With an itinerary chock full of workout classes, sumptuous meals, and local discoveries in Muscat, Oman, I carefully selected my outfits from The Giving Movement’s (TGM) form-fitting Seamless, lightweight Active, cosy Lounge, and sophisticated Formal ranges. Aside from the sheer comfort of the clothing, its stylish cuts, and its variety of colours, I felt the cosmos winking at me as the core values behind the brand deeply resonate with my spirit.
2-in-1 Asymmetrical Softkin100 Tank and Sports Bra (left), Dhs249. Wide organic fleece joggers in indigo (right), Dhs499. Shop both items here.
Sustainably made in the UAE with recycled fibres and fabrics, TGM donates Dhs15 to charity for each item sold. The amount provides the basic necessities for a child in need for one week. To date, TGM has donated over Dhs14.9 to charities including Dubai Care and Harmony House. The company’s giant heart knows no bounds as they also contributed of 8,000 pieces of clothing to assist displaced people in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey.
With my roomy Re-Shell100 Tote in Fuchsia Pink (I’m a Cosmo ME girl, after all) as my carryon, I travelled in style wearing my new ultra-comfy black Flared Softskin100 Leggings, pastel purple Relaxed Light Softskin100 T-shirt, and black Pleather Bomber Jacket. This year I’m embodying an unf*ckwithable energy, and the edginess of the jacket speaks to my determined soul.
Within a few steps into the Shangri-La Al Husn hotel, my senses and aura were immediately cleansed and rejuvenated by the fragrant Frankincense wafting in the lobby’s air. As I walked into my ~ultra~ spacious room overlooking the Gulf of Oman, I found a gift on my bed consisting of plush, monogrammed towels, a yoga mat, a glass water bottle, and the schedule for the weekend.
There were several exercise classes on the agenda, including aerial yoga, HIIT, and acroyoga as well as a private session with the hotel’s turtle ranger (spoiler alert: we safely relocated freshly laid turtle eggs) and a visit to Shangri-La’s Frankincense garden. Not to mention meditation sessions, beach bar lunches, and cliffside evening dining. Would TGM clothing hold up as I squatted and namaste’d my way through Muscat? There was only one way to find out.
Aerial yoga was, by far, my fav activity. I recently attended a Cirque du Soleil show and thought to myself that it really didn’t look *that* hard (LOL.) The joke was on me as I could not have been more wrong. While I wasn’t sure if my body could handle defying the laws of gravity, I knew that my Crop Top Light Softskin100 and matching pants (both fuchsia- there’s a theme here) could.
With the soft, lightweight material holding ~everything~ in, I twisted and twirled in an innocuous-looking piece of tie-dyed fabric and contorted my body in ways I never thought possible. I’m happy to report that while doing a wide seat inversion post, I found my moment of zen.
For acroyoga, I rocked a full pastel purple lewk with my high-waisted and figure-hugging Tonal Smls100 leggings, sports bra, and jacket. This practice combines yoga poses with acrobatics and Thai massage. I found myself once again laughing as I contorted my way through the class while feeling thankful that my lightweight outfit gave me the support and coverage I needed. The Seamless line within TGM is one of my favourites because it emphasises my curves and flattens my tummy all while making me look stylish *and* athletic (which, in full disclosure, I’m not).
Cosmo ME’s Beauty Editor Lauren O’Connell and Style Editor, Nour Bou Ezz.
The rest of the trip consisted of me having a near-death experience (slight exaggeration) in a HIIT functional training class as I squatted more times in 30 minutes than I had in the past six months. It’s safe to say my Softskin100 leggings and Asymmetric Tank Top performed better than I did. I stayed warm on a windy beach in my Re-Shell100 Zip Hoodie while I watched freshly laid turtle eggs be transported to a safer and more remote part of the beach. At night, I glammed up in the Maxi Pleather Dress and Cropped Pleather Blazer. I knew I did something right when choosing this outfit, because our Style Editor, Nour Bou Ezz, chose the exact same one.
We dined outdoors one night, me clad in the High-Neck Maxi Softskin100 Dress in – yep, you guessed it – fuchsia pink. The outdoor temp was cold, but I looked (and felt) hot. I was fairly confident that my body was a little more toned thanks to the aforementioned squats. The slim-fitting silhouette of the dress and contoured panelling sculpted my curves in all the right places.
Speaking of the weather, Oman was cool and crisp. I kept this in mind prior to travelling and the jackets I brought, including my new Puffa Jacket. I’ll let you guess the colour I selected.
The Giving Movement’s 2-in-1 Short Puffa Gilet & Jacket, Dhs799, shop here.
TGM didn’t just provide a wonderful weekend of wellness experiences along with incredible clothing. They also brought together a supportive and nurturing group of female editors, public relations executives, and brand managers on the trip.
According to clinical psychologist Dr. Saliha Afridi of The Lighthouse, “Women who feel supported by other women, and are able to share their concerns and worries with other women, have less stress and anxiety and are more resilient and better able to manage difficult emotions. They have higher self-esteem because they are validated, and they know they belong. This is so supportive and healing for women in a world that is constantly undermining a women’s self-worth—to know that other women have her back and she belongs to a tribe of women who support her.”
After a weekend of deep breaths of purifying salty air, to learning about the healing powers of frankincense, sweating out every toxin in my body, and enjoying newfound friendships, I felt my own vibration rise as my mind, body, and soul was nourished.