Tell me what to bring!

LolaLuv

Hey ladies (and gents, if there are any)! I'm a 24-year-old American, and I'm going to be spending the next year in Dublin. I've been buying clothes like mad and have tons of things to wear when I go out, but I have no idea what to get for wearing in general (to class, running errands, etc.) What are the popular things women are wearing in Dublin right now? What can't you live without? If you've been to America and have seen trends that would horrify Dubliners, that would be helpful, too!

brianthebard

Don't wear uggs.Its going to be quite wet and cold,so appropriate footwear i think would be the most important thing i imagine.Girls will have better advice than that tbh.

LolaLuv

Thanks for the reply! I hate Uggs, it's nice to hear that Ireland does as well. All the vapid college girls wear them here, makes me sick.

I figured footwear would be important, but shopping for shoes is something I'm horrible at. Hopefully the ladies will be able to help me out there.

Thanks again!

spinandscribble

don't wear pj bottoms to class. thats what all the american students do and it looks really odd, plus it doesn't help you fit in if thats what you're after.

LolaLuv

Yeah, I don't do that either although it is really, really common. Lots of my friends would go to class in pajamas and uncombed hair.

It's not really that I'm concerned about fitting in, but I'm from a rural part of PA where no one ever dresses up for anything, so I've fallen behind on trends and don't want it to be obvious when I'm in Dublin. I want to look nice and presentable, basically.

spinandscribble

nice jeans are a must. if you're slim, skinny jeans are still very popular over here. if you're curvy, wideleg pants/jeans are coming back into fashion.
look at topshop.com and asos.com for the latest trends. asos.com is great! plus they ship to america.
where in PA are ya? I'm actually moving to westchester in a few months.

LolaLuv

Tbh, I've never even tried on a pair of skinny jeans because I have hips so I think they'd be wretched on me. Do people were bootcuts or flares? Awesome advice, I'll check out the websites too!

Oh, wow, that's cool! Are you going to the college there, or is it a permanent move? I'm from Williamsport, about 3 hours from West Chester. Have you been there before? In case you haven't it's really close to Philly and King of Prussia, which has the best mall in PA, so I'm sure you'll have a great time. If there's anything I can help you out with, let me know!

spinandscribble

i don't wear skinny jeans either but like i said widelegs are in. so flares are definitely in. bootcuts are always around. However skirts are very popular too. trust me, a skirt, a pair of boots and good tights will be better in the rain then jeans.
What uni are you going to and what are you studying btw?
i'm starting a job there with Devereux, looking forward to it!

Pythia

Abercrombie is popular over here. Skinny jeans, uggs, ballet pumps, smock type tops, short skirts with leggings too. I would think a lot of girls also wear a lot of make up in college and most girls straighten their hair every day.

LolaLuv

Do people wear wellies? I saw on another thread that someone was buying them, and I've only ever known one person who's owned a pair so that kind of surprised me. Or do you just mean regular boots? And holy crap, tights?? :eek: Those are basically outlawed in America. But I guess they'd be sort of necessary in Ireland. I think I have no concept of how much it rains, and that's scaring me.

I'm going to Trinity to study literature.

Pythia

PillyPen wrote: »

Do people wear wellies? I saw on another thread that someone was buying them, and I've only ever known one person who's owned a pair so that kind of surprised me. Or do you just mean regular boots? And holy crap, tights?? :eek: Those are basically outlawed in America. But I guess they'd be sort of necessary in Ireland. I think I have no concept of how much it rains, and that's scaring me.

I'm going to Trinity to study literature.

Very dark black tights are really popular.

And yes, it rains a lot. And when it's not raining, it's often threatening to rain.

spinandscribble

seriously no tights? well the yanks better get used to me wearing them lol.
some wear wellies. personally i never would. leather boots do the same job.

LolaLuv

Pythia wrote: »

Abercrombie is popular over here. Skinny jeans, uggs, ballet pumps, smock type tops, short skirts with leggings too. I would think a lot of girls also wear a lot of make up in college and most girls straighten their hair every day.

Well, that pretty much takes away any hope I had of looking decent haha. No skinny jeans, leggings, uggs, or straight hair for me. Although I do love me some makeup.

LolaLuv

Pythia wrote: »

And yes, it rains a lot. And when it's not raining, it's often threatening to rain.

That will probably be hard to get used to. Do you ever miss the sun?

spinandscribble wrote: »

seriously no tights? well the yanks better get used to me wearing them lol.
some wear wellies. personally i never would. leather boots do the same job.

They've sort of been making a comeback for celebrities, but I haven't seen any real people wearing them. Leggings are out, too. But I wouldn't worry about it. Europe's always been more fashion-forward than the U.S., so what you're wearing will most likely be an eventual trend. And to be really honest, most Americans tend to think Europeans dress a little strangely so they generally get a pass, and people will think you have that charming European strangeness that men over here love.

Edit: Just found this link.
http://www.styleguru.org/entry/tights-make-a-grand-comeback/

spinandscribble

uggs, skinny jeans, straight hair and tan is a very specific look in ireland. have a look at those sites to find looks you like. i wouldn't agree with saying most girls straighten their hair.

oh i just love tights heres a pair i just bought. not to everyones taste but i think they're cool. i'd wear them with a black dress and mary jane platforms. my hairs black and teal at the moment too!!!!!
http://www.asos.com/countryid/1/Bebaroque/Bebaroque-Feather-80-Denier-Printed-Tights/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=328269&cid=3433&clr=Teal&Rf-200=19&sh=0

oh and with regard to the sun, you don't miss what you never had! get a good coat and its a great excuse for nice hats and umbrellas!!!

Twee.

Definitely get a nice black coat and leather boots for the winter. Take spinandscribble's advice with regards to skirts in the rain. Once your jeans are wet you're wet for the day so skirts with calf or knee boots are good.
Any style of jean works really(skinny, bootcut, flare, boyfriend), but avoid straight leg imo.
For a casual look on top layering always looks good. My wardrobe is full of block colour long sleeved and string tops and really long t-shirts(worn over long sleevers). Graphic tees are always popular too.
As regards with being "on trend" for the winter, pick up the next season issue of Vogue to get inspiration. No one dresses like a cat walk but it's good for ideas. Shops will be stocking winter clothes here at the end of August.

LolaLuv

spinandscribble wrote: »

uggs, skinny jeans, straight hair and tan is a very specific look in ireland. have a look at those sites to find looks you like. i wouldn't agree with saying most girls straighten their hair.

oh i just love tights heres a pair i just bought. not to everyones taste but i think they're cool. i'd wear them with a black dress and mary jane platforms. my hairs black and teal at the moment too!!!!!
http://www.asos.com/countryid/1/Bebaroque/Bebaroque-Feather-80-Denier-Printed-Tights/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=328269&cid=3433&clr=Teal&Rf-200=19&sh=0

oh and with regard to the sun, you don't miss what you never had! get a good coat and its a great excuse for nice hats and umbrellas!!!

I think those tights are gorgeous! Probably if they sold ones like that in the US they'd be more popular.

I checked out the websites, and the clothes are really adorable. It's sort of exciting that I'll be able to dress a little bit more edgy than what's acceptable in the states. Probably what I'll do is buy just a couple of outfits here and then get more clothes directly from these shops when I get to Dublin.

LolaLuv

Twee. wrote: »

Definitely get a nice black coat and leather boots for the winter. Take spinandscribble's advice with regards to skirts in the rain. Once your jeans are wet you're wet for the day so skirts with calf or knee boots are good.

How heavy should a coat be? I bought this one recently, thinking it would be ok for Dublin, but now that I see it's dry clean only I'm thinking it might be crap in rain.

And what length skirts does everyone wear? I ask because I'm wondering what will be appropriate for the weather. I bought a couple of pencil skirts and miniskirts thinking Dublin doesn't get too cold in the winter, which it probably doesn't, compared to PA.

Twee.

PillyPen wrote: »

How heavy should a coat be? I bought this one recently, thinking it would be ok for Dublin, but now that I see it's dry clean only I'm thinking it might be crap in rain.

And what length skirts does everyone wear? I ask because I'm wondering what will be appropriate for the weather. I bought a couple of pencil skirts and miniskirts thinking Dublin doesn't get too cold in the winter, which it probably doesn't, compared to PA.

The web page won't load for me! But if you find it too light when you get here add hat, scarf, mittens, cardigans. Screw dry clean! Hanging it in the shower to be steamed FTW! It'll need to DC'd eventually but you can keep it fresh in the shower.
It's not that cold, between 1 and 8 degrees centigrade, but it does rain so you'll be colder, especially if you get very wet!
Skirt length is whatever ya like, but I like it mid calf and up :pac:

spinandscribble

yeah the skirts length depend on the style you're going for. whatever you'd prefer really.

LolaLuv

Maybe these links will work?
http://www.forever21.com/images/large/49653529-04.jpg

http://www.forever21.com/images/back/49653529-04.jpg

Ha, I didn't know you could just hang it in the bathroom while you're taking a shower, that's genius!

challengemaster

Well, I've ended up wearing this during the summer at times, and could do with it this summer too..

(yes, its a ski jacket) I think your coat looks a little...light..

It really, really rains a lot. If you get sunshine in a week, its a good week. Two times in a week and you're bloody lucky.

I'm not a wimmins btw.

LolaLuv

Holy shit, you wear that in the summer?? And you only see the sun once a week? I am so screwed.

challengemaster

Wait til you get here, you'll really feel screwed once you start buying things..

LolaLuv

Lol, you must never work for Tourism Ireland.

challengemaster

Ha, well, atleast I'm not lying to you!

LolaLuv

Fair enough. Anyway, my mind isn't capable of comprehending constant rain and one day of sunshine a week, so it's not like what you're saying is actually sinking in. Everyone over there must be depressed?? Pennsylvanians get depressed in the winter, and we usually have more than one day of sun a week even then!

challengemaster

Nah, you'll get used to it after a while.. you won't even remember what the sun is like after so long

Depressed? more like annoyed really..

Awayindahils

Be warned upon enetering the arts block in Trinity. There are two types of girls in the arts block (this is of course a horrible generalisation) but theres the uggs, 3 inches of make-up and liberal fake tan, and then there's a we're so hip that it hurts brigade. This group seem to have become the majority in college during the past year.

Wellies- an absolute must. On rainy days there will be plenty of girls in coloured wellies and jeans/skirts wandering about.

'Vintage' via topshop clothes are quite popular. Dresses with belts, shorts with tights (will get back to tights in a minute) and funky boots. Lots of boots in the last few years.

Coloured jeans were parading around with avangence towards the end of the year.

TIGHTS!!! Everywhere, very dark black ones being the most popular, and during the winter full lenght are much more popular (and shockingly paractical) than 3/4 lenght tights, thoguh short tights are more common on nights out. Coloured/patteren tights are also very popular, 'clash' (to quote gok) is very very in.

Jewlery, accessories are very popular. Lots of bracelets and long necklaces. The whole bit.

But all this said, for all there are those who work really hard getting dressed, everyone has their 'oh god help days'/ I am jsut going to college days when one turns up in tracksuit bottoms.

There is however within all of this a happy middle ground. Most people stick to jeans (of various styles)/skirts and tshirts/long sleeve tops/jumpers during the days. I usually go to college in a denim skirt to my knees, funky caridgan, t-shirt and boots. (I'm not a massive fan of jeans) Maybe little flats. Hoodies are quite popular due to societies. Jeans/hoodies/cons are probably always going to be college wear.

Finally, Trinity is cobblocked. Heels- on nights out you will beat your feet to death hobbling accross front square. Thats fine for a night out, however if you want to wear a heel during the day, get something that is bigger than a stilletto. A wedged boot, or a boot with a squarish heel is easily to get accross the cobbles on. Yes there are girls who trot accross in heels, but you spend first year breaking your feet in for that, so if you're just there for the year think carefully before you subject your feet to torture. (And believe I know what I'm talking about. In first year a girl told me that I was never going to concur front square on less I wore heels during the day. 3 weeks of torture later and I can get around pretty ok, but my feet. Owe the pain and blisters.)

Oh out of interest where are you living next year? Are you on campus?

LolaLuv

Wow, that was very informative, thank you very much! I was hoping to buy most of my clothes over here to avoid getting screwed by the exchange rate, but it seems that there are too many trends for me to really decide which ones will suit me. I'll just wait until I'm in Dublin and suck up the weak dollar.

It's just crazy that I'll be in a completely new environment for a year, where absolutely no one knows me. It's a good opportunity to reinvent myself (as far as fashion is concerned). That's sort of exciting.

I have absolutely no idea where I'm living. The university that organized the exchange is taking care of housing. Apparently I'll be finding out sometime this month where exactly I'll be living. All I know is that it's within a 20 minute walk from Trinity!

Alicat

The weather here is so unbelievably cr*p :rolleyes:

I think knee-length skirts, tights and comfy boots are the way to go. Jeans, although comfortable and easy to wear, are a b*tch when they get wet!

+1 on the layering as well, can brighten up an outfit and break up any large expanses.

But sure see what ya think when ya get here, and find a style that you're most comfortable with Don't feel the need to copy everyone else to the 'T'.

LolaLuv

I'm a jeans girl all the way, so the weather is petrifying me. Does it rain for hours on end each day, or just little daily spurts?

challengemaster

PillyPen wrote: »

I'm a jeans girl all the way, so the weather is petrifying me. Does it rain for hours on end each day, or just little daily spurts?

depends on the day.

Twee.

PillyPen wrote: »

I'm a jeans girl all the way, so the weather is petrifying me. Does it rain for hours on end each day, or just little daily spurts?

That's the fun part. SURPRISE! Ya just never really know!

LadyE

Ah lads..you'll have the poor girl terririfed.

It doesnt rain all day everyday. Dont mind them..yes it rains, but not as much as these are all making out!

anna766

Just a quick calming note - if you're doing English in TCD you can wear almost anything and fit in. There'll be girls in very relaxed clothes (jeans, tshirt, cons), others in stuff possibly more suited to office environment, some very fashion forward clothes (usually from London, or wish they were), and a good few die-hard boho-chic but it's unusual for people to chat / socialise exclusively with people who dress like them. Tutorials are a great way to get to know your classmates, and people are much more likely to respond to you on the basis of how you interact in these, rather than on what you wear. Enjoy your time here - it's a great course:)

Nools

I say wear what your comfortable with. Yes it rains, but thats what umbrellas where invented for. I'm not in Trinity so to comprehend the emphasis on fashion is beyond me, so happy I dont have to try and adjust to the Trinity fashion style.

As for what you want to wear, just make your outfil your own, wear things that you are comfortable in. For my college course i've a 30+ hour week so style isnt of the most importance but its nice to look nice. Non of this mean girls stuff, judging on clothes, that doesnt happen in my college no should you be worried about it!

But I worked in a store for a good few years that deals mainly with high fashion and accessories so I will say scarves are fantastic for an outfit, http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/showimage.aspx?gid=599614&ppid=1122&image=108629939&images=108630062,108630001,108629939,108629845,136610841&formats=0,0,0,0,0&format=0

I live in ones like these, I love those square shaped scarves, honestly they're not that warm but they are good for fashion. Leggings are everywhere and means you can make a long top into a dress type thing with leggings under them.

For fashionable clothes for low prices go to Penneys.

Hats are a good one but its a personal choice I've only recently got into the berret look, for me, big earrings, big necklaces and big bangles/bracelets are a must.

I no in 20 years well look at photos of ourselves and think, what in the name of god was I wearing.

To get ideas visit these sites: topshop, oasis (store), river island, urban outfitters. Once you get to Dublin you'll find little indie clothes stores in the likes of Temple Bar, i like to get clothes there, but not wear them all at once, other wise i might look like a big tie-dyed tree hugger.

But I say make it you own, add bits and layer bits as you like them.


As for tights? Horray for tights...

LolaLuv

Lady E, thanks for the reassurance, I was getting pretty frightened. It's sort of pointless getting worried about the rain, because I'm just going to have to get used to it, but I like the sun!

How many students are usually in a tutorial? I think I'll be in all freshman courses, which blows because I'm 24 and it would be nice to meet some people my age, but I guess I'll find them in other places.

Thanks for the shop suggestions, Nools. I love those sorts of scarves, but in PA it's only emo kids who wear them. I'm really looking forward to being able to get away with different things. Is anyone wearing fedoras in Ireland? I think they're freaking adorable.

Tights are going to be reaaallllllyyyyy hard to get used to, but it seems that I'll almost have to wear them for practical reasons.

4Xcut

Probably about ten people or so in tutorials. And the rain isn't that bad, even if it does rain a lot one week, its never so heavy that it causes major issues.

challengemaster

LadyE wrote: »

It doesnt rain all day everyday. Dont mind them..yes it rains, but not as much as these are all making out!

Oh.. She lives in a cave in dublin cit-y.. LadyE! (ok..random, just came to mind, and made me lol. sorry:pac:)

Seriously, have you been/looked outside lately?

PillyPen: check the weather forecasts on met.ie for a while..

LolaLuv

Wow.

Publin

PillyPen wrote: »

Wow.

Welcome to Ireland

Think you got some good advice on this thread, but can I just say do not wear leggings!! They look awful. Not a big fan of those long shirts/dresses things either but some girls get away with them.

Nools mentioned "For fashionable clothes for low prices go to Penneys." I'd go along with that. Others may disagree with me, and I'm sure it won't happen, but some people might think it's cheap/tacky to shop there. Don't know about Trinners fashion, but I'd imagine (like anywhere) you may come across a small number of fashion-snobs who might form an opinion of you if you advertise you boughts lots of stuff there. Just a heads up, and I could be wrong there I'm sure others will advise you better. (No harm openly saying you bought some suff there, just not your whole wardrobe I mean)

As for the big earrings, don't do it, please!! Bit of a skanger-ish look IMO.

Hope you enjoy your stay!

Nools

big earrings like this http://www.monsoon.co.uk/content/ebiz/monsoon/invt/38150970/38150970_m.jpg

not this

http://shop.jackienicole.com/images/48.jpg

challengemaster

PillyPen wrote: »

Wow.

You may, or may not be interested for the outcome of this.. but.. if you want to know what it can be like

Here and here

few pics in there..

LolaLuv

:eek: Are floods like that a yearly event or what?

Ha, at first I thought everyone meant J.C. Penny's, and I was a bit disappointed, but the Irish Pennys is much better!

I went to the Monsoon website and they had very cute stuff, are they around Dublin?

Nools

i used to work in monsoons sister store, there's a monsoon on grafton st, dundrum shopping centre and liffey valley. thats all the dublin stores. Their clothes are expensive, sometimes the fit is off, especially if youve got anysort of boobs. still its worth a look though - I used to have to wear their clothes as uniform. nice clothes, honestly their quaility in their knits could be with being better, they dont last and ball easily but their fancy clothes are good, they're not really everyday clothes

LadyE

challengemaster wrote: »

Oh.. She lives in a cave in dublin cit-y.. LadyE! (ok..random, just came to mind, and made me lol. sorry:pac:)

Seriously, have you been/looked outside lately?

PillyPen: check the weather forecasts on met.ie for a while..

Its not that bad tho...it doesn rain 24/7!!!

Dont worry about the weather umberellas are your friend

challengemaster

Nah... not 24/7, but its not too far off.

There's certainly not more sun per day than rain.

rubyred

If you want to get an idea of the weather go to www.dublintraffic.com and you can view the traffic cameras around Dublin (and hence see the weather). Click "South City" at the top of the page and you will see a photo below the heading "College Green". The main entrance to Trinity is on College Green. Take a look at the traffic camera pic at different times during the day on different days and you'll get a better idea of our weather. The camera pics are updated sometimes every 10 mins and sometimes every hour.

LolaLuv

ruby, I tried that site but it asked for a username and password. It sounds interesting though.

wee bear

hi just wanted to jump in here aswell,
yeah it does rain here, probably most days there will be a little shower if its not fully raining, but it doesnt rain so much that your constantly running through huge floods or anything like that at all, sure we have a had a few bad weeks but thats not the way it is everyday of the week all year round, its really not that bad. get yourself a good brollie and a heavy maybe wollen coat for winter (plenty in topshop, warehouse etc..) that along with a hat,scarf, gloves for winter time is grand, and a pair of decent shoes and your set really!
as for clothes, you will figure that out, all types of jeans are worn, pretty much if you go to any of the high street stores you are gonna find stuff thats in fashion,
the thing that will make you stand out as an american is wearing big baggy jeans, some kind of north face type jacket (yes i know they are practial but..) and a HUGE pair of those white runners that seem very popular in america, if you dont come over dressed like that, you will pretty much blend in im sure,
anyhow just wanted to make you less scared bout the weather, i generally live in converse runners and im grand most of the time. and if it rains your hardly likely to be just strolling round getting soaked, im sure you will just go indoors right,? so dont worry you will be grand!!!
hope you enjoy your time here!!:)