New Eyes

"The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." Marcel Proust

Jumper orginally from Primark -similar here

Asos Berry midi dress

You know that feeling when you are so busy that you look at the date and you are like how the heck did I get here???  I did that this morning.  13th of February,  how did it get to this date?  How did it all of a sudden become 2013? In my mind I am still lazing on the sofa on a Saturday afternoon in my pyjamas during summer 2012. I feel like I am constantly playing catch up.  Catch up with my blog, catch up wit my friends (in the sense of hey! I haven't seen you in ages, we need a catch up!) to catch up with my life.  The massive pile of dirty laundry in my utility room is calling my name.

I am loving doing the blog though. As I said when I started this I wanted to do a fashion/style blog for a while now.  I actually started one, posted up one post then my mind went completely blank.  Didn't know what else to write and I didn't have the confidence to post another one, I just assumed that no one rarely cared what I thought.  I still think this but I'm basically sticking my middle finger up to my nerves & going with the flow.  The no buying clothes for a year is basically a challenge for me but it was also a wee sneaky PR stunt to get your attention (I did PR at Uni so please excuse that naughty tactic).  I wanted people to read the blog and be like hey what is this crazy girl doing, then fall in love with it & empathise with it and hopefully come back to read it again and again.  Well that and my spending on clothes was getting a absolute joke.

I am re falling in love with my wardrobe and fashion in general.  I am dressing better than I ever have as I am taking the time to have a good look at what is in my wardrobe.  I am putting items together that haven't seen the light of days for ages and I am loving what I am doing and how I am feeling.  I am not promoting to anyone that you shouldn't buy clothes for a year, I mean you must be crazy to do that!! But I want to promote a smarter shopping world.  I was buying clothes for the sake of it.  I bought this gorgeous sequin top from Asos in September of last year (here it is if you want a nosey Asos sequin top), I loved it and snapped it up the minute that I saw it.  Now I still haven't worn it, please someone invite me to something where I can wear it!!!! All girls have said, OMG I have nothing to wear before a night out.  That translated is basically OMG, I have nothing new to wear.  But you don't need something new.  You just need new eyes.

My above photo,  if you are an avid follower of my blog, you might recognise that I wore this jumper last week?  It's ok, I won't judge if you don't pay that much attention to the photos and are like what is she talking about. However, it looks a completely different jumper with a dress than it does with a shirt and skinnies doesn't it? I hear your yes's through the computer screen. Thus, my point is proven and my work here is done.

Standard Friday Night

"The camera photographs what is there" Jack Nicholson

H&M black knit jumper

Tan Leather Skirt - similar here

Topshop necklace

So what did everyone do on their Friday evening? Normal day in my life, I had a half naked photoshoot with my boyfriend after work. Standard...not! Think more Calvin Klein-esqe rather than full blown porno! So why were we posing & making cringe worth yet fab images for? To help out out Northern Ireland's dream team of course!

First up, Mr Paddy McGurgan, the European Make up artist Champion 2012 has opened a Make Up Pro store on Belfast's Royal Avenue. He's trained with Mac, Stila and worked with stars from Mischa Barton, Yasmin Le Bon and me of course! HA! The new store close to the Belfast Telegraph offices provides professional make up applied by professional make up artists who have all been trained by Paddy. Trust me, I've had my make up done by Paddy and many of his angels & every single time I have loved it. From being bodied painted, commercial make-up, fashion make-up, wedding style make up, you name it, Paddy & his Angels are geniuses with a make up brush.

Here are a couple of examples, just to show you the high standard we are talking about:

Not only can you make appointments to be pampered but Paddy is selling make up and skincare brands that haven't been available in Northern Ireland before. Make-up studio, T. Le Clerc, Balance Me and embryolisse are to name a few. My star buy is this little beauty. Does everyone remember this photo of Kim K appearing on her twitter feed?

She looks like she is William Wallace about to go to war! But, actually, she is wearing a yellow primer & Paddy sells the actual one she uses!! It combats redness, brightens the skin and creates an even skintone for your make up to go on. I'm not joking, he used the powder under my eyes & my dark circles were gone! I think all the money I might save this year from not shopping will be spent in this shop!!

Here is the little beauty! It is by T.le Clerc & available in a powder or liquid form depending on your skin type and what you want to use it for.

To take these images all you have to do is climb the stairs to the studio above Paddy's shop & into the lair of the legendary photographer Khara Pringle. If you are a model in Northern Ireland & you get to shot with Khara, you know you have made it. Quirky & striking herself, you can instantly tell when an image has been shot by Khara. They are all stunning & striking! She can make any one look good. Khara makes you feel instantly relaxed & it always turn into a laugh. Honestly, I was nervous about this shot. Of course, I love being in front of the camera but posing all lovey dovey with you boyfriend can be harder than it looks! I felt awkward & angsty & as usual Connor was as cool as a cucumber! But the minute we were in front the camera, Khara made it easy & relaxed. We got some amazing shoots! Can't wait to see them in the Daily Mirror highligthening Khara & Paddy's amazing teamwork! Until then, here are some of my favourite shots Khara has done with me & other models in Northern Ireland.

Last but def not least is the gorgeous Rebecca McKinney, Personal stylist for Victoria Square. Victoria square is main shopping centre in Belfast. It has over 50 shops ranging from House of Fraser, Topshop, h&m, Guess, Hollister, Ted Baker and Cruise to name but a few. Imagine getting to shop, style photo shoots and dress clients in her gorgeous Personal styling booth for a job! She's a lucky girl but she knows her stuff!! Rebecca kept Connor's & my clothes to a casual, chic minimal. Nothing to distracting but the clothes really helped enhance the natural, everyday feel they wanted to get from these images. In one of the photos, I got to wear this outfit from Guess

Now if I was buying clothes this year, I would make a beeline for these nude skinnies! They were an amazing fit and so comfy for a skinny! But sigh, I'm not! Rebecca thinks I'm crazy for this challenge, understandable so. Especially when for £30, I could have a Personal Styling Package with Rebecca in her gorgeous booth & get discounts across Victoria Square to boot!

Well that's the dream team. It is always a joy to work with any of these professionals but together, it was a lot of fun. Don't laugh but here's a wee sneak peak of the images. Standard Friday night.....

For more information on Paddy visit www.paddymcgurganartist.com or call 028 9043 4007

For more information on Khara visit www.kharapringlephotographic.com or call 07979218456 or 028 9182 6000

For info on Rebecca & The Personal Stylist suite, please call 028 9032 2277 / 07850208442 or email ps@victoriasquare.com

The Rules

 "It's a new era in Fashion - there are no rules." Alexander McQueen

First weekend of my challenge & what do I do? Go into Belfast to have a nosy around the shops. Not the smartest decision in the world but I thought I could hold my head high, wander the shops & laugh at customers of Topshop while I, the recovering shopaholic counted the money I was saving.

This did not occur. I followed my boyfriend around the men's sections like a lost puppy. Not sure where to look or what to do, I decided to abandon ship & hightail it to shops where I could buy things. It would seem that Paperchase & Easons will be my saviours for the next year. I am determined to do this though following the good response I got from putting up the first blog post.

This idea popped into my head as so many of my brilliant schemes do on a lonely late night drive from my hometown of coleraine back to the sparkly lights of the big smoke aka Belfast. Let me set the scene. It was a couple of days after Xmas, my car was packed to the brim with suitcases & presents most of which were clothes. I knew I had no hangers left in my wardrobes, my walk in wardrobe was overflowing with shoes, bras, hats and handbags that were collecting dust & yet sitting beside me was a topshop bag with a lovely new pencil skirt, t-shirt & pumps.

Upon deciding that I could be on to something, I did the one thing girls always do in their time of need. Call their best friends to a meeting in Starbuck. Note to readers: Possible life changing debates should always be done with a cup of tea in hand.

Here are the rules we decided on that day & those I will be sticking to for the next year:

1. First & foremost: no buying clothes or accessories. Clothes include jackets, coats, t-shirts, shirts, trousers, jeans, bras, necklaces, shoes, bags. Basically anything in a clothes shop

2. I do however have 5 hall passes to use anytime throughout the year. As my friend pointed out, what if I get asked to meet the queen?? Or more likely get invited to a wedding? 1 hall pass for 1 item of clothing. I will of course try my best not to use them.

3. Borrowing & swapping is highly recommended! My mum & I r roughly the same size & we always swap clothes. It's a great way to put a new spin on your wardrobe!

4. No getting people to buy me clothes or slipping anyone money & hinting that I would like something. My nearest & dearest have been warned!!!

5. Gifting is ok. My birthday is in July & I've already told my mum she will be getting a suggestion list of clothes!

6. I actually work as a PA for a fashion agent in Belfast. Every 6 months my boss has a sample sale in which I can pick free clothes that I wear to work. There are usually slim pickings as they are 3 sizes too big for me but if there is any clothes that fit me, I am allowed to take them as I need them for work & they r free.

This is a pretty boring blog post but I wanted to get this one out of the way as it sets the boundaries of what the challenge is all about. For the next week, I am categorising my wardrobe, taking pictures & numbering the items so when I do start posting my outfits of the day, everyone will know that I haven't sneakily added random items of clothing anytime through out the year. Also, every month I hope to do a challenge like hosting a swap party, learning to knit or learning to DIY an outfit. I am also keeping a record of things I would have bought, just to have a rough estimation of how much I am potentially saving.

Pppphhhheeeewwwww, glad that is out of the way. Next blog post will be more entertaining I promise!!

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