Blogged: LOMAR's launch of Abaya line Zero Collection

Lomar's Flagship Rawdah street store, effortlessly chic

Dear Readers,

I had the pleasure of being invited to the reveal of Lomar's newly opened women's Zero Collection ready-to-wear abaya range at their flagship store on Rawdah street ( near Joelle clinic).

I was impressed by the the vast collection which included a variety of different styles available from formal business wear, everyday-wear, sporty, travel and and a special occasion collection. The collection has a contemporary feel, allowing it to fit in perfectly with the fast-paced modern lifestyle while still remaining true to its original roots.

Cutting edge asymmetric abaya designs using colour blocking

I spoke to the Art Director Mona Al Haddad asking her to describe the collection and she captured it accurately as 'elegant, decent and fashionable'. She also informed that they bring in new pieces every week, with more travel abayas and turbans coming soon.

Popular Zero collection designs from the lookbook available to buy at the store

The abayas have been designed to allow versatility in use according to the occasion or personality of wearer. For example, an abaya maybe worn without the belt during the day, and then accessorized with a belt during the evening. A visit to the store is a must where their helpful staff show how different styles can be born.
All their materials are light-weight and  high quality, with a flowing feel adding to the feminine silhouette.

Lomar's Marketing Manager Abubakr Alkaf captured the essence of the brand in the quote below:

"Creating fashion is like casting spells, one has to veer away from  the paved road, concentrate, gather the ingredients and prepare a new enchanting spell once again. " Abubakr Alkaf - Lomar Marketing Manager. 

From left to right: Abubakr Al-Kaff, Marketing Manager and Christophe  Beaufays, Head Designer and Associate Art Director

Lomar's  Associate Art Director and Head Designer Christophe Beaufays has 7 years of experience working with famous French designer Jean Paul Glautier which he has incorporated into the style of abayas at Lomar.
He said that when designing the abaya they ensured that they were modest and fulfilled the functional element of an abaya while adding a bit of edginess or flair to each design to set it apart from others. The would fulfill the needs of the Arabian woman and at tsame time appeal to famous fashion sense of French women.

Abayas wit ha twist: sash bow belt, ombre colour technique, and waterfall two colour frill

The attention to detail in the cut and design of abayas truly blew me away. Even the more simple designs on closer inspection reveal interesting twists. For example this business wear abaya has an elegantly simple colour block design, but when you take a closer look the abaya is not secured in the traditional way using buttons/zips, instead a first slide your hand through what looks a sleeveless dress, while theres is only a strip of fabric at the back,,,you have to see it to understand its hard to explain...check out the pics below. I should have made a video!

From left to right: formal/business abaya with a deceiving simple look, opens up to reveal what looks a sleeveless dress, actually secured by a strip of fabric at the back. 

Lomar also provided bloggers with a promotional voucher which I used to get a jilbab style abaya (it does not come with a tarha/scarf and is technically a dress). It was love at first sight for me, and I absolutely adore it, the lightweight soft fabric, the stylish way it drapes down the sides. It can be adjusted using hidden internal straps to suit your physique, which was was great for me.

I love love love this abyaya I bought it in a eggplant/mauve/brown shade once i take a better pic I will update it here and on Instagram

You can also find a range of quintessential Arabian inspired  accessories such as beautifully crafted musbahs 'prayer beads', Lomar signature fragrance range (in my opinion the Premium one is  the best), and SHIB shoes which look like the traditional Saudi sandals but are actually shoes? and tri-colour matching socks!.

Musbahs, SHIB shoes, and perfumes

I am excited to have this new Abaya brand in Jeddah and look forward to buying their turbans which will be coming soon!

Visit Lomar's website, or their Rawdah street store or follow them on Instagram and Facebook,

To see more pictures of the collection the event follow me on Instagram and Facebook

Blogged: ICONIC Iftar event at Jeddah’s Blue Ocean Restaurant, Fakieh Aquarium

Ramadan Kareem!

Dear readers, I hope that your Ramadan is going well and bringing with it blessings galore.

I would like to share with you my review of the ICONIC IFTAR event which I had the pleasure of attending a little while ago.

The Event: ICONIC IFTAR Jeddah 2014

On the Wednesday 2^nd July, ICONIC Jeddah held an iftar event at the recently opened Blue Ocean restaurant at the Fakieh Aquarium.

 ICONIC Jeddah took the opportunity of planning this event in the month of Ramadan with its festive spirit by inviting loyal customers, media representatives, bloggers and students as well as educators from Effat University to the friendly  event which highlighted the company’s cohesive spirit.

ICONIC IFTAR 2103 at Jeddah's Blue Ocean Restaurant, Fakieh Aquarium

The choice of location was superb, allowing guests a prime view of the sunset in the shimmering Red Sea. The Blue Ocean restaurant is spacious and the decor and the views leaves you under the impression of being aboard a ship. The iftar buffet offered a variety of sumptuous dishes to suit an array of palettes, my personal favourites were the mini burgers, chicken Alfredo pasta.

The occasion allowed ICONIC to showcase their EID 2014 collection for men, women and children in perfect time for EID shopping.

ICONIC's EID 2014 Women's Collection displayed at the event

The women’s collection included glamorous wrap maxi dresses, evening gowns, drapey tunics, over-sized sequin tops and floaty blouses teamed up with cigarette trousers for a ultra-chic look.  The key trends in prints were marble, python and abstract floral that steer away from the usual fashion norms.

My favourite items for  women's day wear : 

Floaty embellished summer top SR90

ICONIC 2014 Eid collection python print pencil skirt SR 100

A little bling, a sparkle is synonymous with the festive look and so attention to details is key in the collection with hand embellishments, sequins layered on exquisite fabrics like velvet, jacquard, georgette, crepe, metallic jersey and taffeta.

Favourite women's evening wear

ICONIC Summer Eid 2014 collection embellished gown SR 595

Iconic Summer Eid 2014 Collection Fuschia gown SR500

Favourite men's item

ICONIC 2014 Eid COllection Men's embellished loafers

As my friends know I’m attracted to bling accessories when it comes to EID outfits, ICONIC has a range of chunky statement necklaces, cuffs and show-stopping clutches. I can't decide which one/s I want for Eid!

ICONIC 2014 EID collection bling accessories

A special thank you to  Ms. Hamdoun, ICONIC Senior PR executive as well as the  marketing team  for hosting such a fabulous event. The top management of ICONIC's Landmark Group graced the event and are pictured below.

From Left to Right, Mohammed Rushdee (Head of Operation - KSA) , Junaid Durrani (Marketing Manager),Ola Hamdoun (Assistant PR Manager), Nisha Jagtiani (Director Landmark Group ), Najmul Haq (GM - Western Region), Salem Bahamdain

Hoping to see more events in Jeddah in the future, and I hope they do a fashion show next!

You can follow ICONIC on  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Or visit their website, as well as their stores in Jeddah in Haifa Mall, Al-Salaam Mall and the Dome, Prince Sultan Street. 

To stay up to date with the latest fashion events and trends in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 

you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, 

Fabulous Launch Event: Liu Jo and Furla have Arrived In Jeddah In Style

Dear Readers,

I was invited to attend the launch of two luxury Italian brands Liu Jo and Furla who have collaborated with Globe Retail and Golin Harris to open up their second stores in KSA in Jeddah.

The flagship stores are located in one of Jeddah's most exclusive and glamorous shopping areas, Stars Avenue Mall.

 The stores are located on the first floor of Stars Avenue Mall near the Gate A entrance. The space in front of the stores had been transformed with a podium, canopy, lights, white orchids and daisies; attentive waiters who were serving tasty hors d'oeuvres and drinks to the crowd of fashionistas eagerly awaiting the unveiling ceremony of the two stores.

There were introductory speeches by the VIPs from Furla, Lio Jo and Globe Retail, and representatives of the media and female fashion bloggers were attentively given favourable spots so that we could take pictures.

Amid drum roll and trumpet sounding music, the curtain was drawn to reveal the shiny new stores, and at that moment, there were ‘indoor fireworks’ , and the crowd ‘oohed’ and 'aahed’ in surprise, as fake smoke was blown in front of Furla’s display to add to the magic of the evening.

Models draped in white abayas and lace scarves, towered above me in high heels as they walked around sporting Furla’s handbags- this was a great touch as everyone got to see how the bag would look as arm candy.

 I was lucky enough to be able to interview the CEO of Furla, Eraldo Poletto, who when asked to describe the target customer, eloquently stated that his brand was more about the customer who had the cheerful contemporary fun-loving attitude which was embodied by Furla. When I asked to they have a specific brand ambassador, he said that “All of Furla’s customers were their brand ambassadors”. What lovely seintiment, don’t you agree? He also so expressed belief in the beauty, elegance, and sophistication of Middle Eastern women and felt sure they would appreciate what Furla had to offer.

Liu Jo is an extremely feminine and glamorous clothing line. Focused on details which enhance the femininity present in every woman, Liu Jo translates it into an elegant style rich in glamour.

Cristionao, the Marketing and Communication officer of Liu Jo said “Our attempt is to combine a selection of the best material and a painstaking and scrupulous care for details. We are flexible yet pragmatic, adapting to the market with a style both focused on fashion and its continuous development. We look forward to a very positive and successful operation in Saudi Arabia.”

Check out the pics from the event below.

Fireworks!

A model posing with the red and zebra print collection- hot!

Model sporting a bright Furla bag-stunning

Furla's bags in the season's latest colours

Furla accessories, chunky necklaces and bracelets, love the animal print cuffs,

Liu Jo-Jeans collection tshirt with beaded embellishment

Liu Jo display

The Black lace on nude look: gorgeous! by Liu Jo

Kate Moss advertising campagin for Liu Jo

Models strutting their stuff

Bold red, black and zebra combo in bags and scarves by Furla

Latest PVC trend at Furla shiny bright colours

Awesome goodies from Liu-Jo love the pink pouch so convenient when you just need your mobile, and Lio Jo wallet/clutch- wonderful soft material and exquisite craftsmanship

Cute Freebie: Candy Bag from Furla

Furla Candy bag opens up to reveal a USB! Chic technology

  Don't miss out on future fashion events in Jeddah, follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Liu Jo and Furla Launch Event on Monday October 15th

Dear Readers,

Global Retails have kindly invited me to the launch event of two brands:

LIU JO 

Liu Jo is an Italian fashion company founded by Marchi brothers in 1995 in Carpi (Modena), Italy
iu Jo was born as a small textile industry, and developed during the mid-1990s into a major Italian brand of pret-a-porter fashion.

The company has now 130 boutiques in Italy and 110 stores worldwide. The Liu Jo brand portfolio includes an Accessories collection, a Luxury collection of jewels and watches, a Baby collection for little girls, an Underwear and Beachwear collection as well as Homewear, and Shoes collection.
The spring-summer 2011 collection advertising campaign features model Kate Moss.

Liu Jo Bottom Up denim collection photo credit:

style-laboratory.net

and

Furla

Furla has created and manufactured in Italy handbags, shoes and accessories since 1927. These collections are constructed with high quality craftsmanship and style, and are distributed all over the world.
Furla interprets the Italian lifestyle in a contemporary way, with distinctive creative spirit, understated design and timeless elegance.

Fall/Winter 2012 collection by Furla. photo credit fashiontimes.it

( Sources : Wikipedia and Furla Facebook page)

To stay up to date with the latest events and fashion news in Jeddah follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Where: Stars Avenue Mall
When: 930pm
What: Liu Jo and Furla brand launch

London Fashion Week: Burberry Prorsum SS13 My highlights

A rainbow of colour: Metallic trenches, vinyl bags, and satin shoes at Burberry SS13 London Fashion Week show

Dear Readers,
I know I'm a bit late on this post, but what can I say life got in the way of my blogging calendar.
I confess I sometimes enjoy looking at WHO attended the fashion week shows and what they wore, more than the show itself.

Burberry has in recent years won itself a place among the British luxury fashion bands, and the celebs who attended did not disappint in the least.

I hope you like the pics; these are my picks of the most interesting celebs that turned out, and no I didn't include any Olympics winners or One Directioners-I'm talking serious star power here..

First off, how I could I not include the famous fashion critic with her signature(read permanent) bob-hair cut that reminds me uncannily of Willy Wonka as played by Johnny Depp. Still, I have to admit the lady's got class.

The fashion world's dragon lady, Anna Wintour at Burberry Prosum Spring 2013 LFW

Sama and Haya AbuKhadra

Rosie Huntingdon-Whitely the famous Sports Illustrated cover swimsuit model, was all coverd up in a very fall appropriate snug outfit.

Rosie Huntingdon Whitely

Olivia Palermo rocked the country elite look, though her smoky eys might be a straying into the racoon eyes territtory- but I'll let it pass coz she's so cute.

Olivia Palermo

Tali lennox

 
Bollywood heartthrob and a member of the now defunct Indian aristocracy, Saif Ali Khan cut a fine figure in his 3 piece suit, with the skinny spotted tie adding a bit of whimsical touch.

I'm not sure what Emma Watson was thinking when she wore this dress, although the belt, zip and style might be interesting, i hate fabric it looks like those 'make a dress from rubbish' projects they make fashion design students do- I guess it was London fashion Week and she hoped there would be far more bizarre things on the runway-what other explanation is there?

British boxer Amir Khan with his fiance Faryal

Below are some runway looks that I liked, what do you think of them?

Loving the blue green combo of satin and shimmer

Navy cape with mettalic fuschia dress Burberry Prorsum SS13

I simply adored the make-up glowing skin paired with bright clean eyes and a red lip.

Image sources:

Burberry facebook page

fabfitfun.com

http://www.german.fansshare.com/celebrity/photos/757_emma-watson-burberry-london-fashion-week-burberry-2047636198.jpg