Showing posts with label bonzie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bonzie. Show all posts

Sunday, 28 August 2011

Creative Café #11 ★


right so, it's time for another Creative Café feature! i'm kind of excited about this one since it's for such an incredible brand and design team!

go on then, go and get your tea, coffee or if you're feeling particularly hedonistic you might want to grab a glass of champagne, it's going to be a very decadent and rather pretty post so if you want to put some lipstick on that's fine too, maybe fluff your hair a bit...

got the biscuits, cake, macaroons... caviar?!

great, let's get started...

you may have remembered that during my recent trip to Ireland, while in Waterford i visited a fab little Vintage shop (Vintage Trig, read all about it here - Rainy Waterford) and at the shop, the very lovely Agnes told me all about a local brand called 'Bonzie' and their beautiful handmade boleros and fascinators she stocked in the shop.

well i did more research when i got home and asked them if they'd be willing to let me feature some of their designs on here...

fortunately they said yes so now i get to share their lovely stuff with you all!!!

so today's post is all about the very VERY awesome and fabulous Waterford based Irish design duo Yvonne and Ger, aka Bonzie


so basically, Bonzie is all about "Vintage Inspired Fashion by Modern Hands" this means that all of the incredible boleros, wraps, corsets, dresses, skirts, corsages, blazers, tees, collars, fascinators, hats, reticules, cuffs (and everything else they carefully make!) are all bursting with delicately exquisite details consisting of only the most sumptuous of materials!


"Bonzie" is an Independent Irish Design Label with Romantic Vintage Appeal. Aunt and Niece, design duo, Ger and Yvonne work on their creative passion from their studios in Ireland. 


 their designs are so decadent and beautiful, and so carefully created, it makes every item a piece of gorgeous couture! i imagine that slipping on a Bonzie piece is like becoming a princess for the day! everything they produce is just flawlessly stunning and intrinsically feminine!


unfortunately since i was only in Waterford for a day, i never got chance to visit the Bonzie studio in the city, but the boleros and fascinators in Agnes' shop were so gorgeous i knew i'd have to find out more about such stunning creations.


"Bonzie Designs is quickly becoming Europe’s leading must have fashion brand, utilising modern technologies and centuries old techniques." 


"Each Bonzie piece is hand crafted at their purpose built studios, using hand picked sumptuous textiles that are sourced from the finest mills around the World. Each piece encompasses intricate detailing that is unique to that garment and ensuring that no two pieces of Bonzie clothing are the same."


the result... perfection!

from what i gather, Bonzie offer a bespoke service to both men and women. they will help you create the perfect piece whether it's for your wedding, prom/debs, a party, burlesque performances, or extra special tailor made pieces, perhaps for a Steampunk convention, a Victorian fancy dress ball, no matter what it is you're after, they clearly have the skills and the knowledge to make it a reality.

using only the most wonderful materials, they'll create you the perfect tailored blazer, a frothy tulle gown, a stunning fascinator, corsets, skirts, accessories to make everyone in the room stop and stare, not to mention handmade corsages so intricate they'll delight the socks off you!




even their studio in Waterford looks absolutely divine! like something from a fairytale...





anyway, we all know i like to gush and ramble on during these posts so i'll hush up now! you take your time and look through some of their truly sublime pieces...






















absolutely stunning! their creations are so amazing i'm running out of words to describe them!

if you'd like to get your hands on a unique piece of Bonzie Couture, you can contact the studio via - info@bonziedesigns.com

or visit their etsy shop for a better idea of the items they make - Bonzie 

i also recomend that you stop by their pretty website and have a look through the galleries - Bonzie Designs

you can also visit their blog here for more info on up-and-coming collections, projects + studio info and client testimonials - B O N Z I E

and don't forget to 'Like' their fan page on facebook - Bonzie

+ you can also follow them via twitter - @bonziedesigns

once again, i'd like to say a MASSIVE thank you to Yvonne and Ger for saying 'yes' and letting me feature their incredible label here


thank you thank you thank you! :) x

All images featured in this post belong to Bonzie© do not claim, use, distribute, reproduce or trace ANY of their work without their express written consent. All Rights Reserved.

* * *

so i didn't post yesterday after all! you see i WAS going to but then i got ridicuslouly distracted on Pottermore... if you don't know what Pottermore is, go and google it! and if you do know what it is... i got in on Friday night and i'm a Ravenclaw (message me if you're on already and would like to add me)

anyway, since then i've not really been up to much! other than working on commission files, i had a great catch up this morning with my old graphics teacher Rob who has enlisted my help for a small project

but apart from that... really haven't been up to much!

i've got a few more creative café posts lined up (as always!) so expect one or two of those to pop up next week!

but until then, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX


ps - there's only 3 days left to enter the August Giveaway, there's been about 155 entries so far so if you still haven't entered... now would probably be a good time to get those entries in!


click here to see the prizes + find out how YOU can enter to get your hands on all those gorgeous kawaii goodies! -




Friday, 19 August 2011

Rainy Waterford ★

today i've been wandering around Waterford (in the rain...)

Waterford is a great city, lots to see, especially the architecture! i spotted some gorgeous buildings today while i was out strolling around in my winter boots and trenchcoat with my polka dot umbrella!







i also spotted some brilliant graffiti art on Michael street in the City centre





it's been a few years since i last visited Waterford so i was looking forward to visiting some stores i remembered from my last visit but today i found the most amazing little vintage clothes shop!!!

it's only been open for a few months so i'm verrrry glad that i found it today!

i spotted this beautiful pink dress in the window and knew i'd have to go in for a closer look! and boy am i glad i did!!!


Vintage Trig really is an amazing little treasure trove of vintage goodies!



the shop is full of the most gorgeous dresses and accessories from several decades + i spotted the most adorable pairs of vintage Gucci, Christian Dior, BCMG Max Azria, Salvatore Ferragamo and Miu Miu shoes!



there are pretty dresses, handbags, scarves, hats and accessories from the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's dotted about all over the place! 




even the wallpaper is brilliant! well you know what a sucker i am for a funky retro interior!!!


but as if all that vintage loveliness wasn't enough! you can also get your hands on the most exquisite hand crafted fascinators and boleros made by local based Irish Aunt and Niece, design duo, Ger and Yvonne better known as the brand 'Bonzie'





stunning stuff!!!

you can check out the amazing 'Bonzie' website here - Bonzie


unsurprisingly as well, the dresses on sale in the shop look even more amazing on! check out these 3 shots from the store's brilliant website 





soooo fabulous!


the shop is owned by the very fabulous and very lovely Agnes, here she is posing by some of the vintage gowns on offer in her gorgeous shop!




unfortunately i'm only in Waterford overnight, tomorrow i'm heading off to Dublin! but i will DEFINITELY be back even if it's just to go and visit 'Vintage Trig' again!

be sure visit the super duper Vintage Trig website and online shop here - Vintage Trig

+ read about the Irish vintage fashion and decor fair at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire (where i stayed last August!) here on Agnes' blog - Vintage Trig Blog

oh and go and 'Like' the shop's Facebook fan page - Vintage Trig

or follow via Twitter to keep up to date with new vintage arrivals - @vintagetrig

massive MASSIVE thanks to the lovely Agnes for letting me snap some photos of her lovely shop, she is very super duper! so Agnes, if you're reading this, it was lovely to meet you, i LOVE your shop and i love how enthusiastic you are about vintage fashion! and thank you for letting me bombard the shop and take photos :) x

* * *

now i may have mentioned once or twice before that i'm rather partial to reading... yeah i think i've mentioned it!

anyway, another reason that i wanted to come back to Waterford was because it has what can only be described as quite possibly one of THE grooviest book shops that i've ever visited!!! and trust me... i've travelled the world visiting book stores so this is no exaggeration!

the 'Book Centre' in Waterford is based in the old Savoy Cinema and from the outside it looks like any other little high street book shop, but when you go inside... it's magic!



the place is like a tardis! you go in and it's just massive in there! and there are shelves full of books everywhere!!! it isn't hard to see why i love it so much...


the shop is just brilliant to walk around, shelves are lined up in curves and dips, up stairs, on balconies, in the shadow of a massive floor to ceiling mural painted over where the old cinema screen would have been! it's incredible



winding staircases just go up and up taking you to the Art book section + a big stationary/art supplies store in the higher mezzanine levels!

i LOVE it!

also, the lovely shop assistant that served me (i bought some arty materials... surprise, surprise!) was also telling me all about the recent Tall Ships festival in the city + recommended some great sounding café's and restaurants! so thanks to him for that :)

but to be honest now i'm kind of gutted that i was only here for a day! it sucks to be honest, i'd love another couple of days here, not that i'm not looking forward to Dublin (of course i am!!!) it's just that one day isn't nearly enough time to have a proper look round + i never got chance to visit any of the places people recommended i visit!

sorry Waterford... i'll try and come back soon for a PROPER visit!

* * *


so yesterday i didn't blog because i felt poorly in the evening so i shall recap you now! 

in the morning we set off for Waterford...

it started out a lovely sunny day so we stopped for breakfast (well... brunch!) at a gorgeous little bistro/café

it had the cutest tablecloths and tableware! check out these plates!!!


there were stacks of freshly made cakes, loaves and scones so i picked a fruity scone + some delicious red gooseberry jam! YUMMMMY


+ a spot of 'proper' breakfast!


anyway, after that we went to Lismore for a bit since i just LOVE Lismore!!! it's one of my fave little towns in Ireland after i stayed there for a few days during my last trip to Co Waterford a few years ago

unfortunately it was raining so i couldn't snap any photos! so to make-do... here's a shot of me in the park there last year + a photo of the very VERY beautiful Lismore Castle!



* * *

well not much else to report for now! as i said i'm heading into Dublin tomorrow for a few days so expect a bit of a moan about how i want EVERYTHING in the flagship Brown Thomas on Grafton Street!!!

so until then, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX