Shades & Coffee

EVENT ALERT: TOMMY TON & MIROSLAVA DUMA AT SYMPHONY

2012-01-26T15:39:00.000+04:00

How excited are we for the upcoming event at Symphony?? VERY!! After missing out on their last event (Europe trip to blame) which was hosted by Anna Dello Russo, there's no way we'll be missing this one. Who know maybe if you're lucky you'll get snapped up by Tommy Ton for his blog..

See you there??

EDITORIAL LOVE: DARIA WERBOWY x VOGUE PARIS

2012-01-25T16:28:00.000+04:00

If you've read my blog for a while you'll know that I'm slightly obsessed with Daria Werbowy.. I think she's one of the greatest models out there and I always fall in love with her editorials. Check out this awesome editorial featuring the supermodel in Vegas.

THE POPULARITY CONTEST

2012-01-22T00:37:00.003+04:00

This is another one of those posts that revolves entirely around an opinion I have so bare with me.

I've come to the realization that every time there's some sort of fashion related competition in Dubai, the judges leave it primarily to votes which in turn, makes the whole thing a dumb popularity contest.

Whatever happened to quality over quantity?? And have we become so pretentious that even when a competition based entirely on talent we turn it into another game of how many people you know.

This isn't the first time I have these thoughts and although last time it happened, in the most blatantly obvious manner, (many will know exactly what I'm talking about) I chose to stay silent, this time I'm letting it be known that I think Dubai's fashion competitions have become a joke. Granted I did entertain the idea more than once, I've always felt deep down that it was quite pathetic chasing votes for something that you're supposedly being judged on.

Another way to view this is as an excellent no cost PR scheme, the more people share links the more exposure the contest holder is getting, which brings me to ask the question: is the talent, time and effort of those who entered the competition taking a backseat to the game of sharing and liking on facebook?

Whatever happened to a good old judging panel of qualified experts? I mean it's one thing to involve the public but basing a competition on votes entirely, which has happened SEVERAL times in the region, just means that any random person with a million friends can enter knowing they'll win.

Again this is just my opinion, I'm not naming names or trying to bitch anyone out, just sharing what I think about these so called talent contests.

Thoughts?

VOTE FOR ENGY IN THE S*UCE COMPETITION ♥

2012-01-19T21:59:00.000+04:00

Hello lovies. My little sister and lovely blog contributor Engy designed this dress for the S*uce competition and got shortlisted. Now she needs your votes to make it to the next stage of judging.

The theme was monochrome with a pop of colour, the dress is made of velvet and sheer tulle and the blue part is leather.

Pretty please click on THIS link and like the photo to vote for her.

Lots of love xx

LOOK OF THE DAY: PINK AND ASSORTED COLOURS

2012-01-05T16:20:00.000+04:00

I really do like these shoes.. Like a lot! And I'm always amazed that no one else bought them, well at least no one I personally know. Whenever I wear them out I get so many compliments and then I say "Oh yeah I got them form H&M last year" and I get shocked faces. It amuses me.. But then again I'm easily amused.. Sometimes!

Anyways so I'm gonna be travelling to the land of the mighty pharaohs, AKA Egypt, for a week, excited as well as slightly scared, but more importantly panicking as I don't (as usual) have a clue what to pack. Oh also please pray for my fragile soul as I'm about to head to the mall to check out the Dubai Shopping Festival Sales, while I'm on a shopping ban.. Fun times!! :|

Sweater: Yessica, Skirt: Glassons, Bag: Mango. Shoes: H&M

LOOK OF THE DAY: SHINE ON

2012-01-04T13:21:00.000+04:00

Well last night's rant was intense. I'm laughing now reading what my brain can get upto at 4 am.. But I'm glad I got that off my chest (Go read my last post if you agree that some girls dress in totally wrong outfits). Anyways to this outfit. I love blazers, my god I think I'm addicted. I recently tidied up my wardrobe (ok fine, a part of it) and realised that I have 15+ that I wear all the time. This one is not an exception, when I first bought this I thought this will be my fancy dinner blazer cause it's shiny and stuff.. But then I wore it out one morning and fell in love!! What's your one wardrobe staple?

Blazer: Bebe, Top: F21, Pants: True Religion, Bag & Shoes: H&M

RAMBLINGS....BODY TYPESS, SUITABLE CLOTHES & WHATNOT

2012-01-04T04:29:00.004+04:00

Why do people wear stuff that is so ill-fitting you can see EVERYTHING!! I mean seriously if you put on a skanky dress that a size 6 can barely pull off when you're more of a size 14..umm.. we can see your cellulite. I would advise most readers to read this post, but I totally get it if you chose to ignore it, no hard feelings, I promise I'll still love you.. I just really had to get it out there as I've just seen some outrageous choices of outfits while I was out and can't bring myself to accept that these girls believe they look ok.

I'm not judging anyone's size, honest, I'm the last to speak about weight, we all have ups and downs with it, except for some lucky few (good for them, not hating!) But seriously why is it hard to comprehend the concept of dressing for your size? For example I'm notoriously known for dressing in black, is it because it hides most flaws visible to the human eye? No! I genuinely am attracted to black pieces, BUT of course I do use it to hide things here and there. But still you'll never see me in a bodycon Herve Leger dress, not even in black! My body type just does not work with it. Easy right? You'd think most girls would get it but alas they chose to wear the one thing that will make them look WRONG and go out. Why? I can't seem to find an answer for this.

The more I go out the more I feel like girls are losing sight of the fact that dressing like a prostitute will not get them the RIGHT KIND of attention. And while I'm all for personal style and looking unique, dressing like you just shopped in a tranny's wardrobe is not personal style! Capiche?

Here are just some rules I'd recommend most girls follow.. this of course is my humble opinion, if you feel differently by all means please continue slipping into that awful leopard print skin tight dress, you might just meet the guy of your dreams.

Rule # 1 - Short skirts

Who doesn't love a sort skirt? I know I do, but how short is SHORT? If you're too scared to walk or sit in case you over expose yourself. It's too short!

Rule #2 - Figure hugging dresses

If you have a belly, even a small one, love handles, hips or some serious booty I'd say stay away from materials that cling to your body. Try to find a well fitted dress that will not show everyone where exactly your underwear is!

Rule #3 - Leather leggings

These can be quite tricky to play with, when styled right they can make an outfit look perfect, like say with a white t-shirt and blazer.. But when you pair it with a short skanky top that is a no!

Rule #4 - Sequined leggings

If you're anything above a size 8 please don't even buy a pair, and if you're an 8 and below, please try to not match it with something sparkly. You're not a unicorn!
Rule #5 - See through tops

If you must wear a transparent top, it's ok sometimes we all want to, please wear appropriate lingerie underneath.

Rule # 6 - On the topic of Lingerie

Just because you saw a girl with a black dress and a bit of her red lace bra showing does not mean it's a trend. Same applies to neon pink bras under white t-shirts.. again not a trend!!

Rule #7 - Right size shoes

If you can't walk in them then they're not your size. I'm not just talking about shoes that are so tight you look like you're about to faint from the pain. I'm also referring to shoes that are big and make clicky sounds every time you take a step because they keep coming off. There should not be a space behind your foot. It should fit.

Rule #8 - The HAIRDO!

We all love a bit of volume and do all those tricks we learned on youtube about teasing your hair and applying just the right amount of hairspray to make it hold throughout the night. But if you leave your house looking like you were just chased through a forest by a raging wolf, then you're doing it wrong. Tame your mane ladies!

Rule #9 - The red lippy

Yes red lipstick is hot! Yes red lipstick attracts attention! Yes red lipstick makes you feel sexier on the spot! But NO red lipstick should not make you look like you just bit someone's arm off! Jeez you're not a vampire so the excess red isn't a good look. Learn to colour between the lines.

Finally rule # 10 - That bloody smokey eye look.

I may be a bit jealous because I have major squinty eyes and have only just figured out how to apply liquid eyeliner without making me look like I have no eyes. BUT I still make a good point when I say that trying to look like Kim Kardashian does not work for everyone. Plus she has a makeup artist that does that for her, so you're half-assed attempt at contouring your eyelids with just the right amount of black eyeshadow will only make you look trashy. Try to use colours that suit your complexion, smokey eyes can work with browns and gold just as well as black. Try it. Or better yet, just try a look that works for you!

I hope this does not offend anyone, and if it does please do point out where I've made a mistake, I'll gladly think about it, although I don't promise to change my mind.

Ok, I can go to sleep now xx

Here's a pretty picture to make it up to you all for the rambling ♥

(photo source: The Coveteur)

LOOK OF THE DAY: THOSE PUFFY SHOULDERS

2012-01-03T16:29:00.000+04:00

Happy New Year ♥

I can't believe it's already 2012, time really did fly by quick. Last year so much happened it feels like a decade. My highlights of the year were moving into my own apartment which I'm also sadly moving out of soon, quitting my job and starting up my own business, going home to NZ, travelling around Europe for a month with friends and ofcourse attending my first show at Paris Fashion Week. Here's to a lot more fashion, travel and love in 2012.

Jacket: Vintage, Pants: True Religion, Bag: Fyunka, Shoes: F21

FEATURED: AHLAN! - CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL!

2011-12-29T18:51:00.000+04:00

Featured in last week's Ahlan! for the "Closet Confidential" feature ♥

FEATURED: GRAZIA - WHAT'S IN MY WARDROBE!

2011-12-29T18:46:00.001+04:00

Featured in last week's Grazia Middle East for the "What's in my wardrobe" feature ♥

STYLE FEATURE: BENETTON A/W LOOK 3

2011-12-26T13:17:00.000+04:00

This is the 3rd A/W look I styled for the United Bloggers of Benetton project. I love this coat, it's so pretty and on a reallllly cold day is a perfect outfit all on it's own. I also really like belting my coats as it's an easy way to accessorise the look. As always, ofcourse, I went for the black coat as it would work with my entire closet (although some would be proud to know I bought a white coat from Germany in October), but I chose to go for lighter shoes and bag to break up the darkness a bit. Benetton have some great colourful pieces though if you're all for brights, so make sure you check them out.

LUST HAVE: GIVENCHY PANTHER SKIRT

2011-12-25T19:29:00.000+04:00

It's been a long time since I saw this outift and gasped and I still haven't gotten over it. Let it be known that I am obsessed with this skirt! And the top too..I want this whole outfit..So badly. Like I could probably trade half my clothes for it!!

LOOK OF THE DAY: PATTERN CLASH

2011-12-23T20:54:00.000+04:00

Hello lovies. It's been a while since I did an outfit post. I blame this ofcourse as always on a complete lack of a photogrpaher in my life. I sometimes think maybe I'll just date someone and force him into photogrpahy and make him devote his life to taking my outfit pictures.. or hire a photogrpaher. either way I need to find a solution other than setting up my camera on a tripod.. it's gets tres boring don't you think? I've heard from other bloggers that they use their sistersm friends and even maids, pity I live alone.. The search is on.

Hope everyone's having a great holiday season ♥

This outfit was also snapped by Grazia's Style Hunter last week ♥

LABEL SPOTLIGHT: SMILE & JOKE

2011-12-19T14:11:00.000+04:00

I love funky tshirt labels, they add a bit of life to my plain and super monochromatic tshirt collection. I was recently introduced to this really cool brand by its designers who are 3 brothers from Paris that have slight obsession with New York. For the launch of their collection and to celebrate the festive season they're offering a discount to my readers. Read on to see the collection and get the promotion code.

Check out their website HERE to make an order and don't forget to get 10% off the below collection, mention this code upon purchase: SHADESANDCOFFEE2011

Valid till Dec 31st 2011

TURKEY MADNESS WITH GALERIES LAFAYETTE

2011-12-13T20:38:00.001+04:00

Galeries lafayette successfully put me in a food induced coma yesterday. At an intimate dinner with some of Dubai's best bloggers, Chef Russell Impazzi of Lafayette Gourmet, served us some of the finest Christmas food which will be available exclusively for this festive season. We started out with light appetizers and then the turkey rolled out, served with roast veggies and different sauces and gravy, which was followed by a variety of desserts including; a yule log, Christmas pudding and mini fruit mince pies.

Canadian lobster and poached prawn cocktail

Severn and wye scottish smoked salmon

Chef Russell Impazzi

Roast potatoes and cranberry sauce

YUMS!! Roast turkey, roast prime rib of beed, roasted veggies.

The bloggers and our favourite PR man Joe

Christmas pudding

Yule log

Many thanks to Lafayette Gourmet and Chef Russell Impazzi for the incredible dinner. You can order any of the above dishes for your Christmas dinner, so you have no reason to not host the perfect one!!

EVENT: FESTIVAL DES METIERS - A RENDEZ VOUS WITH HERMES CRAFTSMEN

2011-12-07T17:40:00.001+04:00

Festival Des Metiers is an exhibition of craftsmenship that was held by Hermes at Dubai Mall last week.. I went to check it out and see if I could learn something new and after spending over an hour talking to the team I walked away with so much new knowledge it blew me away.

All the craftsmen were flown in from the Hermes workshop in Lyon, France to display their work. They included a saddler, a tie maker, a leather artisan, a shirt maker, a watch maker, a gem setter and of course the silk scarf printers and silk engraver, the latter being my main focus of the day.

Kamel Hamadou - Silk Printer

After spotting my camera and finding out I was a blogger, Kamel gave me a quick walk through of the process before the crowds gathered. First he explained that a Hermes silk scarf takes 2 years to make from start to finish. It all starts with the silk of these cocoons, which is used to make the 90cmx90cm silk squares.

After acquiring a drawing from an artist, a silk engraver studies the drawing to determine the number of colours, each scarf can be made of a maximum of 45 colours, each one is drawn on a different clear sheet. This process can take anything from 450 hours to 2000+ hours depending on how intricate the design is.

Nadine Rabilloud, Silk Engraver

Each colour gets one sheet and they are drawn from darkest to lightest, after completing all the sheets using different tools and Chinese ink, they are printed on photo sensitive mesh that is used on the printing machine. Each colour is printed and left to dry before applying the next colour. The final step is the hand-sewn French hemming which takes 45 minutes.

Henri Lely, Silk Printer

It was amazing talking to all these craftsmen and understanding just what kind of work goes on behind the scenes of these coveted scarves. In a world of high tech machinery it's refreshing to see some good old fashioned skills being used.

Here are some more shots I got of the exhibition.

Note worth mentioning: The Apache scarf being held above by Kamel is one of the hardest designs to date to complete. Nadine (who's been working with Hermes for 33 years) studied the drawing for over 2 years to identify the colours, she originally found 100 colours and had to bring it down to 35 to be able to produce. She spent almost 3000 hours engraving the drawing. The face of the man alone had 15 colours. Now tell me that's not worth spending on.

EVENT: FASHLINK LAUNCH

2011-12-05T23:54:00.001+04:00

Today I attended an exclusive pre-launch demo of Fashlink, a new website that will change the way women shop in the Middle East. In collaboration with 70 stores and boutiques, Fashlink provides one platform for users to browse through catalogues of the latest collections which include prices and available loyalty programs. You can create your own looks, add items to a wishlist and even add pieces you own to the My Closet feature. This is my favourite part, you send snaps of your clothes to Fashlink an in 24 hours they will crop them and include them in the application for you so you can mix and match them with things you want to buy. Great way to test out looks before spending the money, neat huh? They even made a view & vote page which you can upload your looks to and get other user's opinions, which I can imagine will save a lot of people for making disastrous fashion choices.

The beta version is available now so make sure you check it out HERE and you can download the app for your iPad, iPod or iPhone HERE ..

With Payal, Business Development director of Fashlink, Aysha from Pretty Fash Forward & Naomi from Grazia Magazine

EVENT: MAISON SEZ BLOGGERS DAY ♥

2011-12-02T13:57:00.001+04:00

What do blogger want out of an event? We want exclusivity, we want fun, we want great fashion and we wouldn't mind a goodie or two. Last week Maison Sez Boutique owner Madonna Morgan with the help of her incredible PR team at Expose-Communications, were able to combine all the above to create one amazing bloggers event.

It all started with coffee as we all met up early in the morning, 20 minutes later and after a good dose of caffiene, 11 bloggers, 2 PR execs and one boutique owner squished into a pimped out Hummer limo, turned up the volume (to a Lil wayne album may I add), devoured macaroons and cupcakes and gossiped the ride away till we reached Abu Dhabi, home to our final destination; Maison Sez Boutique.

Upon arrival, Madonna handed out a little goodie bag of candy and chocolates which also contained our clue cards for our treasure hunt. We lounged outside in the garden and enjoyed a beautiful lunch while Madonna explained to us that each one had a card with different clues which we were to use to find one piece of clothing inside the store.

I have to admit I had no idea what Mickey Mouse shoulders were and thought I'd missed out on a new trend.

Yum yums courtesy of Shakespear & Co

(L-R) Christina, Lisa, Moi, Dana from Expose and Aysha

(L-R) Leila, Alizey, Saanieh, Nadya, Madonna and Anna

I loved Nadya's outfit, the faux fur comes out to play at last.

I kinda, ok fine realllyy, want a MoshiMoshi phone headset thingy now! (Ps yes it was not even plugged in.. it was a virtual call)

Going through two floors of tens of racks to find our pieces was a lot of fun, it didn't take us long to make sense of our clue and I finally figured out what the Mickey Mouse clue was all about.

We all found our pieces!! Hooray... Wait, what? We get to keep them? Why hello there new dresses. Best treasure hunt ever.

I love these polaroids Madonna took with each one of us to display in the store.

The fun didn't end there, after going through the Paris themed section of the boutique for the hunt, Madonna led us through to the London inspired section where we were given access to an exclusive 80% discount on the entire collection in the room.. Yeah there was a lot of grabbing and not so much thinking.

Me and Saanieh fell in love with this jacket, it has the cutest bow in the back too, ofcourse looked tons better on her.. oh to be that petite.

Then it was back to the garden for some tea and goodie bags (with all our new dresses too), and before we knew it (time truly flies when you're having fun) it was time to head back into our limo to go home.

A huge Thank you to Madonna, Dana and Rama for the amazing day. Be sure to check out Maison Sez if you're ever in Abu Dhabi it is truly one little gem that must not be missed.

OPEN INVITE: YSL MAKE UP EVENT

2011-11-30T17:53:00.003+04:00

If you're into make-up you want to check out this event tomorrow, I'll be there, make sure you come down.

GIVEAWAY: FYUNKA TOTE BAG ♥

2011-11-24T17:53:00.004+04:00

Everyone seems to be talking about Fyunka bags these days and with good reason, they're quirky, cute and carry a tonne load of stuff (mine was my best friend on my trip in Europe where I literally carried EVERYTHING around).

The adorable designer Alaa Balkhy gifted me this one as soon as she launched her line and it's been so great watching the success of her label since then.

So we've decided to give away one bag just like this to one of my readers :)

Here's what you've got to do:

1.Retweet this "I want to win a @Fyunka tote bag http://ow.ly/7E15s " on Twitter

2. Like Fyunka on Facebook HERE

3. Like Shades&Coffee on Facebook HERE

Open to Dubai based readers.

We'll pick a winner at random in 2 weeks and announce it on our Facebook pages. That's all there is to it xx

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: HASSAN MARDASH x SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS

2011-11-23T19:45:00.002+04:00

Going to meet and interview a new designer is always both intriguing and intimidating because you have no idea what to expect. So when I walked into Hassan Mardash's boutique and was welcomed by the most charming smile, I was instantly pleased to have discovered yet another amazing and super nice designer. I went to meet Hassan to find out more about him and his latest collaboration with Swarovski Elements, who selected him as one of the top Middle Eastern designer for their upcoming event "Sense of Two".

Here are some facts I discovered about Hassan:

1- He paints incredible portraits of women in stunning gowns from an era of true romanticism. Need I say more?

2- He studied interior design before jumping on the first chance to enrol at ESMOD in Syria to study fashion.

3- He knows when to go wild with his creativity and create extravagant pieces and when to pull the leash and make more simple pieces that suit a client's needs.

After a super warm welcome I put my notepad away and relaxed into my seat, realising that this was going to be more of a genuine conversation than an interview and it was just that, to the point where 20 minutes into it he laughs and says "I forgot this was an interview". Growing up in Syria with a passion for arts, Hassan was always intrigued by the female form, especially when covered by glamorous gowns. After studying at ESMOD, he worked briefly with established designers to gain more insight into the industry outside the walls of fashion school, he then moved to Dubai and launched his own collection Hassan Mardash Haute Couture, which he proudly showcased at Odessa Fashion Week in Ukraine earlier this month. One of his biggest achievements to date along with being selected by Swarovski Elements as one the top designers in the region.

We get talking about inspiration and Hassan tells me that he finds his in paintings and buildings, which makes sense given his background. He tells me that sometimes painting a dress on a woman is the perfect way to conceptualise a design. Some of his favourite designers include Gaultier, Galliano, Dior and the original works of Gianni Versace. On average, Hassan spends anywhere between half an hour to a few days, depending on his level of inspiration, to put down an idea on paper, he then spends about a fortnight constructing his pieces which include a lot of handwork embellishment using the finest Swarovski Elements crystals. To him, a good quality piece is one that was thoroughly conceptualised before being brought to true form. Of course I also had to ask about the challenges? What constricts a designer? The answer was simple, boredom and limitations on creativity. Which Hassan works on beating by continuing to paint and by creating the odd over-the-top piece every now and then to satisfy his creative gene.

Finally I asked Hassan what his advice would be to someone who wants to start out in the industry:

1- Be Patient and don't give up on your ideas

2- Educate yourself on different cultures, the history of arts and past/current events before stepping into design

3- Know your target before you conceptualise a piece, there's nothing worse than creating a garment that will not reflect the true identity of the woman wearing it.

Check out some of Hassan's painting below and keep an eye out for his 2 designs in the upcoming "Sense of Two" event by Swarovski Elements. I can't wait to see what he comes up with.

STYLE FEATURE: BENETTON A/W LOOK 2

2011-11-21T23:16:00.002+04:00

This is the second fall look I styled at Benetton for the United Bloggers of Benetton project.

I'm always dressing in black so I thought I'd try out more earthy tones and I fell in loves with this jacket and the shoes are super comfortable by the way, which is always a major plus when I'm looking at heels.

NEWS: S*UCE DESIGN A DRESS COMPETITION

2011-11-20T16:53:00.003+04:00

S*uce Boutique are holding another great competition where the winner gets a consultation with Two Scoops to create and develop a new collection to be sold exclusively at S*uce + 2000Dhs to spend on the new collection samples + PR + a free course from London College of Fashion in Dubai in May. Sweet deal huh?? So if you got the talent, get designing!! The deadline is the 1st of January 2012.

STYLE FEATURE: BENETTON A/W LOOK 1

2011-11-15T23:48:00.004+04:00

As part of my collaboration with United Colors of Benetton, I get to play dress up in store to create my favourite seasonal looks. This is the first of my fall looks. I'm in love with this black blazer, it's so adorable and can be worn with so many different outfits. My other favourite piece was the clutch. I chose to complete the lookw ith red heels to add a bit of colour and break up the seriousness of the outfit. I would wear this to a casual meeting any day.

LOOK OF THE DAY: DREAMING OF A DIFFERENT PLACE

2011-11-14T03:46:00.000+04:00

Top: F21, Jeans: Levis, Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Shoes: Burberry

Life is at a stand standstill right now, looking back at photos of Europe makes it a bit better.. I have a full calendar of events for this month, I hope that gets my mind off things a bit. I miss the fashion there, the freedom of expression. Sometimes I get so bored of the way everyone in Dubai looks. It's like someone hired the same stylist for the whole city... Just a thought...

LUST HAVE: MERCURA NYC SHADES

2011-11-08T16:55:00.001+04:00

Be still my beating heart... These Mercura NYC shades are meant to be in my life. Umm.. Santa?

BEAUTY REVIEW: JULIE HEWETT LA LIPSTICK - THE PERFECT RED

2011-11-06T23:27:00.004+04:00

I got this amazing red lipstick by Julie Hewett LA courtesy of Makeup Etc. Boutique and have been using it all the time, the colour is perfect for my skin tone because it's a blue-based red. This shade is called Femme Noir and is part of the noir collection which is infused with healing camellia oils and essence of rosebud.

I was told it was long lasting due to the fact that the lipstick is double-pigmented, and I'm impressed. When applied properly (as in multiple layers) it can withstand food and drinks for a few hours, I've tested it! There are different shades for every skin tone so make sure you try them out until you find the right one for your lips.

"An idea born of necessity on the set of Pearl Harbor, Julie needed to create her own line of long-lasting technicolor reds. The Noir Collection was the answer to the call for good, old-fashioned red lipstick made with today's updated, more natural ingredients."

LOOK OF THE DAY: SHADY AS A LADY IN A MUSTACHE

2011-11-06T14:33:00.002+04:00

It truly sucks when you lose stuff.. I bought this bracelet in Barcelona from a tiny boutique and wore it every day only to discover it was no longer on my wrist when I reached the airport :( Oh well I got to enjoy it for a bit I guess. On another note, I'm obsessed with this Kate Moss t-shirt by uber cool French label Eleven Paris I really liked their stuff and although I could only buy this one due to major luggage weight constrictions, I'm going to be ordering more online. I'm yet to actually use this MJ laptop bag for my laptop, it just makes such a perfect clutch, it even fits my camera.. Love! Another thing I love is all the street art in Barcelona.. Such a cool city. Here's some shots I took this day.

Blazer: H&M, T-Shirt: Eleven Paris, Skirt: H&M, Shoes and Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

LUST HAVE: BAROQUE JEWELRY BY JENNIFER TRASK

2011-11-03T14:48:00.002+04:00

I just stumbled upon this incredible necklace/neck piece by jewelry designer Jennifer Trask. Isn't it gorgeous? I'm in love with it. Check out these amazing pieces.

VISUAL DIARY: 24 HOURS IN AMSTERDAM

2011-11-01T17:06:00.005+04:00

Amsterdam is one crazy city.. Only stayed 24 hours and needless to say it was the most fun day I've had in a long time. I love it. I'm finally back in Dubai, it feels like years since I was here. Being back after a month of hopping around Europe is slightly weird but also exciting. Although I've missed out on a crazy fashion month in Dubai, I've had some great moments abroad that make up for it, but I'm glad to be back and ready to hop back into all the events that have already started filling up my calendar.

LOOK OF THE DAY: WEARING ANAYA TO MOULIN ROUGE

2011-10-19T14:36:00.003+04:00

One of the most exciting nights for me in Paris was when I went to Moulin Rouge, I've always said if I'm in paris I have to go to see the show. The girls, the costumes and the dances, all of it was always beyond intriguing. So I went and it was AMAZING!! I managed to convince my darling friend Dora to come along and spare me the embarrassment of going alone and we ended up having a blast.. I wore this gorgeous blue dress from Anaya Collection, which is by a Dubai based designer I absolutely adore. I fell in love with the colour and the material!

LOOK OF THE DAY: LOOK AT MY BOWTIE

2011-10-16T20:06:00.003+04:00

This is what I wore to the Elie Saab show in Paris last week. While packing in Dubai (which was hell as I needed to pack less than 25Kgs for my 1 month stay in Europe!!) I knew I wanted to wear this hat in paris, I guess I felt like it was the only chance I would get to wear it without looking completely out of place (as I would in Dubai), and the perfect accessory to complement the look was this amazing ceramic bow tie by AMD- Les Supplements, It's from the soon to be released collection and trust me they will make every guy and girl want to rock bow-ties again.

Blazer: H&M, Shirt: H&M, Shorts: Glassons, Shoes: Burberry: Hat: Guess, Bow-tie: AMD- Les Supplements.

Also worth mentioning is that the red lipstick I've been using is by Julie Hewett, the make up artist behind the incredible red lipstick used in Pearl Harbor, I've been obsessed with it!

VISUAL DIARY: J'ADORE PARIS...

2011-10-14T12:51:00.003+04:00

J'adore Paris!!!

BEAUTY: NAIL POLISH ADDICTS ANONYMOUS: PART 2

2011-10-13T13:26:00.002+04:00

Here's part two of Dina's nail polish tips.

{Dina} So now you know where to buy and how to buy. How about what to buy? For each trend below, there are examples but make sure whatever you choose, it suits your skin tone and the occasion.

For the Girly Girl In You

Who doesn't love a little pink? Often the easiest color to find, pink adds an instant flirty factor to your personal look. Neon, subtle, or bold - pink is such a versatile color and should be a staple in your budding nail polish collections.

Go-Tos:

1. Knockout Pout by Essie (neon pink)

2. OMG by Orly (bold fuchsia)

3. Heart Throb by OPI (delicate pastel pink)

Pastel Preppy

Gorgeous pastels can completely change the feel of an outfit. Especially with some of the pastel polishes available, it couldn't be easier. Essie and butter London, in particular, frequently release beautiful sets of pastel polishes so be on the lookout! Go preppy, go pastel, no one cares if you're a sheep! But seriously, is there anything that's just as utterly pretty as pastel nails?

Go-Tos:

1. Nice is Nice by Essie (the name cracks me up and the gorgeous light purple shade makes me happy)

2. Cheeky Chops by butter London (a beautiful pastel yellow)

3. Mint Candy Apple by Essie (if you managed to somehow get your hands on this color, I envy your cool mint nails so hard right now)

4. Lapis of Luxury by Essie (what looks like a deep blue in the bottle is actually a light dusty blue upon application)

Taupe is the Word

Mannequin hands are huge right now and for those unfamiliar with the term - it's basically finding a color that is extremely close to your skin tone, thus producing 'mannequin hands' or even better 'Disney princess' hands. Nudes, taupes, and neutrals are my go-to when trying to find a work-appropriate color. I've included grays in here, although with their current popularity, they really should have their own category. Gotta love the trend that created the word 'greige' (gray+beige)!

Go-Tos:

1. Chinchilly by Essie (the ultimate gray)

2. Barefoot in Barcelona by OPI (earthy red brown)

3. Sand Tropez by Essie (muted gray with brown tones)

Primary Colors

For the bold among us, nudes and pinks just don't cut it. They want color and they want it loud. Capitalize on this trend by choosing muted or 'dusty' version of primary colors. Avoid matching it your outfit, style can take you only so far if you're still in 'matchy-matchy' zone. My personal favorites are OPI's Ski Teal We Drop, a gorgeous deep navy blue, and Parlez Vous OPI, a dusty purple.

Go-Tos:

1. Force by Illamasqua (I call this 'Superman Blue')

2. Brazilliant by Essie

3. Shrek Forever After Collection by OPI (With names like 'Funky Donkey' and 'Who the Shrek are you?', how can you resist?)

All That Glitters

Shiny is back - with a vengeance. The Minx Manicure, particularly, has inadvertently started a trend for sparkly niles. Not the for the faint of heart, but very sparkly nail polish immediately increases your cool factor! If you're wary of this attention-grabbing trend, go for polishes that have 'micro shimmer' for a more subtle look…either way, sequins, sparkles, and shimmers will always have a place in my heart (and on my nails).

Go-Tos:

1. Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous by OPI (silvery gray)

2. Kismet [gold] & Silver Odyssey [silver] by NARSl (how gorgeous are these?)

3. Kaleidoscope by Chanel Steeling The Scene by Essie (the name says it all!)

The 'Alternative' Manicure

In my opinion, the whole nail art movement has a dangerous potential to ease into tacky. If you're doing some nail art, I'd suggest keeping it simple and consistent. The best nail art concepts are those which are accessible, understandable, and more importantly, don't take all day! And while we're on the topic, how cool are matte nails? So effortless and unique,and although I love me a good topcoat, the matte trend is too cute.

Go-Tos:

Matte About You by Essie (Matte Finisher)

A high attention span (I made a funny!)

A quick tip for all those nail polish addicts out there (and I know there must be some!), before buying nail polish, make sure to look for a swatch online first. A swatch is sort of test for the nail polish and answers questions like: does color change on application? Is the brand or specific polish prone to chipping? Swatches are a great way to figure out exactly what a color looks like not only in real life but in different types of light (sunlight, indoor, etc.) My favorite swatch website (yes, there are actual swatch websites), is All Lacquered Up . Swatches are also easily found on Google Images just typing the name of the nail polish + swatch (e.g. Essie Knockout Pout swatch).

Happy Nail Polish applications! May your nails ever be streak free and your hands steady always.

PFW: ATTENDING THE ELIE SAAB SPRING/SUMMER 2012 SHOW

2011-10-12T13:22:00.002+04:00

Thanks to my amazing friend Ahmad I got an invite to the Elie Saab show at Paris Fashion Week last week. It was exciting attending my first show in Paris, being on the inside is definitely a different experience. Jardin de Tuileries is definitely the spot to take street style photos during PFW.

One of the highlights of the show was seeing Karlie Kloss, I think she's one of the strongest models of our time and that was made certain with her beyond fierce walk down that runway...Stunner! The other highlight was going to the Elie Saab showroom on Champs to pick up my invite the day before the show and ending up talking to the man himself as he prepared the runway mood boards with his team. Such a nice guy and an absolute fashion genius.

Check out some of the snaps I got during the show.

LOOK OF THE DAY: STROLLING DOWN CHAMPS ELYSEES

2011-10-11T17:11:00.004+04:00

Paris was incredible!!!! I'm now in super cold Germany and finally have time to sit down and blog all those photos I snapped last week. Had so many little random adventures around Paris and was lucky to have good company there, played tourist in my shorts and sneakers for a couple of days then jumped into heels to go socialise with the fashion crowd at the Elie Saab show and enjoy dinner at L'Avenue with Velvet Magazine's Ahmad Daabas, Savoir Flair's Haleh Nia and Masquerade Magazine's Sofia Guellaty. I even found time to sneak away to Moulin Rouge with The Fashion Network's Dora Peric. Oh Paris I do love you!

Dress: Paper Scissors, Faux fur vest: Zara, Bag: Louis Vuitton, Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Accessories: H&M and Vintage

I went out for breakfast with Dora and between then and the lunch I had with Ahmad I managed to sneak into the stores on Champs Elysees and buy a few things including these super cute Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse shoes which I'd been eyeing up in Dubai.

These two kept me well entertained in Paris <3

FEATURED: LOVE THE STYLE - VELVET MAGAZINE ISSUE 4

2011-10-05T01:02:00.002+04:00

Last month I blogged about a shoot I did for Velvet Magazine's "Love The Style" feature (see here), the issue is now out, check out the shoot and make sure to buy an issue to read the feature along with all the other amazing articles and editorials. Lots of love to team Velvet xx

Ps: Lack of blog posts is totally Paris' fault.. I'm so in love with the city I have no time to sit down.. Paris Diary post up soon!

BEAUTY: NAIL POLISH ADDICTS ANONYMOUS: PART1

2011-09-30T12:55:00.004+04:00

I'd like to introduce you to my newest blog contributor Dina who is my personal nail polish expert, she'll be sharing all there is to know about nail polish trends in a few posts. Read more below to get started with part one...

{Dina} I have a very real and very expensive addiction to nail polish. I'm a sucker for neutrals, a lover of corals, completely gone for fireman reds…I could go on but I'm sure you understand. I do have a tab on my browser simply named 'Nails' (see manic obsessive picture below) and have no shame in admitting to my life-altering addiction of pretty nails.

I love interesting shades and tend to shy away from traditional reds and pinks…which is all most salons usually have. That's what prompted me to start my collection. Why put yourself at the mercy of the nail salon's paltry selections? Nail trends are often overlooked and they really shouldn't be - it's the easiest way to elevate your look. A great color puts me in a good mood and actually makes me more confident about my appearance. We're quite lucky to have mostly sunny weather in the Middle East (although August weather sometimes doesn't really feel like a blessing) so we have the unique freedom of altering our nail polish whims to our moods rather than season appropriate colors. Essie & OPI are my go-to favorites.

As important as the color is, every foundation needs a good base so invest in both base coat and topcoat. I love Essie's First Base base coat but OPI's Start-to-Finish duo top and base coat is perfect to keep in your purse for touch-ups. However… Seche Vite is the ultimate topcoat if you're willing to ignore the strange smell as it's applied. When you've joined the world of Seche Vite nail snobs..it's probably the first sign of your descent into nail polish addiction.

Must-Haves:

1. Fast-Drying Topcoat by Seche Vite

2. First Base Basecoat by Essie

3. From Start To Finish Dual Topcoat & Basecoat by OPI

4. Matte About You Topcoat Matte Finisher by Essie

Other more specialized products (which not everyone may need depending on how healthy your nails are) include Essie's Ridge Filler and Dior's Crème Abricot Fortifying Nail Cream.

The world of nail polish addicts is a world unto itself - which is why I'm scarily familiar with common nail jargon.

Dupes: Nail polish that is extremely similar to that of another brand, thus they are dupes. If your wallet is crying out against buying the entire Dior Vernis collection, then look for dupes from less expensive brands.

VNL: Another secret…VNL is my pet peeve of life. Standing for 'Visible Nail Line', VNL is a sadly common occurrence to those who prefer sheer polishes (I loathe sheers, if you like sheers then I will likely consider you an alien) . I'm kind of the complete neurotic opposite - I'll apply three or four coats to avoid the dreaded VNL

Jelly: Certain colors go on more smoothly than others - they're well pigmented and have a flawless finish that sometimes renders top coats unnecessary. Many Essie polishes are jellies - and super easy to apply.

Sheet Marks: Let this be a lesson to you, future nail polish addict. The cardinal rule of nail polish is to NEVER EVER apply it before going to bed. Unless you want to wake up to what looks like a botched finger print attempt, apply at least two hours before bedtime.

Matte: Exactly what it sounds like, matte nails are a huge trend currently. It's all about having nails that are 'matte' rather than shiny. Although some brands, such as OPI make special matte nail polishes in certain colors, your best bet is to invest in a matte topcoat (like the one mentioned above) so you can use it with whatever color you like. I'm a bit of a shiny topcoat type of person, but this is something everyone should try once.

Next time, nail polish trends dominate I will share yet more of my obsession with you guys, including what additions are MANDATORY* to your nail polish collection.**

*They really are mandatory.

**I assume that everyone has a collection (probably due to my unhealthy fixation on nail polish). If not, then get started! It's the ultimate instant gratification to have oh-so-pretty nails.

5 BLOGGERS + 1 MAKEUP BOUTIQUE = HAPPINESS ♥

2011-09-29T18:20:00.003+04:00

Makeup etc. is a beauty boutique that stocks products exclusively in Dubai by incredible makeup and beauty brands. They invited me along with 4 other fabulous Dubai bloggers for a quick tour and introduction to the store where they shared the stories behind these highly successful labels.

As part of a collaboration we'll be working on, the 5 bloggers selected 5 products each from brands like Julie Hewitt, Alisor Refaee, Armour, Sarah Happ, Coola, 100% Pure, Karuna and Kelly Van Gogh to review.

With bloggers Tinayums, Lisa, Teresa, Mahryska

I selected products from the following labels which I'll be reviewing on the blog throughout the next couple of weeks.

Be sure to follow Makeup etc. on Facebook and Twitter

LOOK OF THE DAY: GETTING OUR ROCK ON

2011-09-28T02:09:00.002+04:00

With designer/blogger Ushi Sato

Last week Splash hosted their fashion show titled "Rock & Fashion" so Dubai's hottest people jumped into their leather and studs and headed down for one big party! Check out my outfit for the day.

Top: F21, Leather Pants: River Island, Leather Jacket: Zara, Shoes: Alexander McQueen, Bag: H&M

LUNCH WITH RAMI AL ALI

2011-09-27T16:12:00.004+04:00

Yesterday I had lunch with one of the Middle East's top couture designers Rami Al Ali and to say I'm infatuated with this man is an understatement. Rami is such a charming person who truly loves and understands what he does. We chatted about everything from fashion to facebook over lunch and got to preview his latest collection which is absolutely gorgeous!!!!

Check out some of the pieces I fell in love with.