Finally finding Leonardo

February 7, 2017

Finally!

For those who are following my blog, today I will finally reveal how I found Leonardo.

Well, they say Third Time Lucky. In my case it was the fourth! or was it the fifth?

At my first attempt at Layal in Burjuman, I was told to try at the Mall of Dubai. So when I went there, I was pleasantly surprised to find the Tom Ford counter staring at me from my vantage point just outside the entrance from the skywalk. So I went downstairs and walked inside.

I was one of the early birds and when I asked the gorgeously made up statuesque saleslady if she could help me with Leonardo No 40, she didn’t even bat an eyelid. I love this about luxury malls : the sales persons are inordinately polite and know exactly how to handle frizzy haired grannies asking for the most unlikely things!

She very patiently looked at both the displays and even checked in her inventory. Sadly, she informed me that this lipstick wasn’t available. She suggested I try alternatives at the Chanel and Dior counters next door. They didn’t have any shades close enough. This didn’t surprise me. What amazed me was that this ultra luxe range was out priced by Tom Ford!

Now even more intrigued than ever, I decided I just had to find out what made Tom Ford so special.

Now I was even more intrigued to find this lipstick. What made it so special?

So I made my second attempt at the Paris Gallery where an equally charming salesman scouted in his display and system, only to tell me that he didn’t have it either. He also made some helpful suggestions with alternative shades : “This will be perfect for you Madame.”

However, I wasn’t looking out for a lipstick for me . He suggested I try the Tom Ford boutique which is situated in the Fashion Avenue. This stand alone boutique is impressive but didn’t have Leonardo. Once again the dapper salesman suggested I try somewhere else.

I walked to the other end of the Mall to the Galleries Lafayette.

“Oh you want the Lips & Boys?” asked the salesman.

Did I? I didn’t know.

And what was Lips & Boys? Lipsticks for men? Noticing my perplexed and slightly aghast expression, he proceeded to explain that this was just Tom Ford’s range of lipsticks.

He proceeded to show me similar colours and unable to resist the temptation of finding out for myself what makes Tom Ford so covetable, I gave in and bought two alternatives Alejandro and Collin.

I was still not pleased though and when I found the Tom Ford counter at Dubai’s Airport, I again asked for Leonardo.

And surprise! It was there!

Thus ended my search for Leonardo No.40.

According to Tom Ford’s Press release ( and I quote)

BACK TO NEWS

Previous

PRESS:

TOM FORD LIPS AND BOYS

TOM FORD UNLEASHES THE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED RETURN OF LIPS & BOYS, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND COLLECTION OF LIP COLORS NAMED AFTER MEN HE ADMIRES, FROM INTIMATES, TO COLLABORATORS TO MEN HE FINDS INSPIRING.

25 BESTSELLING FAVORITES LIKE COLLIN, HOLDEN AND GIACOMO PERMANENTLY RETURN ALONGSIDE THE ARRIVAL OF 25 NEW BOYS. FROM ANSEL AND JOAQUIN TO DRAKE AND ROCCO, THE LUXURIOUS NEW SHADES DEBUT IN A PEARLESCENT, METALLIZED FINISH. DESIGNED TO BE WORN ON THEIR OWN OR LAYERED WITH ONE ANOTHER, THESE LIP TRANSFORMING COLORS AMPLIFY A WOMEN’S INDIVIDUALITY WHILE GENERATING AN INSATIABLE DESIRE TO TRY MORE THAN ONE.

SHOWCASED IN A SLEEK, CLUTCH-SIZED CASE, THIS DECADENT WARDROBE OF RICH, SPECIALLY TREATED PIGMENTS ARE BLENDED TO DELIVER PURE COLOR WITH JUST THE RIGHT BALANCE OF LUMINOSITY.

Well, I still have to try out my Tom Ford lipsticks and see if they are as smooth as butter and as long lasting as the salespersons have professed.

Till then, adios.

4 Things I did at #The Dubai Mall – The Adventures of Bellybytes

February 6, 2017

Image of Welcome to DubaiMall — The welcome sign at the end of the skywalk

My first visit to the Dubai Mall was in 2015 during my very brief visit to the City. I thought it would be my last visit as there are very few places I visit multiple times. But I was proved wrong when I visited Dubai yet again this year. There is something magical about this place even though it is hot. It slowly weaves a spell around you with its ultra modern chic blending seamlessly with its ancient culture and you land up visiting it again and again.

My primary reason for this visit was to have a few days of rest and recreation. I had visions of lying in bed all day, catching up with my reading and possibly surfing channels while mindlessly watching tv.

The magic of Dubai Mall

But the lure of shopping is hard to resist especially when you are staying in a hotel on a busy street like Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Rd. This hotel has two restaurants so it was only natural that we stepped out to eat. And with many of the eateries situated in the nearby Burjuman Mall, it wasn’t long before I succumbed to window shopping .

And finally, I couldn’t resist going to that ultimate shopping destination : The Dubai Mall.

This is truly a testament to man’s desire for luxury. Spread over a large acreage in the vicinity of the towering Burj Khalifa, one can truly spend hours in this mall and not get bored. Infact this is one place which is a MUST for all visitors to Dubai – even those who hate shopping.

Because in The Dubai Mall, you can do a hundreds of things apart from shopping.

#1. Eating

Many people watch the fountains while eating at one of the many restaurants at the Mall. However, with the show beginning at 6, I couldn’t indulge in this. I did however, manage to savour a yummy hazelnut icecream at Rubicons.

#2. Shopping

Since my main aim was to shop for Tom Ford’s lipstick, I just had to do that. It was fun browsing the mall looking around for the shops. They are easy to locate because there are many interactive booths where one can find whatever it is you are looking for – right from shops to rest room stops.

The mall is beautifully decorated with different motifs and you can’t help admiring the artwork you see.

#3. Visiting the Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.

#4. Meeting.

Last but not least was the most fulfilling part of my visit to the Mall : meeting up with an old school friend.

P is a dear friend who has been in Dubai for the last three decades. During these years our interactions have been infrequent and we have kept in touch largely through mail and brief visits during her trips to Bombay. I was thrilled that she could come and meet me despite her bad back . I will never forget that enjoyable visit as we exchanged news and gossip over a cup of coffee in the Starbucks off a corridor with a canopy of coloured umbrellas.

So don’t you think a trip to the Dubai Mall is definitely worth it?

Looking for Tom Ford in Dubai – The adventures of BellyBytes

February 1, 2017

In search of Tom Ford

“Mom please get me Tom Ford’s Leonardo No 40”

I was surprised at this cryptic message from Anna Shetty on my penultimate day in New Jersey.

Who and what was Tom Ford? And what was Tom Ford’s Leonardo No. 40

That it turns out was none other than a LIPSTICK!!!

A passion for fashion

Let me confess, I am a secret bimbette. I’m not a natty dresser, nor am I a fashionista but I have a passion for fashion and an interest in cosmetics that is inversely proportional to my real life appearance. Indeed most salespersons are amused at this diminutive, frizzy haired granny approaching them for advice on high end make up and high fashion garments many sizes smaller! Of course I make a disclosure that the product in question is NOT for me but my young daughters who I must also confess are not into high fashion either.

So I was rather surprised that Anna Shetty asked for TOM FORD.

Unfortunately TOM FORD was not available at the Duty Free at JFK nor did I find it at the Duty Free at Abu Dhabi. Infact I had quite forgotten about it till I spied a counter selling Tom Ford at Layal, a cosmetic store in Burjuman Mall.

“Madame we don’t carry Tom Ford make up, ” said Ahmed, the chic and very well informed salesperson, ” You could try at the Dubai Mall”.

That was all the incentive I needed to go shopping.

In Dubai for a short rest, I wasn’t really interested in going to the Dubai Mall just to look around . But now , with a mission to accomplish , it was definitely worth doing .

Going to the Dubai Mall

Sharing my plans with my breakfast companions, one of them offered her NOL Metro Card . ” All you have to do is top it up and you’re free to jump in and out of the train and a bus!”

That seemed too good an offer to refuse. I immediately took the Dubai Metro Card and made my way down to Burjuman Metro Station. Even though it was the morning rush hour, getting into the train was easy. I boarded the special compartment for women and children and by the next stop it was really crowded. Unlike the Mumbai suburban train experience, this was less traumatic even though we were packed from door to door. By the time the train reached the Financial Centre station, most of the passengers had got off so the last bit of the ride was really very comfortable.

[Tweet “The Dubai Metro is a great way to go around the city.”]

In just 5 Dhirams I could go to and fro.
Getting off at the station, I began my 15 minute walk to the mall. It felt a bit like being in a sci-fi movie where faceless people walk back and forth on motorised travelators .

Finally! I reached the Mall and I could begin my quest .

All you can do at the Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is a fascinating place where one can easily spend the day shopping ( both buying and seeing). You can spend time at the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo which is a unique experience in itself. You can dine at one of the many restaurants that you can find all over the place. And of course you could skate on the ice. You can stay in the hotel I spent a lovely day at the mall that included a trip to the aquarium and underwent zoo.

[Tweet “A visit to the Dubai Mall is a must for every visitor. It has something for everyone!”]

Don’t forget to watch this space to find out what I did at the Dubai Mall

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