Out for a weekend in the desert? Here are my tips for chic desert look in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia
Going to the desert for a weekend doesn't necessarily mean trekking shoes and cargo pants but n0t even Burning Men over-the-top attire.
It's no secret that as a kid I had a very big crush on Indiana Jones and I deeply dreamt I could become an explorer like him one day and fight a mummy in the desert or discover a new tomb. Well, this hasn't obviously happened as now I tend to discover fancy hotels or visit ruins but escaping to the desert falls into that dreamy narrative I had in my head when I was little. So yes, if you invite me for a desert weekend do expect a serious take on styling as that kid inside of me needs to explore any possible outfit to feel like a modern, styled-up version of Indiana Jones.
So here I am with my five Desert Chic suggestions:
ONE: Color Palette
Needless to say but opt for Natural colors such as cream white, khaki, spice colors, sand and add a little touch of black to sharpen up or metallic hints for a special glam. In clothing I love mussoline, silk and light cottons as they give this natural and refined feel.
TWO: Accessories
Like for any look, accessories make a huge difference. Ok, no cowboy hats nor whips, we don't want to look like we are in costume ready for carnival. Leather bracelets, metal necklaces, horns, hammered gold or bronze jewels and scarves would do. I mostly used jewels from India as they give this exotic touch that I personally love.
THREE: Cologne
True, you cannot see it, but you can smell it. I believe that scent has an incredible power on our mind and behavior. If you haven't read yet "Perfume" by Süskind I really recommend you to! So, no look is complete without the right perfume, it sets your mind in the right spot, it gives you that extra kick and attitude. So, for a desert trip colognes with Oud and Incense notes are my favorite as they blend very well with the heat and the overall dusty environment.
During the trip to Al Ula I used an energizing roll on from Revive made of Oud and Cardamon that I got as a gift at the opening of Royal Atlantis Hotel in Dubai.
I believe it is from the spa or the beauty salon they have downstairs. Mega recommend!!! It is 100% natural, vegan all made with pure essential oils. It comes as a small roll on so it is now part of my traveling essentials.
FOUR: Packing Tip
Before packing I carefully prepare
every look option with different mix and matches on the bed and I add the related accessories. In this way I am sure to be well covered with different alternatives and I can more easily remove unnecessary items or duplicates from my packing list. Here you see how I do it on the bed
FIVE: Reading & Cultural Tip
Remember, Chic doesn't come without some culture!
Saudi Arabia and Desert have a very deep bonding and the literature around it is countless. Now Arabs are mostly identified by means of a linguistic or religious criteria; in reality, in ancient times, Arab used to designate those who are capable of living in the desert or in a oasis (how dreamy is that!!!! Dunes vibes aaaall the way). Countless are the poetries and the books that describe this incredible bonding between the desert and its people. No wonder why these days going to camp in the desert is still so common among locals, not as a hobby or as a short holiday, but rather as a primordial need of being in contact with its dunes. Arabic literature has actually originated as an oral form of story telling among tribes of bedouin wandering and traveling across the desert.
Check this title out!:
Moneera Al-Ghadeer "Desert Voices" an incredible collection of Nabati poetry, women's bedouin poetry in Saudi Arabia
To read more about Nabati Poetry tradition and its preservation https://www.aramcoworld.com/Articles/April-2021/Preserving-Arabia-s-Bedouin-Poetry
At last, here are pics from some of my outfits!
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