I Heart Vintage

Now before going any deeper, lets make a distinct difference between vintage and plain old used..
You buy or borrowing your cousin's two years old chanel bag is "plain old used"
You buying a chanel bag from the 70 or 80s, that might count as vintage..

I Love Vintage, espically when it comes down to designers such as Chanel and YSL

I also believe that vintage blazers and vintage maxi skirts are the best, its almost as if they dont make any good blazers anymore!

So now down to bussiness I want to share with you some of my fave vintage picks and where to buy them from

CAUTION! Dont Simply Google "vintage chanel" or "vintage hermes" or whatever, because you could easily be fooled into buying fake items.

1) What Goes Around Comes Around

Its a bussiness that started almost 17 years ago and was based in New Jersey, they now have various stores in the States and around the world

Here are some of my fave picks from their store

2) Sophie's Closet

An online bussiness based in dubai, sophie has some really valuable vintage picks, here are some of my fave
BTW you can shop sophie's closet items by visiting her website

http://www.shopatsophiescloset.com/

3) Bambah Boutique 

Last time I was in Dubai I had the chance to visit this amazing boutique located in Jumeriah Beach, and boy I was stunned at the beauty of the items there
espically the "blazers" heart heart heart
I really hope someone would open up a vintage shop in Oman, ahhh am day dreaming already
anyhow here are some photos and picks from Bambah Boutique

And well if you still didnt get a chance to visit any of these stores, just go through your mom's 70's closet, am sure there is a precious chanel bag there, a lovely skirt, an amazing jacket and some valuable stone earrings

But please dont borrow your cousin's 10 years old bag and claim "vintage"


xoxo
TaLyan's

Keep Calm and Love Jessica Who?!

Love Who?
Well ofcourse love Jessican Kagan Cushman

My love started first with her funny and eye catching bracelets

I dont know about you guys, but I love fashion that SPEAKS!


And then my love grew and deepend as my eyes fell on those lovely totes in S*uce Dubai, needless to say I bought the orange one

And this love affair kept growing and growing as I kept seeing her fashionable yet fun and quirky style in almost all her creations

Now the best part is
I no longer have to go to Dubai to get her stuff
or order it online
You can find Jessica's stuff in Eye Candy Boutique in Jawharat Al Shatti
LOVIN itt

xoxo
TaLyans

My Hair Essentials

Short or Long
I always use those same essentials to style my hair
I simply CANT live without them


1) Tony and Guy Shampoo for Dark Brunette

It helps keep my always-colored-black hair shiny and it also gives it volume which I DESPERATELY need since my hair is very straight and flat, you can find Tony and Guy shampoos in Al Fair

2) VO5 Straightening Balm

Usually when I keep my hair short I love to straighten it, so that my hair cut shows. Before using the straightner I would add a bit of this balm to my hair and it makes the whole process much more easier, and once am done straightining, I would apply a bit more to the ends of my hair.

You can find this balm at Al Fair aswell

 3) BrAun Hair Straightner

For getting that straight hair I use this straightner, its amazing. I know alot of people prefer the ghd straightner but this one works just fine for me, I keep two of them at home, just in case

4) Label. m volumizing dust

This is a magical product, I was first introduced to it  when I was complaining to a hair stylist at Tony and Guy in Dubai that I have very very flat hair and the roots look so dead! He gave me this powder and taught me house to use it and ever since I became hooked!
All you have to do is to apply a bit of this magical dust to the very top roots and then with your fingers lightly brush it up, and VOLAA, VOLUME

Too bad I couldnt find it in Oman, I still buy it from Tony and Guy in Dubai

5) Babyliss hair curler

I swear by this curler!! I tried zillion of curlers and none worked as magically for me as this baby!

Ever since I discovered it I NEVER curl my hair @ Saloons, NEVER!

My friends love it, they keep on borrowing it!

Its juss fantastic

6) AND, finally, AND, most importantly my Bumpits hair insert!

Back again to my errr "flat hair" I need as much volume as I can get it. Since now I style my hair at home, after am done curling or straightening my hair I apply those bump its to the crown of my head and I get instant volume, its very easy to use just see the directions in the photos

I got mine two years ago from Sophie's Closet, but nowadays they are everywhere, you can find it @ Claires
The Box has 4 different sizes and it comes in 4 different colors

Finaly I will show you a photo of a recent event where I curled up my hair using the babyliss curler, I did some loose curles, you can do tight ones if u you want.
I then applied the small size bump its on the crown

xoxo
TaLyan's

Fake Town

I can picture it,
The Horror
The Terror
The Undeniable disgust

that you will feel when you see the following images,

PLEASE take note of what she called the Hermes bags:

"HAMZIA" thats what she called it...


Okay you can recover now from the shock *Breathe, take a deep breath*
Oh NO, wait, how about I share some photos from the monthly exhibition, that fake shop at Al Asfoor Plaza and the oh so beloved Dragon Mart?

Naaah, that would be too cruel..


Well I know that by now the audience is split into two, half are feeling dizzy with disgust and want to burn the ugly knock-offs, the other half are saying: 7araam, some people cant afford real expensive designer bags..

So...

For the sake of the other half, I took the victim role of browsing those knock-offs and checking their prices, and found out that those knock off go as high as 80 or 100 OMR, and some as low as 15 or 12 OMR

So here is my ANSWER

Please, may I know why not spend those 100 OMR OR 15 OMR, on a non-designer bag that is authentic and not a fake copy? For the love of god you will look more presentable and decent!

OR instead of buying 3 knock off of 100 OMR, save it and buy a real bag!

For 100 OMR you can buy some really decent bags, from up coming contemprary designers

So here is my little black book for " throw that knock off, and buy some real authentic bag that matches your budget"

The Little black book isnt that long, since we are in Oman, but its still a good one

1) Labels:   They have some adoreable looking bags from Guess and Paris Hilton and few more that I cant remember within a reasonable range of 60-120 OMR

2) Capital Store: They have Givenchy, Paris Hilton, and a couple more, usually within the range of 60- 200 OMR

3) Al-Salam Stores:  During sales period you can get good baragins on Moschino, Just Cavali, D & G

and if still that is above your budget
there is no shame in getting a lovely bag from Aldo, Nine West, Zara, Mango, Charles and Keith EVEN forever21

ANYTHING, other than a knock off!

and trust me you will look much much muccch elegant and stylish!

and honestly in my own opinion I cant imagine how this can be a 7alal source of income?
whatever happened to morals, ethics and designers' rights?

ahhh well as if people care

anyhow just please stop,

TaLyan's: Saloon Review - Saharz - Hair cut

I am a Saloon/Spa addict

I have no intention to go to rehab

I visit Saloons on average 2/3 times a week..

and since I visit them this often, I decided I will share with you my beloved readers a review every week, I will start this week by reviewing a saloon I visited couple of days ago, and which is one of my faves, its close to where I live aswell..
 

Saharz Saloon

But before discussing my new hair cut I have to tell you about my err "hair history"

2008- Very Long hair, it would reach up to juss a little bit above my hips
2009- I decided to cut it for some reason, and I did the Rihanna hair cut
2010- Got bored of short hair, had extensions done that where even longer than my initial hair length
2011- Decided to remove them, and have another short hair cut

I used to have my hair cut at Crown Plaza, but honestly 5ala9 I can no longer take the hairdressers' attitude over there. They dont apperciate loyalty, their attitude is as wide as the ocean, so last time I made a vow to never EVER go there again

So I decided to try cutting it at Saharz, I used to go there only for lash extensions, makeup and nails
and boy was I pleasently pleased by the results!!

1st of all, the place is very nicely decorated , as soon as you enter you will feel the vibe

The reciptionist guided me to the lovely hair station, that is decorated in eye-pleasing white and purple, it reminded me of candy

The hair stylist then met me, I discussed with her how I want my hair to be, I also told her I want to dye it in black as I hate my faded-black hair color, she explained to me extacly what she is going to do, and she was really sweet.
I also told her that I want my hair to have a bit of volume at the crown, so she cut it in a way that few short hairs were left standing at the crown. Upon blow dry those hairs will make the whole hair pop up and give it a bit of volume.

Then after applying hair color and cutting hair, I was guided to have my hair washed and I recieved a lovely head massage in the process

At the end I was served delicious green tea, and the hair stylist took some time to show me how to blow dry my hair in a way that it will give it plenty of volume


and VOLAA, here are the results,

Before The Hair Cut, With Extensions On

After, With Brand New Hair Cut and Fresh Black Hair Color

SO, My Final Assesment:

Customer Service 5/5 - and trust me you dont get that alot in Oman, all those hair stylist and make up artists walking around like they own the town, if you dare to comment on their work, BOOM, they turn EVIL

Ambience 5/5-  You go there, experience the atomsphere, the interiors, the music, its just so soothing

Hair Cut 4.5/5

Hair Color 5/5

Price 5/5 it was around 35 or 40 for hair cut and hair color, very reasonable!

Additional Comments:

I love the fact that Sahar - the owner- is herself very stylish refelecting a good impression upon her Saloon, personally I dont like doing my hair or makeup at a place where the owner has bad hair or wears make up like CoCo the Clown! I just wont trust her choice and taste! And unfortantly that is the case with many owners of beauty saloons here in Oman. They do it for the money, whereas people like Sahar do it to make a beauty and fashion statment.

If you havent met Sahar, I can tell you she is a very graceful elegant lady who is very down to earth and friendly with her customers
She has a moder vision on fashion and beauty

Saharz Saloon is located in Madinat Qaboos, Near Oman Oil Petrol Station
Way 2114, House 325
Telephone: +968 24696161
                  +968 24695151

Facebook: Saharz Beauty Saloon