New Years Shopping List

I'm sure, like me (& my sister) many of you have been struggling with what you feel like wearing & what you should be wearing this New Years Eve.  I've gone from wearing a GORGEOUS silk dress (the one I won at the Maison Sez competition but thought it was too dressy for the party I was going to) & then thought about my cute black ballerina-esque dress from Miss Selfridges (but this one was too casual) but now I've kinda sorted my look out (will post it up ASAP)! What you may ask have I decided to wear? A cute, flirty skirt, & a slightly sexy/textured top with tights & funkified shoes! Why the change of heart? Because there are things we seem to forget when we're getting our New Years attire ready which are:

1. The likelihood of someone (or yourself) spilling something on your outfit

2. That you need to be comfortable as well as look good because the likelihood of you just sitting down & not moving is HIGHLY unlikely at a NYE party! It's more like a dancing, socialising, etc frenzy which requires a WHOLE LOTTA comfort

3. You wanna stay true to your personality there's no point in dressing up (or down) if it won't feel like you because then you'll end up worrying about it all night long instead of just going with the flow & having a great time

So, to help you my PFFers avoid all of these little hiccups (even thought I think point number 3 is kinda linked to point number 2) I've put up a list of the basic ideas that can take a simple outfit & add the right amount of spice to you!

The Spice List

1. When in doubt? Accessorise! So simple, all you really have to do is pick the right kind of accessory to spruce up your look.  If you haven't noticed I'm a HUGE fan of accessorising because that's how you can dress up or dress down a look. I've put together a couple of ideas to help inspire you when you're out shopping! It's about getting one strong piece that can pull together an entire look whether they're earrings, necklace, bracelet or a ring one accessory, the right accessory can make all the difference!

From Topshop:

(from left to right)

Mesh Stretch Bracelet Pack for £20 AED 114.67

Bead Collar Necklace for £100 AED 573.35

Tigerseye Necklace for £30 AED 172.01 (on SALE you guys)

From Net-a-porter:

(left to right)

Assad Mounser for £288.75 AED 1,655.56

Aurelie Bidermann for £778.75 AED 4,464.99

Kenneth Jay Lane for £127 AED 728.16

2. Too cold out? Wear a jacket! But not any jacket! Pick something with a bit more edge so instead of going out there & buying an entirely new dress/top/skirt, recycle something from your cupboard that you love/know you'd be comfortable in & invest in buying something that'll transform into a wardrobe staple like these jackets below

From Net-a-porter:

(left to right)

Sass & Bide for £503.13 AED 2,884.71 

Preen Line for £275.62 AED 1,580.28 

Halston Heritage for £770 AED 4,414.82 

From TopShop:

(left to right)

Black Star Blazer for £30 (On SALE) AED 172.01

Animal Print Blazer for £30 (it's on SALE) AED 172.01

Sister Jane Geometric Jacket for £40 (also on SALE) AED 229.34

3. Shoe crazed? Then go for it! No one ever really thinks of the importance of picking the right kind of shoe for the right kind of occasion.  So always plan ahead what kind of shoe you plan on wearing that evening? If its a dinner, then you've got the freedom to wear whatever you want because you know you'll be sitting down for most of the night! But if you're going out dancing make sure  you've worn them out before & platforms are the comfiest in my opinion!  So, don't forget platforms for dancing & your favorite uncomfortable heels for dinner! I once went out in my favorite GORGEOUS Moschino Cheap & Chic heels (they were new-ish so super uncomfortable) so I spent the ENTIRE night just in so much pain & couldn't really have fun so I've learned my lesson & the importance of having a cool & comfy shoe on when you're out dancing!

From Boutique 1: 

(left to right)

Elie Saab for AED 1,540

Rupert Sanderson for AED 2,018 (SALE price)

Alia for AED 8,860

From Net-a-porter:

(left to right)

Alexander Wang for £404 AED 2,316.35 

Dolce & Gabbana for £450.63 AED 2,583.70

Jimmy Choo for £857.50 AED 4,916.50

So, if you're gonna go NYE shopping instead of buying a new dress, buy these three things! You're basically reinvigorating your wardrobe with new options, building your wardrobe staples, & NOT spending countless hours looking for the right dress, skirt, top because if you look hard enough in your own closet I'm sure you'll find just what you're looking for!

I hope you find these helpful & I'm wishing you ALL a very happy, merry New Year! 2012 PLEASE BE GOOD TO THE WORLD!!!

xoxo till 2012 my munchkins,

P.S. I'm dedicating my last & final post to my lovely Husband (who is everything I could have ever asked for & much more), my super supportive parents & siblings, my beyond amazing in-laws (whom I love very much), & some of the bestest friends God has ever blessed me with! Thank you ALL for being a part of my life & for your constant love, countless support, & for being my angels here on Earth!

P.P.S. Video of the Day: I've decided to end this year with lots of laughter & hanging out with AMAZING friends! I hope you all do the same! I've had 3 different people tell me about these videos & if you haven't seen them yet, I'm glad I can share & if you have sorry I'm putting you through this again! But I'm positive you won't mind! There's a part two click here & three click here whenever you're ready! ENJOY & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: Foreign Language by Flight Facilities ft Jess (thanks to my Bahrainirants for introducing me to this FABULOUS song! I haven't been able to stop listening to it! Absolutely love  everything about it from the beat, the video which is SUPER retro-no clue if it's really the video though but its still cool. I hope you likey!)

Sweaters A-Plenty

Whenever winter comes around (yes, it's officially here in Dubai especially in the evening) all I can think of are jumpers, sweaters & anything in between! I'm sooooo obsessed with them that I even wore a nice chunky navy blue knit for Christmas day... It got seriously hot all afternoon but the minute it striked 6 pm everyone got warmth envy (but then I started dancing & we went back to square one).

Anywho, I've been surfing the net for the cutest & bestest sweaters out there & here are my selection! I hope you like 'em!

1. Better Off Dead (aka B.O.D.): I came across these while surfing Fashiolista a few nights ago & fell in lourve with their blatant poke at the fashion worlds largest brands! They're fun, super comfy looking & a HUGE shout out to modern grunge! Yes, if you haven't realised, winter makes me go all dark & goth/grunge like! If I weren't married I wouldn't even bother washing my hair! They've also got a quirky & fun collection(s) for men too!

B.O.D. Vault Collection called Premium Cut for $79 AED 290.10

& yes you did read that right, it says 'Karl the Butcher'!

B.O.D. Death & War Collection called Anna & for $79 AED AED 290.10

Need I say more?

B.O.D. The Ancient Call Collection called LV Rituals for $79 AED 290.10

 B.O.D. The Cable of Oddities Collection called YS L'Hommie for $79 AED 290.10

2. Maje: I've gotten back into my obsession with French brands! I fell in love with Maje when I first came across they're pieces back in the early naughties studying in Beirut & quite honestly have never looked back! I absolutely LOURVE Maje (& Sandro-they're sisters after all) but nothing ever says winter more than a seriously classy cable knit sweater & tons of grey! Cream? & grey? I know but it kinda all works for me! 

 

Jasmine Pull for €175 AED 839.24

Cable knit is probably the least flattering type of knit due to the combination of wool & design but if worn for the correct body shape it can go from blakh to 'yes, I can pull this off' in no time! How? If you're petite, you can wear this any way you like but don't go super oversize cause then you'll look like you're wearing something 3 or 4 sizes too big for you. If you're curvy (curvier bottom) make sure you wear a light weight material underneath, like a jersey skirt & have that knit tighter up top.  If you wanna wear it loose (for the ladies with sexy behinds) make sure you take a look at the back as well as the front & keep in mind how tall you are as well (because you don't wanna look like a chunk up to with stubby legs). 

Jubilee Pull for €170 AED 815.26

I personally love this but if you're not trying to draw the eye to your hips do NOT get this type of sweater because the little cuts at the front draw the eye straight to them so be weary! However, if you get this one size up (the way I would) those cuts would probably be a bit lower drawing the eye towards your legs (which is why I would personally get it a couple of sizes bigger).

Henni Pull for €195 AED 935.15

I'm sure you all know why this made the cut? Yes? That collar is FABULOUS! I absolutely love the prepster/rock combo! It's a fashion match made in heaven! & I'll save you my talk on who this will look good on because I'm sure many of you love it too & it's a simple enough silhouette that'll flatter all body shapes (except my boxy one but I'll make it work! How? Tuck it into a high waisted skirt)

3. Net-a-Porter: I can't help myself, I know in almost every single one of my posts I've included something from this site but I absolutely LOURVE them & that little black box makes my heart pitter patter & the fact that they've got a sale but I can't go credit card happy right now is tearing me up inside (Long story! On a shopping fast until February).  The brands are fabulous, the sales are wonderful, the styling magical, & again those boxes... You just can't possible have enough of them!

Stella McCartney Knitted Cotton Sweater for £765.63 AED 4,390.85

I picked this because what else can help keep you going & survive winter more than a sweater with palm trees on it? I fell in love the minute I laid eyes on it! Fun, quirky, & warm (literally & figuratively speakin' here)

 Matthew Williamson Embellished Collar Sweater for £433.12 AED 2,483.92

I obviously picked this cause of the color combination & the bell shape cut! For winter, what else can brighten up those dreary grey days (I have yet to go out of my comfort zone & buy bright colors so here's ma attempt number 1).  I definitely want these 2 in my closet now!

4. Boutique 1: One of my favorite shopping destinations in Dubai! I love this boutique for oh so many reasons (the option of door to door delivery & paying cash upon arrival naming a few).  A one stop shop for all my hearts desired designers all under one roof right here in the Gulf (definitely a dream come true)

3.1 Phillip Lim Tucked Front Pullover for AED 1,960

I love him oh soooo much! This sweater is just beautiful, so beautiful in fact that I didn't even realise that I had been staring at it for a while! Just admiring its sheer beauty! The attention to detail emacculate just look at the cuff & pre-tucked in front (he made it user friendly for us all). I want this in my wardrobe, some way, some how! The tucked in front is what got me hooked because I've always wanted to do the half tuck thang but was always worried I'd look a bit too pretentious (has that ever happened to you?). A couple of my friends pull it off & make it look so cool but given my personality, I just never got around to doing it but now my beloved Mr. Lim took care of it for me! YAY!

xoxo for now & I hope this list has inspired & helps keep you warm this winter,

P.S. The Dubai Shopping Festival is only a couple of days away & thought I'd link you up to their site so you can find out more about what's happening over those 32 days & what bargains you should start preparing for!

P.P.S. Tumblr of the Day: I came across this site (Sexy Sweaters) also through Fashiolista & fell in love with their quirky & random designs. Sadly, they haven't officially started selling their jumpers yet but browsing through their archived pieces make me feel all warm & fuzzy & a bit like a loved up teenager! I hope you like 'em!

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: To Be With You by Mr. Big (so a friend of ours just gave us a fantabulous wedding present & it just so happened to be a karaoke machine! Yes, Bahrainirants & I went absolutely balistic! We can now sit & karaoke in the comfort of our home! hahahahaha... Anywho, post Christmas food coma, a couple of friends came over & it was the first time I got to really go through the song list & came across this one! I remember hearing this song for the first time as a teenager in Bahrain in the 90's with my older brother who came home from school one day with a VHS recording of MTV from a friend of his in Saudi cause, we didn't have cable at the time, I fell in love instantly & have never ever experienced that kind of feeling ever again with a song or music video. I guess the novelty of it is what left a lasting effect on me!

Ready to Go...

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas & that they're enjoying (recuperating) on boxing day (today)! I promised to post up what I wore when I made it to the Grazia 'Style Hunter' pages so here it is! My look that day & I'm pretty sure you're gonna see me in this blazer A LOT because it's officially one of my FAVORITE things in my closet!

What I'm Wearing:

Jacket/Blazer from Miss Selfridges: I don't remember the last time I ever bought a blazer but this one I fell hopelessly in love with! I think it might have been the fact that it's jersey cotton (one of my FAVORITE materials EVER! All my Melmes scarves are/were jersey). I love the deep 'V' cut because it creates the illusion of a (curvier) waistline which as you all know is something I happen to not have! 

Tank Top from American Apparel: I absolutely LOURVE everything from AA! They're super 80's inspired but with basics that you seriously couldn't have lived without! I love them OH SO MUCH! I heard something quite heartbreaking that 2012 might not be a great year for them! So, if any of you know/heard anything please calm my panicked mind (because I'm gonna need to stock up on a whole lotta thangs)!

Pants by Something Else from Urban Outfitters: I've been obsessed with tapered pants/jeans for a very very long time & especially anything in print or quirky (my Styling teacher actually told me it was because I liked my bottom half a lot & I try to draw the eye towards my best feature).  Anywho, these soft cotton pants are the next best things after PJ bottoms! I seriously LOURVE them!

Belt from Moschino: I'm obsessed (obviously) with the 80's & 90's which is why I just HAD to get my hands on this! I remember EVERYONE having this belt back then (or those letters on a bag too) & quite honestly it made me reminisce! I also just couldn't imagine my wardrobe without them which is why I ordered them online & waited patiently for Moschino to deliver them straight into my loving arms!

Ballets: You've seen these for a while now, my Pretty Ballerina flats! One of my best buys from London a couple of years ago! They're super comfy (unlike some other brands coughfrenchsolecough)!

xoxo for now ma PFFers,

P.S. I just started a tumblr account! Not too sure what I'm planning on going/doing with it but do stay tuned & check it out! Still trying to figure it out but I think I'm kinda getting there! Hope you like it!

P.P.S. Link of the Day: I have a weird habit of never doing much to my hair at weddings, parties, or even during Eid & New Years celebrationings but then I came across this link from DailyCandy & I fell hopelessly in love with the concept of an easy & quick up-do! They've got a couple more options but by far my favorite is the top bun ballerina style! I'm gonna attempt to do this for New Years & if I succeed will definitely post up a pic or two! If you happen to fall in love with a do please a-do share (cheesy but I just had to do it)! 

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: Santa Baby by Michael Buble (this has got to be one of the best versions/renditions of this song! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Listen to the lyrics they're adorable & slightly shallow but I think everyone who's obsessed with fashion & the nice thangs in life would secretly ask Santa for all the lovely things they're heart desires but he's the only one who actually pulled it off.  I met someone who's absolutely in LOURVE with him so I dedicate this to you)

It's Almost Christmas Time!

In an ideal world, a perfect world, I would wish for many of the impossible things that went wrong this year to be undone.  For all those people we have lost to return to us with open, welcoming, & loving arms happy, healthy & beautiful (the way we always picture them to be).  I would wish for Bahrain to find it's inner peace with itself & its people, for this hatred that seems to have appeared out of nowhere (since February 14th) to disappear & for its inhabitants to return to the happy, forward thinking islanders that we were & still some day hope to be.  I would finally wish for a world where when promises are made are kept, where stories of corruption are found in story books & a place that holds nothing but promise for greatness for us & the many generations to follow.  

But sadly, we don't live in an ideal/fantasy world, & although I like to preach optimism, some of those things I dream of will come true (you hear me Bahrain/Bahrainis? Get your act together)... eventually but many will remain just that, a dream, a fantasy that I'll keep holding on to deeply. 

I know enough depression, let me go back to what this blog is all about, lots of fashion & many thangs/items that I might not need but deeply want! So, to help me find my positivity & keep me sane & the shallow lovin' fashion blogger that you all LOVE (yes, now you have no choice but to love me).  I give you my x-mas wish list of all the things I wish I had & will try hard to one day buy! & isn't the retro Santa ADORABLE??? 

Sandro for € 345 AED 1, 651.78 

Loved these amazing Sandro sneakers at Galeries LaFayette in Dubai Mall! I seriously went crazy for a couple of seconds admiring their gorgeousness!

the Nikon J1 & V1! yes, I still want this! It's such a terrific idea & I can't help but wonder why no one thought of it sooner? & yes, I want it in pink (or red)! I'm not too picky... any of them will do! The coolest thing about them is that you've got lense options! Such a great concept! I can't stop saying that!

Maje was £424.38 & now is £202.08 AED 1,163.95

I tried this jacket on at Galeries LaFayette but it was too small! I'm soooo happy I found it at net-a-porter! I'm tellin y'all the leather is softer then a baby's behind! I swear! Yes, its on SALE!

Zadig & Voltaire € 275 AED 1,316.64 

I've been in in lourve with this watch since the first time I laid eyes on it back in early 2010! & I'm still in love with it! Yes, I'm still obsessed with skulls! I think I always will be! A similar one is on sale at Galeries Lafayette at Dubai Mall!

I hope you've liked my little list & I hope you share my sentiments for a better 2012 even more so! I'm wishing you all my lovely PFFers, a very Merry Christmas! May you get all the lovely gifts you dream of!

xoxo,

P.S. Thanks to my beloved iPhone for being my trusty camera! & to net-a-porter, Zadig & Voltaire, & Nikon for letting me use your amazing images!

P.P.S.

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: Even if I Don't by Rachael Yamagata (Bahrainirants made me listen to this song ages ago & I fell in love with it! Thought I'd share & I hope you like it too! The video is adorable & the lyrics can perfectly describe whatever state you're in!)

I'm a Grazia Stylista!

A quick post to let y'all know that I FINALLY made it onto Grazia'a 'Style Hunter'! Wooohoooo!

Hahahahahaha... It's in last weeks Grazia Middle East issue (the one with Jennifer Aniston on the cover).

Stay tuned to find out exactly what I was wearing!

xoxo,

P.S. Thanks to Grazia for making ma day & my trusted iPhone for snapping it up! 

P.P.S. Site of the Day: I got this e-mailed to me by my lovely father! Who is constantly a pillar of support despite me driving me crazy back in the day with my bad spending habits! I love you Booboo! Anywho, this site is pure FABULOUSITY! My dear (& crazy) friend Yasmeen Rasool is featured here! She told me about it AGES ago but it completely slipped my mind! How cool does she look? & how amazing is this site? Brownbook has a couple more of their UBER stylish team on it too! So enjoy 'the art of the trench'!

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: Take You Higher by Goodwill & Hook n Sling (it's such a cute song! Inspired by Angus & Julia Stone's Big Jet Plane, this song kinda speeds it all up! Absolutely love both versions & both videos but it all depends on what mood your in I guess! Hope you enjoy it too!)

All fashlink'ed Up!

A few weeks ago, I got invited to attend a pretty cool event held at the gorgeous Pavilion in downtown Dubai (I know I'm late but better late then never right?).  The pre-official (huh? Just go with it! hahaha) launch of fashlink, which is an app/site that basically makes every girls dream come true.  How you ask? You can surf through the many local & international designers, put together a lookbook, wishlist & you can even take pictures of pieces from your own wardrobe to create your own clothes archives online.  The last bit is what completely sold the entire fashlink concept to me!  Payal, one of the leading creatives behind the site/app (she also grew up in Bahrain-woohoo), described it perfectly: "Remember that scene from Clueless? Where Cher takes pictures of her stuff to remember what she's got? It's that but in a more modern way".  All you really have to do is take a picture of whatever you have against a white background & send it over to the uber IT-tastic crew at fashlink to get them uploaded into your very own account (you must create a profile etc beforehand so don't forget).  Wanna know another reason why I absolutely LOURVED this site? It offers a platform to new & emerging local talent to display their latest & greatest pieces without having to pay a hefty sum to create their own site/open their own boutique.  They're official launch is early 2012 but do feel free to surf online & download their app on your iPhone/iPad. 

 Payal Patel talking us through the cool options offered on the site/app

 No clue what I was talking about but seemed very important at the time

Maha from the Oversized Shades & Coffee asking most probably about the wardrobe & site connection (she was extremely excited about that concept)

from left to right: Maha, Payal, me, & Naomi (Jr Fashion Editor at Grazia)

xoxo for now ma PFFers,

P.S. Thanks to Ana Zahra for a couple of the images! 

P.P.S. Link(s) of the Day: It's a new year-finally- & we've got many holidays nearly upon us (xmas, NY), birthdays, anniversaries, & basically any other excuse for any girl to ask for a pressie of some sort! Thanks to the lovelies at DailyCandy for feeding into my shopaholicness & creating an even longer lust list for me to deal with! It's a list of gift ideas for basically the person who has everything (well, nearly everything in this case because let's face it I don't have any of those things they've put up on this list!).  My favorite bits are items: 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 21, 23, 27, 29! What are yours?

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: By Your Side by Sade (this song made me literally cry at the concert! Cheesy I know but it's such a beautiful song & her voice is just beautiful & after the year that we've had God it speaks volumes to me! I LOURVE YOU SADE! Yes, Bahrainirants at some point told me to zip it cause I was THAT annoying! Hahahaha... She's MAGIC! Yes, it's my new way to describe extremely phenomenal musical talent!)

Happy BAHRAIN Day!

I'm fitting in a VERY quick post to wish my beloved Bahrain a VERY, VERY HAPPY NATIONAL DAY! & may 2012 bring with it LOTS of positivity, love & peace to ALL Bahrainis! To finally unite us once again because at the end of the day all that really matters is the true spirit of every Bahraini!

I'm proud to be a Bahraini because...

1. Our tiny island looks like a tiny sea horse! LOOK I SWEAR IT DOES!!! SOOOOO CUTE!

 2. The AMAZING outdoor market initiated by Al-Riwaq Gallery! Absolutely FABULOUS! Thanks to Bahrainipreneur for the image! It captures the AMAZINGNESS of Bahrain in a simple image! We're chilled, intellectual, & most importantly social!

3. The AMAZING young & talented youths that evolve & grow be it in fashion, blogging, art or in anything else they set their minds to! Call me bias but nothing & no one comes close to Bahraini talent! So so so proud of my buddy Munther (& co) & their amazing effort in creating a uniquely Bahraini t-shirt line!


xoxo for now PFFers,

P.S. I am soooo proud of my tiny island & the many races & people that live there! United as one, we can become a GREAT & FABULOUS place but divided we fail in every way possible. So, for my future & the future of every SINGLE BAHRAINI out there let us set aside our differences & unite in the spirit of the future, the spirit of a brighter & better Bahrain! Happy National Day to Bahrain & to all its beloved people!

P.P.S. Link of the Day: This video/movie was released waaaaaay back then but it reminds me of this cozy safe Bahrain. A Bahrain full of greatness & possibility! To a better tomorrow & an even better Bahrain! Please 2012 bring with you greatness our future generations depend on it!

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: Malfa Al Ayaweed by Khalid Al Shaikh (this song reminds me of my youth, & the perfect discription of all that is Bahrain. & of course it was a TV show theme song but it still is ALL about us, caring for one another & being positive. At least it is to me! I hope this year makes us forget the past year of pain & unites us all together!)

Black is Back

As soon as the weather starts changing, I find my inner goth clawing out! It's been a warm-ish winter for us here in Dubai but after a quick trip to Prague (bachelorette trip, need I say more?) I got my winter fix (with -2 weather as a high)!  I found these dresses to be a perfect mix of retro chic & girly goth but with a little lace & vintage gauze anything is possible I guess.  & of course since Florence Welsch from Florence + the Machine came into our lives it's all become kinda a norm don't you think? 

Rosa Maxi Dress at Nasty Gal for $78 AED 286.46

 The thing that I absolutely love the most about this dress is how fun & flirty it is! The lace in the back with the satin bit at the front (kinda reminded me of a girdle) for something that's pretty much very conservative you can see a little bit of the naughty in it! Is it ideal for the festive season? Many people won't agree with me but yes! I believe a black dress can go a long, long way & it's all about the accessorising (I know, again?! But I'm such a sucker for using a great pair of earrings or a necklace to spice up a look)

Wendy Nichol Gauze Vintage Slip Dress for $560 AED 2056.61

When I first saw this dress I fell ABSOLUTELY in lourve with it! It's a combination of 'Little Women' meets the 21st century (it's not taboo anymore to wear sleeveless).  I lourve everything about it from the slip underneath to how delicate the layer of gauze is.  This is a perfect dress for all season & any season! & if you're into the unique & of course the vintage then this is THE PERFECT DRESS for you!

LNA Contrast Skater Dress at Boutique 1 for AED 655

I know, not very gothic-y but this appealed to my girly side holding onto the dark goth feel but not at sweeping lengths! I think this dress for all the parties would be perfect for the evening more so than the other two because it'll offer you enough warmth (with the long sleeves) without being too over powering especially if you plan on going out to a party or two.  Pair this with fun tights (like polka dots) or deep reds (to get you feeling festive) & you're ready to go!

xoxo for now ma PFFers,

P.S. If you ever do make your way over to Prague make sure you book a dinner out at SaSaZu! One of the best meals I've ever had!  Make sure you ask your waiter to let you into the club once your done with your meal to dance off all those calories (they've got a door straight to the club from the restaurant itself so you don't really have to walk out & walk back in! It just doesn't make any sense) & a nice long brunch at Cafe Cafe! Officially the YUMMIEST croissants I've had in a long time!

P.P.S. Link of the Day: Ok, if you haven't noticed by now I'm completely obsessed with DailyCandy! I absolutely LOVE IT!  They constantly inspire me to kinda think outside the box & although I worked in a gift wrapping company, I've come to realise that I can NOT tie a ribbon properly if my life depended on it! So, since sharing is caring, I thought I'd pay it forward & help someone else out who sometimes might get stuck wrapping! Hope this helps!

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: Cherish the Day by Sade (yes, prepping myself for her concert this friday & I'm super PSYCHED about it! Are you huge fans? What are your favorite Sade songs? She's magic! Pure magic!!!

Ready to Go: Double Bill

Ok, so if you haven't noticed ma beyond afro-ish hair lately it's due to a brand new chop! I'm bored & barely do anything with my hair so I find myself in constant need to just keep cutting it off! I hope you forgive my disheveled look! On to the fashion, a few days ago I woke up missing my jeans (& I knew I was running errands all day so had to be super comfy).  & on one of my errands I discovered how disproportionate my knees were when compared to ma legs (but will spare you the details).

Anywho, moving along & embracing my physical mishaps as a blessing from the heavens, I threw on my denims & a super comfy jumper (still have hope that it'll get colder in Dubai) with a pair of flats & was off to run & rush around town.  This combo may be nothing new to many of you, but what I'm trying to show is that just a bit of accessories & a pair of patterned flats can completely change up your look especially if your a denim lover like myself & kinda got bored of stuff in your closet!

What I'm Wearing:

Jumper from TopShop (I bought this one last year but I own a couple of their winter jumpers & I'm telling you they can go a long long way)

Denims by Diesel (yep, I still loveth their cuts so why change a classic? & they flatter us well-endowed women who have been blessed with junk in our trunks)

Ballets by Pretty Ballerinas (I've had these for over a year & I still get compliments! They're super comfy & honestly the print is a chic option to go about your business in style)
Watch is vintage (a gift from my mom to ma dad on their first wedding anniversary! The leather is super tattered & worn out but I love it!)

Necklaces:

Turquoise with Balinese coin from a boutique off of Seminyak in Bali, Indonesia

Multi-Charmed from net-a-porter by Venessa Arizaga (a wedding gift & I seriously can't stop wearing it!)

xoxo for now ma PFFers,

P.S. Have gone back to my salad phase! & currently loving Baker & Spice's selection as well as Paul's! What & where are your favorites located?!

P.P.S. Site of the Day: I came across this called Wantful because of DailyCandy & think it's such a brilliant idea! Basically if you get stuck on gift ideas all you do is list your recipients interests, Wantful then puts together a list of 16 items that match those particular interests & within the budget that you set & sends it over to your friend/parents/sibling/lover & they then can pick what they like out of that list! Do you think it's too impersonal? Or do you like it? Would like to hear back from y'all! I kinda think it's a great idea for your those days when you're stuck &/or have to think of a bunch of gifts to give out!

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: Lady Luck by Jamie Woon (Yep, I am going through a Jamie Woon phase! I just can't stop listening to him or his music! Obsessed slightly to be honest! I hope I'm feeding into your obsessing & that you're not really hating me for getting them stuck in your head! I LOVE YOU JAMIE! PLEASE COME TO DUBAI!!!)

Ready to Go...

I haven't posted up outfit pics in FOREVER so here I am! Sharing & caring! I think I should allocate one day (out of the three that I post on) as my 'Ready to Go' days... Whatch guys thank? Lemme know!

I wore this on our blogger adventure to Abu Dhabi at Maison Sez with the Expose-Communications crew! It was perfectly comfy for the long ride to & from AD!

Anywho, sending you guys lots of love & I hope you likey!

What I'm Wearing:

Cardigan by Mint by Jodi Arnold (that I found at a sample sale in London)

Polka Dot Dress by Appletree (also one of the best buys EVER from Portobello Road)

Shoes by Russel&Bromley (loved them from the moment I laid eyes on them) 

Belt from by Malene Birger (got this years ago from Aussie land when I went to my bro's graduation)

Necklace by Vanina (one of THE coolest brands to come out of Lebanon. I absolutely love it! & wear it with almost everything I own)

Feathers in my hair all thanks to Elie & Jean Salon in Bahrain (I kinda had a nervous breakdown because I started speaking in a louder volume than I usually do just out of excitement at the cite of the feather extensions. I think all this native obsessions are due to this fact! I want more so if anyone knows of different sizes to get me please share!

xoxo,

P.S. I would also like to report that my Fashpirations in Dubai are growing WOOHOO so stay tuned for more of those! Super excited about that!

P.P.S. Theme Song of the Day: So, Bahrainirants & I for some sort of reason started to go back in time. To our childhood series that inspired well lots of the fashion back then & today conjure up AMAZINGLY FANTASTICAL feelings & emotions! Hope you enjoy the one I picked for today! & yes, it's apparently back in 2012!!! YEEEHAWWW!!!

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: Weightless by Marconi Union (I get this e-mail from my brother titled 'the most relaxing song in the world...', I kid you not, he literally wrote it out like that! If any of you know my brother, a hard core house music aficionado, could never possibly send out any song that is really relaxing! But I swear to you, I'm listening to it as I type this out & I'm beyond relaxed! Very yoga-ish meditation worthy but relaxing all the same! & since many of you might be reading this post at the office (I've linked it to SoundCloud too), I thought I'd pay it forward & help you relax! For more on this song click here for the article! Hope I've paid it forward today! Oh, it comes with a warning, do NOT listen to it while driving! It's seriously that relaxing!)

All I want for Christmas is...

I started today thinking that I might wanna blog about an outfit or something but after the PHENOMENAL Hermes-filled day I had, I kinda changed my mind.  So, I was running errands, walking around ma beloved Dubai Mall when I noticed something right smack in the middle of the fashion catwalk area Hermes's event called, Festival des Metiers. Yep, it was transformed into a mini-factory! Well, not really more like you walking into a pleasant rendez-vous with a couple of Hermes craftsmen (some of them have been working there for over 40 years).   It was such an inspiring day, I watched them make a single silk scarf from scratch & the attention to detail that went into it was breath taking! I absolutely LOVED it! It gave me a different view of the brand (Bahrainirants & I had a talk a while back & I said I don't think I want a Birkin...ever. GASP, HORROR!  I still don't want one now but I've kinda found myself lusting over something-will get to it soon enough).

Hermes scarf for £750 AED 4,294.84

I want this scarf SOOOO badly! No, like I REALLY DO! This wasn't the one I saw being made but I saw the sample up close & it's just GORGEOUS! This scarf has the most color combinations (it went from 100 frames for each color down to 35) the brand has ever used in a single scarf! The face itself has 15 alone to get the realistic colors of the Apache's face! Maybe it's because I'm going through my native American phase (I've got feathers in ma hair) or maybe it's just because this is a GORGEOUS piece of work but I really need it in my life! & in this color in particular I absolutely love it! However, the hefty price tag is a bloody killer. Worth every penny when you actually see the amount of work that goes into it (the seam of the boarder-french style-takes up to 45 mins for each scarf!)

xoxo for now ma PFFers,

P.S. Check out the pictures of the stations located around you saw their watches, shirts, ties, bags, accessories even sadals being hand-crafted right infront of you! The event will last till the 6th of December, 2011 from 2-10 PM!

the scarf making process

all the different craftsmen available

P.P.S. Soundtrack of the Day: I fell in love with this song the minute a friend , Wassim, introduced it to us while we were decorating our Christmas tree! The beat is amazing! & I guarantee it'll get super stuck in your head! You might even wake up humming it (it happened to me I swear!)

P.P.P.S. Song of the Day: Night Air by Jamie Woon (We were watching one of the GREATEST shows on planet Earth (How to make it in America) when I came across this song! Thank God for Shazam & Bahrainirants for finding this song within seconds of me falling deeply in love with it! Hope you likey too!