Whenever I travel, I love to get into the spirit of the destination and have it influence my looks. In Abu Dhabi, this was my outfit of the day.

My film crew and I were amazed by the “Austin Powers in Arabia” decor of our host hotel, the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. (The Fairmont also hosted us in Dubai.)

Photos by my talented filmmaker Melissa Rundle.

Outside, the pool and beaches stretch out towards the famous white mosque.

The lobby offers Middle Eastern tea to weary travelers…

… and has portraits of the sheikhs that rule the United Arab Emirates.

In the basement, you can smoke shisha (or hookah). We had a fabulous meal at the award-winning Frankie’s Italian Restaurant & Bar — I’m still thinking of the eggplant parmigiana and chocolate lava cake.

My room’s decor continues the mod theme with a circular light-up mirror. What a nice welcome: a plate of chocolate and fruit.

We had rooms on the Fairmont Gold floor, which included a number of perks such as a lounge and open bar. (In the spirit of gonzo journalism, I drank fresh grapefruit juice with gin.)

Silhouette and my view from the bedroom window. Later, I’ll take you inside the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Abu Dhabi’s a cultured, classical destination in contrast to the high-tech bustle of Dubai. The cities are only a 1.5 hour drive apart, so we recommend that you visit both.

The mosque is the most famous attraction, and one that you must experience for yourself.

Coming up: video footage of my Arab adventures in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

What do you think of my Middle Eastern-inspired makeup and coordinate? Have you ever wanted to visit this part of the world?

PS: I’m currently in Budapest and heading to Belgrade and Zagreb! Follow along my travel adventures on LaCarmina Instagram.

Dubai is considered a high fashion Wonderland — and as you can see, Etoile La Boutique takes this concept through the looking glass!

Read on to learn about Arabian designers, and peek inside our Fairmont suite on the famous Palm island.

Dubai’s sprawling shopping centers are legendary. Etoile is inside Mall of the Emirates, a hub of haute couture. (In the next post, I’ll take you inside Dubai Mall, which ranks among the largest in the world.)

If it ever rains in the desert, I’ll be protected by my giant hat and magic mushroom.

Big floppy hat: San Diego Hat Company
Dark purple cardigan: Muji
Spooky tank top: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child Harajuku
Pastel goth skirt: Peace Now, from Closet Child Ikebukuro
Grey shoes: Camper

Etoile La Boutique has a choice selection, a mix of international and Middle Eastern luxury labels. To suit the local market, many dresses are in larger sizes, and have veils to cover the limbs and head.

We filmed inside the store as part of my Dubai travel episode. The White Rabbit seems to be saying: “I’m late, I’m late… for a very important TV shoot.”

Filmmaker Melissa, who took the images in this post, couldn’t stop photographing the shoes!

Everything is jumbo-sized in Dubai. This Mad Hatter chair is the perfect illustration.

The owner of the store has her own fashion line, Ingie Paris; I tried on a sequined glittery dress with cut-out back. In addition to Middle Eastern designers like Toujouri, she stocks fashion week favorites such as Alaia, Chloe, Derek Lam.

Wearing Toujouri (who dresses the singer of Florence and the Machine) in the dreamy dressing room. No, that’s not a voyeur — it’s filmmaker Eric.

In public, many Arabian women wear a black hijab (head veil) and abaya (loose-fitting robe). However, they can still accessorize with flair, so you’ll often see women with glam sunglasses, handbags, and tottering heels! When they’re alone with other ladies, they take off the coverings to reveal the designer clothing underneath.

Travel note: Dubai’s an international city, so there’s no need to cover up unless you’re going to a more traditional neighborhood or mosque.

The lobby of our hotel, Fairmont The Palm, continues the theme of grandeur.

A genie must have come out of the magic lamp and granted us a stay. The Fairmont generously hosted us, and let us experience their new hotel on the famous Palm-shaped island.

We had a hedonistic meal at Frevo restaurant, a unique Brazilian churrascaria. After cachaça-based cocktails like Caipirinhas, a “saladista” helped us put together a plate of greens. Servers brought cuts of meat and carved them at the table until we hit the red light button!

For sweet tooths, the Fairmont Palm has its own European-style bakery. Let’s see if you can spot the marshmallows and macaroons in the above photo.

Outside, an oasis pool with a view of the sci-fi skyline.

Have you noticed that I always pose with pineapples? The welcome plate included selections from the bakery, and a fruit plate complete with my beloved mangosteens.

In the bedroom. I expected a regular room, but the hotel upgraded me to the Signature Suite! The balcony, literally the size of a modest Japanese apartment, overlooks the marina.

And this is the view…

Major gratitude to the kind staff at Fairmont The Palm for making our UAE travel coverage possible. Abu Dhabi photos are next.

Isn’t Dubai wild? What do you think of the regional designers and customs? Don’t miss the rest of our photos here.