The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Located across from Zara Home in the
massive Mall of Arabia in 6th of October City, adL is one of those
shops that you could easily walk past and ignore because – at first glance – it
may not have the trendiest and funkiest clothing in the mall. However, a
thorough browse through the spacious shop will definitely lead you to some
great fashion finds.

adL’s clothing is very feminine, and many
of its items are layered and loosely fit with thin belts at the waist, making
this a great brand for veiled women and others keen to avoid skin-tight
clothing. That being said, this reviewer did spot a collection of skinny, low
waist jeans (269LE) in white, beige, dark blue and a faded blue, as well as a
few short dresses.

A long white dress with a peach empire
waist sash and v-neckline had a pastel butterfly and flower pattern, while
another ankle-length dress in a plain cappuccino dress retailed for 500LE; a
little pricey in this reviewer’s opinion considering that its cut and fabric
made it reminiscent of lower-end brands. A more affordable
option was the heavily ruffled mini dress for 199LE, available in blue, white
and beige; though you might need some leggings underneath.

A thorough browse through the racks led
this reviewer to some happy discoveries, such as the beige wide-legged trousers
with high-waist belt, or the loose peach dresses with thin grey belts and the
flower v-neck short dresses with fitted waists. This reviewer also loved the ‘pembe’
short and layered dress in a faded rose pink (600LE), and the strapless
‘empire’ jumpsuit in beige with its hummingbird and flower pattern (around
600LE), which was sadly lined and so a little too thick and heavy for a day at
the beach. 

There are several pretty tops in shades of
peach and beige, both of which are trendy colours this year, with features such
as lace trimming or gauze details. Casual smart tops range between 200LE and 300LE, while
plain t-shirts and tank tops range between 90LE and 140LE.

This reviewer ignored the shop’s boring
nautical collection and obligatory black collection, as well as the
stonewashed jeans with massive bejewelled side pockets (399LE) on display in
the window. Some of the brand’s accessories are undeniably pretty, such as the
woven tanned leather belts and the thin belts (around 130LE) with painted
flowers, or the canvas purses (169LE) with faded pink flower details. A few
large clutches with flower patterns (around 300LE) and a Missoni-like woven
pattern caught this reviewer’s eye, as did a few large leather bags in sedated
grey, camel brown and black with large clasp details. 

Some clothing in adL can go overboard on
the frills and flowers, but there are other items that are undeniably pretty
and trendy. This brand is great if you’re looking for loose, colourful tunics,
pretty shift dresses, flower patterns galore and lace detail.