Yesterday international 'It girl' Olivia Palermo swapped her home of New York city for Kildare Village.
Olivia -- who shot to fame on MTV's 'The City' reality show -- has rapidly earned 'style icon' status, for her blend of designer and high street labels, becoming a regular on the front row of every top catwalk show.
The 26-year-old New Yorker travelled to Ireland on Sunday to do a fashion shoot for 'Vanity Fair' magazine and split her time over two days, posing in Dublin's Merrion Hotel and shopping at the designer boutiques at the Kildare Village outlet centre.
Fresh from skiing at the exclusive Courchevel 1850 resort, Olivia came armed with a tan and advice from her model/photographer boyfriend, Johannes Huebl, who went to school down the road at King's Hospital, Palmerstown for two years.
But if the handsome model had warned about wet Irish weather, the fashionista didn't look confused as she found herself posing in 20C Mediterranean sunshine.
"I’m wearing a Monclear jacket- Loro Piana collection, and ski pants by Ralph Lauren."
"He (Johannes) really liked it here for two years and he was very happy for me when he knew I was coming to Dublin," said Olivia, who attracted an endless gaggle of onlookers curious to see what bargains the visiting celebrity had bagged.
"Sunglasses," declared Olivia. "It's never easy to find the right pair."
The latest Rochas signing as the face of their new fragrance, she yesterday displayed a judicious eye for bargains. She honed in on a €140 white blazer from Reiss, down from €205, a Gerard Darel suede jacket in olive green for €320, a raffia bag, designer sunglasses, a tie and scarves from Churches and presents for her boyfriend, who takes photographs for her website, oliviapalermo.com
"It's not all about me," said Olivia who starred with Johannes in the Mango Autumn 2012 campaign. "If I see something that I know he will like, I try to pick it up and Hackett is one of his favourite stores."
Hailed by marketers as a 'taste-maker' she yesterday ruled out any immediate move to introduce her own label like Whitney Port, her former co-star on 'The City' or Lauren Conrad of 'The Hills'.
"Not right now, my focus right now is oliviapalermo.com," she said.
Before leaving for the airport, Olivia ruled out a return to television.
"No, I'm more of a fashion person, I don't have any focus at the moment to go into acting but if it does occur, then I'll think about it at that point."
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~Kelli at
Hills Freak