Christmas Gifts For Her – The Splurge Edition.

Are you one of those men who has trouble differentiating Primark from Prada? Well, if you’re a hopeless boyfriend when it comes to expensive gift giving, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list of perfect presents that will easily earn you a year’s worth of brownie points:

Charlotte Tilbury – Miss Kensington Look (€250). 

 

Inspired by the haughty but naughty girls of the swinging sixties, this gift set is comprised of the coveted limited edition products from Charlotte Tilbury’s “Norma Parkinson” collection. This is a luxury offering and is available here from Brown Thomas. It will make any girl squeal with delight – well worth every penny!

Carvela – Black “Sammy” Over-The-Knee Boots (€240).

Over-the-knee boots are hugely popular at the moment and this pair from Carvela are fabulous. If the lady in your life dreams of ransacking Kendall Jenner’s wardrobe, then these are a sure bet. Available here from Debenhams.

Tessa Metcalfe – Rings on Rings / Emerald & Peridot (£220).

This beautiful piece of jewellery is handmade by London designer, Tessa Metcalfe. I came across Tessa’s work a few years ago and have been dying to purchase a piece ever since. Bank balance willing, I will soon be adding this beauty to my collection. Set into this ring are a Columbian emerald and a pretty pale green peridot – well worth every penny! Available here from London Rocks.

Armani Prive – “Cuir Noir” (€215).

This one is a dark, provocative perfume with leather accents. Although it is a very strong scent, I think it makes the perfect “night-time” fragrance. Available here from Brown Thomas.

Jo Malone London – Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne (€105).

This fragrance is much lighter than the Armani Prive blend. The “Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne” stole my heart in seconds. Upon application, I was transported to a windswept haven – I could almost taste the bitter sea water. I am sick to death of “tropical” beach scents and this perfume offers a beautiful alternative. I love the notes of sage which add a delicate woody fragrance. It’s a soothing scent, reminiscent of rugged cliffs. This cologne has become my signature scent – you can read my full review here. The perfume is available here from Brown Thomas.

Wolford – Cara Swarovski Crystal Tights (€139).

These tights will make any woman feel like Beyonce – enough said. Available here from Brown Thomas.

Kate Spade New York – Cedar Street Maise Bag (€335).

Dear Santa… This beauty is available here from Brown Thomas.

That’s all for now folks. What do you think of my picks? And, more importantly – what would you choose if money was no object?

Sit tight for a more bargain friendly gift guide.

Rouge x

 

 

Graduation Day – What I Wore.

We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better. – JK Rowling.

Friday 11th of September 2015 marked the end of the ‘University’ era of my life – graduation day at NUI Maynooth. The entire day was one dedicated to reminiscing on the past four years. There were ups and there were downs, but what I will remember above all else is the life-long friends who took the journey with me.

I was determined to look my best on the day because knowing my Mam, the photographs will take permanent residence on the walls of our house. Many of you have asked me to share the details of my outfit so here goes:

My dress was ‘Self Portrait’ and I purchased it in BT2. This brand has caught the interest of well known personalities ranging from Pippa O’Connor to Jenna Dewan-Tatum and now, I know why. The design is quirky and fun but the quality of this dress is AMAZING! It’s a statement piece so although expensive, I imagine that it will last a lifetime! You can check out ‘Self Portrait’s’ AW15 range at BT2 here.

 

Check out these gorgeous babies! My shoes were by ‘Lipsy’, purchased from Debenhams AW15 collection. I’ve been looking for some sassy, yet sophisticated black heels for ages and I think these are perfect. Some of you will already know that ‘Kurt Geiger’ produce ‘Lipsy’ footwear which means that they’re great quality at a fraction of the price of the ‘Kurt Geiger London’ range. You can find these ones here.

And finally, let’s talk about accessories. Because the dress had a lot of pattern and detail, I kept it simple and chic. This beautiful ring was sent to me by ‘Lucky Eyes London’ and is available for purchase here. It is advertised as ‘stackable’ but I love wearing it alone for a dainty, girly effect. If you would like to view the products before purchase, pieces from ‘Lucky Eyes London’ are now available at House of Fraser – I’m obsessed with their ‘Evil Eye’ bracelets too.

So, what do you think of the final look? Let me know in the comments, I love to hear your style advice!

Rouge x

Keep Your Toesies Cosy (AW15 Boot Style).

Ok, ok, so I know that everyone is mourning the death of summer at the moment. Although, those of us living in Ireland will know that there wasn’t much ‘summer’ to begin with – blame it on the weatherman. I will be the first to admit – I am not totally equipped for warm weather. I’m ginger and pale and pastel colours are my enemy so excuse me if I don’t cry with the rest of you. Autumn/Winter is my glory season – cosy knits, rustic colours and toasty boots – that’s where it is at my friends. So without further ado, let us bask in the wonderfulness of these AW15 footwear picks.

€89.95 from Zara.

I spotted these babies last week in my local Zara store, but unfortunately they were sold out of my size. Over-the-knee boots are really on trend at the moment and these tan coloured ones are just gorgeous. They have a lace detail at the back reminiscent of a cowboy casanova – you can find more images here.

€85 from River Island.

When Zara didn’t have my size in stock, I ventured to River Island in the hope that they would have the perfect over-the-knee option for me and I wasn’t disappointed. I purchased these grey ‘faux suede’ boots and absolutely love them. They’re really comfy, regardless of the high heel so I imagine I will be getting quite a bit of wear out of them over the coming months. Can’t wait to pair them with a little black dress for nights out over the holiday season. Yes, I just made a reference to Christmas – forgive me?

£165 from Carvela at House of Fraser.

If thigh-high boots are a little to adventureous for you and scream Julia Roberts in ‘Pretty Woman’, perhaps take a peek at these ankle boots by Carvela from House of Fraser. Yes, they’re pretty pricey at £165 but, in my experience Carvela boots wear really well and last for years. An investment piece, you say? I love the ‘Chelsea’ style of these boots and would pair them with everything from skirts/shorts with thick wolly tights to a chic pair of skinny jeans.

€39.95 from Zara.

Looking for something on the more affordable side of the spectrum? I love these booties from Zara, which are available in both burgundy and navy blue. At just €39.95, they’re also a bargain.

€15 from Penneys/Primark.

Technically not boots, yet I couldn’t resist adding this bargain into my post. When Tara O’Farrell of Tara Makeup shared a picture of these trainers on Snapchat, I couldn’t resist popping into Penneys to get a pair. At €15, they’re an absolute steal and are really comfy for those of us who are always on the run. Thanks for the tip Tara!

What do you think of all the styles? Are you a fan of over-the-knee, ankle boots or trainers? I’m in love with all three.

Rouge x