Theme 46. REVOLVE Outfits. Dresses for a Date and Summer Trips to Europe

Dear Online Girlfriend, every time I shop online I have no idea if I will look as good as the models pictured. Previously I shared a few articles with my reviews with side to side photos of me and the beautiful models (click here to access all honest Revolve reviews). After years of ordering from REVOLVE, I learnt what fabrics and cuts suits me the best and which styles I probably should avoid (those mini sweater dresses? Most of the time are too short on me, which I demonstrated in previous posts. Bear in mind, I am only 5’ 5” = 165 cm! ).

Right now, we are in the heat of the summer season and if lucky, vacations and trips to Europe. The outfits I am about to review will be perfect for all your hot weather and early fall romantic getaways, girls trips and date nights (and days). So get comfortable and plunge into this detailed photo review that I hope will help you shop and look even more dazzling.

And if you have any questions please DM me on Instagram @uliaali . It makes me tremendously happy when I get to connect with you, girls and feel useful.

Let us begin!

Vintage Romance

Pack this perfect vintage style brown polka dot dress on a getaway to Italy or for a sumptuous al-fresco dinner date in your city.

CLICK HERE

I have been eyeing this vintage-style LPA polka dot dress for a bit, and when I finally put it on I immediately felt that this is the dress I will not get bored of for many many years!

It slightly reminds of the iconic Pretty Woman look, the one Julia Roberts wore for a polo match, and has a flattering cut that makes your waist look tiny. It is easy to adjust how tight you want your waistline to be snatched by the tie.

It is a bit on pricey side, but looks so chic and timeless that it will serve for a long time.

Buy it here before it sells out again!

Speaking of polka dots, I finally succumbed and got another bestselling Majorelle Brady Dress, and it looked better than I imagined!

While this sexy tube dress with a slit is flattering, there is a way less room to “breathe”. There is no zipper or buttons, so prepare to squeeze into the dress.

I wore it on my vacation on Mexico City. I also think it will be a wonderful addition in a wardrobe of a bride, whether for a honeymoon, bridal shower or bachelorette parties.

Other Polka Dot styles I love are below. I actually have the Bellah Mini dress and so happy to see it back in stock. Hands down one of my MOST worn summer mini dresses. Easy to put on, not to short and looks very pretty. I am giving it 10/10!

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This Harmony dress by h:ours is definitely a risque choice, but it is a KILLER look for a sexy date with your man or a night out with friends if you are feeling daring.

The top part sits a bit higher than I wished for, but overall it is an amazingly seductive twist on a little black dress.

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Floral Beauty

If you are ever looking for a high quality, beautiful, feminine, romantic dresses, I suggest you check out Hemant and Nandita brand.

I LOVE their dresses and I find them a very classy choice for a summer wedding.

I wore this dress on my trip to Cartagena, Columbia, and it is a available in a slightly different print: Veena Dress

All other Heman & Nandita styles HERE.

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Michael Costello Set

I love a good two-piece set as you can wear them together and separately. The quality of this Costello set is good and it comes in a few colors (I love my green one, but the black one is a classic too).

Midi Skirt HERE

Top HERE

This is another original two-piece dress that is sexy, yet classy at the same time. It is sold together and, GOOD NEWS, it is now on major sale!

Lovers & Friends Midi Dress

I love wearing the navy top separately and it looks very stylish with white linen pants or classic denim jeans. Such a great find!

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Theme 46. REVOLVE Outfits. Date Night Looks

Dear Online Girlfriend, here I am again with some new reviews on clothes from our beloved Revolve. Last time I shared with you some of my favorite summer looks, perfect for a vacation, and today I thought I will post some date night/day looks. It is still summer, so we will focus on warm weather outfits, but make sure to check my blog in a month or two for some fall looks!

LBD? How about MBD (Midi Black Dress)?!

Let’s start with this QUEEN of the dresses! This Pagne Midi Dress by h:ours is an absolute show stopper! I have received so many compliments when I wore this dress and I felt incredibly sexy, yet loved how sophisticated and classy this look is at the same time. I think every woman has at least one classic little black dress, but this one shoulder midi dress with a side slit is an absolute must have! The material is thick; it fits PERFECTLY. Please do yourself a favour and go get it before it is sold out!

Here are other black midi dresses that I liked on Revolve:

Teal me more!

We will get to wearing a lot of dark colors and neutral shades in the upcoming fall and winter season, but while it is still hot I really recommend putting on a nice colorful mini dress or a matching set! Whether it is a last summer weekend in the Hamptons, a big labor day party or just a lovely summer date brunch, you will definitely stand out in a dress like THIS! This teal color is so gorgeous and the material of this Superdown dress is very silky and pleasant and overall this draped dress looks luxurious and more expensive than it is (it is only $74!). It comes in three colors.

Sophie Draped Mini Dress by Superdown

Stunning teal dress that looks expensive and is flattering. Perfect mini for summer! BUY HERE

Tie-Dye till I die

I will be honest with you, dear online girlfriend, I have never been a big tie-dye trend fan. I purposefully avoid it and don’t think I owned any tie-dye pieces until I saw this Krystal Superdown dress. This color is STUNNING and elegant! I already wore this dress so many times that I have to stop recording Instagram Stories in it because it is getting out of hand :) I wore it out with heels for a dinner, I wore it for my real estate Open House with sandals, with cowboy boots, a cropped jacket and a hat for a stroll in the city… It always looks so different! It is simple to just put on, easy to accessorize and the material is silky and feels amazing on my skin. It also hugs my body in all the right places. What not to love?! It is definitely one of my top favorite dresses at the moment and it is only $88. I HIGHLY recommend it!

My white heels are also from Revolve. They are Julie heels by Raye and very comfortable. I like them so much that I ordered them in black color as well!

Silky Smooth

As you can tell, I am a bit obsessed with everything light and silky at the moment. I think an elegant silky blouse or a top is a must have in every woman’s wardrobe, especially in some neutral light shades. When I received Scottie One shoulder top (only $55!) I was pleasantly surprised as the the wrap tie makes the top adjustable and really complements my body. You can tie it as loose or as tight on your waist as you want!

I paired this top with Trinity faux leather skirt, but it also looks great with jeans and white trousers.

Speaking of faux leather skirts, I also have to share one of my top items in wardrobe - this JEZABEL faux leather midi skirt with a slit! If I could have only one item from the whole website, it will be this skirt!

It is sexy, yet appropriate for an office look to! I love it so much that I ordered another black one as a back up and waiting for the Jezebel in nude color to arrive soon as well! Best skirt I ever had! It gets sold out quickly, so do not miss out!

Black Jezebel Midi Skirt

Nude Jezebel Midi Skirt

If you don’t want to miss any of my favorite items from Revolve, I update my Favorites here often and check my Instagram @uliaali for how i style my looks.

DM me if you have any questions!

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Theme 39. Arabian Adventure. Four Seasons Dubai, Sea Fu review

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach - Jet Set Oasis

Dubai has made a name for itself catering to the luxury-minded jet set crowd over the years, so it was only a matter of time before the Toronto-based Four Seasons Hotels group installed their beach-side desert offering: Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach (FS for short because #carpaltunnel).

For those of you who have not had the privilege of gracing the threshold of a Four Seasons, let me be the first to tell you that you are in for a treat should the opportunity arise to visit one of their 109 (and counting) properties worldwide.

Like many of their locations, the FS exudes opulence from the moment you approach the grounds. A sweeping paver stone driveway lined with trees lifts you up and away from the bustle of Jumeirah St. Through gaps in the greenery as your drive deeper, you will begin to notice the neutrally colored, Arabian influenced lines of the main building. Terraced construction incorporating terra-cotta and neutral tones is the perfect complement to the landscape, causing one to forget that a city of steel and glass is only 15 minutes away. If you look closely at the buildings, you may notice nods to the Arabian culture in the form of Horseshoe Arches and large, ornate doors standing between you and marble lined lobby of the FS.

As one would expect from a Four Seasons, the lobby is the crown jewel. Every Four Seasons seeks to make the entry way to each of their hotels a statement. Dubai is no exception. With an attention to detail second to none, the FS unabashedly flaunts the line between palace and hotel. Gold trim, deep brown hues, neutral tones, complex light fixtures comprised of baubles and more flowers than Versailles in spring, the FS transports you.

Now, our engagement on this particular adventure was at one of the FS’s dining venues known as Sea Fu. The FS mantra is about experiencing sensory environments. So, if you can accept that the lobby overwhelms, Sea Fu relaxes, much to the same degree.

Set in a quasi-outdoor, beachside setting, Sea Fu serves an Asian-inspired menu amongst pillars of wood and beneath umbrellas and billowing fabric. I highly recommend sitting outside as the breeze in winter or early spring is still pleasant. However, should the sun be too harsh, the interior of Sea-Fu is a perfect alternative and a welcome respite from the sun. There is something about an ocean breeze and eating lunch on a terrace that is just…pleasing.

The staff at Sea Fu was, for lack of a better term, phenomenal. From the moment we approached the host stand to announce our arrival, we were treated with near-perfect deference (I say near-perfect because I have a penchant for restaurants that maintain a dress code that includes white gloves for their staff, but that is a story for another time). The truly standout quality however, ignoring the smiles, friendliness and attention of the staff was something that I believe every restaurant should take to heart and do: responsive and thoughtful guidance on the menu.

This may sound like a simple task, but the vast majority of restaurants do not ensure that their staff knows the menu.

When I patronize a restaurant I like to ask the waiter or waitress to pick items from the menu that they believe will constitute a meal representative of the quality and diversity of the restaurant. Few get this right. More often than not, the selections are representative, but not of what is good, but what is popular, or what they think I will like based on their judgement. For those of you who know me personally, you will know that I drink and I know things. But you will also know that I eat. I love good food.

Sea Fu understood this. Our waitress selected dishes that complemented one another, were varied enough in their execution to not leave us bored and diverse in flavor to the point that we had to throw in the proverbial towel for lack of capacity. It was beautifully executed and showcased what I love best in a restaurant: mastery of a variety of techniques. 

In the words of Paul Prudhomme: “You don't need a silver fork to eat good food.”. Fine by me, the FS (and Dubai) happens to prefer gold anyway.

Until next time,

- BAP

P.S. For the curious among you, here is what we had for lunch:

Small Plates: Edamame, Spicy Chicken

Sushi: Yuzu Tempura Roll

Raw Bar: Hokkaido Scallops

Main: Seared Black Cod

Dessert: Mochi Selection, Lotus Flower

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SHOP MY LOOk:

My Dress - Free People (it comes in 4 colors and it is my favorite dress EVER!)

Bag - Louis Vuitton (It was a Christmas gift from my hubby)

Jewelry - Sequin Jewelry (My favorite Jewelry company! Everything is so gorgeous)

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Week 28: Scandinavian Adventure. Raden A50 Set review.

Ben and I travel quite often and last year I hopped from one plane to another almost every weekend. It wasn't always for fun and vacations (although we had our fair share of those too!), but often for family matters and work. Regardless of the purpose, it is important for me to have stylish, comfortable and spacious luggage.

As my suitcases (I had this one for years!) got destroyed by our frequent flying schedule, I was excited to get a new Raden A50 luggage set in a sleek, matte black color for our Scandinavian trip. The set includes the A22 Carry-On and the A28 Check suitcase. To be honest I really wanted a pink and white combo (they have so many colors to pick from!), however many colors were sold out before Christmas. Luckily, I checked their website just now and seems like they have everything back in stock!

What is so special about this luggage set? Well, the best feature is that every suitcase has a built-in scale. You simply download the Raden app and lift the handle and an internal scale will determine how heavy your bag is, displaying the weight in the app. Moreover, the app can tell you where your luggage is within 100 feet as there is a Bluetooth receiver inside the case.

There are also two charging ports on both suitcases that allows you to charge your device. My iPhone is always low on battery, so this is quite a handy feature.

Both suitcases are light and roll easily without me having to push or drag them.

Now, of course there are also some down sides that I just have to talk about. Even though the Raden set is gorgeous, and looked so sophisticated out of the box, it got scratched very easily on our first flight. I am not sure if it's an issue with the black cases or the material used. Despite the scratched surface, the content of my bag was 100% protected, which is important when you travel with expensive camera equipment, heeled shoes and makeup all packed together :)

Overall, I do recommend the Raden luggage set if you can ignore a few scratches on the surface. You will appreciate the functionality and protection these suitcases provide.

MY LOOK:

Leather shearling jacket - Walter Baker | White bodysuit - Oroblu | Boots - Hush Puppies (in black)

Photographs were taken in Skeppsholmen Hotel, Stockholm.

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In the next post, I am going to share some of my Cold Vacation Essentials and help you pack for your vacations in sub-zero weather and ski resorts!

Week 28: Scandinavian Adventure. Ice Hotel in Kiruna review.

North by North North - The Ice Hotel

by Benjamin

When most people think of the Arctic Circle, they imagine a cold, white wasteland devoid of even the smallest signs of life.

Good news!

The frozen north has a plethora of life (human and otherwise) and is quite manageable if you have a sense for adventure. Ulia and I decided to make the trek up to Kiruna, Sweden which is about 90 miles north of the Arctic Circle and Sweden’s northernmost city. There, resides the original Ice Hotel (Jukkasjärvi): a resort situated on the frozen banks of the Torne River that boasts the world’s first and most famous hotel made of ice.

The hotel is divided into three types of rooms, grouped into three separate structures. The first is the warm, which is, well, warm, as in not made of ice. The second is the newly-opened (November 2016) 365 building which houses a series of rooms that are maintained year-round at -5ºC. The third, and most renowned, is the original Ice Hotel; a building comprised of massive blocks of ice harvested straight from the Torne River but a hundred meters away.

Now, for those of you who are wondering why anyone would go that far north to stay in what essentially amounts to an oversized igloo, let me enlighten ye with the top five coolest things you can do at The Ice Hotel.

1. Airport Transfers

At this point, you have read the heading and are probably wondering what lavish or outlandish vehicle could possibly pick you up from the airport in Kiruna and drop you off at the Ice Hotel. A hummer? A snowmobile? Some Swedish cross-country skiers? Alas, no. But you can have a team of adorable huskies come pick you and three friends up for a dogsled transfer to the hotel!

The dogsled airport transfer is not cheap, but it is an experience unto itself and should definitely be considered if you want a very original method of getting from A to B or have a thing for dogs, sleds, snow and adventure.

2. The Ice Bar

For those of you who drink, you are in luck. The Ice Hotel crafts an awesome bar made of sheer ice every year and serves all of its mixed drinks in glasses made of ice, cut straight from the Torne River. For the hypochondriacs (I’ll save you the google: people who are scared of germs) in the crowd, the ice has been tested and verified bacterium-free before it is cut into the glasses you drink out of. The bar itself has a mascot named Mr. Fuzzy who happens to be the portrait of a lion that overseas the goings on in the bar area. There is comfy seating adorned with animal hides (probably reindeer, I did not get a proper look) and plenty of space and music for both personality types.

Pro-tip:

Ask for the off-menu drinks and make sure you keep your glass so you can break it later (for fun of course!)

3. Lingonberry Juice

Yeah, yeah: "oh this sounds so boring! ’Tis but juice!". Well, guess what? The idiom: 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do', is very applicable here. Backstory: in Sweden, there is a concept known as "allemansrätten" or 'Everyman’s Right" which essentially grants anyone the freedom to roam the land, sail the water, camp, and forage for food, pretty much anywhere in Sweden (this custom exists in many nordic countries). This centuries’s old edict is still just as strong today and as Lingonberries grow quite commonly all over Sweden, consuming them in various forms is a part of life. The Ice Hotel is no exception and makes it a habit of providing hot Lingonberry juice at opportune moments throughout your stay; from your first arrival to your morning wake up call, Lingonberries will be in your face and I recommend you be Roman.

A Song of Ice and Fire? 

4. The Ice Hotel Art Suites

Every year, ice artists and sculptors (from the cold parts of the world), descend on the Ice Hotel to showcase their woks in the form of exquisitely detailed suites made entirely of ice and snow. Each room has its own theme, ranging from the instantly recognizable 'Casablanca' with its Moroccan geometric embellishments, to the more subtle (and frankly unsettling) 'Faces' room which contains a 3m tall face staring at your bed while another ten faces gaze down at you from the ceiling, judging your dreams and snickering at your snores. The Ice Hotel commissions thirty five unique suites every season and offers one of the few places in the world where you can essentially sleep inside a sculpture.

5. The Northern Lights

The Sámi people have inhabited the northern portion of Scandinavia for a millennia and developed their own belief system, much like any other people, around their environment (think :sun gods, weather gods, ocean gods, etc). In this case, the Sámi people believe that the Northern Lights are the sparks flung from the tail of a fox as it bolts across the sky and represent the souls of fallen relatives. 

At this point you may be scratching your head over how we just went from a solar particle phenomenon to foxes, but just bear with me and I will connect the dots! The Sámi people stem from the northernmost portions of Scandinavia which, as some of you geography buffs are aware of, contains a little country called Finland. Now here’s the line between the dots: The Finnish word for 'Northern Lights' is 'Revontulet’ which literally translates as 'fire fox'. Voila! Pretty cool, right? Anyway, this is the main event at the Ice Hotel, this is the once-in-a-lifetime experience you drag your loved ones with you to see. Our guide advised us that it needs to be cold, clear and dark to experience the revontulet at its finest, so bundle up, be patient and keep your eyes on the sky.

Side bar:

The Northern Lights experience at the Ice Hotel comprises three arctic adventures rolled into one. First off, you take a snowmobile on a 2.5 hour journey from the hotel to a secluded wilderness camp with Finnish style cottages. Secondly, your guide will prepare dinner for you and talk about the history and culture of the area. Last but not least: The Revontulet will hopefully make an appearance (I still have a lawsuit pending with the Swedes over the clouds that ruined our chances but I doubt I will hear back from them).

Until next time - BAP