Today I want to share my personal style journey with my readers. As we grow up our sense of style often changes. We go through different phases and look back at certain periods with regret, shame or pride when it comes to the fashion and style choices we’ve made. During my teens I wore a lot of crazy outfits, from silver miniskirts to baggy jeans and cowboy boots. During your teens you just go along with the latest fashion trends, even when they do not suit you. I remember watching an episode of ‘Fashion Police’ back in the day when style expert Robert Verdi still hosted it. In this one episode they explained that when it comes to style there are some rules to follow to maintain your modesty. When you decide to show off your legs you should not reveal any cleavage and when you are showing off the ‘twins’, you should not reveal too much leg. It became my style mantra. I quickly realized that being body confident is the beginning to dressing well. All my overly baggy clothes to hide my curves were replaced with figure flattering items to celebrate them. It is all about feeling good in the clothes you wear, being happy with your body and finding the right clothes for your body type. At 25 I am experimenting with a more modest look. I get my inspiration from high end fashion brands and fashion conscious royals. One of my style icons at the moment is Kate Middleton. I love the clothes she wears, like the knee length dresses combined with a simple blazer. Sophisticated, slightly posh, modest and very feminine!
A recent style transformation that caught my interest was that of Kim Kardashian. Her fashion conscious partner Kanye West had his stylist friends redo her entire wardrobe. Suddenly she went from revealing all of her ‘assets’ at once to a more sophisticated and modest look.
A brand that caught my eye recently and that I would really like to share with you today is Endemage.
Endemage “the merging of two”
Omani sisters Lubna and Nadia launched their fashion brand Endemage in 2010. They draw inspiration from traditional Omani designs and use old Omani patterns to decorate their designs with. Endemage creates high end women’s wear influenced by Arab fashion. The brand aims to empower the female body, while maintaining a level of modesty. The ‘east meets west’ designs are loved by fashionistas in Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The sisters showcase their collections frequently at fashion shows like Muscat Fashion Week.
The collections of Endemage are very diverse, from modern versions of the traditional Abaya to billowy evening gowns and edgy and innovative contemporary looks. Fabrics often used are chiffons, silks and lace for intricate detailing. The designs are chic, elegant and sophisticated with a splash of color. I like their use of creative draping techniques and edgy embellishments. The gallery includes looks from the Endemage Autumn Winter 2013 collection.
The Fashion Orientalist favorites: The long billowy skirts are stunning, I love the use of blue/turquoise combined with the creamy white tops, it is a very clean and sophisticated look. The first look from the gallery is my favorite, I would buy that skirt without hesitation: long at the back, shorter length at the front and it has beautiful intricate embroidery at the bottom. While the skirt has a rock and roll edge to it, the top is sexy, slightly see through, but also very sweet. The overall vibe of this collection is fierce, edgy and modest with a splash of color and sweetness, like a cup of black coffee with the right amount of sugar and cream. I think this collection would sell out if it was sold in boutiques in Europe. It is very modern and innovative. These are perfect outfits for this autumn. The shade of yellow and red from the ethnic prints on the skirt and pants are similar to the colors of autumn leaves. I love the look of the entire shoot, nothing beats a dark lip this autumn/winter. I can’t wait to apply some Chanel Rouge Noir lipstick this autumn!
For more information about Endemage visit: endemage.com
