Wednesday, 21 May 2014

Buttery Brogues



Hello everyone!

You may be wondering from the heading why I have described my new pretties as 'buttery' but this is the most accurate description I could come up with to do them justice. They are a buttery brown colour, have a buttery soft texture yet structured and left me melting inside at first glance. I am in LURVE with them (If you couldn't tell already). Such was my love for them that I patiently waited 3 weeks for my order to come in. The beauty of Clarks shoes is that they cater for 1/2 sizes...a blessing for someone who is a 5 1/2 and who often misses out on the nicest shoes/boots/heels. Yup, first world problems of the highest order.

So here they are in all of their buttery beautiful glory. These are an investment piece and will be my summer go-to shoe fo shooo. The cutout detail makes them airy and bang on trend. The twine-like laces make the shoe, I think. They are also quite light even though they are leather brogues, another bonus. Ticking all of the shoe-y boxes. Hurrah to Clarkes!

I won't lie they were a pricey €85 but well worth it. I have worn them twice already and can happily confirm I was sans blisters after both occasions. And in all honesty even if they were a little on the ouchy side, good quality brogues are worth a little pain as they become an extension to your foot. Or so has been the case with me, but then I am a brogue enthusiast so I may be a little biased...

Have a good week!

Noir
X

Clarks / Brogues
(Similar version here!)

Saturday, 17 May 2014

Minted




Hello everyone!

Well its certainly been hotting up in little Éire these past few days, hallelujah! Whats that saying again? Its prime 'Exam Weather'? Yup as per usual when college exams/the leaving certificate (Final school exams...i.e. BIG DEAL) loom the weather turns miraculously amazing! And for once I am not studying (cramming) and taking exams like I've been doing over the last two decades basically. Feels weird. But enough rambling. The ankles made another appearance in this post hurrah! They were getting awfully fuzzy I won't lie, the beauty regime has cranked up a notch which isn't a bad thing.

So here is a Spring/Summer inspired outfit with my colour of the moment: MINT. Such a pretty understated colour. And the beauty of it is, is that this colour does actually suit every skin tone, always a plus for us pale Irish girleens. Such a clichéd statement but its true, I swears! I went for a more preppy simple look here as my styling preferences vary depending on my mood. I paired this with a vintage (my Moms circa 1993) box top, old reliable leopard print sunnies, some trusty high-waisted jeans and my beloved brogues. These are my shoes and suitable all year round, puuuuurfect.

Hope ye are all having a good weekend whatever ye're doing...and if its sunny for God's sake don't forget the SPF as unfortunately sunburn will never be in vogue.

Talk soon dudes,

Noir






New Look BLAZER
Vintage BOX CROP TOP / RING
Topshop JEANS
Schuh BROGUES
Primark SUNGLASSES

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Caped Crusader



Hello everyone!

Just a quick outfit post that I meant to post aaaaages ago. The weather was nice here in Ireland a few weeks back and I made the most of it by stripping off as much as possible i.e. losing my winter socks and those extra two layers of clothes I've been sporting since October! 

I'll be honest, this beautiful acrylic cape/kimono was purchased in the H&M Autumn/Winter sale 2012...and the images here are from the first time I actually wore it two years on. I know very bold, but being honest like most sometimes you just forget about AMAZING pieces you have picked up. So wearing this felt like BOOM new clothes, which is always good! 

A future post will feature my new glasses/sun glasses. I am super excited to get these as recently I have had to revert back to wearing glasses on a daily basis instead of contact lenses and I SERIOUSLY needed an upgrade from my 8 year old glasses - they seemed nice when I was SIXTEEN...not so much now! Lets just say my obsession with leopard/tortoise shell print has translated to the spectacle variation.

Anywho, hope ye are all having a great week and happy hump day! 

Noir
X




Kimono // H&M
Jeans/Pumps // Topshop
Tank // Primark
Bag // Michael Kors
Sunglasses // Rayban Wafarer
Earrings/Necklace // Dorothy Perkins
Midi Ring/Cuff // River Island
Ring // Vintage

Friday, 2 May 2014

Haul // Office ASOS Topshop Oasis

Hi Everyone! 

Hope you are all well and are enjoying a lovely May bank holiday weekend,

Sorry I have been MIA lately on my share of the posts but I have had a hectic few weeks. 

Last month I went to London went my sister and we were lucky enough to be apart of the audience for the filming of the Graham Norton Show, with guests Juliette Binoche, Ronnie Corbett & Ricky Gervais, I have to admit I only knew who Ricky Gervais was but it was a great night nonetheless. 
While I was in London we stayed just off Oxford Street so I was in my element and picked up a few pieces. 

Talk soon lovlies, 







 Sandals / Office
(very tempted to get these in the black as well)





Shoes / Office



 Heels / ASOS




Jamie Jeans with ripped effect  / Topshop

(I absolutely adore these jeans, I not usually the biggest fan of Topshop jeans as sometimes the quality isn't that great considering the price point but these babies are worth every scent, such great quality and fit)



Kimono / Oasis
Cami / New Look 


Scarf Print Shorts / Topshop
(These shorts just make me want to go on holidays!) 

Sunday, 27 April 2014

Weekend Post: Peter Mark VIP Style Awards 2014

Each year in Ireland the perpetually fashionable celebs are celebrated and awarded for their uber-style at the annual Peter Mark VIP Style Awards. There are several categories and the public vote for those they deem most stylish in each category, simples!

As usual the beautiful and fashionable elite of our little Isle did not disappoint. This years awards were held on Friday April 25th at the Marker Hotel Dublin and here are my picks of the night which I honestly found difficult to narrow down such was the level of outfit awesomeness.

Model: Vogue McFadden

Presenter: Leanne Moore

Model: Pippa O' Connor

Presenter: Lucy Kennedy

Model: Thalia Heffernan

Actress: Aibhin Garrihy

Presenter and all round Goddess: Mary Kennedy

Mixed Martial Artist: Conor McGregor...majorly dapper as ever!


Aaaaaand my most stylish outfit of the night (and also voted by those who attended) was Rozanna Purcell, former Miss World contestant, one of Ireland's top models...and other half of musician Bressie, not jel I swear! She KILLED it with her blue power suit which complemented her amazing blue steel eyes perfectly. I call this look blue crush, Angelina who?!

Top Model: Rozanna Purcell










All images from entertainment.ie. No copyright intended

Friday, 25 April 2014

Product Product Product


Hello everyone!

So lately my wallet has been a hellova lot fuller and I have been treating myself to new products and branching out from my usual purchases into the unknown. Realistically I should be saving but I thought screw it lets go forth and shop! It is always exciting to try out new products and discover something that becomes a staple part of your beauty routine.

Like most of you I think, I base a great deal of my purchases on reviews from online beauty bloggers and youtubers because they give you an honest review which is so important when you are forking out for expensive products or simply want a good opinion on something you want to try out. Lately I have bought some new prettys, most in use, some waiting on the wings - those ones I am especially psyched about! I will try not to ramble but I probably will so I apologise in advance! I hope ye find it helpful come pay day when you 'need' to buy that amazing face serum etc!

First off is haircare. Now like most I have my hair dyed and like most I have some lowlights/balayage blondiness goin' on. And like most (yes I've said that 3 times now) I suffer from dry hair which ain't pretty. So I decided that colour conditioner wasn't enough and invested in some (1) Hair Xpertise Argan oil. Boy was I not disappointed. Since using it over the past two weeks I have been asked 3 times have I redone my hair - success! This oil is a little miracle worker, not only does it soften your hair it also gives it a healthy shimmer especially to straightened hair. I have been using this and my (2) Toni & Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray (wow mouthful) sporadically depending on my mood i.e. whether I want my mane wavy/straight. This texturising spray is brilliant; it volumises and helps your natural waves/curls to develop without clogging up and weighing down the hair. It doesn't have an over powering odour and a little goes a long way. An excellent product for anyone to have which doesn't break the bank.

I recently invested in a new under eye cream and chose a (3) La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Eyes product thanks to my partner in crime Aoife. I have previously used this skincare line and have always found it suits my skin well (dry/very dry). I was using an Origins eyecream but....it fell down the toilet. Yes I know how did that happen you ask?! Bad reflexes I'm afraid. I was pretty gutted as there was a THIRD left in the little pot but enough about that...more about La Roche-Posay. I have noticed a marked difference in my under eye bags thanks to this. They are less pronounced after using it in the mornings and a TINY bit is enough for each eye as it spreads easily. My makeup hasn't been caked under my eyes either even after 13/14 hours of wear which shows the quality of the eye cream. Still in the early stages of use I would highly recommend this product as it has firmly replaced my Origins eye cream.

The (4) Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum and the (5) iwhite Instant Teeth Whitening kit are very recent buys (literally this week) so they have yet to be cracked open. I am excited about trying these out as I have heard rave reviews from various bloggers about this little Estée Lauder gem and I am DYING to whiten my teeth. This has been getting me down lately and I cannot wait to see the results!

Hope ye found my little review as such interesting/helpful/not too annoying and I would love if ye gave me a little incite into whats rocking ye're beauty world!

Have a lovely weekend!

Noir
X

Sunday, 20 April 2014

Weekend Post: Spring/Summer Lookbook


Hello everyone!

Hope ye are all having a good weekend and an even better one if you have a few days off like me thanks to it being Easter - hurrah! This past week the weather has been AMAZING in good 'ol Éire. I mean its just crazy how warm it has been in April and so sunny. Yesterday I even ventured to the beach for the first time this year sans wellies and a huge coat, happy days! Any who in light of this I got a little carried away and decided to (prematurely most will think) put together a little casual and everyday Spring/Summer (mainly Summer admittedly) lookbook!

I think being cooped up in a windowless office and dressed in mainly black all week has heightened my need for colourful pieces and for my boho style to shine through. So here ye go a little lookbook in my front garden, washing on the line and all! Enjoy and Happy Easter!

Noir 
X
Look 1
Newlook / Top
Zara / Shorts
Bulaggi (TK Maxx) / Bag
Jasper Conran (Debenhams) / Pumps
River Island / Rings
Gift / Bracelet and Necklace
Primark / St Moritz Tan

Look 2
Newlook / Tanktop (Underneath)
Primark / Lace Top, Sunglasses, Arrow Bangle, Feather headpiece
Zara / Bag
Vintage / Shorts (My moms!)
Gifted / Necklaces, Ring, Leopard Bangle
River Island / Midi Rings

Look 3
Primark / Kimono, String Top,Necklace
Rayban / Wafer Sunglasses
Gifted / Leopard Bangle
Dorothy Perkins / Bangle
Vintage / Shorts (Mom's again!)