Fashionably Yours

I caught up with the gorgeous editor-in-chief, Shannon Wylie of Souq Fashion, one of my favorite online style haunts, for her take on spring summer’s absolute must haves. Here’s a quick snippet from our chat:

Shannon Wylie: Souq Fashion - souq.com

FY: What are your top five trends for Spring Summer 2013?
1) Leather trimmings- Not necessarily all leather, but leather details are all the rage!
2)Tutus- Very SATC and very in
3)Pastels, ofcourse, especially sky blue and mint
4)Metallic- whether its shoes, belts or accessories, heavy metal is in!
5)Burgundy – this lovely shade complements everyone- simply gorgeous

FY: What is Souq Fashion’s latest offering for the upcoming season? What should the discerning fashion enthusiasts expect from Souq Fashion in 2013?

You should look forward to brand new online magazine! Check out the exciting fashion features and spreads interviews and a lot more, coming soon.

In Love Again metallic faux crocodile clutch: Souq Fashion

Reverse faux leather tutu dress: Souq Fashion souq.com

FY: What makes Souq Fashion stand out from other online fashion retailers in the Middle East?
We have an amazing mix of fashion, that’s very unique- We have ready to wear, high fashion, celebrity brands and even a prominent Arabic selection to suit every budget and taste. This mix is something we are proud to offer and you won’t be able to find this variety and price range anywhere online for the Middle East.

FY: What is your ultimate style advice for readers of Fashionably Yours?
Well, keep an eye out for trends of the season, but pick and choose carefully and make it work for you. For example, not everyone could carry off studs because its too edgy for some people’s personalities. However, smaller studs on accessories and more reserved stud details could be carried off in style by everyone!

Pick colors that suit you- and are flattering to your skin tone. Also, remember not to toe the line always, but do things differently. Fashion is all about being yourself, being quirky and just having fun!

***
Thank you Shannon, for the amazing advice. I, for one, am on my way to getting that tutu skirt already!

I recently came across this deliciously named online fashion boutique called ‘Pink Fudge’ for those with an eclectic taste in fashion and an eye for the unusual- and that too without the hassle of being on the infamous ‘wait-list’!

Pinkfudge.com, Online fashion retail in Dubai

But apart from that, Pink Fudge struck me because it’s different in more ways than one. There’s plenty of authentic vintage fashion in clothes and accessories, which they claim, cant be found anywhere else. Hmmm, worth a try, don’t you think?

Pieces available from Pink Fudge include the iconic Hermes Birkin bag, Vintage Chanel accessories and the season’s latest ‘it’ bags making it a fashion lovers best kept secret, bt not anymore I guess. The cat is out of the stylish bag!

pink-fudge.com -online fashion retail in Dubai

Here’s an excerpt of a quick chat with Golly, one of the two girls behind Pink Fudge:

What is Pink Fudge all about? What is the price range of items available at Pink Fudge?  What makes it stand apart in UAE market?

Well Pink fudge was conceived due to the fact that I couldn’t always find what I wanted in the stores and even if I did, it would be after a long wait on the infamous “waiting list”. Whenever I want the latest “it” piece, I have no patience to wait! I want it there and then and that is the main notion and idea behind our concept, that is the initial reason Pink Fudge was born. We want to give our customers the latest ‘it’ piece without the hassle or wait.

The price ranges we offer varies depending on what you are looking for. It starts from about 500 AED and can go up to a bigger range depending on the specifications of the piece.

The difference between us and the market is that most of the time, the collections within the UAE are typically limited, making it hard to find certain pieces or colors.  That is when our clients turn to us. Everything that we display, with the exception of our vintage Chanel items, is brand new; nothing is pre-owned. We go and hand-select pieces from all over the world that are in demand and do not depend on consignment basis like other businesses. The main purpose is for a Pink Fudge customer is not to have to wait like some luxury stores make you do.  It is this that make us stand out positively.

How do you see the future for online fashion retail pan out in this region?

I see huge potential in the industry, and feel that online shopping is quickly becoming the next big thing here. Consumers are breaking through the barriers of traditional shopping at malls, and are becoming increasingly comfortable with other options. For me, as long as you have a good concept that matches market demand and fills a niche, you have the potential to succeed.
Who knows maybe down the line we will set up an actual Pink Fudge store, and allow our brand to flourish and develop even more.

pink-fudge.com -online fashion retail in Dubai

How does UAE fit into the bracket of vintage fashion classics? How do you think the Arab woman perceives fashionable heritage?

Vintage fashion isn’t something new; it is as old as fashion is itself. The thing that has changed is the  perception and view of vintage items, as they have become so hot now! Everyone is on the hunt to buy a nice vintage piece including most Arab girls. Some might still view it in a negative light, thinking it is something already used, but most girls I have come across love shopping for vintage timeless pieces.

Name some of the pieces you can find on Pink Fudge, that are unavailable anywhere else.

The first obvious choice would be a Hermes Birkin or a Kelly, the waiting list for these in specific are actually getting longer and crazier due to the excess demand amongst girls nowadays, everyone wants to own one or is looking to buy more to add to their collection. Another I would have to say are Goyard bags, they too have a waiting list on certain popular pieces, like the Saigon which we carry at Pink Fudge and is not even easy to get in the Middle East because they do not even have a flagship store yet.

Also, we carry the Kenneth Jay Lane line; gorgeous sparkly bracelets and bangles from New York that I think every girl should own at least one piece. Lastly, our line of unique Vintage Chanel accessories are always a great investment to stack up in your closet.

pink-fudge.com -online fashion retail in Dubai

When I first heard of Anjelique, I thought it sounded like the name of a delicate French lady rather than a shopping portal for unique Turkish finds.  Founder and owner of the unique online fashion retail portal, Inci Malik explained, “In our story the name originating from France symbolizes fashion and ANJELIQUE –written with “J” represents the stylish and fashionable Turkish lady since we started our journey on highlighting Istanbul’s vibrant fashion style.”

The Anjelique.me:Portal for rare Turkish fashion finds

FY: So what’s so different about Angelique that we, in the UAE, haven’t seen before? What’s new here?

Inci: Currently, in the Middle East luxury products are limited to well-known brands only. Middle East consumers well appreciate new brands, new designs, originality and individuality.  Today, women are busier than ever are becoming more demanding and aware of their own style and are more confident on online shopping.

Anjelique.me showcases designer fashion and homeware products that are not yet available or known to the region.  Our designer products are mostly sourced from Turkey as well as from different parts of the world which offer unique and original products. What will set us apart are our product mix and services that we offer to our customers. Anjelique.me will also soon offer Interior Styling and Personal Shopper services in between Dubai and Istanbul. We will offer an online shopping experience as engaging and individualistic as possible.

Ince Topuk at The Anjelique.me

Ince Topuk: Erin at The Anjelique.me

FY: Could you please tell us about some of the unique Turkish brands sold at The Anjelique?

Anjelique.me:  Some of the selected brands with us are:

Belizz:  Our premium jewelry classics handcrafted with due care and keen attention to every detail, can be easily adapted to all outfits. It originates from Turkey.

Hubu: Traditional sandals are associated with Bodrum, and in particular with Ali Güven who had been hand-making leather sandals in Bodrum since 1966 . Working from a small workshop in Bodrum, Ali Güven received orders from all over the world and had famous male and female clients worldwide as well as Turkey’s fashion and business circles. The princess of Dubai, Latiffah Abdrahman was one of his customers as well. Originates from Turkey

Ozlem Tuna: Original Homeware collection where designed and produced in the Historical Peninsula part of İstanbul; always using different and unseemly materials together, when necessary, pushing to the limits of functionality in jewelry, finding different outlets, experimenting…

Sempia Black croc print bag: The Anjelique.me

Hubu Sapphira At the Angelique.me

Hubu Kallini at The Anjelique.me

FY: What are some of the challenges faced by online retailers in this region? Are there any learnings that you’d like to share?

Anjelique.me:  The main challenge of E-retailing in the Middle East region is lack of customer trust on online payment gateway.  Secondly, there should be engagement of customers on social media and have the customers review the products online.  Thirdly, the challenge is to retain the customer loyalty as there are many e-retailers in the market and the customers are exposed to many choices.

FY: Could you give us an insight into how the year 2011 was, for online luxury retail in the Middle East? What is anticipated for the year 2012 for online luxury retail here?

Anjelique.me:  During the downturn in 2008-2009, the purchase path was longer where even the affluent customers were more on bargain hunting and doing more comparisons before purchasing. 2011 has seen a significant increase on conversion rate on affluent customers’ spending habits.

2012 is about customer segmentation, which are loyal customers versus new and aspirational customers. It is important for e-retailers to adapt to new features and technology, align the efforts with unique customers’ needs. There is a need to focus more on the luxury products’ commodities such as quality, craftsmanship, emotional connection with the product, brand story, etc. Apart from all these, it is important not to forget the loyal customers, of their needs and expectations.

Belizz at The Anjelique

Belizz at The Anjelique.me

FY: What is your personal style statement? What style advice would you like to give readers of Fashionably Yours?

Anjelique.me:  Anjelique’s personal style statement is fresh – dynamic and original.

Everyone should connect with their inner style diva and reflect the personality on what they wear and how they style their living environment. In this way, people are recognized and appreciated for their individuality because it is a testament of one’s lifestyle.

Individuality is the new LBD!