Fall-ing for you

“Winter’ on the island has been rather disappointing this year. With barely any temperatures prodding us to get into cashmere or chunky knits, one can only assume that winter won’t be in full swing on the island of Bahrain. When the national lights were out this time last year, my friends and I were wrapped up in layers of warm clothing, and were still feeling chilly!

Winter, being my favorite season, it has been extremely hard for me to come to terms with the fact that it might not get that cold this time around, and while we are all trying to make the best out of our knits and leather bits, I’ve learned a couple of do’s and don’ts that seem fitting for the current climate.

Do:

Wear coats, jackets or blazers as a layering piece- They’re in better, breathable fabric than sweaters, and can be taken off if needed.

Wear mid / Ankle length boots. I wore my suede knee-highs recently and felt like I was the Christmas turkey roast special at Nigella’s kitchen.

Sweatshirts are great for a relaxed look, provided you wear a lightweight tee underneath for the day time.

Wear Capes and ponchos for the night. Capes, ponchos and blanket coats are more a style statement than actually being practical and right now, that’s all you really need.

Wear anti-bacterial socks/ panty hose when wearing ankle boots during the day.

Don’t:

Wear knits in direct contact with skin. Angora, Cashmere, chunky cable knits and other woolen clothing can be quite irritating in the daytime when the sun decides to show. Apart from the fact that it can be uncomfortable, it is also unhygienic to have a tiny amount of sweat mix with the fabrication, which can build up bacteria and a foul odor.

Wear knee high leather or suede boots during the day time. Save these for the night where there’s no sun to make you sweat in your shoes.

Wear gloves or knitted berets during the DAY time just yet. These items, like boots restrict air flow and can cause sweat build up. 

The weather has improved slightly. Let’s just hope that it gets cooler and we get a taste of winter before the sun comes shining back in all it’s (ugh) splendor. Yes, I detest summer.

Shirt and Skirt: Camaieu, Bag: Mango, Boots: F21, Coat: Zara

Cheerios

I have absolutely no words or rants for today's blog post. Let me just say that this dress was a huge bargain for just 5 BD on sale. I absolutely love the style, color and fit and how well it sits with my purple chain strap bag.I paired it with nude pumps to keep the color blocking minimal.
That's about it. I'm cheery. Are you?

Dress: Seventh Heaven, Shoes: Mango, Clutch: Accessorize

Feels like Christmas

 The festive season is here and while we have kick started our Weekly Present Program with a HUGE hit, we have also finalized our new logo and artwork for our website . I cannot wait to reveal the new skin on our blog and a few secrets we have been keeping from you. 2015 is looking so good and our entire team is so excited to be ending this year by giving away gifts to our readers. You guys have helped us come this far, which is why we wanted to give something back. Remember, our giveaways are only for the month of December and there are still 3 gifts up for grabs. If you haven’t entered into our WPP, simply do so by liking our Facebook page and follow the instructions on our WPP photograph

Moving on to the look, red is very appropriate at the moment which is why I paired this bright red satin blouse with a gold embroidered skirt and a perfume bottle clutch from Plush Delights.

Hope you are loving December as much as we are.

Blouse: Mango, Shoes: Zara, Skirt: Ashwathy Shyamkumar, Cllutch: Plush Delights, Bracelet: Aldo, Earrings: CC

Plush Delights

 I recently had the opportunity of working with Plush Delights, A name known in the Middle East for their array of high quality acrylic clutches or ‘delights’ as the founders, Jyoti Mittal and Wafa Rauf like to call them.

I like to pick up statement accessories that are great conversation starters and as I was introduced to these delights, I certainly was impressed. The delights come in a range of colors and styles, from clear colored to fiercely studded and text placement acrylic boxes that suit any occasion.

Clear Perspex is trending and a lot of women seem to oppose the rage, because  they would rather have the contents of a women’s bag be ‘private’. But here’s the chance to show off that cute coin purse that’s lost in an oversized bag or that gorgeous lipstick where the casing is prettier than the shade. Miniature perfume bottles and embellished pens are all great accessories to add into transparent bags. I personally think that clear clutches are perfect for parties and seeing that it’s the festive season, these delights seem even more appropriate. Of course, you would want to secure your cash or card into a card holder and then throw them in before you go out around town looking fabulous. With emphasis on innovation, style and quality, each delight is a star on it’s own!

Plush delights stocks at Vallydez Dubai and operate in the Middle East but they do ship worldwide. Prices range from 35-70 BHD depending on the style and detailing of the selected item.

To know more about Plush Delights and place your order, which I highly recommend, check out @plush_delights on instagram and whatsapp +973 33842040 / +973 38453607 to order.

Blazer, Bandage top : Mando,  Skirt : Tammy, Necklace: Monsoon, Clutches: Plush Delights

The Classic Trench

 I love me a well-fitted, classic black trench coat for fall. It is the most versatile piece of winter clothing to own, as you can dress them up or down depending on the occasion. White tan colored trench coats are also great, I think they're more day- appropriate but a black coat is perfect for any time of the day.
Be it work or a night out, work with jeans , dresses or pant-suits, a trench coat can take any outfit from boring to fabulous in a matter of minutes.
My only advice would be to invest in a good quality suit-material coat that will last long. Un-structured coats can make you look shabby and felt coats can attract all dust and lint, making it impossible to maintain.
In this look, I wore a gold embossed tulip dress underneath my trusty trench so that the metallic color pops from under neath without being too over-the-top. Snakeskin print metallic shoes and a bright pink pout to match my clutch added as an accent color without stealing the focus from the coat.
I personally love trench coats, what about you? How would you style yours?

Dress and Coat: Mango, Shoes: Dune, Clutch: Debenhams, Cuff: Anna Dello Russo for H&M

Tartan

It’s that time of the year again where Mother Nature plays her pranks on us. I stepped out of the house in just 10 denier tights and flats last week but it  was cool enough for  me to change my mind and step into my favorite faux-suede boots. It’s a good thing I carried spare shoes, because in a matter of hours the sun was out again, shining in all it’s glory which made me switch back to flats.

Take today for instance:  It was great ‘semi-chunky knit weather’ when I woke up but come lunch break , where I had to step out of the office and it was warm again. It’s easy to layer up and step out into chilly weather but it’s twice as hard to stay in them if the climate gets warmer. My advice would be to add layers that can be removed, like a jacket or a knit cardigan. This way you’re not sweating up to a point where’re you're uncomfortable. Also, save boots for the night as they are so much more comfier when there's no sun this time of the year.  I say throw on a kick-ass pair of ankle boots and work your way through the day and go tights-less during the night with knee high boots and a cute LBD.

Jacket and Bag: Mango. Tee and Boots: Zara, Skirt: Tammy, BHS