Trend :: Poncho

Stella McCartney cozy poncho with hoodie

I have always love ponchos. Did a couple of posts wearing them here on the blog before and I can't get enough of them! To me they are perfect! Let see - beautiful flow of fabric, check. Flattering 3/4 sleeves, check. Able to hide the mid section bulge on the bad days, check. Add variety to the usual conventional sweaters, check. Plus they can be casual and some can be pretty elegant too. Me, I can do both.. I can do any type of poncho for that matter! Send me off to Mexico now ;) 

Boho at it's best! Etro casual poncho 

An elegant cashmere poncho by Ralph Lauren

Tested : UGG Adirondack Boots

So, off to Amsterdam I went after 20 years and spent the whole week in the fabulous city. I have to say I went prepared. I did my research and it came out the weather was going to be somewhere between 10 and 2 degrees Celsius with almost 90% humidity! (which made it feels like -3 instead) Light rain was also forecasted here and there. Honestly, I can stand cold weather but mostly the dry cold. I was in Paris one year in February and the temperature went down to -2 degrees low and there I was going around town perfectly. It's the humidity that I cannot stand. Just chill me to my bone! 
So for the trip I decided that I needed a warmer, comfortable pair of shoes. And after much consideration, I went with Adirondack Boots by UGG Australia. I was impressed and convinced by the 300 over positive reviews and went ahead with them. The result, I couldn't be more happy with them. My feet were cozy, warm and very comfortable. It got better after a few days of wear. They felt a bit bulky the first few use but once I got used to them, it was smooth sailing all the way. These boots are waterproof, fully shearling lined and come in 4 colors. They can be worn up of cuffed at the ankles into a short boots but I prefer to wear them up like the military boots. These boots have been tested and approved for cold temperature all the way down to -20 degrees, making them a great pair of snow boots. I had a chance to meet up with an old school friend in Amsterdam and she too had the same pair of shoes and couldn't say enough good things about them.
So, if you are looking for a warm pair of boots for this winter, I would highly recommend  these Adirondack boots by UGG Australia. Unlike their sisters the classic unflattering UGG boots (of which I also love!), this pair is stylish  yet they will not fail to keeping your feet warm!  

Quest for The Perfect Cold Weather Parka

Burberry *drool*

The downside (among the many perks) of being in the airline family is the leave allocation. It is not like we can just decide to have a vacation anytime in the year and it will happen. It is the other way around, actually. Captain will be given a block of weeks or days in a year to choose from together with hundreds other pilots and see who gets what. This year we have scattered leave days, a few days here and there and this makes planning for a long vacation a problem. We have been wanting to go to Amsterdam for a while and decided this year will be it and because of the problem with the leave, it has to be in November. 

Now, Amsterdam in November can be quite intimidating with low temperature and  a lot of rain. To tell you the truth, I am not equip to brace this kind of weather. Since I live in Dubai, my outerwear section in my wardrobe is kind of limited. Let see.. I have a long wool coat, a mac or trench for spring, a ski/mountain jacket and few short leather jackets. Now, the wool coat is nice and warm but it is NOT waterproof or water resistant. The trench is too light, so are the leather jackets plus, I will not compromise my Balenciagas in the rain! This leave me with the ski/mountain jacket. I will look really odd walking around the city in ski jacket. Nope, not willing to. 

So I decided it was time to add another outerwear to my closet. So happened I was in new York City for a couple of days last week and off shopping I go for the perfect cold weather, water resistant parka.

Canadian Goose Expedition Parka $845

The 'holy-grail' of cold weather coats/jackets has to be Canadian Goose. Who would know more about cold weather than the Canadians, right? Plus Canadian Goose has been sponsoring expeditions in Alaska, the Everest and even the Arctic so they definitely know their stuff. Hands down Canadian Goose is the best for warm outerwear. I loved the style of this jacket and the color was lovely too (came also in orange and white) plus it was warm alright. It came with the fur trimmed hood (important must have as I hate the look of my head in hats!) but I looked 3 sizes bigger than my real self  in it! Sadly, I had to say no to it because after all I am not going to Alaska or the South Pole anytime soon, just Amsterdam.  Note : Will definitely buy this one when Alaska popped in my travel list!

Sam Hudson Parka $795

This one by Sam was really cute. It was slightly longer than the one from Canadian Goose but lighter. I loved the gold tone hardware and the cute fur trim hood and how tapered it looked . Not as warm as the Canadian Goose but with nice cashmere sweater inside it'll do the job. I was not thrill by the outer material that was made by waxed canvas and the sleeves were quite narrow and that could be a problem for layering. I had to pass.

Mackage Cynthia Parka $1,150

Aaah, this piece by Mackage was a beauty! 10 out of 10! It was filled with down, making it quite warm but sans the bulky look I try to avoid. Also came with the cute fur trimmed hood, leather sleeves with ribbed elastic cuffs to block the cold wind (a plus) and it was very well made. The lack of unnecessary buttons and frills made this jacket looked elegant and expensive.  The problem was, it WAS expensive. Since I made a cap of $1,000 for this parka project of mine, this one here was way out of my league. Bummer!

Rag & Bone Waterloo Parka $ 995

If there was such a thing as love at first try, this would be mine. I was browsing Saks on Fifth Avenue and saw this jacket from far. The first thing that caught my eyes was the perfect green. It was made from nice sturdy water resistant material, no coating or anything like that. To me simplicity is best and this parka has simple buttons with extended leather button holes, hidden ribbed cuffs to block the cold wind and hood with removable fur trim (super!). This jacket was quilt lined and warm enough for European winter months. There were plenty of room in the sleeves area for layering purposes. Priced at slightly below my $1,000 cap, I have to admit looking at it hanging on my closet door, I kept thinking if I made the right decision spending that much. Well, for a well made piece, I think it was an investment especially when my last outerwear purchase was many years ago and it will be many more years before the next one.
So, what is your go-to cold and wet weather outerwear? I would love to hear all about it :)




:: Link Up :: On The Daily Express More Pieces of me

Trend : The Jeans Report - Ripped No More

  

I was in a book store one day catching up on my weekly free read when I overheard a young couple chatting while flipping through some fashion magazines. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but they were quite loud so I couldn't help it. Basically the guy just could not understand how fickle and unstable trend can be. They were discussing how one time she went crazy with the ripped jeans trend and now she was thinking of patching them up! It was quiet amusing actually, I was trying so hard to stifle a giggle. I knew right then that I had to do a piece on this trend they were talking about. 
I must have been in my cocoon too long that I actually missed this news.. cool jeans are ripped no more! So, I went home and did some research, start looking through Pinterest and there they were, hundreds of them. Honestly, in my opinion, this trend can be kind of cool if done properly meaning it should look like you really are trying to salvage your favorite pair of jeans and had it done yourself like the one in the last picture. It oozes the right amount of laid-back bohemian/hippy flair that I love. The moment it start looking like the patch quilt, then I seriously feel it is overdone and a big NO. 
Anyway, back to the couple in the bookstore, I can understand how bizarre and incoherent it might be to some on how trend can be so inconsistent and absurd sometimes, but unfortunately that is the funny thing about trend, it is suppose to be that way, always evolving. You either get it or you don't but always take trend with a pinch of salt. Lucky for me Captain seems to have no problem understanding. 
Now your turn, what do you think of this patched jeans trend? Does your man 'dig' the ups and down of trend? I would love to hear your story so do tell! :)






:: Link Up :: More Pieces Of Me On The Daily Express

NY Fashion Week

How ironic, that a person like my dear husband, Captain, got to be in New York city right smack in the middle of Fashion Week when his only care was how to get to Cafe Zipetto for that cup of good espresso. Yes, he was there and had it not been for the fact that it was the boys' first week at school when all the chaos normally happen, so would I. Seriously, I am not the kind of girl that must be at Fashion Week because the life of my blog or my existence depend on it but once in a life time as a blogger, why not. For me it is just to merely experience the hustle and bustle of the city during this important moment of fashion industry, of which after all, we all are involve in either directly or indirectly. It would be nice to just be there and do a bit of people watching.. who needs the runway when you have the street, right? Anyway, for all of us who didn't get to be there or who doesn't really care but just wondering what's in store for SS 2014, here's some sneak peak from the week.

The ever so lovely and never disappointing Marchesa

Stripe galore by Preen

Bold and glamorous from Rodarte

Delpozo embracing the structure and texture

Feminine - Oscar de la Renta

Full skirt and midriff baring at Tibi

DVF celebrating the prints

 Ralph Lauren did it again, the Safari look

The Olsen twins' creation for Row

Marc Jacobs and his military inspired casual

Modern sophistication by Pamella Roland

.. and my favorite, BCBG Max Azria, a mix of retro and old school glamour yet 

so wearable by mere mortal like us!

Trend - The 'Boring' White Button Down

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Old news. White button down on women has been existing since the movies were running black and white. Then Audrey Hepburn came and stamp it firmly on the scene when she appeared in hers paired with a pair of capri pants and ballerina flats. Fashion world were reeling and suddenly the 'boring' white button down became an all time must have. Me, I never turned my back from this simple piece when I saw Julia Roberts wearing one in the movie Pretty Woman, making that cheap mini skirt she wore it with looked like a million bucks! To me it is the easiest piece of clothing to pair with and I just cannot stop buying! One can never go wrong with it, be it casual or polished. It never fail to look chic which ever way you pair it with - over a pair of shorts, jeans, pencil skirt or even the long elegant glittery skirt as Sharon Stone once wore to the Oscar! If I must have only one item in my closet, it definitely have to be this boring white button down shirt. Okay enough of me babbling, now you, what do you think of white button down?