Jumpsuits & Playsuits - My Summer Staples

I'm OBSESSED with Jumpsuits and Playsuits - especially for summer. They are a great alternative to dresses and can be worn anywhere and at anytime. (Jumpsuits have longer pants and playsuits have shorts so are usually more casual.) They are so versatile, easy to wear, and since they are one piece- you don't need to find a matching top or bottom. 

Wear them with flats during the day, with flip flops to the beach, or with heels and statement jewellery at night and you will always look AMAZING. My only issue with jumpsuits and playsuits is that for some unknown reason, designers like to put the zippers at the back so it's almost impossible to go to the rest room or get in and out of them without anyone helping you!  Besides that small inconvenient issue, jumpsuits and playsuits are my summer staples. 

Here are a few that I am OBSESSING over right now:

BY MELENE BIRGER Etalia Jumpsuit (Link)

This jumpsuit has the CUTEST little anchors printed all over it and is perfect for summer

I would pair it with huge statement earrings and a coloured clutch 

THAKOON ADDITION Brushed Chambray Playsuit (Link)

I love that this playsuit seems like a dress but is actually shorts. Also, while it looks plain at the front, it is decorated with delicate white embroidery on each side, giving it a very special touch.

Pair this with sparkly flats, a cross body bag and tons of bracelets and run around all day in it 

ZARA Strapless Jumpsuit (Link)

I LOVE the printed sides on this otherwise plain jumpsuit

BCBG MAXAZRIA Lace Jumpsuit (Link) 

The lace panels on this printed jumpsuit make it stand out -

Pair it with nude or black shoes and bag so as not to clash with the print 

NANETTE LEPORE Music Box Playsuit (Link)

Absolutely OBSESSED! with this playsuit- it is covered in beads and has a stunning back

Also its on SALE! :) 

ZARA Jumpsuit with Asymetrical Sleeves (Link)

I think this would look amazing for summer evenings with a great pair of heels

SEA NY Lace Daisy Playsuit (Link)

The Lace on this playsuit has been cut into daisies and is very 1960s

It is ADORABLE 

MASON BY MICHELLE MASON Crepe de Chine Jumpsuit (Link) 

I love the electric blue colour of this jumpsuit- it's a great alternative to a party dress 

ZIMMERMANN The Vase Playsuit (Link) 

I would wear this to the beach over my swimsuit with a comfy pair of flip flips and a fedora hat

Jumpsuits and Playsuits don't always fit well so try on a few till you find the perfect fit.  I personally like a tapered leg fit and a slightly looser top but each person differs.

Happy Shopping Ladies! 

Do you like to wear jumpsuits and playsuits? 

Up Close & Personal: Ayah Tabari of MOCHI

Most of us have lost appreciation for the beautiful art of embroidery made by local artisans from around the world. Fresh from our very own Dubai, there is a new 'It' brand on the market. MOCHI is reviving embroidery in a way that is cool, fun and extremely wearable. It is such a hit that everyone in the Fashion Industry here has been seen wearing its pieces! I sat down with Ayah Tabari, the designer behind the brand to learn more about it and find out what inspired her to start her own fashion line. 

Tell me about MOCHI - What made you decide to start your own brand? 

I had the opportunity to visit Goa in 2011 and was immediately enthralled by the beautiful embroidery and colours. I wanted to use these unique features but with a modern spin. I decided to launch Mochi – trend driven, modern silhouettes in authentic, and traditional fabrics. I now plan to visit different regions around the world, renowned for their embroidery, every season to really celebrate the art of embroidery and bridge the cultural gap between us.

Ayah in shorts by MOCHI

What sorts of things do you sell?

I design skirts, jackets, shorts, vests, crop top sets, bags, and pouches to name a few. I think there really isn’t a limit to what Mochi can do!

Fun, colourful and playful shorts from the Summer collection 

Describe the 'MOCHI' Girl?

An open minded, fashion savvy girl who is keen to discover the world through her wardrobe.

Tell me about your collection for Spring/Summer 2013?

This season I focused on Jaipur, India. I decided to go with Jaipur as the focus for my first collection because of their spectacular embroidery, beautiful culture and their vibrant colours. The collection features a range of easy to wear styles, which are all embroidered by local artisans.

What is your favourite item or items in the collection?

I think my favourite piece has to be the crop top and skirt set. The set has by far been our best seller – I love how flirty and feminine it is. Also, due to the fact it is two pieces, it can be worn in so many different ways.

MOCHI's best sellers and Ayah's favourite pieces from her collection 

What is in store for your next collection?

I will be visiting the next ‘Mochi’ region in the upcoming months to start work on our next collection. I can’t wait to reveal what I have in store. In the mean time, Mochi will also be coming out with some special pieces for both Ramadan and Eid.

Ayah wearing a MOCHI Maxi skirt from her upcoming Ramadan Collection

Where can my readers buy MOCHI?

Mochi is available at S*uce and ValleyDez in the U.A.E.

Make sure you drop by the summer trunk show at my house on Wednesday to buy fantastic summer pieces from MOCHI and from other guest vendors like West L.A. boutique, SARA EBBETT, &  Pearlesque.

Can't wait to see you there! :)

My Collaboration with Shoes and Drama.com

I got offered an amazing opportunity last week- Major Saudi Arabian blog www.shoesandrama.com (link) asked me to collaborate with them and write a post for their blog. I wrote about Valentino's new Pop Pois collection. It's a limited edition collection of polka dot handbags, shoes, kaftans, and swimsuits especially made for Summer 2013. I haven't been able to find it in the stores in the U.A.E but you can buy the amazingly cute stuff from their website - www.Valentino.com (Link).

Read my blog post here and make sure you regularly visit ShoesandDrama.com - it's a really cool blog :)

My BEACH BAG Essentials

I'm a real beach bum and I love going to the beach, especially in summer. It's the most place in the world where I feel relaxed and happy and  there is nothing more fulfilling than coming home with a tan! For me, the perfect vacation is going to a beach destination somewhere in the world. Living in the U.A.E, we are so spoiled that we can go to the beach any day of the year. I usually go on Fridays and have my beach bag ready to just jump up and GO! 

I find Packing light for a vacation almost IMPOSSIBLE... packing my beach bag isn't any different! Over time, I have perfected the art of only taking what I need. 

Here are my BEACH BAG ESSENTIALS:

Coverup, Magazines, a book, beauty bag, sunglasses, tissue, money and my Iphone

Inside my beach bag is a cute beauty bag from Felix Rey (link). I love that it is clear plastic so I can easily see my stuff inside and it keeps out both sand and water.

Inside you'll find everything I need to stay beautiful on the beach:

- Small brush from Jacques Dessange (I use a different brush on the beach and at home. I don't like to use the same for both  because the one on the beach will always retain chlorine, salt water, and sand particles no matter how much I wash it out)

- Kerastase Huile Celeste - this gives unbelievable protection for my hair from the sun (Link)

- Hawaian Tropic Tanning Oil

- Dior Addict Lip Glow - it is sheer, moisturizes my lips, and doesn't melt in the sun like other balms (Link)

- Occitaine Hand Cream

- Sephora Perfume Atomizer filled with a light fragrance like Vanilla (Link)

- Rubber Bands, bobby pins and a clip

- Panadol

My Sunglasses 

Best part about beach day is catching up on my reading- today my picks were the new Grazia and ELLE. 

I also grabbed my book of the moment 'CHANEL: An Intimate Life' 

What's in YOUR beach bag??

Outfit Du Jour

Jumpsuit: Stella McCartney
Sweater: Valentino
Necklace: Anton Heunis from Mywardrobe.com (Link)
Shoes: ASH from Mywardrobe.com (Link)

Versus Versace Fall 2013

At first glance, I didn't like the upcoming Versus collection for Fall 2013. The prints, chains and gold studs reminded me of Versace pre-Donatella when everything was bold, loud, and screamed way too much attention. Then as more and more of the collection has been released to the public to purchase, I've found quite a few items I like. They are edgy but in a cool and wearable way.

For those of you that aren't familiar with Versus - it is the younger, edgier, affordable, sister brand of Versace. Previously designed by British designer Christopher Kane, Donatella Versace has now taken the reigns to re-invent and re-launch the brand.

The cool thing about this collection is that we can buy all of the runway looks straight off the website NOW. There is no need for some buyer to decide for us which pieces we will want to wear come Fall- we can decide for ourselves! Also, we don't have to wait till September for them to be stocked in the stores- we can simple go online and buy them. Isn't that refreshing?!

Here are looks from the collection:

 I LOVE EVERYTHING about this look - the jeans jacket with studs, the metal studded top and the pants 

 This is the kind of leather dress I would definitely wear- its unique and cool 

 OBSESSED! with this leather jacket 

While it is quite early to be thinking about our Fall wardrobes, if you love to be ahead of the Fashion pack- then I would purchase pieces from this collection from now. Some of the items can be worn during summer (the jeans jacket, the metallic top, yellow pants, etc). 

CLICK HERE to view this collection online 

Do you see yourself wearing anything from the Fall 2013 Versus Collection?

LEMUDA.COM - a new outlet shopping website

Sometimes we want a designer wardrobe without the hefty price tag, or we need an accessory to complete an otherwise amazing outfit. I discovered LeMuda.com (Link), an outlet website based out of Dubai that sells designer shoes, bags and accessories at a fraction of the original cost. They also feature local regional designers and hold special sales for certain items every week. This week its designer sunglasses! 

LeMuda.com  has items for all budgets and ships to 11 countries in the Middle East- check it out, you never know what steals you might find!

Here are a few of my favourite items from the website

GUCCI logo printed open toe pumps (Link) 

Original Price: AED 3,090

Discounted Price: AED 2,249

DOLCE & GABBANA Printed Toe Pumps (Link)

Original Price: AED 1,656

Discounted Price: AED 828

BURBERRY Studded Tote (Link)

Original Price: AED 8,520

Discounted Price: AED 6,565

GUCCI Boston Bowler Bag (Link)

Original Price: AED 6,394

Discounted Price: AED 4,770

GUESS Gold Tone Rubber Watch (Link)

Original Price: AED 817

Discounted Price: AED 449

LEMUDA.COM featured me on their blog- read my interview here (LINK)! 

Happy Shopping Ladies :)

Lentil & Feta Salad

Almost every restaurant I've dined at recently has featured an amazing lentil salad on its menu. I decided to try and make one at home. I found these amazing French Puy Lentils (slate green lentils) at the supermarket and searched for a healthy recipe to best cook them. Puy Lentils are great for salads because they have a unique peppery flavour, hold their round shape during cooking, and are packed with fiber. I researched then tweaked different recipes and came up with this one - it turned out quite delicious and healthy, and is a PERFECT SUMMER SALAD :)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of French Puy Lentils

3 Cups Boiling Water

1 Bay Leaf

3/4 Long English Cucumber (diced)

1 yellow pepper (diced)

1 red pepper (diced)

1/2 red onion (very finely diced)

1 cup Red and Yellow Cherry Tomatoes (cut into quarters)

1 lemon (juiced)

1 cup finely chopped parsley

STEP 1: Put 1 1/2 cups of lentils in a bowl with 3 cups of boiling water. Cover with a plate and let them sit for 15 minutes. Transfer the lentils and water to a pot and add a bay leaf. When the water boils, turn down the heat to a simmer and cover. Leave the lentils to boil for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so. Make sure to stir to the bottom of the pot or the lentils will burn and stick to the bottom.

STEP 2: Chop all of the vegetables, onions, parsley, and lemon juice and place them into a glass bowl

STEP 3: Make the Dressing

You will need:

1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1 Tablespoon Red Grape Vinegar

1 Tablespoon chopped Parsley

1 lemon juiced

6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3/4 Teaspoon cumin

Salt & Pepper

Mix together all of the ingredients for the dressing & pour over the chopped veggies

STEP 4: Drain the lentils and remove the bay leaf

STEP 5: Add the lentils to the veggies and dressing in the glass bowl. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and refrigerate for around 2 hours or until the lentils cool 

STEP 6: Before serving, remove the bowl from the refrigerator, squeeze in half a lemon and add a bit of parsley. Add flavoured crumbled feta on the top - I like ATHENOS FETA in Tomato & Basil which can be found at most supermarkets

You can toss the salad or keep the crumbled feta at the top - it's your call! 

Bon Appetit 

Do you like lentil salads for summer?