Sparkles and Fun at Sophie's Closet

Imagine a place where everything is sparkly, girly, flowery, pink, and 'rare and pretty'. That would be Sophie's Closet's showroom. Sophie's Closet is an online jewellery store based out of Dubai that sells a beautiful selection of accessories from brands like Shourouk, Kenneth Jay Lane, Erickson Beamon, Mawi London, Vintage YSL and Chanel, to name a few. 

A few days ago, I was invited to visit their showroom and preview their collection- all I can say is WOW! Everywhere I turned where items that I just HAD to try on and I spent over an hour putting on necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and headbands. The owner Sophie is an extremely sweet woman who genuinely adores jewellery and you can tell that every single piece was hand-picked lovingly and expertly by her. Each item has a story - either someone famous wore it (Olivia Polermo, one of the cast members of Gossip Girl) or it is a vintage piece. Most importantly, everything is STUNNING! I could live there if I had the chance :) 

Here is a sneak peak into Sophie's Closet...

 Greeting you at the door is a statue welcoming you into a world of 'all things rare & pretty'

 The showroom has the most beautiful pieces that make you stop and think    

'I MUST have that!' 

There are jewellery cases, stands, cabinets and drawers FILLED with opulence! 

 There is a section dedicated to all things Vintage 

I tried on a FABULOUS pair of Vintage YSL - 

these would look good even if you wore a sack of potatoes! 

The Team at Sophie's Closet and I 

For the first time ever, Sophie's Closet is opening it's doors to the public and is inviting you to a trunk show to preview all of their newest collections. The showroom is located at Sheikh Zayed Road, Single Business Tower, Unit 1101. For more info on the event, please CLICK HERE. 

If you can't make it, visit www.sophiescloset.com and start adding glamourous accessories into your wardrobe. They ship all over the world. 

Get the Look for MUCH Less!

See-through and transparent box clutches are HUGE this season with many fashion houses producing their own version in every single colour. I was SO happy when I found this clutch at ZARA today for a fraction of the price of a designer one. I wasn't sure about which colour I liked best but it is so affordable that you can buy as many different colours as you like! You can carry it as a clutch or on your shoulder with its long chain. Enjoy :)

SPLURGE!!

CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA Pandora Box Clutch (link)

Material: Perspex with metal clasp

Available Colours: Green, Red, Yellow

AED 3,225

SAVE!!

ZARA Neon Box Clutch (link)

Material: Methacrylate (I think that means acrylic!)

Available Colours: Orange, Lime Green, Coral, Black & White stripes

AED 145

Will YOU be carrying a transparent box clutch this season??

Healthy & Yummy Kale Smoothies

I have been eating very badly lately and so decided to add some healthy Green Smoothies to my diet. Green smoothies are made with leafy veggies and added fruit to make them taste better. I tried out some Kale recipes and here are two of my favourites.

Kale is a type of cabbage with green or purple leaves. It is very high in beta carotene, Vitamin C and K, rich in Calcium, contains anti-cancer properties, decreases cholesterol and decreases the absorption of fat (read more about it HERE). Basically, its like a SUPER FOOD! But there is a catch. It tastes metallic and can be very hard for the body to digest. If it is your first time having it, you might feel slightly nauseous or bloated afterwards. 

To make these smoothies, start with a few leaves of Kale and then build up to the amount you can tolerate - I put in three leaves. Each of these recipes has ingredients which combat the metallic taste of the Kale, is low in calories and fat, and tastes yummy. Let me know what you think! 

1* Healthy Morning Shake

This is a great shake for breakfast. The Kale provides plenty of protein and antioxidants, the banana has carbs to power you through your morning, and the Hazelnut milk is not only delicious but provides calcium. Kale Drinks taste best fresh so drink immediately after you make them. 

What you Need:

3/4 cup of Hazlenut Milk 

(I used Rice Dream Hazelnut and Almond Milk. If you can find a low fat version, it is even better)

1 Medium Ripe Banana

3 Leaves of fresh Kale- slice off the stems

1 Cup of Ice

1/2 packet of Stevia 

STEP 1: Wash the Kale leaves in water and then blend with 1/4 cup of the milk. It is very hard to blend Kale properly so always make sure to blend it with some liquid. Blend it for about 3-4 minutes.

STEP 2: Pour in the rest of the ingredients and blend well

STEP 3: Taste the mix, add as much Stevia as you like to sweeten it. I found 1/2 an individual packet to be enough. Blend again after adding in the Stevia

STEP 4: Serve Immediately with ice cubes - DELICIOUS! 

2* Kale Mint Lemonade 

I was surprised how much this tasted like lemonade. The apple, lemon and mint completely mask the flavour of the kale. It would be perfect for summer- very refreshing and healthy. 

What you Need:

1 Green or Red Apple

The juice of 1 Lemmon

3 Leaves of fresh Kale- slice off the stems

Few Fresh Mint Leaves

1 Cup of Ice

1 cup of Water

1/2 packet of Stevia if you want it sweeter 

STEP 1: Blend the Kale leaves with the water for about 3 -4 minutes 

STEP 2: Pour in the rest of the ingredients and blend well till the mix is liquified 

STEP 3: Taste the mix, add as much Stevia as you like to sweeten it. I found 1/2 an individual packet to be enough. Blend again after adding in the Stevia

STEP 4: Serve Immediately with Ice Cubes

Do you have any Kale Recipes that you would like to share?

Outfit Du Jour- Polka Dots & Studs!

Sweater: Carven
Jeans: Marc by marc Jacobs (link)
Bag: Sarah's Bag (link)
Shoes: Valentino
Ring: By Sophie from S*uce

What are BB CREAMS?? A Comprehensive Guide

Everywhere I turn, I've been seeing a new type of cream called a BB CREAM. I have been very curious to find out what exactly it is so I spent 3 hours yesterday testing different kinds of BB Creams. I discovered that almost every single makeup brand has a BB Cream and it is the newest IT Cream on the market!

A Comprehensive Guide to BB Creams

What is a BB Cream?

BB Cream stands for Beauty Balm Cream or Blemish Balm Cream. According to Allure.com, "BB Creams are like tinted moisturizers on steroids!" They hydrate, even-out skin tones, treat the skin with antioxidants and anti-aging properties, offer high-spectrum SPF AND are tinted! Basically, they help your skin look more natural, make it glow and are very beneficial for your overall complexion in the long run. 

How does it differ from Tinted Moisturizer? 

I have recently been using tinted moisturizer and I love how it makes my skin look more alive, especially when I am pale. BB Cream is different because it offers other benefits to your skin and not just that 'glow'. I noticed that they all even out skin tone and imperfections so that your skin looks like a sheet of paper with no bumps or pigmentation. 

When should I use a Tinted Moisturizer vs. a BB Cream? 

I would recommend owning both - a BB Cream for when you are out and about all day as it is longer lasting and has a high SPF, and a tinted moisturizer for shorter trips or under your makeup. 

My Review of Six BB Creams

3LAB Perfect BB 

This is supposedly one of the best BB creams on the market. It treats fine lines and wrinkles, minimizes discoloration, brightens and clears the skin, soothes irritations, and protects your skin from harmful pollution in the air. It comes in 3 colors and has an SPF of 40. 

My review: It is nice and smooth but a bit too thick and is probably more suited for more mature skin (40+). I only found it in one colour which was too light for my skin tone. 

Clinique Age Defense BB Cream

This BB Cream is more like a lightweight foundation for the skin and claims to help keep your makeup on longer due to the added seaweed and Vitamin E. It comes in 3 colours and has an SPF of 30. 

My review: It didn't cover my blemishes or undereye circles as well as the other creams did

Christian Dior BB Creams

Christian Dior has the most BB creams on the market with the Hydra Life, DiorSnow & Diorskin Nude. They all blend really well with the skin.

HYDRALIFE: It balances the skin, corrects the complexion and protects its youthful appearance. It only comes in one shade and has an SPF of 30. I found it nice and creamy like a moisturizer but the shade was too light for my skin. 

DIORSNOW: This cream has a brightening treatment that evens the complexion, diminishes the appearance of dark spots, increases radiance and protects against UV Damage. It comes in two shades. I found it more matte than the Hydralife and didn't like how it felt on my skin. Again, the color was too fair for my skintone.

**DIORSKIN NUDE: This cream is skincare and makeup rolled into one. It moisturizes, soothes, protects and corrects skin with sheer coverage. It comes in 4 shades and has an SPF of 10. It gives a fresh glow and dewy finish and had the most perfect shade for my skintone. 

CHANEL CC CREAM

Of course- Chanel came up with a CC Cream! CC stands for 'Correction Complete' and this cream claims to: sooth sensitive skin, moisturize, protect against UVA & UVB rays with SPF 30, provides a shield against external aggressors, and evens out imperfections. It comes in only one light shade.
My Review: It has a very strong smell, is a bit too thick and oily, and the shade is TOO fair for my Mediterranean skin. (It is meant for Asian skin) 

Overall, I preferred the DiorSkin Nude for its colour and texture. BB Creams are great because of all the added benefits they provide for your skin plus their SPF factors. However, they come in very limited shades so you have to find the perfect shade to suit your skin tone. I will continue to wear my tinted moisturizer under my makeup but will switch to a BB Cream for during the day.

What do you think- will you be buying a BB Cream?

MyWardrobe.com & ShopBop.com are on SALE!

Have you looked in your closet lately and thought, "OMG I don't have any clothes for the new summer season?" Then I have some great news for you today! :) MYWARDROBE.COM is on SALE with tons of really cool stuff at 30% off and I discovered (by mistake actually) that SHOPBOP.COM is also on SALE! These sales are on the Spring 2013 collections which are currently being sold at full price in the U.A.E. I'm not entirely sure how long the sales are - so HURRY!

Here are a few of my fav pieces from the SALES:

WWW.MYWARDROBE.COM

TIBI Starfish pleated trousers (link)

EQUIPMENT Leandra Blouse (link)

RAYBANS (link)

MOSCHINO CHEAP & CHIC leopard print maxi (link)

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG yellow sandals (link)

WWW.SHOPBOP.COM

MARKUS LUPFER sequined lips sweater (link)

I'M OBSESSED with anything by Markus Lupfer- his sweaters last for YEARS! 

PARKER cross-back beaded t-shirt (link)

ALEXIS BITTAR Teatro Bijou Necklace (link)

RAG & BONE Bailey Floral Print Jacket (link)

TOM BINNS Clash Studded Bangle (link)

Happy Shopping Ladies! :)

Outfit Du Jour- Prints!

Last night I stepped out of my comfort zone and wore a head-to-toe print. I think the last time I wore the same print all over was when I was 6! I honestly felt like I was wearing pyjamas and felt a bit 'off' but the look got A LOT of attention and compliments - I must have pulled it off well! 

This season prints are REALLY ON TREND but it takes ALOT of courage and confidence to wear them. If you can bear to wear crazy prints, then here are a few pointers to pulling them off with perfection. The main advice I can give you is to let the print be the main focal point of your WHOLE outfit! 

• Wear a nude, white or black shoe and bag- the prints are bold enough and don't need anything to clash with them
• Keep your hair and makeup minimal- flowing curls or high bun
• Accessorize but nothing overbearing- if you wear long earrings, make sure the colours match with the prints. I wore a necklace with the same colours as the print
• I think they look good with a black or white blazer or sweater to 'neutralize the print'
• If you really cannot see yourself wearing head to toe print, wear either a printed top OR a printed bottom (pants, skirt or shorts) with a neutral black, white, or beige top or bottom. 
• Have fun and choose a print that suits you!

Top & Pants: Helmut Lang (link) 
Sweater: Valentino
Necklace: YSL
Shoes: Chanel
Bag: Valentino

What do you think? Will you be wearing head-to-toe prints this season?