As a lot of my readers will know I do love my designer labels, but not all of us can afford to have a wardrobe full of Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, etc! So it's nice to know that when you want that high fashion, catwalk look it's possible to re-create it from the High Street!!

Necklace available from end of February from: www.oasis-stores.com

Massive thanks to Katie Allen, Junior PR Assistant form Aurora Fashions for Oasis product information/photograph.

So it was with great excitement that I attended the Press Launch of West Coast Cooler Belfast FASHIONWEEK SS'13 on Friday! Gone was the snow and rain.....and in it's place was a spring filled room full of enchanting floral blooms! Not only does FASHIONWEEK's advertising campaign feature a heavenly floral backdrop, but during the launch we were treated to a sneak peek of some of the floral ensembles that will be gracing the FASHIONWEEK Catwalk in March!!

It was with this in mind that I thought I would take a look at my favourite brand, Karen Millen to see how they are embracing this trend, and boy was I not disappointed!!

While florals can be seen as very girly, Karen Millen have kept them very fresh by opting for a colour spectrum of vibrant blues and chartreuse, in a beautiful Iris print! Whether you want to keep the look simple with a pop of floral in a bag or shoe or go for a statement floral coat, there is something for you in their SS'13 Collection!! Already on my wishlist is the Iris print dress (DQ159) as this style of dress concentrates on cut, showing off my petite figure perfectly and one of the Iris print mini bags, as accessories are a great way of introducing florals into your existing wardrobe!









All items currently available from the Karen Millen Website: www.karenmillen.com

Now in it's fifteenth season, Belfast FASHIONWEEK remains the hottest show in town when it comes to all things glamorous and fashionable, and as someone who has attended most of those shows over the past nine years I can honestly say that FASHIONWEEK remains one of my highlights of the year!

As we enjoyed a wonderful continental breakfast I caught up with my fellow fashionistas and friends within the industry, whilst as checking out everyone's fabulous outfits!! The launch marks the countdown to THE fashion event of the season and there was a real sense of excitement in the room as we waited to hear about the upcoming shows!

So I asked my followers on my Facebook page, (www.facebook.com/TheRealElleWoods) when it comes to fashion purchases, do you prefer Quality or Quantity? I got some interesting views, but most said they like to buy those quality staple pieces which they then can mix and match with cheaper items!! I must confess I to am guilty of this at times, sometimes that really cute dress from TopShop is just too hard to resist, and when styled well can look amazing! However since getting older I have realised that I much prefer Quality! Why spend money on clothes you fall in love with only to find them falling apart in a few months time? I have a vast wardrobe containing pieces which date back to the nineties which I still wear, and more importantly are still in good condition!

A quality item will not only last longer, but will tend to fit and sit better on your body creating a more flattering silhouette, and sale time can be that opportunity to purchase quality items that are normally out of your reach!!! So instead of going out and buying a mountain of clothes from Primark, how about visiting some of the high end High Street or Designer boutiques during the sales and invest in a few items that will last for many years to come!

As most of my readers will know, I'm a massive fan of Karen Millen!! I would say the vast majority of my wardrobe would be from there, as I know I am guaranteed to find well fitting, beautifully cut clothes that suit my petite frame (and personal style!) While I do buy a lot from them at full price, I really look forward to their sales as it gives me an opportunity to purchase items I had my eye on at great prices!! This time round I was really chuffed with my buys as I managed to get items which (if I'm honest I would have paid full price for!!)
All in all I bought eight items in total in the Karen Millen sale and saved over £500 pounds!!!! So I thought I'd share a few of those sale bargains with you and let you see how I intend to style them with pieces I currently have in my wardrobe!!

Well no more, as this genius with a make up brush has opened his very own "Make Up Pro" store in Belfast's Royal Avenue!! I was lucky enough to be invited along to the special launch party/preview of his store back in November and honestly I was blown away with the array of products available!



For more information on Paddy visit www.paddymcgurganartist.com or call 028 9043 4007

Despite achieving so much at such a young age Alexandra has not lost sight of the most important things in her life:

Today i've chosen to carry my Karen Millen Leopard Camouflage print pony bowling bag (GM234) and the matching purse (GM240).