Warehouse Go Luxe

I'm very much looking forward to seeing the new Luxe Collection from high street chain Warehouse... it's launching this month and it consists of better fabrics and really interesting designs and details.

Gloss Giveaway

Wow, I got the most amount of entries in last Friday's giveaway EVER! It's an Ellie Loves... record!

The 10 winners of the Bourjois Effet 3D lip glosses are....

1. Simone G
2. Anne Marie
3. Lisa
4. Cherry Pullinger
5. Amy
6. Gigi
7. Bex-4-ever
8. Jo
9. Is This Life Real
10. TC

Congrats ladies, please email me your postal addresses to ellie(at)elliebalfe(dot)com and they'll be on their way...

Best Dressed

I look forward to the Oscars every year and have done since I was small. The glamour and glitz transports me to another world where, as a little girl, I used to dream of being part of it. Now as an adult I still love the sheer escapism. And the endless commenting on what they are wearing still entertains me no end! This years Oscars were fairly tame I thought, some pretty dresses but nothing amazingly striking. There were quite a few red gowns in a nod to what's in store for Autumn/Winter '11 and then cool berry tones, blues, nudes and white were the order of the day. I loved Mina Kunis in the beautiful lavender Elie Saab above...

Natalie Portman in Rodarte (who else!)

Amy Adams in L'Wren Scott...

Cate Blanchett proved the most daring in her Givenchy couture gown with sculptured shoulders and bright yellow beading...

Hailee Steinfeld designed her ballerina style dress with Marchesa. I don't like the shoes or hairband, but she's got the dress right!

Michelle Wiliams wore Chanel, therefore I love....

This Armani Prive dress looked great on Celine Dion and she's showing off her post-twins body to perfection. As usual, I like the more covered up styles. Hurrah for less cleavage and more sleeves!

Happy Weekend

I love this shot by super cool photographer Max Wanger. What a cool family portrait eh? It's got me wondering how I can get a trampoline to try and re-create it!

Have a great weekend my lovelies, I hope it's full of friends, family and fun (and trampolines)

See you on the other side!

x

Colour Me Beautiful

As I'm sure you are all aware now, colour is back for 2011. It's the time to ditch those muted tones and get into jewel/candy/pastels...any way you choose, as long as it's colour!

I wrote a guest post about it on the famous Irish model, Faye Dinsmore's fashion blog. Have a peek here and get it bright!

The Friday Freebie

Bourjois have updated their (already fabulous) Effet 3D lip glosses. I have always liked these as I think they are a champagne gloss for a lemonade cost, to borrow a phrase!

The re-jig of these little beauties mean that they are more balmy in texture which is a feature I really like. They feel less gloopy and sticky and are less likely to grab strands of your hair in the wind. The colour range is extensive but they have some stand out shades that I have been using to great effect since I got them. Number 33 is a perfectly wearable nude, number 03 is a warm pretty rose, number 08 is a brighter fuchsia tone which is so current this Spring and number 06 is my personal favourite; a sheer, gorgeous red... an easy way to add some colour into your look without appearing over-done.

Bourjois are giving a gloss to 10 of you, yes 10!

So leave me a comment below to be in the draw and I'll announce the winner on Monday.

Hear Our Voices

The day has come. Ireland is going to the polls to have our say and vote in a new government. Our country is in crisis, we have lost our jobs and our young people. Our future has been gambled with by the corrupt, greedy, small minded and plainly idiotic people who were supposedly 'leading' us. Leading us where? Into the darkness it seems...

But today is our chance to rattle the cage and although we are not entirely inspired by the choices before us, at least a change is possible.

A changing of the guard, a changing of the conciousness, and hopefully a change in mindset...

Get out, vote and enjoy playing your part.

( I just love this picture, it looks exactly like my Mum in the 70's with her long hair!)