Paris Haute Couture week is always about the glitz and the glamour and once again, I fell in love with Elie Saab's magical creations. I wrote about Elie Saab at Spring Haute Couture week back in January and you can read that post here. Not surprisingly, I was enchanted all over again by the Fall/Winter 2014-15 pieces presented in Paris last week.

Light was obviously the main theme with the runway illuminated by sparkling chandeliers that changed in hue to complement the different evening gowns and cocktail dresses. From floor length creations showered with lustrous pearls to sparkling long-sleeved cocktail dresses and off-the-shoulder pieces adorned with shimmering stones, the collection radiated grace and elegance. I particularly liked the backless pieces and a v-neck, glistening black dress. Tones of cool blue, navy, pink, black, grey and white were featured with the final dress being an extravagant white bridal gown.

Elie Saab's show was an evening affair fit for a fairytale.

My picks from the Fall/Winter collection:

Source of images: http://www.wwd.com/runway/fall-couture-2014/review/elie-saab

Take a look at the full show below to really experience the magic of the Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014-15 Fashion Show:

http://youtu.be/5qRsDHx8NJc

Thanks for reading this post, I hope you enjoyed it!

Doireann 

x

This Month I...

Instead of my usual Monthly Favourites, I decided to switch things up a bit this month because it's all about variety, right? So here is a new kind of blog post summing up my month. I'm not sure if it will take over my Monthly Favourites or if I will keep both types of blog posts on the go perhaps every second month, but I'll see how it goes. It's a bit more personal than my normal beauty/fashion/music favourites posts so I hope you enjoy it!

This Month I...

Listened to Ed Sheeran's interesting new album "X" (or Multiply). I say interesting because, like his first single off the album, SING, I'm not quite sure what I think about it as a whole yet. A lot of Ed's new songs are completely different to his soft and lyrical numbers that made me fall in love with his previous album. However, I do feel that in "X", he has proven his songwriting diversity and branched out to even try his hand at rapping in "The Man". I have to admit though, I do prefer the tracks "Photograph" and "I'm A Mess" which bear more resemblance to the Ed we all know and love.

Watched the perfection that is The Fault In Our Stars. I waited for weeks on end with hungry anticipation for the day I could finally see the movie realization of John Green's heartbreaking novel. After all the hopeful waiting, a tiny part of me was worried that the movie wouldn't live up to my immense expectations. Boy, was I wrong. The Fault In Our Stars captured and then broke my heart. I will be posting a full review soon as I can't do this outstanding movie justice in the space of a few lines. In the mean time, if you haven't already, go and see it!

Read Paper Towns by John Green. I couldn't put this book down. It grabbed me from the very beginning with it's believable characters and distinct element of mystery that kept me guessing throughout. Another great piece of work from John Green. Check out his quirkily thought-provoking YouTube channel VlogBrothers as well, which he shares with his brother Hank.

Bought a very pretty little floral top from Penneys. This peplum-style, denim coloured top is adorably girly and sweet. I've worn it casually with skinny jeans and flats and I can see it looking lovely paired with high-waisted shorts and sandals. I'm looking forward to experimenting with different looks, both casual and dressy, using this gorgeous printed top. 

Wore summery clothes of course! Printed playsuits, high-waisted shorts and colourful tops to complement the equally sunny weather. In terms of makeup, I've been wearing the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum which is a lovely, lightweight foundation that's ideal for those summer days when you don't want to feel caked in heavy makeup. The first thing I noticed about this foundation is its delicious fruity fragrance. Yummy. The only thing is, I have oily skin so it seems to slip right off my nose in particular. Because it's quite a dewy foundation, I would recommend it to people with normal/dry skin. 

Ate way too many homemade icecream sundaes. To make your own refreshing sundae, put a few scoops of your favourite ice cream into a glass (I used a mason jar), fill with Sprite to see the fizziness commence and add a bit of food colouring to make it even more appetizing. Finish off with sprinkles and cut a slit in a strawberry to slide it onto the rim of your glass. Trust me, it tastes as delicious as it looks and this tempting ice cream sundae will keep you cool during hot summer days.

That's all for this month, I hope you are all enjoying the summer. Here's to another month of blogging! 

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram here and on Bloglovin here.

xxx

Top 5 Movies for a Cozy Night In

Feel like snuggling up on the couch, relaxing and watching a great movie? You've come to the right place then. Grab the popcorn and enjoy one, or all, of these great movies. 

Here are my top five picks for a cozy night in:

• Chocolat is an irresistible treat, even its name sounds delicious. If, like me, you have a love for all things French, you're going to love this. Juliette Binoche plays Vianne, a single mother who opens up a chocolate shop in a rural French village during lent. Add in Roux, a mysterious gypsy (played by Johnny Depp), a generous helping of incredibly mouthwatering chocolate as well as an enchanting soundtrack and you have the recipe for an alluring feast for the senses.

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of my favourite novels and the film adaptation featuring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller  feels just as real and heartfelt. Charlie (Lerman) is an outsider, awkward and lonely, trying to find his way in high school until Sam (Watson) and Patrick (Miller) come along and prove that true friends can make all the difference. With outstanding performances by the main characters and just enough depth, earnestness and sincerity, this is a truly great film. 

• When I heard that About  Time involved time travelling, it didn't exactly entice me to watch it. However, my doubts were soon forgotten once I sat down and enjoyed this delight of a movie emphasizing the importance of loved ones. Charming, witty and touching, About Time, starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams, will make you laugh, cry and long for more. Perfect for a cozy night in.

• Of course I had to include The Notebook, the remarkable love story of Noah and Allie (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams). I'm just warning you though, you will definitely need tissues for this passionate and very romantic tearjerker. A beautifully clever story that you will fall head over heels in love with, I don't think it needs too much explanation. If you haven't seen it yet, where have you been? 

• Finally, The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire, is worth watching even for the sole purpose of escaping into the glamorous era of the 1920's. The glittering costumes, extravagant parties hosted by the secretive Jay Gatsby (Dicaprio) and unexpected soundtrack  makes this an elusive and endearing movie. The storyline is, of course, top-notch as the movie is an adaptation of the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. While watching the movie, I couldn't help but notice how visually stunning every scene was. Well worth watching. 

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have any other movie suggestions for a cozy night in, let me know in the comments below. Until next time,

Doireann

xxx

Summer Wishlist

Time for another wishlist!

I've got that summertime, summertime sadness... Well not really, just a bit of summertime longing for these gorgeous items. I spotted  the Barry M Matte Nail Paint and a few other of these gems on a recent shopping trip, while I came across the floral bralet when browsing on Missguided. Of course, I also discover new products/clothing while reading through my favourite blogs or scrolling down my Instagram feed so it's very easy to be tempted into purchasing lots of new, bright and shiny looking "necessities" without even visiting the shops! 

However, despite my shopaholic tendencies, I've abbreviated my actual wishlist to the six gorgeous items below:

PhotoCredits:
missguided.eu // barrym.com // eyeslipsface.com // newlook.com //revlon.com // topshop.com

Collage created by me with the help of PicMonkey. 

1) Tala Crossover Back Bralet in Floral Print 

Ah, Missguided.You had me at the floral print. With its delicate, white, string straps and stunning floral design, this bralet would go beautifully with a high waisted skirt or even the Joni jeans (number 6 on this list) from Topshop! It is so girly and perfect for the summer weather.

2) Barry M Matte Nail Paint 

I am a big fan of Barry M nail products and I have yet to find a budget nail polish comparable to their Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint. It comes as no surprise then that I am very, very excited to try out the Matte Nail Paint particularly in the pictured shade, Miami, a fun, pink colour. Matte nails is a trend I have wanted to try out for a long time so this nail polish is top of my list.

3) ELF Shimmering Facial Whip

I can't justify paying around €30 for Benefit's famous High Beam although I have been searching for a good highlighter. On my pursuit for a less pricey alternative, I couldn't believe my eyes while reading rave reviews about ELF's equally praised, luminous highlighter, Shimmering Facial Whip. Coming in five radiant shades, Lilac Petal appears to be the closest in hue to High Beam. The best part of all?  The Shimmering Facial Whip, available from ELF's American site will set you back just $1 (yes, only $1!) 

4) Stone Floral Print Contrast Trim Backpack

This adorable little backpack from New Look caught my eye the other day with its charming pattern and practical design. It boasts multiple pockets and a drawstring section on top of a cute, vintage look. This would be perfect to carry those beach essentials. 

5) Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm

Another matte option here. Revlon never fail to disappoint with their wide collection of super soft, really, really good lip products. When I tested one of these ColorBurst Matte Balms on the back of my hand at Boots, I couldn't get over how pigmented it was. I literally brushed the balm (I think the shade was Audacious) onto my skin lightly but the colour payoff was amazing! These balms seem to be very creamy in texture and even though they aren't cheap, from what I saw, I definitely would consider purchasing one. 

6) MOTO Sky Blue Joni Jeans

Oooh they look so comfy don't they? I've been longing for a pair of light blue skinnies and this high waisted pair of Joni jeans from Topshop fit the bill perfectly. Because they're high waisted, pairing them with either crop tops or regular tees isn't a problem and the stretchy, denim material looks very snug and cozy. Hopefully a soon-to-be resident in my denim-lacking wardrobe.

May Favourites

It's officially summer, my absolute favourite time of year. Cue a chorus of joyful singing and celebratory dancing! As you can tell, I'm pretty excited at the prospects of embracing all that summer has to offer. And you should be excited too! Anyway, this isn't a "seize the summer" post, I'm here to talk to you about what I've been enjoying the past month. Let's get cracking!

Beauty: If you've ever visited Lush, you'll know what I mean when I say that a trip to one of their stores is a feast for the senses. From bath bombs to makeup, all of the products from Lush are handmade and smell absolutely incredible (no exaggeration). My most recent purchase there was the deliciously fragrant Creamy Candy Bubble Bar which, judging by the smell of it, is going to be amazing when I use it. This pink bundle of sweetness can be used to turn any old bath into a heavenly, bubbly, delightful treat by crumbling the Bubble Bar under the flowing water of your bath. Described as delicate vanilla candies, the Bubble Bar also has little pieces of cocoa butter inside it as well. I can't wait to use it!

Fashion: More of an accessories favourite than a fashion trend this month but as the sunny season is here, I had to feature my new retro-style shades with you. They're pretty glam with the diamantes on the arm and such a bargain from Penneys/Primark. Last year, I was all for the bright and colourful sunglasses from Penneys but this pair grabbed my eye last weekend so I just had to buy them. Penneys have really stepped up to the mark in recent years when competing with other high street stores and, even if the quality isn't at a par with the likes of Topshop, you really can't go wrong when shopping for seasonal items like casual summer dresses, playsuits and accessories. So I'm delighted with my cute new sunnies and I shall be sporting them proudly when the weather permits, or even just to keep my hair back on windy days! It's Ireland after all, isn't it?

Music: Stay With Me by Sam Smith is one of the few beautiful and meaningful songs being played on the radio at the moment. Unfortunately though, it's played among the many, many (too many) poor excuses for music consisting of two words sung on repeat for three and a half minutes wasting air time and brainwashing people into thinking that this is what music is all about. It's not. But I applaud Sam Smith for using his gorgeous voice and writing wonderful songs like this. Have a listen here.

Get Creative Series: Part 2 - Nail Art

Apologies for my lack of blogging over the past few weeks but as the end of the school year approached, I was very busy with award ceremonies and graduations which were followed by a nice little break during which I slept a lot and just chilled out, really. Now though, I'm back to blogging with a bang and, with a long summer ahead of me, I plan to post a lot more regularly. So to kick things off, here is the second installment of my Get Creative Series, this time it's all about the nails.

Summery yellow with white cross symbol

Nail art has definitely been having a moment lately and, with nail polish matching previously unrivaled lipstick sales last year; it seems as if adorning our nails with beautiful designs is more than just a fleeting trend. What better way to express your creativity than by using your nails as a canvas and painting to your heart's content. As I said in my first nail art post, you don't have to be the next WAH NAILS artist to recreate your favourite looks. All it takes is a little bit of patience and some cute, crazy or colourful ideas. Below, I have included some useful links but first, to show you how easy and obtainable it is to get creative with your nails, here are a few basic designs I pulled off myself:

Pink and orange aztec-style

Coral with white cross symbol

Pink and blue vertical stripes (tutorial here)

Useful Links:

WAH NAILS - The iconic East London nail salon's website. Click Archive to see all of their amazing creations. 

Cute Polish Tribal Nails - Check out the other great videos on the Cute Polish channel as well!

10 Nail Posts - Blogger Lily Pebbles looks back at ten of her favourite nail posts.

The Nailasaurus - Pore enviously over this feast of nail art. Jealous is not the word. 

I hope this blog post has inspired you to get creative with your nails. It is 100% possible to have fun and experiment with a variety of looks even on a budget. By no means am I a nail art expert at all, I simply want to share with you, different ways of expressing your creativity and nail art is one of those ways. So I hope this post was worthwhile, I really enjoyed putting it together and it has encouraged me to give more complicated nail art a go! I love comments, so leave one below telling me what you think or let me know if you have any suggestions for what you'd like to see more of on Life Beauty Blogger.

Enjoy the lovely weather!

xxx

Get Creative Series: Part 1 - Photography

This year, more than others, I've really broadened my creativity. I've started a blog, I've began taking photographs with a more critical eye and I've developed, even further, my taste in music. But being creative can involve a whole lot more than just the few things I have mentioned. From fashion and food, to art and even dancing, the possibilities of outlets through which you can express your creativity are endless. Over the next short while I'm going to be posting some of the ways I like to chill out/enjoy myself through creativity and I hope these ideas will also help you to awaken your artistry. The first topic in my Get Creative series of posts is the art of photography. Hope you like it!

This photo was taken with my smartphone's 5MP camera,
proving that expensive photography equipment isn't always
needed for impressive results

Start Snapping

Photography is something I only began to appreciate and take a bit more seriously in recent months. I mostly just use my smartphone (with its humble 5MP camera) or a pretty basic 10MP Fujifilm digital camera as I don't think pricey SLR cameras are always necessary when starting out. I find that using your smartphone wisely and trying out different photo editing apps can give just as promising results.

For my Instagram account (@lifebeautyblogger), I sometimes edit my photos with an app called AfterFocus and then use a softening filter like Walden, Valencia or Nashville to give a nice finishing touch. Other times, I leave  photo just the way it is, if I am already happy with the colour and lighting.

An untouched photo I took this morning

The same photo edited, as described above, for Instagram

The most important aspect to keep in mind while taking photographs is, of course, lighting. Also, consider the photograph as a whole; the background is equally as important as the subject, and clutter will only take from the picture. Lastly, always keep your eyes wide open as you never know when the perfect photo opportunity may arise (and I'm not talking about selfies!) whilst exploring a bustling street or strolling along a quiet country lane.

A recent unedited photo I took while on a boat to the Aran Islands.
This was also taken on my smartphone.