The Crossover Back Dress

It probably wasn't the best day to wear this outdoors. A short hemline and windy weather go together like oil and water.

However, I scuttled indoors to the lunch venue as quickly as I could so these photos were taken in a rare moment of wind downtime.

This is a play on the famous Zara skater dress - the only difference being the crossover back which demands a strategic bra choice.

I love the colour - a soft, pale mint - and the overall shape is uber-feminine to the point where it makes me feel like a cutesy walking cupcake. In other words, a little bit gag worthy.

For that reason I had to add the chunky brown belt and a grown up structured bag. Without those two details it just looks a bit silly on me.

As with most dresses, it could be successfully paired with tights, New Look boots and a nice black/contrasting colour coat of the same length. I am obsessed with tights at the moment and absolutely gagging to wear them next weekend in the UK :)





Dress: Zara - Link! (I bought this months ago but it is apparently part of the new season collection, proving that Dubai's stock is a little different to the rest of the world's)
Shoes: Tory Burch - Link!
Bag: Celine
Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Onto reading material...

I don't think we have talked "books" for a while have we?

Well I have two important points to make:

1) I regret the day I downloaded Beautiful Disaster by James McGuire.

I will admit that I didn't have particularly high hopes - I wanted it for poolside reading - but there is nothing worse than enduring a book where you feel absolutely no compassion or understanding of the main characters. The story itself rambles through a destructive relationship but it feels completely devoid of structure or development. The experience is bloody weird!

In a twisted sense it is probably worth checking out for all of the reasons above and especially as it seems to attract completely polarised opinions. Some people adore it and others hate it.

Read the reviews on GoodReads.com to see for yourself! It's quite entertaining reading!

2) In total contrast I am absolutely LOVING my current book - Olives by Alexander McNabb. This may be because the previous book made me question my own sanity but I think its mainly because:

a) It's well written
b) There is an enticing storyline with characters that evolve at a steady pace; and
c) It touches on complex themes, with a landscape of Middle Eastern politics and romance underpinning the book.

I know, I know. The inclusion of those themes means that it sounds like it has potential to be frightfully dull BUT it isn't at all. There are lots of little twists and the ending is apparently an unpredictable surprise... I cannot wait to continue reading it and let me know if you decide to download it and join me :)

Hope you are all well...think the next post will be about a perfume I was given last week and LOVE!

x

Basics and books

This was completely unexpected. I went to the mall last night fully expecting to spend in Topshop, River Island and H&M but a quick persual of the aisles in those stores left me very disheartened and uninspired. Forever 21 was the last resort.

I haven't found anything of value in there for months and it was a delicious surprise to see that the store was packed out with great basics and, even better, it was organised and nicely merchandised. Yes, organisation in Forever 21!

Today I wore one of my purchases - a simple tee, whilst working from home. Now don't get me wrong. This outfit is boring and I know it but I love the quality of the occasional F21 tee. Some I have had for years and the fit of this one, all over-sized and bum covering with it's dipped hemline, makes it perfect.

Accessories were also largely Forever 21 - a really pretty necklace which features tiny rings on a long chain (it's so rare to find necklaces like this that hang at the right point so I consider this a find and a steal) and a cheap clutch that was purchased for the:

a) Nod to Stella; and
b) Because I wanted a cheapo day clutch that could come to get coffee with me or perhaps get ruined on a liquid-focussed night out. Welcome to my life, Clutch! :p

 

Tee: Forever 21 - I am thinking this is the nearest thing - Link!Trousers: Miss Selfridge (old)
Shoes: Topshop (called Gamble and they tend to always have a style like this in the summer)
Necklace: Forever 21
Little diamond necklace: Tiffany's Diamond by the Yard
Clutch: Forever 21
Sunglasses: Rayban Aviators
Watch: Rolex

Back to book talk

I haven't talked about books in a while and it seemed like a good time to tell you what I have been up to: 

* Erin Morgernstern's The Night Circus - now this was recommended by many of you and honestly, I read the description and thought "oh no - not another circus book", having read Water for Elephants earlier this year. But I downloaded and started to read it.

I felt quite unengaged in the first 15% of the book and then the story got interesting. I can honestly recommend this and I think it's a fantastic read. It builds in speed, intrigue and drama and, whilst a circus landscape feels unoriginal, the real themes are anything but.

* The Hunger Games series - I am now onto the third book in the Trilogy. It's been an interesting couple of weeks. The first book had me gripped and as a sucker for a Dystopian theme I knew I would enjoy it from Chapter 1. For whatever reason the second book took ages to read. I felt a bit thick. Finally I finished it and I admit it ramped up in pace by the end and now it's onto the final installment.

Would I recommend them? Yes, it's quite comforting to start reading the first one, love the subject, and know that there is a series of books waiting for you when you finish. It's the same feeling we all probably got when reading the True Blood series or even Twilight. For that reason alone I would probably say, "go for it"!

Other things I recommend right now?

Avicii Levels, Drake's new album, Chantecaille Just Skin, Harvey Prince Eau de Lite perfume, Dubai's "winter" temperatures, homemade food, MAC's Coppering eyeshadow, conical wands, black coffee, The Real Housewives of anywhere, San Pellegrino with oodles of lime and ice and....I think that's it for today :)

See you all soon!