Travel: SATC2 and the Middle East Fashions

One of my favorite moments from the SATC2 movie was when the Arab women disrobed their black abayas and revealed their shared love for fashion.  Apparently, fashion, like love is an international language.   And in the Middle East, Manolo Blahnik, Gucci and Versace roll off their Middle Easterner’s tongues just as easily as they do on the set of SATC!

So much of the movie reminded me of my recent trip to Dubai during Dubai Fashion Week (okay maybe not the $20,000 a night hotel) but witnessing the lavish lifestyles, riding and balancing on camels, whipping through the endless sand dunes in a dune buggy, shopping through street markets all brought back fabulous memories.

Much like the movie SATC2, my trip to Dubai was focused on the fashion.  I was lucky enough to have been invited through a friend to attend all of Dubai Fashion Week’s runway shows, sit front row and enjoy the VIP experience.  Here I’ll share some photos that I took during Dubai Fashion Week ’08.

As you can see, abayas are pretty standard black cloaks.  They can look a little scary at first if you’re not used to them.  Personally, I couldn’t get over how it looked like everyone was seemingly floating around town (men wear all white, women wear all black). 

The exotic runway shows that featured abayas oftentimes felt as if you were seeing the same thing over and over but upon closer inspection it was all in the details (check out the trims and embellishment).  I learned to appreciate how the runways were really pushing the envelope as far as moving forward from the traditional, look. And I had to try one on for size…

You’ll notice that the runway shows often featured Eastern European models as locals are too conservative to model and have their bodies out on display.  The below pictures showcase some of the Arab fashions one would wear underneath the abaya. (Can someone say “I Dream of Jeannie?”) You can see why Dubai Fashion Week still stands out in my memory.  The experience was unlike any other fashion show I had ever seen…

Whereas less is more in the States, more is definitely more in the Middle East!

Turbans and head scarves are still very much part of the Middle East fashion as evidenced on the runways (and on SATC2)

turbanI think one of the reasons SATC2 has received such negative reviews is because many couldn’t relate to the Middle East setting, missed NY and therefore didn’t leave with the same thrill.  The Middle East may be a glamourous escape but a girl can only take so many head scarves, harem pants and maxi dresses before she starts longing for Carrie’s silly NY tutu.  The 2nd movie definitely lacked in inspirational fashions if only because they were a bit too exotic.  I found that Vogue’s photo shoot featuring their imagined scenes between Mr. Big and Carrie resulted in more awe-inspiring fashion moments .  See the pictures below (photos taken by Annie Leibovitz) and let me know your thoughts!

Pig Cafe- 3 Things That Will Surprise You

Mini Pig Cafe

One of the reasons Japan stands out to me as such a fun destination for families is all the cute and quirky destinations you can check out for family fun! You can read this post for my top picks on the 5 wackiest things you can do with your family while in Tokyo. This post is a continuation on that travel topic and is all about the mini pig cafes you can find in Tokyo.

Mini pig cafe you ask? Yes! It sounded like a once in a lifetime experience so of course it ended up on my Tokyo bucket list. 😆

Here are the 3 surprising things we did not expect:

1). It’s NOT a pig pen.

It’s actually a clean inviting place where you take your shoes off at check-in, slide into slippers, and where you are asked to sanitize your hands before and after the experience. I know, I too thought it was a strange request to ask us to sanitize ourselves before handling pigs haha. Once you sit down in what looks more like a playroom instead of a pig pen, they will give you a soft blanket for your lap. This helps protect your clothes and also invites the pigs to sit with you.

2). Pigs will want to snuggle with you!

I found this the most surprising part of the experience. I assumed pigs would have no interest in human companionship and that I’d spend most of my time there wistfully trying to catch and pet one. But the moment I sat down, I had a few curious pigs sniff me, walk around to all of us and pick one of us to lay with. OMG pigs are so friendly and affectionate!! They LOVE attention! You’ll never have felt so wanted in your life!

Surprisingly, there was no warning up period. (Unlike bunnies, they immediately trusted us strangers). Some even fought to be on our laps. At one time, I had up to 5 little pigs on me and felt as thought I was HOGging them all. In fact, we all had multiple piggies all want to be our best friend. This resulted in tons of giggles from my 10-year old and some cramped legs for my husband who for some reason only had the larger black pigs interested in him.

3). Pigs are smart and make great pets!

The friendly staff answered all my questions about their micro pigs and I learned so much! Who knew for instance, pigs can live 10-15 years? AND they’re stunningly smarter than cats and dogs and have done better at cognitive tests than the average 3 year old human child. They’re also all potty trained just like our bunny is. They go in litter trays. This all left me wondering why pigs get such a bad rap. They’re not filthy animals that are only good for ham, pork, sausage and bacon after all! 😆

This unforgettable experience was so much fun and had me obsessed with finding out more about pig ownership. I now know why celebrities like Megan Fox, Paris Hilton, George Clooney and David Beckham owned pigs as pets! BTW, this cafe allows for adoptions in case you fall in love and just have to take one home!! Be careful, cuz these cuddly cuties will totally steal your heart. They may even have you rethinking your willingness to eat pork, bacon, sausage and ham. My daughter has already given all of it up after this visit… Let’s see how long this lasts.

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TIPS

*RSVP! Time slots fill up quickly and while walk-ins are welcome you don’t want to be disappointed at the door only to find that private, more pricier options are the only spaces left. Many have been turned away because of filled up spots and lack of space.

*Be on time because every minute you miss is simply lost. The Harajuku location is on a tiny side street right off the one with the Snoopy cafe and can be a bit hard to find. So make sure to allot extra time plus MPig asks you arrive 10 minutes before to review the rules, and get set up with their locker and slippers anyways.

*Private sessions are available where you get 1 pig per person (provided at random..you don’t get to choose). Mpig has been criticized for this since in the main room you could easily have 5 pigs on you at any one time. However, in your semi-enclosed private space, you’ll get to learn how to pick up the pigs. (That’s not allowed in the main area).

For more info and to make your reservations click here.

For 5 more must-see, wild and wacky things to do in Tokyo, click here!

 

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