Yesterday, o miracle! I left baby girl with he daddy and I had a full 2 HOURS to myself! Lucky me there was the launch of a photography exhibition at Wafi shopping mall, brought to us by the wonderful and wordly renounded school of design and fashion ESMOD.

Have you heard of Studio Harcourt in Paris? well... if you haven't, then chances are you are not part of the Rich and Famous of this world! (euh.. rest assure me neither... )! Anyone who's someone has had at one point a portrait made by the famous parisian studio, with their trademark Black and White portrait matching the character of the fashion, cinema or sports persona.

A few of the portraits are currently being exhibited in Wafi, out of which a very impressive picture of John Galliano, and my personal favourite, beautiful Monica Bellucci pictured above. This gives you a taste of what to expect, so make your way to Wafi and on the way back, you can always buy fresh olives from Wafi Gourmet! 

I have been silent the past couple of weeks.. Indeed, I have been blessed with a little angel, a bundle of joy, a gift of happiness... WHICH HAS BEEN EATING UP MY BEAUTY SLEEP HOURS! 

They tell you kids don't sleep, they tell you breastfeeding is a commitment, but seriously, nothing can prepare you for what lays ahead. But hey, we (try to)cope! Everybody has done it before... so I'll keep putting on Lancome Hydra Zen eye cream which has become my new best friend, and pray for better nights to come my way! 

I'll share with you the second biggest surprise : the lack of clothing options that breastfeeding leaves you with. I never had problems getting dressed when I was pregnant, quite the opposite actually I quite enjoyed it! Now, on the other hand, not a day passes without me wondering what on earth am I going to wear??? You need to have the food accessible if you know what I mean, but still maintain some sort of dignity and try to look half decent... 

I have been coping with spaghetti tops, wide cut t-shirts, and shirts with leggings... Waiting to invest in boob tube dresses, once my waist is sort of a shadow of what it used to be... And of course, you say, you could always fix the look with a nice designer bag, but aha, don't fool yourself, you need the nappy changing bag! Goodbye Dior, hello Mothercare! 

Anyway, the next couple of months are going to be about mastering the challenge of avoiding milk stains, hair crisis, chipped nails and poo nappies, super moms club, here I come! 

If you refer to some previous posts on this blog, you'll probably come accross some words on Korean movie genius Wong Kar Wai.. Ahhh, In the Mood for Love, 2046, and My Blueberry Nights, only to cite a couple of the film maker's beautiful aesthetic and eye. Women are almost always sublimated as an strong characters, sophisticated personas with incredibly feminine and affirmated looks. 

What about Shu Uemura? Best known for their cleansing oils, the brand now fallen under the control of the L'Oreal Group is all about fancy colors, sophisticated make up and quality buys. 

Combine both, and you get a fabulously artsy holiday collection! I love the bold and daring palettes, Inspired by Burning in Water, Drowning in Flames poem by Charles Bukowsky. Blues, reds and sparkles, a collection more related to art than to make up. One's face becomes the canvas for expression, only for the daring ones! 

Unfortunately Shu Uemura make up is hard to find in Dubai. Your best bet is traveling friends through Duty free, or yet again, online ordering... Good luck treasure hunting! 

Oh My God! Finally Overblog is working again! I have had so much trouble connecting, I was litterally unable to access my own account! But now things are back on track and I'm back with energy!

My friend from work Catherine looooves shopping. And she has an eye for finding new cool things, like these cute vintagy little pouches and wallets from Boom & Mellow. (I give her full credit for that one!!!)

Actually, I love that store, they always have interesting innovative designer brands and cool little secrets you feel like you're the only one to have.

Today's discovery is brand 'Les Cakes de Bertrand'. Zo French! I leuve it!!!

It actually all started as .. a Cake store! In Paris that is. Didier Bertrand is a nutritionist with a natch for Elegant Gourmand, and a sweet tooth for violet candy and chocolate bars... Inspired by the French Grandmother's chocolate boxes and vintagy ambiance, the a la carte menu slowly started enriching with nice wallets, Minaudieres, accessories, to complement the chocolate shopper. Unfortunately for us here in Dubai, we can't get the cakes, but we can still droole over the cute necklaces!!

Check out the website for more info:

http://www.lescakesdebertrand.com/

I am not happy about what I saw yesterday, so once for a change, here is a cribbing article. 

Yesterday, we went shopping for an evening gown with my mom, as wedding season is at its peek and you can not wear the same gown twice, no? ;-) 

So we decided to head to Boutique1 at JBR, seeing as it is sale season and we hoped we could find something suitable. 

Now don't get me wrong, I love Boutique1. I think they bring design and innovation, as well as young and refreshing brands to the country. 

Nevertheless, sometimes, some things are just wrong. Yesterday, we were looming ovver this Marchesa Notte number: 

Dress is at 2500dhs roughly (price after 50% sale), OK you say? 

Fine by me, but when you get close, seriously, the stiching is hideous, the finishing, crap, and look even closer, the label says 'Made on China'. OK to make in China, I'm not saying, but please have some quality control! The drapee is threatening to fall apart any moment. When I mentionned it to the Sales Lady, she said it's Marchesa Notte not Marchesa... Hello? Is that an excuse for selling me overpriced crap and just pasting a name on it??? 

Looking around a bit closer, I noticed another Victoria Beckham piece, gorgeous design, black abaya like with silver studs at the shoulders. Except the studs were already falling appart and the stitches at the back of the dress untying... Serisouly? And you expect me to pay 8000 Dhs when dress is ON SALE??? 

Brands, please have a little respect for your consumers, design is not everything, you need to have great fabric and finish too, luxury is in the details... And ladies, although brands and design do make very beautiful things, sometimes it's good to question the legitimacy of such pricing... 

The only well finished dress on the whole floor was an Oscar de la Renta piece, at above 25 000 Dhs after dicsount...

I think for my next wedding dress, I'm going to see a good old fashioned taylor who at least, I'm sure of, will finish the evening gown as I expect him to.