10 February 2014

Tomboy in the Middle East

cropped tomboy

Hey ladies! I've been a bit behind on my blog reading lately because I've been on a biz trip to Dubai last week - I'm planning to catch up on your stylish ensembles this week!

Speaking of Dubai, I've been lucky enough that business travel has taken me to the most metropolitan of cities in the UAE more than once and it is always a pleasure to revisit. I can't ever find a good way to describe Dubai in words - it's like the Middle East version of Las Vegas or Miami, sans the alcohol, gambling and not-so-dressed chicks - granted you still can get alcohol and I won't even discuss the other two!

cropped tomboy cropped tomboy

Blazer: J.Crew herringbone hacking (worn here - sim, sim, black)
Shirt: Lands' End Canvas oxford (worn here - sim, sim, deal)
Pants: J.Crew factory skimmer in wool (sim, cotton)
Belt: J.Crew embossed (sim, sim)
Necklace: J.Crew coated stone (worn here - sim, simpler, deal)
Shoes: Vince Camuto signature rekha (same in black patent)
Bag: Dooney & Bourke (worn here - sim, sim, sim)

 cropped tomboy

Here are some camera phone pics from my trip and random musings -

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World's tallest - the Burj Khalifa, by date and night.

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Near my hotel, they set up a small cultural area open to the public. Everyone was welcome to come in, take their shoes off, and catch some shade or a snooze! / Alcohol is only sold in restaurants and bars attached to hotels in Dubai, so locals are heavily into afternoon tea when they are out and about. Which means they are also serious about some good-looking treats - nuts, dried fruits and some almost too pretty to eat chocolates. / Three-story waterfall sculpture in the corner of a mall? Of course! It's Dubai! More is more!

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In keeping with the concept of "more is more," these are some of just the normal offerings in Dubai's many malls - the aquarium and indoor skating rink at the Dubai Mall and Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates (yes, it's an indoor ski resort in the middle of the desert, and yes, it literally smells like a fridge in there!).

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Modes of transport in Dubai include the water taxis by Old Town - cheap, very convenient and kind of scary to get on and off). / The Metro where you can get a one-day pass for about $4. Stations and trains are very modern and clean - even the station bathrooms are non-cringe worthy - and trains are often faster than taxis if you're traveling during rush hour. However, the trains are pretty much always crowded, so don't be shy about squeezing in - though you could pay more for access to the VIP car (the first car on every train) or if you're a gal with no male company, you can ride on the all-female car (the second car) which is also usually less crowded. / And how materials get moved around throughout the Middle East and North Africa - these tiny cargo ships that load and unload everyday right by Old Town.

dubai 13 dubai 14 dubai 15 The Dubai police showing off their prized Bugatti patrol car - try outrunning that! /  Just some of the modern architecture along the city's main thoroughfare, Sheikh Zayed Road. Everything's so gleaming, new and unusual it's like you've wandered into the future. / Old style charm (built new, of course) right next to the Dubai Mall.

55 comments:

  1. Your trip sounds incredible! I am allll about having sweet treats in the afternoon, I would totally love it there!

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    1. Yeah, trying to eat well did not work out for me - so many new goodies to try!

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  2. I have heard that Dubai is amazing and full of extravagancy. It's pretty amazing that you got to visit there! And it looks like it lives up to more than its expectations :) My favorite would have to be the mall ski resort - wow!

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    1. I know it's weird to say that I've gone to a place to go to the mall, but they are all about the malls in Dubai. Plus the Dubai Mall is the largest in the world!

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  3. What an experience, even though it looks interesting, like you i can relate it to Vegas, which is all quite current and man made - and you do not look like a tomboy, you look like a sharp gal.

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    1. They built a brand new city in the middle of the desert - sounds just like Vegas back in the day!

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  4. I would love to see the New Year's Eve fireworks in Dubai (they even look great watching online). It's like a synchronized ballet of lights over the water! Very beautiful. Thanks for sharing your photos.

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  5. I would love to see the New Year's Eve fireworks in Dubai (they even look great watching online). It's like a synchronized ballet of lights over the water! Very beautiful. Thanks for sharing your photos.

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  6. One of these days, I would love to visit just to see all that opulence there. Thank you so much for sharing these photos!

    Alice
    www.happinessatmidlife.com

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  7. Thanks so much for sharing your photos! I've always had a lot of business travel, but it's been a long while since I've been anywhere exotic (or halfway exotic . . . or warm for that matter). I'll live virtually through these for a while!

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    1. Haha, I don't get to go to cool places all the time. Most of the time you ladies don't hear about my trips because they're two days worth of meetings in Palm Beach or Orlando or something.

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  8. I love your travel pics. Thanks for sharing!! And I LOVE this outfit!! Those cropped trousers look awesome on you, and this menswear inspired outfit is beyond chic! Seriously so on trend.
    Meredith
    createthatoutfit.com

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  9. Dubai looks so incredibly luxurious! That is crazy that the police have a Bugatti as their cop car!

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart

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    1. And they've got a Ferrari, Bentley, Audi R8, some fancy souped up Toyota ...

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  10. Very cool! Sounds like a great trip!

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  11. Wow! I'm totally jealous of your travels! I love the bit of color from the belt and the subtle pattern on the jacket!

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  12. Wow! You are so lucky! What an incredible experience! All I can think of are those planes that they flew on in Sex and The City. It looks like Disney World had a baby with Las Vegas!

    Your outfit is sexy and feninine.

    Jenni

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    1. I don't get to travel in that high of style, though I've heard first class in the Airbus 380s essentially is like that - everyone gets their own suites!

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  13. Wow. Looks like an amazing trip. Thanks for sharing.

    FrockandHound

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  14. Wow work trips are amazing! You get to travel heaps :) Envious!!

    katattack2000.wordpress.com

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    1. It's fun when you get some time to explore a bit, but most times it's airport to hotel to meeting to airport.

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  15. Dubai is on my number 1 list once I save enough to take an extended vacay! thanks for the pictures!

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    1. It's a great place to visit. And you could always spend a day outside of the city and go dune bashing, sand surfing, camel riding, etc.

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  16. how great that you got to go there. it sounds pretty amazing! and i love your cute outfit...so chic!

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  17. So cool that you get to travel to amazing places on business! Your blazer is fabulous!

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    1. I know that I'm lucky to get to travel, though most of my trips aren't nearly as exotic.

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  18. Thanks for sharing your pics from Dubai LIsa. What an amazing trip! The Bugatti police car made me laugh. I think somewhere in the US they have a Corvette police car, but only in Dubai would they have a Bugatti! Lovely outfit as always!

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    1. Gas is pretty much free there too, it's so cheap, so no one in the UAE really thinks about gas efficiency when they're picking out their ride.

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  19. At the risk of sounding at best nosy and at worst a creepy stalker, what IS it you do for a living anyway? 'Coz girl, you sure do get to travel loads. I think you have my dream job! I wanna be you when I grow up, travelling and accessorizing and all! ;p

    M @ http://www.myclosetcatalogue.com

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  20. I love your outfit! I wish I could go to Dubai and see the Burj Khalifa with my own eyes. Lovely pictures as well! Everything is huge and that police women uniform is just cool :D

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  21. How did you deal with the jet lag? I travel about 25% for work (sometimes 50%, depending on the month) and even the move from CST to EST throws me off!

    Also, tips for hotel workout plans? Packing? I swear my exercise clothes are the first thing I ditch when I edit my packing at home.

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    1. I'm usually fine going to a place because I pretty much have to get up and get going at certain times, etc. It's usually bad for me when I come home from a trip - like now I fall asleep around 2am and still have to get up at the crack of dawn!

      I am the same as you with my workout clothes - sneakers take a ton of room! This time I just wore workout clothes and sneakers as my travel outfit, though honestly I didn't hit the hotel gym once. Instead I opted to do yoga videos in my hotel room - drop a couple of towels on the floor, put on some workout stretchy pants, and I was good to go!

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  22. Wow, amazing pictures! It sounds like it was a memorable trip all around.

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  23. Those shoes are super...super cute! I love mens-wear inspired stuff, especially with a cute bow!

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  24. Dubai is absolutely amazing! Lisa, you are so lucky! It's awesome to travel and see places. Great outfit! I love it and those shoes.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  25. The trip sound amazing and your shoes are absolutely gorgeous!

    xx Cara
    www.carascliche.com

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  26. Great pics to share! Of course it's the "winter" season right now in the UAE, so the weather is at its best. I was born in Dubai and was lucky enough to go back to work in Abu Dhabi from 2008-2011. Nice to think about the good memories from that time! :D

    Jen @ Librarian for Life & Style

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    1. I can't imagine being in Dubai during the summer. I've got some employees that live there and they said they pretty much have to live in-doors for five months out of the year.

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    2. It's true. It's way too hot and humid half of the year, at least. It's the humidity that's the worst, due to being on the coast of the Arabian Gulf. So many people are surprised when I relate that a desert country can also be humid. And going from frigid air conditioning inside to instant sweat outside and back again is what causes a LOT of summer colds. But it is lovely this time of year.

      Jen @ Librarian for Life & Style

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  27. I've never been to Dubai, but it's been on my travel list for a long time!

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  28. Oh wow, your pictures look beautiful! Hope you had a fun time on your business trip :)

    Away From Blue

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  29. love the girly touches in your necklace and heels! And your trip looked amazing, so jealous! I've always wanted to visit Dubai.

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  30. Lisa, I love this buttoned up look, especially as you added a gorgeous shoe! The photos are beautiful, I have often thought about traveling there, so this was great fun for me to see!
    XX, Elle
    http://mydailycostume.com/

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  31. Your pictures of Dubai are fantastic. They make me want to go there!
    xo,cynthia

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  32. Wow! Looks amazing! Thats's so cool that your work takes you there! I'll probably never get the chance to go. I'll have to live vicariously through your pics! And I love the menswear inspired outfit. Those shoes are super cool!
    ~Jessica
    Jeans and a Teacup

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  33. Love this look! Those shoes are fabulous! And it looks like you had a fabulous trip! How cool that you get to travel great places for work.

    Nikki
    thefashionablewife.com

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  34. What an amazing trip! I love the colored belt with this outfit! Great shoes (as always)! ;)

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  35. This is gorgeous, stylish and well put together. Classic look.

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  36. Amazing pictures from Dubai. A Bugatti patrol car.... I cannot find words to describe that. Love your snakeskin shoes.
    Greetje

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  37. Well THAT is certainly a place where I never want to go, ever! Too fake, too new, too much for my taste but I know many are happy to see this paradise of consumption! Anyway ii is amazing nevertheless and I am glad to know what I won't miss, no offense intended. I would rather go to place less crowded, less touristy and have great culture, like Oman. Your pictures are great, did you only use your phone? If so, woww I am impressed

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    1. I can't work a real camera hardly, but I'm a pro with my camera phone, haha.

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  38. Hahaha. I live in Abu Dhabi and have been to Dubai a few times. You can absolutely find everything you'd find in Vegas in Dubai, you just have to know where to look. It is all there believe me.
    Great photos.
    www.jadeblyssjourney.blogspot.com

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