*The Perfect Clothing Collection of 2016 for men - GUEST POST - J MARIE CLOTHING*

The Perfect Clothing Collection of 2016 for men

"A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life."

—Oscar Wilde, Poet

Over 150 years ago Oscar Wilde, a world renowned poet, novelist and Irish play right spoke of the impact looking well can have on our daily lives, and no I am not going to expect you to remember any of his famous poetry that we all learned is school!!

You need to look your best if you are to perform to your best. As part of this article we have collaborated with some of Ireland’s most well renowned fashionistas to find the perfect clothing collection of 2016 for men.

Several different styles were all considered to determine the clothing combination of the week. Between the renowned fashion experts, there are over 50 years of combined experience in the men’s fashion space and navy blue suits were found to be the best.

Suit Jacket and trousers

This navy blue suit  was designed by J Marie Clothing and is available for €100 on their website. Its perfect simplicity and affordability ensured its inclusion in our perfect clothing collection of 2016 for men.

Shoes

I know what you are thinking. Brown or black? The obvious answer is black, for me the single exception to wearing black shoes is with navy clothes. Don’t make the schoolboy error of wearing black and navy!To match the J Marie suit, we have teamed up with River Island. These Tan smart contrast heel shoes are available for €45 on the river island website.

Shirt

For shirts it is always best, in my opinion to stick to a white shirt. It has the cleanest, most professional look and you can never go wrong with a white shirt. For the more adventurous among us you could opt for light blue or a patterned design.

This design was from next online and is available for only €30.

Tie

When the navy blue suit is worn with a white suit, the options are endless. The tie bar have included a large range of ties, all of which are perfectly suited (pun intended!) to the navy blue. For this style we however have selected the Grosgrain solid 2.5in men’s tie which costs a mere €15 with can be bought from the tie bars website .

Other accessories

There are numerous other accessories which can be added to the design but as a multi-purpose clothing collection it is very difficult to look beyond the outfit that we have described above. Bow ties, socks, top hats, pocket squares and tie bars will all be discussed in future posts.

All of the products which are described in this article are available for order online and can be shipped to Ireland and the UK. You can get fully dressed for less than €200 for your big occasion, so if you have any style or fashion questions don’t be afraid to ask our team. Clothes can help define who we are, what we do and what we aspire to be. So please my friends, think before you dress.

Watch this space for future clothing and dress guides.

*Dîner En Blanc Style Inspiration

Hi guys!

Today's post is all about if I was invited to a Diner En Blanc party, what would I and my date wear? If any of you guys need inspiration for similar events then keep reading!

A Diner En Blanc party is similar to P. Diddy’s Annual White Party, this exclusive meet-up is all about dressing in your best formal white attire and enjoying a nice dinner. 

First off lets get started on what would I like my date to wear.. I think a nice * White Jacket Tuxedo from TheBlackTux would look great for a Diner En Blanc party!  Check out their entire collection here for tuxedos and suits for any occasion.

For me I would go for a  nice white dress, here are a few that I like from short to floor length!

What would you choose to wear to a Diner En Blanc party?

Emma

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*Common Bra-blems and how to fix them!

Hands up if you have ever had issues with your bras, *raises hands in the air* I know I have.

I recently discovered a company called ThirdLove who specializes in amazing fitting bras. In this graphic from ThirdLove, they highlight some common Bra- blems that we ladies can face from quad boob - definitely not a good look! To straps digging in and solutions to fixing them!  

I know one problem that I have been finding recently is that I buy a bra in the size that I normally am and finding that they are actually too small (Iv'e done this on several occasions now), which shows I probably should be measured again.

Wearing the right fitted bra is important, wearing a bad fitted one can lead to problems such as neck pain,breast pain and bad support etc. If you're unsure on your size then visit ThirdLove where you can find your perfect fit with just a few questions, 

I hope this helps you all and check out the ThirdLove website, they have some pretty fab bras on there and also I have a 15% code off for  you, just enter PERSONALITY at the checkout!

Emma

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Getting Fit with Kayla Itsines BBG!

                                                          Hi guys and happy 2016!

I wouldn't say this is a New Years resolution of mine as I have always tried to keep pretty fit. I just need a little help, to stick to a routine and keep going. This is why I have decided to do BBG (Bikini Body Guide) from Kayla Itsines. What perfect time to start the guides than in the new year!

I chose Kayla over all the over guides out there because the results are amazing and speak for themselves.  I also liked that I didn't have to join a gym and that I could do these workouts at home with a bit of equipment.  

AMAZING!

Now I am not quite ready to post my first photo yet (it has been taken) but at 4 weeks I will take my second one and hopefully will be able to show you some change. So far I have done 4 days worth of resistance workouts and a walk on LISS day. I have actually really been enjoying working out and eating healthy. My skin is looking really good right  now!

Is anyone else getting fit for 2016?

Emma

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*5 Most Common Adult Skin Care Issues And How to Treat Them!

Hi guys, I want to share with you the *5 Most Common Adult Skin Care Issues and how to treat them which was sent to me by Health Perch  - a digital health magazine. I hope it helps anyone that might be suffering from problematic skin such as Eczema and Rosacea etc and help you on how you can go about managing it.

Emma 

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"5 Common Adult Skincare Issues & How to Treat Them" on Health Perch

Neutrogena Spot Clearing Face Wash and Oil Free Moisturiser

I decided to buy a different face wash and moisturiser as my skin was breaking out which always happens at this time of year for me. I opted for the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Clearing Facial Wash because it contained 2% Salicylic acid which I know helps with spots as it unclogs pores.

I then also got the Oil Free Moisturiser which states that it hydrates, smooths and evens out skin tone.

Starting with the face wash this was on offer but it is currently around £4.49 from Asda and at Superdrug. It does say on the front that this is developed with dermatologists. This is also oil free and is 'a concentrated, yet gentle daily cleanser. It suggests to use this twice daily in the morning and at night.

The moisturiser at £4.50 is also dermatologist tested and also to be applied morning and night on freshly cleansed skin. I have been using this after the facial wash.

Since using both these products it has helped improve my skin. I have far less breakouts and my face feels super clean after using the wash. The moisturiser  is in a small tube but it is lasting me well! My skin feels incredibly soft after using it and it's nice and lightweight and does even the skin a little. These are super cheap too and I am definitely going to stick to these for a bit,

Emma

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Nivea Men Post Shave Balm as a PRIMER

I am absolutely LOVING using this Nivea Men Post Shave Balm as a Primer. I came across this thanks to Nikkie Tutorials who is an amazingly talented make up artist!

In her video she talks about how she had ran out of her primer and moisturiser and noticed that her boyfriend had this and  so decided to give it a try and  after using this it  makes her makeup last ALL day.

I have never really found a primer that I liked so I never use to prime. As this product is really cheap at £3.00 at Asda at the moment, there was no arguing that I was going to try it.

When using this it is very 'liquidy' as Nikkie states and comes out quite quick so you need to be careful! It also does smell like 'man' but that soon goes once it is absorbed into the skin. It applies nice and cool and on the box it says that it 'alleviates skin redness and dryness' and 'reduces skin sensitivity' and 'skin will feel comfortable and smooth' 

This definitely makes my make up last, it's amazing! I don't think I would not be able to not use this now. My skin also feels incredibly soft after using and my skin doesn't become so oily throughout the day. I also like the coolness it has, it is quite refreshing. My foundation looks really good and I notice a difference if I haven't used this.

For £3.00 you really cam't beat this and I recommend to give it a try if you can.

Emma

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What's on my face updated

At the moment these are the products that I have been wearing everyday for my make up which has changed quite a bit since my last post What's on my Face Updated.

I have once again gone back to my Double Wear foundation which I apply with a beauty blender and I love the coverage this gives and it lasts all day. I keep this in place with the Rimmel Stay Matte. Before I was using Soap and Glory One Heck of  Blot but I was finding that it wasn't working so well  (my skin has become immune to it, noooo!) and so my skin was becoming oily throughout the day.

To give myself that glow and add some colour back into my skin I've been using Chanel Soleil Tan and Soap and Glory Solar Powder which as you can see the lid has broken off! Also I still use the NO.7 Blush in Coral Flush (this never changes and the sad part is that I can't find this on the Boots website any more in this shade :( ).

I use two mascaras which are the Max Factor False Lash effect which Iv'e always used but now I also like to use Maybelline Lash Sensational as that stuff just stays and creates length! 

I love Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow for brows and Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Wheat  to sweeo over my eyes, plus the Soap and Glory SuperCat Eyeliner which isn't in the photo because I forgot to include it, silly me!

For lips I line with MAC Soar and then MAC Velvet Teddy and then sometimes I apply Carmex over the top.

What do you wear everyday?

Emma

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*Achieve that Healthy Glow All Year Round

*Photos are not my own and found via Google

Do you want to achieve a healthy glow all year round?  If that is a yes then carry on reading for my tips!

 There are some fun and healthy conversations happening over at *Aloha!
 *Aloha aims to make health 'simple, fun and accessible'. They care about the Quality of products, Simplicity, Honesty and Design. and they help provide nutritional support to maintain that already healthy lifestyle.

So how do I keep a healthy glow? Well here are 6 things that help me!

1.  Foundation - I think using a foundation that gives a glow like the Rimmel Wake me Up is a must. This is one of my favourites and it has a nice coverage with a glow but doesn't make you look oily.

2. Fake tan is definite for me to achieve a glow, it makes me look so much healthier and I feel a lot more confident with tan on. At the moment the Rimmel one is my favourite as its easy to apply, smells great! It has a florally scent and is also cheap too at £7.99! I also like He Shi and Bondi Sands.

3. Water - I drink over 2L a day and I find if I don't drink it then my skin looks very dull.

4. Sleep - I am a big lover of sleep! Waking up from a good night sleep and feeling refreshed makes me very happy :).

5. Clean Make up Brushes - I don't like using dirty brushes, the thought of the bacteria on them grosses me out and I don't want put that all over my face and get spots if I can avoid it! So I like to regularly clean my brushes/sponges and it always feels nice on the skin.

6. Finally eating well such as fruit/veg and nuts - I like to drink smoothies, eat lots of veg and snack on nuts. Checking out the healthy recipes on *Aloha has made me want to try so many such as their Flourless Almond Butter Fudge bars and their Protein Berry Mojito Smoothie !

Let me know how you achieve your healthy glow!

Emma

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Bath Bombs from Rocket

I love a Lush bath bomb and whilst my sister was in our local town the other day she came across these bath bombs from a little shop called Rocket and bought them for me.

As shown in the photos these are designed to look like cakes which I think is really cute and they also do have cake related names but I can't remember what they are and I could of sworn I put it down somewhere but can't seem to find it! 

Smelling these in the wrapper they did smell good, not as strong scented as a Lush one but still really good, colour wise again wasn't exactly bright or spectacular but still pleasing to look at.

Now I haven't actually got photos of them from when I used them in the bath because they turned the bath such a horrid colour that it wasn't even worth a photo! I thought it would turn it into something amazing but I was so wrong it just looked dirty. However the smell was still nice and they did make my skin feel soft and to be honest I don't think you can ever top a Lush bath bomb!

Have you tried any bath bombs that are not Lush?

Emma

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OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco

I've always used the Moroccon Oil on my hair which I love because it keeps my ends of the hair in good condition with less frizz and splits. This is quite pricey though at about £32.00 so I thought I would give a cheaper version a go and this OGX Renewing Argan Oil from Boots is only £7.35 for the same amount of 100ml.

Now, I have read good things from the OGX shampoo and conditioner from people such as Caroline Hirons and Zoella featuring in their favourites. So giving this a go was must.

Product Description: 'A unique, precious blend of Moroccan argan oil which helps to rapidly penetrate the hair shaft restoring shine and softness while helping to strengthen and create soft, seductive silky perfection.'

Again like the other Moroccon Oil I apply this to the damp ends of my hair.  I have been using this for a few months now and this does the exact same good job as the Moroccon Oil except the price is a lot better! You don't need to use a lot and so this will last a while. 

This will definitely be repurchased and take place of the pricey one!

Emma

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TopShop Lipsticks - Lovestruck and Devotion

Every time I go into TopShop I always take a look at their make up products. This time though I thought I would actually give them a try.
I bought two of their lipsticks which are £8.00 each in the shade Lovestruck and Devotion. Lovestruck is the lighter shade of these two and is a warm pink colour whereas Devotion is darker and a more browny pink shade. They have a fair few shades to choose from so I stood there for a good time trying to decide which to buy!

Devotion

 

Lovestruck

Both of these apply nice and easily and give a nice shine look to the lips and is nice and moisturising. However I like a lipstick to last and these lipsticks come off very quickly and need topping up ALOT. Being £8.00 that's not what I would expect from these, I have bought much cheaper lipsticks that have lasted longer.

Would I repurchase these? Probably not.

What have you tried from the TopShop range?
Emma
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Max Factor Colour Xpert Liquid Eyeliner

I can't even remember why I bought this eyeliner instead of my usual Soap and Glory one?? Whatever the reason was I am glad I did.

The Max Factor Colour Xpert Liner is £6.99 from Boots and comes in 3 shades,  Black, Anthracite and Lilac and online the Lilac looks blue? 

I have this in black and the greatest thing about this product is the lasting power! Oh my goodness it's so good and I struggle to get this bad boy off! It is a waterproof liner and I do not know a better eyeliner at staying on so well! I actually do remember trying this on the back of my hand and trying to get it off and it just wouldn't budge and I was just very amazed!

I am used to more of the pen types of eye liners but this is very thin and easy to use, the colour stays and doesn't fade or smudge and this is great for the summer.

What is your favourite eyeliner?

I also thought I had done a post on my Soap and Glory one but doesn't look like I have, so I'll get that up soon!

Emma

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Bondi Sands - The Australian Tan - Self Tanning Foam

I'm always on the lookout to try new self tanners. I recently came across Bondi Sands on instagram and loved the look of the results people were getting from using it. Before buying I did my research and decided to try the dark self tanning foam. 

At first I was debating about getting the lighter one instead of the dark because I am so pale and I just thought this will come out orange on me but I read a few reviews and thought I'll live on the edge and risk it and not because of the fact that if it went terribly wrong I have two weeks off ;) .

I bought this in Superdrug for £14.99 but at the moment it is on offer for £9.95! Funnily enough when I was looking at this on the shelf there was a couple of woman by me buying this for her daughter and I overheard her saying this is the only one she likes and will use.

This tan has a great coconut smell which I love because that's one of my favourite scents! But if you don't like coconuts then you definitely will not like the smell. When I first used this I actually didn't like it but I think this was because I left it on for 6 hours and it went orange on me eeeek but I gave it another go and now I actually do like it, ALOT.

It's easy to apply and you can see where to apply, it glides on nicely and is quick to soak in. I leave it on for an hour and then I wash it off, which leaves me with just a nice bit of colour where I look normal instead of pale and ill. Though if I want to look a bit darker I just leave it on a little bit longer but not 6 HOURS. I learned my lesson there lol. This states it will last up to 7 days which is true and it doesn't streak either.

So now I use He Shi and Bondi Sands combined :)

Emma

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Max Factor CC Stick

The Max Factor CC Sticks come in 5 colours for £8.99 from Boots. This one is for correcting redness but you can also get a yellow one for eye circles, lilac for dullness, a highlighter and pink to correct dark spots on light skin tones.

I bought the redness correcting one to cover blemishes so they don't look so angry and also the redness around my nose. These are in stick form so you are able to target the the specific problematic areas easily.

The CC stick is easy to apply and blend in but I can't say I am blown away by this. It does get rid of some of my redness but not much to be honest, I don't feel like it makes a big difference to my skin. However when I read reviews on this product they were mainly positive!

Would I buy this again probably not, though I would try the others they do.

Emma

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*Farfetch Curates Food Book

I just love the smell of a brand new book. `This is Farfetch Curates Food, 'the first instalment' of a series from Farfetch for £16.00 that has turned 'that curatorial eye' to other creative fields along with Fashion.

This book shows the trending in modern food and drink around the world and has recommendations from some of Farfetch boutique owners.

I love the look of this book it's been kept simplistic. It has contents of Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner and After Dinner and at the back of the book are the recommendations from the boutique owners in France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom and the US of places to try.

This has been a really interesting read, I've learned alot actually about delectable breakfasts from different countries such as in Nordic their national breakfast is Rye bread served with cold cuts of meat, strong cheese, eggs and Jam but also the stories behind the names of some of the cocktails around the world! I have even been sharing some of this new found knowledge with colleagues from work! 

What I also like about this book is the recommendations from Farfetch such as in Italy there is 'La Baronessa' and Farfetch recommends the best seat in the house which is a corner table that overlooks a coastline! This is a great book to have on the table for people to pick up and have a quick read. Here are a few of my favourite pages.

Here is the link to Farfetch  if you would like to check them out :)

Emma

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Palmer's Natural Bronze Body Lotion Gradual Tanner

The other day I was speaking to my friend about which self tanner she uses as she always has a nice glow to her. She told me she uses Palmer's Natural Bronze as it's only £5.00 which is really cheap for a self tanner  and the ones I usually go for are at least £20.00.  So from seeing it on her I thought I would give it a go and see if I can save myself some pennies!

The Palmer's Natural Bronze is a cocoa butter formula and this is for all skin tones. As stated it has cocoa butter and vitamin E in and is a moisturising lotion to keep skin beautiful and healthy.

 The directions are to apply evenly once daily or as often as necessary to achieve the desired look and then to wash hands after use.

First of I have to say I hate the smell of this! It does have that strong biscuity smell and it does linger but it also has a cocoa smell mixed in and to be honest the smell does make me feel sick but I have grown more used to it and once you get passed the smell it isn't all that bad.

I decided to test this on my legs first (not very neatly may I add as you can see in the pic lol) in case it all went wrong and I am so glad I did as I made a big mistake! I ended up applying 3 layers to my legs because I assumed the colour was kind of instant whereas I find this colour deepens as the hours pass. My legs ended up turning bright orange as seen below!!!

After seeing this I was so scared to try it again but I though I would risk it and just apply one layer to my face, neck and arms and it turned out so much better and is a nice golden glow, thank god! You do have to make sure you apply this well and even as you can't see where you have applied it. A photo of my arm is below.

I do have mixed feelings on this product and it is growing on me more but I don't think it will ever beat He - Shi tan as I love the colour it gives me plus you can see where it goes when applying and it doesn't smell. You can check my post here He-Shi Post.
Emma

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