The LOOK- Tiki Tiki, Polka Polka

A friend once told me that polka dots reminded her of her grandmother. Of talcum powder and bingo, cups of tea in flowery tea cups and boxes of aspirin on the counter of an old country kitchen. 

Although lovely memories, she said she couldn't imagine anything with polka dots being described as stylish, edgy or on trend. I decided to take it upon myself to prove her wrong.

Polka dots made their arrival on the fashion scene in the late nineteenth century in the United Kingdom. Originally used to adorn the fabric on children’s clothes and toys, the polka dot gradually evolved to be included on bathing suits and lingerie. Although generally considered to be casual, a few brave souls (like myself) dare to take polka dots into the office. Have a look at my ensemble below.

 

     1.   This cute little black polka dot dress was an impulse buy at H&M. I paid 30 AED for it on sale and believe on full price it is AED 69. The short sleeves make it versatile for formal and informal occasions and the fitted bodice and flared skirt flatter all body types. Throw a formal blazer over it for a more corporate look. 

    

   2. These black ballet flats by ALDO are one of my wardrobe staples! The gold bow detail takes the shoe from drab to fab and is a great addition to any closet. These flats are priced at AED 100.

       

   3. Finally the piece de resistance’ is this beautiful orange   leather bag by David Jones. AED 120 on sale and AED 350 full price, this bag lends a pop of colour to the ensemble. Dubai shoppers if you’re wondering where you can pick up this lovely piece, head down to Mendoza at Ibn Batuta Mall. They have these and others from the D.J line in stock.

    4.   Instead of my traditional Kate Moss lippy, I decided to opt for the brick red hues of this new brand called Sissley. The lipstick is AED 100 and sports a myriad of vibrant hues in its collection.

     5.   For jewelry you can keep it simple with a pair of pearl or silver studs and a dainty pearl necklace.

What do you think? Have I managed to make polka dots stylish and cutting edge? If you want help in getting the same look or would like to share your own polka stories, then please comment and share below. Until next time! xx

Too Hot to Handle?

F&F has some sure fire ways to keep you cool and looking fab this summer.

Whilst I was on my lovely island holiday- drinking cocktails at the beach, eating delicious fresh seafood and alternating my days between reading and napping- UAE has been steadily growing hotter and more uncomfortable by the day.

Since I’ve been back and had to listen to several complaints from friends and family about “the insufferable heat”, I thought a few tips on how to stay cool and look as fresh as a mint leaf would be a great distraction to the soaring temperatures outside.

Rule no 1: Drink LOTS of water!

No this isn’t a hospital infomercial, this is a proven fact! If you aren’t a big water drinker and are prone to dry skin and wrinkles then your problem is most likely dehydration. 

Properly hydrated skin is proven to look healthier and will make you feel better all around!

Dunno how to make sure you get enough water? Have a look at our tips below.

       I.          Have a beverage with every snack and meal.

       II.         Choose beverages you enjoy; you're likely to drink        more liquids if you like the way they taste.

       III.          Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods.

       IV.          Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.

        V.          Stay away from fizzy drinks as they contain more sugar and caffeine and will make you more dehydrated. 

Rule no 2: Pamper yourself.

When you are busy and on the go, taking care of yourself often takes a back seat. Instead of breaking the bank on a spa day every few months, use your daily grooming routine to enhance and revitalize your body.

While some people naturally have dry skin, for most, it's brought on by showering too much, using the wrong type of soap, or from living in an especially dry climate. 

Therefore, Stay away from using soaps and try to substitute with a body wash. Another key to staying cool and keep your skin young is to be sure to moisturize your skin day and night. 

Below are some of the products I love to use in my daily beauty regiment.

Body Wash- ‘A beautiful day’ by Bath and Body Works

Face Wash- Johnsons gently exfoliating face wash.

Face moisturizer- Johnsons face cream

Body Lotion- ‘Country Chic’ by Bath and Body Works or Cocoa butter by Vaseline.

Rule No 3: Dress light

It seems to be a work style staple here but wearing black can greatly increase your chances of getting hot and sweaty (and I don’t even mean in a good way). 

In the same way, thick or heavy fabrics like wool, fleece and even satins and silks trap heat more and will make you feel perspire more. 

Stick to light colours and fabrics with loose fitting shapes to maximize comfort. Make sure tunics, summer dresses, shorts and flary skirts replace all the leggings, jeans and other warm clothes in your closet and you are guaranteed to live out the rest of the summer in style and comfort. 

Hope these tips are enough to keep you cool and fresh during the scorching months ahead. As always if you have any questions, be sure to drop us a comment below! Until next time xxx

The LOOK- Hello Summer!

With the temperature rising way past the 90's this week,stores have locked away their woollies and put out their bikinis while people seem to have discarded their boots and ballet pumps for more sensible sandals and flip flops.

My family has been on holiday for the last few weeks so to celebrate their return my husband and I decided to

take them out to dinner. One look at the soaring temperature and the idea of eating al fresco was quickly vetoed and instead a noisy yet filling dinner at the Dubai Mall was decided.

Now Dubaiyans will agree with me that going to Dubai mall,

be it for a casual bout of window shopping or dining, one must strive to look their best! With this in mind I tried my hand at some comfortable causal chic. Take a look at my outfit below.

  

 1. Multicoloured printed Kurta dress from India (street fashion)- Approx AED 50-100.

A friend of mine gifted this to me and it is actually a kurta. Since I’m short and the sides of the Kurta does not have slits I decided to wear it like a dress. If you are a tall person then you can just as easily combine this with a pair of skinny jeans or shorts depending on where and what look you are going for.

 

      2.   Sandals with rhinestone detail from ALDO- AED 60 on sale. AED 130 full price.

  3.Yellow drop earrings from No Limit(Sri Lanka)- AED 5.

  4. Brown eyeshadow  from INGLOT- AED 50.

  5. Lobello lip stain- AED 10.

  

  

   I decided to keep my make up light and airy so as to combat the sticky weather outside. The breathable cotton fabric of the Kurta kept me oh so comfortable and able to enjoy my meal. 

   To complete the ensemble, I added a white tote bag (just because it was the easiest way to carry the mountain of things I always have with me). To glam up this look exchange the flats for a chunky wedge or silver stiletto and the tote for an embellished clutch.

  

   As always i'd love to hear your thoughts on today's look so be sure to like and leave me a message at the bottom of this post. Do the same if you want to discuss how to get a similar look for yourself. 

    Until next time! xx

Dress to impress your date.

How to snag your perfect man with the perfect outfit.

In the highly competitive world of dating, first impressions are absolutely everything. How you walk, what you say, how you eat and most importantly how you dress can give you a clear advantage over your dates other potential partners or vice versa.

This week we’re going to be looking at a few dating scenarios and what are the ideal ways to attire yourself before you set out on them.

  1.   The Daytime Date

The Daytime Date is anything that you and your intended are going to get up to during the day. Examples can range in anything from breakfast or brunch to something more adventurous like going to the beach or sailing. Therefore it is important to keep indoors and outdoors in mind before raiding your closet for an outfit.

If you’re doing something indoors remember to keep things subtle and feminine. Opt for a simple skirt, flowy or fitted depending on your shape and a fitted top or blouse or summer dress with ballet flats or sandals.

 

If you’re heading to the park, beach or spending your day sailing, then great cut jeans or shorts and a sexy fitted top are your safest bet. 

For footwear go with strappy sandals or colourful flip flops for that extra oomph! 

2.  Cocktails anyone?

If you’re meeting your Casanova for a drink then it’s totally alright to go Va Va Voom on him. Dress to kill in a fitted LBD (little black dress) or something bold and sexy that's sure to grab your dates attention. 

Just keep in mind shoes and accessories should be muted to complement your bold dress. Black LBD’s can be paired with bright shoes and accessories to give it that extra pop of colour whereas if you were to wear something bolder like a red or blue dress then the shoes and accessories should be either nude or metallic depending on how much you want to dress up.

Don’t want to be too over the top? Then opt for kitten heels and simple accessories to keep your look sexy and current. 

  3.  Fancy Dinner time

   If you’re date insists on pulling out all the stops and taking you to dinner somewhere where a bottle of sparkling water costs as much as a facelift then don’t panic! You can get dressed up enough without giving up food or a place to live.

   Think romantic and go for dresses that draw the eye. Something bright or embellished with skyscraper heels would look fabulous at a high end dinner or at a trendy club.

  

  

   If you’re someone who’d rather wear trousers then try on a sexy jumpsuit. Now there are many different types of jumpsuits but in my opinion the most flattering type is the one with a fitted bust and free flowing trousers. 

    

  

   All these fabulous items of clothing can be found at the following stores:

- - River Island

- - Zara

  - Forever21

  - New Look

  - Koton

  - H&M

   

    Rules set and the wheels in motion, ladies go out there and get your man! I’m going to trust you all to keep it Fierce and Fabulous as I know you will!Until next time x

Are you a mad hatter?

Here’s the dish on how to choose the perfect hat for your face!

After months of glorious winter sun and cool weather, summer has descended on us with a vengeance bringing with it scorching heat and humidity climbing as high as 40 degrees C.

Unfortunately this means certain death for those perfectly blown out and coiffured hairdo’s of the faithful fashion inspired roaming the place looking their fabulous best. How to keep from being fried to a crisp while staying glam? Well time to turn to the most stylish thing after umbrellas, the Hat!

Now the key to staying stylish and protected from the blazing heat is not to waltz in to any shop and cram the first flowered monstrosity you see on to your head. Instead browse and consider how best to flatter the angles of your face with a divine little hat.

To do this you will first need to learn what shape your face is. So what are you waiting for, read on!

Pretty and petite?

If you have a delicate little visage’ then opt for small sleek hats and head wear that won’t overwhelm your facial features.

Go with colourful Beanies as they fit snugly over your head and stay away from hats with a large crown or brim. Trust me they will make you look like an unsexy female part of The Three Amigos.  

Long and Strong?

If you've got a long face like fashionista Sarah Jessica Parker and super sultry Kate Beckinsale then hats with medium/wide brims and short crowns are the ticket!

Wide brimmed floppy’s, cloches and Newsboys are ideal as they will cover your forehead and balance out the length of your face. On the flip side, narrow brims and high crowns are absolute no no’s as they will add length to your face and elongate your head.

Round and bound?

If a round face is what you’ve got then always remember that the crown of your hat should not be wider than your cheekbones.

Go for Fedora’s and Bow conductors that distract from your facial angles with their peaked or slanted brims and steer clear of rounded crowns as they will only emphasize the roundness of your face.

Don’t be square

Well if a square face is what you’ve got then the key is to add softness to it. The best way to do this is by wearing a hat with a larger brim and a rounded crown to lengthen and soften the face.

Choose bowler hats for instance with feminine designs and sexy hues and you’re sure to dazzle in whatever you’re doing.

Are you a sweet heart?

If you indeed are the proud owner of a heart shaped face then lucky you because you can wear almost anything!

Since your chin is the narrowest point on your face, make a note to stick to medium brims so as to not to draw to much attention to the little blemish on an otherwise perfect facial shape!

Hope this has been helpful fashys. Stay away from garish umbrellas and instead run out and get your very own hat and stay stylish come rain or shine!

The LOOK- Lady in Red

As you all know I adore Audrey Hepburn and have been adopting her graces and fashion since I was 12 years old. Although I simply love her style, there was a personal favourite item of hers I thought I could never emulate. With my wide hips and curvy shape, I resigned myself to never being able to pull off a sixties shapeless dress until a friend of mine gave me one that I thought I might just try.

Being brave I decided to wear it to work. Below is how I chose to style it, take a look to see how I did it. 

1. Sleeveless dark red shapeless dress with grey metallic clasp from Cortefiel- AED 425.

2. Black patent leather stilettoes from Clarks- AED 475.

3. Grey diamond shaped dangly earrings with etch detail from New Look- AED 20

4. Metallic Grey Hand bag from Kenneth Cole- AED 380

To update this look from day to night just swap the pumps for a pair of sparkly silver heels, slip on a statement cocktail ring and trade in the giant tote for a simple and sassy chrome clutch. 

Remember if you're a short girl like me it's best to pair shapeless dresses  like this one with sky scraper stilettos. Tall and lanky? then you have nothing to fear! Shapeless dresses were made for you so feel free to rock them with heels or flats- basically whatever your heart desires :) 

Have you got a similar dress or are looking to buy one and still unsure about how to put it together properly? Just drop me a comment below and i'll be sure to help you find the style that suits you best!

Until next time! Ciao! x

The LOOK- Great style at every age.

People constantly ask me where I got my interest for fashion from. Well believe it or not, not only was I raised on good Christian values but also with an inherent love for style and being presentable. 

My mum and dad always believed in having the best and this extended to the schools we went to, the holidays we took and the clothes we wore.

As I grew older, I looked to my mother more and more for inspiration and I wasn't disappointed. Always making it a point to be well groomed, mum was always on trend with her style ageing as gracefully as she did.

Today as a high powered businesswoman she still takes as much joy in dressing up as I do, always managing to look elegant and age appropriate. Dressed for a day of meeting clients, take a look at her professional chic ensemble below. 

1. Navy Blue short sleeve top with lace detail from H&M- AED 40 (on sale).

2. Navy Blue flared trousers with high waist tailored by DreamGirls- AED 170

3. Digital watch with Black leather strap and Silver face from FOSSILS- AED 500 (approx)

4. Pearl and zircon long necklace from ALDO- AED 65

5. Black leather bag with silver clasp from ALDO- AED 320

  

6. Black patent leather kitten heels with bow detail from Vincci- AED 160

7. Sunglasses from Reaction by Kenneth Cole- AED 325

This outfit is comfortable and still professional. the length of the sleeves on the top are modest enough to disallow the need for a blazer. The lace detail on them makes this top versatile for work or even dinner or drinks afterwards. Pair with jeans or a fitted skirt for a more causal effect. 

Kitten heels are a great option for taller ladies who want to keep heels low but still have a bit of an arc. They serve as a great alternative for ballet flats.

Are you a working mum? Or a professional with no time to go shopping? If you like the understated smart casual style above then drop me a comment below so i can help recreate a similar style for you. As always feedback is welcome! xx