From the Office to Out-Out!

I had a very busy few weeks in the build up to Christmas (and again working on a big-budget drama), with lots of lovely events and things happening during the week that I head out to straight after work. And last Thursday I got to go straight from the office to the Miss Northern Ireland 2022 Launch, so I thought I’d share my tips on how I go from the office, to out-out!

In an ideal situation, I have time to head home from the office to get changed/made up / freshen up my hair. And in those situations, I usually go to work with no makeup on, and freshly washed and blow-dried hair so that the second I get in the door I can start getting ready without having to take any old makeup from the morning off etc. 

 

Film / TV offices are very casual and we’re required to wear masks all day unless we’re eating (plus I’m a lash extension addict), and these things definitely make it easier for me to go makeup free in the office

If I have time to head home, I always make sure to set out my change of clothes (shoes, bag, and eyelash glue included) the night before, that way I’m also not eating into a narrow time frame by looking for the jacket/heels I want that are squished to the back of the wardrobe.

Because I have such early starts (I have to leave the house at 7:15 to be in the office on time), if an event is during the week, I usually make a point of driving myself there and back, as this guarantees I can get straight there/home easily (taxi wait times are crazy at the minute) and I avoid a sore head on a work morning!

However, most of the time I don’t have the luxury of getting ready at home before I head back out on a work-night, on these days I get up extra early and do my full face of makeup and style my hair before work, I then pack my makeup bag, a hairbrush, and outfit change into the car.

Then as soon as quittin’ time hits, I drop my work handbag into the car and then grab my makeup bag / change of clothes, and touch up my makeup / get changed in the work loos as quickly as I can. As soon as I feel presentable, I then head straight back to the car and hit the road.

Even though I don’t usually drink alcohol on week-night  events, I still usually end up home/settled much later than usual, but I never let myself skimp on the skincare routine on these nights. I know I’ll definitely wake up much more tired than usual so the last thing ‘morning me’ needs is to also wake up with my makeup still on (a top tip for if you do decide to have a proper night out on a school night)

I also organise myself food-wise, if I have a chance to get home, I make sure there’s something quick, healthy and filling ready for me to grab or I pack myself lunch and dinner to eat in work if I’m heading straight from the office, because I know I definitely won’t have fun if I’m hungry.

I’ve had to make use of this routine several times in the last few weeks, including for the Glow NI 10-year celebration (yes, I came out of the work toilet in my formal gown and drove straight down), the Younique Belfast Christmas Party, The Homeless Period Belfast 5 Year Celebration & Eden McAllister’s Miss GB Celebration party, and, most recently, the Miss Northern Ireland 2022 launch!

The launch was held this year in the Observatory of the beautiful Grand Central Hotel in Belfast. The event featured speeches from the head of ACA & The Miss Northern Ireland Competition Victoria Withers, Miss NI herself Anna Leitch, as well as from sponsors / judges old and new.

It was lovely to be invited and catch up with some of my friends that I met from my time taking part in the competition last year, and I’m excited to see how the competition goes this year!

I’ve been implementing these tips a lot recently and will need to continue to do so now that we’re through January & everyone’s diaries are filling up again, and I hope they’re helpful for you if you have any tight time frames from work -> out coming up!

Stacey Xx