Balenciaga... or Massimo Dutti?

If you liked Balenciaga's Fall/Winter 07-08 collection, with it's shrunken blazers layered over striped polo-necks, buttoned-up shirts, patterned scarves and jodhpurs, but your budget doesn't quite stretch to Balenciaga prices, then you need to get to Massimo Dutti for a cheaper version of the look. They have everything from the jewel-coloured blazers and navy and white striped polo-necks to the narrow-leg riding trousers (their version is a little bit more wearable than the Balenciaga version for those of us with less than model-like thighs) and fringed scarves. The blazers are priced at €195, but the details are fantastic, from the printed lining to the insignia-stamped buttons and contrast piping.

Massimo Dutti is located in the Dundrum Town Centre in Dublin.

Image courtesy of http://www.style.com

Giorgio Armani Maestro Eye Shadow

I have to hand it to Giorgio Armani - he knows exactly how to suck me in with his lethal combination of fashion and beauty. Maestro Eye Shadow has just been added to the Armani cosmetics line - a collection of 18 shades in 3 different finishes, all inspired by the silk that Giorgio Armani works with in his fashion design. Containing matte, satin and sparkling shadows, the colours in the Maestro range from nude pink and beige to purple, brown, navy and black.

I have already tried out 10 - sparkling lilac and 12 - satin purple and I love the fine texture, smooth application and polished finish these shadows give. As with the existing Armani eye shadows, the Maestro shadows are still somewhat sheer in finish, but that happens to be the look I like, so I will definitely be picking up more colours from this line. I believe these are priced at around €22.50 in Ireland and are available from Armani counters in Brown Thomas and hopefully at Dublin airport too!

Pilgrim Charms Collection

The Danish jewellery company Pilgrim make some very pretty and distinctive costume jewellery and their Autumn 2007 Charms collection is a lovely addition to the line. Available in silver or yellow gold finishes, choose from a selection of unique and creative charms, including teddy bears, ducks and this covetable owl. If you prefer your charms to be a little more grown-up in theme, there are also various crystals, lockets and pretty antique-style keys available. With a range of different bracelets and chains available on which to display these adorable trinkets (all pretty reasonably priced at around €20-30), don't blame me if you can't stop collecting them!

Pilgrim jewellery is available in Ireland from their store in the Dundrum Town Centre, and from various other outlets, including Avoca and Kilkenny.

Caudalie Vinotherapy

I've just placed another of my regular orders with the Caudalie website, so I thought it was time for a post about this brand. Caudalie is a French company which has been producing skincare based around the humble grape for over 10 years now. Grapeseeds contain polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that can help protect the skin against free-radicals, and Caudalie skincare is packed with these little gems. And it's not just the seeds which are used - the grapevine stalks themselves are full of something called "resveratrol", which works to stimulate cell renewal, and this is also used in Caudalie's anti-ageing products.

I've been using Caudalie skincare for around 6 years now, and coming from someone who loves to try out the latest new skincare products, this brand loyalty really says something good about the line! My favourites are the Gentle Cleanser (a mild, creamy cleansing milk which keeps my skin soft and clear), Instant Foaming Cleanser (a gentle, refreshing and non-drying foaming cleanser), Eau de Raisin (a soothing and refreshing water spray which I use after cleansing), Anti-Ageing Serum for Eyes and Lips (an easily-absorbed serum which works wonders on my under-eye circles), Vinoperfect Radiance Serum (a milky serum which is perfect for reviving a dull complexion) and Lip Conditioner (my must-have lipbalm, I carry this everywhere).

In Ireland, Brown Thomas has recently started to stock Caudalie's bath and body line and as far as I know Therapie on Molesworth Street still stocks the facial skincare. But I usually order directly from the Caudalie website - delivery is free on orders over €50, products are reasonably priced in Euros and orders are usually delivered in around a week.

Image courtesy of http://www.caudalie.com

Louis Vuitton Neverfull

I've never been particularly attracted to the Louis Vuitton monogram bags, but the new Neverfull range, artfully modelled by Scarlett Johansson in the Autumn/Winter 2007 advertising compaign, has grabbed my attention. Available in three sizes, these totes would be perfect for travel - no heavy hardware to eat up your cabin baggage weight allowance and plenty of room for all the little necessities to keep you comfortable while flying. You could probably even fit enough for a weekend city break into the large model and avoid baggage reclaim altogether.

Priced between €390 and €450, these are at the more reasonable end of the LV price spectrum and should be available from the Louis Vuitton store in Brown Thomas in Dublin.

Images courtesy of http://www.louisvuitton.com

Aveda Smooth Infusion

If I was granted a wish to change just one thing about my appearance for good, it would be my hair. It has always been my dream to have the kind of smooth, sleek, super-straight hair that requires no styling - to just be able to come straight out of the shower after washing it and let it dry naturally and not have to do battle with hairdryer, brushes, serums and straighteners to get it under control. Until I find the magic bottle containing a genie to grant my wish, however, I'll have to rely on a different type of bottle - two in fact - the new ones from Aveda containing their Smooth Infusion shampoo and conditioner.

The Smooth Infusion line promises that hair will be up to 60% smoother and softer after using both products, and while I haven't figured out how to quantify it to a precise percentage figure, I am definitely impressed with what these products are doing for my hair. I do still need to style my hair after washing, but the process is much quicker, and from the first use I could see how much smoother and sleeker my hair looked. The products don't weigh my hair down, either, and I love the extra protection they give against heat-styling.

Smooth Infusion Shampoo and Conditioner are available from Aveda counters and salons now, and if you're lucky you might even be able to get your hands on a sample to try out first. The 250ml bottle of shampoo is priced at €20.50 and the conditioner at €22.00.

Armani Fall 2007 Leather Collection

Be still my beating heart... Armani's summer bronze collections never do much for a pale girl like me, but once Autumn rolls around and the Fall collections are on the counters, the Armani counter is pretty much guaranteed to have me as a customer. This year's collection doesn't disappoint. The Fall 2007 Leather collection is perfect for recreating the grown-up glamourous looks featured on all the catwalks for this season. The collection arrived in Brown Thomas last week, and barely before the saleswoman had the words "limited edition, we only got one order in" out of her mouth, I had requested the Eye Mania palette, the new Sheer Blush and the Maestro Liquid Eyeliner.

The Eye Mania palette (€57) is encased in a black snakeskin patterned compact and features eye shadow shades of satin pink beige, soft shimmering pink, matte deep purple and matte ashwood.

TheSheer Blush #11 (€35) is encased in a similarly embossed palette and is a gorgeous shade of pink with a touch of peach.

The Maestro Liquid Eyeliner (€25) is a water-based black liquid liner with a felt tip - perfect for recreating this season's catwalk looks.

The new collection also includes single eye shadows, lipsticks and lip shimmers and the advisor section on the Armani website has a helpful step-by-step guide to recreating their look with the products from the collection.

Run, don't walk to the Armani counter for this one!