From the Catwalk to the Street - Part 2

Remember my collaboration with Caroline from Diva Inside a couple of months ago? No? Go and read Part 1 here then come back to see today's post ;) If you do remember it, buckle up for Part 2!

Again we partnered up with another three local designers who have just showcased their latest collections last May during Malta Fashion Week & Awards. This time we chose Ritienne Zammit, Gabrielle Fenech and Maria Cutajar.

Ritienne Zammit - Atronymic

All three looks we chose for this shoot are right up my alley; they are all something I would actually wear but my absolute favourite was definitely this dress from Ritienne Zammit. Ritienne takes inspiration from our country's history and heritage and this collection was no exception. It aims at putting some Maltese surnames' history out there and being the history lover that I am, I always enjoy her collections. The dress I chose for this shoot has the 'Grandmaster print' and represents the surnames of Debattista, Vella, Mallia and Degabriele among others. Apart from the originality and edginess, the craftsmanship, high quality of materials and perfect stitching execution make Ritenne's collections very sought-after; and in fact, I already own a couple of pieces from her.

Catwalk Photography by Bernard Polidano

Back to the photoshoot, this dress ticks all the right boxes and I love the wavy shape of the skirt which gives it a playful look while the light blue details balance out the heaviness of the print. The exquisite print-matching of the different parts of the dress is so satisfying to look at and even though it is quite busy, it can easily go with so many shoe and bag options. In fact, I could pair it with over 5 pairs from my shoe collection alone (I only took 3 with me for the shoot). I kept the accessories to a bare minimum and only paired dark mustard tassel earrings and my Versace sunglasses which complemented the gold buttons at the front and the tonality of the main print.

Gabrielle Fenech - Ruby Carol

I had missed Gabrielle's presentation during Malta Fashion Week because I didn't attend on the night, but I remember seeing the pictures and I immediately liked her work. Of course, my favourite outfit from her Ruby Carol collection was the one I chose for this shoot. The off-white and dark red tones and the design at the front of the shirt instantly reminded me of the robes worn during the Roman era, thus I paired a chunky gold cuff and nude heels with it all. I love the open-back detail on the shirt but I have to say that the PVC skirt wasn't exactly comfortable to climb up stairs in. It is still something I wear though and to give it more of a modern edge rather than keeping with work-wear vibes, I opted for an ear cuff instead of traditional earrings.

Catwalk Photography by Steven Muliett

Maria Cutajar - Dejjem F'Qalbna

Lastly, another elegant look. This time courtesy of Maria Cutajar. I chose this gilet from her 'Dejjem F'Qalbna' collection on which the detailing and craftsmanship is exceptional. Maria has come a long way from the first collection she debuted in Malta and I only have words of praise for her latest works.

Catwalk Photography by Bernard Polidano

I styled the gilet with a pair of black shorts and a lace bodysuit, allowing the little eyelash lace details on the sleeves to peep through from under it. I also added a felt hat for that something extra and my favourite heels, the Gianvito Rossi Plexi pumps which have to power to take any look to the next level. The material on the gilet is perfect for the transitional autumn period - it's not too light, not too heavy and the colours are just something everyone can easily incorporate in their wardrobe.

Hair & Makeup

This time round, I left my hair in my hairdresser's hands - Francesco from Hair & Beauty by Cher. I have been a client of his for a veeeerrrryyyy long time now and I still amaze myself at how he always manages to come up with something new each and every time I visit! This time we went for a low bun since all of the outfits I was wearing featured a high neck. I love sleek, pulled back looks and this has got to be one of my favourites to date :) Thank you so much!

As for makeup, we chose Daniela from Melita Health & Beauty. We went for a natural look as the outfits were quite bold and she used Shiseido makeup which has just been re-branded and you can find most of the products at Melita too. My favourites were the foundation, where she used the Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation which offers medium to full coverage and doesn't oxidise, a neutral hued quad from the Essentialist Eye Palette range and the ModernMatte Powder Lipstick and  LacquerInk Lip Shin which helped the lip colour last for hours on end!

That's it for our collaborative shoots as regards this year's edition of Malta Fashion Week! Which look was your favourite out of the six we styled? Which local designer is your favourite? Oh and go check out some exclusive behind the scenes footage thanks to Taz and don't forget to subscribe to his channel.

Photography by Taz Gardner unless otherwise stated
Hair by Francesco Agius Risiott at Hair & Beauty by Cher
Makeup Daniela Ebejer at Melita Health & Beauty using Shiseido
Location Talbot & Bons Boutique Bed & Breakfast, Gudja

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

It's All About Love

Valentine's Day is all about love and while most of us tend to celebrate it with our better halves, this year I choose to share the love with my hometown as well (Mario, if you're reading this, please don't be jealous). Let me explain myself. This February, it will be two years of me moving out of Cospicua but my love for my city has never ceased - I dare say it grew stronger. I have always been proud of hailing from this charming city in the south of Malta, even though I sometimes get looked down upon for it. I never miss Easter Sunday celebrations which are probably the most sought-after in Malta (and if you've ever visited, you know I'm not exaggerating) or our beloved festa in honour of the Immaculate Conception. Going for a walk along Dock 1 is a breeze in summer and the old part of the town has a magical aura surrounding it that I truly cannot put into words. 

Yet, unfortunately, there is this stigma that surrounds Cospicua and its inhabitants, from other locals but that is mostly because they have never experienced the true essence of being a Cospicuan. It pains me to see the name of my city being plastered across news headlines only when something bad happens, but luckily, the cards seem to be turning in our favour lately and our city is finally getting the glory it deserves.

It seems that other Maltese are finally beginning to see Bormla for what it really is - a city inhabited by people with a heart of gold, beautiful landscaping and old streets you can make you forget the rest of the world. Entrepreneurs are investing in this largest of the Three Cities and boutique hotels are opening their doors to guests wanting to experience the true essence of Malta. One such entity is BOCO Boutique, a lovely boutique hotel in the heart of Cospicua; and yes, it is as fancy as it sounds! I've had the pleasure of teaming up with BOCO Boutique for this project to bring you some outfit ideas just in time for Valentine's Day which I will, of course, celebrate with my better half, the first one for us as an engaged couple.

About BOCO Boutique

BOCO Boutique is a 6-roomed hotel, situated on one of the picturesque streets of Cospicua, just a short walk away from the recently renovated Dock 1 area. The majestic 400-year old town house, overlooks the town and provides guests with breathtaking views of the Grand Harbour, Valletta and even Mdina, the former Maltese capital, from the penthouse suite on a clear day.

The name BOCO is derived from the two names of the town - BOrmla (in Maltese) and Citta' COspicua, the title bestowed upon the city by Grandmaster Fra Antonio Zondadari in 1722. The Grandmaster's wish was that Bormla thrives along with Birgu and Isla which together make up the Three Cities but his wish lay unfulfilled for almost three centuries. Thankfully, Bormla is finally getting the glory it deserves and places like BOCO further elevate its status as a grand town in this picturesque part of our island.

BOCO strives to remain faithful to Grandmaster Zondadari's wish and this is reflected in the decor of the house where traditional features and modern works of art adorn all six rooms and the rest of the house together in harmony. The hotel is full of quirky objets d'art co-ordinated in winning combinations which are bound to leave a good impression on guests for years to come. 

Valentine's Day Outfit Ideas

Red is the colour of love and at the moment, it is one of the hottest colours to be seen in. I chose this top and skirt from River Island which combine red and flowers - can it get more symbolic than this? I doubt it ;) The flouncy sleeves work well in creating an interesting silhouette which is balanced with the skirt's cut. I opted for high shine rose gold metallic heels and accessories to really bring out the metallic details in the skirt.

Top, skirt & heels - all River Island | Star stud earrings - Tommy Hilfiger
Ring, Victor Azzopardi Jewellers

For the second outfit, I opted for a classic black ensemble. As soon as I saw this tuxedo playsuit, I knew it had to be mine. The fluted sleeves add a modern touch to this classic and the green tassel earrings lend it a bit of colour. I love how the Gianvito Rossi plexi pumps work with this outfit, giving the illusion of longer legs. I chose to wear a strappy bralet underneath it for a sexier edge and to lend the outfit some more femininity.

Jumpsuit - River Island | Bralet - ASOS | Heels - Gianvito Rossi
Earrings - Stradivarius | Ring - Victor Azzopardi Jewellers

This was indeed a project I thoroughly enjoyed working on with all the people involved in making it possible, but my favourite part was definitely having the opportunity to step into the stunning and unique BOCO Boutique in the city that stole my heart right from the start :) How will you be celebrating Valentine's Day? Any plans on what to wear already?

Location: BOCO Boutique, 65, Triq l-Oratorju, Bormla

Outfits and rose gold heels: River Island
Bralet: ASOS
Black shoes: Gianvito Rossi

Tassel earrings: Stradivarius

Star earrings: Tommy Hilfiger
Ring: Victor Azzopardi Jewellers

Lenses: Dailies Total 1 at Optika Opticians

Fashion Photography: GoRaw Photography

Makeup: Daniela Ebejer at Melita Health & Beauty

BOCO Boutique forms part of a chain of curated boutique accommodation and is operated by The Guest Experience Company.