Clinique Chubby Sticks!

Not a lipstick gal?! Neither am I... In fact I'm constantly surprised by just how complicated lipstick can be... It's drying... It's often overly shiny or waaay too matte and somehow always seems to be on the move... I don't know how many girls I've seen with lipstick on their teeth... even the perfect girls (c'mon you know the type I'm talking about!) However, there are those days when you want to glam it up just that little bit and the Clinique Chubby Stick is perfect for that! It's really moisturizing, not too shiny, applies evenly, lasts a super long time, and theres a fantastic range of colours that will easily take you from day to night! With the Chubby Stick my lips look super soft and natural. While I'm not a lipstick fan I am a total lip balm addict (In fact you'll never catch me without some kind of moisturiser or three nearby) and I can actually use these instead, they're that conditioning! Finally a product thats mastered the moisture/color issue!

Hero Worship...!



Iris Apfel!

"When you don't dress like everybody else, you don't have to think like everybody else."

Iris Apfel was 83, and 13 years into her retirement, when she became a celebrity. The year was 2005, and the Metropolitan Museum in New York staged an exhibition of her wardrobe. This included some of Apfels most exquisite pieces by rarified Parisian and American designers: there was a coat of multicoloured rooster, duck and fowl feathers by Jean-Louis Scherrer from 1962, and an orange jumpsuit by Geoffrey Beene from the early 80s. But what really made the show a success was the unique way Apfel wore these pieces, which was recreated on the mannequins. Indeed Apfel has a story to tell about each of her outfits; she insists that hers is not a fashion collection, because simply put she bought every piece to wear. "I'm a hopeless romantic. I buy things because I fall in love with them. I never buy anything just because it's valuable," she says. The unifying principle is excess. "My look is either very baroque or very Zen – everything in between makes me itch."

Seven years on and Apfel is even more famous than she was at 83. She has become a muse for New York fashion: Ralph Lauren based a 2006 collection on upholstery fabrics as a tribute to Apfel's work as a textile designer... Mac have launched a range of Apfel colours including Pink Pigeon and Scarlet Ibis, referencing the name of the Met show – Rare Bird – and of course Apfel's penchant for bright colours. The 90 year old is even set to be the subject of her own documentary by Grey Gardens film-maker Albert Maysles. As she recently told an interviewer with undisguised glee "I have a fan base."

The real reason Apfel has seized both mine and the publics imagination is not as a couture fashion plate but as an example to a free-spirited, adventurous woman... a mindset that, in these days, is in danger of extinction what with the mass produced and commercialised beauty aesthetic being favoured over both individuality and creativity...

If ever there was a true fashion hero I believe its Iris...

Introducing Simone Rocha....

Miss Rocha

The Collection



My Favourites

Theres nothing I love more than a designer who creeps up seemingly out of the blue with a collection that somehow ticks all the boxes no matter how contradictory they might be... Irelands Simone Rocha (daughter of John, now 30 years in the industry) is one such designer... While it seems like only yesterday she was collaborating with Topshop on her first fantastic but unfortunately small collection today shes earned herself some serious bragging rights with her solo collection being snapped up by over 20 stockists located worldwide including Colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and our own Havana located here in Dublin... Not only that but shes already scored her first magazine cover (for Elle Uk) where none other than Lady Gaga is pictured wearing one of her fantastic designs... What sets Simone apart from all the others is guts! Choosing fabrics that are less than typical Simone displays an incredible ability to marry the sweet with the tough... For a girl who loves to rock PVC and Latex Simone also displays an undeniable talent for working with chantilly and lace... Being as shoe obsessed as I am my personal favourites are of course the heels in Simones collection which have become somewhat of a trademark - wedges of transparent perspex inserted into traditional masculine brogues give the impression that the wearer is walking on tiptoe - Proving once again that this designer is all about the contradictions... the tensions on fashion...!

The Adele Effect!

We’ve been seeing cat eyes just about everywhere recently but Grammy award winner Adele is undeniably the queen of the cat flick! Not since Amy Winehouse has the cat eye created such a stir in the beauty world in fact eyeliner has now surpassed mascara as our most loved beauty product and market figures even show that eyeliner sales are growing ten times faster than those of mascara.... Lets just call it the Adele effect! However, unless you're an eyeliner expert achieving the perfect cat eye can be tres intimidating... So here are a few tips and tricks to help you bring out your inner sex kitten!!

1. Liquid eyeliner is fine for some; however, to get the sexiest cat eyes possible, gel or cream eyeliners that come in pot, such as Stila’s Smudge Pots or MAC’s Fluidline, are best. Also its worth investing in a small, angular eyeliner brush, those with stiffer bristles will give you more control.

2. That deranged open-mouthed, raised-eyebrow face we all make when applying our eye makeup? Not helpful! (And believe me it will terrify your boyfriend if he ever has the misfortune of seeing it!)Before you begin to draw your cat eye try to relax the muscles in your face and keep your eyes as open as possible.

3. The key to a sexy cat eye is of course, the perfect cat eye shape. How you achieve this, however, is a matter of personal preference. Most will find it easiest to start near the outer lash line and subtly flick the brush towards the outside tip of their eyebrow. Others may prefer to drag the brush from the eyebrow to the lash line – or some combination of both! Likewise, some may want to build their wing gradually while others may prefer to create a larger wing right away and even things out with a moist, pointed Q-Tip.

4. When shaping your cat eye, take notes from Adele, the queen of cat eyes.  Yes your liner should be visible near the inner corners of the eyes but it should also be significantly thicker near the outer corners. This will not only elongate the eyes but create that longer for dramatic effect

5. When applying your eyeliner, try to keep the brush as close to the lash line as possible. Avoiding any gaps between your liner and your lashes will take this look from amateur to just-left-the-runway.

6. For a night on the town, line the outer third of your lower lash line and merge it with the wing. Again, try to stay close to the lashes and fill in any empty spaces.

Need to Know - Dannijo!

Hixson

If theres one brand you gals out there need to know its Dannijo! Founded by sisters Daniella and Jodie Snyder in 2008 Dannijo jewellery is lovingly handcrafted in New York and offers a superbly eclectic mix of designs... Instantly recognisable Dannijo jewellery manages to blend a sort of bohemian/rocker vibe with the elegant/sophisticated making for a striking yet timeless combination. Although perfect with more elaborate dresses and blouses I love to pair these stunning pieces with classic white tees and blazers which is brilliant for those lazy days when all you want to do is throw on your cosiest basics but still elevate them to the ranks of the effortlessly cool... Despite having yet to celebrate its fifth birthday Dannijo has become something of a sensation and has in its rather short existence acquired an extensive celebrity following with some of fashions elite sporting their pieces including Blake Lively and Natalie Portman... You too can get in on the action simply by clicking here or indeed checking out bergdorf goodman and sites such as netaporter...

Another Day, Another Hollywood Remake!

Although not typically a lover of celebrity gossip I just couldn't ignore the news of Hollywoods latest remake... Yep thats right people as shocking as it may sound cult classic Carrie is about to be remade! After recovering from the shock factor (apparently even author Stephen King was a little taken aback asking "why, when the original is so good?") I had to know who had landed the role immortalised by Sissy Spacek... Well step right up Chloe Moretz... Apparently the baby faced actress/fashionista beat off tough competition from more established Hollywood heavyweights and has just been confirmed by producers.... Certainly, as a fan of the original, I'm more than a little sceptical but luckily miss Moretz is no stranger to the horror genre (Having starred in Let Me In) and I'm sure if anyone can pull it off she can... Suffice it to say I will be checking this one out!
xx

Thee Marshmallow Shake!

Amaze-Ballz!

Hey Guys!

Well I promised you some calorie filled wonder foods and today I intend to deliver.... The sun shiny days of late have made me rather giddy and so I decided there was no better warm weather treat than this creamy, gooey bit of marshmallowy deliciousness... Lets face it this may actually be our summer folks... But i say lets toast to that and theres no better way than with this amazing shake! This is happiness in a glass and you can get you some by clicking here
Enjoy... and thank me later!
xx

Lazy Hazy Dayz!

Aubin & Wills

So I dunno about you guys but the beautiful weather we've had the past couple of days has me dreaming of those lazy hazy days of summer... And what better outfit to enjoy those days?! All this gorgeous liberty print playsuit requires is a pair of cute sandals and possibly that peach collins I mentioned before...!!
xx

My-Wardrobe... The Loyalty Card!

Certainly I thought it was too much to ask for... Yes the local pharmacies had them and even the local grocers too but now one of my favourite online haunts... luxury e-retailers My-Wardrobe have actually gone and done it.... they've launched the My-Wardrobe loyalty card!!! Not only that but they've decided to start things off with a bang by offering a triple points reward on all purchases made between now and April 21st... People there has never been a better excuse to dust off those credit cards...!! To learn more and indeed to get yourself signed up for some hefty rewards just click here!
Happy shopping!
xx

The Littlest Carrie Bradshaw!

Although we've all known for some time now that little miss Anna-Sophia Robb had bagged herself the coveted roll of the young Carrie Bradshaw in HBO's The Carrie Diaries we had yet to see the official transformation of the teen beauty into everyones favourite fashionista.... Having just seen the photos - finally released today - I have to say I'm pretty impressed... Aw but now comes the hard part... nailing the character...!!

How To Make The Perfect Peach Collins!

Now that the evenings are getting longer and the good weather is finally here... or well at least temporarily (This is Ireland after all) its time to start perfecting your warm weather cocktails... one of my personal favourites is the Peach Collins which can be made using very few ingredients (always a winner in my book) and is super refreshing... The following recipe I found on one of my favourite blogs cupcakes and cashmere not only is it easy to follow but it turns out one delicious cocktail each and every time...

Ingredients;

1/4 cup simple syrup
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped ripe peaches, divided
1/2 peach flavoured vodka (absolut is a favourite)
1/2 cup club soda
2 peach slices

Preparation;

1. Mix simple syrup, lemon juice, 1/4 cup peaches, and about 1/2 cup ice in a cocktail shaker or plastic cup. Using the end of a wooden spoon, muddle mixture until peaches start to break up. Pour in vodka, cover shaker with top (or the cup with plastic wrap), and shake until blended.
2. Divide unstrained mixture between 2 tall glasses. Add half the remaining chopped peaches to each, then fill glasses with ice. Top each glass with 1/4 cup club soda and garnish with a peach slice.

*Find next to the cocktail mixes at a well-stocked liquor store.

J'aime Les Kooples!

Having been working our little butts off for... oh way too long now... myself and my boyfriend finally found the time to slot in one perfectly lazy Sunday... Not only did we enjoy us a major lie in but we decided to treat ourselves to brunch which we swiftly followed up with The Hunger Games and lots of chocolate themed goodies... As if the day couldn't get any better my boyfriend then surprised me by giving me this gorgeous silk Kooples shirt (created as part of the uber chic French brands collaboration with musics bad boy Peter Doherty) that I've been lusting after for so long now.

The Kooples

So before I start sounding too spoiled (eheh!) and of course before I'm taken by the rather imminent chocolate/wine coma (eek!) I just wanted to say thank you to my uber amaze-balls and apparently uber stylish man-friend!

xx

A Work of Art!

Ok so theres no way I could ever afford these shoes but hell this is what dreams are made of.... I realise these may not be to everyones taste but theres no denying  it.... These shoes are little works of art... In fact they're almost too beautiful for words and perhaps even too beautiful to wear...  It is hardly surprising then to learn that they come from the woman who uses her creations to decorate her apartment and has even admitted to displaying her favourites in glass... The gorgeous Miss Charlotte Olympia Dellal! Admittedly these will be hard to get your hands on but luckily for you Olympias many stockists include Brown Thomas, Selfridges, Neiman Marcus, Netaporter, Bergdorf Goodman and of course Miss Olympias own flagship store in London's Mayfair and her site which you can access by simply clicking here

By the by I am offering chocolate and kisses in exchange for a pair of size 38's .... Just saying....

Get The Look!

Katniss Everdeen...

Although usually left cold by whats currently "trending" in the world of pop culture I have to say even I have been sucked in by the Hunger Games.... Months ago a friend of mine tried her best to get me to indulge her and just give the trilogy a chance... Being as stubborn as usual however I refused but then the other day something terrible happened... For whatever reason I decided to skim through the first book and that was when I was forced to admit it... Sometimes I'm wrong... (Hell I'm even questioning my choice to avoid all things Twilight related... Well... Maybe not!) Anyways given my new obsession - I cannot put these books down - I thought why not celebrate the movies release with a post?! 

When I was little my mom would always braid my hair for me but alas I myself am quite the frustrated artiste and could never replicate the intricate french braids she would create... So in honour of the braid and Miss Katniss Everdeen I present to you Refinery 29's step by step guide to getting the leading ladies signature braid... And just in time for the premiere too... Click Here to get the down-low!

The Best Kind of Present

Having worked my little toosh off for the past couple of months I decided it was high time to treat myself and treat I did... Yes folks I finally purchased me the much coveted iconic Chanel studs proving the best presents are the ones you buy yourself...! Although very well.... iconic.... what I love most about these studs is how small and understated they are... Despite what this post might imply Im actually not one for screaming logos nor do I like overly fussy earrings... (Apparently walking around for years with hideously bright dangly earrings finally paid off... lesson well and truly learned) so these little beauties are just perfect for me!! If you like what you see then I'm happy to tell you there are two more pairs to be found in the Chanel boutique Brown Thomas... Honestly anyone would think I were working for these people!

Lets Get Some Shoes!!

Miu Miu

Dries Van Noten

YSL

Gucci







Attention ladies (and of course all you generous man folk out there!) Finally theres a legitimate reason to buy those ridiculously expensive but ridiculously life enriching (Ahem!)Alexander McQueen pumps you've been lusting after all this time... Purchase anything from the infamous shoes rooms in Brown Thomas Dublin anytime before April 9th and you'll bag yourself a Brown Thomas Gift Card pre-loaded with 20% of the value of your purchase... Better still the GiftCard is redeemable against womenswear, childrenswear, menswear, lingerie, hoisery and of course ladies shoes! Now if thats not an excuse to shop I dont know what is! I myself have my eye on this fabulous Marc by Marc Jacobs dress...

Marc by Marc Jacobs

By the by Brown Thomas are currently running yet another promotion in conjunction with the release of their new Menswear Magazine called Invest in Menswear... As the name suggests if you purchase any item from Menswear (Including mens shoes) you will once again receive a gift card loaded with 20% of the value of your purchase... Now you can treat yourself and your boyfriend or at least not resent parting with your hard earned cash to buy Dad a new tie... Well not as much anyways! Oh and if for some reason you can't make it to Brown Thomas you can find the gorgeous dress above on the one and only netaporter



Instant Wardrobe Update!

The Hepburn Collar



I recently came across Nauticoco a super clever site that specialises in add-ons created especially to give your outfit that little something extra... While the site has an extensive range of collars which come in an array of colours my favourite has got to be this pearl embellished version named after hers truly Ms Audrey Hepburn... Layer these hand crafted silk collars under last seasons tees and dresses and you'll have yourself one truly unique wardrobe update!

Thread - It!



Elysian Brows

Lets face it people, bum fluff (as my mother so charmingly puts it) and gappy eyebrows do not a good look make... In fact its amazing what a fuzz free upper lip and a perfectly defined arch can do for a gals confidence especially if like me you have the misfortune of working alongside models and girls who might as well be... However, as we all know tweezing is time consuming and waxing way too messy... So why not give threading a chance? Although centuries old this Eastern practice has only become popular in the Western world within recent years... While I know many of you are ever so slightly put off by the thought of what resembles a piece of dental floss ripping your moustache out I have to tell you its not as bad as it seems... Yes its sore and yes your skin will redden briefly but unlike with tweezing threading can eliminate an entire row of hair all at once meaning the pain is dealt with in as quick and efficient a manner as possible... Of course thats not the only benefit of choosing threading over tweezing/waxing... Threading can actually remove hair as short as one sixteenth of an inch meaning you can avoid the awkward transition period between removal sessions...the very fact that a line of hairs can be removed at any one time results in a cleaner and more precise arch... and finally no foreign substances nor any heat are used which is great for those of us with sensitive skin as this drastically reduces irritation and ensures that a rash will not result... if threading is something you would like to try then I would highly recommend Elysian Brows which is located right in the heart of Dublin city centre... At Elysian precision is the name of the game... not only that but one thing you will never have to worry about here is "over plucking" or rather that disconcertingly startled look so many women have had to sport thanks to their pluck happy beauticians.... In fact the staff here are adamant about following the natural shape of the brow and keeping it both as clean yet as full as possible... Not only that but the girls here are as lovely as they are talented and will even pop on some concealer for you so you dont have to sneak back to work with any tell-tale red spots...

By the by Elysian Brows is also one of the few places in Ireland where you can get your hands on products from American cult beauty brand Anastasia which just so happens to be a favourite of one Jennifer Aniston!

Elizabeth Olsen... My Latest Style Crush...

 

Elizabeth Olsen... Every time I see her I want to cry a little bit. How on earth can one girl be so beautiful? And not only that but so immensely talented too... Having just seen Martha Marcy May Marlene I can totally unterstand why this just turned twenty three year old has the heart of Hollywood all a flutter... But lets face it, I'm here to talk fashion not acting... Hailing from a family that includes Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen founders of the majorly successful fashion emporium which includes "The Row" and "Elizabeth and James" you may feel it a given that Elizabeth is such the style maven however its obvious this girl is dancing to her own fashion beat... Carving out a more polished and more feminine style than her sisters Elizabeth appears equally comfortable wearing pieces from fashion heavy weights such as Chanel, Erdem, Valentino and Emilio Pucci as she does in threads from the superbly affordable Asos! Despite leaning toward the fashion worlds big guns however Elizabeth unlike the rest of young Hollywood knows how to strike the perfect balance between sexy and sweet, quirky and classic... Not one to copy a look straight from the runway Elizabeth knows how to make an outfit her own... Just one reason why I love Hollywoods most recent rising star...

 

xx

Mora Ruffle Bottom Dress

 

Shopbop.com

I would do some truly terrible things to own this dress... offers... anyone?





JoyofBaking.com

Every so often a gal needs her one serious hit of chocolatey deliciousness... or in my case one little hit on the hour every hour... And this is one truly delectable recipe... Now believe me I cannot cook... In fact I rarely manage to turn out a Goodfellas pizza without one truly charred base and some mysteriously un-browned cheese... but these brownies?! Well even I can make them! The first brownies I ever attempted came out of the oven with a rather unusual "skin" and what can only be described as a liquid base - perhaps a "milkshake" base if you're feeling kind or drunk - but this recipe has from the very beginning turned out perfectly fudgey yet surprisingly cakey brownies each and every time! The beauty of this recipe is that it can be made using just one bowl and although crazily simple the addition of chocolate chips sets these brownies apart from every other out there. The point is these amazing brownies really are idiot proof and you can trust me... I'm an idiot!!  Honestly I'm not one of those girls who walks around in heels all day only to attempt to sell you 5 - inchers by claiming they're uber comfy - Dont you hate those beetches?! Of course there are numerous stories I could tell... many of which include eggs... Boiling them in the kettle and scrambling them on the ceiling for example... Before I get into that and really humiliate myself however Im going to leave you with this one question...Now that Fridays finally here why not treat yourself?!

Personally I love coconut milk

Humpday Highlight!

Saba

Ok so its no longer humpday but hell we all know how hard wednesdays can be... you've already survived multiple 6am wake up calls only to be faced with the prospect of two more... a thought which just so happens to make you wish you were staring at a loaded gun instead... if you're like me you may by now have taken to begging/offering loved ones money to punch you in the face... anything for a day off am I right?! Well despair no more peeps... I've stumbled across the perfect solution.... the uber chic SABA eatery! Given that I love Asian food and SABA has won countless awards for the amazing and truly authentic thai/vietnamese dishes they've been serving over the years I really dont know how I could have overlooked it... then again stumbling across it last night provided the perfect pick me up after a gruelling day at work... Not only is the food amazing but the atmosphere is warm and inviting and although unexpectedly lively for 7 o clock on a Wednesday evening with its cosy interior described as "colonial meets contemporary" and super friendly staff this restaurant truly is one uber relaxing little gem (Of course the rather elaborate cocktail menu may indeed be a contributing factor... not that I partook of more than I should have... ahem!) Considering SABA actually translates to "happy meeting place" I guess you could say that this restaurant truly lives up to its name... lets just say SABA was worth the wait but now that you fine people are clued in why bother?!

Dress - Whistles

Ok so I realise the quality of the picture isnt exactly what you would call great or even mediocre for that matter (hence why I provided a link... so thoughtful) but believe me this is a dress you want... sorry... its a dress you need... or at least I do... I know with the summer approaching or something that resembles it at the very least that black may not seem like the most festive of colour choices but with its mix of the feminine and the masculine... the sweet and the aggressive... the classic and the contemporary this is a dress that will work as hard for you as you will to earn the pennies to pay for it... if you're not one to take a gamble pop into Brown Thomas Grafton Street where you'll find it on the third floor... But I warn you now.... Move fast!

My First Words….

For quite some time now I’ve wanted to start a blog… In fact I’ve labored tirelessly over which was more endearing a “hey guys” or a “hi peeps” (well there goes my cool gal persona) with a little help from my truly indecisive nature (I never could make a decision) I finally realized it just doesn’t matter… as the old saying goes “it’s now or never” and I’m tired of the never… So welcome to The Daily Feast or rather the most recent Irish (life)style blog… With that I feel I should warn you that I’m no “Man Repeller” - well at least not in terms of fashion kudos, sorry I’m simply not that dedicated…. I have no desire to create an army of “little monsters” nor do I wish to throw an “arm party” anytime soon…. I will however be serving up some serious fashion… tips on what to buy now and where to buy it as well as information regarding how best to maintain your beloveds after purchase… not to mention plenty of recipes and indeed lots of restaurant/coffee shop shout outs that will ensure you never fit in said beloveds again… unless of course you’re one of those people who has managed to conquer that old chestnut called moderation…. Enjoy!

Daisies.

x