Movie Jewelry: Tiffany & Co Rides The Great Gatsby Wave

Catherine Martin, the woman behind the amazing costumes in The Great Gatsby, joined forces with Tiffany & Co. to bring you the decadent jewelry collection used in one of the most talked-about movies of 2013. The movie adaptation of F. Scot Fitzgerald's classic novel is directed by Baz Luhrmann and has already grossed over 136 million dollars since it's May release. 

Martin, an Australian costume designer, catapulted to the lime light with her double Oscar-win for Moulin Rouge back in 2001. She was also the creative mind behind Australia and William Shakespeare's Rome & Juliet.

If you are wondering why she's contributed to almost all of Baz Luhrmann's movies, it's because she's his wife -  they met in college and tied the knot in 1997.

In the build up to the release of the movie, the Tiffany & Co. flagship store on Fifth Avenue unveiled the Jazz Age Glamour collection with their roaring 20's inspired windows. The opulent pieces are available for purchase and it includes the 24 karat savoy headpiece worn by Carey Mulligan's character Daisy, for a whopping 724,000 AED (200,000 USD).

And if you think the prices are outrageously high that no one would buy in this down-trodden economy, think again! The 176 year old company saw a 9% increase in revenue, an amount analysts were not expecting. 

Window Display - Tiffany's 5th Avenue, NYC

Tiffany & Co's Window Inspired by the Movie's Opulent Parties

Pearls, Champagne and Bubbles. What's not to love about this?

More bubbles and ridiculously expensive jewels

More People Scammed by PurseValley and it's Owner, Eva Knox

Purse Valley changes URLs to escape designer lawsuits 

I wrote a post exposing Eva Knox and her blog Spot Bags last year and got a overwhelming response from her victims. Online shoppers have trusted her as a great source of online shopping reviews and unfortunately, she's a scam!

The posts are mainly user reviews of replica handbag sites. I am sure she has a huge following as detailed images and first-hand accounts are hard to find. Especially for shoddy Chinese websites.

Even though she has a myriad of posts, she seems to give only one an A+ rating: Purse Valley (aka PV). But lawsuits against replica sites like PV show that she is, in fact, the owner! Also, her blog URL is .cn, which is the country code top-level domain for mainland China.

And although several readers have discredited her, she still gets questions from unsuspecting fans on what is the best place to shop for replica purses. Which, of course, is always PV.

The fundemental aspect of a review blog is it's impartiality and objectiveness. The information should be based on real information, not profit. 

That's why here on LavalierDubai, I always review online merchants. I have done several so far like Mytheresa.com, Yesstyle.com and Asos.com to ensure the website's legitimacy.

There are also a lot of way to shop safely and securely. I've been shopping online for almost 8 years and never once was scammed or my identity stolen. (knock on wood!)

If you have used any replica bag sites, or any other sites for that matter, let me know how it went.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lavalierdubai
Email: Sales@lavalierdubai.com 

Bloggers You Should Know: Nadya Hassan

As a blogger, I know first-hand how hard it is to maintain and entertain an audience. That's why I love writing about bloggers who have become a success in their field. One of the best examples is Nadya Hassan. She's a petite fashionista with style and panache that keeps you coming back for more.

She launched The Fierce Diaries in 2010 as a school project and quickly found success as a leading Emirati fashion blogger and trend-setter. Her blog is so popular that it's rated as one of the Top 10 Blogs in the Middle East! She also recently won the 2013 Grazia Award for the Best Style Blogger, an honor only enjoyed by a select few.

The most prominent characteristic of her style is her ability to mix high-end fashion with vintage pieces and products from lesser-known designers. This makes her a lot more relatable than other fashionistas who simply showcase the most expensive clothes, shoes and accessories.

We at Lavalier Dubai are proud to be featured in one of her more recent photo-shoots and we must confess that she is seriously rocking one of our best sellers: The Gold Spike Tribal Necklace.

The Fierce Nay Wearing Lavalier... Shop the Trend

The Fierce Nay Wearing Lavalier... Shop the Trend

The Fierce Nay Wearing Lavalier... Shop the Trend

The Fierce Nay Wearing Lavalier... Shop the Trend

Jewelry For a Good Cause: Angelina's New Collection Betters the Lives of Afghan Girls

Love her or hate her, Angelina Jolie has exerted some serious effort trying to help the impoverished and downtrodden.

Some of her lifestyle choices may be odd to some (like adopting kids left and right, making out with her brother and stealing a married man) but the actress has been doing her part in bettering the lives of children all over the world.

Her latest venture focuses on Afghanistan, where the plight of women and children has been categorically ignored even though it’s verging on a human rights catastrophe.

Jolie opened an all-girl school on the outskirts of Kabul where more than 300 students will attend. The project was funded by her Style of Jolie jewelry collection which she launched with Robert Procop, a famous designer and gem expert. All proceeds from the sale of these beautiful pieces will go towards this school and other various projects.

Here are some startling facts about being a woman in Afghanistan:

• More women die in pregnancy and childbirth than almost anywhere else in the world. 1 in 50 women will die during pregnancy or childbirth—one every 2 hours.
• 9 out 10 women are illiterate.
• Women have more than 5 children on average, yet 1 out 10 children die before their fifth birthday.
• Life expectancy is 44, one of the lowest in the world.

Here are some of my favorites

Style of Jolie Jewelry

Style of Jolie Jewelry

Style of Jolie Jewelry

Style of Jolie Jewelry

Style of Jolie Jewelry

The Best Consignment and Pre-Loved Online Shops

I must admit, aside from spending money maintaining and growing my online shop in Dubai, I spend a lot of time shopping. My biggest weakness? Designer bags!

I am now considering a new Chanel but I realized that 15,000 AED (or $4,000) is way too steep a price tag for a silly purse! At the end of the day, I am like most people and I  grow bored wearing the same thing and so the bags almost always end up in their dust bags at the back my closet.

That's why I am looking into buying used designer handbags in hopes of getting a good deal so I can enjoy the totes without breaking the bank. I also would like to sell or consign my old bags to make some quick cash. Consignment basically means that a shop will post your product on their site or have their product in-store but you will only be paid when the item sells. Some offer to buy the item from you and then sell at their own price.

Thus, I have compiled the below list of online shops that have a wide array of reasonably-priced bags in good condition. If you've purchased designer items from any of the below stores, tell us in the comments section! We would love to hear from people with first-hand experience.

WARNING: Do not purchase from a site that looks shady! Nine times out of ten they are selling knock offs and passing it off as the real thing. Always do as much review as possible before making a purchase. I always use Scam Adviser to authenticate websites before making any purchase online.

The Luxury Closet
This is my favorite pre-loved designer bag online store in Dubai. They offer a wide array of pre-loved handbags and shoes Although I never bought anything from them, I tested them using my handy online shopping security checklist. Their customer service is quick to respond, but only when you call them on their 800 number. They offer live chat but I waited about 15 minutes for them to respond to my query. The prices are pretty decent and you can even pay in installments. In terms of shipping, you can pay an extra cost for delivery or you can pick up the item from their shop free-of-charge. You can also consign your bags on their site and the profit will be split 70%(you) and 30% (them). Their guarantee is they will make a sale for you within 90 days. To learn more about selling your used designer bags, click here.

The Closet Online Shop
This is a great site as well. They have everything from pre-loved shoes, wallets and handbags. I love how sleek the website is and it's fairly easy-to-use.

Toujour Chic
I follow this site on Instagram but they fail to update their website regularly and their collection isn't as vast as the others.

Ma Pochette
This website allows you to buy or rent designer bags. Not the best looking website, but does the job.

Fashionphile
This is America's best known pre-owned website. It has a huge number of items but they are pretty expensive. The website is east to browse and the pictures are high-def so you can really see what you are buying. Shipping to the UAE is about 185 AED ($50) and don't forget for anything about 1,000 AED, you have to pay a 5% customs tax.

Yoogi's Closet

Luxe Designer Handbags

Chanel & More

Consign of the Times

Portero

Brand Souk

Brand Shop Tokyo
Let us know what you think of buying used and share your experience with us!

Celebrity - Inspired Engagement Rings Now In Store!

Choosing a wedding ring is the most exciting part of getting married. But browsing jewelry shops in Dubai can be a long and tedious process. That's why at LavalierDubai, an online shop in Dubai, we offer you some of the best celebrity-inspired engagement rings. Made with simulated diamonds and sterling silver, these rings give the illusion and luster of the real thing at a fraction of the price.

If you are considering tying the knot this year and you've been browsing jewelry shops in Dubai for the perfect ring, then look no further for some of the seasons hottest engagement ring styles.

And if you are looking to buy exact replica engagement rings, then visit  LavalierDubai for our brand-new Sterling Silver Diamonique Collection.

This cushion halo ring is made of sterling silver, stamped with a "925" quality mark and rhodium-layered. The stone is AAA grade cushion cut 4-prong set cubic zirconia (1.67 carat, 7.5mm). The ring is surrounded with 36 round cut pave set to add more luster. Band measures 1.6mm in width, the ring weighs 3 gram. This ring is nickel free and hypoallergenic. Shop This Trend

This sparkly cushion halo ring is made of fine sterling silver, stamped with a "925" quality mark and rhodium-layered. Features AAA grade cushion cut 4-prong set canary cubic zirconia (2.04 carat, 8mm). Accented with 28 round cut pave set CZ. Stones total weight is 2.46 carat. Band measures 2mm - 2.5mm in width and weighs 4 gram. This ring is nickel free and hypoallergenic. Shop This Trend

This brilliant 3-stone ring is made of fine sterling silver, stamped with a "925" quality mark and rhodium plated. Features AAA grade radiant emerald cut 4-prong set cubic zirconia (3.5 carat, 10mm x 7mm). Accented with 2 radiant emerald cut 4-prong set CZ (2.12 carat, 7mm x 5mm) and 8 small round cut pave set CZ. Stones total weight is 5.74 carat. Band measures 3.3mm - 4mm in width. Weighs 5.5 gram. This ring is nickel free and hypoallergenic.  Shop This Trend

This pear-shaped ring is made of sterling silver, stamped with a "925" quality mark and rhodium-layered. Stamped with a quality mark "925". The stone is dazzling AAA grade prong-set pear-cut cubic zirconia stone, weighs 1.8 carat (10mm x 7mm). Band measures 2mm wide. Shop This Trend

The beautiful luxury solitaire ring is made of fine sterling silver, plated with rhodium, and stamped with a '925' quality mark. Striking 4-prong set, emerald cut, AAA grade cubic zirconia center stone weighs 8.48 carat and measures about 14mm x 10mm. The 2 dazzling bar set step-cut trapezoid AAA grade cubic zirconia stones weigh 0.58 carat in total and each measures about 5mm x 3mm. Band measures 1.8mm-2.7mm. Shop This Trend

How to Safely Shop Online in Dubai and Elsewhere

As an owner of Lavalier Dubai, an online jewelry shop in Dubai, I take e-commerce security very seriously. My blog isn’t only to showcase Lavalier’s new arrivals and latest jewelry trends but to raise awareness on how to safely and securely shop online. Many people have their reservations about putting their credit card information on a site, especially in the UAE and the Middle East. But if you do a little research and follow the steps below, you will find that there are several ways to make orders safely and securely.  

How is Online Shopping Secure?

The money we spend online is increasing at an exceptional pace because it’s easy, fast and, nine times out of ten, cheaper than the malls (this is especially true when shopping in Dubai). This comes as great news for people who love browsing the net for the latest trends and styles but how can you make sure that the site you are dealing with is trustworthy? The best way to do this is to determine what secure online shopping is and what to look for to avoid scams.

Online shops use technology which protects the personal information you input when you make an order. In short, your credit card details are scrambled so that they can't be seen by anyone, especially those who aim to capture your account details and use it to buy items (online or off). Scrambling the information eliminates this issue as the online shop can only see the last 4 digits of your credit card number, your shipping and billing information and your email address.

Another way of combating unsafe online shopping in Dubai and elsewhere is to use the Cash on Delivery (COD) payment option. At Lavalier Dubai, we use this option so our customers can rest assured that they will pay only when the items are delivered. (we offer free shipping in the UAE, too!)

But the best way to check out safely and securely is by using PayPal. As the company’s tagline suggests, they are the “safest way to pay and receive money online”. Since this is a 3rd party account, the online shop will not have any access to your payment information except for your name and address. I have been personally using it for years as a merchant and as a consumer and I am extremely happy with their service.

As for determining if the online shop is secure, I use a handy checklist whenever I am making a purchase online and luckily, I have never been scammed nor had my identity stolen.

Here are few things to look for before you make your purchase.

• Is there an unbroken key or closed lock in your internet browser window?

These icons reveal that the internet shop is protected. When the key is broken or the lock is opened, the internet shop isn't protected. You should check that the online store website address starts off with "https" instead of "http" when you're supplying personal data, like your credit card number. This shows that you are in a secure part of the web store. If you see the text "Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)", occasionally inside a pop-up window, you know you are shopping in a secure and safe website.

• Did you read the fine print?

Before you proceed to check out, it is absolutely necessary to take the time and read everything the shop has to say. Many customers skip this step and end up regretting it afterwards. Read things like their privacy policy, their shipping and returns policy and how long it takes the item to reach you.

• Is there a phone number you can call in case you don’t receive you package?

Many shops have a customer service hotline in case something is wrong with your order. If they don’t have a number, they must have an email address in their contact page. If they don't, it's best to stay clear. A little tip I learned is to sendtheir customer service and email before the purchase to see their response time. If it’s more than two days, skip the site and go to the next one.

• Did you check their scam rating?

A great tool to use prior to purchasing something online is to check their scam rating. I use Scam Advisor to see the website information like where they are located and how long the site has been running. The longer the life of the site, the safer it is. It also check their email address: if it's a free one (like @gmail.com) it's risky. But that doesn't mean it's not a legit site.

• Did you read the reviews?

Online shoppers usually take to review sites, like TrustPilot, to share their experiences. It’s a great way to see how well, or bad, the order process went. Simply go on Google and search [website name] + review to see what customers have to say.

I post a lot of reviews on my blog whenever I shop online. I have reviewed many online shopping sites like MyTheresa.com, YesStyle.com and Shopbop.com just to name a few. I highly recommend you do the same after any purchase so that you can help other shoppers.  

Online shopping allows you to have access to a variety of goods from around the world and when you have checked all the above points, you can be confident that your purchase is now being made safely and you can look ahead to getting your order to your doorstep, hassle-free!