Carrie Bradshaw, television’s ultimate style icon, nailed it when she famously revealed: “The fact is, sometimes it's really hard to walk in a single woman's shoes. That's why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.”

Or how about the memorable episode where she dramatically decaled: “I've spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live? I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes!”

While that kind of spending might be a tad extreme for most, we will admit to occasionally treating ourselves to a sparkling new pair of soles.

This season the shelves in the UAE malls are bursting with brand new shoes to suit all styles and budgets, from snakeskin stilettos to swingy, fringed mules.

Here, we present to you the top three SATC-worthy styles to purchase in Dubai shopping malls now – go quickly before they go!

Leather heels, Dhs399, Zara, visit Mall of the Emirates

The classic court shoe gets an instant S/S 16 update with ombre blue python. This elegant pair of heels by purse-friendly Zara will immediately jazz up a bland office suit, taking you straight into the evening ahead.

Fringe leather sandals, Dhs2, 690, Proenza Schouler at Boutique 1, visit Mall of the Emirates

Mules are having a major moment in the world of accessories and are officially this season’s biggest shoe trend. This monochrome pair comes complete with leather fringe tassels and a comfortable circular heel – perfect fun nights on the tiles!

Leopard print heels, Dhs552, Dune, visit Mall of the Emirates

Nothing makes a style statement quite like a dash of wild leopard print. With contrasting panels, slim heels and an edgy lace-up front, this budget-approved pair by Dune will be a sartorial staple for years to come.

* Prices shown are at the time of the visit to the mall and could change at any point

Take a trip to the shopping malls in Dubai and upgrade your holiday wardrobe with an assortment of new swimsuits.

Tankinis, cutaways, bandeaus, Brazilian-style… the swimsuit market is filled with endless options. Where is a girl to start?

We’ve put an end to your shopping frustration and narrowed down your search to find the very best of the bunch.

Whichever body type category you fall into, be it pear shaped, athletic, slim or curvy, these colourful swimsuits will fit, flatter and stand out on the beach this season.

Multi-coloured print swimsuit, Dhs149, Zara, visit Mall of the Emirates

The cut-away waist and back detailing on this floral printed will lend a feminine shape to narrow or athletic figures.

Style tip: From DVF to Ese Azenabor and Trina Turk, Spring/Summer’s 2016 catwalks were awash with bright tropical prints. Buck the trend and make a splash in this beautifully bold one-piece by Zara.

Bikini top in apricot, Dhs89, black bikini bottoms, Dhs49, both H&M, visit Mall of the Emirates

This balconette bikini is a brilliant choice for top-heavy silhouettes. The underwired top comes with moulding and padded cups to offer maximum support, while the halter straps add instant lift. Pair with contrasting black bikini bottoms.

Style tip: Who says you can’t wear accessories on the beach? Load up on island-inspired straw hats, corals beads and bohemian layered jewels.

Printed bikini top, Dhs129, Printed bikini bottoms, Dhs89, both Mango, visit Mall of the Emirates
A classic pick to suit nearly all body frames, this nautical blue striped two-piece is a wardrobe staple. Now all we need is a yacht to wear it on!

Style tip: While on your swimsuit shopping hunt, look for styles with removable straps to avoid tanning lines.

 * Prices shown are at the time of the visit to the mall and could change at any point

Long honey-hued locks, a 5’9” frame and legs for days, Blake Lively is no stranger to standing out from a crowd. Recently stepping out for the annual Cannes Film Festival in the Côte d'Azur, the stunning actress caused an even bigger stir as she decked her growing baby bump in an array of traffic-stopping red carpet looks.

Married to Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, who she met on the set of sci-fi adventure film Green Lantern, Blake was a hit with Parisian fashion critics who praised the American beauty for her stylish approach to maternity wear.

The 28-year-old star shot to fame playing the role of Serena on CW’s hit show Gossip Girl and has since gone on to star in a long list of acclaimed films, including Savages, The Town and The Age of Adaline.

On this occasion, the actress was spotted attending a photo call in the French Riviera to promote her latest flick, a romantic comedy titled Café Society directed by award-winning cinema icon Woody Allen.

Draped in a flowing scarlet jumpsuit paired with delicate gold jewels, Blake certainly made a big impact.

Here, we show you how to get her glamorous look from the Middle East’s leading shopping malls.

Red jumpsuit, BCBGMAXAZRIA, visit Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Mirdif

Style tip: We love this tailored red pantsuit by BCBGMAXAZRIA. Wear with nude-coloured high heels to create the illusion of longer legs.

 Necklace, H&M, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Sharjah, City Centre Ajman, City Centre Fujairah, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Me'aisem, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat.

Ring set, Forever 21 Dubai, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Bahrain, City Centre Muscat and City Centre Beirut.

For more information on store locations within our malls visit the below:

UAE

www.malloftheemirates.com

www.citycentresharjah.com

www.citycentreajman.com

UAE shopping malls are one of the most popular Dubai attractions. And for very good reason – these sprawling retail havens are filled with a seemingly never-ending array of amazing shops, delicious restaurants and cafés, beauty salons and entertainment activities, ranging from in-door ski slopes to 3D cinemas.

Our fashion team has taken it upon themselves to comb through all the aisles to find the most coveted items to hit the shop floors this month.

Be it payday or a weekend spree, we think you deserve to treat yourself to a little something special from the mall this month.

Happy shopping ladies!

Leather strappy sandals, Dhs1,094, BCBGMAXAZRIA, visit Mall of the Emirates

Summer has arrived and it’s high time we ditch the heavy boots and opt for open-toe sandals. This pair of leather woven heels by BCBGMAXAZRIA has gone straight to the top of our wish list this month. We plan on wearing these soles with floaty printed frocks and tailored shorts for the warm-weather season ahead.

Printed cotton dress, Dhs1,045, Cecilie Copenhagen at Boutique 1, visit Mall of the Emirates

Created by cool young label Cecilie Copenhagen from Denmark, this monochrome summer dress gives a nod to Arabia with a traditional black and white keffiyeh print. A style to suit all, we love the feminine tie-up shoulders and flattering silhouette-skimming fit. Team this pretty dress with gladiator sandals and a straw hat for easy beach chic.

Metallic leather bag, Dhs3,850, Burberry, visit Mall of the Emirates

Bucket bags are back in the spotlight this season and this dainty gold style by Burberry is a coveted pick for the months ahead. Embossed in the fashion house’s high-quality gold leather and topped with a gilt chain strap, this is an ideal carryall for any occasion day or night.

* Prices shown are at the time of the visit to the mall and could change at any point

From bloggers to models and Instagram stars, we look at the new wave of stylish ladies leading the fashion scene in the UAE and reveal how to get their look from the Dubai shopping malls

TALA SAMMAN 

One of Dubai’s leading fashion and lifestyle bloggers, Tala Samman first launched myfashdairy.com back in 2009. Since then the Dubai-based beauty has gone onto win a host of awards and collaborate with brands such as Net-a-Porter and Tom Ford, as well as host events across Dubai, Doha and London. The Middle Eastern fashion fan has recently turned her attention to a career as a DJ and can often be seen spinning at industry parties across the region.
Instagram followers: 84.5k
Often seen at: Cipriani Dubai, La Serre, CrossFit

Get Tala’s look

Sunglasses, Dhs49, H&M, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif 

Gold bracelet, POA, Cartier, visit Mall of the Emirates

NATALYA KANJ

Meet blogger and stylist Natalya Kanj, one half of the force behind fivefivefabulous.com, an online fashion site she founded back in 2012 along with her sister Reem. Originally hailing from Lebanon, the Dubai-based duo created the website as a platform to showcase their journeys in fashion, beauty and travel. Since launching, the stylish sisters have gone on to collaborate with some of the industry’s biggest brands such as Louis Vuitton, L’Oreal Paris and Nike.
Instagram followers: 34.3k
Often seen at: The Jetty Lounge, Frioul, Culinary Boutique

Get Natalya’s look

Sandals, Dhs475, Massimo Dutti, visit Mall of the Emirates

Culottes, Dhs149, Zara, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif

ZAHRA LYLA

Born and raised in Dubai, Zahra Lyla is a bonafide fashion ‘IT’ girl and blogger with a roster of loyal followers. The graphic designer turned fashion content creator behind website justlyla.com, has turned her love for design into a fully-fledged career since launching the style blog seven years ago.
Instagram followers: 60k
Often seen at: Angelina Dubai, The Sum of Us

Get Zahra’s look

Coat, Dhs11,995, Burberry, visit Mall of the Emirates

Bag, Dhs580, BCBGMAXAZRIA, visit Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Mirdif

Image credits: myfashdiary.com, dialasdiaries.com, justlyla.com

* Prices shown are at the time of the visit to the mall and could change at any point

Visit http://www.malloftheemirates.com/, http://www.citycentremirdif.com/ and http://www.citycentredeira.com/

Not to be reserved solely for office hours, this tailored wardrobe staple has been given an instant Spring/Summer update with bold colours and big prints for a new spin on cocktail attire.

While we’re all for a failsafe little black dress, sometimes a girl needs to mix it up - case in point: a statement trouser suit. Just look to fashion icon and designer Victoria Beckham, who once known for her flashy body-con frocks, now favours sleek suits tailored to perfection.

This style staple offers a timeless appeal and can be worn for a multitude of occasions for the office and beyond.

Gone are the days of bland navy suits with shapeless fits, this season we saw designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Zadig & Voltaire offer a fresh spin on the classic two-piece for their Spring/Summer 2016 collections.

Suits were tailored and form fitting with skinny trousers and shrunken jackets, splashed in eye-popping colours with look-at-me prints and embellishments.

We’ve trawled all the shops to find you best pieces available in the Dubai shopping malls now.

Floral printed jacket, Dhs399, printed trousers, Dhs269, Zara, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif

The soft blush shade and romantic bloom print gives this suit a feminine touch. Wear with patent flat brogues or strappy stilettos.

Stylist’s tip: Play up your best attributes by experimenting with the dimensions of the suit. For example, if you’d rather hide your thighs look out for wide-leg palazzo pants and pair with a cropped jacket to accent your waist.

Black printed jacket, Dhs379, printed trousers, Dhs239, Mango, visit Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Mirdif

We love the long boyfriend-style fit of this blazer. Pair this printed suit with leg-lengthening pointy heels.

White blazer, Dhs2,505, printed trousers, Dhs1,540, Paul & Jo at Boutique 1, visit Mall of the Emirates

Stylist’s tip: If top-to-toe prints are too loud for your taste, pick one printed piece and team with a solid block colour.

* Prices shown are at the time of the visit to the mall and could change at any point

Visit http://www.malloftheemirates.com/, http://www.citycentremirdif.com/ and http://www.citycentredeira.com/

As Halloween nears, we’re celebrating with the best creepy accessories to top off your fancy dress costume

With the little ones eagerly planning their trick or treat routes and your friends adding the finishing touches to their DIY costumes, it’s time to up the ante and pick up a few Halloween-inspired items.

From feline accessories to a witchy cape, here are the best spooky picks from the Dubai shopping malls.

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  Metal bracelet, Dhs518, Joomi Lim at Boutique 1, visit Mall of the Emirates We love the punk twist on this skulls and spikes bracelet.

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  Black cape, Dhs495, Zara, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif
  A chic take on a witch cape.

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  Cat ears set, Dhs50, Claire’s, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif
  Embrace your feline side with this fluffy headband.

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  Printed silk scarf, Dhs1,700, Alexander McQueen at Harvey Nichols Dubai, visit Mall of the Emirates
  Add a ghoulish twist to your look with McQueen’s skull printed silk scarf.

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  Lipstick in Diva, Dhs104, M.A.C at Harvey Nichols Dubai, visit Mall of the Emirates
  A wicked red pout is the perfect finishing touch.  

Visit http://www.malloftheemirates.com/, http://www.citycentremirdif.com/ and http://www.citycentredeira.com/

A lauded actress, a respected businesswoman and a bona fide style icon, here’s how to get Jessica Alba’s look.

When Jessica Alba stepped out in a fabulous party frock to attend the Giambattista Valli fashion show at Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture autumn/winter 2015, she caught the attention of the style elite.

The 34-year-old Sin City actress stopped traffic in a printed mini dress paired with chic thigh-high black boots, accessorising with a dainty box clutch and a simple gold bangle. The mother-of-two kept her make-up minimal with a swipe of natural pink lipstick and her cropped ‘do blow-dried straight.

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  Printed dress, Dhs4,150, Mary Katrantzou at boutique1.com, visit Mall of the Emirates

  We love the intricate jewel print of this unique dress

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  Thigh-high leather boots, Dhs955, Zara, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif.

  This leather boots look great paired with either a mini dress or jeans

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  Cuff bracelet, Dhs145, Massimo Dutti, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif .

  This elegant gold bracelet adds a touch of glamour

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  Navy leather clutch bag, Dhs199, Mango, visit Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif.

  We love a bargain buy! This classic clutch will go with nearly everything in your closet

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  Lipstick in ‘Heroine’, Dhs104, M.A.C at Harvey Nichols Dubai, visit Mall of the Emirates.

  This petal pink lip shade suits all skin tones

Visit http://www.malloftheemirates.com/, http://www.citycentremirdif.com/ and http://www.citycentredeira.com/