Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2012

A very boudoir-ish collection I must say.  The Dolce & Gabbana RTW Fall 2012 is dramatic.  Lots of capes, lacy white and black frocks, corsets, colorful needlepoint florals, and black lace and velvets embroidered with gold thread.

New Hotel: W Paris Opera - France

Opening Today.

The hip and trendy hotel brand W has opened its newest hotel in Paris.  The 91 room hotel is located in the famous Opera area, near Galleries Lafayette and Le Printemps.  W Paris's signature restaurant, Arola, marks the debut of Spanish Michelin-starred chef, Sergi Arola in France. The hotel offers spectacular views of the Opéra Garnier from its ground level and mezzanine floors.

hotel website

Holst + LEE Jewelry

I love the ethnic looking Holst + Lee necklaces I have came across on Shopbop. I just had to get myself one.  Based in New York City, Holst + Lee jewelry designers Natalie Holst and Rochelle Lee had a passion for art, fashion, and culture.  They were inspired by the diverse people, places, cultures, and materials that they have encountered.  The collection is popular and is fast selling.

Travel Advice: Cioccolati Italiani - Milan, Italy

One of the most popular cafes in Milan is Cioccolati Italiani.  You better get there early to avoid the long queues.  The branch I have been to is near the Duomo, right next to La Rinascente's side door (the one facing Hotel Straf).  It isn't your average Italian gelateria, it's more like Haagen Dazs, the Italian version of it.  You get cakes, croissants, pastries, and coffee. Check out their other branches, that have seating and serve food.

Official Cafe Video

Address: Via San Raffaele, 6 (the Duomo branch)

Travel Advice: Shopping in Milan, Italy

Wherever I go, as you may have noticed from my posts, I prefer visiting important historical sites and museums. I have not listed all shopping areas, as I just visited the main places.

Via Manzoni, a street that extends from Piazza del Duomo to Via della Spiga, another fashion street. Armani superstore is at the heart of Via Manzoni, and facing the store, is one of Milan's most prestigious streets, the fashionable Via Montenapoleone. Stores on the street include Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Guiseppe Zanotti, Dior, Sergio Rossi, among others.  Via Sant' Andrea, is another extremely fashionable street, located in the mid of Via Montenapoleone.  It has Hermes, Chanel, Gianfranco Ferre, Moschino, etc.

Visit the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle, which has a few good shops and lots of cafes and restaurants. You will find Prada and Louis Vuitton there. Also the Gucci Cafe.

Right next door is La Rinascente, is the best department store in Milan, it reminds me a bit of Harvey Nichols.  Its located exactly on Piazza Del Duomo.  The store has the best luxury brands. Don't forget to pass by their gourmet mart upstairs, where the restaurants are.  And visit the downstairs section, for pots, dishes, stationary goods, and home accessories.

Keep on walking that same street, keeping Duomo Cathedral behing you, there will be more cafes and shopping.  And check out all the smaller streets for more boutiques including the Abercombie & Fitch.

I'm not a fan of outlets, but my group went to visit Foxtown and Seravalle Outlets.  Make sure to bring your passports with you if you go to Foxtown, you have to cross the border of Italy and enter Switzerland.  Out of the two outlets, Serravalle Outlet is the biggest.

For more shopping info check this website.

Most Liked Oscars 2012 Looks

I have to say, this year's Oscars kind of dissapointed me, there weren't that many eyecatching evening gowns.  The dress that wowed me this year was Gwyneth Paltrow's Tom Ford gown.  She couldn't have looked more elegant. Next came Angelina Jolie's Versace Atelier black velvet gown.  It looked so vintage and so her.  Last but not least, not that its a dress I really liked, we've seen it before, but I think Milla Jovovich made her Elie Saab gown stand out. It was perfect on her, and the exaggerated one shoulder made that dress happen for me.

Madame Sucre's National Day Cakes

Madame Sucre's four National Day cakes, is what I ordered for our chalet National & Liberation Day gathering.

Tel.: 99515599

Nails & Co.

The way Nails & Co., Al Nassar Tower branch, staff treat and pamper you, will probably be one of the reasons I might go back again and again to that nail salon.  Owners of the salon had done a great shop with the Tiffany & Co. themed salon.  They couldn't have chosen a better suited theme.  What I like the most is that in every occasion, the salon adds an extra theme, like in Valentine's Day and Kuwait's National Day, that's a clever touch.  The manicurists show great knowledge in nail polish trends, and I think its my first time to depend on the manicurist for nail color choices.  I like that Nails & Co. didn't go for the usual nail color brands, but used other good brands, like Chanel and MAC among others.  Another thing, Madame Sucre being the supplier of their yummy cupcakes, has won me as a frequent client.

Address: Al Nassar Tower, Fahad Al Salem St., Kuwait City

Tel.: 22258100/1

Other branches: Al Rawda Co-op and Mishref Co-op

Cookie Pizza

The yummy Nutella Pizza from Cookie Pizza.

For orders call or SMS them at 94938452

A Visit to Bait Ahmad in Al-Mubarkiya

My friends wanted to visit Bait Ahmad for days now, to tell you the truth I only heard of it through twitter, I don't know what it was.  I wouldn't have found it alone either in the Al-Mubarkiya area.  The shop is tucked away, more like hidden, between the Iranian carpets and the Afghani shops.  They couldn't have chosen a better spot.  It looks so in place in that area.  The shop has lots of home accessories, clothing, antiques, etc.  The decor os the shop is eye catching.  Things that caught my interest were some dresses and the silver painted jugs with silver cups.  I got myself a beautiful Mongolian shawl.

Travel Advice: Hotels to Stay In - Milan, Italy

Park Hyatt Milano
My biggest regret is not staying in this contemporary luxury hotel. I liked what I saw when I went for a visit. Its located in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
The Gray
A contemporary art deco boutique hotel that is also very close to Galleria Vittorio Emanule and faces Hotel Straf, where I have stayed in Milan. This contemporary design is also just steps away from the Duomo Cathedral.

Bvlgari Hotel Milan
Luxury hotel located very near to Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, and the La Scala theater. The hotel has a beautiful garden.


Armani Hotel
Located between Via Montenapolione and Via Manzoni. Go back to the post I wrote a while ago about the hotel.
Boscolo Hotel Exedra
Extremely modern design boutique hotel. Excellent location. Very close to the Piazza del Duomo.

Maison Moschino
A fairy tale themed design designer boutique hotel where each room has a different tale to tell. If you want to try something new and you're the adventurous kind this four star hotel is for you. And its located close to Leonardo's The Last Supper.

A Visit to Things by November

I have no words to describe my love to anything by November Boutique. Therefore, only pictures will do.

Address: Al-Tilal Mall, Kuwait