HomeTagsPosts tagged with "2018"

2018

A gorgeous and powerfully vivid collection of essays written by Emilie Pine has won the An Post Book of the Year for 2018.

Notes to Self sees Pine writing on a variety of important moments in her life, including sexual assault, fertility problems, sexism in the academia sector, feminism, depression and addiction.

Published by Tramp Press, the book has been widely read around Ireland since it's publication, and has deeply resonated especially with women nationwide who relate to the stark and emotional work.

Emilie tweeted her joy at hearing the news, writing on Twitter: "Delighted and honoured to win Book of the Year 2018….Thank you to everyone who voted."

She also paid tribute to Tramp Press for commissioning the work, which tugged at the heartstrings of Irish women and men nationwide with it's brutal and visceral honesty.

The An Post Irish Book of the Year 2018 was handpicked by a public vote from a list of category winners which were recently announced at the An Post Irish Book Awards.

The esteemed prize boasts previous winners such as John Crowley's Atlas of the Irish Revolution, written with Donal Ó Drisceoil, Mike Murphy and Dr. John Borgonovo, Solar Bones by Mike McCormack, Academy Street by Mary Costello, The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan, Belinda McKeon's Solace, Staring at Lakes by Michael Harding and Asking For It by Louise O'Neill.

Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards Maria Dickenson said; “Emilie Pine’s Notes to Self was one of the great stories in Irish bookselling in 2018 and I’m delighted that the voting public has chosen it as the An Post Book of the Year."

"The power and honesty of Emilie’s essays have captivated readers, and it’s truly gratifying both to see her talent rewarded and to see an Irish publisher like Tramp Press receive this well-deserved recognition," she continued.

Readers of the book couldn't put the engrossing work down. David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, commented on Emilie's wonderful win,

“2018 was a huge year for Irish writing and no book illustrates better why An Post is delighted to sponsor the Irish Book Awards: Emilie Pine’s book, a challenging read, is deeply human and Irish, emotional and clever. An Post thanks all the voters for engaging with the Awards in such large numbers.”

The An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate and promote Irish writing to a wide range of readers, bringing together a massive community who are passionate about writing. Readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians unite to recognise Irish talent.

Congratulations to Emilie on her deserved achievement, we can't wait to consume her next piece of beautiful and fearless writing.

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Lily Allen is a single lady.

The singer made the revelation on Elizabeth Day’s How To Fail podcast.

In fact, Lily and Meridian Dan called time on their three year relationship in December.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by BRILLYALLENT (@lilyallen) on

The split marked a new beginning for Lily as it has been years since she has had to go it solo. 

“I’m single, for the first time since I was about 15. We’ve been broken up for about three weeks," Lily revealed.

“It’s just been bad news after bad news after bad news and I think that fact that I haven’t called him and been like, ‘Hey, wanna come around for a cuddle?’ means that it’s big for me, because ordinarily, when things get difficult, I do need to have somebody around to share those problems.”

“So the fact that I’m dealing with it all on my own, I’m growing up,” she added.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dan London (@meridian_dan) on

Meanwhile, her ex, grime artist Meridian Dan took to Instagram to confess that 2018 hasn't been his finest year.

Underneath a picture of him chilled on a sofa, he wrote: “Like many 2018 wasn’t my best one but towards the end of it I stopped trying and started sowing a few seeds that are going to come to life later this year."

We wish them both well for the coming year.

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Taylor Swift was renowned for her Fourth of July parties in the past, but now it's all about New Year's Eve bashes- in COSTUME no less.

The Reputation star has posted an image to Instagram featuring a slew of celebrities dressed as their childhood heroes, and it's pretty damn unreal.

The singer dressed as Ariel from The Little Mermaid, and we're sure many of her fans may just rush to get her gorgeous red hair and emerald sequin lewk…

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on

She captioned the post:

“Mary Poppins, Audrey, Ariel, Ms. Frizzle, Cinderella, Gwen Stefani, Mr. Toad, Avril, Nancy Drew, Posh Spice, Rizzo, Frida Kahlo, Steve Irwin, Dorothy, " she wrote, alongside four star-studded images.

“This new year we decided to dress up as our childhood heroes. Sending you all love and hope going into 2019."

The party featured Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds (being his gas self) and Gigi Hadid, among others, and our FOMO is real.

Just LOOK at how insanely good Gigi Hadid werks the Mary Poppins costume:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on

No fair.

Where were our invites, though? Must have been misplaced with all the Christmas post and fan mail…

This is a party we'd KILL to attend. Keep slaying, Taylor. With the Grammy's approaching, the star is sure to achieve even more fierceness in 2019.

Feature image: Glamour

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It was a rough 2018 for Demi Lovato.

But despite her struggles, she ended the year on a positive note. 

Kissing goodbye to another year and welcoming 2019, she was "grateful" for the lessons she had learnt.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on

Taking to her Instagram stories, Demi's New Year's Eve celebrations seemed very cosy and quiet.

Taking advantage of the slower pace, she took the time out to reflect on the past 12 months.

She wrote: "So grateful for the lessons I’ve learned this year.” 

“I will never take another day in life for granted, even the bad ones," she added.

Finishing up she thanked those who had supported her throughout the year. 

“Thankful for my fans, friends, family and everyone who supported me throughout this year. God bless," she said.

We are delighted to hear that Demi is doing so well. 

We hope 2019 will be a wonderful year for the singer. 

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Shopping for someone who legit has EVERYTHING, whether it's a best friend, lover or relative, it's tedious as hell.

Especially when you're on a tight budget, you can't afford to get her a new unicorn, expensive brands or luxurious cosmetics.

We've collected a group of weird and wonderful gifts for that gal who has it all, but realistically some of these items are now on our personal 'treat yourself' list of 2019…

We have no shame.

sarcastic doctor who GIF

Enjoy our gift guide, we've discovered some of the internet's most lavish notions about gift-buying so we're off to pop a bottle of vino for no actual reason other than wishing that we, too, had it all.

1. Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer

Dyson, of hoover fame, have released a new Supersonic hairdryer which apparently dries hair RIDICULOUSLY fast, so you won't be late for work in the morning or running around with damp hair.

It's a steep price, but is guaranteed to survive for years as your barnet's new BFF.

Buy: Dyson
Price: €399

2. Ethical silk pillowcases from White & Green

For the woman who has everything, treat her to the highest quality grade A charmeuse silk pillowcases, for the softest sleeping experience imaginable.

White & Green use 100% Ethical Peace Silk, so no silk worms are harmed or boiled in the process of creation.

Buy: White & Green
Price: €65

3. Belkin keychain USB charger

Belkin has released a range of coloured keychains which double up as a charger, and can be attached to any handbag you like.

The charger works for iPads, iPhones and iMacs, and the utter notions tech vibe is frankly gas. We want it.

Buy: Amazon
Price: €15.79 ($17.99)

4. & Other Stories metallic socks gift set

These gorgeous glittery socks come in a pack of three, and are made of organic cotton.

Why have one pair of sparkly socks when you can have THREE? Simply stunning.

Buy: & Other Stories
Price: €25

5. Estee Lauder fragrance treasures

For a limited time only, Brown Thomas are offering a reduced price on this perfume set of Estee Lauder products. What are you waiting for?

All the favourite eau de parfum purse spray scents are included in the one gift box;  Beautiful, Pleasures, ModernMuse and Modern Muse Le Rouge.

Buy: Brown Thomas
Price: €42.30

6. Hymne Desinvolte scented candle

& Other Stories have such a great collection of luxury scented candles; this one is the fleur d'abricot, the soothing aroma of apricots.

For that gal that has it all, posh French candles seem like the perfect plan.

Buy: & Other Stories
Price: €25

7. Wireless earphones

Untangling your earphones can be one of the most tedious tasks known to man, so why not gift a loved one who has everything with some high tech wireless earbuds?

These lightweight, portable earbuds use the highest-quality Bluetooth technology to set you free from cables.

Buy: www.eatechdirect.com
Price: €65

8. Lulu Guinness heart face travel set in black/pink

This luxury travel set from Lulu Guinness will give your gal-pal the ultimate travel glamour.

The iconic set includes a passport holder and a luggage tag, beautifully packaged in a Lulu Guinness print.

Buy: www.johnlewis.com
Price: €87

9. Personalised wine glass

She's got it all, but has she got her name on a swanky wine glass? Chances are, probably not.

This is definitely a boujee gift for a gal with it all, leave a gas message on it while you're at it.

Buy: www.personalisedgiftshop.co.uk
Price: €11.20 (converted from £9.99)

10. Charlotte Tilbury mini Hollywood liquid lipstick charms

These jaw-dropping lipstick charms, Too Bad I'm Bad and Show Girl are the ideal gift for that gal who just seems to have everything known to man.

A nourishing rosy pink shade and dark berry tone are included as a portable set of the Charlotte Tilbury bestsellers.

Buy: Charlotte Tilbury
Price: €21

11. Nothing….

The ultimate minimalist statement is the gift of… no gift.

For the gal who has it all, once she opens this she'll really want the gift of something.

Buy: Amazon
Price: €8.28

12. Spice Girls, SPICE: vintage record vinyl

Has to be done. They might have it all, but they most likely haven't had a chance to go out and buy the Spice Girls classic vinyl SPICE.

She'll be delighted with this present, any gal would be. You're spicing up her Christmas.

Buy: ASOS
Price: €29.03

13. Seletti banana lamp

One thing we can confirm without needing a single source is that your gal pal DOES NOT own this random AF banana lamp that costs a silly amount of money.

If you have the cash and confidence to match this stupendously ridiculous lamp, why not buy it?

Buy: ASOS
Price: €269.59

14. Holika Holika Wine Therapy Sleeping Mask (Red Wine)

Red wine therapy sleeping mask is from Korean brand Holika Holika, and it uses red wine extract with its jelly-like texture to melt effortlessly onto your skin and absords it to deliver anti-ageing benefits… all while you sleep.

Wait, so red wine has the power to do this? You betcha. Give it to your best gal, or keep it for yourself.

Buy: www.lookfantastic.com
Buy: €20.95

15. Kiehl's Creme de Corps Whipped Body Butter

This gorgeous light body cream has 24-hour dehydration, smells magnificent and absorbs quickly to deliver deep moisture.

What better gift to bequeath a friend who has it all? She might have everything but moisturised skin is always a great present.

Buy: Kiehls
Price: €43

And that's a (gift) wrap, ladies.

Have fun shopping for the woman who has everything, it's a tricky challenge but not impossible.

You just need to think outside of the box, and explore the weird and wonderful corners of the internet.

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Victoria's Secret have been at the forefront of a debate on body diversity in recent weeks. 

The spotlight focused squarely on the brand, after comments made by creative director Ed Razek, who said they weren't willing to cast plus-size or transgender models in this year's show in order to maintain the 'fantasy' aspect of the show. 

Victoria's Secret later said that they were perfectly happy to cast a transgender model in the show, and that transgender individuals were always welcome to come to castings, but that it just hadn't happened yet. A few weeks after the scandal, the show aired on December 2nd – to it's lowest ratings ever. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Victoria's Secret (@victoriassecret) on

According to Entertainment Weekly, it garnered 3.3 million viewers for the 2018 show.

This is compared to 5 million last year, an almost 25% drop. 

However, the show's views have dropped steadily in the past few years, so it is unclear whether this is due to a boycott following Razek's comments. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Victoria's Secret (@victoriassecret) on

Another aspect that could contribute is the fact that there was a heavy saturation of sneak peeks at the show via social media. 

In previous years, the final show was a well guarded secret, with looks from the show being kept under wraps until the airing – however with the likes of Instagram models who walk in the show and attendees alike are able to share snippets of the show weeks ahead of the air date. 

Did you watch the show? 

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It is well and truly the end of an angelic age. Supermodel and all-round BADASS lady, Adriana Lima, has bid an emotional goodbye to Victoria's Secret after walking in their star-studded catwalk show for the final time. We'd sob too.

Lima walked in her first Victoria's Secret show way back in 1999, and has remained one of their prime angels ever since. She is also a fan favourite, with many on the internet referring to her as… wait for it… THE GREATEST ANGEL OF ALL TIME. (#goat)

She is retiring from the infamous lingerie brand at the age of 37, and we have no doubt that hanging up those flawless diamond wings must be a difficult thing for the Brazilian supermodel, as VS cemented her career as a supermodel goddess.

The veteran model received a standing ovation as she carried out her final walk, wearing a sheer, sparkling top, blue lingerie, feathered beige heels and those statement wings. She looked like a vision, as per.

Lima was understandably tearful as she waved at the camera, saying goodbye to her fans and fellow angels with the glamour and grace of a true #angel. We're not crying. You're crying. 

In a moving Instagram post showing her best moments from a compilation of 19 shows, Lima wrote a caption thanking the brand for all that they have done for her:

"Dear Victoria, thank you for showing me the world, sharing your secrets, and most importantly not just giving me wings but teaching me to fly. And all the love to the best fans in the world! Love, Adriana."

Lima is now a mother of two, and was the longest-serving Victoria's Secret model and Angel, as well as acting as a spokesperson for the company. She joined forces with them at the tender age of 18.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Adriana Lima (@adrianalima) on

She has stomped the runway at the lingerie brand's annual televised show every year except 2009, while she was pregnant with Valentina, daughter number two.

She had been aiming to walk a total of 20 Victoria's Secret shows, as People reported back in 2017; 

"Maybe more, I don't know. It's nature. I'm working out, I'm being healthy, so let's see how the body is going to turn out. But I enjoy it. So let's say 20."

However, this changed when Lima spoke about the long-term struggles of modelling, and the tribulations of focusing on body confidence while being permanently aware of what you look like.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Adriana Lima (@adrianalima) on

She posted on Instagram:

"I had received a call for the possibility of filming a sexy video of me to be posted and shared in social media. Even though I have done many of this type, something had changed in me, when a friend approached me to share that she was unhappy with her body. 

"Then it made me think…. that everyday in my life, I wake up thinking, how do I look? Was I going to be accepted in my job?"

"And in that moment I realized that majority of woman probably wake up every morning trying to fit in a stereotype that society/social media/fashion etc imposed…. I thought that's not a way of living and beyond that…. that's not physically and mentally healthy, so I decided to make that change," she continued.

"I will not take [off] my clothes anymore for [an] empty cause….. #Embraceyouself #natureisbeautiful #naturalissexy #LOVEYOU."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Adriana Lima (@adrianalima) on

Her body confidence post inspired many fans to speculate that she was ending her ties with Victoria's Secret, which is renowned for the immense pressure it puts on it's models to look a certain way, and be a certain weight. It notoriously only showcases one body type on the runway.

The VS models are put through a gruelling exercise regime and diet, which many find almost impossible to endure for more than a few years. Adriana Lima, as the brand's longest-serving angel and mother-of-two, appears to have felt that the time was right to hang up her wings.

We'll miss her working those stunning catwalk #LEWKS every year, but her career is still booming. Age and beauty standards definitely won't hold this gal back.

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This October Bank Holiday Weekend, get involved with the supernatural with Samhain's annual Bram Stoker Festival; four days of adventures await.

One of Ireland’s most infamous writers has a legacy worth celebrating, there’s something for everyone with highlights including theatre performances, illustration, readings, animations, outdoor screenings, family fun parks, podcasts and electrifying adventures taking place over the course of three spine-tingling days.

1. PaINTCLUB x Bram Stoker, The Irish Emigration Museum, Fri 26 Oct, 7pm-10pm

Unleash your inner artist at Paintclub’s Paint & Wine: Bram Stoker Festival edition, where you’ll re-create a Stoker inspired painting over some vino. Underneath the streets of Dublin, at Dublin’s EPIC, retrace the steps of our fair city’s ancestors and see the journey of Irish emigrants before arriving at the pop-up Paintclub studio deep in EPIC’s 19th century vaults.

No painting experience is required for this creative, fun and relaxed night where art and history meet, in vaults which have seen it all – you will be guided with step by step instruction from blank canvas to haunting masterpiece, which is yours to take home!

Tickets: €55

2. BRAM: audio ghost tour, Dublin 1, October 1st – December 31st,

BRAM is a haunted audio tour inspired by the classically creepy works of the legendary author himself. Immerse yourself in the ghoulish words of the master of terror as you wander through the maze of Dublin’s nightmare streets on this ghastly audio adventure. Just put your headphones on and experience terror downloaded straight into your ears, submerge yourself in the world of Bram himself. The audio tour costs a mere €5.80, you’d be mad to miss it.

3. Night of the Shifting Bog, St. Anne’s Park, Fri 26 Oct – Mon 29 Oct, 8.30pm & 10.00pm,

Their 2016 show at Bram Stoker Festival ‘Behind the Dark’ sold out within 24 hours, so be forewarned and grab tickets for the world premiere of this thrilling new show from world renowned aerial performance company, Loosysmokes. Night of the Shifting Bog is inspired by the landscapes of Stoker’s imagination in his first and only work set in Ireland, The Snake’s Pass. Using the woodlands in the park as their stage, this dark, immersive and atmospheric aerial acrobatic show will both enthral and spook adventurous audiences.

Tickets: €16

4. Macnas Parade, Dublin 1, Mon 29 Oct, 7pm – 8pm

Bram Stoker Festival once again welcome the internationally renowned spectacle company Macnas to the streets of Dublin for an unforgettable free nightfall parade. The parade has become a much-admired Bram Stoker festival feature. Join people of all ages along the city’s streets as evening falls on Monday October 29th for Out of the Wild Sky, a haunting and hair-raising parade of otherworldly enchantment. Pioneers of imagination and creators of amazing spectacles will bring captivating excitement to the dark Dublin streets, it sounds UNREAL. Check out the route below:

5. Stokerland, St. Patrick’s Park, Sat 27 Oct & Sun 28 Oct, 11am – 4.30pm

Introducing a rare pop-up Victorian fun park for all ages, which opens its gothic gates this weekend in St. Patricks Park. Dublin’s stunning cathedrals act as a gothic backdrop for this eerie gathering , presenting street theatre, a performance tent, free face-painting, Victorian funfair rides, macabre thrills and gruesome games for all to experience. As well as entertainment, Stokerland is complete with a food village, making it the ideal family fun day. We recommend fancy dress, btw, it’s the Halloween Bank Holiday weekend after all. Admission is free, but rides and concessions have small charges. BYOS is encouraged. (Bring your own snax)

6. Dracula’s Disco, The Ark, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Mon 29 Oct, 2pm-4pm

Dracula’s own DJ will be getting the crowds in the spooky dance spirit, spinning the decks and scratching vinyl at our outdoor family party. DJ Will Softly will be raving on The Ark’s outdoor stage, complete with confetti cannons to inspire some immortal dance moves. Come along in costume for maximum demonic disco banter. The event is free entry on a first come, first served basis, no pre-booking required. Final entry is at 3.45pm, get down early if you can.

7. Slice: the Gothic Graphic Novel Live, Belvedere House, 6 Great Denmark St, Sat 27 Oct , 1pm

Stray Lines Comics Collective illuminate the dark side with the precision of lab scientists, and serve an absolute feast of deadly thrills. This immersive storytelling experience combines music, sound design, projected illustration and live performance to give the feeling of theatre, cinema and animation combined. Showcasing the comic artists Debbie Jenkinson, Paddy Lynch, Katherine Foyle, Philip Barrett and Elida Maiques, this is one event that’s not to be missed.

Tickets: €13

8. Creature Features: The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Glasnevin, Fri/Sat/Sun 8pm-10pm

Friday: Arachnophobia
Saturday: Little Shop of Horrors
Sunday: Invasion of the Bodysnatchers

Creature Features is 3 nights of adults-only horror-comedy screenings within the walls of the National Botanic Gardens. Gather your friends for after-hours shenanigans and natural-horror thrills, with the stunning Victorian glasshouses as a subtly spooky backdrop.

Tickets: €16

9. Nesferatu: Symphony of a Century, St. Ann’s Church, Dawson St. D2, Fri 26th Oct, 7pm & 9pm.

An animated interpretation of the Andrea Mastrovito’s classic 1922 horror film Nosferatu.
In present day New York City, NYsferatu gives the original film it’s own unique twist, positioning the dynamic vampire character as the ‘abject outsider’- an emigrant escaping war at home only to face economic exploitation, discrimination and prejudice in their new place of living. The film retells the story of the vampire through the lens of modern-day fears about xenophobia surrounding Islam as well as immigration, and refugees. This sentient cinematic feature is also made up of 35,000 hand-drawn images which replicate early cinema. Tickets: €21

Here’s a taster of the film for any curious creatures:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOYBsf-nE08

10. The Horrors in the Black Church, The Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle, Dame St, Fri 26, Sat 27, Sun 28 & Mon 29 Oct at 7pm and 9pm

Enter the gothic Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle, take your final resting place on the pews within and witness three of Irish theatre’s darkest minds coming together to create a theatrical delight. The Horrors in the Black Church displays three short horror plays within one show. Enjoy a trio of terrifying stories from the altar specially made to stop your heart.

Tickets: €13

Check out the Bram Stoker Festival website for more info on the most chilling weekend of the entire year, prepare to get scared.

#bitemedublin

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I recall my first encounter with Benetton like it was yesterday, even though it was more than a decade ago. 

On a family trip to New York (during the boom, obvs) my aunties, cousins and I were wandering around the city that never sleeps, spending our Celtic Tiger-converted dollars on clothes to bring back home. 

My aunties, purists when it came to the quality of clothing, quickened their pace when they spotted the United Colors of Benetton flagship store on the prestigious 5th Avenue. 

I think I remember it so well because of the wall to ceiling rainbow of folded jumpers which awaited us inside, and even today in their Dublin flagship, the iconic kaleidoscope of virgin wool is a key aspect of the store. 

My aunties bundled me into the dressing room of the behemoth New York store, buried under a mound of soft fabric and sturdy denim to try on a series of outfits, before I settled on an evergreen turtleneck jumper that genuinely, to this day, is folded up in a drawer in my house, without a loose thread or bobbling texture to be seen.

Granted, it's now folded up in my little sister's drawer rather than mine, and while I wore mine with printed bandanas and low rise jeans (the height of sophistication in my day), she wears it now with high-waisted suede miniskirts and under trendy, sporty outerwear. The longevity of the clothing is undeniable, and the A/W 2018 collection combines that timelessness with updated key trends for the new season. 

I went along to Benetton's breakfast showcase this morning, styled by the sartorially scrupulous Laura Mullet, to see what exactly the heritage brand was bringing to the table for the upcoming season.  

Along with the classic tailoring and sumptuous but built-to-last fabrics of their basics, the A/W collection incorporates some key contemporary trends into these quality standards. 

Starting with the classic jumper – while I saw the rainbow wall in all of it's organised glory, the knits also come in folky, Nordic patterns and almost tie-die effect prints.

 

Not only were knits getting a splash of print, they were also being knitted in some of this season's most on-trend shades. 

Acid green and baby blue were stand outs, as was a mohair zingy orange style that was screaming out to be teamed with a muted plaid trouser and boots. 

The jumpers were also given interesting new cuts, with scooped necks and very cropped hems. 

The entire collection managed to maintain a very Benetton vibe while pointing to contemporary undertones. The classic Benetton corduroy jeans were there, but in autumnal hues, and stacked alongside super flared jeans – the fashion version of Mom jeans, according to Laura. 

Wool shift dresses were given a Clueless makeover with bright plaid prints, and were styled with berets and colourful tights to kep your head and legs cosy. 

When print wasn't being utilised, texture came into play in a big way.

Teddy bear coats are a key outerwear piece this year, and while we're used to seeing them in a bomber jacket style in 50 shades of beige, Benetton's adaption is longline, russet brown and belted with leather. 

As for the bomber, velvet comes into play in a dusky cornflower blue. While bombers are traditionally boxy, Bentton's has a tailored edge with gathered sleeves and wide lapels. 

Trousers came flared or skinny, but always in rich suede, velvets or light denims. 

There was no shying away from statement fabrics either, with silk, feathering and sequins all playing their part to create the ultimate capsule of cropped jackets for party season. 

Overall the collection is ideal for layering in to any wardrobe, with the tailored elements of the pieces rendering them timeless, allowing then to survive in a sea of fast fashion for seasons to come. 

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Twitter is freaking out over Madonna’s recent tribute to the late Aretha Franklin, calling her speech ‘a very moving tribute to herself’.

And it seems most people are in agreement with that perspective.

At MTV’s Video Music Awards on Monday, Madonna entered the stage dressed in a floor-length, black dress, appropriate for her mourning of the legendary ‘Queen of Soul’.

“Aretha Louise Franklin changed the course of my life.” The pop singer began her speech to honour Aretha.

Madonna told her story of how singing Aretha’s "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at an audition changed her life, causing her discovery, and setting her on a course to fame.

Photo Credit: Instagram/@madonna

The Pop Queen continued her rags to riches tale, saying that “none of this would have happened, could have happened without our lady of soul”.

She led me to where I am today and I know she influenced so many people in this room tonight,” she said. “I want to thank you Aretha for empowering all of us.”

However, contrary to her intended effect, the American singer’s anecdote immediately encountered opposition online from viewers everywhere.

Comedian Roy Wood Jr joked on Twitter: “'If it wasn't for Aretha, we wouldn't have Madonna'- Madonna.”

Author Michael Arceneaux tweeted: “‘You’re probably all wondering why I am telling this story.’ Yes, Madonna”.

The singer also came under attack for her outfit choice: chunky, silver jewellery with pops of red, and a matching headband adorned with spikes.

Commenters said that her ‘African jewellery’ was an attempt to claim black culture.

One user ranted that “this was not an #Aretha tribute but a monologue on how another iconic Black woman is being reduced to how she helped a white woman.”

Others  have come to Madonna’s defence, calling her speech ‘moving’ and on point by  ‘thanking [Aretha] for empowering all female artists.’

While Madonna has yet to respond to her recent tribute haters, we expect she will feel forced to clarify her intentions soon.

Meanwhile, other influencers have spoken out in tribute to the legendary soul singer, including Adele, Ariana Grande, and Paul McCartney.

Former American president, Barack Obama said that ‘Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect.”

It is clear that Aretha has made an impact on musical history, not just in the genre of soul but for women everywhere, demonstrating how a legendary voice and raw, feminine power can change the world.

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We're already more than excited for this summer's festival season, and kicking it all off on the June bank holiday is Forbidden Fruit. 

The early bird tickets are currently flying out the door, and with good reason. 

The festival previously revealed that The War on Drugs would be taking to the stage at the Dublin festival, and now more acts have been added to the line up. 

Richie Hawtin, Four Tet Live, Mike D, Ben UFO, DJ Deece, Ibibio Sound Machine and AE MAK have all bee added to the festival rota. 

The festival, which takes place at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham, has also identified which acts are playing on what days. 

Saturday will see Glass Animals, Justice and Richie Hawtin take to the stage. 

On Sunday, Bonobo, Four Tet and Vince Staples will perform for the throngs of festival goers. 

Rounding off the Bank Holiday weekend is The War on Drugs, Warpaint, Thunder Cat, Grizzly Bear and Superorganism. 

We wouldn't miss it. 

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Leo Varadkar has announced that in his first year as Taoiseach, Ireland will balance its books in the 2018 budget.

There are a number of expected developments for next year's budget, which will be announced this afternoon.

Significant increases in spending on schools, transport and housing are due to be revealed.

There will also be more spent on the public sector, which will mean the possibility of an increase in nurses, Gardaí and teachers.

It has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected that those on social welfare will see an increase in their payments by €5 per week.

It is not known when exactly this increase will come into effect.

It is also expected that a sugar tax will be introduced to curb our consumption of fizzy drinks.

The price of cigarettes is also set to increase.

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