Robinsons Launches Its Ramadan '19 Collection

Robinsons is slowly becoming one of my favorite destinations to shop at. The other day my mum and I went shopping for a dainty gift for one of her friends. I happened to wander off and ended up admiring the beautiful Alexander Wang shoes on display. I wandered off a little further, tried a few fragrances and discovered how much I love YSL's Black Opium. There's something about this fragrance that gets to you right from the first spritz.

Of course Robinsons has a gorgeous collection of gowns and dresses. I have 2 gowns that I have yet to wear but wanted that one dress from Poca and Poca just because "it's so pretty". Alongside the gowns is the new modest wear collection. Just in time for Ramadan (and Eid), the collection features an array of classic designs and elegant pieces.

I attended the launch that was hosted in an intimate setting with a beautiful Bohemian feel to it.

The Launch of Namshi's SpringSummer '17 Collection

If you live in the GCC and aren't aware of Namshi.com, then you've been living under a rock. Having said that, I love Namshi. It's one of those online shopping websites that can do no wrong (atleast in my books). They are hassle and drama free, stock some of the best local and international brands (hello Topshop!) and have free (prompt) delivery + returns. Can they get any better than that?

Yes, they can and they did with the launch of their Spring/Summer '17 collection. Did I mention how much I love Namshi? I want almost everything from the new round of clothing, accessories and shoes. I love how they have incorporated some of the (intimidating) trends straight off the catwalk and made it easy to wear. I don't know who their styling team is. They do such a good job, it makes me want to impulse buy.

Summer is usually the time I tend to spring clean and buy a few pieces here and there. And Namshi makes it so much easier. Whether it's the beach or a dinner gathering, the online shopping site has you covered. From pastel tops to bright bottoms and everything in between, here's a look at the funky (and elegant) SS'17 collection. Also, find out how you can get a 10% discount off your order.

Puma's Spring/Summer '17 Collection Launch

I've talked about my never ending love for Puma previously. It's a favorite of mine and I eagerly look forward to each collection they launch. There's something about Puma that other brands within the same segment just don't capture.

You can't replicate Puma. Their uniqueness most likely comes from the DNA of the brand and how it has drastically shifted the needle when it comes to sports and athleisure wear. I've been using Puma for a long time now and it's one of the few brands that actually motivate me to work-out constantly. I mean, how wonderful is their women's sports and training collection?

Puma launched their Spring/Summer '17 collection and my favorite? Easily the Swan Pack range. It's not because it is endorsed by a celeb, it's the design and color palette that caught my attention and made me fall in love with it instantly.

The Glam Kit: Laura Mercier Spring/Summer '15 Collection

Do you get all excited when a new season arrives and along with it brings the latest in beauty? There's one word to describe Laura Mercier's Spring/Summer '15 collection: gorgeous.

There's nothing like an extraordinary highlighter or lipsticks that deposit brilliant color in one swipe. In essence, the collection is perfect for spring/summer and there are 2 products in particular that have grabbed my attention.

Review: Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain Fragrance

I'm going to start off by saying that I'm late to the Diptyque game. Being a fragrance enthusiast (read: addict), I'm surprised it's taken me so long to discover the world of Diptyque. While I've always heard a thing or two about their incredibly amazing candles and skincare products, I never quite ventured into the store.

So when a Diptyque fragrance arrived home, I thought of it as another Parisian fragrance but I stand corrected. It's quite a unique one and something that is a far cry from the ones I own.

The 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Caron La Selection Discovery Perfume Set

Those who know me are aware of my penchant for fragrances. I have a few all time favorites that I use on special occasions. I'm not a fan of overpowering floral fragrances, I like the subtle version and appreciate the woody and (to some extent) oriental kind.

My vast fragrance collection is due to the fact that I usually purchase them when launched rendering my friends attempts to gift them to me futile. Once a friend told me that he had planned to get me a fragrance for my birthday and discovered through another friend that he should look for something else.

Having said that, when I step into the likes of Galeries Lafayette, Paris Gallery or Areej, it can get a bit difficult to find a perfect fragrance for friends or family (cousin, I'm talking about you!). What if they don't quite like it? What if they changed their minds in terms of oriental vs. the fresh florals? To nip the problem at the bud, you need to gift wrap a perfume box that houses an assortment of mini fragrances of different kinds.

Caron's La Selection Discovery Set for women is perfect for the season and for the fragrance lover in your life. It literally helps you discover which Caron fragrance you will fall in love with and comes with an empty purse spray.

Guess Debuts 2014 Holiday Collection In Dubai

There's one thing you will always notice about the Guess girl- the retro cat eye, voluminous hair courtesy the hot rollers and a confident walk. It's the classic glamor girl look and the launch of the Guess 2014 Holiday Collection was no different.

With a palette of pastels and bold colors, the collection featured on trend classic leather and demin jackets, gorgeous dresses that you can take from day to night, elegant gowns and accessories that will make you want to clear our your existing stash.

Banana Republic Launches Their Holiday 2014 Collection In Dubai

With a new Creative Director at the helm of the Banana Republic universe, you sure can expect a redefined game-plan. The latest Banana Republic collection, or as it is known The New BR was launched in Dubai as part of the Holiday 2014 Collection and showcases a chic, modern yet fresh take on what the brand has up its sleeve.

Creative Director, Marissa Web brings alive elegance and effortless style within easy to wear pieces- think leather, chambray and cashmere; think different textures, layering and a pleasant color palette.

The women's collection is incredibly beautiful. From cashmere coats and leather skirts to well-fitted blazers and tailored trousers, the New BR has you covered.

Swarovski Launches Fall/Winter 2014-2015 Collection In Dubai

Swarovski's Fall/Winter 2014-2015 Collection is so pretty, I had my mental wishlist filling up as I browsed through the collection at Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai.

The collection entitled Facets of Light was inspired by holograms, LED lights and kaleidoscopic motifs. Absolutely gorgeous accessories including necklaces and bracelets were on display. I feel this is one of Swarovski's best collections to date.

I also have a few select pieces that landed on my wishlist!

Jewel tones were in full swing and so were statement necklaces. I absolutely love how Swarovski does cuffs and necklaces.

I love how there are so many things happening with this necklace but it all comes together and looks quite unique. This is easily a stand-out-from-the-crowd piece.

A closer look reveals the gorgeous pearls, crystals and beads...beautiful!

Take it from Swarovski how to make black accessories look stunning. While the necklace may seem way too chunky, you can take off the bottom pendant and wear it as a brooch!

Did I tell you how much I love Swarovski's bracelets?

More of the gorgeous bracelets. I LOVE these. I love the narrow silver bracelets so much, I plan to score them for Eid!

Swarovski, you did a good job with these.

Anyone up for this gorgeous Swarovski crystals embedded iPhone case? I want!

Swarovski makes the most delicate looking watches. If you haven't tried this on, I suggest you do. You won't leave the store without it.

This necklace is a stark contrast from what you've seen so far but looks absolutely beautiful when worn. It's one of my favorites!

I am in awe of this collection. Do you have a favorite?

Elie Saab: Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014 Collection

I have no words to describe this collection (I was left speechless previously). Beyond incredible. You'll feel like royalty wearing them. Elie Saab's Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014 Collection has his trademark elements- gowns with embroidery and lace that come together effortlessly. This collection features a palette of pale blues, soft reds and beige, elegant blacks and ethereal whites.

I've picked my favorites, so I'll let the pictures do the talking. I'll have you know that my future birthday dress  is the first pic you see below. How gorgeous is it?

And if I ever need an outfit change on my b'day, then this is the gown that will make its appearance. Incredibly beautiful!

And of course, the show stopper: the magnificent wedding gown. It's breathtaking and even prettier than the one featured in his Haute Couture SS'12 Collection.

Sometimes I wish I had royal blood running in my veins...just so I could get access to Elie Saab's collections way before anyone else does.

Which one's your favorite?

Guess Launches Limited Edition Evening Dresses Collection In Dubai

Guess is a brand that takes up at least 20% of my wardrobe and accessories. I love their watches more than clothing and always gawk at the Guess selection at Galeries Lafayette (my go-to place when it comes to shopping). The last time I was there, I purchased a watch and wore it for 2 weeks straight. It's another story that I'm a huge watch fan and will probably convert into a watch collector soon.

I was recently introduced to Guess and Marciano's limited edition evening dresses and gowns collection launched in Dubai, just in time for Eid. I love limited edition (LE) collections, in fact that's one way to capture my attention instantly. I actually take pride in purchasing limited edition pieces because it's all about exclusivity (to some extent). I own LE pieces from several brands and people come up to me asking where I've purchased them from. And then they frown, because they don't have access to it. That's why limited edition collections are special (only a handful of people including you own LE pieces!).

Having said that, Guess' collection was all about finding the perfect outfit for that special occasion. Featuring a  palette of electric blue, striking reds, luxurious golds and glamorous blacks, classic lace and rhinestone, the line-up of dresses and gowns are fit for almost every upcoming event of the year.

Being a fan of lace, I loved these. Black lace is a classic and when you pair it with flawless skin, slicked back hair and red lip color, it creates a beautiful picture. Lace can never get old.

Black lace was just one of the combinations from the collection. Black gold and metallic silver made an appearance too.

And so did bright pink...

That black lace gown is my favorite out of the bunch! How gorgeous does it look? It kind of reminds me of Monica Bellucci!

Are you a gown or dresses fan?

The Guess and Marciano limited edition collection is now available at select stores across the UAE.

Do you have a favorite?

D&G Launches Makeup Counter At Harvey Nichols Dubai

To celebrate the launch of the D&G makeup counter at Harvey Nics, Dubai, the luxury brand flew in their international makeup artist, Massimiliano della Maggesa. It's not everyday that you get to meet the makeup artist who worked with Alexa Chung, right?

While I knew about D&G's makeup line (I posted it sometime ago on Instagram) and the glorious Classic Cream lipsticks, Massimiliano dived into the story of the lip colors and why they had a particular fragrance. He told me that one of the designers (I forgot who- Domenico or Stefano) while a tiny tot, opened his mum's handbag and got a whiff of a fragrant flower. That memory is the reason why, today the Classic Cream lipsticks have a particular fragrance! It's pretty cool to hear interesting background stories of products that we use everyday.

Massimiliano also gave me a quick tour of the key products. I ended up having a makeover and he happened to dish out a few makeup secrets. Don't you just love it when they do that? Pretty sure he used the same secret techniques on Alexa's face as well. Time to get off my high horse now and tell you about the gorgeous D&G makeup.

The packaging, no doubt is a reflection of D&G's luxurious footprint but what's inside is equally breathtaking.

How incredibly gorgeous is this? The colors are beautiful in the case and even more pretty when applied. I absolutely love the eye shadow quad.

The Smooth Eye Shadow Quad in '110 Nude' may not look like it is appropriate for day time however, the beauty of this palette is that you can either tone down the colors or build it up for an evening look. The  eye shadows go on the eye lids like satin. I particularly like the aubergine color.

The Classic Cream Lipstick in '240 Orange' is the most gorgeous summer appropriate lip color I've come across. While the name suggests a bright coral, the shade is more of a shimmery orange.

The lipstick is creamy and goes on smoothly. On it's own, for me it's a bit too sheer and highlights more of the shimmer. I usually apply a slightly darker lip color and apply on top (one light swipe) for a luminous finish.

The Passion Eyes mascara is great for lengthening your lashes. It doesn't check all the boxes when it comes to volume but aces the test in the lengthening department.

The mascara brush fans out the lashes and gives a gorgeous overall look.

I absolutely love this trio- the colors, the intensity, the results...it's as you would expect from D&G. The next product I'm looking to try is their foundations. When I was at Harvey Nics, I mentioned to Massimiliano that I always look for foundations that deliver a dewy finish. He suggested and applied the Liquid Luminous Foundation. The result? Radiant and flawless looking skin. My face looked like it was touched by fairy dust.

Do you have a favorite from the above? Don't forget to visit the new D&G counter at Harvey Nichols, Mall of the Emirates. You must try three things and I recommend these: the Passion Eyes Mascara, the Liquid Luminous Foundation and the Classic Cream lipstick (I would've recommend Red 620, a bright red also used in the famous Monica Bellucci's D&G ad- unfortunately it's sold out!).

Wishlist: Clutches and Bags

This year's Paris Fashion Week witnessed an abundance of gorgeous accessories and some 'what-is-that?' moments. Being a handbag addict (does a Handbags Anonymous therapy session exist?), a handful of bags and clutches landed on my wishlist including the jeweled clutches from Dior.

This has to be the most gorgeous Chanel bag ever.

The neon Giambattista Valli bag- the color does all the talking.

The grey version looks pretty good too. It would look amazing against a cobalt blue outfit.

Love this teal colored Elie Saab beauty.

Cobalt blue is a color that's slowly becoming my favorite. This Roland Mouret clutch with contrasts is just about perfect.

I saved the best for the last. Dior's jeweled clutches are incredible.

And that's a wrap! Out of all, I love the Dior clutches and aiming to check them out once they are in store.

Got a favorite?