Category: Retail Therapy

Loving Al Khayalee Boutique

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Some of the items at Al Khayalee Boutique…my bbm camera doesn’t do justice to how beautiful the items are.

A few weeks ago I had the delightful opportunity to be at the opening of the much talked about Al Khayalee Boutique, which is part of the Al Khayalee Wedding Planning Company, offering premium gift wrapping solutions and home accessories….

The boutique, a brainchild of Sara Khalifa Harib, specialises in offering highly personalised gifting options, including flower arrangements, gift wrapping and bespoke packaging. Sara is the Founder and Director of the Boutique with beautiful and stunning items and flowers displayed in an amazing way on the walls to entice you to take them home.

It was awesome catching up with the Saeed Hareb at Al Khayalee Boutique who I always refer to as the father of the marine industry in the UAE and he was there with his equally creative and talented son Mohammed Saeed Harib of the Freej fame. The whole family is talented in the industries they have ventured in.

Going back to the awesomeness of Al Khayalee Boutique. Apart from intricate flower arrangements and unique gift wrapping solutions that are specifically tailored to the requirements of the customers, Al Khayalee boutique also offers specially-designed, distinctive gift boxes, gift bags and accessories such as trays and vases that are manufactured using a wide range of materials and finishes. I got one which I hope to personalise for little diva NJD for her trinkets so she stops digging into my treasure chest.

Al Khayalee Boutique is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai and is open until10:00 pm. Check them out on http://www.alkhayaleeboutique.com or twitter @khayaleboutique

With the Harib boys at Al Khayalee Boutique.

Fun and sensual fragrances from Mikyajy

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NJD with her current favourite fragrance

With my new obsessions with fragrances, I have two new signature women’s fragrances, Dicey Royale and Flirt Dreams that has made me smile this week. Designed in trendy cube-shaped glass flacons, the two fragrances reflect the essence of every woman, combining elements ranging from girly lightheartedness to sexy mystery. Each fragrance pays homage to the different styles and approaches each woman takes with love, romance and seduction…..are you intrigued?

Little diva NJD loves the Flirt dreams and I love the Dicey Royale so we are both getting into bed for story and cuddle time the last few nights smelling each other and stressing what makes the one we selected better. As a  sensual, warm-hearted romantic, I naturally like Dicey Royale which has warm and dynamic notes for a sensual woman who prefers a subtle form of seduction. Rose and woody ambers are prominent notes – the composition opens with top notes of rose, peony blossom and essence of mandarin and orange as well as a base of woody ambers. This scent is intended for those who want an exceptional and intense fragrance.

The one that Tash loves, Flirt Dreams is a fresh, youthful fragrance with sparkling, light notes for a more delicate woman. I’m sending a bottle to one of my other babies in Cape Town to see what she thinks of it. The floral fruity fragrance is for the carefree girl with an upbeat personality.

Flirt Dreams and the original Flirt both share a fun floral character that remains linked through both fragrances thanks to a jasmine-dominated heart. It’s a floral fruity eau de toilette that opens with top notes of bergamot, pear, nectarine and pink pepper, with a heart of rose, jasmine, peach and violet, and a base of cedar and musk. Flirt Dreams is aimed at those who love a fragrance filled with light, airy nuances and a tinge of subtle fruitiness.

My next fragrance notes will be in a few weeks time when a regional perfume maker will make his way to Dubai and share with me his thoughts on the industry. Plus I am hoping to have coffee this weekend with the Fragrance Foundation as well as I learn more and more about mixing and experimenting with my favourite  scents.

NJD’s favourite – Flirt Dreams

Hello Kitty Beauty Spa….little diva may need spa allowance

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Yummy Yummy, in my tummy :). Hello Kitty cupcake

I don’t mind taking little diva out for the occasional pampering session to get her hair or nails done but with the world’s first ever, Hello Kitty Beauty Spa now launched at Town Centre Jumeirah, I may have to share my spa and beauty allowance as it seems the idea of going to a Hello Kitty spa appeals to little girls like her….but I love my little diva heaps so am willing to do the mother daughter bonding thingy in a spa instead of the usual bumming with a romantic comedy on the sofa with junk food session.

I was at the dazzling launch with my favourite and the sweetest diplomatic couple ever (Mr & Mrs Daisuke) from the Japanese consulate as we enjoyed branded Hello Kitty cupcakes and drinks. The Beauty Spa is themed and designed on the famous Japanese character ‘Hello Kitty’ and specially designed for ‘Queens’ and their little ‘Princesses’.

The lead designer Miyuki Okamura from Tokyo drew the character and signed stuff for fans present at the event.  Hello Kitty Beauty Spa is an innovative extension to the brand which allows a younger audience to experience the luxury and pleasures of a day at the Beauty Spa.

I loved the interior, the different lines of products they had, from organic to normal make-up, hair products and even food in the Kitty Cafe section. The design of the spa is that of ‘vintage girly look’ and the minimalist reception displays the best of Hello Kitty goodies. The services at the spa include nails, facials, hair and make-up.

The Beauty Spa offers a separate service menu for ‘Queen’ and ‘Princesses’, offering all organic nail and beauty products for young girls. Just so you know, Hello Kitty was born in 1974 – a year after I came into the world and when good things started to happen :).

Over the years, Hello Kitty has become one of the most unique and interesting icon ever created – a worldwide social icon with relevance to women of all ages, ethnicities and economic backgrounds as well as an inspiration to artists and designers. It is one of Japan’s unique cultural exports, and one of the ultimate symbols of Kawaii, meaning cute in Japanese.

Three decades since she made her debut on a small coin purse in Japan, her popularity has multiplied exponentially from Japan to the world. Thanks to Sharaf Retail, we can enjoy the chilled out side of Hello Kitty in Dubai and I’m glad I can now have spa sessions with little diva NJD on weekends.

Had loads of laughs dressing up for the official pic at entrance 🙂

Hello Kitty tattoo on a cheeky place

A Donna Karan presentation

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Dipesh is always surrounded by beautiful women…he is here with lovely Shimaa, Rania, Shweta & Sidrah

My favourite stylist Farah Kabir at Donna Karan show…..Dubai has become more stylish with her around

With Jewellery Designer Nadine Kanso @ the Donna Karan new collection presentation

I reckon everyone knows now in Dubai I love anything that is organised by Dipesh & Ayman….these boys are magic with everything they touch. Couple of nights ago I ventured into the Fashion Lounge of Dubai mall as New York design star Donna Karan presented her luxurious Spring and Summer 2012 collections, organized by The Qode.

Needless to say, Dubai’s glitterati stepped out to see the luxe tribal inspired collection reminiscent of Haiti’s glamourous heyday. Models mingled with the guests overlooking the striking Dubai fountain in an evening of high glamour. Tribal prints, Donna’s signature jersey drapes and evening wear wowed the guests.

The new Donna Karan boutique, which opened recently at the Dubai Mall is housed on the first floor of the exclusive Fashion Avenue, and is the flagship outpost for Donna Karan in the Middle East.

While there, I caught up with Nadine Kanso again whose jewellery Dipesh & Ayman introduced me to a couple of weeks ago and yes…it was something I liked heaps as it was not your usual expected designs one gets so bored of …. watch this space for more information on her creative style. Meanwhile, check out Donna Karan at Dubai Mall and get ready to be wowed!

How gorgeous is Lina Samman. She is beautiful in and out and always full of positive vibe

The Donna Karan show finale

 

It is time for Dubai Summer Surprises

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NJD after a DSS face painting when she was young….she always chose a tiger design

Summer in Dubai these days are a lot different than 10 years ago thanks to the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, an agency under the Department of Economic Development of Dubai who have planned more than a 100 exciting shows and activities over 31 days set to cement Dubai’s reputation as the finest summer destination in the region through Dubai Summer Surprises 2012 (DSS).

DSS will run from June 14th to July 14th with the slogan “Dubai. Summer Fun and More”. I remember working with the DSF/DSS team in 2000 and had lots of fun at the DSF offices then with H.E. Laila Suhail who is now the CEO of DEPE and Ibrahim Saleh, Festivals Coordinator General and Deputy CEO of DEPE. Both of them are just as dynamic as I knew them 12 years ago and its great to see that they keep each year’s events fresh with new activities….I’m particularly excited with all the spa offers I’m about to experience – my body certainly needs it.

To know what you want to indulge in this year, check out the “Dubai Calendar” which gives visitors and residents a month-by-month line-up of the unique and entertaining events taking place in the city all year round and it is a great source of reference for anyone wanting to make the most of their time in Dubai….it is an awesome tool for people who have visitors all the time in Dubai.

This year’s partners and sponsors which includes Emirates Airlines, AW Rostamani, Al Futtaim Group, Emaar Malls Group, Emaar Properties, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Al Ghurair City, Mercato, Paris Gallery, EPPCO and ENOC, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai Duty Free in addition to Master card and Dubai Shopping Malls Group (DSMG), all of which, over the years, have played an important role in the success and continuing growth of DSS.

Malls across the city will play host to DSS signature events, such as World of Stories, Kids Fashion Week, Min Bladi Al Emarat, and the Sheila and Abaya Fashion Show, and kids can look forward to 8 highly popular international stage cartoon shows such as The Smurfs, Barbie, Hello Kitty, Sponge Bob, Charlie and Lola, Ice Age, and Teletubbies….man these bring memories of us going all over town with little diva. I must say I am glad she’s all grown up now and enjoys DSS the way I like – retail therapy!

My favourite bit this DSS will be naturally be the spa offers program “Dubai Spas” with cool discounts at the cream of Dubai’s luxurious spas. I’m not big into raffles partly because I never win anything but DSS usually has some mega prizes.

I’m pretty sure there is a lot more news coming up for DSS but the taster activity schedule that landed in my inbox makes me want to just here all summer.


My tryst with the Infiniti QX56

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The Infiniti QX56 I had so much fun with all of last week 🙂

I’m having withdrawal symptoms….normally when I get a car to be seen around in, it’s usually a sporty little number worth half a million or something that is top of the range for Millionaires but still at sedan level. And if I do get lucky and get a SUV sent to me, it never fits my shoe rack properly and if it does, there is no space left to organise my gym bag, evening bag, beach bag, magazines etc in such a way that I don’t have to do a major clean up after a dune bashing session.

So naturally when Infiniti sent me the nice big Infiniti QX56 on a truck last week, I kinda expected yet another SUV experience but once inside, even I was overwhelmed by the size….its HUGE! It’s fantastic  for buyers who need seats for eight although I would have preferred a seat for 5 and then use the rest of the space for the many things a diva can’t do without in her car….i was able to fit in about 45 pairs of shoes on the rack once I rolled the seat over plus all my bags which has never happened before….normally I have to ration what I put into the cars I get to check out.

The QX56 is Infiniti’s super big SUV and I like the posh interior, the gracefully styled dashboard and the small touches on the exterior that makes it stand out as an Infiniti. It looked like it has very rugged capabilities but as usual I am never comfortable taking cars off-road that does not belong to me…I like the comfort of knowing that if something happens, its my car and I am solely responsible for it.

As a petrol head, I love the Infiniti’s 5.6-liter V8, 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft or torque funnelled through a seven-speed automatic that gets the throttle to the max. The Infiniti promises a 0-60 mph time of about seven seconds, gas mileage and although people tell me that QX’s independent suspension does a fine job of controlling its ride quality, I had to put in some power into my arms/hands to control it in tight corners….maybe it’s just my delicate built but it was fun none the less.

Needless to say, the car is very spacious, with big front chairs and little Diva (NJD) had lots of fun playing at the back and for once she reckons, she didn’t have to bump into the ‘junk’ I normally throw in the back or shoes to fall over. She even reclined the back seat for a nap and showed me some cool features I was not aware of.

The car had all the usual power features; navigation option, DVD audio, a moon roof, a power tailgate, Bluetooth with audio streaming, pushbutton start, USB connectivity for audio players and so much more…if you have a big family or like big SUV’s, this is definitely a car for you.

Little diva NJD enjoys the space and reclining seats at the back

NJD reckons she is ready to drive … 5 more years to go!

Lovin my Bags now at Palm Strip

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After dreading about having to trot all over town to Lancel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and mending a zip at Burberry, I was hoping for an easy way out to tackle my annual chores with bags when I opened my email and found out I can take all my bags to one place and get it sorted…how deja vu is that!

The news I received was that Lovin My Bags, the world’s first system of handbag and leather restoration has entered the Middle East region with its first boutique launch in Dubai. The new boutique was inaugurated by ‘Aiisha Ramadan’, a leading Arab fashion designer and hosted by ‘Shereen Mitwalli’; TV presenter, & international events moderator.

Most high-end bag owners already know that Lovin My Bags specializes in the very first system of handbag cleaning, restoration and leather care products developed to prolong the life and beauty of luxury designer handbags with professional care….except that they didn’t exist here before and they always ended up having to lug stuff back to the brands themselves.

Naturally, finding a professional service to refurbish bags in this part of the world has been challenging. With the launch of Lovin My Bags, luxury buyers have the safest and quickest option to restore their belongings. Due to such extreme climates, there is a big issue of dye transfer from Abayas, Jeans & other materials and Lovin My Bags has engineered products & services specifically to address such issues.

Dhiraj Munjwani, Partner & Director of Lovin My Bags Middle East showed  me some of the products they will be using as a way of assuring me that my bags were in good hands.  He explains how leather needs protection, cleansing, moisturizing, conditioning and miracle products to keep it looking its best and his team treat handbags as ‘Souls’ that require constant rejuvenation, pampering and love.

I recall last year on my way to London, we got diverted to Vienna because of a threat and all our suitcases got checked…my Lancel got damaged in the process and it took the Airline 5 weeks to find someone who could sort it out. In the end they gave up and paid me the original cost of a Lancel suitcase. With Lovin my Bags, the running around is not necessary anymore.

These guys specialize in cleaning and restorations services for all designer brands including Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Balenciaga, Dior, Cartier, Chloe, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, amongst all others….check them out!

Mudo City sure looks good

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With Jean Renaud-Durbin of The Content Factory at Mudo City

One evening this week, I ventured to Dubai Mall in a bid to save my favourite Michael Kors shoe and one not so lovable Jimmy Choo which was a total waste of space but it is a Choo and fashion dictated it was worth saving :(. Anyway, the visit was coupled with checking out the debut of Mudo City one of the most famous Turkish brands to come to the UAE.

The store focuses on various retail sectors such as fashion, furniture and home décor, food and beverage, and entertainment at Dubai Mall. Established in 1964 by Mustafa Taviloğlu and Doğan Gürün, Mudo City began by selling gifts, records and hand-painted t-shirts. The small shop was the foundation of today’s Turkish retail giant.

I loved the Mudo Collection which features high-end fashion, Mudo Concept which includes home décor and furniture and Mudo Accessories. Asadel partnered with Mudo because of the rising demand for stylish, trendy and affordable products according to Ayman Jamil of Asadel. A pioneer in the Turkish fashion industry, Mudo Collection entered the ready to wear market offering quality and the latest fashion in both men’s and women’s wear.

The Mudo Concept works with solution partners around the world and also includes Turkish designed and produced items…..diva likes!

A. Lange & Söhne – New models seen in Dubai

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How gorgoeus are these novelty pieces from A. Lange Sohne

Most people know that I am not a morning person…. I don’t get up before 6am for love or for money but once in a while I do make an exception…..specially if its something as nice as having breakfast at Emirates Towers with like-minded people who love A. Lange & Sohne watches while enjoying an amazing view of Dubai from the top floor.

I was amongst a small group of about 15 people together with collectors discussing the love affair we have with our watches…. I never leave home without a watch and have one for every occasion…being a fashion rebel, I sometimes break the norm and come to work adorning my Roberto Cavalli snake watch in mother of pearl or go to an evening event wearing a Montblanc business watch with traditional black straps or a simple Salvador Dali that looks like it goes with anything….whose to say what works and sometimes being a rebel makes you stand out.

Anyway, following a successful launch at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) beginning of the year, A. Lange & Söhne’s new models have been on a tour across the Saxon luxury watch brand’s global boutiques. We were the first in the region to experience the latest highlights of Lange’s watchmaking artistry and I have to say it was super impressive.

The 2012 collection, an ideal expression of A. Lange & Söhne’s constant quest for perfection, was received with great enthusiasm during the Middle East premiere. Technical expertise combined with contemporary originality and an unmatched level of craftsmanship defines A. Lange & Söhne’s ever-lasting commitment: to build “the world’s finest watches”.

The central theme this year is the LANGE 1 watch family, headed by the Lange 1 Tourbillon PERPETUAL CALENDAR. With two large complications and a new type of instantaneously jumping month ring, it demonstrates once again the innovative potential of the manufactory. With a newly developed movement, the reworked GRAND LANGE 1 exhibits elegant proportions.

My favourite was a luminous LANGE 1 TIME ZONE in white gold which commends itself as the perfect travelling companion. The DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN illustrates that a timepiece widely considered perfect can still be improved. It has grown to 41 millimetres and incorporates an extended power reserve and a power-reserve indicator. Finally, the SAXONIA THIN, introduced last year, and with a height of just 5.9 millimetres the thinnest Lange watch, is now also available in white gold.

I must be one of very few women who shuns expensive yellow gold….and possibly the only one in my family who does not own any of the over designed yellow gold jewellery. I like white gold, diamonds and simplicity when it comes to my watches & jewellery so the new A. Lange & Sohne collection totally hits the spot. If you are big into watches, their new collection is awesome and a definite must see for enthusiasts and collectors.

You know a watch is precious when even the brand manager has to wear a white glove to try it out 🙂

“Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco” in Dubai

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My Blackberry camera does not do any justice to this piece

My visit to Dubai Mall got exciting one weekend recently seeing an exhibition as Montblanc paid tribute to the 20th Century’s Unforgettable Style Icon, (Princess Grace of Monaco of course) with a collection of precious, handcrafted jewellery, timepieces and writing instruments that is both feminine and timelessly elegant.

I am a huge fan of Montblanc already when it comes to watches, business card holders, pens, belts and diaries but I admit I never looked twice at their jewellery in the past. And every time I have entered a Mont Blanc shop, its because I needed inspiration to buy a gift for my guy friends….never for a woman and yet I have always walked out with something for me but just not jewellery. My best purchase there has to be a limited edition commemorative pen for a dear friend.

So it was different to see Montblanc in all their glory at the mall showing this new dazzling travelling collection which forms the centrepiece for a stunning commemorative exhibition of the late Princess. It was inspired by Princess Grace’s sophistication and her love of roses. Naturally Joe Nahhas of Montblanc was over the moon about hosting the special tribute collection in Dubai.  He was with Montblanc’s Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti who worked closely with Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, to design each piece of the tribute collection. Needless to say, every detail of the collection reflects Princess Grace’s alluring spirit, poise and glowing charm.

Giordenetti was beaming when he told us the idea for this collection was borne out of the Palace of Monaco when Montblanc writing instrument dedicated to Prince Rainier III was presented to Prince Albert with a special edition. He fell in love with it and told Mont Blanc to explore this idea further and create a tribute to his mother, Princess Grace, in the form of jewellery and watches.

Before she became Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace of Monaco was already royalty in Hollywood. Known then as Grace Kelly, she shot to fame in the early 1950s and by 1955 won the Oscar for Best Actress at The Academy Awards and is remembered and revered for her sophistication, classic, otherworldly beauty and her inimitable style is effortless and timeless. Beyond the external image, her innate elegance and kindness touched every aspect of her life and work. This elegance shone through her on-screen talents, through her indefatigable charity work, her commitment to family and her never-ending support for emerging artistic talent. This spirit, compassion and style are now distilled into the Montblanc collection.

The exquisite and emotive lemotif linking all four collections is the classic pink rose, Princess Grace’s favourite flower – quintessentially feminine, an emblem of romance, passion and everlasting beauty. The rose petal, ravishingly romantic and evocatively emblematic is embodied throughout the collection in precious materials, gold, diamonds and petal-shaped sapphires of an exquisite pink. Each piece of the four collections, many of them one of a kind or limited editions – is hand-crafted to the highest standards for which Montblanc is internationally renowned.

Representing her life as a princess, the high jewellery line features diamonds and rose-pink sapphires, specially cut in a lusciously sensual drop-shape to capture the voluptuousness of the rose petal. The fine jewellery line truly reflects her lifestyle as a contemporary woman. In the two opulently casual fine jewellery collections – Petales de Rose and Petales Entrelaces motifs, openwork petal forms are outlined or paved in diamonds and echoed in soft pink gold, clustered together or interlaced to represent and celebrate the loving union between a couple, the mysterious, magical intimacy bonding a man and a woman.

The same drop-cut pink sapphire highlights the Montblanc writing instruments of the collection. With scattered diamonds, the pen clip and cap top were designed to mirror the curvaceous V-shaped neckline of a black velvet dress worn by the Princess in a celebrated photograph; one of Prince Albert II’s favourites of his beautiful mother. Quality and detailing – the hallmarks of the world-famous Montblanc pen are taken to a new level in this tribute series, featuring champagne coloured gold fittings, rubies cut in rhombus shapes taken from the Grimaldi coat-of-arms, and an 18 carat gold nib with a heart-shaped opening.

The all-encompassing collection of superlative timepieces, ranging from scintillating one-of-a-kind high jewellery watches to the everyday chic of stainless steel with diamonds, pays homage to the nobility of Princess Grace. The refined timepieces feature brilliant cut diamonds, pink sapphires and lustrous mother of pearl dials. Each piece is a ravishing masterpiece, bringing together the art of the watchmaker and jeweller together in a sublime harmony to forever personify the innate elegance of Princess Grace….well there is now another reason for the women of Dubai to make a beeline for Montblanc.

Carlo Giordanetti is super passionate about the designs inspired by Princess Grace

With Joe from Montblanc