Jewelry & Accessories from Paris Fashion Week: Chanel RTW Spring/Summer '14

The Spring/ Summer 2014 jewelry styles are finally out as Paris Fashion Week comes to a close. There are such exciting jewelry trends coming your way and I can't wait to start purchasing for LavalierDubai. 

So, let's get started with LavalierDubai's top jewelry, bags and accessories from Chanel. Here are the highlights:

• Over-sized bangles (that are the same kind, no assortments)
• Backpacks (who knew those will be on the runway?)
• Fabric handbags (hopefully less pricy for the average shopper)
• Over-sized pearls (earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings)
• Mini patent leather cross-over bags (small enough to fit only your cell phone!) 
• Lots of embellished fingerless gloves

Manhattan Grill in Dubai: Awesome Place for Steak and a First Date!

Last night, my husband and I went to dinner with our friends from out-of-town who were staying at the Grand Hyatt near Wafi Mall. Since they were exhausted from a long days' worth of fun Dubai activities, we decided to dine at the Manhattan Grill, located on the second floor of the huge hotel.

This was the first time I've ever been to or even seen this hotel and let me tell you, it is MASSIVE!

Here are the specs:

• It's a whopping 37 acres of land
• 674 hotel rooms and suites
• 186 residential apartments
• 14 restaurants & Bars
• Award-winning Ahasees Spa & Club
• Indoor & outdoor swimming pools
• Golf & Tennis courses

We decided to spend our evening at the Manhattan Grill since I had The Entertainer Coupons. The small restaurant was not as packed as I thought it would be and has a very romantic feel. It has a terrace but wasn't big enough to accommodate 12 people, so we opted to stay inside.

Where all the magic happens

Food Quality
We were given a complementary soup to start off the meal which was in a huge bowl but the portion was so ridiculously tiny that I finished it in 3 scoops! The steaks were cooked to perfection and the side orders were also heavenly. My Nebraska Bone Off Prime Rib Eye was the best I've ever had and I got some mashed potatoes and steamed veggies on the side. One of my friends ordered a steak well-done but got it quite bloody which was unfortunate.

Is this supposed to be an appetizer?!

Nom Nom Nom... Yummy Boneless Prime Rib Eye

Service
If I had to rate the service out of 10, 10 being impeccable, Manhattan Grill would get a 9. We were seated promptly, the drinks, appetizers and food arrived within 30 minutes of ordering. If you lived in Dubai as long as I have, 30 minutes is nothing compared to other restaurants that take up to 1 hour to get the food out. The waiters were very hospitable and kept their calm as 12 hungry people were ordering.

Price
I must admit the prices are the highest I've seen in a while. The starting price of the steaks was from 200 AED ($55) and upwards. The cheapest item on the menu was the fish, but who goes to a steak house to eat fish? The win was also expensive and we downed a few bottles. Even the side dishes were expensive: a small bowl of mashed potatoes was 20 AED ($5). If you are going there, make sure you get some extra cash with you.

Menu Items & Prices

Conclusion
All in all, it was a great meal with a great group of friends and I enjoyed every minute of it. The only thing I could complain about that it was empty and kind of dead, with only 3 tables other than ours. There was also no music or any kind of ambiance, which is OK by me as I hate going to places where I can't hear anyone talking.

Here are the details:

Open 7 days a week
Lunch: 12:30pm to 3:00pm
Dinner: 7:00pm to 11:30pm (until 12:00am on Thursdays and Fridays)
Closed for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays
24-hour valet service free of charge Smart casual attire
To reserve, call +971 4 317 2222 or visit restaurants.dubai.hyatt.com/

If you have any reviews or have visited this restaurant before, send us an email us at sales@lavalierdubai.com and tell us what you think.

Real vs. Fake Gucci Soho Shoulder Leather Satchel

Whether you like them or not, replica designer handbags are everywhere! It was estimated that 80% of bags carried my men and women in Dubai are actually fake, an odd statistic seeing that people in the UAE have the highest household incomes and quality of life in the Middle East.

Some women can't afford to splurge thousands of dirhams on a designer bag and opt to get a replica instead.

But there are so many bad knock-offs out there and it's hard to tell what you're going to get if you buy a replica purse online. That's why I introduced a new review segment to LavalierDubai called: Real vs. Fake.

For this post, I'm going with the Gucci Soho Shoulder Leather Bag in light pink (real) and black (fake).  

*Just a quick note here, I wasn't able to find the exact replica online but this is the closest I can get. If you have a replica Gucci Soho Shoulder Leather Bag, send us your review to DubaiPurse@gmail.com*

Here are the real specs of the bag:

• Material: Leather
• Measurement: (Approximately) Length 52cm; Height 31cm; Width 18cm; Handle drop 24cm
• Retail Price: 7,765 AED ($2,115) on Reebonz.

Let's start with the real deal:

Now, the replica Gucci purse from Bagaholics (Selling price: 319USD):

I've never shopped at Bagaholics and I do own an original Gucci. The inside of the replica looks exactly like my real one. The inside fabric is almost identical in texture and color! The Gucci logo on the inside rim isn't straight which worries me but the stitching is well done. Also, the interlocking G is way too puffy on the replica, while the real one is flat.

It's not the best knock-off Gucci in the world and some designer bag enthusiasts might be able to detect it's fake.

Now, it's your turn: what do you think of this replica bag? Let us know in the comments section below or email us at sales@lavalierdubai.com.

Hottest Jewelry Trends from the 2013 Emmy's

Here are some of the best jewelry and accessories from the 65th Emmy Awards, which aired Sunday September 22.

I wasn't able to watch the show but the jewelry and accessories look amazing! And as usual, emerald green is the IT color as it takes over the red carpet.

World Wide Wierd: Ke$ha's New Phallic Jewelry Line

I've written a post about the weirdest jewelry found on the internet, but that was before Ke$ha launched her collection, Ke$ha Rose.

The Penis Collection... Click Here

If you're in the market for some penis pendants, then you are in luck! She has provided us with a wide array of earrings, rings and necklaces for those who want to show some love for the body organ. Unfortunately, no signs of vajayjay jewelry at this time, but we mustn't give up hope.


In all honestly, I was rather skeptical of her as a singer and trend-setter, not to mention a jewelry designer but her stuff is not bad! The designs are a cocktail of precious gemstones, skulls, and roses, which is pretty cool. And unlike other singers / actors turned designers, the prices are not outrageously high.

Check out my favorite pieces from her new line, which is a collaboration with American designer, Charles Albert. All the items are available for purchase on www.kesharosebycharlesalbert.com.

Rose Fossil Shark Tooth, Turquoise & Obsidian Arrowhead Adjustable Ring... AED 770

Kesha Rose by Charles Albert Red Rose & Obsidian Skull Necklace... AED 1,650

Kesha Rose by Charles Albert Shimmer Skull & Mother Of Pearl Rose Pendant... AED 660

Wonderland Collection... Click Here

Kesha Rose by Charles Albert Small Blue Shimmer Rose Bracelet...  AED 660

It's your turn: Tell us what you think of the designs and the prices in the comments section below.

BlueNile.com Crushes Brick-and-Mortar Jewelers as More Consumers Head Online for Diamonds

We buy books online. Clothes, shoes, bags and even groceries. But when it comes to big-ticket items, like diamonds, most would cringe at the idea of spending that much cash in cyberspace.

There are so many reasons why you wouldn't purchase a diamond online. One of which is it can be lost or stolen en route to your doorstep. This will then lead to a strenuous dispute between you, the shipping company, the website and the bank or credit card company. Who needs that kind of hassle when you can simply cross the road to your nearest jeweler, purchase the bling you want and be done with it?

Unfortunately, that kind of out-dated thinking has no place in the year 2013, thanks to the efforts of one online diamond jewelry retailer: Blue Nile.

When Blue Nile co-founder Mark Vadon attends jewelry trade shows and conventions, no one wants to meet with him. His co-workers ask him to turn over his name-tag to avoid the nasty stares from diamond retailers and wholesalers.

And that's because what Blue Nile did to diamonds can be compared to what Amazon did to books: they changed an industry which was once thought to be immune to an online hostile takeover.

The website was launched during the dot-com boom of the late 1990's and a decade later became the second largest diamond ring retailer on the web (the first being Tiffany & Co.) In 2012, 4th quarter net sales reached $136 million, up 21% from the previous year. The consequence of their success led the industry to refer to Blue Nile as the "Evil Empire".

They made Internet history in 2007 when a customer bought a $1.7 Million, 10-carat stone with a diameter of a US penny. This proved that their brand is now associated with safety, trust and, best of all, luxury.

So, why are more and more consumers, predominantly males who are popping the question, heading to Blue Nile?

Five reasons:

1. It's cheaper: According to Vadon, engagement rings on Blue Nile are 35% less than the traditional retailers. And that's due to low over-head costs associated with being completely online. Another way they keep costs low is that Vadon gets "his dealers to compete on orders as they come in on a web-based diamond exchange created by Blue Nile."
2. It's Simple: The whole process of purchasing an item from their site takes a few minutes. It's deciding what to choose from the large array of products that takes time. If you aren't satisfied with their designs, you can build your own.
3. No Annoying Sales People: Personally, I find salespeople in traditional shops to be intrusive and over-zealous. Sometimes, when customers say they are "just looking" they really mean it. Shopping online eliminates this nuisance so you can actually enjoy the experience. If you have questions and need a help, simply call their 24-hour hot line.
4. Choices are Endless: The best part of shopping online is the large number of products you can find under one roof. And while it may be overwhelming to some, it's far easier than driving around town trying to look for a ring or necklace.
5. There is a wealth of information: If you want to know anything about 4 C's of diamonds, this is the site you would visit. Not only do they sell jewelry, but they add value to their product by providing great information on how to choose, buy and maintain a diamond. 

I would definitely research this idea further when I am in the market for a diamond but I have two major reservations: 1- what will happen if the diamond is stolen or lost? and 2- How much does the same diamond cost in Dubai?

Once I find the answer to these two questions, I would definitely try them out.

Now, it's your turn: Would you purchase a diamond online if you knew it was cheaper? Have you ever done so? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.