Daily Dose Of Lovely

I have to share my new source of lovely ideas and inspiration. Red Magazine has always been one of my favourites. I know I am smack bang in the middle of their target audience (35 years old, juggling new mummy-hood with freelance work, love all things fashion-y food-y, beauty and interior related etc etc!) and that's why it resonates with me but I really do love their mix. The newly launched Red Online is all of their signature style piled into a lovely website. Here's some of my personal picks from their treasure trove...

I don't care what anyone says; Chanel are the most glamorous lipsticks!

Their gift guides are superb; I love this cardboard dolls house. One for my Lulu for sure...

The perfect Breton...I can't get enough of them. Yes, I own about 10, but there's always room for some slight variations on a theme!

I've fallen for this cashmere dressing gown from The White Company. So cosy and flattering at the same time.

I adore these cloth bound classics by Anthropologie....

Tutu by Boden. Another one for Lulu!

The site is also full of interior and food inspiration. I know what I'm going to be doing during these snowy days; making lists for Santa!

Have a peek and see if you love it as much as I do...

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Beautiful Bows

These gorgeous pieces are by Eilis Boyle, the Irish designer whom I hold in very high regard. I love the quality of her work and her fashion aesthetic is almost of another age, something that is disappearing in these mass market, high street times. She holds her standards high and her work tells the story of her love for what she does. I love the attention to detail in all her work and that is why I'll be buying some of these beauties for Christmas presents (don't look Mum!)

This embroidered sash is just so lovely, I can imagine wearing it in so many ways... with a slinky LBD, with black cropped wool trousers and a loose silk t-shirt for chic evening cool, with a full length organza skirt and close fitting top for a formal night time event.

And look how lovely it is in ivory; brides take note, could be a lovely feature to add to your look.

Arm-warmers! What a great idea...

I love these. No, in fact, I need these.

These pieces are featured in Eilis's online store called The Silent Gallery for another three days.

Red Alert

I am addicted to anything in a true scarlet tone at this time of year. It is just pure Christmas to me. So here's a few things to get you in the red...

Cute red dress with a perfect red lip and undone hair....lovely.

Chanel nail polish in Dragon... one of the ultimate classic reds.

I always hang hearts on my tree and we have a family tradition where we give each other a new heart for our respective trees each year. So when we're old, our trees will be made up of gifts from our family.

A red lip. It's the perfect Christmas statement. Keep the eyes neutral and the skin glowy and get in the red! If you've never tried it - now is the time!

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Bling It On!

It's time to get festive...therefore time to sparkle! Liven up your wintery tones with some sequins.

Pretty ballerinas for a bit of shimmer under some cropped black pants perhaps?

(images via here )

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?

***please vote for me to win Best Irish Blogger here***

Thank you

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.