Electric Picnic & My Hair Dilemma.

So, as part of Trinity Orchestra (plays Daft Punk), I'm lucky enough to be playing on the main stage at Electric Picnic at 12:30pm this coming Saturday.  To anyone who will be attending the festival, it would be great to see you there!

(this is just us doing my favourite song off the album; 'Something About Us')

The second thing I planned to write about in this post is my ongoing dilemma about my hair.

My hair, at this moment, is probably the longest I've ever had it.  Though I do enjoy having longer hair, it is in terrible condition.

This leads me to believe that there's no point in having my length of hair if all it does is crack/look dry.

This is why I've half decided to cut it off.  Nothing too drastic, but something like this; 

This way my hair will grow more healthily, as I haven't had a good haircut for ages.  

I love the look of this length (might get the colour too), I just hope and pray that it will suit me.

What do you guys think?

DRESS SHOPPING; the good and the bad.

With my first ever Trinity Ball in just two weeks time, I was starting to stress about finding the perfect dress.  There's a great little boutique in Cork called Amity which I decided would be my first port of call.  Alas, though I found two gorgeous dresses, my size was sold out in both, and I wouldn't be back in Cork on time to collect one had I ordered it in.  Seeing as I had already retired ASOS, Nasty Gal and all my usual online haunts, I had begun to despair a little bit.  However, last Monday when I was in Topshop I found exactly what I was looking for.  Relief.

To accessorize the dress I picked up a pretty cocktail ring and some bright nail polish, and I have yet to find shoes and a bag.  Now I just live in the hope that no one else will turn up in my dress (it's likely, I know.)

(I'll post pictures during the weekend after the Ball.)

Below are a few options (alternative to physically going shopping) when searching for that perfect dress;

Rent it:

I recently came across a website called Girl Meets Dress. This great website offers designer dresses for rent.  Why is this so great?  You'll never have to wear the same dress again, nor will you have to worry about spending way over budget.  From Marchesa to Chloe to Proenza Schouler- they have it all.

hire this Marc Jacobs Rainbow Paillette Dress for £89.

(Retail price; £900.)

hire this Herve Leger Fuschia Dress for £129.

(retail price; £1,252.)

hire this Marchesa Notte Bow Cocktail Dress for £179.

(retail price; £540.)

Thrift It:

Living in Dublin, we're lucky enough to be surrounded by great vintage stores.  There's Harlequin, Wild Child, Lucy's Lounge, 9 Crow Street and Jenny Vander, just to name a few.  If you're skilled at rifling through racks of clothing, then thrifting a dress is certainly for you.  Online options include the Rokit website or Ebay, though I would say that with vintage dresses and such, you're better off trying it on.

Black Velvet & Satin A-Line Dress;

£40, from Rokit.

Purple Satin & Lace Dress;

£45, from Rokit.

Black Sequinned Strapless Peplum Cocktail Dress;

£45, Rokit.

Borrow It:

If you're lucky enough to have a sister or friend who wears the same size; lucky you.  There's absolutely no shame in borrowing a dress, think of all the money you'll save and can spend on makeup/shoes/extra drinks for the night!  The only drawback about wearing a borrowed dress is you've got to be extra careful; you don't want to make your friend an enemy.

OSCAR Fingal O'Flahertie Wills WILDE; The Festival.

Call me a clichéd literature enthusiast, but Oscar Wilde has always been exceptionally highly ranked as far as my writers of preference go.  An author who, in my opinion, can travel with one from early childhood to the depths of old age, Wilde's aestheticism, artistic characteristics, sheer talent and wit are just the tip of the iceberg as far as my captivation goes.  The first book of Wilde's I ever picked up was a collection of his short stories given to me by my grandparents as a small child, and it is safe to say that I never looked back.  Not for one moment.  One of my best purchases of recent years was 'The Collected Works of Oscar Wilde' which sits beautifully upon my book shelf, and is certainly a staple item to my library.

Of course it is not only my love for Wilde which has inspired me to write this post, but also the fact that I am currently a student in the University to which Wilde is an alumnus.  Amazing?  I think so too.  Because I'm only in first year, everything about Trinity is still so majestically new to me.  The campus is still in possession of all it's awe and wonder, some of which is possibly lost for second, third or fourth years.  Needless to say, I was both awestruck and overjoyed to discover that Trinity had an entire festival dedicated to such an icon.

Tonight, Rupert Everett will open the festival, and this will be followed by 'The Trials of Oscar Wilde', both in the GMB, and both of which I hope to attend.  Players Theatre will be showing "Jack and Algernon", "The Importance of Being Earnest", "The Happy Prince" and "Lady Wilde" all week, and these performances will be complimented by Wilde readings, debates and nights out.  I, for one, simply cannot wait for the festivities to get into full swing; it is certainly fitting to organise such a tribute to one of the most crucial advocates of English literature.  Enjoy!