2013-06-18T20:02:44-04:00 Angela Scanlon http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=angela-scanlon Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Angela Scanlon Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1688493 2012-07-24T04:41:50-04:00 2012-09-22T05:12:05-04:00

Angela Scanlon http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-scanlon/
With a body like yours it can't be all spuds and homely pot roasts?
I love my food and I like to snack, a lot so I need to workout in order to keep in shape. I train in Eqvvs gym in London, three times a week (although I cancelled one this week!) I lift weights and do resistance because I hate cardio... In terms of eating I just try to feel good about what I put in, it's about balance.

So are you the cook in the group!?
Yeah, I guess so. There are two in my gang of friends and I'm one, they call me Mama D. I love it, they all come round to mine, we eat and watch movies. It's all normal stuff. My friends keep me grounded. When we were at T in the Park recently someone came and asked for a photo with me. After they left my mate turned and said "I think she thought you were someone else!". That's cool, to them I'm just Mama D!

So where does Mama D like to shop when she's not playing house?
I adore Miu Miu for pure escapism and Acne for more practical stuff. Rellik is amazing too, a vintage treasure trove. I like messing about in there!

How important is fashion to you?
For me it's a way of portraying a character. It's a form of expression. When I feel great I get more adventurous with my choices, things just fit and work but other times it's about throwing on something to just get you through the day. I'm photographed a lot walking my dog, not the most glamourous! I just want to keep doing what I'm doing and working for as ling as possible, but I'm hoping to, one day, walk for Jean Paul Gauliter one day. That would be the ultimate.

You scrub up well... Who inspires your style on the red carpet?
Weirdly no one really today, although I do have a huge girl crush on Emma Stone! The people I tend to look to and reference are Hollywood icons; Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth. I'm also inspired by comfort! That's important to me. In terms of designers; Jean Paul Gaultier is a genius, he creates clothes that make women feel powerful and womanly. I'd wear Elie Saab if I want to feel princess like or a bit romantic and Dior, let's not forget Dior...

Any fashion disasters we should know about?!
Oh yeah! Who hasn't? I once wore bright orange flares with a Spice Girls t-shirt. Let's hope that's a look I'll never revisit.

Even though you look to Hollywood you're a quintessential English rose.. what the secret behind your flawless skin?
All the usual boring stuff; wear SPF, an oil free one that won't clog your pores. Drink lots of water. Always take your make up off at night. I used to have crap skin and it was because I never really did what I was supposed to so I'm more consistent with that now. I use all natural products; face wash, serum and moisturiser and with make up it's always simple. Chanel or more recently Tom Ford foundation and Sisley lip balm, I swear by that stuff!

What are the 3 things you never leave the house without!
My Acne combat boots, lip balm and my dog!

But how does she manage to stay so damn normal in an industry that's frankly a bit nuts?
I try to remove myself from the decision making process. It's not personal if I don't get booked for a job. Equally, if I do get it, I haven't cured cancer so I don't let it define me. I've also been friends with the same people forever so they keep me in touch with reality...

Some of Daisy's favourite things!
Sisley lipbalm
Acne boots
Le Creuset pots
D&G Floral sunnies









*Daisy Lowe was in Kildare Village (little sister to Bicester) to launch the Chic Summer Festival.*]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1636867 2012-06-29T07:29:11-04:00 2012-08-29T05:12:05-04:00

Angela Scanlon http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-scanlon/

So, it seems PETA have gone ape shit on the Olsen twins dubbing them Hairy-Kate and Trashly Trollsen. All because they just launched a bag costing €17,000. Well it's not the cost per se but the fact that it's made from fur. Do you agree with PETA calling out designers, store owners etc? While the Olsens are not short of a few quid, many people make their living selling animal fur and such negative attention can be detrimental.  It's a sensitive issue and many people, including me, will remain on the fence... but Anna Wintour is an unashamed fan and refuses to apologise for her penchant for fur. Shouldn't there be freedom to decide either way without fear of being targeted? Or are PETA just protecting those animals who can't protect themselves?


Images via PETA]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1633873 2012-06-28T10:06:30-04:00 2012-08-28T05:12:04-04:00

Angela Scanlon http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-scanlon/
As Carrie she was my dream. I wished I could be her. The way she wrote. Talking to herself. In short, sharp tones. Always questioning? She made me want to be a writer with my wild hair thrown a top my head wearing a mans button down shirt and builders socks while typing furiously on a Mac in the New York humidity.

She was living the dream and leading the way. Perfect in her absolutely obvious imperfectness! Wild and confused just like me. Apart from her unrealistic ability to afford Gucci-this and Manolo-that despite being on a freelance writers wage, she was flawless...

Carrie's gone and SJP has all but vanished apart from the odd red carpet appearance or a pap picture of her wearing crop jeans and holding her kids hands in New York. But I can still feel her presence. I ask her what she thinks when I wear a Tim Ryan fringed dress that my fella says makes me look like big bird. She says it's great and that he hasn't got a clue anyway. She's right and I listen... Sometime there are characters-real and fictional-who bound into your life and make an impact. They may go but they will always hold a little piece of your heart.

SJP I salute you, for being deadly and encouraging me to be brave and ridiculous in equal measure and to build up debt buying shoes I never wear... #NoRegrets]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1593878 2012-06-14T19:00:00-04:00 2012-08-14T05:12:09-04:00

Angela Scanlon http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-scanlon/
Cavaliere's label The Silver Factor is based on the staple white tee featuring strong, hand-printed graphics. So far, so fine. But what sets The Silver Factory apart is Cavaliere's savvy approach to the business. He's clued in and seems to have an innate understanding of what his customers want and how to communicate with them. While "Made in Chelsea" might not be your thing, Cavaliere has pulled off something of a coup by collaborating with Caggie Dunlop of the Channel 4 super series. Her new label ISWAI, featured four up and coming designers chosen for this project and Cameron's was the only one from outside of the UK. Nice work.



Fans of the label will be pleased to note that Cavaliere is keeping his signature bold prints, religious iconography and monochrome design but with a higher quality of fit, fabric and packaging. While the new collection includes scoop neck crop tops and vests, his vision remains the same - to combine the simplicity of the wardrobe staple with bold visuals to create something special. The collection's lookbook was shot at Brighton Pier, which embodies everything his collection suggests; fun, freedom, summer and the essence of being young. It makes me want to be a teenager again, eating candy floss while riding on a carousel, oh wait...

If the above is not enough to make you feel inadequate Cavalieve is not stopping there... He's just launched a range of re-worked vintage Levis shorts in hot, vibrant colours cleverly named after his favourite fashion muses; Azelia Banks, Alexa Chung and the Lana.


With all these accolades to his name, it's easy to forget Cavaliere is still just sixteen years old and a secondary school student. And you want to know the worst thing is? He's actually nice. Really, really nice. Sickner!



For more info see www.shopsilverfactory.com
Imagery by Ciúin Tracey]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1557414 2012-06-05T10:20:15-04:00 2012-08-05T05:12:28-04:00

Angela Scanlon http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-scanlon/ website and laughed my ass off. It reminded me of the image below from Jak n Jil featured ages ago; the image that made us all question consumerism a little, made a laugh of our obsession with obscenely priced goodies and ironically made Chanel look a little cooler just because...


The IT bag is over or so we're told but while many women are still spending on their leathers others are poking fun at the notion of such a practical item as the handbag being held up as a status symbol. If you fall into the latter school of thought but want to give a wink and a nod to your fashion counterparts then Thursday Friday is a cheeky way to do it..



Made from "democratic cotton" these canvas totes are printed on all sides with the images of exclusive, even iconic, luxury leather handbags. From Hemes to Balenciaga, Chanel to the newly launched Proenza Schouler (below).

What do you think?? I've got my eye on the Hermes for holiday... I can imagine myself parading through the airport with stupidly high heels and saucer sunnies like an A lister. Except I won't have to hang my fancy bag from a naff handbag hook to protect it from nasties... the beauty with these beauties is you can fill your designer bag with smelly towels, destroy it with sand and even forget it in a bar after one too many tequila shots and no ones going to cry... Winner.


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Angela Scanlon http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-scanlon/ Covetique... A new online space for buying and selling designer gear. Think of it as Net-A-Porter for the sensible among us. To be fair, buying a bag for over a thousand whatever is considered pretty excessive in these current times but us girls do dig a bit of designer. So now we can have the best of both worlds; beautiful pieces but without the bankruptcy.

For many, the word second hand conjures up images of moth eaten, cobweb covered clothes that are past their sell-by date so let's refer to these pieces as 'pre-loved'. Let's assume I went a bit nuts and shelled out a lot of money on an already stretched credit card to buy fabulous things that I couldn't afford OR, maybe I just love these things so much that I can't bear to see them gathering dust now that my lifestyle doesn't do them justice. Whatever the case, there is an abundance of perfectly presentable, in some cases never worn, designer goods around the country that deserve to live the life they were destined for.

That's where Covetique comes in. Owned by Dublin girl gone Brit, Nicola McClafferty, Covetique are determined to bring affordable designer fashion that's 100% authenticated and presented in a high end way. No more jumble sale madness and losing out on your dream dress because you missed the mark by a penny! The pieces are curated and edited by the team so that the quality is pretty impressive. Think Chanel and Miu Miu bags, Manolo's and Louboutins and a Balenciaga biker jacket, a Philip Lim silk peplum top-I could go on but you can see for yourself below!

It's set to be a winner with chicks who want a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget... See some of my favourite picks below and check out the rest >here<
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Angela Scanlon http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-scanlon/
Now, we're not talking diamonds, jewels or 'bling' here but big, bold jewellery that would take the eye out of your head! Doesn't sound pretty? It's not supposed to be. It's empowering and fierce and conversational. Think dynamite sticks, spike rings, ram horns, bullets and anything else that looks remotely intimidating. Not knuckle duster style-the plan is to wear your weaponry not actually use it, but you should look like you might, if provoked.


I'm not alone either in my penchant for sovereigns and other suspicious pieces, there's a new trend for bad-ass jewels. Jewellery designer to the stars, Merle O'Grady is an avid fan. "I think weaponry stylings can give a jewellery piece a bit of a sartorial edge but also make the wearer feel stronger and more fierce. You're wearing something that feels slightly protective as well as it just being 'adornment'."

Her current collection features an oversized brass neck plate inspired by Aztec architecture that feels pretty much like an armour breastplate and, pleasingly, weighs a tonne (it's got to feel authentic). I know it's unlikely that you'll get shot with an old-skool arrow, but if you do there's no way it would get through this...


If bullets are more your thing then Unearthen is the only place to go. Using crystals and old bullet cases these are the perfect balance between tough and tender!


For a bit on the cheap, check out Galibardy the dynamite sticks are deadly!

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