Fishtails and fake flowers.

Headed out to Mall of the Emirates today for lunch and a movie.
I watched City Of Life again (an Emirati directed film based in Dubai. Amazing by the way, click the link for the trailer).

Do you like what I did to my hair? I thought I'd try tie it up into a fishtail braid. A very messy one though.
It unfortunately didn't last all day, because my hair is layered, I guess it all came undone.

 Also wanted to put a close up on the racerback I was wearing. Bought this in the markets called Greenhills, in Manila.

Before the movie, I stopped by DUCTAC, which is a theatre and arts community centre at the mall.
My first time there and I was surprised to see so many kids in art classes and artwork by those kids displayed on the walls. Never really knew what this centre did, thought they just hosted exhibitions from time to time. But well done to them for encouraging the creativity of those young and old.

In the artspace called Gallery of Light, I came across these interesting pieces.

By Liz Ramos. These are for sale at AED200 each.

Love this one. By Rebecca Rendell. Also for sale.

Portraits of a family. Not sure who these pieces are by,

Also met up with new friend, digital artist and photographer Jmerts (http://www.edaydreamer.com/).
We've got some cool stuff lined up together so watch this space!

Disney gets fashionable.

 Do you recognise any of these friendly characters?

These plus more, by Ulrich Schröder for Elle Spain, April 2010

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Original source: fashionising.com

The coolest cat.

I don't know where to draw the line... when you're having such a huge girlcrush on someone, it should be considered more than a crush at some point.. right? ;)

Basically it was only recently via twitter and facebook that I discovered that the ever-hip, super talented graffiti artist Fafi had her own blog, which like the rest of us, features mostly daily outfit posts. They're my favourite part of her blog. Her style is amazing. What's cool about it is she wears heaps of items from Uniqlo, H&M, Zara and other affordable fashion stores, along with designer outfits from Hermes, Moschino and etc.

She's truly a fashion icon in her own right.

This one is my favourite look. The thigh-highs, the lingerie as outerwear, the rock & roll belt.

I had to stop myself at 12 images. I pretty much love all her outfits though, she can slip into any sexy cheracter she wants to. I guess those little minx fafinette characters she creates are all little pieces of her own personality.

So what's your favourite Fafi look?

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All images grabbed from http://fafi.coolcats.fr. Mark it as a favourite!

Lily, painted.

What has Lily Allen been up to lately, you ask?
Ok, maybe you didn't ask, but as a Lily-lover, I was getting curious.
It was some time ago that she announced taking a break from music and starting her label, Lucy In Disguise... but since this will launch sometime in August, I'm not sure we'll be hearing anything about it before then.

Lily will be a NUDE covergirl for Australia's Harper's Bazaar in May 2010, but the cover is actually a painting by artist David Bromley. He has sketched her from pictures of her editorial with Harper's Bazaar Russia, from January 2010.

I think it's quite pretty, but still hasn't answered the question of what she's been up to lately... Let's hope she's been super busy designing ultra cool vintage-esue dresses for us (at affordable prices of course).

Mabellie & me & Art Dubai 2010.

Myself and the gorgeous Mabellie.
After the show we had a late dinner at Central Perk in Al Wasl, because we're FRIENDS (hums Friends theme song in my head).

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If you see artwork thatyou recognise, please let me know so I can give credits. Or if something is yours and you would like me to remove it, please let me know! Kthx!

Art Dubai 2010 (part 3).

There's got to be MORE THAN THIS. Right?

(Click to enlarge)
Interesting drawings of Dubai.  Top one was Dubai probably 20 years ago. And underneath, Dubai today (or in the near future). The expansion of this city in just a couple of decades is quite amazing.

Anita Dube; Mystery on the border of death, 2010 / Galerie Christian Hosp, Berlin.

A gun/hairdryer and metal shoes (hot heels by the way!)

This seriously looked like it was drawn with a black pen. 

Silhouettes of women.

In the Van Cleef and Arpels exhibition. I found my perfect watch.

Allah Akbar.

 Fellow bloggers, do you agree, that the destiny of all life lies within technology?
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If you see artwork that you recognise, please let me know so I can give credits. Or if something is yours and you would like me to remove it, please let me know! Kthx!

Art Dubai 2010 (part 2).

On Wednesday 17th March I attended the Opening night of Art Dubai 2010, hosted by HSBC Premier.

I wouldn't call myself an art buff or even go as near as to call myself an art scenester. To be honest I don't know much about any art. I do know that I'm an art admirer.

I can see a painting, statue, a mixed media piece, photography, etc and admire it. I might not always be able to come up with technical reasons why I admire a certain piece of art - maybe it's just because it had pretty colours or looks cool or something.

This Art Show was great for me though. Nothing pretentious, just two massive halls with a thoughtful and eclectic mix of art made locally and brought in from all countries.

We saw pieces from young and upcoming artists from Saudi Arabia; an interesting airline concept for those who constantly get harassed at airports due to their nationalities (http://fairskies.me/); even a wall of hand painted street style photography from a girl who's got a blog setup here on blogspot.

There was a delicately constructed matchstick piece; a collage dedicated to Arnold Schwarzenegger; a massive mural made of scrap materials such as lolly wrappers, soda bottle tops, and other small pieces of recycled material.
Below are some of the awesome stuff we saw and photographed:

TRAFFIC

 At the Traffic stand, some fantastic pieces by local artists.
The 'incomplete dog' covered in scaffolding was called 'Dubai', if I recall correctly. Last year due to the GEC, so much construction just halted. So scaffolding is a sight many Dubaian's are familiar with...
I love the car reflectors ball. My friend Michael said it looked like a car crash. I said 'love rhymes with hideous car crash, just like the Blood Brothers said' but he didn't get it. I guess a ball & chain could rhyme with love too.

This collection of photos was probably my most favourite. So cute, so sweet! :)
I forgot which stand I saw this at, or who the artist was, and I apologise for not being able to give credit.

These hanging sculptures looked so delicately detailed.

Local artists from the UAE and within the Middle East were able to showcase their unique talents.

This is the first part of my Art Dubai posts, maybe of 3 or 4 parts (I haven't decided)... I'll post some more photos later though. And hope you enjoy!
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If you see artwork that you recognise, please let me know so I can give credits. Or if something is yours and you would like me to remove it, please let me know! Kthx!

A painted street fashion blog project.

Szabó Klára Petra has painted 100 watercolour pictures over the last two years and has posted them on her blog.

I first found out about her project when I visited the Viltin Gallery (Budapest) stand at Art Dubai. One wall was covered in her paintings, which are a collection of 'mood-grasping' portraits of people she finds interesting and exciting.

You can visit her blog, on our very own blogspot: http://artstyleblog.blogspot.com/
More information about the artist at http://szaboklarapetra.blogspot.com/

(PS - I really want to post up more of the photos we took while at Art Dubai Expo the other week, but I'm still waiting for my friend to upload the photos... *hint hint* MABEL - yahla habibthi!

Art Dubai 2010.

 (c) Art Dubai

Looking forward to the public opening night of Art Dubai 2010 tonight!

Big thanks to traffic and discoballbreaker for the opportunity. 

Now who says Dubai doesn't have culture?? :-) Look at this - a whole week dedicated to art.
And this follows on from the Emirates International Literature Festival held last week.

Will return back with photos and stories soon.

Inked girls.

I guess you're either a lover or hater of tattoos. I'm a lover. I'd have a full sleeve by now if i could...
I love script tattoos especially. I'd get more but I fear looking like I've been attacked by a texta! Tattoos are pretty mainstream now, so I guess a bit more acceptable too. When I was in Queensland, Australia last year I remember counting about 2 in every 5 people I saw had tattoos.

Not really a fan of Megan Fox's Monroe tattoo, but do like the fonts on her other script tattoos.
Rumer Willis's tattoo 'be present' is also nice. Pretty cool position too.

Rihanna has heaps of tattoos, I like this one the best though. Cute.
Pink's tattoo on her forearm is the name of her childhood dog. I love the position of this one.
The strawberry is Katy Perry's (she always, always has such awesome nails too). I don't think tattoos need to be so meaningful all the time. If you think something looks cool/sweet/funny/etc and wouldn't mind looking at it everyday, then who's to say if you should or shouldn't have it permanently tattooed on you!

 The latest tattoo that I've seen and loved is Lady Gaga's quote. It's in the exact position I want to get my next tattoo...

A quote from Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, she's had written:

'In the deepest hour of the night, confess to yourself that you would die if you were forbidden to write. And look deep into your heart where it spreads its roots, the answer, and ask yourself, must I write?' 

The script is just beautiful, I LOVE it.

Are you guys tattoo lovers or haters? Do you have any, or if you're thinking of getting any, and what would you get?

Miroir Noir.

Last week, I watched Miroir Noir, a film following the band Arcade Fire as they created and toured for their album Neon Bible.
Quite an amazing docu/film actually. Filmed by Vincent Moon and directed by Vincent Morriset - resulting in an elusive behind-the-scenes peak at an inspirational and intense band.

Many of the scenes were beautiful, accompanied by even more beautiful and inspiring music. The first time I listened to Neon Bible back in 2007 I remember the shivers down my spine... from the lyrics, Win Butler's vocals, the composition. Everything was perfect. The church organs at the start of Intervention gave me chills and even when I listen to My Body Is a Cage til now, I feel like I'm peering directly into his soul.

Mahmovies! was the organisation that brought the film to Dubai. They held film showings at the Jamjar for the first few months of this year. As Miroir Noir was the final showing for this season, they let us keep the beanbags we all comfortably settled in.

I'm sure those driving past thought it was pretty odd... watching groups of people leaving an industrial warehouse with beanbags on their backs.. ;)