I am a pashmina hoarder. I love collecting these luxuriously hand-woven, elaborately embroidered shawls and with the slight chill in the air, my shawls are finally seeing the light of day.
But what is Pashmina? And what makes it so sought-after? Is it the same as the 10 dirham scarves you find at Carrefour? Read on for an intro into the world of pashminas, on how to find the real deal, and how I incorporate them into my winter wardrobe.
When it comes to fashion, I’m anything but mainstream. I’ve always been drawn to the bizarre, the bohemian, and oftentimes the overly loud and colorful.
Earlier this month I was at Pull & Bear, and spotted this black sweat-shirt. Nothing bizarre in that you’d say… till you see the sleeves! The sleeves on this bad-boy are coated in faux fur and makes the wearer resemble an exotic bird of sorts. Ofcourse I had to have it!
Have you heard of Kruzin footwear? I’ve never been a sneakers kinda girl, but all that changed when I recently visited the brand’s very first flagship store at CityWalk, Dubai. Originating from Miami Florida, the styles here are so bling, so fashion-forward that you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a Dubai-born concept.
I walked away with these absolutely gorgeous, head-turning crackled silver sneakers, leaving the thought process on how I’d style them for later. And then the gremlin of doubt starts speaking to me… “Tezzy, these are too bling! Tezzy, these were made for teens, and not for a 30-something like you.”
Oh but my sense of fashion has always had a sense of quirky edginess, and I felt an even stronger affiliation with the Kruzin brand after I read up on Alessandra Gold.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Barcelona-born fashion brand Desigual. Their offbeat prints and colour clashes always appealed to the boho in me. However, this very notion of ‘loud’, non-confirmative mix of prints makes many turn away from the brand.
Come Spring Summer 2017, the brand new collection at Desigual has gone through a major transformation. Sure the crazy cool clash of colors stays true to the brand DNA, but the range now includes a wider range of options for those seeking a more sober wardrobe palette.
Casual day out in a super comfy pair of boyfriend-fit jeans and blouse? I bet this is not what you envisage… Dressed in blue, dressed in Desigual. Always so beautifully different!
When I first saw Nisha wearing this gorgeous dress from www.shein.com I wanted it bad! Come birthday month, and my lovely young colleague and friend manages to get me one too 🙂
May was ‘birthday month’ for the both of us, although I am over a decade older than Nisha (let’s not get into numbers, ok?). At this age, I thought I’d be growing more sober with my fashion sense… but so glad that’s not happening! I can still relate to the tastes of a fresh graduate, so that must be something. I am young at heart 🙂
Our dresses are identical, apart from the color. I love the print; it looks so Arabesque yet so boho all at once. The fabric is super light and airy, and add to it the thigh-high slits and you have quite a head-turning summer dress!
“How on earth do you wear a jacket in this heat?!” I raised quite a few eyebrows with my last outfit post, but lets face it… we need jackets even in a UAE summer! With the air-conditioning blaring indoors, I’ve always carried a spare pashmina in my bag.
And look around you… the fashion shelves are heaving with absolutely gorgeous jackets screaming to be worn! The trick is choosing the right kind of material. Ofcourse we’re barring the merinos and padded wool! Take for example this gorgeous peasant-style jacket I’m wearing, one of my latest finds from Zara:
Call me crazy, but I love wearing jackets even in the peak of a UAE summer. To me, a well-structured jacket is a lazy girl’s essential. It can pull together an otherwise ‘blah’ outfit, and even make a simple denim and tee combo acceptable for a night about town!
I recently bought this beauty at Zara. I am yet to meet a girl who doesn’t like Zara. This high-street brand seems to have every girl covered, regardless of her size and styling preference, and they strive to stay innovative with their collections.
Desigual, the unconventionally quirky, colorful brand from Barcelona, has long been one of my absolute favorites. I love their riot of colors, their unique take on combining world cultures, the signature mandala motif, and above all, the brand’s take on non-conformance. Desigual is anything but a fashion sheep. Straying away from mainstream trends, Desigual may have many a ‘me too’ wannabes, but nothing comes quite as close to the DNA of crazy-cool cuts and colors that is so ‘Desigual’.
Come 2017, and the brand announced the launch of the ‘New Desigual’, a range that would appeal to all, including those who shy away from color. I for one was dreading it. I LOVE the brand’s take on color clashes; you either love it or hate it. Surely they cannot have something for everyone? If you too are a die-hard fan of Desigual, fret not! The new collection is bigger and better than ever, and includes 6 sub-categories of looks.
The new collection has a whole new range of exceptionally stylish jackets. I fell in love with the Desigual Diven Blazer. With a formal blazer-style cut, this jacket can easily be taken from a casual day out right into the boardroom.
Like all little girls, my little one loves playing dress-up. She has a special liking for ‘twirling dresses’ like the princesses of Disney, and the very colorful Indian clothing of Bollywood (all of which she calls a ‘sari’).
At the Numaish exhibition a few seasons ago, I happened to walk into the stall of Fayon Kids. Based in Delhi, this brand of children’s clothing takes traditional Indian outfits for little ones to another level alltogether. Not only do they do the very traditional garb, but they also have Indo-Western pieces for little princesses, and even miniature copies of costumes seen on Bollywood sirens.
Fayon Kids sent this absolutely stunning lehenga for my little girl, and she’s been bugging me to let her wear it ever since.
Whoever said modesty can never be fashionable needs to pay a visit to the UAE. The humble Arabic Abaya is worn here with so much style and panache. Traditionally a long, black cloak that covers its wearer from the shoulder to the ankles, this simple, loose-fitting garmet has morphed into a whole new array of styles and colours.
