Clothes Fight

"Fight club is about winning or losing." Narrator, Fight Club

 All saints Grey Tshirt

Green Maxi Skirt Primark-similar here
Office Nude wedge trainer

Last night was my fashion swap event in conjunction with Belfast Fashionweek and IKEA! Again a mad dash from work at 5pm to IKEA, my life at the minute is a mad dash! I have never even been to a fashion swap before, it was one of the original challenges I wanted to do when I started this blog so I was excited to experience my first one! What did I expect? Casual flicking through the rails, fighting on the restaurant floor of IKEA over a dress or simply sneaking off to have a nosey at IKEA furniture??

At 5.30pm, now granted the event didn't start to 6pm, there was a queue at door. Women standing on there tippy toes to see the rails, sneakily trying to peak at the other people's bags to see what they have and you could see the light in their eyes sparkle when they saw something they liked. I was scared to even go near one of the rails just in case I got tackled from behind!

Wine, chocolate nibbles, goodie bags with a gift from IKEA was all supplied for the attendees (I choose a goodie bag with some lovely smelly candles) And GO!! Clothes on the rail, women bustled bumping into each other trying to find something they liked and their size. As quickly as it started as quickly was it over. I didn't even get a chance to look at the rails! I was too busy chatting to people that by the time everything was gone! Fail for me but at the same time, I am so happy so many people turned up and got something for them!

I would definitely love to hold another fashion swap! Maybe in Autumn/winter season. I just like to give a special thanks to Belfast Fashionweek and The IKEA team especially Jane Williams for organizing the event! Great success!!

Backstage secrets

"I've been known to throw watermelons, backstage, at people who are giving me news I don't want to hear. But I never aim for the head." Tori Amos

Kigu Dragon

 

 

This was me on Saturday morning. What an outfit of the day, I think it is my favourite so far.  Sadly, my Fashion Swap in association with Ikea and Belfast Fashionweek got postponed due to the weather.  (It is now on Thursday the 28th of March but more on that later). So I curled up in my dragon for a while, caught up on blog posts and then meet my mum and little sister in town.  I think my mum feels sorry for me cause I can't buy anything.  I just follow her around as she tries stuff on and comment on things like a good little daughter should.  Though I must be honest, she bought me a shirt.  It was more to keep her happy than anything, every two seconds was can I buy you this? can i buy you this? How about this? NO MUM! I accepted the shirt gracefully though, just to keep her happy of course.  So that's a total of 3 items of clothing bought for me in 2013, 3 items of clothing in 3 months, 1 for each month.  I can't believe I have gone from buying nearly 3 pieces a week to getting given 3 items of clothing as presents in 3 months. Here is the shirt my mum got me, I know another one shirt but this ones has buttons!!

 

 

Zara White Shirt

 

 

After a lovely afternoon with my mum, it was off to the final night of BFW which I was starring in!  Backstage really felt like Belfast Fashionweek, everyone was buzzing and the atmosphere was hectic. Eleven female models, two male models, 9 children models and 9 hair models.  That's a lot of foundation, hair spray, pouting, posing and catwalking. Of course as I was backstage during the show I was unable to take photos of the gorgeous High street looks but here is a collection of backstage photos just for you lucky readers.

 

After the main catwalk show was the Andrew Mulvenna hair show.  Andrew wanted to take the audience on a journey through hair styles of the past, present and future.  There was 9 girls in total, 3 for past, 3 for present and 3 for future.  I was one of the future girls, channelling my inner super hero! My hair was backcombed, sprayed gold and extensions added.  I have never had extensions in my hair, my head felt so heavy!!!  I then had a mask painted on my face to complete the look.  As the hair show was more relaxed, we were able to have more fun with our poses on the catwalk.  I think there is a photo of me going around where I have arm in the air like supergirl about to fly off and save someone in need!

 

So that is it, Belfast Fashionweek over for another season! This has been a season to remember! Well done to all the BFW team, Andrew Mulvenna & his creative team, Paddy McGurgan and his make up team and the CMPR team for another great year!

Drum Roll..

"Everyday is a fashion show and the world is your runaway."

Oasis Striped dress- similar here

 

 

It's here! Oh yes peeps, it's Belfast Fashionweek this week! Not a great start to the next few days but I slept in this morning.  Damn you Kevin Bacon and your amazing twisted TV show! (The Following, is anyone else watching it?!? It's amazing!) Hence why my hair is up as I meant to wash it but didn't have time. Just something else to do when I make my mad dash home then wash, change, decide on what to wear and then off to Fashionweek!

 

To me, Fashionweek will always have a big part of my heart. As a model starting out in Northern Ireland many years ago (who is definately not catwalk skyscaper tall), it was always the unattainable wishful thinking that one day I wanted to grace the sparkly fashionweek catwalk and in my opinion if you did then, you had definately made it! Well in Northern Ireland at least! Now I am on my fourth season of gracing the catwalk, this time last year it was my bake on billboards across Belfast as the Face of Fashionweek and just to add a romantic element, I meet my now boyfriend Connor for the first time backstage last year at the High Street night as he was modelling as well.  (Granted I thought who is this twat with a cap on backwards and this white stringy top were you could practically see his nipples and it is always freezing backstage & I was wrapped up in a blanket/slash cardigan but it all worked out in the end!)

 

 

Me and my campaign for Belfast Fashionweek S/S12

 

So tonight is George at Asda! I was surprised when I first heard the line up that George at Asda were taking the catwalk for a full night but I am really looking forward to it! I always see things in magazines from George and think wow I love that so I will be interested to see how the BFW team style it.  George at Asda have shown before at Fashionweek as part of the High Street night. I wore a dress from their collection,  I think it was Circa A/W 2011 but it was one of the images that was used in all the Press.  It looked completely chic and designer! I remember everyone asking me where it was from and they were shocked by my reply. Just goes to show you!

The chic dress from George at Asda A/W 2011.

 

 

So what is to expect from tonight? Well all the models have had gorgeous Vita Liberata tans done, (my lovely housemate Jayne is strutting her stuff on the catwalk every night and she was glowing last night), my gorgeous boyfriend Connor is on the catwalk tonight as well, probably half naked (I will be posting a lot of photos. He's mine ladies but I am happy to share images for a perve.) I called into the venue there on my lunch to leave in a few bits & pieces for the goodies bags and the clothes look amazing! Really bright colours, fitting in with the neon trend perfectly! So all that needs to be done is to decide what the heck to wear to it????

Respite

"Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.” Maya Angelou

Zara coated trousers

Zara Denim shirt

Black Wedge Mary Janes - similar here

 

 

Aw rest, I am well rested after my weekend. I am sure your ears are well rested from my mad ramblings too! I took a few days off cause I know how mad this week will be! It's Belfast Fashionweek! Aw I'm excited! Excited for the amount of hairspray that will be used, excited for the new location and to be involved in every way possible - watching, hosting and even taking part on the catwalk!

 

As quiet as my weekend was meant to be, I still was able to have a little blip were I went "buck wild" as my boyfriends likes to call it.  Not what you think.  It is simply a group of girls going wild for a mutual friends birthday.  Miss Jenny Anne Curran, one of my best friends had her birthday on Saturday night (a bit nearly 2 weeks too early but aw well).  My handbag was filled to the brim with sweets as we gallivanted across Belfast from Cafe Vaudeville (special thanks to Miss Rachel Whittley, u sexy beast) and then on to Ollies.  Finally got to wear my yellow dress again and I didn't even wear a bra with it! Oh I'm so wild! No, I never would have gone out without the most padded bra in the world attached to me but lately my confidence has taken a little lift so I thought why not.

 

 

Asos Yellow pencil dress -similar here

 

 

I think I got anyway with it! What I lacked in boobs, I made up with my big hair.  My gorgeous friend Zara had a stunning dress on from local designer Una Rodden. Una designs fabulous off the peg dresses designed and tailored specially for you and your wants.  Her dresses are stunning! The dress that Zara wore looked amazing on her,  I took a photo but I really don't think it does it justice! It was a really deep purple but it has come out blue in the photo and Zara wouldn't stop dancing all night so she wouldn't stand still for a photo!

 

 

 

 

 

I had a quiet St. Paddy's day! I had to work a half day on Monday morning so I didn't want to have a mad one especially after Saturday night.  I just went home yesterday and tidied only after I finally was able to pull my head out of Fifty Shades.  I decided that I want to read it again after reading it in June last year and I haven't been able to put it down at all.  Last Thursday I said Ikea were coming but unfortunately one of the decorating team was sick so they are now coming tonight!  Yeah,  I didn't really know what to do.  I lay in bed staring at my room thinking should I tidy when they are just going to wreck the place then re tidy.  I sorta just straighted everything in my wardrobe and I came across these Mary Jane's that I completely forgot I had! They are the perfect work heel and I have never worn them to work! I can't wait to Ikea come and organise my wardrobe so I can finally see what I have!!!

Back in my day

"Hey, Welcome to the pier!" Random Hollister worker when you walk in to any hollister store

Topshop Fit & flare dress

Black loose Jumper Primark- similar here

Gold Chunky Necklace Topshop

 

 

One good thing about my wardrobe is the fact that I have so many basics.  I had never noticed it before as I used to always buy bits and pieces and be like "Uck this is always handy to have just incase."  I think I have maybe 20 string elastic tops in every colour thinkable from Benetton, just for layering.  Honestly, this is a very Gok Wan thing to say but if your wardrobe has the basics and a few exciting pieces then you can easily make hundreds of different outfits from only a couple pieces.  I love this basic grey topshop dress (got it in black as well!).  I have worn it so many times so many different ways! You will probably see it alot over the next year!  I love it with this black jumper which I haven't worn in a while and the chunky necklace which I have had for years but is completely on trend for this season.

 

My little sister Carla & I. Really wasn't that stylish when I was her age!

 

Tonight, my 15 year old sister, Carla and her two friends are coming up to Belfast tonight to stay at my flat as they are attending the one direction concert.  My head is going to be sore from listening to how amazeballs they are and how harry's hair is just so beautiful! Actually might be going myself so can't really slag them too much.  But is it just me or do kids these days have amazing style???  When I was Carla's age, I wore Tammy Girl.  Does anyone remember Tammy Girl???? It was the hip place to get all your clothes!

 

This was me as a teenager. Tammy girl top, NV string baggy trousers and Sketchers. Sexual

 

But actually where have these kids got there style from? I have a little cousin Siena and I absolutely love the way she dresses.  A couple of years ago she wore a maxi dress and denim jacket all from topshop when we were on holiday in Italy.  I think she was only 11/12 years old at the time and I went out the minute I was home and bought the whole outfit.  I definitely wasn't that cool when I was her age and  I borrow Carla's clothes all the time as well!  How have teenagers become so style conscious?? Is it the development of the Internet and the explosion of the celebrity culture?  I have no idea but I am looking everywhere for style ideas and a lot of my ideas are coming from people who are younger than me!! Surprised to say the least.

This is me wearing the Maxi Dress that I stole from seeing Siena wear it.

Ps.  Still snotty but starting to feel a bit better!

Sick & not in the cool way

“Being sick feels like you're wearing someone else's glasses”  Megan Boyle

Stills Mint Jumper

Topshop Navy Leigh Jeans

River Island brown boots

 

 

I am sick.  Not in the cool way that kids now a days say that they are hip & down with it.  I am generally sick.  There is a box of tissues beside me as I type this & a pile of used tissues in the bin already. ( And also beside my bed at home which I promise I will put in the bin before I collapse into bed.)  I am never sick.  I would say my immune system is one of the only things going for me but on this occasion it has failed.  My tissues are making me smile though as they have glitter on them.  You don't have to admit it to me but everyone does it but you know when you blow you nose & then you look at it?? Well I did that and I thought I was blowing out glitter but no, its just my fancy tissues.

 

 

I don't know how the big bloggers do it?? I mean they must get sick. But do they still upload 50 photos a day? I had to drag myself out of bed today and didn't think at all what I was putting on.  I literally grabbed the cosiest thing I owe that was clean and took a photo. (No make up as you can clearly see)  It also doesn't help that my eyes are very puffy today as well as my housemates and I went to see Safe Haven.  A good old romantic movie on a Tuesday night is a must when you feel this crap.  I even broke out my teddy bear that I used to sleep with every night when I was a kid because I needed that extra loving.  It is times like these that you really miss your mum to take care of you.  I have lived in my own place in Belfast since I was 18.  I think I only waited to the next day after my final A-level and then it was ok, mum I am away to stay in the flat in Belfast for a night out and I just never came back.

 

 

 

Here is a lovely sneak peek of the Ikea press shoots from yesterday! Casual lounging in a Pax wardrobe in Ikea wearing a gorgeous formal dress. (Def should have put tan on, I will just blame it on the sickness.)

Mrs Ikea

“You can’t be melancholy in fashion because people don’t respond to it.”  Isaac Mizrahi

Firetrap Coral Thread Jumper -similar here

Topshop navy Leigh Skinny Jeans

 

 

Standard lunchtime for me, quick scoot (all within the speed limit of course) across town to Ikea to shoot more photos for helping to promote the Fashion Swap event on the 23rd of March in conjunction with Belfast Fashionweek.  This time I got to wear a gorgeous dress from Ruedi Maguire! Ruedi, winner of In Magazine Breakthrough Designer of the year 2012, is one of the main up and coming fashion designers in Northern Ireland at the moment.  His gorgeous dresses have been worn by the who's whos's of Northern Irish elite to events across the province. You are able to spot his occasion wear or bridal wear a mile off on the catwalk.  I was lucky enough last week to get a sneak peak of his new Spring/Summer 2013 collection which will be coming to a catwalk near you soon! Ruedi has been kind enough to offer an fabulous prize of a bespoke dress as a raffle prize for the "make room for your life" Fashion swap event!  Even more reason to come to the event on the 23rd of March in the lovely Ikea restaurant from 11am to 2pm!

So casually sitting in a wardrobe getting pictures taken in a gorgeous canary yellow dress.  Yup, standard lunchtime for me at the minute.  I even got called Mrs Ikea by some random child.  I think cause I was wearing yellow & of course one of Ikea's main colour is yellow, not because I look Swedish.  Honoured to be called that actually.  Really just wanted to walk around Ikea wearing the dress pointing out my favourite furnishings to random customers.  "Buy this, I have it in my bathroom & it is wonderful!" If anyone from Ikea is reading this, is this a possibility????

Here is me in Ruedi's gorgeous dress.  I didn't have the breasts to fill it so that's why my arms are tight against my body.

 

Did everyone see my lovely new header??? A special thanks to Tony Webster (Big Bad Llama) Connor Kerr (Connor Kerr Hair) and Emma Mcconville (Emma Mcconville MUA) for their amazing skills.  Can't wait to see the video!!!

She's My Angel

"She's beautiful- just like, like an angel!" Bashful, Snow White

Green Day Dress Primark - similar here 

Asos Gold Studded belt - similar here 

Black Brogues Primark - similar here 

Black Benetton Boyfriend Blazer 

 So after creating a food baby with my housemates last night in the form of a Thai Chicken Curry, we decided to roll out the door to the first Miss Northern Ireland heat. The heat is always held in Cafe Vaudeville, a gorgeous bar and restaurant in Belfast city centre (they do the most amazing strawberry and apple martini!) and is always the best heat to go to. Honestly, you simply go to have a nosey at the new contestants, judge them on their dress, make up etc and try and guess who will win. For the girls who enter the Miss Belfast/Miss Cafe Vaudeville heat, I honestly think it is the hardest heat to get through to the final on as there is the highest number of applicants and it has the biggest crowd so it is very nerve wrecking.

Cafe Vaudeville's gorgeous ceiling

So off we went, 2 of my gorgeous housemates Ciara & Jayne, Connor and I. It was like we were Charlie's angels but instead Connor's angels. Now why would my boyfriend like to attend a Miss Northern Ireland heat you may ask? Cause he is a even bigger gossip than girl I know. All night he keep talking about what dresses he liked and who had the best hair, at one point I had to ask him who he was talking too as I had been talking to someone else & he just shrugged his shoulders & continued on. Men are most definitely from Mars.

I have been wanting to try a certain look for a while now. I saw a blogger on Instagram wear a similar outfit to Milan Fashionweek last year and I thought I would be brave and try it.

Now when I think of white, I think of warm summer days so the fact I decided to wear white trousers let alone a full white outfit was quite out there for me. It sorta almost has an angelic look to it which is totally not me! I had thought to wait to try it at Belfast Fashionweek at the end of March but I had no idea what else to wear and I was on a time limit of 30minutes to get ready so all white it was. And my bravery paid off!!!!

 Photo of Moi last night taken by the dashing Brendan Gallagher

At the heat I won Best Dressed! It was sponsored by the fabulous The Outlet, Banbridge (I love going to The Outlet, it has fab bargains and I always get my Calvin Klein underwear from it!!) The gorgeous and sneaky Eve Brannon, The Outlet's stylist presented me with a gorgeous Hot Diamonds Bracelet from Chapelle Jewellery (just another one of the amazing shops at The Outlet) after lying to me and telling me she wanted a photo with me as she was doing an article on winter whites. I was in shock, I never win anything! It just shows you that everybody has great items in their wardrobe and if you don't think you do then start from the basics like a great pair of skinnies or a white shirt & you can mix them up whenever you want to.

My Gorgeous prize from The Outlet

Once the shock of winning wore off and once I had stopped chatting to friends I haven't seen in ages about my blog, the night was nearly over! Congrats to the new Miss Belfast Stacey Webb and Miss Cafe Vaudeville Emma Ward! Well deserving winners, the girls looked gorgeous. I tried to chase them at the end of the night like a stalker to ask them where their dresses were from but they were too busy getting photos done. But I recongised Stacey's dress from stalking Asos and it's a gorgeous Lipsy one! Check it out here!   The super hot babe Finola Guinnane, Miss Northern Ireland 2011 who is a good friend of mine looked out of this world as normal. She let it slip to me that her lovely dress was also Asos, Finola suits a bit of sparkles cause she's a diamond herself ;)

 Top Seven

What an exciting night! And on a school night for that matter! Thanks again to The Outlet for my gorgeous prize!! Just shows me that I am on the right path as I attended this heat last year and I couldn't have been further from best dressed if I tried. Last year I wore a navy long body con dress which went to below my knees, pearls and my hair up in a bun. I looked twice my age so it makes me even prouder of how much this challenge has caused me to change in a short period of time. And the prize was a gift so it was completely within the rules!!!!

 Left to Right: Finola Guinnane (Miss Northern Ireland 2009), Miss Cafe Vaudeville Emma Ward, Miss Belfast Stacey Webb and the current Miss Northern Ireland Tiffany Brien

Check out The Outlet for amazing offers all year round

Just incase you get the bug and want to enter Miss Northern Ireland, click here for the link!

Love is in the air

"We're all a little weird.  And life is a little weird.  And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness - and call it love - true love."  ~Robert Fulghum, True Love

Grey Blazer Urban Outfitters- similar here

Black Topshop Shirt

Zara Basic Grey trousers

Zara Necklace-similar here

Stills Ring

I have my 1st engagement in the family!  It's all my family can talk about, well on my mum's side.  On my dad's side, I am the oldest & ain't no ring on my finger yet! So my gorgeous cousin Andrea got engaged to her fiance Mick, (haha first time I have called him that) at Christmas.  It was no surprise really as they have been going out for years and my granny actually likes Mick better than some of her own grandchildren!  I don't think I have mentioned it before but my Mum's family is Italian.  I have spent every summer since I was a kid going over to the village where my family is from (It is inbetween Rome and Naples and is called San Andrea if you want to google map it.  I am a geography freak so it's what I would do) . I love it over there, granted sometimes we have no running water but it is beautiful.  This is where my cousin wants to get married.  I am super jealous, it has been a dream of ours, when we were little girls dreaming about our wedding day to get married in the village square, sun beaming down and lots of italian food on the way.

View from our balcony in Italy

So yes, I am getting distracted by white dresses and a beautiful sunny wedding day.  I have my cousin's engagement party down in dublin this weekend.  It is in a gorgeous new bar called The Bath House in sandymount and I have no idea what to wear.  What do you wear to an engagement party?!? I have never been to one!! I have just realised how old I am getting when my diary is fills up with engagement parties and weddings rather than cinema dates.  It's scary.  But yes, is it fancy? or it's a party with the potential to go to a nightclub afterwards so standard night out dress? I would love a new dress for it.  I hate to admit it but I would really love a new dress.  I think cause it's such a special occasion rather than just a random event.  I am purposely staying away from Asos.  But honesty, I have a load of dresses in my wardrobe I could wear to it that have only been worn once.  I have a gorgeous yellow/mustard coloured dress that would be perfectly on trend for the colours this season that I bought last summer that has been worn once.  Or a gorgeous red lace skater dress I bought for my Christmas party.  Or an alternative red peplum dress I bought as a back up for my Christmas party that hasn't been worn at all.  The list is truly endless...

This is my yellow dress that I wore bakc in August with my lovely housemates

This is the red lace skater dress that I am thinking of wearing too.

Promo Promo Promo

"Everybody know, I don't do promoting.  I don't ever have to promote nothing, that's the beauty of Lil Wayne" Lil Wayne

H&M navy star dress-similar here

Topshop grey cropped jumper

H&M Brown Belt

Unlike lil Wayne, I need to promote. I'm just a little country girl from the north coast of Northern Ireland trying to make a ripple in the big bad world of blogging. I'm sure people are sick of my Facebook being taking over by my self promoting!! Ah well!!  Be prepared for more!

No rest for the wicked! Straight from work home to video a little promo for my blog and also some lovely photos! For me, working in the fashion industry in Northern Ireland for the last 6 years with contacts in make up, hair, fashion stylists, fashion designers, fashion PR etc etc has really helped with the blog and of course I have my favourite people to work with.

One of the people to give me a boost when I started modelling was Connor Kerr. He is mad, he is loud, he is one of the campest, bluntest person I know but by god he is good at what he  does.  I am crap at hair, can't do anything with my hair apart from brush it which sometimes I don't even do that!!  (you have prob noticed from my photos, that my hair doesn't change from a day to day basis, well now you know the reason why)  But for some reason my hair hums when Mr Kerr touches it, it bends to his will and suddenly is absolutely fab.  I am usually left going, how the hell did he do that?!? We have worked on so many projects together and everytime the images have turned out fab.  Now Connor doesn't just do fashion shoot hairstyles, he runs a business with Emma McConville Mua (more on emma in a second) where for £40, they will do your hair and make up for a night out, special occasion, formal, whatever you want basically.  I went to them for my modelling agencies Christmas party to work their magic wands and I loved what they did! Got so many people asking who did my hair and make up that night!!

My hair and make up the night of the ACA Christmas party by Connor and Emma! 

Here are some of my favourite hair & make up by Connor and Emma on little old me!

It of course takes two to tango and Emma is the peanut butter to Connor's Jam! She trained at the Oonagh Bowman School of Make up and is amazing with a make up brush in her hand.  I literally came home from work yesterday, puffy eyes, scabby face, dry skin, I was so tired as well as I hadn't been feeling well and she worked her magic & I looked normal again! Emma is always my go to for all my make up enquires.  She always tells me to start with your eyes first so that you will end up with perfect make up each time.  She uses a whole range of products from Clinque to Urban Decay, Seanna, Collection 2000 and every time I love my make up.  Here are some behind the scenes photos from last night of Emma and Connor at work & me just standing there.

Now who is the master of these images and of my up and coming video appearance???  For this I actually got to work with someone I have never worked with before but have wanted to for ages! Tony Webster, director of the BigBad Llama is the new and up incoming photographer/videographer for Belfast.  His work ressembles Terry Richardson who I absolute love so I couldn't believe my luck when he agreed to work with me on this little promo session I wanted to do. I can't wait to see the video and I got a sneak peak this morning of a few bits and pieces and it is absolutely fab so look out for it!! Totes amazeballs!

Here is some contact info with direct links for all of these lovely folk I mentioned! They are definitely masters at what they do and highly recommend them to work with!

Connor Kerr : Connor Kerr Hair
Emma Mc Conville: Emma McConville Mua  
Tony Webster: Tony Webster, BigBad Ilama

Self building

"It takes half your life before you discover that life is a do-it-yourself project"  Napoleon Hill

 

Zara Leather Jumper 

Topshop Black cord Necklace 

River Island Black Skinnies 

Passion, that's what Ikea calls my relationship with clothes.  I call it an addiction to spend money and the need to always have something new but whatever trevor.  We have a slight difference of opinion.  We do however have the same opinion that my room is a mess.  Granted, I have my room and wardrobe as organised as physically possible for the amount of stuff I have.  My bras hang in my little walk in wardrobe, I have a scarf box, drawers for different items of clothing.  And yet I still find stuff with tags on it and find myself going "I don't remember buying this!"  My clothes are also spread over 5 rooms of my flat,  there's 3 coat racks at the front door with coats that I haven't worn, a shoe box in the living room and up in my store room, I have my formal dresses just in case I magically have to go to a formal anytime soon. (Still have my formal dress I wore at my AS level formal which was 7 years ago.....)

My 26 Bras, I think I wear about 5

 

You can actually spot a pair of jeans with tags still on them. Bought in summer 2012, still not worn.

So it was ironic when Ikea contacted me and said "Hey Laurina, would you like to make room for your life?!?" Why yes, Ikea I really really would.  More on this little development later.

Ikea and I are great friends, apart from when I am building their furniture and I smack my thumb with a hammer.  Then I call them a lot of not nice names but most of the time we are very good friends as my house is kitted out in their lovely furniture.  So it is with my pleasure that I am getting to host a Swap for Your Life event as part of the West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK on Saturday the 23rd of March in a stylishly designated area of their Belfast's customer restaurant.  

Ikea, Belfast Fashionweek and I are encouraging fashion followers to make room for their lives at home by organising their wardrobe before the lovely spring weather and gorgeous spring styles start to appear on the shop floors.  (Lucky for you guys, you can actually buy them :( I just have to lust after them... I am having a hard week this week.  I did nearly break, but I stayed strong!! It was my first trip to Zara since I started this so please forgive me).  Once you have organised your wardrobe, bring your previously loved garments to this event and you can swap them for a whole new array of findings!!!  Fashion swaps are a great idea as they fill your wardrobe full with new clothes without spending any money!!!  It was one of my first ideas when I started this blog for my challenges but I never expected it to be this big and in conjunction with Belfast Fashionweek or Ikea!!! I expected a couple of rails in my living room & a few of my friends but this is going to be amazing!!

So quick fire information on this magical event:

• Saturday 23rd of March during Belfast Fashionweek (More info on Fashionweek, www.belfastfashionweek.com)
• 11am to 2pm in the lovely Ikea restaurant
• Can drop off clothes before hand at FASHIONWEEK HQ, 3rd floor, Talbot Street, Belfast or at Ikea Belfast or bring them on the Saturday
• Clothes will be sorted into a traffic light system to ensure a fair trade and you are swapping like for like garments
• No garments then sorry you can not swap :(
• Oh! There will be a fabulous auction in aid of Diabetes UK, Ikea's designated charity for 2013 of a secret coveted item of clothing

So please do come!  It will be great fun!  I attended Ikea on Saturday past for the photo call so keep your ear to the ground and your eyes peeled for more information or just contact me! I am happy to answer any questions! 

It's like this was written just for me!