Loco for Logos: Street-style with a Luxe Twist.

One of the most iconic fashion houses known for their monogram print and logo is Louis Vuitton.

This season Gucci, Fendi & Tommy Hilfiger are embracing the flashiness of logos and monogram print emblazoned on their collections and they are running with it. The flashiness of this look is a bold one but is a style revisited from the 90’s when this was the “done” thing amongst the “in” crowd. Believe me, I embraced it! Now it is more inclusive across the board with more designers giving a nod to streetstyle and sports luxe.

{Pictured: sporting Louis Vuitton with a nod to the logo trend – at the launch of Fitness Influencer Maeve Madden’s highly anticipated health related book.}

{GiGi Hadid sporting Fendi accents and futuristic #FendiResort18 shades in New York.}

Luxurious still, of course. Prestigious pieces? Yes – but with an edgier, androgynous twist when styled with a pared back outfit and military style boot for example. See Gigi Hadid’s look in Fendi (above) which lends to a laid back cool vibe to her overall outfit. This love of logos will continue to feature strongly going into the autumn/winter season.

The logo is back: wear it loud & proud!

{Pictured: (above) Chriselle Lim on the streets of Milan for #MFW in Fendi.}

{Vittoria Ceretti pictured, in a Fendi F/W18 sweatshirt before the show at Milan Fashion Week.}

Guests such as Vittoria Ceretti (pictured above) sported various logo threads to the Fendi F/W18 show at Milan Fashion Week in February, from laid back street-style to occasion wear.

{Pictured: Backstage at Fendi F/W18 Milan Show.}

FENDI Runway at Milan Fashion Week – Feb 2018:

{Pictured: (above) loud logos, statement outerwear and white boots. TOP trends beautifully blended on the FENDI catwalk.}

{Aussie actress Sarah Ellen in top to toe Tommy Hilfiger. Note: the logo Tommy Girl Jeans trim to the bandeau style top.}

{Pictured: (above) the new Fendi Peek-a-Boo X-Lite handbag makes its debut at MFW.}

{Singer – Sody is pictured in full Tommy Hilfiger logo double denim ensemblè.}

Will you be sporting the logo trend? I have to say I am loving it! Coupled with the resurgence of the chunky trainer such as the Fila Disruptor II, I think the luxury designers have embraced the street-style influence more than ever and made it their own. The result? Street-style personified with a luxurious flair and retro twist but for a modern age!

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Catch me on my social media platforms! Twitter: DublinGail Instagram: littlegforce & Facebook: GlamForce Blog by Gail O’Connor.

Until next time…

Gail. x

Photos of me: © Gail O’Connor.

Image credit: via Twitter accounts of © Louis Vuitton © Tommy Hilfiger © Fendi.

Spring Style Lookbook: Wardrobe Classic The Trench.

Trench Season:
Trench season I hear you ask?! You heard right! The resurfacing of the trench coat heralds in spring and with it trench season. This is how I refer to it anyway…

In this post, I’m shining a spot light on transitional style and classic wardrobe staple: the trench coat.

With the trench originally designed for the military it can be hard to find a design to suit one’s frame and shape.

I was lucky enough to stumble upon a beautiful, sleek, classic style, trench in Marks and Spencer last year and opted for it in a mustard hue to inject a pop of colour into my capsule wardrobe. In the run up to Christmas I came across not one but two different trench style coats in Zara perfect for Spring 2018, both in a classic beige hue – one even has a look of a Burberry trench to it! Score.

*Not sponsored.

{Prada shades: from the stunning, recently opened Prada store at Kildare Village. Polo neck sweater via Penneys/Primark.}

Although it is considered a wardrobe staple and classic style investment year on year, the trench is every where this season! Show goers at London Fashion Week this year opted for the trench coat as their ultimate style accessory with the classic piece getting the street-style treatment on many levels from pairings with hoodies and jeans to culottes and a logo tee.

Au Naturale:

Natural colours and pastels bring a welcome change to our colour palette come this time of year. Tan, winter white, cream, beige, stone, blush pink, (I refuse to say “millennial pink – who even invented that term and for what?!) are all du jour, with this trend.

A good trench: Pictured is a Zara faux suede trench style coat in a classic neutral beige hue. It has a refined aesthetic, with a good weight to it and hangs on the silhouette beautifully. With the addition of a cosy cape style scarf in a similiar neutral hue thrown around my shoulders this trench can be winter-proofed whilst remaining stylish.

Of course I can’t do a post on the trench coat without mentioning Burberry, a name widely associated with and renowned for their trench coat offerings from traditional silhouette to their seasonally updated versions.

{Pictured: Blogger Erica Hoida of Fashioned Chic Styling rocking a Burberry trench.}

{**River Island bag, silk effect scarf Dunnes Stores, beige Zara trench style coat.}

{**#WearingIrish Dainty jewellery: bespoke piece by Aine of Liwu Jewellery.}

Colour Block:

Of course, a good trench doesn’t have to embody the “classic” version we all know and love. Working in the fashion industry, I tend to dabble in trends and so opted for a dose of colour when it came to purchasing my first trench style coat and I’m so glad I did. The colour still works well with a lot of my wardrobe pieces and suits my skin tone.

It seems I made the right move in upping my trench game, as seen in offerings from Le Trench which has some seriously covetable options for true fashionistas.

{L-R: Celebs Emmy Rossum, Anna Sophia Robb & Angie Harmon wearing Le Trench.}

Red is massive this season in every shade, with pillarbox or cardinal red being the standout shade and it’s going no where for spring. A bold and beautiful (albeit limited edition) red trench courtesy of Le Trench is the ideal “on-trend” piece and incorporates both the patent and colour blocking trends of late.

Another take on the trench from Le Trench is their print version. Dressed up or down a trench injects a casual yet sophisticated twist to any outfit with minimal effort! All that’s needed is a vibrant pop of colour on the lips, add some oversized shades and you’re good to go!

{Founder of Le Trench Dianne Vavra models the print version like a boss.}

{Classic trench vibes in a fresh colours via Tommy Hilfiger.}

{Sophia Macks Creative Director and Founder of Beyond the Mag: pairs a trench by Tommy Hilfiger with a dressed down vibe for an uber chic look.}

{**River Island bag, Penneys/Primark: cosy, fitted leggings and silver plimsoll shoes. Nails: Vanity Rooms.}

I hope you got some style inspiration from this post and manage to pick up a style of trench that you can’t wait to wear! As mentioned, there’s plenty of options out there from high street to high end so you’re bound to spot something that suits your personal style. Happy shopping!

Remember, you can connect with me on my social media channels:

Twitter: @DublinGail

Instagram: @littlegforce

Facebook: GlamForce Blog by Gail O’Connor.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time…

Gail. x

First image and images marked ** with thanks to: Pearl Phelan Photography shot on location winter 2017 in St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, Ireland. 

Le Trench images: with thanks © and courtesy of Le Trench.

Tommy Hilfiger images: with thanks © and courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger – including Sophia Macks image via TH Instagram.

All other images © of Gail O’Connor.

Pearl also featured me on her photography website – go check it out!

Classic Summer Style Lookbook: The VACATION EDIT!

Reflective Style:

They say style is reflective of who you are and where you’re going, an extension of yourself and who you want to be.

For me, style can be mood dependant, I adore styling outfits and expressing how I want to present myself on any given day  – meaning boho vibes/preppy/edgy styles are plucked from my wardrobe on the daily. My own style is constantly evolving, however they’re are some style preferences that are innate to me such as All-American preppy, Hamptons-esque style with Spanish and French influences. 

I’ve also become known for my love of and consistent sporting of a leather jacket to add a touch of edginess to an outfit. Another style I have an affinity with is Boho/Beach/Festival style – I’m talking 70’s influences of “Almost Famous” Penny Lane style as well as maxi skirts and dresses, play-suits, denim skirts, kimonos, fringing, head crowns and head-chains.

I decided that whilst on holidays this year I would bite the bullet and get started on my style posts and after a bit of a blogging hiatus I’m back and refreshed!

I am often asked where I get my clothes from and how to style certain items of clothing and accessories for various events people have in their lives. I’ll be sharing my styling tips in my outfit posts so feel free to share my content with anyone who may benefit from it!

I hope you enjoy guys!

{Style shoot: Soaking up the rays and getting those poses down, on the steps of Russborough House.}

Giving the Cold Shoulder:

Cold shoulder, off the shoulder bardot – these are the styles of the summer when it comes to summer tops and tees and I for one am embracing it all!
Fun fact: In seventeenth century France reigning monarch King Louis XIV favoured the off the shoulder look with the décolleté exposed on the women in his court at Versailles – and it seems the feminine allure of this type of style is continuing to unfurl, having a bit of a renaissance centuries on.

These styles are all over the high-street this summer with some beauts in Zara, Primark, H&M and so many others!

The Outfit:

For my holidays I wanted to exude an “off-duty” preppy style which for me is a Hamptons-esque style – preppy, smart casual attire featuring lightweight materials that are easy to layer, the addition of a stylish hat to make outfits pop and to hide behind from the sun’s rays, comfy footwear for all of the exploring and an eye-catching, classic bag to hold all of my essentials.

These key pieces have become part of my summer capsule wardrobe and are staple pieces that work time and time again for many different occasions or excursions from running errands at the weekend to hanging out at a falconry!

{Getting up close and personal with some Birds of Prey with species such as: Snowy Owls and White Tailed Eagles to Falcons  after a wonderful in-depth tour of the falconry at Russborough.}

Classic Summer Capsule Wardrobe Pieces:

Top: Primark
Skinny Jeans: H&M
Shoes: Primark

The Accessories:

Bag: Fiorelli

Hat: Marks & Spencer

Sunglasses: Primark

Chain: Accessorize

Bracelet: Pandora

Midi-Rings: H&M

Tan is: B Bold Tan a must have accessory!

Tell me are you a fan of the cold shoulder trend? What are some of your favourite summer pieces?

Thanks for stopping by guys and I hope you enjoyed this style post as much as I had fun shooting it!

Gail. Xx

Photography: © Gail O’Connor.
Shot on location in Russborough House & Parkland.

FASHION NEWS: M&S skips Catwalk to Launch AW16 Clothing Collection!

High Street, High Stakes:

The Driving Force of a Forward Thinking approach to the Fashion World?

Fashion is entering a major transitional phase right now and following the lead from couture Fashion Houses including Tom Ford and Burberry, British high street chain Marks and Spencer have shaken off tradition in favour of current market trend: meeting the demands of consumer instant gratification. That said today saw the release of the M&S AW16 Collection – a full six months ahead of its usual release date.

What is behind this current trend to break with traditional seasonality of collections?

The reasoning behind such a move by a high street store is in tandem with the reasons and vision behind the aforementioned couture Fashion Houses who during February’s London Fashion Week, expressed their concerns and analytical decisions towards their business models. In short, it is a move to meet the instant gratification and satisfaction demanded by the consumer market.

I have previously covered this shift in how designers are shirking the conventional approach to catwalk shows and presentations in my Fashion Alert: Designers to Take Less Conventional Approach to Fashion Week Presentations? post recently – how the  digital and social media age, coupled with the rise in Influencer Marketing is dictating consumer demands and shifts, in how and when consumers want to purchase goods. Designers are now allocating budgets to Digital, as it is an area that is that is going to impact on business.

{The Big Easy Collection: an AW16 exclusive from British retail giant Marks and Spencer.}

Skipping Ahead: Shopping NEXT Season Now!

Defining seasonality in countries such as Ireland or the UK is often difficult, with weather patterns, particularly heat, differing drastically from other countries especially in the summer months – the beauty in the design of this twenty piece collection entitled the ‘Big Easy’ is that it incorporates, an array of hand-picked, exclusive pieces in neutral hues and soft prints, sleek silhouettes and minimal aesthetic that will fit right into your summer capsule wardrobe. These ideal pieces are perfect for those temperamental summer days and accompany key pieces and style staples for when it comes to the seasonal autumnal weather that the collection was designed to cater to.

*Look out for stand-out pieces such as: leather culottes, tunic style shirts and dresses, and fashionista fave the flat strappy, pointed toe shoe.

{White out: Another look from the Marks and Spencer AW16 exclusive from Marks and Spencer.}

You can shop the ‘Big Easy‘ collection now in- store or online – this instantaneous shoppable option from the fashion industry, looks set to become the next trending theme in Fashion commerce so best get used to it folks!

Thoughts?

What are your thoughts on this bold move by Marks and Spencer? As a retail/clothing consumer, are you excited to be able to shop a season ahead or do you prefer things the way they were – shoppable in season? I’d love to hear what you guys think!

Me?  From a consumer stand-point, I think if trans-seasonal collections like this one from M&S are released, where pieces can be easily incorporated into the current seasonal wardrobe, offering even more functionality then I say bring it on, because you know I’m getting the wear out of my key pieces!

From a business stand-point this shake up in the fashion world means major change for manufacturing and supply chains to traditional buyers and for retailers, actually facilitating purchases.

I hope you enjoyed this “Fashion News” style post and thanks for stopping by!

Gail. Xx
Images: © Marks and Spencer.

Source: Marks and Spencer and Daily Mail 
*Not sponsored.

TREND ALERT: BAKING Your Make-up? The NEWEST Make-up Trend Explored!

Time to Bake?!

I’m telling you guys when I first heard about this new make-up method “Baking Make-up“ I thought “what in the world…does this require access to a kitchen?” Turns out the answer is NO. All you need is some translucent powder, a big fluffy brush and 5-10 minutes of “baking” time.
Cool beans. (Food pun totally intended.)

Hugely popular in the Drag community for years, Cooking or Baking your make-up is the new “in” thing…apparently Kim Kardashian’s MUA uses this method and say what you want about Ms. Kim K, the girl’s make-up is #flawless!

I’ve tried and tested this new “baking/setting” make-up method, without even knowing it was a method ( you know, social media distractions and the like whilst doing my make-up) but I made a conscious effort these last few days to actually focus on trying this method since hearing about it. After letting the translucent powder “sit” for about five minutes, I can report, it did actually make a difference to the staying power/longevity of my make-up throughout the day, especially in the summer heat – a.k.a. (mini-heatwave here in Ireland.)

Note: as always know your own skin! If you have dry skin this probably won’t be the make-up method for you. Oilier skin will like this method better, eliminating shine , therefore improving staying power. Combination skin: you can “bake” the usual areas where shine is unwanted as with your normal routine.   .

What to do?

Apply your translucent powder as normal and let it “sit” on the skin for about 5-10 mins – then gently and lightly sweep over the powered areas with a brush to blend, I like a medium sized – duo fiber brush for this.

Finely milled powders work best and can be applied by pressing into the skin rather than using brush strokes, for a more flawless effect.

The Laura Mercier Translucent Powder is just one of a host of recommended products to try with this “baked” method. I used the Rimmel Translucent Powder with lovely results.

Thankfully, for all the dewy skin lovers out there, we can still keep our make-up looking dewy and alive by using a dewy primer or misting/setting spray, after you’ve completed the look. #gimmetheglow

There you have it, whilst some people are still trying to get their heads around make-up technique “Strobing” – Baking your make-up pops up!

P.S.Speaking of STROBING, have you seen my recent blog post on Strobing – yep, that other beauty buzz word to do the rounds? If not, you can catch up and see what all the fuss is about: Strobing – the NEW Contouring?

Have you heard of this “BAKING” make-up method before? Will you be trying it? Let me know in the comments below and if you do try it, don’t forget to:

Tweet me: @DublinGail

Tag me on: Instagram: @littlegforce or –

Leave a comment on: the GlamForce Blog by Gail O’Connor Facebook Page.

Thanks for stopping by guys!

Gail. Xx
Images: Kim Kardashian’s Twitter acc.