Happy 2011! I've just about gotten over my post Christmas blues and am now looking forward and ready to the new year ahead..the end of Christmas always knocks me for six, from autumn right up to Christmas is my favourite time of year and it always takes a great effort to re-adjust and get excited about spring ahead..but finally I am.. Had a stroll around town today and the sales are really on their last legs, am looking forward to seeing the spring drops in the coming weeks..

...above are two of my favourite purchases/presents I made/received over Christmas - my black suede topshop wedges that are bordering on ugly they are so clunky but I love them! This topshop leopard print dress that was a steal at €20 in the sales and worked perfectly with a black blazer and the wedges for New Year's Eve..

No more shopping now til February..the rest of the month will be spent finishing off my driving lessons, reading the stack of books I received from Santy and enjoying lots of staying in in my new apartment..

In my opinion Christmas officially begins tomorrow, December 1st!

For me, as well as indulging in an extended break from work, Christmas is all about the run up, the build up, those magical few weeks before - I love everything from soaking up the atmosphere, shopping, wrapping, decorating, and the various Christmas parties I'll be attending. Truth be told I start to feel the anti-climax after Stephen's Day and my absolute favourite day is Christmas Eve..New Year's Eve makes me shudder!

One thing every girl needs to get her through the party season is a little red dress. This year especially, it works well teamed with the season's camel tones, as well as always working well with anything black or sparkly. I've bought this crepe number with 70s style blouson sleeves and draped neck line, it's €170 in French Connection - an investment that will see me through plenty of Christmases to come.

The fit and cut of it won me over so much, I also bought it in navy too for a safer option that I will probably wear on Christmas day. These dresses are so versatile they can be re worked again and again for multiple looks!

French Connection really are top of my list this year for well cut, structured dresses that show off my best bits, and disguise the rest - worth paying extra for items that last and fit so beautifully, I reckon. Also loving this this tulip number from Zara, from their current look book.

Clémence Poésy is one of my current style crushes. The French fashion model and actress ( most will know her from starring as Colin Farrell's love interest in In Bruges) is a natural beauty and oozes style with her typically French paired down look. She incorporates some of my favourite items such as black opaques, flat pumps, blazers and blouses. Her whole look is laid back yet elegant, with her flawless skin and amazing 'not too done' hair sealing her style status. She keeps it simple for the most part but mixes textures and plays with proportion for a look that turns heads every time. I LOVE her.

Ooh it's been a long while since I've devoted some time to the blog..the past few months have just whizzed by in a blur of work and busy family happenings..after a few weeks of promising myself I'd get back into it, now is the perfect time - so much has happened fashion wise in Dublin this past week that's inspired me.

Firstly the arrival of the huge new New Look store in Jervis St, garnering plenty of column inches in the past few days. It's a great addition to our high street and seems to be very popular with girls of all ages. Personally, I wouldn't be the biggest fan but was still inspired to check it out to see what all the fuss is about. I went in with a friend today for a leisurely Sunday browse, only to find ourselves fighting through the frenzy of shoppers - surely everyone is saving their money for Christmas, no? My friend agreed she wouldn't be a big fan of the clothes, but still we decided it's a good place for disposable fashion trends and will definitely do well in the months ahead.

I popped in for a very quick look at the Hermes bag in Brown Thomas too, which has caused quite a stir this week, along with the new Marvel room, showcasing a range of all that makes Brown Thomas the best place for wish list shopping. ahh!

Lanvin's arrival in H&M is also big news and there are a couple of frocks I have my eye on for the festive season, while other big news last Thursday was the launch of Debenhams.ie - hurray! The favourite department store has launched its long awaited online shopping service with free delivery to all Irish customers for the first two weeks! After this it's a recession-busting €5 for delivery no matter what you order! I'm not the biggest online shopper, usually I need to be tempted by the feel of clothes between my fingers and apart from some infrequent dabbling on ASOS I generally tend to do my shopping by foot. However, this site, which has everything from the department store under one roof (your roof!) allows endless hours of fun and browsing and takes the pain out of Christmas shopping for those who can't bear the crowds.

From some of their most popular concessions, Debenhams designers including Henry Holland, Jasper Conran and John Rocha as well as a host of favourite beauty brands ( Chanel, Benefit, Guerlain, Smashbox to name but a few) , home wares and gifts means it really is the one stop shopping site no matter what you are looking for ..Luckily I got to a detailed briefing on the site through work and am well and truly hooked - I can't wait to try it out!

getting very excited now about Electric Picnic next weekend - deciding on what to pack and who I'll see on the line up..spent a lovely afternoon with a friend in town yesterday, eating too many tapas in the Porthouse and drinking too much wine in the early afternoon, but we also managed a 'festival stocking up' trip to Boots for everything from baby wipes to anti bacterial handwash, mini toothpastes, deodrants and beroccas..yes we are organised! All we need now is the weather to stay fine, just like Alexa's sunny festival trip pictured here..

oh and for info on the Bacardi B Live Arena's 1920's fabulous 'Roaring Twenties' Costume Party on the Sunday afternoon, which is a great excuse to dress up at the Picnic, check out information here on www.stylebible.ie

http://www.stylebible.ie/Blogs/Niamh+Hopkins_electric-picnic-1920s-twist.htm

the bank holiday weekend is coming and with that is pay day! these 'Apple Wood Clog' boots from Topshop are top of my list for weekend shopping but I'm continually disappointed with the mecca that is Topshop and their unfavourable prices to Irish customers. While shoe horning my feet into them last Saturday in Stephen's Green I discovered they are €114 here, but a quick price comparison later online shows the UK ones to be 75 Sterling, which translated on the day as €89..so basically they are 25 euro cheaper once you convert the currency! disgraceful..well it's Topshop's loss, I'm all for favouring Irish retailers but with this UK flagship taking us for fools I can't find any reason not to save myself €25..anyone have any thoughts on this? I seriously love these boots too, I love the clunkiness of the wood and the hardness of the studs which will be perfect juxtaposed against the floral tea dresses I tend to wear a lot..I'm all about the florals and prints but have to always toughen them up with something less girlie, a boyfriend cardigan, brogues or even just toned down with neutral shades to mute the colour...summer be gone and bring on lots of new boots!

I'm seriously over summer. Greece was amazing and the beautiful sunny days we've had here in May and June were blissful, but now that soggy warm dampness and erratic rain just has me sick of sloshing about in pumps with wet feet and I'm longing for crisp autumn days, cool and sunny with no rain. Seriously it hardly ever rains here in autumn and winter..apart from one last blast of summer heat ( hopefully) at Electric Picnic, I'm ready for all things nice and autumnal - new winter coats, boots, woolly scarves, the turning leaves, layering, the anticpation of Christmas on the way ( ok I'm being really sad with this one) the smell of halloween in the air, the dusky evenings and lighting candles, and a fire when I go home..snuggly knits and knowing how to dress for the day unlike this crazy unseasonal rain that leaves you soggy yet sticky at the same time! ..anyone else out there prefer the 'back to school' season?

pics courtesy of the Sarorialist and zimbio.com