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Hats off

Get me three top hats and a scissors... stat!



Jeeves Wooster lampshades

Forever $22

I'm not shopping at Monsoon until they quit trying to rip me off for living in Ireland. That said, I do adore their Keja Dress but at €144 (£85) they can keep it. I've ordered the Forever 21 Floral & Stripes V-Neck Dress $22.80, which is not only cheaper, but has a nicer neckline. Take that UK-based rip-off merchants.

Fake it 'till you make it

If the recession has taught us anything (and the list of lessons is endless) it's that spending half your monthly salary on a Karen Millen body con party dress two sizes too small was a bad idea.

One of the life's simple pleasures is finding something you want at a fraction of the price. If you don't mind deviating slightly in terms of colour and texture and you're ready and willing to add your own touches here and there, you can save hundreds... allowing you to wear nice things and eat during the same month.

Case in point, the (bound to be pricey but fabulous) Oasis/ Royal College of Art collaboration I highlighted a few months ago... buy some incredible feathers here, stitch them into the hem of the Forever 21 ruffle tier-dress (a recession-tastic $24.80) and bada bing, bada boom, you've got yourself a custom version. Splash out a few extra quid for super fancy feathers (peacock eyes, pheasant or imitation eagle quills) and yours is better than anything Oasis and a college of fashion students could ever come up with.


Feathers - by The Sexy Pedestrian on Polyvore.com">

Smooth operator

With the number of creams I put on my face and the cost of the bloody things, if I ever age, somebody's getting sued. That said, I'm a sucker for science so I'm quite excited about a Lancôme release I got this morning announcing "two major discoveries that unlock the genetic code to skin youthfulness and beauty."

There I was, sleeping in for an extra ten minutes when there were major discoveries going on. Damn you, wine!

Let's get to it:

Discovery 1:

"Skin's beauty, condition and youthfulness, the changes it goes through over time and its ability to withstand stress and aggression is largely related to our genetic inheritance. All these qualities are coded in our genes, at the heart of every cell."

I have to say, this is not the best news I've ever received on a Wednesday morning.

Discovery 2:

"We can help restore a more youthful protein profile on aged skin."

Now you're talking, Mr. Scientist.


How!?
Well, Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate™ is an innovative formulation that contains a concentrated core of select active ingredients chosen for their ability to promote a protein profile more typical of young skin.

According to Lancôme, "Génifique has been put through a rigorous testing program and has been shown to have an outstanding ability to recapture more youthful-looking skin. Glowing with radiance, skin rediscovers its potential: plumped up and velvety to the touch, the complexion sublime and texture beautifully smooth. From the first application, skin appears more smooth and toned. The skin is more radiant and intensely hydrated. Wrinkles appear reduced."

So when can I buy your little bottle of magic face sorcery?
... on counters from March 1st, €70.

Button it

Bitch, please - this is going to go with almost everything. I'm really buzzed about navy lately, if you're blonde like me, you can just throw it on and your hair looks brighter - result!

Military Knit Cardigan £28, Asos.com
Red lips, a pair of denim cigarette pants and a white head scarf and you're all set.
Perfect for now.

Bag of tricks

Marks and Spencer has launched a stealth attack on the Spring/Summer '09 accessories market with these two babies.

Pictured above is the Limited Collection Contrast Shopper, €45.00 - tan, roomy and affordable. What's €45 anyway, two large pizzas? Five cocktails in town?

It's expensive older sister, the Autograph Leather Weave Tote (€229.00, pictured below) is a stunner, with its woven handle and panels and gold hardware. Out of my price range though (if I want to heat my house or have electricity, that is) and slightly overpriced anyway.

Something's afoot...

What's this? It's all bright and sparkly! It's hurting my eyes! It's sun! SUN! There hasn't been sun since September... 1968!
You wouldn't get away with this without a cosy cardigan, obviously, but in celebration I give you the Big Pocket Shirt Dress, €15, Penney's.
Spring-tastic and gleefully easy on the budget, in-store at the end of March.

Thrift superstar

Painfully Hip has some ace tips for snapping up thrift bargains. In my experience, Irish second hand shops don't tend to hold the same promise of those in the US, but that's the thing with charity shops, you never know who's going to die and leave a wardrobe of vintage labels to a family of sons with no idea what they're looking at...

Street style