Adam&Eve (a&e) Magazine

FASHION - LUXURY - LIFESTYLE JAZZ AGE GLAMOUR AT

Tiffany’s Blue Book Ball DIOR HOMME SHOW - BEIJING

An exclusive with

Kris Van Assche RUNWAY

Milan to Paris

AW 13/14 PHOTOSHOOT

Bulgari

The Garden of Eve PORTFOLIO

The

Wedding Issue Glamour, Inspiration & Love

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EDITOR'S NOTE FASHION - LUXURY - LIFESTYLE JAZZ AGE GLAMOUR AT

Tiffany’s Blue Book Ball DIOR HOMME SHOW - BEIJING

An exclusive with

Kris Van Assche RUNWAY

Milan to Paris

AW 13/14 PHOTOSHOOT

Bulgari

The Garden of Eve PORTFOLIO

The

Wedding Issue Glamour, Inspiration & Love

Our Cover: Bride wearing Paisley pendant & earrings

by Tiffany & Co.

Dear Readers,

Welcome to our May issue, where fashion makes a lifetime commitment to love and takes a trip with us to the most stylish cities in the world.

Contract Publisher AMED Advertising - Dubai Headpiece inspired by the The Great Gatsby for Tiffany & Co. 2013 Blue Book Collection

CEO Hisham Sawaya hisham.s@amedadvertising.com Managing Editor Lara Mansour Sawaya lara.m@amedadvertising.com

The long awaited Great Gatsby brought back to the fashion scene a style that exemplified the jazz era of the roaring twenties.

Editorial Assistant Houry Seukunian houry.s@amedadvertising.com

The 1920s is the decade in which fashion entered the modern era. It was the decade in which women abandoned the conservative trends of past years for more comfortable clothes. Men also made more laid back fashion choices, and went from three-piece suits during the day to sporty and casual attire.

Still, today’s formal menswear is strongly influenced by that of the 20s. The glitz and glamour marked by headpieces, feathers, trailing beads and abundant sequins crossed over continents; all the way from New York to Dubai.Tiffany & Co.’s Blue Book Collection was also inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s movie production, for which the talented Miuccia Prada designed 40 dresses. Unique craftsmanship was involved to also produce wonderful pieces of jewellery with timeless elegance.

Editorial Assistant Ylova Hamdan ylova.h@amedadvertising.com Advertising Sales Director Mahmoud Kerbaj mahmoud.k@amedadvertising.com

Staying in the realm of fashion nostalgia, we can all agree that fashion is similar to time travel as it borrows from the past but lives in the future which is exactly what I witnessed during my trips to Milan & Paris on the occasion of the Autumn/Winter 13-14 Fashion Weeks. This issue brings you an in-depth coverage of the brands that caught our attention and their wearable inspiration and stories of fabulous style.

Sales Manager Carolina Noueihed carolina.n@amedadvertising.com

From New York, Milan and Paris, to Venice and Beijing; we took a trip to the most wonderful cities to bring to you exclusive stories and personally fill you in on what’s buzzing in each location. Fashion runways, check. Food and dining, check. Art, check. Spa and relaxation, check. This issue is an international one that might just drive you to book that indulgence trip you’ve been contemplating.

Contact:

“She said yes!” Congratulations, but brace yourself for the wedding planning rollercoaster you’ll have to ride. We’ve greased the tracks for you to avoid bumps and loud shrieks. In this issue, we’ve spoken to the experts and compiled the nitty gritty details of wedding planning. From the bridal beauty and fashion, the groom’s tux and guest outfits to the logistics, venues, flowers and honeymoon travel; everything you need is in here. Did I mention the enchanting bridal photoshoot for Tiffany’s jewellery?

I won’t keep you waiting!

Lara Mansour Sawaya Editor in Chief lara.m@amedadvertising.com

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Design Luvin Santiago Louie Carmona

UAE: AMED Advertising - U.A.E. Executive Tower D, Office 1301 Business Bay, Dubai - UAE Tel: 04 454 1566 Fax: 04 454 1522 email info@amedadvertising.com

LEBANON: Awraq Publishing S.A.R.L Kaline Center, 9th Floor, Fouad Chehab Street, Sin El Fil - Beirut - Lebanon Tel: +961 1 497910 / 20 Email : awraq.publishing@gmail.com

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TABLE OF

Contents 46

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Issue 44 | May - June 2013 JUST IN Chanel - The Little Black Jacket The TAG Heuer Celebrity Club Six Senses Zighy Bay - EFG Bank Sailing Arabia the Tour 2013 Versace Avenue Montaigne Boutique Re-opens with new store concept Maison Louis Vuitton Opens its doors in Venezia Dior Homme Beijing Tiffany & Co. Celebrates Jazz Age Glamour at The Blue Book Ball

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a&e - MUST HAVE Prada’s SS13 Capsule Collection Christian Dior Pink Accessories Mulberry Cecily Bags

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AUTUMN / WINTER 2013 - MILAN TO PARIS

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PHOTOSHOOT - BULGARI / DIOR FINE JEWELLERY / GUCCI

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EXCLUSIVE Lost in Venice a&e takes a trip on a Gondola with Louis Vuitton a&e meets with S.T. Dupont President, Alain Crevet and Sean Hepburn Ferrer

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PORTFOLIO WEDDINGS The Wedding Planners / Eventique Wedding Photoshoot - TIFFANY & CO. Wedding Flowers The City Venues The Bride-to-be The White Dress Exclusive Interview - Esposa Bridal Boutique Bridal Accessories The Groom Guide Essential Wedding reads Bobbi Brown’s Bridal Beauty Spring 2013 Exclusive - Skincare & Haircare Bridal Preparation - Deluxe Treatments for the Luxe Bride Engagement Rings - The New Colour Code Style - Wedding Guests / Honeymoon Fashion

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EXCLUSIVE FRAGRANCES - The Symphony of Scent

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TABLE ART Villeroy & Boch Interiors - Your First Home

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DESTINATIONS Wedding / Honeymoon - From wild Africa, to historical Russia & Tango Argentina Weekend Getaway - The Desert Palm

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GASTRONOMY Wedding Catering - From Atlantis with appetite Singaporean cuisine with celebrity chef Violet Oon

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a&e RECOMMENDS - Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris

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TRIED & TESTED SPA - The Spa My Blend by Clarins

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SPORT - Lacoste, Maintains its flawless complexion and gracefully turns 80

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LUXURY YACHTS - The Dubai International Boat Show

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AUTOMOTIVE a&e talks Maserati and the new Quattroporte with Umberto Cini Aston Martin - Demonstrates Potent Performance

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ART - “A” for Alif:

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| just in... dubai |

Matchesfashion.com Celebrates Peter Pilotto in Dubai

Maria, Christopher de Vos, Peter Pilotto, Natalie Kingman, Rosemin Manji, Lugia and Holly Rosenberg

Asia, Sandrella and Peter Pilotto & Christopher De Vos

Diva Berken, Annie Thomassian

Matchesfashion.com hosted their official launch party in the Middle East recently with special guests Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos of Peter Pilotto who previewed pieces from their Autumn/Winter 2013 Collection.

of our loyal and new customer base here in Dubai.

Natalie Kingham, International womenswear buyer, Matchesfashion.com says, 'As we continue to grow internationally increasingly we look to visit our key markets to gain insight into our local customer. The Middle East is one of our most important markets globally and it has been great to come and meet some

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The party was held at the stylish and contemporary Art Space Gallery in DIFC on the 27th March and attended by Gallery Owner Maliha Al tabari, Saudi Consulat General Sahar Madani, Yemen Italian Ambassador’s wife Luigia Cicchetti, Tv Presenter Diala Makki, Zara Martin, Artist Nadine Kanso, socialites Nayla Soussou, Maya Kebbani, Hala Bassente and Ramin Salasi.

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| just in... dubai |

Vogue Café Now Open!

After months of anticipation, Dubai’s chicest new eaterie, Vogue Café, is set to open on May 15, 2013. Nestled within the opulent shoe emporium, Level Shoe District at The Dubai Mall, this culinary hotspot is the first venture for Condé Nast Restaurants in the Middle East and is sure to be a hot new hangout for the UAE’s fashion savvy set. Perfect for people watching, the open plan venue oozes elegance and sophistication, staying true to the Vogue brand values with its light, neutral and classy interior.

Whether it be the classic Vogue imagery lining the walls, or stunning editorial shoots that offer a creative element to the extensive and meticulously planned menus, the Vogue Café experience offers inspiration at every turn.

With careful consideration, Condé Nast Restaurants’ head chef, Gary Robinson, has created an ideal mix of delectable dishes to choose from.

Boasting a prime location within the world’s finest shoe metropolis, Vogue Café is situated within Level Shoe District, The Dubai Mall and is open from 10am – 10pm from Sunday to Wednesday and 10am – midnight from Thursday to Saturday. For reservations, call 04-501 6810.

Further information can also be found at www. facebook.com/voguecafedubai.

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| just in... dubai |

The Little Black Jacket

Chanel‛s classic revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld in a photographic exhibition Chanel’s photographic exhibition dedicated to Karl Lagerfeld’s latest book, The Little Black Jacket: Chanel’s classic revisited

by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld opened in a unique and specially constructed space at The Venue, Downtown Dubai.

Following on from Tokyo, New York, London, Paris, Berlin and Milan, this special event in Dubai joins a new stage of the exhibition that underlines Chanel’s values of creativity, modernity and excellence.

The public will discover Karl Lagerfeld's original photographs that illustrate the versatility and timelessness of the iconic Chanel jacket, seen modelled on a range of friends of the House who have each adapted the garment to reflect their own inimitable style.

In addition, new photographs featuring notable personalities such as Keira Knightley, Diane Kruger, Carla Bruni and Carole Bouquet, all of whom embody the iconic style of the House, will be unveiled. Other celebrities include Rita Ora, Alma Jodorowsky and Caroline Maigret who were in attendance in Dubai to see their new photographs first hand. They were joined by Gaspard Ulliel, Haya Abu Khadra and Sama Abu Khadra, also featured in the exhibition.

After viewing the exhibition, guests also including Sheikha Lulu Al Sabah and Abdulla Al Kaabi enjoyed a party during which Rita Ora took the stage to perform.

Running simultaneously with the exhibition, window displays in Chanel’s Dubai Mall and Burjuman boutiques in Dubai, as well as the brand's boutique at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi, will present a selection of jackets from the 2013 Spring-Summer Ready-toWear collection.

The exhibition opened to the public on Saturday, April 27th 2013 and will remain open until Saturday, May 11th 2013. Admission is free. a&e was present at the private viewing on April 25th . The set up was a mysterious dark space highlighted by beautiful and powerful elements - Lagerfeld’s photographs which filled the room with an ambience of confidence and freedom.

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The Jacket The Suit

At the beginning, there was the suit. Gabrielle Chanel introduced her casual but elegant suit, characterised by both masculine and feminine features, as a move away from the 1950s style which she considered to be too restrictive and largely unsuitable for the times. Hers was a suit created for free, active women that could be work during the day and into the night, and that, in addition, offered comfort and functional styling.

The Chanel Jacket: A Fashion Masterpiece

Mademoiselle Chanel

Actress Romy Schneider with Gabrielle Chanel during a fitting in 1960 ® BottiStillsGAMMA

Of course, the creation of the Chanel suit brought with it the birth of the timeless Chanel tweed jacket. A jacket in a class of its own: boxy, structured, and that closes edge to edge. Having turned tweed into her signature material, Mademoiselle Chanel focused on refining the design details which would make her jacket fit like a second skin, making it a truly unique garment.

“Since a garment’s elegance lies in the freedom of movement it allows", Chanel shunned interfacing and shoulder pads believing that these would stiffen her jacket.

Instead, to make it supple, whilst still maintaining its form, the front of the jacket was assembled on the straight grain without using any bust darts. The same technique was used on the back, which had a single centre seam. ›

“I designed the Chanel suit for women who move”.

Gabrielle Chanel

CHANEL

CHANEL

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CHANEL

CHANEL

CHANEL

The Jacket Today The jacket remains relatively unchanged today.

At the workshops on rue Cambon, Chanel suits are still created to the same exacting standards. While remaining faithful to the Chanel tradition, Karl Lagerfeld is constantly modernising and updating the jacket, to move with the times and to inject it with just the right dose of brazen fun. Karl Lagerfeld separated the jacket from its matching skirt and, while making the occasional nod to Mademoiselle Chanel, produced numerous daring innovations, offering new tweeds, strongly contrasting blouses, bold combinations of fabrics and motifs.

CHANEL

“The Chanel Jacket was actually inspired by an Austrian men's jacket. Coco Chanel invented a type of piece that had never before existed in this particular form and no-one can take this achievement away from her. It is an icon that embodies the essence of the CHANEL style. Some things never go out of fashion in the world of fashion: jeans, the white shirt and the Chanel jacket�. Karl Lagerfeld CHANEL BY KARL LAGERFELD

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| just in... dubai |

The TAG Heuer Celebrity Club Launches in the Middle East

Luxury Swiss brand introduces a prestigious club to salute individuals who make history every morning

The TAG Heuer Celebrity Club Menbers for 2013 along with Luc Decroix- General Manager of TAG Heuer Middle East

The worldwide leader in luxury, highprecision watches and chronographs is excited to announce the launch of the prestigious TAG Heuer Celebrity Club in the Middle East.

The exclusive TAG Heuer Celebrity Club is composed of a select group of intelligent,

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talented and trendy men & women who excel in their respective fields, and see every day as an opportunity to create history. They have used their avant-garde approach along with their strong personality & panache to play by their own rules and redefine class and standards. They are the individuals who never rest and never take “no� for an answer.

They have all walked that extra mile to make things happen and take pride in looking at success as a journey and not a destination.

The select members of the club are also men and women who capitalize on their success and fame to defend noble causes, working to make this world a better place.

“I am thrilled about the new TAG Heuer Celebrity Club and so proud of its first group of members from the Middle East” said Luc Decroix, General Manager for TAG Heuer in the Middle East. “TAG Heuer has always cherished and saluted individuals who have strong personalities, charisma and mindset.

Those individuals are not just survivors, but winners in their own right who have challenged the established and redefined rules to build a future. When you look at the history of TAG Heuer, most of the the individuals who have actually reinvented their respected fields have been fans of our brand. It’s so true with heads of the States including President Eisenhower and more recently President Barack Obama, it is true with Sportsmen including Ayrton Senna or Tiger Woods, it’s true with the glamour and glitz of the entertainment industry icons such as Steve Mc Queen, Leonardo Di Caprio, Shahrukh Khan and Cameron Diaz. What all of the above icons have in common? It’s that one word “impossible” that does not exist in their vocabulary - just as the word is absent from the TAG Heuer dictionary.”

The TAG Heuer Celebrity Club 2013 will include the following members from the region: Ajaz Sheikh, Hadia Sinno, Nicole Rodrigues Larsen, Uma Ghosh Deshpande, Nicolas Shammas, Hatem Alakeel, Shawn Stephens, Mahmoud Tannir and Lea Sednaoui.

Nayla Al Khaja- UAE's Premier Film maker wearing the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Lady Ceramic with diamonds

Jamal Al Sharif with Luc Decroix - General Manager of TAG Heuer Middle East receiving his TAG Heuer Carrera 1887 Rose Gold

Nayla Al Khaja

Jamal Al Sharif

Nayla is the founder and Director of D-SEVEN Motion Pictures and UAE's first female film Producer and Director. She believes in the mind-altering and life-changing ability of films and wants to use this medium to change the way people in the West view the Middle East. She aspires to produce commercially viable, yet thought-provoking, feature films and to establish an image arts university in the UAE.

Jamal Al Sharif, Managing Director of Dubai Media City and Dubai Studio City is responsible for driving the strategic, creative and financial objectives of the cluster and ensuring the development of the project’s technical and community infrastructure.

Jamal Al Sharif is highly regarded in the industry for his project management expertise, performance driven experience as a real estate and media industry specialist, and for his ability to generate business in fiercely competitive markets.

Nayla has produced and directed four films namely: Unveiling Dubai (2004), Arabana (2006), Once (2009) and Malal (2010).

She was also recently announced among the top 50 most powerful personalities in Arab cinema. She has won many accolades including, ‘Best Emirati Filmmaker’ at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2007, ‘Emirates Woman of the Year’ in 2005, and ‘The Youngest Entrepreneur’ of the year in 2005 at the Global Businesswomen & Leader’s Summit Awards.

He plays a pivotal role in offering some of the biggest names in the Hollywood, Bollywood and the Arab film producers various locations in the city to shoot and thereby putting Dubai on the culture map of global cinema.

Omar and Dina Butti They’re TV personalities, artists, writers, filmmakers and they’re married! Best known as Dubai One’s charismatic presenters, the ›

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| just in... dubai |

and consultancy to well established fashion and lifestyle brands. Since moving to Dubai in 2003, she has established an extensive network of local, regional and pan-Arab media and developed strong relations with style leaders, decision makers and dignitaries.

Today Zeina works with one of the biggest names in luxury fashion, art and lifestyle brands including Versace, TOD’s, Salvatore Ferragamo, MRPORTER.COM, Net-APorter, THEOUTNET.COM, TAG Heuer timepieces, OSMAN and JAMM. Geared by her strong entrepreneurial skills, Zeina has been highly successful in positioning Z7 Communications as one of the premier luxury PR agencies in the region.

Omar & Dina Butti - Popular Couple and presenters on Dubai TV

two 29-year-old TV stars hope to make a lasting contribution to the media landscape in the UAE and develop strong local content on par with the best of international production.

Since working alongside Tom Cruise during the production of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Omar has been busy writing and directing his own films. He is best known for presenting and producing Dubai One’s daily news and current affairs show, Emirates 24/7, for three seasons. Omar was recently selected to represent the UAE in an international competition in partnership with the United Nations to be part of a reality show that will be filmed in India this April.

In the meantime, Omar is working with Image Nation Abu Dhabi on developing an action feature film. Dina Butti works on a number of shows for Dubai TV including Studio One, Out and About, City Wrap and that’s Entertainment. On the red carpet, she is known for her interviews with A-list celebrities, including George Clooney, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, The Jacksons, Gerard Butler, Akshay Kumar, Il Divo, Daughtry, Ronan Keating and many more.

“We launched the TAG Heuer Celebrity club in the Middle East this month. It’s going to be an exciting journey for the brand as we will be welcoming new members on a regular basis.

I hope it will also be a nice opportunity for our members to meet, greet and exchange ideas and thoughts with other great individuals from the club,” added Decroix.

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We spoke to the following members about their personal experience and involvement in this club.

How did Tag Heuer approach you to be a part of their celebrity club?

Nayla Al Khaja: I got a call asking me if I wanted to be part of their exciting celebrity club and the awesome concept behind it of bringing like minded people together.

Dina Butti – Omar and I attended an event at SAKS where Omar was actually a judge for a modeling competition for Toby (by Hatem Al Akeel). We were mingling and met a couple members from the TAG team and hit it off right away. Omar and I are both major fans of the brand and were surprised to realize how familiar they were with our work on television. We kept in touch and they eventually asked if we’d like to part of their celebrity club – obviously we said yes!

Omar Butti – While I was judging the modeling competition (which I should never do because every good fashion decision I make is based on other people, usually my wife, telling me what to wear), I had the pleasure of sitting next to Luc Decroix, the General Manager TAG Heuer Middle East, who joked that he was as equally clueless about the subtleties of fashion. As Dina mentioned, we got a call from TAG with the celebrity club offer shortly afterwards. And once again, I had the good sense to let the people at TAG tell me what to wear to make me look good.

Zeina El-Dana One of the most prolific names in the luxury PR business in the region, the impeccably chic and poised Zeina El-Dana launched Z7 Communications in 2007 with a vision of offering an unprecedented level of service

Also considered as a friend of the brand, all the TAG Heuer Celebrity club members will receive a TAG Heuer timepiece with their initials engraved on them. Apart from the other surprises in the near future from the Luxury Swiss brand, all members have been recently shot with the international photographer Hussain Jian, and their pictures will be included in the wall of fame on the TAG Heuer website.

Zeina El Dana- Managing Director and Founder of Z7 Communications wearing the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Lady Ceramic

Jamal-Sharif: TAG Heuer approached me in a very professional way and I highlight appreciate them for it. I have been an owner of a TAG Heuer timepiece in the past years and for them to remember a loyal client of TAG to be a member of the celebrity club is

highly impressive. I am so sure this way TAG Heuer will help build the relations further through generations.

Zeina Al-Dana: Z7 Communications, one of the leading luxury PR agencies in the Middle East, was founded in 2007 and we started working with TAG Heuer in 2011. We have since been managing the communication strategy for the Swiss luxury brand in the region and it has been an interesting journey.

Our agency is passionate and takes great pride in representing the TAG Heuer brand in the Middle East. The executive team of TAG Heuer were impressed by our dedication to the brand and invited me, as Founder & Managing Director of Z7 Communications, to be a member of the Celebrity Club.

What was your reaction to being admired by such a brand?

Nayla Al Khaja: I was thrilled and very proud to be associated with Tag Heuer, it is a successful brand that supports people with ideas, personality, ambition, confidence or simply just style!

Dina Butti – I was so flattered! We had an amazing dinner with the rest of the members of the club and I was so impressed by how talented, interesting and, most of all, down to earth they all were. It was also a great opportunity for Omar and I to talk about the various projects we’re involved with and how we could potentially collaborate in the future. I left the dinner feeling inspired to say the least.

Omar Butti – It was certainly a surprise. It’s difficult working in television sometimes to really know how the community reacts to you outside of social media and message boards.

Being recognized by a brand like to TAG really hammered home that we were being appreciated for our work and presence in the local media scene and that people do enjoy what we’re putting out there.

Jamal Al-Sharif: I am highly honored to be a part of the TAG celebrity club and be among the other local and regional members of the Club. TAG Heuer is one of the most popular swiss watch brands in the world and it has some amazing names that are brand ambassadors of the brand. It feels privileged to be mentioned in the same breath as them.

Zeina Al-Dana: TAG Heuer is the worldwide leader in luxury, high-precision watches and chronographs and I feel extremely privileged to be part of this initiative, particularly to be amongst TAG Heuer’s portfolio of esteemed brand ambassadors Jenson Button, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo Di Caprio and Maria Sharapova.

What do you think brought you here? (or, what are the personal accomplishments, characteristics or traits that placed you amongst Tag Heuer’s list of people who set an example?)

Nayla Al Khaja: My immense passion for film making and my long term goal of developing many feature films to able to tell the story of my people for the rest of the world and leave something beautiful behind.

Dina Butti –I am currently hosting a celebrity news program called That’s Entertainment, which enables me to meet some of the world’s most talented and successful individuals.

By learning about their various crafts and going behind the scenes of local productions, I have the amazing opportunity of being at the forefront of a rapidly growing media industry and taking part in it. On the side, I spend my free time writing for international publications and establishing myself as an emerging artist.

Omar Butti – TAG as a brand represents a very versatile group of people, from entrepreneurs to actors to sporting legends, and I think that emphasis on diversity is what also sets Dina and I apart. We are both something of a mixed bag of talents.

For myself, I write, produce, and present a daily news and current affairs show called Emirates 24/7 and am also an aspiring filmmaker, having had short films screened at festivals and worked on documentary movies for the likes of HBO. Jamal Al Sharif: It’s important to be part of the community and among other members of the Celebrity club who are willing to give back to the society. Through my career at Dubai Studio City and Dubai Media City and film commission, we have supported many local entrepreneurs to start up in Dubai. My organization has also help many international production teams shoot her in the country and thereby continue working

towards making Dubai an international hub for film and TV. Zeina Al-Dana: After moving to Dubai ten years ago and gaining extensive experience in PR & corporate communications in the region, I decided to launch Z7 Communications in 2007 with the goal of making it one of the leading luxury PR agencies in the Middle East.

My work ethic is echoed in the company’s success, as we strive to provide an unprecedented level of service and consultancy to well-established fashion and lifestyle brands. Our portfolio of clients has grown immensely, paralleling TAG Heuer’s continuous growth and expansion.

I am proud to say our portfolio of clients now includes TAG Heuer, Versace, TOD’s, Salvatore Ferragamo, NET-A-PORTER, Victoria Beckham, and many more.

Similar to how TAG Heuer serves an irreplaceable function on its wearer’s wrist, I feel that my company serves as an invaluable communication and PR solution for the brands we represent.

Define success.

Nayla Al Khaja: Success to me is reaching great heights and spreading happiness on the way.

Dina Butti – Success is being the person you truly want to be, loving the life you lead and accepting what you may or may not have as a blessed balance that makes you perfectly unique.

Omar Butti – My wife’s more poetic than I am… I think success is having enough to provide for your friends and family, getting to do something you enjoy, and finding that you’re leaving a positive impact on the people and world around you. Hopefully that’s not too much to expect…

Jamal Al Sharif: Vision implementation = success.

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plan

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Zeina Al Dana: Success is difficult to define, as the qualifiers for success are continually changing. I feel that as long as I continue to accomplish my goals, both personally and professionally, I am lucky enough to consider myself successful.

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| just in... oman |

Six Senses Zighy Bay Is first Omani Port on EFG Bank Sailing Arabia the Tour 2013

Six Senses Zighy Bay announced its third collaboration with Oman Sail’s EFG Bank Sailing Arabia - the Tour 2013 which started from Manama, Bahrain and ending in Muscat, Oman, the route traversed the Arabian Peninsula with Six Senses Zighy Bay as the first stop entering Oman. Touring through four nations and seven marinas, EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – the Tour sailed over 1,408 kilometres in only 15 days, modelled after the internationally renowned Tour de

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France à la Voile, one of the world’s most famous offshore sailing events. The tour, was established by Oman Sail in 2011 to promote one of the region’s fastest growing sports and reignite the Gulf’s rich maritime heritage.

Six Senses Zighy Bay will hosted the sailors and crew from Thursday, 21st February until departure from port on Saturday, 23rd February, 2013. The stopover culminated with an in-port race and prize-giving event

directly on the beach of the resort in true Omani hospitality. General Manager Axel Jarosch raves, “The leg from Ras al Khaimah to Zighy Bay is one of the toughest of the race. We are privileged to welcome the fleet closer to home, and what better place than in the midst of the Musandam’s breathtaking landscape and unparalleled luxury of Six Senses. We are all very excited, and all eyes will be looking to the spinnakers at the finish line on our doorstep.”

Up to fifteen Farr 30-model boats are allowed entry; length of 9.43 metres, width of 3.07 metres, height of 14 metres, weight of 2.05 tons and draft of 2.1. Each boat is manned by six sailors, but only one winner will take home the trophy in Muscat. Last year’s maiden voyage of the all-women team skippered by renowned British sailor Dee Caffari propelled the regatta further into the Arabian limelight. This year adds more anticipation with recently confirmed new entries from Royal Navy of Oman and Team Messe Frankfurt, in addition to some of the teams that participated in the 2012 edition.

The sophomore edition of the tour had the fourth leg of the 2012 regatta sailing into Zighy Bay at 09:32 on 23rd February, nearly 24 hours after leaving Ras al Khaimah and traversing the Strait of Hormuz in complete darkness. Greeted with at sunrise with the magnificence of the Hajar Mountains and shoreline of the Musandam Peninsula, the leaders of the leg sailed neck-in-neck with one another in a final push toward the finish at Zighy Bay. The tension was ripe, and the trophies were ultimately awarded to French team Courrier Dunkerque and the Qatari

flagged Team Commercial bank claiming first and second respectively. A lavish Omani feast was hosted the following day at Six Senses’ Shua Shack, and attended by dignitaries from throughout the Sultanate, including Her Excellency Maitha Bint Saif Al Mahfouqi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Tourism.

The feast was followed by an in-port demonstration from the racing fleet, allowing invited media to float aboard the boats with the crew.

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| just in... paris |

Versace Avenue Montaigne Boutique Re-opens with new store concept

Versace is happy to announce the re-opening of its Avenue Montaigne boutique, the first in Europe with the new store concept conceived

by Donatella Versace in collaboration with English architect Jamie Fobert.

The 350 square meter store mixes the opulence and traditions of Italian architecture with the dynamism and energy of Versace today. Marble mosaic, brass and Perspex create a modern and luxurious environment for Versace’s men’s and women’s readyto-wear and accessories, enhanced by an exclusive lighting design by Thierry Dreyfuss, who chooses to have the light coming from the clothes and the accessories displays and who draws a series of exclusive golden brass lamps, put down or suspended, reflecting the visitors and the clothes as in mirrors.

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Past meets future in the boutique with its mosaic floor, inspired by 9th century Byzantine churches, contrasted with Perspex walls and shelving which appear to float above it. The circles of the mosaic floor are echoed in the curved walls, which add energy and the unexpected. Brass fittings throughout consolidate the ultimate mood of luxury.

“I love that our Avenue Montaigne boutique is the first in Europe to be refreshed with the new Versace store concept. Avenue Montaigne is a true center of fashion, and the perfect home for our opulent and dynamic store. In his designs, Jamie Fobert has created a space where the new Versace comes alive.

To me, the store is like a continuing dialogue, between our past and future, between Jamie Fobert and I, and between Versace and our customers,” says Donatella Versace

“The new Versace concept recaptures the opulent beauty of Gianni Versace’s first stores, but layered onto this is an optimism for the future of Versace in the new century. There is a tension between the futuristic element of the Perspex and the deeply historic floor. Surrounding this centerpiece are soft, curving walls and shelves in rough plaster. The overall effect is undeniably opulent yet completely contemporary,” says Jamie Fobert.

Special Edition Middle east

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| just in... venice |

Maison

LV Painting Artisan

Louis Vuitton Opens its doors in Venezia

a&e was at The Louis Vuitton Maison Venezia opening which was celebrated in April with an exclusive cocktail in the store during which guests were able to admire savoir-faire demonstrations from Louis Vuitton craftsmen from Fiesso d’Artico. An interactive “Art of Packing” demonstration was available to tell the story about Louis Vuitton’s travel expertise and heritage and an artisan demonstrated live hand-painting and personalization services.

French model Clemence Poesy, Hollywood actress Diana Agron, Isabella Ferrari, Prince Sultan and Deena Abdulaziz, Delfina Delettrez, Princess Alessandra Borghese and Anna Dello Russo, were amongst the notable people who were there to witness the opening. The cocktail was followed by a VIP dinner inside the Biblioteca Marciana, one of the earliest public manuscript depositories in Italy, built between 1537 and 1570. Today, it holds one of the greatest classical text collections in the world.

Guests were greeted inside “Sissi Rooms” of Museo Correr: the magnificent private apartments that hosted Empress Sissi for seven months during her stay in Venice.

The path continued through the exhibitions rooms of the Museo Archeologico where 6 stops presented Louis Vuitton historical to contemporary trunks continuing to the Salone Sansoviniano of the Biblioteca Marciana, where the dinner took place.

Venice has always been a city dedicated to the arts, so it was no surprise that the Maison Louis Vuitton was built on the site of Teatro San Marco, one of city’s oldest cinemas from 1908. Upon first arrival on the

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Matteo Ceccarini, Eva Riccobono

Elisabeth Von Thurn und Taxis, Alexia Niedzielski, Michael Burke, Virginie COurtin, Clemence Poesy

“With this Maison, we wanted to pay homage to Venetians and lovers of the city by offering them our most beautiful designs, as well as a space for art and culture wholly dedicated to them.”

Michael Burke, President of Louis Vuitton.

Dianna Agron

Patrick Louis Vuitton

Anna Dello Russo and Micol Sabbadini

Calle San Marco, visitors encounter the sight of a rationalist and monumental palazzo, designed by architect Brenno Del Giudice in 1936. This is followed by sculptor Napoleone Martinuzzi’s hautreliefs, among which sit a reel of film and the Venetian lions – also used by the Mostra – symbolic references to the building’s cinematic past.

In this city of aesthetes and artists, Louis Vuitton has realized a Maison entirely dedicated to Venice in which art is everywhere. It features works by Candida Höfer, Jean-François Rauzier and Humberto & Fernando Campana. Once past the front doors, the visitor enters a vast lobby opening onto spaces dedicated to men’s and women’s leather goods. The design is based on a

game of shadows and light, reminiscent of Louis Vuitton’s iconic Damier, a geometric symphony of Chiaroscuro. The final steps of the staircase lead up to the bookstore which offers art books and major publications from Éditions Louis Vuitton. With a comfortable reading space and a selection of prints, visitors can relax and enjoy a fresh doze of enlightenment.

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| just in... beijing |

Dior Homme Beijing

Dior Homme staged its first runway show in Beijing, on April 25th, at the Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). The AW 2013-14 collection was presented through over forty looks, including three new outfits: tuxedos, specially made for the event. Bringing twenty models from Paris to the eastern capital, the iconic luxury brand reprised and re-adapted its autumn show for this new venue.

“The Dior Homme man now looks to the future, with optimism”, said Kris Van Assche, Creative Director of Dior Homme. “What I wanted to convey in the collection this season is rigor, calm and control. This is a confident, selfmade man in a multitude of ways. He's a self-made superhero”.

The show was followed by a party featuring a live performance by British band Hurts.

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| just in... beijing |

Dior Homme AW 2013-14 Backstage - Beijing

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“Now the Dior man works on who he can be and how to improve himself, both outwards and inwards. He is not nostalgic for the past, for an idea of lost youth, but is moving forwards into the future.�

Dior Homme AW 2013-14

Kris Van Assche

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| just in... beijing |

VIP guests at Dior Homme Show

Fan Zhiwei

Tong Dawei & Guan Yue

Ye Mingzi & Joanthan Mork

Zhang Xinyi

Qi Xi

Jing Tian

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The Afterparty

Ma Yanli, Deng Chao, Jing Tian, Zhang Xinxi, Huang Xiaoming, Su Hong & Tong Dawei

Ye Mingzi, Yang Yaqi, Su Mang, Guest,Zhang Wanru, Guest

Lucy Xu, Shao Zhong, Sumang, Liu Jiang, Deng Chao, Han Geng & Li Dongtian

Qi Xi, Guest & Wan Yingnv

Theo Hutchcraft from The Hurts and Kris Van Assche

Deng Chao & Tong Dawei

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An exclusive with

Kris Van Assche Dior Homme, Creative Director

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Where: Beijing When: April 25th 2013 This date will surely live in my memory through the years as it was the first time I visit China, not only to explore the richness of this unique and warm culture but, to be attending my first Dior Homme fashion show, taking place out of Paris.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dior Homme Creative Director, Kris Van Assche , the Belgian born designer, on the day of his long awaited Beijing show to tell us more about his latest Autumn-Winter collection and the sources of his inspiration.

“You’re only just as good as your next show.”

Dior Homme Fall Winter fittings by Gaetan Bernard

Kris, when did you discover your passion for design?

Well, I guess it was at a very young age. I was around twelve or thirteen years old. I don’t really remember. Since I was an only child, I was very much into being creative all the time.

I would always draw or sketch while in my room. It was not fashion at the time but just creativity. At one point, I realized that clothes don’t just fall out of the closet, somebody makes them and I wanted to be that person at that young age.

Who inspired you at such a young age?

I think at that age it was very much about the Parisian extravaganza that included brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier. They were really loud. At first I was only aware of such brands, but once I started reading and buying the right magazines, I quickly discovered that there was

a fashion scene in Antwerp that was very close to where I lived. It was a much more discreet and intimate view on fashion, and that was something I related to much more.

You graduated at a young age from The Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, you are now 36, and you come from a small town in Belgium.

The fashion industry can be very tough, tell us some of the obstacles that you faced along the way while attempting to be taken seriously.

Well, of course the fashion industry is indeed very tough! I was very conscious about it even before my studies. Before getting into the academy, I had an interview where one of the teachers asked me why I wanted to get into the Antwerp Academy and not some other school.

I replied that if I was going to attack the fashion world, I should at least start with the best school. I was very conscious about that.

I worked really hard but for me, there was nothing else that I wanted to do. The truth of it all is that, if you don’t have a second option – you go for it! Then, I was pretty lucky to get the internship at Yves Saint Laurent that really got me started.

To make it in the business, it’s a mixture of very hard work, good luck and meeting the right people. Once I started to surround myself with the right people, everything just started to fall into place. That is really the key but it is very tough! It still remains tough because you’re only just as good as your next show. It’s never something that will be established. Each show puts everything in question every single time!

Do you consider yourself a perfectionist when it comes to designing?

If you want to be the Creative Director of a house like Dior then you have to be! ›

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What about in your personal life?

Are you as meticulous?

Perhaps not as much as in my professional life but yes, I do like some order.

You were quoted saying that: “a Dior man looks to the future with optimism”. How do you interpret this in your latest collection for Autumn/ Winter ’13-14.

It starts from a very personal approach. I am always in a pretty good mood and positive vibe at Dior. I feel like things are going in the right direction, so I am optimistic for the way things are going. I also feel when things tend to get tough in the world around us, fashion steps in to brighten up daily life and to remain confident in the future. So it is a mixture of both.

What is the main inspiration of the collection?

I wanted the silhouette to be more body conscious. I wanted some sort of an athletic silhouette. The silhouette that I inherited six years ago was very skinny, but that was some sort of a cliché that I inherited that I had to push forward, so I have been working on loosening that and making it quite comfortable.

The starting point of the show was a look - an allure and then I saw the movie ‘Welcome to Gattaca’ again which I love very much for its aesthetic because it is very rigorous, clean and sharp – almost like a military look. It was about a group of men that were trying to improve themselves through hard work, education and sport. It included the optimism of becoming better persons by doing things and not waiting for them to happen. I really liked that so it became the general theme of the show.

In your own words, what do you think of as a timeless design?

That is a contradiction to my work; because I believe each season we improve what we do. Each season, I improve the suiting, the shirts, etc.. What you think is nice today will need some improvement in six months. That’s the whole point therefore I do not believe it is about being timeless.

Nowadays everybody is talking about being fashion forward and making bold statements in the fashion world.

What do you think is the best way to be a fashion forward person or to be called a fashion forward designer?

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I was told in the academy that the only way to survive was to have a real personal view of things. If you try to do what other people do, it is never going to work! It’s really about adding something personal to what already exists.

That’s the only question that I constantly ask myself at Dior.

What advice would you give young designers to facilitate their journey?

Somebody once gave me great advice before I started my career, which was that I shouldn’t’ try to do everything right. I should just do what I do best and then find people to take care of what I don’t really know how to do.

I think it’s a very big pretentious mistake to think you can do everything. Fashion design is like a business and while the creative aspect is a big part of it, it’s not the only part. It’s also about recognizing what you don’t know how to do. That’s the challenge.

What inspires you?

Inspiration comes in two forms; the conceptual part which can be a movie, an art piece, a country or even a trip. That is the conceptual approach but then there is also the realistic approach, which is what I like to wear myself or what my friends would like to wear. So, inspiration is a mix of these two approaches.

There are moments where I actively go to libraries and look for inspiring things in books or archives.. And there are also moments where I’ll be on the street and have a stranger

pass by me with his coat floating in the wind and that could inspire me too. Inspiration is not something that you can turn on and off. It is a constant process.

If you were not at the atelier designing or sketching, where can we find you?

I work a lot! But when I am not, I do what everybody else does. I go out with friends, visit galleries and watch movies. I also try to fit in travel. My work is a big part of my life and all the free time I get, I indulge in personal education because every new thing that I discover is good for my personal culture, which is good for my professional work.

What message would you like to tell our readers about the latest Dior Collection?

Well, it is a collection where we managed to bring comfort into clothes with a very sharp and modern look. For me, it is a very well balanced collection in that sense. It is very body conscious but made for real men in the real world.

We wish you the best of Luck for the show.

Thank you.

Interviewed by Lara Mansour Sawaya

a&e enters the magical world of Tiffany & Co. Since 1837, Love, happiness, tears of joy, surprise, appreciation, and many wonderful emotions have been synonymous with the famous Tiffany blue box.

What's the secret of this blue box?

The colour known as Tiffany Blue was selected by founder Charles Lewis Tiffany for the cover of Blue Book, Tiffany’s annual collection of exquisitely handcrafted jewels, first published in 1845. Also referred to as robin’s-egg blue or forget-me-not blue, this distinctive colour may have been chosen because of the popularity of the turquoise gemstone in 19th-century jewellery. Turquoise was also a favourite of Victorian brides who gave their attendants a dove-shaped brooch of turquoise as a wedding day memento.

Tiffany Blue was later adopted for use on shopping bags, as well as in advertising and other promotional materials. True to the founder’s vision, the Tiffany Blue Box® became an icon of luxury and exclusivity. As The New York Sun reported in 1906. (Charles Lewis) Tiffany has one thing in stock that you cannot buy of him for as much money as you may offer; he will only give it to you. And that is one of his boxes.

Charles Tiffany’s coveted box is today an international icon of elegance and sophistication. On a more personal level, it is a certain sign that a magical moment has arrived. The box may reveal a dazzling diamond ring that changes the course of love; or it may honour a personal achievement, a birthday or an anniversary. Glimpsed on a busy street or resting in the palm of a hand, the Tiffany Blue Box® evokes happy thoughts of the present that will be opened with the greatest pleasure.

"The Great Gatsby" , yes that's the movie that the whole world is waiting to see, but this time the name has a different flair as it was the main inspiration of Tiffany's Blue Book collection for this year.

We invite you to enter the enchanting world of Tiffany to discover this unique and marvelous collection and how it was celebrated at one of the most iconic landmarks in NewYork, The Rockefeller Center.

We had the privilege to fly to NewYork to discover closely the world of the famous Tiffany Jewels and go in-depth into its history through an exclusive one to one with John Loring, Design Director Emeritus at Tiffany & Co. Report by: Lara Mansour Sawaya

| just in... new york |

Tiffany & Co.

Celebrates Jazz Age Glamour at The Blue Book Ball The roaring twenties spring to life on an April night in New York City

Glittering with 1920’s pizzazz, the Jazz Age returned for one spectacular evening, summoned by Tiffany & Co. to ignite the Blue Book Ball. The champagne-fueled celebration was held in honour of the 2013 Blue Book Collection of Tiffany’s most breathtaking jewels, inspired by the Roaring Twenties that transformed fashion and culture.

The preeminent jeweler then and now, Tiffany designed the jewels that epitomized glamour and lit up posh Manhattan supper clubs. Blue Book overflows with diamonds reflecting the opulent fashion and surge of creative energy

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that defined the period. The sheer exuberance of this magical moment in American life pervaded Rockefeller Center ®, scene of the Blue Book Ball that took place within a 31-foot-high Tiffany Blue Box® covering the center’s famous 15,000-square-foot ice rink.

In his remarks, Michael J. Kowalski, chairman and CEO of Tiffany & Co., said,

“The Jazz Age was a time of great energy and creativity. All eyes looked to New York for the latest in

music and style. As the city’s first great jeweler, Tiffany provided the diamonds for this nonstop party-and I am happy to say, we still do. So it is with pleasure and gratitude that we celebrate this memorable chapter in American life, in the city where it all beganand with our diamonds that are still the world’s most beautiful.”

Gwyneth Paltrow

The approximately 400 guests included celebrities and notables Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Jessica Biel, Sarah Jessica Parker, Carina Lau, Michelle Williams, Alice Eve, Poppy Delevingne, Peter and Harry Brant, Doutzen Kroes and Hilary Rhoda; along with Carey Mulligan (star of the upcoming film The Great Gatsby), Baz Luhrmann (director, producer, and co-writer of The Great Gatsby) and Catherine Martin (costume and production designer of The Great Gatsby).

Guests disembarked at Fifth Avenue and proceeded along the promenade, which was bathed in Tiffany Blue, toward a beribboned entrance to an elegant supper club tailormade for Jazz Age revelry. The seamless Art

Megan Hilty

Sarah Jessica Parker

Deco setting, designed in a palette of chic gray tones, was lined with luxurious velvet drapes and laid with carpeting in a striking starburst pattern. At the floor’s center, a towering tribute to the bubbly rose toward the ceiling on mirrored risers, with 240 glasses and 142 magnums of Moët & Chandon Imperial champagne. Surrounding it were elegant lounges and banquettes arranged for dining in the style of a supper-club buffet, served amid lavish arrangements of white flowers. And trays of iPads for posting images on social media circulated like the cigarette trays of a previous era.

Showcased in custom-designed vitrines were jewels from the 2013 Blue Book Collection that reflect Tiffany’s legacy of Art Deco

Jessica Biel

design. Among them were diamond necklaces and drop earrings shimmering like silk and champagne or contoured in homage to the city’s Deco skyscrapers; platinum and diamond bracelets set in the rhythmic patterns of a jazz composition or with great diamond fans unfolding on black enamel; a corsage suite of voluptuous diamond flowers; and the rarest fancy colour diamonds-pink, orange, blue and green. Gemstones Tiffany introduced to the world, including green tsavorite, pink morganite, lilac-pink kunzite and blue-violet tanzanite punctuated jewels of great length and movement; and Montana sapphires and luxuriant turquoise highlighted Deco’s geometric precision.

The bronze-gilded statue of the Greek Titan Prometheus, a fixture of Rockefeller Center, served as backdrop to the stage and a full-scale, 20s-style revue. Backed by an orchestra, dancers in fringed and spangled “flapper” costumes reprised classic songs (Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend), complete with raucous renditions of the Lindy and Charleston, and current pop hits (Rihanna’s Diamonds), followed by Broadway singer Megan Hilty with more standards from the American Songbook. The singer led the finale, accompanied by aerialists that descended from above, trailing feathered headdresses and dancing in mid-air. On cue, a blizzard of silvery fine confetti brought down the curtain on a simply fabulous evening.

It was a milestone in the history of New York and its legendary jeweler: the night Tiffany brought the Jazz Age brilliantly to life at the glamorous and euphoric Blue Book Ball.

Evening Hash tag: #TiffanyBlueBook ›

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| just in... new york |

The 2013 Blue Book Collection

Featuring Jewels inspired by The Jazz Age The new Blue Book Collection draws on Tiffany’s legendary style, its tradition of beauty and excellence and its status as the world’s premier diamond jeweler to create an extravagant, euphoric, magnificent and magical celebration of the Jazz Age. Blue Book 2013 bursts with the energy and innovation of the Roaring Twenties that transformed fashion and culture and gave rise to American glamour.

The preeminent jeweler then and now, Tiffany created the diamond jewellery that adorned sleek new silhouettes and opulent supper club attire.

Empowered as never before, women reveled in the refreshing ease of it all, both at work and on the town. Hemlines rose and “flappers” with bobbed hair and fringed dresses danced with abandon at the summit of style-New York-where Tiffany was founded. The metropolis became Tiffany’s muse for diamonds that glittered like the city’s Art Deco skyline.

With the elite of gemstones for which Tiffany & Co. is renowned, Blue Book’s master designers illuminate this fabled period with brilliant creations that explore Tiffany’s Deco legacy, which favoured white diamonds and platinum punctuated with colourful gemstones in softly contoured settings. The

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designers’ breathtaking jewels move with Jazz Age exuberance and flow with the current of modern times.

Necklaces and diamond drop earrings share the sublime grace of New York’s skyscrapers such as the Chrysler building and Rockefeller

Center. Bracelets drape the wrist with round and baguette diamonds hand set in the rhythmic patterns of a jazz composition.

A corsage suite of voluptuous diamond flowers is stylized with mixed-cut diamonds so discreetly connected they appear to float on the neckline. Sparkling stones contrast with hand-carved onyx and form dazzling fans on black lacquer; and pear-shaped diamonds lavish in size and setting strike a resplendent note amid jewels of sensuous motion that are

as effervescent as champagne and as sheer as silk.

Art Deco’s vibrant colour palette is reflected in rare, fancy colour diamonds, treasures of the natural world that can be found only at Tiffany. Pink, orange, blue and green diamonds of rich colour saturation combine with white diamonds in rings of pure s y m m e t r y ; and rings with yellow diamonds are bordered with sapphires, spessartites and pink diamonds.

The Blue Book Collection also c ele b r a t e s gemstones Tiffany introduced to the world.

Among these are green tsavorite in jewels of great length and movement; kunzite, a lilac-pink gem that accents scroll motifs, blue-violet tanzanite surrounded by a galaxy of diamonds; and pink morganite blossoming among diamond leaves. Gems that Tiffany brought to the forefront of fashion include Montana sapphires and luxuriant turquoise in jewels inspired by Deco’s geometric precision. Like a hypnotic refrain, the Jazz Age weaves through Blue Book, enticing connoisseur and collector into this totally chic-and outrageous-American moment. ›

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It’s not a Myth It’s the Real Thing!

From Tiffany, with love

“Mother Nature is the best designer and it is through the observation of Nature’s movements, patterns and structures that you come up with the best designs.”

- John Loring, Design Director Emeritus at Tiffany & Co.In the 1961 movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s - there was a phrase that caught my attention - “Nothing very bad could happen to you at Tiffany”. What is your input on this?

Tiffany is a place within a dream where everything is beautiful and well done. Nothing can go wrong. Nothing ever does and nothing has ever gone wrong at Tiffany & Co. John, you are the author of 21 books so far. With everything that you have written about – tell us, what makes Tiffany unique?

Tiffany is unique for more than a couple of reasons. Number one would be that it is the Great American Jeweller. It did not start off with hundreds of years of tradition such as other jewellers in Europe. It started off with building designs from basic things such as observing nature and rethinking design as well as rethinking what jewellery could look like.

In the beginning of America, everything was English colonial - nothing was really American. When Tiffany began in 1837, the country was still quite new. They saw America as a new paradise, as a country with unbelievable fauna & flora with so many wonderful things to be discovered.

At one point, there was a group of artists called the artists explorers that were discovering the extraordinary country of

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America as there was so much to be learned especially when it came to design. The Tiffany artists began to look at things such as the artists explorers and the Native American Design along with what made this country different from Europe and other parts of the globe and obviously this took time to do because in the beginning everybody was used to colonial design.

To me, Tiffany is great because they were the first to have design schools and groups in America. They really thought of the American design. It was the only sort of art design school in the United States and it devoted a lot of time into developing designs drawn from nature. This lead to a sense of simplicity and designing things from basics. Tiffany had a simple vocabulary of things. They established a whole different style than what was seen in other places. The company has been turning basics into beautiful jewellery pieces useful in daily life through its 175 years of history.

Today, simple things are usually complicated when you get down to it. For example, when you look at Elsa Peretti’s heart necklace – she took the most basic female symbol that has been around for more than 10,000 years and made it feminine, sensual and organic through Tiffany’s DNA. By doing that, she made the most successful design in the history of design. Everybody all over the world is able to look at her design and completely understand it. She spoke globally by taking something basic and making it beautiful.

Art is a big part of Tiffany. Tell us more about that.

Tiffany is very aware of the decorative and fine arts. They have a lot to do with each other. Paloma Picasso went back to two of the most basic things in design; crossing two lines together and making an undulated line.

She started with those two basics and turned the Xs into something chic, fashionable and stylish by putting a gold scribble. It was extraordinary. Why didn’t anyone think of that? With just Xs and a few scribbles, a beautiful piece of jewellery was created from basics.

So simplicity does have a very high impact?

Yes, it comes from ideas that I say fall like rain on everyone. When you see it, you understand it. You don’t require an explanation. For instance, with regards to a watch I designed, I thought of basic ways that people told time in a village before there were any watches instead of trying to base it on a couple of years of Swiss watches, etc. This is why I used Roman Numerals - the way people counted on their fingers before numbers.

Even Arabic numerals are sophisticated and sort of complicated in its form.

The Tiffany way of doing things is quite simple. American Art is usually quite flat which is why we overlap on the Japanese and Chinese art as they are also flat, whereas European art is three dimensional.

a part of their daily life. It is feminine and flattering to them. It is also not complicated hence, they can wear it in many situations. It is important to us that a piece of jewellery is able to go out into the world and have many adventures. In various parts of the world, there are some jewellery which is elaborately designed which allows it to be worn on one occasion and not many. With such pieces of jewellery, they end up wearing the woman and not the other way around as it is supposed to be. That complicated piece will end up spending most of its life in the closet. Tiffany is very successful because the quality of the jewellery and design is superb but it has a simplicity and versatility allowing it to be successful in many situations and locations.

John Loring Nowadays, a lot of jewellery houses are designing fashion jewellery and a lot of people are investing in such pieces.

What are your thoughts on this?

Fashion jewellery and fine jewellery are two very different things. Tiffany is not a fashion jewellery house as we are the great dealers of diamonds and only deal with top quality gemstones. Fashion jewellery is fairly new in the world as it was invented in the 1930s.

This type of jewellery can be made of many materials and sometimes it is made of semi precious or even precious materials but it is definitely not fine jewellery.

In this part of the world, people refrained from investing in coloured gems. Nowadays, coloured gems like other diamonds are used a lot. It is not anymore about the perception of value.

Tell us your thoughts on this.

To begin with, the world started to become aware of jewellery through fashion in 1920s.

There was no coloured photography at that time and because of that, the magazines and advertising focused on white diamonds and pearls. So before coloured photography came along, it was just these two as there was no point of photographing such coloured stones because it could not be photographed.

It would just be a black stone. Even when colour photography came in, the quality of printing was not that great. In the books that I’ve written, “Tiffany Diamonds” was book number 20. People would ask me why I waited till book 20 to write about Tiffany Diamonds. It was for a very simple reason, photography and printing weren’t very good.

Nowadays, people have become very focused on the rarity of things such as blue diamonds or pink diamonds which are both very rare.

In Tiffany, you can have these rare items.

People are able to have these things and enjoy them as the world is a whole new one financially. The collections that we are bringing out now relating to The Great Gatsby are white diamonds and pearls which can be very valuable things.

There’s a lot of colour in the Blue Book Collection. We are seeing many new things. In terms of value, are they as important as other stones such as the amethyst or emerald?

We like to put in stones that we discover and popularize such as the Tanzanite. These are the best quality of Tanzanites so yes, they are very valuable gemstones. They have been around since the late 1960s and are beautiful blue gemstones. They’ve become quite a popular stone worldwide but of course the price is quite modest compared to a sapphire.

It’s nice to offer women a choice of colour and price point. They are able to have these beautiful pieces of jewellery that do not cost as much as blue diamonds.

How would you describe the American style developing across the years?

The American style is enormously successful because of the point I made earlier - it begins with simple ideas that everyone can understand. Because it is understandable, it travels around the world very easily.

Women around the globe recognize that it’s something they can wear and it becomes

Tiffany is also successful because our gemstones are the best ones. The craftsmanship is amazing. If you turn it over, it is as beautiful on the back as it is on the front. It becomes a part of your body as it is beautiful to wear and it feels good. The value is always present - you are not buying a myth, you are buying the real thing!

What advice would you give to our readers when buying jewellery?

Buy the one you like. You and the piece should look beautiful together. You should be happy together and you should be able to wear it on many occasions. Buy the piece of jewellery that is flattering to you. I think it is a sort of marriage between a jewellery piece and a woman.

Tiffany is one of the very few brands in the world where people buy the brand’s jewellery because it has emotion linked to it. Do you agree?

Of course! With Tiffany, you feel better and glamorous. No matter how many years have passed (I’m not exactly a teenager) but when I see a Tiffany Blue Box, I get a rush of excitement. I know it’s going to be beautifully made and designed with great emotional attachments! As I said before, it’s the real thing!

John, thank you so much. It has been an absolute pleasure chatting with you.

I wish we had more time!

Interviewed by: Lara Mansour Sawaya

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Prada Presents the new Spring/Summer 2013 Capsule Collection

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT)

Popelin stretch dress Crêpe de chine dress Popeline stretch dress Glacé Calf bags Spazzolato leather sandals

Prada introduces a beautiful and feminine capsule collection of dresses in striking colour combinations. A visual sequence where black and white create a dynamic graphic effect through multiple styles.

The collection, available in all Prada stores, includes a selection of dresses in popeline stretch, crêpe de chine and sablé.

Spazzolato leather sandals and ballerina flats are complemented by bags and clutches in Saffiano Lux and Glacé Calf.

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT)

Sablè dresses Saffiano Lux bag and pochette Spazzolato leather ballerinas

Available in Prada Boutiques: • Mall of the Emirates, Dubai • BurJuman Mall, Dubai

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Christian Dior Pink Accessories

Pink has always been a popular colour for spring . This SS13, Dior takes us on a journey of sophisticated minimalism with strokes of soft blush in these wonderful pink accessories that are on our must have list for the season!

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Mulberry Cecily Bags

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The postman lock is an iconic piece of Mulberry hardware and for SS13 it was re-worked into petals which is to represent the rural England. The Cecily with flower is an update to the icon Lily with a heavy woven chain strap and handle, finished with a gorgeous tactile leather and cookie cutter raw edge, while the flower tote has the same flower lock and trim as a classic tote bag, covered in laser cut floral repeat.

These must have bags are now available in Boutique1, Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates with the small size at AED 2500 and medium at AED 6000.

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Chime for Change

Gucci launches a new global campaign for girls’ and women’s empowerment at TED2013, led by Frida Giannini, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Salma Hayek Pinault

At the TEDxWomen luncheon today, Salma Hayek Pinault announced Chime for Change, founded by Gucci, a new global campaign to raise funds and awareness for girls' and women's empowerment. Representing fellow co-founders Frida Giannini and Beyonce Knowles-Carter as she launches the initiative , Hayek Pinault preseneted a short film that she narrated, with new music by Beyonce, which introduced Chime for Change to the world. Hayek Pinault also presented the first of ten Chime for Change short films, an extended trailer for The Supreme Price produced and directed by Joanna Lipper.

The film tells the story of Nigerian democracy activist Hafsat Abiola, who together with filmmaker Joanna Lipper will be present at the luncheon for a conversation moderated

by TEDxWomen host Pat Mitchell. THE SUPREME PRICE is a 2012 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund recipient and winner of the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award.

CHIME FOR CHANGE serves to convene, unite and strengthen voices speaking out for girls and women around the world and will focus on three key pillars: Education, Health and Justice. The campaign comes at a historic

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and pivotal moment for girls and women globally as the world’s attention is drawn to international stories ranging from Malala’s personal fight for education in Pakistan to headlines of violence against women in all corners of the world, including India, Ireland, South Africa and the United States. More than just raising awareness, CHIME FOR CHANGE, through its partner Catapult, encourages people throughout the world to support girls’ and women’s projects in a personalized, individual way. Catapult enables citizen philanthropy and is the first crowdfunding platform dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women. Catapult connects CHIME FOR CHANGE community members directly to organizations and projects focused on the causes that matter most to them, and currently represents over 50 organizations in 38 countries.

Gucci has a long history of engagement with girls’ and women’s issues, including a seven-year relationship with UNICEF in support of girls’ education. In addition, the company founded two women’s film awards, the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award with the Tribeca Film Institute and the Gucci

Award for Women in Cinema with the Venice Film Festival. Gucci also actively supports the PPR Corporate Foundation for Women’s Dignity and Rights; both Frida Giannini and Salma Hayek Pinault are members of the Board.

The movement aims to provoke, collect and share powerful stories of girls and women globally. Managing Editor Mariane Pearl leads a journalism platform of original content, further supported by the International Herald Tribune and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Salma Hayek Pinault will be executive producer of a film unit dedicated to creating ten short films about inspiring girls and women from around the world, and will curate and highlight usergenerated short videos submitted to the CHIME FOR CHANGE community. CHIME FOR CHANGE will continue to update its community with exciting news, including a major announcement in mid-March about a global CHIME FOR CHANGE event that will put girls’ and women’s issues on the world’s stage. To stay informed, visit www. chimeforchange.org

Jennifer Lopez joins Beyoncé for ‘The Sound of Change Live’ Concert

Presented by CHIME FOR CHANGE, Founded by Gucci

It was recently announced that international superstar Jennifer Lopez has answered the call to join Beyoncé and will appear at ‘The Sound of Change Live’ global concert at Twickenham on 1 June. James Franco, Blake Lively and Jada Pinkett Smith were also announced to be among the presenters of this four hour star-studded show presented

by CHIME FOR CHANGE: recently founded

by Gucci, which campaigns for improved Education, Health and Justice for women and girls worldwide. The concert will be broadcast to millions across the globe.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, concert artistic director and CHIME FOR CHANGE cofounder, who will perform a 45 minute special set, said: “I am really happy that so many amazing artists have come together to support CHIME FOR CHANGE on 1 June.

Our goal is to have a great time together while we unite and strengthen the voices of

girls and women around the world.”

Frida Giannini, Creative Director of Gucci and CHIME FOR CHANGE Co-Founder, said: “Thanks to Beyoncé and the amazing lineup of performers and presenters, the stage at Twickenham on 1 June will be filled with powerful voices of change who believe that girls and women everywhere deserve the right to be educated, healthy, safe and celebrated.

This represents an important moment in the CHIME FOR CHANGE campaign, but it’s only the beginning. The funds we raise will have a major impact on the lives of thousands of girls and women around the world.”

The concert will start at 5.30pm and finish at 10:00pm and each artist will perform special sets with some exciting collaborations expected. Throughout the concert short films will be shown highlighting issues such as: 60% of children not in school are girls, 800

women die daily in pregnancy or childbirth most of whom would live with access to proper care, and despite gains, just 21% of seats in national parliaments are held by women.

The Sound of Change Live, 1 June, Twickenham Stadium: Beyoncé Blake Lively Ellie Goulding Florence + the Machine HAIM Iggy Azalea Jada Pinkett Smith James Franco Jennifer Lopez John Legend Laura Pausini Rita Ora Timbaland more to come Tickets for the concert are available from: www.chimeforchange.org

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| exclusive story |

Miuccia Prada Designs Bespoke Costumes for

“The Great Gatsby�

A Powerful Collaboration of Motion Art & Designer Talent

Prada / Miu Miu

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Today, a big screen adaptation of the novel of the same name is being premiered from the uniquely imaginative mind of writer, producer and director Baz Luhrmann. The filmmaker creates his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story, bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before, in a glittering film starting Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire.

Warner Bros

Once upon a time, there was the ‘Roaring Twenties’; a decade in which fashion truly entered the modern era. Men abandoned highly formal attire and began to wear athletic clothing for the first time whereas women said farewell to restricting clothing such as corsets and welcomed comfort with skirts and trousers. It was also within the same decade that a great literary classic which truly captured the essence of the era was written and published – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Prada / Miu Miu

The bespoke collection features over 40 unique Miu Miu and Prada cocktail and evening dresses that adorn the wonderful characters in the movie. They were all inspired by selected runway looks from the last 20 years. The pieces have been created in collaboration with the film’s costume designer, Catherine Martin. Viewers will welcome a fashionable treat as gowns of beads and beauty, silk and sequins grace the big screen!

“The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerlad-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings.

Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is this that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, love and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

The buzz has definitely been building up about this great adaptation and while we all wait anxiously to view the jazzy magic of The Great Gatsby, we are even more excited after witnessing the costume sketches designed by none other than Miuccia Prada who has previously collaborated with Luhrmann on Romeo + Juliet.

Prada / Miu Miu

“Baz and Miuccia have always connected on their shared fascination with finding modern ways of releasing classic and historical references from the shackles of the past” explains Martin. “This connection is central to our relationship with Miuccia Prada on The Great Gatsby, and has connected our vision with hers. In the same way Nick Carrway reflects on world that he is within and without, we have tried to create an environment that the audience will be subconsciously familiar with, yet separated from.”› | issue 44 | may / june 2013

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Courtesy of Prada / Miu Miu

Prada / Miu Miu

In the film, the costumes take a leading role: shimmering silk gowns embroidered with crystal and sequins; velvets, furs and dancing fringing; flickering shades of emerald, jade, topaz and gold. In the pivotal ball segments, set in Gatsby’s lavish fairytale mansion, Prada and Miu Miu designs steal the scene.

A golden Prada party gown laden with crystals, worn by Mulligan’s Daisy Buchanan, is the pièce de résistance.

“Our collaboration with Prada recalls the European flair that was emerging amongst the aristocratic East Coast crowds in the 1920s” Catherine Martin.

“The fashions of the time saw the development of a dichotomy between those who aspired to the privileged, Ivy League look of wealthy Long Island and those who were aspiring to European glamour, sophistication and decadence. Our collaborations with Prada reflect the collision of these two aesthetics.”

Catherine Martin.

Prada / Miu Miu

The Prada Great Gatsby collaboration encapsulates the cross-disciplinary spirit of Prada’s ongoing dialogue within the worlds of fashion, art, film and architecture.

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The Making of

Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar Dress by Dior

We have to admit that we’ve been obsessed with Jennifer Lawrence after her role in Silver Linings Playbook – the movie that earned the actress her Academy Award.

22-year-old Lawrence recently exclaimed how Dior made her feel strong and confident and we truly witnessed that side of her even more after she walked down the red carpets at the Golden Globes and Oscars in Dior Haute Couture which made us love her even more.

In this feature, we bring you the making of the actress’ Oscar Dress in which she dazzled in Dior Couture’s pale pink and white silk gazar bustier ball dress which took 500 hours of extraordinary work.

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DSQUARED2 VER EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN - PARIS MARNI SALVAT GIORGIO ARMANI 2013 AUTUMN/WINTER GUCCI FENDI EMI ALBERTA FERRET CHANEL ALEX JEAN-PAUL GAULT LOUIS VUITTON MI STELLA McCARTNE The fashion weeks have come and gone leaving us with some of the best trends of the upcoming season! Dark hues definitely dominated the seasons of autumn and winter but we still saw a lot of colour popping here and there, either in feathers or fur.

Milan: Fur definitely controlled the catwalk and we especially loved Fendi’s fur Mohawks that were sported by the runway models not to mention the neon stripes which added a splash of colour to the oversized furs. We also saw Gucci head back to their dark side with some of the most luxurious details, fabric, feathers and patterns!

The theme of Milan referenced the mid-century and blurred the lines between the 40s, 50s and a hint of the 70s which can clearly be seen in Dsquared²’s jazzy collection. A special five minute interview with the Dsquared² twins awaits you!

Paris: At the Paris Fashion week, we noticed electric blue and strong red colours and saw plenty of soft powder tones and of course, monochrome. Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel collection was absolutely covetable with the coloured fur hats and the thigh high leather boots!

Capes were another big trend at every city for AW13 but Paris took it to another level. We can firmly say that this trend will be a popular one, come September. The theme was very retro-ish with the dominating fabrics being coloured fur and leather!

RSACE MOSCHINO I DOLCE&GABBANA TORE FERRAGAMO BOTTEGA VENETA ILIO PUCCI ETRO TTI PRADA CHLOE XANDER McQUEEN TIER LOEWE DIOR IU MIU NINA RICCI EY SAINT LAURENT Photo credit: www.picstopin.com

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DSquared2 All That Jazz

Daytime Dames-Masculines arrive walking with sinous swaggers thanks to ultra tight mid length skirts. Fabrics carry a masculine air: tweed, pinstripes and wool. Apart from the occasional electric primary. The colours have been gently dusted down: Pink blushes, mossy greens, dark sages, smoky lavenders and nutty taupes set the tone. Hardwearing cloths are made luxurious with a ruched edging that's treaded throughout the collection. Carefully placed touches of tortoise-shell, girly pouf bow ties, detachable pins, bejeweled buttons and glittering adornments make this daywear rich. Silk and camisole lace play peek-a-boo as undergarments beneath the rigid tailoring of these classic 40's silhouttes.

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Five Minutes with Dsquared2

Backstage at the Milan AW13 Show a&e had the pleasure of meeting with Dan & Dean Caten, the infamous twin designers backstage at the Milan Autumn/Winter ’13 show. We spoke for five minutes about their latest collection that was previewed and received some great advice for our readers!

There’s a lot of Jazz around us.

What’s the inspiration behind the AW’13 collection?

all the same - there are shaky, sexy, and girly ones which is what makes the world go around and even more colourful.

Yes! It’s a jazzy situation! Well, the collection is inspired by the 1940s where girls were dressed up either in suits with heavy masculine accents, beaded gowns, chiffon, feathers, satin or slip dresses because they’re going out! They girls are either dressed up in masculinity or they are super glam’d out!

Who is the Dsquared2 woman?

What do you think about when you design?

There are so many things. We don’t pinpoint on one certain thing or person. However, we do play on finding a character. People aren’t

She is confident and can be all of the girls mentioned above! She’s secure, intelligent, sexy and not afraid to put on a masculine suit or a slinky dress!

How was your last trip to Dubai?

Did you enjoy it?

It was great! We will be back in town during April so we will definitely see each other again!

If you were to design something for Dubai - inspired by Dubai, what would the outfit look like?

The dress that was previewed just today; the champagne/celery dress has a very Dubai flare to it because it has a neutral kind of glitz which reminds us of the sandcastles and the mirages!

What advice would you give our readers on how to be glamorous?

To be glamorous comes from within as well! Accessories are very important. Take something very simple and pair it with statement accessories for instant glam!

What is the one thing a woman should never leave home without according to Dsquared 2 ?

Definitely high heels!

Any final words for our readers?

Hello Middle East! We are Dean and Dan and we are coming to you from Milano Autumn/ Winter 2013! Look out for us because we will be back in Dubai soon!

Interviewed by Lara Mansour Sawaya

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Versace

The New Punk “Vunk” - Versace’s new punk, as if the spirit of punk was born today. There’s no reference to the past. With “Vunk”, Versace is fearlessly looking forward to a new glamour, and a new rock’n’roll. Extreme proportions create a contrast between shrunken silhouettes and oversized shapes, with no compromise between.

“I started thinking, what would we call the new punk today? This collection is my answer. It is sexy, strong, brave and full of energy. It is the essence of Versace, heading straight into the future.” Donatella Versace

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Moschino

M-Shire tales of the Moschinoshire Images that bring the story to life; a mood board in emotional sequence; snapshots of details and stolen moments from which emerges the elegance of Ann Bofoey Taylor, a horseback riding and skiing enthusiast - these are the starting points for the Moschino Autumn/Winter 2013-14. Added to this is the desire for reinterpretation, expressing the most classic, essentially Moschino pieces of clothing with the same declaration of heartfelt love for the British world.

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Emporio Armani Kajal

Kajal has range of colours, from soft creams and pinks to dark shades and mineral hues. Its simplicity and clean lines are enhanced by contrasting accessories, used playfully, which evoke contemporary culture and unpredictable aesthetics and different eras.

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Dolce & Gabbana Tailored Mosaic

Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana were inspired by the mosaic of Monreale for this collection. “The city of Monreale started to become important around the XI century with the arrival of the Normans in Sicily.

The Cathedral of Monreale, consecrated to Santa Maria Nuova, was built between 1172 and 1185 under the commission of the Norman King William II of Altavilla, together with the archiepiscopal Palace and its beautiful cloister. In the top half of the walls a series of golden mosaics were created between the end of 1100 and the middle of 1200. Two of these mosaics represent William II crowned by Christ and William II who offers the church to the Virgin. Local artists and experts from Byzantium and Venice were called in to realize those striking works of art.� Dolce & Gabbana made use of the abilities of artisans of the highest level to create mosaics on shoes, dresses, jewels and bags. As the art of mosaic-making is a slow and precise one, achieved by placing single piece next to the other, at the same time tailoring is made by single stitch after single stitch.

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Marni

Spirits of the Forest Strictness. Texture. A sparse sense of melancholia. The new Marni collection is austere, with a romantic edge. It plays with ideas of un-balanced balance: volume and flatness, severity and grace, opacity and shine. Protagonists are the precision of the lines, assertiveness of the cuts, density of the surfaces. They unfold and interact, creating an intangible narrative.

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Salvatore Ferragamo

Understated Luxury Strength: a sign of simplicity and construction, of composed sensuality. For Autumn/Winter ’13-14, Massimiliano Giornetti conceives a collection filled with architectural neatness. The essence of shapes reveal the precision of cut, the consistency of texture and depth of the design. The exceptional craftsmanship of the Florentine House traces a path, marking the skin of the dress blended with its DNA, both pervasive and silent.

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Giorgio Armani Garçonne

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It’s a way of living, and interpreting femininity - the kind of Independent spirit that ignores conformism and all that is commonplace. It’s an autonomous way of dressing and mixing pieces, a personal attitude to pairing accessories, that defines a particular style and character.

Garçonne features simple lines, while its perfect cuts and combinations of materials transform it into something decidedly Avant-garde.

Bottega Veneta Sharp Silhouettes

Bottega Veneta presents a collection that is at once considerably informal and precisely polished. The silhouette emphasizes volume, always with the intent to accentuate the shape of the body. Defined by intricate construction and deliberate lines, the overall look is transformative, and provides the ultimate personal experience of discovering the unexpected. The palette is dark and decisive. Colours including black, slate, smoke and pearl white, and as if by accident are offset by vibrant red, yellow and curry. “The collection is about proportion, precision, ease, and the simple beauty of the material,� says Creative Director Tomas Maier.

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Gucci

Opulent Prints & Feathers The Women’s Autumn/Winter Collection juxtaposes a demure silhouette inspired by couture with a subversive undertone. Elegant shapes, outlined in strong, signature Gucci materials, contrast with accessories inspired by the fetish aesthetics of Allen Jones. A noir atmosphere saturated by colour, envisioned on exclusive textiles and details. “The Gucci woman seduces with her dangerous femininity,” explains Creative Director Frida Giannini. “She is steely yet sexy - defining her discipline with femme fatale vices. She wears sculpted dresses with pure graphics, all the while alluding to devious touches.”

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Fendi

Icons Unchained The collection is a modern translation and celebration of Fendi’s DNA and a contemporary re-reading of fur and the new Selleria. Fur is ubiquitous and is sublimated by innovative craftsmanship and technology. Fendi’s new perceptions and hierarchy of materials include double cashmere, silk, precious wools often doubled with neoprene. Many three-dimensional embroidery and trompe l’oeil: the craftsmanship on fabrics and leathers mimics fur and vice versa. Form and functionality are in a constant dialogue in the collection with silhouettes and volumes being neat, anatomic, feminine, rounded, often geometrical and architectural. In one word-modern.

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Emilio Pucci Glamorous & Wild

An unfettered allure. Newly charged with joy and ease. Peter Dundas presents a an Autumn/Winter 2013/14 collection that is distilled down to the very essence of the Pucci girl. Plugged into the carefree, ultra glamorous spirit of the House, yet hit with a re-set punch, a fresh start unfolds. The mood for next autumn is playful and unapologetically optimistic.

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Alberta Ferretti

Authentic and Effortless Elegance

Familiarity and authenticity. More decisive style and more truthful clothing.

The Alberta Ferretti Autumn/Winter 2013-14 collection represents the purest Alberta Ferretti style of today. It is a call to a style that is elegant, and to an elegance that is effortless because it is instinctive and natural. “I am convinced that today's fashion needs to have that strong authenticity that can only derive from the recognisability of the designer. My fashion story is composed of chapters of femininity, of sensuality and of lightness.

On this basis I have built a collection that elaborates on my style in the rapid complexity of today’s constantly changing reality." says Alberta Ferretti. Proposing a return to that natural elegance that the language of fashion defines as effortless, literally without effort. This is the authentic Alberta Ferretti that exists stylistically with the origins of the brand and the natural development of its history.

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Prada

Raw Elegance Prada’s AW13-14 collection was definitely deliberate and free matching. The combinations made included day/night, serious/humorous and elegant/sporty.

Different looks and different personalities were seen on the catwalk with characters inspired from the world of cinema. Rich elements, with no exaggeration was pleasing to the eye and the whole collection was modern and contemporary.

The natural fabrics included tweed, leather and furs. Some of them aged with amazing artisans finishing techniques. Throughout, either the fur or fabric cuffs element evoked classic elegance synonymous with Prada. The prevailing colours were black, brown, grey, red and yellow with hints of blue and pink on the Vichy cheeks and then gold and silver for an extreme contrast.

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Etro

Futuristic & Feminine Glamour For this collection , Veronica Etro creates a fantasy stage where global and cultural influences freely co-mingle, un hindered by time or geography. From cathedral vaults and Renaissance ceilings, to 19th century ethnic textiles and Russian ceramics, tradition is at the root of the collection. The richness of these time-honored techniques and ancient aesthetics, however, are shot into the 21st century with clean lines and a modern, at times even futuristic, glaze.

The result is a decorative yet strong vision of feminity, where a powerful woman freely travels and customizes, creating her own sense of history and identity.

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Chanel

It’s all in the tweed For this privileged stop-over on planet CHANEL, the tweed suit has metamorphosed into ultra-fluid trompe-l’oeil dresses in perpetual movement. As silhouettes play with layering, the game of trompe-l’oeil is emphasized by tweed dresses lined with supple leather tunics or slit down one side and worn over a straight skirt. The sense of modernity emanates from the three underwired voluminous tunics, cut from a tweed woven out of zips, leather, lace, sequins and golden metallic fringes by the house of Lesage. Long black organza dresses conclude the collection with their pleated panels shortened at the front to reveal a matching miniskirt beneath.

The collection evokes an energetic globe-trotting woman whose modern allure is reflected in a silhouette that plays with volume and proportion.

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Chloe

Back to school Chloe's Autumn/Winter '13-'14 Collection focused on night buses, independent spirits, bare legs, dorm rooms, and tough girls. There were capes and coats with large gold snaps, duffle details on sharp narrow shoulders, high waist and super wide legs, white blouses and A-line skirts.

The old school-days spirit was revisited, showing pinafore dresses with straps that mimicked backpacks and Boyish rubber leather Bermuda shorts.

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Alexander McQueen

A sacred encounter The gilded interiors of the Opéra Comique set the mood for Alexander McQueen’s ecclesiastical wardrobe, from communion gowns to cardinals’ robes. Nuns, popes, angels, and the Ballets Russes walk the runway with cinched waists and exaggerated hips. Hoop skirts, caging and corsetry enhance and idealise a quintessentially feminine silhouette and introduce an erotic undercurrent further suggested by lace incrustation and harnessing.

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Jean-Paul Gaultier

A feminine warrior This season’s Jean Paul Gaultier woman is a mix between a feminine warrior and a bohemian who protects herself. With a rock and medieval inspiration, he turned his well-known bra bustier into a bodice, in felted wool, soft leather, lurex or taffeta.

The collection is also a tribute to patchwork, on transparent tulle, pantsuits and fur as well as different fabrics including mohair, muslin and leather.

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Loewe

The city of Bilbao Founded in the 14th century, it became a beacon of sophisticated, bohemian modernity set against the rustic hills of the Basque countryside. In the collection, graphic prints and colour blocking echo the architectural patchwork of Bilbao’s historic buildings, with voluminous coats and peel-away wrap shirts that emulate the lines of its famous postmodern landmarks such as the Guggenheim museum. The butter-soft napa for which Loewe is famed is contrasted this season by the plentiful use of shearling, providing a rugged, tactile contrast that reveals the other side of the material. Bohemian and aristocratic, it lines the saddles in the best horse-riding schools in Spain, is reminiscent of the rugs and throws found on hearthstones and beds in Spanish castles.

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Louis Vuitton Beyond the Boudoir

Silk babydolls and lingerie pieces that can be worn outside the retro woman’s boudoir were the key elements of creative director, Mark Jacobs’ creations. The two piece suit with the below-the-knee skirt and lace bottom was the emblem of sophistication. Materials and textures included lace, silk, velvet, chiffon, plaid, fur and even leather in a low-key colour palette of beige, brown, rust, ivory, pink, grey and classic black. We were especially fond of the tailored cross over suit dress and the Ombré emerald green ensemble with the long and deep V-neck, embellished with light feathers shimmering with silver dust. We personally saw the grey and black plaid jacket with the metallic glitter on the hem worn by Hollywood actress Dianna Agron at the opening of the Maison Louis Vuitton in Venice, which we too attended. During our visit to the Fiesso d’Artico, where the LV shoes are handmade, we saw the sandals that were worn on the runway and observed how the edges were painted with the brush.

Louis Vuitton / Ludwig Bonnet

Louis Vuitton / Ludwig Bonnet

Louis Vuitton / Ludwig Bonnet

Louis Vuitton / Ludwig Bonnet

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Miu Miu

A style montage From the rebellious and artistic 19th century Parisian belle Êpoque, to the underground spirit of Milan in the 1980s, all the way to the mariner look. Feminine, slender lines, wide-shouldered coats, polka dots and striped patterns are combined with industrial elements taken from an urban context. Sailors’ polka dots scarves, stretch city dresses are matched with striped stockings, reflecting irony and sensuality at once. A highly imaginative collection that stands away from daily life and suggests an appetite for change by playing around with the stronger pieces of feminine wardrobes and by offering a vision which is at the same time innovative and never predictable.

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Stella McCartney

The tradition of British Tailoring Coats were wrapping in an exaggerated manner, suits were pinstriped, elongated skirts had more volume and movement thanks to circular side-kicks and lapels were repositioned to sculpt the body. Flashing colours in tones of violet, aubergine and amethyst defined a more effortless approach and peeled back wallpaper print in washed silk satin revealed layers of the past. Intricate lace inserts added playful transparency on youthful sweater dresses and silk duchess, delicate cloquet jacquard in ivory and black also made appearances on the runway.

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Dior

A surrealist perspective For Autumn-Winter Raf Simons focuses on the notion of memory and how it shapes the nature of design at the house; how this works for himself and how it once worked for Christian Dior.The collection functions in the form of a visual scrapbook, a collage of clothing containing significant moments in time both for Raf Simons and the house of Christian Dior. Here, a typical twenties shift shape is embroidered and appliqued with motifs that point to parts of the personal history of Dior; a Surrealist style free association culminates in these clothes and is up for open interpretation. They also display the new graphic sensibility that is introduced in this collection and permeates throughout. The early hand drawn work from the 1950s of the artist Andy Warhol is found as a recurring motif of the mid-century style printed or embroidered on the clothing and accessories.

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Saint Laurent

Rough around the edges Creative director, Hedi slimane’s second collection for Saint Laurent took us back to the hard rock days of the 90s when it smelled like teen spirit in between the cookie cutter girl and boy bands. The contrast of feminine and grunge is reflected through the girly short dress with baby ruffles and shimmering golden hues, peter pan collars, baby dolls and lots of glitter. Paired with biker boots, loosely hanging plaid jackets, dark eye liner and tousled hair, the girls brought to the runway a perfectly contradicting rebellious innocence.

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Elie Saab

Covered in vines For this season, the Lebanese designer presented a collection of daytime, sophisticated knee length dresses and long feminine gowns in a colourful yet demure palette. Sheer romance met with baroque embroidery in silk, mohair, velvet, broderie anglaise and sequins, sometimes covering just the top half of the gown.

The fully embroidered gown in a lovely teal covered all the necessary parts and yet maintained the elegance of an Elie Saab lady. Likewise, graphic lines and cut-outs added an element of mystery and the cinched waist, an element of sharp confidence.

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Balenciaga

A marvel in marble Alexander Wang, the new creative director of Balenciaga premiered his season with a monochrome collection dominated by black and white. Inspired by marble, the jackets, skirts, sweaters and pullover tops had a cracked coated effect made by stretching white acrylic paint. Slim-legged devorĂŠ velvet and cigarette pants were topped with fur pine green cocooning vests and Wang had added a cutaway back to the simple, covered black dress. Silk cloque and heavily worked lace were some of the other stand-out elements of the collection.

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Nina Ricci

Runway pirouette Ballerina dancers from the 70s were the driving force behind Peter Coping’s collection. The creative director of Nina Ricci reflected elegant minimalism with long vintage pencil skirts, turtle necks, cropped jackets and long gloves. Crimson red was a dominant colour, adding feistiness to classical vintage shapes with peplum details. The ballerina’s tutu was reproduced in the form of full skirts with feather details, loosely matched with draping and undone cardigans and sweaters.

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Lanvin Not a girl not yet a woman By accessorizing feminine cocktail dresses with edgy strings of chain-links and multiple bold medallions, Alber Elbaz, the creative director of Lanvin, drew a line connecting the girly girl to the style of a mature woman. A ruffled blouse, pleated satin layers and other three dimensional details including floral, elements added a playful, almost theatrical volume to the ensembles. A sophisticated vintage style was revisited with full skirts matched with cropped jackets and long gloves, sometimes even with loosely draped cardigans and sweaters resulting in a nonchalant elegance.

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Garden of Eve

With one gaze, she entranced the slithering snake, picked her apple and ate it too.

Eve remained in paradise, and ruled her kingdom with poise and prowess.

Photographer : Fashion Director : Hair & makeup : Model : Location :

Ingrid Sjodhal Stuart Robertson Carollyn Gallyer Ashley from Willhemina/So Famous Models, Dubai The Ritz Carlton, Jumeirah Beach Residence - Dubai

Dress : DONNA KARAN @ Harvey Nichols Jewellery : BVLGARI High Jewellery Necklace & Earrings

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Jewellery : BVLGARI Serpenti High Jewellery Bracelet

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Jewellery : BVLGARI Flora High Jewellery Necklace & Earrings

Dress : AZZEDINE ALAIA @ Boutique 1 Jewellery : BVLGARI Serpenti Vintage Belt & High Jewellery Necklace

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Jewellery : BVLGARI Serpenti High Jewellery Watch

Dress : ALICE & OLIVIA @ Harvey Nichols Jewellery : BVLGARI Serpenti High Jewellery Necklace & Watch

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Dress : ELIE SAAB @ Boutique 1 Jewellery : BVLGARI Serpenti High Jewellery Necklace & Bracelet

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Dress : GUCCI Jewellery : BVLGARI Serpenti High Jewellery Necklace & Bracelet

Dress : White jacket by JOSEPH & silver dress

by ALICE & OLIVIA @ Harvey Nichols Jewellery : BVLGARI High Jewellery Necklace & Ring

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Bird of Paradise

A “TROPICAL COUTURE” BREAKAWAY BY DIOR Legend has it that the bird of paradise flies through the skies, never coming down to earth. For summer 2013, this imaginary bird has inspired TYEN, and is unfurling its shimmering colours on the Dior makeup collection.

Inside Monsieur Dior’s garden, a precious flower reveals itself and is actualized into an exceptional ring. The Milly Carnivora collection by Dior fine Jewellery, is yet another charming manifestation of nature.

EGRATIGNA ANGÉLIQUE' RING, WHITE GOLD, DIAMONDS & GLITTERED DIOR GREY LACQUER

DIOR FINE JEWELLERY

FACE : Diorskin Nude Tan BB Cream Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo EYES : Diorshow Mono Eyeshadow 273 Parati (used as eyeliner) Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara 090 LIPS : Dior Addict Gloss 043 Caprice NAILS : Dior Nailpolish Bird of Paradise Duo 001 Samba * Necklace and ring by Dior Fine Jewellery

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‘CARNIVORA DEVORUS’ NECKLACE, YELLOW GOLD, DIAMONDS, TSAVORITE GARNETS, PINK, YELLOW & ORANGE SAPPHIRES, PARAÏBA TOURMALINES & LACQUER

DIOR FINE JEWELLERY

FACE : Diorskin Nude Tan BB Cream Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo 001 EYES : Dior 5 Color Eyeshadow 434 Peacoock Iconic Overcurl Mascara 090 LIPS : Dior Addict Gloss 363 Dormeuse * Earrings and Necklace by Dior Fine Jewellery

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‘RING ‘DIORETTE’, WHITE GOLD, DIAMOND, AQUAMARINE, TSAVORITE YELLOW SAPPHIRE & LACQUER

DIOR FINE JEWELLERY

Photographer : Stylist : Hair / Makeup : Model :

Mazen Abousrour Sara Maisey Carolyn Gallyer Lina @ Bareface

Fashion by Dior

FACE : Diorskin Nude Tan BB Cream Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo EYES : Dior 5 Color Eyeshadow 374 Blue Lagoon Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara 090 LIPS : Dior Jelly Lip Pen 636 Carioca NAILS : Dior Nailpolish Bird of Paradise Duo 001 Samba * Earrings and Ring by Dior Fine Jewellery / Watch by Dior Timepieces

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Aristocratic Purism “These are portraits of aristocratic women,” explains Creative Director Frida Giannini.

“Evoking a strong allure with a clean, precise, defined aesthetic. The inspiration started with Richard Avedon and Gian Paolo Barbieri’s historic photographs of their female icons.”

Turquoise silk gown with ruffle sleeves by Gucci

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Black silk high neck top by Gucci

Lime strapless gown, necklace both by Gucci

| photoshoot | Acid lime printed shirt and pants both by Gucci

Pink silk gown with ruffle sleeves, clutch and shoes all by Gucci

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White dress with embroidered neckline by Gucci

Photography by : Styling by : Hair by : Make-Up :

Peter Richweisz at Desert Fish Studios Sarah Maisey Samantha at Illumin8 Alessia at Illumin8

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Lost in Venice

takes a trip on a Gondola with

Louis Vuitton

When Christopher Columbus decided to embark on his journey to the Americas, his primary inspiration was a fellow traveller who opened the doors of Europe to the rest of the world. The Venice Marco Polo airport, where I recently landed, was famously named after a merchant called Marco Polo, who laid the business oriented groundwork for the famous floating city.

His travels introduced Europeans to Central Asia and China, and eventually the beautiful city of Venice became the commercial capital of Europe. The city’s traders went as far as the Middle East to bring with them our savoury spices which their European neighbors would soon be unable to resist.

In time, the act of travelling began to serve more than a commercial purpose and entered the realm of leisure and cultural enlightenment.

From boats, to trains and airplanes, new inventions facilitated the means of geographical relocation and for many travelling developed into an art de vivre.

This “way of life” became a marker of identity embracing a person’s whole way of being, from the way they dressed, to the way they spoke and even their perception of the world around them. Today’s fashion

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This age old tradition was exhibited in person during the launching of the new Maison Louis Vuitton in Venezia, which is what brought me to this magical labyrinth. “A city on a lagoon at the crossroads of East and West, it symbolizes travel and an openness to new horizons,” as described by Michael Burke, the CEO of Louis Vuitton.

Museo Correr Piazza San Marco An immobile painting frozen in time, framed with an engraved golden contour; it came to life the minute I stepped inside its realm.

world constantly draws inspiration from the life led by jetsetters who travel from one fashionable place to another, carefully packing and unpacking the valuable outfits they purchased, in and out of their suitcases covered in Louis Vuitton’s iconic monogram.

Long before these items took the form of

Lost in Venice, I crossed over one bridge after the other and entered one alley after another, until I happily found myself in several dead ends left to admire the perfectly unmatching surface of the adjacent houses. The vitrines of the small boutiques lined up along the “calles,” meaning streets in Venetian, displayed the city’s finest creations.

modern day luggage, they came in the form of square hard body trunks, and sometimes even bore the initials of the aristocratic individual they belonged to. In the late 1800s’, the brand demonstrated the art of “emballage” by helping its high end clients pack their suitcases with the utmost etiquette it is still famous for today.

The smell of genuine leather dominated the atmosphere and reflected the city’s notability for high standard fabrics. Authentic journals and modern feather pens were also being sold as a sort of emblem of Venice’s history in literature and theater. From one Mascherari, or mask maker, to the next, I dug deeper into one of the city’s oldest traditions, the Venetian Carnival. I quickly learned to tell the difference between the real, authentic ones from the commercially mass produced or imported ones. From the initial face mold

The death of Othello by Pompeo Molmenti. This original painting from 1866 which was restored thanks to the Louis Vuitton and MUVE partnership, will be exhibited at the upcoming Venice Biennale

future. By partnering up with the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia,or MUVE, the House will finance the restoration of major pieces of Venice’s heritage, returning them to their former glory for the benefit of the city’s inhabitants. The looming threat of flooding, has increasingly posed a challenge in the preservation of this ancient city. Each time a high tide comes to stream through its streets, the inhabitants gear up with wooden planks and other temporary solutions to keep the water from invading their properties.

Throughout Venice, the unevenness of the ground is astonishingly apparent, even in the Basilica of San Marco square in which 20 million tourists step foot each year. Along with the infrastructure, the city’s infinite number of art pieces have fallen victim to its deteriorating state.›

made from papiér maché or ceramic, to the hours spent intricately painting and ornating with different fabrics and material including lace, glitter, sequins, feathers and much more, the mascheraris demonstrated the intricacy of their work. Their passion for the preservation of craftsmanship was similar to that of the artisan shoemakers who had found a home for their atelier, in the calles of Venice. Sewing everything by hand, each one of their creations had an element of originality, such as a plissé finish or a body entirely made of velvet.

Leather, goods, masks and Pistachio Frangollas stuffed with large pieces of dried fruits weren’t the only Venetian trademarks that caught my eye and tickled my taste buds.

In the words of Candida Höfer, “What always strikes me is the way Italians live daily, with a sort of silent pride, of course, but also so nonchalantly in such grand spaces… ”

When luxury meets art: Louis Vuitton helps restore Venetian heritage Venice is not only known as the city of canals, but the city of bridges. Since the structures float above the water, the only way to get across is by walking over one of the 400 bridges that connect them. The Bridge of Sighs, or the Ponte Dei Sospiri, connected the Doge’s palace to the prisons and offered prisoners a final opportunity to view the city before heading to the execution cells. Today, like the arched bridges of Venice, Louis Vuitton seeks to create a passage, but one that connects the past to the present and the Palazzo Ducale Venice Facade Monogram Inspiration | issue 44 | may / june 2013

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The MUVE, is a foundation that not only manages and helps develop 11 of the city’s most prominent museum, but also organizes cultural services including training, research and teaching with attention paid on social demand.

Today, the foundation has added one more duty to its list, and that is the restoration of ancient Venetian art. I personally sat down with Gabriella Belli, the director of MUVE, and asked her about the historical essence of the pieces and how they ensured that it maintained its spirit even after being restored. “This is our strength, she answered, and we are happy that we finally have the opportunity to show this part of our work to the public who is usually unaware that the piece of art they are admiring has been restored. Now we have the chance to put them on display, thanks to our collaboration with Louis Vuitton. The Venetian people can see for themselves the effort that we are putting into preserving our heritage.” The elegant Gabriella Belli has all the expertise to support her statements and an extensive portfolio that includes numerous directorial positions in art institutions and museums across her country. Her background is one of historical as well as contemporary art, and December 2011 saw her appointment as Director of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia.

“I think in Dubai, there’s an incredible acceleration towards the future and it’s important to connect it to values of the past.”

Geoffroy Van Raemdonck, president of Louis Vuitton South Europe

Gabriella Belli, Director of Muve

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With 700,000 artworks to manage, the foundation is the only cultural foundation in Italy and one of the few in Europe, to be self-financing and operating without public contributions. Thus, the support of private institutions such as Louis Vuitton in the protection of cultural goods is fundamental, according to Belli. During my conversation with her, she drew a parallel between the luxury house and the foundation, noting the perception they share of luxury. In her opinion, luxury is not about the finished result but about starting with an idea and going through the process of putting it into creation. “Luxury is about quality, creativity,

imagination and innovation,” she describes.

MUVE’s director hasn’t held back from praising the Maison’s commitment in the promotion of culture, the protection and transmission of Savoir Faire, and its ability to set a dialogue with international Cultural institutions.

Each restored work will be featured in a temporary exhibition at the Maison’s Espace Louis Vuitton Venezia, “where it will be interpreted through the eyes of a contemporary artist in order to demonstrate how different eras are connected to one another,” comments Geoffroy Van

is incredible, and with it, it reinserts an emotion. This is the most touching part.”

This collaboration still continues today with the restoration of other liturgical gold and jeweled objects. Most notably, the house contributed in the architectural restoration of the Venice Pavilion in the Biennale Gardens, where the world renowned contemporary art exhibition, the Venice Biennale festival, is hosted today. One of the 11 civic museums run by the foundation is the Museo Correr, located in St. Mark’s square and named after Teodoro Correr, a passionate Venetian art collector.

Charm Masque Venise

Raemdonck, the director of Louis Vuitton South Europe. The partnership is about creating links between the art of yesterday and today, as well as reflecting Louis Vuitton’s core philosophy: to preserve, pass on and bring alive a heritage that is always looking to the future. During his speech following the launching of the Maison Louis Vuitton in Venice, Michael Burke, the president of the luxury house, referred to the city’s contributions to modern-day democracy. The Espace Louis Vuitton, where the restored art work will be displayed seeks to serve a reflective purpose. By taking the art and history of Venice outside the “private” context of a museum, the contribution seeks to encourage a cultural dialogue between different types of audiences. This is why the collaborators choose particularly odd, engaging works which could interest and connect people from different worlds, ages, origins.

Being engaged in the restoration of Venice’s cultural heritage has been at the heart of Louis Vuitton for more than 150 years. In 2010, the House supported Venetian Heritage, part of the UNESCO Private Committees Program, in the restoration of the altarpiece in Chiesa di San Salvador, a 16th century masterpiece of Venetian goldsmiths’ art.

“Before being renovated it had a certain shining factor that had faded away, tells me Van Raemdonck. I couldn’t see the depth of the details that are engraved on it. I was aware of the restoration process but couldn’t quite conceive the emotion that one would have looking at it. I think every renovation

The museum is divided into 19 rooms and boasts a large variety of artifacts including world-famous masterpieces, wartime armory and nautical maps and charts amongst many others. I had the privilege to be guided into a corridor-like room, which is normally closed off to the public, where the museum safely preserved old masterpieces, biblical paintings and portraits of Venetian aristocrats and officials who served the republic. Through this passage, I was led into a darkened room with spotlights illuminating two large paintings that were in the process of being restored. It looked as though the expert was performing a surgery with his equipment, which included syringes and other similar tools, all laid out on the table next to him.

He used a special lighting device to show the exact points of damage and how they had been filled in, or repainted.

The patient, in this case, was a painting of Jesus Christ with a conniving Judas on one side and an angel on the other. Being in this somber room in the presence of such valuable art pieces took me back to the enclosed crypt underneath the Basilica in San Marco square, which had flooded and been restored several times. Seeing how we, today, were so determined to pay homage to our human ancestors and keep their work alive, gave me a sense of pride. The advancement of our civilization relies on our knowledge and appreciation of the ones that passed. The collaboration between Louis Vuitton and MUVE seeks to do just that, by encouraging the public to be more and more involved in such efforts. I can now relate to Geoffroy’s emotional reaction to the restoration of an art piece, afterall, seeing is believing.

Venice was the first to open its doors to the Arab world, hence the arabesque elements found across the city; and MUVE has long

established a relationship with the Middle East, with which it regularly collaborates.

“We were recently in Dubai, says Belli, since we’re working on a project together with the museums in the region on Islamic art. We have very important furniture and objects of Islamic art in our foundation.” Knowing the ongoing appreciation that people in the Middle East, and the Gulf in particular, have for Italian craftsmanship and luxury goods, they can now draw a parallel between art and luxury fashion. Dubai, a city that has built a reputation around a culture of luxury shopping, can benefit from being aware of the social corporate responsibility that is sometimes the driving force behind a brand.

“Commerce needs vanity; but a healthy ego,” said Michael Burke, the CEO of Louis Vuitton during his speech.

When we buy into a luxury brand, we make a statement of identity because we see it fitting into our self-perception. We relate to the certain item we bought, the way it was designed, its colour, the shape of its body or strap, the flashy or demure details, the famous people it was or is popular amongst, and the specific era it was first produced in or historical reference, amongst others. Most of all, a “healthy ego,” would entail having an appreciation for luxury that goes far beyond a monetary value. Since our initial decision was based on identity, because the item represents who we are, then shouldn’t we know who the brand is?

Venetian hotel label collected by Gaston Louis Vuitton

Saluti a tutti, from Venice!

Houry Seukunian

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S.T. Dupont

Celebrates 140 years of Exceptionality a&e meets with S.T. Dupont President, Alain Crevet and Sean Hepburn Ferrer, son of Audrey Hepburn for an intimate discussion about the brand’s 140th Anniversary Collection Earlier in February, a&e had the pleasure of meeting the President of S.T. Dupont, Alain Crevet and Sean Hepburn Ferrer, son of the legendary Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn.

Both gentlemen were present at the brand’s newly opened flagship boutique in Dubai Mall which tied in with the 140th anniversary celebrations. The collection included an elegant range of lighters, pens and leather goods, S.T. Dupont’s tribute to their legendary erstwhile customers - Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.

Alain Crevet

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During my lovely and inspiring conversation with both gentlemen, special guest, Sean Hepburn Ferrer asked me how many times I had found myself searching for my address book or lipstick in my bag using my phone’s flashlight. I had to admit that I find myself in such situations more than often which is when he and Alain introduced me to the new Riviera bag which is an absolute beauty that comes with a separate drawer painted in the

brand’s signature blue ink that is synonymous with royalty if you ask me. The drawer allows you to separate your beauty products and truly important items from the rest. A busy woman in a fast-paced world such as the one we live in today could really ask for nothing else when it comes to handbags!

As we carried on with our conversation, we spoke about the exceptional history of the brand and its extraordinary products created for both men and women such as the iconic Riviera bag! We also spoke about the origination of the term ‘bling’ and why legendary icons Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn used to fight like cats and dogs. It was definitely a morning of great information that we are delighted to share with you!

Sean Hepburn Ferrer

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Tell us a bit about the history of St. Dupont? How would you describe the St. Dupont brand to our readers and what in your opinion does the brand stand for?

Alain: It is an important year for us as we have been celebrating our 140th anniversary.

We remain very faithful to our founder, Simon Tissot Dupont’s vision and DNA. He had this little workshop in Faverges where we are still producing today and have always been. S.T. Dupont has always equipped the celebrities of the 19th and 20th century as well as French Royalty.

Original Riviera Bag

I believe Dupont’s vision was to make exceptional products for exceptional people and we have been trying to maintain this vision throughout the years. We have always had the same passion for handmade quality - everything we do is entirely handmade in Faverges and takes around 50 to 60 hours to complete.

Why have you decided to open one the brand’s flagship store here in the Middle East?

Alain: It was a very easy choice for us because we have been partners with the Chalhoub Group for a long time. In fact, the Chalhoub group started the business with just a handful of brands like Dupont and Christophle. We have been in the region for over 50 years and we have developed and continue to develop a unique relationship and bond with the Middle Eastern customers. In celebration of our 140th anniversary, we wanted to modernise and refurbish our store concept. We started in Paris with our flagship store in Avenue Montagne and now Dubai. We have over 20 flagship stores in the world and over 40 franchises all over.

Where are the brand’s largest markets today?

Alain: China is the largest market. Other large markets for us include the Middle East, France and Western Europe.

Where is the biggest in the Middle East?

Alain: Saudi Arabia.

Audrey Hepburn Night Collection

Can you describe the St. Dupont clientele to us?

Alain: Exceptional!

What are the best-sellers in the region? Which sector does best over here? Pens, lighters, leather goods, etc?

Alain: Historically, if you look on a worldwide basis, leather goods, pens and lighters have been quite balanced. However, in the Middle East - the art of writing is a big deal therefore pens do very great here. Our strategy is to keep investing in writing instruments but we are also investing quite a bit in leather goods - the original Dupont trait which is why

we decided to create the partnership with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart-two iconic Hollywood film stars because we were known for men’s products but we also wanted to show that we have exceptional designs for women as well!

With so much history, how does the brand remain sort of contemporary?

Sean: Dupont does not need to be contemporary. Some people do need to constantly throw new things to the market and make their products more colourful and outrageous however Dupont is not required to do so. They are on a separate freeway all together; a beautiful country road while everybody else is stuck in gridlock traffic. ›

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etc. My favourite is definitely the Bogi bag. I use it all the time as it is fantastic for a gym or weekend bag.

Audrey & Humphrey

a&e: That’s quite a brilliant way to put it!

Alain: It’s true. The original lighters from 1975 and the ones today practically look the same and both are just as appealing and contemporary. The sound is exactly the same as well. It is remarkable.

At this point, Alain and Sean both showed me their Dupont lighters they had acquired over 30 years ago and it was properly maintained and just as gorgeous as ever. I truly had heard, felt and witnessed the best of quality within those lighters.

Sean: It has been 20 years since my mother passed away. She is up there in her own right and so it seemed like a wonderful time to get together and celebrate with something that is elegant and does not require a push behind it of having to sell millions of units.

We could really relax with the collection. To answer the second part of your question, I do not have a favourite piece - I love them all because each piece is etched with beautiful craftsmanship and attention to detail. The focus was simplifying and purifying just as my mother used to do. Let me tell you something - my mother and Givenchy used to fight like cats and dogs because she used to take his dresses off the runway and would start taking everything off such as the ribbons or buttons. He was a young designer in those days and he would really go crazy!

Today, he would tell you that she was right which is why the little black dress remains so pure throughout times - because she purified it. We have applied the same rules in the collection so far and we will do so with the next collection where we will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Roman Holiday which was the start of my mother’s career.

Sean: I am sure you are familiar with the “bling bling” expression. It is being used by all the rappers nowadays! Did you know that it actually comes from the sound of a Dupont lighter? This has become sort of a second nature to what quality is all about.

That is incredible! I did not know that and I am sure our readers would be pleased and surprised to learn this. I know I am. Tell us more about the 140th anniversary collection? Do you two gentlemen have a favourite from the collection?

Alain: First of all, as I said - we wanted to have a very special association for the 140th anniversary which is why we decided to pick the two icons - Audrey and Humphrey because we wanted to dedicate it to both males and females. So, the whole 140th collection has been organized around that which gave us the opportunity to bring back some of our leather goods such as briefcases,

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Original Bogie Bag

What objectives would you further like to achieve?

Alain: We want to invest in higher quality products and even better associations than the ones we already have.

Sean: We also have plans for a charity project. Today, Dupont offers a service which with time could be endangered. I am talking about the bespoke piece service. If I were the company’s consultant, I would definitely try and get the local people to use the service and keep the department going otherwise it could atrophy over time and it would be a real shame as the custom-made pieces are beyond beautiful.

Going back to the 140th anniversary - what are we really celebration? We are celebrating a brand that doesn’t have to compete with itself or others. We are celebrating an actress who at the top of her career stopped acting so she could be a real mom. She could have continued and made millions more but that wasn’t the point. You can truly see how it all unites into a wonderful philosophy.

That’s why Dupont is a partner that matches our values.

Sean, what would you say is your favourite movie of Audrey’s?

Sean: The answer is the same as what is one of my favourite pieces in the collection – she made very few and they were all good. On a personal basis, there are some films that have a special meaning. I think Funny Face is one of those because I knew she originally wanted to be a ballerina but because of the war, she couldn’t train nor did she have the right figure and build. So her first dream was shattered which is what life really is. Our first dreams are always broken and we have to pick ourselves up after that. However, they are all perfect individual pieces and jewels.

That’s the way I view them and I can’t say I have a favourite. a&e: Thank you gentlemen for taking the time to talk to me and for gracing our readers with such great stories.

Alain & Sean: The pleasure is all ours!

Interviewed by Ylova Hamdan

Humphrey Bogart Bogie Bag

PORTFOLIO

Weddings Dear Adam & Eve,

Welcome to our Weddings portfolio. This special portfolio is dedicated to all brides and grooms to-be. It is the perfect read for all couples planning their dream wedding.

If you are just engaged, one of the first decisions you›ll make is where you will get married.

This is where we come in with our feature on some of the most beautiful and breathtaking venues across Dubai and the world. In this portfolio, we also include articles to guide you on your quests for the perfect planning, wedding attire, floral arrangements, beauty and preparation and the ultimate honeymoon destinations.

Planning your special day can really be a daunting task for both brides and grooms and so we have created this issue in order to assist and inspire. Your wedding day will be the most joyous and significant moment in your lives even if the preparation process proves to be nerve-wrecking. a&e suggests you listen to your heart’s desires and follow your dreams as you will then be bound to a lifetime of moving memories that bloomed from a celebratory ceremony.

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Passion Meets Planning at

Carousel of Life

Started in Dubai four years ago by businesswomen Zainab Alsalih and Leena Alsulaiman, Carousel began as a corporate event-planning agency with renowned clients such as Italian premium furniture group Poltrona Frau, Trump Towers in the Palm Jumeirah and the Architectural Association of the UAE. Two years ago, however, the founders decided to take a more creative trajectory and turned their attention to weddings; they haven’t turned back ever since!

The Carousel Girls’ mission is to help their brides enjoy the ride as they embark on this special journey - the road to the Big Day! So however you want to celebrate your special occasion, Carousel has the resources and the know how to help you realize it.

Their services include planning and event management, design and execution, bridal and entertainment services.

Further to their endless services, Carousel also offers a wide range of products including couture cakes, invitations and stationary, favours and gifts, an endless array of different types of flowers and ornate marquis and tents, all of which can be purchased ready or customized to your liking, theme and budget. a&e chats to the wedding planners about what they do best as they also offer their professional advice to our brides and groomsto-be!

What inspired you both to start Carousel? How did you get started in the wedding industry?

We both have a passion for life, love, and beauty; we also have a deep desire to make people happy and to help brides create their perfect wedding. We started five years ago as corporate event planners, until we planned our first wedding, and once we saw how we could bring genuine happiness to a bride, it was destiny. The experience was so emotionally rewarding, we knew we had found our calling.

The rest, as they say, is history – but a very beautiful and elegant history.

Tell us more about what it is really like to be a wedding planner? What’s a typical day for you?

Zainab Alsalih and Leena Alsulaiman

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Most people think that being a wedding planner is only glamour and fun, whereas there is certainly the glamour, and you always

enjoy doing what you love, however, what people don’t realize is how stressful our world is. When taking on the responsibility of making someone’s dream wedding come true, it is not an easy feat. There is a lot of sweat and tears that goes into each one of our weddings. We are there to make sure that they truly have a stress free journey and we do that by managing, preventing, or as a last resort, absorbing that stress ourselves.

A typical day for the Carousel Girls is spent at the studio designing and planning the weddings on hand, researching new products, materials, trends, and ideas and liaising with various vendors and suppliers.

We do a lot of running around sourcing materials and elements for our brides. On many days, you will find us with our brides on site visits, dress, hair and makeup rehearsals or food tastings. We spend a lot of time with our floral designers, designing and selecting centrepieces and floral displays for our weddings. However, our favourite time of the day is when presenting concepts and setting up mock tables for new brides and seeing the twinkle in their eyes when they begin to see the first glimpses of their vision turning to reality.

How would you describe Carousel in three words for our readers?

Passion, Creativity, Detail.

Why do you think couples should hire a wedding planner?

While all weddings should be planned and orchestrated by a capable wedding planner, certain weddings, lend themselves exceptionally well to hiring a planner, such as when you don’t have enough time to do the research necessary to finding, selecting and appointing the various suppliers and service providers. Planners have already done their research and legwork, and are in the know when it comes to vendors.

They also know what works and what doesn’t, and when a wedding might pose some significant and unique logistical challenges, such as tented weddings, outdoor weddings or destination weddings.

Tell us some of the major benefits of having a planner.

Hiring a wedding planner will not only save you time, money and energy it will ensure that you enjoy the time leading up to it, focusing on yourself, and those around you.

The last thing you need is to be chasing after vendors and supervising the set up process when you should be relaxing and having fun.

When couples are looking for a planner, what are the three most important questions you think they should ask during the meet?

Besides checking on their credentials, studying the portfolio and speaking to brides that have worked with them before, one of the most important things to consider when hiring a planner is Chemistry. Just like any other relationship, it’s all about the chemistry. Experience, talent, energy and creativity are fundamental, but without the right chemistry, the experience turns into a hectic process, instead of a pleasant, fun, and exciting journey. The wedding planning process is very long and the bride ends up spending many hours with her planner, so it’s very important for the bride to like and trust her planner. ›

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What are some of the best wedding themes you’ve created?

It’s very hard for us to pick our best weddings to date. It’s funny but we always joke about how our weddings feel like having a baby, they are all our children and we love them all equally, it’s hard to pick a favourite. Our favourite is always the one we are doing next - right now, it’s an “enchanted woodland” theme, and we just love how it’s coming together!

Is there a theme that you would love to work on?

Winter Wonderland.

Can you tell us some of your favourite current trends in the industry?

One of our favourite trends at the moment is jewel tones. Whereas the classical all white wedding is timeless, we love injecting some colour into our weddings. It just adds more life to the setting and makes for more vibrant centrepieces. We also love the ‘casual’ and almost festival-like approach that weddings are taking, making for a more fun atmosphere with photo booths, food stations and slouchy couches.

What things do bride worry about that they shouldn’t?

It’s sometimes hard for a bride to imagine the before and after images. What the venue looks like before we have set it up, and how it looks when we are done. They often can’t imagine how we are possibly going to make it

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happen, and they need not worry, we always make it happen. This is why our favourite moment is when the bride first enter the ballroom and finally sees it for herself – this is usually a makeup ruining moment – so many brides find it hard to hold back the tears of joy (and perhaps relief?).

Tell our readers more about the wedding packages offered by Carousel?

At Carousel, we tailor our packages to our clients’ specific needs and requirements.

Every wedding comes with its own set of deliverables. We have an a la carte approach, allowing each bride to create her perfect package.

Where do you go to find inspiration?

Each and every single one of our brides has been a source of inspiration. They are all beautiful and unique individuals.

What are some advice and tips that you can give to brides and grooms to be when planning their perfect wedding?

Dream - its only when they dream about their perfect wedding, that we can then make their dreams come true.

How about if you had to give them a planning checklist of 5 items. What would these be?

Start early, hire a planner, determine the guest list, select the ideal venue and last but not least set the budget.

Top Wedding Planning Do’s?

Work with the best vendors you can possibly find - do not try and be penny wise and pound-foolish!

Top Wedding Planning Don’ts?

What do you know now about weddings that you didn’t know before you started in the events industry?

We took for granted how much work is involved in creating the perfect wedding, and how much work goes into every little detail.

People may just walk in go past an element, and maybe give it no more than a passing glance, but the amount of thought and work that goes into everything is incredible.

Interviewed by Ylova Hamdan

Do not leave things last minute, and take no chances.

For more information, please visit www.carousel-of-life.com

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Turn up the luxury level by a hundred notches and you get an

Eventique Wedding

Not many people can afford a 3 million Dirham wedding, but those who can, choose to hire Eventique, who can bring into fruition everything that this amount of money can afford. The Dubai based boutique event and wedding management agency has organized ceremonies which hosted up to 2000 vip guests for Sheikhs, royals and other high end clientele. Detailed chairs can be custom made or imported by the hundreds, crystal gold candelabras can be crafted and flamingos may be seen lounging around an artificial lake, as part of a typical mood you may find at one of the agency’s wedding events.

According to Heba Rumhein, the director of Eventique, they have the resources to build floors, alter ceilings and shift the entrance to a large exhibition hall. The ideal time needed to make such arrangements is 3 to 4 months, but they’ve had cases where a 10 day interval was all they had between the client briefing and the wedding itself. The team was able to make all the bride’s extraordinary demands happen, fountains and all included, thanks to their large production team and the support of MBC group under whose umbrella they operate. Interior designers, marketing executives, graphic designers, planners, sales executives, admins and event creators all work long hours to make sure the final product meets the high end clientele’s expectations. Although the small agency is equipped with all the necessary logistics and support needed to put larger-than-life weddings together, there are some important

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facts they require from a bride before she comes in to meet them. Above all else, she needs to have a date in mind as well as a general idea for a location, without having to book the venue herself. “A client may book a very busy ballroom and request a white themed wedding which wouldn’t be feasible since ballrooms have detailed and colourful designs.” Heba doesn’t advise couples to book themselves if they want to have a specific theme to the wedding. If they were to choose an outdoor location with no hanging points, for instance, it wouldn’t be possible to put up curtains or add any ascending elements to the space. Simply said, the venue has to match the couple’s requirements in terms of décor as well as the number of people attending the event and the overall mood.

The planning process begins by getting to know the personality of the bride in order to zoom in on her different tastes. Since many of them are unsure of what they like, the team tries to draw inspiration from other events that might spark their creativity.›

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They sit in the showroom for 6 to 7 hours showing them singers, dancers, set ups, floral arrangements, colours and other wedding elements in hopes that they can get closer to figuring out the type of bride she is. Some of them may even request a dress, makeup artist or caterer which Heba’s team chooses based upon the cuisine that is suitable for the chosen theme.

A common mistake that many brides are guilty of making nowadays is leaving things to the last minute, according to Heba. They have the false impression that they have plenty of time to make up their minds which leads them to request for changes 5 days before the wedding. Other than last minute changes, some brides fail to share crucial information with their planner, which could end up disrupting the whole functioning of the event. Some guests choose to surprise the couple by hiring a famous entertainer, for example, not taking into consideration the technical elements needed to host this performance. The sound system for a singer

Details on the tables

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is different than that of a deejay, and if the event were to be taking place outdoors, it would be advisable to build a tent that restricts the sound from echoing. Some venues may even require an extra generator which would provide more power, if needed.

Of course the general public is usually unaware of those details which Heba is keen on, thanks to her years of experience in the event planning business.

Having also worked in the hospitality industry for 7 years, she can lend her know-how of the best hotel rates in the city to ensure that guests flying in for a wedding get good deals. Some couples book their guests’ stay, and then they realize that it’s not a holiday.

“Once we booked 200 rooms then they said it was too expensive, says Heba, because they hadn’t realized that it was a Russian holiday, a time when hotels get almost fully booked here.” During the week of New Years, hotels generally have a minimum stay of 7 nights which means that a wedding guest visiting for 2 nights would struggle with accommodation.

The Dubai International film festival is one of many festivals that attract a vast number of visitors to the city each year and taking all these elements into consideration, the agency can help couples pick the best time to hold their nuptials.

Generally speaking, the most popular month for weddings in the UAE, is March with September, November and December following suit. People from Iran and Nigeria have even enjoyed the wedding services of this boutique agency, but the main clientele are Arabs of a high caliber, including those who have spent a relative amount of years living in Western countries. Western expats usually have minimal taste and not much interest for extravagantly themed weddings, according to Heba. Gulf nationals, including Emiratis and Saudis, have shown a great willingness to experiment and have an open mind, thanks to their new found interest in travel. They are exposed to the latest in fashion and design, and have a clear view of what they like. They know they most popular florists by name

and many times they draw their inspiration from the world’s biggest fashion shows from international runways. The current trending wedding theme is a garden one with secret gardens, picturesque fountains and floral arches lined along the venue’s entrance.

The memorable visual adaptation of an enchanting garden in Dior’s Spring/Summer 2013 runway show perfected by the brand’s stage designers, became a hit with brides-tobe in the Middle East. Likewise, a previous Mumbai inspired show led many brides to choose a Bollywood theme for their wedding.

In order to put together such larger-than-life set ups, the team prefers to work with multipurpose and exhibition halls rather than ballrooms, since the latter usually have lower ceilings, lots of detailing, and carpeting on the floor which limits their flexibility. Although entertainment has remained fairly standard, with singers and presenters, clients from the Gulf are more and more appreciating performances in Italian, Spanish, French and English. Another element that’s remained timeless, is the flower arrangement. “Small arrangements are just not for weddings; says Heba, flowers are the essence of a wedding.

If the stage has no flowers then we make sure to scatter them across the rest of the venue instead.”

For the most recent wedding event that Eventique organized, the bride was unsure of what she wanted. While walking through their showroom she discovered a small fridge magnet which was a giveaway from another wedding. It was a mask from the Phantom of the Opera, and it quickly caught hers and her mother’s attention. After watching the film, the team was able to recreate the key elements including the water feature, the fire, the large chandeliers and candelabras, and the detailed statuettes. Each and every table was named after a certain mask and the bathrooms were decorated and filled with the necessary amenities, including perfume and breath mints stacked up in large glass jars. “We are one of the few agencies who go as far as to decorate the bathroom; said Heba, it’s nice to head over there after dinner and get refreshed. Many women hold small purses that don’t fit cosmetic products, so we try to at least have fragrances available for them.”

Speaking of operas, Heba would like to work on a wedding one day with a real theatre, leveled seating and an opera singer to serenade the crowd. Inspired by the ones in Paris, she hopes to build one of her own for the first time ever. The agency aims high with

its creations, without out ruling any ideas.

When it comes to safety however, she was adamant at turning down a bride’s request to be ascended from a 12 meter high ceiling, sitting on her couch! Multi-layered cakes breaking apart and wedding dresses being slit across the back are some situations their rescue team had to attend to. Their presence onsite is crucial and most times the smooth sailing of a wedding goes hand in hand with the vibe they get from a bride when they first meet her. Some brides are lovely to work with, and this positive energy usually rubs off on the event. Bridezillas and monsters-inlaw, let this be music to your ears! Or better yet, let it be the high pitched note of an opera singer that reaches the highest of decibels.

Text by Houry Seukunian EVENTIQUE is the exclusive all-service boutique agency that designs weddings and events of a luxurious caliber. Its mission is to be the trendsetter of high profile events by offering a unique level of services to its clients. EVENTIQUE’s team is comprised of talented stage designers, production specialists and experienced planners and specializes in everything from event management and consultancy to event design and execution.

For more info visit www.eventique.ae

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| photoshoot |

Emma - Diamond Cluster Earrings - Diamond Cluster Bracelet - Tiffany Victoria Line Necklace - Shared-Prong Set with Half Circle Diamond Band Ring - Tiffany Setting速 Diamond Ring Dress : MONIQUE LHUILLIER

Brides at Tiffany’s In between the romantic lace, layers of tulle, shimmering sequins, and defining bow; was a little blue box. Their future came wrapped in a white ribbon, filled with a loving promise to last a lifetime.

Alessandra - Archival Diamond Butterfly Brooch set in Platinum - Tiffany Enchant Scroll Earrings in Platinum with Diamonds - Tiffany Enchant Bangle in Platinum with Diamonds - Tiffany Enchant Scroll Band Ring in Platinum with Diamonds - Ribbon Round Diamond Ring Dress : MARCHESA

| photoshoot |

Alessandra - Archival Diamond Butterfly Brooch set in Platinum - Tiffany Enchant Scroll Earrings in Platinum with Diamonds - Tiffany Enchant Bangle in Platinum with Diamonds - Tiffany Enchant Scroll Band Ring in Platinum with Diamonds - Ribbon Round Diamond Ring Dress : MARCHESA

Emma - Diamond Cluster Earrings - Diamond Cluster Bracelet - Tiffany Victoria Line Necklace - Shared-Prong Set Diamond Half Circle Band - Tiffany Setting速 Diamond Ring Dress : MONIQUE LHUILLIER

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Alessandra - Tiffany Enchant Scroll Earrings in Platinum and 18k Rose Gold with Diamonds - Tiffany Enchant Bangle with Diamonds in Platinum and 18k Rose Gold - Tiffany Enchant Bangle in Platinum with Diamonds - Soleste Diamond Ring with Single-Row Pink Diamond Border - Three-Row Band ring in Platinum and Rose Gold with White and Pink Diamonds Dress : ROSA CLARA

| photoshoot |

Alessandra - Diamond Paisley Earrings - Diamond Paisley Pendant - Round Diamond Line Bracelet - Round Diamond Three-Row Melee Border Ring Dress : ZUHAIR MURAD

Emma - Lotus Diamond Opera Necklace - Round Diamond Three-Row Melee Border Ring - Tiffany Garden Diamond Earrings Dress : MARCHESA

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Emma - Yellow and White Diamond Feather Pendant in Platinum and 18k Gold - Yellow and White Diamond Earrings in Platinum and 18k Gold - Yellow Diamond Ring with White and Yellow Diamond Border Dress : ROSA CLARA

Emma - Tiffany Garden Diamond Earrings - Tiffany Garden Diamond Necklace - Tiffany Garden Diamond Bracelet - Soleste Diamond Ring

| photoshoot |

Emma ( LEFT ) - Tiffany Circlet Diamond Drop Earrings - Tiffany Circlet Diamond Necklace - Tiffany Circlet Diamond Bracelet - Band Ring with Channel-set in Platinum with Diamonds - Embrace Diamond Ring Dress : CAROLINA HERRERA Alessandra ( RIGHT ) - Tiffany Enchant Scroll Earrings in Platinum and 18k Rose Gold with Diamonds - Tiffany Enchant Bangle with Diamonds in Platinum and 18k Rose Gold - Tiffany Enchant Bangle in Platinum with Diamonds - Soleste Diamond Ring with Single-Row Pink Diamond Border - Three-Row Band ring in Platinum and Rose Gold with White and Pink Dress : ROSA CLARA

Emma - Tiffany Circlet Diamond Drop Earrings - Tiffany Circlet Diamond Necklace - Tiffany Circlet Diamond Bracelet - Band Ring with Channel-set in Platinum with Diamonds - Embrace Diamond Ring

Photographer : Fashion Director : Models : Hair & make-up :

Tina Patni Stuart Robertson Emma & Alessandra from Diva Models, Dubai Shin Desu

* Special thanks to ESPOSA Bridal Boutique & THE ONE

| the flowers |

The Language & Significance of

Wedding Flowers Flowers are one of the most important aspects of a wedding as they bring colour, life and aroma to a wedding celebration. They allow tables to look more beautiful and can transform a formerly dull space into a beautiful personality-filled one. Decorative flowers have been used in weddings for more than hundreds of years. From a simple bouquet and tiara to venue decor, flowers have made their way to happy couples and their guests on the special day.

Can you imagine a wedding without flowers? Is it possible to picture a garden without plants? Of course not! These beautiful gifts from Mother Nature are definitely essential to weddings and that is why we have selected some of the best wedding flowers for all brides struggling to find the perfect one.

Worth a thousand words The meaning of most flowers dates back to the end of the nineteenth century in England. During the Victorian era, the language of flowers created an ultra-romantic language for lovers’ correspondence in which flowers replaced words. Before you order your wedding flowers, we have listed down the language of each popular wedding flower and what they are best for in order to help better your understanding of these colourful scents of romance!

Calla Lily Calla Lilies are very fashionable wedding flowers that signify magnificent beauty which every bride wishes to be on her special day. These flowers add an element of elegance and sophistication to a wedding can be used on their own to create a simple yet striking bouquet or centrepiece. These tropical flowers are very popular in weddings and come in a variety of colours. They are light fragrant and available during spring and summer.

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Lily of the Valley In addition to trustworthiness, these fragile, small bell-shaped flowers also represent the return of love and happiness. They also carry a deep spiritual significance and are considered traditional marriage flowers.

These fragrant flowers are best for bouquets, in combination with other flowers and bloom in spring and summer.

Gardenia Gardenia flowers represent love, purity and joy. The delicate white flowers make for a beautiful, meaningful addition to a bouquet.

They are also best for boutonnieres. Many believe that the gardenia also represents hospitality, grace and secret love and in the 19th century England, the gardenia was worn on the lapels of men’s formal suits as a symbol of good luck. They are very fragrant and available year-round.

Peony

Hydrangea Hydrangeas traditionally stand for friendship, devotion and understanding. These are three things that every new couple desire as they begin their new life together. They hydrangea is the official fourth wedding anniversary flower.

They are best for bouquets and arrangements and bloom during spring and autumn.

Although peonies mean bashfulness, they are beautiful flowers work well in bouquets, arrangements, altarpieces and centrepieces. They are lightly fragrant and available during late spring. These flowers also have historical importance in Chinese and Japanese cultures as they have been cultivated in Asia for more than a thousand years. The peony is available in two main types - the herbaceous and the tree peony. ›

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Stephanotis

Ranunculus

These flowers are also known as the ‘Bridal Veil’. They are one of the most traditional wedding flowers you will find. They symbolise marital happiness and are great for bouquets and arrangements. These very fragrant, starshaped, waxy florets are available year round and are moderately priced.

Ranunculus represents radiant charm and attractiveness and boasts brains as well as beauty with its wide medicinal properties.

These mild-scented flowers are a costeffective alternative to roses and peonies and feature several blossoms on a stem with fernlike foliage. These flowers work best for the bridal bouquet, bridesmaid nosegays and even boutonnieres. There are available in many colours including white, yellow, orange and pink.

Rose

Sweet Pea

Roses are always associated with love and are by far the most popular flower used in wedding bouquets, corsages, buttonholes and table centres. This is not at all surprising as these flowers signify love, joy and beauty. Different coloured roses have different meanings with white roses indicating innocence, ivory roses showing fidelity, red roses depicting passion, and dark pink roses expressing the couple’s gratitude for having met one another. These flowers can either be lightly fragrant or very fragrant, depending on variety and are available year round.

The sweet pea which signifies “lasting pleasure” was first brought to England from Sicily in 1699 and the English have had a love affair with this delicate flower ever since. Its candy-like scent and ruffled blossoms make this an old-fashioned favourite in bouquets for the bride and her bridesmaids. The sweet pea’s many colours range from white to intense pinks and purples, and its scent can be strong and sweet. They are also great for garden settings and to place in vases. Sweet peas are available during late spring and early summer.

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Tulip Tulips are best suited to a spring wedding and come in a huge variety of colours including white and cream, pastel pink, yellow and peach as well as vibrant hues such as magenta, red and purple. They symbolise undying love and passion which makes them a perfect wedding motif. However, they are very fragile. The versatile tulip can enhance both elegant wedding settings and more casual venues and work well in bouquets, boutonnieres and table arrangements. Three main varieties more commonly used are the Dutch tulips, French tulips and parrot tulips.

There you have it – the ten best wedding flowers! Although it is sad but true, there are certain flowers that you should avoid on your wedding day (if you are superstitious). Here are the negative blooms: Christmas Rose, Fig, Foxglove, Larkspur, Lavender, Marigold, Mulberry, Raspberry, Red Carnation, Red Poppy, Rhododendron, Striped Carnation, White Poppy, Yellow Carnation, Yellow Chrysanthemum, Yellow Lily and Yellow Rose!

Let the language of flowers speak eternal love, romance and trust on your special day and let their scents please you and your loved ones if only for a celebratory while!

Now that we’ve established the good and bad language flowers - a&e gives you special tips on choosing a florist since we know that nothing about planning a wedding is easy!

1. Deciding on a Florist or Floral Designer Florists will definitely produce expert flower arrangements for weddings however they often use third-party suppliers. Hiring an independent floral designer is an excellent option for couples who want a truly special floral motif for their big day. Of course, they are more expensive but they are also artists. Floral designers also assist in tying flowers into an overarching theme and make your wedding an affair to remember.

The reason we suggest picking a floral designer over a florist is because florists tend to juggle dozens of orders simultaneously while floral designers can focus on you and your needs!

2. Collect Pictures All brides envision what they want their wedding to be like. The difficult part is getting the image across to your florist. Start keeping notes early, clip magazine photographs, collect files from online wedding websites and plunder Pinterest files for some great finds! The more information you can give your florist, the better!

3. The Budget Knowing exactly how much you want to spend is the key, both for your own sanity and your florist’s. If you are trying to figure out a reasonable flower budget – plan to spend about 8 to 10 percent of your total wedding budget on flowers!

4. Extras Knowing what sorts of extras you require will be a lifesaver! The more ground your florist can cover for you by getting everything done in one place, the better! One-stop shopping with a single versatile floral designer means coherent aesthetic and less wedding-planning headaches!

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Tie the Knot in Dubai Spectacular venues & packages

A wedding in Dubai is the perfect start to married life; the city we live in can truly be a romantic getaway fit for celebrities as it is known for its glitz and glamour. Boasting lavish hotels, sandy beaches and incredible fine dining, why should you leave the Emirates at all? If you are in search of a luxurious wedding, Dubai with its incredible skyline and unique charm is the perfect destination which is why we have compiled four of our favourite hotels in the city that offer unbeatable wedding packages for the glorious celebration of love and new beginnings.

The Address Dubai Marina

Atlantis, The Palm

a&e recommends brides and grooms-to-be to enjoy summer or winter weddings with a difference at the Address Dubai Marina. It is bound to be an affair to remember with the offering of a five star celebration complete with a handcrafted wedding cake, bridal accommodation and complimentary spa treatments.

Atlantis, The Palm offers an enviable selection of indoor and outdoor wedding venues, sure to please the fussiest bride. Whether it is a barefoot ceremony on the beach, a lavish reception for family and friends, a timeless white wedding or something out of the ordinary, Atlantis, The Palm, provides the ultimate canvas to transform these visions into reality. The resort’s five exciting new wedding packages will give couples plenty of options to make it personalized and special.

The venues include Asateer, Atlantis Ballroom, Dolphin Bay Hill, Dolphin Bay Beach, Silk and Spice Ballroom, Palm Grove, Barracudas and The Lost Chambers. You will notice that you will be spoiled for choice at the Atlantis with all the variety of venues and packages! The extravagant hotel also provides the perfect location for pampering hen nights, traditional henna parties and fun-studded bachelor parties in the run up to the big day!

Innovative tailor-made menus, exquisite attention to detail and elegant decor come together in the opulent setting of the Constellation Ballroom to deliver a wedding day that celebrates the spirit of romance.

The hotel’s packages are bound to sweep you off your feet and offer you an unforgettable start to married life. The ballroom seats up to 600 guests.

For more information, please contact The Address Dubai Marina on +971 4 436 7777 or meet.dubaimarina@theaddress.com

For more information, please contact Atlantis, The Palm on +971 4 426 0376 or events@atlantisthepalm.com

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JW Marriot Marquis Dubai Comprising two iconic towers, the newly opened tallest hotel in the world, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai stands elevated above Dubai’s Business Bay on Sheikh Zayed Road. A marriage of rich and colourful cultural inspirations and world-class design finesse makes it a destination with distinctive character and ambience.

The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai orchestrates outstanding events and creates wedding celebrations of a lifetime. Spectacular indoor and outdoor locations offer an ideal venue from intimate gatherings to grand wedding celebrations of 1,000 guests or more. Intuitive service and culinary expertise will elevate your wedding celebrations to another level.

Custom-made wedding packages are designed according to your needs by the JW Marriot Marquis Dubai such as the Premium Wedding Package, Luxury Wedding Package and the Marquis Wedding Package.

The main venues available for your wedding are Dubai Ballroom, Emirates Ballroom and Pool Deck.

For more information, please contact JW Marriott Marquis Dubai on +971 4 414 0000 or mhrs.dxbjw.sales.mgr.wedding.and.social. occasion@marriott.com

Park Hyatt Dubai Park Hyatt Dubai contains a building which holds the banqueting area (the Creek Ballroom) separately, with a dedicated entrance for privacy and exclusivity. The Creek Ballroom seats between 10-800 guests according to the set-up style. Moreover, the Park Hyatt is host to several scenic and spacious outdoor gardens such as Palm Garden and Fountain Garden which can capacitate for up to 250 people each in a cocktail style and 160 people each in a banquet style set-up. Park Hyatt Dubai offers specialized seating arrangements, dynamic floor-length table linen, fresh floral centre-pieces, standard in house lighting, complimentary valet service, dance floor and flower arrangements. Park Hyatt’s in house, award winning spa has numerous wedding packages which allow guests to book a slot the day before/morning of the wedding depending on requirements.

For more information, please contact Park Hyatt on +971 4 602 1234 or visit www. dubai.park.hyatt.com

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| the city venues |

Re-discover The Ritz-Carlton Dubai The legendary resort unveils its new guestrooms, facilities and a dreamy wedding venue

The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, the iconic beachfront retreat today unveils its eagerly anticipated new wing, complete with 148 new guestrooms and suites. The new facility also incorporate Club Lounge, sophisticated dining venues, a brand new spa concept, additional swimming pools, lush gardens and expansive indoor and outdoor events spaces ideal for both social celebrations and business gatherings. Adding a new dimension for luxury hospitality on

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Dubai’s beachfront, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai is an intimate oasis that perfectly blends the legendary Ritz-Carlton hospitality with the essence of Middle Eastern traditions, providing an authentic and intuitive service, a place where memorable experiences are crafted.

Consistently recognized in the Condé Nast Traveller Gold List as number one for service,

the Ladies and Gentlemen of The RitzCarlton, Dubai personify the ‘Let Us Stay With You’ philosophy that defines the brand’s service and style. “With the enhanced new room inventory and hotel facilities, I strongly believe that The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai will continue its legacy in crafting memorable experiences to our valued guests,” explains Raul Salcido, General Manager of The RitzCarlton, Dubai.

From the subtle splendor of its low-rise Mediterranean style building to the graceful interiors, the resort is nestled along the Arabian Gulf and occupies a prime location on Dubai’s cosmopolitan JBR Walk, an exclusive destination that has echoes of the French Riviera with a tempting promenade of al fresco dining outlets serving-up global cuisine and appealing retail outlets that blend high-end glamour with local souk-inspired offerings.

Within the resort’s new wing, regarded as “Shorooq” which means “sunrise” in Arabic, the new guestrooms and suites comprise 115 Deluxe Rooms, 13 Junior Suites - the resorts newest suite category, 18 Executive Suites and two opulent Ritz-Carlton Suites.

Each room benefits from sea-facing private balconies, enabling guests to experience an intimate escape in the heart of the city. For added luxury within a relaxing and refined setting, The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge offers the highest personalized service through an exclusive Club Concierge team complemented by numerous culinary presentations and unlimited premium beverages served throughout the day.

Ultimate gastronomic experiences are the cornerstone of The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai and the addition of a number of dining venues guarantees diners yet another culinary journey around the globe. Enjoy stylish gatherings within the premises of La Baie Lounge, an allnew outdoor destination serving an eclectic menu inspired from shores around the world complemented by home infused cocktails and sophisticated chill-out tunes. At Blue Jade, relish the exotic flavors from Asia, where calm surrounding and serene properties of the unique blue stone are harmoniously unified with a menu that highlights the aroma and spices celebrating the finest of the Far East cuisine, giving guests a tranquil dining experience.

For those looking for impressive events, magnificent celebrations or high-powered meetings, the resort’s new grand ballroom can accommodate up to 500 people, while a collection of well-designed day-light meeting rooms including a Majlis provide the perfect space for a more intimate discussions. The stunning outdoor pavilions exemplify the reputation for detail and excellence of The Ritz-Carlton.

The new Ritz-Carlton Spa completes the holistic resort experience where mystical Eastern influences blend seamlessly with European wellness. The spa, features nine multi-purpose treatment rooms, three private couple rooms with private terraces, separate relaxation lounges and a dedicated “hammam” area. There are also indoor hot and cold plunge pools, and an outdoor lap pool and multi-purpose fitness center, ideal for guests searching for a more active resort lifestyle.

Completing the whole resort indulgence are additional swimming pools which include a main meandering pool, shaded children’s pool for younger visitors and the resort’s brand new landscaped lawns and lush gardens that overlook the gleaming white sandy beach of the Arabian Gulf. With the bustling metropolis and the attractions of urban living on the doorstep, re-discover the hidden legendary gem in the heart of Dubai Marina.

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| the bride-to-be |

A Dress for Every Shape Trying on a wedding dress is exciting, but is also a big task that requires a lot of preparation. Wedding dresses are made for every body type and can be altered to fit each person perfectly. However knowing what style of dress will fit your body type before your appointment gives you a bit of a head start in the search.

One of the alluring aspects of fashion is that different types of clothes can show off the parts of your body that you like and hide other areas.

The way a dress is designed can thus provide the illusion of a wellproportioned body - all without dieting or plastic surgery.

Determine your body shape. For instance, if you have a small waist and your chest and hips have equal widths, you probably have an hourglass shape. A pear-shaped body has a bottom that's larger than the top. In an apple shape, most of the weight is carried in the center of the torso, and there is little or no indentation at the waist.

Hourglass: Hourglass-shaped women have hips and a bust line that are about the same width, with a smaller waist. Look for dresses with a dropped waist and sweetheart neckline. Other styles that fit this body type are a mermaid and trumpet dresses. Avoid ball gowns or dresses with an Empire-waist silhouette.

Pear: Pear-shaped women have larger hips and thighs, with a smaller upper body. Look for strapless ball gowns, Empire-waist dresses, dresses with a V-shaped neckline, or anything that has a skirt that flares out from the natural waist. Also look for sturdy fabrics like satin. Avoid dresses with a clingy fabric, halter necks and mermaidstyle dresses.

Apple: Apple-shape women have a rounder waistline, larger breasts and smaller hips. Look for dresses that cinch at the smallest point on the waistline, have an A-shape and flare out, a deep V-shaped neckline, or that create a corset around the body. Avoid dresses that are mermaid or trumpet shaped, or that cling to the widest part of the body.

Triangle: Triangle-shaped women have the silhouette of an inverted triangle, with shoulders that are wider than hips. Look for dresses that are straight cut or bias cut, full ball-gown styles, have halterstyle necklines and dresses that emphasize the hip area with bows or other embellishments. Avoid dresses with low necklines, wide necklines and full sleeves.

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Rectangle: Women who are rectangle-shaped don't have a lot of

curves and are straight-lined. Look for a dress that create curves, such as structured-bodice ball gowns, ones that are cut on a bias, have an Empire-style silhouette or wider neckline. Avoid straight-cut dresses and high-necked dresses.

Full-Figure: Full-figured women have larger breasts, round hips,

a stomach and more of a backside. Look for a ball gown, an A-line silhouette dress, a dress made from structured fabric like satin or a dress with an Empire seam that begins just under the bust line. Avoid dresses that are too loose, made of flowing fabric, have spaghetti straps or are of sheath-style.

Tall or Petite: If you're a tall bride, find a dress that is simple with a lower waistline and a hem that touches the ground. Long sleeves should be hemmed past the wrist so they don't look too short. Avoid dresses with many embellishments. Petite women should look for simple dresses, trumpet-style dresses, ones with a modified A-line or a sheath. Look for ones that have a waistline that falls above the natural waist, to create a taller appearance. Avoid dresses like ball gowns, calf-length gowns and anything with a dropped waist.

Small or Large Chested: Small-chested women should look for a dress with a bodice, a halter neck, or a dress with more fabric up top.

Avoid dresses that will make the chest look flat. Women with large chests should opt for dresses with a scooped neckline or a sweetheart neckline, either with or without straps. Avoid dresses with extra fabric up top as this can add volume.

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| the white dress |

Bride of 2013!

The Breathtaking

M

any trends- jewelled details, long sleeves, Lace-and-Tulle combo, cascading peplum and bold floral-dominated the

Spring 2013 Bridal runways, together signaling a new direction for

all brides. Last season's sexy backs returned for Spring 2013 having softened the focus on bare skin with sheer panels of tulle, re-worked lace, and keyhole closings. While the emphasis is still on the bride from reverse, it's with more romance than seduction that she holds our attention. Silhouettes in general gravitated toward coverage, a sign that Duchess Kate's Alexander McQueen wedding gown still reins supreme a year after the royal wedding.

Peplums also offered a high-fashion escape this season, injecting wedding gowns with a dose of haute style using both structured and softly draped shapes. And brides needn't fear added volume at the hip-peplums of the right proportion are great for defining a waist on both boyish and curvy figures. Not sure which of spring's trends are right for you? Have them all with a convertible gown, which employs removable skirts, trains, and capes to transform your ceremony dress into a distinct reception look. ›

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Carolina Herrera | issue 44 | may / june 2013

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Badgley Mischka 162

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Douglas Hannant | issue 44 | may / june 2013

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B | the white dress |

Georges Hobeika 164

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Lanvin | issue 44 | may / june 2013

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| the white dress |

Monique Lhuillier 166

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Marchesa | issue 44 | may / june 2013

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| the white dress |

Issa @

NET-A-PORTER

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Lover Lace @

NET-A-PORTER

Rochas Taffeta @ NET-A-PORTER

Antonio Berardi @ NET-APORTER

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| exclusive interview |

Esposa Bridal Boutique

In March 2013, Dubai witnessed the opening of multibrand bridal boutique, Esposa. The Bridal Atelier is the premier bridal salon for upscale, sophisticated brides from around the world and offers a wide selection of gowns from top of the line bridal designers in an intimate salon setting. The collections are bound to transport you into a world of beauty where your wedding dreams of wearing the perfect dress come true! a&e speaks to Kristie Romanos, Buyer & Operations Director of Esposa Boutiques about the collections that are stocked and why Esposa should be your go-to place when on the search for the perfect white dress!

Where Wedding Dreams Come True

Kristie Romanos with Models

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theme of the wedding can be a difficult task!

But fortunately our new bridal consultant is ready to guide you so that searching for your perfect wedding gown becomes more enjoyable and less stressful.

Kristie, tell us more about yourself and Esposa.

The “Esposa experience” started in 1986 in Beirut. I’m the Operation Director and the Buyer of Esposa boutiques in Beirut, Sao Paolo and now in Dubai. I’ve spent my lifetime at the forefront of fashion. I am known for my nonchalant approach to style and luxury.

I’ve done my Fashion Marketing Masters in Italy and had extensive training for Bridal consultantancy in New York. I cultivated new design talent as well as internationally recognized designers for the store and for a unique bridal shopping experience.

What helps to make finding the perfect gown easier at Esposa?

At Esposa, there is the possibility of choosing the style you want, from any existent dress or photo or from scratch as well as the possibility of proposing any modification, in order to customize the dress, and a special Couture will be ordered in our Atelier in Italy.

What are some of your favourite bridal designers?

Why did you decide to bring Esposa to the UAE? Esposa Bridal Atelier is the premier bridal salon for upscale, sophisticated brides from around the world. Beirut,Sao Paolo and Dubai have one common character being cosmopolitan cities. The new Esposa salon, located in Jumeirah 1, reflects the owner’s belief that women today seek environments that make a statement, that express a point of view and that offer them more than the wedding dress.

Do you have any further plans of expansion? We’d love to know about it?

An expansion plan is drawn for Esposa, and I hope that by end of 2013, a new address will be revealed to you, in the Middle East.

Lazaro

Tell our readers some of the brands that you carry at Esposa?

Esposa offers a wide selection of gowns from top of the line bridal designers in an intimate salon setting. Esposa bridal collection captures all of the whimsy, romance and ethereal beauty of “fairytale princesses”.

Wonderful and sumptuous gowns designed by Carolina Herrera, Marchesa, Zuhair Murad

by Rosa Clara, Lazaro , Savina Deluca, Enzoani, Esposa Couture, La sposa by Pronovias… just to name a few, are awaiting every bride-to-be, to offer her all the choices to find what she truly desires.

Also, we are honored to announce the launching of the fabulous brands Monique Lhuillier and Oscar De La Renta exclusively in Dubai.

Why Esposa? Why should brides-tobe choose Esposa to be their go-to boutique?

Definitely because of our Bridal Consultant.

Choosing wedding dresses is perhaps the bride’s most difficult task. A bride needs to make herself the most beautiful in the room along with other tasks such as wedding preparation details which are already too stressful.

La Sposa

Whether you are tall, short, petite, chubby, pear-shaped, have long neck, full waist or full hips, there are so many styles, colours and fabrics to select from. Choosing the perfect wedding dress that suits your style, mood and

Of course, the designers who work with us because they know how to redefine the limits of what a wedding dress can look like.

What new designers can our readers expect to find at the boutique soon?

Esposa is always working with new designers to surprise the brides. We will keep A&E readers updated always!

What advice would you give to a bride struggling to find her perfect dress?

When you're unsure about which wedding dress to choose, it's important that you consider which is the most true to your personality and personal style. Select one that makes you happy and makes you feel most like yourself! Step away from the dresses and see which one you dream about.

When it comes to wedding dresses, for your own wedding, would you buy or rent a dress?

No matter, my desire is to find the dress of my dreams.

Last but not least, how do you imagine your perfect dress on your wedding day to look like? Describe it to us!

Simple and elegant, definitely! I will also be signing it with my unique touch.

Interviewed by Ylova Hamdan

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| bridal accessories | Tiffany Diamond Tiaras Etro

Ileana Makri Earrings @ Net-A-Porter Sophia Kokosalaki Belt @ Net-a-Porter

Swarovski

Miu Miu Headband

Embellishments HEIRLOOMS @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Balenciaga Jennifer Behr @ Sophie's Closet

Miu Miu Baume & Mercier

CH Carolina Herrera

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Chloe

Roger Dubuis Velvet

CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane @ Bloomingdale's

Carla Atala

Jennifer Behr Headwrap @ Sophie's Closet

Oscar De La Renta Deepa Gurnani @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Roberto Coin

Lanvin Blanche

Carolina Bucci @ Net-A-Poter

Rosantica Hair Slide @ Net-A-Porter

Paule Ka Gloves

Lara Bohnic @ Boutique 1

Kenneth Jay Lane @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

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| bridal accessories |

Tonya Hawkes @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai DVF @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Aila

Bulgari

CH Carolina Herrera

Purses

Paule Ka

Oscar De La Renta

Lanvin Blanche Alberta Ferretti

Vintage Chanel @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

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Jimmy Choo

Kotur @ Boutique 1

Marni @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Manolo Blahnik @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Jimmy Choo

CH Carolina Herrera

Lanvin Blanche

Etro

Lanvin Blanche Robert Clergerie @ Saks Fifth Avenue

Christian Louboutin @ Net-a-Porter

Shoes Jimmy Choo

Oscar De La Renta

Moschino

Balenciaga

Versus

Paule Ka

Ruthie Davis @ Saks Fifth Avenue

Alexander Wang @ Harvey Nichols-Dubai

Emporio Armani

Oscar De La Renta

Jerome Rousseau @ Saks Fifth Avenue

Christian Louboutin

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| bridal accessories |

Passionata

Wolford

Carine Gilson @ Net-A-Porter

Myla @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Lingerie Chantelle

Simone Perele

Agent Provacateur

Intimissimi

Nayomi

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KLynn

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MARCHESA

Full Page Advert

LAZARO CYMBELINE PA R I S

ESPOSACOUTURE

LA SPOSA by pronovias

Now Open in Dubai Jallad Bld. Banks Street. Downtown. Beirut tel/fax +961 (1) 990 454 Green Mall. Dbaye Highway tel/fax +961 (4) 540 099 www.esposalb.com

00

| the groom guide |

Choosing Your Tux

You have finally proposed marriage to the woman of your dreams. Her acceptance now means that you must prepare for one of the most important days of your life where you will stand beside your bride in that “picture perfect moment”. The lasting memory of your wedding day will be immortalized in photos and videos. Choosing the perfect tuxedo and accessories is vital thus making the task quite daunting.

Proper fit is the key when it comes to dressing the men in the wedding party, especially the groom. For most people, their focus will be more on the bride’s attire. However, it is necessary to realize the importance of the groom’s tux as it usually compliment’s the bride’s gown, hence making the whole look of the wedding complete and more appealing to the eyes of their guests.

Choosing a Tux that suits your body A tuxedo can make anyone look great provided that it is the right tux for their body style. Here are a couple of tips that will assist you in selecting the perfect tuxedo for you.

1. If you have a lean frame but not very tall, be sure to choose a tuxedo set with a lowbutton stance. Also, make sure that it doesn’t have more material that you need so that that the tuxedo does not look too big on your frame.

2. If you are heavy but not very tall, plan to find a single-breasted tuxedo and make sure that the tux isn’t too tight.

3. If you are tall and lean, then you are in luck. Almost all tuxedos look great on your body type.

4. If you are tall and muscular, your best bet is to find a tuxedo with neat lines and not a lot of bulk. Just keep in mind sizing issues and make sure that the suit is well-tailored.

Types of Tuxedos Cutaway or morning coat: This coat is for the most formal morning weddings. The coats are usually black or grey with a single button at the waist and one broad tail at the back. Usually, this style of coat is worn with a winged-collared dress shirt, ascot and striped trousers. It can be made a bit less formal with a patterned tie in lieu of the ascot.

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Dinner jacket: The dinner jacket is usually in classic white or ivory. It works very well in the summer months or in warm climates, in the afternoon or evening and it is considered a very appropriate substitute for a standard tuxedo.

It is great for a casual wedding or a rehearsal dinner. These jackets look the best with formal black trousers with a side satin stripe.

Traditional tuxedo or black tie: This is usually worn after 6 p.m. but can appear at a formal daytime wedding anytime after noon. A black or grey jacket with a single button is the most classic. These jackets usually have a shawl, peak, or notched lapels. They are worn with matching flat-front trousers, bow tie and suspenders, vest or cummerbund.

Stroller coat: The stroller coat is a variation of the morning coat, usually hip length. It looks good with fancy waistcoats.

Updated black tie: This evening suit is a newer variation of the classic tux with the satin trim on the lapel and pants legs, albeit subtly. These tuxes are worn with a black shirt and a regular tie in lieu of a bow tie, and often with a belt rather than suspenders. ›

Tails: This type of a jacket is one that is short in front with two longer tails hanging in the back. It is usually worn with suspenders and a white pique shirt, vest and a bow tie. It is very formal, indeed.

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| the groom guide |

Now that we are done with understanding the types of tuxes available as well as which one would look good on your body type, we talk to Toby Bateman, Buying Director of MRPORTER.COM. The site recently launched its wedding store where you will be able to select a category from city wedding, country wedding or beach wedding, then shop an edit of specially selected products from brands including Gucci, Richard James, Boglioli, Lanvin and Etro. The Wedding Store is a permanent section of the MRPORTER ‘What to Wear’ tab, and will be regularly updated with seasonal clothes and accessories suitable for every type of wedding.

Tips for Stylish Grooms by

Toby Bateman, Buying Director MRPORTER.COM

2

Preparation is key. Assemble the entire outfit to check it looks good, well before the event itself. Ensure the suit is clean and pressed, and the shirt laundered. Having spent time putting together a sharp outfit make sure it’s in good shape for the big day by using a suit carrier to travel, then unpack immediately and hang everything up to minimise creasing.

1

Establish the dress code and work out what it means - "black tie" may be obvious, but things such as "summer chic" are unhelpfully opaque. The key is to be smart without looking like you’ve just popped out of the office. The blue suit is a faultless option; keep one good lounge suit not subjected to the daily grind of professional life for weddings and smart dinners.

( MULBERRY SUIT CARRIER )

3

Check the weather forecast - consider sunglasses or a hat if sunshine is promised or, alternatively, make sure you have a good umbrella.

( ALEXANDER MCQUEEN BLUE SUIT )

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( BORSALINO PANAMA HAT )

4

Your choice of accessories can make or break a wedding outfit. Let the formality of your outfit guide your choice of cufflinks, from precious metals for formal outfits, to simple silk knots for more relaxed combinations.

7

Sometimes a suit can feel very formal for a beach wedding, or one that’s taking place in the height of summer. Try a soft shouldered and unlined jacket, which could be double breasted and sophisticated in a neutral shade, informal in checked cotton or simple and plain (the easiest to wear.)

8

If the setting is likely to involve very high temperatures, linen is a great idea. It’s hard to beat a linen shirt in the heat, and this season Boglioli has an ivory coloured 3-piece linen suit, which would be highly wedding appropriate.

( LANVIN CRYSTAL CUFFLINKS )

5

Add some visual interest to an otherwise sober suit with a colourful pocket square, or try a summery bowtie.

( MAISON KITSUNE SEERSUCKER JACKET )

9

The obvious shirt colour is white, and there wouldn’t be anything wrong with wearing one, but a pale blue or pink shirt is a summery alternative. Let colour lift your look with this pink shirt by Brioni, the colour will look particularly sophisticated against grey and navy.

( RICHARD JAMES FLORAL POCKET SQUARE )

( BOGLIOLI LINEN SUIT )

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Consider your choice of tie. A patterned silk tie is the smartest and most conventional choice, but between chambray cotton, fuzzy wool and knitted silk there's a selection of casual styles that convey insouciance just as eloquently as an open collar.

6

Make sure to wear new shoes a couple of times before the wedding day so that they're ready to dance in.

( JOHN LOBB OXFORD SHOES )

( BRIONI SHIRT )

( J.CREW TIE )

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| books |

Essential Wedding reads In between the planning and the stressing, surely a bride or groom-to-be can find some time to relax and read a book.

Especially if that book addresses their upcoming nuptials, we say: the more inspiration, the better!

1

500 Wedding Rings: Celebrating a Classic Symbol of Commitment

Wedding rings symbolise commitment and eternal love - but in the hands of the world's most creative jewellers they become works of art and this breathtaking book showcases a stunning collection of contemporary, handmade wedding bands and engagement rings for men and women.

Masterfully set diamonds stand alongside conceptual designs that reflect a cutting-edge approach, such as Etienne Perret's ring made for two fingers. The large gems in James Kaya's sleek platinum setting, by contrast, seem almost suspended in air; it's the tension of the surrounding metal that holds them in place. For jewellers in search of new ideas and those about to whisper "I do," these designs provide beautiful inspiration.

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2

Green Wedding: Planning Your Eco-friendly Celebration

Green awareness is no longer fringe, or the province of the left. It is more and more part of our cultural lexicon, a source of investment and policy and on its way to becoming a core value. As more people ask 'What can I do?'. They are finding more services and products to help them live a sustainable lifestyle. Today couples getting married fret over all the waste: of spending thousands of pounds on flowers that will wilt away, on a gown that will never be worn again, on party gifts that will go straight into the bin. And how about all that fuel-burning travel by out-of-town guests, all that plastic for favours, decorations, or utensils that will sit in a landfill for centuries?

These couples can elope or they can buy "Green Wedding", a savvy, authoritative, insightful guide that will help readers conceptualize the wedding experience to reflect the I-care-about-the-planet values of the bride and groom. This book takes the reader from engagement to honeymoon and after, along the way introducing them to the world of carbon offsets and seed-embedded invitations. This will be the comprehensive guide to going green for the wedding, touching on every possible situation that the bride and groom may encounter, combined with helpful tips, a look at the overall importance of environmentally friendly livin, personal stories and photographs of couples who have created wonderful weddings that were also environmentally friendly

3

Handmade Wedding Crafts With Handmade Wedding Crafts, you can create beautiful items at a fraction of the cost of buying new, often in a far more environmentally-friendly way and all with a vintage flair. Betty Bee's 35 step-by-step projects show you how to make your bouquet, centrepieces, invitations, favours and more. Each chapter covers a different theme, so you can stick to one or mix and match. Incorporate some 1920s chic into your wedding with 'Jazz Baby Bride' - with a feather boa fascinator and vintage brooch corsage. Head to the 'Fabulous Fifties' chapter for a vintage plate cake stand and bundles of bunting for postwar-inspired prettiness.

For shabby chic style with a nostalgic twist, try 'French Fancies', with a birdcage wedding card mail box and perfect lace parasol. Finally, discover ideas that are a little quirkier in Modern Retro - from felt flower table decorations to a distressed crate flower holder. Whether you are planning an intimate ceremony or a celebration for hundreds of guests, Handmade Wedding Crafts is packed with original ideas that you will love to make.

The Ultimate Wedding Planning Kit

4

The Ultimate Wedding Planning Kit is the most useful and comprehensive wedding planning tool ever created! This attractive and functional kit contains nine great products to help the engaged couple plan the most important day of their lives! The beautifully designed carrying case conveniently holds an array of items. ›

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| books |

Plan the Perfect Wedding on a Small Budget

5

For the millions of engaged couples who are trying to plan their weddings on smaller budgets, comes the newest wedding planning book from America's top wedding experts. The tips, inspiration, ideas and planning advice in this book will prove that couples can have a beautiful, personal, memorable wedding for $10,000 or less -- less than half of the national average.

6

Wedding Inspiration Internationally recognized lifestyle and entertaining expert Kimberly Schlagel Whitman shares an intimate look at real weddings with stylish flair in Wedding Inspirations.

Experts in the wedding and event planning industries share opinions and advice on some of the most important elements of a wedding-the invitations, gown, cake, venue, and more. Includes exclusive advice from Laurie Arons, wedding planner and designer, Laurie Arons Special Events

Boutique Wedding Cakes

7

An elegant wedding cake is the perfect finale to a wedding breakfast.

Whether you are making a cake for your own wedding or for a friend or relative as a thoughtful gift, Boutique Wedding Cakes will show how fabulous cakes are within everyone's reach. Expert baker and sugar-crafter Victoria Glass guides you through the process - from choosing the perfect cake, baking and decorating, how to deliver and present the cake, as well as adapting the recipes to guest numbers.

The Basic Techniques teach you how to achieve professional-looking results and step-by-step photography demonstrates clearly how to assemble your spectacular-looking cake. As well as practical advice there are 19 stunning designs for you to follow, ranging from Classic Elegance to the Bold, Bright & Beautiful, each accompanied by their own cake recipe - from a traditional fruit cake to a green tea and ginger sponge.

Whatever your taste, you can create an unforgettable wedding cake that is truly unique to you - whatever your baking ability and whatever your budget.

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8

Vogue Weddings: Brides, Dresses, Designers

Spectacular book of nearly 400 photographs of the weddings and wedding dresses of royalty, social figures, models, artists, actors, musicians and designers which have appeared in Vogue through the magazine’s 120 year history.

Here are ethereal brides photographed by Cecil Beaton, George HoyningenHuene, Baron de Meyer, Patrick Lichfield, Edward Steichen, Robert Doisneau, Tim Walker, François Halard, Patrick Demarchelier, Jonathan Becker, Norma Jean Roy, Mario Testino, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Irving Penn, Arthur Elgort, Steven Meisel, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz, Bruce Weber and Craig McDean among others. These photographers have captured brides across America and abroad, posed for formal portraits, or captured in the excitement of moment of their wedding day.

9

The Good Housekeeping Cookbook: The Bridal Edition: 1,275 Recipes from America's Favourite Test Kitchen

Good Housekeeping magazine is an American icon of consumer protection and quality assurance. Each issue reaches 24 million readers and, with 15 editions published worldwide, it is an internationally recognized brand that sets the standard to which all other women's service magazines aspire.John Grisham, the undisputed master of the legal thriller.

Royal Weddings & Events It is impossible to put down a copy of "Raymond Couity, Royal Weddings and Events" without studying it closely from cover to cover. Every page is a miniature work of art describing in photographic detail Raymond Chouity's outstanding range of design solutions for his royal client's varied and personal events. Orchids by the thousand, gold leaf by the kilo, jeweled velvets and priceless antique crystal tableware - each plays an unforgettable role on the stage that is Raymond's creative genius come to dramatic life.

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Amazingly no two royal weddings look alike - even though many were held in the same banqueting rooms - for Raymond Chouity has captured the unique personality and preferences of his bride; a quality that has endeared him to the Saudi royal family for two successive generations. High level diplomatic dinners, royal honeymoons, VIP parties, celebrity proposals - each chapter is a veritable treasure trove of sparkling ideas and unlimited surprises. Discovered as a painter by the famous author Anais Nin in 1971, Raymond Chouity has contributed to art exhibitions as far afield as New York, Adelaide and Bombay. His passion for painting will be eternal and his legacy will remain in important private collections all over the world.

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| exclusive - beauty |

Bobbi Brown’s Bridal Beauty Spring 2013

Make up by Eliano Bou Assi- Head of Artistry for EMEA Photography-Charney Magri / Hair styling by Shindesu / Model-Michelle at Bareface

Meet the Expert

ELIANO BOU ASSI

Artistry & Special Events Manager EMEA Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Eliano Bou Assi’s passion for beauty was inspired by his parents. With his mother working as a makeup artist and his father as a hairstylist, makeup artistry was a natural career path for Eliano. He began his career with Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in 2004. In his role as Manager of Education, Eliano is responsible for communicating Bobbi’s philosophy, education message and artistry techniques to customers, makeup artists and the media.

“I handpicked Eliano to join my Beauty Team because of his extensive beauty experience, makeup skills, and his ability to bring out the natural beauty in any woman” said Bobbi.

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What are the steps that a bride should take ahead of wedding day in order to prepare her skin for a perfect makeup?

To prepare your skin for your big day make sure: • Drink plenty of water and fresh juices as it will help the skin glow.

• Don’t pluck your eyebrows directly before the wedding day, as it may leave the skin red ( pluck them at least 3 days before ).

• Sleep at least 8 hours per night as it will help your skin to regenerate new cells.

• If you have dark circles, apply fresh sliced cucumber over them to reduce dark circles and puffiness or try Bobbi Brown’s Extra Eye repair cream.

What are the limitations in terms of makeup for the wedding day, can a bride do a strong makeup with black eyes?

Be who you are when it comes to your wedding makeup. Always remember that your makeup wedding is not only for today it's for life. So its always best is to apply a simple makeup were you look your best and not too made up. A wedding makeup look should be timeless and usually the more simple, the better it will be. Long wear collection is the first and best choice for brides for many reasons: • It stays all day long on the skin once properly applied.

• You don’t need to touch up during the day, this make up stays on.

• It' s water resistant so it resist hot weather and humidity here in the Middle East.

Some brides like to do their own makeup what will be your 3 golden rules?

• Book your lesson with a Bobbi Brown Makeup Artist for a step by step tutorial for best techniques • Describe the style that you like and how you want to look on your wedding day and share it with your makeup artist • Take a picture of yourself after the makeup to see how you will look on your wedding day. This will act as your guide.

Be who you are and try to avoid exaggerating colour. The trend now is more and more for simplicity, fresh skin and a more modern look

What are the common mistakes that brides do?

• They apply Foundation that is not same colour as their skin.

• They Apply Concealer that is too light that it shows white in flash photography Concealor should only be one shade lighter than your skin colour.

• They Apply too much powder that it makes skin look dry and cakey.

• They choose makeup colours based on their dresses colour and not colours that suit them and enhance the beauty of their eyes.

Make up credits: Michelle Wears Long Wear Foundation Warm Beige Powder Blush in Desert Pink Long Wear Cream Shadow in Antique Gold followed by Caviar Eyeshadow all over upper eye socket and around the lower lashline Everything Mascara in Black and an addeditional application of Lash Glamour Mascara for added definition

Step by step:

MU Credits: Face: Michelle Wears Long Wear Foundation in Warm Beige Pot Rouge in Desert Rose to give the cheeks a hint of colour Lips: Michelle is wearing Rich Lip Colour in Hollywood Red Eyes: Long Wear Cream Shadow on Eyes in Goldstone Long Wear Gel Eyeliner-Black Ink across upper lashline and smuded along lower lashline No Smudge Mascara on upper and lower lashes

The right foundation should make you look like you're not wearing any - just like you naturally have even, perfect skin. Blend foundation with a Foundation Brush, try Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation, so it makes your skin look smooth and flawless. Apply Long Wear Cream Shadow in Goldstone all over the eyelids. Next apply Long Wear Gel Eyeliner with a brush carefully to the upper lashline and finish with 2 coats of Black No Smudge Mascara. With a lip brush, apply Old Hollywood Rich Lip Colour which is beautiful and long lasting. Use the Rose Shimmer Brick on the temples and into your hairline for a beautiful glow.

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| exclusive - skincare & haircare |

The Wedding Glow

Tips for Flawless Skin from Elemis

Anantara spa, Emirates Palace

free toner right after cleansing to balance out the skin’s PH. Eat a healthy balanced diet, drink lots of water and get your 8-hours of beauty sleep because great skin starts from the inside. Don’t neglect your neck and chest area as when forgotten, it can show the signs ageing. Last but not least, give your skin some oxygen; stop smoking as it prematurely ages the skin!

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A Wedding is one of the most important occasions in any girl’s life. And if there is anything that a bride-to-be wishes for, it is to look her prettiest on her big day. Besides having the perfect wedding dress and hair & makeup that compliment the outfit, it is also important to have flawless skin, which includes your face & body. a&e speaks to Emma Cobb, Elemis’ Trainer & Skin specialist who had some great tips to share with us and our brides-to-be on how to achieve a radiant complexion. She says it is best to start a bit early and not to wait till the end. Here are her tips!

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Book a consultation with a good spa and discuss your concerns and expectations with your therapist. Recommended facials include the Oxygen Skin Calm Facial, S.O.S. Purifying Facial, or the Visible Brilliance Facial.

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Always do a patch test before starting a new skin care program and check for any allergies. It is best to avoid breakouts & allergic reactions than to treat them!

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Don’t pick at your skin: Break outs usually last just 3-5 days, but when you pick at a blemish, the red or dark mark that lingers can be there for 1-2 months or more! Don’t give in to temptation and let your therapist treat the affected area during your monthly session

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Dedicatedly follow your daily skin regime: It is as simple as 1-2-3! Make time for the daily morning and evening ‘Cleanse-ToneMoisturize’. Also make sure to use SPF of minimum 30 during the day and reapply every few hours. Add weekly exfoliation and mask application. Don’t forget that it is important to use products that are suitable for your skin type. It is always beneficial to use an alcohol-

Don’t neglect your body: Treat your body just as you take care of your face. Get the monthly body treatment so you feel fresh, smooth and are glowing when you finally walk down the aisle. It is suggested that you dry body brush every morning, exfoliate your body every week, exercise regularly and drink plenty of water!

Don’t ignore your body when preparing for your wedding. Book a relaxing body massage at your favourite spa. a&e loves Anantara Spa and Sensasia Urban Spas where you can indulge in anyone of Elemis’ body treatments for complete relaxation.

Finally don’t let pre-wedding day jitters get the best of you. The Elemis Quiet Mind Temple Balm will help you soothe your anxieties in a snap. One drop on your temples or ear lobes will help you instantly relax and reboot. Stash this tiny bottle in your bag for those near-meltdown ‘bridezilla’ moments.

Elemis will help you to achieve the perfect, radiant glow. To order your favourite Elemis products and to check the spa closest to you go to www.elemis.ae.

Bridal Hairstyle Trends Styles that Speak Volume

So, you’ve got the perfect dress Angelique Turner and the glow of perfect skin; what about your hair? This year’s bridal trends range from classic to contemporary. We speak to award winning freelance hair and makeup artist, Angelique Turner who picks her top four bridal hair trends for 2013. Angelique has worked with celebrities and countless brides so we suggest you take her word for it! She was a makeup artist for Christian Dior and Revlon cosmetic houses before moving to Dubai from Australia in 2010. Whether it is your wedding day, a special occasion or event, Angelique is passionate about creating flawless looks to boost your beauty and confidence. Here are her top favourite hair trends that will allow our brides-to-be to figure out just exactly what kind of bride they want to be on their wedding day! dresses with details on the back they want to show off.

The Vintage Bride This style is perfect for the bride who wants a vintage look. It is very Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and never goes out of style.

This look is created by twisting or braiding the hair along both sides of the head bringing each side to meet in the middle. At this point you can unleash your creative side with either intricate detailing or a simpler crescent chignon.

The Glamour Bride

It is created by first blow drying the hair smoothly and sectioning the hair in half.

Backcomb the top section to create the beehive volume and smooth out with a bristle brush. Next shape the top section to the desired height and secure with pins at the back. Twist the bottom section into a simple and clean chignon to complete the look. A headband or birdcage veil will compliment this style.

The Princess Bride The polished ponytail is a big trend for 2013.

This look is perfect for the bride with long thick hair (or willing to wear extensions!). It is simple and elegant with high impact. The polished ponytail is created by blow drying

the hair smooth but maintaining volume. Curl the hair with a 1.5 inch barrel curler to add extra volume to the ponytail or leave straight, smoothed out with a serum as desired. Sweep the hair up into a high ponytail and cover the hair tie with either a braided section of hair or with an accessory of your choice. A string of pearls or crystals would be a nice touch.

Definitely a red carpet, show stopper style!

The retro curls deep parted in a sleek and glamorous finish would compliment a strapless wedding dress.

The Romantic Bride Braids and twists are still on trend for 2013 making this pretty Renaissance inspired updo perfect for those brides wearing romantic

Use hot rollers to curl the hair and set with hair spray until the rollers cool. Remove the rollers and set with a curling spray.

For further information about Angelique Turner and for appointments, please visit www.angeliqueturner.com

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| bridal preparation |

Deluxe Treatments for the Luxe Bride

The Cure Beauty & Wellness Lounge We cannot think of anything better than The Cure’s very special bridal package which involves a half day of salon pampering. The package will ensure a feeling of beauty, calm and confidence on your most wonderful day with their treatments that feature a Shellac/Gellish mani & pedi, a luxurious boost facial, a full body wax and so much more. The bridal make up applied by highly qualified makeup artists will ensure you display nothing less than a healthy and glowing skin on your special day.

For further information, call +971 4 3916485 or visit www.thecure.ae.

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Sisters Beauty Lounge Sisters Beauty Lounge is another one of our favourite salons. Their custom-made bridal packages offer special discounts on treatments for brides while preparing for their special day. Aside from a 10 percent discount, the salon’s bridal package also comes with a free photoshoot from Tasneem Al Sultan who is a leading Dubai-based portrait photographer known for artistic wedding photography. Sisters Beauty Lounge, the salon of choice for UAE ladies with discerning preference in beauty services, has announced the launching of custommade bridal packages offering special discounts on treatments while preparing for their special day.

For more information, call +971 4 3398500 or visit www.sistersbeautylounge.com

Embassy of Beauty Medical Spa The newly opened celebrity medical spa offers high end treatments in Dubai Marina, some of which are perfect for brides! We definitely suggest the Biologique Recherche Facial and the Remodelling machine for lifting and volumizing effect for a glowing face. To prepare your body for the big day, we highly recommend the Biologique Recherche Lift CVS Booster which is a complete skincare that exfoliates, lifts, restructures, firms hydrates and protects the body against exterior aggression. What are you waiting for? If you are looking to experience quality treatment before your wedding day, Embassy of Beauty is definitely right for you.

For further information, call +971 4 432 4909

Tips & Toes Tips & Toes’ special spa day package for brides includes a Tropical Oasis Body Scrub which is a body treatment to exfoliate and moisturize the skin leaving it silky and smooth. This is then followed by the Body Wrap, which uses a thermal blanket that helps to reduce cellulite and remove dry skin.

The package also includes a spa mani-pedi and a plantomer facial which is a healing and hydrating facial that leaves skin nourished with a healthy glow. Tips & Toes’ special package is fit for a princess which is what every bride wants to be on her wedding day!

For further information, call +971 4 399 0550

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| engagement rings |

The New Colour Code

engagement rings featuring

vibrant gemstones

If you're looking for the latest most popular trend on engagement rings, then you should dig designs featuring a coloured gemstone as the star attraction. The imaginative brides-to-be are painting a more colourful picture for their future. These rings make an excellent choice for a piece of jewellery you will be wearing every day, and there is no need to restrict yourself to a certain dim or transparent colour when there are yellow, pink, green and purple sapphires to consider. Rubies, long associated with passion and love, make a dramatic choice too.

Beyond the big three - emeralds, sapphires and rubies - one of the biggest evolutions in jewellery has been the sheer magnitude of different-coloured precious stones. Natural coloured diamonds make up only 1 per cent of global production, which means they are inevitably expensive. But before you balk at the price, consider that they are a good investment, too. Set aside the fact that coloured diamonds are becoming an increasingly fashionable alternative to the classic white diamond engagement ring. Demand for coloured diamonds - particularly yellow, pink and blue - is at an all-time high. There are not enough to go round, which makes them more covetable - and valuable.

Their scarcity has a lot to answer for - price, demand, exclusivity - but were it not for their kaleidoscopic beauty, that would be irrelevant. Given their extreme beauty, you won't find coloured gems encrusted in engagement rings in many jewellers' windows. As is often the case, it is the independent designers who are experimenting with the more unusual colours. It might be a radical departure from the traditional engagement ring, but think of the joy it will bring you every time you catch a glimpse of it on your finger.

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One-of-a-kind Van Cleef & Arpels Pierre de Couleur Bonheur ring in platinum, with a central ruby and diamonds

Chaumet Josephine ring in pink gold with diamonds and a pear-shaped rubellite.

Baroque 18ct rose gold ring, set with a rough red ruby

Harry Winston Incredible Radiantcut Yellow Diamond ring in 18ct yellow gold with platinum

Ingle & Rhode bespoke Vintage engagement ring, set with an oval-cut 1.4ct fancy yellow diamond

Tiffany & Co. Tiffany yellow diamond ring. Tiffany ring with a fancy vivid oval yellow diamond, 7.31 carats, with yellow and white diamonds in platinum and 18 karat gold

Theo Fennell Pink Sapphire and Diamond Butterfly Ring in 18ct white and pink gold

Calleija The Pink Princess engagement ring in platinum, set with 1.52ct natural Australian Argyle Pink diamonds

Tiffany & Co. Tiffany pink diamond ring. Tiffany ring with a rectangular modified brilliant fancy deep pink diamond, 1.14 carats, with white diamonds in platinum\

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| engagement rings |

Tiffany & Co diamond and gemstone rings in platinum, set with a cushion-cut green cuprian elbaite tourmaline, above, and emerald-cut alexandrite, below

One-of-a-kind Van Cleef & Arpels Pierre de Couleur Hirondelle solitaire ring in platinum, set with a central 1.79ct cushion-cut emerald and round diamonds

David Yurman Classic Three Stone engagement rings in platinum, set with a ruby, emerald or two sapphires, with smooth or cabled bands

Gilan Coloured Diamond ring White gold with white diamonds and emerald

Faberge Solyanka Vera ring in 18ct white gold, set with 129 diamonds totalling 1.81ct. The centre stone is an ethically mined 8.27ct Gemfields cushion-cut emerald

Hirsh London ring set with an emerald-cut emerald and pear-shaped diamonds

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Boodles Vintage sapphire and diamond ring in platinum set with a cushion-cut blue sapphire and surrounded by a further 1.20ct of roundbrilliant diamonds

Dior AngĂŠlique Ring

Tiffany & Co. Tiffany blue diamond ring. Tiffany ring with an oval fancy vivid greenish blue diamond in a diamond and platinum setting

Harry Winston Oval ring

One-of-a-kind Van Cleef & Arpels Pierre de Couleur Couture solitaire ring in platinum with a central 1.65ct oval-cut sapphire and round diamonds

Susannah Lovis Aquamarine and Diamond Deco Ring

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| style – wedding guests |

Glamorous Guest Looks

You have received your invitation in the mail, picked out the perfect wedding present and then it hits you - what on earth should you wear?

Some invitations may tell you how to dress in accordance with the theme of the wedding but if nothing is mentioned, here are some tips and choices to help you out. With these selections of outfits, it will be hard for you not to steal the bride’s thunder!

Firstly - we need to establish the facts that if the wedding is to be outdoors, you need to avoid anything that will get caught in the wind - no wedding ceremony wants to see a battle between the winds and your modesty! Also, avoid high heeled shoes that will sink into sand or grass.

And if it is a hot location, avoid thick dressy suits and opt for breezy dresses to help you keep your cool. If the wedding should take place indoors at a fancy hotel ball room and such venues, select an outfit that is more tailored and dressy. These facts both apply to day and evening weddings.

To make dressing up on trend a bit easier, we have compiled accessories and looks featuring Pantone’s SS13 gorgeous colour trends which include shades of blue, nude, red and violet and of course the colour of the year, Emerald alongside other spring colours.

Weddings Under the Sun

Linen Salvatore Ferragamo Laura Mercier @ Harvey Nichols

Guerlain Maxi Shine Lipgloss

Too Faced Boudoir Eyes @ Sephora

Make Up Forever Pro Finish Compact Foundation

Bulgari

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Shadow Paints

Loewe

Georges Hobeika

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Christian Louboutin

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Paule Ka

Aigner

Grayed Jade

Coralia Leets @ Saks Fifth Avenue

Alexis Bittar @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Oscar De La Renta

Lancome Hypnose Drama Eyes Palette

Kotur @ Saks Fifth Avenue

Cashhimi @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Alberta Ferretti

Pinko

Georges Hobeika Oscar De La Renta

Coach

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| style – wedding guests |

Dusk Blue

Alyssa Norton @ Boutique 1

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Palette

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Nail Polish & Kajal

Alexis Bittar @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Mawi Dina JSR

Charlotte Olympia Purse Aigner

Oscar De La Renta

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Paule Ka

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Sophia Webster@ Bloomingdale's

Lemon Zest

Murmure by Spirit @ Bloomingdale's

Etro

Jennifer Behr @ Boutique 1

Miu Miu Asprey Woodland Earrings

Laura Mercier @ Harvey Nichols

Sephora Scented Nail Polish

Alexander McQueen

Dior

Gucci Tory Burch Cashhimi @ Harvey Nichols

Manolo Blahnik @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Palestyle @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Gianvito Rossi @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Burberry

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| style – wedding guests |

Tender Shoots

Anton Heunis @ Harvey Nichols

Illamasqua Lip Gloss Shoot

Oscar de la Renta @ Saks Fifth Avenue

Edie Parker @ Saks Fifth Avenue

Serpui Marie @ Boutique 1

Diane Von Fürstenberg

Dolce & Gabbana

Dina JSR

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Manolo Blahnik @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

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Dior

Giuseppe Zanotti @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Weddings Under the Moon

Emerald

Oscar De La Renta

MZUU @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Marni Oscar De La Renta

Isharya

Ben Amun @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Shadow Paints

YSL Nail Polish

Ciate Nail Polish

CH Carolina Herrera

Mawi @ Etoile La Boutique

Bulgari

Lanvin

Toujouri @ Etoile La Boutique Gucci Zuhair Murad @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai Charlotte Olympia

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| style – wedding guests |

Courtney Lee @ Harvey Nichols

Monaco Blue MZUU @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Isharya

Ciate Nialpolish

Bassam Fattouh Eyeliner

Alberta Ferretti Emilio Pucci @ Stylebop

Zagliani @ Etoile La Boutique Sophie Hulme @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Jimmy Choo Gucci

Matthew Williamson Versus

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Gianvito Rossi @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Le Silla

African Violet

Alyssa Norton @ Boutique 1

Swarovski

Dannijo @ Etoile La Boutique Chanel

Guerlain Eye Palette

Illamasqua Nail Polish

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick

Jimmy Choo

Bulgari

Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti

Jimmy Choo

Dior Alberta Ferretti

Rupert Sanderson @ Level Shoe District

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| style – wedding guests |

Gucci

Nectarine

Anton Heunis @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Tom Ford Lip Colour Shine

Kenneth Jay Lane @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai Sephora Lip Gloss Pencil Monique Lhuillier @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Clarins Lip Balm

Sophia Webster@ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Alexander McQueen @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Versace

Kotur @ Boutique 1

Etro Jenny Packham @ Boutique 1 Aperlai, camoscio @ Level Shoe District

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Poppy Red

Eddie Borgo @ Saks Fifth Avenue

CH Carolina Herrera

Artdeco @ Paris Gallery

Lipstick Queen @ Citruss TV Marchesa @ Harvey Nichols

Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Flushed @ Sephora

Oscar De La Renta

Edie Parker @ Saks Fifth Avenue

Chloe

Giorgio Armani Prive

Alexander McQueen Oscar De La Renta

Alexander Wang @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Gianvito Rossi

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| style – wedding guests |

Trendy Wedding Goer Looks to choose from CH Carolina Herrera Men A navy blue suit with the white shirt, black bow tie and lapels, and white pochette is a chic choice for a day to night celebration.

Alexander McQueen

Ermenegildo Zegna

This black and white suit boasts golden accents in the form of dragonflies on the lapels, body and sleeves of the jacket. The tie is wider than usual and the dress pants diminish in size around the ankles. We chose this look for guests who want to remain classical for a ballroom wedding all the while showing their fashions sense with bold statements here and there.

Zegna’s camel tone suit in light leather pays homage to the colour savvy formal wear that was trending in the 70s. We chose this look for a glitzier ceremony where you want to make a statement with bolder nuances.

Be sure not to experiment with the shirt underneath, however, if you don’t want to risk looking like Austin Powers. Navy blue, white and light brown would be modest colours to opt for the inner layer.

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Prada

Etro

Hackett

Prada’s most recent ensembles to hit the runway, were striped on the inner thighs and colour blocked on top. This look is for those who want to experiment with geometric shapes without looking like a kaleidoscope.

For laid back yet trendy weddings on the beach, we chose this unexpected boho chic suit ensemble from Etro. The rich flowing silk, makes us think of sky lanterns flying above the shores of Phuket. The brand’s flawless mix of patterns and light yet rich colours, bring an Oxford-like elegance to the Indian sandals.

Hackett’s modernization of The Great Gatsby, introduces three-piece suiting cut from wools, linens, silks and cottons. In a palette of cream, ivory, bone and summer white teamed with tobacco and mocha tones, this story heralds a new era of sophisticated summer dressing.

Ralph Lauren

Loewe

Viktor&Rolf

This is a great alternative to a suit for fashion forward trendsetters. Ralph Lauren’s touch of Lilac is super masculine thanks to the dominance of the dark chocolate brown colour. The shirt is perfectly balanced between fitted and loose with folded sleeves that add an extra volume of edginess.

Loewe’s colour combination is another one of our favourites. A statement is made with a popping jolt of coral, and moderated with different shades of white. We are especially fond of the spring scarf peeking beneath the collar.

This seemingly oversized suit from Viktor&Rolf in a coral shade with peach accents, challenges the norms of a traditionally fitted suit. You may forget that you’re wearing dress pants and a jacket, which is ideal for day time, outdoor weddings.

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| style – honeymoon fashion |

Travel in Style The City Explorer

The world is filled with romantic cities. If you are one to enjoy the buzz of city life and the vibe of busy crowds, then cities are definitely the right pick for your honeymoon. Whether it is a stroll down Times Square in NYC, admiring the romance of the Eiffel Tower in Paris or daytime lunches in London take a look at our style picks for the city look. We absolutely love the chic retro look from Moschino. Don’t forget your bathing suit! The city hotels certainly know how to keep you glued to their pool-sides.

Fendi

Paule Ka

Pandora

Alexander McQueen

Burberry

Michael by Michael Kors

Marc Jacobs Daisy Sunshine

Marc by Marc Jacobs Tech Chloe

Miu Miu @ Net-A-Porter

Kate Spade

Moschino Charlotte Olympia

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Kate Spade

Since you’ll be walking around the city during the day, jumping from one place to another, you definitely need flexible day-to-night outfits. We like the light denims from Boggi, because they come in different colours and look great with their bottoms folded. The t-shirt, casual men’s shirt and striped belt combination make for a great laid back, sporty, yet stylish look. When packing the right pairs of shoes, think of a cross between the Louboutin skate board shoes and Pulchrum’s playful Oxford boots with their comfortable rubber soles.

Loewe

Thomas Pink

Etro

Boggi

Hackett

Boss

Christian Louboutin

Pulchrum @ Saks Fifth Avenue

Prada

Tumi waistpack

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| style – honeymoon fashion |

Weill

The Culture Seeker

Paule Ka

Hop on board the ‘Orient Express’. Honeymoons in the Far East offer a lot of cultural experiences for those seeking to soak up unknown heritage and some sun as well. Honeymoons in gorgeous destinations such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand will allow for lots of cultural adventures, romance and quiet beach time. If culture is your game, then these style picks are perfect for you. The casual dress from Gryphon is perfect for the exploring during the day while this Oriental inspired look from Issa will definitely have you fitting in fashionably during your romantic evenings.

Parfums De Marly - Safanad

Maui Jim Isharya Bloomingdale's Isharya @@ Bloomingdale's

Estee Lauder Pleasures Eau Fraiche

Dior

Mawi @ Harvey Nichols Marianna G

Anya Hindmarch

Lanvin

Gryphon @ Boutique 1

Cambridge Satchel @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Marni @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Issa @ SaksFifthAvenue

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Marni

Alaïa @ The Outnet

While your lady may envision herself lounging on the beaches of Phuket, you think about refined dinners in the panoramic towers of Shanghai, Tokyo, and Singapore.

Etro’s paisley patterns and Alexander McQueen’s expanded butterfly wings visuals are statement enough to be worn with clean cut white pants. A dragon emblem and accessories in exotic reptile skins add that necessary extra touch of elegance that reflects the region’s heritage.

CH Carolina Herrera men

Alexander McQueen

Etro

The Luminor Submersible from Panerai

Car Shoe @ Harvey Nichols

Samsonite

Kardinale @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Bottega Venetta

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| style – honeymoon fashion |

Zimmermann @ The Outnet

The Daring Adventurer While it is true that sipping on a cocktail while lounging on the beach will never lose it charm, some newlyweds are using their honeymoon as an opportunity for some great adventure. If you are one to embark on a Himalayan Road trip or Ruin Hike in Cambodia, we pick some really fashionably comfortable items for you to take with you. We absolutely adore the stylish sneakers from Ruthie Davis and Hogan.

Jeans, sweaters, and bandeau bikinis can be incredibly sexy especially with these picks!

Lacoste

Iris & Ink -@ The Outnet

Police 30th Anniversary Sunglasses

AG Jeans @ Bloomingdale's

Lacoste

Mih Jeans @ Net-A-Porter

CK Shock Street Edition

Le Coq Sportif Bleulab @ Saks Fifth Avenue Mini

Faith Connexion @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

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Ruthie Davis @ Saks Fifth Avenue

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Hogan

Drawing inspiration from Ralph Lauren’s mountain hiker, with his beige shorts and rainproof jacket underneath an ethnic one, we put together pieces that embrace the environment just as much as the athletic man’s sense of style. We’re particularly fond of this season’s Tumi backpacks, since the brand is so keen on compartmentalizing; having in mind every single item that may be carried along.

Maui Jim CT Scuderia Designed by Enrico Margartielli, the CT Scdueria

Lanvin

Tumi Sahara backpack Ralph Lauren

DSquared @ Harvey Nichols

Armani Exchange Ralph Lauren

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| style – honeymoon fashion |

Isharya @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

The Resort Dweller

Eugenia Kim @ The Outnet

This typical honeymoon truly does stand the tests of time and gives you a chance to completely engage in each other and picturesque landscapes. Pack a bunch of bathing suits, straw hats, totes and flats if you plan on spending your honeymoon on an island resort. Think colourful, floral and relaxed for your wardrobe essentials such as the below from Chanel and Blue Marine! Don’t forget a reliable pair of sunglasses as you are going to soak up a lot of sun on the beach.

We love these shades from Maui Jim which is the fastest growing polarized sunglass maker in the world providing advanced protection using PolarizedPlus2 - the latest lens!

Maui Jim

Kate Spade Melissa Odabash @ Net-A-Porter Heidi Klein @ Boutique 1

CH Carolina Herrera Nina L'Eau Aigner

Weill

Dolce & Gabbana

Stella McCartney @ Net-A-Porter

Chanel

Chloe Anna Sui for Tumi

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Blumarine @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

The combination of shorts and long sleeves and swimming trunks and collared shirts take you from beach side fun to afternoon lunch in the swanky lounge. We particularly like the season’s short suits trend, like the one from Maison Kitsune. The citrusy green, lightly striped ensemble, matched with white espadrilles, is the ideal outfit to wear during the day in a luxury resort. We‘ve picked out similar items in refreshing colours from Carolina Herrera, Prada, Ralph Lauren and Robert Graham. It’s up to you to mix and match as you please!

Coach

Loewe

Robert Graham @ Harvey Nichols - Dubai

Emporio Armani Maison Kitsune on MR. PORTER Limited edition “Golden Trunks” showcase the traditional Vilebrequin golden embroidery.

Prada

CH Carolina Herrera men

Ralph Lauren

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| style – honeymoon fashion |

The Sea Sailor If large, luxury ships and cruises around the world are your thing – then indulge in the colour blue to become one with the sea. Bathing suits, hats, nautical stripes and sunglasses should fill your in-built wardrobe on the ship! We love this outfit from Dolce & Gabbana for a relaxed evening look beneath the starlight on the decks.

Thierry Mugler Angel Aquachic

Tory Burch

Dior

Pandora

Melissa Odabash @ Net-A-Porter

Kate Spade

Louis Vuitton Beauty Case @ The Luxury Closet

Coach Legacy Weekend St. James Canvas Large Striped Tote

Dior Repetto

Dolce&Gabbana

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CH Carolina Herrera

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If you’ve decided to take a cruise ship and tour the islands of Greece, we pictured you looking like Eden Park’s fisherman, with the short swim trunks, water-proof jacket, and boat shoes. From the ship’s deck to the crowded streets of Santorini.

Kiehl's

Tracy Watts @ Harvey Nichols

Armani Exchange

Sand @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai

Coach

Eden Park Boss

Christian Louboutin

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The Wine Connoisseur Finally taking that trip to Cape Cod or Tuscany? Blend in with the beautiful scenery with this gorgeous Mother of Pearl dress and enjoy your classy and social evenings with this look from Chanel. Don’t forget your picnic basket! There is nothing more romantic than a picnic on wine lands!

Paul Smith

Bulgari Guerlain

Oscar De La Renta

Loewe

Dolce & Gabbana

Aigner Mother of Pearl @ Net-A-Porter

Moschino Cheap and Chic Kate Spade Picnic Basket

Bulgari - Isabella Rosselini Collection

Wolford Ippolita @ Bloomingdale's-Dubai Marni @ The Outnet

Giorgio Armani

Chanel See by Chloe

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Alexander McQueen

When we think of Provence and Tuscany, we are reminded of Russell Crowe’s “A Good Year,” which gave us a charming and romantic look into the culture of winemaking . For the connoisseur who wants to discover the essence of this age old tradition and experience the atmosphere of a vineyard, the fashion inspiration is one of bohemian nonchalance. We’ve chosen Bottega Venetta’s hippie-chic tunics and loose silhouettes and paired them with shoe sandals or perforated peasant shoes.

Paul Smith

IWC Ingenieur Black Series Prada Platinum by Loewe This fragrance is designed for the sophisticated, sensitive and observant man, much like the one who enjoys developing his wine tasting skills on the Italian countryside. The resulting aroma is elegant with notes of black tea and leather creating a perfect balance with fresh lavender.

Bottega Venetta

Paul Smith

BB washed @ Bloomingdale's

Cambridge Satchel @ Harvey Nichols

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SANTONISHOES.COM

Full Page Advert SANTORI

Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer Collection 2013

“For the Spring 2013 collection I was inspired by the vibrant bohemian spirit, the artistry of things hand made and personal style that is as rich as it is romantic."

- Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren’s spring 2013 collection brings to life palettes of jewel tones and stark black, white and gold united in worldly themes and modern silhouettes.

The collection follows the path of a free-spirited beauty whose eclectic style reflects a life of glamour, adventure and modern elegance. Accessories include silk fringe, ornate beadwork and laser-cut leather demonstrating the artisan craftsmanship that defines this seasons luxurious accessories.

Stephanie Jacket worn with Casey Pant Accessories: Straw Gaucho hat Silk Mousseline Bandana, Tooled Top Handle with Engraved Lock Bag. (as over) and Ashton shoes.

The embroidered Romero jacket worn with cap sleeve crewneck & Patrizia skirt

Ralph Lauren tooled top handle bag with engraved lock

Patrizia bolero worn with Roxana evening dress

Scroll tote bag, available in red, black and white

suede Naomi top and hand crochet skirt

Dierdra shirt worn with beaded Natalie skirt

Connery shirt worn with Felipa skirt & embroidery waist belt

Ralph Lauren Scroll Fan Clutch

Ralph Lauren Jecelyn shoe

Augustina evening dress worn with tooled suede Mendez jacket

Ralph Lauren Scroll shoe

Adele dress, worn with Jecelyn shoes

| a&e interview |

Save Your Sole With a little professional help from The Cobbler

The Cobbler concept was entirely designed and launched by marketing expert Sibylle Arnold-Shish, with her husband. Born and raised in France, with a professional background gained across Paris and London, they quickly identified a gap in the market for upscale shoe repair and quality formal footwear for men, upon their arrival in Dubai in 2008 thus the Cobbler was created. a&e interviews Sibylle about this newly established company and their services.

Sibylle Arnold-Shish

Tell our readers more about yourself and your background?

My name is Sibylle Arnold-Shish. I am originally French but came from London to settle down in Dubai in 2008. I used to work in marketing and brand management, in the cosmetics industry. Shortly after moving to the UAE, my husband and I identified a gap in the market in Dubai, for upmarket shoe polishing, like you can find it in London, and that inspired me to launch The Shoe Shine Company, in 2010. The Cobbler quickly followed in 2011 and we now have 2 stores operating in the DIFC and at Level Shoe District, in the Dubai Mall.

What inspired you to create The Cobbler?

Our customers’ demand! Once the Shoe Shine Company started picking up, we noticed a lot of customers were specifically asking us about quality shoe repair, since most of them owned high-end shoes, but couldn’t find appropriate shoe repair services locally and had to fly to Europe with their damaged shoes to get them fixed. We researched the market and felt like it was indeed a gap to be filled.

We decided to add products and services to our workshop to be, found a great location in Dubai and opened our first store in the DIFC in November 2011. The second one followed at Level Shoe District in the Dubai Mall in October 2012.

Tell us more about the company and its services?

We offer shoe repair for men and women, a wide range of formal business shoes for men, that we get made in Northampton, UK, in the most traditional way. We also have our range of classic slippers for men and women, that can be entirely personalised, and accessories

Shop Level 1

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for men, leather bags and shoe care products.

We exclusively recruit ‘compagnons du devoir’, a recognised apprenticeship from France, since we knew they would deliver the highest level of quality when it comes to shoe repair and shoe handling, and our concept was centered on quality and service. We started with a first ‘Compagnon’ and then recruited two more young cobblers, who are currently respectively working in each of our stores.

Can you tell us more about your team of craftsmen and elaborate on the bespoke services you provide?

Our two cobblers working in stores are being supervised by Morgan Papin, who is our Master Cobbler. Morgan is able to deliver bespoke shoe services to our customers, and to create shoes entirely in Dubai. This process gives the opportunity to male customers in Dubai to have shoes completely custom made, while meeting the person actually working on their order, which is unique. Through several appointments, precise measurements and a strong ability to listen to the needs of the customer, Morgan can effectively deliver a shoe that will be timeless and could last for decades, if taken care of properly.

It has been opened for about 18 months now – how is doing? What are some of the feedbacks that you have received from the public?

We have been extremely grateful for all the positive feedback we received so far.

Both our stores are doing well so far, and it reinforces how important a store location is, especially if you don’t have huge marketing and advertising budgets, which is often the case as a young entrepreneur.

Who are The Cobbler’s clientele?

Our DIFC customer base is mostly male, professional, and living in Dubai. At Level Shoe District, in the Dubai Mall, our clients base is more female, and most of them are coming from abroad: tourists discovering Dubai.

Are there any plans of another store opening?

We are due to open in Abu Dhabi later this year, in Sowwah Square.

What is your definition of luxury?

As a young entrepreneur and a mother of two: I would say that time is luxury! On a business level, within our concepts for The Cobbler and The Shoe Shine Company, we placed personalised service at the core of what we define as luxury. Being able to speak to our cobblers and get their input on shoe repair, shoe purchase and bespoke services is invaluable in a market where people usually experience many layers between the manufacturer and the end consumer.

Can you give our readers some general tips and tricks when it comes to care and conditioning of high quality shoes?

• Avoid wearing your shoes two days in a row: leather needs to rest in order to keep its original shape for longer.

• Always use cedar shoe trees: they slightly stretch the shoes in order to delay and reduce the appearance of creasing, while cedar also absorbs the humidity.

• Nourish your shoes regularly in order to keep the leather softer for longer. Use a nourishing balm before polishing your shoes, and ensure that you use products made of natural ingredients rather than chemicals which would suffocate the leather (Saphir balms and polishes, which we exclusively offer at our stores, are made of natural bee wax).

• Suede shoes are extremely fragile and a single drop of water can stain them forever. They need to be waterproofed and frequently brushed to remove the dust and keep the leather smooth.

• Applying a sole protector (a thin layer of rubber) on damaged soles gives a second life to your shoes. If the sole is very damaged with a visible hole, you can still revive your favourite shoes with a full resoling (the whole sole replaced by a brand new one).

How would you like to invite our readers to The Cobbler?

We are the only business in the Middle East offering premium traditional shoe repair. We worked hard to recruit the best cobblers in the world, get them to move to Dubai and make sure that our customers get a direct access to them, and can voice their concerns and questions face- to-face. We felt like this proximity was lacking in the UAE luxury footwear market.

The concepts of service and experience are at the core of my day-to-day work as a company owner. Moreover, all our offerings came to life after our customers expressed a need for it: from shoe polish to shoe repair, then a wide range of formal business shoes for men that is high quality at a decent price point, followed by bespoke footwear, high end shoe care products and accessories, etc... We aim to stay unique by listening to our customers and acting on their demands.

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| style - kids fashion |

Baby Dior

Collection Printemps-Éte 2013 Inspirations from Versailles The Spring-Summer Collection is inspired by the enchanting and timeless atmosphere of spectacular and romantic castles. Elegant children pretend to be princes and princesses.

The Collection offers sophisticated yet comfortable looks suitable for children.

Outwear pieces showcase the know-how of the House of Dior.

made of just as good as, if not better, materials than what is apparent.

Since the beginning, the House of Dior has always been about generosity : more fabric, embroideries, pleats, vivid colours…

Kid Boy clothes are made with the same attention as Dior Homme’s, revised to be suitable for children. For instance, the cotton suit is stretch and does not have shoulder pads to ease children’s moves.

Sophisticated Elegance Children in Dior love to be elegant all day long. They are chic with style, just like their parents.

They stroll around the castle’s gardens, dressed in an exceptionnal manner. Their clothes embody the Haute Couture heritage of the House of Dior with an outstanding attention to detail. For Monsieur Dior, everything that does not show should be

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Childhood Sweetness

Playful Freedom

All along the collection vivid and sweet colours betray a delicate and happy exuberance. A little girl dressed in Dior asserts her personnality through colours chosen within the rich palette of the House of Dior.

Children are playing in the castle and in its elegant garden. They are dressed in light and soft clothes. The SS13 collection refers to Monsieur Christian Dior’s childhood close to the see in his beloved city of Granville.

Lanvin Petite

Spring/ Summer 13 In 1908, mesmerized by her existence in the realm of motherhood, Jeanne Lanvin carries on with her creations. Gradually, a collection wardrobe takes shape for her darling daughter Marguerite. Encompassing all that is light, subtle and candid, Jeanne Lanvin invents childrenswear. Sewn by hand, the delicate pieces encapsulate the essence of innocence, wonder and enchantment. In a whirl wind of excitement, garnering the orders placed by customers for their own daughters, Jeanne Lanvin establishes her first “childrenswear” department, opening her doors in 1908.

Alber Elbaz continues Jeanne Lanvin’s legacy through the creation of a collection for little princesses. Maintaining the same essence and feel that is felt in his upbeat and feminine creations for women, Elbaz uses extravagant fabrics and popping colours to create an array of stunning pieces for the Petite collection.

As girls dream of dressing like their mother’s, borrowing pearl necklaces and elbow high gloves, their desires have been answered with a full collection of exquisite dresses and accessories that echo the tones and inspiration that developed the female

collection. Known for their impeccable femininity and elegance, Lanvin is a brand that has foremost given women a sense of freedom in style expression. It continues to move forward with fashion as a way to enhance personality and thrive with fairy tale like creativity. Now Lanvin has also answered every mini fashionista’s wish, by bringing to them Lanvin petite styles.

Showcasing a diverse range of styles from elegantly ruffled dresses to playful skirts and tops, Lanvin continues to design clothes that enhance the freedom of movement and the happiness of the person wearing them.

Expertly combining elegantly playful fashion with the luxury of comfort, the Lanvin Petite collection satisfies all the needs of the mini fashionistas.

Amongst the diverse selection of dresses and stylish outfits, Alber Elbaz has also included a range of luxurious accessories. Taking the iconic “Lanvin Ballerina”, whose popularity has been proved time and time again amongst Lanvin lovers, Elbaz has molded a selection of mini ballerinas in patent and leather in a delectable array of popping colours to suit the little feet.

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| style - kids fashion |

Diane von Furstenberg’s Colourful Collection for Gap Gap is proud to announce its second collection

by Diane von Furstenberg for GapKids and babyGap to launch in spring 2013, for girls from newborn to age 14.

The collection which arrived in Gap stores at the end of April takes Gap girls on a voyage of discovery with a colourful collection featuring exotic prints and patterns that embrace the natural explorer inside every child.

A signature Diane von Furstenberg palette comes to life with African inspired prints and wild animal illustrations, capturing the excitement of discovery. Collection favourites were created with the adventurous girl in mind, from the iconic DVF wrap dressreworked with playfully integrated shorts-to brightly printed skinny fit jeans. Prints are bold and classic DVF, from charming hibiscus buds, to the DVF signature heart and the Gap/DVF graffiti.

“It was a lot of fun to design a children’s collection and I am glad to repeat it this year. This time it is all about adventure, with the same attention to colour and print. I think the result is playful and perfect for the little explorers of the world!” said Diane von Furstenberg.

Stephen Sunnucks, Global President of Gap, said “Diane’s iconic prints, signature silhouettes and optimistic colour palettes really resonated with our customers around the world. After a successful first collaboration, we’re thrilled to continue working with Diane and excited to see what she will bring forward in her second DVF for Gap collection.”

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Moschino

Baby Kid Teen Spring/Summer 2013

For Spring/Summer 2013, the mood for the Moschino girl is country-chic fun, instead of painting the town red, she paints it green, like a little garden!

Meanwhile the boy discovers Americana and the typical characteristic U.S. colleges as he enrols at the Moschino University for Kids and Teens While the little ones have farm animals scampering across playsuits and rompers to complete this mini "urban vegetable plot�.

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| beauty news |

Diane Kruger

The New Face of Chanel Skincare With her natural elegance and beauty, Diane Kruger is one of the most famous faces of international cinema. Attracted by her cosmopolitan spirit and artistic background, the House of Chanel chose her for its Allure fragrance advertising campaign in 1996, then again for the ParisBiarritz bag advertising campaign, shot by Karl Lagerfeld in 2007. Now an ambassadress for Chanel, Diane Kruger will be the face of a new beauty advertising campaign, due to be unveiled in 2013.

CHANEL Diane Kruger Photographer : Gilles-Marie ZIMMERMANN

CHANEL Diane Kruger

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CHANEL Diane Kruger Photographer : Karl Lagerfeld

Esmod’s Fashion Roulette

The Art of Makeup In comparison to other courses of a similar nature and cost, Esmod Dubai offers a longer duration of intensive and professional training.

Mrs Tamara Hostal co Founder says “The key of success is in regular practice and we give to our student the opportunity to built or refine skills by insufflating knowledge” The Professional 2 months Fashion Make up course offers a complete training that covers what it takes to get in to the industry. From Makeup for photography, bridal makeup for Western and Arabic style to Fashion shows.

The Special Effect Program covers in depth every requirement of the Advertisement, Theatre, Film and TV industry, from Body and Design with airbrush to Design with painting.

The importance of Quality over Quantity when Courses are springing out like mushrooms.

Since 2006, Esmod Dubai has made women and aspired makeup artist wish come true by launching the first professional make up course, thus making you discover Fashion in all its forms.

In fact, more than a course, the worldrenowned French Institute fully dedicated to fashion tends to exceed the highest level of expectation.

Shorter Programs are available for more personal needs such as evening and summer programs for individuals or professionals with a keen interest in Professional Makeup or those looking for makeup advance technics.

Conducted by the top Makeup Artist within the Middle East Manal Maalouf says” it takes a lot of money to fill a makeup bag, but it takes a good technique to make it worth!!!”

Over the last 6 years Esmod Dubai has fully trained more than 600 talented individuals that are now working within the coveted make up industry or simply enjoy being able of apply their makeup the right way and cover any type of skin imperfection such as scars, breakouts or even wrinkles.

As a matter of fact, Esmod Dubai’s professional make up training and certification has enabled their former students to build their own empire, freelance or to be employed in the biggest Cosmetic companies such as Sephora, Mac etc.…

In conclusion, Makeup plays a significant role on a daily basis and in the fashion industry, therefore, every course has been tailored made to accommodate anyone that’s has an interest in making possible what Photoshop will never be able to achieve in real life.

For more information, visit Esmod Dubai DIAC Block 4 - www.esmod-dubai.com or call + 971 4 429 12 28.

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| beauty |

Yves Saint Laurent

Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils

babydoll 238

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Playing with Seduction Seduction, all the way to the tip of the lashes.

Eyes deprived of nothing. Eyes that take the game to a bold new level. A multifaceted heroine. Sensual and confident, she is the embodiment of whatever she chooses to be, according to her mood, her fancy, her passions.

Seemingly innocent, naturally sophisticated.

Solar and charming, thoughtful and yet spontaneous. Assuming her contrasts. Above all else, totally liberated. Baby Doll celebrates life with her eyes wide open on the world. For her, Yves Saint Laurent, the absolute master of all eyes, has created a new mascara, like a new promise of light.

MULTIFACETED SEDUCTION

Baby Doll

Much more than a mascara Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll defines a new aesthetic for eyes. Lashes spread incredibly wide with total control. With Baby Doll mascara, the eyes are the promise of a unique aura, of renewed seductiveness, a challenge boldly taken on. Eyes wide-open, seeing further, higher. Lashes redefined one by one, with radiance and graphic volume.

With Yves Saint Laurent, the look is writ large, the ultimate expression of a personality revealed.

With its gold case and Baby Doll written in pink, it evokes a sleek pen. It easily slips into a small make-up case or a clutch bag.

A genuine, beautiful jewel, it joins the family of essential Yves Saint Laurent must haves - making application a ritual you shouldn’t hide. A gesture, a synonym of allure and personality. Even better, an invitation to seduction, a promise of mystery. With threefold appeal: gold for dazzle, black for seduction, pink for fantasy and audacity.

A GIFTED BRUSH EXCLUSIVELY BY YVES SAINT LAURENT Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll magnifies the eyes, thanks to the innovative

structure of its elastomer brush. Protected by two patents, this multifaceted brush alternates thick, widely spaced bristles to coat and magnify the lashes, with finer, more closely spaced bristles to define even the shortest lashes, one by one, from roots to tips.

The result? Volume that can be customized to suit each woman’s desire for a false eyelash effect without touch-ups or any false notes.

Lengthening, controlling and adding volume.

Thanks to the Baby Doll mascara brush, eyes light up. The definition is perfect, the effect is total. With this exclusivity, Yves Saint Laurent celebrates a decidedly Haute Couture, high tech attitude. Naturally sophisticated.

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| fragrances |

Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Rose Explosion

Eau de Parfum Orientale

Once a upon a time there wasan extraordinary sensual love potion, an elixir as enchanting as a precious charm... Once upon a time there was Flowerbomb, the most captivating fragrance, by Viktor & Rolf. A whorl of jasmine sambac, cattleya orchids, bergamot and patchouli, dancing amidst the inimitable scent of the rose. The most precious flower of all, close to the fragrance makers' hearts...

But what if this fairytale could continue? What if Viktor & rolf could create a new dream, unveiling another facet of Flowerbomb.

A starry night in the middle of the desert. A delicate breeze careses the sand... suddenly a glimmer of light, a golden halo appears to be rising upp from the dunes, off the distance.

The allure is irresistible. It is impossible to avoid being drawn to it… and to discover a golden diamond, glowing with radiant light.

In a flash, shimmering dust bursts forth, like a shower of gold on the sand, One by one roses whose sprout up from the sand and bloom in the night. Big round, golden roses whose unusual fragrances instantly makes the head spin…

This is the oriental version of Flowerbomb Rose Explosion… A tribute to the rose that brings together two of the fragrance industry's most prized treasures: Turkish Rose Absolute - fresh and slightly honey scented, and Moroccan Rose Absolute - warm and almost woody. Glorified by the richness of the orient, the aromas of this multifaceted rose become more opulent than ever!

Dazzling from the very beginning, the luminous top notes of mandarine and bergamot give way to a surprisingly spicy rose, sprinkled with a hint of saffron and pink peppercorns. Like a whisper, coppery notes of sweet olive and jasmine compose a fabulously full-bodied bouquet. Then the smooth heart notes of amber and vanilla mingle with the warm scents of patchouli, a slightly resinous benzoin and an agar wood accord to form an elegant, lingering trail that is Oh so sensual and exquisitely oriental…. A pure explosion of luxurious pleasure, in a golden adaptation of the iconic Flowerbomb grenade bottle…

As if it were a dream.

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WITH GREAT EFFORT COMES GREAT SEAFOOD Salt takes simple elements from the sea, properly seasons, artfully prepares and serves them in a contemporary Aegean setting. The cuisine is dominated by liberal use of olive oil, herbs, fresh fish, sea food and many mezzes. All dishes are carefully prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients and with meticulous attention to the creation of flavours. We invite you to indulge in all of our dishes in a sensual feast and hope you enjoy your culinary journey into the Aegean Sea with us.

Full Page Advert

NOW OPEN IN RIXOS THE PALM DUBAI EVERYDAY FROM 19:OO TILL 00:30

RIXOS MARCH

| exclusive - fragrances |

The Symphony

of Scent

When it comes to your scent, are you one of those people that want to be unique? a&e had the pleasure of meeting the perfumers of Xerjoff and House of Sillage as well as representatives of By Terry. If you wish to leave a scent trail of exclusivity and pure luxury, the fabulous fragrances from these perfume houses are bound to create a symphony suitable for you!

House of Sillage The Art of Fragrance House of Sillage is an haute perfumery company that creates extraordinary fragrances which are rivalled by their breathtaking bottles. The scents are produced in France by a team of highly skilled noses, artists and designers.

Each exquisite bottle is tailored by years of experience and has been given time-honored attention from the rare and exotic ingredients to the brilliantly designed jewelled cap.

During my meeting with the founder, Nicole Mather, we asked her what inspired her to create House of Sillage in spite having no background in perfumery.

“It was the birth of a dream and a driving passion in my heart given to me by God. The purpose was unexplainable but it came from complete and utter purity with the innocence and naivetés of a child. The vision is my interpretation of this incredible art form and the beauty that lies within the bottle. It became the memories of tears, laughter, excitement and all of the struggles within one’s destiny.

It is the learning of life’s lessons of personal tolerance, humility, compassion and desire for unconditional love. It encapsulates all that one is and desires to be. Although only a mere moment in time, the lasting effect is carried with us beyond. This insurmountable gift is mine to share with those who are interested in becoming part of this dream. Thank you for allowing me to share it with you.”

House of Sillage Signature Line

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House of Sillage Limited Editions

We are truly excited and glad that she has decided to share this dream with the rest of the world, because honestly, the bottles and their scents are that of an untold story of beauty and grace.

Why is the world of scents so special to you?

Scent, according to me is an experience, a love and a remembrance. Everything has a scent. It is a signature of ourselves.

What are some of your favourite scents?

I love rose. We are currently working on an oud right now. I am very excited to do so. Did you know that oud in its best quality is actually a very beautiful, light and unique fragrance?

I also love orange, vanilla and almond. They always lift my spirits!

How would you describe House of Sillage in merely one word?

Unique!

What advice would you give to customers on choosing the right scent?

Love at first sight! When you smell it, it has to be an equivalent to love at first sight.

That’s how I feel about my signature scent, Benevolence from my collection!

If you could bottle a sight, sound and taste, what would they be?

Picture frames of great moments that I have around my house, Music and traditional Romanian food as I left Romania when I was three so the traditional food that my mom cooks reminds me of where I came from and where my roots are.

How would you like to invite our readers to discover House of Sillage?

We would like to say to all our customers that quality and innovation are the cornerstones of House of Sillage. Our clients are investing in the best materials, expert craftsmanship and an unparalleled passion, the quintessential

House of Sillage is exclusively available at Harvey Nichols, Mall of the Emirates.

Nicole's Signature Scent - Benevolence

qualities that define a long lasting luxury that promises to satisfy for years to come.

We invite all our customers to engage all their senses and indulge themselves in a world of uncompromising luxury. We are known for the absolute best quality raw materials perfectly blended by expert noses which in the end paint a gorgeous olfactive landscape. The breathtaking packaging elevates the bottle to a masterfully crafted piece of art.›

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| exclusive - fragrances |

XerJoff - The perfection of Nature and Man’s Ability Xerjoff is an Italian - Turin based Perfume House fully dedicated to luxury fragrance in its art form. Xerjoff means going beyond the olfactory dimension, to enter a wider universe - where the perceptive and sensorial area blend together in order to rediscover the golden ages when the art of perfumery was hand in hand with the multisensorial arts of their bottle holders. a&e had the pleasure of meeting the Sergio Momo who founded the company in 2004, together with Dominique Salvo, Xerjoff’s research and development director.

When asked why he created the company, he had this to say: “Perfume has always been a passion as it has been present in my family through my father and grandfather. I basically joined my knowledge of communication and design with my passion for perfumes when creating Xerjoff. I wanted it to be something different. What I had in mind was not a commercial idea but more niche. So, we tried to combine Nature from day one into our perfumes as we are in love with everything natural from the raw materials to the distillation techniques. What makes Xerjoff so unique is the Italian craftsmanship and the Nature elements which flow through all of our collections.” a&e truly admires the Shooting Stars collection, especially the gift boxes which come with a star piece for that special someone!

Launching soon is their newest collection, JTC - Join the club which features ten perfumes connected to its respective club! The collection is created to bring back emotion and inspiration as compared to the technicality behind a perfume. Look out for this collection as it is bound to open your senses to the more emotional aspect of perfumery!

Sergio Momo

What are some of your favourite scents?

What emotion would you like Xerjoff perfumes to evoke in customers?

What can we expect from Xerjoff next?

I enjoy Leather the most. I also appreciate the rose scent very much.

Positivity! Despite of personal situations, a perfume can have the power to lift your spirits.

What perfume are you wearing right now?

How would you describe Xerjoff in one word?

A lot! We never stop. We have over fifty perfumes now throughout six collections and we have plans of creating another four collections between now and the next eighteen months. We love what we do!

It is one of the JTC perfumes - The Travel Club

I can describe it in one sentence; the perfect blend of nature and Italian craftsmanship.

If you could bottle a sight, sound and taste, what would they be?

Sight would definitely be a mixture of Nature sights. I love the sight of something as simple as the sunset in the Mediterranean. It is quite irreplaceable. Definitely music when it comes to sound - rock music in particular! Last but not least, when it comes to taste, I am a huge fan of seafood. Lobster would be the perfect taste.

Shooting Star Collection

a&e Editor, Ylova Hamdan with Sergio Momo.

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Xerjoff perfumes are available at the Xerjoff Boutique, Dubai Mall

By Terry - From “Haute Couleur” to “Haute Perfumery”

Terry de Gunzburg

In 1998, Terry de Gunzburg created the first ‘Haute Couleur’ make-up and launched her brand By Terry, a new benchmark for the premium beauty market and her philosophy of excellence is summarised in three key words: creativity, integrity and quality.

2012 witnessed the birth of Terry’s first fragrance collection which included five luxurious and fascinating scents borne out of the most exclusive stables of the French fragrance industry.

“It has taken me ten years to achieve this collection of ‘personified’ scents. I had to progress slowly in order to learn and understand about essences that felt right, which was a humbling yet enriching experience.

I had to ignore the dos and don’ts imposed by trends or by a commercial brief. Free from any restrictions, I have followed my instinct to create pure, original and extravagantly highquality fragrances.” – Terry de Gunzburg.

Formulated in Grasse in the purest form of tradition, the scent collection by Terry de Gunzburg celebrates the rare and the precious: from the luxury of time that was given to perfumers of the respected Maison Robertet

By Terry Full Range

to develop each fragrance, to the freedom to use exceptional high quality raw materials and limitless creativity. Created without compromise, these give eau de parfums perfectly reflect the designer’s passion.

For her sleek bottles, Terry looks for a timeless pairing between the square and the circle and imagined a glass monolith topped with a merging mercury drop. This organic curve feels like a talisman. Stamped with a metallic trademark that bears the name of the elixirs, these bottles celebrate the unique and effortless elegance of their creator.

All of the five scents are unisex and carry their own uniqueness. One of the best sellers in this region is the Ombre Mercure which a&e also loves! The fragrance will get the attention it demands the minute you walk into a room. It is pure seduction with its enchanting blend of iris and violet, which plunges wearers into the beauty of the night’s darkness.

By Terry Perfumes are exclusively available at Sephora

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| table art |

Villeroy &Boch

SAMARKAND MOSAIC

Classic elegance A variety of bordering is melded together into a flag decor with an airy effect, deepening the Oriental character of this set.

• Anmut My Colour Savannah Cream - Dinner Plates • Samarkand Mosaic - Breakfast Plates • Samarkand Mosaic - Bowls : Small 13 cm / Big 15 cm • ELLA - Partially gold plated cutlery • PURISMO - White Wine Glasses • PURISMO - Red Wine Glasses

| table-art |

• Samarkand Mosaic - Coffee Pot • Samarkand Mosaic - Coffee cups & saucers • Samarkand Mosaic - Espresso cups & saucers • ELLA - Espresso spoons

• All items are available at Villeroy & Boch stores

| interiors |

Your First Home

In honour of our special weddings portfolio this issue, we’ve dedicated our interiors section to couples that have finally found a place to plant some roots due to the start of an exciting and new chapter in their lives - marriage.

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the new square footage you have to fill up in order to call the place your home as we have picked out some great selections from some of our favourite brands that will truly allow you to cherish your new home together. Whether you prefer contemporary furniture, cottage chic or minimalism, the below picks are bound to signify comfort, love and joy as you embark on a new journey into married life. Be sure to make decisions together and create great memories!

2XL Photo Frames

Andrew MartinTunstead Table Lamp

Ligne Roset A-Chair

2XL Pretty Peacocks Chest of Drawers

Jardin d’Eden tray from Christofle

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LLadro Procelain Decorative Pieces

Missoni Home @ Harvey Nichols

Visionnaire 'Pitti 'bed at Aati

Serving Dishes @ Crate and Barrel

The Rug Company

WINDSOR Collection @ THE One

Caracole Mood Ring

AuxRois Bernardaud @ Bloomingdale's Home Cloud Bianco Scont by Cappellini available @ PF Emirates

Collection of chandeliers by @home

Arabian Tea set by Aura

Marchesa by Lenox 'Lace Gold' by Vera Wang Tableware @ Bloomingdale's Home

Agent Provocateur Bed @ Harvey Nichols

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consults the travel expert:

Bespoke & Luxury Cordially invite you to celebrate their nuptials anywhere in the world

Imagine exchanging vows with your loved one on an island that does not actually exist. I’m not talking about the Bermuda triangle or a magical sea that reflects three dimensional images of a make shift piece of land surrounded by water. I’m merely referring to one of Basel Abulrub’s Vaux le Vicomte many unconventional ideas for unique spots around the world where a couple can tie the knot.

If you ever had fantasies of ascending onto your wedding venue in a pink helicopter, then how farfetched would it be to make a simple entrance on a romantic dhow during a low tide, just in time for the appearance of your venue? You might contemplate the seating arrangements or the number of guests you would be able to accommodate with such a drastic ceremony.

The managing director of UTravel, a Dubai based bespoke luxury travel firm, likes to think that everything is possible without limiting his or a clients’ imagination. “Think of it as a canvas, he tells me, all the couple has to do is choose the backdrop and everything else is taken care of. They can choose the Mount Kilimanjaro for example, the real one and not a picture reflected on a screen, or even the great migration of Africa in the summer time. From a slightly elevated point in Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda, the alter or official conduction spot could overlook the thousands of animals migrating to their new homes.

From Africa to the romantic city of Venice, where Johnny Depp starred in the action

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flick The Tourist opposite Angelina Jolie, the beautiful scenery is a commonly requested backdrop by fans who desire film references on their big day. If they want to recreate elements of the movie, the destination can even be themed to suit the mood. “Casino Royale

seeing which we arrange for them according to their individual tastes.”

For high net worth individuals who want to have a private tour of the Mayan ruins in Mexico for example, a historian who worked with Mel Gibson on Apocalypto, can guide them through the structures.

“Depending on the story of the wedding, he says, the one that will be told and retold by generations to come, we want guests to not only remember the unique ceremony but reminisce and boast about the whole experience of the trip.” Their expert travel services, which are not limited to destination weddings or honeymoons, are a combination of consultancy, conciergerie and event management © Révélations studios pour VER51 0026 which contribute to the objectification of their for example, was shot in a private estate in innovative ideas. “Travel agents should not be Lake Como which is suitable for weddings and mistaken for wedding planners, we don’t deal we can have access to for loyal James Bond with center pieces,” he says. Instead they link fans.” The Casino Royale originated in the city their clients up with the strongest and most of Lisbon, Portugal, which was a neutral city suitable wedding planners in the respective during World War 2. This was the location destination country. Their firm helps choose where the Nazis and the allies, the generals, a location based on the couple’s criteria, commanders and spies alike, spent their nights and after they’ve zoned in on the location, gambling and socializing. Basel himself is an a sensational venue is chosen and wedding avid World War 2 aficionado, which is why he planners recommended. They help take the likes to cater to clients who share this similar weight off the already pressured couple by interest with him. By linking them up with handling all their guests’ arrangements in noted historians, he likes to create a full pre terms of payments, required paperwork, and post wedding experience for the couple inquiries and logistics amongst others, while and their guests. “They don’t just come for accommodating to their desired budget. a day and leave. They all do tourism and site

Expats, large families, and high net worth individuals who want to break away from the norm, are their main clientele. For couples who have a wide network of friends and family spanning across the continents, choosing a central locale where they can all meet and have a holiday experience together, is the most appealing aspect of a destination wedding.

Some people choose to get the necessary nuptial paperwork out of the way, before travelling for their symbolic celebration.

“The unconventional rationale behind it gets people out of their comfort zone, where they can loosen up and really enjoy themselves.”

Costa Navarino in Eastern Greece, Capri and Sardinia are ideal beach destinations he’s had the pleasure to work with, and the Croatian Coast is quickly gaining momentum.

A country that has exceeded his expectations is Kenya; with its high standard resorts,

Tie the knot in India

Royal celebration in Rajasthanr This land of Maharajas is unparalleled in the world for its legacy, traditions, culture, safaris, sand dunes and lush green forests.

It boasts numerous grand palaces, forts, luxurious hotels and heritage properties designed in such a way as to make the bride and groom feel like a king and queen as get hitched. From October through March, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur welcome couples who match a taste for the lavish and imperial with an appreciation for cultural heritage.

exceptional food and beverage services, over the top estates which could be rented out and venues that can be built from scratch. Some of the biggest Hollywood celebrities have chosen to get married in French chateaus in the romantic countryside with labyrinth gardens and larger-than-life fountains.

The Vaux Le Vicomte palace and Villa Ephrussi de Rotschiold in St. Jean de Cap Ferrat, the most exclusive enclave in France, are the epitome of romanticism with their elaborate architecture and enchanting greenery, think Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Arabic entertainers can serenade the guests if requested, and halal catering can even be accommodated, according to Basel. He has gone as far as to dig up a team of professional video and filmmaking experts who can follow the couple from dusk till dawn to capture their every move and compile it into movie-like

Jaisalmar is the ancient citadel on the caravan route linking India with Persia, Arabia and the Mediterranean, this architectural marvel that is located in the Thar Desert was built in the 12th century by Jaisal, a Bhatti Prince.

This city is home to “the Golden fort,” with yellow sandstone walls and bastions that take on a golden hue in the afternoon sun.

Udaipur, the “City of Lakes and Palaces,” offers the ideal romantic setting in forts and palaces formerly inhabited by members of the royal family. Historical jewels, elephants and camels are all part of the city’s regal charm from well-maintained laid back gardens and lawns to having a place situated right beside the shimmering lake.

footage starring the two of them. Move over Johnny and Angelina.

From France to Scandinavia where the equivalent of the Ramadan tent can be built on glaciers with see-through structures that make visible the infamous northern lights. With gourmet, food, stage, and lighting all in place, guests will be transported on reindeer sledges; if you have an open mind that is. You can even get married in a volcanic crater in Iceland, we’re not sure what the dress code would be but, “all you need is that open mind,” repeats Basel.

If all the above wasn’t inspiration enough, then read through a detailed description of destinations we haven’t mentioned yet and which our travel expert so passionately put together for your interest.

Jodhpur is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan, India and is referred to as the Gateway to Thar, as it is literally on the edge of the Thar desert. It is also called the Sun City as the sun shines almost every day of the year, and the Blue City, since most houses in the old city are painted in shades of blue.

Home to many craftsmen, spices and fabrics, wedding guests can enjoy discovering its historical value before and the wedding party.

The Pink city of Jaipur, also the capital and largest city of the region, doesn’t fall short of palaces itself, offering a wide range of affordable exotic venues for lavish wedding ceremonies

Close to Nature in Kerala Kerala, known as the 'God's Own Country,’ is home to various monuments dating back from medieval times and is famous for its backwater tourism. From October through to March, Kumarakom and Kochi, are ideal for couples looking for a tranquil and scenic ambiance. Situated 15 km from Kottayam on the Vembanad Lake, where water lilies and lotuses can be seen blooming in the water, Kumarakom also boasts a bird sanctuary that spreads across 14 acres. Kochi, the Queen of the Arabian Sea, is a group of islands on Lake Vembanad, which reach out into the Arabian Sea. Some of the islands include Bolgatty, Vyppin, Gundu and Vallarpadam and moving around in ferries is what appeals to visitors.

Text by Houry Seukunian

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Alternative Honeymooning

From wild Africa, to historical Russia & Tango Argentina

An Exclusive helicopter safari in Namibia.

Season: May to October

For the adventurous couple, a 13 day safari in Namibia with scenic helicopter flights flown by private pilots over vast landscapes, game viewing activities, and a variety of excursions in some of Subsaharan Africa’s most photographed locations, may

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be the ideal exclusive honeymoon trip.

Extreme sports enthusiasts can engage in sandboarding, quad biking, dune carting, parachuting and shark fishing in addition to seeing the Cape Cross seal colony and taking a bird trip to the Swakopmund Salt Works, and dolphin cruises from Walvis Bay. Guests are accommodated in self-sufficient camps with private luxury tents in extraordinary locales:

River camp On the banks of the Kunene River, is the exclusive hideaway of Okahirongo River Camp. Overlooking the Otupambua Rapids, in the spectacular Marienfluss valley within the rugged Kaokoland Mountains, this camp caters for only 14 people in luxury tents, with both inside and outside showers, and a huge viewing deck. The Kunene River that

winds its way from Angola, along the border to the Skeleton Coast is known for its great crocodile population, and is characterized by thundering waterfalls, white water and tranquil pools. We will visit the beautiful and remote Epupa Falls, that are formed by a series of cascading rapids, and the mouth of the river on the coast where green turtles are seen year round. You will also have a privileged encounter with the Himba people, who live in small circular style huts that surround an‘okuruwo’ (fire) and a central livestock enclosure. Because of the harsh desert climate and limited outside influence, their traditional lifestyle remains little changed and worth exploring.

Boulders camp in Namibia

Elephant lodge Within Purros Conservancies lies the Okahirongo Elephant Lodge - a luxurious tented camp with 7 ensuite chalets and a suite - all with spectacular views. Each cottage is decorated in its own unique African style. The open-air buildings are linked by wooden walkways all joining onto a central area with a rustic deck and infinity pool - a perfect place to relax in between our excursions. You will meet Flip Stander who is an authority on lion research, and engage in some lion tracking. You will explore Moewe Bay on the coast, and visit some Cape Fur seal colonies – these endearing mammals can often be seen surfing the waves. Fishing here is also fun – strictly catch and release - with catches including Cob, Steenbra and Blacktail.

Desert Rhino Camp Desert Rhino Camp is run by Wilderness Safaris in conjunction with Save the Rhino Trust - an organization dedicated to the conservation of black rhino. Located in the vast Palmwag Reserve between Etosha and the Skeleton Coast, the luxury ‘Meru’ style tented camp offers an excellent safari experience, with opportunities for tracking black rhino and gaining an insight into conservation at a grass root level. One of the region’s highlights is rock art sites with ancient bushman engravings. Twyfelfontein

is one such site - recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Another attraction worth seeing is the petrified forest - a prehistoric relic located in an old river channel, that dates back 200,000 years to the Permian period.

The Swakopmund Guest House Situated in the town centre, just a five minute walk from the beach and main shopping area.

It is owned and run by the Borg family with 12 spacious and comfortable rooms offering a high level of comfort and a personalized service. The location allows for access to the Sleep under the stars

sand dunes, and visits to the beach. You will enjoy a cruise from Walvis Bay with the thrill of watching dolphins, seals and birds, and learn about the lighthouse, oyster platforms and diverse marine life. Lunch is cooked and served on the beach, and in the afternoon you can go quad-biking on the sand dunes that surround Swakopmund, followed by sundowners overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.›

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Cultural enlightenment in St.Petersburg and Moscow.

Season: May to September

Beyond the array of historic monasteries, convents and neo classical cathedrals, each with their unique stories to be told, Moscow and St.Petersburg are the ideal destinations for honeymooners with a flair for history, art and architecture. Contemporary History Museums, art venues, exhibitions, and partly destroyed and rebuilt royal palaces are amongst the myriad of places to visit.

In Moscow you can begin by visiting the famed Armory Museum, including its vast collection of Imperial Russian artwork.

Here you’ll see the Kremlin’s world-famous collection of Imperial Faberge Easter Eggs.

Also in the Armory are many of the most important Imperial thrones and crowns, including the most historic, the Cap of Monomachus. Enter the Diamond Vaults and explore the largest collections of diamonds and gem stones in the world with a small preset group. On the Kremlin grounds you can see the largest bell in the world - as well as the largest canon. Neither was ever used due to their enormous size! There are also three very important churches to explore including the Assumption Cathedral, where all Russian tsars were crowned.

In Red Square, the newly rebuilt church and Imperial Gates at the south end of the square are a sight to see as they were both destroyed under Stalin and only recently have been rebuilt in their original splendor.

The stunning St. Basil’s cathedral is another magnificent church-museum that was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible and was completed in 1561. Rumor has it that Ivan had the architect blinded so he would never be able to design anything as exquisite again!

Moscow's Metro stations are also rooted in history and an important element to discover thanks to their fascinating interiors, ornately decorated with beautiful paintings, carvings and chandeliers! The stations, most built between 1930 and 1960 are underground palaces, featuring exquisite frescoes, statues, mosaics and stained glass. Today this massive public transportation system is one of the largest in the world, carrying over 9 million passengers per day (twice as many as London or Paris!). A visit to the Tretyakov Gallery, located in one of Moscow’s most interesting neighborhoods for a day of art admiring is on the menu. This area, called Zamoskvoreche (“beyond the Moscow River”) was originally settled in the 13th century. The small winding streets give this area an almost old-fashioned atmosphere, with historic churches and the mansions of 19th century wealthy merchants.

Peterhof

Images by: Exeter International

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St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

During a luxury 4-hour journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg, you can admire the picturesque Russian countryside. Once there, you can visit The Hermitage museum, before the general public does, and discover the unveiled collection of French Impressionists that was thought lost after WWII. After walking through the many gates and across the bridges and moats of St.Petersburg, you can begin to feel the late 18th century era that required such fortification. The Church on Spilled Blood is so named because it stands on the spot where the Emperor Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881. Its unique design was actually inspired by St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. This is the only church in the world covered completely inside and out by mosaics of tiles and precious and semi-precious stones. Across the street you will find a small souvenir market selling inexpensive Russian handicrafts.

Peterhof Palace (or Petrodvorets in Russian) is often called the Russian Versailles due to the prominence of the gardens and fountains. The view from the palace through the grand colonnade of fountains to the Baltic Sea is one of the true masterpieces of Russian artistry. At the grand palace of Peterhof, you can walk through the lower gardens and be able to see Peter the Great’s favourite buildings. It is also in this area that you will see Peterhof’s most enchanting treat- the trick fountains of the gardens.

Be careful where you step in this area- you could be hit by a surprise stream of water as you stroll! At the Grottos of Peterhof, the extravagance and playfulness of the fountains indicate the atmosphere of early 18th century Russia. You can even journey underneath the fountains and learn about their remarkable engineering and history.

A Bespoke trip to Argentina

Nomads cuisine

Best Seasons: March to May and September to November.

For couples who would consider buying a star and naming it after their significant other, exclusive experiences are of the utmost importance. In Argentina anything big and exciting is made possible. You can attend a private function with the opera singers of the Colon Opera House which is among the world's top 5 opera houses, or enjoy an orchestra or ballet rehearsal followed by a lunch or dinner with the dancers or musicians themselves.

You can have a cooking experience at the foot of the Andes with international master chef Francis Mallmann, take a private tango lesson with the stars of Tango Argentina, create a personal fragrance for you and your new spouse at the perfume laboratory and even witness a horse whispering session by an Indian gaucho in a private ranch in The Pampas. If this doesn’t sound unique enough, try paragliding with condors in the Andes, following the steps of Pope Francis’ life leading him up to becoming the head of the Catholic Church, shopping with a big designer at private showrooms, unearthing a dinosaur fossil in the country’s Jurassic Parks or having lunch surrounded by

Photo credit: Nomads of the seas

penguins on a private island! Did someone say Happy Feet? No, the penguins don’t tap, they tango. After walking amongst them in a private reserve, you can top the trip off with a romantic night spent watching the sunset from a secluded lighthouse. Did we mention that you would be doing all this in Argentina?

Tango on cobblestone

Colon Opera House

Photo credit: Aldo Sessa

Through their network of high quality suppliers in each country, UTravel is the premium luxury agency based in Dubai that makes all these incredible tailored trips possible.

Photo credit: Aldo Sessa

To learn more about their bespoke services visit www.UTravel.ae

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| weekend getaway |

An impromptu getaway close to home

The Desert Palm

For impulsive couples who decide to spontaneously and romantically get married out of the blue, a last minute honeymoon trip to another continent may not be on the agenda. Likewise, for fast paced couples whose agendas are full with unavoidable professional obligations, a last minute honeymoon trip closer to home would be ideal. Whatever the reason may be, many newlyweds prefer to have a quick getaway and postpone the long honeymoon trip for when the time is right.

With just 38 elegant suites and villas set against the backdrop of lush surrounds,

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green fields and shady palm trees; The Desert Palm fits the category. Inspired by a modern Arabian aesthetic, the design features broad spaces and creative use of light and textures within in a ‘naturally modern’ framework.

Couples get to choose between the following private rooms, restaurants, and spa treatments:

Where to sleep Palm Suites Located on the top floor of the resort, the Palm Suites overlook the resort’s polo fields, beautiful gardens and the Dubai skyline.

Comfortable daybeds are positioned along the expansive windows creating the ideal location to watch the daily polo chukkas or just relax with a good book.

Pool Villas In addition to the offerings of the Palm Suites, the one-bedroom Pool Villas feature large indoor and outdoor living areas and private swimming pools. Each villa boasts a sumptuous living room and dining area, a delightfully ‘sunken’ bedroom and a spacious bathroom with both indoor and outdoor rainfall showers. The Pool Villas offer ultimate privacy for lying by the pool and enjoying the

exotic settings, or taking a gentle midnight swim. The design is fabulous for entertaining friends or as an intimate hideaway for two.

Pool Residences Each Pool Residence offers seclusion with 9ft privacy walls encircling the gardens, an expansive swimming pool, outdoor dining area and sun-bathing deck. These twobedroom villas are the ultimate ‘home away from home’, complete with spacious living areas that allow abundant natural light, air conditioning, cool high ceilings, a fully equipped kitchen, three bathrooms with luxurious amenities and state-of-the-art entertainment systems.

Where to eat With fresh ingredients and creative, innovative cuisine, Desert Palm is imbued with the Per AQUUM signature of daring to be different. From stone baked pizzas, fresh pasta, Arabic delicacies, international cheeses, crisp salads and decadent desserts, the team at Desert Palm have excelled at the range of choice and variety of flavours on offer. Menus can be tailored to guests’ specific cultural and dietary requirements and matched with world class wines or simply enjoyed in the comfort and sophisticated style of the restaurant. The venue also provides a 24-hour private dining for those who wish to escape from the outside world and enjoy time alone in the chic surrounds of their room or villa. Menus can be prepared to suit guests’ tastes, or guests can simply choose from the extensive menu.

Rare Under the direction of new Executive Chef Kevin Little, this award winning restaurant is gaining elements of a modern international grill with an emphasis on simple, healthy, fresh seafood and vegetarian options as well as the some of the best cuts of meats.

RED RED is for those who believe the finest antiques come in a bottle. This chic lounge bar has some of the best views of Dubai and one of the most sought after wine lists. Secluded nooks and crannies featuring oversized sofas and chairs ensure guests can be as social or as private as they want to be whilst soaking up the atmosphere of this funky bar.

Epicure An innovative concept for Dubai, award winning Epicure combines a gourmet market filled with international delicacies and fresh produce together with a relaxed yet sophisticated café. Here you will find the finest cheeses, mustards, preserves, chocolates, freshly baked bread and other high-quality products alongside fresh flowers, international newspapers and magazines.

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, guests can choose to sit inside or out on the terrace under the shade of the palm trees. All views overlook the infinity pool and extensive green polo fields.

Where to relax LIME at Desert Palm features internationally renowned Kerstin Florian treatments designed to promote the philosophy of outer beauty, inner health and inspire a sense of wellbeing through naturally sourced spa products and technically advanced ingredients. Already a firm favourite among Dubai’s discerning spa aficionados is LIME’s signature intuitive massage which uses a variety of techniques such as Swedish, Thai, shiatsu, aromatherapy and Balinese all of which are tailored to the individual guest to ensure a truly personalized treatment. Each of LIME’s six treatment rooms overlook one of the four championship polo fields creating an inviting country backdrop and secluded oasis. For more information please visit: www.desertpalm.ae

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| gastronomy - wedding catering |

From Atlantis with appetite enters the realm of executive ballroom chef Sascha Treimer

I met with executive chef Sascha Treimer at the French Brasserie in one of the world’s, and Dubai’s, most renowned resorts. Sunburnt tourists from every part of the globe swarmed the bustling halls moving from one venue to the other, clearly confused as to which direction to follow or international cuisine to indulge in.

The legendary empire of Atlantis has been recovered on a palm shaped island in the Gulf and instead of being run by Gods and Goddesses; its 90 kitchens are operated by 500 chefs who are in turn supervised by executive chef Sascha Treimer.

Chef Sascha Treimer during a food tasting

In addition to multicultural visitors, the resort’s wedding ballroom hosts cultural celebrations from South East Asia all the way down to Oceania. Each reception, with its unique taste in food, seating and entertainment, is catered to by chefs from 50 different nationalities who take every detail into consideration. On average, the kitchen team comprises of 40 people, including a chef de cuisine who oversees everything, an executive sous chef who coordinates the

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logistics, the pastry chefs, and an artist team who is in charge of decoration such as ice and Styrofoam carving.

The venue prides itself on the authenticity it strives to offer its clients by having specialists from the respective countries there to prepare the food. “Most people request Indian or Middle Eastern food, he tells me, and you can’t have a Chinese chef preparing Indian food or vice versa.” Iranian guests

for example, are very specific and usually request to see and meet the chef in person in order to reassure the authenticity of the food.

“We are getting more and more requests for Mexican, Polynesian and Korean food, and we recently hired a Portugese chef and a Russian one,” says chef Sascha. Other than a preference for exotic cuisines, the classical buffet system has taken a popular twist in the form of live stations where guests can enjoy watching their meal being cooked in front of

them. Since couples’ main goal is to please as many attendees as possible, the chef suggests choosing from the 30 to 40 individual live cooking stations, that range from Sushi and fish carving, to quesadilla, burger, shawarma and falafel stations. “We go back to basics, he says, with burger and noodle stations, and classic authentic flavours, but we make a point to focus on the presentation.” There is just as much attention being closely paid to the presentation of food as the overall décor and set up of a wedding. Chef Sascha recognizes this, which is why he and his team come up with a Spring/Summer presentation collection which he compares to the Fashion industry’s seasonal trends. For couples who choose to opt for a more refined set menu, the chef recommends a four course meal in order to avoid a lengthy dinner.

A request for choices, in terms of starters and main courses, is possible but it creates somewhat of a challenge when dealing with larger weddings, resulting in half the table being served fish and the other half, chicken for example. The safest poultry option, according to chef Sascha, is chicken. When dealing with so many nationalities they have to keep in mind how each one prefers their meat to be cooked. While Westerners may go for a medium well, Middle Easterners opt for a well done. For Emiratis and people from the Gulf, Lamb is a popular option and Arabian hospitality requires bigger portions which is why they strive to add some finesse to the starters.

Local weddings are divided into male and female sections and they are mostly traditional with not much room for experimentation. Since the men usually have their meal and cut their night short, the family style serving requires that the cold food be ready on the table when they come in and for the hot food to promptly follow suit. For the vegetarian meals, which the chef makes sure to incorporate in at least 10% of the menus, they keep the same garnish but use Lasagna instead. “If we have a Chicken Picatta for Italian food, we try to make the vegetarian version look the same by stuffing Aubergine slices and using a parmesan and egg mixture,” explains chef Sascha. The difference between preparing a buffet and a set menu, is the set up and preparation time.

With the buffet, the chefs have to make sure not to set it up too early, especially if the wedding is outdoors and the weather is warm, in order to guarantee that the food is safe.

With a set menu, it’s crucial for the schedule to be followed without any unexpected delays, which is why the chefs give themselves a 5 minute interval before cooking the food, just in case the father of the bride’s speech turns into a Shakespearean novel. Playing with the five senses with a meal that crackles with every bite and unleashes aromatic spices with each fascinating reveal is a unique concept suggested by chef Sascha. The Papillon, a meal that consists of fish concealed inside a pouch before being unraveled for the patron to enjoy eating with their fingers rather than cutlery, is an example of a meal that touches upon the senses. Macaroon towers, food trees and vases completely covered in marshmallows and strawberries, certainly look and taste good, but all the dessert buzz is around the Sorbet; a frozen dessert made from sweetened water flavoured with fruit,

wine, and/or liqueur. At Atlantis, wedding guests enjoy savoring a sorbet out of a frozen teardrop. A small ice balloon is filled with water, explains chef Sascha, and hung slightly above a tray with the bottom barely touching it. After 4 to 5 hours in the freezer, the balloon surface is stitched open and a hole is made using a burner on one side where the Sorbet will comfortably rest in its colourful glory. The classic multiple tiered cake has shrunken down to cupcakes that are used as giveaways, or substituted its layers for hollow boxes used to elevate its appearance. The chocolate and vanilla flavours are still the most commonly preferred ones and the colour of the icing changes depending on the theme.

Of course, it’s not all icing and frost for the chefs who work under pressure until the last guest has gathered the crumbs on their plate.

Since most products are imported, there are situations where the suppliers are late and the products arrive on the day of the wedding itself. There are also cases where a couple spontaneously decides to get married with 3 or 4 days to prepare for the ceremony, but a challenge is always more exciting and chef Sascha is here to prove so. From the cuisine, to the serving and seating arrangements; the size and temperature of the canapés, (a cold canapé that can be eaten in one bite is more preferable than a hot one that can spill unto a ten thousand Dirham dress) to the exact minute the main course is served; attention is paid to every detail. In addition to agility and time management, a strong eye for detail builds a chef’s acclaimed reputation which in turn reflects on the venue itself. Let’s just say that Atlantis The Palm has built an undoubtedly prominent reputation and won’t be vanishing any time soon.

Text by Houry Seukunian

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From one part of Asia to another We discover Singaporean cuisine with celebrity chef Violet Oon

“Stay foolish and stay hungry.”

Chef Violet Oon

People from the Gulf, particularly from the emerging cosmopolitan cities such as Dubai and Doha, have long familiarized with Singapore. Innovative architecture, cleanliness and order are amongst the commonalities found in both of these regions that heavily rely on hospitality and tourism to attract international admirers. Following the opening of the famous Cantonese fine dining restaurant, Hakkasan in Qatar, a&e has turned its attention towards one of

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the most diversified cuisines in the world.

During the world’s largest annual trade show for the food and hospitality industry, we learned about the region’s growing interest in Singaporean cuisine and met up with one of the country’s most respected food experts.

Chef Violet Oon was in Dubai to serve as a food ambassador for Singapore and she wholeheartedly embodied that role while she conducted live demonstrations of how to make the famous Chilli Crab. “Singapore’s

ethnic diversity and heritage of Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures is what makes the country’s cuisine so vibrant. This fusion of flavours has made our national dishes appealing to palates around the world,” said Chef Violet Oon. Singapore has been dubbed the ‘Melting pot of Asia,’ this reflects not only the integration but also, the influence of the Asian food cultures on one another. As a former Opera singer and music critic, chef Violet associates the rhythm of Singaporean cuisine to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, “it’s like a symphony, she tells a&e, It’s not a simple song but it’s raw. A bit country and a bit Rock n’ roll!” Established as a trading port in 1819, Singapore has attracted an influx of migrants and merchants over the years from China, the Malay Peninsula, the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East. Along with their cultures, languages and customs, these migrants brought with them their food traditions that have since shaped Singapore’s culinary landscape.

“From all the people we have traded with, says chef Violet, Arab traders were the most important to our culture. Our food appeals to them because it isn’t all spicy; it has a slight sweetness to it and we use a lot of Middle Eastern spices, which I’m hoping to get my hands on during this trip!” a more important point she touched upon however, is the act of eating and sharing one’s food, which she believes Arabs and Singaporeans also have in common. “I think the idea of having your own food is quite modern; food is about friendship and sharing.”

Today, Singapore has transformed into a food paradise abound with a diverse array of flavours from around the region. The most enjoyed local dishes on the menu are from the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan. From halal Malay food to South and North Indian

colonial rulers and as a culinary destination for adventurous foodies. “It has such a welcoming ambiance and caters to a wide variety of dining options, says chef Violet, from Singapore Seafood, to Steaks and an international range of cuisines.” Restaurant Andre in Bukit Pasoh Road, Taste Paradise at the ION Shopping Mall and a Spanish tapas restaurant called, Esquina, are also amongst the chef’s must visit list for culinary visitors.

Singapore Satay Skewers inspired by Middle Eastern Kebab

“Bold foodies from the Gulf should definitely have a taste of Frog Porridge in Singapore’s Geylang on Geylang Road. It is unquestionably a brave dish to try!” Chef Violet Oon pratas and biryani to Hainanese chicken rice to the Peranakan’s laksa, a Singaporean’s daily fare can easily reflect the country’s rich multicultural background. For the Chinese, food is used for its symbolic properties, such as noodles for longevity, oysters for good fortune and fish for prosperity. They also believe in combining ingredients to enhance the harmony between the ying and yang qualities, and provide health and balance to the body’s well-being. Good for the heart, tummy and soul, some of Singapore’s Chinese fares are the delicious dim sum, roasted meats and double-boiled soups brought by the Cantonese immigrants. Dishes with more intense flavours are the spicy dishes from Szechuan and the flavourful chicken rice with its roots from the Hainan province.

“When I was doing research as a sociologist, I was interested in the first people who came to work in Singapore who were mostly single men without families living in dormitories,” mentions chef Violet. “They would eat out at on-the-go venues that catered specifically to them,” she adds and advises visitors from the Gulf to experience the country’s street food, which according to her, is a portal through which one experiences the essence of a culture. Speaking of culture, now a big part of Singapore’s culinary heritage, are the old British army warehouses that have been turned into restaurants. Referred to as The Dempsey Hill, this area holds great historical value as a remnant of the country’s former

For connoisseurs of a higher entity who enjoy the finer side of dining, she recommends, Cut by Wolfgang Puck at the Marina Bay Sands, and the Shangri-La Hotel’s Chinese restaurant, Shang Palace. Seafood is considered to be the most elegant of foods: Lobsters, fish, live crabs and Langston are a culinary and visual attraction usually swimming around in live tanks waiting to be picked by hungry patrons. This notable incorporation of live fish tanks into the interior décor can be found at the group of restaurants that make up the East Coast Seafood center, tells us chef Violet. The multi-talented chef who travels the world to share the country’s internationally renowned cuisine is a cookbook author, popular TV personality as well as a former sociologist.

When asked what her favourite meal was she would always answer: “It’s my next meal, because as a reporter your next project is your biggest adventure.”

Singapore Coconut Laksa

Her mission in Dubai was to represent her country and as one of the leading food gurus of Singapore, she was being recognized left and right. Quickly adapting to the fine dining culture of this vibrant city, she paid a visit to one of its culinary gems and a reflection of her own influence and success. Zuma, the famous Japanese restaurant located in DIFC, boasts an executive chef whose dishes are the reason why the venue hardly ever has empty seats. Chef Reif Othman started his career as a young 16 year old in Chef

Violet’s kitchen, which justifies the pride and confidence she exudes whilst affirming her country’s culinary excellence.

Known as much for her cooking as for her opinions on food, chef Violet belongs to a blended culture of the native Malay of Singapore and the Chinese immigrants who came down south to the Nanyang (the South Seas) to make their fortunes. During the trade show, she prepared a series of signature dishes including the country’s famous Chilli Crab. “I think the Singaporean chefs bring with them a certain quality, standard and an obsession with finesse,” she tells us referring to the tiny red tasting dishes she had brought with her all the way from Singapore.

“Quality is not only about taste, it’s about presentation,” she adds.

Singapore Chili Crab - For extra oomph, order some mantou (toasted buns) to scoop up the thick gravy, which will leave you hankering for more

Arguably one of Singapore’s greatest culinary inventions, Chilli Crab is a popular seafood dish among locals and foreigners in Singapore. What makes this dish so special is its sensuous, sweet yet savoury sauce, created with a base of chilli and tomato sauces which will electrify your palate and satisfy your taste buds. Chilli crab is said to have been invented by Cher Yam Tian in the mid-1950s when she, on her husband Lim Choon Ngee’s suggestion, added bottled chilli sauce to her dish of stir-fried crabs which she had normally cooked with bottled tomato sauce. In 1956, the couple began selling the dish from a pushcart along the seaside. This was to be the beginning of a Singaporean institution.

Last but not least, be sure to pass by chef Violet Oon’s own restaurant in Singapore, Violet Oon’s Kitchen, located on 881 Bukit Timah Road, serving the native Nyonya cuisine she is known for.

Text by Houry Seukunian

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| a&e recommends |

Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris

A New Chapter Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris, the European flagship of Raffles Hotel & Resorts, was entirely transformed by the French designer Philippe Starck. This illustrious hotel, an icon in the City of Light since 1928, begins a new era in its history, reliving the unique Parisian spirit of the 1930’s, filled with Glamour, Effervescence and Creativity.

Art & Culture Art and artistic creativity form the soul and rhythm of Le Roayl Monceau - Raffles Paris. Guests are surrounded by the finest contemporary art installations and services throughout the hotel: the art collection, the art gallery, the contemporary art bookstore, the in-house movie theatre, the boutique and the unique services of an Art Concierge.

An Exceptional Destination Located on the prestigious Avenue Hoche, only steps away from Champs ElysĂŠes, the Arc de Triomphe and the elegant Parc Monceau, Le Royal Monceau is ideally located in order to fully experience the rich and vibrant atmosphere of Paris, a city that pulsates with life and creativity.

A Vision of Luxury Every detail in the hotel is perfectly tailored to the needs of each guest, from the state-of-the-art technology, to the decor in each room and the artwork on display. Combine this with the distinguished Raffles service, le Royal Monceau offers a unique alternative to the Parisian luxury hotel experience.

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Gastronomy The hotel has three distinct areas dedicated to Gastronomy, supervised by two culinary talents, the Executive Chef Laurent André and the Pastry Chef, Pierre Hermé: • La Cuisine, the French restaurant offers a refined, generous and spontaneous cuisine in an elegant decor that combines an open kitchen, a chef’s table and private alcoves.

• Il Carpaccio, the Italian restaurant presents a gastronomic cuisine in an audacious and artistic atmosphere, overlooking the garden.

• Le Bar Long has been inspired by and designed as a living room that welcomes guests all day long to meet, gather, eat and relive the effervescence of the 1930’s.

Spa The Spa at the hotel is the first of the exclusive My Blend by Clarins spas which offers 1500 sqm of pure tranquillity that a&e had the pleasure of experiencing during the exceptional stay at Le Royal Monceau.

Room & Suites Inspired by the 1940's and 50's, the elegant rooms and luxurious suites reflect a unique atmosphere, infused with art and the French spirit. Le Royal Monceay - Raffles Paris

offers 85 rooms (from 36 to 45 sqm) and 64 suites (from 55 to 360 sqm) including 3 stunning Presidential Suites.

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| tried & tested spa |

The Spa My Blend

by Clarins At Le Royal Monceau, Paris

A temple of wellbeing and contemporary beauty, Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris Spa, the first for My Blend by Clarins, offers a unique haven of peace and relaxation in the heart of Paris. A paradise of pure white, this 1,500 square meter space includes a 23 meter pool, the largest ever built in a Paris luxury hotel. The exclusive treatments, relaxation rooms including a hammam, laconium room and sauna, and dedicated fitness coaches make this luxury hotel spa in Paris a temple of tailor-made luxury. The spa can be accessed directly from every floor.

A revolutionary new concept My Blend by Clarins is a unique line of body care products that can be customized and designed for the specific skin-care needs of each client. The personally tailored facial treatments are based on a thorough analysis of each client’s skin to determine its biological age.

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depict foot massages and one hieroglyphic caption states “don’t hurt me!” You can discover Clarins’ perfect touch through their massages and body treatments for both men and women.

With relaxing facials and body treatments, you will be so close to the finish line of perfection at the Clarins Spa. The finishing touch could be a manicure, pedicure or a simple application of nail polish.

When it comes to haircare, Clarins has chosen the Leonor Greyl brand for its haircare booth notably because its expert, tailored approach fully complies with its own facial and body care ethos.

That’s not all – the Spa My Blend by Clarins is wholly dedicated to beauty, youth and general well-being. Physical exercise goes hand in hand with cosmetic care, and can also be tailored to your requirements, with advice and support from a team of specialised coaches. Personal rediscovery means learning to listen to your body and feel it change.

The Clarins ‘Facial Beauty’ menu includes a selection of emblematic treatments that aim to rejuvenate the skin and enhance its radiance, balance and purity. It now also includes a unique, specially developed protocol; a plant-based anti-ageing treatment associated with application techniques that enhance the effectiveness of active agents in combating the signs of ageing.

At Le Royal Monceau Spa, the Clarins’ ‘power of touch’ reigns supreme. Clarins has developed massage techniques inspired by the best of the cultures experienced in the 150 countries where it operates. Based on the five fundamental contact points (palm, thumb, edge of the hand, forearm and elbow), Clarins leverages long-standing traditions to find the ‘perfect touch’.

Indeed, some Ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs

Whether you need a relaxing break in exceptional surroundings or a workout that tones up your muscles or drives you towards specific endurance objectives, the Spa My Blend by Clarins can offer effective and enjoyable responses to your needs with its Spa Programme, Water fitness, Turkish baths, cardiovascular workouts and so much more. a&e recommends Anti-Jet-lag Stopover ( Face & body massage ) Rating: 9/10

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| sport |

Lacoste

Maintains its flawless complexion and gracefully turns 80 The Crocodile, or Rene Lacoste, slithered around the back court and never gave up on his prey as that was the style of play which made him a French Tennis and fashion legend. The Captain of the French Davis Cup Team Allan H. Muhr promised René Lacoste an alligator suitcase if he was to win an important match for the team. The legend was born, with a little help from the Boston Evening Transcript that reported this episode in an article referring to the French player as “the Crocodile”. Drawn by his friend Robert George, a crocodile was embroidered on his tennis blazer and, from one court to another, the legend began to spread. Not only was he a world number 1 player for both 1926 and 1927, but he was also the founder of the now 80 year old clothing brand that sparked a tennis fashion revolution decades ago. The earliest tennis clothes for men were made

The evolution of the timeless white polo shirt

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“The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Open was an amazing tournament with impressive facilities, great care for the players, and outdoor courts under the sun; which is enjoyable at this time of the year!”

David Goffin up of cardigans or sweater vests and long flannel pants, until the functional and simple polo shirt was born, replacing the classical woven fabric, long-sleeved and starched shirts.

Lacoste maintains a strong sponsorship policy and reinforces its legacy in the world of tennis through internationally renowned events such as the Australian Open, Roland Garros, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and of course, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Today, Lacoste counts more than 121 tennis champions (among them 20 are in the top 100) from almost 10 different nationalities who share with the brand and its founder René Lacoste the essential values of tenacity, performance, and elegance. a&e was there to share the enthusiasm of a live tennis game played by the world’s finest, including Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who brought home his fourth Dubai win. We spoke to 22 year old Belgian tennis

a&e spends two minutes with David Goffin, the 22 year old Belgian tennis player who was at the Dubai Tennis Open

star, David Goffin, who currently ranks 47 in the world and is quickly managing to follow in his Swiss Idol, Federer’s footsteps. As a professional tennis player, he is overwhelmed to be making a living off of his passion and driven by the competitive world of Tennis to push himself day after day. He hopes that fans of the sport will always find his games

pleasant to watch and most of all, aspires to inspire younger generations to play tennis.

The young player described Lacoste’s tennis wear as classic, classy, elegant and chic with technical aspects adapted for high level tennis referring to the weight, fabric and fit of the attire.

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| luxury yachts |

The Dubai International

Boat Show

Luxury yachts and the rising marine industry of the Emirates

The Dubai International Boat Show’s exclusive location, select set-up and high profile visitors afford exhibitors the opportunity to promote their yachts and reach local and worldwide potential buyers year after year. During the month of March, the Dubai international Marine Club in Mina Seyahi put 430 boats on display including an impressive 30 premiers with 11 global launches and 19 regional launches.

The show saw strong international demand with more than 49 countries participating and debut appearances from Armenia, Belgium, Malaysia, Malta, Palau and the Russian Federation. The United States and

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Italy increased their total exhibition space by 110% and 47% respectively, with Turkey increasing its floor space by eight times.

A new Florida pavilion signified a greater demand for American-made products and leisure crafts, with a 200% increase in products overall from the United States.

Gulf Boating Conference keynote speaker Hassan Al Hashemi, External Relations Director for the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that Dubai’s economy is on the upswing, which bodes well for the marine industry. “We predict that key economy pillars such as trade, tourism and logistics are expected to continue to

lead this year and there is a strong picture moving forward with our members already recording a 13% increase in trade in January compared to the same month in 2012. The rapid increase in new projects in the Emirate such as the Creek Canal extension and the JBR Bluewaters Island project is testament to investor confidence.”

Also speaking at the LSS and ESS Industry Seminars was Richard Bailey, Managing Director of Sealift 2 – a new boat lift technology that cuts the cost of antifouling and gel coat restoration for boats that is new to the UAE. “Traditionally, at least once a year in the off season, which is the height

of summer in Dubai, marine vessels must be lifted out of the water in order to scrape off barnacles and apply anti-fouling paint which slows the growth of damaging organisms on the hull, which usually takes several days and is extremely expensive. Sealift2 is a new technology that reduces this process to a matter of hours using new technologies and processes that boat owners in the UAE are not yet aware of. With this new technology, the boat is standing on its keel supported above the water line, so once the antifoul paint is touch dry, and the boat can relaunch within hours,” Bailey added.

Members of the newly established ‘Super Yacht Experience’, under the umbrella of the prestigious Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss), were at the show to conduct business with affluent visitors seeking to purchase luxury boats. Super Yacht Experience members participating in the show included Amels, Benetti Yachts, CRN, Fincantieri Yachts, Fr. Lurssen Werft GmbH, Heesen Yachts, Mondomarine, Oceanco, Palmer Johnson and Trinity Yachts.

According to a recent Boston Consulting Group, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE are among the world’s top 10 countries with the highest density of ultra-wealthy households. The affluence of the Middle East region is highlighted by the fact that 60% of the world’s top 100 superyachts are owned by Middle East residents. The Dubai International Boat Show also attracted wealthy buyers from Asia and particularly India, China and Turkey, which have seen a boom in the number of USD millionaires and

The Iguana on land

extremely wealthy individuals. According to a 2012 GCC and regional boating market report by marine industry consultancy Mike Derrett Marine, the strong business and social connections between India, the Gulf States and Europe have resulted in many Indians being exposed to the growing boating lifestyles in these markets with these individuals eager to purchase luxury boats.

The setting up of a dedicated UAE Pavilion this year was a natural response to the increasing demand for locally manufactured craft. The country’s marine vessel manufacturers are now responsible for producing an estimated 60-70% of the Gulf’s total population of leisure boats, with UAE owners taking

advantage of Dubai having the best boat repair facilities in the GCC, according to the 2012 GCC and regional boating market report.

The ‘Made in UAE Pavilion’, a show first, is aimed at providing a platform for small-tomedium UAE boat builders such as Al Hareb Marine, Julfar Craft, Legacy Yachts and Ocean Boats, to increase local and global market exposure for the UAE boat manufacturing industry. According to a recent International Boat Industry report, the global economic downturn allowed regional consumers to look more favourably at domestic products that are often more competitively priced and offer greater levels of customisation for buyers. Emirates’ nautical manufacturing ability, which is demonstrated by the UAE’s 40% growth in boat sales in 2012 over the figures for 2011, according to a 2012 GCC and regional boating market report by marine industry consultancy Mike Derrett Marine.

With the largest boat on water at this year’s show, industry leader Behnemar showcased the more than 160 foot “Sapphire”, a fully equipped, trans-atlantic ready mega yacht.

“The Sapphire is an elegant, opulent yacht well-suited to the potential boat buyers in the region. We focus on high-end, personalised consultancy services to help clients buy the perfect product to make them happy; something that potential buyers at the Dubai International Boat Show are looking for,” said Dr. Rainer Behne, Chairman of Behnemar Yachting.›

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a&e consults

Mr. Erwin Bamps, Chief Operating Officer of Gulf Craft, the region’s leader in superyacht manufacturing

Having celebrated its 30 year anniversary in 2012, Gulf Craft is one of the most internationally recognised pioneers of UAE luxury yachts and fiberglass boats and a member of an elite circle of superyacht builders worldwide. The company has a presence in major international boating markets through its Majesty Yachts, Oryx and Silvercraft brands, and is currently in the process of building its largest ever luxury superyacht, the Majesty 155. Following their strong presence at the Dubai International Boat Show, the company’s COO spoke to us about their involvement, the region’s luxury marine industry, the current trends in yachts purchasing and manufacturing, and Gulf Craft’s future projects.

What are your thoughts on the current luxury marine industry in Dubai and where would you position it on an international level?

People view Dubai as a shopping paradise and as a hub for the region in terms of setting trends and styles. So far as the marine industry is concerned, Dubai is the region’s trend setter. For the people from the GCC or even India - who don’t have the chance to travel so frequently to international boats shows all around the world, then Dubai is the place to find out what’s “living” in the industry, both regionally and globally. Dubai is the hub of the marine industry in the region.

Most brands are well represented here. In terms of sales, they’re selling to customers in

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the UAE and the wider region, from Africa all the way to South East Asia. Whether you’re talking about the luxury products associated with the yachting lifestyle or the boats themselves, Dubai is where people not only come and buy but gather expertise from.

Today, it is similar to what you see in Monaco, for example, which is the international yachting city that I would compare Dubai with.

Just like Monaco, visitors to Dubai are from diverse nationalities and this internationalism adds to its importance. Dubai is also a place where everybody likes a bit of glamour, where you can expect an appreciation of the finer things in life - like fine dining, fine art, matching architecture and the best luxury products. Its international exposure as a luxury hub is also increasing its role as a yachting hub. Moreover, global yachting hubs are also great centers for tourism - whether it’s the south of France, Florida, the south of Thailand or Singapore. With Dubai and the UAE continuing to build destinations like the Palm Islands, Yas Island, and the Burj Khalifa, Dubai becomes increasingly characterized as a tourism destination and therefore as a yachting destination.

What are some new trends in the luxury yacht industry, in terms of manufacturing and purchasing?

New trends in the yacht industry point to people looking for more comfort onboard, more space and luxury and more features.

Boat buyers want all the latest bells and whistles available, just like car buyers. Yacht owners are less interested in a big engine nowadays, specifically in Europe and the US, where the price and consumption of oil and green issues are becoming increasingly important. People are trying to enhance their own comfort onboard rather than trying to have the highest speed or performance level.

These are the trends that we see today and, of course, this reflects in the purchase of materials and the buyers’ profiles we have.

If you look at our product range, another trend is that while small boats are widening their market, it’s the superyachts that are in the highest demand. And, as we have seen since the global recession happened, it is the middle section of the market, for yachts between 45 and 80 feet, where there are less buyers today.

Gulf Craft displayed the biggest yacht it has constructed so far, the Majesty 135, at the Dubai

International Boat Show; tell us about that and the show in general.

The Dubai International Boat Show is a platform where the “who’s who” in the industry and the elite clientele meet and get together. DIBS is a platform for us to meet all regional customers, as well as many customers from beyond the region. It is also a significant event on the worldwide calendar of yachting so it is an apt place for the world premiers of some of our vessels, especially our most significant builds.

Do westerners, Arab expats and Gulf nationals have similar taste in marine luxury?

Tastes vary greatly from population to population and from customer to customer.

Everybody is looking for something different.

If you look at the interiors or the functionality of the boats we build, they all reflect the personal lifestyles and situations of the owners – such as if the owner is married or not, has a family or not, is a bit of an explorer at heart as a person or loves to flaunt himself.

Everybody has their own expectations from the product when it comes to this type of market. Everyone approaches it with a different idea in mind.

We have unique ways to cater to the diverse tastes of our very varied clientele, which is through semi-customization. Instead of selling a single type of yacht, we provide our customers the choice of defining what yachting means to them. Basically, we ensure they feel confident that they are investing in something that will deliver what they are dreaming about. So, what our clientele is looking for the most is to meet a constructor like us that is willing to sit down and listen to them, guide them a little bit as to what they can expect, advise them on what not to do and how they can enjoy this product to the maximum. They’re looking not just for a boat builder but for a sort of consultancy, which we also provide. We are not simply salesmen but creators of a customized solution.

What details do customers pay the utmost attention to when buying a yacht or boat?

The most important thing for a customer changes from one individual to another. For some people, space is more important in the bedrooms; for others, such as our Chinese

customers, it’s more about how many people they can get together on the boat. For some other people, it’s how much they can explore, so they are interested in the range of the boat or its fuel consumption, meaning can they go all the way to the Maldives without stopping or refueling? So the priorities are very different.

But one trend is increasingly visible, which is, like in the car industry, interest in comfort and features. There is less demand for just engine power or just navigating capability.

What are the services you provide to your customers after they have purchased a yacht?

It’s not just about servicing the product, we can also guide them as to where they can moor their boats, where to insure their boats, where to get captains and crew from, how to manage their boats, and a myriad other aspects concerning the marine lifestyle and hassle-free boat ownership. We don’t do this ourselves, though, but in partnership with others, such as marine services firms.

What are some challenges faced here by yacht owners and what does Dubai lack in terms of services and maintenance?

Spontaneous boat operation or usage is not easy here, not only in the UAE but the region. You cannot just hop into your boat and say “we’re off”! There’s the coast guard approval, the emirate to emirate permissions and then the country to country permits to obtain. There is a tedious amount of paperwork and patience required. That does not make it easy, so regulations are a little restrictive for spontaneous boat ownership and usage.

In terms of service, the market here is still emerging and evolving. We have been in business for 31 years here and have seen it gradually grow as a boating and marine lifestyle market but it is still in need of more players - whether it is management and charter companies, general lease and service companies or manufacturing and sub-contracting, you name it. The industry and infrastructure are still being built up and certain parameters are lacking. For example, boat finance is not widely spread.

These factors make boat ownership a little bit less obvious as a lifestyle choice here. So there are quite a few challenges but at the same time the market is growing continuously and all the regulators are becoming aware of the necessity to make the entire process of boat ownership easier and a little bit more spontaneous.

What are your priorities as COO of the company and how have you embraced this role?

As the COO of Gulf Craft, I feel this industry reflects what Dubai is about. There is never a boring day or a dull moment. Even at a global level, the marine industry is still an emerging one. Apart from a few mature markets, people by and large do not view yachting as a “democratic” pastime. However, this is a misconception. As I keep saying, if you can afford to buy a car, you can afford to buy a boat. A lot of people are still unaware of that.

Yachting starts with simple boating, and boating starts with sailing and vessels like small runabouts. It is not as inaccessible as most people think but it is still an activity and an industry that is new to most people.

I believe the industry itself has been very conservative for many years and has catered

The Majesty 135

to enthusiasts and hobbyists mainly. People making navigation systems, for example, looked mainly at functionality rather than user friendliness. Now the industry is slowly becoming aware of people’s demands for luxury, user-friendliness and products that reflect their tastes and individuality, as well as becoming aware of how customers want to see yacht interiors and feature lists to be an extension of their on-shore lifestyle. And so the whole industry is going through quite a revolution in my opinion, and that makes it an intriguing development.

What is the most valuable advice you can give to someone who is considering investing in a yacht?

The one advice I would give any first time yacht buyer is to “Do your homework!” A lot of people who have the money to buy a big yacht may still doubt today whether they should invest in it. And a lot of others jump in without giving it much thought. I would advise yacht buyers to look and approach their purchase with as much thought and preplanning as when you want to build a villa.

Before buying your property you map out how it’s going to be organized for you, the layout, the interior styling, how it reflects your personality, and how big you want it to be 4 bedrooms or 5, maybe less or more. You also decide its location – should it be near the city center or in the countryside – and other aspects such as what your family desires, if you have one, or do you need a garden. You also decide what you eventually want to do with it in a lot of cases. People have to ask themselves a few questions before building a villa or any other property.

You put in almost the same thought into buying your yacht. Customers who have come to us have realized that they actually can customize their yachts as much as that and also, in this way, it becomes a lot more satisfying and a much richer experience than just owning, say, a luxury car. At the moment we are floating between two tides: sometimes people think we are quite a luxury item, and sometimes they think we are a construction project. As matter of fact, we are both. We want to offer people a chance to consider it an exercise in which they can reflect their personalities. The biggest challenge we have is to encourage people to ask themselves the questions that they need to ask to make sure that the yacht becomes something that they utterly enjoy.

Interviewed by Houry Seukunian

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talks Maserati and the new Quattroporte with

Umberto Cini

The Managing Director of the overseas markets

Just ten days after the global unveiling at North American International Auto Show, the sixth generation of the Maserati Quattroporte premiered in the Middle East at the Qatar Motor Show. A flagship of the Maserati product range, the new Quattroporte is larger, lighter, more luxurious and faster than the globally-acclaimed car it replaces. The sixthgeneration Quattroporte is a significant leap forward that not only sets the high-technology tone for Maserati’s upcoming range of newmodels, but also remains faithful to Maserati’s

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long history of luxury sports sedans. It is the essence of Italian car design with a style dedicated to proportion, dynamism and purity that delivers new standards in quality in every area from design to development, fabrication and process controls. The first model of Maserati’s unparalleled strategic step in industrial growth, the new Quattroporte is the start of a journey that will see the company’s sales increase by a factor of eight by 2015. It is an increase inspired by a near century of vehicles which define style, elegance, quality

and performance. The Quattroporte will be followed by Ghibli and the Levant luxury SUV entering key growth segments for the luxury brand.

Speaking from the press conference in Doha, Mr. Umberto Cini, Managing Director for Maserati Overseas Markets, commented: “50 years ago we took a revolutionary step when we successfully put a Maserati racing engine inside the body of a sedan; this idea not only changed our brand but brought a new segment

of the industry to life. The Quattroporte will once again shape Maserati’s future. It is the ultimate Grand Touring vehicle offering highend sporty performance, uniquely blended with Italian design and luxury materials. The new Quattroporte ensures that every journey is an unforgettable one, and I am honored to be unveiling it to the Middle East just a few days after the world first saw it in Detroit.”

I caught up with the Italian globetrotting Managing director at his office overlooking the Meydan race course. He thoroughly explained to me the meticulous work put into the maintenance of the luscious green grass that appears outside his balcony. The race tracks are a natural place for Umberto to find himself every single day, where the best of both of his worlds meet; the world of Maserati and the world of racing. He spent the first half of his life racing horses and the second half racing cars so it comes to us as no surprise that he represents a luxury car brand with a strong heritage in racing.

Let’s begin by talking about Italy’s reputation in luxury products, from fashion, to jewellery and cars: In Italy, the iconic fashion brands such as Armani, Valentino, Fendi, Gucci and Zegna employ exclusive tailors whose work still carries with it the essence of older craftsmanship.

The Maserati is definitely a tailor made suit, well stitched on your body. Our customers can tailor make the car, which is one of our main features. They can choose the colours inside and out, the fabric, the stitching or how you they would like to have the bottom sealed.

In terms of jewellery brands, (he points at the back of a&e’s latest issue,) this is our comarketing partner, Bulgari.

The Octo watch with Bulgari was definitely a big hit, what other types of products would Maserati consider collaborating on?

Why not a car? They produced a watch with features common to the car; why not make a car with features common to a watch?

Jewellery for women is also an option since the Maserati our car is growing dramatically in terms of female customers. We’ve also worked with Fendi before, on a limited edition Fendi GranCabrio, with only 50 pieces in the world.

The car was customized by Fendi according to their values using their special leather

and the colour was designed and chosen by Fendi’s graphic and artistic team. The wood inside was a special wood made for Fendi by Maserati, and every piece has its own number on the dashboard and the soft top. 26 pieces out of 50 came to the Middle East!

do separate events for males and females and lean towards more traditional events that are in line with the culture. So it’s definitely different according to where we go and we have to respect the culture while bringing our own philosophy.

Where in the Middle East?

The iconic Sophia Loren is a big fan of the brand. Who are some other friends of the brand?

We sold 7 pieces to the UAE, a couple in Qatar and Saudi and Lebanon got 2. We have a good representation in this region.

What do you think appeals most to UAE customers in particular?

We took Andrea Bocelli around the UAE in our new Quattroporte two weeks ago, when he was in Abu Dhabi for his show. We definitely stick to our roots, where we come from.

They mainly want something special and exclusive which is of high standard but not too flashy. They are keen on Italian manufacturing, whether it be in fashion, jewellery or cars. We always maintain our Italian style and DNA, all the while adapting to the needs of the local market. We don’t do the same marketing in Dubai, as in Abu Dhabi or Saudi.

Are Maserati ambassadors strictly Italian?

How do you differentiate between those different markets?

What would that image be?

Dubai is based on more of an expat community.

More than a third of our customer base in Dubai is made up of western expats, so we organize more unrestricted events with more flexibility of course. In Kuwait and Saudi we

Bocelli is the benchmark of Italian style. Before him there was Pavarotti. (he points towards an enlarged black and white photograph of Pavarotti posing in the 3rd edition of the Quattroporte) When Pavarotti came to Dubai, we were part of his sponsoring pool as well.

Not really, we partnered a couple of years ago with a Lebanese singer. We appreciate people with personality that somehow have something that matches our philosophy and embody our image.

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Talking about marketing, our roots are very important to us. We are almost a 100 year old brand with a long heritage made of values that are still with us till this day. We first started producing the racing engine then came the body, and we were quickly matched with the Bella Vita Italiana soonafter. We went through all these stages and still it is all part of our DNA.

There are 6 generations of the Quattroporte, take us through the different eras.

The first one was in 1963, which dates back 50 years from the launch of the 6th generation.

It was a unique car back then, because it was the first time that a racing car and engine was put inside a Sedan body. It was the first time that it was able to achieve 250 km/ hr for as a Sedan. The 2nd generation was unique because it was very well received, with very few units which were mostly sold in the Middle East actually. The 3rd generation was the first Quattroporte that was blessed by the president of the Italian republic for being a representative car for Italy, a great title. The 4th generation, despite the lack of money to develop anything new or interest to do so due to the difficult times the company was going through, this was the only one that was produced at the time. The 5th generation is the one that was launched in 2003 and until now it is out on the roads. It is the Sedan that

won the highest number of international prizes around the world, around 57 prizes. This was the first sportif Sedan saloon produced in the world. When the Quattroporte came out, there was nothing similar to it. The Quattroporte was a breakthrough concept, the first units had an excellent handling and were well put together in terms of leather which is still made

by Poltrona Frau, a leader in luxury. Only a few years after, we saw the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide.

The last one was one year ago. This car is going to be unique because it’s the first Quattroporte that has a generous dimension, which is something people here love. With this Quattroporte we grew our shares in the Maserati world sales significantly. Now the Middle East counts for around 7% of the entire world production, my area, which is the general overseas market, counts around 13% of the entire world production.

How was the Quattroporte received by people in the UAE? We don’t have anything available; everything is sold at the moment! The first car that you can get, if you’re lucky, is during Ramadan.

We always keep something for the friends or VIPs who are the brand’s friends; if they were to request one, we won’t say no. If you’re not too demanding with the colour combination, then I can keep one for you, but no discount!

Mr. Umberto Cini, Managing Director for Maserati Overseas Markets,

You mentioned that your female customer base is growing significantly. Where would you say you have the most female customers?

Definitely, Kuwait. It has the highest number of female customers in the world. It’s come to a stage where they’re starting to be concerned for us, because it’s too many women. Almost 60% of our Kuwaiti customers are female, and Saudi Arabia makes up 25%. It’s a higher number than Dubai, which is around 20%. The Middle East has one of the highest percentage of female customers in the world.

Tell us about the region’s customer base in general: The customer base here is interesting. It’s very difficult to segment in the Middle East, because the demographic is always changing.

It’s a customer who is generally younger than the rest of the world, more demanding and knowledgeable about the cars. But if we interview each one of the customers, we discover that there are some elements of the brand that appeals to all of them similarly.

This includes the exclusivity of the brand. If you dig deeper, you discover that some people buy it because of the colour, or even the sound that the engine makes.

If we launch the Quattroporte in the US, we know that 90% of our customers will be within a certain cluster that is easily identifiable. Here, it’s the other way around. 10% is identifiable, while 90% will be from outside this cluster.

That’s why we want to be directly present in the market, with a dedicated team who help us understand the needs of this country. In terms of colour for example, we did a special series car in 2007 based on a colour that we saw was a best seller in the Middle East.

With regards to the environment, how do you ensure sustainability?

The Quattroporte is 90 horsepower more than the previous one, which is a lot. The weight is reduced because of the large use of aluminium and the kinds of fibres we have available in the automotive industry. The engine has changed.

Previously, in order to deliver 440 horsepower we needed a 4.7 litre engine. Now we can deliver 530 horsepower with just need a 3.8 litre engine. So the engines are reducing, with less fuel needed to burn. At the moment, we are the most efficient engine in production.

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The new Quattroporte's interior

Which is your favourite model?

It depends from the day, how I feel and even how I’m dressed. Maserati is a small manufacturer and we produce a few models. But if you look at each one, you notice that they have different personalities. You go from the smoothest one to the most extreme one which is for track use. I love the convertible, of course. I’m also a family man, so I’d want the Quattroporte for the family. As I mentioned, I’m a race car driver so I like the Gran Turismo when I want to feel the power of its performance. The Quattroporte is however the most balanced car we have, since it has a bit of everything. If you are a lucky man who works for such a company then you have a small fleet of cars downstairs, and every day you can drive a different model!

Tell me about your job and role as managing director? How does your style and work ethic fit in with Maserati?

I feel like I’m the luckiest person on earth because I work for my passion. Business wise, I grew up in the car industry and my first job was in a car dealership. This is definitely my preferred field and Maserati is my preferred company, because it’s a small company which is target oriented. A manager can make all the difference. We have our yearly target which

we revise on an annual basis, but then we have leeway to use our own capabilities to achieve those targets. The headquarters trust us to represent it well and that is the philosophy I use with my team. They are all right until they prove to me that they’re wrong! I highly regard loyalty, trust, and transparence in a two-way communication. It’s a very rewarding company with whom I started working around 10 years ago as a sales manager for Italy and in a few years they allowed me to build a decent career. You can’t work 14 hours a day if you don’t have passion for what you do. From 7:30 in the morning till 9 pm, you always find someone in the office!

of their life in a sort of exchange. Business involves taxation, pollution, regulations, and marketing amongst others, which we carry in a tool box and take with us wherever we go.

We work from the extreme of no taxes in the Middle East, to Brazil which is around 450% taxation. From here to there I pass through Lebanon which is 70%, Egypt 250%, India is 170%, while in the UAE it’s 5%. The business environment varies from one place to another, but you learn this with a tool box. You put everything in a sort of micro excel file and you get your results. But learning about different cultures and their respective needs is the most valuable thing you learn from this experience.

What do you like about this region and how do you like working with the different countries?

How do you compare the luxury factor of Dubai to the other countries under your umbrella?

What I like about “my world,” is definitely the experience that I get. I have a global view of the business world, going from Mexico down to New Zealand all the way around to South Korea. Whatever countries are located in this triangle, I’m in charge of and they are all so different than one another. You can really gain a 360 degree experience, not just a business one but a life experience. When you sell a product like Maserati you really get in touch with the customers. We like to meet the customer and share with them our idea and concept so whenever they buy a car, they give you a part

It’s outstanding, no doubt; because it’s a comfortable and easy life. You have luxury everywhere in the world but here luxury is a way of living. In some places luxury is restricted to a specific circle, where only a few people can get access to it. In addition to the luxury factor that fits in perfectly with our brand’s motto, Dubai is the perfect central hub for covering the overseas markets. The Arabic culture in a way is very similar to the Italian one in terms of hospitality, respect and pride.

We have many things in common, and so we are the perfect match!

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Aston Martin

Demonstrates Potent Performance

The V8 Vantage S

The best V8 car to hit the roads In the world of high performance supercars, the addition of a single alphabet to the model name makes a world of difference. Take the Aston Martin Vantage S for example; the addition of an S signifies more power, wider tyres, better brakes and less weight than the standard version. It’s needless to say that this S stands for ‘Sport’ and Aston Martin proudly calls this the highest performing V8 car they’ve ever built and who are we to doubt that?

The Vantage S is the proud recipient of technology developed and honed by Aston Martin on the racetrack. The all aluminium 4.7-litre V8 engine on the Vantage S develops a colossal 430bhp of power at 7,300rpm 10bhp more than the standard version and produces 490Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. All

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this adrenaline-charged power is sent to the rear wheels via the Sportshift II close-ratio seven speed automated manual transmission.

Aston Martin has built an exhaust system developed specially for the Vantage S, which compliments this drivetrain beautifully and delivers a rousing soundtrack that is worth its weight in gold.

Even though the bonded aluminium chassis on the Vantage S is bang identical to the standard version, Aston Martin has given the Vantage S sportier underpinnings. The suspension dampers, springs and the bushings are configured to provide that added firmness and a quick response steering rack and bigger brake disks further add to its agility and superior control on the road or the race track.

Adding to its mechanical genius are its looks.

The Vantage S is in every sense a beautiful piece of automotive engineering. It stays true to Aston Martin’s timeless design philosophy, which has captured the imagination of millions. Every Vantage S is hand built and is meticulously put together by Aston Martin’s skilled craftsmen and technicians at Gaydon, England. The fit and finish is just exquisite and the materials top notch.

Since its debut in 2011, the Vantage S has successfully bridged the gap for buyers looking to buy an exclusive GT car that can perform well on the racetrack and serve as a comfortable daily driver. Buyers can choose between a coupe and a roadster and for those who want to stand out among the plethora of sportscars we see on our roads, the Vantage S is one offering that’s too good to refuse.

Aston Martin DB9

The all-new 2013 Aston Martin DB9 promises luxury and thrills like never before.

The Aston Martin DB9 is unquestionably, a very beautiful car. It is the car with the longest history in Aston Martin’s current line-up and has a fan following like no other. It has achieved many laurels in motorsport and is regarded as one of the best Aston Martin cars to roll out of their factory in recent times.

The all-new 2013 DB9 slots itself comfortably between the V8 Vantage and the flagship V12 Vanquish. Some say that the designers at Aston Martin have the easiest job in the company. All their cars look almost the same and there is hardly any work being done. In fact, the designers at Aston Martin have one of the hardest jobs in the company. Making a car look similar to its predecessors and adhering to the brands timeless design isn’t easy, especially with the demands of modern day aerodynamics and safety. Nearly 50 per cent of all parts and more than 70 per cent of all body panels on the new DB9 are new, but it is as timeless and elegant as ever.

finish and exquisite craftsmanship. It also gets additional buttons to tweak the suspension settings and drive modes on the go. Aston Martin will also offer you various upgrades and while all this will cost you a decent sum of money, it will allow you to make the car more indelibly yours.

Aston Martin has completely revamped the interior on this new version as well. The interior feels like a million dollars with its top-notch

Powering the DB9 is the same AM11 V12 engine seen in the flagship Vanquish. This is the most powerful DB9 ever produced and the

The DB9 Interior engine spurts out a galloping 510 horses and 620Nm of torque which is enough to jumpstart a dead planet. The DB9 can rush from 0 to 100kmph in just 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 290kmph.

The all-new DB9 is miles ahead from its predecessor and yet it carries with it all the charm and poise that is quintessentially Aston Martin. In other words, it is one hell of a car with looks to kill for.

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“A” for Alif:

meets the woman behind one of the city’s up and coming art galleries

Natalya Andakulova, dressed in an elegantly fitted white dress and minimal yet striking jewellery with her hair coiffed in a subtle yet flawless bun; is every bit the embodiment of a young, successful gallery owner in one of the world’s fastest culturally evolving cities.

We had a rendez-vous at a café in Dubai’s Financial District, where a labyrinth of enlarged photographs capturing moments from every corner of the globe, were being displayed as part of the region’s largest photography competition.

As the artistic hub that boasts some of the city’s most prominent galleries, DIFC had also expressed its relentless support of Central Asian art by agreeing to display the works of Timur Akhmedov throughout its public premises for the next 6 months. “He is one of many artists that Alif Gallery represents, she says with pride, his work is very popular amongst art collectors such as HRH Prince Albert and Seal, and has been displayed in many important exhibitions.” But popularity isn’t the only reason why Akhmedov’s work was chosen to bring DIFC’s walls to life.

Characterized by high tension through the use of Asian turquoise, warm ochre and cold red, the pieces may look clear and simple at first sight, but the symbolism of harmony is revealed from a deeper perspective.

Drawing inspiration from ancient histories, early Byzantine art, medieval tapestries and mythology, Akhmedov reflects an idea of escapism to a “better” world; one that is achieved through the meditative connection we develop between ourselves and the world around us.

Natalya Andakulova, owner and founder

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The Alif Art Gallery, whose names stands for the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, is the first gallery in the Middle East to represent such art and has so far enjoyed rave reviews from the region’s professionals and aficionados alike. Although fairly new, the high number of visitors reflect people’s rising interest in this new movement thanks to the many historical connections between the Gulf and Central Asia’s Islamic cultures. “In many cases people can relate to art works of Uzbek Artists finding commonalities in religion, cultural traditions and even hospitality.” Natalya also refers to the playful colours that fill people’s hearts with light and joy while awakening a sense of pleasant nostalgia for one’s homeland. A common point of reference between artists of that region.

Central Asian Artists are highly skilled artists that have completed their education in one of the many fine Art Schools across post USSR. The rich ancient history of the Islamic states of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and others has served as the primary inspiration behind their work. The natural landscapes, carefully preserved traditions, rich state inheritance in architecture, poetry, music, paintings, theater, all carry with them strong cultural nuances. The former Soviet Union was known for its seclusion from the rest of the world, and artists at the time experienced harsh criticism and pressure to contain their aspirations within the required limits. In many cases, international exposure was hard to achieve due to travel restrictions and censorship, which were adamantly controlled by the governing bodies. When the walls finally broke down and the union disintegrated, economic and political instability threatened the newly independent countries that had suffered from the long communist rule. Today, the borders have loosened the grip allowing people to benefit from mobility, especially artists who were so eager to share their creations with the world.

Natalya strives to turn her gallery into the Silk Road that will help raise awareness on Central Asian Art. Afterall, exposure in Dubai not only has the privilege to reach a Middle Eastern audience, but a multicultural one, thanks to the array of visitors and tourists it attracts each year.

Natalya with Rimma in her studio

“The Caucasian mountains are recollections from my childhood memories. If you carry something inside your heart throughout your life it becomes a significant part of who you are. I spent my childhood in wartime; so nature and peaceful landscapes have been my escape.”

Rimma Gagloeva

Natalya fondly expresses her appreciation of Dubai’s art scene and the UAE’s cultural history which dates back to the region’s fishing heritage. The reason why awareness towards contemporary art has only heightened in the past 3 to 5 years, she believes, is the region’s rapid infrastructural growth that secured its spot on the international map. The hard work of many passionately dedicated Art Professionals coupled with the city’s speedy and reputable development, made it an ideal location for the Uzbek beauty to base her Art Gallery. “Our highly recognized artists are based in Europe and Central Asia, so we wanted to gather all these incredible talents under one professional umbrella with a home in the Middle East.” Before bringing them and their work to the Middle East, she forms a personal connection with the artists by visiting their studio in person. Following the unusual and inspiring experience, she feels as though she’s carrying a part of their heart that is embedded in their art work.›

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Many of the Artists enjoy the simple joys of life which she believes are neglected in the dynamic and corporate world many of us strive to live. She describes them as being different in character, vision and principles but united with the passion they have for their artwork.The artists care for each piece as a new born baby, like a parent does their child.

The new and precious addition to their family is treasured and protected; and having witnessed this relationship, Natalya is left with an awakened consciousness and stronger respect and consideration for the

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value of their work. Each of them has walked their path in life, having endured numerous professional hardships or challenges. Rimma Gagloeva, the latest artist to showcase her work at the Alif Gallery, is a 73 year old senior art master who lived through the Soviet era.

She was named “Honored Artist” of Uzbekistan and is a regular participant in national and international exhibitions, including solo exhibitions in Russia, Ossetia, Bulgaria & Switzerland. She participated in group exhibitions in State Republic Galleries in England, USA and Germany and her works

are displayed in the State Museum of Fine Arts of Uzbekistan and in the “Tretyakov Painting Gallery” of Russia.

“Her life story and experiences are very different from those who were born years or decades after, such as Timur D’vatz, who is 45.” From one generation to another, their visions in life which have been influenced by the changing surface of the world, vary enormously. With their unique style, technique, composition and colour palette, these views are expressed in their creations.

“As Alif Team we promise to share each and individual story and point of view of

our artists through group or solo shows, by even giving tours into each the artists’ magical and very personal world through the narration of history,” she promises. Being an artist herself, it is through constant selfdevelopment and education that she seeks to understand the process of choosing art pieces.

After furthering her studies at the Republican College of Art in Tashkent, Natalya was driven to choose a career path in the Arts. She has since focused her professional consultation services on private art dealing and opening a commercial art gallery. She believes in 3 major elements that help recognize eminent art; skillful technique, originality and a colour mixture that is appealing to the naked eye. “You feel the dynamic of the work, the life it breeds, and the emotion it evokes in you.” Of course, she also has to consider the artist’s background, education and recognition, as they are all important points in their professional approach.

Since the beginning of its opening, which was fairly recent, some of their artists’ works were sold out and joined the UNWFP and Christie’s Auction House Dubai. The Gallery sparked the interest of individual clients and loyal collectors as well as corporate clients and professional artistic foundations and institutions. The 29 year old gallery owner who is mature beyond her years, travels back and forth between Central Asia and the Middle East, juggling numerous successful businesses. Serving as a sort of ambassador for artists of her region, no loaded schedule or hectic lifestyle can phase her sophisticated demeanor.

Afterall, “all you need to survive is bread and art, she references a popular Russian proverb, bread being food for the body and art the nourishment of the soul.”

Text by Houry Seukunian If you plan on touring the city’s galleries on the ArtBus, then you’ll definitely be stopping by the Alif Art Gallery which is located in the Damac Park Tower, as part of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

For more info or to contact the gallery please visit www.alifartgallery.ae

* All paintings by Rimma Gagloeva

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Product

in-focus

Dior Christal Created in 2005, the Dior Christal collection is a tribute paid to Christian Dior’s talents as a colourist. Because no durable material was able to express the House of Dior’s range of colours, Les Ateliers Horlogers Dior had the idea of giving a new twist to sapphire crystal, usually employed for the making of watch glasses, and turning it into a decorative element.

Fashioned in the shape of pyramids and tinted with the House’s emblematic colours, it decorates the bracelet and the bezel on the timepieces in the collection.

In previous years, for its limited editions, Dior Christal has been equipped with sophisticated movements echoing Monsieur Dior’s own artistic fibre. In 2008, “Dior Christal Tourbillon” opted for transparency so that the eye might glimpse the sophisticated clockworks of the movement forming airy-light lace patterns. In 2009, “Dior Christal Mystérieuse” seemed no longer to have a movement… Concealed under the bezel, it revealed a layering of crystal disks inserted with mother-of-pearl and plating which, as they rotated at each minute or second, created a kaleidoscopic effect. In 2010, thanks to the first “Dior 8 Fuseaux Horaires” calibre making it possible to read local time, the time in 8 international cities and the day/ night indicator all on the same hour marker, the Dior Christal’s dial evoked kinetic artworks, recalling Monsieur Dior’s time spent as an Art Gallery Director.

Since it was revised in 2011, Dior Christal sports a graceful silhouette and colours that are even more dazzling: a bright red (“colour of life” according to Christian Dior) and a deep purple (“the queen of colours”, dixit the couturier). In 2013, the colour blue came to join this palette. In his Little Dictionary of Fashion, published in 1954, Monsieur Dior said that “blue is one of the prettiest colours”.

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IBC

Aston Martin

THE NEW ASTON MARTIN DB9 Elegancy has a new address in town.

Riviera express or continental cruiser, the new Aston Martin DB9 Coupe and Volante exemplify the Sports GT endurance, agility, grace and now even more power combine to deliver a seductive potion that once tasted, is hard to resist.

Please contact us to arrange a test drive Aston Martin Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Boulevard Plaza Tower One, Downtown Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 4521222 info@astonmartindubai.ae

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OBC

www.chanel.com

Pending

18-CARAT YELLOW GOLD AND DIAMONDS