Designer Crush; Alice Halliday

Alice Halliday, studied Art and Design at Warwickshire College, Leamington Spa, England. In May 2007, graduated from the BTEC Diploma with a distinction and Student of the Year award. Graduated from the University for the Creative Arts Epsom, Surrey, England in June 2010 with a 2:1 (1st off a first) BA (Hons) Fashion Design. Graduate Collection 'Soul Salvation' shown at GFW- Graduate Fashion Week on 6th June 2010. The cape from her graduate collection was taken on tour by Florence + the Machine's front woman, Florence Welch as part of her stage wardrobe for her tour of Australia and the US in Summer/Autumn 2010. Press release of the story was featured on Vogue.com, and in many newspapers and online articles and blogs. Alice's creations have appeared in the editorials of fashion magazines; Stellar, NONE, Vixen and Ballad Of. She was awarded 'Cork Fashion Week Designer of The Year 2011' creates unique, hand-made fashion and accessories, using a majority of recycled materials.

”My childhood and the environment in which I grew up strongly influence my work, West Cork is a very magical, Holy place I think. Nature is a huge inspiration to me, I believe we need to take action to look after the environment- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!” - Halliday

An Alice Halliday Fashio Film by Aoise Tutty 92circles.com/

'A wake' :: Alice Halliday Fashion Film from Aoise Tutty on Vimeo.


“Stuck in time since the owner had departed this world, all was still in the old house and adjoining shop... until something started to stir. Slowly they opened their eyes and with slight hesitation, cautiously came up on to their feet: they looked around, but all was dark, draped in dust and curtains of cobweb. As the light started to brighten, a land of wonder appeared before them... and with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty the three dolls started to explore.”

Blau x

Images Miki Barlok, Vogue.com

Ah, Jayus

I'm very excited about the new tee-line Plain White TShite that has hit the Irish soil running. Founded by a bunch of self-described 'festival-hoppers and fashion bloggers, interested in some good tunes, a bit of ‘big-fish, small-fish’, and basically just having a fun laid back time here in the sunny emerald isle' is a a creative force that 'are emblems of our own urban heritage and symbols of all that is blaydin’ deadly bud.'

So check out their site,

or find them stocked at 9 Crow St, Temple Bar,

or hitting the Pav Boot Sale in Cork this Sunday! 

Blau x

The Wholesome 'Brownie'

What is it about sunshine that triggers that innate want and desire to 'go healthy' and detox, to make your body a temple and cleanse it of all those nasty toxins? Ah yes, having to show off more skin than normal. Well, I've decided to embark on a life of nutrition and exercise with the first step being to 'go brown'; brown bread instead of white and wholegrain pasta. With its darker and more moist whole wheat perfection I love it with a softly boiled egg, it's a better start to the day than my usual.

Ingredients.

320g Wholemeal Flour
260g Irish white flour or unbleached flour
80g Wheat germ
2 teaspoon Honey
½ teaspoon Bread soda
½ teaspoon Salt
3 teaspoons Butter, at room temperature
1 Large egg
0.5 litres Buttermilk or sour milk

Method.  

Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC/Gas Mark 6). Do not start until the oven is hot.

• Spread the wheat germ on a baking tray and place in the hot oven for 3-5 minutes until it is lightly toasted. In the meantime mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Whisk together the egg, oil, honey and about ¾ of the milk.
• When the wheat germ is done, leave it for about 2-3 minutes to cool a little then mix it in with the dry ingredients. Cut the butter into small pieces and with the tips of your fingers rub it into the flour.
• Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the milk mix. Quickly and bring the flour in from the edges and mix with the milk, until all the ingredients come together into a soft slightly wet dough. It should not be overly sloppy, you should feel you could pick it up without it running through your fingers, but it should be soft enough that it sinks slowly down and takes on the shape of the bowl. If it is too dry add a little more buttermilk. There is no need to knead this dough.
• Put into a 9″ x 5″ loaf tin, the inside of which has been smeared with a little butter or oil. Place in the oven. Bake for 50 minutes. The bread should be nicely browned, have a good crust and sound hollow when you tap it. If it seems a little underdone, put it back in for 10 minutes.
• Allow the bread to cool in the loaf tin before turning it out.
• This bread keeps for a few days, and is much easier to slice thinly if you wrap it in aluminium foil and keep it until the next day.

Recipe from dochara.com

Blau x

Seka Cosmetics.

Seka Cosmetics is 100% Irish owned and was established by make-up artist Susan Kilcoyne from Dublin last year. It is a new innovative cosmetic company committed to offering first class cosmetic products in a way that focuses on getting the customer involved and can boast as being the first cosmetics company in Ireland to have their products Made in Ireland. The top quality cosmetics range is handmade in Ireland, from the best quality ingredients.  Customers can create their own bespoke colours for a number of products, including eyeshadows and lipgloss. 

‘Because we have close contact with our customers, we get great feedback on what people want from their make-up, so we’re always refining our range and improving the service we offer.’ - Susan Kilcoyn

The online colour mixing palette is simple to use, with a click of the cursor, and gives an instant image of the colour choice, illustrated around the eyes.  Shoppers can name their particular product colour, with the option of having the new colour added to the SekaCosmetics website for other customers to purchase. And, with prices from just €12 for the long-lasting moisturising lipstick range, and €13 for soft powder blushers, there is no better value anywhere in exclusive, quality cosmetics. The formulas produced for the first collection are natural, smooth, soothing, and, most importantly, long-lasting. SekaCosmetics use nourishing ingredients, including avocado butter, beeswax, mineral clays, coconut oil, cocoa butter, rice powder, pro-vitamin B5, shea butter and vitamin E. 

Blau x 

Wear Irish

Wear Irish Week 9th to 15th of May 2011.

Time to wear Irish and shop local as a new campaign started by Irish fashion designer Eilis Boyle to support Irish creatives and producers. From Peter O'Brien, Mia O'Connell to Harlow&Harvey get your hands on Irish threads! "When we read about Eat only Irish Week (www.eatonlyirish.com) the creative community of Ireland decided to come together to promote Irish Design and to encourage everyone to join us this week by wearing locally made or designed products. The intention is to encourage people to try and wear something Irish, as much of it as possible during this week"; Eilis Boyle.

Be sure to check out the Facebook page to discover more Irish fashion designers and local producers!

Blau x

Designer Crush; Mia O'Connell

 Let me introduce to you my favourite new designer on the Irish fashion scene. Mia O'Connell; graduate from The Limerick School of Art and Design in Fashion Design Mia has undertaken work experience with greats such as John Rocha, Marios Schwab, The Times London, British Vogue and Sakina M'Sa Paris. Her collections are infused with soft pieces of strong and dominant form. These clothes create soft silhouettes with a strong technical base that afford their wearer an elegant yet urban charm. Her pieces are "designed for a woman with a love for the fashion forward, who chooses to be feminine yet with an edge."

Blau von T meets Mia O'Connell.

Do you think your own personal style reflects your designs?

 Yes, I dress in a simplified version of the way I design. It is feminine but with a contemporary avant garde essence. When designing I am very aware of the figure inside the piece and the way women like to feel in clothes, I combine this with perhaps a draped element or an oversized detail to create contrast.

What would you do if you were not in the fashion industry?

If I was not involved in fashion I think I would be involved in graphic design. I have always loved putting together presentations, composition and taking photographs. I am currently doing a Photoshop and illustrator course and I hope to be able to do all my own catalogues in the future. It is another part of my work that I really love.

Currently selling in Ireland; Elaine Curtis Carlow, The Design Centre, Powerscourt Townhouse, Dublin.
Online at http://www.etsy.com/shop/miaoconnelldesign

Blau x

Now That's What I Call Irish

To celebrate St. Patricks Day here's a playlist of my favourite songs from Irish bands. Just click to play.


Cathy Davey - Little Red
Bell X1- Next to You
Divine Comdey - At the Indie Disco
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares to You
Villagers - Memoir
Fight Like Apes- Lend Me Your Face
The Cranberries - Zombie
The Immediate - Stop and Remember 
Ash - Starcrossed
Director - Reconnect
Whipping Boy - Twinkle
Ham Sandwich - Keepsake

Emperor of  Ice Cream -Valentine

The Frank and Walters - Plenty Times

Sultans Of Ping FC - You Talk Too Much


What are your favourite songs from Irish bands?
Blau x

NONE Magazine

NONE Magazine; an Irish based, internationally staffed, globally concerned fashion and lifestyle magazine providing a platform for the riskier elements of Design, Art, Theatre, Music and Story. I was of course hounored to be a part of this exciting new magazine. You can read my contribution to the debut issue here.

The NONE mission;

"We are none. Simply put we are everyone. We see this magazine as a place for Irish design and lifestyle to flourish both nationally and internationally, as well as providing a dialogue between the creative communities as a whole globally whom are willing to take risks. To enact change. To be part of change. We are none. So are you".