Motley Series

Final issue of the University Term!

I can't believe how quickly the year has gone! I can't believe how quickly the last THREE years have gone!
University has been an incredible, life altering experience and I've loved it. I have had some amazing opportunities and changed so much for the better, as cliched as that sounds. Going back to college was daunting but so beyond rewarding and if anyone is thinking of doing so PLEASE do, it's completely brilliant.

I'll quit with the educational seminar and move on to the FINAL photo set we shot for Motley Magazine.
I have been a fan of Margaret's blog( http://www.4ngstyle.com/ )  and her personal style for a long time and having (very briefly) met her at last year's Cork Fashion Week I was really excited to get to work with her.
I had a concept in mind for what I wanted the shoot to look like, which was all about a kind of sultry, tropical but very chic and sophisticated style.
I have been to 6ix Bar Cork many times and as well as having some seriously amazing cocktails and food (margaritas and tacos, need I say more?!) I was completely blown away by the decor, fantastic Cuban inspired surroundings, stunning jewel tones and a little shrine tucked away under the stairs! Just fantastic and perfect for the concept I had in mind. (I was basically just wishing for summer!)
I sourced some amazing fashion from Amity Cork and Miss Daisy Blue, asked the always fantastic Amy Frahill if she'd shoot for us and we were off!

 This first shot is SO awesome, it also made the cover which is really exciting!

Fringed crop top and Zig-Zag Trousers both Amity Cork

Black Body-Con Dress - Amity Cork

This image really shows off the makeup look so I thought I'd mention what I used,where and how!
I wanted the skin to look plumped and dewy and Margaret already has flawless skin so I prepped with some of the completely amazing Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream which I highly, HIGHLY recommend as it's a transformative product.
I then buffed a little of my beloved Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation into Margaret's skin, using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, really making sure it was worked into the skin for a polished look. I lightened the under-eye area using one of the Skin Base Lifts, also from Illamasqua, these little guys work wonders as a subtle but noticeable highlight and work really well with Illamasqua's Blending Brush #2 to buff the product into the skin.
I highlighted the tops of the cheekbones, down the center of the nose and on the cupids bow using MeMeMe Cosmetics Beat The Blues Highlighter in Oyster Gold and powdered lightly only in certain areas using the Paese Cosmetics Bamboo Powder.
I moved onto the brows and used a mixture of MAC shadows I have in a little brow quad, I'm not entirely sure which they were though, possibly Omega and Charcoal Brown or Brun!
I prepped the eyes using Paese Cosmetics Eye Primer, then worked some of the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold onto the lid using an Ilamasqua Blending Brush #2. I worked a little soft pink shadow through the crease, I believe the shadows were a mixture of various pink shades I had in my kit and I remember using the bright pink from the Illamasqua Pink Smoke palette and the glittery pink from my Make Up Academy in Glitter Ball (incredible palettes and SO inexpensive!) I used a Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush and Domed Shadow Brush to apply and blend the shadows along with a MAC 217 to blend the edges of the shadows and make sure there were no harsh lines.
I ran a little bronzer through the crease the warm everything up a bit and make the pink less harsh, and lined the lash line with some Bobbi Brown Gel Liner which I winged out and up into the outer crease with some black shadow, I think was Laura Mercier's Noir.
I finished the eyes with a few coats of mascara, which was a Maybelline one (I think!) and used some of my favorite Liz Martin's individual lashes to wing out the outer corners.
On the cheeks, I used Illamasqua Disobey Blush to contour lightly, Margaret has AMAZING cheekbones, and I buffed some of the STUNNING Paese blush (with Argan Oil!) from Paese Cosmetics onto the cheeks and high onto the cheekbones.
This is such a great colour, similar enough to NARS famous Orgasm with that fantastic gold shimmer which works so well on the high points of the cheeks if you really buff it up and out.
For the lips, I used Paese Cosmetics (really into this brand at the moment) really amazing Manifesto Lip Creme in 905. These lip cremes are phenomenal, (and an absolute bargain at only €6.99!) they are so creamy (as you'd imagine from the name) and last for ages as they stain slightly and the colour was perfect for the look.
I sharpened up the edges of the lip by using some of the Skin Base Lift around the edges to add soft definition.

Cropped Red Jacket - Miss Daisy Blue

Bag - BooHoo

Cropped top and Trousers - Amity Cork

 White dress with Bird and Flower embroidery - Amity Cork

Shoes - BooHoo

 Vintage Sequined Top - Miss Daisy Blue

Black Body-Con Dress - Amity Cork


That's a wrap for this year!

It's been such a great year, and I've had an amazing time working with the magazine. Huge thank you to everyone involved with the magazine as well as to all of the photographers, stores, models and business owners without whom none of the shoots would have happened.

Thanks for stopping by!

LxK