Okay, so I can't claim to have taken a blogging
sabbatical. I have instead been busy earning a promotion over the last six months.
Free time has been taken up primarily with writing reports, sleeping and
eating. And occasionally I squeeze in my so-called social life. A little while ago, I was offered the permanent position of senior flight stewardess for
the world's no.1 airline. Hard work
having paid off, I can now return to my first love - travelling the world, and
consequently, writing about it.
With 2014 underway, the usual resolution rigmarole
has hit me. Being a girl who loves a gimmick, I do like making resolutions. It
goes in with my other indulgences, such as stationery, writing lists and packing. Don't judge.
In Scotland, you never really come to terms with having no summer. It’s one of our seasons, we are supposed to have a summer, so where on earth is it?! We flock in our thousands to Spain, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, Australia… (read: anywhere without torrential rain) every year, just to get a dose of sunshine and return home smug, showing off how much browner we are than when we left. And when we are lucky enough to experience the rarest (but most beautiful) sunshine, you will see everyone and their grandma marching out in shorts and sandals, exclaiming that this is the first time they’ve had the chance to wear anything less than a duffle coat this year. If you’re Scottish, I’m sure you’ll know what I’m talking about…
Can you spot the Burj in the background?
Here in Dubai, this is clearly not an issue. In fact, the endless supply of sunshine was one of the factors which convinced me to move. I love the fact that every day starts with a positive, bright, and er, sunny, vibe. It’s that air of holidays, freedom and no-work (even though you’re not on holiday and you’ve got to be at work by 8) that sunshine inspires in me. I love it. I love summer. And that’s one of the reasons I love Dubai. It also means that every day I can ask myself, “pool today Nadia?” Today I said, “yes”. And so I thought I’d reveal what’s in my pool bag today :)
I discovered Salsa Jeans in Dubai. The Portuguese brand is one I'd never heard of whilst living in Scotland and although we have the likes of Bershka, Mango and other delightful European imports, I must have somehow missed the Salsa boat. It's possibly a stroke of luck that I was oblivious for so long, from the point of view of my poor, abused credit card... but I am now officially a BIG fan.
This however, is not a post on how much I adore their famous insta-figurefixing jeans (that's to come later). It is instead the first of three posts about one very versatile top from Salsa which slunk off the hanger and into my wardrobe after I discovered how inspired its design is.
The top has been made to produce 5 different looks (according to the tag), and I have put together the following 7 looks... using different styling so that each one is different to the other. One top providing an outfit for each day of the week - can't be bad! I've also limited myself to only a few accessories, one jacket and two pairs of shoes, plus basic bottoms (blue/black jeans & leggings), to show how simply changing the top can totally change the outfit!
Enlisting the help of Mum (clearly a natural with the camera!), we shot this in Scotland and I do hope you like my little floral backgrounds in line with the latest trend floating around this season...
These outfits are entirely my own style so I apologise in advance for the great expanse of black that you'll see . I do love black... But I thought a wee splish-splash of orange shoes and blue denim would be enough to brighten it all up!
If you're interested in trying this idea, you might not find the top as I bought it a couple of months ago, however, any loose-fit, stretch top with a wide neck will work. Enjoy - here's PART 1!
LOOK 1
Dolly in black
I road-tested this outfit coming from Dubai to Glasgow - full flight, sitting next to fidgeting mother with 6 month-er, and it passed the comfort test with flying colours... And this bag was a lovely £12 from Primark. Yes. That is my smug, just-got-a-bargain face... How did you guess?
Leggings, Topshop | Boots, (very last last laaaast season) Zara | Jacket, Zara
[Wear it: work | casual business lunch | air travel] [Style it: this look uses the top, as is, with both sleeves, and the elasticated lower part extended over the leggings slightly. No-one wants to see anyone else's butt in leggings, sorry!]
LOOK 2
City safari
Jeans, Salsa | Earrings, Aldo | Scarf, Mum's
Note - for all those with no waist (like moi), invent one with this double trick... Tie a skinny scarf at the narrowest point of the jacket (where it nips in at the waist), not the narrowest point of your torso.
I love leopard and peacock together - it's my safari in the city :)
[Wear it: lunch with the girls | date night | coffee with a client] [Style it: for this, i pushed the sleeves inside the elasticated neckline and then pulled the neckline up under my arms so it holds the top as a strapless number.
I added a scarf to break up all that black but if you're short, this won't work so well with flat boots, so I'd suggest (nude) heels instead.]
Hope you've enjoyed the picture-fest that is Part 1, more to come tomorrow!
Let me know what you think of these different looks :)
By way of an introduction to a new regular feature, 'The Playlist', where I show you what’s playing on my iPod every now and then, I thought I would combine a personal post with this new one :)
Life as an air hostess comes with many ups - amazing travel, disposable income, permanent sunshine (thank you Dubai) and a whole host (sorry) of other perks... However, inevitably, that glamorous life also comes with its downs. One of which being that I can't pop over to Mum's place whenever I feel like it for a cup of tea and a slice of carrot, walnut and banana loaf (the latest in our long line of cake favourites).
This 'playlist' reminds me of Mum, brings back great memories and somehow gives me goosebumps - it's funny how music really can transport you back to an exact spot on an exact day. I don't know if any of these songs mean anything to you, but each song has captured an image or association with my mum, hence why it's being featured here, with love.
Spandau Ballet, True
Al Green, anything – but especially Let’s Stay Together and Tired Of Being Alone
Blondie, Atomic
Fleetwood Mac, Everywhere and Dreams
Michael Jackson, Remember The Time
Queen, Who Wants To Live Forever
Police, So Lonely
Cyndi Lauper, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
The Beach Boys, God Only Knows
Rihanna, Only Girl (In The World)
Charlie Rich, Most Beautiful Girl
Stevie Wonder, Superstition
Oh what the heck, let me turn this post into an ‘Ode to Mothers’. I know Mothers Day was a few months ago (in the UK) and only a few weeks ago in the States, but she is my real-life heroine, and a daily (not once-yearly) inspiration to do good.
Inspired by a lovely post not so long ago on The Decorista (see her post HERE) I have unearthed a few beautiful ‘throwback’ photographs of my gorgeous mum (and some pics of her gorgeous mum…) and I’d like to share them with you, my gorgeous readers...
Mum at 14, wearing Mary Quant and her very of-the-time Dr Scholes sandals… I wasn’t nearly that stylish at 24, never mind 14!
In the ‘60s of course, wearing her favourite velvet mini skirt – looking very model-y and channelling Austin Powers. Yeah baby yeah… :)
Grandma with Mum on the beach in Broughty Ferry (Scotland) I love the composition of this photo and the way it’s so natural, even though it’s posed. Circa 1959
This picture is one of my favourites. It has retro written all over it. From the gorgeous pearls on my gran and the swish side-parting on my grandpa, to the cute crockery (extra points for the milk jug, Granny)… I just love it.
I love looking through old photos, and listening to old albums…
Who are your favourite old-school bands/singers? And do you have any old (or new) photos of your mum that you’d like to share? Send me a link to your blog or Instagram, I’d love to see!
My name is Nadia, a magazine Beauty Editor in the UK for 5 years, now turned air hostess, travel writer and photographer, based in sunny Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
I decided to write this blog as a way of expressing my (slight) obsession with beauty, in the most general and not always conventional sense of the word; whether that be in the people, places or even the products, I experience.
My aim is quite simple – I wish to write about real beauty, real people and really good products. Whether it be a city review, an interview or an amazing find, I am not sponsored, nor do I answer to an Editor or anyone else, so you can expect reliable information and honest opinions from someone with experience in the field.
When it comes to product posts, don’t expect a catalogue of average items simply because they are shiny and new. Something I’ve noticed to be missing online is realistic, intelligent comment on those everyday essentials such as cleanser, moisturiser, foundation, and all the other beauty basics we depend on. That's one of the reasons I created The Trolley Dolly, so let me know if you find my posts useful, and keep in touch with feedback - I appreciate all and any!
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P.s. Photographs and posts are my own, therefore copyright follows suit. Thanks!
