#FIVEONFRIDAY

#FIVEONFRIDAY

Five things to consider doing this sunny week!

Boojum

If I’m honest, working in Siopaella is pretty remarkable. I get to work with an amazing team, receive wonderful visits and messages from our super-star costumers, handle beautiful pieces from some of my favourite designers and run around Dublin getting the bosses lunch.

Okay so that last one may not sound as glamorous as the rest BUT when getting the nomnoms for the boss lady/man means a trip to Boojum Dublin - I am only delira. This is due completely to Boojum’s delicious food and their uber friendly, funny and welcoming staff. I guarantee you that every visit to Boojum will provide you with an impressive food-baby and a smile on your face.

Dublin City Soul Festival

Merrion Square Park is one of my favourite locations around Dublin. Not only is it a beautiful park hidden away in the city, but there is always something fun and exciting happening in the Square. This weekend sees Dublin City Soul Festival taking over Merrion Square with their two-day music and feel-good festival. The entire event was created to support the Music Youth Foundation. The children’s charity aims to provide young people who are at risk, with an opportunity to turn things around through the charity’s music education programmes. I shall be heading to the festival this Sunday and cannot wait to experience some amazing music while also helping out with donations at the door. See you there?! :) 

Boyhood – IFI

A film I have been counting down the days until its official release is Richard Linklater’s Boyhood. The film follows the character Mason’s transition from childhood to young adulthood. It may sound like a simple plot but the entire film was shot over 12 years, bringing a previously untapped authenticity to the entire film and its characters. Boyhood is currently showing in Temple Bar’s own the Irish Film Institute.

Tabitha Magazine

The motive behind Tabitha Magazine and their frequently updated site, lovetabii.com, is to provide a platform for up and coming Irish talent. Tabitha Magazine is the perfect stepping stone for various designers and artists who have something to say or show. The independently run magazine currently has 5 issues and is working on Issue 6 as I type! Find yourself a free Sunday, put on the kettle and relax with a browse through their charming site.

The Art of the Song : David Bowie

I’m always intrigued by artists covering and interpreting other artists work. It’s not about stealing or copying a specific artist’s creations but instead it’s about one artist reworking something already established and creating something unique and completely their own. The elaborate work of David Bowie will be subject to such re-creation this Saturday 26^th July in The National Concert Hall. Mr Bowie’s music will be in very capable hands thanks to acts like Lisa Hannigan, Duke Special and Heathers who, on the night, will be creating their own Bowie inspired moments. 

What is your #fiveonfriday?

Sinéad 

Viva La Vintage

Viva La Vintage

Now I may only be Siopaella’s little monkey on a typewriter but I speak/write for all of us when I say we love vintage. So much so that there are very often fights over who gets what when a vintage haul comes in! You know this though, you know we love vintage and until recently I thought everyone loved vintage but oh no how wrong I was. 

Myself and Ella wearing our Siopaella vintage printed shirts

My new future bff Dawn O’Porter(I’m hoping she agrees to this alliance) recently launched her own show on Channel 4 called This Old Thing. If you haven’t watched it yet, then shame on you. Stop reading this immediately make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up and catch up with it on 4od.

Dawn O'Porter - My future BFF ;)

What surprised me most about the show was how many people are put off by vintage. I can understand that beginning to shop and stock your wardrobe with predominantly vintage pieces can be a daunting process but there are some people out there who are just so against it due to it being smelly, ancient, outdated or ridiculous. Vintage is none of the above. It’s special, unique, exciting and beautiful…that is if you know where to look.

Dawn O'Porter

Our vintage mostly comes from our lovely consignors who like us are vintage crazy! However, roughly twice a year, Ella and Steve go on sneaky buying trips to Vancouver and come home with hordes of amaaaaazing vintage.
**Secret Time**
Ella and Steve will return from one of these buying trips at the end of August ;) I’m delighted as it’s just in time for ElectricPicnic which means my festival wardrobe is sorted!!

Ella in a vintage warehouse in Canada

Not sure on how to start shopping vintage? Here are a few of my tips:

·         Know Your Measurements: This is especially important for buying online. Don’t just go for what the size says as this could be an American size and also sizes were much smaller back then. Know your bust, waist and hips as these are the biggest problem areas. If buying from us do PM us and we can give you all the details you need!

Tanya's vintage OOTD

·         Be Open Minded: A vintage store can be a treasure throve, filled with one of kind amazing goodies. I will admit though, walking into a vintage store can be overwhelming due to it being stocked with just “one of everything” rather than a rail of the same piece. Don’t let this throw you. Take a deep breath and plunge in. If something tickles your fancy TRY IT ON. Clothing is made to be worn not to hang on a hanger. By trying it on you will get the full idea and will know instantly if it is for you.

Brendan Courtney & Eileen in her Siopaella vintage dress

·         Be Yourself: Yes, vintage allows you to create a personal style that is different to girls who buy predominantly from the high street but it is still important to be true to yourself.   Whether that means mixing vintage with the high street, wearing vintage jewelry or just sticking to colours and styles that you feel comfortable in, it’s all up to you. The most important thing is for you to wear the piece and not for the piece to wear you!

Sinéad and her Siopaella vintage earrings 

So there you go, remember these simple tips and you'll be a vintage vixen in no time (love me a bit of alliteration) J Happy shopping

Ciara x

**MORE SECRETS** Shop our vintage collection here ;)

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Concrete Collar

A passion for fashion is amazing but we LOVE when people show their individuality and combine their passion with fashion. The talented ladies behind Concrete Collar do exactly that! Created by Irish architecture students, Becky Wallace and Ciana March; Concrete Collar merges both bloggers love of architecture along with the structural process within fashion.  The blog is visually stunning due to the ladies talented choice in clothing, setting and photography.

Tatty Devine

An extremely happy ‘happy dance’ was performed by yours truly once I found out that Tatty Devine jewellery would be finding a place in our Crow Street shop.  The motive beyond team Tatty Devine’s flamboyant and unique jewellery creations is to design pieces which are fun, full of expression and distinctive. The company was founded in 1999 by Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden. The vibrant duo opened their first Tatty Devine boutique in 2001 on London’s chic Brick Lane. The craftsmanship and imagination of both designers can be seen instantly in each of their creations. Ranging from gigantic perspex dinosaurs, delicate mermaids and extravagant poodles to even dedicating an entire collection to FOOD (jewellery + food = I’m there!!) If you want to have fun and be bold with your jewellery choices, then Tatty Devine is a must see and purchase for any jewellery fanatic out there.

Cocoa Atelier

Although Tatty Devine’s food jewellery does look good enough to eat, it is the mouth-watering bite sized treats from Cocoa Atelier which will cure any sugar cravings. Specialising in handmade chocolates and macaroons, Cocoa Atelier delicious treats will have you smiling and running back for more each time.  Check out their beautiful shop on Drury Street and be in awe of their delightful and delicious looking window display. Just try not to leave your face print on the window…I’ve finally gained some self-control when I walk by…kind of.

Longitude

Looks like another stylish member from the Siopaella team will be hitting Marlay Park this weekend - our lovely Tanya is heading to Longitude Music Festival! The three-day event is only in its second year BUT with amazing performances to come from Massive Attack, Son Lux and Hozier along with many more, the music filled weekend is one to take note of and one to be extremely jealous of for those who are going! (Ignoring all Instagram posts, tweets and snapchats from Ms Tanya during this weekend :P)

 Bray Air Spectacular

A quick trip on the DART and you my friend could find yourself ice-cream in hand ‘oooohing’ and ‘aahhing’ like a big kid at this year’s Bray Air Spectacular – Sunday July 20^th! The free event promises to display ‘gravity-defying aerobatics’ along with some parachute jumps and smokes display (now all you need is someone to blare Bad Romance and BOOM you have a Lady Gaga concert! #putyourpawsup). Don’t worry if your Sunday is already booked up though, there are practise runs on Saturday 19^th starting at noon before the main event on Sunday.

So, what is your #fiveonfriday?

Sinéad

Jazz Night

Siopaella’s Sip’n’Save Event

The time was 5pm, the date was Thursday 10th of July, and the year was 1925…ok no it was 2014 but it felt like 1925. Siopaella had been transformed into a speakeasy bar for the night. There was jazz, there was whiskey, there were faux bobs and there were braces (the trouser kind, not the teeth kind). 

What was the point of all of this you may ask?? Well, in all honesty there was no point only that we wanted to have fun and we wanted our lovely customers to have fun with us. I know, I know we’re the best! 

 A couple of weeks ago all of us at Siopaella were invited to the Odessa club to see the Valerie Coyne trio perform. We were blown away. The talent was amazing and we wanted the trio to perform in the store.

What started as tipsy talk after a few glasses of wine turned into an actual idea which turned into serious planning which turned into Thursday night’s event. There you have it! Not only are we pretty good at doing this whole styling and buying thing but we’re also quite the little party planners (and clearly very modest…) 

For this event though we decided to go all out. That meant dress up, bar man (yes we had our very own barman) and a guest list. The guest list was open to the public and the response was overwhelming. It seemed like everybody wanted to be a part of our one night only time machine travelling back to the 1920s.

Now, the music, oh the music! Words cannot begin to describe the talent that Valerie Dalton has. Her voice filled our shop and we all quickly fell in love. The mix of piano and trumpet was beautiful and really helped with the feeling of being back in time and becoming part of a generation that was filled with speak easy clubs, prohibition and old school glamour. 

Our very lovely (very very lovely if you know what I mean) bar man Oliver made the best cocktails. We could choose from an old fashioned or a vodka Tom Collins. They were delicious and I can happily say that there is nothing more satisfactory than a whiskey cocktail on a cold, wet and windy evening. There was also of course prosecco available for those who prefer a glass of bubbly.

Food on the evening was brought to us by the lovely people from KC Peaches Dame Street and we all devoured it. There were both hot and cold platters filled with cheeses, chicken, peppers and my all-time favourite finger food; pigs in blankets.

Not only were our guests wined and dined but to make the evening even more special we had in store discounts. You can’t say we don’t spoil you! Some of our guests even changed into the items they bought in order to become part of the 1920s theme.

The Valerie Dalton trio ended the night with a beautiful song about love and then it was up to the main woman herself, Valerie, to choose the best dressed on the night. The winner was the lovely Aisling O’Regan who wore a stunning waistcoat and skinny trousers. Valerie not only loved the more androgynous take on the theme but she also fell in love with Aisling’s Chanel heels (didn’t we all - and they were also a Siopaella find! ). 

We’re hoping this event won’t be a one off occasion and that we’ll be able to host more in the coming months. Who knows the next one could see us dawn our roller-skates while we have a 70s disco in store or force us to find our finest neon clothing, fish net tights and glow-sticks while we host an all-night rave…a girl can dream right? 

Ciara x

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Read on to get your weekly dose of Siopaella’s #FIVEONFRIDAY! J

Laya Healthcare’s City Spectacular

Something thrilling for both the little kids and big kids is this year’s Laya Healthcara’s City Spectacular. With the luxury of two locations, Dublin Merrion Square 11-13^th of July and Cork’s Fitzgerald Park 19-20^th, this year’s event is bigger than ever! Take a stroll to the Square and fest your eyes on one of the biggest street performers competition in the world. Best of all...it's completely free :) Embrace the wacky and wonderful we say!!

Galway International Arts Festival

July truly is the month for artistic expression and celebration. One of my favourite places to join in with the festivities is Galway city and its vibrant International Arts Festival.  Running from July 14^th – 27^th, the festival provides two weeks of creative bliss and wonder.

Fallon & Byrne

Having only recently been made aware of their mouth-watering chocolate tart (ridiculously delicious), Fallon & Byrne have been placed on top of my must-see food joints for this summer. Based just off George Street, the three storey food mecca sounds like the perfect food adventure to encounter this weekend...and maybe next weekend and the weekend after!

Advanced Style

“Fashion changes, but style endures” – Coco Chanel

Keeping this mind frame alive and well is New Yorker, Ari Seth Cohen. Cohen sets about the streets of New York, capturing the stylish age-defiant women of the city.  His blog, ‘Advanced Style’, is a colourful celebration of the timeless appreciation of style.  The women and men he captures are confident, unique and unapologetic when it comes to style. Fabulous.

Arctic Monkeys @ Marlay Park

After experiencing their stunning performance at last year’s Electric Picnic, Arctic Monkeys @ Marlay Park is going to be unforgettable! Siopaella’s own Ciara and Eileen are making their way to the concert this weekend. We hope the girls have an incredible night of both music and creeping on Alex Turner. ;)

What is your #fiveonfriday?

Sinéad 

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Tar Mar Tales

Tar Mar Tales; a name to know and a blog to stalk…I mean read. The Cork/Belfast based blogger is honest, funny and smart when it comes to creating her blog. With posts and discussions ranging from reviewing recent make-up buys, delicious receipts she’s trying at the moment and look-books to previews into the young bloggers budding career within fashion. (Just last summer she worked in the costume department on Game of Thrones *pause for fan-girling*) Covering all the social mediums, Tar Mar Tales is an exciting and talented stylish lady who keeps you both entertained and informed!

Grafton Street

Grafton Street would not be the first place you think of for some free light entertainment during your lunch break. However, during the summer months Dublin’s famous shop street becomes an open stage for street performers far and wide. With living statues placed beside epic dance-offs and bubble makers framing the stages for acoustics beginners, Grafton street has a little bit of fun and excitement for everyone.

Valerie Coyne Music

We are so thrilled to be hosting an intimate concert with the hugely talented Valerie Coyne Trio later this month. It’s going to be an amazing night of soft jazz, refreshments and fashionable moments. Mark the date in your calendar, July 10^th, and head over to our blog for more details.

Murphy’s ice cream

While I still would never refuse the old reliable HB Raspberry Swirl ice cream (with two wafers of course), there is something to be said about looking for that extra ‘umph’ when it comes to treating yourself to an ice cream.  Step forward Murphy’s Handmade Ice Cream *round of applause*. Currently providing 16 flavours and counting, Murphy’s Ice Cream is the best way to feel like a big kid again but with a little bit more class. Two scopes of Blissful Butterscotch and a photo on the giant swing please! :D

The Icon Factory

Although I’ve been working in Temple Bar for almost two years, the old region still manages to provide me with some unique discoveries. The latest of these is The Icon Factory. Based on Aston Place, the non-profit company was created with the purpose to portray and promote modern artistic interpretations of some of the major artists and icons within Irish history.  With each artists’ creations exhibited throughout the lanes of Temple Bar, the Icon Factory have provided the perfect balance between playing homage to the past while displaying the future of the artistic scene within Ireland.

What is your #FIVEONFRIDAY? J

Sinéad

Sip'n'Save

Sip'n'Save at Siopaella:

Two of my favourite things about Dublin are the music and the shopping scenes. As a true and very faithful Dub (hon the Dubs) I have come to know where the best places to find both are. From up and coming indie bands in Whelans to The Foggy Dew’s Sunday night scat band there really is a diverse range of music to be found. 

Now, shopping is another thing that Dublin does quite well. However, in order to find the best places to shop for one off gems you really need to know where to go. In my unbiased opinion I really believe Siopaella is the best place to shop to be able to find pieces that are different to the high street. I say that without bias as I have been both a customer and consignor before I began working here (now I have the triple whammy as an employee).

So Dublin, with its diverse music and unique shopping… What happens when we blend the two? If you’re like me it’s a dream come true (rhyming was unintended). Well, ladies and gentlemen, Siopaella is here to make that dream a reality.

On Thursday 10^th July, we at Siopaella are hosting a Sip’n’Save party. There will be music on the night by the gorgeous singer Valerie Coyne and her band mates Carole Nelson (piano) and Bill Blackmore (trumpet). Having had the privilege to have already heard this trio in an intimate gig in the Odessa I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed. Her pitch perfect voice is fluid-like and flawless with soft tones when needed and powerful moments that would make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Not only will your ears be kissed by the sweet music and your taste buds refreshed by delicious nibbles and drinks but your wallet will also reap the benefits as there will be special discounts in-store on the night. It really does not get any better than that…well other than the fact that we’ll be there and we really are the best company (toot toot – that’s us tooting our own horns).

However, there is catch but it is entirely up to you whether or not you play along. We’re hoping that for one night only Siopaella will be transformed into a world away from 21^st century Temple Bar and into a New York, underground, smoky, cocktail club (smoking is still prohibited but you know a girl can imagine). So, to do this we need your help. We would love for you guys to dress up.  Think vintage cocktails, speakeasies and prohibition era America. Even if it’s just a feather boa, streams of pearls or a sleek bob hairstyle we’ll love you forever for trying.

All you have to do now is say yes, cancel all plans you had for that night (it’s going to be a lonely night for my cat) and show up. We’re going to make the effort and dress up and we hope you do too J

Ciara x

https://www.facebook.com/valeriecoynemus