Shopaholic in London

Hello everyone! I know I’ve been MIA since I got to London, but can you blame me? Between partying, strolling the streets and shopping, I just couldn’t find the time! Now I’m in Aberdeen and the husband’s busy with cricket, so I am back in action and LOVING it!

First things first, before I move on to doing more Resort reviews, I thought I could run you through some of the key pieces I shopped in London. Getting into each and every item I bought seems too long and boring, so talking about my favourite buys seems fine.

The day after I got there, my friend had planned on taking me to be to Bicester Village, an outlet village in Oxfordshire. At first I was a bit apprehensive as outlet malls are packed with tourists and boutiques have hoards of discounted items which are either pricier than luxury department stores despite being 4 seasons old or stock absolute rubbish. Eventually I thought why not at least check it out so were on our way. Anyways, the first boutique I entered was Jimmy Choo and for a change I was very pleased with the collection and their prices. I ended up buying an adorable pair of tropical print espadrille wedges for 175 pounds which in my opinion is dirt cheap for a pair of Jimmy Choos and considering the shoe was a few seasons old I thought the price was apt. The best part was that the boutique was literally empty!

Moving on, I checked out the usual Gucci, Fendi, Burberry, etc. and most of the stuff was garbage. I couldn’t seem to understand why these stores were so packed because apart from one or two select items, there was really nothing worth buying! Don’t even get me started on the Prada boutique. I saw people walking around with massive Prada shopping bags and I mean lots of them so I thought ooh, let’s check it out. It was no surprise I walked out in under two minutes because as predicted, the stuff was either too old or overpriced. If I have to pay 250 pounds for a pair of ballerinas, I might as well buy them from Harrods or Selfridges because that would be the SS13 collection as opposed to the ancient stuff being sold there.  Then I see everyone walking into Micheal Kors so I jumped on the band wagon and oh god, the store was literally a fish market. It seemed half the world was out to buy the MK crap. NOT impressed.

Anyways, I then spotted Sergio Rossi, virtually empty so I headed there. Other than the sales staff, not a soul in sight (happiness!!) and I spot a pair of adorable black ballerinas and only for 100 pounds! I’ve been wearing them ever since.

Just a tip for all those planning to go to Bicester Village if you happen to be in London; avoid all the overcrowded stores (if you have good taste like I do, chances are you won’t find a thing or are better off buying stuff from the Central London shops/department stores). The trick to outlet shopping is calculating mentally whether an item is worth the price it’s being sold at. Remember to first scope the scene at Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols along with the flagship stores. Chances are you might find something there on sale and from a more recent collection as opposed to the outlet malls.  Designer shoes on sale usually retail between 200 – 350 pounds on (also depends on the leather and embellishment on the shoes). So say for example you find a pair of Gucci shoes at an outlet store for 250 pounds from FW 2012, unless you are head over heels in love with them, I say ditch them because at that price, you will find something on sale from the SS 13 collection.

Remember, outlet shopping isn’t about randomly buying designer goods for the sake of it. Shop smart. Don’t come home with bags filled with impulsive and silly buys.

The last two things I purchased from Bicester were negligees; one from Agent Provocateur and the other from La Perla. I’m NOT attaching pictures of them!

Anyways, so that’s the end of my outlet experience. So a few days later my mom reaches London and the numerous never ending trips to Harrods begin. YAAY! I ended up buying this gorgeous Rag & Bone Sofia Dress and if you love it as much as I do, you can purchase the coral one from here and the green one from here. The green Sophia dress was also on the SS 13 runway. Please ignore how crushed my clothes are in the pictures; this is what happens when you are a dreadful packer.

What the dress looks like on a model as opposed to my photo!

Silk shirts are a wardrobe staple for me. I have them in all sorts of colours and just never get tired of them so of course when mom and I came across this peachy pink DVF silk shirt, it was a no brainer that I’ll be purchasing it. It is still available online, so if you’re interested, click here to purchase and to see what it looks like when it's not crushed like mine! BTW I’m so glad I didn’t end up buying the silk shirts at the DVF outlet boutique. They were around 50 to 70 pounds more expensive than Harrods!

Next up was another silk shirt I purchased from the fabulous brand Joseph. It’s a very longish type shirt made in heavy silk so the fabric is to die for. It has a little keyhole at the back which is adorable and I got it on sale for like 155 pounds (the original was about 265 pounds or something). Click here to check if it's still available online.

Now for the cherry on top and I mean CHERRY on top was the Celine trapeze bag! Yaay! I finally bought it. I can’t tell you how fast these babies are being bought. I was chatting up with the Celine staff at Harrods and he was telling me how they’re constantly running out of the trapeze bag. I was standing there for only ten minutes and everyone approaching the Celine counter at Harrods was only asking to see the trapeze. Anyways I got mine so I’m walking on clouds; literally. The one I ended up buying has a python shoulder strap and top handle. How stunning is she? I remember being miserable as it was on a waitlist in their Dubai boutique for the longest time last year so I ended up buying myself the YSL Cabas Chyc Tote to make me feel better. But somehow, nothing made me happier than the trapeze.

Well, that’s all I have to say about my London saga. Happy summer shopping people!

Resort 2014 Trends: Suiting Up in Style

The pant-suit for ladies once again takes centre stage in full glory on Resort 2014 runways. From colours to noveau cuts, the suit is reinterpreted with ample amounts of style dosage to fit into every possible occasion.

Akris' cerulean blue fitted suit stands out for it's gorgeous choice of tone, whereas Givenchy displayed an all-over printed/ coordinated look from tip to toe. J Mendel's number is sleek and classy, and I am absolutely lusting after that delicious shade of lavender on the Ralph Lauren. The cuts are just as varied with some done to accentuate natural details on a body and some with confluence of boxy, boyfriend silhouettes.
 

Shown here are my favourite picks in black -- and do you think the sheer detail in the Donna Karan is just absolutely fabulous? Single, twin to no-button, a black suit I think is a necessary part of every woman's wardrobe. It is versatile and can be easily dressed up or down.

I have just about recently taken a liking to androgyny, and Barbara Bui's masculine take on impeccably tailored suits with peek-through details on the sleeves, and contrast lapels has just turned me in to a big fan. Dior remains luscious as ever with a couple of suits in the collection -- my best pick being this red double-breasted one. Double-breasted suits are back in a big way for both men and women, and a length-variate version can be seen on the look by Christopher Kane. The Gucci ensemble is earthy, and enthuses very laid-back chic (I rather have my eyes on that hobo :P). The houses of Marc Jacobs, J and R Cavalli, Reed Krakoff, Chloe, Sports Max, Chanel, and Zac Posen too presented some beautiful pant-suits.

What I love:
Boxy cuts
No-buttons
Tapered pants
Above-the-ankle lengths
Missing structural elements

Fabulous Hats at Royal Ascot 2013

You know why do we love the British? Because that instantly spells in to eccentricity. Brits - check; royals - check; McQueen and Guiness - check; crazy fucking glorious hats - check! Royal Ascot, the yearly five-day horse racing event at the sleepy town of Ascot has Royals and folks rubbing shoulders and literally making a dash on the 'outdo each other's hat' lane'. What about the horses and races you ask? -- Let's just say, they totally get overshadowed with the customary dress code plumages.

Yeah, this is what I am talking about!

First up for your viewing pleasure is the royal family. The Queen and the Duchess kept things simple on day one (shown below) choosing blush and ivory tones, delicately-done medium-sized hats and pretty cameo pearls. I am not sure if the duo decided to play dress-to-match since if you look at the day two picture, their outfits again look similar but the Queen wins here one up for that funky feather hat.

Day One - Queen Elizabeth II and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker Boyles

Day Two - Queen Elizabeth II and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker Boyles

Day three was history in the making as the Queen is now the first ever reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup at Ascot in 207 years. Her 4-year-old filly called 'Estimate' created the record at the Ladies Day in Ascot.

Day Three - Queen Elizabeth II with her champion filly Estimate

Okay can I take a slight detour from the royals to show you Mrs Rai Bachchan? How fabulous does she look!  And so thin... very stunning indeed.

Day One - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the Royal Ascot 2013

Okay now, deemed the most stylish ladies of the royal family, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie donned wispy and gorgeous Red Valentino hats on day one. Check out the very stylish striped ensems.

Day One - Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Royal Ascot 2013

Royal family celebrates Gold Cup Victory on Ladies Day

 Other Ladies Day fancies that caught our eyes:

Resort 2014 Review - Diane Von Furstenberg

What I loved about her resort collection was how effortless yet stylish it was. “Effortless. Sexy. On the go” is how the designer defined it. As a strong DVF fan, I have to say there’s nothing better than her wrap dresses. Anytime I can’t figure out what to wear on a night out or feel a little fat, I just wear a DVF wrap. Sexy, effortless and on the go it sure is!

One of the key pieces was the new twist she gave to her signature wrap dress; the top half was tight fitted jersey whereas the skirt was more voluminous than usual and in a cool python print. There were sexy sheaths, some showing off lace details and some with geometric prints.

I also loved the smoking pant suits, lovely silk shirts (I am DEFINITELY getting those), the pencil skirts and the jackets. Prints being one of the brand’s core aesthetics were plenty with a strong focus on black and white stripes. However we also saw some lovely floral motifs, seductive python prints and colorful geometrics that seal the fact that DVF's going to be our all-time favourite.

Resort 2014 Trends - Pristine Fancy and Sheer Naked

Pristine Fancy

Transcending from 2013 collections, white seems to have trickled into Resort 2014. Played in the avatars of cream, ivory, and even dirties, white was seen majorly  clubbed with sheer elements, in flowing dresses, and even tailored cuts.

Looking back to the wilderness days of the thirties is this Derek Lam's simple plunge-neck white dress with huge pockets. Donna Karan as usual kept it superbly timeless in this halter neck maxi dress enthusing Grecian vibes. Chanel's show in Singapore has been receiving rave reviews wherein Lagerfeld painted a canvas with the confluence of classic pieces of the house, cricket, shift silhouettes, and graphic lines. This asymmetrical skirt and double-breasted jacket ensemble has been rendered in the label's cult -- tweed. Valli did a white-on-white texture in this anti-fit dress.

I am totally in love with this number from Versace: Clean, minimal and sheer raglan pleating making one hell of a chic statement. Balenciaga's play on the cape within a fitted knee-length dress is commendable for the impeccable tailoring. Sport Max Mara had a lot of asymmetrical hemlines, and this white dress has been kept absolutely simple. Theysken's dress exudes dainty style with full-round skirted waist down tapering.

Others we love for all white: Givenchy, Lanvin, Alexander Wang, Chloe, Diesel Black Gold, Just Cavalli, Cushnie et Ochs, and Burberry Prorsum.

Sheer-Nekkid :D Bottoms

I have an extreme affinity towards sheer fabrics. Give me laces, tulles, nets, georgettes, and chiffons and I am a happy girl. I love the versatility of sheers -- one on hand they can add charming femininity and a sense of delicate veneer, and on the other can turn an ensemble into an impact-full contemporary statement. Resort 2014 had it's fair share of sheers, especially seen in the bottom parts of the clothing. After having browsed through hundreds of looks for my research, I have to say that the eight ensembles shown below are my most favourite in the entire season.

Some may think that this look by Donna Karan's New York line seems to be a little morbid, but see-through pants are a rage since a couple of months, and have been seen donned by many celebrities. Having said this, I think with right accessories, the outfit would work really well (I am talking a bit of colour since head-to-toe black is a bit passe). Then oh Burberry -- nothing short of spectacular. I have been turned from a non-fan to a lusting lover. The textures, the sheer play, the simple silhouettes, the seeming juxtaposition of the informal and the exquisite together create one hell of a collection. Please do have a look at the other numbers -- fabulous is the only word for them. Shiny metallic and divinely see-through, this Christian Dior number is just so perfect -- I mean there's no visionary overload yet it is so quirky. Have you guys been noticing that throughout many of these looks, knee-length seems to be the only way to go. I also adore this polka Gucci number with a halter neck in a luscious shade of rust.

House Givenchy went the sheer-pant route too. They also have a gorgeous, similar ensemble with full sheer pants in all white which is my second favourite in the collection. I was pleasantly surprised when I took a look at the Jason Wu releases. He hasn't really been a liked creator I am sorry to say. Yet I fell in love with the surface textures of the outfits immediately. I love this light spruce number with similar-toned embellished motifs on the fabric -- it is perfection! Well for Alice and Olivia, the ensemble does the war of opposites a.k.a black and white, a huge trend of SS 13 and apparently now for Resort 2014 too. Love how the prim, proper jacket gives way to a very 'classy' tease! Finally, this simple number by Chloe is actually chosen by mom who's been looking at collections with me. She loves everything that is non-fussy, dark, and spelled Chloe... haha!

Resort 2014 Review - Lanvin

Warning: The writer of this review may be biased towards Alber Elbaz and may deem him to be almost god like in the fashion world. Jokes apart, I find Alber’s creations to be the epitome of perfection, femininity and grace. For this resort collection, there was a little bit of everything; cocktail dresses, wedding dresses, sneakers, sporty dresses; choose the kind of lifestyle you want or have and there you have an outfit for it! 

 

The one common factor was glamour; each outfit exuded glamour, even the sneakers were sensational. Lamé, brocade, jersey, tulle, python skin, neoprene; this collection was a fabulous play on textures and fabrics. Oh, there were embellishments, and lots of it on some of the dresses and none of it was over the top, the gold brocade dress in particular was my favorite. I almost dropped dead at the sight of a 50’s style HOT red cocktail dress in one look and a python skin trench coat in another; well, who wouldn't?  There was also some cool work wear, especially a fuchsia pantsuit.

The best part about most of the collection was that none of it looked too constricting, there seemed to be room to move around in these clothes rather than looking like a stuck up cow in ultra-tight silhouettes.

 

Don’t get me started on the opulent chunky necklaces; Indian inspired paisleys, rapper inspired numbers and the famous Egyptian scarab beetles! Alber always comes up with quirky jewelry. As for bags, there were mostly clutches, and I LOVED the box clutch with paisleys on it along with the red one shown with the red cocktail dress.

Resort 2014 Review - Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang’s resort 2014 collection was really a breath of fresh air. We saw PINK, yes PINK!! Aside from the pink factor, I loved the clothes presented in this collection especially the low slung leather pants which were very cool (I always thought leather would be uncomfortable to wear but these pants look extremely comfortable and sexy!), the leather peplum tops and miniskirts.

I also loved how most of the tops and dresses were very boxy; it gives the illusion of comfort whist being extremely stylish. Wang also showed off some fantastic techniques such as vacuum pressed pleating on some of the skirts, tops and elongated blazers. Two of my favorite pieces from the collection included a black, very boxy leather dress (a result of another one of his techniques!) paired with a dark vest in look 14 and a sleeveless grained/textured leather jacket paired with pink pants in look 5. 

The sweaters of course are a staple in Wang’s collections except this time it was metallic threads mixed with cellophane giving it a unique texture. What I didn't like much were the flat, very androgynous shoes; too masculine for my taste (to be honest I've never been a fan of his shoes). I did love the oversized clutch with the silver hardware jutting out at the base of the bag (very edgy looking and can protect the material of the bag too when you put it down!) and the whole distressed/cracked look (pardon me for not knowing the correct terminology!) the clutch has going on.