May 2009
May 2009 has been a month I have been both looking forward to and dreading for some time now. I’m looking forward to four big occasions and dreading the wardrobe dilemmas that each one brings.
Aren’t you just loving Hell’s Kitchen? I have no idea who any of the ‘celebrity’ chefs are, except Krystle Carrington and Adrian Edmondson, and I can’t bear Marco Pierre White. The man comes from the Pete Doherty school of style and he looks like he needs a good wash!
No. The only thing on the menu for me at Hell’s Kitchen is Claudia Winkleman’s wardrobe. Since she rocked a pair of £30 sequin leggings from Top Shop on Friday night with Jonathan Ross a few months back, the thinking man’s Davina McCall has registered firmly on my style radar. Claudia’s recent choices, including the Temperley Neptune she wore for Comic Relief and last week’s Mini Dana dress have been fashion forward, and with her über-kohl eye make-up and too-long fringe, the mother of two is definitely one of TV’s more distinctive presenters and an inspiration to all us aging rock chicks.
Speaking of fashion forward - this month Holly Carey at Madison Rose boutique on Belfast’s Lisburn Road has launched the most innovative service for those of us with the urge to splurge but maybe not the means - Love it Hire it! Well, if Cinderella did it why can’t you? With labels such as Meghan Fabulous, Julia Clancey and Sass & Bide you can forget price-per-wear for once and hire a delicious designer dress for one night, or maybe two? This means that you can have a new look for each big occasion without the dress languishing in your wardrobe waiting for another appropriate outing! This is ideal for those of us with multiple social occasions. And speaking of which, May 2009 still leaves me with four social occasions and four different dress codes:
May 7 - the launch of my new exhibition at W5, Wind, Wings & Waves - a fun media affair with lots of lovely families enjoying W5’s hospitality. Dress code fun, summery yet professional – whatever that means.
May 28 – Northern Ireland Tourism Awards. This year, the annual tourism Oscars are being staged at The Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, a truly impressive venue and one which merits the full black tie treatment. Only problem is that the following day heralds the long awaited nuptials of Northern Ireland’s style queen, Cathy Martin to her handsome beau Julian Jordan – The thought of what the congregation will be wearing alone gives me palpitations! And as for the bride? Carrie Bradshaw’s bridal photoshoot springs to mind for some reason…
And last, but certainly not least, on Saturday, May 30 my gorgeous Charlie Berkeley makes his first communion. A huge family affair which has taken meticulous planning. In the past few weeks, my long-suffering husband and I have spent our weekends stripping, sanding and painting/varnishing everything that doesn’t move! And that includes the dog – poor mutt!
This whole DIY debacle has resulted in me ruining my nails and thanks to Saturday past, my reputation. At 4pm on Saturday afternoon I was in the middle of varnishing the kid’s Jungle Jim when I realised that I needed a few bits and pieces for that evening’s dinner. So, still sporting a fetching Bundoran Surf Company tee shirt and Jim’s old jeans, I threw on my oversized sunglasses (Dior hides a multitude of sins) and I popped down to Arcadia, my local delicatessan to grab a few essentials – Monterey Jack cheese, Guacamole, Lucky Charms, a Baby Ruth bar and Dr Pepper (essentials!)
As I paid for my goodies I breathed a sigh of relief that I was nearly home without seeing or meeting anyone I knew – or so I thought…
“Hi Steph”, came a voice from the door of the shop. I was trapped! There was nowhere to hide. I simply couldn’t avoid the encounter. There she stood looking coiffed, coutured but worse than that, clean! My Ronseal quick-drying woodstain freckles may have been golden cedar, but my face was most definitely crimson as I mumbled “hello” and retreated to the safety of my Mini.
But it wasn’t to stop there – oh no! In some kind of Hammer House of Horror tribute there was to be no escape from the public spectacle of my DIY gear! As I started my engine there was a knock on the window and I jumped as a well-meaning (and well-dressed) St Bride’s mum handed me the Baby Ruth bar I had dropped getting into the car – bad clothes and imported sweets? Oh, the shame of it!
Surprisingly enough, getting Charlie dressed and ready for first communion was a breeze:
“I want a blue suit with a pink shirt and no tie” said he. “Grand”, said I and that was that.
I, on the other hand, was not so easy - as if you thought I would be? After two dresses bought, tried on and returned I began to despair. The first was a sky blue Blondie bustier dress from Reiss. I had wanted a blue dress this season but bustier? For a church event? Also, it’s Reiss so the chances are that another mother may be wearing the same dress – a huge no-no. Bye-bye Reiss.
The second dress was a Milly coral fan print dress from Net-a-porter – I liked it but I didn’t love it! So it had to go.
Then I had an epiphany. Why not get someone else to find me the perfect dress? I’m one of the world’s best virtual window shoppers, however, I’m no expert! On the other hand, Leanne Walsh from mystylist at Matchesfashion.com is! In one rambling and over detailed email, Leanne knew my dilemma and was given the mission – should she choose to accept it – of dressing me for Charlie’s big day. Two phone calls and three emails later, she had tempted me with Issa, Lanvin and even the Claudia Winkleman pretty blue Stella McCartney dress but we finally decided on a black and white boat neck silk jersey dress by Diane von Furstenberg. Now if I could only decide on shoes…
Stephanie Berkeley is Marketing Manager of W5 at the Odyssey in Belfast and a former editor of Northern Woman magazine. She has two children, charlie (8) and Tara (5).