Merry Christmas From Chanel

I saw this Christmas tree made out of glittery Chanel flowers at Sephora in Dubai Mall and I just HAD to share it with you! Its so original. What could be better than a CHANEL-filled Xmas?

I hope u have a really wonderful, fun filled, gift galore, loving Christmas

 Merry Christmas Everyone! :)

What to Wear this Festive Season - Part 3

For the final post of What to Wear this Festive Season-  I will be covering the ever versatile leather pants! I love leather pants because while they are like leggings and can be worn everywhere and with everything, the fact that they are LEATHER immediately ups your look a few notches.

Advice for buying leather pants: 

1. Real leather pants tend to be quite expensive so if you can get yourself a pair in the sales, they will last you a long time. They are a great investment piece and never go out of style. The same goes for a leather jacket. I bought a short one on sale from YSL 3 years ago and I still wear it till today!
2. Fake leather (named Pleather or plastic leather) which is sold in trendy stores like H&M and ZARA can look quite plasticy so keep looking till you find a pair that look more 'real'
3. Leather doesn't need to be black, you can buy any colour of leather pants, skirts, or jackets and still look on-trend
4. Look for soft leather- it is a lot more comfortable
5. The debate has been on all season about  the Double Leather Trend. This is basically wearing leather on the top and bottom, i.e. leather pants and a leather jacket. Lots of stars have been sporting this look, Rihanna for example, and they look good but I personally don't like it. Its your choice! (You can read a little more about this trend at this article by Elle Magazine here)

This look would look great for informal dinners or get-togethers with friends: 

I gave three options for shoes depending on your mood and the outing you are dressing for! 

1. Jewelled silk top by MOSCHINO CHEAP & CHIC
2. Black leather leggings by JOSEPH
3. Sequinned cardigan by ZARA
4. Statement ring by AAMAYA BY PRIYANKA
5. Beaded box clutch by ZARA
6. Option 1 for shoes: Peep toe ankle boots by LUCY CHOI 
7. Option 2 for shoes: Suede ankle boots by SEE BY CHLOE
8. Option 3 for shoes: Green snakeprint heels by LUCY CHOI

This works for a more laid-back look that you can wear to the mall or to lunch with your girlfriends:

1. All eyes on you jumper by 3.1 PHILLIP LIM - this has been on my wishlist for a while now!
2. Leather doesn't have to be black. These burgundy ones by PAIGE DENIM are stunning! 
3. Ray Bans
4. Studded bag with tassels by ZARA
5. SEE BY CHLOE Suede boots - these look so comfortable! 

To see how I wore my leather pants the other night, click here

I really hope you enjoyed my blog posts on What to Wear this Festive Season...  I wish you the best of luck in choosing your outfits :)

 

Which of my posted outfits from the past three days was your favourite?

Last Minute Xmas Shopping

I meant to write this post last week to give you guys enough time and ideas for Xmas gifts but I just haven't had the time. Between buying my own 24 gifts (I have a big family with super long lists!), getting invited to Xmas parties and dinners galore, and getting sick on top of it all- I just kept putting it off! 

I'm still not even nearly done with my list but I hope my ideas below can help you with last minute shopping you still have left. These ideas below are perfect stocking fillers, side gifts (I always like to receive one big gift and many little gifts from each person), and secret santa presents.

Just some advice, ask the stores if they gift wrap or have boxes for the items you are buying. They can  usually give you un-built boxes, stickers and ribbons that you can make yourself later. It will save you ALOT of time instead of wrapping each gift! 

GIFT IDEAS FOR FASHIONISTAS! 

1. Silk Leopard Pyjama set by EQUIPMENT
2. This Coffee Table book is a collection of photos of Kate Moss by Mario Testino  
3. Holiday collection of candles by DIPTYQYE PARIS- they are to die for! Purchase them from the Diptyque store at Dubai Mall or at Harvey Nichols 
4. Beautiful jewelled bracelet from BCBG Max Azria at Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates
5. This Iphone 5 case by RABITO is beyond adorable! 
6. Uplifting coin purse by DIANE VON FURSTENBERG "Just be yourself, not an imitation" 
7. Opulent stone necklace by KENNETH JAY LANE 
8. Two books: 'Keep Calm and Carry On' & 'Now Panick and Freak Out'. These are perfect secret santa gifts or stocking fillers. Purchase them from Kinokuniya bookstore at Dubai Mall 
9. If you need additional cute presents for a fashionista, this set of 3 fashionable hangers by ZARA HOME will make her very happy! 
10. This stripey lips umbrella by MARC BY MARC JACOBS will make rainy days so much more fun! 
11. Snake print wallet by VIVIENNE WESTWOOD ACCESSORIES 
12. Trust MAC to always have the nicest makeup and brushes sets for Xmas
13. Star Stud earrings by KURT GEIGER
14. Golden house slippers by ZARA HOME 
15. Wristlet bag by DIANE VON FURSTENBERG with the mantra -Be Irresistible! 
16. Set of envelopes and coloured pens by LANVIN 
17. Limited Edition zodiac powder compacts by ESTEE LAUDER - they have these in all zodiac signs. I love them! 

Happy Shopping! :)

What to wear this Festive Season - Part 2

Part 2 of this THREE PART SERIES on what to wear this season is about dressing more edgy and less classic. Today I'll be giving advice on how to look fashionable and edgy but still appropriate for those Festive parties and dinners. 

Leather dresses are really IN now but you can make them more feminine by adding cute accessories. You don't always have to go for black or gold clutches, colours look really good when you are wearing a black or dark coloured dress. They will help you stand out more and be more approchable. A fully black or dark outfit doesn't give off a very 'happy' vibe.

P.S. Click on any of the items under the pics to be directed to the websites from which they can be purchased or better viewed 

LOOK 1: LEATHER DRESSES

1. Leather dress by THEORY(Leather is so in this season and you can wear this leather dress to all events by simply changing the accessories)
2. Crystal and resin necklace by LULU FROST
3. Brocade clutch by ALEXANDER McQUEEN (I ADORE this clutch! It is so wow!)
4. Sequinned jacket by IRO (You can also wear this is in the look below)
5. Dotted stockings by WOLFORD
6. Leather stilettos by CAMILLA SKOVGAARD

LOOK 2: JUMPSUITS 

(Sometimes you just don't feel like wearing a dress so wear a jumpsuit but pile on the bold accessories! )

1. Silk jumpsuit by PHILLIP LIM 
2. Crystal drop earrings by TOM BINNS - you can either wear big earrings or a standout necklace with this look 
3. Enamel bangles at TOPSHOP 
4. I think this jumpsuit would look better with this gold belt by 3.1 PHILLIP LIM 
5. I'M OBSESSED! by this KOTUR gold perspex box - its so different! 
6. Its Xmas and nothing is more festive than red pumps! These are by CARVELA KURT GEIGER
7. Tip Alert: Red Lipstick would look fab with this look! 

Tomorrow's final post on What to Wear this Festive Season is how to incorporate leather pants into your look. Stay tuned! :)

What to wear this Festive Season - Part 1

I got an email a few days ago from one of my readers and she asked if I could give tips and ideas for what to wear this Festive Season. With the many invitations you get this month, it's probably very common to look into your closets and think, "Crap, what am I going to wear?!" Going shopping at this time of year makes me so overwhelmed with all the choices, not to mention the tempting sales where I feel I need everything! 

To give you some ideas, I have created a three part series of blog posts entitled What to Wear this Festive Season. I compiled outfits for the different types of parties and events you might be invited to with tips and ideas on how to look your best. They range from affordable to more expensive to suit everyone's budgets and tastes. I mostly chose items that are currently on sale so you can go overboard without breaking the bank! 

Today's post is inspiration for outfits for Xmas Eve or for fancy Xmas parties. My advice is to wear sparkly festive outfits because they work best at this time of year. Accessorize them with lots of bling - statement earrings or necklaces (one or the other, never both!), headbands (Sophie's Closet or Accessorize have great selections), and stunning heels. Smoky eyes look great with sparkly outfits! 

P.S. Click on any of the items underneath the pics to get directed to the website from which they can be purchased or better viewed. 

Here are two options for dresses you can wear for Xmas Eve or fancy Xmas parties:

1. Option 1: Lace pencil dress by PREEN - this will look even better with a thin black belt 
2. Option 2: Sparkly mini dress by VERSUS  - If this is too short, pair it with stockings and wear pumps or boots instead of peep toe sandals
3. Studded leather headband by JENNIFER BEHR
4. Star earrings by KURT GEIGER - These are $10 (AED 36) online and AED 125 in the stores in the U.A.E so if they ship internationally, I would buy them online! 
5. Chunky crystal bracelet by ANTON HEUNIS 
6. Gold clutch by ANYA HINDMARCH 
7. Black sandals by LUCY CHOI LONDON 

Here is a more toned down look which could also work for Xmas Eve:

1. Dress with jewelled collar by ZARA (Someone was wearing this at an Xmas party I attended and I thought she looked fab! Its a simple black dress but the collar really spices it up)
2. Crystal Spike Earrings by JOOMI LIM  (The dress has a statement collar so wear studs or small earrings. Don't overpower the collar with big earrings)
3. Bracelet by ESTELLE DEVE 
4. Silver clutch by AILA
5. Suede glitter pumps by NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD  (I usually like to add a pop of colour to black dresses and these pumps are simply stunning!)

Please keep the emails and messages coming in, not only do they make my day but they also give me ideas for new posts! Carmen this one was for you..

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post - Standing out in an edgy outfit!

Christmas at Crate & Barrel

To get in the mood for the Festive Season, I threw a huge dinner party at my house last weekend with turkey and all the trimmings! The best place I could think of to get cute decorations from was Crate & Barrel at the Mall of the Emirates. 

Walking in, I felt like I was transported to a wintery destination and Christmas was suddenly all around me. Everything at the store is red and festive and for lack of a better word, mouthwatering! I wanted to buy everything! (If my husband wasn't with me and knocking some sense into me, I think I might have!) I spent 2 hours in the store looking at all they had, admiring their Xmas stands and just taking in everything festive. They have everything for anything you can think of, if that makes any sense! 

They have AMAZING plates, cups and festive decorations to make your dinner table extra special this season. 

How cute is the little sock for the cutlery?!

I love everything in these pics.

 I can almost taste the eggnog that will be served in these snowflake mugs!

You can find everything from tableware and candles, to Christmas tree ornaments and skirting, and decorations for the house

I left with a HUGE smile on my face and tons of bags filled with goodies. Thanks to all the great ideas I picked up from Crate & Barrel, the decorations at my dinner party turned out beautifully, my table settings were really cool, and my house had such a warm festive feel to it! 

Here are the table settings I made, mostly using items I bought from the store:

Crate & Barrel is located in Mall of the Emirates and in Mirdif City Centre

What do you think? Are you tempted to go to Crate & Barrel?