Tom is Back

For six years the fashion world has missed Tom Ford and wondered what his new vision would be when he finally returned to showing his wares.

His long awaited womenswear show was shrouded in mystery when he showed it a couple of months ago. It was a closed show and minimal photography was allowed with an embargo where Tom had control over when the images were to be released. We were tantalised by the details of celebrity models and Tom's trademark luxury. Well here are the first shots to come out. Feast your eyes...

Uber-fashionista Daphne Guinness in a showstopper dress. I saw her once in The Wolesley in London and she was about as dressed up as this...for lunch!

Beyonce channeling a beautiful creature from Studio 54 perhaps?

The consistently fantastic Lauren Hutton in this to die for white suit.

I'm not sure Tom's luxurious collection will fit in so well with our new Age of Austerity, but sometimes we just need dreamers and story tellers to help us rise above our situation; and Tom Ford is one of the best dreamers in the business.

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Winter Skin Heroes

I'm freezing. Even though my central heating is on and I'm wrapped up in woolens and drinking endless cups of tea. I get like this in the snow- my body heat decreases entirely leaving me a chattering wreck! Then I go out to play in the snow with Lu with the aim of getting moving and thus warming up, which works of course, but my skin does not love these extremes of temperature at all. Not one little bit.

So when I look at myself sans makeup (which I have been all week due to being more or less snowed in) I see a skin in need. A skin crying out for nourishment and moisture. Begging for TLC! But I also possess a skin that will break out at the slightest overloading of heavy creams. So a balance must be sought.

Last winter I took the advice of my local pharmacist who isn't just a pharmacist; she stocks all sorts of gorgeous beauty things in the old school style apothecary she runs. I love browsing in there and chatting about lotions and potions with her. Anyway, she turned me on to Neal's Yard Remedies, which I have seen for years and read many good things about but never tried.

She recommended the Frankincense Hydrating Cream for me and my poor skin loved it. It brightened up, softened up and became an overall nicer skin. It contains the super anti-aging oils of Frankincense and Myrrh ( how Christmassy!) as well as vitamins E and A to feed and revitalise. It is also completely organic so therefore no toxic nasties to pollute stressed skin.

What I really like about it is the fact that it's not an overly heavy cream; so no oily face and it's ok under makeup. It also feels like it's a good barrier against the arctic conditions we're playing host to in this country at the moment!

There is another product from the range that I can't do without and that is the gorgeous Wild Rose Beauty Balm. Even the name is lovely! I adore anything that smells of real rose oil and I use this nourishing balm all over my hands in this cold weather as well as on my nose before I go out! It protects my nose and gives me a constant rose fragrance as I walk! It soothes both my skin and soul...what's not to love?

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x

Snowy Street Style

Trust the Sartorialist to get the best shot! The red soles although highly impractical are very eyecatching against a snowy backdrop. Though I suspect this woman is from Planet Fashion rather than Planet Earth like the rest of us who are trudging along in our many layers and wellies!

All Black...great bag and boots.

I love this girls red hair and fur coat...

I like this coat with leather belt and her super long hair although she doesn't really look that warm does she?

MMmmm that's my kind of scarf...she looks cosy.

Luxe Skin Saver

My testing and trialling of products in the name of clarifying those tricky old beauty claims continues unabated at Ellie Loves Towers! Particularly in this snowy weather; becoming housebound and going slightly stir crazy, I knew I had to occupy my time so out came the box of products and on they went to the face. In between several rounds of stories and colouring with Lu who is also a little stir crazy - not good in a toddler!

I got Future Skin by Chantecaille a while ago and hadn't gotten around to trying it. Partly because it's pretty expensive and I've been on a budget makeup vibe for a while now with setting up my new makeup course on the topic. So I decided to give it a whirl and yes, like almost all things by Chantecaille, it is lovely.

It is definitely in the 'your skin, but better' category as it has a light enough coverage, but I found it to layer successfully without caking and it's oil free, gel-like, luxurious consistency glides and sits well. It contains light reflection to help with glow so is a nice option for parched skins. It also contains goodies like green tea, aloe and chamomile to soothe and heal and help to take down redness.

Hello winter skin saver. Goodbye red nose.

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Vision in Scarlet

Yes, it is ridiculously expensive but it is ridiculously gorgeous. It is by Alexander McQueen and when I spotted it I think my heart raced a little too fast for a little too long.

In a parallel universe I wear this dress to Christmas parties...

Art Attack

I came across one of these beautiful prints over on one of my very favourite blogs, Cup of Jo and followed the link to Israeli artist Tali's Etsy store. And what a treasure trail it turned out to be. I have fallen for lot's of her lovely pieces and I have to tell you how amazingly reasonable they are. Most of them are prints, but they average at only US$15.

I love the poignant look in her eyes. This is an original piece in pastels.

I like the coquette-ish look to this girl...

This piece is called Blue Boat and it is an original in acrylic (only $55!)

Perhaps it's the Irish in me, but I just love lot's of people around a table drinking tea!

This reminds me of someone's granny, it has that vintage feel. I think it's her hair style.

( pardon the title - I couldn't resist! )

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Please Vote For Me

I'm feeling the Love!

I've been nominated for Best Irish Blogger in the Entertainment.ie Annual Awards! I would be so delighted if you would support me by voting here.

It's running until the 7th of December so perhaps you could be so kind as to spread it around your friends?

Ellie loves... is the newest blog in the group of 10 finalists and I'm up against some seriously big bloggers but I can hope! ( as I type, I'm in the lead - yippee)

Thanks for your support and don't forget to vote!

xx