My nephews rolling in the sand while my niece watches
At the Sky Lounge in Burj Al Arab
Burj Khalifa The world's tallest tower. The best part of my trip. It really is an experience for an architect. That tiny helicopter near the tower is a Tom Cruise movie shooting going on. We may see it in the next Mission Impossible ;-)
The Atlantis, Dubai
Images by Prutha RaithathaI had such a good time exploring Dubai with my family.Oh and did you guys check out my next post for Vogue India?http://www.vogue.in/content/color-me-bad
In the quest to find the most authentic Bombay location for a shoot, which was not touristy like Gateway of India, I picked this place: Chor Bazaar. The name literally means a market where stolen stuff is sold. Hehe, I know that’s terrible, but it exists and thrives with people shopping there everyday for things as little as makeup to antique furniture, all stolen or second hand. It can’t get more Bombay than this.
So for people interested this is my little Chor Bazaar project. I will be doing this post in parts. This is first part and I want to post it as a mini-story [See below]. It’s not really a fashion story, more of just a story.
The location is a roadside barber’s shop where you can get a hair cut for less than 50 cents. And the guy sitting next to me is as much a part of this story as I am.
Images by Mariam Mamaji [@ Mariam: I love you hunny]
MINI STORY:
I walk to this filthy roadside barber’s shop. I sit down in the empty chair out of the 2. The other one filled with this man who watches me. I look at him with a soft smile and think to myself, “I wonder what’s his story”. The man, seeing someone dressed the way I was in an area like Chor Bazaar wondered, “What’s her story”. A few moments pass and we both are lost in our own thoughts forgetting about each other’s presence waiting for the barber to show up. Nothing better to do but stare at our reflections in the mirrors hanging by a wire on the wall in front of us. “ I wonder what’s her story,” I think. The man nodding slightly, “Hum”.
Dubai was my first stop on my vacation trip. Apart from the cool architecture and a new culture, the best part of my trip was this lady I met, Fatima
I saw her one morning during breakfast in my hotel and I couldn’t stop looking at her. I loved what she was wearing and swore to find a kaftan like that for myself in Dubai. 2 days passed and I couldn’t find anything like that anywhere. Then one evening I was going back to my room from my sister’s and I bumped into her in the hallway. I couldn’t help it and I jumped right in front of her, “ Where did you get that white caftan? I love it. I want one like that and can’t find it anywhere.” She started giggling. “ That’s cause its not from Dubai. It’s from Morocco. It’s the traditional dress of Morocco. You want to buy mine? You can try it if you like.” Can you believe how freaking excited I was to have my hands on that Kaftan? But it freaking didn’t fit !!! Long story short, I tried it, I have my mother’s hips, she will send me one after she gets back to her land.
She now lives in Belgium though, after marriage.
Her Story: Fatima was married when she was 16. She had her daughter when she was 18 and she is now 35 and has a 17-year-old daughter who she does not intend to get married anytime soon. When I asked her why she got married so early she replied that she came from a very conservative family and she wanted to drive a car. She met her husband and he was open minded enough to let her after marriage and so she married him. A little love story was involved too I could tell ;-)
But I have to give it to her. Staying within her social parameters, she did get her way and didn’t just sit at home like a lot of the girls I know who come from conservative families. She stood up for herself and made things happen for herself. After having her kids too, she went to school for 6 years to study fashion. She has her own website now of clothes she sells online and has 2 day cares she manages.
Anyhow I must get my hands on her email address and ask her to send me that kaftan and stay in touch with her. I will never be able to explain how much of a pleasure it was to meet her. She was so cute, funny, excited and sweet, it was unbelievable. And may I please add GORGEOUS!!
Do 2 wrongs make a right?
My whole life I have shamelessly and publicly humiliated my friends and sometimes even strangers for wearing sweats outside the house and UGGs. Even when the whole trend of high fashion outer wear sweats came out about 6-8 months ago and all the top fashion people where strutting about wearing sweat pants with boyfriends jackets I was like, “ You guys have gots to be kidding me!!”
Not the conventional sweats, but I still do feel guilty about falling in love with this oversized dress I found. It has a detachable Snood, which upon removal converts into an off shoulder dress. I quite like the versatility of it and the fact that it kept me incredibly comfy on my 14 hr flights.
Many months ago I was approached by Whooga to review their ugg boots and it took me forever to say yes. Only cause they are UGG – like boots that I frankly find very ugly. But having never ever tired a pair on and having way too many friends that swear by them, I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. So I agreed.
I have to confess that the comfort and the warmth of these boots are to die for. And luckily for me, they had the boots in some metallic colors to spice up my life. I love this bronze- gold color and the inner fur lining is a beautiful dark golden brown, which is even prettier. Whooga is an Australian company that uses Australian merino fleece. Do check them out.
Besides that, my trip was incredible. I have soo many images/ stories to share with you guys, I can’t wait!! But apart from all that I missed you guys! My world of virtual faceless friends… I love you!!
PS: this was shot before I left for my vacation when it was still fall. Enjoy the reminiscing.
I am still only half way done with my vacay and throughly enjoying it!!
Went to Dubai for a few days with my family and then to Mumbai, India. Now in Goa for a few days and then traveling to Kolkata for 2 days. After that back in Mumbai before I head back to darling New York.
In the mean while, I was approached by Vogue India to be a blogger for them and ofcourse I was thrilled about it. So I accepted. Yeahie... Does not mean I shall not be blogging my usual stuff on Don't Shoe Me. Just means an additional post for Vogue.in every now and then.
Fuax Leather Jacket/ Boots: Zara [long time ago]; Shorts: Express; Top/ Rings: H&M; Necklace: Anthropologie; Gloves: Bloomingdales
So I have been winning about not being able to go home for a while now and finally after more than 2 years I shall be visiting India. I am so excited, I can’t tell you. I am running out of time as I leave end of the week and have tons to do. So unless any of you are going to come and personally help me sit on my suitcases to close them shut, I must go. Enjoy the outfit!!
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Experimental Fashion blogger who loves to create tiny stories through fashion and pictures. Normal is too boring. Always looking for super creativity on the street and I try to incorporate the same in my own style. I really don't care for normalcy.
All Images are copyright of this blog!
My nephews rolling in the sand while my niece watches
Images by Prutha RaithathaI had such a good time exploring Dubai with my family.Oh and did you guys check out my next post for Vogue India?http://www.vogue.in/content/color-me-bad 
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