If there is one thing that I love it’s a good fashion event to mark the beginning of a new fashion season and my favourite shopping destination, Victoria Square, Belfast have an exciting array of events planned for the end of this month!

From Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September, Victoria Square will play host to some fanastic seasonal fashion and beauty events, while The Galgorm Resort and Spa in Ballymena will be the location for their exciting catwalk finale on Sunday 27 September.

Their catwalk shows will feature an exclusive preview of Northern Ireland’s leading shopping centre’s key Autumn/Winter collection pieces from many of the retail outlets housed beneath the famous glass dome! While shoppers will be treated to an exclusive "Beauty Master Class" at one of my favourite stores, House of Fraser on Friday 25 September!

Katherin Farries, Victoria Square Personal Stylist, revealed what shoppers can expect to see on the runway: “Tribal prints and bold colours are a must for the Autumn/Winter wardrobe. Our catwalk will feature clothing for all the family and we’re excited to reveal this season’s key buys. Starting with autumn trends we will then showcase the must have winter warmers and of course, there’ll be plenty of sparkle on the runway too as we prepare for the festive season.”

The Autumn/Winter fashion and beauty events will feature seasonal colour palettes and on-trend tips for both beauty and fashion alike. From a styled catwalk by My Sister’s Closet, to a beauty master class with House of Fraser and an inspirational runway show fashioned by Victoria Square’s Personal Stylist, Katherin Farries, there is something for everyone in the family.

The event finale will take place at The Galgorm Resort and Spa on Sunday 27 September at 3pm, with a catwalk showcasing seasonal trends in the popular venue.
Tickets for this event are available now and can be purchased from Victoria Square’s Customer Service desk. But be quick as this show is set to sell out fast!




Catering for everyone who has a love for fashion there really is something for everyone during this celebration of style and beauty, hope to see you all there!


Many thanks to Susan Jackson at Smarts Communicate for Press Release and all relevant imagery.

Ladies it’s that time of year again………..House of Fraser’s “Beauty Confidential” is nearly upon us!!

One of my favourite times to shop for all things beauty related is during “Beauty Confidential” as House of Fraser's beauty floor is truly a one stop shop for all your beauty needs and THE perfect opportunity to stock up on all your beauty favourites! (It's also the perfect time to experiment with the season's newest products and trends!)

From Monday 7th to Tuesday 22nd September 2015 (inclusive), House of Fraser, Belfast has once again curated a selection of 30 fantastic products, offering £10 off*! Concentrating on the top beauty trends of the moment, House of Fraser's “must have” list of products will help you create this season's top looks!

“For the AW15 issue, our in-house team of beauty experts has handpicked this season’s top products for the perfect lip and brow styles, and taken a closer look at the ultra-cool trend for beautifully ‘strobed’ skin. We’re also sharing our top tips and tricks to focus on your best features and make the most of your assets, with the most cutting edge skincare and colour products in the UK today.” - Ruth Newman, Director of Beauty.

To celebrate the launch of our exciting AW15 beauty collection, House of Fraser stores nationwide are hosting a variety of unmissable Beauty Confidential Events this September. The Belfast Event will take place this Thursday, 10th September (ticket cost £10) customers will have the opportunity to discover the products in the offer, get advice from the experts and enjoy a glass of bubbly! What’s not to love!

With advice from Editorial Director, Katherine Ormerod, and three interactive ‘scannable’ pages linking to videos by top lifestyle blogger Patricia Bright on the top trends, there’s never been a better time to explore the latest beauty launches and transform your look.

“Taking part in the Beauty Confidential campaign is an amazing opportunity! As a beauty lover, there's so much excitement in trying lots of beauty products and falling in love with them. From the Guerlain bronzer that is now a game changer, after never trying it before; to falling back in love with old favourites such as Clinique, I get such a buzz from experiencing new products. Even more exciting is the thought that there are going to be lots of women around the country taking part in the events, getting involved and discovering some amazing gems, I'm sure there will be lots more beauty enthusiasts in the making.” - Patricia Bright, Guest Beauty Editor and Blogger.



So make sure to head down to House of Fraser, Belfast to check out what your favourite brands have to offer for this Autumn Winter, and while you’re at it why not experiment with some of House of Fraser’s top picks too! I for one cannot wait to indulge in a little beauty retail therapy, afterall us ladies need our little indulgences! #BEAUTYCONFIDENTIAL


Massive thanks to Mark Kelly at House of Fraser for Press Release & all relevant imagery.

It’s no surprise that the most popular wedding gifts have changed through the years and many couples who didn’t have a wedding list also received multiples of the same items. The most common included: toasters and towels in the 80’s, towels and mugs in the 90’s, bed sheets and wine glasses in the 00’s and picture frames in most recent years.

Much loved Northern Irish cook and cookery writer, Jenny Bristow, who married her husband 1977, said: “In our day there wasn’t the option of setting up a gift list and even asking for gifts was unheard of. It was up to friends and family to buy whatever they thought appropriate. I remember at the time we received Ainsley Vases, in every shape, shade and size but the most memorable gift was a cheque from a guest who hadn’t signed it, meaning that we couldn’t cash it. We had an inkling of who it was from but never went back to ask for their signature out of sheer embarrassment, but we had a good laugh about it at least!”

Michelle Jackson, Victoria Square centre Manager explains, “Our Wedding Gift List signals the change in consumer needs – they want more choice than the standard gift card and this service offers exactly that. It allows friends and family to contribute towards a Gift Card so couples can buy exactly what they want not only for the home, but money towards wedding rings, a honeymoon wardrobe or a romantic meal post-wedding too.”

More information about the Wedding Event at Victoria Square can be found at www.victoriasquare.com and the Wedding Gift List service can also be set up here too.


Massive thanks to Susan Jackson at Smarts Communicate for press release, video and imagery.