13 Nominations for Blog Awards Ireland - More to come exclusively on Lipstick Gossip!

My blog Lipstick Gossip has gotten 13 nominations for the Blog Awards Ireland. I found out this news just before I got the plane home from Ibiza and was so excited. I have just finished my time studying an Honours degree in Journalism and Visual Media in Griffith College Dublin and it is very heart warming to see that people like and support and most importantly are entertained by 'Lipstick Gossip' which I put a lot of work in to during my final year in College.

 I was nominated for Best beauty/fashion blog, Best blog of a Journalist, Best Newcomer blog, Best Health/Wellbeing blog, Best Popculture blog, Best music blog, Best blog post, Best personal blog, Best humour blog, Best news/current affairs blog, Best designed blog, Best mobile compatible blog and Best lifestyle blog - I am delighted and very grateful to those who enjoy the blog and keep coming back. I find it strange and surreal that it has over 40,000 reads.

Thank you for reading 'Lipstick Gossip'. It is a combination of fashion, beauty, journalism and much more. From working in radio and red carpet events, my love of fashion styling and beauty this blog has been used as a medium to showcase all the things that inspire me everyday and I have some very exciting content coming up in the next few weeks so please stay tuned! ;)

You can check out my lookbook.nu to see my latest outfit posts!

http://lookbook.nu/lipstickgossip

The blog is almost at it's first birthday. Looking back there has been some very exciting times and opportunities for me as a Journalist and a blogger.

You can listen to exclusive interviews with music artists @ the Strawberry Fest by clicking here

You can listen to interviews with a-list Hollywood stars from the Irish Film and Television Awards 2011 and 2012 by clicking here!

You can also find Lipstick Gossip on the RTE Fashion blogs aggregate so make sure to check it out.
http://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/fashion/blog/

I have joined the fashion.ie writing panel... very soon you can an exclusive photoshoot and radio interview I did with Supercreep mastermind Lizzie Fitzpatrick up on fashion.ie to mark the launch of her website and online shop. Fitzpatrick models the range alongside male model Michael Fleming. Lizzie explains to me what influences her process and looks the epitome of chic in her designs. 

Thanks again for all your support. Hopefully on September 8th there will be more good news from the Blog Awards Ireland!

Make sure to 'like' Lipstick Gossip on Facebook.

xo L

So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen!

In a few short hours I am going on a holiday to Ibiza. My suitcase is packed and the contents resemble a rainbow, I have the most random selection of clothes and heels, I am preened within an inch of my life and I am so excited I cannot sleep. Maybe I should get out more?

Today I did some pre-holiday prep - I pampered myself. I got my eyebrows waxed and tinted at 'The Brow Boutique' in Jervis. The staff were really nice and the result is that I have very shapely, darker and pronounced eyebrows framing my face. Which is what I wanted opposed to my usual blonde caterpillars. I had my eyelashes tinted black at 'Boston Belles' (also in the Jervis Centre) and I am very pleased with the result as it will help me go a little eau-natural on holidays as opposed to lashing on fifty layers of mascara. Plus as an added bonus, eyelash tinting seems to open your eyes more.

Between my eyebrow appointment in 'The Brow Boutique' and eyelash tint 'Boston Belles' I had some time to kill... So I decided to do something I thought I would never actually do, but that I had payed lip service to the prospect of - I had a fish pedicure in Coral bay Jervis..

I know what you are thinking. That fish pedicures are strange and squeamish and I will be honest the initial feeling was bizarre when I was submerged ankle- deep in a tank with little fish all around me. I will give you a full review and short video clip in a week when I get back from Ibiza. I made a video convinced that knowing my luck I would drop it in the tank and the carnivore fish would eat it!!!! Truth be told, my feet are like silk and they look rejuvenated (but I feel violated) It was well worth a try out though. I would recommend it at least once. It is morbidly fascinating. And I was happy the fish weren't piranhas or anything. Scary movies ruin so many experiences but not this one!! :)

Anyway I am going to go get some sleep! Try out the third floor of the Jervis Center - that is where I got all my treatments done today! So handy and affordable.

xo L

Pretty in Pink: My Mam's Wedding dress

I always enjoy looking back at my Mam and Dad's Wedding pictures because not only are they really lovely pictures, I adore seeing them together in the 1980's. I have a fascination that my Mam was daring enough to wear a pink dress and head band on her wedding day when it was very risqué to do so! But she looked fantastic.

I think because my Mam was both a nurse by day and Radio DJ by night she loved taking risks in terms of style and fashion. To this day my Mam is a donned in bright turquoises and florescent greens which complement her tanned pallor that only my eldest sister Jade luckily inherited. I love that Mam wore white lace fingerless gloves and white peep toe shoes teamed with her pink dress with a white lace overlay and glam lacy jacket to finish the bridal look. Her mother made her delicate matching bouquet. My Mam confided there was no way she would ever throw that to a crowd!

Pretty cute couple I think

My Dad looked dashing in his Louis Copeland suit with blue and white striped silk tie. What I love about the pictures is that they are having so much fun in all of them. Not because there is a camera because they were so excited to get married. To this day, they are such a good couple. I'm really close with my Mam and Dad. I think when you get into your twenties everyone is on the same page and all grown up which must be scary for them having three girls! Although I think our love of fashion is communal.

In terms of my Mam's overall bridal look was classic but had an edge, she wasn't going to dress by the book. She had her Wedding Dress made in the Irish Design center in Dublin - she designed the dress herself. Her bridesmaids were dressed in alternating colors. The attire was stunning, yet understated.

Truthfully I think my parents emulated a very stylish look on their Wedding Day - A match made in heaven some would say!

People say I look like my Mam. Here is to hoping I look this beautiful on my Wedding Day.
Would you guys wear a pink dress on your wedding day?

(I might steal my Mam's haha)

xo L

P.S - Check out my Aunty Marie in black having a creep!! ;)

Bits and Bobs !

I got these Urban Outfitters platforms for... wait for it... FREE!!!!!!! Their buy one get one free sale was so good in Dundrum I almost spontaneously combusted. I love sales. 

crossed belt - Urban Outfitters and orange satchel bag - Cois na hAbhainn
Levis denim jacket - vintage

You can check out the full length look on my lookbook.nu: 

Click here for my 'Retro Revival' look

this golden head chain is from River Island

I had been hunting a thin delicate looking t-bar golden head chain for ages. A lot of them don't look bohemian enough because they are so thick and embellished. To opt for the cliche - Sometimes less really is more.

I have been bikini shopping because I am venturing away to Ibiza very soon and I wanted something cute to saunter around in. I am on the hunt for special 'UV bikini' that allow rays to penetrate through so no tan lines! It's a win win, I am excited for the sun but I still am liberal with my suncream use, I have very fair skin and hair. And I get a gazillion freckles at the hint of a UV ray.

I was at The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Noel Gallagher and The Vaccines recently and I was blown away. I really want to go see Kasabian in August. I love the buzz at those kind of concerts. Croke Park was jammed.... Cannot wait to hit Electric Picnic. It is weird that there is no Oxegen this year... It really was a 'coming of age thing' for former 'tweenagers'.

Me at the Red Hot Chili Peppers

How beautiful is the Dublin sky above me? I was sunbathing while engaging in iphonography (big fan of taking millions of snapshots on my iPhone everywhere I go) and I caught this image of a seagull last week in the sky. It was a really sunny day.

bracelet fever

I love my spiked hair band. I wear it a lot these days. Spikes are dangerous but look very funky and edgy, I just have to remember not to bump into anyone headfirst! :)
This is where 'less is more' is feverishly turned on its head. I love bracelets. They are so much fun. The more the better. Different colors, textures, patterns. I pick them up here and there and I'm very sentimental about costume jewelry as opposed to 'real' jewelry. It goes with everything and is feminine but young.

I picked up some new statement neon heels that I am passionately in love with. What do you think?

neon heels and pastel kaftan

And of course I have my big floppy Samantha from Sex and the City hat to hide under and drink cocktails!

floppy hat - €6 - New Look

Hope you are all having a great Summer! Make sure to check out Lipstick Gossip on Facebook! ;) And P.S - whatever you do read 'The Hunger Games' trilogy is you haven't already! It was spectacular reading x

xo L

What I did this July!!

July has been a very busy month! I recently went to the premiere of 'The Sweeney' which was really great. You can check out the review on www.afterdark.ie

I have started to cover some events, and products launches and do some reviews for the lovely folks at Afterdark. I was so excited for the premiere. I wore dark lipstick and a long casual maxi with a structured jacket and high blue platforms.

You can check out the full length outfit on my lookbook:
click here to check out my premiere full length 'Structured-in-the-Summertime' look on lookbook.nu! :)
Also, this month I photographed the lovely Lizzie Fitzpatrick creator of the brand 'Supercreep'. 
Check them out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/supercreep 
Lizzie has a beautiful face so I loved doing her make-up for the shoot. It was fun putting the different pieces together, it is a truly innovative and exciting collection. The official release of the images and audio interview with Lizzie about her style inspirations and woes will be online very soon - the same time as the launch of Lizzie's new website where you will be able to shop online for all the trendiest denim cut offs and denim distressed jackets as well as graffiti jumpers and leather ensembles.
Here are some of the images from the shoot: 

You can  click here to check out some more images of my photoshoot for Supercreep

I have done some reporting for the show for the Strawberry Fest, the best thing about RTE 'In Colour' on 2XM is that it gives unknown Irish artists/bands a platform to have their music put out on the airwaves, on digital and on UPC. If this tickles your fancy make sure to tune in weekly on mondays @ 8pm. You can tweet presenter @dardizzle if you fancy having your track played on the show or coming in for a session.

click here to check out 'In Colour on RTE 2XM' on Facebook

My favourite event of the month was coming on air on RTÉ 'In Colour on 2XM' about a fortnight ago. I talked about the Summer blockbusters such as The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spider-Man, Disney Pixar's Brave, Ted (The Movie) and Prometheus Movie 2012 ! ♥ 
You can listen back to the show on the RTÉ Radio Player (best invention ever) 
click here to listen back to the movie reviews!

I have just finished an Honours Degree in Journalism and Visual Media in Griffith College Dublin, and the website Oxygen.ie approached me and asked me to review my time there. I was happy to oblige, maybe Griffith will take me back and let me relive the college experience like Van Wilder seeing as I loved my time there so much... (doubt it though) :) It is exciting moving on and starting to work in your chosen field but you have to be thankful of who guided you along the way.

 Click here to read the review on oxygen.ie

I was also very excited to attend the American Honey Fashion show earlier this month in '37' on Dawson St. I am super excited to go check out their new stock in the coming days. The show was very inspiring. You can pick up these gorgeous 'American Honey' Jeffrey Campbell Lita boots on miinto.ie for just €180

I am also trying to single- handedly bring temporary tattoos back in fashion. I must not fail! :-)

My friends at www.miinto.ie are going from strength to strength. 

A video of my interview with Amelia Lily sponsored by Miinto.ie is now on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/amelialilymiinto

 As an online fashion shop they are dominating the style stakes and keeping our Irish boutiques alive. They have a fresh outlook, buying concept and clothes for both males and females. No sexism in the Miinto HQ - they recognize style is a label that is worn to equal measure by both sexes! Men can pick up Tommy Bowes new shoe label and  and ladies can pick up this season feminine frocks and heels and accessories with a futuristic androgynous tweak. Bang on trend. The bag below is my current favorite find and a steal at just 15 euro. Major miinto.ie madness to follow in the coming days.... I don't know about you guys but I have a wardrobe to fill ;) and these days shopping online is so handy. 

clutch bag - €15.

xo L

Two shades of Summer Lips

These are my two lipstick staples. I love them both in equal measure for their vibrancy, consistency and longevity. Both 'Barry m' and 'mac' have fantastic lipstick ranges and since my blog is called Lipstick Gossip I decided to show my favourites....

I know it is very pink but I cannot get enough of this lipstick. It has a very 'paint/tattoo' like texture. If you apply it liberally it would literally last 24 hours. It accentuates your lips making them look fuller and more defined. At just €6.99 in both Superdrug and Boots it is a steal. If you apply a tiny amount on the apples of your cheeks it can look very doll-like.

'Lady Danger' lipstick by mac is a lovely 'daytime' red. It has a coral/red reflective colour and works with the typical Irish cailin skin pallor so you can get more for your money all year round. The lipstick is moisturizing but looks matte for a more polished glam look. I love it for nights out. It is €27 in Brown Thomas and BT2's but lasts a long time. I have had mine for a year and it is still going strong.

xo L

Fashion your belt! There's a New Style Advisor Service in Jervis!

There is a new Style Advisor Service in Jervis Shopping Centre which kicked off today! This new venture is being run by fashion guru Brendan Courtney and his crafty Style Team. From today, Jervis’ resident style experts will be on hand to offer customers a 2-hour personal consultation, taking fashionistas through the latest trends and styles to suit their look. For a special occasion like a wedding or simply to invest in the perfect LBD or summer guna, this service even benefits the individual with the most attuned fashion instincts. Sometimes a little bit of guidance AKA an expert opinion is exactly what you need and will appreciate. The styling service consists of a two-hour personal consultation with one of Jervis’ resident stylists or a one-on-one consultation can also be booked with Brendan. The two stylists, Katie Grogan and Linda Conway, were hand-picked by Brendan Courtney for their experience and most importantly, their talent. Katie’s work has been featured in several Irish magazines, as well as on Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model. Linda is a dab hand at styling for television and her experience includes being a part of the styling of Vogue’s Fashion Night out in Dublin last year. She’s an expert in the field of helping people polish their look – from girls who want an injection of edge into their styling, to Mammy's who are seeking a wardrobe revival or men who can’t figure out what to wear for an interview and detest the process of shopping for clothes, they are in capable hands of stylists who have great experience under their belts!

I tried on a dress recently in a shop and I was feeling ambivalent about whether it was a good investment or I am just a magpie attracted to shiny things. The walking disco ball look can be uber- cringeworthy when done improperly. I asked the shop attendant did she think the dress suited me to which she assured me it did with wide-eyed enthusiasm. But I bought neither the enthusiasm or the frock. Realistically she is a salesperson and it is her job to convince me to make a purchase! She didn't have to give it to me straight which I always prefer. So seeing as I didn't have my sisters in tow a bit of constructive advice would have been great. Clothes are an investment, they are without fail an extension of your personality so it's always good to be sure and not impulse buy. Making an informed choice gives you way better value and mileage out of your garment! This is why I have high praise for this concept of a 'style service' available in Jervis. Especially that Brendan Courtney is at the forefront. He has an innovative vision, and a knack for engendering sparkle in his styling. His personal style is enviable.

With retailers like Forever 21, New Look, Topshop and Next there is a great pool of choice in Jervis. The personal styling service also includes a fabulous makeover at Inglot cosmetics, a Boots goody bag and free parking in Jervis Car Park so there’s no excuse for anyone not to be at the top of their style game! The fee for the styling service also includes a makeover by the make up artists at Inglot along with a goody bag packed with 'Boots' goodies! Clients can avail of free parking in Jervis Shopping Centre car-park while they get their styling and makeover completed. 

This unique service can be booked by logging on to www.jervis.ie or visiting Jervis’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jervisshoppingcentre , by filling in an application at the Courtesy Desk in Jervis, or simply by calling 01 878 5800.


Try it out Ladies! I will be venturing to Jervis to avail of the Styling Service too and I'm very excited at the prospect!

xo L