Two of my very best friends are designers at Haute Hippie and they are literally like my fairy princesses. They’re always sashaying into dinner in the most beautiful silk and chiffon dresses. Feathered sweaters. They love anything that glitters combined with delicate fabrics and feminine silhouettes. Their taste in dresses fit for a fairytale is certainly rubbing off on me. I brought this stunning Haute Hippie dress for trip to Phuket, Thailand and it blended in so perfectly with the green lush and colors of the temples. So perfect. It makes me want to twirl, dance, laugh. Barefoot over my bikini. Knowing that it was created by my friends makes this piece even more special. I miss everything about you, Southeast Asia.

// Haute Hippie maxi dress (similar one here), Dannijo earrings //

The post EXOTIC FLORALS IN THAILAND first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

Dylana, my mother, and I took a spur-of-the-moment trip to Phuket, Thailand from Kuala Lumpur for a fun 2 days with my auntie and my little cousins. This was one amazing girls trip. Phuket was an incredible place to shoot in. Compared to Kuala Lumpur, Phuket has a lot more nitty, gritty! The streets are colorful and insanely chaotic. Motorcycles zooming past this way and that. We held on super tight squealing as we zoomed down the winding roads in the open back seats of our little Tuk Tuk. Locals cooking outside, selling roadside snacks. But that’s what makes Thailand unique. It’s not as developed as most of Southeast Asia. There’s so much history. A lot of Phuket is luckily recovered from the tsunami, and tourists from all over the world are back, and I know why. There’s so much to offer in this crazy and unique paradise. Beautiful beaches. An insanely wild nightlife. But my personal favorite, the food of course. Authentic Thai food is spectacular if you’re like me and love curry and all sorts of spices, Thailand and Southeast Asia is the place for you. I couldn’t resist a classic plate of pad thai, or my other favorite, green curry. So super spicy and delicious that I brought a few instant packets to take home to NYC whenever I start to crave a little noodle soup. Thailand has so many amazing exotic fruits as well. I began each day with a fresh smoothie. I loved the mangosteen and yes, even the durian, famous for it’s super strong taste, texture, and smell! So strong, we weren’t allowed to bring our durian into our hotel…only for eating roadside with a tall glass of iced water to cool ourselves down.

We stayed at the IKON Hotel and it’s one of the newer, more modern hotels on the main road. I totally recommend it, and the prices are insanely affordable with the conversion rate. Like all of Phuket, it’s a place to indulge, get a really good tan, and still experience all the exotic beauty that Thailand has to offer from the food, to the temples, and of course, the classic thai massages that you’ve probably heard about. There’s literally a massage parlor every other door you pass! We’re so silly and got 2 massages a day and one super relaxing facial. We fully indulged on this little trip. I had no idea what a classic Thai massage was all about, but I knew my grandmother said “no, no” when she heard we were going to Thailand. And then I learned why! The real Thai massage is extremely tough! I was lying face down and before I knew it, my masseuse was standing on my back before getting on her hands and knees and twisting and turning me in all sorts of different directions. It was like a crazy workout, leaving more sore than before you walked in. If you can’t take that amount of strength, I recommend just doing oil massage. No bones broken, ha! But overall, we had an incredibly fun time. It was a trip to truly live in the moment, our bellies full, our eyes wide open. Next up on the bucket list? Bangkok. The world is really getting smaller and smaller. There’s so much I want to see. So much I want to experience. But it’s just the beginning of these wild adventures. These are by far some of the best parts of Dylana and I’s job. Traveling. Capturing photos. Getting to soak in a new culture. Taste the food. But most importantly, the memories that’ll never leave us.

// IRO Paris top, Haute Hippie skirt, Teva sandals, Elizabeth & James sunglasses, The 2 Bandits earrings //

// on Dylana: Haute Hippie kimono, J. Crew sandals, Proenza Schouler handbag //

// Haute Hippie beaded tank, Vintage Levi’s, Teva sandals, Gucci handbag, Ax + Apple earrings //

// Daniel Wellington watch, Miu Miu sunglasses, REVOLVE off-shoulder bodysuit, James Jeans shorts, Donni Charm scarf, Dannijo earrings //

The post GIRLS TRIP TO PHUKET – THAILAND first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.