Black & White In Marrakech

This was one outfit I was dying to shoot before we even got to Morocco. There's nothing sexier than a beautifully cut black jacket (everyone knows I have a thing for blazers) paired with jeans, skirts, dresses or anything for that matter. For my shoot at one of the hotels we were staying in (Les Jardins De La Medina) I wanted to wear this structured woollen jacket paired with a black, knee length skirt (both DRVV). I shot at the hotel because I wanted to wear heels underneath and that would have been tough to do if I was walking around in the medina. Plus it was such a gorgeous hotel with lush green trees everywhere so I figured why not.

What I loved about this DRVV jacket was how the collar stands up on its own. Furthermore, the zipper detailing on the collar was also pretty funky. I wore a white tank underneath for a bit of a contrast and paired it with the silver Diorama bag and black stilettos. Ever since I shot wearing these DRVV clothes, I have become a serious fan. The tailoring is just phenomenal and Dhruv Kapur just knows how to make beautifully cut and good quality clothes.

Again, this outfit was pretty easy to put together and all black (with a pop of colour here and there) never fails. Slimming, sexy and fabulous! What do you think?

Woollen Jacket & Skirt - DRVV by Dhruv Kapur
Tank Top - Zara
Sunglasses & Bag - Dior
Shoes - Nicholas Kirkwood
Earrings - Forever 21
Location - Les Jardins De La Medina, Marrakech
 

Lost in Fes

Fes was one city I couldn't wait to explore. With its charming and mystical ancient Medina consisting of nearly 9,400 twisting lanes, centuries old architecture, blue and green mosaic at every step, it was truly breath-taking.

Because I knew there was a lot of walking to do that day, I needed to dress comfortably. And nothing is more comfortable than a hoodie paired with jeans. Of course, that didn't mean I dress like a slob or a vagabond tourist! I picked out a really playful 43188 by Shweta Kapur neoprene hoodie with red stains printed all over it. I thought it was cosy, comfortable and stylish at the same time. Ladies, please put away your Juicy Couture tracksuits, try 431-88 instead. What I liked most about the sweatshirt was that the print made a statement without screaming and I didn't need to work that hard with the rest of my outfit as I wanted it to be the focal point of my look. l

Anyways, I paired my hoodie with a pair of classic blue jeans, camel coloured suede knee high boots and blinged up with the look with some gold accessories. The cherry red Chanel completed by outfit of the day.

I really wanted to do a proper shoot, but considering we were going to spend a day being real tourists it would have been slightly awkward, especially at a mosaic factory and inside the medina where people are really conservative. I would have ended up getting all sorts of weird stares. So instead, what we did was take normal photos of me being touristy as there really wasn't any other option. I'll put captions under the photos so you know where they were taken.

If you liked this hoodie I'm wearing, click here to purchase it.

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa

At Borj Sud With Our Guide

Borj Sud

Borj Sud

At A Ceramics Factory

At A Ceramics Factory

The Royal Palace Gates

The Jnane Sbil Gardens

Sweatshirt: 431-88 by Shweta Kapur
Jeans: 7 For All Mankind
Bag: Chanel
Bracelet: Moschino
Location: Fes, Morocco (see captions for more details)
 

Bohemian VIbes In Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen, also known as Morocco's blue city has a very bohemian feel to it. I'm not sure why though. Maybe because of all the men/young boys who tried to sell us hash and alcohol every five minutes! Just kidding. Tucked away in the hills, Chefchaouen is Morocco's hidden gem. The ancient medina is pretty much all blue, with narrow and steep lanes filled with local grocery stores, spice and souvenir shops amongst small homes. Morocco is known for it's spices so I figured why not take some back home. In one of the lanes close to our hotel, I bought some turmeric and cumin powder which was so fragrant that my whole room was smelling of it later. I'm guessing this is the really good stuff and I have a feeling my mother is going to be very happy. I also bought lots of organic Argan oil bottles for myself and all my friends as it is much cheaper here than anywhere else in the world and is filled with vitamins.

For my outfit, I chose a DRVV by Dhruv Kapur cotton maxi. Well, it wasn't just a maxi actually. It was a piece of cloth with three holes in it so you can even style it as a one shoulder top if you like. I chose a maxi because I felt like it felt fit in with the city vibe and I was in a very bohemian mood. I cinched it with a suede belt to give it a bit of a shape as sometimes very loose silhouettes make me look bigger. Although, I really wish I had another belt. I wasn't loving the brown one so much but I had to make do with last minute. Oh well! To complete my look, I used a bright and wide head band (it really gives the bohemian look a nice touch), statement gold earrings, and a chunky gold bracelet to give it a bit of a bling. I also used a blue scarf as a photo op, just to add a bit more colour.

If you're headed to a beachy place for a winter getaway or to celebrate new year's eve, you can try out this look as it's really easy to put together and looks very chic.

What do you think of my look?

Headband & Earrings - Forever 21
Bracelet: Valentino
Maxi - DRVV by Dhruv Kapur
Bag & Sunglasses - Dior
Sandals: Gucci
Scarf - JJ Valaya
Location: Lina Ryad & Spa and Chefchaouen Medina, Chefchaouen

Exploring Tangier

We got to Tangier late yesterday afternoon, after a nine hour flight to Casablanca followed by a four and a half hour drive to get here. Naturally, we were too tired to do anything except walk around aimlessly in the evening around Ville Nouvelle (new town). Today, after getting a good night's rest we went to explore the narrow lanes of the Kasbah inside the Medina.

Since holidays consist of taking lots of photos, I wanted to look my best. I chose my favourite Rag & Bone dress, paired with a DRVV by Dhruv Kapoor jacket with thigh high boots from Dune and Dior's Diorama bag which is my new favourite travel bag. I kept my accessories to a minimal. Just a pair of Dior cruise earrings, So Real sunglasses, a Cartier Trinity Cord Bracelet and the Bulgari Serpenti leather bracelet (both are very delicate). I didn't want to take the attention away from the jacket and purse.

The DRVV jacket I wore is quite funky. Featuring lots of zipper detailing, it's so versatile and can be worn in various ways. You can zip it up from the front for a casual feel or diagonally to look like a biker jacket, or even take the sleeves off to make it sleeveless. It also consists of lots of pockets, giving it very utilitarian glam look. I couldn't have found a better piece to pair with my dress.

The metallic silver Diorama I have been using on this trip is so perfect as it matches pretty much every outfit. The silver colour gives it a very playful look and the medium is a good size for a vacation. It fits your wallet, phone and maybe one or two make up items. I was determined not to take a big bag this time, because I just end up filling it with so much unnecessary junk making it so heavy! The Diorama can be worn in multiple ways, but for today's look I used it as a shoulder bag or just hung it from my shoulder. You can also sling it across your body to be hands free.

Here are some photos of my look for today as we walked around exploring this magical city.

Dress: Rag & Bone
Jacket: DRVV by Dhruv Kapoor
Bag, earrings and Sunglasses: Dior
Bracelets: Cartier and Bulgari
Boots: Dune
Location: Tangier, Morocco

The Etihad Experience

I don't usually blog about my flying experiences since I almost always fly Emirates, so there's really nothing new to report about (except their service which for some reason is on a decline now).
For our current holiday, the husband and I booked ourselves on Etihad, so I thought why not share the experience on the blog. It was our first time taking another airline apart from Emirates which is what we have been flying loyally for years and years. However, for Morocco, we got a killer deal with Etihad and thought why not try it out. We were extremely apprehensive as we are so used to the Emirates terminal and lounges in Dubai airport and are so familiar with all their aircrafts and features. Furthermore, I had never even been to Abu Dhabi airport!

Anyway, so we got to Abu Dhabi airport and did the check in, etc. which was relatively smooth and made our way to the lounge. Featuring modern furniture with bright coloured accents, a few bar areas, a six senses spa with a nail bar, the lounge was indeed very nice. However, it was much smaller than the Emirates one we are accustomed to. For such a busy lounge, there was barely any space to sit and they didn't have a separate first class lounge which I found a bit weird. Moving on, the food was exceptional. Fettucine Alfredo, spicy beef noodles, sushi and a dessert bar (the chocolate panacotta, strawberry cheesecake were happily settled in my tummy); before I boarded my flight, I was going to explode! After eating, we made our way to the smoking room which was not very impressive. A tiny room filled with smoke made it difficult to sit inside for more than five minutes. Meanwhile, over in Dubai, the smoking section of the lounge is more like a gentleman's bar if you're flying from concourse A or like a big coffee shop in concourse B where you can help yourself to some coffee, alcohol or snacks.

Despite the average lounge experience, we didn't want to board the flight with preconceived notions. I had done my research on seatguru.com about the seat layout and size so I wasn't too worried. Once we were on board, I was totally blown away. The seat pitch was 73 inches (6'1) which is extremely generous and much bigger than Emirates. The seat width was 20 inches whereas Emirates is 18 inches. And the bed reclined to a full 180 degrees which, in the Emirates Boeing 777 is slightly angled. Plus, there was a cushioned box in the front where you can rest your feet on during take off and landing when your seat has to be upright. Under that box is a small storage compartment to keep your shoes or maybe a small handbag. The blankets were cosy and fluffy (better than Emirates) and I couldn't wait to pass out since it was a 2:30 am flight. After taking off, naturally I reclined my seat into a flat bed and fell into deep sleep for a few hours. 

Food too, was excellent on the flight. There were two menus: one with three or four breakfast options and one with an all day dining menu consisting of yummy sandwiches and ice cream. I ordered the scrambled eggs with sausages and beef bacon and pretty much gobbled it all up.

Overall, this was one of the nicest flights we have flown. I have been on various long hauls with Emirates and this was by far one our best experiences. Great food, massive seats and fabulous service; I fully recommend flying with Etihad.

I find taking photos in flight really tacky, but since I was going to blog about it, I did manage to take some really random and goofy pictures!

The lounge - my shoes match the bar stools!!

Nom Nom

Hangin'