FOR THE LOVE OF DENIM

Wizard Jeans - Available Saphyre Boutique Ashbournewww.saphyreboutique.ie

What is it that makes us fall in love with denim, the cut, the colour, the style? In my opinion it is one of the hardest working fabrics in the fashion world. However it can be difficult to find the right jeans for you but there are some amazing brands out there so take your time and find the right fit for you. Much like cosmetics women tend to be loyal to a brand of denim and this is down to fact that it takes so long to find the right brand that works for your body shape.

Salsa Jeans -
 Available
Utopia Dunshaughlin

I love denim not only is it a super casual fashion item but it is so easy with the right jean to make for a super stylish night out on the town outfit. Denims for a night out I think should be of a darker nature and more structured with tailored style. A straight leg and heels can be very classy teamed with a shimmery or soft chiffon top can compete with the best of dresses. If you feel that the straight leg is too much if you are top heavy or hippy then find a balance in the leg with a slight flare leg or boot-cut. Trust me there is a leg to suit all body shapes so take the time to shop and bring a friend you can trust to be honest with you if you are not confident.

There are great ranges to sculpt your shape, some give you a lift in the derrière department, some to hold your tummy but aim to buy the best you can afford as denim offers longevity to your wardrobe. Light blues and colour are great coming into Spring time they really lift your wardrobe and go perfect with this Seasons pastel shades. Here are just a few from our great local independent boutiques who offer you such a range that you won't have to travel far to find the right fit for you.

Street One Jeans - Available Blondelles Boutique Ratoath www.blondelles.ie

Above is my most recent article with The Forum newspaper : http://www.yourforum.ie/epaper

Bedroom Tranquility

I recently attended a summit in Dublin Castle that re-kindled my excitement for interiors, their wonder, beauty and how they can set a mood. While we all may not have the budget of a Castle it certainly set about inspiring me to write this piece.

One of my favourite rooms in the home is the bedroom as it can be designed in many ways, some for passion but we all need to remember the function of the bedroom, which goes without saying is for tranquil sleep.

How do we achieve tranquility in a bedroom? Starting with a blank canvas look at the natural light in the room and study this throughout the day is it a room that gets the sun the whole day around or is is a north facing room that never sees the warmth of the sun dancing on it's walls. For me this can be the most important factor when planning a room and the colour tones you choose.

While a bedroom should be cool, calm and relaxing there also is no harm in introducing a colour of passion but be careful that it is not taking over the room as the function of resting and sleeping may be disturbed. Tones of nature can be best to choose from when planning a relaxing space such as blues and greens that are seen together everyday when we look around us i.e. sky being blue and grass being green.

Dressing bedrooms are very much a personal choice as some people love bed cushions and others hate them so reach a compromise if you are sharing a room. Paintings/Pictures on the walls should be relaxing and not stimulating so maybe something like a tree lined walkway or a stream as your minds eye will visualise relaxing along side them.

www.colortrend.ie - for great colour selection

From the samples in the images you can the difference when using colour, left shows the earthy tone of the walls along side the natured images create a calming effect even though the bedlinen is strong in colour the other tones keep it under control. Right is a much more muted room but has soft blues and silvers and even the bedlinen is calming even though it has a busy print. Nothing is taking over and both are good examples of bedroom tranquility.