All Black

WhatItMeansToLiveAndLove

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Trench Polo Ralph Lauren / Dress Vintage / Thigh-High boots Brian Atwood

My New BFF

Well i know exactly what you're gonna tell me... a Chloe?!? Again!!!!!!! Sorry guys i can't help it it is a obsession... so parisian chic!

My new Chloe is my new BFF we hang out together, go out for coffee, shopping session.

Her name MARLOW

Do you like it guys??

White Tee + Leather Pants

Length

I received a very interesting email couple of weeks ago from a reader – she wanted to share with me a fashion related issue she is facing as a western expat woman living in UAE.

Well she loves fashion, regularly reads fashion blogs and openly told me that she loves LDC* but as a Dubai based blog she was expecting it to see/treat fashion from a different angle ‘less French’ more ‘UAE’…

Well ever since I moved to Dubai, I’m definitely more cautious on the way a dress, no mini on daytime, always a jacket/cardigan/scarf etc etc… yes perhaps my style is very ‘frenchie’ but this is who I am and I can’t change that!!
The only time I will really think about my conservative way of dressing is during Ramadan when I’m really carefully checking the length of the sleeves, skirt etc...

But this being said, I also don’t really work in a conservative environment; I’m not really ‘exposed’, no dress code – nothing - and sometimes naively I think I even forget that I live in a conservative country – So thank you Karin for reminding me!!

Anyways, K. involuntarily put me front of a challenge:

“(…)I discovered your blog today and was pleasantly surprised to find one that was written from the point of view of an expat in DXB.
I love the way you combine your clothes and always look so fabulous. Thank you for taking the time and effort to catalogue it for us.
(…) However I wish you would write about or show the particular challenges expat women living and working in the UAE face daily.
For example, why not feature some of the fantastically stylish girls in long skirts and wonderfully color coordinated outfits that seem to be comfortable, stylish and modest enough for the Islamic country we live in….
I wonder if it would be so easy for you to combine outfits so effortlessly if the length of the skirt had to be ankle length and the shirts had to be down to the wrist and up to the collarbone. (…) “ **

Hmmm…

That’s true in a way, however in another hand, blogs are for me the reflect of a very personal opinion/style, it’s a way to express myself, this is why I started this blog at the beginning… if I’m lucky some people will recognize themselves/feel concern about what I’m saying but definitely not everybody… I believe that there are people out there with more expertise than me on this particular subject, treating Dubai fashion in a more conservative way.

Karin I can't change my style and I only want to share things from my own experience - Still I wanted to try something here with a series of photos where I tried to fashionably ‘cover-up’ – hope you’ll like it!!

xx

* Lily Dress Code

* *I selected certain part only of the message, it was quite long… obviously I kept the part where she was saying that she loves LDC… What?? It’s my blog I do whatever I want!!!!!!!

Diner Out

Details of the day

I just love my Bottega Veneta gloves, so rock chic, I was never able to keep a pair of gloves more than one winter... but those are special I bought them about 3 years ago, almost lost them 1,645 times but always manage to find them... just wish winter was a bit longer here...

Told you I was obsessed...

Me yesterday... total look denim..
Touch of color with my red vintage boots from a Londoner market

Inspiration: Chloe Spring Look

I've been obsessed with denim since couple of season now - shirts, jeans, jackets.... washed out, used, dark etc etc - and it seems from Chloe Spring 2010 collection that i won't get over it anytime soon!!

Perfect spring look!! I want this jeans!!!!!!!!!

My little sis' new boots!

My little sis' new winter ankle boots.. i love the way she pulls them off!!
I love the color combinaison, the off white pattern tights and multiple layers style that she really masters!!
These are from Ash , they work sooooo well with her new grey Jerome Dreyfuss bag!!

Girl, you're simply gorgeous!!

Givenchy Pre-Fall 2010

This Nightingale from Givenchy pre-fall 2010 carry-on makes me wanna travel!
Sooooo chic!!

Pics from style.com

Man Talk

Ladies and GENTLEMEN, I would like to introduce you to a new section in my blog called "Man Talk".

Coz i often have some of my 'male' friend asking me why i never talk about man fashion... well maybe because i'm a woman!!! hmm... Anyways i figure the best way to get a little masculine touch to my girly world was to give freedom of speech to a 'real' man to finally know what they really think of our slim jeans, thigh-high-boots or wedges.

A 'real man' not the kind of guy that spend more time than you front of the bathroom mirror, the one that can make a difference between a pair of Prada and YSL but not to the point of giving you the season collection... you know what i mean!

Mr. H, is a thirty something advertising guru living in a big city, he enjoys fashion, likes stylish ladies but NOT at any price...

Platform shoes

"Weren’t the heels supposed to be on the back of the shoe?
I really don’t get the point, it feels like…”High heels are great!! Let’s add another heel in the front as well!!”… Beside, I would have understood for Paula Abdul, Eva Longoria, or Miss Smurphie… But when it comes to 6 feets models, It feels like they telling us ‘’you’re to down to earth, let’s get Hiiiigh”.

When Lily told me to write about platform shoes, first thing I did was to google it…Waow it is impressive: 20 Millions people did talk or write about platform shoes… I didn’t know this was such a serious topic!
The first pages that appeared comforted me on what I was thinking. Platform shoes = Gothic + Sexy + Demonia… I swear to god, It is not me who said so, it is my old friend Micheal Googley
I would avoid, telling you that it reminds me of some good Pole dancers friends, But let me tell you that whenever I meet a girl wearing platform shoes, I feel like tipsing her with a 5 dollars note.
I know Lily, won’t be happy with this, I know she’s a fan... I’m a fan too (when used in a proper stripping contest).
The other problem with platform shoes, is the fact that they are so not practical,
They’re HUGE…
If you’re a guy, and your girl get some of these 3 floors shoes, plan to reorganize your life…
My wife did ask me “What kind of floor is “le Relais De Paris”!?), please valet the car; when your girl is wearing them in some venues, it feels like she’s driving a Hummer in a Minigolf.
You really don’t want to get in trouble with a Platformer, you might get a double heel kick.
If you’re skinny avoid platform shoes, you’ll end up lookin as a reversed Golf Tee.
If you’re curvy you will end up looking as a.... As a… as a… Anyway, if you’re curvy, just don’t.
Also here are some tips for you ladies, If you decide to get one of these platform shoes: Plan to have an additional bag for them when travelling… forget about them when going mountain, sea, office (well could help on the raise), at home, at a stripper club (unless you want to get some 5 dollars note), in your dressing (unless you build an additional one)….
Anyway ladies, platform shoes : NO LIKE… But please don’t trust me, I’m mean, I will be hating every single accessory Lily will be sharing with me, this will be my challenge… and I feel, it’s gonna be load of funs hihihahahahahahaha (Devil laughter)!"

signe Mr. H.

Je vois double

Proenza Schouler PS1 shoulder bag

Very similar hmm?? Exactly what i thought when i saw the latest Mulberry 'Alexa', named after the Brit 'It' girl Alexa Chung... yep we are far from the iconic names used by Hermes to name the 'Kelly' and 'Birkin' at the time!

Personnaly i prefer by far the PS1 model from Proenza Schouler, but i know Mulberry has their aficionados, actually i wanted a satchel shape bag for quite some time... it gives the perfect retro casual chic look to any outfit and looks soooooo practical!!!

Which one do you prefer??

Mulberry 'Alexa' shoulder bag

Studs, leather and biker boots

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Pants & Tee H&M / Jacket TopShop / Bag YSL / Sunnies Ray Ban / Boots Vintage

Because it's better late than never... i would like to wish you all a happy New Year !!

I'm finally back in town and ready to start again a year full of fashionable news, trendy looks and other fabulous stuff!!

I can't wait!

Bisous xx