What I'm loving this week :)

Omg its couture week! Ive been watching with drool running down my face imagining ever owning a piece of couture. By far Versace blew me away and so did Ellie Saab, it was a deep contrast to the modern woman and the nostalgia of old glamour when women needed a ball gown for a special occassion. So jealous!

Also I got a few wee bargains in the zara sale. I called in to collect an order so I wouldnt get distracted, I got distracted regardless and ended up leaving with a beautiful pair of jade green trousers with the most amazing gold zip detailing along the top. The fit is perfect and it is just that extra attention to detail that makes the whole difference. The very soft and comfortable grey loose fit jumper is just perfect for what I was looking for, it can be worn both up and down. The shoes are killer! Omg I am in love with them! They make me feel so powerful and in control, if I was a businesswoman then I would wear these to the boardroom to show that I mean business, adore them! The shoes were £19.99, the trousers £17.99 and the top only £7.99.

What would complete this look would be this amazing knecklace from Sugar and Style that you can find here. Sorry I couldnt get an image, either my phone or the blogger app is playing up. Actually the new updated blogger app is rubbish!

Has anybody else been shopping at the sales? What did you pick up? I'd love to hear :)

Niamh xx

Versace couture look

It is Couture season! And Versace kicked it off with the one and only Naomi Campbell both opening and closing the show, the lady got class. What I loved about the show compared to last years comeback to couture for Versace, was that it was more muted in its colours. Last years comeback was bright, acid colours and the make up reflected that. But this years was more laid back, all the drama was on the clothes and rightly so as every single piece had me yearning in envy.

Beautiful, bright and clear dewy skin was essential. There was barely a hint of contouring or blush even on the skin, the eyes was minimal but lined and thick, dramatic lashes. Lips looked hydrated, plump with a bitten ripeness to it, I love it! It's equally dramatic and a classic look, yet it's quite natural that you could easily wear it on a daily basis.

I think im going have to try this look out for myself and post a tutorial.

Any suggestions or tips on what products I should use?

What do you think of the Versace look?

Niamh xx

Oscars 2013

Hello beauties!

Im going to do a very quick post on the Oscars last night and the best dressed! Im not gona lie, I was a wee bit let down by the choice of gowns this year. They were either all the same colour or same style, there was no real diversity and even though Ann Hathaway tried to channel Audrey Hepburn in Prada, I was so disappointed that there was no vintage dresses from the great couture houses archives. And not one Chanel dress. Is this the first year that there hasnt been Chanel on the red carpet? If Diane Kruger was there im sure she would have worn Chanel , I love that she doesnt have a stylist!


So the best dressed of the entire night goes to Jessica Chastain! She took my breath away, an absolute dream in Armani! I wouldve loved her to win the Oscar, she bounced into the film industry and every single role she has played has been amazing! I liked her in 'The Help' I fell in love with her in 'lawless'. I adore her!

 

I was so surprised with Stacy Kiebler! Not actually knowing much about her or her usual red carpet style, I was blown away by her Naeem Khan metallic dress. Every single design element of this dress complimented her perfectly! She upstaged her BF George Clooney and not many people can do that! When is he just going to marry the girl, shes the longest out of his beaus that has lasted this long, he's settling down!

 

Another blown away moment was my girl Catherine Zeta Jones! I love this woman! How beautiful was she in Zuhair Murad? I love Zuhair Murad, he is definitely King of dressing for the red carpet, all of his dresses have impact and lasting impressions that the Oscars require. Mrs Zeta Jones was looking ravishing in gold, and look at the detailing of that dress, I couldnt get over it! She is stunning, nothing put love for the woman!

I dont usually pay attention to the men, as a suit is a suit, but OMG Eddie Redmayne in Alexander McQueen. Beauty. That is all. I cant cope with this man.

 

 

 

 

I've said it once but I'm going to say it again, Jennifer Lawrence step away from Dior and that shape of dress. You wore it to the academys and to the Baftas, its getting boring! The dress is absolutely beautiful and you look like a floating princess in it but its been done, you're 22 so take braver risks and show off that figure of yours a la 2011 Calvin Klein red number. Sex bomb!  

 

 

                        

 

Im surprised for Anne Hathaway to ditch her fail safe favourite and BFFL Valentino for Prada, im sure he's not too happy! That is a bold and risky move and hope that her friendship with the Italian icon doesn't falter as these dresses are prepared MONTHS in advance with tons of fittings, last minute changes etc it's a long term commitment that you can't back out off last minute in fear of the backlash of the fashion house and that they may not lend in future occasions. Im tempted to know what the Valentino dress was though, maybe she thought she would clash with Jennifer Aniston's Red Valentino gown? But I do think that this is the first Prada that an Oscar winner has worn when collecting an award, I need to double check.

  

 

 

Style inspiration Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner is a truly inspiring woman!

I became intrigued with her after watching her biography on E! And immediately was captured with her beauty, her ability as an actress and her fiery personality. As a fashion icon she was like no other of her time, with a stunning hour glass figure, creamy skin and thick wavy hair she truly was a natural beauty. She contributed her flawless complexion to her Irish and Scottish heritage and always took care to cover up in the sun. Her beauty captured Hollywood and the worlds leading men such as mickey Rooney (husband #1) and frank Sinatra (hubby #3) who was her true love. There was always whispers towards her close relationship with the aviator Howard Hughes but she always denied this, despite his many proposals and said that he always stank of BO. So being a multi-millionaire can't buy personal hygiene?

After reading her autobiography I became even more in love with her as she led such an interesting life, and for quite a conservative society of the 1940's/1950's she broke out of the societal norms and was a true hell raiser with her drinking, smoking, swearing, the men and generally not given a damn about what anybody thought of her. Living in Spain with the one and only Ernest Hemingway led to her love for the bull fights, dancing and matadors who she had many affairs with.

She was never the 'darling' of Hollywood as she refused to live up to the squeaky clean persona that was expected of her and her contract of MGM, in fact once that contract was over she felt that was the only time she could truly flourish as an actress instead of playing the traditional femme fatal role. This period in her life she lived the way she wanted without rules and people watching her, and famously turned down the part to play Mrs. Robinson in the legendary film 'The Graduate' that would have cemented her place in cinematic history, but its a decision she never regretted.

A long time friend of Grace Kelly she was present at her wedding to the Prince of Monaco and these two women were defining the most stylish of her time. Her Spanish influence definitely shows throughout her fashion choices, although she was never too fussed on her appearance choosing not to wear make up or shoes whenever she could. Dior, Balenciaga, Chanel all the leading couture fashion houses loved to dress her for her fabulous figure. In her hometown of North Carolina there is an Ava Gardner musuem dedicated to her with some of her iconic outfits on show, this is something I need to see in my lifetime!

She is immortalised however, the famous song written by Frank Sinatra 'Im a fool to love you' was written for her to explain their passionate and tumultuous marriage, that ended in heartbreak.

Personally, I dont like to mimic stars for the simple fact that I like to have my own personal style but her classic glamour, jewels, wavey hair and make up has inspired stars after her such as Lana Del Rey today (another fashion love) and her personality has been likened to the infamous Samantha Jones due to being an independent woman who never depended on anybody but herself to get where she wanted in live. These are the type of women that I adore and look up to, they may not be traditional role models but they are the most realistic in the sense that they make mistakes and learn from them but never allow them to hold them back, it helps shapes them and this is what I find truly inspiring. Young stars today are awashed with publicity staff, PR people who have their conversations carefully planned out and in a world that is too concious of being politically correct, these sort of women are truly inspiring.

What do you think?

Niamh x

Dolce and Gabbana Couture show 2013

I just had to write a piece on this Dolce & Gabbana's private couture show in Milan, with only the elite of the elite were present. The audience was mainly filled with Russian Oligarchs, European royalty and Chinese millionaires as the Telegraph reported mainly due to that this collection is strictly for customers and not for celebs to be seeing strutting on the red carpet. In one sense I applaud this, as Jennifer Lawrence showed at the SAG awards last week she was able to wear couture Dior that was fresh off the catwalk only after a week, so celebs have the hottest picks of the latest collections, trends and even the fashion vaults such as when Lady GaGa was able to wear vintage Gianni Versace, I die!  So for the chance to for the exceedingly rich to own some couture without the risk of being caught dead in the same dress as an Oscar winner, its a no-brainer! First world problems eh?

But I do have to comment on these two dresses in particular, mainly this beautiful white wedding dress. I can only dream to get married in a dress like this, it is beautiful. And knowing the philosophy of Dolce & Gabbana it was only the finest Milanese lace made by the finest seamstresses hands to ensure absolute perfection! I mean look at it, its beautiful! Its very traditional in the sense that there's hardly any skin on show but look at all the detail, it really is an artform. The shape is very modern though and is quite sheer at the bottom, it took my breath away!

The gold dress is another masterpiece on its own that I can only imagine 16th and 17th century royalty would have worn. Everything about this dress screams imperial wealth and power, it truly is magnificent. The jewels on show was apparently diamonds and pearls fixed in gold as chandelier earrings and cocktail rings. Truly stunning. The types of pieces that will have its own place in an exhibition at a museum or for future designers and fashion historians to study for inspiration.

The Telegraph also notes that only a few fashion editors and newpapers were actually present. Of course, some press would be needed after the shows at Paris but this was stripped down in comparison, yet was distinctively Dolce in the surrounding with regal Milanese architecture. So only a few people in the fashion world got to see these beauties up close to wonder in its marvel, and only a lucky few will be able to afford this collection.

So stunning!

Do you agree?

Niamh x