The Monday Makeover - Lacy Nails

After coming up with the ever-so-originally-titled ‘Friday Favourites’, I decided to commit to another regular post, focusing on something that I love / am mildly obsessed with.

Makeovers.

And to top it off, I aim to publish these every Monday when we all need a little makeover boost the most!

If you know me well, you’ll know that I do not own a television, nor do I wish to. You might also know that when I do on occasion watch television, I freaking love makeover shows.

Whether it’s Gok and his Fashion Fix, Supersize vs Superskinny, MTV Made, 10 Years Younger, or any of the numerous shows from the make-me-prettier brigade, I won’t be able to tear my eyes from the screen for a moment.

I love seeing how someone can fulfill their potential, whether it’s by changing their clothes, makeup, hair, or even their home interior. Yes, I really am that superficial.

This is my very own makeover ‘show’, starting with today’s racy, lacy nail transformation... I’m currently on leave, and thanks to that lovely break in flying, it means I can depart from the red/French/clear stale-nailmate that I’m permanently stuck with thanks to airline ‘uniform standards’. The following nail art makeover is definitely not allowed onboard!

My Travel Wardrobe – A Trip to Bangkok and Sydney

I have a love/hate relationship with this particular trip. It’s a weeklong adventure which takes me to Bangkok for a day, followed by three days in Sydney and another day in Bangkok on the way back to Dubai.

I love the destinations.

I hate packing for two different continents and trying to leave enough room for potential shopping ;)

So here’s what happens when you try to pack for two different climates, two different continents and two different plans, without overloading my poor, beaten Samsonite. Did someone say capsule wardrobe?

Day 1 – Bangkok

Sightseeing… a trip to the floating market at Damnoensaduak demands flats (Havaianas), easy tee (H&M) + wear-anywhere jeans (H&M). And a camera, duh.

Day 2 – Sydney

For me, a casual maxi dress (Topshop) together with gladiator sandals (Old Navy) is perfect for a wee spot of shopping along George Street in Sydney, working 'laid-back chic' or, in other words, I couldn’t be assed thinking of a whole outfit so I threw a maxi dress in the suitcase :)

Diamond's Are A Girl's Best Friend... (Jewellery Storage DIY)

…but even more useful, is somewhere nice and pretty to store said diamonds / fake-ass costume jewels.

And that, my friends, is where a simple Martini glass and retro cake-stand come in.

World Catwalk: Destination Manila

Weekend shopping in Robinsons Galleria Mall, Manila, seems to demand a uniform of the giggling Filipinas. The uniform goes a little something like this: colourful t-shirt, shorts/leggings, flat pumps. And so I set about finding those who wore it best...

One of my favourite outfits came from Jean Pedreno, who did biker on the bottom with simple black shorts and boots, then switched it up with girly sunglasses and a blast of pink on top. Filipinas (from my observations in Manila, and in Dubai) tend to dress simply, keeping accessories to a minimum and applying Coco Chanel's tactic of taking one thing off before leaving the house. Jean proves that the latest arm-party craze isn’t a must and opts for sunnies and a watch instead…

Friday Favourite… Neom Candles

If there is one thing my best friend Nicola is good at, it’s present-buying. I’m not talking about special occasions, birthdays, etc… I mean random saw-this-and-thought-of-you moments which result in me now being proud owner of a Neom Home Candle, amongst other thoughtful treats.

From Tokyo, With Love (and shopping tips!)

There seems to be a unanimous answer whenever you ask cabin crew heading to Asian destinations “What are you going to do when you get there…?”

SHOPPING.

Followed by a close second. SLEEPING.

In Tokyo, despite the shopping appeal, I’ve spent most of my trips roaming around in search of cultural brain stimulation to make sure my grey stuff doesn’t vegetate due to the routine nature of my job. Temples, cherry blossom hunting, sushi bars, people-watching in Harajuku, ryoken, public baths… Doesn’t leave much time for shopping now, does it?...

Don’t ask how I managed it, but on my last Tokyo trip, post-elation on discovering cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, and before rushing back to the hotel (a trip which takes over an hour on the train), I took a stroll through the nearby city area to see what I could find. Some weird plastic food displays, the weirdest kinds of manga, and lots of teeny banzai trees later, I came across a small chinaware shop, tucked between a ramen restaurant and a shop selling a weird selection of DIY hardware and outdoor clothes…

This is Tokyo.

Strange. But true.

Enticed by the floral chintzy printed rice bowls carefully heaped outside, I unknowingly wandered in to Japanese homeware heaven. Yep, actual heaven. Teapots, teacups, rice bowls, bentos and everything else that the average tourist-filling-their-home-with-foreign-stuff would sell their grandma for.