Monthly Archives: February 2012

IVY’s Outfit Of The Week

Faux Fur Jacket: Club Monaco

Leather Pants: Rag & Bone/JEAN

Bag: Foley + Corinna

Booties: Alexander Wang

Bracelet: Kora

About these ads

2012 Oscars Best And Worst Dressed

I was psyched that I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch some of the stars walk the Red Carpet at the 2012 Oscar’s last night. My caffeine intake didn’t help; all in all it turned out to be a major snooze fest. Tradition reigned as stars opted for conservative pieces rather than risky creations. I definitely missed three of my favourite A-List red carpet divas Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Cate Blanchett so I didn’t have much of a choice but to settle with mediocre. White was a big hit but so were sequins, beadings, embellishments and embroidery.  My favourite trend of the night was that accessories were kept to a bare minimum, with actresses opting for one statement pieces and some for no jewelry at all.  Check out some of my favorites and not-so-favorites below:

Cameron Diaz

Few can pull of this figure-hugging cream strapless Gucci with feminine ruffles and soft sequins so Cameron Diaz makes it on my best dressed for giving us some of that red carpet glamour while keeping things age-appropriate but still on the safer side of things.

Emma Stone

I loved Emma Stone in that purple reddish Lanvin number she wore to the Golden Globes this year, but there is something about the oversized bow tie and overwhelming and excessive fabric contrasting with her small frame and snow white skin that just doesn’t work for me. Plus, she stole Nicole Kidman’s memorable 2008 Oscar look.  Her dress is Giambattista Valli and is accessorized with a Louis Vuitton bracelet and earrings.

Milla Jovovich

This previous model looked every inch the red carpet glamour girl in a beaded one-shoulder Elie Saab gown and matched it with a dazzling Edie Parker clutch. Her side-swept hair and hot red lips matched perfectly! One of the best dressed ladies of the night.

Meryl Streep

Even one of the best actresses of our generation can get it wrong sometimes, and although Meryl goes home with her third Oscar, she still gets it wrong in this ill-fitted metallic gold wraparound Lanvin that not only matched her metallic shoes ,earrings and hair but also the little golden statue she took home. It was all too much gold for my taste, resembling a Lebanese mother at her son or daughter’s wedding.

Gwyneth Paltrow

It’s fashion statements like this that make us Fashion nerds tune into the Oscars in the first place and Gwyneth Paltrow brings it in this stunning Tom Ford gown with a dramatic cape accessorized with a a gorgeous diamond cuff. Her sleek unfussy hair matched perfectly. I bet Angelina Jolie saw that look and kicked herself for not doing it first.

Angelina Jolie

Just because you’re Angelina Jolie it doesn’t mean you get to put on a old black frock to the Oscars , show us some leg and then call it a day. Even Angelina can get it wrong and she gets it very wrong in the oversized boring black velvet Atelier Versace gown. She didn’t even bother with her hair. She makes it on my worst dressed for the night.

Sandra Bullock

She puts the G in glamour in this black and white Marchesa gown with metallic embroidery accessorized with Lorraine Schwartz jewels. I love this look on her because it’s so elegant yet fashion-forward although I would have loved to see her hair in a different updo and slightly more makeup. She still makes it on my best dressed list!

Anna Faris

The zoo called, a seal escaped and seems to have made its way to the Oscars. Anna Faris looks like a pile of  blubber in this Diane von Furstenburg black long-sleeved sequins dress and her new bleached bob is really not helping. One of the worst dressed of the night.

Glen Close

Style knows no age and Glen Close pulls a Tilda Swinton on us in this gorgeous forest green silhouette-hugging corset-fitted Zac Posen gown. To keep things age appropriate she topped it off with a tuxedo blazer. Ladies take notes! One of the my favorite red carpet looks.

Rooney Mara

This high-fashion meets classic couture gown is one of the night’s stunners by fashion house Givenchy. It’s one of those dresses that would look good in every color and I would have loved to see it on an A-lister since Rooney Mara’s bland facial expressions really don’t do it any justice.

Michelle Williams

Best Dressed of the night! Michelle channels her skinny inner Marilyn Monroe and looks VA VA VOOM in this classic old-Hollywood strapless perfectly-fitted Louis Vuitton gown with a flirty skirt at her waist and a bow brooch. She kept things fun adding that candy colored pink clutch. Only a few can pull-off this look and Michelle does so with flying colors!

This post by Ivy Says has been quoted and linked by CNN’s HLNtv site! Check It Out: 

Dine Me Delectable

Forget my burger fetish, minced ground beef in a bun is fun and all, but nothing beats an imported cut of some of the world’s finest line up of filets cooked to pure perfection prepared by Executive Chef Giancarlo Gottardo, and that’s exactly what The Grill Room at the Four Seasons had in store for my man and I last Friday.

Our gastronomic journey began as soon as our waiter placed a freshly baked loaf of warm bread alongside butter, coarse salt and freshly ground pepper.

We had set our eyes on a fine high-end Lebanese red wine, Marsyas 2008, with a distinct darkness in colour but tenderness in taste.  It made for a perfect preface to the carnage we were about to inflict on some seriously thought out dishes.

We started things off with a light entrée, thinly-sliced marinated strips of fresh salmon combined meticulously with crispy radish, sweet chunks of Granny Smith apples and parsley.

Little did we know that it had paved the way for one of the best salads we would have. Smoked duck on a bed of frisée lettuce with red onions tossed in a splendid seedy mustard dressing. But that’s not even the half it; drizzled atop your salad you will find golden caramelized pecans that will take your taste buds on an emotional rollercoaster. But in case you still had any doubts, the deal breaker will present itself to you in the form of four gloriously fried pieces of Camembert in a velvety tempura coating.

Here’s where things started to get hot following all that foreplay. The Grill Room has an already precedent reputation for serving the crème de la crème of internationally imported cuts of meat, and from the minute we were handed the oversized genuine leather menu of popular yet posh selections the word “tenderloin” kept jumping out at us. Mind you we weren’t planning on playing it safe. My man had the Charolais Tenderloin and I, the US Tenderloin filet both on the bloodier side of things. Our filets arrived like kings, with a simple bay leave on to their right and a glistening whole garlic cooked confit-style that served as their thrones.

We loved that the side dishes were à la carte and were able to share all three we had ordered; the creamy rich mashed potatoes, the sautéed wild mushrooms and the unforgettable duck fat fries. And if that wasn’t enough three different sauces also make an appearance, a sharp pepper sauce, a buttery béarnaise and the original steak sauce. I couldn’t help but close my eyes as I placed each crimson piece of meat in my mouth that fell apart as soon as my knife barely scathed it. My senses were on overdrive as each flavor announced itself and lingered until the next bite.  A cloud of silence fell over our table and every now and then each one of us would utter an “mmm” or a “ahh” as we stripped our meals down.

I was happy to go home without dessert;  I thought nothing could possibly satisfy me further until I impulsively ordered the Délices au Chocolat Valrhona, the after party of all after parties, Caraïbe chocolate with hazelnut and praline sweet dough.

There’s a reason why the Four Seasons gets to bestow 5 Stars on its title, and walking in, you somehow feel you’re in the right hands. It could be the understated beauteous elegance that greets you, or the team of top-notch staff that makes you feel so important, or the ingredients that captivate you, or perhaps the right combination of all those things in one place.

Price Range: $120-$150 per person with wine.

Verdict:  The Ultimate Gourmet Steakhouse

The Lebanese Celebrities Wedding Album

Nothing says happily ever after like an over-the-top-wedding dress and ceremony extravaganza. And that’s exactly what these celebrities did on their big days. Some look like puff-pastries others look like little girls playing dress up at second hand bridal stores. One can’t help what wonder what the hell were they thinking but hey, if the Lebanese Politicians get to do it, why can’t these divas give it a go?

Nicole Saba, 38

Nancy Ajram, 28

Haifa Wehbe, 36

Annabella Hilal, 26

Cyrine Abdelnour, 40

Maya Nasri

Dana Halabi, 25

Christina Sawaya, 31

No.You Can’t Date Your Best Friend’s Ex

No matter how much time has passed since you’ve dated a guy, I don’t think it’s legit for a good friend to EVER date an ex of yours. But some beg to differ.

Nayla and Nadine were inseparable. They shared everything. Throughout high-school Nayla dated Wissam, it was as serious as it can get at the time. Everyone swore they would end up getting married. Even Nadine. But they didn’t. His parents sent him to the US for college and Nayla went on to study medicine at AUB. They grew apart throughout the years as most couples do with distance. Wissam broke up with Nayla eventually. It was all too much for him. Although she was sad to let him go, she knew she had to. It was Nadine’s shoulder she cried on.

Years passed, Nayla was doing her residency at AUB and Wissam was now back in Beirut working for one of the big-shot consultancy agencies in the country. They hooked up a couple of times at random parties for old times’ sake, but that’s as far as it went, although it didn’t help that girls had a hard time getting their hands off him. A girl in particular found it especially hard. Nadine. One night as Nayla was picking up Nadine, she spotted Wissam leaving her building in a scurry. Nadine had “no idea” why he was there but in a city with a rumor mill as active as Beirut’s, scandal travels fast. Apparently the two had been hooking up for some time. When finally confronted, Nadine told Nayla that she can’t just declare someone off-limits because she once dated him. But the thought of sharing someone she was intimate with was horrifying to Nayla. Both girls don’t talk anymore, better yet, Wissam stopped hooking up with Nadine when he figured out she had feelings for him. It was a lose-lose. So ladies, as tempting as it may seem, think twice before going for your bestie’s sloppy seconds

PDA-The Lebanese Way

Seriously, tell us how you really feel. Just when I thought I had a romantic Valentine Abdo here had to show up and upstage everyone.

Lebanese Rank #6 Most Romantic Nationality In The World

It’s nice to see us finally making the news for love not war. According to this list aggregated by CNNgo Lebanese people have been ranked #6 for being the world’s most romantic peoples, falling just behind the Brazilian’s, the French and get this- them Italians. Inneresting…  The article describes Lebanese people as

“They are different from the rest of the Arab world and they know it. Blessed with olive skin, soulful dark eyes and smoldering looks (not to mention a penchant by some for surgical enhancement), the Lebanese make full use of their physical attributes.

Combine this with Beirut, the region’s most liberal capital with a ton of slick nightspots, and you have the ingredients for a host of sexy, but classy, encounters.

Just wear something bright — there’s a fair chance he’ll be wearing expensive shades.

Seduction secret: Liberal application of hair gel and a designer shirt.

Oh how lovely. How wonderfully stereotypical.  I’m surrounded by olives. Yes I have a bunch of them with my labneh every morning, but the last time I checked my skin was not olive green, I mean, that’s like comparing a French person’s skin to cheese. And yes, I know we come off as super exotic and our dark mysterious eyes hide all our oriental secrets. PUlease who wrote this? And you hear that ladies? Surgical enhancements. Fantastically Plastic. Wear bright outfits and if you’re lucky enough he’ll bring out his D&G shades tonight. But the cherry on top of the cake? The Lebanese girl in the picture is the only one unfazed by her man and way more interested in the bling on her finger.

Oh well, don’t blame them, blame us, the very people that brought this shallow description onto ourselves. Jokes aside, congrats my fellow Don Juans for this romantic reputation and making the list. Gotta go, my magic carpet awaits.

IVY’S Valentine’s Day Outfit

Clutch: House of Harlow 1960

Bodysuit: Only Hearts

Skirt: Alice + Olivia

Earrings: Tory Burch

Bracelet: Motif 56

Pumps: Boutique 9

My French Affair

My name is Ivy and I have a bad bad addiction. It’s been going on for around 6-months now and it doesn’t appear like it’s about to die down anytime soon.

Tucked away deep in The Alleway, at the heart of Beirut’s Gemmayze district, Couqley is no secret. This little as-authentically-French-as-it-can-get little bistro is relentlessly jam-packed with hungry goers who know that this is one spot in town that will put your money where your mouth is, pun intended.

Picture this- all the cliché French dishes you’ve heard about or had on your trips to Paris, now make them available in one cozy spot with a seasoned Executive chef who’s completely hands on, a friendly and well-trained staff, and top it all off with an extensive wine list at retail price and you got yourself one of the most successful formulas in the business.

Yes, Couqley manages to bring out the gluttonous little monster in me because I really really have a hard time deciding what to go for, but if I must choose some favorites here they are:

I usually start things off by indulging myself in the bowl of goodness that is the French Onion Soup Gratinée, topped with a generous amount of melted thick cheese, a dose of comfort food at its best. You’ll start feeling warm and fuzzy all over as you wash it down with some wine and prepare yourself for the sins your about to bask in.

Next I usually go for the divine homemade Foie Gras with strawberry confit and some fig bread or another favorite, the Spicy Calamari salad with Asian vinaigrette. A fantastic way to welcome round two of my little feast.

Here’s when things get tricky, picking my main course. I have three all-time favorites. You absolutely must try the classic favorite Steak Frites, a well-cut faux fillet topped with a savory creamy sauce and fries that put McDonalds to shame.

But surely you can’t have a true French gastronomical experience without trying the succulent to-die-for Duck Confit- another favorite, with hearty sautéed potatoes, caramelized onions, mushrooms and an unbelievable garlic based sauce.

But if you’re missing a wholesome home cooked meal then I suggest you go for the Beef Stroganoff made genuinely with tender pieces of beef, creamy tomato sauce and fluffy white rice.

Without further adieu and for the happiest of all endings get the rich Chocolate Fondant or torched Pain Perdue, seriously don’t even try to fight it. I usually feel like I need to get carried out on a stretcher when I’m done, but I come back for my fix and do it all over again every time.

Price Range: $30-$50 per person with wine

The Verdict: A Culinary Orgasm

All Images belong to Couqley.

Maya Diab-Fashion’s New Muse or TV Reckloose?

Did you ever want to stop that over-the-top dressed housewife at the supermarket and explain to her that just because Maya Diab’s turned herself into a living/breathing anime wonder it doesn’t mean that she too can dress up in leather suspenders and spike-studded oversized shoulder pads just to pick up some kebbeh?

Maya Diab’s is all about making a fashion statement and pushing the boundaries, and yes, sure, she’s positioned herself as a household name, landing herself some hefty endorsement deals. She takes good pictures, but the woman refuses to change that look on her face, the squinting eyes and over-pouting lips. She always poses like she’s posing and don’t even get me started on the way she handles herself on television. Had she at least tried to keep things subtle she may not be as ridiculed as she is today.  To be fair her favourite designer Nicolas Jebran is a VERY talented designer. Now if only the two of them can work on the concept less is more.

Here are some of Maya’s most memorable looks. What do you say, HIT or MISS?