Happy Halloween...

Hope everyone has a fantastic night tonight what ever they may be doing. Keep your pets in and be safe! Make toffee apples and spend the night in with just candles. While we are enjoying the day here in Ireland, spare a thought for those across the Atlantic that may have been affected by Sandy.

Happy Halloween x

Splurge or Steal...

Studded Biker Boots...

This Splurge vs. Steal is on the rocker take of the classic biker boot. I know yesterday was Fierce Shoe Friday, but I have been eyeing up a pair of boots like these for ages, but can't quite accept paying a few hundred euro for a pair that I won't get a lot of wear out of. 

The Splurge pair are by Ash seen on all the young Hollywood ladies and the Steal pair are by Zigi which is stocked at 'you will have me broke' Nasty Gal! The pair by Zigi are at half the price, and after a few wears, will achieve that distressed look that the Ash pair has going on.  

In truth, I wish I was creative enough that I could DIY a pair myself and save myself some serious bucks.  One friend suggested buying a pair of plain boots and a packet of studs and having a go! I don't know whether it is sheer laziness or just that I find making things sort of difficult...do any of you DIY your own shoes? Have you ever studded any items?

Fierce Shoe Friday

Studded Leopard...

Today's Fierce Shoe Friday is the studded leopard print sandal by Zara. I have the exact shoe in the all black colour-way and live in them. Obviously because I'm partial to the bit of leopard print, these are now on my wish list! The material is a mixture of polyester and leather, and there is a cute peep toe and gold accentuations through the studs on the heel, the ankle cuff and on the fastening. 

Zara is fast becoming my favourite high street shop. With a quick turnaround in new products every two weeks, I never fail to find something that I want from the store.  This new years, myself and the bf are heading to Madrid for a few days, so you can be sure to see a haul post sometime during January purely dedicated to Zara!

Studs = Fierce, and at only seventy euro, these are a steal for the many party outfits they could compliment over the coming festive season. 

Studded Leopard Print Sandal (Zara)

Happy Shopping and Happy Friday! x

Trick or Treat...

Halloween attire...

I love Halloween. It could possibly pipe Christmas as being one of the best holidays of the year. I love the transition of fall into winter, warm hearty broths, cosy knitwear and of course the perfect excuse to play dress-up...

I have decided to do a post/polyvore creation (does anyone spend hours on this site too???) on Halloween inspired fashion! Are you going to channel your inner goth al la 90's iconic film 'The Craft' with miniskirts and plaid, or re-enact  Michelle Pfeiffer interpretation of 'Catwoman'. High street sites Topshop, NastyGal and River Island are offering great ways to dress spooky this season...

Happy Halloween shopping!

Black print t-shirt (River Island), Striped Jumper (River Island), Antique Cross leggings (Topshop), Feather Jacket (Topshop),  Cobweb glow in the dark leggings (Topshop), Tartan shorts (River Island), Liquid last liner (MAC), Leopard print kitten ears head band (River Island),  Moschino tweed trousers (NastyGal), Horror Tee (Topshop),  Carine Roitfeld nail laquer (MAC), Dr Martens spike boot (Jildor), Cats eyes Tee (Topshop), Alexander McQueen Punk Baroc Skull leather clutch (NET-A-PORTER), OPI nail polish, Black nail polish (Topshop) Skull crown stud earrings (Topshop), Nars Fall 2012 lipgloss (Nordstrom)

Fierce Shoe Friday

Tough luxe...

Today's Fierce Shoe Friday is the Givenchy Cannes leather ankle boots in black.  It's a typical shoe from the Givenchy line which is knows for its signature tough luxe. I'm quite fond of the ribbed cuff that goes around the ankle and the chunky block heel.  While the peep toe softens up the look.

They are perfect for winter. Pair with thick tights and a short skater dress or leather pants and coral nail polish. They are a splurge, but I think they would be a staple you could always turn to and can be found on the Selfridges website.

Givenchy Cannes leather ankle boots- Selfridges.co.uk

Dressing for your size...

'Fashion is Architecture: it is a matter of proportions' (Coco Chanel)...

I'm all for female empowerment and liberation to wear what we want, when we want. Women have campaigned for years for gender equality and the right to be treated fairly in the workplace and not just a pin up with lumps and bumps. But seriously ladies, sometimes we need to take a look in the mirror for just a tad second longer and agree with that inner subconscious thought of 'that just ain't right on you!'. 

I believe that because we come in all shapes and sizes means that we have to dress ourselves as individuals and not because it looked amazing on Miss Kardashian or that it has been sold out in Topshop for the last month!

Take the trendy AA disco trousers for example. I lust over these every time my sister wears them for a night out. She pairs them with a crop top and JC Lita's (think tall 6ft leggy something....b****!). And I go to myself, well I could lose a little here and there and then they would look fine, but in reality, my legs are too short and my bum is too big to wear them. In fact, when I tried them on in the shop (having literally starved myself that morning to get into them) I had a wee heart attack. My bum turned into this monstrosity of a black blur. The whole mirror was taken over with shiny black material. They suck you in all right, but literally manoeuvred my derrière into places I didn't know existed. I have come to the conclusion that I will never wear a pair.

So ladies be aware of your size. Are you pear shaped? Then find pieces that nip into the waist and build on top to create a more hour glass appeal with lapels, shoulder pads or costume jewellery. Are you top heavy? Generally, you have fantastic legs, so highlight these instead of emphasizing your tatas and stay away from stringed tops! Athletic builds should show of what women envy the most, arms and no muffin tops, so should wear anything from a feminine chiffon dress to soften the shape or a skinny jean that gives definition. 

The amount of times I'm on a night out, and each women wears the same repetitive mini dress. Live a little. Try new styles. They might not work out but at least you tried. 

And for the sake of our dignities, bum cheeks poking from underneath our dresses on our 4am Charlie's feast is never a good look...

Beauty Essentials

'Putting ma face on and gettin' my huuur did...'

So I decided to do a post on what it is my make-up bag, my go-to-go daily products and beauty essentials I could not live without! I'm not big on trying out loads of beauty products. Personally, I find them too expensive to just leave in a bag and use occasionally.  So any product I do buy is purchased on the basis of a good write-up and used to death!

My make-up bag is pretty simple. I mix between two foundations, NARS sheer glow foundation(barcelona-6046)and MAC studio tech compact foundation (nc42). The MAC foundation is a lot heavier so is usually used for dinner, a night out or on stage. I either bronze it up with MAC mineralize skinfinish natural in 'Give me Sun' or use a berry toned powder blush, also by MAC in 'plum foolery' (this colour has been a staple in my bag for the last 5 years). My day look on the eyes is often a flick of a gel liner, it's usually MAC fluid-line (but managed to come across a really cheap one in Penny's for a euro- and works just as well) and some Maybelline mascara. My night eyes are often a blend of the Urban Decay Naked palette or a smoky eye achieved through various MAC shadow colours.

Lipstick is my guilty make-up pleasure and I tend to rock any colour that my skin colour will allow me too. My three favourite colours I will be rocking this winter are the MAC 'rebel' (a deep purple/pink), 'half and half' (a deep nude) and Topshop 'ohh la la' (a coral red/orange). What colours are your rocking this A/W?

My Hair essentials are Kérastase shampoo, Batiste dry shampoo (for those days where your just too busy), L’Oréal Elnett hairspray (I am currently growing out a fringe, so the hair is often in a quiff...such a pain), a Tangle Teezer (one of the only brushes that can tame my frizz prone hair) and Moroccan oil.

My Skin care essentials are pretty basic. I suffer from eczema so I'm limited to the products I can use on my body and face. Palmer's Coca Butter (smells utterly divine!), Aqueous cream- found at any chemist/pharmacy (the only cream that keeps my skin moist) and Vaseline. 

What are your beauty essentials? Are there any a/w beauty looks your excited to try out?

Busy Bee

Just a quick post to apologise for my lack of posting. Once a week is not what I was planning, but I'm in the process of setting up my own business, so life is all a bit of a kerfuffle! Once I am a bit more organised (that's a difficult process for me I must add...but an improving one), I hope to be throwing everything I am thinking down here.

Fierce Shoe Friday

Miaow Miaow...

Today's Fierce Shoe Friday is the 'wild cat loafer'. A loafer covered in a faux pony hair leopard print and an adorable cat face stitched into it...what's not to love??? I'm obviously partial to a bit of leopard print (I lie..I lie..all over please) but these loafers are perfect for a Sunday brunch or running errands.  They will quirk up any outfit, and ok, I understand that they are not exactly practical for the blessed Irish weather of rain. But that's what taxis were made for!  
I know it's my second week in a row of a shoe from NastyGal.com , but I always seem to enjoy the new lines they have in every week. They are trendy, quirky and really reasonably priced. Happy Shopping!

Wild Cat Loafer- nastygal.com

Fierce Shoe Friday

JC Platform...

Today's Fierce Shoe Friday is the Jeffrey Campbell 'Seem Platform'. I'm a tad bit obsessed with JC's Lita's and pretty much any quirky shoe from the line. With a huge platform they are my go to shoe for a night out because they are actually the only pair of heels that do not restrict me from going bonkers on the dance floor. Plus, I love the fact that they make feel like I am 6ft!
The 'Seem Platform' has an awesome digital print and the colours are totally cheerful for this drab weather we are having at the moment. Does anyone else feel like it's January? Seriously?!
They can be purchased on the nastygal website...which by the way is a serious distraction for my intentions to save!

Seem Platform (JC)- nastygal.com