Welcome to Paradise: Stylecrush Vanessa Paradis

Johnny Depp's significant other, Karl Lagerfeld's muse , dangerously high cheek bones and effortless french chic style, I should hate her but I can't !
There is something about Vanessa Paradis that I just can't get enough of. Delicious Depp describes how he first fell for the actress, model and singer.

'I was doing a film with Roman Polanksi, The Ninth Gate, and across the room I saw this woman's back, I saw this neck attached to the back, and I was sort of fascinated by it. Honestly, it was a very beautiful sculptural thing, then suddenly the back and the neck turned, and it had a face.' And what a face she has !

Paradis became a singing sensation at age 14 with the release of her single Joe le Taxi. Since then she manages a career as an actress, model and singer along with her two kids and Depp. 
She still has this childlike beauty and she looks a lot less than her 37 years. Her quirky gap between her two front teeth has not only stole Depp's heart as she was also Lenny Kravitz girlfriend before meeting Depp in 1998.

The face of Chanel's Rouge Coco lipstick, Paradis's style is a mixture of french chic with vintage accents. Effortless Bohemian. She always seems to get it right, then again who wouldn't with uncle Karl on speed dial to lend a hand !

Here is a link to an article where Paradis is interviewed on her style: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/feb/10/fashion.features2
Enjoy xx

Summer Lovin: Neon Brights

Neon Leopard Bikini Billabong

Finally Summer is here and it's my favourite time of year. This weekend I escaped the opressive heat of Rome in favour of sun, sand and sea. Unfortunately being Irish my pasty skin tends to burn quickly. I am a little burned to say the least but fingers crossed it will turn into golden brown soon.
I love being tan as it gives me an opportunity to wear my neons ! Not just for raves people, neon can be worn with out looking like a traffic cone, trust me. It is important though to try and pick  just one piece.
This weekend I opted for my favourite neon, pink, leopard print bikini from Billabong. I have had this one for two years now and it is still my first choice for beach lounging.

Neon orange t-shirt - Primark, Denim shorts - Topshop, Leopard bangles - H&M, Gold beaded necklace- Accessorize

And it seems its not just me who is crazy for the bright stuff, British fashion genius Christopher Kane considers neon one of his brand's staples as his first ever collection was filled with neon bandeau dresses. This season on my wish list are Prada's striped, canvas, clutch bags in pink and orange and a pair of flashy neon Miu Miu sandals.

Christopher Kane

Prada

Jimmy Choo

Prada

Christopher Kane Spring/Summer 2011

Miu Miu

Lessons in Seduction : Ed Westwick

 Photographer : Terry Richardson
I stumbled across this sizzling photoshoot from 2009 Harper's Bazaar. Helena Christensen and Gossip Girl's resident bad boy, Ed Westwick get up close and personal in a shoot inspired by  one of my favourite films, The Graduate. Although I am a big fan of the orignial with Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman, I think sometimes when fashion shoot's copy famous movies the result can be cheesy. However this shoot is an exception. The result is fun, sexy and definitely original.

Met Ball 2011

 Left to right : Daphne Guiness, Karen Elson, Gisele Bundchen, Sarah Jessica Parker and Crystal Renn, all wearing Alexander Mc Queen.

 Left to right: Madonna, Haileee Steinfeld, Stella Mc Cartney, Iman and Gywenth Paltrow all wearing Stella Mc Cartney.

 Left to right: Karl Lagerfeld and Blake Lively in Chanel Couture, Christina Ricci in Zac Posen, Alexa Chung in Christopher Kane, Shalom Harlow in Marchesa, Kristen Stewart in Proenza Schouler, Diane Kruger in Jason Wu, Liv Tyler in Givenchy and Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton.

Once a year the fashionable and the brave come together at the fashion extravaganza of the year. The Costume Institute Gala at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is the Fashion Oscars if you will.

2011’s event chose to celebrate the work of designer of the moment Alexander Mc Queen. Mc Queen, who died tragically last year, is now under the creative direction of Sarah Burton. Burton is the name on everyone’s lips after Kate Middleton, new Duchess of Cambridge, wore one of her creations for her royal nuptials last Friday.

Not the time for a bad hair day or a wardrobe mal-function, celebrities and models showed up looking their best. Some chose to wear Mc Queen while Stella Mc Cartney was a popular choice for others.

Favourites include Gisele Bundchen in a show stopping scarlet number from Mc Queen’s Autumn 2005 collection, Christina Ricci in a Zac Posen number and Shalom Harlow in Marchesa.

Australian Fashion Week 2011

                                                  
                                                

                                        Lover- Collection Spring/Summer 2011/2012

 Romance was Born- The Oracle collection, which drew inspiration from the "beauty and decadence of the 20s" while also paying homage to The Never Ending Story.

          Therese Rawthorne - collection that paid tribute to Twin Peaks.
 

Forget Paris, Milan, New York  or even London, I am more interested to see what our Aussie friends have cooked up for Spring/Summer 2011/12. Thats right, while we are only just beginning to exfoliate, moisturise and fake tan ourselves for those summer whites, the Aussies have already planned on whats hot for next summer.

Honestly I am not clued in on the Australian fashion scene and I definitely am not familiar with their designers, but I think that makes it more exciting. The not knowing what to expect. Above are my favourite pictures from Australian labels, Therese Rawthorne, Lover and Romance was Born on day two of Fashion Week.

But it was designers Susien Chong and Nic Briand that stole my heart with their new colletion for Lover.

Model's sashed down the run way in dresses of intricate lace detailing and flowing fabric. It seemed all very 1920's with the model's hair sleeked back with a bold red lip and there was in touch of androgony with a few delicate dresses being paired with masculine taliored smoking jackets. The colours were limited to reds, beiges, whites, and blacks.

The designer's were said to have been inspired by Chinese Mythology The White Serpent and the beauty of romance "tempered by tragedy".