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

Ladies Day at the Dublin Horse Show 2015 – Hair Fascinators by Michelle Foley.

I enjoy hats. And when one has filthy hair, that is a good accessory. -Julia Roberts.

Many of you will already know that I attended ‘Ladies Day’ at the Dublin Horse Show this year and thoroughly enjoyed the event. As a first time attendee, I didn’t know what to expect from the show but I was majorly impressed by the fantastic atmosphere. A day filled with fun, food and fashion? What more could a girl ask for? A few of you have asked that I share my outfit details and as ever, I aim to please.

  
One of my favourite shops at the moment is Ollie and Mac, a boutique based in Co. Meath. They have an excellent selection of elegant party-wear and from there I picked an irresistable tulle skirt in a lavender shade. I paired it with a simple cream, halterneck top from Topshop – similar can be found here.

  

However, the stand out piece of my outfit on the day was definitely the hat. Lots of you have been complimenting the design all week, and I’m delighted that you loved it as much as I did. The hat was a bespoke piece from Hair Fascinators, created by my favourite milliner of the moment, Michelle Foley. Taking the time to discuss ideas with me, Michelle focused on creating a hat which would accentuate my outfit. I highly recommend contacting Hair Fascinators if you need a hat for any occasion – I know that the A/W ‘wedding season’ is fast approaching!

  

Above are some more hats designed by Michelle, aren’t they exquisite?

Let me know what you think of the look, I would love your feedback!

Rouge x

My Deliveroo Review.

Everyone knows that dining out is the ‘Holy Grail’ of my hobbies. So, imagine my joy when I heard that I no longer have to leave the house in order to source ‘restaurant quality’ food. The food delivery app ‘Deliveroo’ has launched in Dublin and promises to deliver from many major eateries across the city, straight to your door. Yes you heard me – restaurants such as Nandos, Aussie BBQ and many more straight to your door!

Last week, my friends and I decided to give the app a trial run by hosting a foodie party. In the mood for pizza, we chose to order from McGarry’s Pub and Restaurant in Harold’s Cross, Dublin. €50 supplied three large pizzas, two portions of chips, one portion of wings and a side of garlic bread topped with mozzarella. 

  

The service was super fast with the food arriving within 35 minutes of ordering online. The food was delicious and travelled well, tasting just as it would had we eaten it in the restaurant. The app itself is really easy to navigate – suitable for technophobes city-wide.

  
I can’t wait to see what else ‘Deliveroo’ have to offer. Considering we fed five people on €50, I don’t think I’ll be cooking next time I host a dinner party. 

For more info you can check out the website here. 

Let me know if you love it!

Rouge x

Get The Festival Look.

As a few of you will already know, I made a trip to Longitude festival in Marlay Park at the weekend. Hozier, you were fantastic – I have no objection if you would like to serenade me in the near future. 

Many of you have been asking about my festival look via Twitter so I’m here to share the details. Unable to pull off any sort of hipster chic, I opted for a casual jeans look. I’m madly in love with my Salsa Denim jeans which I purchased in Brown Thomas. They’re designed to slim and define the thigh and bum area, perfect for anyone who is a little body concious. You can explore similar styles here. I paired my jeans with a simple top, a chic sun hat and some Hunter Boots which are admittedly very expensive but extremely comfortable! 

  
Many of you will have noticed that I love my neutral eyeshadow / red lipstick combo but this weekend, I decided to try something a little different. Sleek sent me some gorgeous palettes to play with and I couldn’t resist a pop of colour! 

  
 
How pretty are these babies? I used a combination of ‘Arabian Nights’ and ‘Del Mar Volume II’ to create the perfect festival look. 

I began my look using the ‘Del Mar’ palette. I used the neutral, yet shimmery shades of ‘Loco’ and ‘Pearl’ as base shadow. Then, I applied a dusting of the lilac purple shade ‘Puro’ to the inner corner of the lids. Next, I opened up the treasure trove that is ‘Arabian Nights’, using the electric blue shade ‘Simbad’s Seas’ and ‘Aladdin’s Lamp’ to add definition in the crease and outer corner of the eye. I also used the rusted bronze of ‘Aladdin’s Lamp’ to line my lower lashes. 
  
I loved these shadows. They’re really highly pigmented and easy to blend. The best part? They’re a steal at just €10.49 each. The only problem is that both palettes are limited edition, so I suggest visiting your local stockist before they sell out! 

  

I completed my look with a little gel liner, a splash of neutral lipstick and some generic diamanté jewels. 

What do you think? As always, keep me updated if you try any of the products!

Rouge x 

Don’t Let Anyone With Bad Eyebrows Give You Life Advice – Touch and Glow Beauty Clinic.

Beauty experts worldwide have come to agree on the fact that brows are the frame to the face. And, you wouldn’t put a pretty picture in an ugly frame, now would you? Yesterday, I instagrammed a photo after getting my brows shaped and received quite a few queries regarding my chosen salon. So, here are the details.

My salon of choice is ‘Touch and Glow Beauty Clinic’ in Carrickmacross, Co.Monaghan. Founded by the lovely Charlene McMahon, ‘Touch and Glow’ is heaven for beauty lovers. They offer the most advanced treatments in the market ranging from the application of mink lashes to specialised skin treatments at surprisingly affordable prices. The ambience is sophisticated and relaxed, complemented by the scent of lemongrass floating throughout the salon.

This weekend, I visited ‘Touch and Glow’ for a treatment known as a ‘Brow Trio’. This involves the shaping and tinting of the brows along with the tinting of the eyelashes. My therapist, Patrice, took great care in listening to my requests and talked me through the process – the chit-chat provided a great distraction from the waxing element of the treatment. Delighted with the shape and colour of my brows, and no longer needing to layer mascara onto my lashes by the bucket load, I am one really happy customer. In this case, the proof is in the pudding/picture:

‘Touch and Glow’ also stock some fabulous beauty ranges from Dermalogica to Jane Iredale. So of course, I didn’t leave empty handed – reviews will follow as soon as I’ve had a chance to try the newbies in my collection.

For now, why not take a look at ‘Touch and Glow Beauty Clinic’s’ website and price list? You can find it here (there’s also a handy beauty tips section) :

http://touchandglowbeauty.com/

Let me know if you decide to visit!

Rouge x