Top Tips For Shopping A Bridal Sample Sale

Its that time of year again when all of the wedding dress boutiques have their new collections in and are trying to make space on their rails. In other words you are going to see quite a few sample sales taking place over the next while. So here are my top tips to success at a bridal sample sale.

Before I start lets just make it clear exactly what a sample sale is. A wedding dress sample sale is when a bridal boutique sells off their showroom samples. These are the dresses that brides to be have been trying on. You are literally buying the sample dress off the rail as is, in that size and that condition. The dress will most likely not be in perfect condition, it will most definitely need dry cleaning, may need a new zip or buttons, may have some tears and details like beading and sequins may be falling off in places. This may not sound ideal but these dresses are usually sold at seriously reduced prices, usually 50%-70% off!! If you are a bride on a budget that should definitely be incentive enough to give it a go! So if you do decide its for you here are my top tips to help you find your dream dress at a sample sale for a rock bottom price!!

1) Do not attend a sample sale if it is your first shopping trip for your wedding dress! It simply will not be successful. It is best that brides have an idea of the style and fit they are looking for in their wedding dress before attending a sample sale. The savvy sample sale customer will have been looking for a dress for a few weeks prior. They will have seen what they like and realise they can't afford the full price. A sample sale is good for that bride. That said, it is important to be open minded at a sample sale as the selection will be a surprise!

2) Find out if the sample sales are by appointment or if they are open days with a first come first served policy. Either way get in early to get the best choice!!

3) Bring images of the dresses you're interested in, screen shots are best. This speeds up the process and means you can grab the dresses before anyone else.

4) Be aware of your expectations of the level of service you will receive at a sample sale. Don't confuse this with a real bridal appointment. Since the gowns are so deeply discounted you can't expect the level of service you would typically receive at a normal bridal appointment.

5) There typically will not be enough dressing rooms to go around to every bride at a sample sale. Be prepared to share!!

6) Be very picky about who you bring with you to the sale. Bringing more than one guest is not recommended. Bring a friend, mam, sis etc… that is honest and decisive. After all purchasing a dress at a sample sale is not a decision that you can sleep on! Brides who bring an entourage to a sample sale, thinking each friend can grab several dresses at a time, end up being frustrated and disappointed, as this will not be the case. It is not like the movies or that episode in Friends when Monica goes shopping for her wedding dress whistles and all! Bear in mind that sample sales can be extremely busy and most boutiques simply will not be able to accommodate you and your entourage.

7) If the dress is too small be realistic!! Will you actually loose weight to fit it? It is better to have it a little big as you can have it taken in to fit you. Most boutiques will either have an in house alterations service or a good relationship with amazing dressmakers who are more than capable of this. So don't be put off by the sizes. Don't be offended by the sizes either and bear in mind that bridal sizes are smaller than those on the high street.

8) Once again be aware that these dresses are show room samples and may not be in perfect condition. For example they may need to be dry cleaned, have buttons or zips replaced, beading may be loose or missing and they may have small tears or pulls.

9) There are no refunds available on sample sale dresses. They are sold as seen and taken home on the day. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Feel free to leave questions in the comments! I hope I have been of some help! HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Zee xx

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The Ultimate Guide To Shopping For Your Wedding Dress

In my time away from my own blog I've tried to keep writing so I started writing for HELLO! magazine. I write about weddings, wedding dresses, accessories, ideas etc so I thought I'd share some of my best posts with you all. If you want to read more of my wedding pieces for HELLO! you can find them here. For now here's my ultimate guide to shopping for your wedding dress.

Shopping for The Dress can be a very daunting experience, for many Brides-To-Be its uncharted territory so I've put together an ultimate guide to shopping for your wedding dress with some tips to get you started.

So you have found the love of a lifetime and now its time to find the dress of a lifetime. For some of you its what you've been dreaming of since you watched your first Disney movie, for others its a more alien concept but whether the idea of shopping for your wedding dress has you jumping for joy or breaking out in a cold sweat my ultimate guide will take away the stress and help it be a more fun filled and enjoyable experience.

Before You Go Shopping…

Set Your Budget

The average price of a dress from a boutique is €1,300. You can get the dream dress cheaper and you can also blow the bank but whatever your budget is, stick to it. Don't forget to allow for alterations and accessories like shoes, a veil, a headpiece etc in your budget. The best way to avoid an unwanted surprise or shock about the price when you find your dream dress is to ask the boutique about the price range of their dresses before you make an appointment.

Do Your Research

Buy the wedding magazines, read the blogs, follow the Facebook pages, Instagram's and pinterest boards and keep up to date with celebrity weddings. Do your research on the designers and the boutiques that stock them. Create your own scrapbook or Pinterest board of images of dresses you like. Do bear in mind your own body shape and remember that what looks gorgeous on a 6ft tall model with legs up to her armpits and a 22 inch waist may not look so well on the rest of us mere mortals. No matter what you do you can't grow half a foot taller or loose 3 stone (it has been done but its highly unlikely) so feel free to dream but try to stay realistic.

Your Wedding Dress In Real Time...

When To Start Shopping

Its important to have all the details of your wedding in place before you go shopping for your wedding dress since many factors can influence the style of the dress, for example the venue and the time of year. Once those are in place start to look around, see what you like and what suits you and more importantly what doesn't.

Take Your Time

Don't order your dress too soon. This is for several reasons. First of all if you order it too soon it gives too much time for doubt and temptation to set in. Wedding dress designers release new collections twice a year, just like fashion designers, so if you order your dress too far in advance its possible you might miss a new collection and later feel like you've missed out. Finally, if you are on a diet you want to loose as much weight as possible before ordering your dress so that there are as little alterations as possible to be made when it arrives.

Your Order Deadline

You will need to order your dress 8 months before your wedding date at the latest. Wedding dresses are special order and can take up to 6 months to be made in the factory or design house. You then have to allow for fittings and alterations so its important to stick to the 8 month deadline.

Shopping…

Your Appointment

Most wedding dress shops are by appointment only so don't just assume you can pop in anytime to take a look. Book in advance and bear in mind that Saturdays are generally the busiest days and fill up quickly as do any evening appointments if and when they are available.

Who To Take With You

Too many cooks spoil the broth and too many opinions can spoil a wedding dress appointment. Don't take an entourage. Take no more than 3 people with you and choose people whose opinion you value and trust. Your mam, sister or close friend are always good choices. If you generally shop on your own don't be afraid to go wedding dress shopping on your own, if you see a dress you love you can make an appointment to come back with your family, friends or bridesmaids. Likewise if you have a lot of bridesmaids and you want them to be part of the experience take them with you when you are returning to a shop to see dresses you have already decided you like. Too many voices and opinions can be confusing, you need to be able to hear your own voice and trust your own instincts on what dress makes YOU feel and look good. If there are too many different opinions at the appointment let the sales assistant lead it and direct it, she knows the dresses and will more than likely know what will suit you even if no one else thinks you should try it on. She is there for a reason and she is an expert.

If you have children, leave them at home (with a babysitter of course, or the hubby to be) a wedding dress shop is no place for children. Aside from obvious reasons they will distract you and pull your focus from looking for The Dress.

What To Take With You

Wear appropriate underwear, the sales assistant will be helping you in and out of dresses. Wear a strapless bra and if you usually wear Spanx or support pants wear them too. All shops will have shoes for you to try on with the dresses but its no harm to take a pair of your own. Wear your hair up or take a bobbin as it helps if you are trying on veils and it allows you to get a better look at the necklines and backs of the dresses.

Some shops are fussy about make up and fake tan so its usually advisable to avoid fake tan and wear little or no make up.

In The Appointment...

• First and foremost Be On Time. Your appointment is generally one hour long and if your late, its your own time your eating into. The next appointment will be there on time and will be taken on time.

• Take snapshots, photos or pullouts of dresses you like to give the sales assistant an idea of your taste.

• Not all shops are happy to let you take photos so check before you take out your phones and start snapping, they can get very cross. If you can't take photos get the designer and name or number of the dress so you can look it up online later.

• Be prepared to use your imagination. Shops carry samples of wedding dresses and they will generally have one sample of each dress in one size. You may have to deal with anything from them not zipping up to them being miles too big so you will have to see past this and imagine what it would be like if it fitted you properly.

• Don't get hung up on sizes when you are shopping for your wedding dress as a lot of designers and brands run very small and you may be up to 2 sizes bigger than what you would normally wear.

• Don't get discouraged. If your not getting The Moment in any dress or just not seeing anything you like. Keep your chin up and keep looking. Your dress is out there somewhere and you will find it! Don't tolerate people telling you your fussy, that is a brides prerogative.

• You will order your dress in the size you are on that day, if you are loosing weight don't fret as a dress can be taken in up to 2 sizes without anyone ever noticing.

• Most of all keep An Open Mind. Don't discount any shape or style until you have tried it on. Nine times out of ten a bride will end up falling for a dress that is nothing like she thought she wanted. Listen to the sales assistant, if she says you should try something on, try it, it won't kill you, she knows her job and you will more than likely be pleasantly surprised.

• Have Fun! Its supposed to be a fun exciting experience so enjoy it. Try on some dresses that are completely out of your comfort zone, at the worst of times you'll have a good laugh and you never know it just might be The One.

• Finally… When you do find The Dress Stop Looking. You will only confuse yourself and sew an unwanted seed of doubt.

Don't forget to share this with any friends who are planning their wedding! Happy shopping ladies. Leave a comment below and let me know if you found these helpful xx

Image credits ; Sex And The City, HBO via feminist.us, whererootsandwingsentwine.com, People Magazine, 'Friends', Bright/Kauffman/Crane via goblondes.wordpress.com, 'Licence to Wed', Warner Brothers via seeing-stars.com 

Many thanks to Cera Mc Gahon at My Fair Lady

Kraziness At The ShutterBug Kilo Sale

Blaithnaid Hennessy and her vintage shop Shutterbug have both become infamous along with her online shop Folkster. After features on TV3’s Xposé, Ireland Am and in magazines like Tatler, U and Stellar there isn’t a single fashionista on the Emerald Isle that hasn’t heard of this treasure trove not so hidden away in fabulous Kilkenny (I love that city, so diverse and relaxed, its a great place). 

Well just as infamous as the shop and its unbelievably stylish owner is the Shutterbug Kilo Sale. They may be used to buying vintage by the kilo on the continent but Ms Hennessy runs the only one of its kind in our wee country. Held every few months in Dublin or Kilkenny it attracts droves of thrifty fashion fiends, male and female, young and old. The principle is simple, items aren’t individually priced instead there are weighing scales at the checkout, your clothes are weighed and you pay €20 per kilo. Bargain! So long as you don’t get carried away with heavy items. 

I first went to the kilo sale this summer past in Moxie Studios in Dublin. It was pure bedlam, and a bit of a shock to the system! There were so many people there that at times it was almost impossible to even turn around never mind look through one of the almost 70 rails! I got some great pieces though, three shirts, a bodysuit, one pair of trousers and a leather jumper for €24! So when I heard about the next one in Kilkenny, the calling of a vintage bargain and the chance to visit one of my favorite places was too much to turn down!

So myself my aunt and my cousin (they love a good bargain hunt as much as I do!) set off from the hills of Monaghan bright and breezy and got to Langtons Hotel in Kilkenny just after 10am. The crowd was huge, maybe not by the standards of the Dublin kilo sale but the queue was taking over the hotel and when the doors opened at 11 all hell broke loose! It was every man/woman for themselves as we battled our way from rail to rail. I got the biggest bag of shirts for €22!! 

After the bedlam of the kilo sale I had a good nose around the Folkster pop up shop at the entrance. They had some of the most amazing fur coats and the Jeffrey Campbells and Miista shoes were literally to die for. The selection of shearlings, hats, glasses and jewelry, were out of this world and with A/W 13 pieces from labels like Sister Jane and Unif I could have very happily spent a few hours and a LOT of money in that small room. Unfortunately the purse strings are pretty stretched lately so I bought a ring, fabulous Dame Edna-esque glasses and my cousin treated me to a black turban for being the driver for the day.

So heres a peek at what I bought, they are sure to be featured in some outfit posts in the near future...

And here are some of the amazingly stylish ladies from Shutterbug. If your looking for style inspiration, look no further! Hopefully I’ll see you at the next kilo sale...

Zee xxx

Stylathon!

Styling my way to new opportunities...

Today is the first day I’ve had a chance to catch a grip of myself!! Dublin Fashion Festival kicked off Thursday and I gathered myself together and went for a good old nose on Friday morning! 

Before i divulge hilarious and inspiring anecdotes of the weekend let me share some amazing news with you all. I won! I won! I won! I won! (victory dance around the room, some ass shaking, air punching, funny face pulling and an effort at twerking that will never be repeated...)... What did I win I might hear you ask... Why I won the Stylathon... What is that I might hear you ask.... Well hang on a minute and I’ll tell you everything.

There were lots of great shows all around town as part of the festival, I spent the morning and early afternoon around Grafton Street and caught a show on the Luas (I’ll tell you more about that later) and then another one on the street across from the entrance to Stephens Green Shopping Centre with 98fm, the fabulous Jules Fallon and her beautiful 1st Option Models. Jules really got the crowd going she was hilarious! I then popped onto the Samsung Beauty Bus and the wonderful Therese from LA Academy gave me great cheek bones and beautiful purple and gold eyes. I headed from there down to Henry Street and into the Ilac Centre to see what was happening there... This is where the adventure began...

I wasn’t sure exactly what was happening in the Ilac Centre but I made it just in time to catch the first fashion show of the day with stylist Maria Kelly showcasing four great tartan looks all available from the Ilac Centre. I made a quick exit after the first show because there was a street show starting outside with 98fm and Jules again that I wanted to catch. Everything was timed to perfection though because it was over in perfect time for me to catch Maria’s second show in the Ilac, this time on floral trends for A/W. I hung about this time after the show, Maria did a colour analysis on a lady from the crowd and a lovely girl with blonde hair and a beautiful mint jacket, whose name I didn’t get and i feel bad about it because she was so lovely and helpful and only for her I probably would have ran to get my bus and not had all these fabulous opportunities, asked me would I be interested in hanging about for a style competition. 

The competition was called Stylathon at the Ilac, basically you had to style yourself or a friend in an A/W 13 trend, Maria was picking finalists each day and the overall winner was to be announced on Saturday. The prizes for the winner were amazing!! If you won, you got a weeks mentoring with Maria Kelly, €1000 worth of shopping vouchers for the Ilac Centre AND A styling course in LA Creative Academy worth €2500!!! Luckily I was dressed in a 'girl meets boy' inspired outfit. So naturally i decided to hang around and enter! There was some great style there Friday and Maria put through four of us to the final the next day... there we are...

So I arrived back on Saturday at 4.30 and Maria gave all the finalists so far a quick interview onstage before judging Saturdays contestants. Four more got through from Saturday and we were all brought up on stage for the final!! I can’t imagine what those contestants on the XFactor go through every week waiting to hear their name, I know I can speak for everyone on the stage that day when I say our nerves were shattered!! I still can’t believe my luck to have won! The style and talent was amazing and i definitely went into shock when Maria said my name. 

Thats Maria Kelly, stylist extraordinaire, Sara O Sullivan who came third with her scrummy Starbucks hamper, myself and my box of vouchers, Claire Jameson who came second and won a watch from Thomas Gear Jewelers and the really lovely Ann Sheehy from the Ilac Centre.

I am still on cloud nine, I am so happy and so grateful to everyone involved. I started working with Maria yesterday, I have a blog post on my day on set on the way, she is a really lovely person, great fun and so helpful I’m really looking forward to the next few days. Ann has been in contact with me since Saturday, checking in on me and seeing how I’m getting on, she’s going to keep a photo diary of my adventure on the Ilac Centres Facebook page, I really appreciate all of the support. Niamh from the LA Academy was talking to me yesterday, I’ll be starting my course in January and I really am so excited about it, its an amazing course and an amazing opportunity. Niamh also asked me if I would do a guest post on the LA Academy blog about my week with Maria which I’m delighted to do. So keep an eye on their blog for my post and keep an eye on my tweets @ZeeRailed to find out how I’m getting on. There’ll be loads more on here over the next while on what I’m up to so keep checking back. You can like my Facebook page for more updates too. 

Onwards and Upwards folks... Chase your dreams!

I apologise for the lack of photos, I'm still waiting to get my phone back so had nothing to take photos with. I will get photos of my winning outfit with details as soon as I can. 

Above Images from The Ilac Centre's Facebook page

Happy Feet

Fabulous foot candy from everyone's favorite quick fix fashion giant.

Okay so this post isn’t just to show off my rad still life display skills, it does actually have another point. See i hate feet, even my own, they freak me out!! People with foot fetishes, well, frankly, you freak me out too.... How can one find anything attractive never even mind sexual about those boney, veiny, creepy little (or large) ugly things at the end of our ankles. I find my own extra repulsive as I’ve got little handicap baby toes at the end of each foot, trust me painting my baby toe nails is a mammoth task that proves next or near impossible! Okay, so I will hand it to you babies feet are pretty adorable, but whats not adorable when its smooth, soft and teensy? So when I found the most amazing shoes on my last two trips to Penneys, the holy grail for the fashionable but budget impaired, I thought I’d spare you all the montage of freaky feet photo’s and take some funky arty ones instead. Yes your all Very welcome.

We’ve all at some stage, or in my case on a weekly basis, succumb to the cheap thrill charm of Penneys. My quick fix addiction has repeatedly peaked to a point where I’ve had to have my purse confiscated upon entry. You see I’m quite the little magpie and when i sincerely can’t afford to, I always convince myself that €2 or €3 for some new jewelry won’t hurt even tho I have 3 jewelry boxes overflowing with the stuff and most of it from Penneys!! Over the last two weeks though my little Penneys problem has progressed to shoes, shoes and more shoes. See, like I said, I hate feet and the best way to cover up freaky feet is with pretty shoes, and these are some PRETTY shoes!! 

These shoes are pretty rocking, with inspiration drawn from Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik, you just can’t go wrong. No ones gonna believe you got them in Penneys. The fabric is beautiful with a definite designer edge, faux suedes and faux leathers in different shades and textures are combined seamlessly and to great effect. The finishings are excellent and very grown up. The cut out detail in the brown peep toe exudes granny chic in the best way possible and are definitely more Zara Basic than Atmosphere. The pointed toe on their other flats are perfect for Autumn/Winter’s image for a modern lady. The navy ones with contrasting texture panels are your perfect everyday go to, they come in nude too (they could be on next weeks bargain list...) and when a shoe is so chic and practical why not have it in 2 colours? The brown point toe flats are beautiful on, the contrasting textures and gold bead stud detailing really lift the whole look of the shoe and the western feel is subtle and feminine. 

The two strap sandal was summers essential classic go to for all occasions and this nude and deep coral version is a refreshing take on it. The break up of colour leaves if bright but not over-bearing and easily more adaptable than the than the royal blue or red solids that I’ve seen in the same style. Also, although it exposes more of the freakish foot including my poor handicap toes (I’m sorry if thats not terribly PC but they are MY toes and I’ll call them what I wish...) they are incredibly more comfortable than peep toe or closed toe heels, no cuts, blisters or swelling that is. You might need some gel insoles due to the harrowing, but notably more sophisticated, single sole and there you have it Bob’s your uncle and Annie’s your aunt your good for a day of pavement pounding and even some saturday night fever before you’ll want to take these little babies off!

The black boots with double gold buckle detailing, miniature gold bead studding on the toe and side and a perfect practical stacked heel are nothing short of phenomenal! The star of the show, they are part of Penneys Limited Edition range which was introduced last season and is back with a vengeance. The Limited Edition Collection is based primarily around accessories, statement necklaces, understated chic bags, elegantly embellished gloves and belts and SHOES, all of which stand out as exceptional. These boots are a sure fire winner, they are extremely versatile and i’ll wear them from now straight through the winter and into next summer. They have a far more up market aesthetic than Pennys usual boots and if I said they cost just short of €100 in another highstreet shop I’m sure you’d believe me any day of the week, but they were just over €20 and are my buy of the week!

All of these shoes are currently in Penneys so get on your bike before they’re gone! I’ve already burned a sizeable hole in my wallet curtesy of my favorite quick fix fashion empire but I’ve already spotted a few more pairs I think I’ll just need to get next week, after all, they aren’t just delectable foot candy, they double as multi-functional art installments that make my room and me seem much more cultured and sophisticated, or realistically maybe just outrageously pompous, the jury may still be out on that one...! But hey, at the end of the day a girl can never have too many shoes anyway. Right?!

All shoes photographed are from Penneys, black purse and cream purse with gold chain also Penneys.

Opportunistic Monochromist

By a meteorological miracle!

It is true that in Ireland we are totally obsessed with the weather. Its the first and main topic of conversation between friends, acquaintances and even the stranger in the queue next to you at the local grocery store “Powerful weather that isn’t it”, “Its great to see it but if that weather doesn’t turn soon the farmers ‘ill be cryin’”. The farmers seem to forget that its rained for the last 11 months and I doubt that a measly 4 weeks of dry sunny weather would turn their fields into the sahara desert. How and ever the weather has turned and now i’m sure they’ll be complaining of the flash flooding... I must admit though that I do sympathize with ‘the farmers’ on this occasion as I find myself in quite the sartorial stew... I mean we have sunny summer mornings, thunderous downpours in the afternoon and intermittent showers and sunny spells in the evening!! To keep up with it all I’m having more wardrobe changes than the Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries wedding party!!!

Although I’m in a state of mourning for the soaring 30 degree temperatures we were experiencing just over a week ago, I was thrilled to take this sunny, but not sweltering or slippery skinned sweat inducing morning to do this outfit post. Sometimes a girl just wants to wear leather pants (particularly when said pants were bought over a month ago and our unusually scorching weather has not allowed me the opportunity) and a knitted jumper with a cute slit in the centre back, skinny 3/4 sleeves in monochrome, naturally. So i seized the opportunity because the alternative suggested that my leather pants and perfect summer jumper ensemble would be residing in my wardrobe taunting me until that one day of autumn or maybe even next spring when someone turns the tap off on our world renowned wet weather and i can wear it without having to hide it with a huge winter over coat or hooded rain mac...

I feel like a bee in a black and white movie!!

Mission accomplished! Now to change before the storm comes....

I’m wearing leather pants and monochrome jumper by Zara (yes I’m obsessed with Zara), shoes, sunglasses and bracelet from Pennys. Special guest appearance by Mac The Dog. I really need to find some better locations for these photos...

Red Dress Ring Master

With just a little Liza

It may be due to the record breaking scorching heat (don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining its pure bliss!!) and the fact that the humidity has me more than slightly delusional and tending toward day dreams of singing and dancing to cabaret numbers with Liza Minelli for an audience of circus animals, but I’ve decided to pronounce my love for the LRD (little red dress) and get a little theatrical in the process.

Although I have sworn fealty to the LBD and believe that just about any piece of clothing is superior when shrouded in darkness (some of you may say my personal penchant for the noir is boring, I say ‘Hey I’m not making you wear it!!’) I am always on the hunt for the perfect red dress in the perfect red shade and i’ve finally found one more to add to my collection which until now was 1...

So roll up, roll up!!! Its the big top cabaret minus the big top, Liza and a few big cats...

I’m wearing a Rihanna for River Island dress, New Look boots and an old black hat i bought on a trip to ‘The States’ more than a few years ago.