Marcel’s Dublin The REVIEW: Cocktails and Dreams!

 

The Event: Marcel’s ‘Influencer Evening’ Mixology Masterclass in conjunction with BLOGGERCONF. #BestofMarcels

The Date: August 18th 2016
The Location: Marcel’s French Restaurant, Merrion Row, Dublin.

I adore the glamour the addition of a tray of cocktails brings to an evening, adding a certain ‘je nais se quoi‘, and serving as the ultimate conversation starter!

 

Labour of Love:

From inception, to sourcing fresh ingredients and the quality of alcohol used, right through to the often mind-blowing presentation, you have to admit – done right, cocktail making is an art form!

The vast crowd assembled to celebrate Marcel’s first anniversary on Merrion Row, Dublin, eagerly lapped up all the behind the scenes tid-bits on the art of cocktail making at this exclusive ‘Influencer‘ event!

Leading the evening’s festivities was Tomasz our bartender and mixology mastermind for the evening, a hospitable and friendly host who whipped up some divine concoctions, my faves being the pineapple and passion-fruit blends!

Marcel’s is part of the Mercantile Group also responsible for some of my favourite restaurants and bars such as uber stylish and renowned Pichet, Farrier and Draper, Opium and Cafe En Seine to name but a few.

{One of my faves of the evening was this pineapple and passion-fruit blend! I give you ‘La Passiona‘ complete with copper tankard…and we all know how much I love copper anything!}

The evening was a smashing success! An informative and incredibly fun learning experience – with some attendees even trying their hand in applying what we had learned!

The Pornstar Martini is a winner. Every. Time.

{Cheers to Marcel’s and their first Anniversary}

I highly recommend a trip to Marcel’s Dublin to sample their copious array of cocktails if you’re in Dublin visiting or just in town for a shopping trip or night out! It’s worth noting the food is also delicious.

Thanks to Marcels Dublin for the invitation to celebrate their First year Anniversary on Merrion Row, Dublin and to Buck and Hound PR and BLOGGERCONF also.

Thanks for stopping by guys! Until next time…

Gail. xx

Photography: © Gail O’Connor.

*Not sponsored.

 

REVIEW: Dental Care with REGENERATE NR5- Worth the Hype?!

Shine Bright Like a Diamond!

#RegenerateYourSmile

One of our best accessories is often the most ignored and taken for granted – our smile.

Our smile is often the first welcoming and friendly sign we give to people and the wider the better! First impressions count for a lot and especially so when working in the beauty industry and networking at events like Fashion Week

I attended the official re-launch of Regenerate products in Ireland in May and since June, I have been trialling *Regenerate Toothpaste with Nr5™ in a bid to undo some of the damage from enamel erosion as well as the damage I have done to the gum surrounding a tooth which has left the dentine surrounding it exposed. This particular dentine problem arose during an overly zealous tooth brushing session recently, much to the dismay of myself and my Dentist…who marvelled at the fact that I was being too clean with my brushing!

 

What is Tooth Enamel?

Tooth enamel is the outer coating of the tooth and despite it’s hardness it gets eroded daily by acid attacks from food and drink.

At the re-launch of Regenerate Enamel Science NR5™ Toothpaste guests were told how to spot if their tooth enamel is wearing thin, by checking the bottom of our teeth and examining if the bottom is becoming a little more transparent then the rest of our teeth. Most of us in attendance had signs of enamel erosion…

How Does Enamel Become Eroded?

Tooth enamel erosion frequently goes unnoticed and happens to everyone of all ages, making teeth increasingly vulnerable. It can occur from enamel exposure to acidic food and drinks such as carbonated drinks like lemonade, cola, vegetable juices and smoothies and fruit waters such as lemon water. It is best to consume these liquids through a straw to curtail the exposure of acid to the tooth enamel.

The Claims:

Regenerate Enamel Science NR5 builds up, essentially “regenerating” the enamel surrounding teeth and makes it stronger protecting against tooth decay and loss.
According to the team behind Regenerate Enamel Science “80% of common tooth problems are caused by enamel erosion and acid attacks“.

9 years of research inspired by bone repair technology have lead to the development of the exclusive and clinically proven NR5™ technology.

 

With every use active NR-5 ingredients combine to form a fresh supply of enamel minerals. These wrap and integrate onto teeth helping to regenerate enamel and reverse the erosion process helping to keep teeth strong and healthy.

It is the first system that can regenerate enamel mineral, with the same mineral that tooth enamel is made from, helping to regenerate enamel by restoring its mineral content and micro hardness .

The Review:

Like I said above, I had an overzealous tooth cleaning session rushing out the door one morning and brushed too hard resulting in a slight exposure of dentine to one of my teeth. I realised I had done something wrong when the incident took place however the soreness subsided after a day or two and I got on with things making a note to visit the dentist – noticing in the mirror that my gum looked a little more in an upward position to its usual appearance.

I went about the start of my day and headed out for my daily walk…(I add at this point, that this was in the middle of winter in frigid conditions). Mid-way through my walk and really pounding the pavement I began to breathe deeper through my mouth as I was feeling the workout – once I inhaled the icy cold air within it went directly to the area of sensitivity surrounding my tooth where the dentine had become exposed! I winced with the pain and thought “that’s weird!”. I hadn’t realised that it was the spot that had been sore whilst brushing a dew days before! I continued my walk but had to reduce the speed as the same thing kept happening with every breath – and similiar pain arising upon consumption of cold drinks or ice-cream.

Since using Regenerate Enamel Science NR5 religiously morning and night I have noticed a significant difference in the reduction of sensitivity particularly in the “exposed” area. I have also noticed significant whitening of my teeth has occured and that the tip of the bottom of some of my teeth, that were slightly transparent are less so now after prolonged use. I used a pea-sized amount daily morning and evening (before events and the like also) and the product lasted me about 3 months used in this way.

 Major Performance Points right there!

My Experience – from Performance Points to Pleasure of Use:

☆ Significant lessening of sensitivity to the area where dentine is exposed.
☆ Whitened teeth quickly
☆ Gentle formula – pleasing crystallised appearance, no burning sensation.
☆ Pleasant, mild yet effective minty taste and scent.
☆ Decent sized tube (considering the price) – lasted 3 months using pea-sized amount.

Worth the Money?

The Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆/☆

I would say that if I saw it on the shelf I would probably scoff at the price however having tried the product, I have experienced the benefits and having been to the re-launch I now have an understanding of the science and research that goes into this product to back up the immense claims.

I give it 4/5 stars only de-ducting points for the price point which may make it unattainable for some folk. Performance-wise I found it to be stellar.

Upon trialling, Regenerate Enamel NR5 is in my opinion, definitely worth the money if you suffer from any of the issues I have mentioned in this post and if it within your price point. It has definitely earned it’s four star rating!

Would I purchase again?

Definitely,  for the reasons above. The price would have me considering my budget with every purchase however as at €13.99 it is approximately double the price of other household names in toothpaste (which I can understand given the research), that claim to do something similiar…it is definitely a results based, considered purchase!

There is also a Regenerate Enamel Science NR5 Boosting Serum Kit™ that you can use alongside the toothpaste for double the performance, however I wanted to trial the toothpaste alone to see results from  its solo performance as a lot of people may decide to only opt for the toothpaste option in the Regenerate Enamel Science family!

The Boosting Serum rings in at €39.99 a considerable hike in price form the toothpaste but the claims are that it lasts three months, used once a week for three days with a heightend performance power through dual usage of products.

I hope to report back on the performance power of this product once I incorporate it into my routine.

{A close up of the crystallised appearance of Regenerate Enamel NR5 Toothpaste – I found the appearance very pleasing, coupled with the gentle whitening effect I felt the toothpaste really performed the way the scientists claimed it would.}

There you have it, thoroughly tried and tested – Regenerate Enamel Science NR5 toothpaste comes ‘GlamForce Approved and Recommended‘.

Thank yous go to Unilever Prestige and Avila Lipsett for the invitation to the incredible Regenerate event and Press Samples to trial.

Have any of you tried Regenerate Enamel Science NR5 Toothpaste? Do you think you will?Let me know!

Regenerate products are available in most Boots stores.

I hope you enjoyed this Review/Beauty Chat style post guys and thanks for stopping by!

Gail. Xx
Photography: © Gail O’Connor.
This post contains PR Samples marked with * however all thoughts and views are 100% my own as always!

Classic Summer Style Lookbook: The VACATION EDIT!

Reflective Style:

They say style is reflective of who you are and where you’re going, an extension of yourself and who you want to be.

For me, style can be mood dependant, I adore styling outfits and expressing how I want to present myself on any given day  – meaning boho vibes/preppy/edgy styles are plucked from my wardrobe on the daily. My own style is constantly evolving, however they’re are some style preferences that are innate to me such as All-American preppy, Hamptons-esque style with Spanish and French influences. 

I’ve also become known for my love of and consistent sporting of a leather jacket to add a touch of edginess to an outfit. Another style I have an affinity with is Boho/Beach/Festival style – I’m talking 70’s influences of “Almost Famous” Penny Lane style as well as maxi skirts and dresses, play-suits, denim skirts, kimonos, fringing, head crowns and head-chains.

I decided that whilst on holidays this year I would bite the bullet and get started on my style posts and after a bit of a blogging hiatus I’m back and refreshed!

I am often asked where I get my clothes from and how to style certain items of clothing and accessories for various events people have in their lives. I’ll be sharing my styling tips in my outfit posts so feel free to share my content with anyone who may benefit from it!

I hope you enjoy guys!

{Style shoot: Soaking up the rays and getting those poses down, on the steps of Russborough House.}

Giving the Cold Shoulder:

Cold shoulder, off the shoulder bardot – these are the styles of the summer when it comes to summer tops and tees and I for one am embracing it all!
Fun fact: In seventeenth century France reigning monarch King Louis XIV favoured the off the shoulder look with the décolleté exposed on the women in his court at Versailles – and it seems the feminine allure of this type of style is continuing to unfurl, having a bit of a renaissance centuries on.

These styles are all over the high-street this summer with some beauts in Zara, Primark, H&M and so many others!

The Outfit:

For my holidays I wanted to exude an “off-duty” preppy style which for me is a Hamptons-esque style – preppy, smart casual attire featuring lightweight materials that are easy to layer, the addition of a stylish hat to make outfits pop and to hide behind from the sun’s rays, comfy footwear for all of the exploring and an eye-catching, classic bag to hold all of my essentials.

These key pieces have become part of my summer capsule wardrobe and are staple pieces that work time and time again for many different occasions or excursions from running errands at the weekend to hanging out at a falconry!

{Getting up close and personal with some Birds of Prey with species such as: Snowy Owls and White Tailed Eagles to Falcons  after a wonderful in-depth tour of the falconry at Russborough.}

Classic Summer Capsule Wardrobe Pieces:

Top: Primark
Skinny Jeans: H&M
Shoes: Primark

The Accessories:

Bag: Fiorelli

Hat: Marks & Spencer

Sunglasses: Primark

Chain: Accessorize

Bracelet: Pandora

Midi-Rings: H&M

Tan is: B Bold Tan a must have accessory!

Tell me are you a fan of the cold shoulder trend? What are some of your favourite summer pieces?

Thanks for stopping by guys and I hope you enjoyed this style post as much as I had fun shooting it!

Gail. Xx

Photography: © Gail O’Connor.
Shot on location in Russborough House & Parkland.

#BLOGGERCONF ’15 – The Business of Blogging: IRELAND’S FIRST Dedicated Blogger Conference!

#BLOGGERCONF

Walking up to the main entrance of The salubrious Five *Marker Hotel on a chilly but glorious morning in Dublin my heart skipped a beat. I was overjoyed and slightly overwhelmed by the sense of achievement and just how far I have come in the blogging world – here I was walking into the biggest Blogger Conference Ireland has ever seen and I was featuring on a Showcase Panel.

I paused, casting my face upwards towards the winter sun, closed my eyes and let the feelings wash over me, settle and spurn me on to taking another step in my writing and blogging journey.

The Location: The Marker Hotel, Grand Canal, Dublin.

The Date: November 22nd 2015.

The Event: BLOGGERCONF

BLOGGERCONF is Ireland’s First dedicated Blogger Conference and has solidified itself as a credible, major player and hugely respected conference based on its reputation, incredible feedback and sell-out success on this, its ‘maiden voyage’.

Founded by stellar business woman Emma O’Farrell and welcoming all influencers in tech, business, blogging, social media and digital the conference gives Bloggers and Brands the chance to connect, network and engage in a relaxed environment.

BLOGGERCONF was held in conjunction with Life’s2Good and saw a host of other fabulous sponsors join us such as Canon, Rachel Dalton Communications, Fáilte Ireland, Evoke.ie, Deliveroo and The Marker Hotel.

Xposé also attended in the afternoon to cover the conference and interview some people, including Founder Emma O’Farrell.

Our MC for the event was the delightful and often hilarious James Butler, stylist and Fashion Ed at MFI Magazine and blogger at Jus de James.

The Line-up:

The line-up was phemomenal with not one but Two Showcase Q&A Panels –

○My panel Fashion /Beauty/Lifestyle and a
○Travel/Fitness/Food Panel.

○Presentations included: those from businesses and brands such as Rachel of Rachel Dalton Communications, Jenny Taafe from I-Zest Marketing, William Fry Solicitors and Blogger Anouska Proetta Brandon.
○Masterclasses came from Simeon Quarrie of Canon, Google and The Tweeting Goddess, Samntha Kelly.

{Meeting the lovely Anouska, fellow content creator – predominantly Instagram focused (for good reason, her Insta is gorge!) We had some fun after hours with Simeon Quarrie of Canon and Anouska loves my laugh…which I’m known for. What a compliment, thanks girlie!}

The hype surrounding the highly anticipated BLOGGERCONF was intense and it wasn’t long before #BLOGGERCONF was trending on Twitter!

My Q&A Showcase Panel:

The Showcase Panel I was on speaking on about Fashion/Beauty/Lifestyle took place in the morning and consisted of:
☆James Butler of Jus de James.
☆Sinead of Beauttruth.
☆Tara of TarMarz YouTube channel/blog.
☆Niamh Webb O’Rourke of LoveLife Blog.

Time to Shine:

I was the newbie blogger on the panel (I’m blogging 11 months) but the respect from my fellow bloggers on panel and in general has been amazing. To get such validation as an influencer and content creator to speak at such an event has been incredible and I truly appreciate it every day!
I’ve had a tremendous amount of positive feedback at and since, BLOGGERCONF regarding the fact that in a year I’ve gone from being an attendeè at a previous conference for bloggers, to being an Award Nominated Blogger and on the bill at Ireland’s First Dedicated Blogger Conference this year! I cannot fathom what an incredible achievement that is for me!

Just some of the positive feedback I got after panel: delegates and fellow bloggers approaching to congratulate me and say that:

○they loved my blog and style of writing, loved hearing about everything I’ve accomplished in this short amount of time and admired my attitude towards blogging.

○ They liked that I was included on panel with some high profile bloggers.
Delegates approached me and said they admired the fact that such an acclaimed conference had “acknowledged an up and coming blogger (such as myself) who is relatable and inspiring” to them – relatable in that I am in the process of building my blog and brand and that they were in the audience and thought, “that could be me, I could make something of my blog.”

I cannot tell you the impact these words had on me, only to say I was floored and quite emotional on the inside which I struggled to conceal.

It’s so lovely to meet people you don’t know/haven’t met before and hear they read your blog content, it is such a humbling experience!
To hear that your passion, dedication and actions inspire others has a powerful impact and will stay with me forever.

{Pictured: with fellow Panelist and Blogger James Butler. I’m wearing Penneys/Primark Soft Knit Embellished Sweater and Burgundy Suede Wedge Ankle Boots, River Island Faux Leather Snakeskin skinnies and jewels from Accessorize and Arnotts. Make-up is predominatly Urban Decay. I gotta get this ‘posing’ stuff down guys…people make it look so easy!}

Showcase Panel 2: Travel/Fitness/Food included Fitness Bloggers Sarah Murphy and Rob Lipsett and Food Blogger Niamh of Gourmet Grazing Blog whom I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time!

A networking lunch provided a fantastic opportunity for brands, businesses, industry related folk and bloggers to connect, complete with delicious food from The Marker Hotel, even catering for various food requirements!

Several brands had stands at the event allowing delegates to casually peruse their wares during intervals, such fabulous brands as Caravelle New York, Beutifi, So Fragrances, Declare, Connector.ie, MeeMaw Bags and Athlone Town Centre.

{Caravelle New York: I fell in love at BLOGGERCONF – with Caravelle New York and this Rose Gold beaut…}

{BEUTIFI.com stand were I was kindly gifted this Redken Shine Spray – love this stuff – thanks guys!}

{The Canon stand at BLOGGERCONF were I perused the best of the best camera equipment – every must have in a Blogger’s arsenal of tools! I have my eye of some nifty gadgets thanks to some YouTubers I watch, as well as Simeon Quarrie and Anouska!}

{Declare’s newest release their “Essential Eye Lifting Serum” was showcased at BLOGGERCONF!}

{A great selection of clutches and a beautiful “Dreamcatcher” chain, caught my eye at the Mee Maw stand at BLOGGERCONF.}

{So…? Fragrances – Sponsors of The Fashion/Beauty/Lifestyle Panel also had a stand, to the delight of delegates and were on hand to offer guidance on their new Couture Range of scents. I was lucky enough to attend the launch of The So…? Couture Range earlier this year!}

A truly fantastic event from the organisation, to speakers and masterclasses, to the panels and Q&A sessions, a chance to meet like minded people all with lunch and a jam-packed goody bag included!

If you attended BLOGGERCONF tell me I’d love to know!
Comment below or:
Tweet me: @DublinGail or Tag me on Instagram: @littlegforce leave a comment on the GlamForce blog by Gail O’Connor Facebook page!

Thank You Notes:

A massive thank you to organiser and founder of BLOGGERCONF Emma O’Farrell for believing in me and my abilities. I can’t thank you enough Emma and have loved being part of the BLOGGERCONF Family!
Also thank you to: Life’s 2 Good for being our headline sponsor.
Our Masterclass speakers Google, Simeon Quarrie of Canon and Samantha Kelly, The Tweeting Goddess.
All of our other phenomenal industry related speakers.
Thank you to So Fragrance for sponsoring the Beauty/Fashion/LifeStyle Showcase Panel.
All delegates who attended brands, businesses and bloggers for making it a truly memorable experience.

Thanks for stopping by guys!
I hope you enjoyed this post and are excited for BLOGGERCONF ’16 – I know I am!

Gail. Xx
Photography: All images © of Gail O’Connor, Nicolette Spelic Photography,
Patrick O’Leary Photography and
BLOGGERCONF.

Gift Guide: The HOLIDAY EDIT 1 – Christmas with Jo Malone London!

‘Tis the Season with Jo Malone!

Being a film lover, I adore the opportunity films bring to thoroughly immerse myself into the ebb and flow of their plot, character arcs, and the general atmosphere. I am transported. Transfixed. Soaking up the opportunity of escapism no matter what the genre…and especially so at Christmastime!

Some of my favourite Christmas films like Miracle on 34th Street (the 1994 version starring the late Richard Attenborough) or Serendipity (starring Kate Beckinsale), always have me envious of the (film version) department store experience – beautifully decorated, brimming with gorgeous gifts and offerings all beautifully wrapped in distinguished boxes immersed in quality tissue paper and tied up smartly with a bow usually in a block coloured or festive candy coloured ribbon.

Thankfully, I get my fix of the closest thing to this film version experience at Dublin’s Brown Thomas, the Irish home to Jo Malone London, complete with impeccably dressed and courteous, doormen!

Christmas with Jo Malone:

If you can’t treat yourself or a loved one to a little luxury at Christmas then when can you?!

Jo Malone is the epitomé of indulgence and luxury for me and a highly coveted item year round amongst us beauty lovers.

Ever Wanted to Try Jo Malone but Shied Away?
I’m here to tell you I think this time of year is the perfect chance!

One thing I particularly adore about Christmas is the generous gift sets available in the stores allowing us to try a new brand, re-discover an old fave or try a little something that has been out of our price range previously. The Joy!

These gift sets from Jo Malone will not disappoint with an astounding price point for such quality of offerings from a luxury brand, presented with finesse and wrapped in the signature Jo Malone box – even more excuse to indulgence in some opulence, like we need an excuse eh?!

‘Tis the Season with Jo Malone – and here are some highlights:

Have you tried anything from Jo Malone before? What are some of YOUR favourites?
Mine? I’m quite partial to the colognes in Pomegranate Noir, Blush Suede and Peony, Dark Amber and Ginger Lily, Velvet Rose and Oud and Wood Sage and Sea Salt. The candles are phenomenal too with a magnificent throw and a favourite for Christmastime is the Pine and Eucalyptus Limited Edition scent.

Jo Malone is available in-store and on-line at Brown Thomas Dublin and if visiting in-store, don’t forget to stop awhile and peer at the renowned and highly anticipated Christmas window displays at Brown Thomas, a nostalgic tradition of mine since childhood. 

Thank you as always for stopping by and for reading my blog guys! I hope you are starting to get into the spirit of the season! I know I am!
Until the next post, I’ll love ya & leave ya.

Gail.Xx

Photography: © Gail O’Connor.

*Not sponsored – I just love Brown Thomas and Jo Malone and wanted to share in a Gift Guide/for your info capacity!

My Happy Place – Being Happy with Life!

Mad World:

It’s a song title and something we say daily in this frantic, hectic, time is money, scheduled to the hilt world, we live in today.

For their ‘Mind Yourself’ campaign, Independent.ie asked me to discuss “my happy place” and I got to thinking: Where is MY Happy Place?

I am a firm believer in switching OFF.
Switching off my phone, computer, the tv, radio, even my thoughts. We are existing in a demanding and ever consuming world where we must be reachable at any given moment, during our personal “down time”, days off (what are those?), even the former out of bounds safe place, on board a plane!

I came to the conclusion that I instinctively knew my happy place but sometimes had to dig through a lot of “stuff” to locate it.

Tea: well tea just makes everything better!

The Nitty Gritty:

Getting down to it though, for me being a writer and blogger, meeting like-minded people and nurturing new friendships is a happy place. Being a writer and blogger can be a solitary lifestyle outside of the blogging community so it’s important for me to make time for friends and family also. The opportunities and relationships my blog has given also make me extremely happy. Doing something I cherish like writing makes me über happy.

Meeting fellow blogger & YouTuber, Estée LaLonde who I respect and admire, at Web Summit ( and making front page news with her in national newspaper The Irish Independant) – made me very happy!

My Happy Place?

From a young age I have always had a love affair with my place of birth, and with the possibilities of the open road. From happening upon crumbling ruins of a by-gone era to tiny villages steeped in Quaker roots, my parents instilled appreciation of my Irishness in me of nature, culture, heritage, history, tradition and pride.
A patriotic chord that is strummed not only by fleeting scenes of magic and merriment at Christmas-time on Dublin’s Grafton Street or summer’s spent by the sea but when I am in my happy place.

The ULTIMATE slice of Happy for me is:

Taking a long drive into the Irish countryside, discovering and re-discovering the organic beauty and hidden gems of solace and tranquility by foot or by car.
Untouched beauty abounds, where the flowers scent the air in spring, birds sing heartily in summer and nature’s paintbrush feverishly creates a final blaze of colour in the trees that creak and moan under their glorious burden in autumn – this is my happy place.

I find solace, a place to reflect even when in company and my surroundings are festooned with wonder engulfing me, seeming to stop time and easing the ebb and flow of life if only for a while.

When the birds aren’t singing, my heart is, as reflection gives way to inspiration and gratitude and I am awakened, refreshed, reinvigorated.

With my energies re-aligned a leisurely, country pub lunch is in order, the last piece to my happiness jig-saw. A warm greeting, the welcome glow of embers and the scent, sound and warmth of a crackling fire, topped off with good food and pleasant company – no matter what the season.

Life’s little pleasures…re-discovered in an afternoon by being present and in the moment, for life isn’t about the amount of breaths you take, it’s about the moments that take your breath away.

Tell me – what/where is your happy place? I would love to know!

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Thanks for stopping by and until next time – I’ll love ya & leave ya!

Gail. Xx
Photography: © Gail O’Connor.

Fashion on a Budget? LIDL Ireland Press Preview Autumn/Winter Collection 2015!

The Date: September 3rd 2015.

It’s September. It’s officially Autumn and with the weather conforming to said seasonal pull, I embraced the autumnal chill, layered up and headed to the Press Day for Lidl Ireland’s NEW AW Collection yesterday.

The Location:

The ultra trendy Dean Hotel Dublin.

The Collection:

With Lidl Ireland’s first ever fashion collection being a sell out success earlier this year, fashion lovers everywhere waited with baited breath for the inevitable launch of another critically acclaimed collection from the company for the upcoming A/W season. And boy did they deliver!

What to expect?

Autumn/Winter fashion always gets the fashionista in me über excited for the coming season, because let’s face it, new boots, coats, gloves, scarves and cosy knits – living in Ireland it’s these seasonal pieces we get the most wear out of!

I adore layering pieces and key, classic, separates that never go out of style. Items that can be recycled plenty of times, always remaining event appropriate and easily transitioned from a day to night ensemblé.

Luckily Lidl Ireland’s new AW2015 Esmara Collection has plenty of wearable and affordable AW trends to choose from…and lust over!

The First Range from the Collection: ‘See You In Berlin‘ encompasses hues such as burgundy, olive green, rust and khaki with print such as Aztec, leopard and hounds-tooth featuring heavily. The collection features budget friendly pieces that pack a style punch! What more could one want?

Some of my TOP picks that I’ve got my eye on!

Faux leather, bomber and waterfall jackets, parkas, 70’s inspired pieces such as Kimonos, romantic Victoriana style blouses, denim and leather look jeggings, cosy jumper dresses, Chelsea boots…there’s something for everyone’s style taste.

Accessories:

From boots to bags and scarves, Lidl has some amazingly affordable and fashionable pieces you could easily update your winter wardrobe with!

Plaid Scarves: One in every colour please!

Something for the kids: Adorable clothing for the little ones in your life!

The gorgeous, candlelit surroundings of the Blue Room in the Dean Hotel, Dublin.

Quick outfit snap by the photographer!

Cheers to the new A/W Esmara Collection!

Tell me guys, has anything in the collection taken your fancy? If so leave a comment below, Tweet me: @DublinGail or tag me on Instagram: @littlegforce I love hearing from you!

The Esmara Collection is rolling out from now until December so keep an eye out in-store for your favourite pieces!

A big thank you to the Lidl Ireland Team for the invitation and to Corina Gaffey for talking us through the collection.

As always thanks for stopping by and reading my content everyone!

Gail. Xx

Photography: © Gail O’Connor.

FASHION IN DUBLIN: The Launch of Dublin Fashion Festival 2015! #DublinFashion

The Date:
Wednesday 12th July 2015:

The Location:
City Hall, Dublin.

A host of fashion’s finest gathered on a beautiful, balmy summer’s eve at City Hall to celebrate the Official Launch of Dublin Fashion Festival 2015. From high street to Irish Design, we were treated to a show-stopping array of fashion to feast our eyes upon! Truly an event not to be missed and I was delighted to be in attendance.

The Fashion Festival will run from the 7th-13th September 2015 – a full week this year!

City Hall itself is a fine example of Georgian architecture standing tall in the heart of Dublin, with palatial grandeur and stunning design and artistry, from floor to ceiling. I am an avid admirer of this type of architecture having been brought up from a young age to appreciate the architectural prowess involved in it’s structure and indeed its place in Irish history.

The Event:

Upon arrival I got some quick snaps, before mingling. I opted for a classic outfit choice one which I deem chic enough for such an event, yet I was comfortable in – always wear what you’re confident in ladies! I wore head to toe Dunnes Stores and Penneys.

The Face of the Dublin Fashion Festival was revealed and is none other than the lovely Pippa O’Connor-Ormond!

The entrance hall was bustling upon arrival with an array of faces from the world of fashion.

Moving into the main hall it was a bustling hub of activity with a heightened sense of anticipation and excitement in the air! I mingled and met some lovely people who I’d only “known” on-line. It’s always refreshing to actually meet face to face!

Emma O’Farrell was covering the event for Outfit Connector.

Image courtesy of Emma O’Farrell.

CEO of Dublin Town Richard Guiney was first up to speak with a welcoming speech and introduction to the concept of DFF.

Next up was Clyde Carroll who is the front man for Dublin Fashion Festival. Clyde spoke of the aim of DFF:

We aim to bring people back into the city to shop and socialise again. – Clyde Carroll

Clyde also humbly thanked his team who pulled off such a huge undertaking and all of the sponsors of the festival.

Last but by no means least was The Face of the festival herself, Pippa O’Connor – Ormond. Dressed in a chic jumpsuit and killer heels (all courtesy of Arnotts, Dublin), Pippa spoke about her delight at being The Face of the Festival and how honoured she was to have been selected.

Pippa also reminisced about her childhood memories of shopping the streets of Dublin with her mother and that special feeling of sparkle she always felt, especially at Christmas-time, a memory that may have resonated with a lot of us who grew up shopping in Dublin at Christmas, I know it did with me!
The city for me, always took on a magical, fairytale-esque vibe to it at Christmas…and still does to this day. It is truly special.

The Show:

The fashion show was a dynamic and delightful whirlwind of: 70’s Glam, Boho Chic, feathers, sequins, capes, monochrome, chunky sky-high heels, leather and lace. Autumnal colours of burnt orange, mustard, plum, red and green were sprinkled throughout the collections, with various shades of white taking centre stage amongst some of the collections.

The silhouettes of each outfit blended seamlessly, beautifully showcasing the latest offerings from the high street to Irish Design.

Monochrome dress: Oasis.

Designers carried within such stores as Brown Thomas, BT2, St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Arnotts, Powerscourt Centre, Debenhams, the Ilac and Jervis Shopping Centres, were showcased, along with looks from high street favourites Penneys, River Island, and Dunnes Stores to name just a few!

KYMAÏA: If you’ve read my Emergence Exhibition Launch and Fashion Show post, you’ll have seen a preview of the stunning collection from the Kabira Allain – KYMAÏA label.

KYMAÏA: The Lily Dress and Cala Cape.

KYMAÏA: The Bryony Coat, Iris Top & Lila Black Leather Skirt.

Image courtesy of Emma O’Farrell.

Image courtesy of Emma O’Farrell.

Suit-ably Stylish!

Impeccable men’s suits featured strongly in the show including designers such as Louis Copeland.

This dress from Coast is stunning and is a standout look for me. The neutral colour scheme is sophisticated and the movement of the dress is über feminine, just look at that swish!

Canon who are one of the sponsors of the event, were on hand providing complimentary snaps to guests and being a lover of photography, I’m thrilled with my keepsake!

Upon leaving, guests were gifted with a goodie bag and invited to The Meeting House for drinks.

A big thank you goes to Clyde Carroll, Daniel Fortes, and all of the DFF and Dublin Town teams, Jules Fallon, Elevate PR, and everyone else involved in the production of this stellar event. I can’t wait for Fashion Week!

Check out my Twitter @DublinGail AND for EXCLUSIVE video content from the show: check out my Instagram @littlegforce and the GlamForce Blog by Gail O’Connor Facebook page. If you LIKE what I do, why not give me a follow or a LIKE whilst you’re over there!

I hope you enjoyed this post guys, thanks for stopping by!

Until next time, I’ll love ya & leave ya!

Gail. Xx

Images © Gail O’Connor.
Thanks to Emma O’Farrell for permission to use a few of her shots.
Dublin Fashion Festival Logo images via Dublin Fashion.
KYMAÏA pics via KYMAÏA FB page courtesy of DFF & Louise Rawlins.
Shout out to my photographer friend and fellow blogger Damien Broderick for our impromptu photo shoot!

Models: 1st Option Models.
Hair & Make-up: Toni & Guy
Food: San Lorenzos.
Drinks: The Meeting House.
Event sponsors: Evoke.ie, Canon, Luas, CityJet, Naked Coconut Water, Toni & Guy, 98FM and Dublin City Council.

Launch: Wet N Wild Surprise Summer Make-up Collection Party, Dublin!

May 20th saw LA make-up brand Wet N Wild turn up the heat in Dublin with their Summer Make-up Party which showcased their new Summer Collection and yours truly was lucky enough to be invited to this exclusive launch!

The event had a chilled “Japanese Garden” vibe to it, with Cherry Blossom trees scattered around the studio, complimented by touches of fun LA style, such as a Slushee machine, (how retro!) individual tables strewn with the latest products, full length mirror and an assortment of massive balloons!

The über talented, Emma O’Farrell was on hand and covered the event interviewing attendees, with video footage of the event, shot by Conor Lenehan.

The Location:

Bond Street Studios, Dublin.

The Guest-list: Press, Media and Bloggers.

The Event: 

#IrelandsBestKeptBeautySecret

Organised by the gorgeous gals of The Publicity Loft!

On the Decks:

Avila Lipsett impressed with her DJ-ing skills, seriously the set-list was on point and any DJ who plays Tinashe gets a digital fist bump from me!

Catching up with fellow bloggers Filomena Kaguako of Enhance What’s Yours blog & Nadine Stephens of The Parma Violet blog. I went for a pop of colour with a yellow neon clutch to compliment my monochrome, skinny jeans ensemble and nude, suede, espadrille wedges.

The Summer Collection includes new Primers, Mascaras and Foundations!

Fellow blogger, the gorgeous Nirina of Killer Fashion blog getting her makeup done.

A fully stocked Wet N Wild stand commanded our attention, luring and tempting our Beauty Blogger instincts with its vibrant, shiny, newness and astounding array of products.

Tables of cupcakes accompanied, make up and brochures of the new collection – the perfect, laid back vibe, allowing the attending “Beauty Pack” to peruse at their leisure!

There was a veritable wall of goodie bags. No really. A wall. So. Cool.

The new collection will be rolled out throughout the month of June (this month!), in pharmacies nationwide, Dunnes Stores and on wetandwildcosmeticsireland.com

Have any of you checked out the new collection? If so what are your faves? I’d love to know!

Thank you to The Publicity Loft for the invitation, as always, I truly appreciate it!

Thanks for stopping by guys!

Gail. xx
Photography by: Gail O’Connor.

Nirina’s Blog: here.
Filomena’s Blog: here.
Nadine’s Blog: here.