From the Catwalk to the Street - Part 1

I'm very excited to release this blog post today in collaboration with Caroline from Diva Inside and three local designers which have just showcased their latest collections during last month's edition of Malta Fashion Week. We chose to showcase an outfit from each of Gaetano's LEGACY collection, Rosemarie Abela's Al Magrib collection and Marco Parascandalo's STAR collection. The aim of this post is to contrast the way the looks were worn by models vis à vis how Caroline and myself 'pulled them off'.

Rosemarie Abela - Al Magrib

First up, Rosemarie Abela. I chose this chambray denim dress with lace paneling across the torso and a matching hem and pockets. I paired it with red shoes and sunglasses which really popped against the blue and black of the dress. I felt really comfortable in this dress but of course since I am only 5 feet tall and the dress was designed for a model who is waaaayyyy taller than I am, the dress fit me a bit baggy. Nonetheless, this is something I would go for and I would wear this to lunch or a casual event - just add heels and some popping accessories to dress it up. I went for a geometric pair of earrings and a bracelet and ring by another local designer - Yana's Jewellery who just celebrated her fifth year in the business with the Colores del Flamenco collection also launched during this year's Malta Fashion Week.

Marco Parascandalo - STAR

Next is Marco Parascandalo which I thought was going to be the most difficult for me to pull off because street-wear is really not something I reach for at all. Funnily enough though, come the shoot, I really had fun in this crop top and slit trousers ensemble and well you can tell I had fun styling it in a rather unusual way for me - cat ears and all ;) I also used a stamp tattoo from Rimmel London's Ink Me collection in the shape of a star which was just right seeing the collection is actually named STAR :) Again, since I'm quite short, Marco hemmed the trousers higher for me and I actually think they looked cooler with the gemstones showing from the underside of the trousers too.

Gaetano - LEGACY

Lastly, my favourite - Gaetano. I chose this beautiful dress which features a heavily patterned skirt, a multi-way top and a red applique which really stands out against the monochrome fabric. I had a ball wearing this dress and would wear it to a special occasion such as a gala dinner. I went for a choker-style neckline with a pussy-bow at the side of my neck rather than at the back as worn on the catwalk and I paired the dress with just a pair of simple earrings. You will have the chance to see Gaetano's LEGACY collection being showcased during a fashion show which is going to be held tomorrow night in Hamrun.

Hair & Makeup

Hair and makeup for this shoot were entrusted to Marlene Vassallo and Bernice Catania from Bliss Hair & Makeup. The makeup was done using Makeup Factory and Marlene opted for a classic red lip look with a twist - she did an ombre lip and added a pop of purple and pink to my eyes. I really liked wearing this look and I would like to give it a shot myself too. The hair, on the other hand, was styled by Bernice in a braided upstyle. I think this look complemented both the casual looks as well as the more glaourous evening dress so kudos to these two ladies for their impeccable work!

About the location - Talbot & Bons Boutique Hotel

We set the photo shoot at the newly opened Talbot & Bons Boutique Hotel in the heart of the quiet, charming village of Gudja. The hotel is a 400-year old converted farmhouse situated in a quiet street. Apart from the stunning, peaceful surroundings, one thing I found to be really charming and unique are the room names - they are all named after the surnames of everyone involved in the building of the boutique hotel - from the owners to the designers. I really liked the modern touches and how well they complement the rustic element of the farmhouse. The bed and breakfast is truly the ideal escape if you want to experience a taste of old Maltese villages and their charm.

Which was your favourite look and did you like the way I styled these three different outfits? Be sure to check out Caroline's post too and see which looks she picked and styled her way :) Huge thanks go to our sponsors for this shoot and the designers who believed in us and allowing us to give their clothes our own spin :)

Photography: Gordon Formosa from Go Raw Photography
Catwalk photography: Justin Ciappara from JCiappara Photography
Hair: Bernice Catania from Bliss Hair & Makeup
Makeup: Marlene Vassallo from Bliss Hair & Makeup
Location: Talbot & Bons Boutique Hotel

MFWA 2018 Outfit | Completely Different

Ok so yesterday evening was not really my evening. I was getting ready to go to Malta Fashion Week which I did. I parked my car a bit far and as soon as I was going out, the snap buttons from my top came off so I went back home to change - hence why I named this outfit post completely different! 

What I was supposed to wear

What I actually wore

At the time I was really pissed and angry at what had just happened but in hindsight, I think it was a blessing. I chose a denim shirt and rolled the sleeves to give the skirt a casual vibe and it came in handy to beat the cold winds we had yesterday. I was starting to have fun when someone spilt their coffee on me and there my mood went down again. To top it off, the wind decided to ruin my hairstyle as it came perfectly undone which is funny because I used the Perfectly Undone range from TRESemme. Thus I called it a night and left after the first show. I still watched the other shows on live stream though so I will be writing my thoughts on them too in another post.

As for accessories I stuck to what I was going to wear in the first place -  a lime bag to bring out the lime in the skirt and dirty pink mid-heels which I feel are the best heel height with this skirt style. The rose-gold mirrored lens sunglasses are a winner here - I feel they really brought the look together! 

I'm looking forward to tonight's shows and I'm ready to put yesterday's little mishaps behind me. Today will be a special one too so be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for updates throughout ;)

Skirt, Gaetano | Shoes, Stradivarius | Bag, Zara (last year)
Ring, Yana's Jewellery | Earrings, Michael Kors
Sunglasses, Vogue at Optika

Which is your favourite way to wear this skirt - casual or dress up?

Photos by Neil Psaila

MFWA2018 | Day 3 - Glamour All The Way | Maria Cutajar, Headpieces by Adalia, Herminas Reea & Gaetano

Monday was my first day attending the 2018 edition of Malta Fashion Week which is celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the Malta Fashion Awards.

I think I couldn't have picked a better first day to attend this year - we were left gobsmacked with all the beautiful, glamorous creations from 4 super talented designers. Read on to see what they had in store.

Maria Cutajar - Dejjem F'Qalbna

The first show of the night came in the form of a presentation courtesy of local designer Maria Cutajar, entitled Dejjem F'Qalbna (Always In Our Hearts). The collection was inspired by the works of the designer's grandfather who was a skilled craftsman and used to make miniatures of the traditional Maltese balconies. In fact, all the garments were in green or red with a touch of black - the traditional colours of the balconies. I loved the cuts and final execution of the garments in this collection, with my favourites being the ones in dark green. The presentation ended with Maltese singer Janice Mangion singing her hit song 'Kewkba' (Star). Mate Irsik was in charge of hair using TRESemme products while make-up was under Natasha Polidano's lead using Evagarden.

Photos by Steven Muliett

Photo by Go Raw Photography

Headpieces by Adalia - Peacock's Pride

Next was another presentation, this time in the form of luxurious and colourful headpieces by Adalia Bonnici. I was really looking forward to this show as I am a big fan of headpieces and I love spotting the most gorgeous ones at events From the collection's name, you can easily deduce that the headpieces are elaborate, and many feature beautiful jewel tones, much like a peacock. Here are my favourites. Hair was done by Narelle Fabri Opyrchal and her assistants using TRESemme and make-up was done by Karen Decelis and her team using Evagarden.

Photos by Justin Ciappara

Photos by Go Raw Photography

Herminas Reea - Butterfly Effect

Luxury. Confidence. Female Empowerment. These are the three key concepts on which the Butterfly Effect collection by Herminas Reea is based. This was one of the best shows from yesterday's evening. Each dress more beautiful than the one before it, the collection is the true embodiment of female confidence. Guaranteed show-stoppers! Hair was under supervision by Priscilla Mifsud Cini using TRESemme and make-up was done by Talitha Dimech and her assistants using Evagarden.

Photo by Steven Muliett

Gaetano - LEGACY

Finally, the most anticipated show of the evening - Gaetano's LEGACY. Guests were wating to be seated for this local glamour designer's show long before it was set to start and well, that is understandable considering the popularity this young designer enjoys. Gaetano in known for his ultra glamorous, daring gowns meant for the woman who is not afraid to be seen. Last night's collection, LEGACY has proved to be his best yet. Inspired by old Hollywood glamour and fashion icon legends, the collection features a lot of black dresses with touches of red and white and of course, sparkly numbers do not go amiss. The show wouldn't have been complete without the presence of local singers Claudia Faniello and Marilena Gauci and actress Taryn Mamo Cefai. Be sure to check out the LEGACY video which I was honoured to be part of - see if you can spot me ;)

Photos by Justin Ciappara

Gaetano, you truly outdid yourself once again!!! Bravu! Hair was done by Matthew and Roderick Castillo using TRESemme and make-up was done by Marlene Vassallo and her team using Evagarden.

MFWA 2018 Outfit | Sheer Confidence Makes You Sparkle!

For my first day of Malta Fashion Week 2018, I chose to wear something totally out of my comfort zone which I ended up feeling super confident in at the end of the day! Let me tell you more.

Those of you who follow me on Facebook and Instagram have already seen the outfit, and from the very positive feedback that I got, everyone seemed to love it. Both the gold sequin bodysuit and flower embroidered skirt are designed by Gaetano who featured his latest collection last night. I admit, with the skirt being so sheer, I was feeling a bit self-conscious but once I got used to the whole look and I started getting compliments on the whole outfit, I was having fun! 

Being confident in our skin is sometimes easier said than done. We all have parts of our bodies which we like less than others and with the constant pressure to look good all the time, this can get tiring; yet we still get the 'learn to embrace yourself' pep talk often times which is not a bad idea at all. However, if you think that by making a few changes, say in your lifestyle that will make you feel more confident, I say go for it! Sometimes going out of your comfort zone, is what you need to give yourself a confidence boost! For example, the walk from my car to Fort St.Elmo didn't come without weird stares from passers by but once I overheard an appreciative comment (definitely not referring to cat-calling), I could feel myself feel more confident. When people tell you there and then that they love what you're wearing and they are genuine about it (you know who you are), you know there are still good people in this world and that they make the world a better place with just a simple comment! Cheers to you all :) 

Outfit, Gaetano | Shoes, Zara | Bag, Furla
Sunglasses, Versace at Optika | Earrings, New Look

Back to the outfit, I paired it with a pair of nude heels and bag as it is quite a statement in itself. The tassle earrings provided just the right finishing touch and to top it off, these Versace sunglasses from the Versace Tribute Collection are just 😍😍! You can check out the whole collection at Optika. Despite being understated, they do pack a punch and they were just what my outfit needed to be complete! I did my own makeup and opted for a red lip and a subtle gold eye look complete with false eyelashes. As for my hair, I cheated a bit and kept my up-style from Sunday's wedding - all it needed was a bit of re-setting with TRESemme Get Sleek Perfect Polish Creation Hairspray! Thank you Francesco for doing a fabulous job!

I really didn't want to take the makeup off or get out of the outfit when I arrived home and I could almost cry tears of joy - I was glad everything went well for Gaetano and, well, I felt good! Thank you Gaet! That's it for my first look for MFWA this year - stay tuned on my socials to see what I'm going to wear tonight ;) 

Photos by Neil Psaila

LEGACY | Fashion Film from Couture by Gaetano ahead of MFWA 2018

Couture by Gaetano needs no introduction in the local fashion scene with the young designer being catapulted to fame after winning the New Designer Award in the 2015 edition of the Malta Fashion Awards and he hasn't looked back since.

I've had the pleasure of working with Gaetano last year and I to say I was ecstatic when he asked me to take part in his fashion film to launch this year's collection, is an understatement! I immediately agreed because it is an honour to work with such a humble individual who keeps his feet planted firmly on the ground amidst all his success. And besides, I have yet to find a creation of his that I don't like! 

Fast forward to last Saturday and along with 4 other local bloggers and friends, a whole team of models, singers and influencers, the fashion video for Gaetano's LEGACY collection started taking shape at the stunning Casa Asti in Valletta.

The Charming Casa Asti in Valletta

I headed to the makeup and hair room where I had my makeup impeccably done by Kay Grech Coldman and my hair blow-dried by Marilyn Mizzi before I got changed into a stunning gown designed by Gaetano himself, then proceeded to the filming area to get briefed about what we had to do.

Designer Gaetano and myself before filming

I am really looking forward to seeing the end result when Gaetano launches his collection during Malta Fashion Week on Monday 28th May at the majestic Fort St.Elmo in Valletta. In the meantime, here are more behind the scenes photos and clips :)

Location: Casa Asti

Lead Singers: Claudia Faniello and Marilena Gauci
Lead Actress: Taryn Mamo Cefai

Bloggers: Dorianne at Ask Dorianne, Blog by Grazielle, Diva Inside and Denis Aljush

Extra Singers: Janice Mangion, La Barokka, Franklin Calleja, Pet ra, Anthea Bezzina, Sebastian Calleja and Daniel Muscat
Models: Daniela Bezzina, Samuela Bugeja, Naomi Hammet, Jess Gherxi, Elenia Cauchi, Neil Scerri, Marvin Scerri, Melvin Micallef, Justin Axiak, Clyde Caruana, Iven Mercica, Dylan Camilleri, Bernard Gellel and Rosario Pace

Make up for filming (Marlene Vassallo‘s team): Gordon Sultana, Kay Grech Coldman and Rodianne Caruana, Bernard Gellel
Make up for Claudia and Marilena: Justin Brincat
Makeup for Taryn: Karl Zammit Nash

Hair for filming: Marilyn Mizzi
Hair for Taryn: Dean Gera Salons
Hair for Marilena: Prive’
Hair for Claudia: Marilyn Mizzi

Photographer: Alana Bondin

Suits for male models: Reno’s Tailoring – Hamrun

Production: Blend by Marley Lagana

Assistant to filming: Sarah Gatt