Girly night

"Every girl should use what Mother Nature gave her before Father Time takes it away." Dr Laurence J Peter

Pull and Bear Blue jumper-similar here

Urban Outfitter red skater skirt-similar here

Zara gold spike necklace-similar here

Alex and Ani bracelets

And so it begins. Today was my last day of selling for the next two months, deadline day, D-Day with a capital D.  The next time I will be selling is the middle of July. You know what that means, holiday time!!! First thing's first though, with light at the end of the tunnel, I looked in the mirror this morning and was like wooooo where did those sausages come from?? 

Everyone is the same if your life is busy then times get left to the side. Tonight I am having a girly night, catching up on myself, my washing, tidy the house, my favourite program's, ohh the excitement!!!  I also have to organise what to wear to a bloggers conference and I have 2 articles/ photo shoots to do for an American magazine and a London fashion website.  Can't wait! I hope everyone has a great weekend too!!! 

Jingle jangle

 

"Jewellery takes people's attention off your wrinkles" Sarah Phillips

 

Light H&M Denim Shirt

Striped Jumper Topshop-Similar here

Zara Navy Blazer

Navy Topshop Leigh skinny jeans

 

 

For a girl who used to get ready in 3mins flat as I was too lazy to get out of bed before quarter past 9 when I start work at half 9 & it takes 12mins to walk to work, the fact that I was out of bed was as amazing as when moses spread the red sea. Why you ask? I was lucky enough to be asked to attend the Argento Summer Catalogue shoot for a sneak peek at some of their gorgeous jewellery. A known favourite on the high street in the UK and Ireland showcasing the finest jewellery including Alex and Ani, Pandora, Pilgrim, Thomas Sabo and many more. All girls love a bit of sparkle and bling bling, as I type this I am jingle jangling with my Alex and Ani bracelets so an opportunity to have a trying on session with the up and coming pieces for the summer was worth getting out of bed for.

 

 

However, this smiling face is not someone you want to see early on a Tuesday morning when your eyes are still puffy and you feel groggy. The lovely girls from Argento had a brief for the shoot and simply put, it was to be as natural as possible. Promoting the products and helping to enhance them with laid-bare beauty, no fuss, no frills. Soft, simple but defined who better to compliment the jewellery that the gorgeous Naoise Tan. Now I have worked with Naoise before, (I actually did a catwalk with Naoise and 3 other girls were I was driving & I went to pick them up & all of them were wearing their school uniforms. God did I feel the mummy of the group.) A regular at BFW & face of BT2 in Dublin, not only is she gorgeous, lovely to talk to but she is smart. We had a quick catch up as she is trying to decide on degrees or to take a year out, medicine and law were mentioned. (Yesterday morning I had no hoover bags left so sat outside picking the dust out of the old one. The joys of picking a PR degree!!)

 

 

My main man, Mr Paddy McGurgan was doing the makeup. As natural as possible, Paddy focused mainly on the foundation as he wanted to reflect the light & having Naoise skin glowing. Hair was soft curls gently styled into place by the legendary Joe McGivern. The photos were being taken by the genius that is Khara Pringle.  Now less about the gorgeous model and more about the jewellery!!!

 

So here's a sneak peek of the jewellery for the morning part of the shoot.  All of Argento's own brands, gorgeous bracelets by Karma, Nakamol wrap bracelets, Dirty Ruby rings, I wanted to steal them all. I fell in love with this arrow ring (ignore my grubby five year old style dirty nails).  One of the girls on the shoot, Sarah then pointed out that she had designed it herself.  Imagine that feeling of seeing people wearing and loving your designs! Def going on my wishlist!

 

 

Below are photos from the afternoon shoot including jewellery brands like Alex and Ani, Hely designs, Antonio Ben Chimol and Nakamol. All of these are available in Argento stores and online.

 

 

 

Stacking bracelets is totally in this season.  Check out these gorgeous colours of aqua, silver and beige, perfect colours for coming into the mid season! I loved these wrap bracelets paired with Alex and Ani bracelets. To have a nosey at the full collections, check out Argento's website: Argento Website or keep an eye out for the Summer catalogue featuring the gorgeous Naoise. 

Copy Cat

"Switch my hair, they gon' copy her. Switch my gear, they gon' copy her. Look at how they stare, just a copier. Roger that. Did you copy that? Copycat." Nicki Minaj

Dress/top Urban Outfitters-similar here

River Island Khaki snood

Alex and Ani L bracelet & key to heart bracelet

They say that imitation is the first form of flattery, well I have an album devoted to that on my phone. Instead of buying magazine & going oh I want to buy that, I have photos on my phone & Ipad so I can go Oh I have something similar in my wardrobe, let me try that.  It is copying but for someone who wasn't very good at styling outfits, it's a stepping stone in the learning process.  I have noticed that I am getting better at thinking outside the box, trying looks that I never would have before & they have worked brilliantly.  

This is what I wore yesterday. A shirt, I haven't worn in about a century.  I sorta went through a phrase of buying these maternity style/painter style shirts for a while, I don't know why but I have a few. I used to wear them with leggings, don't know why I haven't worn that outfit in a while may try it soon.  Any who. It is a shirt but I wore it as a dress. I am not a slut, ( well debatable lol JOKES) I wore a black body con skirt underneath it, you cant quite see it but it is there! I copycated this outfit. Oh yeah, I am not afraid to admit it. 

The girl I copied it from it from is the gorgeous Ashley Madekwe. (That is the fit british girl from Revenge) Not only is she stunning, not only does she work on a hit tv show & gets to wear amazing clothes but she also does one of my favourite fashion blogs called Ring my bell 

The blog is great, she doesn't blog that often but when she does, I love it every time.  She wears normal people clothes like Topshop & Forever 21.  She also wears things twice so it is completely relatable to real life instead of so far out in the celebrity unattainable atmosphere. 

So this is the look I copied but then added the northern ireland twist to it aka its not LA so thus still cold & have to wear tights. I also wore a lovely snood that I got as a Christmas from my ex housemate Ciara who is now enjoying co-inhabitatint life with her ginger lover. So I wear this in memory of her. 

Tight one

"I wear women's leggings underneath my clothing with no underwear" Dennis Rodman

Asos Parka Jacket

Abercrombie & Fitch Scarf - Similar here

Primark Nude Knit - similar here

Zara White Shirt

Zara Navy Leggings

 

 

I have transported you back in time with my magic wand I got from the Harry Potter Studios.  This was what I wore yesterday.  Actually really loved this look when I put it together.  So as I have been doing for the last two weeks, Wednesday is now knowing as back to basics day not hump day.  Well I had a slightly hump day as in I was exhausted. Couldn't even lift my arm off the sofa to type so let's pretend today is still Wednesday. The basic I am going to blog ablout today on this fine Wednesday day is Leggings.

 

Let's get a debate going, do you think leggings are slowly going out of fashion? With the increasing number of crops tops and shorter tops in the shops this season does this mean that leggings shouldn't be worn?  Meh, I don't think so.  The rule of wearing leggings only with long tops I think really depends on the wearer.  The trend of disco pants and high waisted tight tight tight legging/trousers with a crop top (worn by a lot of the little kids that hang around Belfast city centre) is completely on trend as it screams 90's fashion.  I think for me at least leggings will always be basics because they are so simple and easy to wear.

 

My advice, get a good pair of thick leggings.  Not any of these bend over to pick something up and the leggings become see through so we can see your lovely bum bum leggings.  But 1 pair of thick high quality leggings will do you across your whole wardrobe.  These leggings that I am wearing are from Zara and available in all colours.  I have them in black as well.  I love them so much that I am wearing them today again. Boom, I have now transported you into the future/present day/ Thursday.

 

Benetton Vnecked top-Similar here

Brown High heeled boots River Island-Similar here

Alex and Ani Jewellery

 

 

It has got to be bad when you are blogging about your outfit and you can't remember where you actually got this top and then realise that you stole it from your mum years ago and still haven't given it back.  I think it is now classified as mine as I think I have had it for 7 years now, sorry mum!

 

Yesterday I had a lunchtime meeting with the lovely people from Alex and Ani, an American Jewellery company that have only launched over here in late 2012.  Each bracelet has it's own different meaning so that people can pick bracelets to suit their own personality and beliefs.  I love the indivuality of the bracelets and they even brought me some of my own to have! Wearing them today and I am jingle jangling everywhere. I can't wait to work with this company more in the future! They are great present ideas and are sold in all 12 argento stores across Northern Ireland so definately keep your eye out for them. That's something else that I love about doing this blog, being introduced to new brands!  Before I started this challenge I was stuck in a habit of going to the same shops over and over again as you can prob tell from my outfits, Zara, Asos, Topshop and that is it.  While now my eyes have been opened to different makes and brands that I never would have known about and I definately would buy! Bring on 2014!!!