TREND ALERT! Off-White Hues



With all the melancholy blacks and greys which are typical of winter fashion, it was only right that designers break up their A/W 2010 shows with some snowy winter whites! And I'm not talking just your plain white-whites, I also mean your off whites and whites with tinges of blue, grey and creams too.

Karl Lagerfeld nailed winter whites perfectly for his A/W 2010 collection at Chanel. And as you can see from the pics below, there were no barriers to fabrics or textures.

Chanel wasn't the only big fashion house to showcase its pearly whites...so did Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Rodarte and Hermes.

The celebs have also been rocking some unique white pieces - my fav so far has been the gorgeous Kim Kardashian (when has Kim ever put a fashion foot wrong?)

Your inspirations? Think the Snow Queen, or Tilda Swinton as the Chronicles of Narnia's Ice Queen, or Alice in Wonderland's White Queen!

Getting your whites right

Head-to-toe white isn't easy...and if you don't choose your pieces carefully you can end up looking tacky rather than icy cool. That's why you should make like Chanel and mix white pieces with different fabrics and textures.

Also break up the white with pieces in the lightest of greys and accessorize in grey, silver and metallic shades. An all-white dress, top or shoe with silver or gold embellishment is the perfect choice.

It's official - every girl is now required to own a LWD - little white dress - in addition to the LBD.

Looking for winter-inspired jewelry? Go for white and grey pearls, white, grey and clear crystals, and small baubles.

My Picks

Sheikha Moza and Those Shoes!



These are the shoes causing a fashion frenzy as fashion and style bloggers and journalists around the world acknowledge what we girls in Doha knew all along...Sheikha Moza is the world's most fashionable first lady and the world's current style queen.

She wore these fur trimmed, icycle-heeled Chanel fantasy fur boots while on her state visit to the UK last week.

As fashion designer Julien Macdonald said quite rightly, "not since Jackie O has any first lady had such global resonance in terms of fashion".

Take a look at this post on the Huffington Post to see what else Sheikha Moza wore on the trip!

And look out for my feature on Sheikha Moza's impeccable sense of style in the Nov/Dec issue of Isola magazine!

Vintage Boho...A Trend Inspired by Ralph Lauren!

It was love at first sight when I saw the vintage-bohemian prints on Edwardian-style maxi dresses and maxi skirts at Ralph Lauren's A/W 2010 show. And Ralph Lauren wasn't the only one to go a little old-school folky in their A/W collections...Kenzo did too, all though at Kenzo the vintage-bohemian prints were a nod to the Seventies, and at Peter Som, vintage-bohemian prints were combined with chunky knits and scarves for a look which was a little Nineties grunge. High street stores like H&M, Miss Selfridge, Monsoon and Dorothy Perkins are chock-a-bloc with floaty vintage-boho designs this season. This is the perfect trend to wear under your abaya.

Secrets to the vintage-boho look:

1. The vintage-boho trend is a little different to your typical bohemian/peasant/gypsy look...this look is a little darker, sort of Little House on the Prairie meets a Gothic Little Red Riding Hood.
2. You can nail two trends-in-one by mixing faux fur pieces with your vintage-boho dresses and skirts...i.e. a faux fur scarf, boots or bag.
3. Accessorize with layers of long delicate beaded necklaces or opt for one jewel-encrusted statement bib necklace. Pile on the cocktail rings and adorn your wrists in metal cuffs. Opt for delicate vintage-style chandelier earrings. Anything which looks vintage is perfect...You'll find just what you're looking for at Lucky Brand/Lucky Brand Jeans stores.
4. Stuck over what shoes/bag should go with your outfit? Look for classic leather and suede satchels which look a little slouchy and worn, and tan leather and suede boots, wedges and sandals. Brown or black leather lace-up boots with a chunky heel are perfect under a vintage-boho maxi dress/maxi skirt.
5. Makeup? Keep it natural, or opt for either a smokey eye and nude lip or a bold dark lip (with the rest of the face bare).

More inspiration:

Elle Russia Nov 2010

Elle Russia Nov 2010

My Picks!

Trend Alert! The Minimalist Look

In strict contrast to the opulent pieces which have been edging their way back into the fashion world post-recession (look at my previous posts), this season has also been about minimalist clothing.

We're talking about simple, clean cut shapes and tailoring in muted shades of whites, creams, greys, beiges, navys and blacks, where less is definitely more. Going minimalist does not mean going plain and boring; this season's minimalist look may mean pared down fashion, but with a luxurious twist.

Minimalism ruled supreme in the A/W 2010 shows for Stella McCartney, Dries van Noten, Celine, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Elie Saab, Calvin Klein and Miu Miu.

The minimal trend is by far the most suited look for work wear as the sharp lines and super tailoring look smart, powerful and commanding...and there is no reason why you shouldn't wear this trend under your abaya...yes, no one will see that you are doing minimalist style unless the flares from your high waisted trousers peek out at the bottom from beneath your abaya, alongside with your high heeled boots or court shoes, but you will still exude smartness and confidence even by going minimal under the abaya.

How to go minimal

• Minimalist fashion does not mean you have to stick to strictly plain clothing...it's all about pieces with little details here and there which draw the eye...for example, a bow, a ruffle, or an area of ruching strategically placed to the side of a blouse or dress.
• Look for pencil and A-line skirts and round necked, collar-less tops and dresses.
• Try to keep accessories as minimal as possible...even dare to go accessory-free!
• Opt for body hugging jersey and wool knit structured dresses worn over opaque tights, teamed with high heels and a classic oversized clutch for a look which oozes minimalist sophistication (under your abaya).
• Mix textures in your clothing.
•  Over-the-top makeup is a no-no for this trend...enhance your natural beauty with pared down makeup, which is also right on trend this season.
• Stick to monochrome white and black, greys, navys and nude colours.
• Nail two trends in one by opting for a leather pencil skirt or a round necked, collar-less leather top or shift dress (best worn in winter to avoid unnecessary sweating in the Doha sun!)
• Want to jazz up the look? Add an animal print bag or animal print shoes to your outfit (but not both!)

My Picks

Trend Alert! Postbox Red

A/W fashion can sometimes get depressing with all the muted colours in blacks, greys and navies, so it was fabulous to see my favorite colour red popping up all over A/W 2010 catwalks!

The reds which were seen at Antonio Berardi, DSQUARED2, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, Stella McCartney, Armani, Cerrutti and Isabel Marant were vivid rouge coloured hues rather than the typical darker reds you would expect for A/W. Think of shades similar to those of the postboxes, telephone boxes and double decker buses my hometown of London is famous for!

Red pieces at Cerrutti, Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant, Armani and Givenchy followed a more tailored cut and minimalist style while the reds at Antonio Berardi and Dolce & Gabbana were in ladylike cuts in rich velvets.

According to the fashion magazines, matchy-matchy fashion and colour blocking is in this season, so for those of you who are brave enough and want to do head-to-toe head you will not be perpetrating a fashion crime!

However, my advice, for normal daytime wear, is to pair a red top or dress with your faithful dark wash jeans or black or grey trousers/leggings/tights and break up a full length red dress/gown with a black or metallic coloured belt.

For pops of red with your abaya, colour coordinate a pair of red heels with a red bag.

Can you do red with camel and nude colours? Yes you can! Team a minimalist style red blouse or tee with this season's camel coloured trousers for a look which is bang on trend.

Also hot this season? Pairing red with gold.

Want to try something new? Do red leopard print a la Dolce & Gabbana and Mulberry.

Finishing touches? Red lipstick and red nails of course!

My Picks