How to prep and what to pack for a whirlwind month in the fashion capitals.

Navigate Fashion Week like a blogger with our go-to guide 

As any style-loving, IT girl will tell you, the real trick to surviving the chaos of Fashion Week all lies in expert preparation. Like an athlete training for a competition or Victoria’s Secret supermodel preparing for the big annual show, one must be thoroughly prepped to withstand the busy fashion month across the capitals.

Whether you are heading to NYC, London, Paris or Milan, the most famous month on the calendar is jam-packed with shows, appointments, backstage interviews, glitzy soirées – and the after-parties, of course! 


The Packing: Quick Tips To Prepping Like A Pro

• Once you have your schedule, try on outfits in advance (including the correct undergarments and accessories to go with each look) and take photos. This tactic will ensure you don’t over pack and will make getting dressed a whole lot quicker when you need to rush out the door for the first show of the day.

• Make sure you get everything washed and dry-cleaned well in advance so that it arrives back in plenty of time for the trip.

• Pack extra flat shoes to pop in your tote, especially if you plan on wearing heels to a show. Chances are the show will run late, and you will need to get to the next slot, which is no easy feat in stilettos. 

• Make a suitcase checklist on your phone, which you can update as you go along. Jot down everything you will need, from your toothbrush to phone charger, no matter how small – these are often the things we forget. 

• A busy show-packed agenda makes eating regularly and healthily a whole lot harder, so stick to a decent meal plan ahead of Fashion Week and pack plenty of nutritious snacks, such as nut bars, quinoa chips and protein powders, in your suitcase. Once you have arrived in your location, you can stock up on fresh fruit and veggies to store in your hotel minibar fridge. 



The Essentials: Front Row-Approved Staples To See You Through Fashion Week

Blazer, Alexa Chung at Boutique 1, Mall of the Emirates

While you might be viewing the Spring/Summer 2018 collections, February will be chilly in the fashion capitals, so wrap up in oversized coats, cosy knits and sharp jackets. We love this double-breasted blazer from Alexa Chung’s new label. 

Cat-eye sunglasses, Zara, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Alexandria and City Centre Maadi

You will need a killer pair of dark shades to ward off the flashes of street style snappers, and perhaps the show lights a la Anna Wintour.

Earrings, Bershka, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira, City Centre Alexandria, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Bahrain and Mall of Egypt

A statement pair of bold baubles will take your look from the front row to the dancefloor in a flash. 

As the international racing set descends onto The Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 on 24-26 November, we turn our attention trackside as our outfit hunt for the race day. 

One of the biggest weekends on the UAE social calendar, the Abu Dhabi Formula 1
never fails to attract a glamorous crowd, filled with royalty, celebrities and of course, the drivers themselves. This year’s starry three-day affair is expected to be bigger than ever with luxurious lounges and brunches with views of the tracks, plus performances by award-winning acts including Calvin Harris, Pink and Mumford & Sons.

Whether you are attending the yacht parties, club nights, concerts or the big races, you will need a slew of stylish looks to make sure you stand out from the pack.

To give you a head start in the sartorial stakes, we have rounded up three of our favourite frocks.

Shirt dress, Zara, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Alexandria and City Centre Maadi

Decked with embroidered bird details, this crisp shirt dress comes with a high collared neck and covered shoulders - perfect for protecting your skin during long days in the sun spent on boat parties and watching the racing action.

Satin dress, H&M, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Sharjah, City Centre Fujairah, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Me'aisem, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Qurum, City Centre Alexandria, City Centre Maadi and City Centre Beirut

This slinky satin wrap dress will take you from days by the track to evening cocktails at “Cipriani” overlooking the circuit.

Red dress, Proenza Schouler, Boutique 1 at Mall of the Emirates

This asymmetric red dress by Proenza Schouler at Boutique 1 will ensure you beat out the competition in the best-dressed ranks.

We have got your winter wardrobe sorted - these IT pieces will see you through event season in style.

You will not be able to resist these three sought-after new arrivals - all available in shops now.

After combing through the new season collections, we’ve hand-selected a few of our favourite fashion finds from the City Centres shopping malls.

From City Centre Deira (the first shopping mall in Dubai) to City Centre Beirut and many more locations across the Middle East, our shopping malls are filled with the latest must-have items.

Be it the end-of-the-month payday or a weekend shopping spree in Dubai, we think you deserve to treat yourself to a little something special from the mall this month.

Happy shopping ladies!

Knit jumper, Mango, visit City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Muscat

It would not be winter without a cosy knit to keep you warm. With extra long flared sleeves, this sky blue style by Mango is wonderfully soft and will go with everything from denim to leather for the season ahead.

Hoop earrings, Bershka, visit City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira, City Centre Alexandria, City Centre Muscat and City Centre Bahrain

Round off your outfit with a pair of ultra oversized gold hoop earrings.

Floral print dress, Zara, visit City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Alexandria and City Centre Maadi

Perhaps the most comfortable cocktail frock we have ever worn, this floral pyjama-style dress is bang on trend for the new season. Wear with a bright red lip and sky-high black heels or booties for nights on the town.

These new season buys mean you can keep up with catwalk fashion while shopping in Dubai.

With temperatures finally going in the right direction (by which we mean you can stand outside without your skin burning off!), now is the perfect time to invest in updating your wardrobe. This year’s autumn/winter collection offers plenty of fresh new looks to choose from. From Mirdif to Deira, we’ve combed the City Centres for this month’s top fashion finds.
 
Blogger and street style star Gitta Banko sports a perfect fall look at Paris Fashion Week


Flower power

Florals are no longer synonymous with summer – they can be worn all year round, especially thanks to Dubai’s balmy winter temperatures. From Prada to Preen, flower print was splashed across the catwalks and it is continuing to grow on us. To get the look, try Ted Baker for stunning floral maxi-dresses with slashes of red to tick the lady in red fashion box too.

There was some serious flower power at designer Tadashi Shoji’s collection – for a high street comparison try Ted Baker’s Kytot floral pleated maxi-dress in navy at 1,275 AED


Top of the blocks

The best way to make your look pop is with a bit of clever colour blocking. Luckily the high street stores offer lots of top choices, so simply pick your favourite colour and off you go. BCBGMAXAZRIA obviously took inspiration from the Milan Fashion Week, making the brand Dubai’s place to go for breezy, asymmetric numbers. Colour blocks look best with a white shirt for the park or the beach, then take them back to black (a la the catwalk) after dark. Bellissimo!

 Take inspiration from hot label Anteprima and shop the trend at BCBGMAXAZRIA, where the Christy Midi-length colour block skirt is 941 AED


What a furore!

Things are getting hairy this season, with faux fur appearing in every rainbow shade on and off the catwalk. Style steal the look from Milan’s Fashion Week at Bershka. Available at City Centre Mirdif, their faux fur mustard sweater is bound to be a favourite of the style set this winter. Furry nice!

Those taking inspiration from Milan’s faux fur style should look out for Bershka’s faux fur sweater in stylish mustard at 129 AED

Celebs are on red alert this season – and here’s our pick of the best fiery fashion in Dubai.

As well as picking up the ‘best actress’ award at the recent Emmy’s, Nicole Kidman definitely should have scooped best dressed in this season’s hottest colour. If top-to-toe red is a little fierce for your fashion tastes, we’ve picked out some safer scarlet fashion choices for you. Because this is one shade that’s going to be smoking all season. Remember you ‘red’ it here first!



Nicole Kidman in red Calvin Klein at the Emmy’s


Red-hot knit

A slouchy red knit is one way to embrace autumn/winter’s fiery trend. Team it with a denim of midi length skirt (tomato red if you dare) for a nod to the 70s style of the season. If you can’t stretch to Victoria Beckham, Massimo Dutti has a range of red knits to keep you cosy – and on-trend.

Red knit jumper at Victoria Beckham’s autumn/winter show


Getting Shirty

Sheer shirts are a more weather friendly way to make sure your friends and family are seeing red this season. Spotted outside Christopher Kane, stylist and influencer Natasha Goldenberg rocked the trend, teaming it with the check print to maximize her style credentials. Fashionistas looking to shop the trend should head to Maje, who have a multi-tasking sheer shirt with a yolk of frills across the chest to pay homage to folk chic at the same time while staying red alert.

Influencer Natasha Goldenberg outside Christopher Kane


99 Red Balloons

When it comes to high fashion, sometimes only a dress will do – and this full-skirted cocoon skirt from Cos is a definite showstopper. Nipped in at the waist, before ballooning out into a flattering full skirt that ends just below the knee, this piece is lightweight enough to take you through the season back in the summer again. Now that’s what we call red hot!

Cos’s balloon dress flares in at the waist, priced at 595 AED

We show you how to dress like your favourite Middle Eastern muses of the moment. 

From Queen Rania of Jordan to supermodel Bella Hadid, we take a look at the most stylish Middle Eastern woman of the moment. We’ll also show you how to get their fashionable look with the key pieces to buy now - all available at the City Centres malls across the Middle East.

Queen Rania

                                            Queen Rania of Jordan is one of the most stylish royals

HRH Queen Rania is one of the best-dressed royals in the world. Never one to step a well-heeled foot out of fashion, the Jordanian queen is celebrated for her impeccably chic yet modest sense of style.

The mother-of-four works tirelessly to support countless charitable causes and initiatives affiliated with the Queen Rania Foundation, which includes The Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans and The Royal Health Awareness Society.

Get the look:

Dark orange dress from Mango at City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Muscat

Amal Clooney

                                  Amal Clooney is the epitome of elegance in this monochrome outfit

Despite only recently welcoming twin babies (Ella and Alexander), the wife of George Clooney is not slowing down in the style department and was most recently spotted hitting the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month.

The Beirut-born may be married to Hollywood’s golden boy, but she’s a star in her own right. Her work as a barrister at prestigious London-based firm "Doughty Street Chambers" sees her specialise in international law and human rights, with past clients including the likes of WikiLeaks founder "Julian Assange".

Get the look:

White top and trousers, Zara available at City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Alexandria, and City Centre Maadi

Bella Hadid

                                                            Bella Hadid rocks a red jumpsuit

Bella Hadid is no stranger to stealing the scene with her fashion-savvy outfits. Along with sister Gigi, the supermodel has taken the modelling world by storm recent seasons. The half-Palestinian beauty has even set a new record by landing the most Vogue magazine covers in one month - an impressive 5 September issues.

While we were hard-pressed to pick just one look, this street style snap, showing the 20-year-old in a swinging sixties-inspired red jumpsuit shows exactly why she is one of the fashion industry’s most in-demand stars.

Get the look:

Red bodycon dress, H&M at City Centre Sharjah, City Centre Fujairah, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Me'aisem, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Qurum, City Centre Alexandria, City Centre Maadi, and City Centre Beirut.

Hot off the rails, these fashion-forward wardrobe refreshers will up your style game in a flash - and even better, no saving is required.

From high street favourites including H&M Dubai and Zara Dubai to the more under-the-radar stores such as COS and Maje, the City Centre shopping malls across Dubai and beyond are brimming with new season budget-friendly buys which won’t dent your bank balance.

Scroll down below to discover our essential picks for the season ahead.

Gold loafers available at H&M. Visit City Centre Sharjah, City Centre Ajman, City Centre Fujairah, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Me'aisem, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Qurum, City Centre Alexandria, City Centre Maadi, and City Centre Beirut

These gold brocade slip-on loafers could easily pass for designer soles - thankfully, this pair by H&M Dubai comes without the hefty price tag. We love the decorative buckle accent and narrow tapered toe. 

Orange dress available at COS. Visit City Centre Mirdif and City Centre Bahrain

Splashed in a juicy tangerine shade, this pleated frock is perfect for the season ahead. Designed with adjustable ties to cinch in your waist, the lightweight cotton poplin will ensure you stay cool during the hotter months. Team with oversized gold hoop earrings and neutral sliders or sandals for fool-proof summer chic.

Green ruffled skirt available at Mango. Visit City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, and City Centre Qurum

We’re swooning over this spearmint green midi skirt with a flared ruffled hem. Offset this flowy piece with a tucked-in tailored shirt for the workplace or slinky camisole tops for evenings out.

Headband available at Zara. Visit City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Alexandria and City Centre Maadi

Nothing says summer quite like a beachy floral headband. Available in an array of colourful Tropicana-inspired prints, Zara Dubai’s accessory du jour will add the finishing touch to tousled tresses.

The must-have finds you’ll need to see you through the season ahead

A statement-making accessory has the complete power to transform an outfit.

After combing through the new season collections, we’ve hand-selected a few of our favourite fashion finds from Majid Al Futtaim malls.

These three coveted new arrivals (all available to shop now) will instantly spruce up your look over the coming months.

Be it the end-of-the-month payday or a weekend shopping spree, we think you deserve to treat yourself to a little something special from the Middle East and Dubai shopping malls this month.

Happy shopping ladies!

 

Embroidered trainers available at H&M. Visit City Centre Sharjah, City Centre Ajman, City Centre Fujairah, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Me'aisem, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Qurum, City Centre Alexandria, City Centre Maadi, and City Centre Beirut

Once upon a time you’d have had to surgically remove us from parting with heels. But recently, largely thanks to the rise of the athleisure trend, we need no convincing to swap out sky-high stilettos for sole-saving sneakers.

Follow the sporty vibe of the season and snatch up these brand new (and bang-on-budget) trainers by H&M. Embroidered with red roses and matching metallic back detailing, you’ll find us teaming these casual soles with everything from pleated maxi skirts to frayed denim cut-offs on our days off.

Embellished earrings available at Zara. Visit City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Alexandria and City Centre Maadi

These baubles will quite literally be a party in your ears. Decked with rainbow-splashed sequins, crystals and stones, these look-at-me beauties will no doubt be the talking point of any bash. Wear with equally bold lipstick and a cocktail frock.

Printed bag available at Mango. Visit City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat and City Centre Qurum

Offering serious luxe for less, this smart summer bag comes coated in a two-toned leather material dotted with delicate floral print and topped with a shiny chain strap. The dual compartments and pockets make it perfect for holding all your worldly goods in one neat package – we’ll be wearing both in and out of the office for the season ahead.

Inspired by your favourite leading women of fashion, these supermodel-worthy outfits can be thrown together in just minutes

From Instagram to blogs and magazines, we’re inundated with paparazzi snaps of celebrities’ never-ending array of off-duty looks. Making the streets their catwalk, the new generation of style icons go about their days in very fashionable form.

While we might not have their million-dollar budget or the stylist and glam squad on speed dial, we do know the secrets to their oh-so-chic look. Scroll down below where we show you how to steal their style and the IT piece you’ll need to achieve it from the shopping malls in Dubai and across the Middle East.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner shows off her nautical style

In our eyes supermodel Kendall Jenner can’t step a foot out of style. As the face of Estée Lauder, Fendi and La Perla (to name just a few), the trend-making runway queen has certainly picked up a trick or two for her personal wardrobe.

One of the youngest members of the Kardashian/Jenner clan, the 21-year-old beauty recently displayed her fashion credentials while aboard a luxury boat in Cannes, France. The epitome of nautical chic, Kendall opted for high-waisted white trousers teamed with a Breton striped top, black sunnies, and cat-eye shades.

Get the look:

This Printed top is available at H&M. You can find at City Centre Sharjah, City Centre Ajman, City Centre Fujairah, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Me'aisem, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Qurum, City Centre Alexandria, City Centre Maadi, and City Centre Beirut

Gigi Hadid

Gigi Hadid wearing double denim

BFF to Kendall, fellow supermodel Gigi Hadid showed just why she is one of the fashion’s favourite faces as she stepped out in New York recently. The American beauty rocked double denim paired with a bright red tank, matching boots and an equally vibrant cherry-hued lipstick.

When opting for wide-leg boyfriend-cut jeans follow Gigi’s suit and accentuate your waist by pairing with a crop top.

Get the look:

Denim jacket available at Topshop. Visit City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain or City Centre Beirut.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne in a blue velvet suit

When she isn’t storming the catwalks, fronting Vogue covers and landing the most in-demand ad campaigns, Cara Delevingne is busy filming movies with the likes of Will Smith and Margot Robbie. Most recently, the actress/supermodel can be seen in Sci-Fi blockbuster Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets - now showing at Vox Cinemas.

Known for her edgy tomboy style, the young Brit beauty was spotted out and about donning a plunging navy velvet suit and coordinating colourful shades with her newly shaved ice-blonde buzz-cut.

Get the look:

Sunglasses available at Zara. Visit City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat, City Centre Alexandria, and City Centre Maadi