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Everything that matters to me (and maybe you as well)

Archive for the category “Fashion”

03 Nov 2012
1 Comment

Pretty (and Awesomely Charitable) Little Things – PLT’s Dolls and Textiles Edition

So you guys know I’m nothing if not an absolute sucker for fashionable things with a cause. Seriously, with the amount of fashion expos and the ‘designer bug’ that almost every other person in Kuwait has (which, don’t get me wrong, can be a beyond beautiful thing), its always nice to see someone not only make a totally unique and beautifully executed contribution to fashion and art in Kuwait, but also have a charitable, worthy cause behind it too.

Now, I know you guys probably don’t need me to tell you this but one of the hottest tickets in all of Kuwait’s current fashion expos are the Pretty Little Things expos which the brilliantly inspired Noaf Hussein puts on every few months to showcase the stunning, one-of-a-kind designs of both local and international artists. Please allow me to take a fan-moment to rave about the level of gorgeous detail and diligence that Noaf Hussein devotes to making every single PLT event look like a unique, Khaleeji cross between Alice in Wonderland, Amelie Poulain, and Marie Antoinette. And I’ve only gleaned all of this by religiously stalking her Instagram page (because, as luck would have it, I’ve been outside Kuwait for almost every single PLT event so far) so I can’t imagine how beautiful the real experience must be like.

So, yes, even if these super decadent PLT soirees didn’t have a charitable angle to them, they’d still be absolutely to die for. But they do. Which only enhances their awesomeness by ten-fold. Y’see, aside from bringing the super fab to Kuwait, PLT also uses a portion of the proceeds they make during the expos to help build houses for Kuwait’s orphans. They’ve already started work on the first house and are looking to collect more proceeds to build a second home with this Dolls and Textiles event and other upcoming PLT installments.

For the Dolls and Textiles edition, PLT chose the historically unique venue to take place at Al-Sadu House (local historic landmark of the art of Kuwaiti hand-weaving) to inspire the theme of the event. By dressing fabric dolls–Kuwait’s culturally aboriginal toy of choice–in the signature creations of a number of local designers (including Razan Alazzouni, Lama Taher, and Yousef Al-Ibrahim to name a few), PLT brings together all that is both culturally and historically celebrated in Kuwait’s fashion scene.

Now, as far as the line-up of brands that are going to showcase at the Dolls and Textiles event goes, here is the list as I have received it from Ms. Noaf (so I did not write this).

  1. Hettabretz, flying in from Italy with the most divine leather and fur creations. Their creations are around the world in stores like Bergdorf Goodman in New York, Loewe in Madrid, Fortnum & Mason in London, and Neiman Marcus Dallas, among others. Hettabretz has been worn by Hollywood royalty like Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor and has collaborated with Prada, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Ralph Lauren, to name a few.
  2. Trickponi showroom, based in Saudi Arabia which represents regional favorites Fyunka and L’Atelier Nawbar, as well as New York-based brands Shosh, Shui Chen, Giles & Brother, among others.
  3. Maians, a Barcelona-based brand of men and women’s shoes. The original Spanish plimsoll.
  4. Greet Touch Hydroponics, a Kuwait-based supplier of all you need to grow your own indoor herbs and vegetables without messy soil.
  5. Jars, a houseware and home decor shop that produces its own line of hand-painted bowls, boxes, trays and containers.
  6. Maze, a dazzling line of furniture and home accessories designed by Bibi Al Ghanim.
  7. Ivy, a line of leather handbags, hand-crafted in Lebanon.
  8. Lina Jewelry, a line of crochet metal  jewelry dipped in precious metals.
  9. Oleana, a Kuwait-based baby and maternity store that sells the latest and most stylish essentials.
  10. So Lulu, a line of handmade jewelry by Lubna Al Naqeeb using semi-precious stones.
  11. Amna Alsalem, the Kuwaiti clothing label that caused pulses to race at its launch in the Missoni mere months ago.

Clearly, if you’ve read this far you’re in no need of convincing to attend this very exciting shin-dig. As with everything that Noaf Hussein plans you can definitely expect an event in the truest sense of the word.

So be sure to stop by the Pretty Little Things “Dolls and Textiles” extravaganza at Al-Sadu House (on the Gulf Road, across from Seif Palace) today from 3 to 10 PM, and on Monday and Tuesday at the same time as well (here! A helpful poster!). Indulge in the decadently unique and whimsy vibe, help a truly good cause, and, if you can, try to channel some of that overwhelming awesomeness to me and my poor, non-attending, Canada-bound soul.

All my love! (I totally and shamelessly stole that picture of those fresh-to-death dolls up there from Noaf’s Instagram page @PLTQ8 right here)

Posted in Beautiful, Fashion, Kuwait, Musings and tagged , , , , , ,
17 Oct 2012
9 Comments

The Re-Culturalization of the Veil in Kuwait (from a Non-Veiled Persepective)

Look, I am not a veiled woman. I can’t tell you what it feels like to walk under 100 degree heat with nearly every inch of my skin covered. I can’t say that I know how it feels like to navigate a clothing store with the length and width specifications that veiled women need to be culturally or religiously mindful of. I’m not even going to pretend to understand what it feels like for a woman to both try and express her identity through her appearance while simultaneously trying to project an exterior image of Islamic piety.

These are all experiences which I have never really grappled with all that much because I am not a veiled woman. So I’m not going to be talking about the veiled woman’s experience with the physical act of wearing a veil in any way. That said, I am totally fascinated with this new veiling phenomena which seems to be sweeping up Kuwait and dividing women up into sub-cultures of a sub-culture.

This divisive phenomena being, of course, the turban.

Now, if you live in Kuwait, you know how it is. Kuwait is the melting pot of virtually every trend ever created in the history of time and space. It’s Habba Land; Habba Nation; freaking Habba-palooza. One popular person starts doing something a little different and, before you know it, every other starry-eyed onlooker is doing it too. This is the natural progression of pretty much every trend to come about in Kuwait and probably everywhere else too.

And, hey, people will always have opinions on trends (I certainly do). Man or woman, veiled or not: you have a right to express your opinion on every single thing that you see, hear, or think. As long as you’re respectful about it, you can lovingly praise or endlessly rail on any trend you want. But, there’s something a little different about this turban thing.

You see, the turban trend does something more than divide people up in the ‘Hot’ or ‘Not’ camps: it divides them up in ‘feminine” and ‘unfeminine’ camps too. Or the ‘Islamic’ and ‘non-Islamic.’ Or the ‘Arab’ and ‘Non-Arab.’ And suddenly, whether we’ve realized it or not, by having a vocal (and sometimes very mean) opinion on the turban trend, people in Kuwait are actively reshaping what it means for a Muslim, Arab woman to embody all of these terms.

So, the big question is why is this happening? I mean, in Kuwait, trends have come and trends have gone. Trends are transient things that weave in and out of Kuwaiti, daily life–usually without carrying more weight than the trends that came before them or after them. People either hop on the wagon or they don’t. And freaking fashion trends? Those suckers come a dime a dozen in Kuwait. Big-freakin’-deal.

But the turban isn’t just a fashion trend. In many cases, it can be considered a specifically ‘Islamic’ trend (because of its affiliation with the hijab). Even better: the turban is an Islamic trend with a twist. Its unconventionally Islamic. So unconventional in its Islamic-ness (I would say ‘Islamism’ but no) that even the most moderate, liberal Muslims are giving it a double-take. And, naturally, this can be a little troubling. Because the turban doesn’t fit the conservative mold of what a veiled woman is supposed to conventionally represent in the Arab world.

In the deeply conservative Arab dynamic, a part of a woman’s duty–and the thing which deems her ‘feminine’ and ‘right’– is to project a mixed aura of demure and modest prettiness. Sure, you’ve gotta look pretty but you can’t look kinda out there while you’re doing it. In this conservative sort of dynamic all the woman really has to do is to make herself look both modest and desirable (which, yes, can be a feat) and then just sit back and wait to be chosen.

The most glaringly obvious symbol of this kind of deep Arab conservatism is, unsurprisingly, the traditional hijab. I’m not saying that this is how all, or even most, traditionally veiled women operate, I’m just giving a quick overview of what a very deeply conservative idea of womanhood is to Arabs and what it means for an Arab woman to physically embody that.

You can agree or disagree with this dynamic, but you really can’t deny its validity all that much.

And on the flip-side, you’ve got the turban (popularized and oh so graciously modeled by tres-fableux, fashion-maven Ascia up there). I’ve heard religious zealots rail on about it; Holly Housewives; fashionably progressive women; full-grown men; children; even my 72 year old, housebound grandmother WHO ROCKED THE JACKIE-O LOOK IN HER DAY. Everyone has such a strong, and in many cases negative, reaction to the turban its crazy.

And yet all kinds of women are sporting it all over Kuwait. Only difference that I’ve been able to notice between these women and the other traditionally veiled but still totally awesome women is that the turban-wearers couldn’t give a flying dingbat about subscribing to any age-old ideas of Arab conservatism. I’m not saying that any woman who doesn’t wear a turban is a complete slave to patriarchal standards (well, I think all women are but whatevs). I’m just saying that the turban-wearers at least seem a lot more willing to step out of that comfort-zone and maybe try to create a fashion culture for Muslim women outside of the traditionally acceptable, ‘modestly pretty’ concept–even if they really are just following a trend.

And if you ask me, whether you like the turban or not, it sure sounds like a much more socially enhancing and culturally promising trend than this class-act right here.

All my love!

Posted in Fashion, Kuwait, Musings and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
16 Jul 2012
1 Comment

Fursa: Opportunity for Creativity, Experience, and Love

Opportunity is a beautiful thing. It can open doors to people and experiences which, up until that point, were strictly locked. When given the right opportunity, all kinds of creative forces, positive outlooks, and passionate ambitions can come together to make a real difference in the world.

And that is what Fursa is all about. Right down to the name, Fursa (Arabic for ‘chance’) is here to make opportunities happen for anyone who asks for them.

Now, speaking as someone who has always appreciated originality and cultural consideration, I have to start by telling you just how delighted I was when I stepped into this place. Almost every corner of this small, yet quaint boutique exploded with character and detail. Every where I looked, I’d find a new, whimsical surprise that was not only cool and quirky in its own way but, in many respects, paid homage to the Kuwaiti social and cultural tradition.

Its hipster, meets boho, meets couture all blended together with that unique, unmistakable Kuwaiti character.

But wait! What does that have to do with opportunity? (Of course, this is me channeling your inner thoughts back to you all Jedi-like)

You see, Fursa has provided this beautiful, one of a kind platform for local and international designers to sell their products FOR NOTHING. As in, they are providing a FREE service for promising individuals to showcase their work for all of Kuwait to see. The only time that the store actually makes any money off these unique products is when they receive a small fraction of the price once they are sold. Otherwise, Fursa opens its doors to any and all creative forces that deserve it for complete non-profit.

And its all in the name of chance, opportunity and, basically, ‘Fursa.’

Now, even if I was to stop right there this would definitely be enough of an example to show just how much love and compassion has gone into Fursa and the positive effort behind it.

But that’s not all.

Fursa also provides internships (Opportunity! Hello!) for young, enthusiastic Kuwaitis to both help give them some valuable experience and to give the local businesses the support they need and deserve. I had the pleasure of meeting a good handful of these energetic interns and, honestly, I was impressed by the stories they told me of their experiences. Bader Al-Yaseen, Abdulrahman Mezeal, and Abdulaziz Al-Ammar are just a few of these interns who are pictured in the slideshow below, all happy smiles and glowing positivity!

And, finally, Fursa provides yet another opportunity. The kind which is, to me, the most beautiful and precious of all: the ability to help and support the struggling battle which terminally ill children lead every single day.

At the entrance of the Fursa shop you will find the stairwell wall lined with paintings by child cancer patients, many of whom will never recover. This is the Donation Wall. It features and sells the paintings of these young cancer patients and 100% of the proceeds go towards the Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in order to support them (and the hundreds of children like them) in this unthinkable time.

I snagged that beautiful flower painting by two year old Remas who, unfortunately, is dealing with a terminal form of cancer. Thanks to Fursa she’s been given the opportunity for love and support and, through Fursa, I was able to give her the exact same thing.

Please visit the quaint Fursa shop (located next to Breakfast and Brunch, right by The One in Marina Mall) or check them out online to learn more about them and what they do. I have to thank the gorgeous and brilliant sisters behind Fursa, Jumana Al-Othman and Yasmeen Al-Othman, for inviting me to check Fursa out and, really, for providing such a great platform for (that’s right) a world of opportunity.

All my love!

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Posted in Beautiful, Fashion, Kuwait and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
24 Jun 2012

Frugal Approval: ilTrend.com (Because Its Fabulous Styling for Fabulous Pricing)

Unlike many other blogs who will rant and rave to you about an item they got for free, I do not believe in that VERY FLAWED method of reviewing. But, in my own personal time, I will go out and spend my money every now and then on a thing or two that I think is worth mentioning. I do not get a single thing out of making these reviews. And this is what Frugal Approval is all about. Honest, straight-forward reviews about products, services, etc. in Kuwait that I have personally spent money on and that I would personally tell my family and friends about. And now, I’m telling you.

I am nothing if not an online shopper. In fact, a great bulk of the stuff in my closet is made up of online purchases. But I’ve got a confession to make: I shy away from doing a lot of online shopping in Kuwait. Especially in the fashion area.

Here’s why: People tend to overprice.

I mean, really overprice. Like inflation on freaking steroids. And, well, you can’t blame me (or anyone else for that matter) for choosing to look for the same items I might want elsewhere at a more reasonable price range.

And, before anyone comes jumping down my throat for not taking into consideration the cost of shipping and handling and all that technical jazz that resellers love to use as an excuse to jack their prices up to astronomical heights, let me tell you that I have. And, speaking as someone who has been doing plenty of online shipping and ordering for a good number of years now, the reality is that when I order and ship to Kuwait 5 shirts from a US store online they always cost me a less amount than what I would pay for the exact same shirts if bought from a local Kuwaiti business or reseller.

That is the truth.

Now, what does this little rant have to do with ilTrend.com? Simple. It’s defines everything that is the opposite of this little start-up fashion business.

You see, for what is perhaps the first time in my Kuwaiti fashion shopping experience, I have finally found a store that sells stuff that does not only look awesome and different and turns a million heads, but that is also sold at an honest price.

Example: I got the most darling pair of girly, pretty, faux three piece earrings from ilTrend.com (pictured above). They’re gorgeous; they’re dainty; they’re just so adorably precious. I’ve already received tons of compliments on them since I’ve gotten them around 2 weeks ago.

And yet that perfect pair of girly, pretty, compliment-worthy awesomeness cost me no more than 4.500 KD (or 6.500 KD plus delivery).

I looked into getting another pair and found another local business selling these kinds of earrings. And I was beyond shocked. I found this other local business (which shall not be named cause I ain’t no troll) selling the exact same earrings for 10 KD a piece.

A PIECE. That means if I wanted to get the full pair of the very same earrings I bought from ilTrend.com for a grand total of 6.500 KD, I would have to pay this other local business a minimum of 20 KD.

That, by the way, is stealing.

Its also a price inflation of nearly 70%. Even if you can afford to blow that much cash, your consumer rights are supposed to insure that you don’t. And, as many of you may know, I’ve already made my opinion on this endless inflation, thievery pattern pretty darn clear.

And, really, its not just the accessories that are so fabulously styled and even more fabulously priced. I also got a beyond gorgeous dress for the very reasonable price of 12.5000 KD. Again, I saw the exact same kind of dress elsewhere in Kuwait for a price that is too crazy to mention.

The bottom line is this: ilTrend.com is fashionable; its different; its classy; its convenient; but most importantly its honest. It doesn’t try to take advantage of a single consumer, nor is it interested in presenting itself as anything that it’s not. It’s a clean business that operates on the basis of allowing every woman to indulge her fashionista tendencies without breaking the bank. Especially when there’s no reason in the world that she has to.

So, if you’re a woman, and you care about looking fabulous and, you know, keeping your bank account then ilTrend.com is definitely your ticket.

And, if you’re local fashion business, and you sell at these crazy, inflated prices then take notes.

All my love! (I also believe ilTrend has a number you can Whatsapp your orders to if online shopping isn’t your thing. Its 96609572)

Posted in Approved, Fashion, Frugal Approval, Kuwait and tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
08 May 2012
7 Comments

I Might As Well Make My Nails Look Like Duck Feet – The Henna Fingers Trend

Look, I am always down for a good manicure. When I’m feeling wild and fun, I go for crazy colors and designs I’ve never been courageous enough to try before. When I’m feeling all classed-up and feminine I go for the classic, timeless red or le Français. In fact, when I’m feeling just about anything there is always a shade of nail polish that reciprocates that feeling.

And its not just nail polish here. Almost every girl I know can probably attest to the healing and the cheering powers of how adorning our hands with ANYTHING–be it bracelets, rings, nail polish, or henna–can make us feel pretty.

But there’s this new henna trend that, apparently, has been catching on in Kuwait and that I don’t think will make me feel all that glammed up and beautified: the ‘Henna Fingers’ trend, which follows right in tow behind last  year’s ‘Henna Glove’ trend.

Don’t get me wrong: the ‘Henna Glove’ thing was kind of cute. It had a delicate charm about it that spoke to the cultures and traditions of the Gulf/Arab World in a cool, modern way. I never did it but I didn’t mind it at all either. However, I’ve got a whole other opinion on this ‘Henna Fingers’ deal.

Now, for those of you that don’t know what the ‘Henna Fingers’ trend is, its basically dying the fingers of your hands up until the middle (or “intermediate phalanges” to sound like a Wikipedia-bound, obnoxious loser) in black henna. That’s about it.

MeBlogging‘s brilliantly shot and styled Fortune Cookie photo shoot with the stunning Ascia, of Hybrid Headpiece awesomeness, shows some examples of this. There are also plenty of pictures of the gorg’, and oh so chic Ascia sporting this trend on her blog (in which I also found the above picture).

Now, of course, this is all a matter of my own personal taste. For all I know this could become the hottest, most loved, and most fashionably worthy trend of them all. To me, it feels like it might transform my fingers into tiny, burnt sausages; make them look like hoofs; or give an impression of a severe case of gangrene.

And if I was going to subject my fingers to that kind of visual brutality, then I might as well make my nails look like duck feet while I’m at it too.

But again, that could be just me.

All my love!

Posted in Fashion, Kuwait, Musings, SAY WHAAA...! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
06 May 2012
7 Comments

The Theft of F2O Designs in Broad Daylight (and Blatant Disregard of the Fact)

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So in the last few hours an exhibition by the name of “Get2Gether Kuwait” held a showcase of some local businesses in Kuwait University. These local businesses were meant to exhibit original creations of thier own to showcase the talent and skill of the local market.

And it sure showed the talent and skill alright. In illegally stealing property and being pompous, disregarding nitwits about it that is.

Yeah, a company by the name of A&S Designs decided to outrightly steal the illustrative works of Fatima Al-Othman (the talent behind F2O Designs) and market them as their own merchandise, sell them as such, and make “beau coup bucks” off of her hard work CLAIMING IT AS THEIR OWN.

Are you all seeing red? Cause I sure am.

A quick and nimble Twitter search revealed that the two gentlemen behind this business go by the charming Twitter handles @3lawiShrero (I believe his real name is Ali Al-Enezi) and @saloomalm. These two fine human specimens seem to be completely unaware of what it means to infringe upon copyright laws (which Fatima Al-Othman has placed) and steal some one else’s property. Before making a single move towards manufacturing the first t-shirt using ANY PRINT which they did not personally make, they are LEGALLY obliged to find out who it belongs to and ask for thier LEGAL permission to use it for any gain ESPECIALLY a monetary one.

That’s the law. You know, the thing that governs how we live and keeps us from lying, cheating, and stealing at our discretion.

I had a chat with one of these well-mannered, well-spoken men of high moral standing. And, not to sound self-righteous or anything, but I think I won that one. Anyway, here is the conversation. In Kuwaiti-Arabic (and yes I am still not Kuwaiti):

If you would like me to translate it into English, or transcribe it into actual Arabic I’d be more than happy to. Also, click it to enlarge it.

I don’t know but there’s a distinct scent of “Eau De Lawsuit” in the air, don’t you think?

Please check out F2O Designs website to see the original, copyrighted, stolen sketches. I am totally and officially putting my support behind Fatima Al-Othman and anyone who helps her fight these thieves to retrieve her intellectual and creative property which is, if you ask me, one othe most valuable things you could own.

All my love!

Posted in Disapproved, Fashion, SAY WHAAA...! and tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
29 Apr 2012
1 Comment

A Question for the Spendthrifts and the Frivolous: The Point Behind Spending Pointlessly

Look, I own designer stuff. Designer bags, designer clothes, designer accessories–I pretty much have a good chunk of assorted designer loot in my closet. I am totally for high fashion and, in fact, find it kind of annoying when people whine and moan about how expensive something like a Louis Vuitton purse is. I know that these luxury items are expensive for several, arguably valid reasons. They’re timeless, well-crafted, artistically wrought creations that are made out of some of the best materials on this earth and under the best set of hands. If anything, some of these items can be considered as a real financial investment if you take proper care of them.

So, please understand that the forthcoming criticism is not of high fashion nor of its duly expensive brand of luxurious products. This post actually has nothing to do with luxurious things whatsoever.

This post is about that one person that everyone knows if you happen to live in a place like Kuwait (or, really, anywhere abundantly wealthy). You know the one. She’s the girl that has about a hundred pairs of Jimmy Choos that she’s only ever worn once. Or the guy that collects super-pricy Rolex watches only to wear each of them once in a blue moon.

I know one, you know one, we all know one (at least). That’s right: I’m talking about the spendthrifts and the frivolous group of people that always seem to emerge out of every financially blessed population. The only reason I’m using Kuwait as an example here is because its the only place where I can draw from actual experience–but I’m sure this is not a Kuwait exclusive deal.

Now, before I start, I know a lot of you are going to ask: “What’s it to you? It’s their money. They can do whatever they want with it. How is the way that anyone chooses to spend their money any of your business?”

And here’s my answer (put as briefly as possible): It’s not.

I’m not here to tell anyone how to spend their money, give my opinion on wise investments or, really, anything to do with the way that anyone chooses to manage their property (financial or otherwise). That kind of talk should be reserved for your Mommas and Papas–not me.

All I’m here to say is, if you do happen to know someone who mindlessly spends bucket-loads of cash on a whole lot of luxury items just for the sake of owning them and not really using them (or even if you happen to be one of these people), then you would probably benefit yourself and so many others if you take the time to perhaps ask a few questions about why people in rich societies do this.

I mean, when you choose to buy, for example, 20 Chanel purses and then chuck them away in the back of your closet, only to be seen on select occasions and worn, on average, a small handful of times throughout the year (before you go out and buy 20 more new ones), what’s the point?

This is really what I’m trying to understand here.

As a person who does indulge in high fashion and luxurious things from time to time, I honestly find myself very baffled by this question and this mode of behavior that I’ve seen so many times in Kuwait.

Is there some kind of cathartic benefit to spending so much money on things that are considered luxurious just for the sake of it? Like you think it could possibly console any feelings you might have about your financial or social security?

Do you feel that your reputation and the public opinion of you depends on the amount of expensive things that you own? And so the more you accumulate the more people will respect you or speak highly of you?

Is it just some kind of compulsive, nearly addictive habit? Confessions of a Shopaholic, anyone?

I’ve talked about this behavior with some people and, for some reason, many of them just chalk it up to boredom, an overflowing trust fund, and a lack of character-building “life experience.” And, while I understand where they’re coming from, I think that kind of opinion is somewhat limiting cause it can really only be applied to adolescent, spoiled children at best. You can hardly say the same thing about, for instance, a busy mother of two who has an MBA and works a full-time job as a bank executive.

Because I know that mother and I’ve seen her, in all her hard-earned “life experience,” do the exact same thing.

So, really, what do people honestly think they get out of this insane level of spending which, for all intents and purposes, is actually pretty damn pointless? I’m not judging or anything. Just pretty curious.

The reason I ask this question is because, well, I feel like there is so much more to the people in Kuwait than the things they own and I really don’t like this notion of anyone trying to strongly define themselves through the amount of expensive stuff that sits in the back of their closet.

So, please, oh deep-pocketed souls (or their acquaintances), shed some light over here.

All my love!

Posted in Fashion, Kuwait, Musings, SAY WHAAA...! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
08 Apr 2012

Frugal Approval: Madly Yours Blush (and Why Your Skin Will Love You for It)

Unlike many other blogs who will rant and rave to you about an item they got for free, I do not believe in that VERY FLAWED method of reviewing. But, in my own personal time, I will go out and spend my money every now and then on a thing or two that I think is worth mentioning. I do not get a single thing out of making these reviews. And this is what Frugal Approval is all about. Honest, straight-forward reviews about products, services, etc. in Kuwait that I have personally spent money on and that I would personally tell my family and friends about. And now, I’m telling you.

Look, I’ve got to say it: I’m something of a makeup snob. I have no problem splurging on a foundation, or a lipstick that doesn’t make me look like I dunked my face into an oil well or like my lips are made of pavement. I’m not saying that I splurge on every bit of makeup that I buy. I am all about the Maybelline mascara and Cover Girl eye shadow and wouldn’t trade them for anything.

What I am saying is that, to me, my skin’s health and radiance doesn’t have a specific price tag.

And this is where the Madly Yours blush comes in. In short: if you love your skin you’d check this place out.

Now, I’m not entirely sure what the deal is with these products, but MY GOD DO I LOOK RADIANT AND LIGHT. Like, seriously, one brush stroke of the Sheer Satin blush and, I swear to God, my cheeks transform into rosy, plumped up rays of sunshine. And, that is not an overstatement. It’s just that good.

And, trust me, I’ve got a pretty complicated history with my blushes. Ever since I first saw my big sister put on makeup when I was around twelve years old and I saw how, with a few dabs to her face, this stuff transformed her (already gorg’ face) into a glowing peach, I was obsessed with blush. It’s the first bit of makeup I ever tried and it was the only kind of makeup I ever used up until I graduated high school. I have gone through all kinds of blushes and received mixed results with each, all in the endless pursuit of finding that perfect balance between a natural, sunny glow, and feature defining, rosy hue.

A whole lot of the blushes I went through did not look like this natural, healthy, and enhancing glow that I was going for. For the most part, they just looked like puffs of rose pink which made me look more flushed than glowing most of the time. They weren’t exactly bad, but they were not natural looking.

So, one day way back in 2010, a dear friend of mine drove me out to, what seemed at the time, east-freaking-nowhere. It’s actually not that far off, I just have a really horrible sense of orientation. Anyhow! We arrived to this little boutique in the Behbehani Houses area (I think its somewhere in between Dar Al-Funon and Cleo Salon… not sure though) and, as a side-note I’ve got to say: the place has got the most quaint and charming vibe to it.

Now, upon seeing the huge array of blushes and powders that were laid out oh-so-delicately in pretty porcelain cups, I was immediately intrigued. I excitedly sauntered over and tried out one powder (and blush case) after the other. And, honestly, my skin has never felt this genuinely soft and luscious and freaking fresh since, I’m guessing, my very early years. I have never, to this day, found a brand of blush that compared to Madly Yours. Not a single one.

And since that fateful spring two years ago it has been the only kind of blush that I use. From The Bronzing Powder and the Sheer Satin Blush to the Sorbet and the Rose powder. I have yet to be disappointed by a single one of the Madly Yours blushes.

Now, as far as pricing goes, it is somewhat hefty: somewhere in the ballpark of 9 KD and 13 KD depending on the kind of blush you get. I believe that most of these products are mineral based and use only the lightest and healthiest (hypoallergenic) of ingredients so, if you ask me, that kind of justifies the price a bit. I mean, I’d personally rather have a light, healthy, and radiant glow for the price of a few more bucks than pay a lower price for the standard issue rose pink puffs I was talking about earlier. However, as with any purchase, the price is something you should always consider so there it is.

I haven’t personally bought (nor have I really tried) any of their other products so, in the Frugal Approval spirit, I can’t review anything besides the blushes. For what it’s worth, many of my friends who have tried their foundation and eye makeup are absolutely smitten by them. I wouldn’t personally know though.

Here’s a great article about Madly Yours’ gracious founder Maha Al-Otaibi (by Bazaar). It definitely speaks for the great level of entrepreneurship that Kuwait has in store, and Maha is a great example of this. Also, you can check out or contact Madly Yours on their Facebook page right over here. (Picture used courtesy of the Facebook page)

All my love!

Posted in Approved, Fashion, Frugal Approval, Musings and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
30 Mar 2012

For My Niece: Why There’s Nothing Wrong With Beauty Being “Skin-Deep”

So I love clothes. And I love books. I have friends who can’t stand to read a page of literature and would much rather spend hours pouring over an article in Vogue. And then I have another group of friends who consider clothing as nothing more than an obligatory part of waking up in the morning and don’t find the least bit of interest in fashion as they do in spending hours on end reading every kind of book on the planet.

The fashionistas think that the bookworms are socially inept hermits, and the bookworms think that the fashionistas are shallow airheads. But hey! I love clothes and I love books, goddammit! I care about my looks and my brain, so what the hell am I?

Not only that but I can tell you with complete confidence that I’ve had long and deep conversations about the most philosophical subjects with my fashionista girls and that I’ve shared the most insanely adventurous and stupid-yet-awesome moments of my life with my bookworm friends.

My point being that there is no exclusive importance that needs to be placed on either looks or brains in order for a woman to feel truly unique and beautiful. There just isn’t.

But, according to the 12th most shared article of 2011, ‘How to Talk to Little Girls,’ I’ve got it all wrong.

So apparently the author of this article (Lisa Bloom) thinks we should just annihilate any and all forms of praise for physical attributes that a little girl may have so that we don’t unintentionally contribute to her developing a self-image issue in her psyche. Instead of focusing our compliments on how pretty a little girl looks in a dress, we should shower her with encouraging comments about the books she reads or hobbies she enjoys. Anything but tell her that she looks pretty darn cute in her first real pair of big-girl shoes.

According to her advice, leaving out all these remarks on a girl’s physical and external beauty will lead to “one tiny bit of opposition to a culture that sends all the wrong messages to our girls. One tiny nudge towards valuing female brains.”

Which, hey, I am absolutely and wholeheartedly down for. Anything that can be done to help remove the insane and extremely harmful social standards of physical beauty and self-worth is a great and noble cause in my book.

But I still don’t think that erasing the topic of fashion or physical beauty altogether is going to lead to a whole lot of improvement.

I’ve got a particular friend back in Kuwait who comes to mind here. She’s someone who cares so much about the fashion industry and about keeping up with the latest trends that grace the pages of Vogue magazine that, sometimes, it can be ridiculous. Fashion is, by all means, her true ambition in this life. But yet she has suffered some very hurtful experiences while growing up because of the fact that fashion was her passion. She was immediately discounted by her teachers, her employers, and sometimes even her own family as being “stupid,” “shallow,” and “self-centered.” Yet this girl graduated in my class with a Magna Cum Laude honors and a sky-high GPA.

She was not stupid nor was she, by any means, self-centered or superficial.

And this is the mistake that people make when they opt for the whole “books not looks” praise philosophy. With the best of intentions people make this mistake under the impression that we are promoting something healthy and good but, actually, all we end up doing is substituting one complex for another.

We’re letting girls think that they can either be praised for their looks or their brains, but not both.

And, of course, we need to remind little girls and young women that, in a world where there is so much emphasis being placed on the pressure to look a certain way, that their minds matter too. It’s important for women to talk to other women (and little girls) about books, art, politics, and ideas. But those great efforts don’t erase the fact that there still is a lot of pressure on body image that’s waiting for little girls just beyond their doorsteps. They are going to be bombarded with all kinds of confusing messages about how a girl should externally look and behave no matter what. And it’ll be downright irresponsible of us to leave them with those confusing messages and not address them along with every other “intellectual” thing.

When we don’t talk to girls about clothes or makeup we give them the WRONG AND HARMFUL impression that these things are unimportant and signs of vanity. And when we only ever compliment them about their looks we instill the equally WRONG AND HARMFUL impression that looks are all that matters.

So, what’s to be done here? Compliment girls on how they look AS WELL AS other topics of interest. Let them know that its essentially important to have an appreciation for physical as well as intellectual beauty. AS IN BOTH. AT THE SAME TIME.

As for me, not a single day is going to pass by that I’m not going to tell my little niece how beautiful she looks when I see her. And the more she grows the more I’m going to talk to her about every subject under the sun. I’m going to read to her and then I’m going to go help her pick out her outfit.

Because I want her to take after her auntie: I want her to love clothes and love books.

All my love!

Posted in Beautiful, Books, Everywhere Else, Fashion, Musings, News, SAY WHAAA...! and tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
26 Mar 2012
2 Comments

If Cargo Shorts and Jeans Had a Deformed Child… This Would Be It.

You know, I am all down for high fashion. In fact, I fully support it. The reason the big-name designers make the equally big bucks is because they were the ones that dared to take an unheard of idea and turn into an iconic and artistic expression that you can freaking wear. In the fashion world risk and unlikely match-ups are what get you noticed and, for a well known designer like Dolce & Gabbana, its what you have to do to keep your design aesthetic unique and fresh.

But this has gone way past unique and fresh. It is now happily settled somewhere between the borders of cuckoo and hideous.

I mean, come on now. There are bold, fashion-forward design choices then there’s just a pure lack of taste. Who in their right minds would see this on a rack somewhere and seriously go “Hmm, that looks good.”

Let me put it in perspective for you:

Imagine you eating a slice of pizza and then leaving the cheese-stuffed crust behind. Now imagine you took that leftover cheese crust and attached it to piece of salmon or like, a pineapple or whatever. Sure, you can still eat it, but do you really want to?

That’s kind of what Dolce & Gabbana did with this thing. What would you even call it? Jeans? Cargo shorts? Jecargorts? (In the same spirit as the skirt and short combo: THE SKORT).

Bottom line: Please don’t wear this, fellas. It’s irredeemably ugly and, also looks somewhat uncomfortable in the waist line area. Take it from a girl who’s got your best interest at heart here and just don’t.

Although, of course, I’m sure some people will still happily shell out the big bucks and risk looking like a malformed cross between a frat boy and a grunge bass player just so they can say they got it from Dolce & Gabbana.

To those people, step right over here.

All my love!

Posted in Fashion, Musings, SAY WHAAA...! and tagged , , , , , , , ,

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