Day Time Exploring
Dressing up for Dinner Time
September Style Diary: Cruise Edition [Amsterdam & The Fjords]
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Tag: beauty
Beauty Fave: I’m on the hunt!
Autumn is on it’s way here in the UK and I am well and truly ready to wrap up in cosy knit sweaters, oversized wool coats and knee high boots- BUT there is one thing missing (and yet it is already a favourite..) from my Autumn ready wardrobe- a dark, burgundy lipstick!!
I have looked all over and still no luck 😦 maybe I’m more eager than the Beauty World when it comes to the AW face!?!
If anyone knows of ANY lipsticks that I have missed in the hunt from my perfect lipstick let me know- and if it is from a ‘cruelty free’ make up brand that would be even better haha! 😀
Until then, you can find me swatching countless lipsticks on the back of my hand…
A week in Instagram ♥
Follow me on Instagram for more fashion and food related pics @Katieloumaloney
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A week in Instagram ♥
Travelling with Liquids in your Hand Luggage
Living in the UK I tend to favour long weekend breaks around Europe with good old budget airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair, and over the years I’ve got better at condensing my packing (not that my boyfriend would agree, but we’ll skim over his opinion for now 😀 )
So, only once have I checked my bag in on a budget airline (and yes, we were that couple unpacking at the desk and putting on layers of clothing so we were under the weight limit), and this means that every other time I have taken a small suitcase as carry on free of charge- no painful £50 charge for me *smug grin*. Initially, this was more stressful than it needed to be and you eventually learn that for a weekend away you don’t need both straighteners and curling tongs, neither do you need 6 dresses and four pairs of shoes *sigh*.
But what about packing your liquids- after all the limit (for most airlines) is ten 100ml containers for hand luggage. Now this doesn’t worry my boyfriend in the slightest I think he probably has about 6 liquids, if that, but me? Realistically I could end up with about 15 if I went really crazy.
So how do I go about organising my ‘Liquid Essentials’?
1) Go through your daily routine
- For example; you wake up and brush your teeth, shower, exfoliate and wash/condition your hair. When that is done some of you might even have a more complicated morning routine that includes lots of lotions and potions. Then, you put your make up on (I tend to place everything in my go to make up routine out on the bed, then separate into liquids and non liquids). You might then blow dry your hair and use heat protectant spray and other styling liquids. Then you use body lotion and hand cream. At the end of you day you would then use a make up remover and other moisturisers. Then, you need to get specific to your destination- will you need suncream and after sun? Are you attending a special occassion that you’ll need extra hair and make up bits for than your usual daily routine?
Eeek- seems a lot now you’ve really thought about it doesn’t it? 😮
2) Don’t panic!
- So, you have never noticed how many liquids you use in a day before have you? But there is hope- go through your day again, what can you cut out?
3) Find alternatives
Doesn’t sound so simple, but here are some shortcuts I’ve taken:
- Buy some cheap plastic travel bottles and dispense some of your liquids that are over 100ml into these.
- Mix your moisturiser with your primer and dispense into an empty travel sized container.
- I once took The Body Shop’s Beautifying Oil in my carry on so I had some form of body moisturiser as well as an oil that kept stray hairs in place.
- Take a small handbag sized body lotion that you can take around with you and use as a hand lotion- and it’s a bonus if it contains SPF and is suitable for facial use too! I like this one from The Body Shop 🙂
- I’ve never taken my make up remover with me- I know a lot of people disagree with face wipes but it really does make reducing your liquids a lot easier.
- If you’re not sure what counts as a liquid- ask! I’ve tweeted Ryanair and Easyjet about what counts as a liquid- and for the record lipsticks are NOT a liquid (woohoo!). Make sure you check though, because pastes etc count as a liquid.
- You don’t need your day, night and eye moisturiser- pick one (providing you don’t have sensitive eyes like me, if so just make sure you take a frangrance free moisturiser with you).
- Those of you big on eyeliner, look away now- I’ve gone without eyeliner and instead took my liquid friendly eye shadow palletes with me- a damp angled brush can do exactly the same when dipped into a black eyeshadow!
- Are you and a friend etc sharing Shampoo/Conditioner/Toothpaste/Body Wash? Have they got room in their liquid bag? Great!! (Note, this may work better with your boyfriend than your bestie 😛 )
- Buy a few cheap powder products (I like Collection for good, but cheap, make up products)- if you use cream/liquid blush, highlight and contour you might want to rethink this, or at least check that creams are allowed through with your airline/airport.
- Convince myself I don’t need make up setting spray to make my make up look more ‘dewy’ (#girlproblems)
- Take a good exfoliating mit and buy a shower gel that has gentle exfoliation beads etc- shower gel and exfoliation in one for the whole body! (just make sure it isn’t too abrasive for the face!
- You can always buy travel minis at the airport then throw away before you fly back, and the same goes for perfume samples! (I hate throwing products away though!)
So what makes my cut?
- Foundation
- Primer & Moisturiser (mixed, and doubles as eye cream)
- Mascara
- Concealer (some might be okay to miss this one and use foundation instead..)
- Handcream
- Deodorant (liquid roll on)
- Perfume
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothpaste
- Showergel *give to your very lovely travelling companion*
- Suncream *give to your very lovely travelling companion*
How do you pack when your travelling with hand luggage? Is there anything you can’t go without? Let me know in the comments, because it is always a struggle, I’ve just marginally improved with a few years experience! 😀
x-Katie-x
Sexy, smudged lips at Vivienne Westwood
Okay, so Vivienne Westwood doesn’t always bring us the most wearable looks, but she certainly finds new ways to encapsulate the Vivienne Westwood woman every season.
This time we saw smudged red lips and flushed cheeks- a subtle hint that there is perhaps a more mischievous side to the Vivienne Westwood woman, a woman who dresses in such smart, luxuriously tailored attire, but is not quite as well behaved as what first meets the eye.
I love the sexy, mysterious quality that such a simple make up look has created, and although smudging lipstick around the outside of your lips may not be a good idea in reality, I am very tempted to try and recreate the look in a more wearable way.
Instead of perfectly appl ying red lipstick in a way that adds a bold pop of colour to the lips, why not try using a lip stain or pen instead. I use the Gosh Long Lasting Lip Marker in Red (Cruelty free and the most long lasting lip product I’ve ever owned) making sure to smudge across the lips with your fingertips straight away before it has time to stain. For extra smudge and dimension I may even blend a touch of the Gosh Long Lasting Lip Marker in Berry Red in the centre of the lips.
Gucci Cruise Collection 2015
Catwalk Inspired Dresses: Phase Eight
From head to toe lace, appliqué detail and heavy embellishment, we see an array of classic, intricately detailed gowns hitting runways across the globe every season. Such creations, by the likes of Alberta Ferretti, D&G and Elie Saab, to name but a few, have managed to inspire fashion around the world, regardless of the fact that they are not necessarily ground breaking, but rather breathtakingly beautiful instead.
It is, however, difficult to find such intricately detailed dresses on the high street, because, let’s face it, it will probably always remain a dream for most of us to own any of the dresses we see gracing the runways.
But, it seems we needn’t worry any more, because over the last few months I have taken a shine to British brand ‘Phase Eight’. Every time I pass their designs I note their likeness to high end designers in excitement, from Dolce & Gabbana’s Rose print to whimsical florals at Alberta Ferretti, let alone their signature ‘tapework’ and lace detail that stands them a part from most High Street brands for their high quality occasion wear and a brilliant attention to detail.
Below are a few of my favourite pieces from their collection, which can be found online here or here, though I would recommend visiting them in store (or at Debenhams) to see the full effects of such gorgeous detailing.
According to Vogue…
….we should look to Meryl Streep in the 70’s for AW wardrobe inspiration.
What do you think?
Dolce & Gabbana say so…
Dolce & Gabbana says: 
The Classic White Shirt
Why we agree:
Who knew this staple wardrobe item could look so good with embellished red hotpants? Granted, it isn’t an everyday look but I’m looking forward to taking the white shirt away from the office!
How to wear:
Okay, so we won’t all be wearing the white shirt in such an extravagant way, but how about taking a tip from Gucci ( sorry, not sorry about the constant Gucci name drop) and wearing this classic piece with an A-line leather mini? I’ve recently bought a burnt orange patent leather look skirt from Primark and I can’t wait to pair it with a crisp white shirt, black tights and over the knee boots or even simple black flats.
Dolce & Gabbana says:
Embellished Jeans
Why we agree:
Could this look a little garish to the untrained eye? Of course, but who really cares when you’ve got jewels all over your jeans? Plus, I love that you could actually make this even more unique with a little DIY, I like this video for inspiration.
How to wear:
Once embellished your jeans can take you from day to night! Keep the rest of the pieces simple though, not everything will work with such a bold pair of jeans!
Dolce & Gabbana says:
Red Roses everywhere
Why we agree:
I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want to wear fresh roses in you hair everyday, but these lovely floral decorations (in hair, on shoes and embroidered onto dresses) add a bold dimension to a pretty, feminine look. Did I mention it reminds me of the Mediterranean sun?
How to wear:
Firstly, put them in your hair! Secondly, embrace the oversized rose print and then if you’re feeling really brave, use them to embellish your accessories.. but not all together though, I think that might be a little too much…
Dolce & Gabbana Says:
[Almost] Flat Shoes
Why we agree:
Heels always look really glamorous, but let’s face it we all love a good flat shoe because they’re pretty and nearly always comfortable. And look! The D&G versions are still glamorous with all the embellishments and the cute Mary Jane style strap! Now I just need to find a more affordable dupe..
How to wear:
The show was for SS15, but I think they’re a great substitute over the AW period for when it is a little too warm to wear boots. Do as D&G have and wear with loose fit jeans and mini dresses (add tights for the cooler weather
