My guilty Sephora haul

 

New York as you know leads to a lot of temptation when it comes to shopping. I love make-up, i love how experimental you can be and how you can completely change your look by using make up. So...when i first entered Sephora in New York i was blown away by how amazing the store was. Monochrome interior ( my fave), make up studio set ups for you to use, LED lighted mirrors... my dream make up wardrobe basically!! I would say this is where my biggest spend was on my trip, if we saw a Sephora we would go in and take a look and come out with something, guaranteed.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour Kit

I did go to New York with the plan to buy the Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour kit though, and its my best purchase yet. Consisting of 3 contour shades and 3 highlighting shades its perfect for every skin tone. Contouring has become a big trend in the make up world and this kit helps you get the look everyone hopes for. With the product being cream it blends into your skin very easily without ending up with major lines all over your face. So if anyone is thinking about buying this, my advice to you is GO AND BUY IT, you'll be all contoured up even if its just for a hour lecture!!!

Naked 2 by Urban Decay

This was a top christmas present given to me from my generous mumma of mine, she seems to pick things up when I'm babbling on all year about new products i like the look of and remembers them even when i forget to put them on my wish list. This palette is fabulousss...from pale shades, sparkly shades to deep dark purples and blacks that can create the perfect look for day and night. I admit at the moment i only use it for special occasions because i don't want to make it dirty or use it too quickly, but when i do use it it brilliant. It even came with 4 different eye primers depending on what look your looking for from nudes to deep shimmers, these primers keep your eye make up on all day and night if needs be!!

Foundation, mascara and contour brush

Lets start with the mascara, $12 for the best mascara I've ever bought...one application and your lashes and flying!! Often it takes a couple of layers to see a difference with other mascara's but this one there is no such issue. Foundation, i was running low on foundation and thought i'd give this ago. Its a pretty good foundation, perfect for my skin tone and doesn't look all cakey. The one thing i would say is mix it in with another foundation that is more liquidy to loosen up the texture so it becomes easier to apply. Finally my contour brush, this brush has become my key brush, without it i would struggle...that sounds dramatic but cut a long story short i thought i originally bought this brush and open it up back at the hotel and i had the wrong one. I was on a mission to go into every Sephora store to replace it for the one i originally found, 4 stores later i found a tester one that had been open but not used, i do not recreate the traipsing around at all now that i know how amazing this little travel brush is. I would recommend it to all.

Kat Von D Everylasting Liquid Lipstick- shade Lolita 

When it says 'everlasting'...it means ever lasting. Im not much of a dark lipstick kind of girl but i tried it on and it actually looked ok!! So i bought it and I'm slightly obsessed with it now, i will put it on in the morning and i won't need to re-apply all day...ALL DAY!!

So i have babbled on a little here i know, no change when i look back at my other posts but if in New York hit Sephora girls!!

 

 

Fairytale fashion @ FIT, NY

Fairy Tale Fashion is a unique and imaginative exhibition that examines fairy tales through the lens of high fashion. Fairytales often include descriptions of clothing, such as magical shoes, magnificent dresses and concealing cloaks that are often used to symbolize a character’s transformation, vanity, power, or privilege. The exhibition focused on numerous fairy tales such as Cinderella, Little Red riding hood and also my personal favourite Alice In Wonderland, just to name a few. Since fairy tales are rarely set in specific places or time periods, the exhibition clues clothing and accessories that date from the 18th century to the present, with particular emphasis on extraordinary 21st century creations. In the midst of a global, technologically driven fashion industry, there remains a need- for designs that value fantasy over function.

Here were a few of my favourite pieces from the exhibition:

 

The Snow Queen is evil but beautiful, the white furs indicate her desire for perfection and her queenly status, she is unmistakably luxurious.

 

Alexander McQueen/evening gown embellished with a cascade of beaded tresses, part of a collection inspired by witches. This reference underscores the power associated with hair in mythology, when Rapunzel's hair long hair is cut, she loses her most valuable asset

Jean Louis Sabaji/my personal favourite, silk feathers to recreate the swan maiden's feathery robe.

 

Comme des Garcons/an enormous, peaked headpiece in patent leather. A hooded resemble in Spring 2015 collection

 

Zuhair Murad/Haute Couture, when sleeping beauty rises from her slumber, a more seductive design than Perrauit writes...

 

Giles/ Vogue noted that the dress looked 'burned with a magical and mischievous spirit'

 

Nicholas Kirkwood/Wonderland motifs combined into a heel...red roses favoured by the Queen of Hearts, a tiny tea set in reference to the Hatter's tea party and the white rabbit's pocket watch.

 

Louis Férud/ outfits full of motifs that symbolise the story of Alice In Wonderland. Pocket watch, keys, cards and beautiful imaginations of a new world.

Why am I not still in New York?

I am home, to be honest I would rather be back in the big city than sat in my cold uni room trying to keep warm with my little candles and mini radiator ( which I'm certain I've blown by trying to get it to work faster). Yes New York was cold, -4 to be precise but atleast I was wrapped up and surrounded by the bubbly atmosphere of happy Americans and fabulous shops.

I did all the touristy things of New York, Rockefeller was my absolute favourite. The Views were incredible and reached out as far as the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge. I also visited the Empire State and walked round the outside at the 86th floor, freezinggggg I could hardly take photos by the end of it but it was 100% worth it. The Flatiron Building was around the corner from our hotel and we had to take a trip to Grand Central station due to being a fan of Gossip Girl! Soho was very cool, it was the image of New York I had prior to my trip. Streets of boutiques and high end shops on one end and then the spaced out vintage area on the other. Times Square was full of selfie sticks and bright lights.

We went to the FIT Museum that had an exhibition on Denim and Fairy Tale fashion. I will be doing a separate blog for this as it was amazing and I have lots of photos to show on this!! Think Snow White, Alice In Wonderland and Little Red Riding Hood interpreted through dresses, gowns and shoes.

I didn't go too extreme on the shopping, but then again its fair to say I shopped. Victoria's Secret was huge and had a fabulous sale on so that lead to

a little bit of

money spending. Sephora became our new obsession, I  blame the beautiful interior and monochrome colour palette, if we saw a store we would go in and even when we promised each other we would not buy anymore...of course we came out with something. Urban outfitters, a favourite of mine caused a little temptation and i did splurge a little on my new cropped grey hooded Calvin Klein jumper.

I learnt a lot about the American Fashion industry and their methods of promotion and style. I loved the customer service in every shop, people were generally happy to help and chat to you about your day...something i feel England could take note on.  You had staff come up to you and compliment your outfit or make up and ask where we were from and what were studying etc, generally happy people! Inspiration was everywhere, the long never-ending streets were packed with creativity and energy for you to grab ideas from. Generally experiencing such a huge city and hearing so much about NY before i came beat my expectations and I learnt a lot purely due to the comparison of London and NY.

Here are some of my favourite moments of New York, i will be blogging about the Fashion Institute of Technology exhibition, Sephora purchases and my favourite store interior that I came across in ' & other stories'.

Have a look at my Instagram for more New York reminiscing// niamhryan.x

Christmas Spirit in NYC

As my countdown to the big apple trip is in full swing ( 34 days to be exact) i thought today i would blog about the best of the best window displays that consist in New York this Christmas. From Macy's to Bloomingdales there is no hiding that this year its all about the bigger the better 3D designs, strong and contemporary themes.

Traditional wintry themes of icicles and snowscapes run throughout, with Barney's taking it to the next level by transforming windows into ice lockers featuring live ice sculpting and continually growing ice caverns. Department stores partner with world-renowned sculptors, florists, luxury brands and childrens’ television shows to create striking Holiday windows

Lets have a look at the best...

Barney's

An overarching theme of Chillin’ Out, which is taken very literally in these 2 displays. Barney's brought in ice formation company Ice Castles to create a fully operational ice locker to continually grow an ice cavern throughout the duration( image on the right) The second display, In the live performance, raw blocks of ice are carved into sculptures using chainsaws, chisels and drills to celebrate and glorify the craft.(image on the left)

Saks Fifth Avenue

Adopting a cold, icy feel in its Winter Palace-themed windows. More than 225,000 lights have been used on the facade, transforming the store into a winter palace complete with crystal spires, towering icicles and snow-covered magnolia arches. The windows represent some of the world’s greatest wonders, reimagined in subzero temperatures.

Bloomingdales

Bloomingdale’s partnered with world-renowned florist Jeff Leatham for this year’s windows, entitled Holiday Through the Senses. The displays reference each of the five senses through floral assemblages, faceted sculptures and props. Best collaboration I've seen!

Macy's

Inspired by Charles Schulz’s Peanuts gang, and are a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

The windows are 3D representations of six iconic scenes from the animated television special, featuring characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and Schroeder among others.