Everything you need for festival fun

May 13, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Bronwyn O’Neill

With summer fast approaching, everyone is excited to finish exams and enjoy the freedom. With the he scramble to buy summer clothes, book holidays and finalise those summer plans, eyes turn to music festivals.

Here in Ireland, festivals such as Electric Picnic and Longitude draw in crowds by the thousands. With the festival season already kicking off overseas with Ultra and Coachella, here is a quick guide to some essentials to pack, as well as some cute outfit ideas to make sure you’re fashion forward on the days.

Dry Shampoo

Realistically, you’re not going to have much time to use on-site showers. Especially not to give your hair the TLC it deserves. Dry shampoo is a godsend; any female can vouch for this. So, pack a bottle in your bag to make sure your hair looks fresh over the weekend.

2. Portable Phone Charger

You’re going to be taking lots and lots of pictures and videos at the event (as well as receiving phone calls from mammy wondering if you’re okay). Make sure you bring a portable phone charger. It will save you a lot of hassle and you’ll have use of your mobile device the entire time.

3. Water/Hydration packs

And lots of it. You’re going to be dancing and pushed into a crowd for hours at a time. If you can get your hands on a hydration packs this is even better. You can fill this up with 1 or 2 litres of water, and carry it on your back. Water is a safe choice to prevent dehydration. Always be safe kids.

4. Raincoat

Let’s be realistic, this isn’t Coachella, we’re not in sunny California. It’s Ireland, it’ll probably rain. So a raincoat is always a good shout. Even if it’s really light, it’s better than nothing.

Wellies

Obviously, you’ll have to pack wellies. It’s great to see that we’ve moved on from green farmer willies to pattered wellies for the fashionista. It’s a festival. It’s going to be mucky. Don’t wear sandals.

Travel size toiletries

It’s just the easiest way to bring deodorant, sun cream, spray etc. The smaller the better.

Baby wipes

You’ll be sweaty and sticky by the end of the day. You probably won’t want to wait in a queue to have a shower, so baby or wet wipes are your best bet. They’re also handy for taking off makeup and cleaning up small messes quickly.

8. Earplugs

What?! Yes, bring earplugs. You’re at a festival. It’s going to be super loud. What if you want to go to sleep early (an act you don’t like is performing) or your camp site is just too loud? It’s also helpful if you’re up at the front with extremely loud speakers. Just a thought.

Aside these, of course bring spare clothes, a tent, sleeping bags and food!!!

Now onto the fun part! The clothes.

Everyone is always inspired by the celebrity festival goers at Coachella. Vanessa Hudgens in particular always seems to look flawless each year.

Shorts

Cut-off and high waisted shorts are still a huge trend. Try something with a cool print or just go for plain denim.

Crop tops and florals

This year crop tops are really popular.Especially those with a light flowing material and funky patterns. However if you don’t feel comfortable showing your midriff, a flowing floral top always looks great.

Layers

Bandeau bras and tank tops are always popular as layers. Kimono jackets are also a huge style trend this year. They are really easy to wear if you want to spice up an otherwise boring top.

Flower crowns

Flower crowns don’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

Snapbacks

If you can’t get behind the flower crown trend but still want to wear headgear, snapbacks are always popular on the festival scene. Cara Delevingne is often seen wearing them, during and outside festivals.

Bowler hats

I am personally obsessed with bowler hats and any excuse to wear one is great. So why not try out the look at a festival? You definitely won’t be alone.

Paint dots

A tamer version of rave paint, paint dots are a huge festival trend. You can’t go anywhere without seeing a famous face with dots on them when looking at Coachella fashion.

Rave Kandi

Every teenage girl has gone through a “bracelet phase”. If you haven’t, I’m sure you’ve seen one of your friends with a pile of bracelets up to their elbows. How about bring that trend back with some rave kandi bracelets. People make masks and even bras out of this stuff. Trust me it’s cool.

And if all else fails and you’re still looking for festival outfit ideas, look no further than Vanessa Hudgens, queen of Coachella.

Bye Bye Bundchen- Gisele’s Top 5 Catwalk Moments

May 12, 2015May 12, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Michelle Martin

Before there was Delevigne, before there was Hadid, there was Bundchen – Gisele Bundchen.

The Brazilian bombshell became one of the world’s leading supermodels without the help of Instagram, and managed to maintain her top spot even after the birth of not one, but two children.

The 89^th most powerful woman in the world (according to the 2014 Forbes magazine list) is credited for putting an end to the ‘heroin chic’ era of super skinny models, and for developing the foot stomping runway strut the industry calls the ‘horse walk’.

Earlier this year, the 34 year old announced she would walk her last show at April’s Sᾶo Paulo fashion week in Brazil, marking the end of her 20 year catwalk career.

Gisele told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo that her body helped her make the decision to stop.

“Automatically my body tells me if what I do is worth it, and it asked to stop”

Thankfully, this won’t be the last we see of Bundchen. She hopes this new found free-time will leave room for “other projects” and is expected to continue doing photoshoots and catalogues.

As a tribute to the world’s highest earning model of the last eight years, we have sought and provided five of her most memorable runway moments:

1. Top of the list has to be baby Bundchen’s big break. After only two years in the business, 18 year old Gisele’s ability to walk in heels on a slippery surface landed her a spot walking in Alexander McQueen’s ‘rain’ themed show.

2. One of the original Victoria secret angels, Gisele was chosen to model the most expensive fantasy bra to date. At 15 million dollars, it earned a place in the Guinness book of records as the most ‘extravagant and expensive underwear ever created’.

Proving she’s got more than just the looks, the stunner flaunted her fun personality in Rio 2005.

4. Bundchen whipped back into shape and walked for Colcci just six short months after giving birth.

5. Walking for Dolce and Gabanna in 2007, the world learnt two things: Gisele can do high fashion, and can literally pull off anything.

The Biggest Fashion Fails

March 14, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Zainab Boladale

The history of fashion has always hit and miss.Sometimes strange things come into season that ought to be questioned.I look through some fashion trends that I think should never have existed.

Flared jeans:

I can appreciate jeans but I don’t understand why flared jeans were ever legal in the 70’s. What was the idea behind them? To hide the shape of your legs? They are highly unflattering and remind me of leg parachute that are about to take off.

Mullets:

The only thing special about a 70s mullet is that only a small amount of people can actually pull it them off. For the rest of the unlucky population, trying this hairstyle is condemning yourself to one of the world’s worst fashion decisions. Mullets look like the start of a bad hair day that never ended. Committing yourself to such an alternative hairstyle is risky and takes guts.

Luminous outfits:

The fact that there was a time when owning a collection of luminous items was considered an accomplishment makes me question the concept of style.

Luminous outfits should be reserved for young teenage disco and luminous themed nights.

Harem pants:

Apologies to anyone who actually think these look cool. They look like a really heavy diaper pants for adults. These should only be worn for comical reasons.

Patterned/colourful suits:

From time to time the fashion industry tries to test us by throwing things like this at us. Yeah sure, they may look good, that is if you are going to a dress up party but correct me if i’m wrong but I thought the purpose of a suit is to make you appear official and powerful. If so, I wouldn’t advise wearing this to your next interview. Yes, you’ll make an impression but you might not get the job.

Metallic dresses:

Save yourself from looking like you just got wrapped in the cheapest kind of tinfoil. Metallic dresses, especially metallic dresses that are made with cheap fabric, will make you look, well….Cheap!

Puffy sleeves:

No, No,No, No, No! What was the fashion industry thinking? I thought the whole purpose of clothing was to accentuate your best assets. What do puffy sleeves do for anybody except make them look like they are about to take flight into another dimension.

Crocs:

It’s funny that crocs are now one of those things people will forever deny owning. Crocs have now become something you only wear indoors. Heaven forbids someone actually finds you in them, your social status would be ruined!

Crimped hair:

The 80s and the 90s took crimped hair to a whole new level, if your hair didn’t look like a packet of uncooked ramen noodles then forget about being one of the popular kids.

Socks with Sandals:

To think that someone looked at a pair of sandals and said to themselves “you know what would really go well with these sandals?…A pair of socks” actually makes me a little sick. This look was doomed before it started.

DCU Fashion Show: 10 Years of Style

March 2, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Shirley Donlon

DCU Style Society’s annual fashion show is one of the biggest and most popular annual events on campus.

However, this year was slightly different – it was the 10^thAnniversary of DCU Style’s Fashion Show and what better way to celebrate a decade of fabulousness than with another stunning display of this year’s top trends from the best high-street stores such as H&M, American Apparel, Tommy Hilfiger and many more.

The show was held last Thursday in DCU’s very own theatre The Helix and was sponsored by Bank of Ireland, FM104 and Bodywhys.

We were welcomed to the event by the lovely staff in The Helix, and of course the members of Style Soc, and were given a bag of free goodies (always a nice bonus!).

The show commenced with a webcam video of DCU graduate and TV presenter Laura Whitmore wishing everybody good luck and saying how proud she is that the Style Society has come so far since she left DCU. Laura studied Journalism here in DCU and established the Style Society back in 2005 along with fellow DCU graduate Mikey Robinson.

First up on the catwalk was H&M. The clothes worn by the STUNNING models really demonstrated some of the trends that are huge this Spring! Lots of black and white monochrome accompanied by stripes and other interesting patterns which created a sophisticated look overall.

Next up was urban brand American Apparel. A young and fresh collection was displayed here with lots of denim, jumpsuits, crop tops and pastel colours – perfect for the spring and summer.

Tommy Hilfiger was the next brand to grace us with its beautiful collection. Throwing it way back to 1920 we saw the return of the drop waist in, my personal favourite of the entire show, a black and white monochrome chiffon dress. Also popular for Tommy Hilfiger were jackets of every colour and pattern and of course the classic men’s suit.

Speaking of men’s suits, next up was Louis Copeland and Sons, which displayed various classic tailored suits ideal for any black tie event. (Shout out to the male models who did a fantastic job walking in the show!)

My favourite brand of the whole night had to be Folkster. I had never previously heard of them but the minute the first model took to the runway I was immediately attracted to the different shapes and lines created with the clothing. From shoulder pads to fur shawls and prom style dresses this vintage collection was anything but boring!

Of course, we have to mention the beautiful makeup which was done by the very talented ladies at Inglot. They kept the makeup on the models very simple as far as I could see, only using a small amount of foundation and highlighter to create that flawless, dewy look. The eyes were defined using light brown colours and gel eyeliner while the lips were a soft nude shade. In order to spice up the makeup for the second half of the show the lips were changed to an orange/red colour.

Hair was handled by the stylists at Dylan Bradshaw who created a sleeked back look using lots of hairspray that kept hair off the model’s faces, which is very on trend at the moment.

So that’s it! The DCU Style society’s 10^th Annual fashion show was an absolute success and a pleasure to attend.

We would like to congratulate all of the members of the style society for organising such a wonderful event and to everyone involved in the whole production we would like to say a huge well done from everyone at The Ink Ladies

Here are some of the looks.

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And now we have Amy’s take on the show.

By Amy Lawlor

This year DCU’s annual fashion show brought us through 10 years of incredible, glamorous style which was very fitting for the occasion as it was the 10^th anniversary of this amazing event produced by DCU Style.

The atmosphere surrounding the show was electric. Upon arrival guests received a gift bag sponsored by Bank of Ireland stocked with goodies which started the night off with a bang. The staging of the show was symmetrical, ideal from any viewpoint and the music and lighting captivated the audience whilst the collections were on display.

The fashion show showcased many collections, the first being from H&M. This brand is the definition of high street fashion and the pieces put forward on the catwalk definitely lived up to expectations.

The H&M female collection provided us with monochrome tones as well as subtle burnt orange colours to act as a medium for some pieces. It was all about the oversized duster coats which worked well with the black skinny jeans, sleek tops and blocked heels showcased.

The men’s H&M collection however took a slightly different approach with a hipster chic every day look. Again the monochrome tones were in full affect accompanied with khaki greens and greys. Grey denim jeans were a feature in this collection along with accessories such as woolly hats and the occasional schoolbag.

The American Apparel collection next took to the catwalk displaying pastel spring tones. Spring/Summer vibes were given off while this collection was showcased with looks such as long sleeved crop tops/high waisted leather skirts, along with jumpsuits accompanied with sun hats for the ladies whilst the men’s collection was casual with plain t-shirts and jeans accompanied with snapbacks worn backwards.

The Tommy Hilfiger collection was comprised of casual every day pieces for both men and women. The outfits really stood out on the catwalk as they incorporated different eye-catching prints and textures.

A personal favourite of mine was the Louis Copeland and Sons suit collection. The collection was comprised of perfectly tailored mostly pin-striped suits. There was a combination of different black, grey and navy toned suits. The music and lighting really set the catwalk afire, while the models’ choreography was masculine and strong- perfectly pulling off such a masculine, powerful collection.

The fashion show also showcased pieces from the Ilac centre, Blanchardstown centre, Tola vintage, Folkster, Nine Grows, Covet Designer, Warehouse, Bertoni of Denmark and Feature.

As Shirley mentioned, make up was done by none other than the fabulous Inglot team who used creamy foundation accompanied with a mineralised bronzer which really contoured and highlighted the models cheek bones. They used the Inglot gel eyeliner to smudge the inner lid creating a natural look and the second half of the show saw the introduction of a red lip to add contrast between the different coloured outfits.

DCU Project Young Designer

March 2, 2015March 2, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Amy Lawlor

The winner of Project Young Designer was announced during DCU’s 2015 fashion show. Project Young Designer is a competition run by DCU Style where up and coming designers have the opportunity to have their pieces placed in one of Ireland’s glamorous boutiques – Om Diva.

The competition was organised by Orlaith Farrell, a member of DCU Style who worked as a stylist in last year’s show, and the winner was chosen by a panel of well-established fashion designers, stylists and journalists. We were lucky enough to talk to Irish TV presenter and fashion stylist Brendan Courtney. When asked what he was looking for in the winning piece he replied saying, “something interesting, new and fun.” The theme this year seemed to be focused on nature as all of the six finalists had a nature inspired theme behind their pieces. All of the pieces were outstanding and unusually different.

The winning outfit was a two piece organic flowing dress designed by Geraldine Brein. Geraldine used green, white and navy panels to create an outstanding structured skirt which left the judges in awe. The top of the dress was short sleeved and predominately navy but she incorporated the print in the skirt on the collar of the dress to create fluidity. All of the designs were noteworthy and I’m sure we’ll be seeing these designers in retail stores in the near future.

Image courtesy of DCU Style Soc

The Most Important Debate Today

February 27, 2015February 27, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Rebecca Lumley

Today is the day that communities have been divided, fights have been started and everybody’s been tweeting furiously; all because of one dress. Forget the Oscars dresses or fashion week; this is the garment that has captured the world’s attention!

The middle image above is the dress in question, a dress that people just can’t agree on the colour of. Is it blue and black? Taylor Swift, Jaden Smith and Mindy Kaling think so.

Or is it white and gold? Anna Kendrick, Cheryl Cole and Kim Kardashian would certainly tell you it is.

Since the debate went viral, the internet has been awash with explanations of why people see the colours differently. Cones, wavelengths, rays- here’s how Wired.com explained the discrepancy.

“Light enters the eye through the lens—different wavelengths corresponding to different colors. The light hits the retina in the back of the eye where pigments fire up neural connections to the visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes those signals into an image … Without you having to worry about it, your brain figures out what color light is bouncing off the thing your eyes are looking at … This image, though, hits some kind of perceptual boundary.”

So there you have it, the dress is blue and black in real life but deceiving on camera. Either way, I’m not a fan.

Your Definitive Guide To This Year’s Oscars Style

February 23, 2015February 25, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Keava O’Loan and Bronwyn O’Neill

It’s finally that time of year everyone has been looking forward to, the main event in red carpet season. Well, we here at The Ink Ladies, at least, have been eagerly anticipating this year’s Academy Awards!

At this year’s Oscars, there was a backlash from some of the stars about the pressure put on women who step out on the red carpet. Lena Dunham tweeted: ‘Ask her about the causes she supports, not her support garments #oscars #AskHerMore’. It brings to mind Yves Saint Laurent, who famously said: “I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.” We want to stress the respect we have for many of these women: strong, empowering, accomplished females who are so much more than just an outfit. Please remember when reading this post that not only is it a celebration of the craftsmanship that goes into these incredible dresses (custom-made, hand-sewn, painted – these gowns are a labour of love for the seamstresses and designers who create them), but it’s also just for fun! So without further ado, settle back with a cuppa and get stuck in to our Oscars style masterpost!

Julianne Moore

Bronwyn: Julianne really let me down here! There’s literally no shape to this dress. Such a shame, I had high hopes!

Keava: You are looking at over 80,000 hand-painted sequins here, people! This dress is beautifully crafted, in particular the sapphire embellished ‘belts’ which ran around the neckline, drop-waist, and base of the dress. I would maybe have liked a little more definition at the waist, but in general I just thought this was such a special, unique gown. Her deep side part and sleek side-bun was elegant and allowed focus to remain on the dress. The berry lip added some fun to what was otherwise a really classic, beautiful look.

Felicity Jones

Bronwyn: Beautiful girl. Amazing actress. Bad fashion sense.

Keava: I always think Felicity looks so elegant, but this dress just totally missed the mark for me. The petals of fabric and crazy intricate pearl embellishment (think this is special, wait til you see Lupita!) definitely deserve a round of applause, but the heavy, Victorian-style skirt is just too much. I get the up-do to show off the high, collar-style neckline, but it’s just lacking for me.

Rosamund Pike

Bronwyn: I still stand by my opinion that Pike should have just won every award this season. Well, she can win my award for smoking hot. This dress is absolutely flawless. The neckline, the overlay and the leg reveal can be summed up in one word. Stunning. If I had one complaint, I would have added maybe a bracelet or earrings.

Keava: After the shapeless horror she wore at the Golden Globes, I almost forgot how amazing Rosamund can look! A lot of people say you shouldn’t wear red on the red carpet; I think this look just proved them all wrong. She looks so unique, so special, so elegant. Apparently this dress took over 2,000 hours to make. I think it was worth every second.

Patricia Arquette

Bronwyn: She looks incredible, so elegant. And her speech was amazing.

Keava: This dress was custom made for Patricia by her childhood friend, Rosetta Getty, fulfilling a promise they made when they were little that one day they’d grow up to become an actress and a designer, and that Rosetta would dress Patricia. She said it was ‘like wearing love’, which only makes this classic look more beautiful.

Emma Stone

Bronwyn: I feel like this is a look you will either love or hate. I really love it. For me, Stone can do no wrong. This risqué Elie Saab flatters, showing that taking a risk can pay off. Especially when you’re Emma Stone. The colour, although repulsive to some, looks absolutely stunning next to Stone’s skin tone.

Keava: EMMA!!! I really love this. How did she match the colour of her dress to her shoes without looking try-hard? Because she’s Emma Stone, and she always looks effortlessly cool. Hair is gorgeous: side-swept, old Hollywood, glossy waves (are we sensing a hair trend yet?) and makeup is beautiful. In a dress that has potential to wash out us pale-skinned ladies, Stone’s coral pink lip and peach blush brighten up her face perfectly.

Dakota Johnson

Bronwyn: Johnson hasn’t worn anything note-worthy the entire 50 Shades tour. However at the Oscars she is beautiful. This red dress, like so many others this year, has a daring slit up to her thigh.

Keava: I loved this sizzling red YSL gown on Dakota, but am underwhelmed by the hair and makeup – it’s just a little too safe for me. The ponytail feels a bit schoolgirl for the Oscars. One of her best red carpet outings so far though, and props for not wearing one of the 50 shades of grey.

Marion Cotillard

Bronwyn: This quite went from ‘YES, SLAYYYY!’ to ‘NO, STOP!’ The front was gorgeous, but the back… not so much.

Keava: From the front, there’s a real Audrey Hepburn vibe to this. From the back, there was… a different vibe. I get it was an exaggeration of the drop-waist look from the 20s, but it just wasn’t flattering. That being said, if anyone could pull it off, it’s Marion.

Reese Witherspoon

Bronwyn: This monochrome look is probably one of the most figure flattering dress of the night. Witherspoon lost out on Best Actress, she won on the fashion stakes. This gown is simple yet stunning. It pulls in her already tiny waist and draws the eye to her fabulous curves.

Keava: I am a major Reese fan, and this look only fuels my love. She never ages; her hair and makeup are so simple but yet so pretty; and a dress that should be kind of boring looks phenomenal. 10/10.

Meryl Streep

Bronwyn: Streep is flawless and this beautiful look is no different. A step away from traditional gowns, shows Streep’s moving forward perhaps with her age. (Although if I looked this good at 65 then I will count my blessings) A lot of women have tried and failed to successfully pull of a suit-esque look. Streep slays this look.

Keava: Meryl always looks so graceful and elegant. She makes masculine tailoring look feminine. I do wish, however, that with such a classic, simple colour scheme, she had played with her makeup more: maybe a statement lip or stronger brows?

Naomi Watts

Bronwyn: This is a no for me. Not a fan of the design of the dress, especially the cut-outs at the sides.

Keava: Naomi is always a red carpet favourite of mine, and last night was no exception. Her tousled waves teamed with this divine Armani Privé dress ares the perfect clash, and the lips follow the berry trend that dominated the carpet. Gorgeous.

Chrissy Teigen

Bronwyn: This Zuhair Murad gown may be daring but she looks absolutely stunning from head to toe. Her man is sweeping up awards whilst she kills it on the red carpet. She hasn’t put a foot wrong this whole award season and dominating at the Oscars is a nice way to wrap it up.

Keava: Sticking to what she knows with metallic glitz and lots of skin on show (God, that front split is risqué!), Chrissy looked amazing. Her beautiful sideswept waves were Old Hollywood meets beach babe, and the berry lip added a nice twist to what could have otherwise been a predictable look.

Anna Kendrick

Bronwyn: I wasn’t overly fond of Kendrick’s look last year, however this beautiful pink dress makes every fashion faux pas melt away. I cannot fault this Thakoon gown. Everything about this look is absolutely flawless.

Keava: This custom made peach wonder from Thakoon is amazing. I’m kind of over cut-outs, but the interesting placement keeps it current. The up-do is perfect to show off that amazing neckline, and her soft smokey eye keeps the look from being too cutesy.

Jennifer Aniston

Bronwyn: Although Aniston may not have been nominated last night, she certainly looked amazing. The nude Versace gown hugs the 46-year-old’s stunning figure. The minimum accessories make sure all attention is focused on the statement gown. I don’t know if this look or her grabbing Emma Stone’s behind last night was Aniston’s highlight of last night.

Keava: I normally find JenAn quite boring on the red carpet (nine times out of ten, it’s a black dress), but I might need to reassess. I love everything about this dress. And how bangin’ does she look for 46?! My only (very minor) complaint is that I’m a little bored of her California, beachy blonde locks. But then again, is it really Jennifer Aniston if she doesn’t have her trademark hair?

Keira Knightley

Bronwyn: Knightley is usually one of the most fashion forward stars. However this dress just doesn’t cut it and I won’t listen to the excuse that she’s pregnant. Jessica Alba looked flawless in 2008 even with a baby bump.

Keava: I love Keira, but I can’t defend this look either. It looks like it was made from my granny’s tablecloth instead of custom-made by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel!!! Hair and makeup are flawless though, and as always, she has the best brows on the red carpet by a landslide.

Lady Gaga

Bronwyn: The dress, the gloves, the Adam’s family slick back. All of this is just a big no-no.

Keava: Ahh, the gloves that launched a thousand memes. This is the first time Azzedine Alaïa’s designs have been worn at the Oscars, though, which is very cool. I actually really like the hair and makeup! It’s so polished and glam – definitely a side to Gaga that I can get on board with.

America Ferrera

Bronwyn: I’m not blown away by this look, really nothing special in my opinion.

Keava: This flowing Jenny Packham dress was a complete winner for me. An ombré effect from teal into sea-foam green, this gown is giving off major Grecian goddess vibes. Her beautiful, glossy waves are pushed back to show off those amazing earrings, and fresh makeup lets America’s natural beauty shine through.

Scarlett Johansson

Bronwyn: I love ScarJo. I do. And it breaks my heart to see this beautiful woman in such a monstrosity.

Keava: It looks like there is poison ivy wrapping itself around her neck. I think that style of up-do needs to be a little more disheveled, as well. Definitely not my fave of her looks, but her figure is incredible: ultimate hourglass.

Nicole Kidman

Bronwyn: I don’t know where to start with this look. So perhaps I will just leave the picture here and let you come up with your own conclusions. Too 1990s. Not Oscar worthy.

Keava: Disagree, Bron! I know exactly where to start with this look: amazing. Her haircut is so modern, the length and colour flatter her face perfectly. More than that, she just looks so happy and comfortable in herself. -I can’t remember the last time she looked this radiant. I think the dress is cool and fun; I like to see slightly older actresses pushing the fashion limits. The belt, although a bit weird on its own, breaks up the dress perfectly. Winner for me.

Jessica Chastain

Bronwyn: There doesn’t seem to be anything right with this look. The colour, the beaded bodice, the matching shoes and the necklace… no.

Keava: Well, from the neck up, she looks amazing. I think she has such a beautiful face, and I love a redhead. She’s insanely radiant here, no? In terms of the dress, I want to like it because I really like her, but I just can’t. I think it’s the fact that her breasts look like they’re struggling to escape.

Lupita Nyong’o

Bronwyn: I want to love it. It’s just that it’s beaded. After last year, I expected so much from Nyong’o.

Keava: Just like with Felicity Jones’ gown, I am in awe of the craftsmanship. There are a ridiculous 6,000 pearls on this custom Calvin Klein badboy! Imagine hand-stitching this. Overall… I just don’t know. I want to love it, but there’s something missing; I can’t put my finger on it. Not that Lupita could ever look bad, but this just isn’t my favourite red carpet offering from her.

Margot Robbie

Bronwyn: It’s definitely better than last year. However, Robbie is still wearing the harsh black, goth-esque look. If it didn’t have sleeves I think it would have been one of the best dresses of the night.

Keava: I actually really loved this! It’s about as far as anyone pushed the fashion boundaries last night, and I think it paid off. Margot debuted a sleek lob, which obviously looked amazing, because she’s Margot Robbie. Her statement pendant was originally created for the Duchess of Windsor in the 30s, and really took advantage of the plunging neckline of her YSL gown. Orange-red lips completed the look. There were a lot of elements here that you wouldn’t think to team together, but it really works.

Jennifer Lopez

Bronwyn: It’s beautiful but the neckline really takes away from this. Is it worthy to be one of the best dressed?

Keava: Normally I’m all for mixing up your style, but I dunno, a princess gown just looks a bit weird on JLo. Back to slinky, sexy, superstar, please.

Zendaya Coleman

Bronwyn: Zendaya looked amazing, although I think there’s too much heavy material swamping her petite frame. Beautiful girl, but not my favourite dress for her.

Keava: Can you believe Zendaya is only eighteen? She has so much confidence and poise. Something about her kooky style and effortless way of making the weirdest things look amazing gives me major Rihanna vibes. The dreads are unbelievable, I love that she debuted them at the Oscars! Very reminiscent of Lisa Bonet, which is always a good thing in my book. Her Vivienne Westwood gown, which she said made her feel ‘goddessy’ is stunning, like something the coolest bride on the planet would wear.

Jennifer Hudson

Bronwyn: JHud looks stunning! The colour of this dress is everything, and no-one rocks a short crop quite like her.

Keava: Oh, wow. Wow, wow, wow. I love this. Like really love it. I have such much love for yellow, I don’t know why it’s not a red carpet staple. The lemon shade absolutely sings on her skin, and the emerald jewellery is amazing. Easily one of my favourites. Maybe even my best dressed of the whole night.

Jenna Dewan-Tatum

Bronwyn: OH MY GOD. This is just stunning. Woah.

Keava: I honestly think Jenna is incapable of looking anything less than spectacular. This Zuhair Murad gown fits like a glove and shows off her incredible body to perfection. The sleek hair, strong brows, and glossy orange-red lip bring this look to the next level. And can we please admire those diamond earrings?

Giuliana Rancic

Bronwyn: Stunning. Flawless. SO MUCH WOAH.

Keava: So glad she’s ditched the harsh blonde, this is much more flattering. Gotta say, I’m loving all these red gowns on the red carpet! And the glossy red lips, which in theory should be too matchy-matchy, tie the whole look together. One of her best looks ever.

Kelly Osbourne

Bronwyn: I think I should like it. However the uneven layers and the huge skirt just isn’t doing it for me. Or is it? I’m not sure!

Keava: Kelly Osbourne always wears too much makeup, and I think I’m over the lilac hair. It was cool at first, but now I just find it a bit dull. I’m also majorly over black lace sleeves and mullet dresses. Probably my worst look of the night – sorry, Kells.

It seems that deep side parts, tumbling waves, and berry lips were the call of the day for Hollywood’s leading ladies, but what about the fellas?

Eddie Redmayne

Brownwyn: Not only did he win Best Actor, he also won on the red carpet. Love this blue suit.

Keava: Style wars between Redmayne and Ansel Elgort (below)! I think Eddie won this one. Handsome, classic, perfect. Also, the moment he won his Oscar was one of the cutest things ever.

Ansel Elgort

Bronwyn: He broke hearts in The Fault in Our Stars and now he’s breaking hearts on the red carpet. And he brought his mom as his date.

Keava: Bonus points for bringing his mum, so sweet. I love a blue suit, as well. This is a well dressed man.

David Oyelowo

Bronwyn: A red suit this time. The Selma star looks amazing!

Keava: It’s so refreshing to see men step up their style game on the red carpet – dress up isn’t just for girls. This sartorial risk definitely paid off.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Bronwyn: British style, going for the James Bond look. Although most of the media focused on the fact he brought a flask into the awards, I still think he looks amazing. His wife also looked flawless.

Keava: The hipflask was so badass. Not a massive fan of white tux jackets, but he looked dapper and I respect that. Side note: literally couldn’t find a photo where he wasn’t attached to his new wife, Sophie Hunter. Very cute couple.

Chris Pratt

Bronwyn: Back to plain black suits for Pratt, however he still looks amazing.

Keava: This man can do no wrong in my eyes, and that’s all I have to say. That’s it for our Oscars roundup! We hope you enjoyed. Please share your thoughts with us – who were your best and worst dressed?

OSCARS: Which best actress nominee was best dressed?

February 23, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Rebecca Lumley

Although Julianne Moore was named best actress for her role in “Still Alice”, the question remains; who won in the style stakes? Here are the talented nominees and their Oscars 2015 outfits.

1. Marion Cotillard

Marian went for a simple, chic, Parisian look in this classy white gown. The back, however, doesn’t really work and is both unflattering and unsightly. This detail, I feel, ruins an otherwise gorgeous dress.

2. Felicity Jones

Jones, who was nominated for The Theory of Everything regularly looks as classy and timeless as the characters she plays. The high neckline on this dress is a staple of her wardrobe and the detail on the top half of the dress is lovely. The bottom half could do with less material, in my opinion, and looks somewhat clunky but overall, a nice, sophisticated look.

3. Julianne Moore

Sticking with the light coloured trend we’ve seen with our two previous nominees, Moore dazzled in this embellished white piece. The material hung beautifully due to the heavy beading and the cut was simple, age appropriate and flattering on the Oscar winner. It’s safe to say that it was an all round successful night for Moore.

4. Rosamund Pike

Rosamund looked ravishing in this lace, red number. The detail on the waist really pulls the eye in and emphasizes her dainty figure, while the slit and the bold colour add some sex appeal. Amy Dunne would be proud. (Bonus points for matching the carpet!)

1. Reese Witherspoon

Reese is one of those celebrities who just doesn’t seem to age and can get away with looks she would have worn 20 years ago. For this year’s Oscars, however, she chose a simple, elegant dress which, in shape and colour scheme, wasn’t unlike Meryl Streep’s. Of course she looks gorgeous and her hair, makeup and jewellery are beautiful, but I think Reese could have gone for something a little more interesting. Just because she’s been transitioning to a more “serious actor” of late, doesn’t mean her clothes have to follow suit.

Verdict:

My personal favourite from this category has to be Rosamund Pike. The simplicity of her hair made sure the dress wouldn’t look tacky or overdone and her makeup was flawless. It’s unbelievably depressing to look at her and realize she only recently had a baby! She looks healthy, happy and her skin glows- not like she’s been up all night with a crying child. To top it all off, she triumphantly brought the fearsome Amy Dunne to life last year and truly proved what a talent she is.

The Top 10 Best Oscars Looks from the past 10 Years

February 18, 2015February 18, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

By Bronwyn O’Neill

With the Oscars fast approaching, all of The Ink Ladies are waiting with bated breath to see who wears what. However, during the long, wait let’s look to the past and check out the top 10 Oscar dresses of the past ten years.

Gwyneth Paltrow (2012)

Despite my disdain of Paltrow she looks stunning in the white number. It’s simple and figure flattering. With minimum accessories, this is definitely a great look.

Beyonce (2005)

Can Beyonce do anything wrong? Not even back in 2005 when there was a serious questionable fashion sense out there. This sleek black dress, with huge silver earrings flatters her figure.

Amy Adams (2008)

Although ivy green may not always be the most flattering colour, Adams rocks this look. It compliments her auburn locks and pale complexion. Although I’m not a huge fan of the bag, the rest of the look is flawless.

Katherine Heigl (2008)

The Rom-Com queen wows in red. The whole look is reminiscent of the glamourise fifties. Only the stunning Heigl could pull off this look.

Jessica Alba (2008)

Jessica Alba looks stunning in the plum look. 2008 was a year with amazing fashion. Alba looks drop-dead gorgeous, even rocking her baby bump.

5. Cameron Diaz (2011)

This look is absolutely stunning. The glittering dress and accessories are perfect on this look. I don’t, however, agree with the red lipstick or nail polish- perhaps a nude tone would have went better with the whole ensemble.

Amanda Seyfried (2013)

The nude gown with golden design stands out against the competitors on the red carpet. Seyfried’s hairstyle compliments the high neck on this dress.

3. Jennifer Lawrence (2011)

Jennifer Lawrence took the Oscars by storm in the sleek, sexy number. Back then Lawrence was generally unheard of, however she wowed people in this red dress and showed off her curves. Since then Lawrence went on to win an Oscar in 2013 and has already been nominated for two other Oscars.

Mandy Moore (2011)

This nude, sparkling dress is another one of my personal favourites. Once again, Moore wore minimum accessories (although the dress had enough bling to make for this). Her slicked back hair and 1950s inspired make-up leave this outfit in the runner up position.

Lupita Nyong’o (2014)

No one can say this gown wasn’t the most flawless look of the past ten years. Nyong’o came to the Oscars virtually unknown, however she stormed the award season. She won awards left, right and centre. If you don’t look at this dress and think she looks like a Disney Princess, you are wrong.

Top 5 Fashion Trends for Spring 2015

February 16, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Shirley Donlon

Winter has finally come to an end which means that it is officially time to prepare ourselves for the onset of the fashion trends of spring 2015. I have combined this year’s trends in fashion with some of my personal favourites to create a list of the Top 5 Fashion Trends and must haves for this season.

1. Head to Toe White

White is a classic and fresh colour, and a personal favourite of mine, that never seems to go out of fashion. It is usually used as a base colour upon which other colours tend to sit, however, this season it is all about white from head to toe! I think the trick to achieve the perfect all white look is to combine different textures like leather and suede in various shades. This look is very wearable and a must do for all fashion lovers throughout spring 2015.

Shirt Dresses

Shirt Dresses are huge for spring 2015.
This is a great way to incorporate loud prints and lots of colour into an outfit while still looking elegant and chic. These come in various lengths and cuts and can be worn for any occasion. Shirt dresses were very popular during the 1950’s and were usually worn to represent motherhood and domesticity. Now, 65 years later, they have returned and are as fashionable as ever!

3. Yellow

A scary colour to some, but one of my favourites, yellow was all over the catwalks for Spring 2015. From PVC coats to long feminine dresses yellow can be worn in many different ways. The trick to pulling off a yellow piece is to understand the different shades of yellow and how they can compliment certain skin tones. People with pale skin should choose dark yellow and mustard shades while those with an olive coloured complexion can wear lemon and pastel coloured yellows.

One Shoulder Cuts

One Shoulder cuts were all over the fashion runways for spring 2015. I love this trend not only because visually it creates an interesting line but also as it emphasises one of the most feminine parts of the body – the décolletage. This look is classy and elegant and works well in almost any fabric and pattern. With an asymmetrical style like this I think it is best to keep the rest of the look simple and fuss-free by keeping the hair pulled back and leaving accessories to a minimum.

Gingham

Known by most for being worn by the iconic Julie Garland who played ‘Dorothy’ in The Wizard of Oz, gingham is making a re-appearance this spring. The 1960’s trend is most commonly seen in tailored shirts, however, this year we can expect to see lots of different takes on the classic trend. From skirts to dresses and two-pieces a gingham item is one of the must have pieces for everybody’s wardrobe this spring!