Dress to Impress

I’ve posted my earlobes off this week and today, I’m actually busy with other things (not that this blog – and you – aren’t top of my importance list, cos you TOTALLY are) so I’m doing a relatively lazy post. Lazy, but gorgeous.

Dresses. Not just dresses, though.

Gowns.

My obsession with giant, tulle-mountains started as a child when I first watched ‘The King and I’. After it, all my clothes seemed terribly flat in comparison.

I wore leggings and leg warmers, slouchy jumpers and shoes I could dance in. SHE got to wear dresses that were like huge, floaty jellyfish made from silk and satin.

I’m sure I went in search of a gown that (post-Prince Charming) Cinderella would’ve been envious of, but my valiant efforts proved fruitless. WHY Dunnes Stores don’t stock Vera Wang is beyond me.

Here we are with some gowns anyway. Enjoy.

Oh, and get your comments in for Sarah Hope, the competition ends tomorrow!

Where it all began…

Ais on Fashion: Outfit Numero 3

I got dressed. Wanna see?

The last outfit post was a little underwhelming I think – in fairness it was my very first one – but hopefully this one I’ve done a little better.

I’ll preface this (and all) outfit posts by saying that I don’t claim to be terribly fashion forward or anything like it. I know what I like, I know what looks good on my figure and I generally stick to what I know. So adventurous is not really the word for my fashion sense.

Although I appreciate creativity in fashion and love February and September because of the fashion weeks, I have neither the cash nor the confidence to pull off most of the fabulous ready-to-wear stuff I see in all the amazing September issues.

On to my outfit. I am sorry I haven’t mastered the awkward-beautiful poses that some fashion bloggers do so well, but I tried my best to show the outfit properly.

Outfit deets:

Blazer – Warehouse

Jeans – Zara

Top – H&M

Shoes – Aldo

Bracelet – Pandora

I suppose next time I should try something a little more out-there… otherwise I’ll send those of you left conscious after that wholly uneventful outfit off to sleep. Until next time!

Ooh, only two more days left to comment until I choose the winner of the one-on-one make-up session with the fabulous Sarah Hope Smith.

Get commenting!!

Twiggy? Is that you?!

Here’s the second look from fabuloso make-up artist extraordinaire, Sarah Hope Smith… Channel your inner Twiggy with this sexy sixties inspired look.

Hello again ladies!

Here’s my instructions for the 60s look. Make sure you leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning the one-on-one session to improve your make up skills!

When trying to achieve the 60’s think of the model Twiggy. Everything in this look is matte and flawless. Lashes are the main focus so don’t hold back with full thick lashes.

Start by adding a matte base, nothing shimmery or dewy. Keep the lips nude.

• Prime the whole eye first with a concealer and a pale matte shadow over it.

• Add a white shadow all over the lid.

• Line the bottom lash line, the top lash line and the crease with a gel liner and flick each line out at the end.

• Add some “Twiggies” to the bottom lash line for a more dramatic look.

• Apply a black shadow to the line on the crease to make it appear softer.

• Add a white eyeliner on the water line, MAC ‘Fascinating’ is amazing for this.

• Apply mascara and then strip lashes, you can also add lashes to the lower lash line if you want real drama for your eyes.

Top Tip:

While your lining you two top lines  look down into a mirror to avoid it smudging.

Come back on Friday for my interview with Aisling, and we’ll reveal the winner of the competition on Friday night.

The Town: Reviewed

I didn’t give away anything key to the plot because I want everyone to read this and be compelled to go see it.

I loved this film.

I also wish I was born into the Affleck family, because those kids are seriously talented. Between Oscar winner Ben’s acting AND directing in this and Casey Affleck’s portrayal of the psychotic Lou Ford in “The Killer Inside Me”, you just know you’d be a leading lady as soon as you left Mrs. Affleck’s womb.

Anyway, on with the review.

The movie starts with a fact about the Boston suburb of Charlestown – that it has produced more bank robbers than anywhere else in the world. I don’t know how accurate that is but you certainly get a feel for it within a few minutes of the movie starting.

The opening sequence bank robbery is as high octane as they come – from the quirky little tricks criminals use to destroy evidence (I always love that stuff – we’ve all seen stacks of money being hauled into duffel bags) to the creepy skull masks giving a disturbing façade to the already dangerous criminals.

Doug MacRay (played by the super talented director and star, Ben Affleck) is the mastermind behind a string of high profile Boston robberies, and the loyalty among his team and all the residents of their town, Charlestown, is fierce and protective.

In spite of the fact that MacRay is the leader of this vicious criminal gang, I immediately warmed to his character, feeling almost sorry that he wound up involved in such activities – learning later what a dysfunctional family he came from helped with the sympathy.

As the audience falls for MacRay, MacRay falls for a freed hostage the gang had let go after their latest robbery, bank manager Claire (played by Rebecca Hall).

The other main female character, MacRay’s former girlfriend, Krista, is played by Blake Lively, who to be honest I didn’t have huge expectations of. Blake Lively can ACTUALLY act, and really, really well – who knew?!

As their relationship builds, in secret, Doug and his gang, working for a crime lord called “The Florist”, complete another almost foiled robbery in one of the most heart stopping car chases I’ve seen in any movie. Action movie car chases are a dime a dozen (first and last time I’ll use that phrase, swearsies), but this one is unique in that you really want the criminals not to get caught.

The skill in writing and directing that it takes to get everyone on the side of a criminal gang is tough, I’d imagine. But Affleck managed to get everyone to identify with the gang.

Meanwhile, as the gang plan yet another heist, FBI agent Adam Frawley (Mad Men actor Jon Hamm) has his suspect list from the previous bank job and is closing in on each member of the gang.

A scene in the police questioning room where Frawley is trying to shake up MacRay by threatening him with supposed fingerprints found creates a laugh-out-loud moment for the audience (of which, surprisingly, there are many throughout the film) when MacRay responds by standing up, stating confidently “Good luck with those prints” and with a swagger, leaves the detectives in the room, stunned by his brazenness.

Through the film, pieces of information about Doug MacRay’s mother are revealed, why she abandoned him as a child among other things. MacRay’s relationship with his incarcerated father is another piece of the puzzle of MacRay’s life, and as we learn more, we realise he genuinely wants to better himself and make drastic changes in his life.

As he grows closer to Claire, he plans to leave Charlestown with her and start a new life, crime free. One last job which involves robbing the “Boston Cathedral” -  Fenway Park Baseball Stadium – is all that stands between MacRay and his new life with Claire.

I won’t go into too much detail, because I want everyone who reads this to see the film and enjoy it the way I did – with shock and awe.

Amazing performances all round, a fantastic storyline, chases and gun fights that would really get your heart pumping, romance, comic relief and much more make The Town one of the best films I’ve seen in the cinema in ages. Highly, highly recommended. And judging by the queues to see it in the cinema last night, other people are gonna be recommending it too.

For the full cast list and loads of other information on this film, here’s the IMDB site for it.

Ais on Fashion: Friends on Trend

Good morning, you! Yeah, YOU.

How are you on this dull September day? Well I hope. Make sure you get your comments in by the end of the week to be in with a chance to win the fabuloussss prize (see yesterday’s post for details).

So on Saturday I decided to do some outfit snapping, and I got two of my very bestest friends on board for some outfit posting too.

Everyone, a round of applause for Rachel and Karen please!

Here they are in all their finery. Rachel’s up first.

Outfit deets:

Feather earrings – Topshop

Bangles – Penneys

Bag – Urban Outfitters

Crushed velvet dress – New Look (altered slightly by me & Rach)

Shoes – a boutique in Liverpool

And here’s Karen’s…

Outfit deets:

Peacock earrings – Topshop

Dress – H&M

Heeled boots – Penneys

Belt – Penneys

Ring – boutique in Tenerife

MY outfit from Saturday night out with the girls will be up tomorrow along with the second of the Sarah Hope Smith make-up instruction posts.

Don’t miss it. You’ll totally regret it.

Make Up Make Over

Only read on if you answer YES to the following questions:

Are you female (or male with a penchant for sporting a smokey eye on nights out – I’m not here to judge)?

Do you sometimes struggle to get your make-up just right?

Would you like a professional make-up artist to teach you what works for you? FOR FREE?

If all your answers were affirmative, this is the post for you.

Today, professional make-up artist Sarah Hope Smith will talk us all through the art of creating a perfect smokey-eyed look, giving her professional tips to make sure you can get it spot on for your next big night out.

On Wednesday, Sarah Hope will be back to talk us all through the fabulous sixties look, á la Twiggy, and then on Friday, I will do a little interview with the lady herself so you can find out all about her.

Oh, and there’s something else…

On Friday, I will randomly pick one of the comments from across the three posts and that lucky person will win a private make-up tutorial with Sarah Hope Smith herself!

Bring your make-up bag, she’ll bring hers, and between you, you can revitalise the way you wear your make-up. She’ll give you hints and tips as you go along, helping you perfect contouring your cheeks, applying liquid eyeliner, or whatever you need a helping hand on.

So for God’s sake get commenting!

Sarah Hope recently started up a make-up and beauty blog, so for a look at some of her work and her thoughts on this seasons make-up trends, visit Sarah Hope Smith Make-Up here.

Now – for the first of her make-up walk throughs…

Hey there, I’m Sarah Hope. I’m a professional make-up artist living and working in Dublin. I am passionate about make-up and I hope this week I can help you all out a little with my instructions.

Can’t wait for the one-on-one session with the lucky commenter! Here’s my first look. The picture below is an original of my work, I hope you like it.

When dealing with a smokey eye you want great intensity in the colour. You can of course create a smokey eye in loads of different colours however I’m going to explain how to do the classic black smokey eye as I find it’s the most popular.

Here are some steps to help you achieve that smouldering, femme fatale look:

• Prime the whole eye first with a concealer and a pale matte shadow over it.

• Add either a gel black liner or a black eye liner pencil all over the lid – I recommend the MAC ‘Blacktrack’ liner. Always remember to work quickly with that though, as the gel dries fast.

• Add a black shadow to the lid, this will intensify the colour and set the gel.

• Apply a frosted grey in the crease of your eye socket and blend it into the black on the lid, you can also wing this out slightly.

• Highlight the brow bone and inner corner of the eyes with a light shimmery ivory colour such as MAC ‘Nylon’.

• Define brows by brushing through them with a shadow that is one shade lighter than your brow colour – never go darker.

• Lots and lots of mascara really finishes off this look – at the moment I’m in love with ‘Dior Show: Blackout’

• Eye liner on the water line completes it and frames your eyes

• Finish of the whole look with a flawless base and a nude lip.

Top Tip:

Do the smokey eye first and then your foundation to avoid any bits of black shadow or eyeliner falling onto your foundation.

Don’t be afraid to make a mistake, and remember that practice makes perfect! I’ll be back again on Wednesday.