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ELEVAETE X Emirati Women’s Day

Posted on September 7, 2017

Celebrating homegrown talent and the love of sport, the U.A.E.’s own unique fitness apparel brand ELEVAETE is creating more than just a statement this Emirati Women’s Day.

ELEVAETE worked with a young local Emirati artist, Amna al Banna, at just 21 and studying graphic design at Zayed University, is known for her passion for calligraphy. With their collaboration, using traditional calligraphy to highlight local culture, Al Banna uses 6 words to represent both traditional UAE culture and sport culture. With these words alone, she’s created unique artwork that is screen printed on two pieces of barre-ready apparel in gold.

Both Al Banna and ELEVAETE reflect the same values at their core – victory, strength, faith, passion, energy, life. So we don’t expect them to available for long, these two pieces are a limited edition run set sold either together or separately and named after two of Al Banna’s identified words.

The pieces themselves are a beautiful fusion of tradition and function. A dark, monotone base colour just helps to highlight the calligraphy and each piece is handprinted with care.

We can’t wait to get our hands on set – get yours HERE.

STRENGTH / QUWA TEE

PASSION / SHAGAF LEGGING

fashion

5 Aussie Swimwear Brands You Need to Know

Posted on September 4, 2017

Winter is almost over in Australia, so now is the time to start preparing for the next hot summer. Let’s ask ourselves: is there such a thing as an Aussie without a swimsuit? Probably not, and with a good reason seeing as Australia is filled with beautiful beaches. So, why not use every opportunity to enjoy a beautiful day at the beach in some cute swimwear? But, as you’re preparing for the next swimsuit season, ask yourself whether it’s really necessary that you wear the same old boring bathing suit you spent the last five summers in. Instead, dig deep and go for that one swimwear style you always wanted to try because who knows, maybe one of these awesome five Aussie brands have just what you’ve been looking for.
Bondi Bather

You can’t think ‘Sydney’ without thinking ‘Bondi Beach’ and that’s no surprise seeing as it’s the most famous beach in Australia. So, as you pack your beach bag, why not put on your Bondi Bather swimsuit? These Australian-made bathing suits aren’t only stylish and unique, but they’re also made of high quality fabrics with a high UV rating +50, which will make it possible to enjoy Australian sun without fearing for your skin.
Baku Swimwear

If you want to wear a swimsuit which will make you feel sexy, confident and beautiful, Baku Swimwear is the perfect option for you. This brand was created ten years ago and its creators, a brother and a sister, have made sure to make their customers feel and look amazing while they’re wearing Baku swimsuits. Whether it’s a bikini or a one piece, it’s impossible not to find something chic and stylish for every shape, size and body type. Baku is all about innovative design, flattering style and quality materials, so it’s no wonder it is so successful and popular.
Curvy by Capriosca

Are you a curvy girl who wants to rock her curves this season? Curvy by Capriosca will help you do that because once you put on a swimsuit that enhances your curves and accentuates your hourglass figure, you’ll feel beautiful and confident. Check out their amazing variety of designs and prints and find something fashionable and gorgeous like an interesting retro checked print or a cute floral motif.
Ward Whillas

Founded by Sydney-raised friends Rose Ward, (who previously worked in the design room at The Row and Proenza Schouler) and Alicia Whillas, (who designed accessories at Marc Jacobs) their swimwear features interchangeable separates made with advanced manufacturing technology that was previously only found in high-performance active wear. All styles are reversible too so you’ll essentially get two cossies in one!
Kini Swimwear

If you’re looking for something that will make you feel comfortable yet something that is flattering to your figure and super trendy, Kini Swimwear should be your choice. While they have plenty of both elegant and playful bikinis they’ve designed, probably the best thing about Kini is that you’re able to design a bathing suit all on your own on their website. You simply need to choose the style, color and/or print and afterwards, wait for your fabulous customized piece to arrive.

All you need to do is check out these awesome brands; they all have easy-to-use websites from which you can purchase your favorite new swimsuit. So, take out your cute beach bag; put your favorite book in it along with some shades and sunscreen; put on your new cute bathing suit under a summer dress; and head for your favorite spot on the beach.

Written by Claire Hastings.

fashion

Loving AA Sisters Swimwear

Posted on August 27, 2017

Because it’s always bikini season here in Dubai, we like to keep our water wear interesting. I’m a big believer too in homegrown brands, passion projects created by the love of life. So AA Sisters Swimwear is a brand i’m wearing loving now. Created by two sisters Ayşıl Aybaba Dilmen and Aynil Aybaba, based in Turkey, their unique pieces have made it across to our shores to help brighten up our beaches.

Made with the weekend warrior in mind, AA Sisters Swimwear is a combination of functional, fun and flirty, featuring both traditional and unique one-piece and bikini designs, as well as knitted swimwear for the more adventurous beachgoer. Their resort wear brings an easy beach-to-bar aesthetic that’s light enough to withstand even for our summer sun.

Check out some of their key pieces:

fashion

Sunglasses: it’s a Sunday, Somewhere state of mind

Posted on August 21, 2017

Question: How many pairs of sunglasses is it acceptable to own? I may have over-accessorised in this department but let’s face it, you can never have too many right?

Being introduced to a new brand is always exciting and with sunglasses, there are just so many choices out there. I have fallen head over heels for the new Sunday Somewhere brand in Magrabi, Bloomingdales, whose frames have been worn the world over by the likes of; Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Ruby Rose, Gigi Hadid, Beyonce & Solange as well as Cara D and a lot of Victoria Secret models, so we’re definitely in great company!

Sunday Somewhere is very much my kind of brand, it’s for the avid traveller, the person who just can’t sit still. The idea behind the brand is that it’s a Sunday, somewhere state of mind – so there’ll always be time to rest, but for now – head to the airport and play travel roulette. Pick a city you’ve never been to and simply explore. The next holiday is your story to tell…

Check out some of my favourite styles:

My favourite!

fashion

Sapia Simone Launches Wetsuits for SS18

Posted on August 3, 2017

Whether you’re surfing in Sri Lanka, wake-surfing in Dubai or scuba diving in the cooler waters off Oman, for a couple of months a year, wetsuits are going to be part of your gear.

Dubai based designer Sapia Simone launched her label in the cooler months of 2016. It can now be found in 15 stores worldwide as well as online on Farfetch.com and seen on the pages of Conde Nast Traveller, Harpers Bazaar Arabia and Emirates Woman. Having originated in Miami, the brand exudes a tropical essence, focusing on nature, travel and fantasy across its collections.

The brand’s aim is to encourage and inspire a fresh perspective on ‘beach chic’. Sapia Simone’s design mission is to make playful and beautiful swimwear silhouettes, styles and resort wear that celebrate the active and adventurous female living across the world in a variety of sunshine societies.

Designed to provide functional support to all our aquababes, wetsuits are normally your traditional black one-piece (ok it’s sometimes grey too) what they aren’t… is very fashion focused. Yet.

Launching for the first time, September sees one of my favourite brands, SAPIA SIMONE, focusing on the more active and adventurous women. Activating in two colours, these neoprene wetsuits are modest yet sexy, with patterned sides and a front zip for wear-ability.

Why not co-ordinate with your accessories too? Who doesn’t want matching wetsuits and surf bags, designed to be completely watertight and seal in all your important belongings, so that you can surf, skate or ski with peace of mind out on the water.

fashion

Follow This Summer’s Mermaid Chic Trend – By Claire Hastings

Posted on July 29, 2017

Every summer, new fashion trends pop up or find their way back from the past all jazzed and glitzed up. A great example of the latter is no other than the lovely retro mermaid chic style that will make you look truly mesmerizing wherever you decide to spend these warm summer days. Of course, looking like a mermaid doesn’t mean that you have to slip into a faux tail and lie on the beach all day. This trend is actually a lot more fun and exciting. The best thing is that there are just so many cool aspects of mermaid chic look that absolutely anyone can find their favorite things to do in order to spice up their summer style.
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Get colorful

When someone mentions either retro style or mermaids, a burst of color first comes to mind. You can guess that you have complete freedom with your colorful looks when it comes to the style called retro mermaid. Pairing vibrant outfit pieces is definitely a great way to start rocking this trend. However, the colorfulness doesn’t stop with your outfit. Colorful makeup as well as vibrant hair colors make this trend truly fascinating. Especially since you don’t have to stick to just one hair colour.
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Glitter up

Obviously, a mermaid trend cannot be complete without the glam and glow of glitter. You may be skeptical about putting glitter on you when the weather is so hot but there are actually special glitter gels that you can use for your skin, your eye makeup as well as your hair! You may not want to swim with this on, but there’s really nothing better to make a relaxing evening or a funky gig at the beach more magical. Of course, it’s not all about sticking glitter to your body. Just like colorful pieces of clothing make a great choice for your mermaid-inspired outfit, glittery and sequined clothes make the perfect choice!

Photo by Maximilien T’Scharner on Unsplash

Show off your mermaid body

What can you do to look like a real-life mermaid as you enjoy the beach and swimming fun during the day? Well, you should definitely look for great swimsuits first. Actually, since the mermaid chic style is so retro in nature, one-piece swimsuits have been all the rage recently. Of course, look for patterned and colorful swimsuits or opt for sequin or pearly ones – these will make sure that you shine like a true mermaid under the sun. Just don’t forget to apply your sunscreen. Speaking of sunscreen, you can actually find products with pearly finishes that will add a special touch to the whole look.
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Don’t forget about the jewellery

Honestly, what kind of a mermaid chic trend that would be without appropriate jewelry? Mermaids are said to like shiny and sparkly things and that’s exactly what your jewelry should look like. If you want to swim with your bling, plastic bangles and pearls with shiny and sparkly overlays are perfect. For the rest of your summer fun, you can choose whatever you like. Large statement earrings, dangly necklaces with crystals on them, crystal and turquoise rings and similar hair pieces will bring the whole look together even if you prefer a pastel, less vibrant approach to the whole trend.
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Glam up your accessories

To enjoy this particular trend to the fullest, why not transform all your accessories into a mermaid-approved bling? Apart from your jewelry and clothing accessories, there are plenty of things that can help you feel this look even more. For example, choose iridescent or sparkly bags, wallets and purses. Go for whimsical designs and patterns of your beach towels. Heck, even your water bottle can look magical if you get those with crystals inside them. Don’t fear the change, especially if it’s as glamorous, magical and fascinating as a mermaid chic fashion trend. As mentioned, take the bits of this style that suit your personality but can still help you step out of the box. Remember, your inner mermaid should never be stuck inside the box you yourself created for no reason. Embrace all the fun!

Follow Claire here!

fashion Recommended

Travel With: Knomo London

Posted on July 23, 2017

Knomo London was introduced to me in Dubai, having recently landed in Virgin Megastore. Founded in London just over 10 years ago, Knomo means knowledge and mobility. The brand was designed to help you travel well, with a real focus on organisation, especially inside their bags. I’m a real hoarder in my handbags too, with about 400 items that don’t need to be there, I almost never find the time to go through it and sort it out.

I’ve spent the better half of the summer, travelling around Europe, between Italy, Switzerland and the rest traversing the lands around our family home in France. From race tracks in Bologna, to hiking in Lake Como and discovering Lugano’s many hidden gems, there’s been plenty of occasions where travelling light was of the utmost importance.

What makes Knomo more than just another travel bag… well there’s a few things that drew me in straight away, their sleek style and understand minimalism helped me imagine wearing one instantly. My travel accessories have always been predominantly a single handbag or over-the-shoulder bag, which make day-to-night transitions easier, leaving me more room in the case for clothes, (or bringing clothes back with me).

Not only that, their bags and organisers come with a padded technology section, designed for use with all our daily droppable gadgets, (…how many external hard-drives have I repaired now?) They are also super light weight, so walking round Rome – which is at least 4 hours of straight walking and tourist dodging – felt a lot easier not swapping arms every 30 mins with a heavy handbag cutting into me. Ok, so being asked whether or not I was a student in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, may have been backpack related, but having just turned 30, it didn’t feel remotely insulting at all…

See my favourite pieces here and if you’re heading out of Dubai this summer, I implore you to forgo the Birkin for the backpack, even if just for the ease of the airport alone!

Knomo Beauchamp 15″

Knomo Leather Beaux 15″

Knomo Mini Mount Leather 10″

Knomo Mini Beauchamp 10″

fashion

Lusting After: Qatar’s HZ by Hissa Zainal

Posted on May 15, 2017

There’s nothing that screams summer more to me than floaty dresses and leather sandals. So when I was introduced to Qatar based designer Hissa Zainal’s new collection, I was immediately taken back to a sunny day in Europe last summer, watching the world go by from a small cafe in France.

HZ by Hissa Zainal is a ready to wear label and the brainchild of Hissa Zainal, a young and creative Qatari who’s also an award wining fashion designer. Since the release of her debut collection, Prologue, Hissa’s work has been featured in fashion magazines across the region and we can see why!

HZ by Hissa Zainal is a resort collection for SS17 inspired by the warmth of the sun, the salty ocean breeze and fragrant vivid blooms, combining fresh tones with relaxed silhouettes, creating a fun and feminine aesthetic.

Fabrics are light and feature a mixture of cotton and denim, which is perfect for those long hazy evenings. The collection is made of embroidered sheer overlays, featuring statement cutouts and ruffled sleeves add a very dreamy feel. Embroidered flowers, hand illustrated by Hissa Zainal add a beautifully detailed touch to the dresses too.

See what I mean…

fashion

Swimming in Rose Gold

Posted on May 4, 2017

I believe a good fitting swimsuit is worth its weight in gold…

This is the kind of swimwear you instantly see yourself lounging around a pool in, somewhere exotic, like St. Barth’s for example. It’s swimwear that will definitely get you noticed and for all the right reasons too.

Norma Swimwear was launched by entrepreneur Merve Kardes, in 2014 in Istanbul. Her partner Cemre Kardes Inan, who studied interior design, joined the team and added a very characteristic architectural perspective to their unique designs. Not only are their pieces extraordinarily intricate, they are also beyond comfy.

They describe themselves as avant-garde yet wearable. I couldn’t agree more as I put their beautiful ‘La Favourite’ one piece to the test behind the boat wake-surfing last weekend too. Using Italian fabrics and certified rose gold accessories in their designs, the swimwear doesn’t warp or elongate (my personal worst), it’s also proved to be able to endure repeated exposure to sunlight, salt water and chlorine and the only care you’ll need to take is to hand wash it, like with most luxe garments.

Check out some of my personal favourites here:

fashion

Alilia.com Launches In Dubai

Posted on April 27, 2017

Online shopping has to be one of my absolute favourite ways to fill up my wardrobe with season staples and i’m super excited about this new portal! Alilia is a Swedish based brand that is launching its first collection and Ramadan specials here in the Middle East.

Walking into the press day felt like taking a step into St. Tropez. A fully boho-chic white wardrobe on one side, full of embroidery and broderie pieces that can be worn anywhere from weddings to walks on the beach, and a day-night collection on the other side that promotes a more bohemian way of life.

The brand is based on creative designer Ali ́’s eclectic life journey, who has collaborated with some of the leading fashion houses throughout Europe including most recently Zara. “Alilia is a brand that evokes feelings of freedom, memories, creativity and love. The passion and emotion put into every detail results in collections full of timeless pieces. I don’t see fashion in individual shapes and forms. I see women who know they are all unique and will let their story be told with Alilia.”

Have a scroll through all the colorful dress prints and lacy tops, beaded skirts and chic kaftan’s which are made from fine fabrics and feature a real attention to detail. Check out my favourite pieces below…

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