up picking is this one. I love it. The colour is Fab and the cut is flattering. It's from A/Wear. I will not, without a doubt, be without my Shapewear on the day and I hope that throughout the day the dress remains as fabulous as it is when tried on initially.

My shoes are Christian Louboutin, the petal shoe. Had to be done. These beauties were my present to myself when I had my daughter. They are one of my favourite pairs of shoes and I really consider them an investment and have seriously more sentimental value than any other of my shoes. They were also my first pair of Louboutins which is always something that stands out in my memory. I hope one day that I can pass these on to my daughter so fingers crossed she will have the same shoe size as me.

My Jewellery is a mixture between the Ivory Closet's jewellery line "Bellerina" and accessorize. All affordable and achievable for anyone. J'Adore sparkle, so for me a little sparkle on the day was a MUST HAVE.

My bag is Marc B from Asos. This bag is my go-to staple bag for nights out. It can be worn over the shoulder with it's 2 straps, the strap can be turned into one longer strap to sit at your hip and it can also be worn as an over sized clutch. For me a bag has to fit everything for a night out, the camera, the makeup for touch ups, my phone and purse and also a pair of flats to wear on the way home. This bag fits the criteria for me. I love the style too, the inspiration of the Chanel quilted bag. Can't go wrong

There you have my outfit for my Dad's wedding. What do you think? Do any of you have weddings coming up this year, your own or a friends/family member's? I'll let you know how it goes.

Met Ball 2011

Oh to be a guest on that red carpet or even a fly on the wall. The fashion, the style, the glamour. I think if I had been there the level of Fabulousness may have been too much. New York's biggest industry party of the year was kicked off on the 2nd when Daphne Guinness dressed in the window of Barneys' flagship store to go to last night's Metropolitain Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala which this year was honouring the late and great Alexander McQueen. The ball marked the opening of the Metropolitan Museum's latest fashion exhibit at the revered Costume Institute. The Ball was hosted by Anna Wintour, the editor in chief of American Vogue, , with co-chairs Colin Firth, designer Stella McCartney and Salma Hayek.

Anna Wintour and Bee Schafer

Colin Firth and Livia Giuggioli

Salma Hayek in
Alexander McQueen

Stella McCartney wearing
her own design

The Met ball is the oscars for the East Coast, the most important fashion event of the year as you get to see the designers on the red carpet, not just their clothes. Each designer brings their current muse or the face of their advertising campaign for the season.

Karl Lagerfeld with Muse of the moment and
face of Chanel, Blake Lively

Diane Kruger with Jason Wu wearing his design

Nicole Richie in a Vintage 1930 gown
with Britt Maren wearing custom Winter Kate
and a custom House of Harlow 1960 headpiece

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From the top
1. Mia Wasikowska with Thakoon wearing his designs
2. Ashley Olsen wiht Christian Louboutin wearing Vintage Christian Dior Haute Couture and Louboutin Shoes
3. Michael Kors with Dianna Agron in his design
4. Rrancisco Costa and Zoe Saldana in calvin-klein
5. Taylor Swift in J-Mendel with Gilles Mendel
6. Tom Ford with Carolyn Murphy in his design
7. Valentino and Natalia Vodianova in his design
8. Amare Stoudemire and Rachel Roy
9. Zac Posen with Christina Ricci in his design
10. Florence Welch who performed on the night, with Stefano Pilati wearing Yves SAint Laurent
11. Lily Donaldson in Erdem with Erdem Moralioglu
12. Margherita Missoni and Joy Bryant both in Missoni
13. Prabal Gurung and Elettra Wiedemann Rossellini in her grandmother Ingrid Bergmans dress that Gurung-modified
14. Rosie Huntington Whiteley in Burberry with Christopher Bailey
15. Tamara Mellon with Thandie Newton in Stella McCartney
16. Tory Burch with Kanye in her design

Oh to have one of those designers on speed dial, now that's anambition worth striving towards. And look at Ashley Olsen and Christian Louboutin bezzie mates, what I wouldn't do....