The Kids Fashion Show: Palms Sunday 6 most important rules

Palms Sunday is without a doubt one of the kids’ most awaited holiday (after Christmas!)… or shall we call it one of the most awaited fashion shows for the mothers!

Sadly this particular holiday lost its true religious spirit and became more of who dressed their kids “à la mode”.

And since this is what it became, it is a must to remind all moms of some strict rules for the fashion show coming-up this Sunday and the one after (since ridiculously we still celebrate 2 palms Sunday and 2 Easters)!

Rule no. 1

Your kids are not your dolls. Do not turn them into models of what you wished to wear when you were little! It was over 20 years ago, in your own imagination!

Jacadi - Summer 2015

Rule no. 2

This is not a wedding and they are neither the flower girls nor the ring boys! Big huge pompom dresses and suits are not a Palms Sunday outfit.

Baby Dior - Summer 2015

Rule no. 3

Also, it is not Halloween: i.e. make-up for little girls is not allowed! They are still called little girls not little dolls!

Tartine et Chocolat - Summer 2015

Rule no. 4

It is still cold! Can you please make sure to get them some cardigans and jackets or else they will get sick and you will start nagging? Regardless of them spending the whole vacation at home!

Jacadi - Summer 2015

Rule no. 5

A candle is a candle and it should look so! Cones, dolls, sticks with flowers on top are not candle and excessive accessories  turn candles into heavy weights that your kids can’t hold. Ladies, you will have to do so… or as we all can see lately (in the past 10 years) you need to tell your men to do so!

Rule no. 6

Finally it is a holiday for kids! Mothers, stop being self-centered and pay attention to your kids! You can have this chat with the friend you meet at the church (that same friend you were stalking for a month to make sure your kids’ clothes were more “in style” than theirs) later on in the afternoon maybe or another day!

Baby Dior - Summer 2015

What to gift Mommy?

Me: Allo, Hi bro! How are you?

Bro: Fine, u?

Me: Good. Look what do you want us to get mom for mother’s day?

Bro: Hmmm! I have absolutely no idea

Me: I need help I really can’t figure out what to get her!

The above is the yearly conversation I have with my brother at the beginning of March yearly and we never reach a result before the 18^th or the 19^th of March.

It is March 17^th  today and I am sure most of us have had this conversation with our siblings in an attempt to finalize the gift early.

Lost? Do not know what to get? Here’s a little help guide.

Iconic Bags

A Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Hermes.

For the fast pace trendy working woman the ultimate favorite is the Birkin Bag by Hermès or the Kelly Bag by Hermès

The Kelly Bag and the Birkin Bag - Hermès

A more classical one would be the Artsy by Louis Vuitton

Artsy - Louis Vuitton

For a classical mom who is a socialite with lots of activities go for The Large Flap Bag by Chanel  or the Boy Shopping Bag also by Chanel

Large Flap Bag - Chanel

Boy Shopping Bag - Chanel

The Fashionista mommy will fall for the Chanel Minaudière – Votez Coco

Minaudière Votez Coco - Chanel

Or the Louis Vuitton Minaudière

Minaudière - Louis Vuitton

Timeless watches

Trendy mom a Cape Cod by Hermès would do the perfect job

Cape Cod - Hermès

Classical mom

Ballon Bleu by Cartier

Ballon Bleu - Cartier

Tank by Cartier

Tank - Cartier

And the ultimate classical Constellation by Omega

Constellation - Omega

Classical young mom how about the Omega Ladymatic

Ladymatic - Omega

Exceptional timepiece a Chanel Jewelry Watch

Jewelry Watch - Chanel

Perfumes

Though I am not with the idea of a perfume as a gift (I consider it a very personal thing that usually is chosen carefully by the person who will wear it) moms are an exception.

We know them more than anyone else foes and we know their likings.

Here are few everlasting and new perfumes to be considered

The timeless ones

Chanel No. 5

Opium – Yves Saint Laurent

The new to become timeless

Coco Mademoiselle – Chanel

Chance – Chanel

Hypnotic Poison – Dior

Miss Dior

La Vie est Belle – Lancôme

The new breed

Black Opium – Yves Saint Laurent

Gucci Oud

Majestic Rose – Yves Saint Laurent

Elie Saab Limited Edition Resort Collection 2015

You can always create a personalized gift like:

A poster of several pictures where memories were being created

A photo album with your best pictures from the day you were born till date

So still lost? Hope not! Happy Mother’s Day to all the mommies around the world J

Maria Pino and the Imitations

I woke up intending to start writing about spring collections, mother’s day and some of the trends for children at Palm’s Sunday.

But then, while window shopping last week-end, my eyes couldn’t  but notice one of the most renowned shoes and bags shop in Lebanon “Maria Pino”.  

I cannot deny that at a certain time during the past 20 years, “Maria Pino” was one of the only shops were we could find a non “déjà-vu” shoe design. It used to be one of my favorite shoes shop, especially that I have a very small foot size; beautiful shoes that fits my little feet.

Then was the trend of the international brands of Louboutin, Jimmy Choo  and others for shoes, along with the iconic Louis Vuitton bags.

“Fashionistas” indulged in the fascinating world of brands and became shoes and bags addicts.

What made these brands addictive were their genuine designs.  Fashionistas would still know the designer behind a simple black patent pump: Christian Louboutin orJimmy Choo.

Christian Louboutin - So Kate

Jimmy Choo - Anouk

And all big brands are copied. In fact, we can find some replicas in commercial retails stores such as Zara. 

But there a thin line between smart copying and copy/paste!

In the past 5 years, “Maria Pino” ’s designs changed to look similar to internationally renowned brands. It then became very obvious after the release of the Falabella bag of Stella McCartney.

Stella McCartney - Falabella Bag

Maria Pino - Imitation Falabella

It is not a terrible thing to get inspired afterall, but to copy/paste a design is  horrible!It is forbidden!!!! Oh well  especially from a renowned shop in the country. Where is the genuine signature in all this?

Then things got more serious and the copy/paste phenomenon surpassed the Stella McCartney bag. Then came  Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Aquazurra and many more!!

In fact, we could see the same design of the Jimmy Choo’s Lance sandals in the shop through the Stellaluna designs. At first sight you would look and say “Oh! Jimmy Choo!” then realize no it’s a “Stellaluna”.

Jimmy Choo - Lance 

Stellaluna

Small details that mattered made all the difference. For example,  the Camelia flowers on the imitation of the Chanel signature bags.

Chanel - Camelia Flower Signature

Maria Pino - Camelia Detail

I am of course not saying that as a local brand, Maria Pino is not successful. But if the designs will remain copy/pasted, ladies would rather buy from original branded shops (perhaps during their sales period) at the price Maria Pino sells it shoes!

Here is an example of a similar design between Aquazzura and Christian Louboutin.

Christian Louboutin - Paulina

Aquazzura - Leaf Pump

A small change matters!