Don't miss this store in Villagio...M Collection

Monday, December 6, 2010 at 1:21 PM

There are so many pop up shops and boutiques across Villagio Mall in Doha, it's easy to walk straight past them without giving them a second glance, but the pop up store I'm addicted to right now is Lebanese jewellery designer Michella Marouni's jewellery and accessories pop up M Collection which includes Michella's jewellery and accessories brand Michella Handcrafted Jewelry.

I'm being perfectly serious when I tell you that my mum has to physically drag me away from that store every time we go to Villagio together and I spend most of my money there.

So what's the story?

Michella Marouni is one of those people who love travelling to new places and picking up all sorts of unique ethnic pieces from fabric to jewellery to precious stones and in 2006, out of her passion for creating beautiful things, "Michella" was born.

A lot of the pieces are bracelets, earrings, necklaces and hair accessories made from precious and semi-precious stones as well as pearls and beads ... there is something for everyone, from long delicate stands of pearls to chunkier, bigger statement pieces.

The store in Villagio (near Sephora) for me is like when Ali Baba cries "Open Sesame!", the door of the cave opens and he goes inside and finds the treasure ... as well as the handcrafted jewellery you've got gold plated jewellery and handmade clutches both adorned with Arabic inscriptions, punky studded wrist bands, glamorous crystal and feather embellished headbands (right on trend at the moment), the ever-popular string and cord bracelets adorned with gold and silver coins and other charms, and loads more unique accessories.

What's even more fab is that everything is affordable.

Pieces from the latest "Winter Flower" collection

So if you are living in Qatar or plan to visit, if you don't stop by M Collection in Villagio, you really will be missing out!

For more information on M Collection and Michella Handcrafted Jewelry visit the website, Facebook page, call on 00974 55344881, or email her directly at info@michellajewelry.com.

M Collection is opposite Sephora at Villagio Mall, Doha.

Everybody's talking about THE VINTAGE CLOSET

at 11:22 AM

Noora Al Thani, the amazing fashionista, stylist and photographer behind Fashion The Blog (FTB) did an exclusive piece on FTB about the Emirati vintage soon-to-be store everybody is talking about right now, The Vintage Closet (check it out here).

Everybody I know recommends The Vintage Closet as the best business for ordering both new and vintage designer bags, jewellery and accessories (and at reduced prices) in the entire GCC ... some of the pieces are so rare they are no longer sold in their respective stores!

The Emirati lady who started The Vintage Closet sources the pieces from around the world, picking up one-of-a-kind treasures from cities like Paris and London. Many of the vintage pieces she sells were previously owned by members of high society. The pieces are 100% authentic and some of them are still in their boxes.

Not only can you buy, but you can also sell your designer bags and other designer pieces (provided they are still in top shape of course) and make special requests for a particular piece which they will then try and find for you.

They have an excellent reputation for quality products, amazing customer service (99% customer satisfaction!) and free international shipping. Last month they even threw in free Chanel temporary tattoos and vintage Chanel and Valentino earrings ... what more can I say?!

For now ordering services are mainly online, but they are in the talks of opening their first store in Abu Dhabi in the nearby future and are participating in galleries and exhibitions in London and Dubai ... so keep your eyes out for them!

Examples of the pieces on offer

Hermes Constance

Vintage Chanel beige jumbo 2.55

Chanel woven bag

Chanel CC turnlock earrings

Vintage Chanel black tassel

For more information on The Vintage Closet and to see the pieces they have on offer (which are regularly updated), check out their Facebook profile. You can also email them at vintage.closet.uae@gmail.com or the.vintage.closet@hotmail.com and for instant updates you can add them to your BB Messenger, pin code: 2208a054.

Exclusive Preview of Bullets & Butterflies

at 2:42 AM

So there's only two more days to go until Dubai's newest and hippest boutique Bullets & Butterflies will be having its grand opening at the Mercato Mall which is on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai and the owners, fashion-crazy sisters Hind and Alia Bin Kherbash have given me a preview of some of the unique pieces Bullets & Butterflies has to offer.

You won't be disappointed!