For my final post before Christmas, I wanted to share my most festive and fabulous outfit to date. I'm not usually one to wear black, but when I laid eyes on this black & gold jacquard ballerina dress by Ted Baker, I knew it simple had to be mine.
To capture the magic of the look, Jay and I headed to the beautiful Great Fosters hotel in Virginia Water, where the luxurious tudor rooms provided the perfect setting. Starting with my favourite Tom Ford lipstick, of course, the makeup look was a glowing yet classic look, completed with my Hourglass Bronzer. My essentials were enclosed within this fabulous suede sphere bag by Reiss (currently in the sale, might I add!) which perfectly matches my black and gold sandals - a wardrobe staple which I purchased from Reiss two Winters ago.
Being petite, I'm often wary of midi length dresses, but something about this style seemed too perfect for it not to become an essential part of my wardrobe. It's elegant, classical and absolutely feminine.
Scroll down for more outfit details, and even a short video featuring this beautiful look!
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Photographed by Jay McLaughlin using the Olympus Pen and 45mm and 75mm Lens.
Have a magical Christmas, and i'll be back on the 27th!
At this time of year there is always a shift in my beauty department. The evenings are well and truly �drawn in�, the heating is on, and the cosy nights in call for a little bit of self indulgence which is why at this time of year I love to treat myself to some extra special products.
Makeup wise the shimmering shadows start to make an appearance, along with a splashing of deep burgundies from my eye palettes to my lipsticks. My favourite deep lipstick this Autumn has without a doubt been this one from Illamasqua. It�s a very intense shade and takes a little while to achieve the perfect application, but once it�s on, you�re good for the whole day with just a quick touch up here and there. As deep lip shades go, this one is incredibly wearable and seems to go with most day and evening looks.
Who says bold lips and a bold eye doesn�t work? Some days I create a striking look with eyeshadow, and other days I let my lashes do all the talking. I�ve recently re-discovered my YSL Babydoll mascara which really separates out the lashes with the stiff plastic wand but is also incredibly buildable. Three coats gives a real false lash effect and I even skip out the liner thanks to my lashes being ultra bold.
One product which is seriously special and very indulgent but I can�t resist at this time of year is my Tom Ford perfume. It�s pricey, yes, but this time of year calls for a little indulgence and for me this fragrance is worth every penny. With a deep musky oud which lingers for hours, it�s instantly recognisable and an absolute classic scent.
Finally, who said a bronzed complexion was just for summer? I like to prevent my skin from turning into a shade of milky grey during the colder months by treating my skin to some St Tropez at night. I love the facial oil with it�s skincare properties and luxurious texture which makes me look as though my skin has seen the sun even when the only warmth I�ve been experiencing recently is my hot water botte!
All of these treats add a little bit of self indulgence into my Autumn Winter routine- who says we can�t treat ourselves every now and then!
This post is in collaboration with Very but all views are my own!
There's something decidedly old school about Tom Ford makeup. Whether it's the luxe black and gold packaging which evokes thoughts of the couture ranges from the man himself, or the timeless colour range of the products which feels as though they were designed with me in mind. Perhaps that's the magic of Tom Ford beauty - it's luxurious, almost inaccessible, and yet you instantly feel as though you were meant to wear it. It's more pricey than other designer beauty ranges, so I just had to put the products to the test to let you know if they're worth the splurge!
I began with the mascara (applied to the left eye in the image above), which promises to transform lashes with optimal glamour and drama. I have small eyes, so rely on mascara to intensify my makeup look, and it has to be long lasting! I found the wand very easy to use, it's tapered and has a slight angle, and delivers plenty of the mascara to each lash, instantly adding length and volume in just a couple of strokes. The finished result is a dramatic yet delicate lash, and thankfully they lasted all day with no crumbling or smearing, surviving even my runny eyes on a chilly Autumn morning!
Before we continue, I must apologise for the airbrush effect that I've used for my skin in these photos! If you watch my vlogs you'll have heard me complaining about a strange reaction that I've been suffering from on my cheeks, and I didn't want this to detract from the makeup which I wanted to focus on, so I decided to just blur it out!
Back to the brows. I used the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in the shade Taupe. I'm not typically a fan of this type of brow pencil - a calligraphy type waxy pencil tip, I usually prefer a very thin pencil type brow product like the Anastasia Brow Wiz, but the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor changed my mind. Easy to apply and create natural looking shape and depth to the brows, I found the colour match incredibly natural, and even in the areas where my brows are very sparse, the Brow Sculptor added colour and definition in the most natural way. The packaging is stunning, and in the opposite end is a handy spoolie to neaten brows once you've finished shading, as well as a sharpener hidden inside.
- Deep Mink -
- So Vain -
Ah the lipsticks! This is where I truly feel that the beauty products were made with me in mind! Tom Ford beauty has all of my favourite lip shades covered, for an everyday but glamorous lip colour, the Deep mink and So Vain shades are amongst the most beautiful lip colours that I've ever tried. The colour payoff is gorgeous - an intense colour payoff with a surprisingly balmy soft texture. A natural shine but without being glossy is a nice change to my usual matte finish, and much more comfortable to wear now that the weather is getting cooler. At �38, they are most definitely a splurge for most of us, so these incredibly wearable shades are the ones that I'd be most tempted to splash out on - they are timeless classics which add a priceless elegant finish to even the simplest of makeup looks.
And finally, Lips & Boys. I mean, what a great name! They're hard to get your hands on, but with 50 shades to choose from it's worth searching for them because you're bound to fall in love with a shade or two! A personal favourite is this deep red, plum, autumnal shade named 'Wes'. It's fortunate that it's so tiny, perfect for popping in your clutch bag - as the lasting power is not fantastic. It's my only fault with this lipstick, and when you're used to matte lip products which don't need touching up for hours, it's more noticeable when wearing a glossier shade that needs frequent reapplication. The colours work well when you blot with tissue, and this helps with the lasting power without softening the colour.
Another beautiful shade which i'll be picking up more frequently when we reach spring time is Addison - a very girly pink shade but without the 'cheap' look that so many pale pinks can give. So often I avoid the girly shades, worried that they detract from an otherwise elegant makeup look, but Tom Ford have developed a shade that ticks all the boxes for a perfect pretty shade while still looking classic, and beautiful.
Also in the images above, is the Tom Ford Nail Polish in the shade Toasted Sugar. While I'm yet to apply it (never have I regretted my Shellac decision so much!) the shade is beyond beautiful, and destined to become my everyday colour.
Overall, a luxurious and beautiful range, from the packaging to the product inside. Tom Ford has encapsulated the exclusivity and desirability of his couture ranges in his beauty range and it's most definitely one to your 'must try' list!
These products were kindly sent to me for review purposes and so that I could share them with you! Find out more on my Disclaimer.
Have you tried Tom Ford beauty? Which products would you most like to discover?
