Staying stylish in summer

It doesn’t rain but it pours and while some weeks I have not much going on, other weeks are jam packed and last week was one of those.

I definitely need that holiday after it all. On Wednesday I was at a play called ‘Stitch’ as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival and it was a very atmospheric, site-specific piece based in an old stationery shop on Shandon Street. Coincidentally it was right across the way from the shop where the Euromillions ticket was sold. I can confirm I was not the winner (unfortunately) but if you do get a chance to see any performance by Irene Kelleher then I advise you to take it. She is such a talent.

On Thursday, I was out socialising at Aye and they are doing things a little differently with the launch of their new food and cocktail menus. Offering a creative, tasty take on the familiar, the new menus blend playful flavour combinations, local ingredients, and place an emphasis on dishes made to be shared. Aye is serving up more than just a meal but, rather an experience designed to bring people together and turn good food and cocktails into a great night with your favourite people.

It was great to catch up with people I hadn’t seen in ages and who doesn’t love the chats over a cocktail and delicious sharing plates? Special mention has to go to the Dazed and Infused cocktail which is like an elevated margarita and it was hard to pick a favourite dish but I loved the fried sushi rice with kimchi. Total chefs’ kiss!

Thankfully the evening was sunny because I had recently bought new shorts and I really needed to justify the purchase. If you’re looking to try out shorts then this pair is a winner as they are quite loose fit, very comfortable, a good length and the print brings a bit of a colourful vibe to your summer wardrobe.

I picked them up in H&M and styled them with a white linen shirt that I practically live in for the summer. I added some orange, low heels that I’ve had for donkeys’ years and go with loads of pieces that I already own.

A pair of heels you can walk in and are comfortable really are invaluable in your wardrobe and I wore them again on Saturday to a wedding so I’m really getting my moneys worth. My cost per wear is practically zero on these shoes.

I of course was super last minute in picking something to wear to the wedding and decided to shop my own wardrobe for this. I have so many pieces that I’ve bought for weddings over the years and only worn once, so I am making it my mission to pull these pieces out for various events. Now I also had to take into account that I have lots of bites from sitting out in the garden and I always have a reaction to these so end up with big swollen lumps on my legs and arms. So I wanted something full length and with sleeves but that was also summery.

I had a printed piece that I bought for a wedding about five years ago from Never Fully Dressed that was perfect and went well with the orange shoes. My top tip for wedding guest dressing is always to be comfortable, a wedding day is a marathon not a sprint.

On Sunday I was on Opera Lane for the Celebrate Summer family fun day event. There was such a great buzz around town, and I managed to catch the Les Giraffes parade on Patrick St which was another fabulous Midsummer event. I also wore my white linen shirt again with some wide leg jeans and pumps. That shirt is fast becoming my go-to piece when I don’t know what to wear. A great summer investment piece.