Last night I attended Style At Stormont, a very special fashion show organised by Action Mental Health Northern Ireland and held in Parliament Buildings at Stormont - a stunning setting. For the occasion, I treated myself to a new dress, one I'd seen at the recent Warehouse SS13 launch:
Notice anything? If you've read this blog for a while you'll have seen everything except the dress (and necklace) before. The clutch, shoe boots and blazer are key pieces that I wear on almost every night out. Wardrobe staples - check them out here, here and here...amongst others! If you have these right, you never need worry about what to wear on a night out.
The dress from the front is beautifully cut with clever side panels and....surprisingly, pockets! But it's the back that really catches the eye. It's got a lovely cut out detail. Now I'm not normally a fan of bare backs but this amount, I can live with.
I was travelling to the event with Patricia, a local Stella & Dot representative so she offered to provide me with a statement piece for the evening. I was thinking something chunky and silver with black but oh no - Patricia knew this this neon 'Spring Awakening' double strand necklace would be perfect. And she was right!
Patricia was herself wearing a gorgeous green Stella & Dot Jolie statement necklace and Sharon, another friend of mine who travelled with us to the show wore this incredible limited edition Virgina Bib.
Back to the show...apart from looking forward to spending an evening with friends and checking out gorgeous summer fashion from House of Fraser, I also came along to the event to hear my good friend and fellow blogger, Gemma-Louise from 'That Belfast Girl' speak about her own struggles with mental health issues. Inspirational stuff from an inspirational girl and how stunning Gemma-Louise looked in her JS Collection black gown with embellished shoulders.
And before I forget, there was fashion...neon, monochrome, candy colours and floral gorgeousness...and Michael Buble'esque entertainment in the form of the talented James Huish. A great night for a great cause.
Show photos courtesy of Stephen Potter Photography
Lovely dress - I am a big sucker for stripes.
ReplyDeleteLooking gorgeous Avril :) x
ReplyDeleteAvril u look amazing!! I've been eyeing that dress up too, it's got a great back detail. I love stripes and bright colours together. Your right on the staples I wear the same black shoes, jacket and tights neatly every night I go out.
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not the only one. I sometimes worry it looks a bit boring on the blog but then I figured there's not much point in a SAHM having more than one clutch/sky high heels/black blazer! And that striped dress would look amazing on you! Ax
DeleteLove the back of the dress! You look great. The the necklace is gorgeous and really pops!
ReplyDeleteFinally got over to check your blog out today - sorry it's taken so long. Really enjoyed your last few posts...thanks for dropping by! Ax
DeleteLove the dress, the back detail is gorgeous. James sang at my Dad's 60th, he is an absolutely fabulous entertainer, had everyone bopping in the dining room. x
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that was amazing to have him at a private party. He's fantastic...was great to hear him sing. Ax
DeleteAvril you and Gemma-Louise look stunning in that pic, and it looks like it was a great night out. I have never been a fan of scarves and you converted me, and now I think the same goes for necklaces! Nikki x
ReplyDeleteThank you Nikki! I'm converted to necklaces too...just in the past year. They make such a difference to an outfit and are lovely for the summer when a scarf is too warm (well...that's if we get a summer!) Avril x
DeleteThe back cut out in that dress really just amps it up, I love it and Patricia was bang on with the necklace! The photos are gorgeous <3 xx
ReplyDeleteHi Avril! You look gorgeous in the stripey dress it really is a stunning buy and will be such a key piece in your wardrobe! Love your black blazer too, very chic. The evening sounded wonderful and such great pictures! Have a nice weekend! xxx
ReplyDeleteThat dress is fabulous, deceptively simple from the front. LOVE the necklace as well! Looks like a great night
ReplyDeleteThank you Dee! Ax
DeleteBeautiful necklace!!!!
ReplyDeleteAdore that necklace - just stunning - you looked great! Do you know where the bright pink floral trousers are from... somewhere in the depths of House of Fraser but which bit?!
ReplyDeleteNic x
Thanks Nic! Had to hoke the programme out of the green bin to find that out for you lol!! They are Biba and retail at £99. There was quite a bit of Biba - it looks amazing this SS13! Avx
DeleteLove your choice of outfit - sucker for stripes be it on a top or a dress. And doesn't Gemma-Louise look amazing too - what a beautiful face that girl has and her dress is amazing. Oh to have somewhere to go to wear something like that!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue...and for your info, because I know you will appreciate this. The stripes meet up properly! Yay!! I had to hoke through a couple of 12's to find one perfect enough. You have me obsessed now! lol x
Deleteoh my goodness you look absolutely STUNNING - I LOVE that dress so much. Fantastic with the oversized orange necklace
ReplyDeleteI'm going back to look at you again - one of the best outfits I've ever seen you in
Fiona
Fiona....thank you...making me blush now! And thanks for the feature over at A57...I should have posted it on the looks board. Sorry always forget to post outfits from the evening! Avril x
DeleteHi Avril,
ReplyDeleteWhen you posted these pics of the warehouse dress, which looks stunning on you by the way, I thought to myself, perfect, just the outfit I need for a 40th party coming up. Once again, you have done all the hard work and all I have to do is click on ....add to basket....However just before I did, I stumbled across a feature on the Warehouse website where you type in your height, weight etc and they show you a pic of a model with your exact proportions wearing the item that you are interested in buying. I am so glad that I used this facility as the stripe dress looked so awful on my 5 ft 9 size 14 frame! I was mortified so alas I have not purchased. How tall are you? The dress really does look fab on you. Also, I wanted to ask you if you have seen a similar necklace anywhere to your infamous one from Boots? I would really love something similar as it seems so versatile. I can't seem to find anything similar. Please help!
Kitty x
Hey Kitty, I am 5'7 and a size 10 usually in a dress but what I forgot to mention above is that this dress is neat across the hips so I had to size up to a 12. If you're pear shaped, you may need to do this...if apple or more straight up and down, it would be fine in your usual size. I can't think why it wouldn't work - there is no substitute really for trying on. Why don't you try and return if it's not suitable?
DeleteRegarding the necklace - that Boots one is amazing and if I ever see anything like it again, I will buy at least two of them. Let me do a hoke about in the shops over the weekend and I'll see if I find anything similar. Thanks for your lovely comment as always, sorry the delay replying - wanted to wait till I was back at the laptop to answer properly, Avril x
Thanks so much for your reply. Have ordered the dress and will try it on in real life and have a look in the mirror instead of relying on a cyber image!
DeleteHope you have a successful necklace hunt. Please share any results you may find!
K x
Kitty, I just bought this one online in Mango - could be a good contender for universal necklace with lots of wearability. Will update when it arrives!
DeleteMango Neckace
Avx
Thanks Avril.
DeleteLook forward to seeing what you think. x
Oh Avril, the dress is so pretty on you. WEEP. I am quite sad. But also joyful that I get to see it on you. Necklace was an excellent choice. You look lovely :)
ReplyDeleteSara at BelfastBeautyLove xx
Thank you Sara! Feeling *slightly* guilty now for making you weep. Will make it up to you with a big hug and a drink next time I see you xx
DeleteYou looked gorgeous.x I love that orange necklace against the stripes, you looked so elegant x
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you Caroline, hope to see you at Fashion Week, Avril x
DeleteHi Avril,
ReplyDeleteI really love this outfit, you look fab! I'm going to pinch your look but in Navy as black makes me look like the un-dead! I'm off to google - thanks for the inspiration
Sue x
Glad to be of assistance Sue. I agree with you so much - navy is way more flattering, as is ivory instead of white. Black/white is very hard to wear. Ax
DeleteThe statement neck lace is lovely with the strips!
ReplyDeleteGreat outfit
J
http://lifelovesand.blogspot.ie/
You look fab in stripes Avril! The show looked amazing :)
ReplyDeletewww.thesequincinderella.com
It was great - you would have enjoyed it so much. Hope to see you soon Nicola, Ax
DeleteWowsers!! You look amaze as always Avril and that necklace is beaut! Gemma actually looks like a hollywood starlet - so sorry I missed this, I need a time machine asap!lolxx
ReplyDeleteAwwww...too many events, so little time! Hopefully see you soon! Ax
DeleteOh I have such a penchant for stripes right now! Looking good chick!
ReplyDeleteYou and your friend, Gemma-Louise look so glamorous and sophisticated.
ReplyDeleteYou look fantastic and it sounds like a great night. Also makes me homesick when you use words like 'hoke'! Great word for what you do round the shops and there's no proper word for this in England.
ReplyDeleteHaha! We love a good old hoke in NI! Ax
DeleteVery chic! Alas, we don't have Warehouse in France. I love England (a great part of my blog) and I go to London next month : Sure, I will visit Warehouse !
ReplyDeleteDefinitely do - it's a fantastic shop. Thanks for dropping by! Ax
DeleteYou look amazing Avril.... hope you had good weekend:)
ReplyDelete~Anne xx
Love the monochrome, very chic. I must go and investigate this Stella and Dot jewelry that everyone seems to be talking about, the necklace is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOh you must have a party Dara! The stuff is gorgeous...so on trend x
DeleteYou looked amazing on the night Avril! I was admiring your dress and necklace from across the room, as were my friends! It was a fantastic night, such a fab venue for a show. Just heard that designer Dave Henderson of Unify is organising a show in Parliament buildings on 4th May! I definitely want to go to that one! Gina x
ReplyDeleteHi Gina, thank you for your lovely comment. Sorry I missed you on the night. Stephen mentioned that you had headed on fairly promptly. Thanks for the heads up on the Unify show. I'll not be able to go to it unfortunately. But will see you at something again soon hopefully. Thanks as always for your support..you're a star, Ax
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