A Bright Christmas Day

Hello lovelies!

So I'm sitting here watching The Snowman on TV, the day after Christmas, and still feeling considerably stuffed after the monster of a turkey dinner my mom put together. I'm talking turkey, ham, veg, potatoes, and two helpings of dessert! Hopefully all your Christmas Days went as well as mine did being surrounded by family and friends and celebrating together. 

I thought I'd show you my Christmas Day outfit and also a few photos snapped during the evening.

 Dress: Warehouse

Coat: Zara

Heels: River Island

Bracelet: H&M

Ring: My great-aunt's

Nail Varnish: Inglot Breathable O2M 618

I've been in love with the iconic pink M&S coat that was brought out this A/W but I never thought the cut and style suited me, until I walked into Zara and spotted this beauty hanging on a rail. It's super cosy and a lovely jacket to brighten up your outfit if you're an all black gal like me. 

And to round it all up here are a few photos I took to capture the warm Christmassy night we had.

I'm now off to get ready to demolish yet another full turkey dinner at my grandparents, wish both my waistline and me luck! 

Thanks for reading,

Ciara xx

Christmas Gift Guide 2013

Hello lovelies!

So it's that time of year again when time seems to be going by too quickly, Christmas is just around the corner and you still haven't bought one present! I absolutely love love love buying presents for people so naturally I have most of my shopping finished but I thought I'd put together a quick last minute gift guide to give you some ideas and make fighting the Christmas crowds that little bit less stressful.

For the Girls

I'll start with the easiest person to buy for, your sister, girlfriend, aunt, cousin and any other female friends. With most girls you can pretty much hit the mark with something cute and pretty think Cath Kidston and scented candles.

Floral Wash Bag www.cathkidston.com



If you're in the mood to spoil someone...www.prada.com

Chloé by Chloé is a gorgeous scent that's rich and light at the same time. I'm so bad at describing scents but it's definitely not sweet or floral and makes for a safe purchase. I'd recommend giving it a sniff yourself to see if it seems like the kind your girl would wear.


If your 'giftee' has a Pandora charm bracelet then this cute little reindeer is a beautiful idea. This is just one of my favourites but Pandora have plenty of Christmas themed charms to choose from.



A sparkly top during the Christmas period can never go amiss and this one is from www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk.



'IT' -Alexa Chung



So many makeup brands are bringing out festive holiday gift sets, this one here's from MAC.



These two tech accessories are from www.asos.com. 

For the Boys

If you've got the money to spend Beats by Dre are a great surprise for a music lover, and if he isn't a fan of the over-the-ear option why not opt for speakers or ear-buds. 

DIY Robot Speaker from ASOS. www.asos.com

Christmas Tree cuff-links from www.amazon.co.uk.

Apparently SuperDry is a safe store to buy for your guy for casual wear. www.superdry.com

Shirt from Abercrombie & Fitch. www.abercrombie.com 

Hip Flask from www.riverisland.com.

A Christmas Jumper! www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

 Why not give your guy a scent you secretly love..

For Mothers and Grandmothers

Scented candles from Jo Malone www.jomalone.com

I've heard great things about the Laura Mercier Body Soufflé collection and this sample of the four main scents in lovely glass jars is a perfect tester gift. www.lauramercier.com

Along with the best french toast and sausages ever Avoca do beautiful mohair and cashmere blend throws that are still woven in their mill in the village of Avoca. www.avoca.ie

The Prevage line from Elizabeth Arden has gotten some seriously great reviews and while pricey, it's said to be worth every penny. www.elizabetharden.com

I don't know about you but my Nanna loves a nice brooch and this Grace Kelly inspired one from Newbridge Silverware is beautiful. www.newbridgesilverware.com They also do great Christmas baubles.

For Dads and Grandpas 

Ok, I find getting the right gift for your old man is the hardest quest of all during the holiday season never mind finding your Christmas Day outfit! 

 

These two books are a must for dads who somehow manage to burn toast.

A good quality, warm and cosy jumper is always an option. www.tommy.com

 

If he's into golfing or sport why not get him some lightweight and comfortable gear? www.store.nike.com

Ted Baker Wallet Set. www.tedbaker.com  

Merino Cashmere Tartan Scarf. www.barbour.com

 

A few years ago I got my dad the Only Fools and Horses box set and he really enjoyed it. It's nice to have something to sit down together as a family to and watch.

Right well these are just a few of my recommendations if you're doing some last minute Christmas shopping, hopefully this guide came in helpful!

Thanks for reading,

Ciara xx

My Favourites: Pre-Fall Collections 2014

Hello my lovelies!

With the wind and the rain currently blowing the house away, flower pots and all, I thought I'd do a review of the latest Pre-Fall collections to warm up our shivering bodies. Because of college and life problems in general I haven't been able to keep up to date in the fashion loop recently so these collections are completely new to me and I can't wait to pick up on some new AW trends for next year!

I'll open this post with Burberry Prorsum and their richly coloured and textured collection. Print inspirations taken from London A-Z, the Chrysler Building and Shanghai's World Financial Center Bailey 

created a worldly atmosphere and were complemented by romantic 

lace and seductive thigh splits. Again with the classic Burberry 

printed tee this collection oozed youth, elegantly flirtatious and 

effortlessly cool and I for one am dying to get my hands on every 

piece!









A clean slate. Simplicity and innocence. These were the thoughts that crossed my mind when I saw Calvin Klein Collection. A series of icy, stoney greys and a brief blip of softer pinks made for an effortlessly cool and chic aesthetic that also seemed very functional and comfortable with soft cottons and loosely draped floor length dresses. I tell you, as someone who hates sacrificing comfort for fashion this collection achieved a happy medium between the two.










I experienced a bit of déja-vu when I clicked onto view Chanel as I discovered yet another cowboy, western, barn yard themed setting similar to the Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection. However this year there was a strong focus on ultra-chic and stylish cowgirl vs Native American rather than the sweet western, Texas girl of 2010. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not the hugest fan of Chanel, not because Lagerfeld isn't a genius (hold your horses!) but because I find he caters more to the mature woman than to my own tastes. However with this 91 piece collection I was very pleasantly surprised, with bold colours, start shaped sequins, and waist fitted silhouettes the youthful energy of the Wild West was captured. 











So now we move from a setting in the past to Diane von Furstenberg where we are met with striking and energetic colours that just scream Diane. Taking inspiration from vibrant Venice and powerhouse New York von Furstenberg drew from the boldly coloured curves of romantic Murano glass and the chic, sophisticated lines of the New York skyline. This twosome resulted in gorgeously structured and yet fluid creations.








In Spring/Summer 2014 many critics said Erdem Moralioglu cut himself short by trying, unsuccessfully, to cut away from his ultra-

feminine roots. Yet, this collection Erdem was back in business 

doing what it does best, lace, florals and exquisite gowns, hitting 

the 

mark by clearly highlighting the slightly eerie, seductive tone to the 

pieces with dark sequins, and a conflict between feminine skirts 

and 

strict schoolgirl cuts. Femme-fatale meets sophistication all the 

way. 


 








Rebecca Taylor this year was minimalist and coldly youthful with pastel pinks and blue knits contrasted with straight line pleats and cool velvet cigarette pants.








On the complete flip-side Temperley London was all hard feminine romance and rich, glamorous tones with floor length gowns, lace, leather and texture.










So these were just a few of my favourites from the Pre-Fall 2014 collections this year and already I'm bursting to find out what's in store for use next season. Does anyone else think pony-hair and bold pop colours are going to follow us into next Autumn/Winter?

Thanks for reading,
Ciara xx

All photos sourced from www.style.com