graveyards.

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Every summer during our return to Ireland, our extended family always makes it a point to visit our beloved Auntie Kitty, who is peacefully buried in the little town of Cahir, Tipperary. I took loads of photos of this remarkably beautiful place this summer, so I could look back and relive those divine, obligation-free summer days at my leisure.

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Somehow I can’t find the right words to describe what we actually do when we’re visiting Auntie Kitty, because for that one afternoon, the hustle and bustle of life seems to evaporate entirely, leaving us astounded and somewhat dazed at the tranquil environment encapsulating us. We pack a small picnic in Granny’s picnic basket, and we dine amidst the damp grass in the shade of willowy trees. Dappled shadows smother the ground on which we laze, and a clear river trickles down from the mountains beside us.

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I have the fondest memories of this beautiful place; frolicking for endless hours in the adjacent sun-drenched fields (Irish weather seems to cooperate with us when it comes to Auntie Kitty!) and tumbling around atop hay rolls. There’s no better feeling than letting go and being a child again, even just for a day.

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Auntie Kitty couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful resting place next to her brother, and the little tradition of us going to see her once a year is something I hope will never cease. I believe Auntie Kitty is still alive in all of our hearts; busying herself in the kitchen baking her signature delicacies, or perched in an armchair, knitting us our very own winter woollies. Her scone recipes have lived on in all our kitchens, and her legacy of faith and indescribable zest for life is well ingrained in all of us. As Dad says, "the cold weather was what kept Auntie Kitty alive for so long.”
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good foundations.

Apologies for the lack of creative titles on my blog lately, my talent at choosing post titles is limited to alternating wordplay and song lyrics. I really should learn how to make my blog more appealing.
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Anyway, I thought I'd do a post on beauty, seeing as I haven't done one in ages. When us girls stroll through beauty halls in department stores, we're all attracted to different things. Some girls go crazy for vibrant palettes of glittery eyeshadows, and others go weak at the knees for perfume in elegantly shaped bottles. For me, the mere sight of a neat line of bottles in different shades of "human skin" is enough to have me jumping up and down.
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I've always really loved my foundations. Although foundation is almost always associated with heavy, mask-like makeup and those chavs who smother that stuff on like there's no tomorrow, I think a good foundation with correct methods of application can completely transform even the most problematic skin into something more lightweight, flawless and radiant.

        Sources: here, here, here and here.


1. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation
This luscious, whipped concoction is an absolute delight. I wear this foundation everyday to school, and it has everything you need in a foundation: flawless coverage, easy application, a long-wear and a natural finish. I own about four different pots of this glorious stuff, and so should you.


2.Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer
To be honest, I've only ever used this once or twice from testers (which are a great way to try out different products without spending anything), and I love it! It's got a dense, glamorous coverage and it's packed with moisture you can feel. The pigments are really strong, so to me it's more of a thick liquid foundation than a moisturizer.


3. L'Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation
I love how versatile this product is. I've been able to wear this foundation to school as well as to a party; the coverage is super full, matte and even. I use my fingers, but you can use a wet makeup sponge applicator for a lush, glamorous coverage. I question how much skin can breathe when you're wearing this product, though.


4. Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation
I've never been a fan of loose powder/compact foundation, as I don't like that powdery dusty finish they both leave on your skin. However, this product is gorgeous for a light, natural look. The free kabuki brush that it comes with isn't great, so if you've got one, use a proper powder brush. 


What's your favourite foundation?

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tantalizingly temperley.

I first came across this brand in a place you'd least expect to see a delicate brand like Temperley featured in: Hello! Magazine. Yes, I am guilty of wasting away my glorious summer days with my face buried in "publications" that contain little more than pixelated graphics of overrated people. In fact, now that I think about it, Hello! Magazine is the entire opposite of everything Temperley stands for; it's loud and obnoxiously impersonal, whereas Temperley boasts more of an understated class.  

However there was a reason that Temperley's ladylike frocks found themselves sandwiched between pages of wasted adolescents and botoxed fifty-year-olds that comprise our "modern pop culture," and that reason was because the two newest style icons of our time have given the brand a Royal Stamp Of Approval; Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa Middleton.

While doing my occasional sift through the trends and shows on style.com (I know, what an amateur. Pssh.), I did a mental happy-dance when I saw the link to Temperley's Resort 2012 Collection. I am such a sucker for this brand; I can't get enough of the oh-so-Britishness of it all. The charming silhouettes and the beautiful fabrics are truly delightful, and the sumptuous aura that a Temperley dress exudes is priceless, as effortlessly demonstrated by Mrs. Middleton on more than one occasion.

Temperley's Resort collection was just what I expected of a well-established, borderline-snooty British brand. Almost a little too classy, with a perfect pinch of sassiness and a smidgen of sex. However, modesty is never sacrificed for sex appeal in the house of Temperley; plunging necklines are met with floor skimming skirts, and those flirty minidresses always manage to conceal the "upper assets," even if only with a translucent film of lace.

  Even though these two fantastically compiled moodboards (below) are totally irrelevant to Resort 2012, I thought it was cool that they were published on Temperley's website and I definitely thought they were worth posting. After a quick browse through the A/W11 collection that these moodboards were made for, I marveled at the unusual, extraordinary interpretations of the designers which were evident in the collection. It was definitely interesting to see exactly what they drew their inspiration from and what they came up with as an end product in relation to this simple stimulus.

        Moodboards for Temperley's A/W collection, as shown here.

        Sources: Glamazon Diaries, Glamour, Criminal Mindss and South Molton Style.

What do you think of Temperley and Kate Middleton's style?

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a little mcqueen for thought.

“Alexander’s vision of fashion relentlessly questioned the requisites of clothing.”

Alexander McQueen couldn’t be a better representative of how I feel towards fashion. He designs with favor to his highly developed visual palette, he doesn’t design for practicality. He doesn’t design to appeal to the mediocre, he designs to fuel the extraordinary. He doesn’t design for money, he designs to satisfy his immense craving for beauty. He is a perfect example of someone who truly can grasp and fulfill the meaning and purpose of fashion, a craft itself that many never hone.

Razor Clam Shell dress by Alexander McQueen – Voss, S/S 2001.

Take this beautiful, contoured dress for instance. It’s created using real razor clam shells found on a beach. How much simpler does it get than that? Lee didn’t use miles of rare, expensive fabrics. He utilized the beauty and gifts of Mother Nature, who was one of the many sources of inspiration for him, and who should be a huge inspiration to any designer. He created pieces that became legendary based on his miraculous artistic abilities, not on the material he used; and that is something that's truly commendable.

"I have always loved the mechanics of nature and to a greater or lesser extent my work is always informed by that."

Another thing that's so beautiful about McQueen's stunning work aesthetic is that he has such an open, free mind that draws inspiration from everything he sees. His perpetually wandering mind is what leads him to the production of his extraordinary creations, and that is evident through each and every season. This quote (above) really inspired me because I always assumed that designers only drew inspiration from significant occurrences such as wars, time periods, stereotypes and weather, to name a few. To know that one of Alexander McQueen's sources of inspiration is sitting on a telephone pole outside my window, basking in the morning Dublin sun is a confirmation that there are so many little fragments of beauty scattered around us which we don't notice; but all it takes is for us to slow down our lives a little and tilt our heads in the direction of the stars.

 One of my favorite parts of the exhibition was the section that featured pieces from “Highland Rape,” a Fall collection from 2006. (Also categorized as “Romantic Nationalism.”) I was captivated by this entire section, and the as the haunting tune of “God Save The Queen” whistled in my ears, I could almost feel the biting Scottish wind snaking down my spine. I loved the recurring, patriotic appearance of red plaid; I think it placed each outfit into context. Because the outfits were so vastly different from each other, the print was one of the only elements that anchored each ensemble to a clear, common ground and a shared identity.

I remember standing in the doorway to the gift shop at the end of the exhibition, refusing to step out of Savage Beauty in fear of never returning. I spent lots of time in the exhibition taking misspelt notes on my iPod Touch, trying to condense everything in those magical rooms into words. I took a few sneaky pictures and in turn, developed an unwritten suspicion with the security guards who patrolled the vast rooms. Even after all that, I didn’t know how I could relive that hour I spent in there. As soon as I laid eyes on the Savage Beauty book, I knew I was willing to spend $45 on something that would help me relive my very own Alexander McQueen experience, over and over again. My perpetual concern of an overweight luggage kicked in, and I coolly brushed it off. This is Alexander McQueen we’re talking about, guys.

All Quotes taken from the Savage Beauty exhibition and the Savage Beauty book.

Images from the MetMuseum Blog, Google images, Style.com, and my own camera.

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