Flick through any fashion magazine in upcoming weeks, and you will more than likely be bombarded with ‘Dressing for the Festive Season’ talk. Often said articles and dodgy features on equally dodgy fashion TV shows are filled with gibberish about sequins and ‘glam’ and twinkly bolero cardigans. Now, don’t get me wrong I’m all for the glitter, mad for the ‘sparkles’ even, but you know what the problem is? Walk into any high street store at this time of year, and it is quite likely you will find yourself rapidly becoming nauseous and gasping for air amid all those darn sequins, diamante detailing and garish satin frocks. Rather than ‘ooohing and ahhing’ over shiny garments, you are making for the nearest exit and probably wondering when did sequins suddenly plot to take over the world…or perhaps, that could just be me?

It is a tricky situation wondering what to buy for upcoming festive parties and Christmassy get-togethers. Here are a few tips, just for you; after all, it is the season of goodwill.

Tip 1: All those shiny garments can be temping, but the question must be posed, will you get the wear out of that Santa Clause – red, bejewelled prom dress? Or, will it merely be admired by Granny on Christmas day, and spend the rest of the year hanging up in your wardrobe in fear of losing a faux ruby? Shop sensibly! Don’t fall victim to gimmicky party season buys.

Tip 2: I am always wary of The Dress Trap when shopping. Not familiar? Dresses are wonderful, sure, but you know something, they are a con. That amazing dress with the tulle underskirt and sweetheart neckline and Miu Miu – esque print will still be the same dress, no matter how many accessorising swaps you try out. Those glittery party dresses are probably the worst, there is no disguising them. Perhaps, it is stating the obvious, but in comparison, skirts and tops provide a myriad of mix and match opportunities.

Tip 3: Mammys tend to love sparkle, or at least, mine does. Show her something encrusted in sequins and she’ll probably love it. Beware.

Tip 4: It’s winter, it’s cold out. Purchase thick knit tights for cosy days around roaring fires, and glittery and patterned tights – bows, 1940s’ seams and polkadots – for yuletide nights.

Tip 5: Tip 1 needs to be reiterated: Think before you buy. If you are anything like me, and convince the world that you do, in fact, need a cardigan/shawl thing made entirely of thick black feathers (don’t ask..), and later, think to yourself: ‘Wow, that was a little overpriced, I could have got a good coat for that’, then you see why this point needs to be recapped. I might love that black feather monstrosity, that has been termed the ‘dead crow’, but really, let’s be honest, it does not get too much wear beyond the festive season.

Tip 6: You probably could get through the entire festive season without a single sequin, but you won’t, without a good, warm coat. Invest in a practical, but perhaps, a little fancy coat, that will see you through many a chilly winter’s day to freezing night.

©dollymix.tv

When? 1954

Who? Grace Kelly as the wealthy socialite girlfriend to Jimmy Stewart’s wheelchair – bound, window – watching, Jeff.

Style? Who can forget Kelly’s turn as the spoiled, glamorous Lisa?  Grace is luminescent in floor – skimming evening gowns, cool green pencil skirt and silk halter top, pearls, feminine veiled hats and gloves, and equally so, in casual attire of slim denim jeans, over sized man’s shirt and loafers.

Dress? Although, legendary costume designer, Edith Head, did a pretty fabulous job overall, surely Grace’s Cinderella dress of black bodice and white tulle tutu skirt steals the show?

Film: Atonement

©dailymail.co.uk

When? 2007

Who? Keira Knightley is Cecelia, in the film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s tragic wartime love story.

Style? It is 1935, and Cecelia glides through a beautiful, upper class home in a diaphanous, softly floral affair. In later scenes, she’s just as striking in a fashionable swimming ensemble and a suitably sombre navy blue 40s’ coat.

Dress? Satin has never looked as good before or since Knightley’s iconic, emerald evening dress. Stunning, simple and sensuous, there’s no need for adornment, when your dress looks as superb as this.

Film: Now, Voyager

When? 1942

Who? Bette Davis undergoes a magnificent makeover as soon as she escapes from her mother’s shackles. She takes a cruise and her true self blossoms.

Style? Bette’s Charlotte wears one of cinema’s most brilliant and extensive wardrobes. Neat skirt suits, oversized clutch bags, frilled blouses, floor length skirts and dresses. Hats aplenty too – veiled hair pieces, a glittering flower and tulle creation and a white wide brimmed sun hat. It’s a fashion voyage worth taking.

Dress? Although Bette wears a host of spectacular dresses, in one scene, aboard the cruise ship, she attends an evening do wearing a white, chiffon dress, shrouded in a twinkling cape. Capes are everywhere this season, yes, but I’ve yet to see something quite as glorious as this.

PENN BADGELY: photo by: PacificCoastNews.com

Minus the expression Penn is looking good on the set of ‘Gossip Girl’. Penn has not recieved as much attention as his gossip girl co-stars Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick, however this may change soon enough if he continues dressing like this. Penn has combined slim fit denims with slightly pointed tan boots and a double-breasted grey military style jacket. Each item brings the ensemble together nicely. Penn shoulders are shown off with the military jacket giving his upper regions structure due to the fit of the jacket. The details in the jacket such as the lapelle and double button add to Penn’s body shape lengthening the torso while bringing the eye to the shoulders.The tan colour of the boots are a great choice with the grey jacket and blue denim. In theory it may not seem a good choice but together it works well. Penn did good. I am sorry but I just can’t resist….  you know you love me xoxo….

And then there is the Worst dressed man or in this case worst dressed ‘band’…

ONE DIRECTION: This is a perfect example of when too many looks are put together and as a result destroy the entire outfit. Individually some pieces are great such as the scarves and blazers, both formal pant work really well….but the jeans are just horrible. Niall?? far left..the irish one?? is wearing jeans which are too creased and baggy to be tucked behind white runners..white runners??… The jeans are also the wrong colour for the blazer he has on, tighter dark denim would have suited his look much better. The same can be said for Liam (far right). Next to Niall? (second from left) he also needs to get rid of those grey/black speckled trousers what the??! Some of the lads looks have massive potential and could have been very stylish, this point is most valid for the lads not mentioned above. The reason they made the ‘worst dressed’ this month is because their looks aren’t cohesive. However it must be said that I don’t blame the lads, I blame the lads stylist, by trying to make them appear ‘trendy’ they were over processed and as a consequence the final result was a mismatch of epic proportions!

Photo by David Fisher / Rex Features ( 1117702h )

The veils, the hair pieces, the sunglasses, the insane high heels – for Gaga it’s all part of the performance; it is theatrical, ridiculous and begs for attention. Gaga is no style icon; not only does no one really desire to emulate her style all that much, but more so in the sense that Gaga isn’t all that unique. She’s a mish – mash; a caricature of other avant garde dressers. What Gaga does bring to the table, however, is avant garde fashion to main stream culture – no mean feat in a society so committed to conformity.

It is no coincidence that Gaga wears head – to – toe Alexander McQueen and hats by Philip Tracey. For any fashion enthusiast, McQueen and Tracey instantly call Isabella Blow, the tragic fashion editor and their mutual patron, to mind. The late Blow fascinated all and sundry with her kooky hats, stilettos and lipstick and continues to be an icon for all those discontent to follow the masses in the sartorial department.

Likewise, Blow’s close friend, heiress Daphne Guinness, continues to dress in a manner that defies our society’s narrow notion of what is style. Daphne with her vertiginous Westwood heels, Cruella de Vil hair do, diamonds, hand armour, furs and sculpted dresses is an avant gardeist in the most opulent sense.  Vogue describes her as the ‘darling of modern couture’ and for Daphne dressing exceptionally is a life’s work. That’s exactly it for these rare fashion creatures; it’s a way of life. As Daphne says: ‘I cannot bear the thought of being the same as everyone else. Uniformity makes me sad’.

©Purple pr and Dafydd Jones

Daphne’s sentiments are inevitably shared by British fashion’s most famous eccentric, Vivienne Westwood: “Stand out!..It’s heroic to stand out. My clothes have always been heroic… So much of modern fashion is ordinary but I notice young women in the street and I think they look very good – because they know it’s not about fashion, it’s how you put it together…First you have to know who you are – or want to be. Then you have to use your clothes to tell your personal story. And be confident. I’ve never worried about what other people think of me. I’m only interested in how I want to feel and look. You have to cut a figure. Step off the treadmill of fashion.” As the uncontested queen of punk, Westwood was a trailblazer in the 1970s’ rejection of conservative British society. Westwood, a former primary school teacher, opened her shop, ‘Let it Rock’ (later ‘Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die’ and ‘Sex’) on the King’s Road, London, hung out with the Sex Pistols and made headlines with her aggressive clothes and even pornographic accessories. Nowadays, however, Westwood is more famed for her exquisite tailoring rather than S&M inspired regalia.  Westwood’s fashion remains absurd and frequently volatile and continues to push boundaries of what is considered style. Westwood is fearless in her lifelong dedication to the avant garde.

Lady Gaga certainly isn’t the only mainstream devotee of the avant garde. London fashion blogger, Susie Bubble, aka Susana Lau of Style Bubble has earned legions of

fans for her unusual mode of dress. Susie comfortably wears transparent trousers, clashes colours, prints and textures, cage skirts and whimsical hair pieces. Susie’s peculiar but fantastic fashion sense is not only awe – inspiring but brave.   Susie

reminds her readers that the clothes we wear do provide a message and that we should take the time to consider and to think about what we decide to wear.

For fashion’s avant garde, clothes are not merely something we throw on in themorning to shield ourselves from the elements but something much more than that; something to utilise, to use to our creative advantage, a method to challenge. Susie, Vivienne, Daphne, Isabella, even Gaga remind us that clothes can be a means to question and provide commentary and a chance in our largely typical everyday lives to contest the norm of world we know. After all, to quote Cecil Beaton: ‘The truly fashionable are beyond fashion’.

- Kathryn O’Regan

TIME magazine recently quoted an incredible statistic. In the aftermath of the earthquake in January of this year, 98% of the rubble has not been cleared from the streets. Thousands of bodies are still in the ruins.  1.6 million people are forced to reside in tent camps and no transitional housing has been built. Struck by statistics like these, Public Health student Eimear Fitzgerald made the decision to travel across the world with Haven, to be part of the ongoing but severely challenged relief effort for Haiti.

Eimear relayed to Motley that volunteering abroad was something she had always planned to do, but lacked the confidence to. Going across the planet to volunteer in a devastated area is no easy feat, but Eimear expressed her belief that her participation in Life Matters was what gave her the confidence to volunteer. Her interest in public health coupled with her belief that all people have rights to shelter, food, water and sanitation, led her to Haiti. “It’s an opportunity to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.”

“Life Matters helped me to survive college. I found college hard at first, the stress and the study. But I learned to deal with those, and now I’m always thinking positively. I learned to build on my own strengths and my own potential”, she said, “As a resource, Life Matters is invaluable.” Eimear’s confidence in Life Matters is echoed by soon to be published statistics, which indicate that the program improves emotional intelligence, boosts self confidence and self esteem, improves coping mechanisms and teaches students to cope with academic stress.

Life Matters has been funded by Dr. Tom Cavanagh, a prominent philanthropist and member ofUCC’s Governing Body. Dr Cavanagh, Dr Margaret O Rourke, School of Medicine and author of the original book, the Applied Psychology department and the department of Student Counselling & Development are all involved in the formation, research and direction of Life Matters, which is delivered by Helen Prendergast, who told Motley that the three year pilot program is almost at an end, and that because of its success, it would be sad if UCC did not maintain it into the future.  “The research on Life Matters has been sent to Governing Body, and the President of UCC (Dr. Michael Murphy) told us he would recommend to the Academic Council that the program goes forward as a University wide elective module.” In the current depressed economy, students need(s) all the help they can get to deal with the troubled working world, and that is exactly what Life Matters can offer. It is Ms. Prendergast’s intentions to bring more people on board, to train new trainers and to bring Life Matters to as many people as possible.

After Life Matters, and convinced that she can take on such a significant challenge, Eimear wasted no time in signing up as a volunteer.  She will be accompanied on her trip by 300 other Irish volunteers. Volunteers are a vital part of the Haiti rebuild. Over $1.1 billion has been gathered to give aid to Haiti; only two percent of this money has been released. Volunteers clearly play a more important role in Haiti than they ever have before. Eimear will also be accompanied by Evan Reid, a third year B Mus student in UCC, and one of this year’s uLink Peer Supporters.

Listed are a number of Cork city shops who will give discounts to anyone wielding their trusty student card!

-Topman, New Look, GAP, French Connection & Heatons all offer 10% off for students all year round.

-Schuh offer 15% off for students

-Recently launched Ted Baker in Brown Thomas is surprisingly affordable & always fashionable. Unknown to many they offer 10% off for students all year round.

Tips:

Accessories

Can make an outfit more edgy or fashion forward by wearing statement pieces such as a classic watch. Although generally make sure your accessories go with everything. Light-wear scarves work very well as they can be worn in all seasons. A good quality wallet purchased in black will last years longer than the luminous orange wallet which might be ‘in’ at the time but most definitely out the following year.

The 12 Month Item

There are certain items of clothing which can be worn 12 months of the year and thus reduce your need for specific items which you need to buy seasonally. Light-wear jackets are great as they are perfect as outerwear with plenty of layering underneath during autumn/winter to add warmth and keep the rain out. While during the summer months this jacket can be worn with just a t-shirt underneath and is perfect for night time when out pubbing/clubbing and don’t want to carry a big jacket everywhere. Cardigans are another must as these can double as jackets during the summer and keep you warm in the winter under your jacket.

The colour of the item generally determines its seasonal wearability. Neutral colours such as black or white can be implemented into any outfit easily without any major mis-match fuss. Although if you are a fan of some colour blue is a great option as it goes with almost anything and won’t leave you looking like a penguin all year.

Is it reversible??

A reversible item is more or less, two pieces of clothing in one. Jackets & knitwear fit this category perfectly. Even better if you want to change things up midday, just turn your jacket inside out and voila, a new jacket. If you do find a reversible item you like remember to divide the price by 2 and there you go, cheap as chips.

Don’t be afraid to spend

Just because you’re a student and money is low it doesn’t mean that you can’t ‘splurge’ on an item that you love. Jackets, shoes, jeans are essential items for any man & spending more for a good quality item will prove to be an investment in the long run.

SALE SALE SALE

Obviously if you wait until the sales are on your clothes will be that much cheaper, just make sure you make it in during the first few days as the good stuff is usually snatched up quite quickly! Especially important for the sale season is to buy items ‘off-season’. Recently I bought a pair of flip-flops & shorts for 14 euro instead of 53 euro it would have cost if purchased mid-summer so this is solid advice!

Shoes

If on a budget make sure at the very least your wearing nice shoes. Shoes are often an indicator of your style. Purchasing a great pair of shoes is relatively easy if you shop around. Darker coloured shoes are more durable as dirt won’t show up as easily rather than on light coloured shoes.

To sew or not to sew?

This tip is directed at the more ‘hands on’ man and although it may seem odd if you can sew

© Andrew Thomas

youcan really spruce up your wardrobe on the cheap. First of all you can mend any wear and tear inflicted on that tee or pant during one of your many drunken nights and thus the tee lives to be worn another day. Even simply adding a few new buttons to an old cardi/jumper or jacket can change the look enough to make it feel fresh.

Charity Shops!

Charity & vintage shops in Cork, specifically around North Main Street are the perfect areas a real bargain is to be had. Vintage & retro looks are all in nowadays & wearing your ‘dads’ knitted jumper is now seen as edgy. With this in mind have an old poke about &and see if you find anything that suits your tastes, at very low prices.

When? Elle Style Awards 2008

Why? In 2008 Alexa wasn’t quite as over exposed as she is now nor did she seem quite as annoying. She wore this Luella pink confection and we all fell in love with her just a little bit.

In addition, doesn’t this dress make you pine for the quirky – cool label Luella which ceased trading last winter. For those still distraught, Luella Bartley releases a new book ‘Luella’s guide to English Style’ this month.

Who? Landgirls ( or the Women’s Land Army)

When? The war years, 1939 – 45, Britain

What? Whilst men fought battles overseas, women tied a scarf in their hair and mucked in, taking up the roles left vacant as a result of male involvement in the war.

Style? Corduroy breeches (turned up trousers), overcoat, utility dungarees, sturdy boots, fawn shirts, knits, thick wool stockings, flat brown lace – ups.

Why? Practical and tomboyish, it’s a refreshing look to channel. Mix rough textures – wools and tweeds – with well fitting shirts, chunky tights, raincoat and boots or brogues. Margaret Howell’s autumn/winter collection provides further inspiration.

- Kathryn O’Regan

Fashion in Film: Statement Coats

Film: The Royal Tenenbaums

When: 2001

Who? Gwyneth Paltrow as troubled genius playwright Margot Tenenbaum

Style? Like her on screen siblings, the secretive Margot wears pretty much the same costume throughout. Her attire is a mix between that of a preppy child with striped sports dresses and juvenile hair clips and an uptown, old – moneyed society lady with furs, cigarettes, gloves and Birkin bag.

Coat? When Margot’s not mulling over life’s complexities in the bathtub, she’s bundled up in her lux toffee fur coat, ignoring her clueless husband and smoking shneaky ciggies.

Film:  The Graduate

When? 1967

Who? Anne Bancroft as the icy Mrs. Robinson who seduces the newly graduated Benjamin. (Dustin Hoffman)

Style?  The wardrobe of the rich and bored housewife turned seductress is devastatingly glamorous with slinky, sheer evening dresses, graphic print skirts in monochrome, saucer earrings, bouffant hair, inky eyeliner and of course, lacy underwear.

Coat? Here’s to you Mrs. Robinson in your, what can only be described as fabulous, leopard print coat. Print, animal, whilst attending a secret hotel rendezvous can surely only be described as a statement. Ps. She’s got a leopard skin pillbox hat to match too.

Film: Breakfast at Tiffany’s

When? 1961

Who? Audrey Hepburn as film’s most famous style icon, Holly Golightly, the bohemian with a penchant for diamonds.

Style? As the eccentric Holly, Audrey wears one of cinema’s most iconic wardrobes. Dripping in jewellery, sashaying down Fifth in floor length Givenchy, swards of necklaces, cigarette holder, sunglasses, party dress of bubblegum pink, but is equally dazzling in off duty wears of oversized shirts, pig tails and a trench coat.

Coat? Holly and Fred go on a day out and Holly cuts a figure in a voluminous burn orange coat expertly accessorised with shades and a fur bucket hat. The perfect Givenchy tailoring is offset with the humorous addition of a stolen mask.