Browsing Tag

Middle East

travel

Staycation at The Intercontinental Fujairah

It’s not often a staycation can make you feel like you’ve travelled hundreds of miles away, when really you’ve only gone two hours down the coastline, but Fujeirah has always been one of my favourite getaway’s for a weekend. It’s been our destination of choice for beach side camping, snorkeling and sea life but now there’s a real life of luxury awaiting you at the Intercontinental Resort.

The grand white entrance of the Intercontinental Fujeirah boasts a modern yet authentic welcome, and it takes only seconds to realize the views awaiting you at the other side. Situated right next to Snoopy Island, the water’s warm and inviting and the beach stretches on for miles.

The rooms are enormous! The views from the balcony from sunrise to sunset are beyond picturesque, with the Hajjar Mountain’s framing the background so naturally, as the sun reflects off the Indian Ocean and into your room. It’s a destination to disappear in, offering you a world where you can turn off if you want to and also not feel to guilty if you need to stay connected.

From beach side infinity pools to kid-free zones and a sumptuous spa, you’re not going to be left wanting on this staycation. Obviously I wanted to check out the gym and it didn’t disappoint, with out own personal trainer who organized a circuit set for us on the first morning and a group bootcamp outdoors the next, wellness here is well taken care of.

fashion

Lusting After: Qatar’s HZ by Hissa Zainal

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…
HZbyHissa

HZbyHissa

HZbyHissa

HZbyHissa

HZbyHissa

fashion Fitness

GAP Fit Launches in the Middle East

Famed all-American clothing brand Gap has partnered with Al Tayer Group to launch the first Gap Fit standalone store in the world! Based down at JBR, The Beach, the shop is full on fitness so it’s only natural that we had to put it to the test. Gap Fit
Gap Fit
The Warehouse Beach gym played host to a morning of circuits, and even though it was first thing in the morning, being outdoor in the not-yet-wintry weather made it tougher still. The GapFit gear held up nicely despite the rigorous testing it got, so we headed straight to the store to stock up! Gap Fit
Gap Fit
GAP is an iconic brand that’s really best known for its denim, but by launching GapFit this year, it’s opened up the brand again for me personally. Expect a collection full of activewear and i’m especially fond of their leggings that offer good compression, breathability, stretch, and their new blackout technology. Not strictly for women either, the launch has a full range of comfy activewear for guys too! Gap Fit