N Woman November 2015 by Northern Woman

NORTHERN WOMAN

#Wherehairlives

On Trend

with Brown Thomas Fashion Director Shelly Corkery

NOVEMBER 2015

£2.50/€3.95

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Reader Event round-up

A/W'15 FASHION 9 771361 273013

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NUMBER 6

twitter @staffordhair

NW's Style Secrets

VOLUME 31

671 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7GT I 028 9066 2554 I info@staffordhair.com I staffordhair.com

Don't let anxiety take over your life

with Daniel O'Donnell

ISSN 1361-2735

N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 5 - S T Y L E F O R T H E N E W S E A S O N

Hair: Leisa Stafford for Denman; Colour: Leisa Stafford; Styling: Sara O'Neill; Make-up: Pamela Smyth; Photography: Lee Michell

Strictly Speaking

Beat It!

BIGGEST ISSUE OF THE YEAR • BIGGEST ISSUE OF THE YEAR • BIGGEST ISSUE OF THE YEAR

INTERVIEWDANIELO'DONNELL

Srictly

Speaking

This issue Margaret Connolly manages to catch up with legendary Irish singer Daniel Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell who is currently on our TV screens in not just one, but two reality shows.

INTERVIEWDANIELO'DONNELL

ifty-three year old Daniel made a name for himself in Ireland in the early eighties and has since become a cultural icon known as much for his singing as his ability to attract little old ladies in their droves for a cup of tea at his family home in Donegal! Daniel’s music has been described as a mix of country and Irish folk, and he has sold over ten million records to date. In fact in 2012, he became the first artist to have a different album in the British charts every year for 25 consecutive years. Taking some well deserved time off to spend with his wife Majella, has meant that Daniel was free to take part in two TV shows that he ordinarelly wouldn’t have been able to fit into his schedule. ‘I have been asked to take part in Strictly Come Dancing before, but my schedule has never allowed me to able to do the main show or the Christmas Special, but Majella and I had made a conscious decision to enjoy some quality time together, so a clear calendar meant that I was free this year. It was Majella who actually encouraged me to take part and I hope I don’t let her down as I compete to stay on the show.’ Majella has publicly shared her battle with cancer which has involved months of treatment, including a masectomy. In the middle of her treatment Majella also suddenly lost her father, so she decided to take a step back from public life in 2015 and Daniel planned an 18-month break to be by her side. While they have been enjoying time together away from the camera, including welcoming Majella’s daughter’s first baby to the family, ironically the time off has also allowed for fun projects that they would otherwise not have had the time to enjoy. As well as Daniel’s Strictly commitment, the couple have recorded a new six part travel series to air at the end of October on UTV called Daniel and Majella’s B&B Road Trip. This is a reality travel show with a difference as Daniel and Majella take to the road visiting areas of natural beauty and taking in all that Ireland has to offer, staying only in B&B accommodation throughout their trip. ‘Majella and I had always wanted to do a travel programme together and we enjoyed it immensely,’ says Daniel. ‘We get on well together, we have the odd spat like every couple does, but we enjoy each other’s company and we certainly had fun working together on this programme. ‘I speak for both of us when I say we met some lovely people and the hospitality extended to us in all 12 of the B&Bs we stayed in was second to none. Everyone had a warm welcome and I can confidently say that it would be extended to any guest who would visit.’

Daniel and Majella during their B&B Road Trip.

Throughout the series, their B&B hosts act as tour guides, showing them around the area and, as well as sharing stories across the dinner and breakfast table, local performers and characters will make cameo appearances for evenings of entertainment from Daniel and other local performers. ‘We wanted the programme to reflect what it’s actually like in Ireland, and the fact that at some point on your vacation that there is going to be a sing-song,’ adds Daniel. ‘This was certainly the case when we stayed at O’Connor’s B&B and pub in Cloghane, where we enjoyed a session back in the pub with local musicians and fellow guests.’ When it comes to performances and performers, Daniel moves out of the local pub and onto the dance floor to compete against the likes of Peter Andre, Georgia

May Foote, Jeremy Vine, Ainsley Harriott, Kellie Bright, Katie Derham and Carol Kirkwood for the top spot in this series of Strictly Come Dancing. Of course, I had to ask how Majella felt about Daniel’s pairing with the Siberian Siren Kristina Rihanoff who has gained a reputation for dating previous dancing stars on the show! ‘Majella’s not fazed by it at all. The Strictly curse won’t affect us,’ laughs Daniel. ‘Kristina is lovely and certainly has her work cut out with me. ‘Majella and I both watch the show and can often be found on the dance floor at parties, but this is a whole different ball game. If you asked me prior to Strictly if I could dance I would have said yes, but it’s like some asking you if you can walk and then teaching you how to actually do it properly – it’s been a real eye opener for me! ‘I feel so privileged to get the opportunity to learn how to dance properly and Kristina’s teaching ability is absolutely fantastic. ‘While it’s hard to say how I will fare at this stage, I do hope that I will stay in for a while and I will certainly put all my efforts into doing so. Kristina has made it to the finals twice, so hopefully I can do her proud with my efforts this year.’ Amidst all of this Daniel also has a new album coming out this month. ‘My new album is called The Hank Williams Song Book and features all of my favourite Hank Williams tracks. I always release a new album in October and this year is no different – it’s just that I’ll be dancing as well as singing in the run up to Christmas this year!’ Daniel and Majella’s B&B Road Trip’ airs every Monday at 8pm from 26th October on UTV and UTV Ireland.

Contents FEATURES

LIFESTYLE

Daniel O’Donnell tells us about working with his wife and learning to dance.

A pretty Co. Down abode.

7 If Only All Sundays Could Be Like This!

Make your house more attractive to buyers.

4 Strictly Speaking

A round-up of our fashionable reader event.

FASHION

80 Home Sweet Home

84 How To Improve Your Home For Buyers

101 A Truly Unique Luxury Castle Hotel

NW experiences the grandeur of Lough Eske Castle.

18 On Trend

Brown Thomas Fashion Director Shelly Corkery explains the trends.

30 The Long & Short of It

REGULARS

14 Fashion & Lifestyle News Keeping you up-to-date.

Mini, midi & maxi skirts.

55 Working 9-5

34 Great Danes

Danish fashion brands you need to know.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 70 Beat It!

Don’t let anxiety take over your life.

74 The Geek Guide to Health

Top apps to keep you on track.

Interviews and advice from and for local businesswomen.

114 A Day in the Life

Meet hair & make-up artist Sharon Watson.

COMPETITION

88 Win... A two night break in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone

PUBLISHER: Gladys Greer MANAGER: Eileen Wilson Doherty CONTRIBUTORS: Margaret Connolly, Kate Wilson & Alicia Clarke Art Editor: Karen Donnelly PRODUCTION MANAGER: Stuart Gray Accounts: Gerardine Carson Design & Production: Greer Publications Design Tel: 028 9078 3200 DISTRIBUTION: WNS Newspread, Belfast PRINT: GPS Cover: Photographer; Catherine MacKenzie; Artistic Advice: Patrick Hughes; Light, Sound & Vision: I.S.F.X; Model: CMPR; Hair: Staffords Hairdressing; Make-up Team: Leanne Godfrey, Julia Cameron, Rebecca Bryson & Rosie Pritchard www.facebook.com/ NorthernWomanMagazine

@NorthernWomanNW

Greer Publications Ltd, 5B Edgewater Business Park, Belfast Harbour Estate, Belfast, BT3 9JQ Tel: 028 9078 3200 www.northernwoman.co.uk

If Only All Sundays Could Be Like This! What's the perfect Sunday? Fabulous food in James Street South and fashion in the company of friends at NW's Sunday Style Secrets!

in association with Belfast

W’s annual Sunday Style event took place on 13th September and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of fashion and food was had by all. This was our second Sunday Style event and it was even better than the first. We love the opportunity to get together with our readers, and at this event we all got to enjoy this season’s style from event sponsor, Evelin Brandt Belfast as well as Peel Fashion Store and Marc Cain, House of Fraser, Perfect Night Occasion and Formal Wear and fashion designer

Gerardine Connon. Award winning hairdresser Paul Stafford was also on hand to offer his expert advice to those with hair dilemmas and highlight the latest looks for our tresses! The charity raffle in aid of Action Medical Research, which raised £995 on the day, saw a lucky few walk away with an Aspinal of London handbag from House of Fraser worth £350, a Jo Malone Gift Set, a £100 Evelin Brandt gift voucher, £100 Arianna gift voucher,

a Galgorm Resort & Spa voucher for two with access to the new thermal spa village plus afternoon tea, a meal for two at the Fitzwilliam Hotel in Belfast as well as many, many more. NI Gossip Guy Neil Jamie was the perfect host throughout the day. He warmly welcomed everyone and introduced the new season collections which were expertly modelled by Maureen Martin Models who sashayed amongst the dining tables allowing guests a close-up of all of the fashions on show.

NWREADEREVENT

Ladies Who Lunch!

uests began their stylish afternoon with a Moet Champagne reception in the James Wray Gallery opposite James Street South restaurant. 3

1. Bellamianta Linda Stinson, Lisa McDermott 2. Jenny Mullan and Michelle Cassidy 3. Mary McParland and Margaret Marley 4. Rosie Hanna and Clare Sloan 5. Wendi Kane and Claire Keenan 6. Neil Jamie NI Gossip Guy 7. Linda McAllister, Valerie Curran, Rachel Wright and Jenny Wright 8. Janett McCurdy, Michele McMath and Jennie Armstrong

NWREADEREVENT

Evelin Brandt Belfast

velin Brandt Belfast boasts a stunning, modern boutique on the Lisburn Road in Belfast. A large, inviting store, this wellknown Belfast boutique stocks a wide range of complementary fashion labels, all of which are attractively presented in a welcoming

shopping environment. German brand Evelin Brandt rubs shoulders with other global labels including Bitte Kai Rand, Cristina Gavioli, Summum Woman and many more. Contact: 322 Lisburn Road, Belfast, evelinbrandt.co.uk

Peel Fashion Store & Marc Cain Belfast

eel is situated on Bloomfield Avenue in East Belfast, not far from the iconic Titanic Quarter. This spacious three storey building, which houses a wide range of collections, including

Marc Cain offers a mix of classic and ‘edgy’ brands in sizes 6 to 20, many of which are exclusive to this ‘mini department store’. Contact: 107 Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast, peelfashionstore.com

NWREADEREVENT 1

5 4

1. Linda Stinson, Samantha Price and David Price 2. Paul Stafford 3. Paula Heneghan, Ruth Murray, Una McCarney and Liz Niccletti 4. Sheila Geary, Deborah Swain and Marie-Claire King 5. Susan Laverty, Heather Wylie, Beth Wylie and Katie Laverty 6. Paula Pearce, Christine Stewart, Laura Oliver, Amy Forsyth, Kay Mclorn, Libby Robinson, Lucy McCormick and Jenny Mairs 7. Sheila Hugent, Pamela Ballantine and Hanna Greer

NWREADEREVENT

Perfect Night Occasion & Formal Wear

hatever the event, a wedding or a day at the races, for example, you are guaranteed to find what you are looking for in this popular Lurgan boutique. Specialising in occasion

and formal wear, there is always a wide variety of sizes and colours in stock, ensuring that you find the perfect outfit for your needs. Contact: 94 William Street, Lurgan, perfectdayni.com

House of Fraser

ith so many high street and designer clothing and accessory brands all under one roof, this British chain store has all of this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest trends available to

shop in their Belfast store. We just got a glimpse of what you can expect to find there this autumn/winter. Contact: Victoria Square, Belfast, houseoffraser.co.uk

NWREADEREVENT

Geraldine Connon

ashion designer Geraldine Connon has been working from her Larne design studio and dressing women in Northern Ireland for over thirty years. As well as her client

commissions, Geraldine produces an inspirational catwalk presentation once a year. Contact: 52 Glenarm Road, Larne, geraldineconnon.com

Behind the Scenes...

NI Gossip Guy Neil Jamie with NW's Eileen Wilson Doherty & Gladys Greer and the beautiful Jaguar F Type from Charles Hurst

FASHION

The latest looks, key pieces and Danish design that you need to know.

FASHION&LIFESTYLENEWS What’s Next

Just launched in Northern Ireland, popular high street chain Next are now offering an Order By Midnight and Free Delivery service. Shopping just got a whole lot easier!

Fashion & LifestyleNews

Bigger & Better

Portadown boutique Sitara Morgan has unveiled their extended premises which now offers even more display space, a better changing area and also more comfort and ease for customers while browsing. They’ve also been able to take on new dress and occasional wear brands, including Daisy May, Adrianna Papell and Karen by Simonsen.

New launches, events and lots of stylish things to see and do...

Look out for...

Belfast’s first-ever Design week. A series of events and activities to promote and celebrate design and the creative economy in Belfast, Belfast Design Week will showcase emerging and established talent and aims to create new connections across island-wide industries. The team behind Belfast Design Week has carefully curated a range of events and activities including talks, workshops, pop-ups and exhibitions. Join the mailing list at belfastdesignweek.com.

No Phones At The Table Please!

IKEA's SITTNING place mat allows you to put your phone away and let go of the constant checking of social media updates while you enjoy chatting and eating at the dinner table with friends and family.

FASHION&LIFESTYLENEWS

Aspinal of London

This Letterbox Saddle Bag is a ladylike twist on the classic cross body saddle bag, this quintessentially English day bag is sure to be your favourite lady-like accompaniment for all your daytime engagements” £350 House of Fraser

Silk scarves from Jane Carr

Lidl NI Launches Debut A/W Collection

Lidl NI have returned to the fashion circuit with the launch of its debut Esmara Autumn/Winter collection, following the sell-out success of its first ever fashion collection earlier this year. Dominated by rich colours like Bordeaux red, olive green and grungy greys and blacks, the focus of the collection is on functional staples, plush fabrics and elegant layering at prices that won’t break the bank. The collection will also include a range of menswear and kidswear.

Get Real

New to the Lisburn Road, Real offers shoppers a curated selection of stylish clothing for women and men as well as must-have accessories and decorative interior pieces.

New Designer @ Debenhams

Travel in Style

NI travel company, McComb’s Coach Tours, is about to commence its weekly trips to Kildare Village giving consumers a luxurious, stress-free way to make the trip to and bag a bargain at this outlet shopping centre especially while the Euro versus pound exchange rate is so favourable. For further information and to book visit www.mccombscoaches.com or phone 028 9086 6162.

Nine by Savannah Miller is her new exclusive collection designed for Debenhams. It offers a stylish, smart-casual wardrobe with a rock chick vibe that takes you effortlessly from day to evening.

FASHIONQ&A

On Trend...

Shelly Corkery

Shelly Corkery Brown Thomas Fashion Director discusses this season's fashion trends... In your opinion, what are this season’s key trends?

The key trends this season are the Gothic Trend, Couture Construction, Optical Art, Grandma’s Dressing Up Box, Retro Futuristic and of course the 70’s is still a key focus for Autumn/ Winter'15.

What is your favourite trend this season?

Personal favourite trends this season include Couture Construction for the fashionability and the tailoring which I love. The brands that represent this trend very well would be Balenciaga, Prada and Stella McCartney. The Gothic trend is also definitely a favourite; Givenchy did a great take on this, as did Phillip Lim, and as always Alexander McQueen.

What will you be wearing this season?

Key pieces that will be in my Stella McCartney Dress, €2,695 wardrobe for Autumn Winter are a black YSL Cape, a Céline brick skirt and cut-away top, and a Stella McCartney black bustier-style evening dress. Chloé Cape, €2,780

Can you recommend an investment piece?

The cape is a key investment piece that so many of the brands are doing in every material from wool, cashmere, leather; it can also be a great transitional piece coming in to Spring.

What advice would you give for navigating this season’s trends?

Gedebe Clicky Python Shoulder Bag, €595

My advice to take from the trends this season would be; more is more, there is a key focus on embellishment that we see in the trend Grandma’s Dressing Up Box. The cape is a great piece from the Couture Construction trend, and also a pair of knee high boots is a nod to the 70s trend.

Are there any trends this season you feel are best left on the catwalk? Everything that we see on the catwalk is so directional; it is all about how you style it.

McQ Dress, €435

FASHIONTWEED

TREND: Tweed

This heritage fabric gets a high-fashion makeover for autumn/winter. Miu Miu

Charcoal & Camel Herringbone Donegal Tweed Coat, €520, Magee

Jersey Tweed Pencil Skirt, £49.95, Joules

Tweed Jacquard Cigarette Trouser, £98, Jigsaw

Michael Kors

Neon Tweed Dress, £375, Victoria Beckham Jeans @ House of Fraser Hooded Cape, £250, Cocoon Luxury Wear

Harris Tweed Ladies Cape, £220, Cocoon Luxury Wear @ Grainne Maher Fashion Vault Jumpsuit, £45, Dorothy Perkins

Tweed Colour Block Clutch, £26, Oliver Bonas Jasmine, £299, Dubarry of Ireland

Midnight Blue Valentina Tweed Jacket, £395, Indigo Ivy

FASHIONTAILORING

Suits You

This season we are borrowing from the boys to look sharp and stylish in perfectly tailored suits and separates made from a range of fabrics (cobalt silks, muted tweeds) and cut in a handful of silhouettes (flowy and 70s, skinny and cropped).

Pinstripe Jacket, ÂŁ45, Next

FASHIONTAILORING

Anna Kendrick at The Grammys Charlie XCX

Jacket, £325 & Trouser, £155, both Marc Cain

Jacket, £139.90 & Trouser, £99.90, Comma @ Evelin Brandt Belfast

Emma Watson opts for a trouser suit.

Blazer with Zip Pocket, £175, Betty Barclay @ S.D. Kells

Tux Blazer, £17, Primark

Carey Mulligan in a tuxedo trouser suit Laura Clement Suit Jacket, £99, Laura Clement Trouser, £69, both La Redoute Twiggy Jacket, £69, M&S

Regent Skinny Trousers, £125, L.K. Bennett

London Pinspot Jacket, £179; Indian Floral Shirt, £129; London Pinspot Trousers, £120 & Leather Trainers, £98, all Jigsaw

Grey Trouser, £90, Betty Barclay @ Cilento

Toulouse Anke Heel Boot, £95, Ara Shoes

FASHIONSHOES

Flat Footed

When not in a pair of boots this winter, here are some comfortable every day alternatives...

Trainers

The perfect choice for casual weekends. Set Trainers in Indigo Congo Leather, £159, Ash @ House of Fraser

Flannas, £85.95, Moda in Pelle @ Panache Shoes

Notting Hill Gate Gold Reptile Leather Trainer, £99.99, Daniel Footwear @ danielfootwear.com Even Sarah Jessica Parker slips into comfortable trainers!

LACE-UP

Fiano, £79.95, Moda in Pelle @ Panache Shoes

Perfect for teaming with trousers for every day.

Flint, £75, Dune

Alexa Chung is on trend lace-up brogues.

Willow Shoe, £115, Dr Martens

SLIP-ON

Extremely versatile wear with a pencil skirt or pair of jeans. Addison, £69, Dune

Elodia, £85.95, Moda in Pelle @ Sitara Morgan Poppy Delevingne opts for stylish slip-ons!

Dean Pointed Loafer, €640, Céline @ Brown Thomas

P Specialising in Bridesmaids, Mother of the Bride Outfits, Wedding Guests & Occasion Wear

Perfect Night 94 William Street, Lurgan 028 3834 2069

www.facebook.com/perfectnightlurgan

FASHIONFRINGING

Fringed Fashion Fringing offers a flirty finish to your look. Whether on a jacket, skirt, bag or shoe, it's the statement maker of the season. Kate Moss rocks this fringed ensemble!

❤

Add some rock chick styling to your new season wardrobe with a black suede or leather fringed coat.

Liv Tyler embraces this new season statement.

Fringed Ankle Boots, £60, Next

Celebrity stylist and fashion designer Rachel Zoe in Burberry Prorsum. Leather Fringe Skirt, £149, Biba @ House of Fraser Silk Triangle Scarf, £22.99, Zara

Goa Fringe Crossbody Bag, £39, Accessorize

❤

If you prefer to approach this trend with caution, opt for a fringed accessory! Leather and Tassel Lariot Necklace, £25, Freedom @ Topshop

Black Long Length Tassel Coat, £149, Wallis Pippa Patchwork Tassel Cardigan, £99, Monsoon Fringe Detail Dress, £229, Hobbs

Fringed Jacket, £50, BHS

Cardigan, £385, Marc Cain, Marc Cain, Belfast

find us on facebook

www.peelfashionstore.com

peel

107 Bloomfield Advenue, Belfast BT5 5AB T/F: 028 9045 2665 F: 028 9087 2491 E: peelfashion@gmail.com

FASHIONNEWS

Gaol House Frock... Take time out to enjoy Action Cancer's fashion show at the Crum...

ymphonic – An exciting fashion event celebrating the best of local Northern Ireland fashion including fashion from Northern Ireland’s leading local cancer charity Action Cancer. Taking place on Thursday 12th November 2015 being supported by and held in the dramatic location of The Crumlin Gaol. Showcasing both established and emerging talent this is a must see for all fashion fans. Bringing together high fashion and the pre-loved fashion collection that is available in Action Cancer stores across the country. “Action Cancer retail is changing the face of charity retail across Northern Ireland and we are delighted to be showcasing the pre-loved collection alongside such an amazing talent pool of Northern Ireland designers, including an exclusive display of up-cycled fashion looks from our stores that have been created by the very talented Lewis Cameron and Jamie Russell,” says Katherine Young, Retail Development Officer for Action Cancer. “This is a very exciting night for Action Cancer retail and will raise funds to support our cancer prevention, detection and support services across Northern Ireland as well as increasing awareness of the pre-loved collection and sustainable fashion, make sure you get your tickets!” Local creative director Cindy McKendry has been involved from the start gathering an amazing talent pool from the Northern Ireland fashion scene, who have all dedicated their time and skills towards this event including designers Shauna Fay, Grainne Maher, Melanie Bond, Honeysuckle and Pepperdillo, Mohawk, Marie-Claire Millenary, Joe Carlin, Lewis Cameron and Jamie Russell. Guests will arrive to a drinks and macaroons reception being supplied my Eva Paris NI. A light supper will also be served during the interval. Tickets are priced at £25 and are available from the Action Cancer website, www.actioncancer.org and from your local Action Cancer store.

Discover a world that will entice with all things nice

#allthingsnice forestside.co.uk

STYLE SALUTE

It's all about the uniform this season . . .

FASHIONMILITARY

Parka with Artificial Fox Fur, ÂŁ385, Marc Cain @ Marc Cain Belfast

FASHIONMILITARY

Mix a bit of biker chic into your military styling.

Barbour Jumpsuit

Invest in a military inspired overcoat.

Emilio Pucci

Military Street Style from London Fashion Week.

Jacket, £2,145, Balmain @ net- a-porter

Olivia Palermo opts for military styling.

Soft Mesh Silk Trim Sweater, £89, Jigsaw

Belted Trench, £350, Jaeger

Cotton Chambray Shirt, £129.47 Current/ Elliott @ Shopbop.com

Hose Jeans, £149.95, Mos Mosh

Luca Leather Backpack, £245, Reiss

Wide Leg Trousers, £40, Next Cara Delevingne adds camouflage to her casual look.

Taylor Longboot, £289, Hobbs

Lace-up Boot, £29.99, New Look

FASHIONSKIRTS

The Long & Short of It! Whether short, long or somewhere inbetween, there is a skirt style guaranteed to suit you.

Isabel de Pedro available at Peel, Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast

FASHIONSKIRTS Alexa Chung

Natalie Skirt, £139, Coast Delfine Skirt, £395, L.K. Bennett

Lace Skirt from a selection by RJR John Rocha @ Debenhams

Sarah Jessica Parker

Midi Gathered Skirt, £89, Jigsaw

Midi

Mara Michel Jersey A-Line Skirt, €140, Weekend Max @ Brown Thomas

From just over the knee to grazing the ankle this is an incredibly flattering skirt length.

Printed Skirt, £215, Marc Cain @ Marc Cain, Belfast

Pleated Cross Hatch Skirt, £275, Victoria Beckham Denim @ House of Fraser

Navy Corduroy Button Front Midi Skirt, £22.99, New Look

Amal Clooney

Lily Collins

FASHIONSKIRTS Taylor Swift

Red Zip Detail Skirt, £xx, Betty Barclay @ S.D. Kells

Black & Silver Embellished Mini Skirt, £49, Miss Selfridge

Highs Jacquard Skirt, £55, White Stuff

Snake Print Skirt from a selection by In Wear @ Rio/Brazil

Jessica Alba

Mini

Fan Pleat Skirt, €855, J.W. Anderson @ Brown Thomas

Shorter skirts are having a moment this season, but make sure you have the legs for this one!

Pencil Skirt, £109.90, Bitte Kai Rand @ Evelin Brandt

Purple Suede Pleat Mini Skirt, £35, Miss Selfridge Tweed Skirt, £40, Next

Victoria Beckham

Rosie HuntingtonWhitele

FASHIONSKIRTS Olivia Palermo

Flowy Metallic Skirt, £260, Stills Wrap Skirt, £199, Jaeger

Pleated Aysmmetric Skirt, €515, McQ @ Brown Thomas

Sarah Jessica Parker

Green Maxi Skirt, £19.99, T.K. Maxx

Maxi

Longer lengths tick the seventies bohemia trend and look great paired with belted jackets day or night.

Sequin Maxi Skirt, £125, Phase Eight

Fringed Plaid Basketweave Canvas Maxi Skirt, £1,595, Proenza Schouler @ net- a-porter.com

Kim Kardashian

High-waist Suede Maxi Skirt, £1,760, Emilio Pucci @ matchesfashion.com

Anisha Print Crinkle Skirt, £79, East

Kate Hudson

DANISHDESIGN

Great Danes...

Danish fashion design is a rapidly growing scene and you’ll find Danish labels on high streets all over the world, including here in NI. Here are just a few to look out for.

Jackpot SAND

Jackpot clothing is described as ‘a Scandinavian brand for the modern woman in love with life!’. The label was founded by Carli Gry in 1974 and from the beginning there was a strong focal point of handpainted prints of flowers and patterns, which is still apparent today.

Lene and Soren Sand, driven by a passion for fashion, opened their first little fashion store in their hometown of Randers, Denmark, in the 80s, and today SAND is represented in 32 countries, on six continents. SAND offer cool Scandinavian silhouettes combined with southern European charm to maintain its provocative, sophisticated focus. For Women, SAND offers the two lines: Black Label, a contemporary fashion with a feminine, sensual expression, and Pink Label - preppy heritage. The collections are complemented by an accessories collection, including leather goods and shoes.

Kaffe Kaffe offers value for money styles for women who are naturally feminine and like to wear comfortable clothes with special details. Lovers of this label like to mix her daily look with a twist of ethnic details, colours and contrasts.

Baum und Pferdgarten Baum und Pferdgarten was founded in 1999 by Danish designers Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave. The two designers work a lot with contrast in their design.

Bruuns Bazaar Brunns Bazaar was created by brothers Teis and Bjørn Bruun in 1994. The company's simple style has garnered much international recognition and was the first Danish brand to enter the official show calendar at Paris Fashion Week.

DANISHDESIGN

Minimum Minimum was established in 1997 as a small retail shop in Aarhus in Denmark, but quickly evolved into an independent clothing label, launching the first male collection in 1999 and the womenswear label was added in 2007. The philosophy is to make stylish and functional clothing produced from high quality materials, but always at affordable prices. Minimum’s collections are characterised by a mix of materials, shapes and colours and should be seen as a contributor to the basic wardrobe, meanwhile providing prominent items for special occasions.

By Malene Birger By Malene Birger is another successful Danish name on the international fashion stage. Birger’s designs are sophisticated yet playful and are sold in 40 countries worldwide. Their flagship store in Copenhagen has won design awards of its own!

Day Birger et Mikkelsen Day Birger et Mikkelsen’s ambition is to create contemporary everyday glamour for men and women, using ethnic inspiration, embroidery and embellishment.

InWear InWear was established in 1969 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The brand was created as a fashion label for cool city girls with a feminine, urban, and confident look. The brand provides the modern urban woman with a style that is feminine, confident, and well-dressed. The products offer a great fit and quality expressed through perfection of details. This October sees a collaboration with 90s supermodel, Helena Christensen. InWear by Helena will consist of 20 pieces.

DANISHDESIGN

Saint Tropez Saint Tropez is represented in several department stores throughout Europe and sells to more than 1,000 retailers worldwide. The label is designed for the younger woman who loves fashion, yet is still price-conscious.

Part Two Part Two was established in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1986. With 28 years of experience Part Two still creates high quality fashion products for real women living real lives. Part Two celebrates the sincere, timeless and a sense of natural femininity. They create fashion for the woman who wants to look great yet at the same time feel good in great designs that fit comfortably while enjoying the authentic moments in life.

Noa Noa Noa Noa was created in 1981 by brothers Harald and Lars Holstein as a feminine and romantic alternative to the hard-edged fashions of the time. The name Noa Noa means ‘simple and harmonious’ in Tahitian, and epitomises the feminine and bohemian Noa Noa universe. Today, Noa Noa is privately owned, and sold in 25 countries in more than 160 concept stores, as well as in an additional 1,000 multibrand stores around the world. The brand includes the Noa Noa Woman, Noa Noa miniature and Noa Noa miniature baby collections.

Soaked in Luxury Soaked in Luxury collections are luxury for the eye and provide young women with a modern style that doesn’t go unnoticed. Their styles are sexy, modern and feminine, allowing customers to embrace her personality and femininity in an effortless way. With ten collections annually, Soaked in Luxury offers fresh styles and newest trends at an affordable price at all times.

An Opportunity to Sell Friendtex

If you love it and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d wear it why not sell it? For viewing and further information contact Dashlin: Glassdrumman House, Annalong, Co.Down. e:susan@dashlin.co.uk or tel. 07729321221

FASHIONDRESSES

Dressed for the Day Make a style statement in this selection of winter day dresses...

Dress from a selection by Soaked in Luxury available @ Willow & Thread, Comber

FASHIONDRESSES Turn up the volume in this tunic which is easily adapted from day to night with a quick change of your accessories.

Frill Hemline Dress, £219.90, Bitte Kai Rand @ Evelin Brandt

Everyone needs a fun and flirty shift in their wardrobe. Wear this one with black tights and ankle boots.

Biba Green Lace Shirt Dress, £125, House of Fraser

A must-have casual dress that can be worn in different guises all year round.

A flattering dress that means business this winter.

Denim Shirt Dress, £89, Phase Eight

Thanks to the dark, romantic floral print this dress will take you effortlessly from day to night.

Floral Pleat Dress, £150, Jaeger

Panel Dress, £150, Betty Barclay @ S.D. Kells

This dress ticks a number of trend boxes thanks to checks and heritage fabric as well as the fit and flare style.

Carnell Dress, £299, Hobbs

Wear alone or layered over leather leggings. Military Shirt Dress, £49.50, Oliver Bonas

Add some 70s retro style to your everyday style with this dress. Team with knee high boots and a suede trench. Dress with Pussy Bow Neckline, £75, Edition Preen @ Debenhams

13 MAIN STREET, BALLYNAHINCH, CO.DOWN BT24 8ND T: 028 9756 2471 OPEN TUES – SAT 9.00am – 5.30pm

FASHIONBAGS

Image Courtesy of Anya Hindmarch A/W15

FASHIONBAGS

The classic black day bag that will stand the test of time.

The classic Chanel quilted black bag looks great with everything as Lauren Conrad demonstrates.

Harper is going to have quite a collection of Victoria Beckham's favourite bag - the Hermes Birkin.

A heritage bag which is passed down through the generations.

Lock Mini Bag, €1,320, Valentino @ Brown Thomas

A metallic evening bag which you can wear with anything.

The TOP

Large Zipped Pouch, £425, Victoria Beckham @ Harrods

A day clutch for when you want to look super stylish.

4 5

A crossbody party bag to leave you free to dance the night away!

TEN

Whether an investment piece or simply a desirable must-have, here are the bags that in our opinion, every woman should own...

A neutral bag that goes with everything.

Olivia Palermo with Thela taupe bag by Meli Melo £546 from REAL Lisburn Road Belfast

The versatile weekend backpack. Marly Backpack, £370, Michael Kors

A bag that adds a pop of colour.

Olivia Wilde is just one of the many A-listers who loves Anya Hindmarch's metallic crisp packet clutch.

Embroidered Clutch, £420.75, Charlotte Olympia @ theoutnet.com

Something that makes you smile because it is fun and funky.

Small Pink Satchel Bag, £1,320, Saint Laurent @ Cruise.

An oversized weekend bag to carry all your essentials whether home or away!

Gwen Stefani supersizes her arm candy!

Medallion Girl

World Skills Bronze medal winner Rebecca Wilson with instructors David Frizzell (left) and Colin Hagan (right) of Riverpark Training.

he top apprentices from around the world recently competed at the World Skills Finals, held this year in Brazil, with one Ballynahinch girl taking a bronze medal in the car painting category. Rebecca Wilson represented the UK at the World Skills Finals in Sao Paulo, Brazil during the summer and was delighted to take the Bronze medal in the car painting section. A total of 41 apprentices represented the UK in 37 different skills categories ranging from landscape gardening to web design. Fifty-two different countries entered teams in the event. Rebecca described the experience as ‘unreal’ and “the chance of a lifetime.”

“Brazil was amazing, the venue was so big, there were 1200 competitors in all the different categories in one massive venue. I was a little bit nervous and there were a few things I could have possibly done a little better and I made a few silly mistakes. I had no idea I had won a medal until it was announced when everyone was up on the stage. I couldn’t believe it to begin with. “From then on, things have been really hectic. No sooner had I got home when I had to fly to Sweden for the official opening of a car paint factory and then come straight back to London for a special reception for the UK World Skills team at Westminster.” Rebecca has always been interested in cars, even from an early age. “My dad is a trained mechanic and always had cars at home and I would have gone out to the garage and worked with him. I knew I wanted a career working with cars and I started my training at Bells of Crossgar when I was 16.” Rebecca, who works for CM Accident Repair Centre, was trained by Riverpark Training and Development in Mallusk and Riverpark’s Managing Director Colin Hagan paid tribute to Rebecca’s dedication. “Rebecca is a very dedicated person who knows what she wants and will put every effort into achieving her ambitions. She came into Riverpark most Saturdays and gave up all her free time to practice before the finals and this paid dividends,” said Colin. Riverpark Training have had great success in competitions, have previously won medals twice before at World Skills as well as being awarded ‘Specialist Training Centre of the Year’ twice. Rebecca is not finished yet as she has her eye on returning to the 2017 World Skills Finals in Abu Dhabi to work as an alumni helping the next group of apprentices.

Bold & Beautiful Brocade fabrics in full-bodied colours are decadent and exotic this Autumn/Winter.

Brocade dress (underneath) £75 at Warehouse, Victoria Square; gold and black strapless dress £20 at The Rusty Zip; Derek Lawlor neck piece £245 available at GRÁINNE MAHER::FASHION VAULT, Spires Mall; Chloe Dougan Design black belt £45 and wine red Mongolian neck piece £150 both available at GRÁINNE MAHER::FASHION VAULT, Spires Mall and Studio Souk, Belfast.

Jayne Pierson gold jacket, Una Burke studded holster £420 and Derek Lawlor fringed belt £135 all available at GRÁINNE MAHER::FASHION VAULT, Spires Mall; embroidered dress (underneath) £150 at Warehouse, Victoria Square; gold chain belt £3 at The Rusty Zip and red skirt stylist’s own.

Berry blouse £42 and suede belt £20 both at Warehouse, Victoria Square; lace pencil dress (underneath) £179 at Aria, Belfast; black and white embroidered skirt £125 and Catherine B rings £25 each both at Una Rodden Couture, Belfast: earrings stylist’s own.

Biba oriental blouse £79 at House Of Fraser, Victoria Square; embroidered skirt £65 at Warehouse, Victoria Square; Chloe Dougan Design ‘Toscana’ fur shoulder piece with leather harness £155 and Emma Manley collar neck piece £160, both available at GRÁINNE MAHER::FASHION VAULT, Spires Mall; gold cage belt £45 at Una Rodden Couture, Belfast; floral belt and earrings stylist’s own.

Strapless red floral dress £259 at Perfect Night, Lurgan; black sheer a-line dress (underneath) handmade to order at Shauna Fay, Spires Mall; black and white jacket £125 at Una Rodden Couture, Belfast; Derek Lawlor fringed belt £135 at GRÁINNE MAHER::FASHION VAULT, Spires Mall; earrings and tassel necklace stylist’s own.

Photographer: Khara Pringle www.kharapringlephotographic.com Styling: Eve Brannon 0781 7597067 Assisted by Julia šokele Make-up by Paddy McGurgan @ Make-Up Pro Store, Belfast Hair: Joanne O’Neill 028 2765 7571

Red satin top £69 and twisted bib necklace £35 both at Una Rodden Couture, Belfast; Daisy May metallic trousers £94.95 at Saretta, Dungannon; gold kimono £25 and red suede belt £6 both at The Rusty Zip; earrings stylist’s own.

Model: Sophia @ the Morgan Agency

Working 9-5

Image courtesy of In Wear

WORKINGWOMAN

This issue we introduce you to four local entrepreneurial business women; Lenore Rice from Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors offers advice on protecting against the false equality of divorce; there are some team building activities for you to consider and we also offer you some stylish ideas for your working wardrobe.

WORKINGWOMAN

Doing It 4 Themselves

NW highlights four local entreprenurial women who are forging their own career paths. Katie Larmour, KL Design

atie trained as an applied artist at the School of Art and Design in Belfast. After graduation she worked as an art and antiques dealer for eight years prior to setting up KL Design Ireland. She travels all around the world constantly from Europe to Asia and North and South America to personally hand-pick original and rare vintage fabrics which she transforms into her range of unique home furnishings. ‘Setting up KL Design has been the most

inspiring adventure I’ve ever taken,’ Katie explains. ‘I came up with the KL Design name, colour and logo style, registered the domains and I’m now working with a web team at present to create my vision of KL Design online. It’s all go at present! ‘I’ve always dreamt of channelling my creativity and combining my passions for art and fashion to create something luxurious and unique. I source the fabrics for my cushions from across the world and

get so excited when I find something that I can turn into a special one-off piece that others can treasure. ‘I know I’m very new to the business world but I really love being involved in every aspect and I can’t see this changing. Certainly, I would encourage anyone setting up a business to be as hands-on as possible. For me, it’s the only way I can assure my vision of KL Design and each unique cushion created meets the same high standards I’ve set myself. ‘I absolutely love seeing each new cushion come to life - from idea to creation to sale, each stage is as important to me as the next. ‘I personally travel to some breathtaking locations all over the world and hand-pick all of the fabrics, which adds a unique story to each pillow. Many of the silks bear the brand names or signatures of their designers embodied in the original fabric, including such illustrious figures from the world of high fashion as Schiaparelli, Nina Ricci, Pierre Cardin, Balenciaga, Lanvin of Paris and Liberty of London. ‘I then make the aesthetic choices of deciding their shape and size depending on where the patterns fall and which shade of linen to match it with on the back. All of the backs are 100 per cent Irish linen supplied by the last remaining authentic linen mill still active in Ireland. This unique and entirely natural backing provides a luxurious but very durable foil to the more luminous colours of the richly patterned silks on the front. ‘Initially I was making the cushions myself, but now I have a very talented seamstress working alongside me, which is great as it frees up time to allow me to focus on growing the business. While I do source fabrics worldwide, it’s really important to me that my cushions are locally made and seen as a Northern Irish product. ‘I’ve many other equally exciting ideas and products I wish to introduce to KL Design in the future but I’m totally focusing on my cushions for now. They’re a high end luxury item, but over time I do plan on introducing a variety of price points within the KL Design range. ‘I would encourage anyone going into business for themselves, to play as much of a hands on role as possible, as that’s where the excitement and satisfaction is found.’

WORKINGWOMAN Lisa McDermott & Linda Stinson, Bellamianta

fter spending 15 years training as beauty therapists and working in the world of luxury cosmetics, Lisa and Linda decided that they really wanted to create their our own product range using all the knowledge they had gained over the years. It took two years and 49 formulations to get Bellamianta to the finished product you see on the shelves today! ‘We have learnt so many new skills over the last couple of years - getting the actual formula right was only the beginning! We’ve had to learn how to create packaging, design logos and websites, choose images and manufacture our tan. It has been both the hardest and most rewarding experience. ‘One of the most important things for us was that our tan really delivered on the claims we make and that we only use the cleanest ingredients possible without compromising on performance. We also pride ourselves on being ‘Affordable Luxury’, which was no easy task as we only use the highest grade ingredients but want to offer a competitive price point. ‘We have a love of skincare and a desire to create products that are kind to your skin. To do this in our lotion we used ingredients such as the superfood sea buckthorn which contains over 190 nutrients and 12 times more vitamin C

than oranges, which we then combined with antioxidants such as mango and gogi berries, along with papaya which is a natural exfoliant that helps with cell rejuvenation and also enhances skin tone and texture whilst keeping your skin hydrated. ‘Linda and I have been completely in control of every process from creating our formula, designing the luxury mitt, designing our logo, choosing our imagery, getting packaging/bottles, labels and designing boxes’, adds Lisa. ‘We knew exactly what we wanted and how we wanted our brand to look and feel. It was a massive learning experience but in the end we have a product we love and a brand we are proud of. We were lucky enough to get a lot of help and support, we have been amazed at how generous people have been with support and advice. Retailers and salons have really supported us stocking Bellamianta and promoting a local brand. ‘Over the next month we will launch our rapid mousse and spray tan and next year will see us bring two further innovative products to the market. We only launched on August 1st but we are already available in 80 stockists and over the next six months we will expand into the Republic of Ireland and UK. ‘If you’re thinking of launching a product we would always advise you to research thoroughly and make sure there is a market for the product or service you are offering. Take advice from EVERYONE! Never be afraid to say you don’t understand something, the only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask! ‘Linda and I are working mummies, we wanted the freedom to be the best business women we could be while still being the best mummies we could be, this means sometimes we work 80 hours a week just to ensure we don’t have to work set times, but because we really love our brand and our business this is really enjoyable. So, make sure launching you own product is something you really want to do. Set realistic goals and targets, be kind to yourself and enjoy the process.’

Una Tinnelly, Stella & Dot Stylist

na was looking for a different career path when she came across Stella & Dot, a modern homebased business that allows women everywhere to style their own career while they enjoy irresistible style for themselves. A stylist for three and half years now – the longest of any stylist in Ireland - Una has been promoted to Associate Director, leading and coaching a team of over 80 women across the UK and Ireland, and is also part of a broader team in the U.S. ‘I was coming the end of a five year career break when my children were young and felt the need for a change and something more flexible and fun,’ says Una. ‘I came across Stella & Dot by accident whilst reading an online feature on the ‘50 Best Wedding Guest Accessories’. I was drawn to a fabulous pair of earrings and simply had to see more! I had always wanted my own business but had been too cautious to risk investment and not confident enough to develop business plans. Stella & Dot offered a fun, flexible way to earn money and set my own hours and goals, and best of all there was zero risk - and lots of gorgeous jewels! I was intrigued by CEO, Jessica Herrin’s vision of ‘a world where strong women lead bold and joyful lives’ and loved that is was a company created by women for women. So, I arranged to meet a local stylist, saw the jewels and jumped right in! ‘The extra income is the most obvious benefit, but the most incredible benefit for me, having been a ‘stay at home mum’, has been to get a ‘bit of me’ back. I hear so many women say that Stella & Dot has given them

WORKINGWOMAN Mary Service, The Byre Images courtesy of Alexandra Barefoot Photography

something for themselves. The independence, control, empowerment and energy that comes from being part of a fun community and an exciting young brand cannot be underestimated. ‘I have come to love coaching other women to grow their confidence,

❛Stella & Dot offered a fun, flexible way to earn money and set my own hours and goals, and best of all there was zero risk❜ build their business and put a bit of sparkle in their lives. I have made so many new friendships from Ireland to Scotland to the U.S. and I’m proud to be part of a community of women who truly believe in lifting each other up. Friends and family have noticed my increased confidence and it’s humbling to have women tell me that they aspire to what I’ve achieved, when four years ago I could not have stood up in front of my family and spoken, let alone rooms full of stylists or happy shoppers. I’ve had a trip to Portugal, incentive prizes like an iPad, custom luggage and exclusive jewellery and oodles and oodles of free accessories. Ultimately though, my family comes first and I am so grateful to have a career that fits around my family life.

ased at Fallaghloon House, a farm that was built in the late 19th century, The Byre is a vintage store that offers everything you need to create a country chic inspired interior, specialising in elegant Annie Slone painted furniture, a range of glassware, textiles and crockery. ‘I had no experience of running my own business prior to setting up The Byre other than time spent working in a voluntary capacity in a local charity shop following my retirement,’ comments proprietor Mary Service. ‘One of my earliest memories includes collecting empty talcum boxes and having an outdoor nature table dressed with wild flowers and pretty weeds! So, I’ve always enjoyed collecting bits and pieces and although I have never worked in interiors before, I have always been drawn towards the aesthetics of it and vintage country chic has been a favourite. Being able to focus on and develop my individual style is a delight! ‘Opening my own vintage store which I can easily manage fom home, has given me something different and exciting to focus on now that I’ve retired. I’ve found that being retired has given me the impetus to challenge myself and develop interests in a

creative and stimulating way. ‘Initially, my husband refurbished the premises - then I was set free! The Byre is open Fridays and Saturdays and people often pop in at other times. I am involved in all aspects of sourcing pre-loved items in local charity shops, auctions, car boot sales and other vintage stores. Painting furniture is relaxing and the end result rewarding. Running the shop is a pleasure. We live in a very rural setting and since opening The Byre I have met and been introduced to really great people. We usually have tea or coffee together and I have a whole new set of friends. Periodically, I organise special events where we offer complimentary afternoon tea provided by ‘Just Deserts by Victoria’, which is a delicious treat. ‘Recently, wedding hire and venue dressing has been introduced and in the future I hope to utilise our barn conversion to develop other aspects of the business. ‘For anyone else thinking of setting up their own business, I would say focus on your unique flair and passion. Having a business mind may not be an innate attribute, however, realising your very own little girl’s dream is something very special!’.

WORKINGWOMAN

Team Bonding Team building activities can be used by any business, large or small, to promote better teamwork in the workplace, and as most business owners and managers know, great teamwork is one of the key factors associated with a company’s success. Here are some activities to consider... Two Truths and a Lie

Every team member secretly writes down two truths about themselves and one lie on a small piece of paper. The idea is to convince others that your lie is actually a truth, while on the other hand, you try to guess other people’s truths/lies by asking them questions. This game helps to encourage better communication in the office, as well as helping you get to know your colleagues better.

Coin Logo

Begin by asking all participants to empty their pockets, purses, and wallets of any coins they may have and place them on the table in front of them. Instruct each person to create their own personal logo using the coins in front of them in just one minute. Other materials they may have on them can also be used in creation of the logo. If there is a particularly large group, people can be broken up into teams. Then each individual or team can discuss what led to the logo and what it says about them. Not only does this activity promote self and mutual awareness, but it also enables participants to get to know each other.

Picture Pieces Game

This problem solving activity requires that the leader chooses a well known picture or cartoon that is full of detail. The picture needs to be cut into as many equal squares as there are participants in the activity. Each participant should be given a piece of the ‘puzzle’ and instructed to create an exact copy of their piece of the puzzle five times bigger than its original size. They are posed with the problem of not knowing why or how their own work affects the larger picture. The leader can pass out pencils, markers, paper, and rulers in order to make the process simpler and run more smoothly. When all the participants have completed their enlargements, ask them to assemble their pieces into a giant copy of the original picture on a table. This problem solving activity will teach participants how to work in a team and it demonstrates divisionalised

‘departmental’ working, which is the understanding that each person working on their own part contributes to an overall group result.

The Great Egg Drop

This messy, yet classic and engaging problem solving activity requires splitting the room into two large groups with the task of building an egg package that can sustain an eight foot drop. A variety of tools and other materials should be provided to the teams. After the packages have been built, each team must also present a 30-second advert for their package, highlighting why it’s unique and how it works. At the conclusion of the presentations, each group will have to drop their egg using their package to see if it really works. Aside from teaching the groups to work together and communicate, it also brings them together with the common goal of both winning the egg drop

and successfully creating an egg package.

Create your Own Team Building Activities

The group leader should present participants with this fake problem: The hour was going to be spent doing a problem solving activity, but as the group leader you don’t know any and you don’t want to do one that the participants have already heard or tried previously. The goal or problem then, is to have each group of participants come up with a new problem solving activity that they’ve invented themselves. Groups should be no larger than four or five people and at the end of the hour, each group must come up and present their new problem solving activity. Aside from being a problem solving activity in and of itself, this activity also promotes creativity, communication, trust, and time management, among other things.

WORKINGWOMAN

Divorce: The False Equality for Business Women This issue Lenore Rice from Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors offers advice to business women on protecting against the false equality of divorce. economically after a separation. The courts have moved towards the present day situation in which the stay-at-home partner, traditionally the woman, stands to earn an "equitable" share of the family's assets in the event of a divorce, even if their contribution was not financial. This approach is widely considered to be progress, and to be essential to safeguard financial equality among married couples. When the woman is the higher earner the same rules will apply. The man who has earned less may stand to gain more from the division of assets as the court may take the view that his lower income will make it harder for him to re-house himself in a suitable property. However a number of divorce solicitors and divorced wealthy females have spoken out against the application of a 'false equality' by the divorce courts.

Behind every successful business women...

tudies in recent years have suggested that women who are the breadwinners in the marriage are more likely to divorce, and there are growing concerns of a false 'equality' being implemented by family law courts when it comes to the division of assets. A recent study suggested that in 31 per cent of families in the UK the woman is the main financial provider, while an American study has estimated that female breadwinners are 38 per cent more likely to divorce. Various studies speculate that men struggle to cope within a family dynamic in which the women earns more money, and other studies suggest that men in such relationships are more likely to be unfaithful.

The false equality for divorcing business women

The current approach to the division of assets during a divorce has come about as a result of efforts to ensure women in the traditional family dynamic do not suffer

In the traditional family set-up involving a higher earning husband, the women is deemed to contribute to the family wealth by taking care of the home, and raising the children, and by bearing the majority of the burden in this regard. This allows the husband to devote his time to climbing the ladder in his place of work, or making his own business thrive The complaint that many women who are the chief-earners in a relationship make is that their husbands are not doing anything to assist them in their career. Many businesswomen will still take on the lion's share of the housework, and when it comes to children, many will have to take a break from their career to have and raise the children. The husbands rarely agree to take time out from their lower paid careers. There are of course a small minority of cases were the husband, in as much as he biologically can, takes on the full role of house-husband and stay-at-home father. Is it therefore fair that a higher earning woman, who is contributing equally, if not

more, towards the housework, and who has already taken time out from her career to raise the children, should be treated in the same way as a high earning husband when it comes to divorce? For now, the courts have taken the view that it is correct to apply the equality principles that allow the lower income husband to get a half or more of their wife's wealth. They will look at the length of the marriage, whether there were children, and other factors.

Protecting your business; protecting your wealth

Taking into account how the court will deal with a division of assets in the event of a divorce, there are some measures that women can take before and after a marriage to help protect their assets. It is important to note that a divorce court can order the sale of your business if the money is required to pay the husband the percentage of the marital assets deemed to be owed to him. There will be deadlines to meet so the sale price could be much lower that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actual worth. A privately owned business is often the most valuable asset of its owners.

Divorce proofing

If your business is already established going into a marriage there are certain protective steps that you can take. Remember, if your business grows in value while you are married, the amount of increased value will be included in the pot of marital assets to be divided between you and your husband, and again, a sale of the business could be required. A Prenuptial Agreement should be drafted that allows both parties to decide in advance what property will remain outside the marital pot in the event of an assets split, and how any property in the pot should be divided. For those who do not want a prenuptial agreement they may consider a Domestic or Foreign Asset Protection Trust. If you create the right type of trust there will be no question of what property is included in the assets pot

WORKINGWOMAN

spouse of voting rights, or give you or other partners the right to buy at a low, preset price any interest awarded to the ex-spouse. In order to be in a position to purchase your ex-spouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest you may wish to consider obtaining a whole-life insurance policy. These policies build cash value and can be liquidated to provide the funds to buy out a spouse's share of the business, if need be.

as the trust would be the legal owner of the company or any other property placed within it. The important thing is to take legal advice ahead of going into a marriage. It is not romantic, and many frown upon it, but it should be deemed to be an essential measure to protect your business. It is a fire-extinguisher of sorts. You don't plan on needing it, but it is good to know it is there in the event of an emergency to mitigate the damage you could suffer.

Get legal advice

After the cake has been cut

If you are already married and want to take measures to safeguard your business and wealth, there are some options available to you. A Postnuptial agreement is not as legally strong as a prenup but courts will still take them into consideration. They largely have the same elements as a prenuptial agreement, and if enforced by the court, offer the same protection. A further complication that can arise is when your husband is involved in the business at some level. Where that is the case you should speak to a solicitor about options such as shareholder agreements that set out the plan in the event of a divorce. Would you both remain at the company? Would one of you sell their shares? How

would they be valued? A shareholder agreement can bring some clarity to these questions, but it should be noted that they are not iron-clad, and the courts may seek to make redress elsewhere with other assets if they feel the agreement is unfair. It is also prudent to draw up a buy-sell agreement. It defines what happens to a business should any owner's status change, as is the case in a divorce. The agreement can limit a spouse's ability to acquire ownership, deprive a divorcing

Regardless of whether you are about to get married, or have already tied the knot, the important thing for any businesswoman to do is to take legal advice in respect of their company or their wealth in order to ascertain what vulnerabilities exist in the event of a divorce. An expert solicitor can guide you on your options to divorce proof your business, or certainly to take measures that will minimise the amount of damage you could suffer in the event of a separation. For further information contact Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors Bangor 028 9127 1035 and Belfast 028 9032 3864. www.wilson-nesbitt.com

WORKINGWOMAN

Working Wardrobe Sophisticated, on trend office essentials for stylish women that mean business.

Blouses that mean business.. Vintage Collection Denim Blouse, £69, La Redoute

Caterina Cape Coat, £99, Monsoon

Ori Bicolour Cape, €470, Weekend Max Mara @ Brown Thomas

Cream Pussy Bow Blouse, £16, F&F @ Tesco

Cape Coats...

Green Pussybow Blouse, £28, Next

Office Essentials Here are a few inexpensive pieces from Tiger that would add interest to your home office.

Marble Pattern File Organiser, £2

A Hardworking Label Already profiled in our Great Dane feature this issue, Day Birger et Mikkelsen has real style when it comes to office attire.

Marbled Notebooks, £1

Marble Patterned Calculator, £2

Image courtesy of Bobbi Brown

HEALTH & BEAUTY

This issue we are making conscious beauty product choices for a good cause, advising on great lengths and much more.

HEALTH&BEAUTYNEWS

Darphin Limited Edition Intral Redness Relief Serum, £68 for 30ml with £5 of every sale being donated.

Clinique’s Limited Edition Cheek Pop in Pink with a Purpose, £17.50. £2 from every sale will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Beauty Box Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Peony Set which includes a pink Mini Face Blender Brush and pink Peony Illuminating Bronzing Powder, £35 with £5 of every sale being donated.

Support Breast Cancer Awareness and think pink when it comes to your beauty choices...

Origins Limited Edition Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment provides serious care for overexposed hands. £19.50 with £5 from every sale being donated.

OPI Support Breast Cancer Nail Polish Pinking of You, 15ml, £11.50

HEALTH&BEAUTYNEWS

Jane Iredale Limited Edition Smell the Roses Hydration Spray, £23

Gordons Chemists is supporting cancer charity Look Good Feel Better by stocking a special range of professional make-up brushes. The precision cut brush heads have been hand-made using super-soft taklon bristles; making them allergy free, cruelty free and suitable for sensitive skin. Prices from £5.25.

bareMinerals have launched The Power of Pink, a kit which will see 10% of each sale donated to Look Good Feel Better. The kit contains a Blush in Giddy Pink, the Clear Radiance All-Over Face Color for a dewy glow and the Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Survivor. £25.

Crème de la Mer Lip Balm. This lip balm helps renew the delicate lip area and delivers moisture and strengthens the lip's moisture barrier. £45, a portion of the sales will be donated to Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Not forgetting the guys who can also show their support with ever purchase of LAB Series Age Rescue Skin Lotion. £41 for 50ml with 20% of every sale being donated.

Throughout October 2015, Jo Malone London will be donating £20 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation from every UK sale of Red Roses 100ml Cologne, £85.

Pretty ‘n’ Pink Breast Cancer Charity, working with the Public Health Agency, has produced a handy waterproof self-check shower card as a reference and reminder for breast self-examinations. Cards are available free of charge at www.prettynpink.org

BEAUTYHAIR

Let it Grow

Be it due to a terrible impromptu decision under pressure at the hairdressers, stubborn hair that won’t grow any longer or you’re struggling with the temptation to cut all your hard-hair-growingwork off because you hate when it gets to that “flicky out” stage, Alicia Clarke investigates on how to “let it grow”.

How long does hair take to grow?

On average hair grows about half an inch per month and tends to grow slightly quicker in warmer months. Your hair grows for only three to five years before resting for a few months and then falling out and being replaced. Hairs will also naturally shed at between 18-30 inches – although this varies for different hair types. Asian hair can grow up to a metre in seven years.

What affects hair growth?

Dry, damaged hair is more prone to break. If you are under stress this can take its toll on your locks too. The stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline can lead to hair loss or thinning. If you live in a big city the pollution in the air can affect your scalp, damaging your hair follicles. A lack of nutrients, especially B vitamins can lead to weak and brittle hair. Genetics also play a part in hair growing.

Tease your Tresses

Roughly brushing through strands can lead to tears on your hair which leaves hair brittle and likely to fall out. Be careful as you brush. Try using a detangle brush and spray to prevent damage.

skip the split

Although repairing split ends won’t help your hair to grow it will improve the look of your hair, making it look healthier and fuller.

GROWING OUT A BAD/SHORT CUT If it’s a terrible cut, book in with a stylist you trust and don’t just “make do” with what you have. Taking a little more off might seems drastic in the short term but at least you will have a style that is bearable!

With a short cut you also need a workable shape. So this will mean regular trims. Use accessories in the grow out stage to take hair away from the face.

5 4

1. Tangle Teezer £11 2. Loreal Elvive Smooth and Polish £5.99 3. Bed Head Ego Boost £7.95

4. Topshop Hair Crown £60 5. Invisibobble £4 6. Accessorize Pomy Holder £8

TRY SUPPLEMENTS Because your hair isn’t essential in enabling your body to function, it falls down on the list of priorities for nutrient allocation. That’s why it makes sense to boost hair growth with specific supplements aimed at growing hair. Viviscal Hair Growth Programme Tablets £119.95 These supplements are scientifically formulated with Biotin Zinc and AminoMar C.

Inner Me Pro Hair £15 Containing methyl-sulphonyl-methane, a nutritional form of sulphur, this product ensures hair is mineralised. Silica also repairs tissue, bone, hair and skin to a more youthful state.

Lower the Heat Heat styling can wreak havoc on hair causing the outer cuticle layer to disappear leaving hair fine and prone to breakage. It’s vital to maintain your hair’s natural protective barrier.

Speed dry Blowdry Spray

Nourkin Woman Hair Nutrition Programme Tablets £99.95 This product claims to support, normalise and maintain the hair growth cycle with a background of over 20 years of knowledge and research.

BEAUTYHAIR

Alcohol-based styling products and heat exposure are two natural enemies of colour treated hair. Reduce heat styling time with this blow-dry spray.

Tresemme Heat Defence Spray

TRESemme Heat Defence Styling Spray contains a heat activated complex to help protect hair when drying and straightening.

Eat Well

To get lusciously long locks make sure you get these vitamins onto your plate.

Complex Carbs: These are essential to provide energy to convert protein into hair cells.

Eat: Whole grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Protein: Hair is mostly made up from a protein

called Keratin which keeps hair in its growing phase.

Eat: Fish, chicken or turkey breast, eggs and beans.

Biotin: This B vitamin breaks "I recommend down protein and carbs to getting your hair cut every help hair grow. 6-8 weeks. However if you are Eat: Egg yolk, growing it you still need to get it cut. avocado, nuts and Clients often think that not having it cut yeast. they are holding onto to length - Wrong! You will need to get rid of split ends in order Zinc: Zinc is vital for your hair to grow healthily and in good for cell renewal and condition. Just go for minimal trimming a deficiency can lead keeping split ends at bay, it will grow to its to hair thinning. full potential I promise!" Eat: Lamb, beef, Natalie Campbell shellfish and milk. Iconique Hairdressing

STRENGTHEN HAIR Healthy hair starts at the root. The hair on your head is already dead so don’t worry about trying to condition and seal the ends. An easy way to think about it is to think of your scalp like you do the rest of your skin. It needs moisture, nutrients and cleansing. Bad signs include dry patches or flakes, greasy roots and a tingling sensation when you get your hair dyed. Sensidote Dermo-Calm Serum is a powerful antidote against itching, redness, tingling and burning. More than a serum only dedicated to sensitive scalp, it is a universal serum, recommended for any kind of scalp experiencing discomforts £15.99.

BEAUTYHAIR

Paul Stafford Hair give us the low down on using hair extensions to perfect your long hair look. Extensions are amazing for getting from mid-lengths to long, when it seems your hair growth slows down to about a centimetre a year. It doesn’t really, but that doesn’t lessen the agony. Extensions are like the Holy Grail, within hours you go from frustration to blissful ownership of lusciously long, glossy locks.

But extensions are good for more than just length. They help give body to finer hair or movement to hair that just sits there. And you can add in flashes of dramatic colour having to make a long-term commitment.

CHEAT IT You don’t have to be patient. Here are Northern Woman’s tips on different ways to fake it.

Clip in Hair Extensions Clip ins are the most temporary type of hair extensions. They can be added or removed in minutes and you are able to do this yourself at home. You can buy clip ins in a variety of lengths, widths, colours and hair types. aAs these extensions are temporary they are ideal for a trial. rClip ins require daily maintenance and are therefore not recommended for everyday use.

Weave Hair Extensions aNatural hair is braided into what’s known as a corn row. A weft of hair is then sewn into the corn row. Good for medium to thick hair to add volume and length rIf braids are too tight or weave is too heavy this can cause hair to fall out. Pre Bonded Hair Extensions Hair extension strands are pre bonded with adhesives such as keratin glue, plant based and petroleum based adhesives. These bonds are softened with an application machine and joined to the natural hair. aAs these extensions are permanent you will have thick and long hair for up to six months. rIf not applied and removed by a trained technician you could damage your natural hair

Tape Hair Extensions These extensions are applied quickly and easily. The pre tapered weft of hair is sandwiched on either side of the natural hair to produce seamless results. Shankey is a aThese are easy to maintain as they are washed and styled in your natural hair loss expert. He hair. recommends Cliniscalp rMost tape extensions are made from synthetic or low quality human products which work through hair. removing DHT from the scalp

Jason

and allowing the follicle to grow. For products or advice feel free to call into any of the salons or visit www. jasonshankey.com

Micro Link Extensions The hair extension is looped through the natural hair and then clamped on to it using pliers and a metal bead. aAs the micro beads can be moved up as they slip down the hair shaft this is a cost effective option. rMicro links contain grooves like a screw can be damaging to the hair and are particularly damaging when heat is applied.

Ultimately, for whatever reason you choose extensions, it is the home care and the salon support package that make the difference between a wonderful experience and a disaster. It’s crucial to go to a recognised extension specialist who knows exactly what bonds best suit your hair. There are lots of different types, aimed at different hair types and processes. But it’s not just what happens in the salon that counts. We send our clients home with the recommended products for cleansing and conditioning, as well as a special brush, all as part of our service. The best extensions, and the only ones Stafford Hair will consider, are made from responsibly sourced human hair, so they need to go to a good home where they will be looked after with the some proper TLC. We ask our clients to come back to us two weeks after initial application for a complimentary blowdry. It gives us a chance to check everything is okay. Then, over the next year or 18 months, we bring back the client, remove the extensions, trim the hair and rebond the same extensions to make sure they stay as beautiful as on day one.

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Thermal Spa Village/Autumn Escapes.indd 1

24/09/2015 13:27

HEALTHFOCUSANXIETY

Beat It!

With Anxiety Awareness Day coming up on 5th November, if you suffer, it may help to know that you are not alone and that there are steps that can be taken to help you regain control of your life writes Margaret Connolly.

t’s normal to feel anxious when facing a challenging situation, but if your worries and fears seem overwhelming and interfere with your daily life, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is the body’s natural response to danger, an automatic alarm that goes off when you feel threatened, under pressure, or are facing a stressful situation. In moderation, it isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, anxiety can help you stay alert and focused, spur you to action, and motivate you to solve problems. But when anxiety is constant or overwhelming, when it interferes with your relationships and activities, it stops being functional – that’s when you’ve crossed the line from normal, productive anxiety into the territory of anxiety disorders. Because anxiety disorders are a group of related conditions rather than a single disorder, they can look very different from person to person. One individual may suffer from intense anxiety attacks that strike without warning, while another gets panicky at the thought of mingling at a party. Someone else may struggle with a disabling fear of driving, or uncontrollable, intrusive thoughts. Yet another may live in a constant state of tension, worrying about anything and everything. Despite their different forms, all anxiety disorders share one major symptom: persistent or severe fear or worry in situations where most people wouldn’t feel threatened. As someone who suffers from panic attacks, it took me some time to admit that this was what I was experiencing. I was sure I was suffering from something more serious and spent months getting tested and investigated for everything from diabetes to heart disease until I finally accepted my diagnosis. Now years on I would never be so arrogant as to say that I don’t suffer from panic attacks, albeit I am much improved. I have gone from what felt like one every day and waking at night unable to breath in the midst of panic attacks to only having the occasional one which I can manage, but what annoys me the most is that certain behaviours now remain with me as a result. For example, one of my first panic attacks was during a day out on my own with my children at a country park. I still didn’t know this was what I was experiencing at this point, which probably made it all the more frightening at the time. It did take a couple of years for me to find the confidence to take my kids out on my own to environments like this again and while I do now, I have the memory of this and can still be wary at times whereas I once wouldn’t have batted an eyelid at the thought.

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HEALTHFOCUSANXIETY To this day I don’t like to travel abroad with my children on my own for fear of taking a panic attack – again because this did happen while on a family holiday to Menorca – this is still a step too far. However, for the first time next summer I am planning a trip for the three of us in Donegal to try and overcome this anxiety. I know we will be fine, but unfortunately telling my brain this isn’t always straightforward and hence a breeding ground for a potential panic attack. Ironically, it’s often the fear of a panic attack that can trigger it, so by knowing what you are dealing with and recognising it isn’t anything more serious than a panic attack can help – it has certainly helped me. As someone who doesn’t even like taking a paracetamol for a sore head, I never went the route of medication, but I know it does help many sufferers. I did take a few cognitive behavioural therapy sessions, which I can’t say for sure say helped me anymore than just accepting what was going on with me and then starting to look at ways to better look after myself. Looking back, I was worn out and something had to give. Today, while I still function at 110mph I definitely eat better, have completely cut out caffeine and

Coping when a panic attack takes hold:

• Simple breathing and relaxation techniques can help you feel more in control. Take in a slow, deep breath through your nose while counting to five. When you reach the count of five, let the breath out slowly (through your nose) at the same rate. Continue these breaths until you feel relaxed. • Relax your muscles. Find a comfortable position to sit in (or lie down). • Close your eyes and begin to focus solely on your toes. Curl them under tightly for a count of five, squeezing the muscles together as hard as you can, then relax. • Next, concentrate on your feet. Contract all of their muscles tightly for a count of five, then relax. • Continue up your body, isolating each muscle group (calves, thighs, buttocks, stomach, chest, shoulders, neck, fingers, hands, and arms) all the way up to your face. • By the time you contract and relax your face muscles, you should feel much more calm.

Oprah Winfrey

Lena Dunham

Common physical symptoms of anxiety include: • Pounding heart • Sweating • Stomach upset or dizziness • Frequent urination or diarrhea • Shortness of breath • Tremors and twitches • Muscle tension • Headaches • Fatigue • Insomnia

Common symptoms of a panic attack include:

Ellie Goulding

• Surge of overwhelming panic • Feeling of losing control or going crazy • Heart palpitations or chest pain • Feeling like you’re going to pass out • Trouble breathing or choking sensation • Hyperventilation • Hot flashes or chills • Trembling or shaking • Nausea or stomach cramps • Feeling detached or unreal

certainly agree with Lena Dunham, who has long been open about her struggles with anxiety and speaking last year she advocates physical exercise as a coping mechanism, ‘To those struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression: I know it’s mad annoying when people tell you to exercise, and it took me about 16 medicated years to listen. I’m glad I did. It ain’t about the ass, it’s about the brain,’ Dunham wrote in an Instagram post. During a chaotic period at work in 2013, another successful famous women, Oprah Winfrey had a panic attack. She was filming Lee Daniels’ The Butler as well as doing a number of celebrity interviews. ‘In the beginning, it was just sort of speeding and a kind of numbness and going from one thing to the next thing to the next thing,’ she told Access Holywood. ‘I will tell you when I realised that I thought, ‘All right, if I don’t calm down I’m gonna be in serious trouble.’ I was in the middle of doing voiceovers, you know? And I remember closing my eyes in between each page because looking at the page and the words at the same time was too much stimulation for my brain.’ Singer Ellie Goulding also talked to Metro UK in 2013 about the therapy she went through after suffering from panic attacks. ‘One day after a shoot I was on a train going to a funeral and my heart was pounding; I thought I was having a heart attack,’ she said of her first attack, adding, ‘I was so scared I reached over to this woman and said, ‘I think I’m dying.’ I called a friend to take me to hospital, where they told me it was just a panic attack. From that day, I kept having them. It was the weirdest time of my life. Sick, horrible things would go through my mind but I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. It got to the point when I couldn’t even get into the car and go to the studio.’ Living with panic attacks is tough, but it does help to know you aren’t alone and that no one is beyond suffering, but that there is light at the end of the tunnel!

HEALTHDIETAPPS

The geek guide to health I

n March 2014, I was newly engaged and just home from an indulgent three week holiday on the west coast of America. Wine tours in Napa Valley, In-N-Out burgers in San Francisco, and late nights in Vegas left me with a few unwelcome pounds. With the big day looming, I decided to go on a serious healthy eating kick.

Funnily, before I started to seriously think about losing weight, I would have always considered myself to a have healthy diet. My Instagram feed is a virtuous portrait of green smoothies packed with banana, berries, spinach, chia seeds and almond butter, multi-seed toast topped with avocado, and my desk at work was never

Jawbone UP24 £49.99

without a bowl of nuts, seeds and dried fruit to ward off 4pm chocolate cravings. Weekends were a different story – our Friday night post-work pizza and beers would be followed by a long lazy Saturday brunch, fine dining and cocktails with friends and a Sunday Netflix marathon stocked up with popcorn and Maltesers,

The fitness tracker market is saturated with different options, offering a multitude of unnecessary benefits. After weeks of reading reviews, comparing costs and options, I finally settled on an UP24 from Jawbone. I knew that for me to wear it every day, it had to be discreet and non-bulky (wiping out half of all the available trackers, if I’m honest – do they all have to come in lurid green?). The UP24 has just one button and no screen, instead it links to a free app on your phone, which updates you with how many steps you have walked that day, with a default goal of 10,000 steps. I also like the UP24 as, if you wear it overnight, it can track the length and the quality of your sleep, which has an enormous impact on your weight and overall wellbeing, and can be set to vibrate if you have been sitting too long during the day. The real beauty with the UP24, though are the notifications, and the feeling of reward once you’ve hit your target. The first couple of days of wearing it I had easily smashed my target, earning me a celebratory ‘congratulations!’ badge on the app. A couple of days later though, a particularly busy day meant that I reached dinnertime with a measly few hundred steps to my target. I ignored it initially, but then found myself bouncing off the sofa and trekking off for a walk around the park to keep my all-important step quota.

HEALTHDIETAPPS Withings Smart Body Analyzer £129.95 withings.com

Bear with me on this one, over £100 for a set of scales is expensive – phrases like ‘more money than sense’ may have been thrown around when my partner came home with the Withings – but they are absolutely worth it. Again, these connect to an app that keeps track of your weight with beautiful charts and graphs, and offers tips and messages of motivation, depending on whether the scales have moved that week. You can make the app integrate with myfitnesspal, meaning you can easily see all your information in one place. The scales can have profiles for up to eight people, so you can log in and see how well other people in your household are doing, which is perfect if you are on a healthier regime together. It intelligently gets an accurate reading even on slightly uneven surfaces, plus it gathers info on your heart rate, BMI and even air and weather conditions for the day ahead. What made the scales indispensible for me, however, was that it is able to calculate your fat and lean mass. As I approached my goal weight and started to work out more, my weight loss slowed considerably, which was incredibly frustrating. I started to pay attention to the body calculator and found that, although I wasn’t losing weight, my body fat percentage was on a downward trend and I was becoming more lean. Health experts claim that keeping weight off is a harder challenge than losing it in the first place, so my body calculator, while changing minimally, should go a long way to keeping me accountable.

meaning I would start every Monday morning cursing the scales again. Knowing that I had to take my bad habits in hand, and being a bit of a gadget fiend, I turned to technology to aid my journey to svelteness. I tried a whole host of apps and accessories, but ultimately there were three tech pieces that worked well with my lifestyle, and most importantly, kept me on track.

If I know I am going ❝ to eat, I make a habit of looking at the menu, logging it ahead of time, and eating accordingly throughout the day, so I can enjoy the meal.

❞

Myfitnesspal (Free, available on android, iPhone and online at myfitnesspal.com)

Myfitnesspal is an app with an incredibly simple concept – you put in your height, current weight, goal weight and timeline, and it spits out a calorie count for you to stick to every day. You log everything you eat – either by searching through the database, or scanning the barcode on your food packaging. What I noticed straight

away was how flawed my ‘healthy’ eating was before: my beloved smoothie in the morning and my snack of avocado toast could easily be 400 – 500 calories. Coupled with lunch and dinner, I was regularly well over my calorie allowance. I knew it would be completely unhealthy to consider skipping meals to fit my calorie goals, so instead, I hunted down recipes for low calorie, super filling meals and snacks. Delicious dishes of Mexican Cauliflower ‘Rice’, Courgette Spaghetti, and big bowls of spiralized sweet potato became dinner staples and, with veggie making up the bulk of my meals, I actually found I was eating a lot more food than before while still dropping the pounds. I found Myfitnesspal to work for me particularly as a motivational tool thanks to a number of little features. Before, if I had an indulgent meal, I would have felt that I had already ruined my ‘diet’, and fallen off the wagon. By having a chart of my weight loss and food intake over the weeks and months meant that I could log the food, see that it wasn’t going to make much of a difference in the overall downward trend, and get back to more healthy food the following day. In fact, if I know I am going out to eat, I make a habit of looking at the menu, logging it ahead of time, and eating accordingly throughout the day, so I can enjoy my meal and stay under my calorie budget for the day. Plus, once you finish your daily log, it will tell you how much you would weigh in five weeks if you ate that amount of food every day – the thought of stepping on the scales to see that number helped me resist an extra slice of pizza more than once!

Healthy eateries in and around Belfast

One of the biggest challenges during a weight loss journey is missing out on meals with friends. Thankfully, Belfast is undergoing a healthy eating revolution – here are my favourite skinny eateries. Slims Kitchen: Billed as fast food made healthy, think beef burger in a lettuce wrap, stirfry and hearty salads. With a main restaurant on the Lisburn Road, an express version, Slims has taken Belfast by storm. Raw Food Rebellion: A charming little café on the Lisburn Road doing exciting things with vegan food – don’t let that put meat eaters off, the small but well considered menu is incredible. Tony & Jens: The original pop-up shop is now closed, but Tony & Jen are working feverishly behind the scenes on their new location near Space NK on the Lisburn Road, due to open in October. Expect salads and soup with a twist, and the yummiest healthy snacks in the city. Goodness Rocks: Healthy food with no chance of being hungry after, with a menu packed with hearty Thai stews, stuffed sweet potatoes and bean burgers, nutritious, filling and delicious.

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LIFESTYLE

In this issue we take a look around a period house in Bangor that has recently been extended, give tips on how to improve your home for buyers and NW visits some luxury hotels in Ireland.

LIFESTYLEINTERIORS

Arran Tomintoul Check Table Lamp, £245, www.furnish.co.uk

Ancient Tartan Blanket, £167, Mulberry @ LuxDeco

TartaN Time With the nights drawing in, snuggle up with some tartan interiors...

City Plaids Carpet, £80, Kensington @ Brintons

The Huntsman Chair In Old Bard Leather & Harris Tweed, £995, Loden Herringbone

Autumn flames cushion, £46, Christopher Daniel

Lovable Rogue Large Sofa In Galveston Bark Leather & Moon Mallham Natural & Earth Plum Cut Out, £3,759, Sofa Workshop

Oxford Ottoman, £465, Chatsworth @ Within

Rhymic cool, £148, Jude Cassidy

LIFESTYLEINTERIORS Tartan chair, £2,590, Beauford Interiors

Carter Red Double duvet cover sets, £50, Bedek

Tweed & Tartan Patchwork Throw, £185, Clare Loves

Tartan cushion, £30, House of Fraser Bronte Lambswool Prince Of Wales Check Throw Lilac, £75, Cotswold Trading

Apsley Table Lamp with Tartan Shade, £142.80, Dar Lighting Group

Foxwood Occasional Armchair, £695, Chatsworth Tartan @ Within

Gordon the Giraffe with Fabric Finish, £125, Arthouse

LIFESTYLEHOUSE

Home Sweet Home

Photography: Michael Robinson

Simon and Patricia recently extended their Bangor home which is sympathetically decorated to suit its period style and filled with lots of wonderful memories.

LIFESTYLEHOUSE

he couple wished to extend and renovate the kitchen towards the back of the house and worked closely with their builder, who also happens to be Patricia’s brother, as well as the team from Wilsons Conservation & Building Products to achieve a larger open-plan kitchen, living dining room. As Patricia explains, ‘The kitchen was half the size it is now. We extended and created an open-plan space to include the adjacent family room. My brother, David Henderson, is a builder and he did a great job. Extending the kitchen has allowed for more natural light into the back of the house with the two velux windows in the ceiling, our wooden doors with glass panels which lead out to the patio area. ‘We have a traditional home and like to keep this feel throughout the house, so it was on a trip to Wilsons to pick an original parquet flooring for our bedroom that I fell in love with this kitchen design, which has been personalised to suit my tastes. I just love my corner mahogany cupboard and the

LIFESTYLEHOUSE

chopping board that sits pride of place on the island with my name carved into it. ‘Lighting is really important to me and I love the light fittings in here. In fact, I actually bought the lights first! I always wanted a larger Canterbury lantern and while these are traditionally outside I wanted mine inside. ‘Above the island we have two large pendant lights which originate from Longbridge Leylands Motorworks. I purchased the chandelier from Laura Ashley to sit above the old farmhouse dining table.

‘I had always wanted an old farmhouse table with a bench and chairs in my kitchen as well as an island. To be honest, the island was top of my list when it came to deciding on all of the elements of the kitchen. It is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Manor House Grey and is contrasted with the wooden work surface. ‘While I love old fashioned features, such as my butler’s sink which I have reused from my previous kitchen, I do have mod-cons here in the kitchen with my electric range cooker with its induction hob and my

hot water tap. The pantry helps to hide my microwave as well as offering space for food storage. ‘It was my brother who suggested adding the panelling to the walls in this part of the house. I had never considered doing this, but I feel it really finishes off this area, where I intend to add more art to the walls. I love all my little knick knacks and deciding on decorative finishing touches. I love hearts and flowers as you may notice looking around the house. Friends would tend to buy me heart shaped ornaments because they know I love them.

LIFESTYLEHOMEIMPROVEMENT A beautiful hallway can make a lasting impression. Fixtures from £63.50, www.occa-home.co.uk

essential that you are objective. Ask a friend to walk through the house and give you critical feedback – are there minor repairs needed, is there too much clutter, are any of the rooms very dark? Getting a second opinion can help give you a new insight as to what a buyer would find off-putting. Ask your estate agent to update you with any feedback from buyers so that you can make changes so as not to lose other potential buyers.

On a minimal budget

There are a number of ways that you can make your home more desirable with a limited budget. As well as the usual advice to make your home clean, tidy and smelling pleasantly of homely scents like freshly brewed coffee, you will need to tackle clutter. Take absolutely everything off the shelves, the kitchen countertops, the bedside cabinets, and above wardrobes. Even if you have items arranged neatly, they are a distraction – buyers love the feeling of space and simplicity.

Never underestimate ❝ the importance of light

How to improve your home for buyers M

oving home – packing up all your life’s belongings, dealing with unexpected costs, reams of paperwork, and long delays – can be one of the most time consuming, and stressful periods of your life. Before you consider putting your house on the market, one of the most important things you can do is to ensure your home is as attractive to buyers as possible. It is often overlooked – in Sweden, it is considered so essential that you can pay a ‘housestyler’ to come in and stage your home in the

best possible light, by painting the walls, rearranging the rooms and even bringing in a full suite of furniture to create the lifestyle your viewers will want to buy into. Not only will you ensure you sell your home for its full potential value, but attracting more buyers allows you to be more discerning – you can choose to sell the house to someone who is chain free, or has finance already in place. You presumably love your home and will have it decorated to your taste, which can make it difficult to be impartial, but it is

in your home. As much as possible, infuse your home with natural light by opening blinds and curtains fully and moving any obstructions to windows.

❞

Once you’ve finished getting rid of all your clutter, take a fresh look around each room and de-clutter some more! Once you have a blank canvas, carefully choose a single item, like a beautiful fruit bowl or coffee maker, to sit in your kitchen, artfully arrange a handful of picture frames and books onto shelves, and display a couple of your nicest products in the bathroom. Never underestimate the importance of light in your home. As much as possible, infuse your home with natural light by opening blinds and curtains fully and moving any obstructions to windows. Failing that, a few well-placed side and floor lamps will enhance any darkened corners, and create the feeling of space.

LIFESTYLEHOMEIMPROVEMENT Upgrading all of your bulbs to a modern white light LED will help to mimic natural light throughout your home. A clever use of mirrors can bounce light around a space, and can create interest in an otherwise ‘dead’ space, such as a hallway or entranceway.

On a modest budget

For years, the established wisdom is to make your home as neutral as possible, sticking to a careful palette of creams, soft browns and various shades of magnolia. However, a carefully thought out statement piece can make your home memorable, gives your home a personality and gives you that edge to make a buyer fall in love with your home. This could be a brightly coloured or patterned single chair in your living room, replacing a main lampshade to a knockout modern pendant style chandelier, or, if your kitchen is in need of a boost of colour, selecting a couple of cupboard fronts and swapping them to a bold colour. Adding a few high-tech elements can give your home a luxury feeling and can really make your home stand out on the brochure. A favourite and inexpensive fix is to swap out your plug sockets to fixtures with built-in usb points, allowing a household to charge a multitude of electronics. A good outdoor space can add heaps of value to your home. Over a couple of weekends, pull up weeds, give fences and walls a fresh coat of paint and set out a few pots or lanterns for a pop of colour. And even if you don’t actually use it yourself, set out an inexpensive set of a garden table and chairs, giving buyers an impression of really usable outdoor space. Don’t be tempted to do a lot of planting, a high maintenance garden can actually discourage buyers, particularly younger families.

Miafleur Copper Wire Pendant, £45, www.miafleur.com

in your home can mean you get a great return. Some renovations, like adding a conservatory, or a whirlpool bath, won’t add much value to your home. There are a few key areas that buyers always look for that you can concentrate your interests on. The entranceway is the first and last thing people see in your home. A modernised front door, a beautiful new floor or wallpaper in the hallway will leave your buyers with the impression that your house is welcoming, stylish and well-cared for. Bring the outside in. People relish the ability to be fully connected to their outdoor space, and want to be able to use their gardens all year long, regardless of weather. Adding a set of French or bifold doors and using a similar colour scheme both inside and out can really create that much soughtafter connection. In many modern homes, the fireplace has been removed to create space, but a home

On a higher budget If you can work it into your finances, investing some money

can feel incomplete without that focal point. Adding a woodburner can re-instate that feeling of comfort and cosiness, and is much easier to maintain than an open fire. The kitchen is undoubtedly one of the spaces worth the most per square foot and can make the difference when buyers are unsure. Consider refacing your kitchen cabinetry and updating your countertops – much less expensive than redoing your kitchen and often just as effective. Many companies now offer a granite overlay that fits over your existing counter that creates a really luxe finish. One final word of warning, however – don’t undertake anything if you are unable to see the work through properly. Mark Leinster, Associate at Simon Brien Residential, explains, “There is nothing worse than a cheap and cheerful refurb, if you are going to do a job do it right and you will reap the rewards at the end. A nice refurb throughout including high quality kitchens with full range of integrated appliances, contemporary bathroom and ensuite, nice floor coverings and neutral décor will always hold appeal.”

Furniture Village Chrome Tripod Spotlight, £199, www.furniturevillage.co.uk

IKEA Strandmom Chair, £195, www.ikea.com

LIFESTYLEFOOD

WinterWarmers

Simple, delicious & nutritious

Red Lentil Soup with Cumin and Coriander Ingredients Serves 4 3 tbsp of olive oil 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed or finely grated Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and ground 1 tsp coriander seeds, toasted and ground 150g (5oz) split red lentils, rinsed 1 litre (1¾ pints) vegetable or chicken stock Juice of ½ lemon 2 tbsp chopped coriander, mint or parsely

Method

• Place the olive oil in a large saucepan on a medium heat, add the onion, garlic and some salt and pepper, then cook, uncovered, for about 8-10 minutes or until the onion is slightly golden around the edges. • Add the ground spices and lentils and stir over the heat for 1 minute, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer or 10-12 minutes or until the lentils have completely softened. Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice, stir in the chopped herbs and sprinkle over a little more salt if necessary. ❆ This can be made ahead of time as it keeps very well - in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. Heat through and add the herbs just before serving.

LIFESTYLEFOOD

Instant Cullen Skink Ingredients Serves 6-8 800ml (1 pint 9fl oz) double or regular cream 800ml (1 pint 9fl oz) milk 400g (14oz) smoked haddock fillets (preferably undyed) 400g (14oz) mashed potato Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp chopped chives

Method

• Pour the cream and milk into a large saucepan and add the haddock. Place on a medium heat and bring to a simmer, then cook for 5-10 minutes or until the fish is flaky. • Place the mashed potato in a separate pan and heat gently to warm through. Divide the mashed potato between individual bowls, then use a slotted spoon to lift the fish out of the the hot cream and milk. Remove the skin and bones from the cooked fish, then divide into portions and place on top of the mashed potato. • Taste the hot cream, adding salt and pepper if needed, then pour it over the fish and potato. Scatter the chives on top and serve immediately.

Thai Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients Serves 6 500ml (18fl oz) chicken stock 1 stick of lemongrass, crushed with a rolling pin 50ml (2fl oz) sunflower oil 1 large onion, peeled and diced 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed or finely grated 1 fresh red chilli pepper, deseeded (optional) and diced 5cm (2in) piece of root ginger, peeled and grated 1 large butternut squash (about 1kg/2lb 3oz), peeled, deseeded and cut into roughly 3cm (1¼in) chunkc, or 1 quantity of Roasted Butternut Squash with Thyme Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 x 400ml tin of coconut milk 1-2 tbsp fish sauce (nam pla) Small bunch of basil, shredded (about 2 tbsp), to serve

Method

• Pour the chicken stock into a saucepan and add the lemongrass. Place on a medium heat and bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat and allow to infuse for at least 10 minutes. • Place a large saucepan on a high heat and add the sunflower oil. Add the onion, garlic, chilli, ginger and raw squash (if using), and season with salt and pepper. Turn the heat down to low, then cover with a lid and cook for about 10 minutes or until the squash is tender. Pour in the coconut milk and the hot chicken stock, including the lemongrass. • Bring to the boil and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes. • Remove from the heat, then transfer to a blender and purée until smooth. Return the finished soup to the pan to heat through gently, then season with fish sauce to taste and serve sprinkled with basil. ❆ The soup will keep, covered, in the fridge for up to three days; simply reheat to serve. It can also be frozen for up to three months.

Win... a two night break at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone

e are giving one lucky winner the chance to win a two night break at Radisson Blu Hotel in the heart of the maritime town of Athlone. One lucky reader will win two nightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; accommodation for two adults in this stylish hotel that overlooks Athlone Marina, including dinner on one evening in Elements Bistro, a super buffet breakfast each morning and complimentary access to Synergy Health & Leisure Club, which includes an indoor swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym with views over the river, a sauna and steam room, and fitness advisors on hand. Located in the heart of Athlone, which is in turn at the heart of Ireland, guests will have no shortage of sights to see and visit in this maritime town. Take a scenic boat trip on the Shannon or visit the Athlone Castle and Luan Art Gallery, which are located just across the river from Radisson Blu Athlone. Fashionfollowers will be thrilled with the selection of individual boutiques and high street stores on the doorstep of the hotel. History buffs may be more interested in Clonmacnoise, just a 20 minute drive from the hotel. After a morning spent sightseeing or shopping, Radisson Blu Athlone is the perfect place to relax and unwind â&#x20AC;&#x201C; take a swim, enjoy a drink on the terrace overlooking the river, or sit with a coffee and the paper in the Quayside Bar & Lounge.

QUESTION To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question:

What town is the Radisson Blu Hotel situated in?

To enter, email: competitions@greerpublications.com with your answer plus your name, address and daytime number. Closing date: Friday 27 November 2015 * Terms and conditions apply.

PAGEHEADER

NW September

SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY

THE LIDL LOOK FOR AUTUMN/WINTER 2015

idl Northern Ireland recently revealed its hotly anticipated Autumn/Winter 2015 fashion collection to an intimate crowd at Sixty6 in Belfast. With a focus on trends that are both wearable and affordable, Lidl has embraced A/W15 with a myriad of colour, print and enticing textures. Stand out pieces included the Esmara faux leather biker jackets and Chelsea boots in a variety of styles and colours.

5 1. Pamela Ballantine and Alison Clarke 2. Tina Calder, Richard Sherriff and Helen McGurk 3. Karen Gribben and Kirsten Elder 4. Claire Spence, Louise Vance, Emer Dooris and Kathryn McKeown 5. Sean Hegarty and Diona Doherty 6. Rebecca Dane, Nicola Twitchett and Avril Keys 7. Cathy Martin and Niamh McEneaney

SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY

HATS OFF TO DOWN ROYAL’S BEST DRESSED COUPLE

acing fans and Ireland’s style elite showed off their fashion credentials at Down Royal’s Best Dressed Couple competition at this year’s Belfast Live September Race Evening. County Down’s Clive Scoular and Thomas Johnston celebrated, after being crowned Best Dressed Couple at the Belfast Live September Race Evening at Down Royal. First past the post for style, the pair wowed the judges with their individuality and vibrant palette beating off competition from the thousands of fashionistas to win a luxury break at Galgorm Resort and Spa. The Summer Race Evening marks the last flat racing of the season, ahead of the Northern Ireland Festival of Racing on October 30th and 31st this year when racegoers will see the finest National Hunt racing in action, including the first Grade 1 of the National Hunt season in the British Isles, the JNwine.com Champion Chase.

1. Clive Scoular and Thomas Johnston 2. Michelle Wylie and Orlaith McAllister 3. Laura McGillion 4. Katie Simpson and Claire McCracken 5. Clair Dixon and Louise McDowell 6. Lyndsay Hegarty, Neil Cole and Emma Toner 5

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SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY 1

Hillsborough celebrates 23 years of INTERNATIONAL OYSTER FESTIVAL

he Hillsborough International Oyster Festival took place earlier this month and on the Thursday evening guests enjoyed an unique dining experience a Gourmet Pop-up Restaurant in the Grand Festival Marquee where local chefs from The Plough, The Hillside, The Parson’s Nose and Mourne Seafood prepared and served locally sourced food. After a sparkling oyster and Prosecco drinks reception, guests were treated to a dinner and a show, as the world famous Faulty Towers Dinner Show accompanied the five course meal. 4

1. The Pop-up chefs: Danny Millar, The Parsons Nose; Karl Banks, The Hillside; Derek Patterson, The Plough and Andy Rea, Mourne Seafood Bar 2. William and Sue Patterson 3. Richard and Sharon Watson 4. Delores O’Neill, Julie Bell and Pat Cole 5. Claire and John Leckey

OFFICES IN:

DUNMURRY • MOIRA • LURGAN www.robertwilson.co.uk

SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY 2

6 3

HIOF – PEARL AND OYSTERS BLUES BROTHERS BALL

uests were invited to an elegant evening of dining and dancing, where they indulged in a six-course feast and were entertained by the world famous Blues Brothers and Diva Dolls. The black tie event is a festival favourite and continued with the tradition of donating the net proceeds of the Pearl and Oyster Ball to the Hillsborough International Oyster Festival’s nominated charities. 1. Susie Hall, Emily Sparkling, Sean Hall, Katie Hall and Angharad Smith 2. Lyn Whan and Bronagh Rafferty 3. Russell and Angela Dickson 4. Leah McCourt and Patrick McAllister 5. Sandra Roberts and Alberta Kenwell 6. Graeme and Tracy Roberts

OFFICES IN:

DUNMURRY • MOIRA • LURGAN www.robertwilson.co.uk NW

SOCIALPRÊT-Á-PARTY

BELFAST FASHIONWEEK... 2

wenty was a-plenty for Belfast’s leading fashionistas, as West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK recently launched its twentieth season . Twenty of Ireland’s top models showcased the twenty hottest trends for the Autumn Winter season ahead. 3

1. Carla Fraser & Maura Ruoppolo 2. Aimee Boyle 3. Carly Bell 4. Sarah Hall & David Hall 5. Una Burns 6. Rebecca Maguire 7. Elizabeth Bonhomme & Emma Ross Dias

SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY 2

BAUKNECHT IS BEST ACCORDING TO STEPHEN TAYLOR-WINTER

B Distributors recently hosted a Bauknecht appliance and cooking demonstration with Stephen Taylor-Winter. Stephen guided guests through the cooking demonstration, informing them on how to use each Bauknecht appliance whilst dishing out some tasty tips and recipes. Guests were treated to delicious dishes such as Irish spring lamb, wild rice salad, braised spring chicken and a of course, the infamous apricot tart cooked by Stephen using the incredible Bauknecht appliances. Stephen has cooked for four senior members of the British Royal family, members of European and International Royal Houses and senior figures in the financial and banking world. 1. Stephen Taylor-Winter 2. Stephen Taylor-Winter, Angela Thompson and Paul McCahon of Bauknecht 3. Sarah Morris, Paul McCahon and Michael Morris 4. Paul McCahon with Martin and Marie Quinn 5. Martin Fennel, Joy and John Griffin and Kristeen Neeson 6. Michelle Sharkey, Stephen Taylor-Winter and Susan Carlin 4

3 6

NewLy opeNed offers A -Ly excitiNg shoppiNg experieNce The previous owners of the well-loved Panache on the Lisburn Road, Roisin Donnelly and Maria Watson, are making a return to retail after more than 15 years. This time making it even more of a family affair, with Maria’s daughter Lauren joining them as they open REAL. REAL, a store with a range of luxury products exclusive to Ireland, offers customers a unique and special shopping experience. The REAL store offers a collection of beautiful hand chosen items sourced from across the world, from handmade jewellery, clothing selected for its quality and design, the latest must have handbags, antiques from across Europe, crystal, decorative ceramics, interior furnishings and accessories, to interesting items for the garden. In addition, the store boasts an incredible selection of gifts to suit everyone – even the discerning

man, with items such as leather goods and hand-finished cashmere.

such William Yeoward, Eskandar and many more.

Roisin Donnelly, Director at REAL, said:

Maria continued:

“It is fantastic to be back on the Lisburn Road after 15 years. Everyone has been so welcoming and the feedback has been incredible.

“Over the last six months, we have travelled across Europe and beyond, sourcing beautiful items and brands that we love and we are so excited to bring these products to Northern Ireland and share them with our customers.

“REAL offers something new to Northern Ireland, with over 50 brands exclusive to Ireland now available under the one roof for the first time. “Our range of products is so diverse and interesting. The shop is a little bit similar to a mini department store. From fashion to accessories, home furnishings and décor, we have created an eclectic mix of beautiful items to treat yourself, your home or a loved one. “We aim to offer our customers more than just somewhere to shop, we want to offer an inspiring mix of truly beautiful products, many of which have previously not been available in Northern Ireland or even Ireland!” From the likes of Marie Chantal baby gifts, designed by the Princess of Greece, to N Peal cashmere for men, famously worn by Daniel Craig in the latest James Bond movie. REAL is also home to world renowned designers

“We are delighted to introduce so many fantastic brands exclusively to Ireland, including the likes of Meli Melo, whose handbags have been adorned by fashion forward celebrities such as Olivia Palermo, Kate Middleton, Sienna Miller, Cat Deeley, and Poppy Delevingne to name a few. “The stunning handbags are just one of many fashion products REAL offers, ensuring the customers on Lisburn Road stay ahead of the trends and have access to some of the most popular brands.” REAL is the perfect store to purchase unique and exclusive gifts, whether it be for the man or woman who has everything, or just a special something for yourself. With the gorgeous collection of homeware, including beautiful stationery, pens and hand woven throws

and cushions by designers from across the world, REAL is also the ideal store for brides to create bespoke wedding lists, with products that cannot be purchased anywhere else in the country. Roisin concluded: “In our store, each product has been sought out and chosen by us personally for our customers to enjoy. “We are passionate about finding products that are unique and add something special, whether it is something you can wear, accessorise with or showcase in your home or garden. “Opening this brand new shop has been so exciting for us and we can’t wait to welcome new faces into the store and share it with them.” REAL, 713a Lisburn Road, is open Monday-Saturday, 9am to 5.30pm. For more information about the brands and products available, please visit: www.shop-real.com REAL can also be followed and contacted: /the_reAL_store /the_reAL_store /reAL

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the last six months, we have travelled across Europe and beyond, sourcing beautiful items and brands that we love and we are so excited to bring these products to Northern Ireland and share them with our customers.â&#x20AC;?

meN / womeN / gifts / homewAre / Accessories / 713A LisburN roAd beLfAst bt9 7gu teLephoNe: 028 9068 3939 www.shop-reAL.com

LIFESTYLETRAVEL

A truly unique luxury Castle Hotel N

orthern Woman escaped into a luxurious world of relaxed grandeur and extraordinary personal service a few weeks ago. From the award-winning spa to beautifully appointed guestrooms, Lough Eske Castle hotel provides a truly accommodating environment where dedication to the guest is thoughtful, consistent and complete. Its staff work hard to deliver the ‘5 star’ experience of good service, food, care and attention. Lough Eske Castle sits within 43 acres of forest woodland, hugging the shores of the lough with the Blue Stack Mountains in the background. Superb service and superior amenities make every day here a perfect day, and at night with the castle all lit up, its stunning, like a fairytale forest trail.

Green Dining Room

Junior Suite Bed

Lough Eske is the ❝ ideal base for exploring the rugged beauty of Ireland's incredibly scenic North West region.

❞

Winner of the World’s Best Luxury Country Hotel for the past five consecutive years, Condé Nast Readers’ Award 2013, European Hospitality ‘Innovation

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LIFESTYLETRAVEL in Service’ Award 2013 and inclusion in the Condé Nast Gold List of the world’s best places to visit for 2014, this lovingly restored castle is certainly worthy of its recognition as the only five star hotel in Donegal. Step into the Solis Lough Eske Castle, and you step into an imposing Tudor-baronial castle, lavishly refurbished in 2007 and extended to create the modern comforts and graceful refinement of a world class boutique hotel. We were made to feel at home as soon as we arrived. Our room was very spacious with a huge four-poster bed and a bathroom that is the size of a whole room in some hotels, with a beautiful complementary fresh fruit bowl and chocolates.

Lough Eske ❝ Castle hotel provides a

incredibly scenic North West region. Experience authentic Ireland away from the traditional tourist trails and be inspired by the breath-taking scenic drives along Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way. Walking enthusiasts can embark on the world renowned and globally popular International Appalachian Trail, part of which surrounds Lough Eske Castle in the form of the Bluestack Mountains. Picture perfect setting, gorgeous rooms and attention to detail from staff which was second to none – we have no hesitation in recommending this fabulous hotel. We hope to return very soon to the peace and tranquility of the Solis Lough Eske Castle Hotel.

Vice Presidential Suite Bath

The grounds of Lough Eske Castle hotel

truly accommodating environment where dedication to the guest is thoughtful, consistent and complete.

❞

Luxurious accommodation, complemented by impeccable service; long walks through mystical woodlands or moments of quiet reflection in a secluded garden; a gourmet meal, featuring the freshest local ingredients, accompanied by a great bottle of wine, is what this experience is all about. In the Cedar Room our dinner choices were very well cooked and tasty. The maître d’ and his staff were excellent. Breakfast too was ideal. As well as a full Irish breakfast selection they have a chef who cooks eggs and omelettes to order, or crepes. If you want a luxury break which ticks all the boxes this is the place to be. It oozes relaxation. The hotel’s excellent spa, pool, hot-tubs, saunas and steam rooms will help relax away any aches and pains. Spa Solís is your wonderful escape to a world of well-deserved pampering and natural restorative therapies. The focus is on a total wellness experience, and situated in the castle garden, the setting is refreshing and peaceful. Its beautiful sandstone and rich wood floors reflect the natural beauty of the surroundings. Lough Eske Castle is the ideal base for exploring the rugged beauty of Ireland’s

Red Room

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LIFESTYLETRAVEL

A Grand Getaway

Modern suite Lobby at night

s you wind your way up the sweeping driveway to Farnham Estate House the feeling of relaxation is palpable, and on entering its stylish surroundings, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be disappointed. Making our way to Cavan from Belfast was an enjoyable journey in itself. We stopped in the Linen Green, Dungannon for a coffee and passed through a few quaint Irish villages, surrounded by lush countryside leading us to the gates of Farnham Estate. The hotel lobby is a mix of old and new. Imposing pillars mark the entrance to the original building dating to 1664. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandeur and presence cannot be overstated, and is complemented by some of the magnificent towering trees, rolling lawns and glassy lake spreading over the 1,300 acre estate. The transition from old to new is a blissful juxtaposition of architectural styles with the dense grey stone reflected in the floating sheets of airy glass creating a partition between the eras.

Rooms and Suites

The 146 rooms in the hotel are tastefully decorated with modern, comfortable furniture and have long windows perfectly framing the surrounding scenery, in fact, a keen eye will also notice that the artwork in many of the rooms has been inspired by the local area. There are also 12 suites in the old Farnham house located above the old drawing room where guests can enjoy afternoon tea or a pre dinner aperitif

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LIFESTYLETRAVEL whist gazing over the rolling countryside or cuddling up by the open fire. These bedrooms are amongst some of the finest in Ireland with no expense spared in their luxurious décor. Bright bathrooms and palatial rooms will have you feeling serene and more than ready to explore the renowned spa.

Farnham Estate Health Spa

The Farnham Health Spa will take you on a sensory journey from the very beginning. Whilst waiting to be taken for my treatment I was offered a variety of teas and juices that would stimulate the senses to help enhance the overall experience. I was guided to the candle lit treatment room which oozed serenity and indulgence. I had chosen a Derrygid full body massage in which mouisturising molten wax from the cocoa-flower infused candle is used as massage oil. The 60 minute treatment left me feeling relaxed and my skin was left feeling supple with a fabulous chocolaty aroma. Following the treatment I was invited to make use of the extensive spa facilities including a variety of foot spas, saunas, steam rooms, indoor and outdoor pools and lounge areas. My favourite of these was the salt steam room which had a vague eucalyptus scent, I came out with a clear head and ready for the evening ahead.

Nature Walks and Golf

Afternoon Tea

After our night soaking up the atmosphere in the Wine Goose Cellar Bar, not to mention soaking up a few cocktails, my head was not feeling quite as clear as it was in the spa the previous day, and I needed to blow away the cobwebs. The concierge at reception was helpful in pointing out some of the best walks around the estate, and whist we didn’t tackle the most energetic of the trails, we took an amble to the lake. The woodland path of about 1km in length opened up to reveal the estate’s lake, complete with ducks and swans poised for a postcard snapshot. Swinging on the bench perched on the lawn bedside the lake, Monday morning seemed a million miles away, and thinking about my time in Farnham Estate Hotel, I could not have asked for more pleasant staff, better facilities, or a more stunning surrounding. It won’t be long until I’m back for another luxurious weekend away in the Cavan countryside. One of the relaxation areas

The Botanica Restaurant and Wine Goose Cellar Bar

Beginning the evening with a cocktail in the Botanica bar is a must for a great vista over the hotel architecture, both old and new, and for a glimpse out to the gardens which on a sunny day would make a blissful suntrap to sip on something fruity. The menu in the Botanica restaurant caters to all tastes and utilises the best of local produce with fish, vegetable and meat fine dining dishes available. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about both the food and wine on offer and are only to happy to help pair our meal with a beautiful matching wine. To finish the evening in the same fashion we started, we made our way to the Wine Goose Cellar Bar where we were delighted to find live music. Wandering around what felt a bit like a rabbit warren, we discovered a small round room lined from floor to ceiling with wine bottles and with a table, which could seat around eight guests. This cosy alcove can be booked for intimate dinners for small groups, certainly something to investigate on the next visit! The bar was packed but we found a small corner and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere well into the wee hours.

Pool

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MOTORINGNEWS

New Fiat 500 R

etaining the unmistakable look that has made it a global best-seller, the new FIAT 500 hasn’t grown in size but instead has grown in maturity with advanced technologies, improved efficiency, even more customisation ideas and a Centro Stile FIAT-refreshed exterior and interior. No fewer than 1,800 changes have been made to produce the new 500, all designed to enhance the ownership experience and refine its inimitable style. The most changes can be found at the

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front: new FIAT 500 retains the “face” of its predecessors with headlights which are still circular in shape but which adopt innovative polyellptical modules for improved night vision and extra safety. These clusters integrate the dipped-beam headlamps and turn signals, while lower light cluster integrates the main beam headlights and LED daytime running lights, which adopt the circular profile of the lamp to graphically reproduce the zeros of 500. The bonnet retains its distinctive, traditional clamshell form, another nod

to its legendary predecessor, while the trapezoidal nose gets more pronounced ribbing and the auxiliary air vent is now fed via a three-dimensional grille (with chrome-effect buttons on the Lounge version) flanked by chrome brightwork to give the new FIAT 500 stronger visual presence. New 'empty' light clusters, comprised of ring-shaped structures with body-coloured centres, define the revised look of the rear, with the fog light and reversing light relocated to the edges of the redesigned bumper trim to improve safety by separating illumination functions. The new FIAT 500 is powered by a range of environment-friendly, Euro 6-compliant engines combined with five- and six-speed manual gearboxes or a Dualogic robotised transmission depending on the model. The engine line-up available includes the 1.2 litre 69hp, the TwinAir 85hp and the TwinAir 105hp. The new FIAT 500 is now on sale with prices starting from £10,890. For more information contact Donnelly Fiat Mallusk Tel 028 9084 2000.

MOTORINGNEWS

Renault Kadjar

adjar is a new five-door C-segment crossover to complement Renault’s hugely successful B-segment Captur and is being offered in an 18-version lineup based on three engines, two gearboxes, two drive systems and four trim lines. The engines are the 1.2-litre turbocharged TCe 130hp four-cylinder direct-injection petrol unit, the 1.5-litre ENERGY dCi 110hp four-cylinder diesel and the 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi four-cylinder 130hp diesel. An Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) automatic gearbox is available with the dCi 110 engine. Intelligent four-wheel drive with three operating modes is offered with the dCi 130. The trim lines are familiar to owners of other Renault vehicles – Expression+, Dynamique Nav, Dynamique S Nav and Signature Nav. All provide a comprehensive standard specification, rising to the truly luxurious at the top-ofthe-range. Renault’s active and passive safety has been applied across the range, while connectivity via the easy-to-use R-Link 2 system is fitted to all models above Expression+. Pricing is from just £17,995 for the Kadjar, with insurance in low-cost bands

from 14E to 18E. Every model but one can exceed 50mpg in the NEDC combined cycle test, and eight comfortably better 70mpg. This ensures low CO2 emissions, with taxation benefits for both business and private owners. Four versions of the all-new Kadjar have a CO2 rating of less than 100g/km.

As with all Renaults, customer peace of mind is reinforced by the comprehensive 4+ warranty and roadside rescue package. This provides a four-year/100,000-mile warranty (unlimited in the first two years) and four years’ roadside rescue cover, which includes three years of Europe-wide assistance. Available at Charles Hurst, Renault.

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MOTORINGNEWS

Seat Leon FR O

n a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon I arrived at Donnelly Bros Seat in Dungannon to collect a Seat Leon FR to test drive over the weekend. Keith McMenemy is the Manager in Seat and a keen enthusiast for the Seat marque. After a very professional handover I was on my way down the M1 again. Right from the start of my journey I knew I was going to enjoy my driving experience in the Seat FR. It had plenty of power and was easy to drive with ample room for passengers plus loads of space for the shopping. Over the weekend I covered around 220 miles and I reckon I got over 50 mpg. One thing you have to keep an eye on is the speedometer as it is very easy to exceed the speed limit in this car without even trying. The Leon FR is one of the top of the range models and all FR cars come with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED rear lights, dual-zone climate control, dark tinted rear windows, and FR-specific front- and rear bumpers

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The Seat Leon range starts with the Leon SC and is priced from ÂŁ15,370 which is remarkable value and an extremely generous specification from base level. Beginning with S, every Leon SC comes with air conditioning, sports-shaped front seats, a colour touch screen display for the media system, steering wheel mounted audio controls, seven airbags,

remote central locking, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control. If you would like more information on any of the Seat range the staff at Donnelly Bros Seat in Dungannon will be able to help. Tel 028 8772 2887.

All-New

Renault KADJAR Start living

With touchscreen navigation & climate control

5.9% APR

From £179 per month

representative

The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the All-New Renault KADJAR Dynamique Nav TCe 130 are: urban 41.5 (6.8); extra-urban 57.7 (4.9); combined 50.4 (5.6). The official CO2 emissions are 126g/km. EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008 test environment figures. Fuel consumption and CO2 may vary according to driving styles, road conditions and other factors. Finance provided by Renault Finance, PO Box 149, Watford WD17 1FJ. Subject to status. Indemnities may be required. UK resident (excludes Channel Islands). Over 18s. Terms and conditions apply. Our dealership introduces customers to a limited number of finance providers including Renault Finance. Offer based on 6,000 miles per annum, excess mileage 8p per mile inc VAT. Offers cannot be used with other schemes or finance offers and are available on featured new vehicle shown when ordered by 31 December 2015 and registered by 31 March 2016. Kadjar shown has optional Flame Red Renault i.d. metallic paint, available at an additional £625. REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE KADJAR Dynamique Nav TCe 130

48 MONTHLY PAYMENTS

CUSTOMER DEPOSIT

CASH PRICE

DEALER DEPOSIT

TOTAL AMOUNT

FINANCE FACILITY FEE

OPTIONAL FINAL

OPTION TO PURCHASE

TOTAL AMOUNT PAYABLE

DURATION

FIXED INTEREST

£179

£3,830

£19,695

£800

£15,065

£99

£9,085

£149

£22,555

49 months

5.39%

5.9% APR REPRESENTATIVE

CHARLES HURST BELFAST 62 Boucher Road, Belfast BT12 6LR Tel 028 9038 1721

NEWTOWNARDS 10 Comber Road Newtownards BT23 4QP Tel 028 9181 5277

NEWTOWNABBEY 547 Antrim Road, Mallusk Newtownabbey BT36 4RF Tel 028 9084 3816

Book a test-drive

LIFESTYLEWHAT'SON Ulster Rugby v Cardiff Blues

(23 Oct – Kick off 18.05, Kingspan Stadium) www.ulsterrugby.com Be the 16th man as Ulster take on the Cardiff Blues. This game also sees Ulster’s annual charity night taking place where supporters are asked to wear funky hats. So grab your shop bought or homemade hat and come cheer on the boys at Kingspan Stadium.

Halloween Monster Mash

(31 Oct 4-7pm, Titanic Slipways) www.visit-belfast.com Come along for an evening of spooktacular street theatre, glow and fire juggling, live music and much more! Watch the evening come to a close as the Belfast sky is set ablaze with the largest firework display in the city. Don’t forget those Halloween costumes!

What's On! Oct/Nov 2015 Just because Summer is over doesn’t mean you’re locked in until the Christmas party. Grab your coat and take a trip to one of these great events.

Michael McIntyre

Festival of Light

(13 – 14 Nov, SSE Arena) www.ssearenabelfast.com

(20 – 29 Nov, Mount Stewart) www.nationaltrust.org.uk Michael McIntyre returns with his hotly anticipated brand new stand up show Happy & Glorious. Michael’s previous tour was the biggest selling comedy tour in the world in 2012, playing to over 640,000 people.

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This magical Christmas light and sound show will see the woodland come alive with sparkling illuminations celebrating the theme of Christmas. There will be festive entertainment and food stalls. What a great way to start spreading Christmas cheer! Booking essential on 08442 491895.

LIFESTYLEWHAT'SON The Fall into Winter Vintage & Handmade Fair (1 Nov 12-5pm, Clandeboye Lodge, Bangor) www.frockfairsni.com

At this event there will be around 50 stalls of vintage, handcrafter and upcycled fashion, furniture, homewares and collectables, textiles and décor, jewellery, sweet treats, toys, art, crafts, gifts, artisan food, the list goes on! This event celebrates Frock Fairs NI’s 7th Birthday so they will be celebrating with style!

Other Events Comedy

Kevin Bridges (20 – 21 Nov, SSE Arena) www.ssearenabelfast.com

Culture

CS Lewis Festival (19 – 22 Nov, East Belfast) www.eastsidearts.net

Food & Drink

Lisburn & Castlereagh Restaurant Week (31 Oct – 7 Nov, Lisburn) www.visitlisburncastlereagh.com

Alan Carr

(26 – 29 Nov 8pm, Waterfront Hall, Belfast) www.waterfront.co.uk

Twilight Market (11 Nov, St George’s Market) www.belfastcity.gov.uk

The BAFTA and British Comedy award winner, author and chat show supremo returns to his stand up roots with his hilarious take on life. Yap Yap Yap! is promising to be a great night with lots of laughs. Book your tickets early to avoid disappointment. Over 16s only.

16th Belfast Beer & Cider Festival (19 – 21 Nov, Ulster Hall) www.belfastcity.gov.uk

Music

The Waterboys (27 Oct, Ulster Hall) www.belfastcity.gov.uk

Van Morrison Live

(15 & 16 Nov, Europa Hotel) www.hastingshotel.com Enjoy this unique opportunity to see Van Morrison ‘up close and personal’ at the magnificent Europa Hotel. These concerts preceded by a sumptuous dinner are a chance to hear him a unique, almost private setting.

Rat Pack Live (28 Oct, Cabaret Supperclub) www.cabaretbelfast.com Years and Years (4 Nov, Mandella Hall) www.mandellahall.com

Theatre

Cinderella (26 Nov – 6 Jan, Belfast Waterfront) www.waterfront.co.uk Snow White (28 Nov – 10 Dec, Grand Opera House) www.goh.co.uk

To be included in the NW's What's On please send event details to northernwoman@greerpublications.com NW

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LIFESTYLEBOOKREVIEWS

Love You Better By Natalie Martin How well do we really know those we love? This novel confronts current and serious issues such as domestic abuse and family dynamics in this dark twist on contemporary romance. After a devastating breakup and a new fairytale romance does Effie really know what she wants?

Books

As we welcome in Autumn why not grab one of these books and a cosy blanket and curl up in front of the fire. The ironing can wait.

The Clasp By Sloane Crosley Victor loves Kezia. Kezia loves Nathaniel. Nathaniel loves Nathaniel. Victor develops an obsession over a legendary necklace and lacking employment or any other kind of tie he leaves New York in search of the jewellery. In a bid to save him from ruining his young ambitions, Kezia and Nathaniel set out to find him.

’s e it NW r u o v a f

The Marble Collector By Cecelia Ahern Cecelia’s twelfth novel is about a young woman named Sabrina who finds a collection of marbles in her father’s possessions. Two of the most expensive items are missing. In her mission to find them Sabrina discovers that her father is not who she thinks he is.

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Stitches in Time By Lucy Adlington This lavishly illustrated book is like stepping into a dressing room and looking through drawer to find treasures within. Find out what items of clothing reveal about aesthetics, sex, gender, class and lifestyle through the ages, also the correct occasion for splatterdashers!

Hidden By Emma Kavanagh A gunman stalking the wards of a hospital needs to be located by Aden, a policeman troubled by the shooting of a schoolboy is determined to find the gunman. Psychologist Imogen is concerned for the safety of her niece who has been admitted to the hospital.

LIFESTYLEMOVIEREVIEWS

The Walk

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon

Only one man has, and ever will, walk between the World Trade Center Towers. Guided by a mentor and aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, Petie and his team overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and multiple close calls to conceive and execute their plan.

Movies

The cinema is packed with great movies. You’ll find it impossible to choose which one to go and see. Only one thing for it, you’ll have to go back again next week!

Macbeth

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Elizabeth Debicki

Macbeth, a duke of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

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Goosebumps

The Lady in the Van

Starring: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush

Starring: Dominic Cooper, Maggie Smith, James Corden

After moving to a small town a teenage boy named Zach meets Hannah his new neighbour. Hannah’s father who writes the goosebumps stories keeps all his ghosts and monsters in the series locked up in his manuscripts. Zach unintentionally releases the ghouls and the monsters from the manuscripts. Now Zach, Hannah and Stine team up in order to put the monsters back where they came from before it is too late.

Based on a true story and 1999 hit West End play, the movie follows an elderly eccentric homeless woman called Mary who writer Alan Bennett allowed to temporarily live in a battered car on his driveway in the 1970s. 15 years later and she is still there.

Spectre Starring: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz The twenty-fourth James Bond movie sees the aftermath of Raoul Silva’s attack on MI6, a cryptic message sets in motion events that will see Bond come face to face with the sinister organisation Spectre. Gareth Mallory, the newly appointed M continues fighting political pressures while Bond follows a trial from Mexico to Austria and Morocco and meets an old enemy.

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WEDDINGALBUM

Northern Woman Congratulates… Kyrene Jennings & David Moynihan

e met through car rallying, David navigates and also sells motorsport equipment at rallyies all over Ireland and my two brothers participate in car rallying. Early on New Year’s Day morning 2012 we went to put some flowers on my Nanny’s grave and David popped the question and after initially being speechless I said Yes! David had never met my Nanny but this was his way of making sure she was the first to know our news and share the special moment. As David’s family live over 200 miles away in Cork they were staying in a local hotel awaiting the call so they could join us to celebrate! My brother Garry had also got engaged the night before so it was a very exciting New Year! We attend Ardess Church and we knew this was where we wanted to get married. We visited the Killyhevlin Hotel on a beautiful Saturday and booked our reception with the very helpful manager, David Morrison. The venue had no issues with catering for 350 day guests who enjoyed a beautiful four course meal, followed by an evening buffet and a midnight hog roast and cheese table. We went on honeymoon to Secrets of the Vine, Cancun, Mexico. It was the best holiday we ever had, it was total luxury, and hopefully we will return, some day!"

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WEDDINGALBUM

The wedding rings came from Mercer’s, Enniskillen. Kyrene picked yellow gold with diamonds and David picked a plain wedding band. The events of the day were captured by Grace Photography, Armagh www.gracephotographyni.com. "We recommend Grace 100%, she made us feel very relaxed and we found it very difficult to narrow down our pictures for our album"º Videographer – Noel Donald, KVS Video, Omagh The wedding cake was from Lynda Thompson, Kesh Home Bakery, Kesh. The bouquets and flowers were from Clare Flower, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh

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ONELASTTHING

A Day in the Life of

Sharon Watson

NW chats with Sharon Watson Hair & Make-Up Artist... Have you always worked in the beauty industry?

I suppose I would have to say yes as becoming a hairdresser was my main job after graduating from University but it was never something I had even considered before. I’ve always been very creative though, my degree is in Fine Art, specialising in photography, which was originally what I had intended to carry on doing. I guess working in the hair and make up industry seems natural to me as I get to create art every day.

Why and when did you decide to work as a freelance hair & make-up artist?

I had been working at Stafford Hair for eight years and was only in July this year that I decided to take the leap. I recieved all of my training at Staffords and saying my goodbyes to Paul and Leisa was very difficult but we all knew that my heart was taking me somewhere else, and that was Make Up. After completing a few courses with Pamela Smyth at The Make up Department I really wanted to get out and make a name for myself now... and I guess, you could say, it seems to be going quite well.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The joys of being freelance is that every day is entirely different. I make my own appointments, work to my own times but that also means I can accommodate clients at more convenient times for them also. My biggest achievements since leaving the salon environment is that I have just started working as a trainee Make Up artist on Game of Thrones. It’s amazing to be part of such a huge production and I’ve met some amazing people already. I absolutely love working in the film industry.... I mean, I got to hold an Emmy while having my breakfast this morning!! That doesn’t happen every day!

Briefly, what does a typical day involve?

I’m working on set at the minute so call times change but typically I get up at 2:30am drive to location and begin working with the rest of the team to get the crowd actors ready for set. This can take a few hours really after they’ve been through hair and

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costume. We have shifts on set during filming to check everyone is suitable for shots. When filming ends its typically around 6pm, but we can run over sometimes. When I arrive home it’s usually around 7:30pm, I have a quick bite to eat, then it’s bedtime to start all over again. It’s not glamourous at all but I love every minute. Even trudging around knee high in muck all day. On days that I’m not filming I have clients to my salon space at home. I enjoy those days a lot

too as I have clients that have been coming to me for years. so I love chatting and catching up with them.

How do I switch off at the end of the day? Honestly, by watching an episode of Home and Away before bed and I’m not even sorry!

Describe your perfect day away from your make-up brushes?!

As filming hours are so full on, I spend any time I have off catching up with my friends and family. I love going to the cinema and really enjoy going out for dinner, Howard Street in Belfast is my go-to favourite at the minute. The end of the week is always nicely rounded off by catching up with my boyfriend too. Mostly because I just sit on the sofa while me makes me nice large glasses of gin! by sharonwatson

NORTHERN WOMAN

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NW's Style Secrets

VOLUME 31

671 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7GT I 028 9066 2554 I info@staffordhair.com I staffordhair.com

Don't let anxiety take over your life

with Daniel O'Donnell

ISSN 1361-2735

N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 5 - S T Y L E F O R T H E N E W S E A S O N

Hair: Leisa Stafford for Denman; Colour: Leisa Stafford; Styling: Sara O'Neill; Make-up: Pamela Smyth; Photography: Lee Michell

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