Reem Acra

First time I heard of Reem Acra was when Eva Longoria showed up on the red carpet few years back in That Dress!

It was hard not to take notice.

Reem Acra is a true representative of classical Lebanese school of OTT design, much like Zuhair Murad and Ellie Saab. She piles it all on - silks, taffeta, lace, Swarovski crystals.  I find her partiality to fishtails, sweetheart necklines, tight bodices and voluminous skirts a bit too much.  Hollywood eats it up though:

This is rather unexpected for Reem Acra.  JLo owns it!

Here is her Resort 2013 line. I read on Style.com that this is her attempt to appeal to younger customers.  Can you imagine yourself wearing these dresses on a resort? If yes, then which resort?

Mischa Barton in Dubai

For such a glitzy, glamorous, fashion-forward and generally modern city, Dubai sure has a weird penchant for celebrating American wash-outs and has-beens on it's soil.

What gives?

First we had this (see Paris Hilton actually came here 3 times!She's also been arrested 3 times):

Then this one:

This one is my fav and in the league of her own.  Besides, financial crime is not really "crime" crime, right?

On May 8 another mug shot model visited our shores:

This time it was former American favorite train-wreck Mischa Barton.  To be perfectly honest though, Mischa looked scrubbed clean and very, very pretty.  Perhaps, things are going well for her?

Mischa was here to launch her new "boho" clothing line in one of the local stores in Dubai Mall.  Store is called Rivage and i haven't been to see what she has to offer.  If her "Mischa's Place" crap is any indication - then it's probably the same lazy and half-hearted attempt to sell striped leggings for $100.
I read interview with her in nymag.com and she says that she chose Dubai to premier her collection because:

''Women there like her stuff, apparently, and went out of their way to buy things from her accessories line, which she started in 2009. “It wasn’t even available in this market, but women really made a great effort to get the bags,” Barton told WWD.''

Really? I was here in 2009 and don't remember anything even remotely related.

Oh, Mischa...Aren't you the next Victoria Beckham!

Mischa is slouching in a dress she designed and sells

Would you buy it?

Pix from jawahra.me

Freaky Fridays: Dubai Edition

This one is old news, but still pretty freaky.  Some ad agency in Dubai made this for local Chinese restaurant.
It didn't run.

BTW, i don't find it offensive, but then i'm not Chinese.

Freaky Fridays: Dubai Edition

From the creative geniuses of ad campaign for local watch reseller.

Do you wanna join the movement???

Things I Covet

1.  Peace in the Middle East


Seriously.
I wish this region peace and prosperity.  I want to go to Syria and visit ancient Allepo and Damascus, experience famous Syrian hospitality and perhaps, buy a piece of gorgeous damascene furniture.  I want to go to Beirut and enjoy it's sites without being constantly security-checked and re-checked at most entrances.  Is it too much to ask?


2. Barbour Quilted Jacket


This is probably temporarily insanity, but since i came back from France a week ago, i've been obsessed with Barbour jackets.  It was nice and cool 15 Celsius and parisians looked tre chic in their black scarves, black boots and black quilted Barbour jackets.  Girls had those ugly doctor-bag looking satchels hanging from their shoulders, some in brown distressed leather, some black and some (horror!) neon colored.

Satchels i don't care for at all, but quilted Barbour jackets rock my boat!

3. Pastel Colored Jeans


Is one ever too old for pink colored jeans?  Is there cut off date to apply to the pastel-loving club?
Am I past my baby pink-jeans wearing exparation date?
Oh, the conundrum!

Plus, I'd like to purchase an ass and legs like Christina Millian's

Dubai World Cup 2012

So, back on March 31 Dubai held it's own World Cup 2012.  Ruler of Dubai won the race this time, so my belated congrats to him.  Also, Tony Braxton was dragged out of the attic box, where she is being stored together with some moth balls and sang some songs.
Umm, what else... Oh, yeah, ladies wore hats.

In order to provide some meaningful commentary - because, after all you can just see the pix anywhere - i've broken this down to several categories:

Mad Hatter Couture (speaks for itself) :

Looks like this one is made out of hair.  Gross.

Also this one

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (and grabbed some feathers):

I like this one - something that Evil Queen from Snow White would wear to the races.
Also, the woman is beautiful.

Someone's excited

Girl, This Is Not a Hat :

Greek Goddess

My Personal Faves:

I like them because some of them are understated, yet pretty; some unusual but classy at the same time and some are just playful.   To be honest, i also like everyone's head gear in "Girl, This Is Not A Hat" category, but technically, they are not hats.

So, here you have it folks.  

Whadda ya say?

Pix via www.timeoutdubai.com