Spring Wishlist 2017!

It's that time of the year when the shops start to fill up with things other than wool knits, black tights and bobble hats. This is good news for a couple of reasons. 

For one, it means that I can hopefully put away my Icelandic hyper insulated coat and for two, Spring is springing!!

I, of course have my eye on lots of pretty things but this lot are the main bits and pieces on the revolving carousel that is my mental wish list. 

Links are in pink and don't buy everything before I get the chance to!

I'm a bit Flamingo obsessed and this tee from Oasis has the benefit of being casual (comfy grey marl is the best) but it's also pink and sparkly, so win-win all around. 

The second I saw the limited edition Crayola box from Clinique, I had to have it. Unfortunately for me, a reliable little birdy (thanks Andreea!) has told me that they've been out of stock in Ireland and the UK since the start of February (weeps). I'll be keeping an eye out for a last minute restock but I may just end up buying an individual one, although it obviously won't be the same…

I love this vintage-feel black top, also from Oasis. The bird-embroidered collar is adorable and just the right side of kitsch and will look as well paired with jeans as it would tucked into a skirt.

This spot and floral tea dress from Topshop is very pretty- I'm already picturing it with a (fake) tan and a pair of sandals on my holidays..

*goes into daydream mode*

I'm in the market for a new primer and this one from Too Faced has been on my mind for a while. A product to sort out your hungover face? Ah, yes please!

And lastly, the shoe of dreams from Asos. These are marketed as a bridal shoe but they'd look great with absolutely everything in my opinion (see how I'm already justifying the purchase?) It's a moot point anyway as they are currently sold out in every size but 3. 

Again, I have serious plans to stalk their "back in stock" section. 

Any of these on your Wishlist?

XX

A Pre Christmas Fashion Haul With SheIn!

I was very lucky last month and won a giveaway from fellow blogger Martina, of Martina's Mark. I love this lady's style- she's seriously glamorous and always puts the perfect outfit together so I was delighted to try some pieces from one of Martina's favourite online stores, SheIn. I had $120 to work with and by God, did I work with it. 

I'm just going to show you these via photos from the site itself because I am not a fashion blogger and if I tried to pose wearing any of these then this would be a comedy piece.

I love this white mohair and lace jumper, $21.97. 

It's wonderfully festive but oh so pretty at the same time. It's a snug fit and has a bit of a 50's-style-Christmas feel to it, especially when tucked into a big circle skirt.

I had seen these shoes on Martina's blog and swooned a little bit so I was delighted to find they were still in stock. The Red Bow Slingbacks were only $31.93 and are as beautiful in real life as they are here. Unfortunately, my feet are slightly on the wide side and these are definitely made with a slimmer foot in mind- something to bear in mind if you were considering making a purchase yourself. 

This year my love for midi length/knee length flared skirts took on a life of its own. I've worn a floral version from Oasis to death and was very happy to see the big range of skirts SheIn have. I went for this very cool Monochrome stripe that again, is great with a top tucked into it. This was $14.76.

Next up is this Red Cable Knit Cowl Neck Sweater, $21.97. 

I've already worn this to death since it arrived; it's ridiculously cosy but not too warm and it's not scratchy like a lot of jumpers. It's a neat little fit so it look as cute worn with jeans as it does over a dress or short skirt. LOVE IT. It may be less wearable in the months of the year that don't involve Christmas but I can see myself still throwing it on in March, considering I can't stop wearing it now.

I had to get this black lace collar top, $12.88 because look how elegant it is! I've been wearing it exactly as shown; underneath a skirt with my hair up so that you get the full affect of that lace. It's so pretty and is making me wish I'd bought it in every possible colour!

Lastly is this Black Flare Pleated Midi Skirt, $20.00. This style of skirt is very versatile and the fact that this is black means that it goes with pretty much everything. When people talk about "wardrobe staples", it's things like this that I think of.

There were also a pair of earrings in my order but they're part of a Christmas present for someone so I can't show them to you!
Delivery was quite good and there were no taxes to pay on arrival, which I was worried about as they were coming from outside of the EU.

Have you tried anything from SheIn?

Anything here you're tempted by?

XX

I Want To Be A Mermaid..

My Ariel love rages on. The Little Mermaid came out when I was a mere nipper of five years old and I instantly fell for her super swishy red hair, her under sea antics and her love of all things human, even though she used them for all the wrong purposes. Dinglehopper anyone? 

I also had an Ariel doll that changed colour in water. Overall, I loved her. A recent re-watching confirms that it's still an enjoyable Disney classic if not exactly a feminist masterpiece but you can't have everything! 

Meanwhile, I'm obsessed with all things under the sea, as is evident from the below collage. 

Everything's better down where it's wetter, don't you know. Ooh-er etc.

Slightly more understated than everything else is this Seashell locket necklace with a pearl, €29.36, Etsy HERE.

This pink metallic shell bag from SkinnyDip, £30, HERE is super summery. Also available in blue. 

Woman's hair on Pinterest that I want. I'm probably going to go for a much less dramatic version and add in peach to my blonde hair this Summer. 

These Ariel pjs from Topshop have to be mine. I've been putting off buying them for ages cause I really don't need new pyjamas but the fact that I keep going back online to look at them means they should probably come live with me. £22.00 HERE.

And eh, more seashells with this SkinnyDip phone case, £12, HERE.

Lastly, this super sparkly green sequin dress kinda screams mermaid. It ticks my "can I wear it with black tights" box too. £39 HERE from Motel Rocks. 

Penneys also have some very summery tees at the moment with slogans like: "part time mermaid" etc if that floats your boat (see what I did there?!).

In case you needed another reason to love her, she's also patron princess of the make-up addicted:

G'wan Ariel!

XX

Pastel Blue Coat: Splurge or Save?! (Save, Obviously)

I've been after this beautiful pale blue coat from Oasis for a good while but kept going online to look at it and then clicking out again- the price was putting me off. I've no problem with spending a bit more on a classic wool Winter coat but a light jacket in a seasonal trend (in this case, pastel) felt like an unnecessary expenditure. Step forward reasonably priced fashion bastions, Penneys, or Primark to those across the Irish Sea.

The Penneys number on the left is made from scuba material and so doesn't wrinkle or crumple- ideal for throwing in the back of the car for a weekend away or a wedding AND it's machine washable! It zips up with a heavy gold zip, which is also featured on the sleeves. It's those little details that makes it look pricier than it actually is.

On that note, this was €35 (although my sister informs me that it's now reduced to €15!!), while the Oasis coat comes in at €106.00. Granted there may well be some difference in quality but it looks stylish and dresses any outfit up, plus it's the perfect Spring colour. Both are still available at the moment if you're after a blue coat of your own. Oh and Dunnes brand Savida has a woolier version available at the moment also. 

*Thanks again to my super stylish sister for buying this first and therefore alerting me to its existence. We can be like twins now! Yaaaay!

Penneys Haul

So you know how it is, I went into Penneys (Primark to those outside of Éire) the other day for some new Pilates gear and left with a Cocoa Brown tanning mitt, two pairs of extra thick tights (with a fleece lining..snug FTW), a lip balm with SPF (covering all weather conditions, clearly), the aforementioned Pilates clothing and the few items below. I basically saw the colours and went a bit mad. Colours and florals mean only one thing. SPRING. That's right, people, time to break out the fun clothes and throw off the shackles of Winter. No need to look like 40 Coats anymore because Spring is coming! Well, Spring is a good bit away yet but it is coming. Oh yes. 

First up, is this rather cool neon tweed print shift dress. Made of a lightweight material with sheer sleeves and a woven collar, this would need a chunky cardigan for now but will be fine on its own for Spring/Summer. 

I'm planning on wearing this with those thick tights in navy, ankle boots and a chunky necklace (possibly one of the new ones in the photo). This was €10. 

Next up is this tropical floral print on a vibrant orange-red background. I love the detail on the sleeves here, it makes it that bit more interesting. 

I'm mostly planning on wearing this just with jeans but for some reason I have a strange hankering to try it out tucked into a striped pencil skirt..hmm. This was €9.

I'm obsessed with yellow and my favourite way to wear it is with a casual shirt like this. Featuring rolled up sleeves, some gold detailing on the shoulder and tiny yellow polka dots throughout, there's a lot going on here for just €13. Again, this is probably a jeans kinda top. I'm thinking tucked into flares with gold wedges and a big old hat for when the better weather comes (really thinking ahead here!).

Lastly, these chunky ball necklaces caught my eye in the window on a mannequin so I had to have them. These won't be to everyones taste as they're a little bit different but that's why I like them. I debated between which colour to get but in the end I went for both (it also comes in white). I'm into statement necklaces in a big way and tend to accessorise every outfit with one so these are ideal for me. And those colours..swoon!! €6 each.

And that's my Spring wardrobe sorted!

Anything catching your eye? Are you as done with Winter as I am?! 

COME ON SPRING!!!!

XX

Winter Brights With O' Donnells Boutique, Limerick.

One of the things I really miss about living in Limerick is the City's selection of unique little fashion boutiques, so I'm always glad of the opportunity to peruse these treasure troves and one I love in particular is O'Donnells Boutique on Catherine Street, Limerick.
Recently I was lucky enough to be invited to check out what they have in store for us for the chillier months ahead and the good news is, we can expect plenty of bright woollen coats, stylish hats, leather accents, stunning accessories and perfect wedding guest attire.

First up; coats. Zesty citrus shades such as these stunning lemon and orange wool coats are the perfect pops of colour to help banish the Winter blues. As you can see, the girls paired them with simple silhouettes in white and black, the idea being to keep your outfit as classic as possible so when you introduce a bright colour like this, it still looks chic. I actually can't make up my mind which one I prefer although I think the orange would go nicely with my own brown leather knee high boots.

That lemon is surprisingly wearable in a skirt too- worn here with a leather accent black jacket and in the middle photo with a 70's style hat and opaque tights. I'm also loving that grey pleated skirt in the photo on the right- it looks perfect with a buttoned up shirt and another fab leather accent jacket. In the middle photo again you can see a print puffa jacket- the 90's look is still very popular and although it's not really my thing, I was taken aback by how well it looked on the model. 

There's that puffa jacket close up. In the middle is possibly the worlds most beautiful coat. Oh the swooning that was done over that floral beauty. Sigh. Imagine it over a plain dress with a pair of killer heels. That's the perfect wedding outfit right there. 

Although that photo on the right is a close second. I REALLY love that dress. The designer apparently picks a different completely unique print each season to adorn her dresses with so you really are getting one of a kind. The fuchsia is perfect with the grey and I love that cut.

Hats are big news this season, which is excellent for me as I have more bad hair days than you could shake a large stick at. I dare anyone to try wearing that 70's style on the left and not look like a lady- it'll make any outfit instantly stylish. I actually really love that purple cardigan it's paired with (it also comes in a bright pink..again I was torn about which one I preferred but I thought the purple had a nice Wintery vibe). The pink cloche hat on the right is again going to be perfect for any event in the upcoming months but would be ideal for a wedding in particular. 

They also have a great range of jewelry to complete your outfit. The rose gold bracelets on the left are delicate and look stunning layered together while you can also find cuffs like the one on the right to balance out your look. Below are just some of the collar necklaces available- perfect for adding oomph to a plain black dress.

You'll also find a good selection of Mad Men style hand-held bags like this powder blue beauty on the left and that gorgeous grey and blue on the right. 

While I was there I couldn't help but admire the choice of shoes that the models were wearing, which are all available from Serendipity (shops on Roches St, Limerick and in Adare), also a great Limerick shop! So I popped in there too to have a look. They've a huge selection, in particular they

 have lots of booties like these two- those fur trimmed ones are great for Winter- you'll be warm and well dressed, which lets face it is difficult at the best of times.

Sorry, was just wiping the drool away there. Would you just look at these. Pointy toed, stilletoed with a bow detail to the heel and available in three different colours. My kinda shoe.

Had to put up a second photo there just to show off the shoes a bit more. Sweet lamb of God, they're just perfect. If anyone's looking to buy me a new pair of shoes, I'll take those red ones in a seven. 

Ta very much. 

And that's just some of what's on offer from these fabulous stores. You can see more from the range in O' Donnells on their website HERE and more from Serendipity HERE.

What's the stand out piece for you? Are you liking the current Autumn/Winter trends?

XX

*This post was not sponsored, I just really like my Autumn/Winter fashion!

Current Wishlist, Otherwise Known As I Want ALL The Things.

This isn't specific to the month or changing seasons, it's just a random list of things I want that have been on my mind lately going around in a kind of continuous loop of "buy us Chloe, go on, you know you want to. You may not be able to afford us but having us will somehow keep you warm at night" etc. 

I should probably get that seen to actually. 

I still can't decide whether this yellow coat from Warehouse (HERE) is a bit too fisherman's friend. I mean, it's actually called "fisherman's parka" and there is a worry it could be too costumey. Would I run the risk of looking like a Cabot Cove extra from Murder She Wrote? That said, I love yellow and feel like this would be nice and cheery for wearing out for walks on the gloomier Winter days ahead. No? Have I lost my mind? I don't even know anymore!

No. 2 there is also from Warehouse (HERE) and is a rather fab pair of pink leather brogues. They come in a more neutral shade also but something about the colour and style of these are drawing me to them. I've always liked brogues but they tend to look a bit clown-like on you unless you have tiny feet so these may be a bit hit or miss. Cute though.

3 & 4 are really the same bag so I wouldn't be getting both but I can't decide which I love more. You can find them both HERE in the bag section on Accessorize. I've actually seen the camera bag in real life and almost bought it until himself told me flat out that a) I would never wear it and b) it would go with nothing. Like a damn fool I listened to him and now I have non-buyers remorse. It's actually ridiculously cute in real life but in fairness to him there is the fear that you could look like you're a small child who really wants a camera but is being placated by being given a fake one instead, lest she'd break a real one. So there's that. The cassette bag is also beyond adorable. Look at it there- first of all, I come from a generation that actually had to use tapes so this would be more nicely nostalgic for me rather than ironic, as I'm sure it is for the youth of today *shakes cane*. 

Secondly, if there's anything I love it's 80's hits and thirdly, I can't resist anything vaguely kitsch and that has it in spades. 

I'll probably carry on ruminating over it but do let me know which one you prefer!

You may have spotted that the entire Charlotte Tilbury (make up artist extraordinaire) collection has landed in Brown Thomas Dublin and I'm feverish with the need to get my grubby paws on EVERYTHING. Yes, I said everything. The eyeshadow palettes, blushers, contour set, lipsticks, foundation, my god they just all look incredible. I've been trying out a sample of the magic cream (review HERE) and based on that I have high expectations for everything else. Plus, look at that packaging. Swoon.

What's that? "Be cool honey bunny"? No, I think decidedly not. In fact I think I'll get overly excited instead because that there on the right is the latest collection from Urban Decay based on one of the coolest films ever, Pulp Fiction. Obviously the focus is on Mrs Mia Wallace (who I love so much I dressed up as her earlier this year for a 90's themed party) so I'm going to be all over that eyeshadow palette and red lipstick. I already own and love Chanel's Rouge Noir so the nail polish holds no lure for me and I'm not one for a glittery eyeliner so I actually have already justified the purchase of just the two pieces I want. I mean, they're just too cool not to get them. 

Lastly, on to books because god knows, there's always a book wish list on the go with me. I'm a big fan of Irish author Tana French, I've read all of her books to date and can't wait to get my hands on her latest, which has yet to be released. The Secret Place is her fifth novel focusing on the fictional Dublin murder squad (they're all stand alone books though so you don't have to have read the other four to read this one) and this time the detectives are investigating a cold case of a murdered teenager after a photo of him with the caption "I know who killed him" mysteriously shows up on a notice board in a boarding school for girls. Intrigued? Me too! It's out September the 2nd.

Not that kind of girl is a collection of personal essays from creator/producer, writer, actress and all round cool feminist Lena Dunham about what she's learnt so far from life. It's received some great pre-release reviews and as a big fan of Girls and Dunham in general, I really can't wait for this to come out; in fact it feels like I've been waiting all year for it so let's hope I haven't built it up too much for myself! It's out September 30th.

I also really like Colm Toibin and his new novel, Nora Webster looks like it may well be in-keeping with his previous excellent form. The book is about Nora, widowed at only forty with four children. On her own in a stiflingly small community in Wexford, she struggles not to drown in her own sorrow but being strong willed begins to find solace in an old love; singing. Toibin tends to write really beautiful prose and I love the old Ireland settings of his books and engaging female characters. This one is out on October the 7th.

And that's the lot…for the moment at least.

Any of these making your own wish list? What have you currently got your eye on? Come, share in the comments and we can all commiserate with each other/enable to purchase!

XX 

Bath Fashion Museum (photo heavy!)

We went traipsing all over Cornwall and Devon a couple of months ago but our first stop took us to the very beautiful City of Bath. We loved this place (I'll no doubt have another post on that) but today I just wanted to show you some of the many photos I took from the fashion museum there. I was a bit obsessed with the place if I'm honest as I do love fashion and the opportunity to look at the styles women (and men) wore from the 18th century right up until today was fairly wonderful. I'll mostly let the photos do the talking here cause there are many of them but I took notes on all the different styles so I'll add in a few bits as we go along!

Woman's open robe & petticoat, man's hand embroidered coat (1720), red evening silk damask gown (1750), Brocaded floral silk robe (1780's), yellow woven silk damask gown (1740).

Distinctive bell-shaped skirt from the Georgian period on the left, beautiful black floral number that I annoyingly took no details for. Doh. Sack back dress there on the end, at the time considered an extremely graceful look for women (18th century).

Getting a bit more Austen-y. Mmm, Darcy.

Crazy ass (literally) dresses called 'women's court mantua'. Designed using super fancy silks with the purpose being to look as extravagant as possible. 

Slight turn to the dark side with some late Victorian frocks.

Getting more modern now, going from the 20's up to the 50's..

more 50's, 60's, 80's power dressing, 90's.

These were Princess Diana's 80's dresses. The walls were covered in sketches the designer had drawn for her outfits too, which was quite cool.

Wedding dresses. Serious swoonage at that beaded number on the end there.

Ball gowns, mostly 80's.

More recent ball gowns.

The Dress of the Year' on the left apparently, created by Henry Holland. More previous dresses of the year, including that godawful Versace J-Lo palm print yoke and some distinctly 70's looking gear.

A closer look at that 'dress of the year', and my two favourites in the entire place; last years dress of the year (Dior, swoon) and a rather beautiful glitzy number from the 70's that I think may be Biba.

There was of course a dressing up segment of the day so I went for a bit of Victoriana. Man, those dresses are heavy! Totally down with the bonnet though, perfect for an auld bad hair day. 

Anyone else as much of a ye olde timey fashion obsessive as myself? You really can't beat a bit of vintage!

XX

These Are A few Of My Favourite Things..

Got that song stuck in your head now, don't you? I know, I'm cruel like that. Anyway, I thought I'd show you a few things I've been loving lately. Let's not kid ourselves either, I love lots of things, that's why I have this blog but these three in particular have been making me super happy for the last month.

Neom Luxury Organics Candle

I love candles and was thrilled to receive this as a gift- I'd never tried anything from Neom before but had heard great things. Each candle is hand made in the UK, made with a special blend of 100% natural vegetable wax and pure aromatherapy oils- nothing else. Because of that, they burn cleanly and don't leave soot on your walls or on the glass container- a huge bonus. That aside, this also smells incredible, containing floral top notes of French Lavender with sandalwood, juniper and geranium, this is designed to help you relax, so it's ideal for use as a pre-bedtime sleep aid or as the brand suggests, to treat Winter blues. I do find it relaxing but I also really just love the scent, it lingers on long after the flame has been extinguished and lends a pleasantly warm, homely feeling to any room. 

This is their mini version, you can also get a larger 3- wick candle and in other aromas. Neom is stocked in Brown Thomas.

Mr Burns Pyjamas

This one was a birthday present to myself, having seen these in an Essiebutton video. I couldn't resist- look how cute they are! Mr Burns and his sleeping cap! And Bobo!! These are made from cotton and are really comfortable, in particular the t-shirt. I'm less enamoured with the style of the shorts but that might just be me being persnickety. I got mine online from Topshop although they appear to be sold out now but you may want to check in store just in case!

Miss Dior Eau De Parfum

My rather amazing husband bought me a bottle of this much-longed for perfume as part of my birthday present and I am in love with it! I've been covertly (not covertly at all) coating myself with this every time I passed the Dior counter in Brown Thomas/House of Fraser for the last six months or so so I'm thrilled to have my very own bottle! I love Dior perfumes, they make the best ones in my opinion.

The brand says: "Citrus topnotes of Italian mandarin essence, followed by a green note of galbanam (nope, no idea either), blending into a floral heart of Eygyptian Jasmine Absolute before sensually concluding with essence of Indonesian Patchouli".

So there you go, sensually concluding. Ooh-er, etc.

For me , I get a hit of citrus, then a lovely warm floral, followed by a gentle musk that lasts on my skin. I just love it, it's a truly beautiful perfume and perfect for Summer.

What have been your go-to creature comforts of late?

XX

Kate Moss for Topshop

You may or may be aware that Kate Moss has collaborated with Topshop again, with a brand new collection launching tomorrow. I was a big fan of her previous collections from a few years ago so I've been looking forward to this one too. 

Most likely I'll only buy one dress that I have my eye on but otherwise it's just a bit too spendy for me. Don't get me wrong, the Kate Moss for Topshop stuff is always on the higher end price-wise, so that wasn't a surprise, it's more that I don't have quite as much of a disposable income these days as I used to in my early twenties!

Anyway, here are my picks:

There's actually a pretty good selection of typically Moss-style items; fringed festival-appropriate jackets/shorts, super glamorous sequined jackets, an androgynous slinky "tux", cute playsuits and dresses, silky camisoles and Oscars-worthy gowns. Interestingly, there's pyjamas in there too, which are very cute! 

You can see the range in full HERE. 

Anything catching your eye?

XX

Spring Wishlist

This time of year basically means pastels for me so that check coat from Topshop is top of the wish list at the moment. It looks beautiful but as I haven't seen it in real life it could still be horribly disappointing..I don't always have the best luck with oversized coats. I have high hopes for this one though! 

Dior make my favourite perfumes and I've lately fallen a bit for Miss Dior, a beautifully pretty floral fragrance, perfect for Spring/Summer. 

I love, love, love the look of these cut-out shoes from Zara, super Summery and they'd go with loads. 

Equally lovely is the very cute daisy bag there from Acessorize. The want is strong for that one, I tell ya. 

Make-up wise, I have my eye firmly on that blush palette from TheBalm, the Naked 3 palette (still!) and that gorgeous pinky/purple polish from Essie. 

Check Swing Coat

Miss Dior Eau de Parfum

Zara Open Work High Heel Leather Sandal

TheBalm Blush Palette

Essie Splash of Grenadine

Daisy Cutout Bag

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

What's making your wishlist at the moment? Are you all about the pastels too?

XX

The Warehouse Spring Collection is Lust-Worthy!

January is a horrible month though, isn't it? Saving the pennies, the weather is still bleak but with no more Christmas to look forward to. So then, a shot of colour in the form of the new Spring collections are just what the doctor (or the eh, nurse..ahem) ordered. I quite like high street store Warehouse because they produce well made clothing made from good quality materials at somewhat reasonable prices (I woudn't be buying from them all the time but they're nice as an odd treat. Otherwise, it's Penneys all the way!).

Here are my picks from the new Spring range, which features lots of muted florals, pastels, fine knits, oversized coats, bright yellows and roll-up jeans:

Yellow Exposed Seam Jumper

I really love yellow, generally I think mustard is a better shade for me skin-tone wise but I'm really drawn to this jumper, even though it's fairly neon. Luckily, various shades of yellow seem to be in for Spring so there's probably a shade to suit everyone.

Neon Tweed Coat

Apparently there's flecks of neon running through the tweed in this, which is why it's not particularly visible in this photo. I love tweed and I'm really digging the oversized coats that are around at the moment.

Textured Crepe Shift Dress

Again, big fan of this colour and the shape of this dress is stylish and classic.

Blurred Lily Print Dress

While I love florals, they can often be hard enough to wear throughout the year but I think this would work equally well in Summer with a pair of sparkly flats and in Winter with black tights and boots.

Ripple Yarn Jumper

This light weight knit in a neutral shade will be perfect for that transition from the bitter cold to (hopefully) warmer weather and I also love those jeans.

Pansy Print Playsuit

This pansy print is gorgeous; pretty and fun and because of the colours it can again be worn with bare legs or black tights.

Anything catching your eye?
XX