No More Light Green Leaves

This outfit ended up looking like it was inspired by the film Clueless. Which subconsciously it probably was. You'll have to excuse my awkward faces as the entire time we were taking these photos, there was a man with a DSLR taking photos of me too, it didn't exactly put me at ease, that's the last time I take outfit photos in Stephen's Green!

Coat- H&M

Jumper- Zara (couldn't find online but should still be in shops, €19.95)

Skirt- ASOS

Boots- New Look (last year, similar here and here)

Bag- Marks and Spencer (last year)

Beret- eBay (very inexpensive, around $2, just search for black berets)

Pendant- Stella and Dot 

Lipstick- Estée Lauder Crystal Baby (Review here)

I always start the Autumn/Winter season with a small list of clothing and accessories that I want to buy. A tartan skirt was one of those items and after some looking around in stores and online, I found this one on ASOS. It's always difficult to shop online because you're imagining what something is going to look like on you but I was so happy with this skirt, it's exactly what I wanted. I also had a cable knit jumper on my list and I found this very inexpensive one in Zara. I've been wearing it a lot recently since it's gotten colder. It's heavy and warm and perfect for layering. I like to wear it over dresses that have an A-Line/ Skater shape for an extra layer of warmth.

You've probably seen me wearing the Stella and Dot Rebel Pendant already but I love it so much I always grab it when I'm deciding what jewellery to wear because it goes with everything. I might just have to get it in Silver and Rose Gold! It's actually the most expensive thing I'm wearing in this outfit, everything else was under €40.

If you're still looking for a new winter coat, I can't recommend this one from H&M enough, it's only €29.95 and is still available online and in stores. It's wool mix and lined too, so it's very warm.

What was/is on your Winter shopping list?

Emma x

No7 Match Made Lipstick Service

Despite being involved in the No7 Match Made Campaign earlier this year and using No7 Make Up and Skincare for years I had never actually tried one of their lipsticks. For shame! When I heard about the Match Made Lipstick Service I was intrigued as to how it worked and decided to drop by my local counter to talk to one of the No7 ladies about it. 

It just so happened that I got my lipstick match from the lovely Jane who I worked with when I did press for the campaign. I already knew my foundation shade which is Calico, so the next step was to choose what kind of colour family and finish I wanted. 

As you can see above and below there are cards with the name of each foundation shade on it and on each side of the card are the options for your skin tone from the Moisture Drench and Stay Perfect Lipstick ranges. The Stay Perfect formula promises intense, long lasting colour with a matte and satin/ semi-satin finish. The Moisture Drench formula as you can imagine from the name offers a moisturising lipstick with intense colour, SPF and a satin/ semi-satin finish.

I usually want my lipstick to be long lasting because I don't really get a chance to reapply it when I'm in work so I asked Jane to recommend something from the shades in the Stay Perfect formula. I've never had someone else pick out a lipstick for me as I usually like to do it myself as I know what I like and what suits me but I was thrilled with Jane's choice of Brick Red. 

The formula wasn't what I expected at all considering that this is a long lasting lipstick. It has a smooth and creamy texture that glides onto the lips with ease. Generally the nature of a long lasting lipstick formula is that it is more drying than other lipsticks so I was pleasantly surprised that this wasn't the case with this lipstick.

It packs quite a punch as far as pigmentation is concerned, the colour is a beautiful, vibrant red verging on the more yellow toned of reds. For such a creamy textured lipstick I was incredibly impressed with the staying power. It doesn't feather, bleed or budge from my lips all day.

I found the Match Made Lipstick Service experience wonderful and although I wouldn't usually talk to an advisor before choosing a lipstick shade, it was actually nice to have another opinion on what shade would suit me.

Being such a huge fan of lipsticks I've had numerous conversations with my friends who say that they can't find a lipstick to suit them, especially when it comes to bright shades, particularly reds. I've heard women say that red lipstick doesn't suit them countless times and I always tell them that there is a red out there to suit everyone which is why a service like this is great. It's accessible and inexpensive and I've always found the advisors to be approachable and ready and willing to help their customers.

I would recommend going to a counter at an off peak time so that you can spend some time with a No7 advisor to find what you're looking for. These lipsticks retail for €12.95 and can also be found on Boots.ie.

Do you have trouble finding lipsticks to suit your skin tone? Would you try this service?

Emma x

A Thousand Words #8

I have a little catch up post for you today featuring some photos I posted on Instagram in August. 

From one extreme to the other. No7 Blue Patent and bare nails

Somehow he pulls this off

Always

Autumn windows in Brown Thomas; Autumn clothing and beauty purchases (Top and Boots from Zara; Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Shanghai Sizzle; Elephant bracelet at the Must Have Accessory stand at the Ultimate Girls Day Out; House of Fraser haul- Biba Metallic Foil Knit, Untold Tile Printed Dress that you may recognise from this post and Tulle skirt from Lola Skye

Stormy Harbour

Cocktails in Peruke and Periwig

Salmon Pot in Avoca; The Smokey Burger in Ollies Skerries; Birthday Paris Brest in Olive; Gin and Jazz in The Mint Bar (this G&T with strawberries and cracked black pepper was unbelievable); A Walking Dead from Peruke and Periwig

Louis Vuitton windows in Brown Thomas

Look at that face, Moxie the cutest dog in the world

#ootd Jacket and Sweater from H&M, Penneys skinny jeans and Nikes. Beard- Model's own

In August I had the pleasure of working with the No7 team at the Ultimate Girls Day Out. I was the model for the makeup masterclass for three days and as nerve wracking as it was, it was also so much fun and an amazing experience, thank you Catherine, Lisa and Judy! 

Girl's Day Out

Awesome No7 instant photos backstage

The UGDO Pretty in Pink make up look Judy created; Floral crowns; Trying out my Charlotte Tilbury palette

Presenter Lisa Kavanagh, Makeup Artist Judy Wong and I backstage

#tbts My first birthday; Looking terrified by my mother

I hope you're having a lovely weekend! 

Emma x

A Kiss On The Wind And We'll Make The Land

These photos are from a few weeks ago when we went to see my family in Skerries on a gorgeous sunny Autumn day when it was a little milder than it is now. 

Jumper- ASOS
Skirt- Dorothy Perkins
Jacket- Penneys
Faux Fur Collar- Accessorize
Necklace- H&M
Sunglasses- ASOS
Boots- Clarks
Bag- Marks and Spencer
Lipstick- MAC Ruby Woo


I stocked up on some cropped jumpers to wear with my high waisted skirts, this one from ASOS was less than €10, it's so warm and I love the tomato red shade. I've also been wearing a faux fur collar almost every day, I love how they instantly dress up an outfit.

What have been your most worn items recently?

Emma x

Deep Wine

I picked up No7 Deep Wine back in Spetember when I was craving a more Autumnal nail polish. This shade is from their Gel-Look Shine collection which claims to have rich colour pay off in one coat, helps to smooth and plump nails so ridges can't be seen and the patented technology makes the polish tough and flexible to prevent chipping. 

I wore it for 5 days in which I was doing a lot, both working and travelling all around London and I had minimal wear on the tips of my nails before I took it off. I was very impressed with the wear time and I found it did all that it claimed it would. 

I've written about many No7 nail polishes before as they are some of my all time favourites. They are so easy to apply with the big brush and you only need one coat for full opacity which is so great for when you need your nail polish to dry quickly. 

I love this shade and it is surprisingly one that was lacking in my vast collection. I had classic red and deep burgundy but nothing in between until now. For €8 (or €4 with the famous No7 vouchers) I can't recommend these highly enough.

What's on your nails at the moment?

Emma x