City Escape From Dublin: Burtown House & Kitchen Garden Farm.

Scenic country garden walks, delicious organic food, an on-site art gallery and ample opportunity for peace and tranquility, Burtown House has it all plus it’s only a stones throw from the capital.

Located 40 minutes outside of Dublin, in Athy – Burtown House is one of Kildare’s best kept secrets making it a worthy day trip from Dublin!

*Content is not sponsored.

It is rare to find one of these houses still in possession of the descendants of the family that built it. Burtown is one of those treasures, passed down through the generations and still very much a family home. – The Knight of Glin & James Peill: The Irish Country House.

What’s on Offer?

Spend the day and amble through the lush gardens, parklands and farmlands, enjoy exterior views of the Georgian House, visit the artisan food shop and retail area complete with gallery, dine in the organic Green Barn Restaurant or linger longer with a stay in the stunning stable yard accommodation!  The house is home to four generations of the Fennell family with the estate run by husband and wife duo James and Joanna Fennell.

Opening Times:

The house is an 18th century Georgian villa built by the Quakers in 1710. It is not open to the public however the garden area is (for a fee) as is the on-site restaurant The Green Barn.

TOP TIP: Upon eating at the restaurant, entry to the gardens is available at a reduced rate of  €5.00.

The gardens are typically open February – December.

Wednesday: 11-5.30pm

Thursday: 11-5.30pm

Friday: 11-8pm

Saturday: 11-8pm

Sunday: 11-6pm

Bank Holiday Mondays: 11-6pm

Directions:

Just 40 minutes from Dublin in Athy, Co. Kildare – see the Burtown House website for details or call them on: +353 59 8623865 or from Ireland: 01 8623865.

Foodie Notes:

The decor of The Green Barn Restaurant has an “indoor meets outdoor” vibe with a New England twist. Being a lover of New England and “Scandi” style decor, I felt right at home dining here. The structure’s interior decor is Scandinavian in nature, evident in the old Scandinavian Barn style appeal. Rustic textures combine with high beam ceilings and a wall of windows to bring a light and airy feel to the space, whilst the sage green colour palette, soft artificial light and differing wooden elements bring a rich cosiness and balance to the space, beckoning guests to linger longer.

What to Expect?

Farm to Fork: The freshest seasonal produce almost always direct from the organic country kitchen garden every morning. The menu changes regularly, reflecting what’s going on in the garden. Unpretentious, honest, cosy, home-style cooking is what to expect and what they do best at the Green Barn Restaurant – where their seasonal organic, garden produce is the star of the show.

{Garden Vegetable Risotto: with squash and chard topped with purple kale.}

I’m fussy with risotto.  I’ve had many a shoddy attempt delivered to my table in various establishments, limp and stodgy lacking in flavour…I could go on. This is NOT the case at The Green Barn Restaurant I’m happy to report! Authentic in texture creamy and oozing, full of flavour, packed with fresh country garden vegetables, yet light on the palette – this risotto was simply delectable and a must try if you visit. The Green Barn Restaurant recently achieved the enviable accolade of “County Winner” in the Restaurant Awards 2017 – a worthy winner in my book.

{Pictured: Snack–happy: Homemade plain scone & blackcurrant jam. Note: the detail of butter served on slate only adds to the rustic charm and vibe.}

{Pictured: post lunch view. Taking in the views of the ‘New Garden’ at Burtown House whilst enjoying the late summer sun. 》OUTFIT DETAILS – one of my most worn outfits! SHADES: Guess, JACKET: Penneys, NECK-PIECE: Manley, JEANS: Next, TOP & BAG: H&M, EARRINGS: Accessorize, WATCH: Caravelle New York, SHOES: River Island.}

A Country Kitchen Garden Affair:

The menu in The Green Barn Restaurant is of the ‘Farm to Fork‘ variety as mentioned. Having the unique dining pleasure of peering out upon the very garden from which the food on your plate derives from, is something special. From fresh kale and a variety of cabbages to onions, fresh herbs and old Victorian favourite borage (also known as starflower), the kitchen garden at Burtown House is a plethora of countryside goodness.

{Pictured: view from the restaurant onto the Kitchen Garden at Burtown House.}

{Pictured: an abundance of kale – not just for Halloween time anymore thankfully!}

{Pictured: coutryside scenes. A scarecrow keeps a watchful eye over the lettuce patch.}

{Borage: originally used in Victorian cooking is still in use to this day in the Burtown House kitchen.}

{Pictured: colourful cabbage patch.}

Country Days in Co. Kildare – The Picture Gallery:

{Pictured: Al Fresco dining on the patio at the Green Barn Restaurant.}

{Pictured: the gallery space in the retail area.}

{Pictured: End of a long day, boots are off.}

{Pictured: Wall of lavender, there’s nothing like the scent of lavender carried on the breeze…}

{Pictured: Signs of Autumn – apples primed for picking.}

Prolong your stay!

The Stable Yard House: situated in the courtyard garden area provides accommodation with a minimum two night stay required and is available to book directly or through Airbnb.

TOP TIP: Explore Kildare! Hop in the car and combine your stay with trips to Kildare Village for a spot of retail therapy as well as Newbridge Silverware Museum of Style Icons – named one of Ireland’s Top 5 Visitor Attractions by Failte Ireland, it houses numerous collections and artefacts relating to stars of the silver screen to modern day artists such as Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Kim Kardashian and Princess Diana.

{Pictured: Exterior view of The Stable Yard House guest accommodation at Burtown House.}

{Pictured: Guest accommodation – sun flares and a view through the flowers of the Stable Yard House accommodation at Burtown House.}

I’ll definitely be back to visit Burtown House – it’s my new favourite place! I’m thinking a mini Autumn stay-cation to sample the accommodation is in order. I simply have to try the feast of flatbreads (available Friday and Saturday evenings) as the scent of them wafting through the kitchen garden when we were leaving was uber enticing but alas, we had to get back on the road home. You can be sure I’ll be reporting back when I return for these experiences!

TOP TIP: I highly recommend adding this stunning location to your Autumn itinerary and if you do plan on visiting Burtown House, give yourself a few hours to ramble and explore in the luscious landscape and relax and enjoy the foodie delights.

Don’t forget to tell ’em I sent ya and let me know how you get on by leaving a comment below or catch me on my Social Media channels!  Tweet me: @DublinGail Instagram: @littlegforce or on Facebook: GlamForce Blog by Gail O’Connor.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time…

Gail. x

Photography: © Gail O’Connor.

DIPG Cancer in Children: Taking Time & the Grief Process.

Learning to take a step back and allowing yourself to process and feel.

You’re probably wondering where I’ve been the last couple months – I took some time and lessened my work load #MindYourself as I was feeling run down and lack-lustre when it came to a lot of things.

This is a bit of a more personal post for me to explain my absence from my blog and to highlight how taking time out can be a very good thing but it’s knowing when to and actually implementing said break that is what we need to not lose focus on.

Just before Christmas was a particularly stressful time for me (as it is for most) but I also had a feeling gnawing away at me that I couldn’t quite put my finger on…

Anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, nauseous, weepy, and just not feeling like my usual “Social Butterfly” self. A feeling very new to me. Then one day these feelings coupled with residual feelings of anger and loss, confusion and feelings of betrayal gave way to unadulterated grief.

Grief.

Grief for my precious 4 year old niece Molly whom I lost to a rare, aggressive, inoperable brain cancer, 2 years ago – her anniversary having just passed.

Grief that I had compartmentalized, pushed to the back of my head in order to finish college and bury my head in my newly established blog to get through each day.

Grief. That finally rose from the depths of my thoughts because it seemed “safe” to do so. I had been strong for others for the time needed. Now it was my turn to allow myself the time to process my feelings and thoughts on the tragedy and feel and embrace the torrent of emotions that were couped up.

Don’t get me wrong, throughout the two years since her passing I’ve allowed myself time to cry on my own, feel sad and lost to a certain extent…but again I hadn’t felt that rush of release from my grief that leads you on the road to complete acceptance.

I now feel I am continuing on my journey of acceptance and release and starting to be able to open up and share more as to what happened and what a joy Molly was!

{More needs to be done to research here in Ireland and indeed around the world in relation to this rare, aggressive and inoperable form of childhood cancer.}

I have a short poem about my niece that I wrote and I would like to share, entitled “Living Doll” because that’s what she was to me:

Living Doll:

Sparkling red hair, peaches and cream complexion

A tiny doll, so full of affection.

A mighty stance, even at four, a personality so fierce and hard to ignore.

A beacon of joy, the possibilities were endless, when the news broke we were left breathless.

My living doll now relieved of the pain, our loss – heaven’s gain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As always thanks for stopping by and thanks SO much for sticking with me through my absence. It’s much appreciated.

If you’re looking for me on my other Social Media channels you can find me on •Twitter: DublinGail  •Instagram: littlegforce •Snapchat: username DublinGail •Facebook: GlamForce Blog by Gail O‘Connor.

Gail. Xx

Imagery: © DIPG US Facebook page. .

*Not sponsored.

Special thanks go to all of the staff especially Molly’s care teams at Crumlin Children‘s Hospital, Temple Steet Hospital and Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice. I’d also like to thank the charity Aoibheann’s Pink Tie.

If you are ever wanting to donate to worthy charities and causes any of these hospitals and charities mentioned are worthy. I would highlight however that Laura Lynn is Ireland’s ONLY Children’s Hospice and is non-government funded and relies on charitable donations.

Spotlight on: Dublin Fashion – ‘& Other Stories’ SS17 Makes Landfall!

The Event:

It was a case of old world meets new at the ‘& Other Stories‘ Press Preview.

The Date: October 2016.

The Location:

Set in the uber historic surroundings of the hidden gem that is Marsh’s Library, Dublin the SS17 presentation from ‘& Other Stories‘ was right at home – nestled beautifully in a place filled with stories and legends of it’s own, perfectly in keeping with the brand ethos.

What’s to Come From & Other Stories Dublin?
Encompassing two Atelier collections & Other Stories delivers a nod to the style of Stockholm and Paris in its Atelier collections.

Paris Atelier:

Feminine and extravagant, this collection explores the decadent bourgeoisie. The look is flourishing in lavish details, rich colours and floral prints, reinventing the perception of French flair. – Philoméne Tellaroli, Accessories Designer, & Other Stories

Key elements of the collection: floral prints, embroideries and high collars – combined they deliver another chapter of boho escapism.

Stockholm Atelier:

Dress up or dress down your outfit this season with a pair of contradictory shoes. Mix casual with stiletto heels or dress down tailored pieces with soft, easy flats. Find and effortless look by playing with proportions and contrasts. – Nicole Johnson, Shoe Designer, & Other Stories

Key elements of the collection:

Shoulders are slightly dropped and waistlines are marked, punctuated with key details such as ribbons and belts that control the flow and shape of the garments.

Check out the gallery below for a closer look at some of the collections, snaps from the preview plus a look at some of my favourite picks from ‘& Other Stories‘ when it hits Grafton Street, Dublin before Christmas!

{Blacksheep Foods provided a delicious and uber healthy lunch – highly recommend this company for top notch grub!}

Maximialist Joy: the SS17 collection from the Paris Atelier features ultra feminine silhouettes highlighting an emphasis on bell sleeves and ruffles with a palette that dabbles in hues of red, blue, white and pink.

Renew Volumes: taking influence from the 1930’s, the Stockholm Atelier presents a strong and minimalistic approach to the SS17 collection and sets the stage for a contemporary silhouette with a nod to a relaxed yet chic approach to layering.

This collection places emphasises on a new approach to power dressing – a bold fresh take for the modern, working woman’s wardrobe. With the signature tailoring of & Other Stories the collection encompasses a palette of light blue, yellow, white, bright green and black.

The Accessories:

Sleek, modern ornate graphic design pieces and on-trend ultra stylish key pieces are at the heart of the accessories collection – a little bit of heaven for any wardrobe.

Decorative pieces such as brooches make an appearance alongside grandiose rings and earrings, mini bags and scarves worn as necklaces.

The Beauty of & Other Stories:

Not just offering apparel, ‘& Other Stories‘ has some seriously gorgeous beauty and makeup items as well as candles to decorate your chosen space.

The scents featured in the body care  and candle ranges are blended to perfection, unearthing some weird and wonderful treats for the senses, uniquely different pairings that somehow just work!

{My favourite scent – cannot wait to get my hands on this!}

{For the home: scent offerings from the candle collection, elegant and smell divine.}

{The colour payoff from this highlight is insane! See below for closer look…}

{Blinded by the light…stunning highlight offering from & Other Stories. #musthaves}

Are you excited for ‘& Other Stories’ to hit Dublin? Have you already experienced ‘& Other Stories’ abroad? If so, what are some of your must-haves?
Tell me!

Tweet me: @DublinGail Instagram: @littlegforce, Snapchat: DublinGail or comment below!

The official website is down for maintenance , meanwhile you can visit ‘& Other Stories’ on Tumbler , Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

Thank you: ‘& Other Stories’ and Balubas PR for having me in attendance.

Thanks for stopping by until next time…

Gail. Xx
Photography:© Gail O’Connor.

Liberty & Light with Alex & Ani – LIBERTY COPPER Collection. #CarryLight

New York State of Mind:

Renowned jewellery brand Alex and Ani launched their newest collection ‘Liberty Copper‘ last week and I was delighted to be invited to attend the launch of such an innately special collection.

The Location: The Kilkenny Shop, Nassau St. Dublin.
The Date: Thursday October 20th 2016.

If you love New York as much as I do then this collection is for you!

Featuring original copper from the centenial restoration project of the Statue of Liberty, Alex and Ani bought the copper to preserve and use in this extremely limited edition jewellery collection – essentially allowing consumers to acquire their very own piece of historic Lady Liberty…Genius. Within this collection is the Sterling Silver Collection and 14K Gold collection.

All pieces come complete with a certificate of authenticity also!

{Artist Dara Kenny: live drawing the NYC skyline in a graffiti mural style.}

The LIBERTY COPPER Collection:

Charged with the HOPE of millions…

The Statue of Liberty inspires all to believe in limitless opportunities.
The light of Lady Liberty is represented in the copper flame located in the disc of the collection. By wearing a piece form this collection it is hoped that by bearing her light we too can carry the light, ignite the light in others and create a light indivisible. #CarryLight

Prices are reasonable for such a special and historic collection starting at:
Carry Light Spoon ring and Carry Light Kindred Cord Bracelet both €49.00.

You can shop the collection below.

{Creating my tote bag courtesy of Damn Fine Print.}

The launch was buzzing with quintessential New York vibes from live mural drawing from Dara Kenny to the brilliant Bugle Babes belting out a jazz compilation.

Guests were invited to create their own tote bag courtesy of Damn Fine Print – featuring the New York skyline and Lady Liberty.

I adore the extra attention to detail these special touches bring, they add finesse to an event and allow guests to take home mementos continuing the experience at home.

The evening was festive with guests agreeing it felt like a kick start to dare I say it…Christmas!

This is an extremely limited collection – availability from The Kilkenny Shop and Arnotts Dublin. Best get your skates on if you intend to own a piece of the collection!
If you do pick up a piece let me know! Twitter: DublinGail – Instagram: @littlegforce – Snapchat: DublinGail

Social Pics: from IMAGE Magazine.

Thank you Alex and Ani and Hunter Communications for the invitation to such a special occasion.

Thanks for stopping by, until next time…

Peace – Love – Unity.

Gail. x

Photography: © Gail O’Connor.

Social Pics: © IMAGE Magazine.

*Not sponsored .

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!

DUBLIN FASHION: The 2016 #DublinFashion Festival Launch! #GalaxyStyle

Essence of Dublin:

The Event: The Launch of Dublin Fashion Festival

A humid, wet summer’s eve saw the annual launch of Dublin Fashion Festival take place in conjunction with Galaxy Ireland hosting Ireland’s finest fashion industry folk, assembled at the same time in the same place, to celebrate Dublin and it’s shopping and fashion offerings. The venue was packed to the rafters despite the dismal evening and I was delighted to be amongst those invited to celebrate!

The always uber dapper, Darren Kennedy was in attendance as this years ‘face‘ of Dublin Fashion Festival – the first time a male has been selected to represent the festival!

The Location: City Hall, Dublin
The Date: August 17th 2016.

The Outfit: I styled my outfit around this gorgeous cold shoulder kimomo – kindly gifted to me by Boohoo.com. I’m obsessed with it! I channelled my inner Penny Lane – Kate Hudson’s character in Almost Famous and went for a seventies style look (a huge trend right now), with a modern twist! I absolutely love this outfit choice and I felt stylish and comfortable – so important. 

Hat: Penneys (Primark)

*Kimono: gifted from Boohoo.com

Top & Arm Cuff: New Look

Bag: H&M

Jeans: H&M

Choker: River Island

Watch: Caravelle New York

Shoes: Korkys

Upon arrival guests were greeted at the door with a warm welcome and informed of various hubs within the venue such as the Galaxy Ireland #GalaxyStyle hangout, the Dyson Supersonic area and the West Coast Cooler bar!

The Galaxy Style Hangout Area: a welcome hub to relax in and chat whilst waiting for the event to start and afterwards to reflect on the show with some chocolate and West Coast Cooler. How swish and stylish is this set up? Just look at the seating!

There was just enough time before the show to allow guests to snap some pictures, mingle and catch up over a refreshing offering from West Coast Cooler – I opted to try the rosè (I’m usually an original WCC kinda girl!) with a blackberry and lime zest twist. Delish! I’ll definitely be trying this concoction at home!

Hanging out in the Galaxy Style Hub: Raising a glass to the Dublin Fashion Team, Galaxy Ireland and everyone else involved in the production of the festival – it’s a highlight event in my Fashion calendar year! 

The Show:

Overview: The show opened with an acoustic version of Royals by Lorde – sung busker-style, paying homage to scenes on the streets of Dublin such as Grafton Street. The room was still, only the flash of photographers could be heard, the audience were enthralled and models marched down the runway in unison to the beat of the music. The lyrics punctuated the air like exclamation points and with a roaring applause and change in pace of music, the show had well and truly begun!

Offerings from stores such as the Stephen’s Green Centre, Powerscourt Centre, Brown Thomas, Penneys (Primark), Dunnes Stores, and various other shops and boutiques around Dublin featured with bright jewel toned hues, coupled with gold hues as seen from the likes of Swamp Fashions, as well as winter white (always a fave!), mustard, burgundy and browns littering the runway – tulle, lace, fur and suede also made a striking and prolonged appearance.

Military style influences, sports luxe options as well as formal evening wear also showcased for the women as well as country gentleman chic in the form of various style of suit, for the gents from the likes of Magee and Louis Copeland amongst others in the Menswear section of the show. Lastly, as with every winter wardrobe the colour black was never far away!

A diverse mix of styles sashayed down the run-way from mid-length and long swish coats, high neck tops, pleated midi skirts, silk/lace camisoles, gladiator sandals, culotte style trousers, fur stoles, embellished garments, co-ords, skirts with slits, chokers and platform heeled sandals in a variety of heights featured in a showcase of AW16 styles available in a host of Dublin shops.

{Not the best quality photo but I just had to include it! Galaxy Ireland treated guests to a personalised bar of chocolate – how cool is that?! It’s so hard to track down anything with my name on it! #delira #loveit }

ABOUT: Dublin Fashion Festival takes place in conjunction with Galaxy Ireland #GalaxyStyle this year. It kicked off today and runs from September 5th-11th with a schedule jam-packed with events (most open to the public) including on-street catwalk shows, a fashion photography exhibition, Luas Style Spotters to name just a few!

Head on over to www.dff.ie for all the details on the upcoming festivities!

Tell me: have any of you seen any Dublin Fashion Festival activities on the streets of Dublin in previous years?

I cannot wait for a week of  fashion, fun and frolics! 

Thank you to Clyde Carroll and the Dublin Fashion/Dublin Town Team, Galaxy Ireland, West Coast Cooler Ireland, Sadhbh and team at Elevate PR, and finally Boohoo.com/Burrell PR for kindly gifting me the kimono piece.

Thanks for stopping by guys!

Gail. Xx
Photography: © Gail O’Connor
Twitter: @DublinGail
Instagram: @littlegforce

*Kimono is a gifted PR item.

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.

EXCLUSIVE: An Evening with Dior – A French Fragrance Journey!

Date with Dior: the heritage, the fragrance journey!

When Dior come to Dublin and are hosting an event you know you’re in for a treat. That said, when you’re a fragrance fanatic and you hear it’s a Dior Fragrance Event, in one of your favourite places in Dublin, you hot-tail it to the event pronto!

The Event: Dior Fragrance Event.

The Location: Residence Members Club, St.Stephen’s Green, Dublin.

The Date: Tuesday, April 12th 2016.

NEW in FASHION: The COS Collection of Style – SS16 Preview!

Longing for brighter, warmer, sunkissed Spring days? I’ve got just the remedy! Feast your eyes on the exquisite new season collection from COS.

The Event: the COS SS16 Press Preview.

The Date: 12th November 2015.

The Location: Kerlin Gallery, Anne’s Lane, Dublin.

Held in the beautiful and appropriately minimalistic surroundings of the Kerlin Gallery the collection became the art and breathed life into the stark canvas of the room.
The perfect vibe to accompany the Spring/Summer 16 showcase by COS, a brand known for its premium, minimalist chic approach to apparel at a high-street price point.

The Welcome:

A warm hug and the offer of a delicious Chai tea on arrival coming in from a damp and blustery day, was the beginning of a wonderful afternoon taking in all things COS at the COS Press Preview for their SS16 Collection. Delightful.

The Overview:

Celebrating Essentials and Reinterpreting Calm at COS This Season.

The Collection:

Women’s wear is treated to a theme of reduction and reinvention in a palette of blush, cream and sandstone hues. A pared back naturalistic approach to the collection sees the company highlighting an evident organic, effortless and functional appeal – sure to make this collection a stand-out for the pretty, practical and chic lovers amongst us!

Elegance simply abounds in this collection…

Organic Oragami Approach.

A stand-out piece for me was the pearl linen silk shirt, falling in folds that elegantly drape around the neckline.

Back to Basics: Nude Rules.

Sandstone hues take inspiration from the organic shapes of sand dunes seen in Renate Aller’s photographs and results in garments organiclly structured and delivered with a calming influence.

With a firm focus on a reduction in details, and the use of luxurious fabrics such as silk, the collection is simply stunning.
Neutrals in summer are always in style.

Raw Denim:

The collection sees denim celebrated for it’s functionality, desirability and simplicity. Denim is set to be a HUGE trend this SS16 and is layered throughout the collection right down to the accessories!

The Accessories:

Knotted leather sandals in grey or white.

Angular, metallic jewellery featuring details such as compressed, recycled denim adds another contemporary twist to the collection.

{I love this angular take on the jewellery, this piece in particular!}

Menswear:

Tailoring, fresh silhouettes, car coats and boat necks feature strongly in the Menswear Collection for summer.

The overall vibe to this press event was sheer elegance complimented by a chic and minimal approach to the presentation, perfectly complimenting the brand. I am looking forward to picking up a a couple of pieces from this collection and incorporating them seamlessly into my wardrobe capsule collection.

This was one of my favourite press events that I have attended. I cannot get over the overall attention to detail. From the presentation of the collection calmly and eloquently communicated by the PR representatives for the company, the aesthetics of the show place adding an almost ethereal feel to the event, to the welcome spread of a selection of teas and nibbles laid out, complimented with a seating area.

A calm, cool and chic presentation – to be honest I expect nothing less from COS.

The collection is rolling out in-store from February – so not long now to wait!

What are some of your favourites that stand out from the collection? Tweet me @DublinGail/Tag me on Instagram @littlegforce or leave your faves in the comments section below!

Thank you to Baluba for the invitation and the Kerlin Gallery.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!

Gail.Xx
Photography: © Gail O’Connor.