Brand Spotlight | Nilara Casual

The Nilara brand has cemented its roots in the local fashion industry as a top retailer of exclusively designed evening and cocktail dresses. Nilay Topal Camilleri, the designer behind it all, has now taken the brand a step further by opening a second shop in Main Street Shopping Complex just two months ago.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Nilara Casual shop last Thursday so I can share with you what this new concept for the brand is all about. There, I met two of Nilay's lovely assistants, Jeanelle and Trudy who patiently showed me around the shop and the designer's many creations.

As the name implies, Nilara Casual is focused on more smart-casual looks for the woman who wants to look polished without being overly done for her day to day activities such as work and outings which call for a more casual look.

At Nilara Casual you will also find accessories to complete your look from head to toe. I especially love the matching shoes and bags which are also designed by Nilay herself.

I do encourage you to pay a visit to Nilara's new shop whilst wishing Nilay every bit of success in her new venture!

Event | Inglot Launches at The Point

The Point Shopping Mall in Sliema now boasts another top store - Inglot. Yes, finally Inglot is now conveniently located, along with all the other ROCS Group outlets (insurance, travel and Perfumes&More) at The Point, the largest shopping mall we have on the island.

To celebrate, an elegant event was in order, and it all took place last Tuesday which also marks the 9th anniversary from the launch of the first Inglot store in Sliema which will still remain open (there is also another outlet in Mosta). This was definitely one of the top events I was lucky enough to attend and I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

The store is conveniently located on floor -1 of the mall with the entrance overlooking the parking lot. It is most definitely one of the biggest stores in the mall and it houses the actual makeup store as well as the beauty studio where you can get your nails and hair done and even some beauty treatments and make-overs. There is even a private room for a VIP experience! One thing which the store surpasses others in, is the incredible lighting which we all know is essential when checking out makeup ;)

Myself with fellow bloggers Pocalocca Makeup Artist, Zeza's Things, The Makeup Mafia and Suzanne's Eye on Make Up :)
I'm wearing AMC Pigment 22, Lipstick 184 and HD Lip Tint 20 from Inglot 

Caught in action checking out pigments - I treated myself to one later ;)
Photo courtesy of Keith Darmanin

At the end of the event, all ladies in attendance were gifted an empty 3-pan palette and we were allowed to choose three eyeshadows to put in it from Inglot's Freedom System. For those new to it, the Inglot Freedom System comprises every shade of lipstick, blush and eyeshadow imaginable, in pans, which you can put inside the dedicated empty palettes. The palettes are magnetized so no product is going to fall out and they close securely too. It was very difficult to pick out three shades but finally, with a little help from Lydon, I settled on numbers 165 (lilac with grey undertones and subtle purple shimmer), 487 (dark mauve with gold shimmer) and 613 (sangria red with gold shimmer). I also treated myself to AMC Pigment no. 82 and Lipstick no. 238.

I would like to thank ROCS for having me at their launch and I wish them every success with this new venture!

Non-Conventional Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas is officially less than a month away and even though, year after year we keep saying that we will start Christmas shopping early, the same thing always happens time and time again – we leave it till the last minute in the hope that the perfect gift for each person on our list materialises in front of us in a festively decorated shop window.

Also, we try to wreck our brains to make sure we don’t gift the same things as last year or the years before. Fret not, for here I have some unconventional Christmas gifts that will surely impress your nearest and dearest ;)

For starters, one for the men in your life - KIR ROYAL is a little gem in Valletta that you should definitely check out. From the little details that complete an outfit such as pocket squares, ties and related accessories, to that perfect shirt, for the style-conscious male, you’re bound to find something to tick some gifts off your list. Best of all, everything is available in very limited quantities to maintain exclusivity. Oh and for the ones who have everything? KIR ROYAL also offers image consultation services!

Images courtesy of KIR ROYAL Facebook page

We all know that women love shoes right? And what’s better than a personalised pair of shoes by Desirée that will have in your lady’s good books for many Christmases to come? Desirée will even hand paint designs on bags and even cushions to beautify your home if you so desire ;)

Images courtesy of DESIREE Facebook page

Another one for the ladies. Silk creations are always appreciated, especially when they are one-off pieces hand-painted by Rosita Silk Sense. In short, a silk scarf will definitely earn you tonnes of brownie points.

Images courtesy of Rosita Silk Sense Facebook page

A new gift concept comes in the form of artisanal tea thanks to Tettiera which is the brain child of cousins Joanna Micallef Farrugia and Diana Mifsud. This is definitely the gift for any tea lover and with the Maltese tiles packaging designed by Stephanie Borg, it can definitely be re-purposed and loved for years to come.

Images courtesy of Tettiera Facebook page

Stephen Cordina Aroma & Therapy is now an established name in the industry and his many perfumes and scents are a great gift idea for home lovers or people who are moving houses. They even have a bath & body range to complement the home range. I especially love the linen sprays, candles and diffusers.

Images courtesy of Stephen Cordina Facebook page

A gift from Charles & Ron can never be a wrong choice. If clothes shopping is not your thing, the formidable duo have come up with a comprehensive range of small leather goods to suit all budgets. Whether it's their iconic handbags or coasters or belts, you are bound to make a very good impression.

Images courtesy of Charles & Ron Facebook page

Lastly, we know that Christmas time is all about spending time with our nearest and dearest and it probably all happens over an elaborate dinner which would have taken the better part of the day to prepare. Why not gift a voucher from Chef Matt Vella instead? Chef Vella will come over and prepare a delectable meal to your tastes as well as set up the table for you!

Images courtesy of Matt Vella Private Chef Facebook page

Which gift will you choose? Happy Holidays!

The Detail is in the Embroidery featuring Zaful.com

Embroidery is one of the key trends in fashion at the moment. Thus when zaful.com contacted me to choose some items from their store, my obvious choice was this striped embroidered top. 

This was my first experience with Zaful and I was happy to receive the top within just two weeks and I was delighted all the stitching and embroidery are perfectly sewn. The top is quite light-weight but it was perfect for this morning as the day was pleasantly warm. The top also features a knot-front but it still fits me a little big so I am considering altering it to a smaller size. I paired it with jeans, ankle boots and a fringe bag for a smart-casual look. The blue and white stripes combination has always been a favourite with me for I find it equal parts stylishly appealing and easy to wear.

Have you bought any embroidered pieces yet? You can get discount codes for Zaful.com on RetailMeNot and you can also follow them on Facebook, Pinterest and Google Plus.

The top was sent to me by Zaful.com. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by Zaful.

Daniel Wellington Launches the Classic Black Collection

The Daniel Wellington brand has fast become a cult favourite ever since it was launched locally and now, being one of the participating brands, they have unveiled their latest collection during the November Pink Fashion Show.

Daniel Wellington is represented in Malta by Sunlab and VIP, two names which are synonymous with high quality jewellery and watch brands. Thus, I had no doubt that the latest watch collection for men and women from DW would be a stunner like the ones before it.

Ladies and gents, meet Classic Black from Daniel Wellington...

The collection is an extension of the Classic Collection renowned for it's minimalist style. Thanks to Classic Black, the watches in this latter collection are given a spin - a timeless classic, that still maintains it's minimalism and evoking timeless elegance with a bit more attitude thanks to the dark graphite dials against the silver or rose gold cases. 

What's more? The strap on the watches comes in an array of timeless, elegant colours so it's guaranteed you can match your watch to your outfit every time. My personal favourite is the Classic Black with St Mawes strap, what's yours?

Daniel Wellington Classic Black is available at Sunlab and VIP outlets.

All pictures from the official DW catalogue

Brand Spotlight | KIR ROYAL

When one thinks of Kir Royal, what comes to mind is a simple cocktail with the refined taste of champagne. For me, the name has now taken another meaning - when I think of Kir Royal, what comes to mind is an exclusive men's clothes shop in the very heart of Valletta, right on St. Paul's Street.

I gladly made my way to KIR ROYAL last Thursday morning where I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Ludwig and we spent a couple of hours chatting away about fashion of course! I asked Ludwig what drove him to open a men's shop and without hesitating he answered that fashion is his main interest apart from his EU-related work, so while he is back in Malta on sabbatical, he decided that opening this shop was the way to go forward. He also stated that he wanted something exclusive; something that would give shoppers an experience rather than just rushing in the shop get what they need and rush back out again.

As for choice of place, Ludwig states that each time he walked down St. Paul Street, he always saw this abandoned place and it was only natural that once he made plans to open the shop he would choose that particular place. I must say he did a very good job at renovating it and now it houses an exquisite collection of formal and some more casual male attire.

What struck me the most in KIR ROYAL's little setting, is the way Ludwig manages to exude exclusivity even in the way he displays his stock - the feel of antique with a modern, fresh touch from the décor of the shop to the garments themselves really makes you want to return over and over again.

At KIR ROYAL one finds everything a refined man could ever need - from suit jackets to shirts, pocket squares, collar stays, shoes and even skin care. It is important to note that stock is limited to maintain exclusivity and one can also find that perfect little something for the dapper man in their lives. Ludwig personally curates the stock at KIR ROYAL and imports garments mainly from Italy as well as USA and Ukraine. In stock are also some high end skin care products for men.

I urge you to pay KIR ROYAL a visit the next time you are in Valletta and who knows, maybe you can start your Christmas shopping there! It may not be on the busiest street but to me, that further contributes to making your experience there worth while!

KIR ROYAL is also on Facebook. Alternatively, you can have a look at their website for more information about their Image Consultancy Service.

Ferramoda 2016 - When Fashion, Arts & Culture Collide...

...the result is a sumptuous representation of that which makes us humans. A few days ago, I was cordially invited to the elegant setting of the Corinthia Hotel & Spa in Attard to witness the splendour of theatre, music and fashion presented by Ferramoda in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of Fashion and the Italian Cultural Institute for an event entitled Ferramoda 2016 - La Moda e' Cultura.

Ferramoda is an organisation that has the dual objective of promoting culture through fashion and in turn organising events for a good cause. The organisation is the brain child of Dr. Juliana Scerri Ferrante who also owns the fashion brand Ferragiu. You can have a glimpse of her latest collection further below. I was introduced to Juliana's work during the 2015 edition of the Mercedes-Benz Malta Fashion Week (you can read all about it here) and I found her collection to be rather intriguing so do keep on reading to see which looks made the cut for me this time round.

On to Thursday's event, which started with a reception where guests were able to experience the event sponsors' products at the stands which were beautifully set up in the hotel lobby. There were Pupa Milano, Guerlain (represented by FRANKS), Environ Skincare and Toni&Guy Hairdressing. Not to mention the Porsche cars parked just outside the hotel entrance for everyone to feast their eyes on. All this whilst enjoying a glass or two of gin, whiskey or prosecco and treat our taste buds to delicious canapés.  Other event sponsors included Nexos Lighting & Video, Accademia Italiana, Cavalieri Art Hotel, Niumee Malta and Bernard Polidano Photography.

Guerlain & Pupa Milano displays

Toni&Guy and Environ Skin Care displays

Subsequently, we were summoned to our seats which were put around four different areas where each room was equipped with a flat screen for everyone to see what was happening in the main room as the dancing acts were only performed there. For the fashion shows, the models passed through all the areas so we could see the creations from all the talented designers, but more on that later.

Introduction to Emilio Ricci's 'My Natural Dream' - photo by Mark Soler

Emilio Ricci - My Natural Dream
photos by Justin Ciappara

Soprano Ruth Sammut Casingena captivated us all with her beautiful voice as she sang the popular song Memories from the musical Cats after she delivered the opening address. Next we had a different kind of fashion show courtesy of Emilio Ricci who showcased his collection on video first which perfectly portrayed the aura of the collection named My Natural Dream. The video was then followed by a choreographed piece where models danced to the music wearing the designer's sartorial creations.

Soprano Ruth Sammut Casingena - photo by Mark Soler

Dr. Scerri Ferrante delivering her address - photo by Justin Ciappara

Following that, it was time for Luxury Outlet to show a part of their collection from different designers that they stock at their outlet in Sliema. The likes of Burberry, Gucci and Prada were gracefully worn by the models all along the catwalk. We also witnessed creations from Emilio Shubert, as well as other emerging designers and of course Ferragiu. Unfortunately, I had to leave the event early but I am still sharing my favourite outfits from all the collections (special thanks to photographers Mark Soler and Justin Ciappara).

Luxury Outlet

Emilio Shubert

Emilio Schubert

Emilio Shubert

Ferragiu

Ferragiu

I think this was a truly unique event in that arts (music, dance, computer graphics and ultimately fashion design) took centre stage at one go and fit in seamlessly together to produce an unforgettable evening. Bravi a tutti! (Well done to all!).

Bloggers
L to R: As Told by Jade, Style in Transit, (myself), Pocalocca, Diva Inside - photo by Mark Soler
I am wearing Freeze Frame

All photos belong to the respective photographers as stated. The other photos were taken by me.