Plain Sale-ing

This is probably a worrisome confession to hear from a stylist, but I must admit that I am not a huge fan of sales. All the heat, messiness, crowds etc. breaks me out in a cold sweat. Nonetheless, I am a fan of a bargain, so here are my top tips to help you bag a bargain in the current post-Christmas sales.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
Although I’m taking Roy Keane’s quote out of context here, the sentiment is the same. Ever before you hit the shops, make a list of items that you actually need and take this list with you on your sale expedition.

The early bird catches the bargain
Sales mania is a horrible; all that pushing, shoving, disorder and heat makes for a most unpleasant shopping experience. Get to town early when bedlam is still in bed and you can shop in relative peace.

Dress appropriately
Wear comfortable footwear (preferably flat) and don’t wear garments that have loads of buttons/fastenings. You’ll quickly tire of changing rooms if you have to unfasten/refasten 10 buttons every time you want to try on an item.

Look for quality, not quantity
There is no better feeling than that of being laden down with shopping bags. There is no worse feeling of looking at a wardrobe packed with garments, yet you can’t find anything to wear. Don’t get carried away with impulse purchasing at the sales; only invest in classic items that are of good quality, well-cut and have no shop damage.

Try before you buy
Even though the queue for the changing room may be a mile long, make sure that you try on every garment that you intend purchasing. It may look good on the hangar but not on you.

A bargain isn’t a bargain unless you really need it
Don’t convince yourself that you really need something just because it has a “75% off” tag. Only purchase items that you really need.

Heed the conditions of sale
Before you purchase an item, make yourself aware of the retailer’s conditions of sale. For example, most stores will not accept returns of sale goods.

Happy shopping!

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Video: Cheap Make-up Storage

Make-up supplies can be really expensive and I’m always on the hunt for cheap alternative solutions. Here are some of my star buys from B&Q, of all places!

SBC Make-up: Cheap Make-up Storage Solutions

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Bright Eyeshadow

I’m doing an exciting photoshoot next week which involves lots of colour; this is an exciting departure as much of my make-up work tends to involve more traditional colours.

One small problemo though – I need lots of brights and neons for this shoot however I’m reluctant to shell out for my usual MACs etc. as I know I’ll have limited demand from my clients for such brights in the future.

However, quite unexpectedly, I found the solution whilst having a browse in Boots yesterday - this 9-shade “Poptastic” palette from Collection 2000, priced at only €6.99! The colours are perfect for next week’s photoshoot, and even though I expected the quality to be rubbish, I decided to take a chance on the palette as it was so cheap.

Poptastic Collection from Collection 2000

I put the palette throught its paces this evening and I found it to be surprisingly good; the pans are a good size (6g), the quality is seriously impressive (virtually no fallout), the pigmentation (depth of colour) is fairly good too and the colours are easy to blend.

The packet says that the shadows will last up to 8 hours and are crease resistent. This doesn’t impress me hugely as any shadow worth its salt should last all day and evening with little fading and creasing. Nonethesless, I haven’t seen it on long enough to prove this claim right or wrong.

I did two looks this evening using this palette. In both cases, I used a primer and a white eyeliner pencil under the eyeshadow (a white eye pencil helps the colours to ‘pop’).

Look 1: Blue, Green & Grey

Look 2: Purple & Yellow

I really like the top look in particular – I used the green on the inner corner, blue in the middle and outer corners, and the dark grey in the crease. This is a look that I will definitely be replicating this weekend, and I think it could be replicated easily using the yellow, purple or pink shadows too!

Enjoy the bank holiday!

Yours in style,
Caroline

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ShuGal Special Offer

Irish company ShuGal Shoeclips is running a very special promotion for May and June 2010; they are very kindly donating 25% of the proceeds received from ALL online orders to the Mater Foundation at the Mater Hospital, Dublin.

ShuGal offers a wide range of clip-on decorative brooches, which you can attached to shoes, scarves, handbags etc. for an instantly glamorous and unique look. Whether you're into big, small, flowery or spartkly, ShuGal are guaranteed to have a style to suit you.

This is my current fave - called "Gia"!

Yours in style,
Caroline

Journey to StyleOdyssey.com

Fans* of my Facebook page will have heard me mention a groovy website called www.styleodyssey.com in recent weeks.

* I always feel a bit silly using that term - it makes me feel very vain!

Style Odyssey offers a huge selection of vintage and "pre-loved" clothes under the following guise, "if you love it, we'll list it"!

Well, I love vintage clothes so, as you can imagine, this website is to me what The Cave was to Aladdin.

The site is extremely well-organised and offers a vast catalogue of products. Crucially, the photos and descriptions are excellent but it was the quality and selection of wearable styles that impressed me most; a jumble sale it ain't! Clearly, there is a critical eye running the show over there and it shows.

Check out this gorgeous pale pink frilly chiffon vintage shirt for €48, which is bang-up-to-date with this season's penchant for nude colours & romantic lines.


And what about this 90s polkadot dress which has an unbelievable pricetag of just €32!


Or this sumptuous Chanel silk scarf, in pristine condition - again only €38. Chanel! For 38 quid!



Have I convinced you yet? If not, go check out www.styleodyssey.com for yourself!

Yours in style,
Caroline

Dunnes Stores, Fun Galore!

Darned potholes. The country is full of them. And now they're costing me money! I hit what can only be described as a crater over the weekend and I banjaxed an alloy, resulting in a flat tyre.

Costs incurred:

• €40 to fix the rim
• €67.50 on impromptu shopping session in Dunnes Stores this morning while I waited for the rim to be repaired!

Every cloud has a silver lining eh!

Look at my beautiful new shoes; patent, nude-coloured, platform heels - a bargain at only €15.

And nautical-themed junper from the Savida Range (€20), which will go perfectly over my rapidly expanding collection of jeggings:

What a nice way to start the week.

Yours in style,
Caroline

MACalike Brushes from Sigma

Up until very recently, I struggled to find a great brush set at an affordable price. There are some good contenders (e.g. Gosh have lovely concealer / cream shadow brushes, Jemma Kidd does a great fibre-duo brush and the No.7 foundation brush is excellent) - but I couldn't find a complete set that (a) didn't require a second mortgage, or (b) didn't contain at least 4 duds!

However, thanks to a tip off from the excellent http://www.makeupandbeauty.ie/ blog, I've finally discovered a high-quality, affordable brush set from Sigma.

Sigma make-up brushes are - how can I put this delicately - well, eh, they're blatant rip-offs of MAC brushes! In fact, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between MAC brushes and their Sigma doppelgangers as they are virtually identical - same colour, same shape and same brush numbers.


"Ah, but are these MACalikes any good?"

Good? They're grrrrrrreat! I bought the 'Professional Complete Set' a month ago and I have gone all Tony the Tiger since.

Sigma earned their first 'brownie point' from me when they delivered my brushes within 4 working days (that's good going, considering they were shipped from the US).

Brownie point #2 was awarded when I opened the package to discover a host of lovely goodies, including; 15 beautifully-packaged brushes, a buttery soft leather brush roll, a handy storage bag, a guide for caring for my new brushes and a lovely brochure (pictured below).


Brownie points #3, #4 and #5 quickly followed when I discovered not one, not two, but THREE FREE GIFTS from the kind Sigmatons; a large make-up bag, a travel-sized SS217 eye-shadow blending brush and a free eye-shadow (pictured below).


Finally, brownie points #7 through #99 were issued when I discovered how wonderful these brushes were to work with and the fact that they didn't shed after cleansing!

All of this, for the bargain price of $89, which is €65 in my lingo. What a bargain!

Yours in style,
Caroline

L'Oreal Color Appeal....Appeals to Me!

As much as I love my designer eye-shadows, nothing gives me a greater kick than finding a high-street product that gives the 'spensive brands a run for their money!

Enter, the L'Oreal Color-Appeal Trio Pro eye-shadow range, which has been created to enhance specific eye-colours. Each kit contains three shades (light, medium and dark) which are best applied with a good eye-shadow brush, rather than the sponge applicators provided. Each shadow is numbered, for fool-proof application, and there is even an instruction guide on the reverse to help you achieve a perfect look!

If you have BLUE eyes, check out the #303 Beige Taupe (review below) trio or #337 Sapphire Crystal:

If you have BROWN eyes, check out the gorgeous #333 Toffee Crystal palette, or, the #340 Plum Crystal palette which is designed for darker eyes too.

HAZEL eyes will pop with #317 Honey Brown:

And GREEN eyes look great with #319 Golden Green:

Last, but by no means least, if your eyes are GREY, the pretty pastels in #316 Platinum Rose will give a pretty warmth:

Caroline's Review:

I purchased the Beige Taupe Trio form my local Boots store about a month ago and I can honestly say it is now my most-used eyeshadow set for creating a day look! Though it is specifically designed for blue eyes, it is probably the most versatile of the selections as the shimmery champagnes will lighten and brighten any eye colour.

• I was extremely impressed the the quality of the palette:
• The shadows are easy to apply (always use a good eye-shadow brush and not those sponge applicators!).
• They are highly pigmented which means that you don't have to use a tonne of product to achieve your desired look.
• Critically, though the shadows have a subtle shimmer, the powder doesn't leave a residue on your nose/cheeks!
• Finally, and most importantly, they are long-lasting (helped undoubtedly by the fact that I always use an eye-shadow primer under my eye make-up).

I am very pleased to recommend these eye-shadows. They are great value for money at €11.04 (price may vary depending on supplier) and this palette in particular would suit all ages.


Yours in style,

Caroline

Plain Sale-ing

This article was printed in my most recent Style By Caroline enewsletter. The advice is quite handy and timely, given that the Christmas Sales are cranking up with gusto. You can subscribe to Style by Caroline enewsletters on http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
Although I'm taking Roy Keane's quote out of context here, the sentiment is the same. Ever before you hit the shops, make a list of items that you actually need and take this list with you on your sale expedition.

The early bird catches the bargain
Sales mania is a horrible; all that pushing, shoving, disorder and heat makes for a most unpleasant shopping experience. Get to town early when bedlam is still in bed and you can shop in relative peace.

Dress appropriately
Wear comfortable footwear (preferably flat) and don't wear garments that have loads of buttons/fastenings. You'll quickly tire of changing rooms if you have to unfasten/refasten 10 buttons every time you want to try on an item.

Look for quality, not quantity
There is no better feeling than that of being laden down with shopping bags. There is no worse feeling of looking at a wardrobe packed with garments, yet you can't find anything to wear. Don't get carried away with impulse purchasing at the sales; only invest in classic items that are of good quality, well-cut and have no shop damage.

Try before you buy
Even though the queue for the changing room may be a mile long, make sure that you try on every garment that you intend purchasing. It may look good on the hangar but not on you.

A bargain isn't a bargain unless you really need it
Don't convince yourself that you really need something just because it has a "75% off" tag. Only purchase items that you really need.

Heed the conditions of sale
Before you purchase an item, make yourself aware of the retailer's conditions of sale. For example, most stores will not accept returns of sale goods.

Happy shopping!

Yours in style,
Caroline

Tried & Tested: Barbara Daly Make-up

"You're the spitting image of Dita Von Tease"...

"You have the most amazing lips I have ever seen"...

Just two of the most extraordinary compliments that little ole me received from total strangers in Nancy Blakes in Limerick last night!

Now, let me assure you that even if you crossed your eyes, squinted and wore your granny's bifocals, you would still fail to see any resemblance between me and Dita Von Tease. Nor do I have lips like Angelina Jolie for that matter. But for a few hours last night at least, my lips drew favourable comparisons to the aforementionned luscious lovelies!

"How? How!" says you.

Well, I'll let you into a secret. The lip colour that I was wearing was from Tesco of all places!

Usually my visits to Tesco are like a Dale Winton trolley dash; but yesterday I found myself with a few minutes to spare and so I made a beeline for the Barbara Daly make-up display.

Barbara Daly is to make-up what Barack Obama is to politics. She is amongst the most eminent artists in the make-up industry and has a dazzling career portfolio spanning 3 decades. Supermodels, high fashion magazines, leading photographers...you name them, she's worked with them.

Earlier this decade, Barbara lent her expertise, not to mention her name, to a phenomenally-popular diffusion make-up line at Tesco. Fast-forward to 2009 and the release of a re-vamped version of the line - The Perfect 10 Collection.

To say that The Perfect 10 Collection has been successful that George Clooney is average-looking. Beauty editors, make-up artists and shoppers alike have gone doolally over it; in fact, Tesco are having a hard time keeping the shelves stocked it is so popular!

And yesterday I got to test the goods for myself and see did they cut the mustard. Did they heck - look at the feedback I got above!

Caroline's 'TRIED & TESTED'

One-step Powder Foundation ("Warm Ivory"): This powder-based foundation is bang on trend at the moment and is certainly a high-quality product. As my skin tends to be quite dry, the powder formulation left me looking a bit parched. Also, the colour was a shade too light (even for my so-white-I'm almost-translucent complexion!). However, that is not to say it is a bad foundation - just bad for me. It would be far better on normal or slightly oily skin. Apply with a soft powder brush. No need for setting powder.

Cream Concealer ("Pale" and "Medium*"): Be warned, the "Pale" is very very pale. I know it says it on the tin, but even I (Pale McPalerson) here found it too light for my whiter-than-white complexion! The medium was a much better colour for me, so the lesson is try before you buy. Both shades have a yellow-base, which means that they work well for neutralising darkness under the eyes or hiding any red blemishes. I liked the creamy consistency (which is not unlike Bobbi Brown's creamy concealer) but some people might find it a bit heavy for under the eyes. Apply with a concealer brush (preferably synthetic bristles).

Soufflé Blush ("Rose"*): Ooh this blush is just gorgeous. I must confess I have actually had this in my professional kit for a while now and it is one of my most-used products. Great for giving a natural glow, it is easy to apply and lasts for ages. Great for cooler-toned skins. Apply with your finger tips or a small duo-fibre brush.

Soufflé Blush ("Whisper"): This is a slightly warmer version of the above. Super for warmer-toned complexions.

Cheek-to-Cheek Powder Blush ("Petal"): The lighter peachy tone has a very subtle shimmer and is wonderful for highlighting. The darker matte colour is a lovely pink shade and works very well over the soufflé blushes above. Apply with a regular blush brush.

Soufflé Eye-Shadow ("Sea Foam*" and "Driftwood"): Ooh, these are pretty. Creamy shimmery delectible little pots of colour. "Sea Foam*" is a silvery grey colour, with the barest hint of green. "Driftwood" is a shimmery bronze-champagne mix. Both of these colours are lovely but perhaps work best as a base for powder shadows as the colours are not terribly strong when applied. Apply with your fingertips or a synthetic eye-shadow brush.

Lipstick ("Gypsy*", "Watermelon", "Innocent" and "Sorbet"): I was super-impressed by these lipsticks. The unique square-edge makes them very easy to apply, the colours are intense and long-lasting, and the finish is creamy, silky and supple. 10/10 Barbara! Colour guide: "Gypsy*" = red , "Innocent" = nude, "Sorbet" = candy pink and "Watermelon" = the coour of a watermelon, strangely enough!

Shades marked with an asterisk(*) are those that I wore last night. I only wish I took a photo to show you the finished look. I'll recreate the look over the Christmas holidays and put it up here with a step-by-step application guide.

Yours in style,

Caroline

Pat on the back for BTs

Times are exceptionally tough for retailers at the moment there's no doubt. Our plundering economy, combined with a lean appetite for spending, has left our poor retailers reeling. And with only 8 days until Christmas, my retail colleagues are telling me that business remains far from brisk.

I won't be popular with my aforementionned colleagues for saying this; but for shoppers, the past few weeks have been a veritable joy! No rip-off merchents, no crowds and none of the harried service we experienced in previous years. We see retailers coming up with innnovative ways of attracting us and for the first time in years we are getting great VALUE. By value I don't mean cheaper products (although that certainly helps), I'm also referring to friendlier service, greater personal attention and an overall more pleasant shopping experience.

I'm particularly fascinated by the transformation of Brown Thomas from supercilious to super-considerate. This year has been an 'annus horribilis' for the retail sector in general but in fairness BT has reacted with aplomb. From the introduction of loyalty cards, to their weekly 'special offer' e-newsletters, they have made great strides in making their once-aloof brand more accessible and appealing.

And now I see today on the 'News' section of http://www.brownthomas.com/, that they have Brown Thomas Gift Genies in each store throughout the festive season who will assist you in finding the perfect gifts for your loved ones.

This is the innovation and value I'm talking about! I commend Brown Thomas and others for making a huge effort and recognising that customers will spend their hard-earned cash once they perceive that they are getting great value.

Hindsight has 20/20 vision; I believe that once we ride out the recessionary storm, we will look back on this period with grim affection. Going forward, I hope that retailers will continue offering improved value and will reap rewards from same.

Yours in style,

Caroline

Thinking Outside the Box

Whilst larking about on http://www.bobbibrown.co.uk/ earlier, I happened across the brand new Bobbi Brown Black Plum Deluxe Beauty Trunk (pictured right), which has been released just in time for the Christmas market.

Ooh isn't it handsome - all faux leather and chrome and mirrors - it's like something I could happily live in.

Eh, except it costs an arm and a leg...nay, two arms and two legs...and probably a few organs too. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when I discovered that it is retailling at £350 in the UK (which means that you won't get much change out of €450 here). And the leather isn't even real! Crikey eh.

Now, there's a lot to be said for having a good sturdy make-up case. Not only will it help you to keep your products organised, they're also less likely to get lost or damaged. However, a sturdy make-up case is a hard thing to find. Good quality cases, can cost anything from €200 upwards. In fact, I've seen poor quality make-up cases retailing in salon supply shops with pricetags of €80+!

I don't mind spending money on good products, but €200+ on what is essentially a box seems a bit excessive to me in the current climate.

So, time to think outside the box (if you pardon the pun)!

Enter, B&Q.

I purchased this B&Q Aluminium Storage Case last February for only €33! 10 months later it is still going strong. Costing less than 1/10th of the price of the Bobbi Brown equivilent. It's study, attractive and ideal for storing all my make-up bits and bobs.

Since discovering the merits of B&Q, Ive purchased a fantastic tool-pouch for €12, which is ideal for storing my 40+ make-up brushes and little plastic containers (that I can attached to my make-up brush belt) for storing disposable mascara wands, cotton buds etc.

Not bad eh!

Yours in style,

Caroline