Dubai Fashion Week

A few amazing shots of the opening ceremonies at Dubai Fashion Week, which officially kicks off today.  Dubai's fashion industry has done a great job of balancing international commerce with tradition, and given a new platform to designers from around the region. 

The image sbelow are so beautiful and so unmistakably Dubai.

See more at http://www.dfw.ae/

Current Obsession: Dareen Hakim Collection

When it comes to day bags, I am the ultimate loyalist.  Always oversized, always pebbled leather, always black, always gold hardware.  I don't buy a new day bag often, and when I do, it's usually a dead ringer for its predecessor. 

Clutches and evening bags, however, are where I get more creative.  Preferential treatment goes to anything animal textured - croc, alligator, bonus points for ostrich- and I tend to experiment more with color and detailing. 

On a trip to Beirut last year, I discovered the Dareen Hakim Collection.  For me, the Middle East's balance of modern glamour and tradition is an inspiration, and I was totally enamored with the way each bag in her line struck this balance perfectly.   Rich colors, vibrant gold details, unique inscriptions in Arabic calligraphy.

After much deliberation, I chose Dareen's Le Monaco to reward myself for a recent win at work, and it immediately became a focal point of my wardrobe; an accessory I build outfits around.  The gold chain strap lets the bag hang at the most perfectly elegant length, and the superslim width forces me to pare down the contents of my bag into the bare essentials.  The leather is a glamorous nude; the gold embossed inscription, reading "smile and the world smiles at you" in Arabic is such a fresh touch.

Devoted fan that I am, I've already queued up the next addition to my collection: Le Icon in Dune, pictured here.  This stunning clutch is available in a number of colors, materials, and arrives engraved with one of four phrases.  A sunny yellow bag that literally says "happiness?"   Want it, need it, have to have it.

Into the Wild

So I recently returned from a 7 day Alaskan cruise on the Norwegian Pearl. I will start out by telling you that an Alaskan cruise is absolutely not my idea of a vacation – there’s a reason I live in a place where the average temperature is 85 degrees and where people get nervous to drive in the rain. Regardless, my parents and entire extended family were going and roped me into it. I was kind of looking forward to not having to do any of the pre-vacation maintenance that typically occurs when you visit a tropical location – you know, living off of fat free smoothies for a week, applying layers of Jergens Tan Lotion and searching for a swimsuit that will somehow transform me into Gisele Bundchen's less-hot sister. Clearly I didn't realize that packing for warmth while still considering style is actually kind of difficult – and honestly, you have to think of comfort. Being stuck on a boat for 7 days with a population of people who have an average age of 65 does not lend itself well to mini skirts and F Me heels.

A couple of tips for cold weather vacations:

- Boots are your best friend. Most of my outfits centered on a pair of over-the-knee flat black boots that are both comfortable and stylish. I always feel like even if you are wearing jeans and a simple top, a killer pair of boots will just spice it right up.

- Scarves, scarves, scarves. You can’t have enough, seriously. Mainly because it’s freezing, but also because a great color or fun print is the perfect way to brighten up your outfit without having to put in too much effort. Believe me, by day 5 I had zero energy left for vanity.

- Blazing Blazers. A fun blazer will come in handy more than you know. Perfect for nights where you will have dinner followed by dancing. Chances are you’ll be too cold at dinner for any sort of ‘going out’ top, but of course after a few glasses of champagne and a couple of Rhianna songs, it will be just too hot for long sleeves. Pack blazers in multiples colors (I did black and a gray waterfall blazer from H&M that I am obsessed with), and a few sleeveless tops to go underneath.

- Overall Vanity. Just a few words to the wise: waterproof mascara, plenty of up-do’s and make up that will stay put in a less than dry climate. About ½ of my Alaskan pictures are unpublishable – aka un-Facebookable – because my non-waterproof mascara smudged all up on my face and my flat-ironed hair was poodle status. Learn from my mistakes.

Alaska overall is just as breathtaking as they say it is. We visited Juneau, the tiny town of Skagway, and Ketchikan which is a beautiful fishing town. I got the chance to try out my new Canon Rebel and let me tell you, it was worth every dollar spent. Here are a couple of my favorite shots:

Mendenhall Glacier in Junea, AK

Glacier Bay

Train ride up the White Mountain Railway

Leaving Ketchikan

Needless to say, my next vacation will be into warmer climates but Alaska is definitely something I would recommend to anyone looking to see beautiful landscapes, enjoy amazing fish and take a trip off of the beaten path. Just don’t forget your waterproof mascara…seriously.

x's and o's
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Review: The Ace Hotel, NYC

One of the unfortunate consequences of traveling for work is that when it comes to accomodations, choice is often out of my hands. So when our travel department set me up in New York's Ace Hotel recently, I was psyched. I'd been to the hotel before, for dinner and drinks at the Breslin, and knew that if the rooms lived up to the lobby's standard, I'd never want to leave!

Fast forward to check-in, 10 PM on a Monday night. Unlike some of NYC's trendier spots, their customer service was impeccable- they were attentive, efficient, and not snobby. I made my way through the Breslin crowds and up to my room, unlocking the door to discover a space larger than my own apartment!

In addition to the California King bed- who knew such luxuries even existed in Manhattan hotels!?!, there was a vintage wooden desk complete with a turntable, tres complicated alarm clock, and oh yes- a Google Chromebook. The middle of the room sported an enormous set of Louis XIV settees and a coffee table, not to be outdone by the mod conference table, retro, 50's-style refrigerator, snack bar, and- why not- acoustic guitar. After I got over the fact that a family of ten could comfortably live in my room, I checked out all of the cool little details that made the space feel less like a work-mandated hotel, and more like a really cool hipster friend's apartment.

Music softly playing on aforementioned turntable? Check. Stack of carefully curated art, travel, and design magazines? Check. Thoughtful assortment of snacks, including my personal favorite (how did they know) dried mango? Check. Hooded bathrobes made from gray sweatshirt fabric? Double check.

The bathroom was a little curious. Tiling reminiscent of elementary school walls, odd mix of product brands - though I love Malin + Goetz as well as C.O. Bigelow, I think picking just one would have been fine, and in line with a "green" but terrible trend sweeping the hotel industry, the shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel were in large bottles permanently affixed to the wall.

After an amazing night's sleep and a wake-up call from the complicated alarm clock, I bundled up in a robe and enjoyed some delicious yogurt, granola, and honey, delivered along with a French press full of coffee by an Italian gentleman who had probably come to the city in search of a modeling contract. Already plotting how I could extend my stay, I headed off to work refreshed and relaxed.

My experience at the Ace reassured me of a few things: it is possible to reconcile trendiness and originality with good service; treating customers well should never go out of style; and lastly, it's the smallest touches that, strung together, make the biggest impact. Highly, highly, recommend it.

Ace Hotel New York City
20W 29th Street
New York City, NY 10001
TEL: 212.679.2222
www.acehotel.com/newyork