New month, new things happening in the fashion industry. New launches from luxury brands and collaborations with others.

1. NYFW is Happening this September:

NYFW is happening live this September and not only online. Things going back to normal finally, so get ready for a  buzzing time filled with street style and exciting fashion shows. 

2. Valentino's New Make-up Line:

Valentino explores beauty with a new makeup line. Stunning red and gold design, embossed with classic V-logo, and innovative packaging made for multi-use products.

3. Guerlin Bee Campaign with Angelina Jolie:

 Guerlin celebrates Bee Awareness Day (May 20) with the UN and Angelina Jolie. The campaign had Angelina covered in 60,000 live bees swarming around. "Bees are our original perfumer" Guerlin says. The photo was taken by National Geographic photographer Dan Winters, who is also a beekeeper.

4. H&M collaborates with Brock Collection:

H&M latest collaboration is dropping this June. The collection is describes as romantic and effortless, it's inspired by the prairie; with country floral, corset tops and dreamy ruffles.

5. "Diorviera" Beach Pop-up:

Dior opened a pop-up store for their "Diorviera" capsule collection .Dior essentials for summer and decorative pieces are also available at the stores . A dreamy summer getaway with Maria Grazia Chiuri’s toile de Jouy prints around the walls in shades of rich pink and gold of neon framboise pink located in Capri, The Selfridges and Mykonos.

6. Victoria's Secret Rebranding:

Victoria's Secret Launches "VS Collective," Announcing New Ambassadors in Effort to Rebrand. After plunging in sales, the brand replaced their fames "Angels" with more diverse group of brand ambassadors. The whole typical Bombshell image does not resonate anymore with the current culture of women's image, body positivity and female empowerment. 

 Gabrielle Chanel was a rebel at heart. She dressed like no other woman. No wonder she is a well-known figure till this day, and truly an influential one. From what I have read, I can tell you Gabrielle Chanel is very different, she believes in being authentic, sincere and natural. "Desire to look like nobody else" she said! All she does and designs have some kind of a cause and a reference or a story behind it

A Bit of History

The French Couturier was an orphan who was raised by the nuns. Her surroundings influenced her designs later in life. She learned how to sew and used to sing at night. The name "Coco" was inspired from a song she used to sing. She began her career by designing simple and chic hats unlike what was worn at that days. She then designed custom jewelry, bags, ready-to-wear pieces and beauty. The World Wars I and II made her close her boutique, but she always came back stronger than ever.

The Legend of No.5

The house of Chanel recently celebrated 100 years of  No.5. It was called so simply because it was the fifth sample given to her by perfumer Ernest Beaux , as she requested " A woman's fragrance with a woman's scent". Also number 5 was Chanel's luck number. 

  The design of its bottle has been an important part of the product's allure. The bottle cap is inspired by the geometry of the Place Vendome in Paris.

  At the liberation of Paris, American soldiers would purchase this perfume from Rue Cambon as a souvenir for their wives and fiancées waiting back at home.

  Not until 2012, that they discovered an unpublished interview for Marlin Monroe where she was asked what she wears to bed, and she answered " A few Drops of Chanel No.5" 

The Colors

Black, white, gold, beige and red are the main colors of Chanel. But like everything else, nothing goes without a reason or a cause. Black is the color of elegance, it reveals women's radiance and creates depth. "Black trumps all" as she said. 

  White captures light. It reminds Chanel of the cornets of the nuns from her childhood. And of a dress given to her by her father before he left.

  Beige is warm, simple and natural. It's the color of the outdoors and the color of a healthy skin.

  Gold refers to the byzantine empire and the baroque art she used to be surrounded by back in her days at the orphanage.

  Red is the color of life. She used it in the lining of her bags and as the color of her lipstick.

 Why The Camellia?

   At age of 13, young Coco Chanel was deeply moved by the performance of Sarah Bernhardt "The Lady of the Camellia"

   Dandy men would wear camellia pinned to their jackets as a sign of refinement, unity and ambiguity. Chanel took the camellia from the men's jacket and put it on the belt and pinned it to her chiffon dresses.

   One day a lady asked her what she was having for breakfast and Chanel answered "a camellia".

Behind the Inspiration

She was always inspired by masculine clothes. She took their jacket, their military bag and their jersey tops and re-interpreted them into women's clothing. 

 Her childhood surroundings influenced her design. From the opulence of religious garments and ceremonial objects, to the baroque and byzantine art.

  The geometry of her perfume bottles and their caps are inspired by the shape of the Place Vendome in Paris.

"To Choose , To Desire and To Be.." _CC

Oh how I miss writing here, and today's such an exciting one! Welcome to a new series that I'm starting on my blog; a monthly "Fashion Report". Intended to give you all you need to know about what's new in the fashion world. 

1. Zara Launched a Beauty Line:

This May, the fast fashion retailer is launching a beauty line that includes products for eyes, lips, face..

Img source: www.getthegloss.com/news/zara-makeup-first-impressions

2. Pandora's Lab-created diamonds:

A very exciting step for Pandora to create their first sustainable collection. This lab-created diamond is Carbon-Neutral certified. Lab-created diamonds are man-made diamonds that mirror the qualities and appearance of natural diamonds, since these stones are not mined, they're considered sustainable. Under the name "Pandora Brilliance", the collection is launching May 6th in the UK.

Img source :www.newseu.cgtn.com/news/2021-05-05

3."Emily in Paris" Season 2:

It's official, the production of Emily in Paris season 2 has started. Great news for fashion lovers, since this show contains various fashion moments and the cast is seen wearing different designer brands from Chanel to Ganni, Kenzo, Kate Spade...

Img source: www.marketing-interactive.com/emily-in-paris-gets-sea-tour-as-brands-welcome-her-into-their-stunts

4. Mango 3D-Printed Accessories:

Mango just launched an all-new capsule collection of accessories made up of 3D printed items, meaning it is made with zero waste. The collection is going to be sold exclusively online.

Img:https://fashionunited.com/news/fashion/mango-launches-3d-printed-accessories-collection/2021050339741

5.H&M x Lover's FC:

H&M collaborates with Lover's FC (a streetwear brand) to launch a collection celebrating the passion and the glory of football style, also inspired by colors and graphics of key squads and footballing nations. the collection is launching May 20in selected stores and online.

Img:https://www2.hm.com/en_asia2/productpage.1000391001

6.Adidas x Lego Group:

Both brands collaborated to create sneakers made in bold colors and textures to emulate Lego bricks.

Img: hyperbeast.com

Until next time!

A question I've been asking others a lot, what are your habits to make things happen and be successful? Everyone has his own inspiring advise. The way others approach life is really inspiring to me.

1.Set Small Goals That Will Lead You to Bigger Ones:

We all have goals. That's a known fact, but are we really working toward what we want? Your goal may be 100 mile away, but the one thing you can do is walk the first mile. For example, your general goal is to read 3 books about a certain subject, you can start by reading small chunks, say your small goal is to read 10 pages per day. 

2.Planning is Your Best Friend:

Put a plan for your day from morning till night, include everything from doing homework, replying to email, to even taking out the garbage. By doing that you will clarify and organize the things you have to do that you keep thinking of . First, you are taking the load of your brain in remembering this and that., and it is good for remembering little things that if not written will be forgotten. At the end of the day you would check out what was done and plan for the next day.

3.Be Realistic in Setting Tasks:

This goes hand in hand with the previous point. I mean what's the point in writing a long  to do list if you can't do it. Setting realistic simple tasks will motivate you to get things done.

4.Dress Up Nicely and Rock Your Look:

You may have hear of the saying: "Dress for the job you want and not for the job you have". Putting that extra effort in your look will really lift your confidence and reflect that you care , it will show that you know what you want and that you have your life together. You are dressed to make things done! One thing show successful stylish people will never do is being under-dressed. 

5.Be More Healthy:

I'm sure you've noticed that most successful people are healthy, they eat right and they seem to find time to workout. Wake up, workout, eat something healthy, go to work, work hard(and smart), come home work harder, sleep, repeat. Anyway the main reason is that eating right and working out will boost your energy and let you be ready to perform through the day.

6.Learn and Expand Your Knowledge:

Read and keep up with what's new. Wether in a newspaper,  scientific magazines,  business articles, fashion magazines.. Whatever field you like or you work in, it is really important to keep up-to-date. Plus reading more and expanding your knowledge has its own unique pros. Most importantly, it will ahead of your game, which is a key to be successful. 

7.Keep a Tidy House/Declutter:

Organizing your work space and your house will help in organising your life. You know where every thing is,  and you don't waste time searching for them. Plus it will reflect in a clear brain and thoughts, because messy spaces is really annoying and stressful to everyone. 

8. Stop Believing in Luck and Start Believing in Hard Work:

Waiting for life to turn up for you is rather intoxicating and time wasting. This is really my own belief.  Things won't happen if you don't make them happen. Waiting for the lottery to announce your numbers or for Mr Right to lift your life or for the perfect job to turn out.... is really an  illusion. You have to get things done for yourself, don't wait because time is running!

9. Stay Motivated and Encourage Yourself:

Motivation is the leader for success and hard work . It is the main thing that made you start. So you need to find your inspiration and keep going back to it. Plus, you have to always encourage yourself to keep moving. A saying that caught my eye:"Believe in your dreams and you Might achieve them. Believe in yourself and you Will achieve them"

10. Practice then Practice:

Practice makes you perfect chores and assignments. Needless to say how important it is to practice in order to improve  your capabilities. Plus it will give you that confidence of being well prepared.

Ps: I would like to thank my friends for their own thoughts on the matter.

Fashion capitals have major influence on fashion trends, both local and international and it assumes the leadership role in design. They’re internationally recognized for having a unique and strong identity.

Today's post is actually a project required from me for  college, and I thought it is an interesting topic to share.

New York City, NYC

New York is most fashionable state in the country. The city is home to the most famous designers in the world including Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Donna Karan, and Carolina Herrera. New York is known for its casual ,modern street wear.

Milan, Italy

Milan has always been known for its superior quality. Some of the biggest fashion houses includes Gucci, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, and Valentino.Milan is known for its ornamented textile, high quality leather and silk. They're glamorous yet comfortable.

Paris, France

The world’s biggest Fashion Week is held in Paris, France and it has been held there since 1973.Some of the most famous names in fashion have come from this city, including Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Hubert de Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent. It is Known for craftsmanship and haute couture. Paris is the house of elite and glamorous brands.

London, United Kingdom

Like many of the other “Big Four,” the city’s Fashion Week is held twice yearly. Some of the city’s finest designers include Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Christopher Kane.

 London is famous for its street style and avant-garde fashion. It is the home for multiple sub-cultures and fashion styles.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai is a very fashionable city, like London, Milan, and New York. UAE is a hub for brilliant fashion designers like Nathalie Trad, House of Nomad, Rami Al Ali, Ashi Studios, Reemami.. Dubai is a global city and business hub of the Middle East. It is the shopping capital of the Middle East.

Shanghai, China

Shanghai is home to some of China’s most talented designers, some of the most famous designers from Shanghai include Uma Wang, Zhang Da, Qiu Hao, Helen Lee, and Nicole Zhang. 

People in Shanghai are more in tune with what's the trend now, and they follow that closely. 

China offers a big market especially for luxury goods.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The city has always been known for its fashion scene and some of the major fashion designers to show here include Viktor & Rolf, Iris van Herpen, and Bas Koster. Dutch are very fashionable, however they tend to prefer a more casual style compared to some other Europeans. 

Berlin, Germany

Berlin, like many of the other fashion capitals of the world, has some of the hottest trends in the industry. Some of the designers who have come from this city, as well as neighboring cities, include Karl Lagerfeld, Hugo Boss and Wolfgang Ley. Berlin style stars have a way of styling looks that fuse elements of both the avant-garde and the practical.

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is home to tens of millions of people, it is known for is its quirky fashion scene. Some of the biggest names to come out of the city include Issey Miyake, Hanae Mori, Kenzo Takada, and Hiroko.

Japanese styles are extreme and avant-garde, similar to the haute couture seen on European catwalks.

Los Angeles, California

Known as the home of some of the world’s most celebrities, but the city is also known for its fashion. Their fashion week the West Coast alternative to New York Fashion Week. LA locals tend to dress casually – like, yoga-pants-and-sneakers casual.  They dress up for going out at night.

*Photo are sourced from Pinterest.

So, the winter was long and our motivation level was down. Hopefully things will be brighter and more motivating. 

1. Benefit Hoola Bronzer and Kiko Milano Blush:

The benefit bronzer is impressive, for a contour shade, it looks very good and it lasts long. As for the Kiko Milano blush, it is in peach shade which is really a good look for summer plus it is well pigmented.

2. Vichy 89 Mineral: 

So this is a good moisturiser, not amazing however and it get me through the dry months fine. I do love the packaging on the other side.

3. Marble Makeup Brushes:

How cute is this set, and it was so cheap from Aliexpress.  They do the job and I always use them.

4. NYX Total Control Foundation:

Hands down, my favorite foundation ever, very light feeling (like water) and covers really well. Very light weight and gives an airbrushed effect.

5.Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer :

A good coverage concealer, it contains benefits for the skin, however,  not perfect with dry skin.

6.L'oreal Elvive Hair Serum:

I used to use the elvive hair cream, but I find this better and more nurturing for dry hair.

7.Magazines:

Aren't we all feeling the January blues? Personally, I am really looking forward to Spring and Spring Fashion. So I've collected from all over the internet SS19 Main Trends and decided to post them on my blog. These are the trends you'll be seeing all over the high street in the coming period of time and I'm exited to see how we will incorporate them into our everyday wardrobe.

1. Living Coral:

This is the color of the year officially announced by Pantone. A fun, bright, neon-like coral that will add a fresh mood for spring and summer. 

2.Ruffles:

A feminine trend to add an elegant and girly touch. This trend keeps coming back and this season it is going nowhere. 

3.Cargo Pants:

I think we'll be seeing this trend worn by many influencers. It is very cool and perfect for Street Style. A nice trend that will keep us cool and comfortable throughout the warmer months. 

4.Bleached Denim:

A nice way to switch from the same old jeans. 

5.Neutrals/Earthy Tones:

You may think this is a Fall/Winter trend, but again there's no "Rules" in fashion. This trend is really elegant and timeless, and I think of it as a wardrobe staple rather than a trend that will come and go.

6.Biker Shorts:

It became normal to add sportswear to our look, it really adds a modern twist. I started to see this trend in the past months, but this season it will be all over our Instagrams. It is very new and suitable for Street Style lovers. Plus this more of a warmer months trend and people will be able to wear it more.

7.Colored Suits:

Very fun and elegant. A nice way to switch from the normal black suits.

 8.Fringes:

A cool element to add to a look. I think we'll see it a lot on bags, accessories and some jacket which is the most wearable way of this trend.

9.Lace:

Another feminine trend that I am excited to see how the high street will recreate it.

Xo, Ghinwa 

*SS stands for Spring Summer. RTW stands for Ready To Wear.

*Photos are sourced from Pinterest through various accounts. 

*Designers are listed on the photos.

Ready for christmas break? What's better than to spend time reading by the fireplace,  drinking a hot drink while it rains or snows outside? These are my holiday reading list, all christmas themed.

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances 

Novel by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson. 

A huge snow storm hits the town during Christmas season, and 3 teenagers experience it throughout their different lives. I really loved this novel and it definitely gets me into the festive mood.

The LittleBookshop on the Seine

Novel by Rebecca Raisin

Sarah have been offered to exchange bookshops with her friend's at the Seine. It can't get better: Christmas in Paris, beside the Seine in an old bookshop. 

The Gift

Novel by Cecelia Ahern

I haven't read this one yet, but I know everything Cecelia writes is amazing. 

Beautiful Crafts Magazine(Christmas)

A crafs magazine, with a lot of ideas about Christmas DIYs. Really perfect for making cute decorations and gifts this holiday, especially if you have kids they will have a lot of fun creating DIYs together.

Happy reading, Xo, Ghinwa 

*Pictures taken by me on a Nikon D5300 camera, lens Nikkor 85mm f1.8