Gothetshirt

Notting Hill’s Portabello Road Market (where Dahlia et al started life) is a must-do in London. Get up early to get the best bargains and stock.  Because it’s a market, you rarely even have to pay full price-great news for these recessionary times.

Alternatively…avoid the crowded stalls altogether…get yourself down to http://www.pretaportobello.com/ for a selection of the latest labels.  You can even haggle with a stacey-esque market stall lady! All you have to do is guess what price she has in her head…be warned though, you only get three attempts!!!

White skinny jeans, loafers, baby pink/blue shirt and navy blue blazer, over-sized watch…everyone will be stealing Princess Diana’s style this summer.  Watch this space…you heard it here first!!!!

Yay! The dress is back.  Ditsy Polka dot, tea dresses, bubbled hemmed dresses, parachute-pocketed dresses, Michelle Obama-esque shift dresses….viva la dress!!!!

Wooooohooo… Gothetshirt has made it to the nominations list for this year’s Irish blogging awards.  Thanks to all who voted!:)

So here’s my theory: If this was an episode of Animaniacs, the shops would be unloading these huge cardboard boxes of sales goods from a truck with ACME on the side…stuff you’ve never seen on the shelves or rails of the shops prior to the 70% sale. Beaten up shoes.  Chiffon summer dresses stained with fake tan. Weird looking tank tops that shrink at the first drop of water. Basically rags.  Then there’s the ridiculous party dresses that couldn’t be sold.  Sad shimmering numbers slumped skew ways on hangers…aw but they look so sad…   

Black feathers were all over the catwalk for Autumn/Winter 2008.  The easiest way to wear them? On a bag. Zara has one in the window of their new Stephen’s Green shop. They’re selling out fast though.

It’s not just the high street chains that are working the trend though. Julian McDonald has introduced one into his Debenhams collection.   While Zara’s version is rectangular with a chain strap that can easily be turned into a clutch, Star by Julian McDonald is flouncy and pretty.  Goth-ilicious and luxe at the same time…perfect for adding some interesting texture to black on black.  If I could just get my hands on one…

Plastic cagey ones, curly handled ones, ones that look like frogs when they open…ones with milk bottles on top instead of a point. Seriously. I saw one yesterday.  When did umbrellas become so fabulous anyway?  I blame it on Rihanna. The humble brolly is now having a fashion moment. 

I like the ones Topshop are selling. They’re frilly and dainty and polka-dotted with curly faux leather handles. Very My Fair Lady.  At €23 they give the phrase ’saving for a rainy day’ a whole new meaning. If your budget doesn’t stretch that far there’s always Primark’s cheap and cheerful ones. Penneys from heaven indeed.

Check out www.strawberrynet.com for fantastic discounted make-up, perfume and cosmetics. Best of all, shipping is absolutely FREE to anywhere in the world.

Got the T-Shirt is a travel and fashion blog written by Fiona Hilliard.  Think of it as a journey through urban trends, high-street fashion, discovering hidden gems and shiny new labels along the way…