December 2015 – The Blush Diaries | A Dubai Based Fashion and Beauty Blog by Rania Esper

New Year’s Eve Outfits

I have no problem with a little style cliché every once in a while, especially when it comes to new year’s eve outfits. This is my excuse to bring out the sequins that I hardly ever get to wear, and throw in some faux fur for an added luxe effect. When choosing sequined pieces, I try to stick to neutral or soft colors without too much sparkle so I don’t feel like a walking disco ball. But I do spot some bold shiny outfits on others and find them pretty as well. Some of my previous new year’s eve outfits included cozy pajamas or warm sweat pants, and since we haven’t yet decided what we’ll be doing this year I sure am glad I got to put this pretty outfit together so I don’t have to worry about it at the last minute.

There’s so much glitz, rush and excitement towards the end of the year which makes me a little sad it’s almost over and pretty grateful for a fresh new beginning. There have been so many ups and downs in 2015, but it’s been such a positive year with many learning experiences and moments that thickened my skin. In a few previous years I evaluated myself harshly and wasn’t quite happy with what I had achieved in my life so far, but as I get older I’m accepting myself more with all my flaws and focusing on joy and living in the moment. I’m approaching this New Year’s Eve almost like any other day: taking the lessons I’ve learned from it, putting the bad behind me and keeping my eye on the ball. This year, let’s not make goals related to our weight or ticking off a bucket list, but instead let’s promise each other to live every day with more intention, gratitude and adventure. I hope you have a lovely evening sipping champagne (or hot chocolate if you prefer) without thinking about what is gone or what’s to come, but only focused on the moment at hand.

All my love,

xo Rania

Photography: Enchante Portrait Couture.

Winter White

I don’t shy away from a little winter white and love adding neutral tones to the look, keeping it soft and clean. This cable knit Chicwish sweater is one of my favorites because of the bubbled sleeves, and since it’s slightly cropped I can pair it with both pants and skirts. Instead of going super girly, I decided to make this an everyday casual outfit that is both cozy and stylish – which in my opinion is the best outcome on a cold winter day. Instead of the usual pointy toe heels, I wanted to bring out my taupe booties for comfort and ease.When it comes to style, I really don’t think you should over think it and just wear what you’re in the mood for. When you feel good in your outfit and especially when it turns out like you imagined, it shows.

The weather is just starting to get chilly over here in Dubai, so I can finally wear my semi-chunky knits and light-weight jackets like this Boohoo shawl collar coat which is super soft and on sale by the way! I have to keep the layers light and breezy because as much as I love winter style, it’s never cold enough for an actual wool coat. The good thing is, I don’t have to worry about getting my bright outfit dirty in the rain or snow. Nothing says winter white like some gold tone accessories and simple rosy makeup to complete the outfit and keep the palette clean. What have you been in the mood for lately, and is winter white one of your favorites too?

xo Rania

Outfit Details: Coat: Boohoo | Sweater: Chicwish, love this one from Free People as well | Booties: Express, similar from JC Penny | Saddle Bag: Aldo.

Photography: Enchante Portrait Couture.

Holiday Party Outfits

I hope you all had a great week and are ready to slow down and enjoy this weekend with your loved ones. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas or not, the end of the year is always filled with festive events which is why I like to have an abundance of holiday party outfits. Dresses are certainly my go-to for any party but I like a beautiful skirt that can be styled many different ways. I’ve had this River Island skirt for a while now and it is one of my favorite pieces. I love the glossy champagne color and I find the midi length very flattering. Instead of opting for my usual lace tops and a pretty red dress, I decided to go for some holiday glamour that is less whimsy and more sexy. Simplicity is key for holiday party outfits, so that you may accessorize with sparkly jewelry and bold lipstick. If it’s cold where you are living, a faux-fur trimmed jacket or coat is a great winter holiday piece.

I’ve had a pretty eventful year and I’m really looking forward to a quiet and cozy evening with my family this Christmas enjoying each other’s company over a delicious meal and lots of christmas carols. I hope this is a time of happiness, peace and forgiveness for everyone and I pray for health, warmth and safety for those less fortunate. Sometimes we lose sight of what this holiday is all about and it’s important to remind ourselves that this day is about gratitude, love and most importantly thinking of others. Forget your worries for now and hold you loved ones closely. I wish you all a wonderful holiday and I thank you for all the kindness and support. Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

xo Rania

Photography by Enchante Portrait Couture.

Faux Fur Vest

Don’t you just love a faux fur vest? It can instantaneously transform the simplest of outfits. I’ve had this one for a while and I love that it’s not too overwhelming, but I’m considering adding one of the longer vests to my wardrobe. They’re great investment pieces to have and are pretty easy to style. I’ve loved seeing them paired with striped dresses and over the knee boots. I sometimes find these vests a little bulky on me, but I’m learning to embrace the oversized winter looks. Since we are in the middle of the festive season I had to add some touches of red to my outfit, particularly the bright red lipstick.

When it comes to choosing the right pair of denim, I think comfort is so important as well as finding a flattering fit for your body type. It’s not often that I wear black jeans, but this pair is high-waisted and fits beautifully so I had no hesitations with styling it. My mood often changes when it comes to clothes and I like switching things up every so often. Since the faux fur vest is heather beige, I thought the black and white combo would be a good way to add a little edge to this look. I finally added my favorite leopard prints heels and trusty oversized reversible tote to tie it all together. Do you own a faux fur vest, and how do you like styling it? I’d love to hear what you think.

xo Rania

Outfit Details: Faux Fur Vest: Old, Similar at Bloomingdale’s | Jeans: Topshop | Leopard Heels: BCBG Maxazria | Tote: Nordstrom | Lipstick: Sephora Lip Stain.

Photography: Portrait Couture by Enchante.

*This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used in this post.

Christmas Gift Guide

It is literally the most wonderful time of the year, and I am so excited! If you’ve been following along for a while then you know that I live in Dubai with my husband while my parents, siblings and most of my cousins are in Michigan. Thankfully my parents in law and some of my relatives live nearby, but I can’t help but get super home sick around Christmas time. I used to get an early head start on Christmas shopping in the states because there are so many amazing sales going on in November, but I am slightly behind this year. I’ve been racking my brain for the best gifts for all the pretty ladies in my life so I put together an amazing last minute Christmas Gift Guide for your benefit as well.

You can never go wrong with some makeup and I fell in love with this Charlotte Tilbury Mini lipstick set which would make a great stocking stuffer. If you’d like to splurge for your mama, sister or mother in law then Tom Ford’s Black Orchid is the perfect winter scent. One of my favorite things to give or receive is a cozy and adorable Pajama set like this one from Wildfox Couture especially when paired with a pair of Fuzzy Slippers and an Oversized Beanie. For the savvy business women in my life, I’d choose this beautiful Rebecca Minkoff Business Card Case or a funky Stella McCartney Gold Lips iPhone Case. Finally, a darling pair of Kate Spade Studs or a Dainty Necklace would be a timeless piece for any beauty you know. I hope this Christmas Gift Guide helps you out during your last minute shopping, and you can always forward it to your loved ones as a wish list! *wink*

xo Rania

Photography by: Enchante Portrait Couture.

Holiday Makeup Routine

I usually stick to simple day-to-day makeup that gives me a fresh faced look, so I love adding a few steps to my holiday makeup that are easy and have a touch of glam. I start with my usual base and concealer, then I follow them with an extended winged liner using Stila ‘Stay all Day’ Liquid Liner and a few coats of a curling mascara like Benefit Roller Lash.

During the fall it’s nice to keep makeup matte and warm, so when winter comes around I switch to more dewy and illuminating products. I apply theBalm Mary Lou Luminizer on the apples of my cheeks, tip of my nose and cupid’s bow and I love the Rose Gold shimmery tones of the Naked 3 Palette for my eye lids.

I was always intimidated by contouring but found the Sephora Contour Duo super easy to use. I use the medium shade for an added bronze effect, but don’t use the highlighter because it’s too dark for my skin tone. I blend it into the hollows of my cheeks using the Sephora Sculpting Brush and it sets in like a powder.

A red lip is an obvious choice for holiday makeup and the Sephora Lip Stain #1 is the perfect shade of red for anyone and is long lasting even after dinner and a few drinks. I recommend applying some lip balm first because it does dry out the lips. I finally top it all off with my favorite pink blush from Bobbi Brown in Peony. What are your holiday makeup tricks and secrets? I would love to hear all about them from you!

xo Rania

Photography by: Enchante Portrait Couture

*This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used in this post.

Winter Pastels

I absolutely love my winter pastels and was waiting impatiently to pull out my favorite blush coat. I wasn’t always into wearing soft shades in the winter and for a while was actually infamous for always wearing black! Dark shades are flattering, slimming and abundant during the winter, but after so many charcoal grey, deep burgundy and chocolate brown outfits I started to hate winter fashion altogether. Thankfully we’ve been graced with coats and sweaters in the most beautiful tones, and no one can judge you for wearing all the winter white your heart (and mine) desires.

There’s a beauty in the simplicity of winter pastels, and that’s the ease of pairing them with almost anything. They add femininity, elegance and a soft burst of color when the sky is fifty shades of grey (no pun intended). I love wearing pink over stripes for some parisian chic vibes, and the touch of lace on the skirt was my favorite detail from this outfit. If the temps are too low, you can always wear a pair of sheer tights so you can stay warm and still wear your favorite mini. You can also pair pastels with jeans for a more casual look and keep that girly touch intact. What’s your favorite shade of winter pastels and how do you plan on styling it this year?

xo Rania

Coat: Old, Love this from Calvin Klein | Sweater: Koton| Skirt: Topshop| Heels: Aldo (c/o)

Photography by Enchante Portrait Couture.

*This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own.

Wanderlusting

I always tell you about the endless state of wanderlusting I live in, and so I decided that the best place to start exploring is my own city. I’ve been dreaming of an english style picnic, and was so delighted when I discovered Mushrif Park. The cute little windmill, the leafy trees and german style ‘houses’ seem almost conjured up from my dreams. This was the perfect location for a picnic with my friend Sara Japanwalla who is a fellow blogger, incredible fashion illustrator and a budding designer.

Sara started off as a textile designer for a bridal company when she decided to go off on her own and become a designer. Shortly after creating an online portfolio of fashion illustrations and paintings, her career as an illustrator took off in Dubai and she became recognized in the industry for her work. She partnered with brands such as Ralph Lauren, Van Cleef and Arpels and Graff diamonds. Sara was also shortlisted for Maserati and Ermengildo Zegna’s ‘One of 100 Creatives’ from around the world, where she was featured in a limited edition coffee table book. Recently she wrote and illustrated her own children’s book for Bloomingdales Dubai, which takes you on a ride along the wild imagination of a little girl who’s love of fashion is insurmountable.

Sara’s illustrations and her own wanderlusting ways inspired her next project of a bespoke limited edition collection of clothes. The concept behind her designs is creating wearable art and transforming everyday garments into a walking canvas that tells a story and transports you to another place. Her pieces are artistic, intricate and whimsical yet come in feminine silhouettes that are flattering and elegant. Sara is in the midst of finalizing the collection and they will be ready to order within the next six months. For the meantime, enjoy a sneak peek of a couple skirts from the collection and our beautifully styled picnic.

xo Rania

A Special Thanks to Paula Scalco for the beautiful photography.