In the first installment of her new bilingual column, Étáin Ní Churraoin examines the best items of clothing in her postpartum closet.
'A chairde Gaeil! Friends!
Is mise Étáin Ní Churraoin, agus bhur gcéad míle fáilte chuig mo chéad cholún dátheangach le RTE.ie You are MOST WELCOME to my first bilingual column with RTÉ! (What a flex!) Ní gá a bheith líofa len iad seo a léamh! You do NOT have to be líofa (fluent) to read these! See Glossary at the bottom of the page for some help.
Is bean chéile sna 20idí, máthair chailín bhig, amhránaí agus múinteoir mé. I'm a wife in her 20s, mother to a little girl, a singer and a teacher! Is breá liom faisean! I LOVE FASHION! Is breá liom stíleanna éagsúla a fheiceáil agus mé amuigh ag siopadóireacht agus ag spaisteoireacht liom. Le cúpla bliain anuas, my own body has changed in the last few years… idir bliain na bainise, wedding dress shopping, ag iompar clainne, agus anois, postpartum. Ní haon saineolaí mé ar na cúrsaí seo. I am no expert ach le cúnamh breá Dé, cabhróidh mé libh ar bhealach eicínt maidir le Fashion, Beauty, Motherhood with some tips & tricks along the way. Seat belts on…Ar aghaidh linn ….. LET’S GOOO!!
D’fhás mé aníos sa nGaeltacht le beirt aintín liom GAFA le héadach agus faisean. They were two aunties, with totally different styles ach equally fabulous. Bhí mé fhein agus mo dheirfiúr míllte acu! They spoiled us! Birthdays, um Nollaig, um Cháisc agus random Friday purchases, bhí Máirín agus Úna i gcónaí thar a bheith flaithiúil linn! I remember Nollaig amháin, cheannaigh siad matching denim jackets dúinn. Chaith muid chuile áit iad….we wore them to Mass, to parties, to SuperValu. The jackets were a ‘grab and go’ item, guaranteed to match what you were already wearing.
Máirín agus Úna were onto something…staples. As we come into the autumn months, I have taken a deep dive into mo várdrús féin and pulled out some staples to help me transition from an Samhradh (Summer) to an Fómhar (Autumn). These ideas may inspire you and remind you of what you already have in your várdrús cheana fhéin. Shopping your wardrobe, mar a deir siad.
Deinim! Deinim! Deinim!
It’s a staple that will save you in any occasion…an oversized denim shirt over leggings for the school runs. A jacket deinime over the gúna for the sunny autumn days. A shirt deinime to tuck into jeans deinime for the double denim look, or into a smart pants. We want chic, classy, but more importantly, effective. Deinim will not let you down! Má tá deinim agaibh i bhur várdrús, mholfainn go mór to pull it out!
Blazer
Muna bhfuil deinim tickling your fancy, you can’t go wrong le bléasar. Is blazer Queen mise (She said, ever so humbly). Is breá liom bléasair a chur le jeans, sciortaí, gúnaí, leggings agus bríste linen. Agus mé ag dul tríd mo vardrús féín, tharraing mé amach bléasar uachtair, donn, khaki agus dubh. Chloí mé leis na neutrals. Tá sé éasca iad a chaitheamh, ní gá ach top bán a cur thíos faoi. Tá brandaí áille Éireannacha ag déanamh bléasar faoi láthair. Sinéad Keary agus 4th Arq ina measc. I have trí bhléasar le Sinéad Keary agus tá mé OBSESSED… on the expensive side, fitted agus galánta. Tá bléasair 4thARQ níos oversized agus relaxed mar fit. If that is more your style…tá siad perfect for over leggings nó a maxi fitted gúna.
The 'right' jeans
Tá bríste géine chomh handy! I love jeans ach, wearing the right bríste géine for your body type is fíorthábhacht! It’s so important that you get bríste géine that suit your body. Dhomsa, bríste géine Mom & Straight Leg are the dream! Ní fheilleann na barrel jeans dom. They do nothing for me. Bríste géine are the one trend I tend not to follow. Flares, low rise (I laughed as I wrote this one - I am highrise all the way!), baggy… Uaireanta, sometimes, people have a jampacked várdrús but ‘nothing to wear’. Sometimes buying into trends can cause that. Investing in bríste géine that suits your personal shape will eliminate that immediately
Sciorta sróil; A Satin Skirt
Now, before you all roll your eyes, hear me out. Satin... Tuigim.. I get it.. Not great for the cellulite Queens. I, personally, have enough cellulite for a whole family. ACH….wearing a sciorta sróil with your bléasar that will glide around the thigh area. It is so chic!! Match it with a cóta, buataisí, heels nó bróga reatha. Also, an oversized knit jumper, to throw over it. It is the easiest ‘from the office to dinner’ outfit. Think of any work or family events coming up. A sciorta sróil. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.
Barr Bán/ A basic white top
An ceann deireanach, the last one. The most basic ach most effective. Barr Bán. A chairde, a white top, will go with every outfit agus every idea in your mind. It will be the most worn item i do várdrus. It will go under a denim shirt. It will bring your bléasar and sciorta sróil together perfectly. It will be the perfect layer for under a knit or cardigan. It will also work for a bríste géine & bléasar (oversized or fitted) combo. This one makes me so excited! I am never without a barr bán. If you don’t have a good, solid barr bán, a chairde, this is the one I suggest you invest in.
There you go a chairde, mo 5 suggestions for the perfect transition into the stunning golden autumn months. Tá mé ar bís! Although, I love summer, having my toe nails done and my tan done (above my knee), tá mé réidh for boots and leggings, scarfs and gloves. Samhlaím an léine dheinime, barr bán agus leggings on the food shop days. Bléasar, barr bán, agus sciorta sróil on meeting days, followed by a dinnéar deas. AAHHH! Bring it on!
An rud is ansa liomsa about faisean is pairing items together agus feeling go maith in the éadaí. I can’t paint for my life, ach éadaí..this is where I get creative. Mixing and matching, dopamine dressing…I love it all! Molaim dhaoibh breathnú ar Phinterest for inspioráid! Leanaigí Instagram accounts! Watch your days get better as you head out your door with a STUNNING outfit on! Bainigí taitneamh as! You deserve to look FABULOUS!
Grá Mór,
É x
Gluais/ Glossary
Eagrán-edition
Vardrús- wardrobe
ar bís- excited
molaim daoibh-I recommend
