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.