The Style Notebook: Irish fashion blogger Siomha Connolly

This week, it's Dublin fashion blogger Siomha Connolly of Talknthreads.

Make-up

I’ve never really been a big make-up person, but as with most girls I started experimenting with it when I was in my teens. I’ve managed to find a nice general “everyday” style of make-up that I feel comfortable wearing.

I can’t do anything past the basics really. I’ve never managed to master winged liner, and I’m no good at blending eyeshadow. I didn’t even attempt last year’s contouring phase.

When it comes to products I love Mac Strobe Cream because it gives a nice dewy effect which helps make your make-up look really natural. Even if you don’t want to wear foundation I find Strobe cream on its own gives your skin a nice glow. For daytime I always wear it and then I apply some Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer under my eyes and on any blemishes.

I like to wear a light layer of bronzer to give my cheeks a bit of colour too, at the moment I’m using Mac Mineralize Powder in Soft & Gentle. Then I lightly fill my eyebrows in and pop some lip balm on, I’m a big fan of Glossier’s Coconut Balm Dot Com lip balm.

I don’t wear foundation every day, but some days if I feel like a need a bit more coverage I’ll wear a light layer of Mac Face & Body foundation. I’m not a fan of wearing lots of make up so this natural look suits me. Plus it saves a lot of time in the mornings.

My favourite make-up/beauty product has to be nail polish. You’ll never see me without my nails done. I do them myself and normally change my polish once a week. I wear nude or beige colours most of the time, my favourite is Essence ‘Dare it Nude’ which is a nice pinky/nude colour. The polish is really thick, I usually do two coats for a nice even finish. It dries really quickly and doesn’t chip easily. It’s also really cheap, they stock it in Penney's for less than €2.

For a night out or special dinner I’d make more of an effort. I’d follow my daytime routine with the same foundation, concealer and bronzer, then I’d add some eyeshadow (I usually go for brown shades) and some mascara, and then finish it off with a nude lip, I love Mac Yash and Charlotte Tilbury Hepburn Honey.

Fragrance

I find a lot of fragrances to be too overpowering for me so I don’t wear them very often. I got a bottle of Marc Jacobs’ new perfume Decadence for Christmas though and I’m quite enjoying that scent at the moment, but I still haven’t found my signature fragrance just yet.

Skincare

I incorporate La Roche Posay cleanser into my daily skincare routine and I’m a big fan of Kiehl’s products.

My skin tends to be quite dry so I try to avoid any harsh products and rely on moisturisers a lot, especially in the winter.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is my absolute favourite. It hydrates even the driest areas of my skin. Before I go to sleep I also use a couple of drops of Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I only recently discovered this product and I absolutely love it. Since I’ve started using it I wake up with silky smooth skin every morning.

If my skin is extra dry sometimes I’ll apply coconut oil as a kind of face mask.

I love getting facials. It feels like the ultimate luxury for me. I go to Lemon’s beauty salon in Clontarf where they do the most amazing Yon-Ka facials. You leave feeling so refreshed and relaxed.

I remove my make-up with a facial cloth and cleanser. I then apply Kiehl’s moisturiser and midnight recovery concentrate.

Hair

I use the Aussie Mega shampoo & conditioner. Other than that I don’t use products in my hair.

I get my hair cut in the Style Club on South William Street, last year I cut my hair shoulder length after having it really long for most of my life. That was a big change for me but I’ll never look back. It’s so much more manageable and my hair is healthier than ever.

I use a Remington hair wand to give it a loose wave when I’m going out and spray some Elnett Satin hairspray on top to keep the waves in.

Style

Zara is my favourite shop at the moment. It’s really affordable and good value for money too as their clothes really last. I love updating my wardrobe with a couple of new pieces every season and Zara is always my first stop.

I also love COS for their classic pieces, they do really nice cuts and the quality is fantastic for a mid-range store.

H&M Trend also has lots of nice styles that are a million miles away from the rest of the H&M ranges, they do really cool Scandi-style pieces, like classic shirts with modern detailing (think wide sleeves or wrap around ties), and nicely tailored trousers.

My best purchase would have to be any of my vintage Levi's jeans. I live in them and know they’ll last forever. The vintage styles are my favourite, they don’t make them the same anymore, I find the denim in these pairs is a lot stronger and the shapes are perfect.

The wash is also a big factor in my love for Levi's, these jeans get their look and character from years of wearing, it’s a wash that’s impossible to replicate and each pair are individual in that sense. They’re also really versatile, I can wear them just as easily paired with some heeled boots and a nice top for night time, as I can with an oversized jumper and runners for day. I’ve bought all of my pairs in vintage shops abroad and got them really cheap, so I think I’d definitely count them as my best purchase.

For evening I love to wear a pair of wide leg trousers or culottes with heels, I’ve never really been a dress type of girl so when culottes reappeared on the scene a couple of years ago it was like all my dressing up problems disappeared. For nighttime I love to dress my outfits up with lots of simple jewellery, I always wear gold for a night out.

For daytime I like to be relaxed and comfortable. Between working two jobs and blogging as well I have a lot of running around to do.

My Adidas Stan Smiths are my best friend for busy days. Before these I was never really into runners but I think they can make outfits look clean and sharp, especially when worn with tailored trousers and a long coat.

I take style inspiration from everywhere. It could be someone I see walking down the street wearing something unusual, or a friend wearing something in a new and interesting way. I also get lots of inspiration looking through Instagram and Pinterest, and I follow lots of other bloggers.

I love fashion month as well for all the street style pictures that come out. Tommy Ton and Phil Oh are two photographers who always capture the best of the best of fashion week street style.

Out and about

I love Clement and Pekoe on Dublin's South William Street for coffee. It’s the perfect place for catching up with a friend, or taking your laptop in and doing some work. They also do the nicest hot chocolate.

No Name bar on Drury Street is a really nice spot for drinks with friends and the Chelsea Drugstore on George’s Street is really cool too. Opium on Wexford Street is always fun for a girls' dinner and the cocktails are amazing.

I like spending my days off wandering around town with my boyfriend or friends, stopping in somewhere for a coffee and some lunch, doing a bit of shopping, and meeting friends for a few drinks in the evening.

My favourite place to go for a holiday in Ireland is Dingle. I used to go to Kerry every summer with my family, I grew out of it while I was a teenager and I stopped going, but over the last couple of years I’ve fallen in love with Dingle again. The small town has such charm and so much character.

My favourite city to travel to abroad is New York. I’ve spent two summers there already and I’m already itching to go back. There’s no words to describe New York, you just have to go and experience it for yourself.

My favourite way to unwind is curling up with a good book or catching up on the latest magazines, my favourites are The Gentlewoman, Porter, and Vogue. I’d spend my life reading if I could.

Fun Fact

I’ve recently started writing for online fashion magazine Maven46. It’s an interactive fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazine which features uniquely curated content that is completely shoppable. So my creative time is now split between Maven46 and Talknthreads but I love being kept busy, especially when it’s work that I’m really passionate about.

Instagram: @siomhac