Monthly Archives: March 2019

Top tips for female travellers visiting Dubai

Many travellers imagine that visiting Dubai as a woman is much more difficult, complicated and stressful than it actually is. Dubai ranks high on the list of the world’s safest cities, despite its location in a region that often makes headlines for being in seemingly eternal conflict. However, with the city’s reputation as a blinged-up Disneyland crossed with its Islamic-rooted governance, what is and isn’t allowed isn’t always clear.

While female visitors certainly aren’t expected to don burkinis at the beach, brushing up on local customs and norms before your trip will help you avoid awkward or potentially risky situations, and it will let you in on a few female-centric perks too.

It’s fine to wear a bikini at the beach or the hotel pool, but it’s better to cover up in the city © Vivek BR / Shutterstock

What should I wear in Dubai?

Dubai’s quest to be the biggest and brightest might appear to indicate otherwise, but this city still has strong traditional roots. Emiratis – both men and women – dress in loose-fitting robes, and you’ll see many local women opting to cover their hair or faces with a scarf. Visitors don’t have to do the same, but covering your thighs and shoulders is recommended, so pack long skirts or baggy trousers. To visit a local mosque, women do need to wear a headscarf, but these are usually provided if you forgot to bring one. A colourful pashmina or scarf draped around the head and hair will do the trick.

Dubai’s bars and clubs are a different matter, and you can wear whatever you would to go out back home. However, be aware that many nightlife spots are located in hotels or shopping centres, so bring a cover-up to avoid awkward situations when moving from bar to bar. For example, if you decide to bare midriff, thighs or shoulders and arms, bring a scarf or another cover-up to don when moving on to your next watering hole.

It’s fine to wear your bikini on the beach or at the pool, but don’t wear it out and about. Not only will you be freezing (thanks to Arctic-like air conditioning in most malls and public spaces), but you’ll also offend locals, though they’ll most likely be too polite to say anything.

Feel free to don your usual nightlife attire in Dubai, but bring a cover-up for when you’re moving between bars © Funny Solution Studio / Shutterstock

What should I wear if I’m visiting during Ramadan?

During Ramadan, you can still wear a bikini when sunbathing at the hotel pool or beach, but make sure you’re covered up as you walk through the hotel itself. When you’re out in the city, put on a below-the-knee skirt or loose-fitting trousers and a top that covers your upper arms and isn’t low cut.

Will I be harassed?

Women visiting Dubai can feel at ease sightseeing, taking taxis and dining out alone, even late in the evening, and the World Economic Forum ranks the United Arab Emirates as the world’s second safest country. That’s not to say that you won’t get any unexpected attention, but unfortunately, we’ve yet to come across many cities in the world that are entirely wolf-whistle free. If you are approached with a chat-up line, it’s not a problem to completely ignore it or politely but firmly decline it.

Drinking alcohol in Dubai is technically illegal without a license, but visitors on a short visit can’t obtain one © franckreporter / Shutterstock

Can I drink alcohol in Dubai?

This is a grey area. At the airport, Dubai Duty Free sells oodles of alcohol to anyone over the age of 21, bars and clubs in the city’s hotels offer tempting happy hours, and free-flow boozy Friday brunches are legendary. Despite all of that, drinking alcohol in Dubai is technically illegal unless you have a licence, but there’s no way for temporary visitors to obtain one. Dubai police don’t track down beer-drinking tourists unless they’re causing a disturbance. Recently, there have been more calls for clarification on ‘the law that forgot about tourists’, but so far there’s been no resolution, and the current law is still the baseline.

What are ladies’ nights?

One of the big perks of being a female traveller in Dubai is the endless array of ladies’ nights. Once limited to women getting a free drink or two on a Tuesday evening – a clever marketing ploy in the days when the drinking crowd in Dubai was very male-heavy – ladies’ nights have become a Dubai institution and happen every night of the week at venues around town. From free or reduced access at beach clubs to free cocktails at bars and half-price dinners in some of the city’s best restaurants, tracking down ladies’ nights takes the punch out of what can otherwise be an expensive evening out.

Staying in a hotel as an unmarried couple doesn’t usually present any problems, but it’s worth knowing the law © Debbie Fortes / Getty Images

Can I stay in a hotel room with my partner if we aren’t married?

Though thousands of unmarried couples cohabit without any issues in Dubai – presumably sharing beds as well as addresses – sex outside marriage is illegal and is punishable by jail and possibly deportation. This law seems to fall into the ‘if no one is bothered by it, then it’s OK’ category. However, should a complaint be made about you cohabiting with a member of the opposite sex – whether you book into a hotel room with your travel partner or want to bring someone home from a nightclub – then you could be in trouble. Hotels request passport details from guests checking in, but this is for security reasons rather than an attempt to find people having premarital sex.

When it comes to contraception, you’ll find condoms for sale in supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations, but the morning-after pill is illegal. Doctors in the UAE are required by law to report pregnancies in unmarried women. If you think you might be pregnant, consider waiting until you’re back home to consult a professional.

Who should I contact in an emergency?

The Dubai Police are extremely responsive and can help you with a whole manner of things from theft to road accidents. Dial 999 for emergencies and 911 for non-emergency situations. However, in cases that involve sex or alcohol, it’s better to contact your embassy, which might be able to advise further. If you are raped, reconsider reporting it to the authorities. While action against the perpetrators would be taken, you could find yourself charged with sex outside of marriage and face prosecution yourself. Instead, get in touch with your embassy, which can help you without involving local authorities.

Learn more about Emirati cultures and customs at Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding © Rich-Joseph Facun / Getty Images

How can I meet locals in Dubai?

What better way to find out more about life in a city that’s grown from a tiny fishing village to a mega-metropolis in less than half a century than by speaking to the locals? The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding hosts weekly sessions where you can find out more about local culture and traditions with Emiratis of both sexes, including a no-holds-barred Q&A session where you can ask anything you’d like. Meet the Locals offers meetups where you can have lunch with people from all over the Emirates. Another option is ExpatWoman, a long-running group that has local members, a hugely informative database and an interactive forum. Tinder exists, and it’s incredibly popular. Various other dating apps are available for download too.

What do LGBT+ travellers need to know before visiting Dubai?

LGBT+ rights in Dubai are heavily suppressed. Public displays of affection, while frowned upon for straight couples, are a strict no-no for gay couples. You’ll see some local men holding hands, as well as nose rubbing between the sexes, but this is all platonic. Cross-dressing in public is illegal, and transgender travellers could face issues when filing official documentation. Gay travellers sharing a hotel room are unlikely to face any issues, unless you’re staying in some of the smaller locally run hotels in the older parts of the city. Instead, book into a higher-end, international-branded hotel. There’s no gay scene in Dubai per se, but The Play Room at The Oberoi, Barberry at Tryp by Wyndham and Zinc at the Crowne Plaza might be worth a visit.

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Spring and Summer Shopping Reminders

It is cold, rainy, grey, icy, or snowy in most of the northern hemisphere, with many more months of the same weather to follow. Spring is not on the horizon, and shopping for warm weather wardrobe items seems far, far away. It seems ridiculous to be thinking about Spring and Summer when all you want to do is wrap up and stay dry. But it isn’t. Retail is better at aligning its merchandise with the weather, but you still need to purchase some items far in advance. 

1. Hunt for Swimwear in February

It’s best to begin the swimwear hunt in February, with collections peaking in March and April. By the time you decide you need a new bathing costume in July and August, the assortment is picked over and the sizes are gone, especially when you like to wear swimwear tops in bra sizes.

One of my style goals for 2018 is to put together a Modern Retro swimwear capsule for our coastal holiday in Italy at the end of June. I want to have the pick of the crop, enjoy the process, and not have to settle. So I started looking at swimwear options in the first week of January, and have already bought a fabulous cover-up by Seafolly. Now I can take my time with the cozzie and be picky, patient and practical.

Custom Findby Angie

2. Start Looking for White Jeans Now

If they’re on your shopping list, start looking for white jeans now. Fresh merchandise comes through from January to April. After that, stock levels deplete rapidly, especially when you need petite, tall or plus sizes in silhouettes that aren’t high-rise body-con skinnies. I’m in the market for one more pair of white jeans, and I’ve started looking already.

3. Get Spring and Summer Jackets and Raincoats By April

Retail buyers tend to put jackets and raincoats in their assortments at the start of the new retail season, which means January to April. Start looking for a warm weather raincoat now, and make sure your lightweight Spring and Summer jackets are sorted by April. Most of us are wearing Winter coats till then, but the Spring and Summer versions will be scarce by the time you want them at the end of April or May.

4. Get Covered Warm Weather Clothing Soon

Spring and Summer collections are hitting retailers earlier and earlier. They used to surface mid to end Feb, but with the unstoppable movement to online shopping, transitional Spring collections are available from as early as the first week of January.

Spring and Summer collections become skimpier, lighter, breezier and more casual the further along we are in the season. If you prefer a warm weather look that is dressier, more covered, sleeved, longer, and made of substantial fabrics, shop early in the season. The retail industry thinks we’re on vacation by the time May, June and July roll around and supply us with shorts, tees, sleeveless casual tops, skimpy dresses, and little else.

5. Look for Dresses Throughout the Year

Suitable dresses are hard to find, especially when you set out to look for them for a specific event. Usually, you’ll find the right dress when you’re NOT looking for it. I learned this the hard way. I now have a new dress shopping strategy: I am ALWAYS on the hunt for dresses. In-season, off-season, full price, on sale, across all sorts of retailers, and when I travel. You never know when you’re going to bump into a fabulous dress.  I can relax into the process of adding dresses to my wardrobe, I don’t settle, and I have the perfect dress on hand when I need it.

A fortnight ago, I bumped into TWO fabulous and reasonably priced Topshop dresses that are perfect for Summer. I bought them right away, in the beginning of January with ice on the ground. They’re hibernating until it’s warm enough to wear them, which will be at least four months. That’s fine by me. No more vacation dress stress.

What Men Should Wear For the Job Interview

Men’s interview dressing has been fairly static over the years. In fact, it’s pretty much the same whether you are applying for an entry-level position or for something higher up. The difference is that the entry-level guy isn’t expected to have as many or as expensive high-quality clothes. For a second or third interview, the new grad would wear different shirts and ties but might understandably trot out the same suit. Someone applying for a managerial role or something more senior could not do the same.

Here are some dos and don’ts for men’s interview fashion.

Suit Style

At a higher level, you need a minimum of two suits, starting with a solid navy and a solid dark gray. A serious solid won’t turn anyone off. You don’t want to be too showy, too strong or dress better than your interviewer. Your background, experience and personality should speak for you, not your clothes.

Avoid a double-breasted suit. A single-breasted suit is not only more current but always safe. Either a two- or three-button cut is fine, although a two-button style is a shade more classic. Fabric must be seasonally appropriate and properly pressed. Crisp and neat are keys when deciding what to wear.

Wear the navy suit for a first interview and the deep gray for a second interview. Remember, even though a black suit and a tan suit is a great addition to a man’s wardrobe, they are not interview-appropriate unless you are seeking a job in TV or some other glamour industry. For the third interview, try the subtle shadow-stripe suit or return to one of the earlier choices.

A blazer or sports jacket is almost always too casual for an interview. However, if you are seeking a position in academia, where professors may not have a suit, or if your interview extends to an evening social invitation, then you can show you are flexible enough to unwind and dress slightly differently. But stay with classic and traditional.

Shirts, Accessories and Grooming

For the first interview, a white shirt, not blue or ecru, in a business style is best. Wear a simple shirt collar, such as a traditional straight point or a slightly less dressy button-down, avoiding tab collars, pins or wide English spreads. Also avoid monograms or jaunty contrasting white-collar-and-cuffs. And no French cuffs.

Go with 100 percent cotton, no blends. The shirt should be crisp and white. Buy a new one if needed. Provided you choose a light shade, you might pair a blue shirt with the gray suit for your second interview.

The tie is extremely important, since it is the first thing someone notices in a man’s outfit. An all-over, neat pattern, a small dot or a classic stripe all work well. Avoid anything wild, overly bright or statement-making. For example, a bow tie is out of the question — even if this is your style. Wear a watch, but it shouldn’t be a sports watch.

To complete a professional image, black lace-up shoes are far better than casual penny loafers or anything with buckles or straps. Never underestimate the importance of a good shoeshine. And black socks only that are long enough to cover your ankles.

Fast-track Fiji: making the most of a stopover

With more than 330 islands, a rich, ancient culture and showstopping scenery both on land and below its incredibly blue waters, you could easily spend an eternity exploring fabulous Fiji. But if forever isn’t feasible, don’t despair: even if you’re en route to elsewhere, a layover in the ‘Land of Smiles’ is a holiday unto itself.

Whether you’re here for two days or a few hours, there’s an abundance of attractions, activities and experiences all within easy reach of Nadi International Airport.

Fiji is comprised of over 330 islands, but only about a third of them are permanently inhabited © bjuerges / Getty Images

48 hours

Back home, two days might pass in a bleary blink of an eye, but you’re on Fiji time now. Nadi is the gateway to some of the country’s most accessible – and alluring – parcels of paradise; whether it’s an island escape or a city break that brings you bliss, a 48-hour mini-holiday here is sure to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

A 20-minute ride from the airport is Denarau Marina, which acts as the springboard to the spectacular Mamanuca and Yasawa islands. Arguably Fiji’s most divine drawcards, these 50-odd islands attract tons of romantics, resort-hoppers and roving families for their sugar-soft sands, eye-poppingly blue waters and enchanting escapism.

The reefs surrounding islands like Vanua Levu are great for scuba diving © Darryl Leniuk / Getty Images

Almost every island resort has its own flavour. Beachcomber Island, a 45-minute boat ride from Denarau, is the place to party in paradise; Castaway Island, 90 minutes away, is a hit with kids for its squillions of activities; while Naqalia Lodge, two hours away, offers a truly immersive Fijian village experience. If you’re keen to break up your sunning-and-swimming stints, many resorts offer fishing and island-hopping trips, snorkelling excursions and diving (though any dives should be completed 24 hours before you fly).

About four to five hours by bus (less via private transfer) from Nadi, vibrant, urbane Suva beckons landlubbers and those keen on experiencing a sultry slice of capital city life. By day, Suva’s jumble of streets make for a glorious gander; worthwhile stops include the Fiji Museum with its wealth of archaeological artefacts, and the charismatic Municipal Market, a top spot for a fresh juice, a gawk at the groaning tables of tropical fruits and veggies, and photo-ops galore. Cool down at the nearby Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, a rainforest respite from the steamy city. By night, crack a Fiji Bitter at one of Suva’s buzzy bars such as O’Reilly’s, or join the locals on heaving dancefloors at hip spots like Traps Bar.

Woven goods are common local handicrafts in Fiji markets © David Nelson / Lonely Planet

24 hours

They call it a layover, but if you want more from the next 24 hours than merely lounging around, the Coral Coast is calling. The region – an 80km swathe skirting Viti Levu’s southwest – starts about an hour from Nadi and is renowned as a thrillseekers’ hotspot; surfing and snorkelling are popular draws, as is a slippery stagger up the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, Fiji’s first national park and home to ancient dunes up to 60m high. Despite its name, many of the Coral Coast’s best attractions lie not on the shoreline but in its lush interior, dubbed ‘Fiji’s salad bowl’: blow off the long-haul cobwebs with a jetboat ride up the Sigatoka River, or hit Kula WILD Adventure Park for wildlife encounters and zipline thrills. Hotels and resorts cluster on Korotogo’s Sunset Strip, offering easy access to all attractions (and an easy trip back to Nadi before your flight).

If an island idyll is more your speed, nab a room in Nadi (try Tokatoka, a garden-set ‘village’ just across from the airport), or splash out for a Denarau Island resort stay. Then drop your bags and cruise out to South Sea Island. Though tiny, it’s jam-packed with activities – swimming, snorkelling and a ride on a semi-submersible among them – and makes for a wonderful taste of island life. Ideal for a half-day trip, South Sea is just a 30-minute boat ride from the marina on the Yasawa Flyer or a South Sea Cruises catamaran. For those who don’t want to get their feet wet, the Cloud 9 floating platform – a 45-minute speedboat transfer from the mainland – is a stylish spot for sunbathing, cocktail sipping and taking in views of the magnificent Mamanucas.

The stern of South Sea Cruises vessel as it sails through Mamanuca Group © David Nelson / Lonely Planet

A few hours

You’re here for a good time, not a long time, so stash your bags at the airport’s ground floor luggage room and hit the road. The airport is home to scores of local operators offering a variety of half-day tours. While prices and itineraries vary slightly, most jaunts offer a similar, satisfying glimpse into the must-sees of Viti Levu. Popular destinations include the Garden of the Sleeping Giant (a lush plantation ablaze with more than 2000 orchid varieties), Sabeto Hot Springs (an outdoor natural thermal mud spa: bring your swimmers!), Viseisei village (the country’s oldest settlement and locally famous as the landing site of the first Fijians) and Nadi’s divinely colourful Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple. Recommended operators include Great Sights Fiji, Tourist Transport Fiji and Rosie Holidays.

If you’d rather explore Nadi on your own two feet, simply hop on one of the frequent town-bound buses on Queens Road just outside the airport, or nab a cab; it’s a 9km drive to the centre. The town itself is compact and easy to amble around: check out the temple, pop into the handicraft market, chill in a café over a freshly squeezed tropical juice or sweat over an Indo-Fijian curry at street-food stalwart Tata’s.

The Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple in Nadi is an example of Dravidian architecture, carved by artists from India © Selfiy / Getty Images

Prefer pampering to perambulating? Follow the frangipanis to the Essence of Fiji Rejuvenation Centre. A mere three minutes from the airport, the award-winning day spa offers various indulgent services to weary travellers, including spa treatments, massages, facials and yoga; there’s even a blissfully air-conditioned, beanbag-strewn movie room. Private day rooms are available if you’d rather just catch some zzz’s.

Lonely Planet has produced this article for Fiji Airways. All editorial views are those of Lonely Planet alone and reflect our policy of editorial independence and impartiality.

The Ubiquitous Puffer

Puffer jackets, coats and their quilted parka cousins are taking over the outerwear world. They are the most popular form of jacket and coat on the street, and in stores. Worn by women, men, teens and small children across all colours, lengths, silhouettes and weights, they are ubiquitous. 

I divide puffers into two groups. First, the utilitarian “gear” version that is a casual classic. Second, the more trendy darling. Often, you can achieve a trendy puffer look with a utilitarian integrity, which I like best of all. 

Classic

The sporty puffer has been around for decades, padded with down or polyester across an assortment of thicknesses. It’s often made by well-known sports brands like Patagonia, Columbia, The North Face, Canada Goose, Nike, L.L. Bean, Lands’ End, Eddie Bauer and the like. But stores like Uniqlo, Gap, Target and Old Navy have done a good job of providing a less expensive version of the item. Nothing keeps you as warm or dry as a puffer coat or jacket. The colder it is, the heavier, warmer and longer the puffer can be. 

Trendy 

In the last three or four seasons, puffer coats and jackets have become quite the fashionable, ultra-trendy topper. Fashion puffers are cut more dramatically than their classic counterparts. The silhouettes, design details, and fabrics are a little more unique, as seen in the collection below. Even so, they are extremely practical, comfortable, and an often affordable form of outerwear. They are also easy to launder, crease-resistant, and robust. It is for good reason that the fashion industry has incorporated them into all sorts of dress codes and fashion personas. 

Versatile

Classic or trendy, puffer jackets and coats can be worn over just about any outfit. From ultra-casual to dressier looks, these days puffers are 100% acceptable across all dress codes. The photos below do a great job of showing how the short and long puffer can be incorporated into skirt and dress outfits with heeled boots.

Across both classic and trendy puffers, some styles look sportier and more casual than others. Although puffers can’t hope to look as dressy as a wool coat, dressier puffers do exist. Simply choose designer detailing that isn’t as sporty.

For those who think that shorter hip-bone puffers do not make sense, my word, they ABSOLUTELY do, and I wear mine a lot. They are ideal in cold-but-not-arctic weather. They are also travel-friendly, great to drive in, and easy to slip on and off. They come in an assortment of thicknesses, which is key. If you run warm, choose a lightweight short puffer. If you run cold like I do, choose a heavier weight. 

I am not a sporty gal. I never enjoy wearing gear, and prefer dressy looks. That said, I love puffers because they keep me warm. I have four puffers — three long and one short. The exact items are shown in the collection. 

Sale

Custom Findby Angie

I don’t feel like the Michelin man in my puffers because they are tailored. Fitted at the waist, and structured on the shoulders and sleeves makes all the difference.

I wear the tomato red utilitarian puffer to and from yoga practice, and when I take Sam outside in our garden. I wear the short toffee puffer as a casual jacket. It has an equestrian vibe and glitzy gold hardware, which is why I love it. The two long puffers are worn in the snow and ice, and when temperatures are freezing and below. They are both by Canadian brand Soia & Kyo. Ultra warm, and impeccable quality. They have a dressier integrity and fit like a dream.

I don’t wear the black puffer anymore (I prefer the more recently acquired ink blue), but I’m keeping it as a spare because it’s a beautiful piece. I’m open to getting another short fashion puffer simply because the toffee is a workhorse. I’d like a style with some faux fur, and I’m thinking cream, tomato red or orange. But that can wait until next year. 

Do puffers have a place in your style?

What to Wear With Your Little White Dress

No color is fresher or crisper than white. So when you wear the hue from head to toe, it looks exceptionally stylish, high-impact look. Just look at fashionable trailblazers such as Nicole Richie, Rita Ora, and Julianne Hough, who take white to new heights in their latest outfits. Whether you want to wear an ivory-hued ensemble at your next cocktail party or work the trend for your next weekend outing, white is always going to work for you. Here are some things you can wear with your little white dress.

Stacked Bangles

A solid white base leaves lots of room to play with bracelets of varying sizes, colors and textures. Eva Mendes upped the old-school glamour factor with a simply chic stack of gold bangles, while Nicole Richie showed off her eclectic style with matching bracelets on each wrist and her arm.

Black Jacket

A dark, crisp jacket lends a chic contrast to white sheaths. Zoe Saldana chose a structured blazer with a draped dress style for a sophisticated evening look, while Kate Walsh gave angelic white an edge with a lightweight motorcycle-style leather jacket.

Metallic Accents

Lustrous silver and gold accessories pop even more against a white canvas. Supermodel Chanel Iman caught our attention with flashes of silver and gold, and Kate Bosworth worked both metals into her look with a gilded clutch and gleaming heels.

Tan Accessories

This neutral hue gives crisp whites a casual, natural appeal. Jennifer Aniston brought an eclectic vibe to her sleek silhouette with a wide textured belt, while Vanessa Hudgens deftly wrapped her shirtdress with a dark, skinny cincher before finishing the look with platforms in a lighter shade.

Sky-High Heels

Towering stilettos are the perfect finish to a white-hot minidress. While Diane Kruger got creative with an arty caged design, Jennifer Lopez jazzed up her look with a colored platform and heel.

Loose Scarf

A breezy scarf wrapped effortlessly around your neck makes casual LWDs look chic. Blake Lively skipped the knots and let her brightly patterned scarf hang loose-Alessandra Ambrosio gave her beaded sash a single loop on a leisurely evening stroll.

Chandelier Earrings

Glistening chandelier earrings can serve as the focal point when wearing a shoulder-baring white style. Selena Gomez’s clustered pair fell within her look’s snowy color palette but a slight shimmer made the pieces pop.

Bold Belt

A dash of color instantly gives simple white sheaths a stylish direction. First Lady Michelle Obama’s gunmetal belt takes her shift down a more contemporary route, and Cameron Diaz uses her cherry red choice to perk up her girly lace number.

Long Chains

A long necklace serves as a stylish centerpiece to draped or structured shapes. Sarah Jessica Parker opted for a single gold chain with an oversize pendant, and Olivia Palermo piled on the layers to add texture to a pretty pearl ensemble.

Bright Clutch

A vibrantly colored clutch adds a playful element and almost every shade matches a white palette. Ashley Greene heat up her look with a spicy minaudiere, while Faith Hill kept her ensemble classic with a cool sky-blue piece.

Style Goals for 2018

It’s not essential to create a list of style goals, but they can serve as a helpful frame of reference as you review your closet, shop for new items, create outfits, and evolve your style. Having a FLEXIBLE set of goals will make your style journey more effective and enjoyable. 

If you have a good handle on your style direction and are in the fine-tuning phase, setting style goals is a quick, intuitive and incremental process. On the other hand, if you’ve experienced dramatic changes in your life, or if you’re in a style rut, setting style goals requires time, some soul searching, and an in-depth analysis of the internal and external factors that affect your style.

For a formal and thorough approach, write down or type out your style goals, keep them close by, and check in on them regularly to asses your progress throughout the year. Tweak your goals along the way. If this sounds overwhelming, try a less formal approach by simply taking a moment to think about how you’d like to improve your fashion and style life in 2018. Keep those style musings in your head and see if that way works for you.

Anything that relates to your style can go on the list. Style goals can be long or short, general or specific, seasonal or annual, abstract or countable. Remember that style goals can be changed at any time.

I reflected on my 2017 style a few weeks ago. It took me a while to settle down last year, but I eventually found my direction, added lots of wild cards, and ran with it. I’ll be building on those reflections as I evolve my look for 2018, and try new stuff that tickles my fancy. We have a busy year filled with lots of travel and many special occasions, so my wardrobe needs to reflect my needs even more closely. It helps that I feel more content about my style direction than ever, and have a solid base to work from.

One small epiphany: I tend to crave a change in colour and colour combination more than a change in silhouette. This accounts for my colour-rich wardrobe, my propensity to regularly add new-to-me colours to my wardrobe, and to remix colours in fresh ways.

I’m changing my style moniker slightly from “Urban Pretty” to “Urban Polish”. I may live in a grungy and casual city, but it’s important to me to create daily outfits that are refined, pretty, structured, polished, comfortable, and somewhat dressy.

Here are my goals:

  1. To wear outfits that are Modern, Crisp, Retro, Soft and Dressy. I’ve chosen these adjectives to describe my ideal style. They’ll serve as a benchmark for assessing outfits and purchases on this leg of my style journey.
    • Modern because I enjoy injecting a few carefully chosen hot-off-the-press trends into my seasonal look. That’s part of why fashion is fun.
    • Crisp because I love wearing shades of white, and have a strong need to create a polished and tidy appearance.
    • Retro because of my fondness for fashion from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, but remixing their sensibilities with a good dose of current.
    • Soft because I do not like wearing hard-edged looks.
    • Dressy because super casual does not make me happy.
  2. To continue exploring Maximal style my way. I thoroughly enjoy scarves, piles of pearl jewellery, matchy-matchy looks, pom-poms, belts, intentional layers, as well as a whole lot of pattern mixing. I’ll be looking for that next layer of maximal fabness that makes me happy.
  3. To further explore colour by adding a few more new-to-me non-neutrals to my mix of sour brights, pastels, earth tones, and favourite neutrals. To continue remixing the colours in my wardrobe in bold, new and tonal combinations.
  4. To continue adding elegant touches to my style. My custom-made dainty pearl bracelets, pearl ring, watch and scarves make me feel more elegant and polished, as does wearing dresses, real pearl necklaces, Furla handbags, structured outfits, and refined footwear. I hope to add comfortable pointy-toe ballet flats and pretty Summer dresses to my style.
  5. To add a pair of white Modern Retro prescription sunglasses.
  6. To add soft, bright turquoise wardrobe items. A tricky goal when turquoise is not an on-trend colour at the moment.
  7. To continue wearing black in small doses.
  8. To continue wearing skirts and dresses more frequently year round. Wearing dresses over cropped straights and flares counts as wearing a dress.
  9. To wear both casual and dressy trousers more frequently and blue jeans less frequently.
  10. To continue mixing high-end and low-end items in one outfit.
  11. To continue finding wardrobe gems on my travels because they are unique and sentimental.
  12. To build an effective Modern Retro swimwear capsule that makes me feel fab.
  13. To have even MORE fun with fashion.

Over to you. Have you thought about your style goals for 2018? Many of our forum members have thought about theirs, and they have been a pleasure to read. Please share your style goals in the comments section. Begin with just three goals if that’s easier, and take it from there. Or simply jot down some rough thoughts about your current and aspirational style direction.

Styling Your Button-Down Shirt the Feminine Way

Button-down shirts were first introduced for men but as the years go by, it has become increasingly popular in women’s fashion as well.

A button-down is pretty versatile – can be very handy if we want some polished looks for the office or a casual chic look for the weekend.

If you think button-down shirts are too masculine for you, here are a couple of ways to make it suit more of your girly and feminine taste.

 

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Spice up your button-down shirt by adding girly accessories such as chunky and statement-making necklaces. It can be a long pearl necklace, long chain necklace or even a necklace with a crystal pendant for that sophisticated vibe.

 

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Another way is by adding silk scarves in different colors, shapes and sizes to add some twist into your button-down look. Place the scarf under the collar of your shirt then just tie it like a necktie for that added girly punch.

 

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And if you’re not, at all, into necklaces and scarves, then go for a girly brooch like a flower pin for a super simple yet very stylish look.

 

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Change how your button-down would look on you by adding a belt around the waist to accentuate your torso. You can definitely play around with any belt whether it’s a wide one, a slim one, or a something that’s a bit bold to add twist to your otherwise plain button-down shirt.

 

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Add chic sunglasses and a structured bag to your button-down shirt look to instantly give your look that girly vibe.

 

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When shopping for a button-down shirt, you can also go for feminine colors, patterns, fabrics and prints to make styling it easier.

 

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Wear your button-down shirt with your denim shorts, skirts or jeans by simply unbuttoning the first two buttons at the top to give a slightly casual vibe. Also, it’s to lose stiffness on your classic button-down because it does look a bit formal, don’t you think?

 

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Add some edgy to your button-down look by mixing it with anything leather – leather pants, leather jacket, leather skirt, leather shorts, anything really. But just be careful with the leather jacket and button-down combo because it can give toughen your look just a bit.

 

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Pair your button-down with feminine and girly details like embellished styles, colorful prints, floral patterns and girly cuts.

 

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You can even wear your button-down shirt with a tuxedo and for that to be feminine enough, pair your look with high heels.

Earth-Tone Glam

A new outfit from Amber McNaught of Forever Amber, whom we introduced to YLF in July 2014.

Amber rocks this low-contrast outfit consisting of neutral colours in the green-beige family. She’s wearing an olive faux suede midi pencil skirt with a taupe turtleneck sweater. The skirt’s form-fitted silhouette dials down the volume of the chunky knit sweater. Amber’s high-heeled, low-contrast, pointy-toe boots fit snugly around her lower legs, which lengthens the leg line. A sassy leopard print beret brings a touch of Modern Retro to the look. Amber’s signature stunning red locks flowing out from under the beret make the entire outfit pop. While the cognac satchel echoes our blogger’s beautiful hair. Bright red lipstick and cat-eye sunnies are the glam finishing touches.

Spring Checks & Groovy Boots

A new outfit from Paulien Riemis of Polienne, whom we introduced to YLF in April 2014.

The groovy cowboy boots and playful checked blazer are the stars of this very trendy outfit. Paulien has tucked a lightweight cream pullover into cream high-rise jeans to create a column of colour that lengthens the leg line. Her on-trend straight leg jeans are cropped sufficiently to showcase an eye-catching pair of two-toned statement cowboy boots in their full glory. The neutral-toned blazer has an oversized fit with narrower cut shoulders, which streamlines the silhouette. Our blogger’s vintage Chanel bag echoes the camel in the checked print. She finishes off the outfit with oversized sunnies, and big hoop earrings, a gold necklace, bracelet and ring that match the bag’s gold chain strap.