Unboxing | Dior 30 Montaigne Pochette 2-in-1 feat. Dior 2020 Christmas packaging

Hello there! I hope you're all doing well and that the Christmas spirit is finally letting some positivity shine through! It definitely has in our household as we have put up Christmas decorations very early this year, mid-November to be exact and it has definitely helped to brighten up the mood!

I love having a big Christmas tree all decorated with memories from our travels and beautiful baubles we collect along the way and I love having a ton of gifts under it - gifting makes me happy! The process of thinking and choosing the perfect gift for each and everyone on my list gets me all excited and seeing their faces when they open said gifts is even more priceless! 

On the other hand, I also love treating myself 😝. I do so all throughout the year, as you very well know, but especially on my birthday and Christmas, I like to go all out and this year was not going to be an exception. Soooo, I treated myself to a little Dior purchase which I have been eyeing for quite a while - the 30 Montaigne 2-in-1 Pochette in black grained calfskin with gold hardware.

Without further ado, let's dive into the details of my new addition. First things first, the packaging 😍! How beautiful is this year's Christmas packaging from Dior?! This year, the motifs were inspired by the luminarie that provided a splendid, scenographic background for the house's Cruise 2021 show. It's hypnotic isn't it?!

Moving on to the bag, as the name suggests, the bag can be worn in 2 ways - as a belt bag or as a shoulder bag, thus you get 2 straps with it - a leather one (belt) and a beautiful gold chain (shoulder) one. The bag also comes with a classic Dior dust bag with gold lettering and authenticity certification and receipts.

Now let's have a closer look at the details. Right off the bat, you can tell that the grained leather is matte and buttery soft and the hardware details are perfect! I especially love the chain as it looks like little hexagon nuts attached to one another and it definitely has some weight to it. The CD logo on the front is an ambigram and is thus read as CD no matter which angle you look at it. The interior is lined with suede leather.

The bag has one zip compartment and a larger compartment, both on the inside. At the back of the large internal compartment, there are 4 card slots. Cards can only be put upright though as the slots are very narrow. You also get a pocket on the back where the 30 Montaigne logo is embossed and another one at the very front under the flap. The bag features a snap-button closure. What fits inside? Basically my phone, some cash, 4 cards and a lipstick. 

I had been eyeing this pochette for a while before I committed to it but I really needed one in gold hardware as my YSL has silver hardware and I like my hardware and jewellery to match. Dior calfskin is usually quite durable so I'm looking forward to see how it compares to the nearly indestructible YSL WOC.

I prefer wearing the bag as a shoulder bag with the gold chain as it suits my style more but having the option to wear it is a belt bag gives me an added bonus and it's like getting two bags for the price of one! Speaking of price, this is one of the lower priced bags from Dior is available in other colours. There is also another version of the shoulder bag in lacquered leather but I feel that limits me the occasions and places I can wear the bag to, hence why opted for the matte grained leather version.

I look forward to years of enjoying this timeless classic and thank you Dior for the exceptional customer service, as always.

Exploring Budapest | Part 3 - All the other fun places!

For the final part of the Exploring Budapest series, I wanted to share a couple of fun places you can go to while holidaying in the pearl of the Danube just to make your trip that bit more unconventional 😉.

First off, the Szechenyi Thermal Baths. Budapest is known as the city of thermal baths, and with good reason. There are various ones you can go to but we chose the most prominent one and we allotted half a day to enjoy the baths here. We had a quick snack and since they open at 10 o'clock in the morning we also ventured for a stroll in City Park and Vajdahunyad Castle before going to the baths. Going early is guaranteed to earn you a good spot to lounge by the pool and relax.

The Amazing Metal Art Gallery is a must-visit for anyone who's into steampunk or anyone who enjoys experiencing things which are a little out of the ordinary. There are over 15 sculptures made out of metal and it was fun to recognize some favourite film characters out of them. Even though I'm not usually one to look for these things, I really enjoyed our time here and taking pictures with all the different exhibits.

Margaret Island, or Margit-Sziget in Hungarian is worth checking out for a relaxing stroll. There's a water tower that offers a nice view of the city which was unfortunately closed when we visited and we really loved going for a walk in the Japanese Garden.

You can get some of the best views of the city from the Budapest Eye. We got a cabin for ourselves (thank you rona, and for once I am not being sarcastic about this) and we got to enjoy the city from another perspective. This attraction stays open till late so you can go at whatever time you prefer - daylight for more familiar views or night-time to see the city lit up.

That said, for the best jaw-dropping views of the city by night, I highly recommend you take a river cruise. We opted for one with dinner included and it was a simply stunning experience, string trio included!

If you're into retro stuff or specifically, the 1970's, make sure you check out the Retro Design Centre when in Szentendre. It is basically a museum showcasing what a house looked like in the 70's and everything that was in vogue at the time, including car models you can take pictures in.

Lastly, the Museum of Sweets and Selfies. There are 2 museums of the sort in Budapest, we opted to go to No. 2 Bubbles specifically for the bubble pool as requested by my husband 🤣. This is a really fun place to visit if you're into cool ideas for the gram. It was slightly more expensive when we visited because it was a public holiday so do go on regular days to save some money but we highly recommend you check it out!

Which of these fun activities would be most looking forward to try first?

Academie Hydraderm Facial at Claire's Beauty Basics

Autumn and winter are probably the harshest seasons when it comes to skincare. We tend to drink less water due to us not feeling thirsty and lack of sweating and to top it off, the cold air dries skin even more. Now, we have a new contributing factor, obligatory mask-wearing everywhere we go (thank you Rona).

Apart from the infamous maskne, the skin on our faces is drier thanks to all three factors combined. Enter Academie's newest range - Hydraderm and their respective cabin treatments. I visited Claire's Beauty Basics in Mosta specifically to have the Hydraderm facial treatment done and I can tell you right away that it was the most thirst-quenching hour my skin has had in a while!

My skin before the facial - a few spots on my chin and sides of my face where the mask usually is and looking a bit dull and dehydrated

First things first, Claire started with the Hydraderm Gentle Peeling Cleanser 2-in-1 which has made my skin feel super clean and soft. The product is of 98.7% natural origin (as are all Academie products) and it removes makeup and eliminates impurities and dead skin cells in a single gesture. She then moved to blackhead extraction, a head, shoulder, and neck massage (see video below), and subsequently the actual Hydraderm treatment. 

The Hydraderm facial treatment packs

First goes the Moisturising & Relaxing Modelling Cream followed by a gauze soaked in toner  (to help the treatment better penetrate the skin), on which the Intense Moisture Mask is applied. To activate the mask, the Activation Gel is applied on top and the treatment left on for 15 minutes, during which Claire gave me a hand and arm massage.

Mask on! Ready, set, hydrate!

Upon removing the mask, before looking into the mirror, I could feel my skin was much more hydrated and yes, it looked plumper right away! Although results are visible right after the first treatment, it is recommended to do the facial every 3 weeks for optimum hydration and to maintain results.

I took home the Hydraderm 2-in-1 Cleanser and the 24H Hydraderm Serum to complement my skincare regimen and so far, I haven't had any breakouts.

Academie Hydraderm Cleanser & Serum

A few days after the facial and my skin still feels and looks more hydrated

Lastly, a little note to say that all COVID-19 safety protocols are in place at Claire's Beauty Basics and you can book an appointment in confidence, knowing the environment is safe 😊.

Facial treatment and products sponsored. Post is based on my personal experience and honest opinion.

How To Style Trends from A/W 2020/2021

Finally, the season I so love for fashion has started to make an appearance; well sort of. Those who know me really well know I love summer and it is my absolute favourite season, but there is something about autumn and winter fashion that is just captivating - luxurious and soft materials, tasteful layering, a warm colour palette...

In Malta, we are blessed with sunshine all year round and by sunshine, I mean hot days even in the middle of February. Nonetheless, when it gets cold, the temperatures drop enough for me to pile on layers of clothing I had been shopping for since mid-summer and secretly wanted colder weather to wear them). 

With self-isolation and partial lockdowns being the order of the day, it is easy to get stuck in a rut of wearing tracksuits and oversize loungewear but I didn't want to fall in that trap so I still make an effort to dress up whenever I can. However, in the light of appreciating comfortable clothes and shoes more, I have tried to reflect that in the outfits that I chose for this post, where I want to highlight key trends and how to style them.

You will see that some trends overlap between these 4 outfits and that is just so you can see how easy it is to incorporate them in your wardrobe. I also wanted to highlight the importance of investing in key pieces that will stand the test of time, both from a fashion trend perspective as well as how good the material is. For example, one of the blazers I used for this shoot is 8 years old and it still looks brand new. Also, invest in accessories as they are what brings an outfit together and make you stand out. Without further ado, let's dive into the trends!

#1 - Blazers

Blazers are a key part of transitional dressing, hence the importance of investing in them and making sure they fit perfectly. This year, expect a lot of checked blazers and two-tone blazers as the stand-out pieces. Dressed up or down, the blazer can effortlessly take you from day to night! Investing in good quality materials and classic cuts ensures you'll get to wear your blazers for a long time.

Blazer - Zara (from 2 years ago) | T-shirt - Uniqlo | Trousers - MissGuided at ASOS | Sneakers - Adidas Originals Sleek
Bag - YSL | Necklaces and hoop earrings - MVintage | Stud earrings and cuff - Kalk

Blazer - H&M (8 years old!) | Scarf - Burberry | Necklace - Mango 

#2 - Lilac, #3 - Leather, #4 - Mules

Lilac is going to be huge this season and I would say it is not a colour I expected to see during this time of year and it is not a colour I wear that often. A few key pieces cleverly incorporated in your wardrobe should do the trick.  Another trend I wanted to point out in this outfit are the mules. Mules will be here to stay this season but they get a more autumny feel with quilting patterns and darker colours. I paired the sweater with a real leather skirt. Leather is always huge and it doesn't have to be in black or a jacket - experiment with it and see what works best for you.

Sweater - Mango | Chain Necklace - MVintage |  Necklace with pendant - Michael Kors

Apart from the pictures beautifully captured by Deborah from Capture the Moment, here I have some more outfits in which I wore leather items in different colours.

#5 - Animal Print

Animal print is another ubiquitous trend that has been given a fresh new look this year - zebra print and snakeskin and two firm favourites with me and I especially love the subtle print on this sweater. When it comes to accessories, snakeskin is my favourite especially in neutral colours - guaranteed to go with everything!

Sweater and rope necklace - Mango | Bag - Charles & Keith

#6 - Chains

Whether layered around your neck, worn as belts or on a bag or shoes, chains are huge this year. Have fun experimenting with different styles and sizes and see what works best for you!

Chain necklace - MVintage | Rope necklace - Mango

Necklaces - MVintage

Necklace - Mango

#7 - The Curated Ear

I have finally jumped on this bandwagon a couple of months ago when I got my upper lobes pierced. I never leave the house without earrings and now that I have space for more I love curating my earrings to match my mood and outfits. I am now looking to add a couple more piercings on my right ear which is always exposed 😉

Hoop earring - MVintage | Stud earring and ear cuff - Kalk

I hope you have enjoyed this post and do let me know what you think of the trends highlighted here, in the comments!

All photographs by Deborah from Capture the Moment unless otherwise stated.

Caravage Collection by Diane De Malherbe

Last Friday I had the immense pleasure of visiting Diane De Malherbe's pop-up shop in Sliema to view her Malta-inspired collection entitled Caravage. But before I dive into the collection, I wanted to share some insight on this talented designer with a fresh take on fashion in a bid to build a sustainable and environmentally-friendly approach in a realm that is constantly demanding change.

Diane De Malherbe hails from France and is in fact based between Paris and Malta. She used to work and design clothes for established designer labels such as Celine and Givenchy before launching her own namesake brand in 2018 which produces luxury womenswear and bridal gowns. Her take on luxury fashion is quite distinct from what we may traditionally perceive as luxury. She uses high-quality materials such as silk that is sourced from sustainable environments and aims at producing garments that will stand the test of time and last in the wearer's closet for a lifetime, possibly even more. Her collections are adorned with unique handmade embroideries and interchangeable wrists, for example, to enable the wearer to switch up the garment to suit the occasion and give it a different look each time.

All embroideries in Diane De Malherbe's collections are handmade

I noticed her collections are named after artists and I think this couldn't be more apt! She is an artist herself from her approach to her design concept and materialization of the garments, I think she has it all!  Now let's explore the Caravage collection so you can see what I mean.

At a Glance - The 'Caravage' Collection by Diane De Malherbe

As I already told you, the Caravage collection is inspired by Malta - our position between the orient and the west, our heritage from the times of the Knights of St. John, most notably, the baroque jewel in the heart of the capital - St. John's Co-Cathedral and of course, the Caravaggios adorning some of its walls as well as the sea surrounding us.

The colour palette of this collection explores rich jewel hues of fuchsia, saffron, emerald and red which are complemented by silvers, gold and opulent black and white. The collection features ready-to-wear pieces and bridal looks, all of which can be made-to-measure. The black jacket and white blouses come with removable and interchangeable hand-embroidered cuffs to suit different tastes and occasions. The materials are exceptionally high-quality and you can tell from afar that all pieces are well-made with fabrics of the highest quality.

 Embroidery and interchangeable wrists are distinctive and prominent features in Ms De Malherbe's collections

I couldn't pick just one favourite from the collection but the star of the show is definitely this ivory silk dress with a hand-embroidered removable cape. The arabesque motifs are all inspired by the motifs in St. John's Co-Cathedral and it is a guaranteed show-stopper!

Apart from the Caravage collection, Diane De Malherbe also has her Cocteau collection on display at her pop-up shop. This collection was inspired by the garden of the designer's house in France and again, here we get that ethereal feel through the soft fabrics and colours of the collection.

I invite you to make an appointment with Diane De Malherbe to go and witness her exquisite collections with your own eyes and if you're planning to get married anytime soon, I highly suggest you have a thorough look at her bridal designs!

Diane De Malherbe pop-up shop will be open till the 1st November 2020 in Sliema from 10am to 9pm by appointment. Book yours through this link: https://www.dianedemalherbe.com/booking