Up?

I saw this picture which seems to be a poster for an upcoming Disney and Pixar animated movie collaboration. (**I think it'll be in Cinemas here in Kuwait by next week)

I literally beamed. 

A picture is worth a thousand words, and there is nothing complicated nor artistically complex about the poster to call it amazing-  for what's so special about a picture of a  house being hoisted into the sky with balloons? 

One would presume that they should have gone all creative in it, and add a couple of characters or something to make it stand out more, I on the other hand completely disagree.

I find it amazing and extremely striking. 

I believe this little scene catches a dream and illustrates it into a huge motion picture- that little child's dream that we still carry with us wherever, the wish to fly, and go wherever one wants be it to float out of whatever stressful situation/boring place we are in, and just pull a complete "Dorothy", somehow finding ourselves nowhere near "Kansas."

Something that everyone can relate you.

The movie is allegedly a comedy adventure that a 78-year old Balloon Salesman called  Carl Fredricksen takes to fulfill a lifelong dream of adventure. He ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to South America, only to find that he has a nightmare stowed away on his trip- an 8 year old kid explorer in the making called Russel.

Here are a couple of snaps of the movie: 

It's supposed to be one of the funniest films Pixar and Disney have ever made together.

As Pete Docter-the Director and Writer of Up- states "We came up with this image of a floating house held aloft by balloons, and it just seemed to capture what we were after in terms of escaping the world. We quickly realized that the world is really about relationships  and thats what Carl comes to discover."

Who said cartoons didn't have hidden morals? 

No matter what adventure you take, wherever you escape to, no matter how far you float, you are bound to come back. 

For in the end, nothing is like family and the relationship one builds with the people around him/her in the place they call "home."

What? 

You thought the "Red Ruby Slippers" were only a fashion stint Dorothy attempted in Oz?

Even the "Wizard" went back home eventually. 

xx

Baroque

Ps. "مقامره"s are always fun.  

Photo Credits: Disney's official Up Website

Explain (verb); to make plain and comprehensible

 

Clearing tainted fallacies and nonsensical notions should be worthwhile..

For if one has to explain himself/herself  and take all that time to translate ideas and notions into words, one's audience should feel like hearing it out..

But if the audience is not found or does not want to participate then explaining one's self is perceived as ineffective; and is like talking to an unresponsive wall..

I believe that this idea should be dismissed; one should explain himself/herself to even a wall, since the words echoing from that unproductive conversation with the wall will be reflected and hit a couple of subconscious chords; thereby making the picture much clearer to one's self and appeases the "know thyself" human predicament. 

For at the end of the day, being true to one's self means that one need not explain anything.. 

Try not to reshape yourself to life's mould, but reshape that mould to better accommodate you, 

xx

Baroque 

Ps. Jibberish, but makes perfect sense.

Ps."Give me a place to stand and I will move the Earth" -Archimedes 

Photo Credits: Miss at La playa

Key to my heart.

Whilst skimming through a recent magazine purchase and sipping on my hot milk getting ready to call it a day, this advertisement caught my eye, and made me swoon. 

Let's just say it made the inner romantic in me jump right through.

"Presenting Tiffany Keys. An intriguing invitation. A revealing discovery. A promise of adventure. A whispered romance. A question answered. A secret kept."  (**written on the advertisement for those of you who can't read the fine print)

Everything is perfect about it. 

The product is well-presented, has nostalgic value and the wording/phrase just made it all the more sentimental and romantic; not to mention the always recognizable Tiffany blue hue that just added a dose of luxury. 

I'm gonna go on a Marketing Jaunt here, and say that "passion" should be added to the 4 P's of marketing (product, price,place, and promotion). 

For if you present a product that adheres to one's heart strings, and is shown in a sentimental way, one will more likely buy it; or is it just me? 

To injecting products with design as well as a slice of life, 

xx

Baroque 

Ps. Thought Lockdown. 

Modern Art Fallacy or Reality?

Some Modern Art makes go "Wow."

Other examples, just make me frown and feel like an idiot; for who in their right mind would deem that "Art"?

It's been said that, "Art means different things to different people." 

But some Modern Art pieces I've seen in museums, and exhibitions are just wack. 

To me, Art is anything that is aesthetically appealing, clever, serves a purpose/has a hidden meaning or is metaphorical, and certainly not a bunch of scrapped pieces of newspapers glued onto paper or splattered paint.. 

What's your take on Modern Art? 

xx

Baroque 

Ps. To all his own.

Photo Credits: Miss at la Playa

Caution: be careful where you step.

(click to enlarge)

Picture walking on a street and suddenly finding something stuck under the sole of one of your shoes; no not gum (**ikh i hate when that happens), but a new form of Guerrilla advertising. 

"Adhesive stickers with bottom side simulating a detonator for explosive were placed on the pavements in Zurich. When the passers by checked their shoes, they saw the message from Unicef: In many other countries you would now be mutilated! Help the victims of land-mines!"

What an amazing way to send a message through? Yikes, makes you think twice about the occurence and existence of land-mines in war-torn countries.. 

I know we had a big problem with land-mines here in Kuwait after the Gulf War, in fact alot of mines have surfaced in recent years, I recall finding one washed up at our family's chaleh once at which the bomb squad was summoned; turns out it was just the mine's shell, and whatever explosives were in it had disintegrated/expired.. 

War is one thing, but having land-mines scattered post war is even more worse.. 

Makes you realize how much wars affect people and societies, I'm not talking about just the initial combat/clash, but all the things that get blown up; people's morale, their confidence, their sense of safety, their unity sometimes, and worst of all the fallen.. 

May you never experience Wars, and God be with those stricken.

One wonders when peace is going to eventually kick in this fairly developed and seemingly civil world?

"اللهم اجعل هذا البلد امنا"

xx

Baroque 

Ps. Somethings we belittle end up gigantic. 

Photo Credits: Adoholik

"Khaleejesque" explained.

I've always wanted to do something beyond just blogging; don't get me wrong, blogging totally rocks and everything, but there is just so much that you can do with a blog.. 

I've done free-lancing, quite a bit really, it's fun and all, but there's nothing like owning your own blog, and publishing things you are interested in.. 

The best part is finding others that are interested in what you write and enjoy reading your blog just as much as you enjoy writing it.. 

But there comes a time when you start getting bored with just blogging and want to pursue this habit and take it to another level, and so joined by other "خليجي" bloggers- some who have gotten bored of blogging, others who are still going strong and whom most of you still read- we're stepping it up.. 

We're going Zine, as in maga-Zine, but only much more technological- an E-Zine (**online mag).. 

In an attempt to collaborate and help shed some light about the competency, creativeness and pen-ship of other bloggers and writers in the Gulf countries, we've created an online webzine.. 

Not your average personal blog, a collective blog turned into a magazine.. 

There's so much potential in blogs, it's such a shame no one has recognized it till now.. 

Also, there is a lack of webzines in the Gulf  Area; we're attempting to fill that gap.. 

So I present to you, the combined effort that is "Khaleejesque."

“Khaleejesque” is an upcoming lifestyle webzine that revolves around everything hip and happening in the Arabian Gulf Countries. 

Our Headquarters are in Kuwait, and have a competent set of staff writers and contributors who all seem to share the passion that is Khaleejesque. 

We're still in the process of launching the site- the launch date being the end of May- but are still on the look out for writers especially those from other Gulf countries like Oman, and Qatar (**there seems to be a lack of writers from those 2 Gulf countries) 

If you're interested in joining the team and contributing to Khaleejesque through photography, writing, or any other skill you'd think would be beneficial- drop us a line at khaleejesque@gmail.com 

In the end, isn't "خليجنا واحد و شعبنا واحد"?

I love that song.

xx

Baroque

Ps. Viva le blog. 

Studded Ears and Chunky Fingers.

Remember the days of dangly earrings, well I'm over those. 

Hoops? I might have been the only person on Earth that wasn't flattered by those; apparently hoop earrings flatter every face shape. 

Now, I'm a firm believer in anything stud-like, and does not have a thousand dangly pieces that move when my head does.. 

Then I saw this picture of Ashley Olsen and fell in love with the look, even though it's a bit too bulky- I'd go with less rings.. 

Hence my new fashion motto- Stud and Chunk. 

xx

Baroque 

Ps. A mainstream flows to the sea. 

Photo Credits: Olsens Anonymous

Flagship Barbie Store Debut.

I'm a Barbie Girl in a Barbie World? 

Now it seems there is a Barbie world.

This 5o year old blonde bombshell finally got her own store in non other than Shanghai, China.. (**Why are all the fun stores in the Far East? and does this mean that Barbie is as popular as Hello Kitty there? hmmm..)

The first ever Barbie Mattel store was designed by a New York Based Firm- Slade Architecture- and hold the most comprehensive collection of Mattel Barbie products, from dolls to clothes, to accessories and everything in between. 

Spanning over 35,000 square feet, the Barbie Flagship store has a Barbie Cafe, a fashion runway, a girls floor, a Barbie design center, a women's floor, and a 3-story spiral staircase that is enclosed by 800 Barbie dolls. 

I wish I could turn back time and bring back that little girl that spent all her pocket money on the latest Barbie dolls and instead take her to this flagship store; lol I bet she'd have a blast!  

Yes, I was and still partially am -sans dolls- a hardcore Barbie Fan.

xx

Baroque

Ps. Flight or fright? 

Photo Credits: Fashion Week Daily and Arch Daily.

"Shoulder pads may come and go, but a BFF is forever....."

"Because even if you're not sure where you are headed it helps to know you are not going there alone. 

No one has all the answers and sometimes the best we can do is just apologize and let the past be the past.

Other times we need to look to the future and know that even when we think we've seen it all, life can surprise us and we can still surprise ourselves.

xoxo 

Gossip Girl" 

And to think that some people dismiss Gossip Girl- the TV series- as just a lame sitcom that is not informative and useful.. 

I beg to differ; best piece of advice I've heard all week. 

xx

Baroque 

Ps. Ticking time-bomb sans explosions.  

Flash Dance in Salhiya?

Imagine that happening here.


In the Salhiya Courtyard/Restaurant space on a crowded day.


It would be a classic!


We need a dose of comedy in this highly political season.



Any takers?


xx


Baroqueish


Ps. Out of mind, out of sight, out of conversations, bliss.

Alice in the Internet?

There are certain things you come to appreciate as you grow older; your views change and you realize that there is a hidden meaning in between those line.

They can be anything. 

Things as important as health and free time, or trivial things like perhaps a Disney movie such as Alice in the Wonderland. 

I've never been an Alice fan to tell you the truth, I did not get the whole wonderland fascination that a lot of people gushed about, but then I stumbled upon the cartoon one day as my siblings were watching it and I got hooked.

Let's just say, I now realize it's not just about a girl that stumbles into a rabbit hole and into another world.. 

Written by an alleged drug addict, Alice in the Wonderland is one of the most bizarre stories ever written. Revolving around a young stubborn girl lost in a new realm that is complete with a stoned cat, narcotic caterpillar, Pedophile-clam eater, autistic twins, ever-late rabbit, demented tea partiers and a Queen with anger management problems, you would never think that the story ironically reflects a lot of parallels to life.

 Since everything in life is subjective, those symbols and parallels mean different things to different people. What you may think is significant in the story, may be overlooked by someone else. 

For starters one has to designate what this wonderland really is. Anyone cognitively watching the cartoon and really delving deep into the story would agree that it symbolizes life. Like life, it is kind of vague; thus the path to this Wonderland is not known, you just stumble upon it like you do with life, there is no clear course to get to where you want to go and like Alice you have to go through the “rabbit’s hole”, in other words a random series of holes and tunnels to get to it.

 Once through the “rabbit’s hole”, Alice falls down a series of tunnels, that take her through the most random rooms and then to the “talking door.” In my opinion, that door symbolizes Alice’s perceptions of her life, and she struggles to get through the locked door by sipping the potions that adjust her size to fit into the door, and etc. Reading between the lines, you’d get the notion that she is adjusting her size or in other words ideals if this was to be measured against life to fit to her life mission statement and wants- the door.

The main reason for the whole stumbling into the “Wonderland” was the fact that she saw a waistcoat clad white rabbit jumping around the park with a pocket watch, stating that he was late, utterly late. Like most curious kids, she ran after him yelling questions at him as he raced through the rabbit hole, but thank heavens curiosity was much more amiable to Alice than the cat (“curiosity killed the cat”) and she made it through unscathed.

I can go on and on; I once wrote a whole essay explaining my fascination with Alice, and no it was not part of a class's coursework nor was graded, yup if you haven't guessed yet, I love to write.

Do you relate to Alice in the Wonderland? or any other fictional story/cartoon you have watched in your youth and now have come to appreciate? 

Please share.

xx

Baroqueish

Ps. This post is dedicated to the girl I preached to during the summer about the wonder that is "Alice in the Wonderland."I hope this draws a smile on her face.

Nb. I just love picture posted above.

Photo Credits: Photo by Mariah Kordzadze via Oh Dear It's Liana Blog

Is "بوراشد" Kuwait's answer to Gossip Girl?

For those of you who don't know who "بوراشد"/Bo-Rashed is, he's this guy who has initiated his own SMS/text message service in cooperation with Al-Watan Newspaper in which he sends his subscribers the news as it happens; if there's a fire somewhere, an important event, something political happening, he will send it to you by text in that second. 

Let's just say people subscribed to  "بوراشد" /Bo-Rashed are the first people to know what's happening in Kuwait about whatever is going on; they don't have to wait to be informed or read it in the newspapers the day after. 

I got my first dose of   "بوراشد" /Bo-Rashed today when a friend forwarded a text message that the service sent her in which he reported something of importance to me, and guaranteed that the rumors that spread 10 minutes ago were true and were not just another false rumor.. 

Let's just say, I am definitely going to subscribe to that service. 

Everyone needs reliable sources in this tiny rumor driven town that I love so much, wouldn't be Kuwait without the rumors.  

Rumors are a way to transmit information here, I swear if there was something happening in Salmiya, we'd all get it by text minutes later.. 

Now it's faster, there's blackberry messenger.

If I was Bo-Rashed I'd get a black berry, 

lol imagine if he ended his texts with "xoxo," that would be tres hilarious.

One of the perks of being connected?

xx

Baroque 

Ps. Wishing transportation would develop faster than communications. 

The New Louis Vuitton Playground.

If you thought the flagship stores of NYC and Paris were huge, then you've never gone to Tokyo. 

Tokyo boasts one of the biggest flagship stores in the world, their Chanel store as I recall was like 5 floors with pieces you've never seen in any boutique, but only stared at in catalogues..

 

The Louis Vuitton store is no stranger to that magnitude either and best of all, it just got a complete summer make-over.. 

Takashi Murakami- an artist who has previously collaborated with LV, think the LV flowers with comedic faces and colorful images-has given the store a face lift and injected it with dose of youthfulness and a pinch of fun with his latest installations.. 

"The Louis Vuitton Omotesando store in Tokyo is now transformed into the playground of the Multicolor Spring Pallet products. The venue’s interior features Murakami flower wallpaper and a multitude of LV x TM plush characters in all sizes possible. The anime like and colorful decoration will bring you instant happiness."

I love make-overs, hence my new blog header.

It's no Murakami, but it's totally me! 

xx

Baroqueish 

Ps. "Out with the old and in with the new"

Photo Credits: Runway to Realway, and the Daily Max

!!خفف

(Click to Enlarge)

Initiated by the Equate Local Petrochemical Company in Kuwait, the "خفف"/Khafif  (**"Lighten Up" ) campaign aims to address one of Kuwait's rising health scare- Obesity. 

Kuwaitis have one of the highest obesity rates in the world, I mean come on look around almost everyone is overweight and we all seem to be constantly on a diet.

"The latest study by Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System indicates that the disease affects 80 % of Kuwait’s population. At least 38 % of males and 48.5 % of females are suffering from obesity in the country." 

This anti-obesity campaign is part of Equate's Corporate Social Responsibility Program. 

It's nice to see that local companies are engaging in social responsible programs and giving back to society in a positive way such as this, especially in our society where the average size seems to be a size large. 

Hoping more companies will adopt Social causes around here,

xx

Baroque 

For more info: www.khaffif.com

Meet me at the Met?

The Met Gala is one of those events that designers and the wearers (**since i feel like they only show up to showcase and wear those amazing never before seen over the top dresses and looks) shine..  

Going to the met is a chance to go all ostentatious, wow-ing and giving people something to talk about, sometimes going all fashion crazed (**following a style so far that one creates a total fashion faux pas, or in other words make people gush on how the hell they got out of home in that).. 

I mean come on, if it wasn't for the clothes would we really care if there was a Gala at the Met? 

The outfits take center stage, and the whole world seems to wait to see what everyone is wearing.. 

Moi Aussi. 

So i give you my yearly MET list:

Favorite Looks: 

My "What the hell were they thinking": 

And a look I'm not too sure about even though she looks adorably doll-like:

Whoever said magazines/fashion sites were created to diminish women's self esteem (**and the many other arguments aimed at those style showcases) does not know the pleasure one gets when looking at those aesthetically beautiful masterpieces that are the clothes, 

xx

Baroque 

PS. Hang like a closet hook, not too tight, but flexible. 

Sheikha Kasia Al Thani's "Savoir-Faire."

Did you hear about the Savoir-Faire online store? 

I'm sure of you must have. 

Well, it was all in the fashion news/blog world/the internet because it had a certain collaboration with Rachel Zoe; and those days anything Rachel Zoe is "Bananas."

Lol, big fan of the reality show, hence the quotes.. 

But what really made this online store pop out was not just because it had a "Rachel Zoe Picks" section, but because it was owned and launched by a Qatari Sheikha (**a lady that is part of the Qatari Royal Family).. 

I was thrilled to find an interview with this lady, "Sheikha Kasia Al-Thani" online on Myfashionlife,she seems to be half American or else has been living in the states all her life. 

The store is cute, very professional and is what they call a "go-to site for those in search of the perfect gift for their loved ones."

Here's the link to the interview. 

Here's a link to Savoir-Faire. 

It's nice to see people from our region being publicized for things they have done, even if it's just another online store, at least it's a professional and popular one. 

I believe in excelling and putting an effort in everything be it a hobby, interest, or job no matter it's magnitude, for the repercussions you create after a good job done are always worth the while. 

Even a blog. 

xx

Baroque 

Ps. Walking through a time-maze.