I'll Leave My Love Between The Stars

We took these photos in a local park on the day David Bowie died. I know I've talked about my love for him on the blog before. Since I first saw Labyrinth at a young age, to realising he was an unbelievable artist and falling in love with his music, he has always been a presence in my life. It's rare that the death of a celebrity makes me cry, but this one hit me hard. We actually went to see a special charity screening Labyrinth in the cinema last weekend with my best friend who would have watched it with me countless times growing up, so it was lovely that we got to do that together and celebrate the Goblin King. 

Jumper- Marks and Spencer Airspun Cowl Neck Jumper
Trousers- Dorothy Perkins (similar here)
Trench Coat- London Fog (similar here)
Boots- Clarks Bizzy Beat
Hat- Accessorize Luxe Cossack Hat
Socks- Topshop (similar here)
Lipstick- MAC Mehr

I got this trench coat in a charity shop last year for €10. The brand is London Fog and their coats usually retail for around €150 so I think that was my biggest bargain of last year. It also has a detachable tartan wool lining so it's very warm but can also be worn in milder weather once the lining is removed. I had it dry cleaned when I bought it and it needed a few buttons replaced which I did myself but I've gotten so much wear out of it and the quality is amazing so I'd definitely recommend checking out London Fog if you're looking to invest in a good quality trench coat.

I've written about my love for Clarks shoes countless times here. I just think in terms of comfort, quality and style, they are so underrated. The amount of times people are shocked when I tell them my shoes are Clarks, they still seem to have a reputation for being a bit sensible but they have the most beautiful stylish shoes every season. These pointed ankle boots are so comfortable and flattering, they're the perfect height so that they elongate my legs instead of cutting them off. They're also super soft and comfortable.

I've been loving wearing my faux fur Doctor Zhivago hat in the colder January weather. It's surprisingly warm and I think it amps up the style of the most basic outfit. I just got this one at the start of the Winter, but I've had a cossack hat for years and it's something that I find never goes out of style. Mine may not make me look like Julie Christie, but I love it all the same!

What have been your Winter wardrobe staples?

Emma x

PS. You can see the make up look I wore in this post, here.

Mehr

I have a small carefully curated collection of MAC lipsticks and over Christmas I purchased the latest addition in the form of Mehr. Any fellow fans of blogger Lily Pebbles will have heard her mention Mehr recently as she has been wearing it a lot over the past six months or so. Every time I saw it on her I made a mental note to make it my next make up purchase.



On the MAC site it's described as a dirty blue pink. It's one of their matte finish lipsticks and even though I do find them drying, I'm not as bothered about it since using their Prep + Prime Lip which is a must-have product if you're a matte lip lover. It makes such a difference especially with the MAC matte lipsticks which I find to be the most dry matte lipstick formula I've tried.




It's definitely not as harsh on the lips as Ruby Woo which for some reason seems to be such a hard lipstick to work with (seriously though if you love Ruby Woo, invest in the Prep + Prime Lip, it helps so much!). I wear it over just the primer and it lasts really well so I'd say with a lip liner too it would have amazing staying power.




I love the shade of Mehr, it's a great neutral that looks beautiful worn with minimal make up, or to counteract a stronger eye look. I've been wearing this a lot in work with just my base make up and mascara and it looks so fresh and pretty.

My other face make up is No7 Airbrush Away Foundation, Inglot Gel Liner and the Lorac Pro Palette on my eyes. 

I compared Mehr to another MAC lipstick I have, Plumful, which is slightly deeper and a more sheer Lustre finish but they are very similar in tone. For me, these kinds of shades are much more appealing and flattering than the nineties nudes that are still going strong in the world of make up. If you are a fan of pink-toned understated lipsticks but hate constant reapplication, then I'd definitely recommend checking out Mehr at your nearest MAC counter. I bought mine for €20 in Brown Thomas.

What's your favourite understated lipstick?

Emma x

As It Breaks, The Summer Will Warm

I'm excited to present to you my first blog post of 2016, it's fitting that it's also my first outfit post using my new Canon 700D camera. I'm still getting used to all of the settings and having fun playing around with it and taking photos of my family over Christmas. I'm just so happy to finally have great quality photos back on my blog after almost 2 years of using a camera that was so frustrating to take a photo with. 

I based the entire outfit around my new Ona Rex Faux Fur Scarf. I blogged about my friend Ashley's clothing and accessories brand a few weeks ago and I finally got around to styling this stunning scarf I ordered from her before Christmas. I was blown away by the quality of the scarf when I finally saw it in person. It's so big and warm and versatile. I've worn it both casually over my coat and more dressed up as you can see below. Despite the party season being over I decided to dress up the scarf with my idea of a Winter party look. 

Top- ASOS Crop Top in Textured Rib (similar here and here)
Skirt- Missguided Metallic Midi Skirt (via ASOS)
Shoes- Marks and Spencer Limited Edition Crossover Block Heel Sandals
Faux Fur Scarf- Ona Rex
Brooch- Ona Rex
Earrings- H&M (similar here, here and here)
Ring- Vintage (from my Granny)
Lipstick- Charlotte Tilbury Red Carpet Red
Fingernails- Essie Bahama Mama
Toenails- Essie On A Silver Platter


One of my absolute favourite things about Winter clothing is wearing different textures and it's something that I really wanted to play up with this outfit. I feel like the ribbed top, metallic skirt, faux fur scarf and velvet heels create such a fun combination.

You might remember I wore this crop top to the races earlier this year and I was looking forward to styling it again. I love how it makes what could be a classic evening look a bit more modern. I adore these tassel earrings, they were a very thoughtful Christmas gift from my boyfriend who remembered I said I loved them when we were browsing in H&M one day.

The heels were one of my two sales purchases this Christmas (the other was also a pair of shoes). I fell in love with these sandals when I saw them in a magazine a few months ago. I've had them on my wishlist since then and so when I saw them in the sale I bought them straight away. They're surprisingly comfortable considering I rarely wear heels and the ankle strap makes you feel really secure wearing them.

The finishing touches to the outfit were of course, a red lipstick, the stunning Charlotte Tilbury Red Carpet Red Matte Revolution lipstick which is the most amazing matte formula I think I've ever tried.   I then used my Instyler to curl my hair, I love how quick and easy it is to use and it gives more volume than any curling iron I've ever used. I definitely recommend it if you like to curl your hair but hate how long it takes.


Let me know what you think if my party look! Happy New Year, I hope you're all enjoying 2016 so far!

Emma x