Nature unleashed: Jimmy Choo SS 2014 Advertising campaign starring Nicole Kidman

I love it when an advertising campaign captures the soul of the brand and the collection, giving you more than an "in your face" preview of the collection or the celebrity endorsement . You can see/feel that in Jimmy Choo's latest campaign starring Nicole Kidman, whom I oddly only recognised after taking a closer look at the model!

With the theme "Nature Unleashed" serving as the inspiration, the mood was set in cubist inspired perspectives, pictured in a modern jungle where neon and foliage are juxtaposed to create an energetic and vibrant atmosphere. The accessories were meant to be worn as "second skin" which I believe is evident in her sensual yet confident posing and minimal styling approach.

You can watch the behind the scenes film here

Credits: Photographer Sølve Sundsbø Stylist Ludivine Poiblanc Hair Shay Ashual Make-up Val Garland

Santa's picks for the men in your life!

We know many of you are stuck in a last minute Christmas shopping frenzy and so we got some help on the way! Check out some great finds for last minute gifts for your man from some of our favourite brands.  

Contributed by Maya Sebai

Dressing your mood: Street Style Inspiration

  "Cream colored ponies and girls in white dresses... Vanilla dreams muffins and Snowflakes on my eyelashes... Silver white winters that melt into springs... These are a few of my favourite things". So obviously an all cream look is one of my favourites this season. Translated into fashion: This means white, off white, ivory, cream, beige, eggshell, vanilla & all that's so pure and smells like fresh linen. - When the sound of music meets fashion

Completely incomplete. Fully empty. Clearly misunderstood. Seriously funny.

Oxymoron: a phrase in which two opposite words come together. Translated into emotions/mood: Bipolar. Translated into Fashion: Black on white. - Such a modern classic! 

"I'm not different for the desperate sake of being different. Only for the sake of being myself." Vivian Stanshall. Being different. Against the grain. That one odd thing that stands out in a sea of normalcy. Called personality. Translated into music: Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. Translate into Fashion: Signature style - Creative - where it could be as simple as a pop of colour, somewhere...

 

image credits: harpers bazaar. Contributor: Rana Saab

Introducing the Man-ual! Every man's guide to all that is style!

Man-ual 1: SS-2014 Season has Gone Pastel-listic!

Roll up your sleeves gentlemen, suits are becoming a playful attire as designers are taking cuts, fabrics, & colors into a new dimension.

We keep assuming that fashion is a wheel, and that trends through out history keep coming back, but I'm happy to tell you that things have changed and we are about to see a bolder approach to men fashion regarding suits.

Taking a look at what Ermenegildo Zegna, Tom Ford, Ozwald Boateng, and many other designers tackled for the coming season, here is what we observed:

1.Sleeves are no more a rack to place four to five buttons in a row, Zegna introduced sleeves with no buttons at all or even long sleeve extensions that wrinkle up around your wrists adding a slight contrast to a simple blazer.

2.Double-breasted blazers that take your simple suit back to the posh 1980's,giving your a structured figure and a classy feel. what is making DP blazer bolder these days is the signature buttons thats add a little twist of modern.

3.Pastel & Light shades and tints of Blue, grey, ash, & beige is all over the runway for SS-2014. Aim for calm colors with a derivative combination for the shirt and tie.

4. White it out! white is no longer the suit color for weddings and occasions only, unleash freshness and chicness with a white suit this summer and give your suit a relaxed luxury feel with a contrasting tie and shoes.

5. Cropped trouser ankles show off that little piece of skin between your trousers and your shoes with cropped trouser ankles, you can even use those crops to showcase your new set of designed socks.

About Maya Sebai-

Maya is a walking visual owl, tackling fashion and style with her design eye for colour, cuts, texture and art. Coming form a Graphic design and multimedia background, she always adds a fresh approach to her layouts. Her love for fashion led her to join ranasaab.com as an aspiring stylist with a focus on men's fashion, an area she feels is under explored and under exposed! With that in mind, she started the MAN-UAL concept. A Manual that Guides men through efficient and time saving fashion inspiration to match their characters. With her enthusiasm for mens fashion, Maya focuses on giving today’s man a sneak peek at the trends and styles that he would use efficiently while juggling his busy life schedule.Aside from men's lack of attention to style, she is also very much affected by reading and believes it’s the most powerful and out reaching technique to evolvement. She is inspired by Ozwald Boateng. For more on MAN-UAL, You can send us a shout out at maya@ranasaab.com and follow on Instagram: @ranasaabstylist

Time to Sparkle 'n' Dazzle all the way to your finger tips!

The festive season is upon us and it’s the best time to reflect the jolly spirit from your wardrobe to your finger tips. Now is the time to add some sparkle and glitter to take your outfit from basic to glam. With Metallic colours big on the trend list, you can transform any outfit by styling with the right dose of shimmer with your bag, shoes, jewellery and nails. Repeat the sparkle with one accessory like earrings, a statement necklace or arm candy but never wear all at once, as you don't want to go overboard and risk end up looking like a walking christmas tree! Another tip, super shiny nail polish looks chicest on short, naturally shaped nails. If you are sporting those super long nails, then keep the glitter for one nail only, usually the ring nail!

The same goes the other way round, if you prefer to dazzle with an embellished dress, keep your accessories in one solid color and go easy on the bling elsewhere. You can either go loud with your nails and make a statement with the right festive colour from glistening gold to opalescent silver or play it down with a solid neutral from the deep, rich reds and blues to the ever elegant nudes to achieve the perfect balance.

Go loud with your nails, make a statement with the color, and show off your festive spirit  with Sally Hansen Holiday range.

Like all Complete Salon Manicure shades, these opulent new additions deliver seven benefits of a salon manicure in a single formula. In addition to providing a Base Coat, Strengthener, Growth Treatment, Color and Top Coat with every stroke, Complete Salon Manicure delivers gel-like shine and chip resistance for the ultimate multi-tasking manicure. And the best feature? Their precision brush is designed to fit the curve of your cuticles and hug the contours of your nails, for better at home application  and superior wear. So even the clumsy can treat their nails to some at home pampering!

OPI latest  range of colours have an amazing variety that will match your festive mood too.

Remember, your choice of colour will either brighten up your look or down play your outfit. Go for off beat colors and try something new for the party but always choose the color that complements your skin tone first. Warm colours like Gold, oranges and anything yellow based goes best for warm skin tones and Cool colours like silver, star white and anything blue based goes best for cool skin tones. Sounds complicated? Get your colours done and be prepared to shine!

Last, add a piece of your own signature Awesome and carry yourself with confidence and style!

Seriously fun fashion: Forever21 turns 10!

You know you have style when you enter a shop like forever21, scan the rails and come out with at least 5 different complete outfits that will take you from breakfast at your favourite cafe to your 9 to 5 job and all the way to the club - in 15 minutes!

Now comes the question(s) "Really"? "How do you find stuff there?" "Isn't it all too casual and for the forever younger?" Well, the answer is simple. "Yes, I find all the latest trends at the most amazing prices and I can put together outfits that are beyond casual, you just need to look. And yes, you can always be forever younger!" Check out the examples here!

Casual chic is what you can turn any outfit into by styling with the right accessories

For the office look, go for simple lines in trousers or pencil skirts and layer with colour, statement jewellery and jackets to keep it interesting.

An all time favourite for the clubbing scene, I always land that last minute shorts or top with a hint of bling to start up the party. Look for details in cut outs, asymmetrical cuts, mesh and texture to add interest to your after dark wardrobe.

And the best news? All forever21 shops in Dubai are celebrating 10 years in UAE with Special styles at stunning prices for 10 days till 10th November!

And if you shop @forever21 in @thedubaimall, @deiracitycentre or @mirdifcitycentre you can strike a pose at their photo booth wearing what you bought for a chance to win AED1000 vouchers!  Be sure to land your perfect buy before the celebration ends!

Create your own style with Cotton On

If you are not familiar with Cotton On, now is the time to check out their collection and stock up on all those needed essentials and quality classics. This is my go to shop for basics that you build your outfits upon. Think that one simple solid cotton cropped top that you can layer under your blazer and skirt/pants/denim? I got those in all available colours and best part is it's always a catch with their incredible affordable prices and infinite use (I washed them to pieces and the cotton quality still looks great!)

Another favourite that I have everyone asking "where did you get that from?" is the long tank that I double for a slip dress. I use it for endless outfit mixes from layering under sheer dresses, long cardigans and see through skirts.

I am wearing the long tank top here with a sheer skirt and blazer. An all white look that everyone thought was a dress.

And it's not just the basics, you will always find that incredible cute pair of shorts, pants, printed tee, blazer or easy summer dresses which you can style into an individual look! Their lounge wear range is surprisingly huge as well, so go ahead and Cotton on!

They are now opening their 1070^th store in Deira City Center on Friday the 20^th of September! Be there to avail of a 30% discount and 500 goodie bags to the first 500 shoppers!

Addicted to Red!

Once upon a time, I thought red only came in one shade: red. Down the rabbit hole of Color analysis and makeup and now red is a multitude of shades that keep growing! Great news is there is a red out there for each and every complexion, season & flow! Everyone can wear red - You just need to nail the one that suits you and you will be addicted, I promise. What you really need to know is what undertone (warm or cool ), intensity ( soft to clear) and shade (light to dark) to go for. With an advanced color analysis consultation, you will find the color palette that suits you, as the best color in the world is the one that look greats on you!

The ruby collection from  Dolce & Gabbana is my absolute favorite ! The luxurious formulation of this Classic Cream Lipstick provides bold colour with a smoothness that is simply gorgeous. I am hooked on "Iconic", a shade that is a bit on the warmer and brighter side of red. I wear it for the day in a lighter tint by blotting with a tissue after application to help set the colour and create a softer effect. All you need to take it to night is to reapply lipstick for a more intense color effect.

Ruby Collection by Dolce & Gabbana, ICONIC

And then, a few days ago, I met Lip Maestro from Giorgio Armani at the airport... and well, it was love at first pout!

This is the first lip stain I have tried with such a comfortable to die for velvet texture and a radiant matte finish. What really sold me is the non-sticky texture which offers hours of hydration and comfort with a color so intense.

My experience with other lip stains is dry, cracked lips and color that fades as you go... not so attractive. As Giorgio Armani put it, this is  the next generation of lip color. I got the shade "400 - the red". I wear it more for the night as it's a bit too intense for day.

What shade of red are you?

comma & LIEBESKIND Berlin land in Dubai!

comma & LIEBESKIND Berlin launched in Deira City Center today, bringing the signature Berlin luxury fashion concept to Dubai! With two adjacent stores, you will find at comma a mixture of apparel, bags and accessories, while Liebeskind is only for bags and accessories.

Love the metallic collection of bags, wallets and belts - a perfect investment for FW14 as the metallic trend will be huge and is so much easier worn in accessories. The neon piping on the bags adds the right pop of color to complement any outfit!

The collection at comma is a mix of fresh colors & prints in casual & work wear, where you can find trendy alternatives to the usual office wear. Positioned as a luxury brand, the price point is midway between high street and designer, making it great value for money with the added benefit of quality tailoring and materials.

I have to tell you, the buttery soft genuine leather at LIBESKIND is to die for! Definitely an investment buy as it only gets better with time! I am already a proud owner of one of their bags and will definitely be going back soon!

Vintage Delirium!

Any trip is never complete without getting delirium-ed in a vintage heaven! I found this gem of a shop in a recent trip to Milan while I was visiting my sister. Knowing that Madonna, Tom Ford and Tory Burch are fans of the place only added to the sparkle of the experience!

The showroom, located in a suggestive courtyard of the historic sector of Milan in Brera, offers one of the biggest vintage selections in the world. High fashion fabrics from the 19th Century up to the 80′s; dresses from the 20′s and 30′s which include Callot Soeurs, Vionnet, and Chanel; Pucci, Dior, Cardin, and Balenciaga specimens from the 50′s and 60′s; YSL, Mila Schon, and Versace from the 70′s and 80′s; bags by Roberta di Camerino, Gucci, Hermès... shoes, belts, foulards, ties, buttons, buckles, jewelry and much more!

Playing dress up 20s style!

We could spend days roaming the 2 story showroom, there's a thing about vintage that transforms you back in time and makes you want to own the world! The thing I love most about vintage is wearing the item in a modern twist. I left the showroom a proud owner of a Louis Vuitton clutch and over-sized Christian Dior shades! The staff were super friendly and I definitely would recommend you visit next time you're in Milan :)