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...
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!
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!
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 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...
I am please to announce that I have found my holy grail of highlighters. Yes, it's true, I have no need to look any further for this elusive and essential piece of kit!
I do love a good sign! No, don't laugh, not the directions kind or warning kind - more the inspirational or sweet kind. I saw these recently and they have rather grabbed my fancy...
I think I may have found my new glasses. I was looking at Jennifer Aniston's new look and admiring her specs so I did some web trawling to ascertain which ones she was wearing. Super sleuth that I am (not really!) I found that they are the new 'Wacks' by Oliver Peoples as seen in these new campaign pictures featuring real life couple Devendra Banhart and Rebecca Schwartz...
I saw this Vivienne Westwood Anglomania dress called Wednesday on Net-A -Porter and thought it apt to post about it today!
We got my engagement ring (above) in an auction too and it was a pretty exciting process as I had fallen in love with it but there was no guarantee we could get it until Ivan placed his bid over the phone as the auction was going on. Our hearts were in our mouths as the lot number approached!
Why are we so fascinated by this woman's hair? I'm not entirely sure, but I admit to joining the 'oohs' when I saw Jennifer Aniston's new bob that she revealed yesterday in Madrid.
It always rolls around too fast doesn't it! But hey, it's here, and we have to make the most of it!
So you know the feeling in winter when you're skin is feeling a bit de-hydrated and weathered so you load on a thicker moisturiser to nourish it? Only to find that your makeup won't stick and when you get indoors into a centrally heated environment you start to 'glow' exessively due to the barrier of cream. The other extreme is when it is warm and you want something lightweight yet are concerned about getting enough moisture as well as a decent level of SPF. I have found that I have been layering products in the summer time in order to address my skin's needs and end up 'glowing' again! But don't even mention the disaster that would be your skin if you didn't protective products at all.
Myself and Ivan (aka The Resident Chef) have just set up a new foodie business called The Dalkey Food Company where he will be making his range of beautiful artisan soups and supplying them to cafes and stores. We're also planning to teach cookery classes to people who would like more kitchen confidence. Well, he'll be teaching - I am the hostess and the event stylist!
Makeup guru and queen of the New York uber-groomed look, Bobbi Brown has re-formulated and re-launched her lipstick line and I had the pleasure of playing with them yesterday at their Spring launch (so many pretty things, coming your way!)
I know they're nothing new, but I can't wait to get in to my Converse again once the weather warms up a little. I have them in both the boot and the shoe and this Spring I am also contemplating getting the metallic leather ones and the yellow ones!
Terracotta by Guerlain. It's been around for donkeys..for a reason. People keep buying into it because it keeps making them look good. I love the proper matte one and use it for contouring under my cheekbones (with a small flat eyeshadow brush actually - better for precision)
Due to a chronic clumsy episode the other day, I lost my glasses. I am currently wearing an old pair that look ridiculous and I can't see out of, so am therefore bashing into things like a fool.
Or these retro style Ray Bans? I can't make up my mind about whether I love or hate these Mad Men-esque frames but they would be cute with breton tops and capri style pants in Spring...
There's a beautiful girl called Louise and she sells beautiful jewellery in her store in Dublin called...yes, Loulerie! It's been open for a few years now and she sells the most stylish and chic pieces. After a few years spent working in the industry in New York she was exposed to lots of creative new labels previously not seen on these shores. She still travels there each season bringing back her pick of the latest trends. The designers she stocks represent something different in the, dare I say, slightly jaded jewellery scene in Dublin. Not everyone wants the now ubiquitous charm bracelets and run of the mill wedding solitaires and bands. Louise and her team offer a fresh approach and can help you to accessorise an outfit as well as offering a bespoke design service for something truly original. It's my favourite contemporary jewellery store and I frequently pass by and stare longingly in the window.
I like this dreamy shot and particularly love the mint green converse over on the Cherry Blossom Girl's fabulous blog. If you haven't seen her before take a look here, she's one of my favourite bloggers ever...
The new collection called In Bloom from Smashbox hits counters right about now. I think it's one of the prettiest offerings from any company this season. Regular readers of Ellie loves will know that I am a fan of cream blushers and am particularly loyal to the now-disappeared Stila ones and I'm struggling to find a suitable replacement - well, that position may now be filled! This Cream Cheek Duo in Blushing/ Peony is a genius two toned product that has a great texture (the most important element of a cream blush). This one is creamy yet not too slippy and sheer. It lasts very well, with the colour still looking intense after several hours. I use my fingers to apply to the apple of teh cheeks but a flat foundation brush is also excellent. The best way to use the two colours is to apply a small amount of the darker tone to under the cheekbone and the lighter tone to the apple. Or just the lighter one for day and darker for night...up to you and your comfort levels with colour.
This pretty palette is the main part of the collection and it's so damn wearable that I can honestly say it will suit everyone. There are a mix of matte and sheen shadows ranging, as you can see, from the pale tutu pinks to fleshy nude and taupe as well as warm green and lavender blues and mauves. A fairly decent brush accompanies this set that I think you could be wearing right through to Autumn and beyond. It's a winner in my book and as prices go, Smashbox fall in the 'medium' category.... not cheap, not expensive, totally accessible. The cream blush is €26 and the eye palette is €49. Check them out asap...
I am quite excited about some of the new releases from Bourjois. As always they introduce pretty, covetable and innovative products which are superstars in their price bracket.
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