Festival Fashion!!!

Okay, so let's be honest with one another! As much as we go to festivals for the music and memories we undoubtably also go for the chance to dress up as a boho babe for a couple of days. With the warmer months slowly creeping up on us again it's sure to say that festival season will be in full swing in no time. For that reason we'll all get the  chance to go wild with our wardrobe!! I know you don't need me to tell you twice to break out the bindis and braids!

Last Summer I headed to Forbidden Fruit for three days where I had the time of my life dressed in clothes not usually fit for your every day wear. I'm not ashamed to say I got overly excited about my outfit planning from the minute ticket master handed me over that golden ticket! And I'm pretty sure I can say I'm not the only one too! 

There's no doubt that there's fun in getting to play dress up with your friends to dance the night away. I mean, who doesn't love getting the chance to go wild with glitter and accessories?! Over the course of the the weekend I got to see some really amazing outfits. From heavy fringe to feathers and fedoras it really was a pleasure to see the unity of fashion and music come together for what can only be described as a magical weekend!

My three looks were a mixture of high street and vintage with a splash of creativity. Probably not the cleverest of choices with our Irish 'Summer' but hey, fashion doesn't have to have logic behind it, right?! For all you lucky souls heading off to festivals abroad this year, I urge you to step up your style game and make the most of getting to dress a little differently with out having to worry about freezing to death. I know I would!!

Here's some other festival looks you can take inspo from :)

Have fun guys!! 

Ashley x

Head over heels!!

So who'd have thought that the beloved sky scrapper platform would see it's day and be replaced by the sandal?! Long gone are the days of walking around on stilts, which really I think we should be thankful for. We've all at one stage or another had an embarrassing trip to the floor after a few vodkas while wearing a pair!! And let's face it it was never ideal to have to crouch down getting in a picture so you weren't towering over your man!! 

I myself, like so many others am obsessed with the latest trend of lace up and caged sandals. As a result I'm quickly running out of space to house all these strapping beauties that only ever get a debut on the dance floor every once in a while. 

Okay, True!! They may not be as comfortable as a platform heel but 'beauty is pain' after all and a strappy heel screams just that!! How many of you can agree that you feel instantly sexy and super stylish when you slip a pair on? For those reasons alone I know I can justify each and every pair that I add to my collection.

I adore a strappy heel just as much as Cinderella loves a glass one so I was thrilled when the simple 'barely there' evolved into the wrap up sandal which has had each and every one of us head over heels lately! It's no secret that they can ultimately transform any outfit in an instant! I guess that's why they'll continue to diminish our bank accounts and take over our closet space!! 

Happy shopping gals!!

Ashley x 

One woman's trash is another woman's treasure!!

Growing up in Dublin I always felt frustrated that when I was heading off out to hit the town, scrubbed up to the nines in my river island dress that I would so often see 3 or 4 girls dressed exactly the same! I'm sure you have all shared this same frustration at one time or another!!

 

I wanted to be able to go out knowing I wasn't going to have an awkward encounter with another girl or make that two! Oh and god forbid you were to be caught dead in an outfit that someone else had already worn the week before, so I started to seek beyond the high street stores of the city. Doing so was the best thing I could have ever done for my wardrobe. When my mam & aunties wardrobes had been looted and their old Karen Milan treasures recycled, I began an endless love affair with websites such as etsy and my all time favourite, eBay!! 

It's simple really!! All you have to do is pop the word vintage before the item you're looking for, example: Vintage trophy dress (heavy beading) or Vintage bodycon dress and BINGO, you'll have enough options to last you a life time and at super cheap prices too!! I will say though, that you'll need two things when shopping on sites like eBay and that is patience and imagination!! You may not come across that dream dress you were hoping for on the first couple of pages but have faith. Also you need to visualise the outfit on and how you would style it. We all know that clothes look better on accompanied with the right accessories and a pair of killer heels!!

Originality is something that is refreshing to see in a person so don't be afraid to try something other than what's on the mannequin in shop windows!! I've always loved being 'too glam to give a damn' on a night out and live by the Oscar Wilde quote "You can never be overdressed or overeducated" Here are just a few of my vintage numbers that I've worn over the past year....  

Happy shopping guys!!

Ashley x

Raising the brow!!!

If there's one thing for sure, it's that the bar has definitely been raised when it comes to the maintenance of our brows. And of course the sheer importance to our strategic make up  regime over the past few years. Everybody longs to achieve that perfect definition so that they can proudly hashtag 'eyebrows on fleek' under their latest selfie. If you've been over killing with the plucking or waxing over the years I urge you now to put down that tweezers and step away from the wax pot!!!

I'm asked all the time on how I do my eyebrows..... so I'm going to give you a run through of all my favourite products that I use daily. My number one go to product has to be 'Anastasia of Beverly Hills'  dip brow pomade. This product is a waterproof brow colour which sculpts and defines the brows. This comes in  eleven different colours, so there's no need to fret over finding the perfect shade for yourself! I use the colour 'medium brown' as I have naturally dark eyebrows for a blonde. This wonder product can be bought worldwide over a variety of different websites. I bought mine off the online beauty store www.beautybay.com for a bargain price at only €12.50 as it was on special at the time. At full price this products costs €18.90 but with free shipping on orders over € 15 you can't go wrong, trust me!!

To apply the dip brow pomade you'll need a brow spoolie (small brush) to brush your eyebrows into shape along with a good angle brush. I use Inglot's angle brush 17TL which is great for helping achieve the perfect definition. When you are happy with the shape of your brows, apply a clear mascara to hold them in to place. I use the very affordable brand 'essence' which is available to buy  at Penny's. To really give that look of precision I use a lighter colour concealer with a small brush underneath and slightly over the eyebrow. It really makes the brow pop and gives an amazing finish!!

I'm so glad I made the switch from pencil to gel and still don't know how I ever lived without it!! Hopefully these easy steps help you on your quest to achieving the perfect brow and remember, practice makes perfect!!

Have a lovely evening,

Ashley xx

http://inglot.ie

http://www.beautybay.com