Wednesday 31 January 2018

The Latest On SS18 Trends & Belfast Fashion Week Launch




Last Thursday I had the opportunity to check out the latest trends for Spring/Summer '18 in Belfast Fashion Week's press launch. It was held in the lovely Ormeau Baths, where the white walls and airy space really lent itself to the fashion presentation; making the colours pop! As always we were greeted with a glass of my favourite - West Coast Cooler! We were given an insight into what's coming over the next couple of seasons. Think lots of colour, textures and varying styles. It was presented by the ever-fabulous Cathy Martin, who got us super excited for Belfast Fashion Week! So, without further rambling, here's a rundown of some of my favourite trends for SS18...


Pastels
Giving the us all the 'ice-cream' vibes, we'll be seeing pastel colours everywhere this season! It's been spotted on the runways of Celine, Preen and Victoria Beckham.


Lilac
Tying in perfectly with pastels, whether you're going head-toe or just a subtle touch, lilac is perfectly on-trend! As shown by Victoria Beckham and Michael Kors.


Bright Colours
Providing a complete contrast to pastels, bright 'Crayola' colours are on the other end of the spectrum.  We'll be seeing bright reds and pinks to popping greens. The likes of Versace, Givenchy and Phillip Lim displayed these on their catwalks.

Dark Denim
This one's a little throwback and it's back with a bang! Think head-to-toe and denim suits. Big designers such as Tom Ford and Max Mara have been flaunting this trend.


Pencil Skirts
This season sees the increase of the pencil skirt with it's feminine and flattering fit. As ever it's not just any old pencil skirt, with designers like Prada and Gucci putting their own spin on it.


Fringing
This season it's all about the extra textures, particularly fringing - think the tassel earring trend x10! This has been spotted on the runways of Chanel, Acne and Nina Ricci. You'll be sure to make a statement with this one!


Green
I've never been a huge fan of green but after seeing lots of it in the BFW presentation, I think I may have been converted...

Checks
We were seeing checks everywhere last season and they're back to stay! I'm especially excited about checked power suits, giving us those girl boss vibes! Big designers like Burberry and Fendi have been showing off checks in their shows.


Pink
Bubblegum pink, pastel pink, milkshake pink - it's all there this season! We were shown lots of pink looks at the launch.

The Trench
All of the designers are channelling their inner Burberry this season with their take on the ever-trusty trench coat! From the likes of Valentino to Loewe.

My Favourite Looks
I can sense a theme of pink and suits...





What I Wore...
My top is a super old one from H&M but I love it - can't beat a standard monochrome blouse! I picked up this denim skirt from River Island. It's so comfy, with a flattering and slightly A-line shape. The star of the show had to be my Public Desire boots that I actually picked up from TKMaxx for half the price! To give myself a little warmth, I popped on my trusty Zara trench coat. I topped the look off with an old Topshop bag and my black faux fur scarf from Marks & Spencer!


Drop me a message if you'd like to know where any of the above outfits are from!

BELFAST FASHION WEEK SCHEDULE:

  • Designer/Designer Boutique - Thursday 22nd March @ 8-10pm in St Anne's Cathedral
  • High Street Fashion Show - Friday 23rd March @ 8-10pm in St Anne's Cathedral
  • The F Words Brunch - Saturday 24th March @ 9:30am-12pm in Babel at Bullitt
  • Sushi Saturday - Saturday 24th March @ 2-5pm in Zen, Adelaide Street
  • Style Sunday - Sunday 25th March @ 2-5pm in James Street South Restaurant
For further details and to book your tickets have a look here. 


*photos are by photographer Brendan Gallagher

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Friday 26 January 2018

What I've Been Loving Lately...

makeup, you do you, Marc Jacobs daisy, toner, l'oreal, stila liquid lipstick, lipstick, face mask, makeup brands,


From Christmas to beginning a New Year, this little space has been lacking from my monthly favourites updates. So, I thought I'd give you a run down of some of the things I've been loving lately and would definitely recommend; whether it be lipstick or a book!





There have been a few lip products that I've been using (and obsessing over) lately. The Stila Stay All Day Liquid  Lipstick has been my go-to recently. I have the shade 'Perla',  a perfect pinky-nude and it literally 'stays all day'! It's creamy which makes it easy to apply but it dries matte...funny enough! The next two are of a similar type - moisturising, sheer and perfect for everyday wear. The Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in 'Guava' and the No7 Lovely Lips Lip Balm in 'Parisian Pink'. These both have a gorgeous sheen to them and would be lovely in the Summer months! I've also fallen back in love with Marc Jacobs 'Daisy' - it's a subtle, floral and fresh scent and I love it!



Next up...skincare! When it come to cleansing I can be pretty lazy and just grab the micellar water (which is fine!) but sometimes it's nice to put in a little more effort! For this, I love the Estee Lauder Take It Away Cleanser. This wipes away makeup so effortlessly and it's fresh, creamy and hydrating. I'm giving a quick mention to two products that I've been testing out. The L'Oreal Fine Flowers Toner smells incredible, refreshes my skin and removes any impurities. Also, the L'Oreal Pure Clay Blemish Rescue Face Mask - this gets deep into your pores and unclogs to leave the skin smooth and pure. This minimised any blemishes overnight! Something that doesn't quite fit in with the skincare category (but I'll leave it here anyway) is Lavender Oil. This may seem random but if you have issues with sleep or struggle to wind down and relax this is a lifesaver! I pop a few drops of this on my pillow, instantly feeling more relaxed and I sleep like a baby! You can find this at your nearest health store (Framar, Holland & Barret). 



When it comes to books, I love anything from a novel to a coffee table book. In the past month I've been reading three in particular that are great! If you're in need of a little motivation or would like a more lighthearted, humorous approach to a 'self-help' book, 'You Do You' is one to check out! This is the third in Sarah Knight's, series and the first one I've read. It's the little encouragement/kick up the backside you need! The other is by Megan Hess, whose fashion illustrations are simply amazing! I've got several of her books and each one is as stunning as the next. The most recent one I've been reading is 'Coco Chanel: The Illustrated World Of Fashion Icon'. Coco Chanel is a true inspiration for me and I couldn't have wished for a better insight into her life and the brand! I also recently started Gail Honeyman's 'Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine' and as soon as I read the first chapter I knew I was going to love it! This is such an interesting book with a fascinating lead character - I can't wait to keep reading!

Until next time,  Katie x


***Disclaimer: I was gifted the Marc Jacobs 'Daisy' fragrance.

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Friday 12 January 2018

The Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette



I've had major withdrawal symptoms from beauty blogging...but I'm back with one of my favourite products in a long time! I've had this saved in my Cult Beauty Wishlist for ages but was lucky to receive it as a birthday present and I definitely squealed slightly with excitement! It's the Zoeva Cocoa Blend eyeshadow palette - just look at it!

The shadows are super easy to blend, with just the right amount of pigment. I find it easiest and most effective to build up the shadows depending on the look you're going for. This is such a versatile palette, with a combination of mattes and shimmers. I've created so many looks with it! The shade 'Substitute for Love' is a light brown, perfect for using as a transitional shade or working through the crease. This is an ideal everyday shade! I'm in love with 'Freshly Toasted', a stunning rich red colour which I think looks amazing in the outer corner of the eyelid - it's the perfect red! As for the shimmers, there's a variation of golds, reds and purples. As always with shimmers, I dampen the eyeshadow brush to get the most out of the shades. If you want to go for dramatic, smokey vibes, 'Infusion' and 'Beans Are White' fit the bill perfectly!

This is the first time I've tried Zoeva eyeshadows and I'm so impressed! I would definitely recommend trying this palette - and it's so affordable, particularly for the quality! The other two palettes in the range also look insane, 'Blanc Fusion' and 'Caramel Melange'.

Have you tried this palette, or any of the others from Zoeva?

Katie x

Would love you to check out my Instagram and Facebook!


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Wednesday 3 January 2018

Saying Goodbye To 2017




This isn't your standard 'New Year' post but when I think about it, my year wasn't standard in any way. It feels like yesterday since I wrote my 'Hello 2017' blog post...for this one I hardly know where to begin! As I write this I'm thinking back 9 months when I was lying in a hospital bed post spinal fusion surgery - something I never dreamed would be happening at the start of 2017! Honestly it turned my life around for at least 4 months as I recovered. I'll be straight with you and admit that after battling depression last year, I felt as if I had no more time to waste and I wanted to make the most of my year out from education. However, come March 2017 when I received a phonecall inviting me to London for surgery, I didn't have much choice in the matter.


Sometimes life has to stop for a little while; your plans taking a back seat. My intentions of baking, photography, driving lessons and blogging to name but a few, had to get pushed aside while I focused on my health. This was never what I wanted (or imagined) but sometimes it's okay to press pause and face what needs facing. A huge part of me wants to put two fingers up at 2017 and shout 'Good Riddance' BUT the other half of me wants to thank it for taking me on an unexpected journey.

This year has taught me so many lessons or rather, emphasised them! First, time flies. Yes, that fortnight in hospital felt like a lifetime but time as a whole goes so quickly and each moment is so precious! Secondly, the most important things are ALWAYS health and happiness. These should be nurtured constantly and while plans may have to take a temporary backseat, health and happiness should never be pushed aside! Plans can wait!


You might be thinking, 'Well this isn't exactly a cheery, motivational New Year, New Me post!' but I'm not quite finished! After physiotherapy sessions, pilates and lots of sleep I gradually recovered from the surgery. I started my degree with the Open University, got a job in one of my favourite shops and attended some amazing blogger events! To top it off I finally passed my driving test! Like I say time flies, but it also heals! So, if it all goes tits up it's okay and it gets better.

So, here's to a better 2018 and a few wise words to keep in mind:

"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground." - Teddy Roosevelt

"Look back one last time. But then never look back again. Leave it all behind you. What's coming is far more exciting." - The Better Man Project

"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." - Oprah Winfrey

"My life didn't please me, so I created my life" - Coco Chanel

"On a bad day there's always lipstick" - Audrey Hepburn


Happy 2018!  Katie x

Make sure you check me out on Instagram here!






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