Emirates Woman December 2020

A MOTIVATE PUBLICATION

DECEMBER 2020

UAE DHS25 OMAN RO2.70 BAHRAIN BD2.60 KUWAIT KD2.10 SAUDI ARABIA SR25

emirateswoman.com

THE PARTY ISSUE

The ultimate guide to after hours fun

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THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

SCAN, SHOP AND DISCOVER MORE

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | KUWAIT | KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Obaid Humaid Al Tayer MANAGING PARTNER AND GROUP EDITOR Ian Fairservice EDITOR/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Amy Sessions amy.sessions@motivate.ae SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Olga Petroff DIGITAL EDITOR Olivia Morris JUNIOR DIGITAL STYLE EDITOR Sarah Joseph DIGITAL FEATURES WRITER EMIRATES WOMAN ARABIYA Diyana Hakmi WEB DEVELOPER Firoz Kaladi DIGITAL DIRECTOR Sabir Khodabux GROUP MARKETING MANAGER – DIGITAL Anusha Azees GENERAL MANAGER PRODUCTION Sunil Kumar ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER Binu Purandaran PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Venita Pinto CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER Anthony Milne GROUP DIRECTOR Andrew Wingrove GROUP SALES MANAGER Bindu Gupta bindu@motivate.ae SENIOR SALES MANAGER Neha Kannoth neha.kannoth@motivate.ae

HEAD OFFICE Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE, Tel: (+971) 4 4273000, Fax: (+971) 4 4282261, E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae DUBAI MEDIA CITY Office 508, 5th Floor, Building 8, Tel: (+971) 4 3903550 Fax: (+971) 4 3904845 ABU DHABI PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel: (+971) 2 6772005 , Fax: (+971) 2 6770124, E-mail: motivate-adh@motivate.ae LONDON Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK, E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae

Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai

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#DesigualxMrChristianLacroix Discover the collection at: Dubai: Dubai Mall | Dubai Marina Mall | Mirdif City Centre | Dubai Festival City | Abu Dhabi: The Galleria | Yas Mall | Abu Dhabi Marina Mall

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to The Party Issue. In this issue we balance desk to dinner cool with transformative accessories in work and play. We partnered with BYFAR for a cover Crystal Clear on page 54. In terms of beauty we look that celebrates fun and freedom with the coolest touch at balms to keep skin smooth in Winter Skin on page of nineties revival. Our cover star Haya Jarrar, Founder 88, compile the perfect edit for exceptional fragrances of Romani, is an incredible woman with both beauty that last all night long in After Hours on page 106, and business acumen. hero the party prep must haves in We’ve gone all-out this issue in Polished on page 96 and interview terms of the experts with exclusive Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury on how WHAT BETTER interviews from designer Alexandre to up the ante for party season in LESSON THAN TO Vauthier in The Showstopper on The Magic Touch on page 102. We LIVE IN THE MOMENT. page 36, Ex Chief Marketing & also hear from incredible women SEE YOU ON THE Membership Officer at Soho House, on what keeps them looking fresh Jodie Harrison in the Guestlist on during festive season in The Skin DANCEFLOOR. page 42, tablescape guru Fiona Saviours on page 118. If you’re still Leahy in The Party Planner on page undecided on where to celebrate, 50 and global go-to for sequins Retrofête in Welcome To The Supper Club on page 126 will be your guide.

The Party on page 72. The Hero Buys on page 46 delivers As we close 2020, we stay grateful for the lessons high shine dressing, we look at a modern take on the this year has taught us and what better lesson than to classic tuxedo in Le Smoking on page 48 and channel live in the moment. See you on the dancefloor.

Amy Sessions EDITOR / ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

T H E H E R O B U YS

Kate medium croc-effect suede shoulder bag Dhs7,677 Saint Laurent available at NET-A-PORTER

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Alexandre Vauthier Jumpsuit Dhs11,811 Alexandre Vauthier

Velvet box clutch Dhs869 Anya Hindmarch available at THE OUTNET

Luxury Palette Eye Shadow - Copper Charge Dh154 Charlotte Tilbury

Iriza 100 patent-leather pumps Dhs2,553 Christian Louboutin

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 2020

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THE MONITOR

Monitor News p.16 Social Listings p.17 Cover Shoot with BYFAR p.18 Exclusive Interview – Cover Star Haya Jarrar, Founder & Creative Director of Romani p.30 Left: Rose Gold sequin chain choker mini dress Dhs205 Pretty Little Thing

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C H R I S T M AS B R U N C H at l a C a n t i n e d u Fa u b o u rg D e c e m b e r 2 5 t h f r o m 1 2 p m o nwa r d s

Ta ke yo u r p i c k f r o m o u r a l l - i n c l u s i ve s e l e c t i o n of P a s t r i e s , E g g s , S i g n a t u r e s , V i e n n o i s e r i e s a n d S we e t s : I n c l u d i n g M o c k t a i l s , Fr e s h j u i c e s , S of t D r i n k s , H ot B eve r a g e s - 3 4 5 A E D Ad d - o n H o u s e R e d , W h i te & R o s e W i n e s , S a n g r i a s , P i m m’s & B e e r s , C a i p i r i n h a - 4 5 0 A E D Ad d - o n M i m o s a , Bu b b l y S a n g r i a s , C h a m p a g n e, H e n d r i c k ’s G i n - 6 9 5 A E D P a c ka g e s ava i l a b l e fo r 3 h o u r s

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2020

The Edit – High Voltage p.34

The Showstopper – Exclusive interview with Alexandre Vauthier p.36

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Crystal Clear – Instant desk to dinner dressing p.54

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Hermès p.60

Polished – The ultimate edit of beauty buys you need for pre-party prep p.96

Max Mara p.66 FASHION

The Guestlist – Jodie Harrison p.42 The Hero Buys – Sequins p.46 Le Smoking – After hours dressing calls for a touch of tuxedo p.48 The Party Planner – Exclusive interview with Fiona Leahy p.50 Red Hot – The hottest shades to celebrate in for FW20 p.52

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The Craftsman – Exclusive Interview with Rene Caovilla’s creative director, Edoardo Caovilla p.70 Courage & Creativity – Interview with Alighieri p.76 The Super Stylist – Interview with the stylist to the A-list p.78 Luxe Feet p.80 A Masterpiece – Dolce & Gabbana’s ode to priceless heritage p.82

BEAUTY

Hot New Buys p.86 Winter Skin – Balms for superlatively smooth skin p.88 The Power of Scent – Interview with Dior’s perfumer François Demachy p.92 The Beauty Shelf – Haya Jarrar p.94

All That Glitters – Interview with the co-founders of Glitterbox p.100

The Cover

The Magic Touch – Interview with Sofia SchwarzkopfTilbury p.102 AM/PM Beauty – Fajer Fahad p.104 After Hours – Exceptional fragrances to last all night long p.106

Baby Amber Matcha Bag Dhs2,046 BY FAR, The Sammy Dress Dhs2,571 Romani

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Welcome to the Party – Interview with Retrofête p.72

Dinh Van p.56

108 118 The Supper Club – The edit of the superlative establishments across Dubai p.124

FEATURES

The Signature – Exclusive Interview with Laura Bailey p.108 The Unwind – Incredible women on how they will be unwinding at the end of the year p.112 The Miracle Worker – The guru for immaculate skin this party season p.114 Interview with Ex Nihilo p.90

The Skin Saviours – Skin secrets for looking flawless p.116

LIFESTYLE

Fine Finish – Interview with the creative director of Fine Blooms Chloe Szukilojc p.130

The Sensation – Interview with founder and owner of Zuma, Rainer Becker p.118

The Rejuvenation – Rest, relax and revitalise ready for the New Year p.132

The New Hotspot – Interview with Roka’s executive head chef Libor Dobis p.120

Festive Finish – Decorations to add luxe and light to your celebrations p.134

The Baller – Waldorf Astoria DIFC p.122

RSVP – True tablescape goals p.135

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C

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The Countdown

THE HERO BUYS

With luxury colognes, miniature candles and bath & body treats behind each of the 24 doors, this is the perfect way to surprise someone special

Silky satin lip colour Pink Dhs307 Christian Louboutin

Advent Calendar Dhs2,065 Jo Malone

Black Orchid Perfum Gold 100ml Dhs845 Tom Ford Beauty available at OUNASS

Begum crystal-embellished PVC pumps Dhs3,538 Amina Muaddi available at MATCHESFASHION

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Coco silk-satin pyjama set Dhs1,995 Olivia Von Halle available at NET-A-PORTER

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Fria logo-print wool and faux shearling ankle boots Dhs3,392 Gucci

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Celestial Black Diamond Cream, 50ml Dhs2,686 111Skin available at NET-A-PORTER

Aubrielle sequined chiffon mini dress Dhs2,600 Retrofête available at NET-A-PORTER

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

THREE

THE MONITOR – NEWS

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Social Listings

COMPILED BY: DIYANA HAKMI

A curated list of who to #follow this month

@maisonvalentino

@renecaovilla

@retrofete

@jomalonelondon

From strict tailoring to flowing dresses and separates, Valentino continues to dazzle for FW20.

Dressing women from the feet up since the 1950s with beautifully designed creations.

Rene Caovilla crafts pieces of art with an emphasis on heritage and quality.

Founded by Ohad Seroya and Aviad Klin, Retrofete is known for its party season appropriate sequin dresses.

Unexpected combinations of ingredients made British lifestyle brand Jo Malone famous for its elegant yet playful fragrances.

@laurabaileylondon

@hayajarrar

@alighieri_jewellery

@gildaambrosio

Modal, writer, Cultural Ambassador for the British Fashion Council and Brand Ambassador for Chanel, Bailey has a honed eye for style.

Founder and Creative Director of Romani, Haya Jarrar bring a rebellious edge to her ready-to-wear label.

Founded by Rosh Mahtani, Alighieri offers jewellery collections inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, where each piece corresponds to one of the poet’s 100 works.

Gilda Ambrosio co-founded ‘The Attico’ alongside long-time friend Giorgia Tordini, adding an edge to classic glamour.

@byfar

@fionaleahydesign

@theartsclubdubai

@camillecharriere

Taking reference from the 90s this brand is sustainable as well as fun.

Bringing dream dinners to life, Fiona Leahy creates incredible tablesscapes for royalty and rock royalty alike.

The Arts Club is one of the most luxurious and famous private members’ clubs in the world. The London-based club is now happily opening its doors in Dubai’s DIFC.

Journalist and Broadcaster, Camille Charrier delivers her own sense of half British/halfParisian style.

THE MONITOR

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Words & Creative Direction: AMY SESSIONS

Photography: GREG ADAMSKI

THE BEST,

BY FAR

Bulgarian label BY FAR designs sleek, understated shoes and accessories that combine ’90s cool-girl nonchalance with grown-up, elevated glamour

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COVER STORY

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Previous spread: The Fallon Shirt Black Dhs1,175 Romani Official, The Beverly Pants Dhs1,249 Romani Official, Mini Fuchsia Croco Dhs1,959 BY FAR, Tiffany Peony Dhs1,742 BY FAR; Left and right page: Beverly pants White, Dhs1,249 Romani Official, Krystal Blazer White Dhs2,497 Romani Official, Mini Nutella Croco Dhs1,964 BY FAR, Tanya Silver Glitter Dhs1,480 BY FAR

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COVER STORY

This page: V-neck satin cami top Dhs4,306 Bottega Veneta, Sequinned Slim-leg flared trousers Dhs780 Raey, Baby Amber Pure White Croco Dhs2,046 BY FAR, Cynthia Black Creased Dhs1,611 BY FAR; Right page: V-neck satin cami top Dhs4,306 Bottega Veneta available at MATCHESFASHION, Zoe cropped leather trousers Dhs1,738 Stand Stud available at MATCHESFASHION, Shoes - Liliana Lilac Dhs1,568 BY FAR

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Puff-shoulder satin mini dress Dhs6,033 Halpern available at MATCHESFASHION, Mini Rachel Matcha Croco Dhs1,244 BY FAR

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PRODUCTION: KELLI MADDOCK; VIDEOGRAPHER: STEVE ERANA; FASHION ASSISTANT: SARAH JOSEPH; HAIR & MAKEUP: ANIA PONIATOWSKA AT MMG ARTISTS; LOCATION: WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO NYX AT GAIA DIFC (04) 241 4242

This page: The Fallon Shirt Black Dhs1,175 Romani Official, The Beverly Pants Dhs1,249 Romani Official, Mini Fuchsia Croco Dhs1,959 BY FAR, Tiffany Peony Dhs1,742 BY FAR; Right page: Dress stylist’s own, Baby Amber Pure White Croco Dhs2,046 BY FAR

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Focused on sustainability, each BY FAR piece is handmade in the same family-run factory.

We spoke to co-founder Valentina Ignatova about retro revival and having it all What do your first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine? All three of us are mothers, so usually our time at home is dedicated to our families. Of course, we try to keep our skincare routines, meditate and exercise, but sometimes our mornings start with urgent emails and reading the news.

Do you feel more drawn to the creative or the business side? Denitsa – our sister-in-law, is the Creative Director, Sabina is the CEO and I am Head of Marketing. We explore our natural talents and complete each other in that sense, but we don’t forget to challenge ourselves and push the boundaries of BY FAR. How did you all meet and what was the moment you decided to launch ByFar? Sabina and I are twins, and she met Denitsa in 2005 through their then-boyfriends who are brothers, and we have been inseparable ever since. Before we started BY FAR and before we entered the fashion industry, we were in the sustainable solar energy business. Throughout this period, we all had our first boys, which are actually the inspiration behind the name BY FAR (F for my son Filip, A for Sabina’s son Alec and R for Denitsa’s son Roman).

There has always been a strong heritage of shoe craftsmanship in Bulgaria and when we visited by chance a small familyrun factory, we really felt like it was destiny! We are still partnering with them but have expanded a lot. The idea behind the brand was to make cool shoes that are comfortable and make women feel like they can conquer the world.

You’re sold globally on some of the biggest ecommerce sites – how did this come about? Since the very beginning BY FAR received a lot of attention from international press and retailers. We have evolved so much over the years, but we continue to challenge ourselves and celebrate every success. A turning point for us was when we launched the bags collection and Bella Hadid wore the Rachel baguette a few days after. We are constantly growing and our website sales are tripling each quarter. We are blown away how many people are loving and supporting BY FAR! What has been the biggest hurdle since launching the brand and how did you overcome this? BY FAR is like our baby, so we take every aspect under careful consideration. It feels rewarding to see the results of all of our hard work and endless collective effort. Every day is a challenge as we strive for perfection, improvement, and satisfying our clients with not only a timeless product but also that BY FAR experience.

Do you have any mentors or guides and how does this help navigate the right path throughout life and your career? Throughout our journey, we had been blessed to be mentored by so many strong women, but in the heart of it all are our mothers.

They’re always there to support us, especially at times when even we doubted ourselves.

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ach

ill

Which pieces are your bestsellers, and do you notice differing trends globally in terms of sales? BY FAR has become the go-to shoulder bag brand and the Rachel baguette is our top best seller in the Western world. From the shoes, we became known with the boot styles such as Sofia and Este.

Our all-time bestsellers such as the Tanya mules, as well as the Mini and Miranda bags have seen amazing success among our clients in the Middle East. People fell in love with their simplicity, but we have been experimenting, as we want to introduce new cool pieces.

How has social media affected the luxury industry and which platform has been most useful? Social media is an inseparable part of the fashion industry and if luxury brands aim to stay relevant, they need to include these platforms in the strategy. Speaking from our personal experience, since we are based in Eastern Europe, far from the fashion capitals, we wanted to connect with clients, partners, and people from the industry worldwide. Our space as a brand is more digital than physical, so Instagram naturally became an essential part of BY FAR. BY FAR is about the joy of dressing up! We simply have fun with Instagram, and it is so easy to connect with girls that What do you look for in terms of hiring your own team? Being a love fashion and design – and be inspired by their fast-growing successful start-up, which values their employstyle. At the same time, our profile is a collection of ees’ voice and contribution, we are looking for super ambiguall the things we love, and it is a way to give a glimpse ous, amazingly talented people. BY FAR is like our child, and into the BY FAR world. every new team member becomes part of our family. So, most of all, we’re looking for passion, dedication and loyalty.

Do you have any pre-bedtime rituals? We often work until late after the kids go to sleep, so we definitely How has this year impacted the industry both positively and negado our best to balance family life and career. It is an tively? Fashion needed to change, and this was the wake-up call exciting ride and keeps us inspired at all times. The the industry needed. We are optimistic about the future of fashbiggest challenge in our routine is to tune out of work ion and that it will continue to change for the better. The panmode because we enjoy nurturing BY FAR so much. demic showed us that with hard work, you can still achieve great results no matter where you are based. We are eternally grateIf you were not on your current career path, which ful that we managed to create a virtual showroom not once but other role would you have chosen career-wise? All 3 twice already and stay in touch with our clients. It was definitely of us are very passionate about visuals and fashion, an amazing experience, thanks to which we learned a lot and therefore it was only natural to move to fashion and grew as a brand. We strongly believe that digital is a huge part if By FAR didn’t exist, we would probably be doing of the future of fashion, and it is something that we will surely something similar. continue to develop and implement into the BY FAR experience.

This is ‘The Party issue’, where/how will you be celeHow do you approach scaling the business and what works in brating this season? Given the complicated situation in the world right now and the difficulties of travelterms of client retention? We wanted to create vintage-inspired ling, we are planning to spend the holidays at home designs which compliment any wardrobe, whilst combining with our families. Is there a better way of celebrating comfort with an addictive contemporary edge. BY FAR has bethan to be surrounded by the ones you love the most? come the ‘It’ shoulder bag brand. Our nostalgic baguette bags and minimalist, barely-there sandals are the core of any effortWhat should you gift the host when attending a dinlessly chic outfit. We felt like the industry needed accessories that ner? A beautiful bouquet is always a good idea. are desirable, yet not overpowering, without sacrificing quality.

What’s your secret to surviving party season and still

BY FAR is about emotion, not age or nationality! Our shoes and looking flawless? Always drink a lot of water, don’t bags are classic, yet with a modern twist. Your BY FAR piece go to bed too late, and never trade comfort for style will demand the spotlight whilst being infinitely wearable. when it comes to shoes.

The 90s is a strong influence aesthetically – was this part of the What is your go-to party outfit?You can never go wrong with a slip dress and our Alla mules – a highlight of brand DNA from the outset? Our aesthetic combines playful the season and the return to power dressing in a madesigns and nostalgic silhouettes, and we always knew that jorly glam kind of way. Of course, you should top the we want to do effortless and colourful styles that just feel look with our ultimate obsession – the Mini Rachel fresh. We are very much inspired by the fashion of the 90s and bag. It’s perfect for your cocktail attire, and it fits all early 2000s. We’re constantly binge-watching iconic TV sethat you need: phone, credit card and a lipstick. ries from this period, which is how the Rachel bag was born (inspired by FRIENDS). There was something very authentic, What is on your wishlist this festive season? Right empowering and emotional about fashion and we truly want now, all we wish for is health – for our families, our to bring these feelings back. friends, for everyone.

achieve great results no matter where you are based.”

COVER STORY

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Dress stylist’s own, Mini Nutella Croco Dhs1,964 BY FAR

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Founder & Creative Director of Romani, Haya Jarrar creates unconventional pieces with a touch of the rebellious. Is she on our guestlist? Absolutely.

What do your first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine? I check my WORDS: AMY SESSIONS emails the minute I wake up and respond to all of them before getting out of bed.

Then I begin my morning skincare routine and have breakfast before I hit the gym.

Do you feel more drawn to the creative or the business side? Definitely the creative side. I didn’t even know what an income statement is until I started Romani.

How did you know it was the right time to launch your own brand and what were the stepping-stones to that point? You know in life, there’s never really the ‘right time’.

It’s always been my dream to start my own label, so I just went for it. Studying fashion design in university and working in the industry after graduating helped me gain experience and insight which I used to start my own brand with my own identity.

What has been the biggest hurdle since launching the brand and how did you overcome it? Starting as a very young girl in this very big industry was very challenging for me in the beginning. It was a struggle in every single aspect (finding the right suppliers, creating the right designs that represent me, promoting my brand and making sure Yes. Usually, from what I see, a lot of designers base their deI’m doing the right thing). With time, you learn that every signs on what buyers are looking for or what is the norm in the successful person in any industry has to struggle a bit beregion. For me, I wanted to create designs that represent my identity and me from the beginning. fore finding their way.

Do you have any mentors or guides and how does this help Which pieces are your bestsellers and do you notice differing navigate the right path throughout life and your career? My trends globally in terms of sales? The Sylphina jacket. It’s very inspiration and motivation in life is the person I aspire to be dear to my heart since it’s the first piece I ever created for Roin the future. I try to work really hard mani. And luckily, it is our most on myself every day and try so hard popular piece. to improve myself because everything How has social media affected the you want in life and strive to achieve luxury industry and which platform is already within you; you just need to has been most useful? It enabled carve your way in. us to become closer to our customers and helped us understand them What do you look for in terms of hiring more. Instagram has been the most your own team? It’s important for me useful by far. to be surrounded by a team that understands my vision. That’s the most Do you have any pre-bedtime rituimportant thing. I also value a team als? Recently, I got into meditation. that is hard working and that has And it works so much better for me something to bring to the table. at night than in the morning. Also, I really enjoy a nice walk to clear my How has this year impacted the inmind right before bedtime. dustry both positively and negatively?

Negatively, as a brand we’ve struggled If you were not on your current cain terms of production and missing reer path, which other role would fashion weeks and not being able to you have chosen career-wise? I showcase our collections and conbelieve I was born to create. If not fashion design, then definitely interior and furniture design. nect with our customers and having to put things aside for a while and delaying production. Positively, it gave us the This is ‘The Party Issue’, where/how will you be celebrating this time and space to sit back, relax and breathe. It made us season? I think I will be somewhere cold, cozy and Christmassy realize that we were constantly rushing before. Now, we are with my husband and family. not rushing anymore.

What should you gift the host when attending a dinner?A candle is always a good idea.

How do you approach scaling the business and what works What’s your secret to surviving party season and still looking flawin terms of client retention? I want to scale my business by going into more retails stores and I want to also expand to less? Lots of water, exercise, vitamins and a healthy routine. other areas (other than fashion) through Romani. We will What is your go-to party outfit? Either a Romani dress or Romani be making this reveal very soon! suit. You can never go wrong with a Romani suit.

There’s a rebelliousness and unconventionality to the pieces What is on your Wishlist this festive season? Bottega Veneta boots, an Alexander McQueen knit… you create – was this part of the brand DNA from the outset?

“You know in life, there’s never really the ‘right time’.

It’s always been my dream to start my own label, so I just went for it.”

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F A S H I O N F

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DOLCE&GABBANA

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THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: BALMAIN

HIGH VOLTAGE

Limited edition satin blazer Dhs549 Zara

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Rita metallic snake-effect leather clutch Dhs1,570 Ximena Kaalekas available at NET-A-PORTER

Limited edition satin trousers Dhs369 Zara

Henson chainembellished leather sandals Dhs3,055 Amina Muaddi

FAS H I O N

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WORDS & STYLING: AMY SESSIONS

High shine & opulent embellishments to see you through party season

18-karat rose gold diamond ear cuff Dhs12,173 Anita Ko

Oversized embellished jumper Dhs4,318 Amen available at FARFETCH

Faux leather jogging trousers Dhs179 Zara

FAS H I O N

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Slouchy ankle boots Dhs2,127 The Attico

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Blending daring designs with extravagant elegance and an anarchic spirit, Alexandre Vauthier creates statement dresses and separates made for after dark WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

The Showstopper

FAS H I O N

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FAS H I O N

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What has the journey with your brand been like over the last 11 years? My first collection had immediate commercial resonance. We started with two Haute Couture collections a year and then two other ready-to-wear collections. We have gradually moved forward to meet the demand. Then we added intermediate collections and we continue to develop and expand our commercial territory.

What does your brand represent? It’s hard for me to talk about this. I work on an aesthetic, with a very French flair. The ambassadors and the clients of the house would speak about it better than me.

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What do your designs represent? An instinctive feeling of femininity; Paris and the chic French style; and luxury.

How did you start out in fashion & what did it take to get where you are now? I started my work in fashion with Mugler and Gaultier. To do this job in general and especially in this special period I always keep in mind that it takes a lot of work, sincerity, rigour and precision.

From the start, our keynote has always been clear, with a very natural creative process. As we are an independent house, we always need to be flexible and reactive.

You have cultivated such an iconic brand. How has this evolved? My style comes from my roots, my own desires.

The style of the Parisian woman, luxurious and sexy. I work a lot with ‘Les Metiers d’Arts’. They were part of my learning ground. They are the ones who help me achieve such good quality, all this very French ‘Savoir faire’.

If you could describe Alexandre Vauthier in just five words, what would they be? Parisian. Craftsmanship. Sexy. Luxurious. Haute couture.

Where do you get your motivation? It’s really a human adventure. Since I was little I needed to dream and to try to make things look better around me, to make things more aesthetic. Motivation is the quest for infinite improvement, always doing better. I also have an amazing team!

What advice do you wish you had received on your journey to success? To have tenacity, methodology and organisation and be ready for a very athletic way of life.

In fact, one cannot expect any results without working.

Looking back over your career, can you tell us about some major hurdles you have faced? It is a job with one thousand hurdles and the current period proves it. But hurdles bring strength and always allow you to get out of the most perilous situations.

What are your future plans for Alexandre Vauthier? Any exciting things you can reveal? My three objectives are to strengthen the markets in which I am present, to open up the Asian market and to develop lines of accessories and shoes. Fashion allows a lot of activity and collaboration.

The next project is the new format of my next Haute Couture collection. This is something I have never done and it is a project that excites me but I cannot reveal it yet.

This is ‘The Party Issue’ – how will you be celebrating this year? I miss parties, I try to put all the party spirit in my work. I will celebrate this year with my family.

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“Hurdles bring strength and always allow you to get out of the most perilous situations.”

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THE GUESTLIST

Previously at MR PORTER, MODA OPERANDI and most recently at Soho House where she was Chief Membership & Communications Officer, curator of exceptional content, Jodie Harrison tells us what makes the perfect party and the ideal guest 42 emirateswoman.com

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What do your first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine? I wake up early – generally around 5 or 6am (much to the annoyance of my husband who is a night owl). I check my phone and walk our dog, Jed, up to Hampstead Heath or down to Primrose Hill.

I’m at my most creative in the morning, so I spend a lot of this walk writing down ideas and thoughts on my iPhone.

How did your previous roles set you up for success and did you always know you wanted to work in the luxury industry? I started out my career at GQ as their Style & Grooming Editor, having always dreamt of working in magazines. As a consequence, print holds a special place in my heart. In every job since, I’ve enjoyed seeing how print evolves in the ever-growing shadow of digital. At MR PORTER it manifested as a way to reach new customers in The MR PORTER Post and books we published with Thames & Hudson. At Soho House I edited their second coffee-table book, MORNING NOON NIGHT, and again, this was often someone’s first, proper introduction to the brand. There will always be a sense of luxury to a printed page – and now more than ever, there’s a desire for something tangible, crafted. The confidence, time, meticulousness and energy of putting something in ink will always be a luxury to me.

You have to wear multiple hats in your role. Do you feel more drawn to the creative or the business side? In my gut, it’s always the creative side. That’s my default setting, the place that makes me get up in the morning and breathe happy. The business side takes more study, planning and method for me but over the years as I’ve moved from magazines to digital and e-commerce, I often found myself thrilled at the business acumen I’ve built up.

You’ve lived both in London and New York, is there a difference in terms communication?

There’s a huge, gaping difference. In the

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“There will always be a sense of luxury to a printed page – and now

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mo

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more than ever, there’s a desire for something tangible, crafted.”

US, service is gold. Even if you have the best product out there, if you have poor service, you might as well forget it. Good service comes from strong supply chains, amazing logistics, over-communication, clarity and commercial confidence. Americans are comfortable with being sold to, so you become much more overt in your marketing tactics. In the UK, it’s about packing things up in more clever, palatable ways with tinges of humour – back-door marketing.

What makes the perfect host and the ideal guest? For years, hosting for me was about seeking perfection: an exquisitely set table, an overcomplicated menu and fancy cocktails. As I’ve got older, I’ve realized it’s about being relaxed and spending less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests. A fun host is a fun party. Leave the washing up (what a buzz kill!). It’s that simple. A year later, people will remember the dancing, the laughter – the brilliant conversation, not the burnt bruschetta. Oh, and the outfits – that’s one place I refuse to be relaxed.

Do you have any mentors or guides and how does this help navigate the right path throughout life and your career? My mentor is my second boss, Jeremy Langmead, who hired me to be Editor at the yet-to-be-launched MR PORTER in 2009. He is always the first person I call when a prospective role has me on the fence or there’s a crisis I can’t think my way out of. He has an amazing grip on perspective and the sharpest tongue I’ve ever witnessed. I might start the conversation in tears but I always end it in rib-aching laughter. His words and wisdom calm me.

What do you look for in terms of hiring your own team? I look for self-starters who bring joy to teamwork. I look for honesty, an open heart and the willingness to go that extra mile. I also look for people better than I am – nothing pushes you as a leader than a high-performing, fun-loving team.

How has this year impacted the industry both positively and negatively? The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been clearly devastating to the hospitality industry. What’s been heartbreaking to watch is the fact this has mostly kicked businesses at the start gate or on the smaller size – the bigger boys have investors and bank balances to help them weather the storm. There have been good things to emerge from this chapter though – the focus on less is more, local and handcrafted. At Soho House we focused on tighter, more efficient teams, better food, better service, and for the customer, we saw a more discerning eye that knows, and rewards, quality.

How has social media affected the luxury industry and which platform has been most useful? Love it or hate it, social media has been the constant over the last 15 years. I’ve managed social teams in every job I’ve had and it’s been incredible to watch how this sector – and Instagram in particular – has helped grow luxury. The part I like seeing now is how it’s enabling young brands to reach their customers directly and without a middleman. I’m an avid Instagram user and find it an incredible source for discovering new brands, new friends and new ideas.

What should you gift the host when attending a dinner? Something they don’t always love to buy themselves. I like getting a scented candle or a pretty scented bouquet, as it’s something I’ll use for a few days afterwards and remember the person who gave it to me as I see and smell it.

Which Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration? I follow a huge amount of interior-design and Antique furniture accounts as this is an area I’m moving further and further towards. My current favourites to follow are @ralfesyard, @larlatan and @8hollandstreet. I also love typography accounts – check out @voilaineetjeremy!

Do you have any pre-bedtime rituals? No

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matter if the hours have been passing, I always, without fail, remove my makeup before bed. I have a shower (even at 3am), I put on a serum (Barbara Sturm’s and The Ordinary’s collections are my current artillery) and I drink a glass of water.

If you were not on your current career path, which other role would you have chosen career-wise? Well, funny you should ask. I just left Soho House to pursue a new career in interior design. I’m retraining in the new year with a course at Inchbald School of Interior Design and some placements with friends in the industry – Vicky Charles of Charles & Co and James Waterworth of Thurston Design. So, I guess I’m doing my other career right now – or at least I’m starting out on the path. I’m calling it a pivot, my second life, and I can’t wait.

What’s your secret to surviving party season and still looking flawless? Not a very party girl – but sleep. I like at least 8 hours and never do three nights out in a row, unless the third is for something really special.

What is your go-to party outfit? Right now it’s pretty much anything by Khaite – the collection by New York designer Cate Holstein who we worked with closely during my time at Moda Operandi. She has this incredible eye for nostalgia and I’m always drawn to her seasonal narrative. I bought several pairs of her flared silk pants this year and currently like wearing them with just a simple silk camisole, topped off with an oversized wool coat

by Nanushka and a pair of heels by Bottega – they’re just comfy enough so I can dance!

What is on your wishlist this festive season?

Honestly – a holiday. I miss travelling, foreign food, antique shopping and the feeling of stumbling across somewhere totally new.

If Covid permits, I’ll be heading to Marrakesh in late December. My friend owns the beautiful El Fenn hotel there and we are planning a good old New Year’s get together under the starry skies.

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BALMAIN

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CELINE

Triangle cutout crystal earrings Dhs1,745 Alessandra Rich available at FARFETCH

Satin-lapel sequinned mini dress Dhs7,955 Alexandre Vauthier available at MATCHESFASHION

WORDS & STYLING: AMY SESSIONS

Brown sequin dress DhsPOA Balmain

Emely sequined mini skirt Dhs1,368 In The Mood For Love available at NET-A-PORTER

THE HERO BUYS Sequins to wear low key and high-impact this season

Callie sequined satin bag Dhs2,915 Jimmy Choo

Oversized sequined top Dhs6,925 Naeem Khan

Sequined sweater Dhs3,027 Stella McCartney

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Laura sequinned boots Dhs1,978 Alexandre Vauthier available at FARFETCH

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After hours dressing calls for a touch of tuxedo

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VERSACE

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01. Velvet box clutch Dhs869 Anya Hindmarch available at THE OUTNET; 02. Double-breasted tuxedo dress Dhs697 Rebecca Minkoff available at THE OUTNET; 03. Padlock embellished velvet sandals Dhs3,676 Tom Ford; 04. Pleated twill tuxedo trousers Dhs1,830 UMIT BENAN B+; 05. Limited Edition Oversized Cropped Blazer Dhs429 Zara; 06. Pinky Band Ring Dhs6,640 Limelite Jewellery; 07. Limited Edition Velvet Trousers Dhs289 Zara; 08. Double-breasted crepe tuxedo jacket Dhs 1,925 Connolly available at MATCHESFASHION; 09. Iriza 100 mm patent pumps Dhs2,553 Christian Louboutin

Le Smoking

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VERSACE

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Fiona Leahy is a master at curating the perfect setting for dining in style.

Having created incredible tablescapes for almost everyone in the luxury industry, Leahy has also conjured other-worldly designs for Middle Eastern and rock royalty

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What do your first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine? I get up and bring the dogs into the garden then I make a celery juice.

I have a celery juice every morning on weekdays, it’s my insurance policy for a good day.

You started in an unusual way, tell us about the beginning of your career? Well, I started as a fashion stylist, then went into jewellery and became Assistant Creative Director for Garrard the jeweller. I became involved with throwing the parties for the brand, hired Dita von Teese for her first European performance, went on to produce Dita’s wedding and 15 years later the rest as they say is history!

How did you know it was the right time to launch your own company and what were the stepping-stones to that point? It was serendipity. I never really set it up deliberately, there was no business plan.

I started working in reaction to demand and I pretty much still am. I will say that being an entrepreneur is something that is instinctive and that you either want your own business or you want the security of a job. I have always loved working for myself so that would be a decisive stepping stone.

You’ve created so many incredible tablescapes – do you have any which stand out for you? I love the Christmas tablescape that I designed for Emilia Wickstead. It was the perfect mix of feminine chintz and festivity. It was matchimal but also classic and I would

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The Perfect Host

totally happily sit at that table again a few years later. The wedding I designed for Krissy O’Neill in Positano is also a favourite. It was the first time I did matching print on print for a wedding and it was from the linens to the hand-painted plates all in blue and white. The tablescapes I love the most are the ones that were the hardest to pull off where everything had to be made from scratch. They become labours of love.

What’s the key to curating the perfect dinner setting? I think planning and symmetry are key alongside with lighting, to me the perfect dinner setting is dimly lit with candlelight and you are transported momentarily to another place in time.

Do you feel more drawn to the creative or the business side of the brand and how have you grown the team to support this? I really love both.

Art and commerce need to co-exist. I learned early on that no matter how amazing the idea it always needs to make sense as a line item in a budget (That took me longer to figure out than I let on!) I am probably

more adept at the creative side and I am always drawn to fellow creatives, so I have had in the past a predominantly creative team. Moving forward post pandemic, I realise I need more business support so that is what my focus is from now on. Business support is everything!

Do you have any mentors or guides and how does this help navigate the right path throughout life and your career? Nikki Tibbles from Wild at Heart is an incredible friend and mentor, who is in the same industry. The late David Collins was my very first mentor. It is such an important thing to have guidance and advice from someone you admire and respect.

How has this year impacted the industry both positively and negatively? I haven’t had any real live events and I sadly needed to make a number of my team redundant as we had no real event work. Positively it has made me reassess how I work and allowed me to experiment differently with more intimate settings leading to other work in curation, tabletop influencing (yes that’s a thing) and design. I have also been busy on a new venture, during the last lockdown I was made Creative Director of Aquazzura Home so that is a huge positive.

How has social media affected the luxury industry and which platform has been most useful? Instagram is hugely inspirational for the industry and has been a huge factor in my work. I think for most of us it is the immediate reference for so many things. We look, bookmark, shop. I think honestly Instagram has changed everything.

What should you gift the host when attending a dinner? A beautiful candle, or I sometimes love to bring a monogram sourdough loaf with the host’s initials from Harrods.

Which Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration? @iamlaurajackson, @skyemcalpine, @fayedreamsalot, @retrouvious, as well as a mix of interiors, food and window design accounts to keep me inspired.

Do you have any pre-bedtime rituals? I usually have a magnesium salt candle-lit bath, I light Palo Santo which I bought in bulk in Peru and I go to sleep listening to the Calm app. Matthew McConaughey’s bedtime story always sends me into a deep sleep, that or the sound of rain.

If you were not on your current career path, which other role would you have chosen career-wise? I always wanted to be a buyer so I would say I would be a homeware buyer or an interior designer.

This is ‘The Party Issue’, where/how will you be celebrating this season? I hope to be going to Claridge’s for a sleepover with my girlfriends for my birthday in December. This symbolises to me the start of the festive session. For Christmas and NY I hope to be in Mexico, I love spending the festive season barefoot on sand.

What’s your secret to surviving party season and still looking flawless? Drinking celery juice and having sessions at The Light Salon and Facegym. I am also a huge infra red sauna fan and go to Glowbar at least twice a week. I feel like all these things fight inflammation which is the enemy of flawless. I do as much of the feel good as I can.

What is your go-to party outfit? I love a long vintage dress, accessorised with Alessandra Rich sparkly earrings. Aquazzura platform shoes (Sundance are my go-to for parties) and a fun clutch from Edie Parker or Olympia Le-Tan, I love capes and have a selection of vintage ones from One Vintage... they help make a great entrance and exit !

What is on your wishlist this festive season? I have redesigned my kitchen and on my wishlist is a wall of bespoke delft tiles. Honestly, every penny is going into my kitchen – no new clothes, a beautiful La Cornue pale blue range is even better!

“To me the perfect dinner setting is dimly lit with candlelight and you are transported momentarily to another place in time.”

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Boys & Girls – Sasha 23 Dhs130 Tom Ford Beauty

Rosie Glass crystalembellished PVC pumps Dhs3,362 Amina Muaddi available at NET-A-PORTER

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: SAINT LAURENT

Pussy-bow striped sequined silk-crepe midi dress Dhs31,563 Saint Laurent

Sage TB-monogram grained-leather cardholder Dhs1,065 Burberry

Frances one-sleeve cutout jersey thong bodysuit AED629 Marika Vera

Crinkled glossed-leather wide-leg pants Dhs12,330 Bottega Veneta

Ribbed wool and cashmere-blend turtleneck sweater Dhs3,990 Alexander McQueen

RED HOT The hottest shade to celebrate in for FW20 FAS H I O N

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CRYSTAL CLEAR

ZARA; LEFT PAGE: BALMAIN

Instant desk to dinner dressing

Silver-tone crystal earrings Dhs1,681 Isabel Marant

Crystal circular-drop clip earrings Dhs885 Alessandra Rich available at MATHCHESFASHION

Alphabet rhodium-plated crystal earring Dhs448 Retrofête available exclusively at NET-A-PORTER

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Silver-plated, faux pearl and crystal clip earrings Dhs1, 322 Alessandra Rich

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LE CUBE Discreet lines and subtle volume epitomises Dinh Van’s simplicity and elegance

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ALL AVAILABLE AT DINH VAN

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SPLENDOUR Hermès’s Enchaînements Libres fine jewellery collection showcases the beauty of each precious stone and the virtuosity of the stone-setter’s hand

WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

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P H OTO G R A P H Y: K A R I M S A D L I

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ALL AVAILABLE AT HERMÈS

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GILDED GLORY WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

Max Mara’s Resort 2021 collection is dedicated to the opulence and magic of St Petersburg

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ALL AVAILABLE AT MAX MARA

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WO R D S: D I YA N A H A K M I

The Craftsman

Talk us through your morning routine and how you set yourself up for a successful day. I usually get up at 6.30, and I always try to have breakfast with my children. I always start my day by drinking water with lemon or green tea and eating plenty of fruit. I leave at 7.30 in the morning and get to the office by 7.45. I am lucky that my office is close to my home, and it’s a beautiful journey. At my desk, the first thing I do is to go through the digital press reviews specific to my fields of interest and catch up on all top-line brand activities and launches. I leave the office around 7 pm, and then I usually work out. I train for triathlon competitions, so I either swim or run – I find exercising and movement each day is key! Practicing my favourite sports makes me start the week in the best way.

Tell us about the DNA of René Caovilla. The DNA of René Caovilla is summarized by Venice, our iconic city. Caovilla is an incomparable heritage of three generations. All our shoes are entirely handmade in Italy, focusing on the highest-quality craftsmanship from the same factory we’ve had since 1929.

The brand has always played the subtle game of transforming iconic shapes into a new desirable classic. Caovilla is a brand of refined luxury that prioritizes care in intricate details and we keep growing and evolving to satisfy our global clients’ preferences.

How do you retain the heritage of the brand whilst approaching it with a modern perspective? Craftsmanship alone is not enough today. Making superb shoes is about more

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René Caovilla’s Creative Director, Edoardo Caovilla, shares his secrets to keeping the brand ever-evolving whilst staying true to its DNA

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than mere technique. It demands artistry, virtuosity, skill, and an interpretive talent that only the genuinely great master artisans possess. Innovation and new technologies have become the cornerstone of the ongoing evolution of René Caovilla. Here the manual artistry of embroidery happily coexists with leading-edge quality control to guarantee that each pair of Caovilla shoes is a triumph of beauty and comfort.

When it comes to the design process, what is key for you? Inspiration usually strikes when I wake up in the morning. When I’m thinking about creating a specific shoe during the evening, I often happen to see it when waking and this is why I usually go to the office so early, to channel all of my inspiration and ideas. Together with the creative team, we work to realize and create the ideas by defining all the technical and stylistic details that give life to the shoe prototype.

Do you see particular styles driving sales in the Middle East, and if so, which? The Middle East market has always been quite devoted to a feminine attitude. We noticed a great response to the chunky mules enriched by crystals or embroidery over the last few seasons. Mules and slides are ever prevalent as they are so practical and comfortable, yet still beautifully elegant.

Which is your favourite piece of the FW20 collection? One of my favourite pieces from FW20 is, for sure, the Juliette Sandal. This jewelled sandal is made by a stunning heel featuring a satin weave and embellished with a crystal chain.

How do you ensure personalised service for your e-commerce clients? Online sales have become one of the priorities of the brand; we are moving more and more towards digital. We care a lot about our e-commerce site, which should not be seen as a simple sales platform but as a unique universe in which the customer can get lost and immersed in the world of Caovilla. We sell online; we also provide an exceptional customer experience that considers the smallest details, style suggestions in our “style notes,” anecdotes and curiosities about the brand’s history, and many more. It’s truly a whole world to discover.

How do you approach scaling the business?

Renè Caovilla has always taken care of the business in the Middle East and, despite all circumstances, the brand has an established identity in this region. Today, the aim is to enhance this loyal and solid relationship

with a tailored strategy designed for limited edition capsules or private events.

Which Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration? I always like to be updated in real-time. Social media is one of the best channels to keep up to date with current news and trends. I love to follow news pages ranging from general culture to fashion, from newspapers to fashion magazines. This allows me to follow publications from all over the world. I am also very passionate about art, travel, and cooking. Among the accounts I follow you can find famous photographers, chefs, travel and living pages and more.

What advice would you give to your younger self-starting out? This is what my father always told me but also advice I will for sure give myself back. “You are capable of everything, constantly develop, look around and try to see the world from different angles.”

If you were not Creative Director and COO of

René Caovilla, which other roles would you choose career-wise? I believe in the value one can create by combining the Italian lifestyle, the entire industry of fashion and food and beverage with the IT world of Silicon Valley. I would love to have more time to explore these aspects. We should all be open on one side and add experience on the other. Also, I wouldn’t mind working in the service sector instead of sales. I’m fascinated by the data world, and I am exploring some of its topics.

This is ‘The Party Issue’ – how will you be celebrating this year? It has been and still is an exceptional year that has made me appreciate the little things even more. For me, a perfect celebration can be spent at home, in the company of my family and my closest friends. I love to cook and play the piano. A beautiful dinner with good food, music and laughter – this is the real luxury, to appreciate simple things!

“We provide an exceptional customer experience that considers the smallest details.”

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With a dose of vintage embodied in every design, the duo talk us through their journey of creating pieces that channel a touch of disco for after hours, making the brand one of the most sought after for party season

Welcome to the Party New-York based Retrofête co-founders, Ohad Seroya and Aviad Klin bring us the ultimate party experience this season with their show-stopping pieces 72

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Creativity is something that is innate – what were some of the key events that lead you both to become co-founders of the brand?

Ohad: We both have very different backgrounds, I have a retail background and Aviad worked in IT and finance. I handle the creative side of the brand, while he handles the business side. I gained my experience in design through our work with private label clients and the opening of our own sales showroom, Mint. Through our private label work, we learned about product development, different retail markets and the art of embellishment, which is a very important part of Retrofête’s identity.

Tell us why sequins have become such a key part of the brand’s DNA and was that the vision from the outset? Each sequin colourway and pattern is unique to our brand, we designed the sequin styles to mimic a sense of emotion, with each colour offering a different type of feeling – they make you feel special, and uplift your mood. We want women to feel that wow factor, and now, even with our non-sequin items, women can experience the same feeling.

How has the brand overcome the challenges posed this year? Has e-commerce seen more of boost from your perspective? Before the pandemic, we were mainly a wholesale business and didn’t have an e-commerce platform to lean on. In May, we launched our e-commerce site, which we developed with the help of a California-based digital agency called the Anton Eye in about six weeks. Having our own site helped us bring visibility to our non-sequin assortment. It’s no secret that evening wear has taken a hit this year due to the pandemic, so it was really important for us to develop and showcase our denim offering.

Describe the Retrofête DNA? In the past couple of seasons, we’ve found beauty in simplicity but at the core, Retrofête is about the glamour, the shine and the sparkle – we are known for our more-is-more aesthetic.

We always think about the woman’s body, what she’s going to feel comfortable in, but still confident and powerful.

Tell us about your recent collection and what is the story behind it? Our FW20 collection was inspired by NYC after the rain. After it rains, the ground is wet and shiny but it feels clean, this is what we wanted to translate into the collection. Many pieces have that “wet” effect, a lot of shine and the dirtiness of the city

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surprises that arise – just accept that, you learn something new every day!

How would you style sequins without overdoing it, outside party season? With amazing energy! The way you express yourself in clothes is so important. We’ve introduced a lot of denim silhouettes, lightweight silks, cotton knits in the latest collections. You can pair these pieces with a sequin top or skirt, but you can also opt for a more relaxed look that still makes a statement. For a creative alternative, you can jazz up a pair of jeans or sweats with an open Gabrielle Robe. For the FW20 collection, we reimagined a cool

“We want women to feel that wow factor, and now, even with our non-sequin items, women can experience the same feeling.”

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also comes through in more rugged designs.

Our HO21 collection was initially inspired by Morocco – it has an edgy meets boho feel.

With the pandemic, we had to pivot to make it easier and more wearable. We focused on bodies that are comfortable but have “dressy” design elements like gold chains and stars or stretchy netting and sequins.

What’s some of the most important business advice that you have ever received? Don’t rush into opening a business, work for other companies first and then open your own.

But no matter the amount of experience you have, there will always be obstacles and

jogger set with camo sequins – easy styles for the Retrofête girl when she’s on the go.

Is there any uncharted territory you still have to conquer as a brand? Opening a flagship!

I [Ohad] came from retail, that’s my background, so I’d love to provide clients with the ultimate Retrofête experience. I’d love to have a retail location with a cool atmosphere to hang out at on the weekends, to meet our clients. Given the current situation with so many small businesses shutting in NYC due to the pandemic, it’d be great to support the rebuilding of our city’s retail sector.

What Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration? Maluma! We love his style and his energy. And my friends – we always look to them for inspiration.

What are your goals for 2021? To be able to party and celebrate with everyone we love!

Hopefully, we can get back to a sense of normalcy where women can wear our dresses out again. Design wise, I want to continue pushing myself, being more expressive with Retrofête’s designs to hopefully reflect a joyful and more positive year. I also want to travel for inspiration, to feel that sense of connection again and experience human touch.

Which key pieces from the FW20 collection would suit anyone? The Desreen Sweatshirt Dress is super comfortable but still stylish.

The Nikita Dress is the perfect work to party dress. The Eva Jacket and Ivy Blazer set are a great holiday look. Of course, every woman needs a Gabrielle Robe in their closet!

This issue is ‘The Party Issue’ – how will you be celebrating this year? We will be celebrating with our friends, cooking dinner for them – we love to host people! Great food, good music, good chemistry – that’s all we need.

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WO R D S: D I YA N A H A K M I

Courage and Creativity Launched in 2014 by Rosh Mahtani, Dante’s Divine Comedy inspires Alighieri’s designs. We spoke to Mahtani about inspiration and the beauty of imperfection Talk us through your morning routine and how you set yourself up for a successful day.

I’m an early riser. I like to wake up around 5:30 am when the world is still quiet, and then it’s coffee! Whilst I make it, I like to cleanse the space; I have some fantastic Palo Santo, which inspires me when I wake up in the morning.

What inspired you to launch your jewellery brand? I studied French and Italian at university and became obsessed with Dante Alighieri. It then all happened very organically. I dreamt of creating wearable objects inspired by literature. I loved writing and photography and thought, if I start making one piece of jewellery for each of Dante’s poems, I could write and create books and play with objects.

That’s when I started, and it all fell into place.

As founder of Alighieri, how do you balance the commercial and creative side of the role, and do you prefer one to the other? I think the balance of the creative and commercial side of the role is heavily intertwined.

I create objects rooted in stories, finding a starting point in the poem, and then looking outwards to photography and music, sculptors, and artists. I like creating a universe of objects and ideas. That’s when I start carving in wax to create modern Heirlooms, which look like they have been dug up from the ground. I believe our customers relate to the story in which each piece tells and makes it their own. It is this connection and story that makes the pieces commercial.

Why did you choose Dante’s poems as inspiration for your designs? I loved the poems in Dante’s Divine Comedy because it’s a story about being lost in a dark wood, which I think everybody can relate to. I was going

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through a rough time in my life, and his poem was almost like a comfort blanket for me. That’s when I decided that I wanted to make one piece for each of his poems.

How do you approach growing the business?

Since starting Alighieri six years ago, we have been so lucky to experience exponential growth quite organically. There have been many challenges, like quickly building infrastructure and a team to manage this growth.

I guess it’s all about flowing with it and staying true to our story in everything we do. The key for me is to grow without losing any of our heart, ethics, and commitment to sustainability, connect communities and people worldwide through the objects I create and stories they tell. Therefore I approach it at my own pace and without compromising on quality.

How do you source your materials? We make all of our jewellery, and source all of our materials in London’s Hatton Garden – in our studio and the six streets surrounding it.

Our core Alighieri pieces are cast in recycled bronze before being plated in gold or made in solid Sterling Silver. We ethically source ‘imperfect’ pearls that most industries do not use due to their inconsistency. At Alighieri, we love that everything is unique and believe that is the beauty of what we do.

Which is the key signature piece for you?

One of our key pieces is the Leone Medallion. It’s inspired by the first canto of the Divina Commedia, when Dante wakes up, lost, in the Selva Oscura, afraid and alone.

He is confronted by a lion who is so terrifying that even the air around him trembles in fear. Dante turns on his heel, to give up hope, and at this point, his guide – the great Virgil – appears. He tells Dante to be brave,

and it’s a poignant example of fear turning into courage. I made the Leone medallion as a reminder to myself to be courageous.

When people started buying it, they would write to me and tell me why they were buying it, what they needed courage for, and that’s how the “Lion Club” community was born.

This is the core of Alighieri – connecting with people through objects and stories.

How has social media affected the fine jewellery business, and which platform has been most useful? Social media has helped me connect with our community around the world directly, and I love how it has helped the jewellery industry become more approachable and relevant. Jewellery is no longer just an accessory; it is a key and vital part of the fashion industry. I manage the Instagram account myself, which is my favourite platform, so I love having a direct dialogue with my customers and hearing their stories first hand. Recently on Instagram, we have been releasing our SS21 collection, The Roots, which was shot on a myriad of real women. I have loved sharing so many inspiring stories with our wider community to connect people during this surreal year.

Which Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration? Many visual arts inspire me on Instagram, including my dear friend Jaja’s, who’s feed is filled with the most amazing references she has uncovered from throughout history. @julystars If you had not launched Alighieri, which other role would you choose career-wise? Good question – I love creating so much, so it would need to be something else with my hands. Perhaps I would be a ceramicist. I am a collector of fragmented and broken sculptures and Roman ceramics. I would love to create more of these objects embedded with meaning.

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out? Be confident and keep telling your story.

This is ‘The Party Issue’ – how will you be celebrating this year? Despite the restrictions this year, I hope to get dressed up in my favourite statement, Alighieri jewellery, and spend time with my family and friends if possible. My parents are self-isolating, so all I want is to hug them – hopefully we can all have a nice meal together this festive season. A bonus would be to have a nice dinner with my team and celebrate everything we have achieved this year.

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WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

What does the first 30 mins of your day look like? I usually try and wake early and will do a run or do a workout first thing so that it’s out of the way and I have the rest of the morning and day to myself to get the work done, after which I then sit and check my emails.

I’m currently working on something with a friend which will be announced beginning of 2021, so I work on that a lot too. If there’s a project or event coming up for my clients, I will be prepping and calling in looks for fittings and creating moodboards for them. Of course, the less exiting part is waiting in for couriers and deliveries which is quite often.

Tell us about your career so far and how did you get into fashion? I feel really lucky to be in the place I am right now with my career.

My business has grown a lot over the years, although I’m still not exactly where I want to be and have goals which I’m working towards. As I studied fashion for 2 years at college and then did a degree in fashion promotion with styling and marketing, I took a break half-way through to go live in London and had the opportunity to complete a work placement with Jimmy Choo in their PR department. I loved it but it made me realise that styling was the avenue I wanted to venture in. I started to intern for more magazines such as InStyle and then started working at a fashion boutique in Liverpool called Cricket, which sells luxury brands.

This is probably when I knew I wanted to work more with luxury brands myself, and move into styling full-time. My boss Justine was really accommodating and used to let me attend the shoots for the store. I moved to LA when I was 24 to work for celebrity stylist Nicole Chavez, who taught me a lot and threw me in the deep end. She had really incredible clients such as Kristen Bell, Rachel Bilson, Catherine Zeta Jones and Jessica Simpson, I eventually gained so many skills by shadowing her. My first ever client was Misse Beqiri, as she was going on a TV programme and I started by helping her with a few looks. We hit it off straight away which led to us working together for what is now 6 years. She’s gone from a client to being one of my closest friends. When I took the plunge to style full-time by myself, I started gaining more clients and it just kind of grew from there. Olivia Culpo was my first ever US-based client to work with, after she spotted me on Instagram and from then I started to work with Nadine Leopold who was my first Victoria Secret model, and then Izabel Goulart. Although some of them

The Super Stylist Danielle Timperley has carved a name as super stylist to the A-list. Izabel Goulart, Misse Beqiri, Olivia Culpo, Abbey Clancy and many more. We ask her how we should be dressing for party season and tap into the power of the perfect outfit

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IMAGES: SUPPLIED

don’t live in UK, we make it work and I get to travel to visit them which is fun.

Who are some of your go-to designers for styling? I’m not big on patterns or anything overtly girly. I love Michael La Sordo, Dion Lee, Jacquemus, Peter Do, Mugler, David Koma, Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello, The Attico, Wardrobe.NYC, The Row and Christopher Esber.

Do you have any looks that you’ve created to date? I have quite a few personal favourites which include the Red Alessandra Rich look on Emma Louise Connolly for the royal wedding, the Alexander Terekhov mini dress and matching blazer we did on Josephine Skriver in Cannes and the looks we did on Izabel Goulart. We sat in her hotel fitting-room and decided on a cooler take rather than making it glam so we styled it with socks and trainers instead of heels and as soon as she left the hotel she was chased down the street being photographed. I don’t think we expected to see that image as many times as we did. I also did one on Caroline Receveur for Forbes Magazine where we were inspired by this picture of Rosie Huntington that we wanted to recreate in a look

by The Row. I had lots of Bvlgari jewels for her and at the last minute before the shot, we stacked every single bracelet on the one wrist and it worked. Our Paris street styles are always fun and we recently did a look on Izabel Goulart, in a Saint Laurent jacket worn as a dress and we added biker boots to it, for more of an edge.

What’s your styling philosophy and how do you choose what works best for each client?

I find styling my clients in a sleek but cool and edgy look works best. I love the 90s supermodel era, it’s probably my favourite generation in terms of fashion because it’s quite effortless. If I have an amazing piece that I want to place, I wouldn’t style it on just anyone, it would have to go with each of my client’s specific personalities. I love creating the street style looks with them, it’s always more of a refreshing way of playing about with pieces and showing off their personality through fashion. My street style looks always tend to get a lot more of a reaction than the red carpet ones.

If you could style anyone who would it be and why? Jodie Comer, she’s so talented and seems really open to having fun with her looks.

What’s the best business advice you’ve received and how has it helped you grow your business? Don’t focus on what everyone else is doing and just focus on what’s ahead and

work toward your own goals. Hone your distinctive point of view – stay true to your aesthetic point of view as an artist and always prioritize quality over quantity! Don’t worry about followers, as quality is everything and try and keep to the same standards in your work throughout. In addition, also try and maintain and build relationships with photographers, designers and PRs as these people and relationships are what’s going to help you in your career in future. Finally,

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… be patient! It can take years to get that big break and some not so long – everyone’s journey is different.

What Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration? There are so many. My friend who’s a New York based stylist, Kristina Askerova – I love her page, Misse Beqiri, who’s both a friend and a client has an inspiring page for style and décor inspiration along with Valentina Muntoni and Amina Muaddi. Additionally, Dream casa for interiors, heroine, Gilda Ambrosio and Giorgia Tordini.

Which key pieces should every woman have in her wardrobe? A great suit, a well-tailored sharp blazer and a good pair of denim jeans – preferably with no rips. I also love leggings from Wardrobe.NYC and The Row. A plain classic white tee by Celine is one of my personal favourites and a good leather jacket looks good with anything and everything.

What pieces are worth the investment for party season? I love knitwear. Attico has some incredible pieces and they look great styled back to a mini or leather pants that can be worn with a heel and dressed down with a pair of jeans. Saint Laurent do amazing tailored pieces. A pair of Amina Muaddi heels are a great party piece investment and Alessandra Rich for accessories.

We all have busy lives, how do you advise your clients to go from desk to dinner? Swap the flats for heels or a heeled ankle boot.

Add a bold red lip, and keep it simple with your basics. All you need is a basic pair of black skinnys or leggings with a white crisp white shirt or blazer – these can always be dressed up with accessories later on to transition into night time.

We love your aesthetic. How do you go about planning a seasonable wardrobe? I've just worked on a seasonable wardrobe with a personal client of mine. We focus more now on buying core pieces and timeless wardrobe staples. A Max Mara camel coat, Bottega Veneta for autumn winter pieces and boots for example. I usually go through my client’s wardrobe and do a full detox so we can replace things with keys pieces and I’ll show them how to carry through looks from day to night. As I’ve got older, I’m also more focused on sustainability and investing in expensive pieces that will last forever.

This issue is “The Party Issue”, how will you be celebrating this year? I was planning on being away on holiday but we just have to make the most of these uncertain times so I’ll still be toasting the New Year with my nearest and dearest and family.

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CAMILLE CHARRIERE WEARING CHANEL

From cashmere to glitter socks and logo emblazoned tights, we’ve curated the best edit for FW20

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DOLCE&GABBANA

LUXE FEET

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Doris polka-dot 40-denier tights Dhs80 Swedish Stockings available at MATCHESFASHION

DOLCE&GABBANA

GG snake-print tights Dhs940 Gucci

Metallic logo-jacquard tights Dhs2,720 Gucci

C O M P I L E D BY: D I YA N A H A K M I

Cable-knit kneehigh socks Dhs750 Dolce&Gabbana available at FARFETCH

GV Signature Jacquard Socks Dhs400 Versace

Cashmere Bed Socks Dhs590 The White Company

Two-tone long socks Dhs469 Marni

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Logo-embroidered zig-zag socks Dhs160 Missoni

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WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

A Masterpiece

As an ode to priceless heritage, Dolce & Gabbana’s Atla Gioielleria tells a unique story of infinite love and Italian excellences that continues to be handed down to new generations Attesting to centuries-old traditions that continue to live on, the Alta Gioielleria creations are a tribute to the love for craftsmanship. While dating back to the Renaissance period, each piece is carefully handcrafted according to the goldsmith’s mastery and fine eye for precision. Show-

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cased in the magnificent rooms of the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, Firenze, the jewels are a perfect balance between tradition and innovation while emphasising the exceptional nature of Europe’s first workshop. As a perfect amalgamation of the values between two luxuri-

ous excellences which include Officina di Santa Maria Novella and Dolce & Gabbana, these timeless rare jewels have been forged until it became a masterpiece of exceptional nature. Each creation exhibits an opulent shine for those who have the privilege of wearing them.

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IMAGES: OFFICINA PROFUMO-FARMACEUTICA DI SANTA MARIA NOVELLA, FIRENZE

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B E A U T Y F

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BALMAIN

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Hot New Buys

An edit of the best party season make-up & skin saviours

Depuff & Define

GLITTER BURST You’ll have punchy shimmer pigments in just a swipe with this metallic lipstick for the festive season getting you ready for a full night of fun and dance, ultimately giving your lips the star treatment they deserve. Dhs180 NARS available at Sephora.ae

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Tape à l’Oeil Being just in time for the festive season, the calligraphy-inspired applicator swiftly applies this limited-edition golden eyeshadow in a defined warm glittery shade. Dhs173 Christian Louboutin

COMPILED BY: SARAH JOSEPH; IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Designed to combat puffy eyes, MZ Skin’s treatment works on brightening darkness or shadows with high-potency caffeine and peptides for all those late nights and a busy lifestyle. Dhs640 MZ Skin

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Winter Glow For some next level radiance, give your cheeks a glow with this skin-enhancing illuminating powder to create a dewy effect. The infused pearl pigments deliver a light-reflective shine in a sleek mirrored compact, so you can amp your glow on the go. Dhs235 Bobbi Brown available at Bloomingdales.ae

HIGH-SHINE FINISH Inspired by a vintage era of Hollywood glamour, this blush nail polish has a quickdrying formula with a custom brush to ensure smooth, even coverage with a pigment-rich colour. Dhs107 Gucci Beauty

Caviar Creme This micro-nutritive product from Dior leaves the skin feeling instantly renewed and plump in no time with fine lines and wrinkles appearing diminished after just a few applications. Le Micro-Caviar de Rose by Dior is the perfect repair elixir for tired and stressed-out skin. Dhs1,927 Dior available at bloomingdales.ae

Collagen Boost

Gold Leaf Formulated with a clear base, this nail polish is sure to add a hint of sparkle to those neutral shades and is filled with glitter elements of gold to be used alone or teamed over another polish. Dhs92 Smith & Cult

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Approved by A-Listers, the diamond radiance collagen mask is designed for maximum absorption and is used to combat signs of aging like dullness, dark circles and fine lines – leaving you party ready in no time. Dhs220 Knesko available at OUNASS

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Winter Skin Balms for superlatively smooth skin

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LIPS

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01. Nutrition Baume de Rose, SPF 15 Dhs221 By Terry; 02. Rouge Hermès, Lip Care Balm Dhs278 Hermès available at bloomingdales.ae; 03. Lip Butter Balm Dhs110 Summer Fridays; 04. Hydrating Conditioning Lip Balm Dsh170 Chanel Rouge Coco Baume; 05. Protective Lip Balm SPF30 Dhs65 5.5g Aesop; 06. Lip Balm, 15ml Dhs53 Le Labo; 07. Soleil Lip Balm Dhs168 Tom Ford

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HANDS

08. Eight Hour® Cream Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment, 75ml Dhs131 Elizabeth Arden; 09. Orientalist Hand Balm, 500ml Dhs218 Tom Dixon; 10. Age-Repair Hand Cream, 40ml Dhs121 Grown Alchemist available at NETA-PORTER; 11. Vitamin E Hand Treatment, 100ml Dhs213 Jo Malone London; 12. Rose Hand & Body Lotion, 250ml Dhs126 Bamford; 13. Hand Serum 10, 30ml Dhs242 Verso available at NET-A-PORTER; 14. Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, 75ml Dhs93 Aesop; 15. Marshmallow Whipped Hand & Cuticle Scrub, 72g Dhs121 Deborah Lippmann

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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

A Unique Blend

Benoît Verdier, Co-Founder of EX NIHILO shares the superlative scents to gift this season from the Parisian fragrance house’s collection What are your favourite top notes of a fragrance? Difficult to say! You know despite having some favourite materials in your heart, the beauty of our universe is to discover day by day endless olfactory options. For top notes, I would say Orange Blossom for its sparkling and energizing facets, but I have nothing against replacing the hesperides by some beautiful spices like White Pepper. It’s what we’ve done with Yann Vasnier for Citizen X and the mix between White Pepper and Iris Pallida from Italy works amazingly well!

Do you have a go-to daily scent for the collection and does this differ for after house?

To be honest I don’t wear fragrances on a daily basis when we are creating new scents to keep my brain fresh. Nevertheless I’m still obsessed by Citizen X and French Affair, I can wear them anytime in large quantities!

To go celebrate or for a special occasion I would choose a creation like Venenum Kiss as it is inspired by the smell of Dubai streets by night or maybe go for a personalisation made with Osmologue, our exclusive technological device that allow us to make your fragrance unique and memorable !

Tell us about your latest launches? Its name is Gold Immortals, it has been created by our friend and Master perfumer Jordi Fernandez. In these difficult times we wanted

to create a mesmerising scent to give people joy and wonder without any restrictions. Its unique blend of Pear, Lys Ylang and Amber is an ode to Immortality. Its combination of ingredients makes it very self indulgent and unique, and I can say its sillage on your skin will be immortal as well!

Which fragrance from your collection do you recommend as the ideal gift to suit everyone?

It’s always difficult to propose a fragrance for anyone as we are worshipping extreme individuality and exclusivity but for a gift I would directly go to Fleur Narcotique because its our most iconic scent, with its addictive overdose of Peony, otherwise I would offer a private consultation for a custom fragrance so the person could choose what she prefers living a memorable olfactory experience!

Tell us about your personalisation process?

Our ritual is really an immersive experience into the core of fragrance creation. Through our exclusive technology, we mix a futuristic ritual with the best of French craftsmanship for a unique result, I would say it’s a Techno Craft approach. You can walk in or have a private appointment (what I would recommend). Then around a cup of tea we will deeply understand what the customer is looking for, through a little oral questionnaire. It will be the occasion to smell the

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absolute of fragrances like Rose of May, Iris Pallida, Orange Blossom in their purest form, and also to experience all our combinations according to your mood. All these combinations have been validated by our team of master perfumers here in Paris. Once your choice is made we will proceed to the making of your juice with the Osmologue, the High Tech robot we have specifically developed.

It will weigh, blend and create your own composition in only a few minutes in front of you. So you will be able to leave with your own scent without waiting weeks to get the result. We will also give you a nominative certificate of authenticity and keep all your preferences in our database so we can provide the very best level of custom service.

In the end if you can’t travel to one of our Top Tier stores we propose a layering experience around our Sublimes Essences scented oils, a range of five perfumed oils you can combine with your favourite fragrance to make your own mix! Its our conception of Do It Yourself luxury!

This is ‘The Party Issue’ – how will you be celebrating this year? I don’t know yet but will for sure avoid theses depressing ZOOM home parties! If we have to stay confined in Paris we will do it in style, maybe in small but great company, properly (over)dressed and fun!

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Can you tell us about Dior’s new fragrance J’adore Infinissime? We have unfurled the flowers of the J’adore bouquet, enveloping them in feverish, intense sensuality with a hint of wood. An endless burst of flowers that diffuse infinitely. A hyper-present composition signifying a new vigour, adding volume and curves. This J’adore has even inspired its own name, an affectionate neologism expressing its infinite beauty – J’adore Eau de Parfum Infinissime.

How does J’adore Eau de Parfum Infinissime differ from previous scents by Dior? The framework of J’adore is still here, but I played different ingredients as major guests: tuberose and sandalwood.

By incorporating grasse tuberose into the J’adore composition, I create a romantic encounter. It is as though J’adore “seduced” the tuberose, taking it on, showcasing it, colouring it and giving it light.

The fragrance has a sensual charm thanks to this little white flower that is as intense as it is moving. It has an immediate, intact power that transcends trends. It is a genre of scent in its own right. It instantly symbolises a powerful and confident femininity.

What has gone into the process of creating J’adore Eau de Parfum Infinissime? It’s pretty usual to have about two years between the beginning of the project and the launch on the market. In the two years, I include every step: the perfume creation, the name, bottle, packaging. For the perfume creation, this time, it was rather quick and took about eight months. I was asked to make a J’adore but “more, more, more”. So, I made it sexier and even more sensual.

Can you talk us through your creative process when creating a fragrance? As soon as the project starts, I always work in three different directions. This prevents me from saturation, which happens when you smell the same thing repeatedly. It’s also a lot safer as it gives me more opportunities to have one of them right, so they have to be very different from one another. What follows is almost like a building construction – you imagine the structure, you create it

and then you decorate. When you are at this stage, you can include some “accords” that you have previously worked on because even inbetween projects you never stop creating. Sometimes I have limited time, sometimes less. The creative process is a solitary one, but very quickly I have to share it. It is crucial as you don’t really know anything until you get feedback from others. I always say that doubt is a very important part of my job as a perfumer. In the end, the direction has the final say on the perfume we will launch.

What makes a fragrance timeless? I have no real answer, because if I knew I would only make timeless ones! It is a combination of parameters that always comment on after the fact, but the truth is that while you are in the middle of it, you don’t know anything for sure. And even when it works, it’s not only the perfume that becomes a success, it’s a whole – the name, the campaign, the bottle. It’s the product with a capital P. It’s like making a mayonnaise: sometimes it works really well, and sometimes you do exactly the same gesture with the same proportions and it doesn’t take.

Where do you take inspiration from? Everywhere, in everything! Travelling is an immense source of inspiration for me, as well as cooking and local cuisine. But it expands to so many things: encounters, and of course women. Letting go in the pleasures and desires of life. That’s also what being inspired means to me.

Why did you choose Theron as the face of this perfume? I think Charlize and I almost started working on J’adore at the same time. You can like or dislike J’adore, but I don’t think someone can say it does not smell good – I think it’s the same for Charlize Theron. No one can say that she isn’t beautiful and smart. Whether she wears flat sandals or high heels, she is always attractive and magnetic. That’s definitely one “infinissime” thing about her. All the meetings I have had with her, she was always very open and accessible.

What feelings do you hope this fragrance evokes for women? Confidence, boldness, sexiness…

“Letting go in the pleasures and desires of life.

That’s also what being inspired means to me.”

The Power of Scent WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

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The Beauty Shelf

Cover star Haya Jarrar takes us through her hero products C O M P I L E D BY: O L I V I A M O R R I S

The Face Oil Dhs840 Augustinus Bader

Cleansing Gel Dhs240 Augustinus Bader

With the increasing pollutants in the air and daily use of facemasks, this cleansing gel removes all the impurities from the skin and leaves it clean and fresh.

Lip Fuel Hyaluronic Lip Balm Dhs66 Kosasport

I started using it recently, but it gives a very natural colour with perfectly lasting hydration.

LED Light Shield Mask Dhs700 DMH Aesthetics

You’re supposed to use it for three weeks to start seeing results. I’ve only been using it for two weeks, but I already see a difference.

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Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick Dhs210 Chanel

It gives me the perfect sunkissed look, very natural.

Caution™ Extreme Lash Mascara Dhs147 Hourglass

I already have long eye lashes, but this makes them look full without the over-dramatic look.

Arch™ Brow Sculpting Pencil Dhs182 Hourglass

I love this as it gives a natural neat look.

Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick Dhs215 Hourglass

L’Intemporel Blossom Beautifying Cream-in-Mist Dhs252 Givenchy

The most flawlessly natural coverage with a velvet finish.

The most refreshing mist ever.

I use it when I’m on the go like when I’m running errands, on flights and more.

Deep Cleansing Masque Dhs144 Grown Alchemist

I’ve been using this for a very long time and use it two to three times a week.

Hair Oil

I use a combination of different oils and I mix them myself.

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

I have very dry skin, but when I apply this at night, I wake up with super hydrated skin. Also, this is a new brand that I got from LA and recently started using.

All I can say is that I’m obsessed.

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PARTNERSHIP

A Hilfiger Holiday

T O M M Y H I L F I G E R ’ S H O L I D AY C A M PA I G N C E L E B R AT E S TRADITION IN STYLE As the world embraces a host of new traditions this year, Tommy Hilfiger is ever forward thinking. Creating a campaign that celebrates a diverse set of talent, all set in their own festive homes.

With low-key festive party looks for this year’s celebrations, the 2020 Tommy Hilfiger Holiday collection provides a warm colour palette for you to feel your best self this festive holiday period.

Complimented with the house’s THmonogram and festive Tommy Hilfiger packaging, you can have holiday-ready ensembles everyone will want to find under their Christmas tree.

Dubai-based presenter Enjy Kiwan is seen wearing the Tommy Hilfiger collection along with her children who are styled in pieces from Tommy Hilfiger Kids’ collection. Influencer Leena Kaziz

and her husband wear head-to-toe Tommy Hilfiger as they dine in style while creating new traditions at home, whilst DJ Sonya gets ready in her Tommy Jeans clothes for a live-streaming gig.

Channel the holiday spirit and create new traditions with Tommy Hilfiger this season. The collection will be available in Tommy Hilfiger Stores and on Tommy.com across the GCC.

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Polished

The ultimate edit of beauty buys you need for pre party prep WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

SKINCARE

Sisley Gentle Cleansing Gel with Tropical Resins, 120ml Dhs340 available at ounass.ae; 111SKIN Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask x 8 Dhs395 available at bloomingdales.ae; Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil, 30ml Dhs250 available at NET-A-PORTER; MZ SKIN Depuff & Define Contouring Eye Rescue, 15ml, Dhs404 available at NET-A-PORTER; Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, 30ml Dhs350 available at Namshi

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HAIR

BYREDO Hair Perfume – Rose of No Man's Land, 75ml Dhs275 available at NET-A-PORTER; Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner, 250ml Dhs103 available at NET-A-PORTER; Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil, 30ml Dhs103 available at NET-A-PORTER; Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, 250ml Dhs103 available at NET-A-PORTER

BODY

Rituals Body Shimmer Oil Dhs100 available at rituals.ae; Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, 200ml Dhs92 available at NET-APORTER; Acqua Di Parma Colonia Bath & Shower Gel, 200ml Dhs209 available at ounass.ae; Aesop Redemption Body Scrub, 180ml Dhs125 available at bloomingdales.ae; James Read H2O Tan Drops Body, 45ml Dhs125 available at lookfantastic.ae; Fenty Beauty Body Lava Dhs260 available at Sephora

MAKEUP

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Dhs110 available at Harvey Nichols – Dubai; Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Beauty Light Wand Dhs175 available at Namshi; Givenchy Beauty Mister Instant Corrective Pen Dhs140 available at NET-A-PORTER; Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder – Afternoon Glow Dhs235 available at ounass.ae; Dolce & Gabbana Beauty The Glam Liner, Dhs160 available at Sephora; Givenchy Beauty Teint Couture Everwear Foundation SPF2, 30ml Dhs242 available at bloomingdales.ae

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All That Glitters

use? We love Instagram for sharing our favourite images – icons, sequins, disco and of course our events. Instagram has become more of an outlet for us to share our thoughts and inspiration as well as for our products.

Which Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration?

Rowi Singh @rowisingh, Prod Antzoulis @prodantzoulis and Isamaya Ffrench @isamayaffrench.

What events are the core of your business both pre COVID-19 and now and has it changed? Event season is sadly still non-existent although we are looking forward to next year and we have exciting events planned for NYE. This time last year you would be able to find us all over Dubai from festivals to disco-themed events. 2020 finally gave us the push we needed to develop our other ideas and push the brand further with an accessories range. Our sequin facemasks have been extremely popular. We also put together our range of glitter party packs so you can shine safely at home.

Having worked with a portfolio of luxury clients, how do you create a bespoke service for each? We work closely with each brand to bring the element that best fits their event, location and clientele – we offer a range of services as well as the glitter. For example, guests can choose from a selection of face jewels or boho-themed face paint and UV colours.

For the Hermès Twilly d’Hermès Eau Poivrée launch we sourced face jewels that matched the perfume bottle and pink disco theme of the event or at Blue Marlin’s annual Burning Beach event guests could add tribal designs to compliment their glitter. Our glitter gang is a group of friendly artists who are selected for your event depending on your requirements.

What is the most extravagant theme you’ve ever been asked to create? We put a lot of thought into making sure the glitter station is a talking point at each event. Working with Nike last year where we helped the “Nike Salon” come to life with the creative team was definitely one to remember. Guests could choose Nike glitter “swooshes”, glitter hair tattoos and a custom braid bar with a selection of charms to add to their braids which we sourced. Have you ever heard of an “Intergalactic Bedouin”? We joined this themed post wedding party where the bride reached out to friends in our creative circle flew us to Jordan to complete her incredfor help with our products and making them come to life on the website, most imporible costume with our glitter and then all the guests. We made everyone shine in a valley tantly remaining a team and supporting one between two mountains in Wadi Rum. It was another during a difficult time. like something from a film! There are so many What inspired you to create the biodegradincredible parties we have had the pleasure of able glitter range? With the world shifting to joining however at this time of the year workfind ways to live more sustainably, we were also conscious about the impact we may ing with Swarovski is one of our favourites be having on local ecosystems. We offer the where we literally ‘frost’ the guest with glitter biodegradable glitter at all our glitter staand crystals to match the jewellery! tions so guests have the option to choose.

This issue is ‘The Party Issue’ – how will you We are also the first company here in the be celebrating this year? As you can imagUAE to source a completely plastic free glitine Christmas is our favourite time of the ter, which “shimmers” rather than sparkles year, all the sequins come out and most due to the absence of aluminum and plasnights are an excuse to get dressed up. Even tic in the glitter. The glitter is proudly made if we aren’t glittering faces as much we will from plants not plastic. be shining on our sofas! You can usually find us at The Maine – one of our favourites How has social media helped scale the busiwith our family in the run up to the big day. ness and which platform do you prefer to

Co-founders Lara and Nadine Elias created a business from a love for all things shiny.

With party season approaching, we asked what it takes to create an empire of fun

IMAGE: GETTY

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

What do the first 30 mins of your day look like? Each day can be completely different depending on how busy we are, but usually replying to emails and checking the Glitterbox Instagram is a priority as we get a lot of enquiries through our social platforms.

What made you take the leap to start the brand and what were your most important considerations? We were on a night out putting glitter on each other when a group of girls crowded around, waiting for their turn, that was it – Glitterbox was born a couple of months later and back then it was just us and a suitcase full of glitter. We had no idea our small idea would put glitter on the map here in the Middle East. It never felt like work because we were able to spend time with one another yet also make people smile and feel good. That was the most important thing to us – that we enjoyed what we were doing.

What advice would you give to your younger selves starting out? Don’t take everything to heart. When we started out not everyone understood what our service was, however we were consistent and continued – we didn’t let anyone dull our sparkle.

What have been your biggest hurdles this year and how have you overcome them both independently and together? Just like any company that thrives during event season here in Dubai we have really missed doing what we love best – spreading our sparkle.

With lockdown and new restrictions for events we’ve not been able to shine as much as we’d like to but this gave us time to work on other exciting Glitterbox projects. We

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WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

it, because it has the most incredible, rich, nourishing formula that gives you a lit-from-within look and helps makeup stay glowing and flawless all day. If you’ve got oily or acne prone skin, I recommend using Charlotte’s new Magic Cream Light for the same glow-boosting, smoothing, hydrating effect, with a light-weight texture. We launched Magic Cream Light this summer and people are in love, especially those in more humid climates.

How do you balance your multiple roles on a daily basis and is there anything that helps you to do this? My job is super varied, and I think people are always surprised by how hands-on I am with product development at Charlotte Tilbury on top of working on campaigns and creating content.

When we are creating a new product, I work with the team to trial new textures, find the perfect shades that work for every skin tone and test every look on models of all ages and skin types. When we’re on set for a shoot, I work with all of the pro artists and the creative team to help capture all of the emotion and feeling behind a new campaign. I love the fact that my role is so fast paced and fun, and we have the most amazing dream team, so it never feels like work!

What’s the secret to dewy skin? My ultimate secret for glowing, dewy skin is Charlotte’s Hollywood Flawless Filter. I like to use it under my foundation to get a lit-fromwithin, glowing finish, but you can also use it on its own for a fresh, dewy, no-makeup look; mixed with foundation for a flawless glow, or on the high points of the face like a highlighter! Charlotte has always been obsessed with glowing skin, and she launched this product so that everyone can have a radiant, glowing skin day – everyday.

It’s like a real-life social media filter!

How do you ensure your makeup lasts all day and how do you elevate for evening? To ensure my makeup looks flawless all day, I like to use the full coverage Airbrush Flawless Foundation, which has an incredible formula of skincare ingredients that work when you wear it. It’s perfect for concealing blemishes, scars and pigmentation and lasts all day and night. I like to blend it over the skin from the centre of the face to outwards in order to create a gorgeous, seamless-looking complexion with a natural matte finish. Then, I buff the Airbrush Flawhave a beautiful painting without a beautiless Finish powder over my T-Zone to set the ful canvas,’ and she’s right! After cleansbase and ensure nothing moves throughout ing with my two-step Goddess Cleansing the day. I couldn’t live without this powder, it Ritual every morning and evening, I like to is so finely milled; it blurs any imperfections use Charlotte’s supercharged Magic Serum and never looks heavy or talc-y like some Crystal Elixir to massage the skin and create powders. It’s the one product I always slip a beautiful, smooth, hydrated filter effect. into my celebrity clients’ clutch bags before It helps makeup glide on better too! People an event. I have one on me at all times when are so much more focused on powerful skinI’m going out in the evening. I am also obcare ingredients these days, and this is formulated with Polyglutamic Acid – which is sessed with the new Airbrush Setting Spray, four times more hydrating than Hyaluronic which sold out almost immediately when we Acid, Golden Vitamin C to brighten and even first launched it. It primes, sets and fixes the look of the skin, as well as niacinamide your makeup for up to 16 hours and it smells to tighten pores and help balance oilier skin incredible – just like a day at the spa. This is types. I’ve seen a huge difference in my skin going to be a gamechanger for all your beausince I started using it. Then I follow with ties in the Middle East.

Charlotte’s Magic Cream moisturiser, which What are your skin care tips to stay glowing I never do my makeup without – it’s one of during party season? Charlotte has taught Charlotte’s biggest bestsellers! People adore me all of her secrets to make the skin glow

The Magic Touch

Did you have a passion for beauty from a young age? Growing up as a child in Ibiza, I was always into animals and art, but as I got older, I became interested in beauty from watching Charlotte (Tilbury) and soaking up all of the creative energy I was surrounded by! My grandfather, Lance Tilbury, is an artist, my grandmother Patsy was a fashion producer, my mum Leah, was incredibly creative too – I was always on a path to something in that world!

When I moved to the UK, for boarding school, I would go to London at the weekends to visit Charlotte in her office and she would always let me take some makeup back to school to play with! I’d spend hours doing makeup and taking photos, trying to copy Charlotte’s looks from magazine covers and shows. After school, I knew I wanted to do something in fashion and beauty, and Charlotte took me under her wing and taught me everything I know. I have been so lucky to watch and learn from her over the years!

Which products are clients buying more heavily into this year? I think we’re seeing people spending a lot more time taking care of their skin this year. Skincare is selfcare and during lockdown, I definitely found myself relying on my beauty rituals for a bit of calmness every day. Charlotte always says, ‘you can’t

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Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury is the makeup artist, brand ambassador and product and content creator at Charlotte Tilbury, who’s honed her skills under the mentorship of her aunt, Charlotte Tilbury

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y

e

before an event – for red carpets, we love to use the Goddess Skin Clay Mask to tighten the look of pores and get that baby soft skin feel. Unlike other clay masks, this does not dry or crack, its super hydrating on the skin whilst still being very purifying.

If my client has skin on the drier side, I’ll use the Instant Magic Dry Sheet Mask to flood the skin with moisture. It has a unique biomimetic delivery system that helps the supercharged ingredients – peptides, oils, butters – get deeply into the skin where you need it most, giving you a gorgeous glow.

Another of Charlotte’s top tips for a flawless glow is ICE. We always have ice packs on hand to cool down any puffiness, tighten the look of the skin and get all the blood flowing for a healthy-looking glow.

What’s your signature look for party season?

For me, party looks are all about glow on the eyes, lips, skin, everywhere! Even though we might not necessarily be partying like we’re used to this year, gifts like the Palette of Pops in Dazzling Diamonds are great for a party season smoky eye. The sparkling, diamond-inspired shades instantly make your eyes look brighter and more mesmerizing, even on a Zoom call! You can use the shades like eyeshadow toppers to dial up your look, or use them all together to create an otherworldly shimmer effect! Charlotte’s Hollywood Superstar Glow highlighter is also amazing for gilding your skin with

a smoother-looking, golden glow. I love wearing off-theshoulder dresses and tops at this time of year, so it’s great for buffing over your collarbones and shoulders too! For lips, gloss and sparkle look great on and off camera! Charlotte’s new Jewel Lips are enriched with Hyaluronic Acid so they’re super hydrating, and they also have Diamond Powder in them to give you an instantly glamourous, shimmering lip.

Which three Charlotte Tilbury products suit everybody and make the perfect gift? This is cushion your skin in moisture, her groundsuch a hard question! I’m obsessed with all breaking Magic Serum to tighten your pores of Charlotte’s beauty secrets this year. She is and smooth the look of skin, the eye-brightalways inspired by the most incredible lightening Magic Eye Rescue and Magic Night play magic and this year, it was all about Cream – which is literally like beauty sleep in JEWELS and GEMSTONES. I will defia jar. I also love that it includes Charlotte’s nitely be gifting the Walk of No Shame Lip Magic Lip Oil, as my lips get so dry at this Kit, as it’s one of my absolute favourite liptime of year, and it’s easy to forget they need stick shades, and such an adorable stocking skincare too. Magic Lip Oil is like a serum for filler. It’s a globally-loved, berry-rose that your lips that boosts lip volume by up to 70% makes your lips look fuller, wider and justin 4 weeks, so I am absolutely addicted. These kissed, making it the perfect gift for everyare the products I never do makeup without, one from best friends to your grandmother. and I know my father, uncles, grandmother – I am also obsessed with the Bejewelled everyone, will love them for the holidays.

Eyes to Hypnotise Instant Eye Palette, which has four glowing eye looks inspired by This is the party issue – how will you be celetopaz, rubies, amethyst and smokey quartz. brating this year? We all need a bit of joy and We’re all wearing masks right now, so the positivity in our lives and this year, I can’t eyes are more of a focus than ever this year! wait to embrace new traditions with fun dinSo many of my girlfriends are begging me for ners at home with my family, virtual parties this! The new light-play textures are so velwith friends who are far away, and lots of gifts vet-soft and creamy. It’s such an easy way and treats to spread happiness! I think that to create a sparkling smokey eye in seconds. makeup and skincare truly have the power to Finally, I have to choose some skincare change your mood and your confidence, so as everyone, everywhere loves hydrated, they make the perfect presents. And to make glowing, flawless skin – men and women. your holiday shopping even easier this year, Charlotte’s Magic Skin Icons set is the most Charlotte has created her new virtual consuldivine collection of supercharged, sciencetations, so you can head to CharlotteTilbury. powered skincare for instant results. You’ve com and book a 1-2-1 with a beauty expert to got Charlotte’s best-selling Magic Cream to get all of your gifting wrapped up!

your eyes look brighter and more mesmerizing.”

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AM TO PM BEAUTY

Kuwaiti content creator and media influencer Fajer Fahad shares her daily beauty and skincare rituals Talk us through your morning routine.

I like to do pulling with coconut oil – my favourite brand is Dale Audrey, the cinnamon flavour. I usually do this while I dry brush and before I jump in the shower. For my face I alternate between MZ Skin Cleanse and Clarify Cleanser and Augustinus Bader cleansing balm. Depending on where I am in the world I alternate between MZ skin bright and perfect vitamin C corrective and Shani Darden retinol.

And how about your evening routine? I

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like to use Elemis Collagen Balm as a cleanser then tone with Sisley Lotion Tonique au Fleurs, I use the La Mer eye cream and finish off with 111 Skin Rose Gold Radiance Booster or the MZ Skin Placenta Serum.

What is in your makeup bag? In my makeup bag I always have La Prairie eye and lip duo, KKW lip pencil and Augustinus Bader lip balm.

Are you a fan of masks? I love masks!

I use 111 Skin, MZ Skin and Summer Fridays jet lag mask.

What three makeup products can you not live without? Mac Spice lip liner, Nars liquid concealer and Anastasia Beverly Hills bronzer.

How would you describe your relationship with makeup? I try to use make up as little as possible during the day. I will use mascara, highlighter and shiny lip balm, whereas I love a full glam for the evening, always trying to play with colour if I can at night.

How has your relationship with makeup evolved? As I have matured I realised

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Clockwise from left: Powder Bronzer Dhs162 Anastasia Beverly Hills; Jet Lag Mask Dhs240 Summer Friday’s; Moisturising Hair Oil with Lavender Dhs175 Christophe Robin; Black Saffron Perfume 50ml Dhs600 Byredo; Radiant Creamy Concealer Dhs165 NARS; Rest & Revive Restorative Placenta & Stem Cell Night Serum Dhs1,550 MZ Skin

the importance of great skin and taking care of my skin. The better my skin is, the better my glam looks. Also, it’s so important to completely remove makeup before you sleep and work out.

Let’s talk fragrance. What are you loving at the moment? I love a great body spray and hair perfume. I am finding it a lighter combination than actual perfume. I use La Prairie body spray as well as the Gisou hair perfume.

How do you choose your evening fragrance? My evening perfume I love to

go out with is Byredo – all their scents are amazing. I rotate them depending on my mood.

Talk us through your hair routine. My hair is very important to me. I try to take care of it as best as possible. I use Christophe Robin lavender oil once a week and follow that with his lemon cleansing balm. I then finish with the milkshake argon mask that I try to leave on for 30 minutes at least on towel dried hair. I use the Kerastase Densifique ampoules at night as well

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as their eight-hour magic serum. During the day I apply milkshake argan oil on my ends religiously.

What is the most unusual item in your makeup bag? The most unusual item in my makeup bag is my Pellequr CBD drops and CBD zen pen. They help me sleep at night and combat any anxiety I tend to have. I also always have a small vile of Inulin powder from Gangster Chic which is made from Jerusalem root. It helps me with bloating or when I get water retention.

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WORDS: OLIVIA

MORRIS

After Hours

The edit of exceptional fragrances which will last the whole night long

Armani Oud Royal

This mystical and sensual oud scent is considered to be a second skin in the Middle East.

100ml, Dhs1,050 bloomingdales.ae

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Celine Black Tie Eau de Parfum

Ex Nihilo Atlas Fever Eau de Parfum

Tom Ford Noir Extreme Eau de Parfum

With base notes of vanilla, sandalwood, oak, cedar and guaiac wood, this signature fragrance captures an elegant and refined spirit. Dhs1,800 bloomingdales.ae

This woody-oriental fragrance is the ideal scent for those partying all night long.

An oriental woody fragrance for both women and men, perfect for any black tie event.

Carolina Herrera Gold Incense Eau de Parfum

200ml, Dhs1,200 celine.com

A warm and intense fragrance with notes of cedarwood, vanilla caviar and marigold, perfect for party season.

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne

This classic scent encapsulates daring sensuality right in one bottle. 100ml, Dhs650 jomaloneme.com

Dhs1,090 ounass.ae

50ml, Dhs521 bloomingdales.ae Chloé Nomade Fragrance

This sweet and fruity scent incorporates Mirabelle plum, inflections of velvety davana and notes of soft sandalwood.

75ml, Dhs575 Chloé Givenchy L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Intense

This floral fragrance fuses the scent of jasmine bud, rangoon creeper and Indian tuberose with a base of Damasc rose and Tuscan orris.

50ml, Dhs460 Sephora.ae Byredo Bal D’Afrique Eau De Parfum

A warm and romantic vetiver inspired by Paris in the late 20s and its infatuation with African culture, art, music and dance.

100ml, Dhs893 Sephora.ae

An intense fragrance with deep woody undertones of Vetiver and Patchouli.

50ml, Dhs471 givenchybeauty.ae

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Gucci Bloom Ambrosia di Fiori Eau de Parfum

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F E AT U R E

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Laura Bailey has honed her creative eye through photography and having co-founded fine jewellery brand Loquet London.

This season she’s partnered with THE OUTNET to create a signature capsule collection

WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

The

What do your first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine? I’m an early bird. These days I get up in the dark to run or walk with my two dogs, Frankie & Bambi, before I wake my kids at 7am and make breakfast before they head off to school. In an ideal world (not in lockdown), I would play an hour of tennis or join a class at my local Bodyism gym before I start work, which might mean a shoot, meetings all over town or a day at my desk. I have no ‘normal’ day, I have quiet days and crazy days and somehow it all works out. But sport, and being able to organise all around my kids’ routine is key.

You started in the industry as a model, how did you discover your eye for design? I have worked an unconventional model life, always combining shoots with my passions for writing, photography and travel, and creative direction including design.

My diverse creative lives are entwined and cross-pollinating and I am always casting, pitching & collaborating, in all fashion fields. I have been so lucky to work with some of the best creative visionaries, from Karl Lagerfeld to Edward Enninful, and have watched and listened hard.

How did you know it was the right time to launch Loquet London and what were the stepping-stones to that point? Loquet London has been a labour of love for Sheherazade Goldsmith and I. The shorthand and trust of an old friendship combined with Sheherazade’s idea for an innovative and romantic reinvention of the locket is a source of pride and inspiration and although I am less involved in the day to day I love watching the brand grow in style and we have just launched a limited edition special collaboration with beloved artist Charlie Mackesy and another old friend Chantal Conrad, who has developed a brilliant miniature lens which allows secret messages to be embedded in a special Lumiere pendant. Mine holds a favourite Nick Cave lyric. It’s a kind of magic.

Each of the pieces you’ve designed for THE OUTNET capsule has been carefully crafted to emulate your signature style.

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What was the key DNA and which is your favourite piece? The key DNA was simply timeless, iconic style, inspired by my passions for film and vintage. I wanted to create timeless pieces and to design a capsule whereby everyone can find a piece that works for them, and style it in their own way. I thought a lot about the one dress that you take on a trip, again and again, or the one piece in your wardrobe that you reach for when you want to simply feel your best. The black velvet ‘Isabella’ is the one I’ve been wearing the most, even from the first samples. It’s relaxed but chic, easy modern luxe.

Tell us about how this project supports Save The Children? It was really important to me that this collaboration worked beyond the quest for the perfect party dress. Ten per cent of proceeds from each sale will go to support the brilliant work of Save The Children, a charity for whom I have long served as ambassador.

Do you feel more drawn to the creative or the business side and how have you grown the team to support this? I am definitely more drawn to the creative side, though I am working hard on the business side too! One of the joys of collaboration is the freedom to play to strengths and ask for help. The team at Iris & Ink and THE OUTNET have supported me every step of the way, and the entire process has been a joy and the best kind of challenge.

Do you have any mentors or guides and how does this help navigate the right path throughout life and your career? My friendships with extraordinary women working in diverse fields are a source of immense pride, joy and inspiration. From fashion designer Bella Freud to journalist Christiane Amanpour, creative visionary Amanda Harlech to Cathy Kasterine, stylist and collaborator in my photographic work. I am extremely lucky to work in constant dialogue with such talent and intellect. I have relied heavily on my girlfriends for all kinds of guidance. They are my family.

And these days one of the greatest thrills and challenges is to serve as men-

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tor within my community via homework clubs, mentoring, and volunteering. I always try to share and pass on the same wisdom, kindness and sense of opportunity I was gifted when I needed it most.

How do you balance having both a professional and family life so well and do you have any rituals that help you relax if you do have five mins? I’m not going to lie. It’s not easy.

Motherhood is my most important role and has made me the happiest and most fulfilled.

My kids are older now but I have learnt to be super organised and to plan around their needs. I want to work hard and to come home with adventure stories – but I also don’t want to miss a thing. I relax with my kids – in

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the park, with the dogs. We’re all sport mad and I box with my daughter and play tennis with my son. I love a hardcore massage once in a while or a movie night. I’m a voracious reader but my main solace comes via nature, even in the heart of London, the city I love that remains my forever inspiration.

How has social media affected the luxury industry and which platform has been most useful? I have a slightly complicated relationship with social media as I’m desperately trying to get off my phone and be more mysterious! And I am strict as a mother regarding tech and I’m hyper aware of the dangers and the pressures, especially for teens. But I also have to acknowledge that

my iPhone has set me free, enabled me to work anywhere, take pictures constantly and travel light. Instagram has been a hugely important work tool for me in terms of connection, inspiration and community. As a photographer it’s given me a platform to control and share both my work and my influences and to amplify my passions and politics. It’s sometimes confusing. And I often promise to give it all up. It’s definitely ok to switch off from time to time. And to edit ruthlessly, but still be grateful for the good stuff.

Which Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration? Hard to choose – but here are 5 I love in diverse worlds: @thegreatwomenartists, @mubi, @britishvogue, @duroolu-

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“Iris & Ink and The OUTNET have supported me

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every step of the way, and the entire process has been a joy.” wo and @alexeaglesportingclub.

Do you have any pre-bedtime rituals? It depends on the day…. but usually Dog-walking, a Chanel No.5 bubble bath, the NY Times, Budd pyjamas, poetry, playlists via @stackradioapp, browsing @artsy, reading (currently the Trebizon school series by Anne Digby ) with my daughter. I’ve also been taking a supplement called Lyma Life, with breakfast and at bedtime, for a year now – and whilst I don’t pretend to understand the science, I think it might be magic.

If you were not on your current career path, which other role would you have chosen careerwise? If I didn’t work in the arts I would probably have followed a sporting path, as a

teacher or an athlete. And in my dream life, I’d mostly be playing tennis. Maybe I can still combine the two via sports photography and travel reportage. All worlds collide.

We love your style, what approach do you have to dressing? Thank you! No rules.

Making it up as I go along. Totally impulsive and mood driven. Eclectic British Portobello princess/tomboy style. Something borrowed from my son or my boyfriend and a little black dress forever. I’m always ready to run, bike or kick a ball around.

This is The Party issue, where/ how will you be celebrating this season? 2020 has been a year like no other. But it is even more important to me now to celebrate what really matters –

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health, friends and family. I don’t know yet what Christmas will look like, or what will be allowed, but I feel sure I’ll stay close to home this year with greater appreciation of simple pleasures, cooking with my kids, walks in the park and sometimes dressing up even with nowhere to go. I love (and miss!) a party but I also love the quiet intimacy of time out with cherished friends and am learning how to make even the simplest (maybe taken for granted) pleasures and rituals extra special in these times. A Winter Sunday stroll down Portobello Road, a movie night with my kids, a day trip to the countryside...

The Iris & Ink X Laura Bailey capsule collection is available at THE OUTNET

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WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

The Party Piece

Maison d’AngelAnn creates party pieces that leave an impact. Founder Anna Chybisova has carved a niche for the brand by creating showstopping dresses for party season What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like? I always spend the first 30 minutes of my morning over a cup of coffee reading news and discussing the previous day’s news regarding the brand. My favourite part is to see the progress the design studio has achieved and my heart always skips a beat while waiting for photos of new samples, it’s such an exciting process.

Embellishment is key to the brand’s DNA, was that the vision from the outset? We embellish our pieces with beautiful Swarovski crystals.

Since childhood, I have imagined women to be magical princesses in sparkling dresses, seeking my inspiration in classic ballet such as Swan Lake and Carmen, where Prima ballerinas are always dressed in incredible pieces. Just a slight gleam gives a feeling of a magical dress or costume; even a skirt with crystals always draws admiring gazes towards its owner.

What’s some of the most important business advice that you have ever received? To

always do as much good as possible, 100% professionally, so you’re satisfied with the result yourself!

How do you suggest dressing for party season? As we use genuine Swarowski crystals by printing them on fabrics to ensure it stays smooth to the touch, I would advise investing in simple cuts and classic silhouettes.

You make the perfect ambassador for your brand. How important is that role? Thank you. I think it’s vital for the founder to also act as an ambassador of the brand. I’m an absolute perfectionist! If I wear a dress, it should fit perfectly, and this is a guarantee for our clients that when they dress up in our brand they will look incredible.

How do you approach client engagement and how helpful has social media been? This is a very difficult question, because our customers are our stars, and when a woman finds something unique in any brand, she always returns. Our clients inspire us, from private clients to celebrities such as Lady

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Gaga, Beyoncé and Rhianna all of whom have worn our creations. A good product doesn’t always need additional advertising.

What Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration? Mario Testino is a huge source of inspiration for me.

What advice would you give to your younger self starting out? To shine everyday.

Which are the key pieces from the collection this season? Coats with crystals are perfect for all business meetings in London or Paris, cashmere sweaters and dresses are ideal for Moscow and skiing resorts. And of course, on New Year’s Eve we hope to see the most beautiful women around the world in our show stopping dresses!

This issue is ‘The Party Issue’ – how will you be celebrating this year? I’ll be celebrating in Dubai, because it’s one of my favourite places to celebrate the New Year, and then I hope for Christmas we’ll be dancing till the morning in a close circle of friends in sparkling mini dresses in the Maldives!

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The Unwind

After an incredibly challenging year for all, we speak to some of the most incredible women we know about how they will be unwinding at the end of this year C O M P I L E D BY: O L I V I A M O R R I S

NINA UBHI MAKEUP ARTIST @ninaubhi

What have you learned throughout 2020? Take nothing for granted! It’s easy to become complacent with everyday luxuries and even people. So, this year has taught me how unimportant material things are and how important spending time with loved ones is. Being an entrepreneur means I’m constantly working and with so much being focused on social media you sometimes forget to put your phone down and soak in those special moments.

This year I’ve learnt to live in the moment and not worry so much if I have a heavy workload – it will still be there tomorrow!

How will you be celebrating this festive season?

BLOGGER AND INFLUENCER I will be celebrating this festive season with my @fashion_pirate husband and we’re likely to have a quiet one at home. After all, it’s all about who you spend it What have you learned throughout 2020? I’ve learnt that life is extremely precious, with rather than where you go. I love cooking unpredictable and family along with health is everything. My priorities changed a lot and baking so I’m pretty excited to take some this year therefore doing and saying what I feel without hesitation is paramount. time off and focus on feeding people!

How will you be celebrating this festive season? We will be celebrating with the deWhat will you be doing to unwind at the end of livery of my nephew which we are so excited about. Moreover, I’ll hopefully be having the year? I still haven’t thought that far ahead the company of my parents flying from London and joining us in Dubai to celebrate but I usually decide with my husband a week the festive season on the beach by relaxing and enjoying special moments together. before! I’m taking each day as it comes and I What will you be doing to unwind at the end of the year? I’ll be spending exceptional think this year I feel more inclined to do somequality time with the family and taking each day as it comes with no long-term plans. thing relaxing. Anything that will still leave me It is valuable for me to live in the now and unwind to start the New Year afresh. feeling refreshed in the new year.

ZEYNAB ELHELW

HER EXCELLENCY DR. SARA AL MADANI

FOUNDER OF HALAHI, SOCIAL FISH AND PROPOSAL CUPIDS @sara_almadani_ What have you learned throughout 2020?

2020 has been a tough yet amazing year.

A lot of good things happened to me. I’ve changed the way I work and my priorities, so COVID was a blessing in disguise. This

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year has also taught me that it’s okay to take some time off, it’s okay not to be as constantly busy as we are used to. I’ve learned it’s okay to let go sometimes and not work and it’s okay to focus on your mental health because that’s all that matters.

How will you be celebrating this festive season? Due to the current situation, we can’t be very festive, but usually, I spend it with my family remembering the heritage of the UAE and all the things that come with it.

What will you be doing to unwind at the end of the year? I’m thinking of taking a trip to the Maldives, to unwind on the beach – my mind needs it and my body needs it!

AYA FAISAL FASHION INFLUENCER @theayoot What have you learned throughout 2020? My happiness depends on myself and my moods.

How will you be celebrating this festive season?

I will be celebrating with my dearest family.

What will you be doing to unwind at the end of the year? A small gathering with my family and my closest friends to remind everyone of what we’ve been through this year and we are grateful to be here all together.

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DOUNIA SHEIKH EL ARD DUBAI-BASED CONTENT CREATOR @mydounia

What have you learned throughout 2020? 2020 has taught me patience and gratitude in so many ways. It’s not easy to put our lives and plans on hold.

How will you be celebrating this festive season? I will be celebrating at home with my loved ones. It feels funny yet comforting to have a different style of celebration this year, usually by this time I’d have my whole week of Christmas and New Year’s Eve planned with gatherings and even my outfits!

What will you be doing to unwind at the end of the year? To unwind, I found that developing my creative side has helped me a lot. I’m currently taking sewing and pottery classes just to focus on something else and it’s been quite inspiring!

LANA ALBEIK

GHIZLAN GUENEZ

MODEL @lana_.jpg

ENTREPRENEUR AND BUSINESSPERSON @ ghizlan_guenez_

What have you learned throughout 2020? To celebrate and enjoy any small achievement.

How will you be celebrating this festive season? I will take time off work and spend it with my family but I will probably work on some side projects.

What will you be doing to unwind at the end of the year? Try my best to be in nature and be in the winter sun – nothing relaxes me like the sun.

What have you learned throughout 2020?

2020 taught me to slow down and focus on all areas of my life that need attention to enable me to be a good, healthy and happy person. I had spent four years consumed with setting up and launching a business and before that 14 years in a very fast-paced industry and realised that whilst I was thriving professionally, I wasn’t truly nurturing other important aspects of my life such as my personal relationships, my physical wellbeing and my recreational time – be it go-

FATMA AL OTAIBA

HANEEN ODEH

FOUNDER OF ODEEM @odeem_official What have you learned throughout 2020?

This year has been quite an interesting year for everyone I believe. The circumstances showed me what is of true value to us – our family and loved ones, not to take simple pleasures for granted.

What will you be doing to unwind at the end of the year? I usually travel around this time. At the end of this year though, I’m looking forward to taking some time off and spending quality time locally. The weather’s great in Dubai during this season and it would be a perfect time for a staycation with my family.

ing on vacations or taking the time to just “switch off”. This year forced many of us to take a pause which was probably necessary for many of us, certainly for myself. I had the time to reflect back and reconsider what I would like my life to look like for me to feel happy and as balanced as can be whilst still fulfilling my ambitions and goals.

How will you be celebrating this festive season? With family and friends. We’re close as a family and enjoy celebrating holidays together. We’re all foodies and my brothers cook really well so we enjoy nothing more than a great meal and lots of conversation and laughter around the dinner table. In today’s pace, we don’t get to sit together for a proper meal often so the holidays are a great occasion to reconnect with loved ones and spend quality time What will you be doing to unwind at the end of the year? It would have been lovely to travel somewhere but on the positive side staying in town has allowed us to re-explore parts of the UAE that we hadn’t before. I have been to some beautiful places such as Hatta which I hadn’t visited since I was 13! So, I’m planning on a staycation in one of the local resorts either in the desert or by the sea.

OWNER OF SNOB SALON @haneenodeh

What have you learned throughout 2020? How much we took everything for granted. I learnt to take time to enjoy the little moments in life and not stress over things that don’t matter! I also learnt to enjoy my time at home and not be running around all the time.

How will you be celebrating this festive season? Quietly, with my family! I think this festive season will be a bit more low key than any other time and gives us a chance to slow down and spend time with loved ones. A lot of cooking and barbecuing as well in this amazing weather!

What will you be doing to unwind at the end of the year? A lot of self-care. This year has been tough for a lot of people and for once I’m not going to have a new year’s resolution list because I don’t want to put myself under pressure of achieving for next year. Nothing went according to plan in 2020 and I think 2021 will also be a bit unpredictable. Just take a breath and live day by day!

“Take nothing for granted!” – Nina Ubhi F E AT U R E

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The Miracle Worker WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

We always want to look flawless particularly during party season. Radiant, hydrated and nourished skin go hand-in-hand with this, but as the end of the year comes around we’re often tired, dehydrated and in need of a muchdeserved break. This is exactly why we’re in need of a true miracle worker, which is where skin guru Julie Lemke comes into play.

Originally from Denmark, Lemke has resided in Dubai for over eight years and is an expert in all things skin having recently founded her own business – HER Skin Studio, which stands for Holistic Esthetic

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Revolution. “I want to revolutionise the way skincare is perceived – it doesn’t have to hurt to be effective,” she tells Emirates Woman. “I want to educate people on skincare and skin health in a more holistic way and let people know that there are alternatives to Botox if you don’t want to go down that route.” This is why Lemke has become an expert in the use of the Gua Sha, which is part of ancient Chinese medicine. Through the use of the Gua Sha, Lemke explains that you release the tight muscles, which she refers to as “holistic Botox”. Another of Lemke’s hero treat-

What do your first 30 minutes of the day look like, your morning routine? The very first thing I do in the morning is take my silk eye mask off and do a nice long stretch in bed. I try to keep my mobile phone out of the bedroom as it tends to be the last thing you look at before falling asleep and the first thing you reach for when you wake up in the morning. It gives me a certain calmness to keep it safe in the kitchen during night hours and going back to basics with an alarm clock on my bedside table.

Tell us about where you trained and why you decided to study these particular practices. I completed most of my studies in Denmark and in the US. Some seminars I have attended virtually others have been hands on practice. The thought of working holistically with skin resonates with me. Our skin is such a clever organ and it can regulate itself, sometimes it just needs a bit of help along the way. I believe a lot of people ultimately end up harming their skin by doing too much which ultimately leads to inflammation. This creates a downward spiral of people using harsher products. Less is sometimes more when it comes to skincare.

How did you know it was time to set up your own business and what were the stepping stones to this? Setting up my business was more of an intuitive act as I just felt I had so much knowledge to pass along and I really want to educate people on skincare, diet and overall health. HER Skin Studio stands for Holistic Esthetic Revolution. I want to educate people on skincare and skin health in a more holistic way and let people know that there are alternatives to Botox if you don’t want to go down that route. Before launching HER Skin Studio on my own, I was looking to join a team of therapists. The

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ments also includes the ‘Fire and Ice Facial’, where the skin is deeply cleansed and then an intensive resurfacing mask is applied – the “fire”. The “ice” then comes in the form of a cold-infusing rejuvenating mask. The combination of the innovative facial leaves the skin glowing like you wouldn’t believe.

The best part of it all? There is no downtime involved with the facial. Lemke sat down with Emirates Woman to discuss all things HER Skin Studio, the Gua Sha treatment and Fire and Ice Facial, her career, her holistic approach to skincare, and much more.

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Julie Lemke, founder of HER Skin Studio, is your guru for flawless skin this party season

training I was getting was simply put – just do as we do, no questions asked. Again, with everything I do, it has to make sense to me.

The last thing I want to do is perform robotic facials. I just knew that it would never work out in the long run and then this opportunity came about and I felt this was meant to be.

Which brands or beauty products are your real hero buys? I absolutely love the serums from iS Clinical especially their Pro-Heal Serum Advance+ which provides the highest level of antioxidant protection containing time released vitamin C. It is phenomenal. The same goes for the Super Serum Advance – it works wonders at reducing the appearance of scars and healing sun damaged skin. Their vitamin C serums are the most potent on the market containing 15 per cent L-ascorbic acid. Also, it is formulated in such a way that it does not oxidize. Finally, their active serum is great for fine lines and wrinkles and an excellent option for blemish prone skin. It gently exfoliates and promotes brighter and cleaner skin.

Where do you stand on beauty tools – do they work? Beauty tools is an incredibly widely used term, but I would definitely say yes.

I am a big fan of a lot of the tools available on today’s market, such as Gua Sha and my new face reflexology tool. It is so important to maintain your results in between treatments and tools such as these help you do that.

However, I would say the home micro needling trend is a total no-no. I have seen really bad cases of scarring caused by a quite severe skin infection. When you poke your skin with needles you are creating pathways for bacteria to enter and it is impossible to keep your tool sterilized – the disinfectant that usually comes with the device can only do so much, but does not target all pathogens.

You swear by the Gua Sha, but have mentioned not many people know how to use it properly? Why is this? I just see a lot of people only working on their face superficially. In order for Gua Sha to be effective you will need to open your neck first to create a pathway for lymphatic flow. If your neck is jammed and tight the lymph has nowhere to flow once you start draining the facial region.

Think of your face like the branches of a tree.

The branches will get their nutrition from the roots and it will be transported through the trunk. The same goes for your neck – when you release tension in your neck region you will notice that your face transforms.

rapidly, but safely, resurface your skin and What benefits does it have? The Gua Sha has will help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, so many benefits and it is no wonder that it smoothen and soften your skin while enhas been so popular in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It stimulates collagen procouraging cellular renewal. The treatment will result in a dramatically refined comduction, brings fresh nutrients and oxygen to plexion and has zero downtime. There are no the tissue, it has an incredible firming effect side-effects associated with the treatment, and helps promote lymphatic flow. A stagnant this is exactly why the red carpet-worthy falymphatic system can manifest in an abuncial is loved by Hollywood’s A-listers. dance of blackheads –even acne – or just what For many of us fine lines creep in without us people would describe as an overall dull complexion. We live in a world with a lot of stress noticing. Your skin is incredible – what’s the and this can manifest on the face. By working best cure for this and what should we not be on the face and releasing the tight muscles we doing? I believe that the lines you are referare able to create the perfect environment for ring to in most cases are actually linked to flow. When flow is not obstructed you will get surface dehydration. Surface dehydration is an amazing glow. Puffiness will decrease and such a common condition. Once your skin fine lines and wrinkles become less noticeable is hydrated, you will notice all the fine lines – or might even vanish. That’s why Gua-Sha vanish. Surface dehydration is a lack of water is also known as “Holistic Botox”. in the skin and it cannot be fixed by increasing your water intake. It has to be targeted You also specialise in the ‘Fire and Ice Facial’. topically. So usually this surface dehydration Can you talk us through this? The facial starts is from using too harsh or aggressive foaming with performing a double or triple cleanse cleansers stripping the skin by removing its of the skin with the Cleansing Complex to natural oils. You can easily be dehydrated on remove any trace of make-up. The next step the surface but oily underneath, so you really involves applying the Intensive Resurfacing want to target the problem in the right way.

Masque. This is the ‘fire’ part of the facial So, to boil it down – stop using harsh foamwhich will create a slight tingle and warming sensation on the skin while it’s working its ing cleansers on your face. magic. After removing the mask, the skin is Which Instagram accounts do you follow for brought back to its normal pH level with the inspiration? I love Danna Omari @noyskCleansing Complex, before proceeding to the incare – she is such a beautiful person and ‘ice’ part of the facial where so inspiring to follow as the skin will receive a cold an esthetician to help you infusing form of the Rejugrow professionally. I also discovered face reflexology venating Masque. I will be though her and I cannot massaging your skin with tell you how excited I am ice-globes while the mask is about offering this service on. The facial is completed in 2021. It fits perfectly with with different iS Clinical the Gua Sha. My teacher – serums, eye cream, moisJackie Van Ruler @mindturiser and SPF. After the bodybeautyinsitute is also innovative Fire & Ice Facial, so incredibly talented and you will be ready to take on sweet. Finally, @educatthe world with a tremeniS Clinical Super Serum eyourskin @askneridajoy dous glow and a smooth, Advance 15ml Dhs573 – such a powerhouse, gorrefined and ultra radiant iS Clinical Pro-heal Serum geous soul and the ulticomplexion.

Advance 15ml Dhs573 mate wealth of knowledge Why is the Fire and Ice FaiS Clinical Active Serum in skincare. We need more cial so beneficial? The Fire 15 ml Dhs558 like her in my industry! & Ice Facial bridges the gap Rejuvi K cleanser Ultimately, I look for inspibetween a gentle facial and 200 ml Dhs115 ration everywhere, but I alinvasive peel, it is formulatRejuv S Tinted Sun ways try to make it my own. ed with the purest pharmaProtection 65 g Dhs126 Visit HER Skin Studio at ceutical grade ingredients.

Rejuvi A Night gel A 45 ml Dhs252 Salon INK in Dubai.

It is specifically designed to

THE HER SKIN STUDIO HERO PRODUCTS

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The Skin Saviours Skin secrets for looking flawless this party season C O M P I L E D BY: O L I V I A M O R R I S

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NINA UBHI MAKEUP ARTIST @ninaubhi What is your go-to product to give you an instant glow? My go-to for an instant glow is the Boscia Rosewater mist with Witch Hazel.

It’s refreshing and also leaves a natural, dewy finish. I always get compliments on my skin after I’ve used this product.

Your hero product or skincare trick for staying flawless during party season? I don’t go anywhere without my Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless finish powder. If I’ve had my makeup on all day and I want to head out for

HANEEN ODEH OWNER OF SNOB SALON @haneenodeh

the evening but don’t have time to re-do my makeup, then I add Airbrush Flawless finish under my eyes and all the places I would usually highlight – this literally gives my skin the airbrushed flawless finish.

What are your three skin saviour hero products?

I’m obsessed with The Ordinary’s 1% Retinol which I’ve been using for around three weeks now – it’s a game changer. I also love the Dr. Lancer Caviar Lime Acid Peel – I use this once a week as an overnight treatment to feed my skin and nourish it. In the morning it’s plump and super smooth. Lastly, I don’t leave the house without applying Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF 50.

This is the best SPF I’ve used for my face as it doesn’t leave a greasy feeling on the skin and you can still apply your makeup as normal.

What is your go-to product to give you an instant glow? I love the Ole Henriksen Phat Glow facial. It’s packed with PHAs which are acids that require no downtime and make the skin look plumper too. It leaves my skin really smooth and glowy and makeup goes on better too. I have dry and slightly sensitive skin and if I follow the directions it never causes the sensitivity or redness that other acid peels sometimes cause.

Your hero product or skincare trick for staying flawless during party season? A good primer! I love the hydro grip primer from Milk Makeup because it really does make my foundation stay longer without causing my skin to look dry and chalky. The party season is always super busy and I like to just apply my makeup in the morning and have it last all day with only minor touch ups. I also love having a good compact powder to reapply during the day. IT Cosmetics bye bye pores is one of my favourites. It comes with a little sponge too so you don’t have to carry a brush.

What are your three skin saviour hero products? A toner – wearing makeup all day and now a mask too, can cause congestion which then causes breakouts. I love using Pixi’s Clarity Tonic which has salicylic acid and helps keep zits at bay.

A mask – my skin can get a bit dry from the colder weather and the Clinique Moisture Surge mask is extremely hydrating without being too heavy. I put it on before bed and wake up with healthy, hydrated skin.

A cleanser – holiday season makeup can be super glamorous but it needs to come off at the end of the day. I swear by the Eve Lom cleansing balm to completely remove all my makeup.

The consistency is great for breaking up heavy foundations and even waterproof products. It also doesn’t strip the moisture from my skin and it never feels tight afterwards.

er Serum advanced night repair, use it for only three weeks and you’ll already see results. I also use ice on my face before I put on any makeup.

What are your three skin saviour hero products? If I had to choose three it would be the soap cleanser from Clinique, the serum from Ole Henriksen and the soft moisturiser from La Mer.

WALAA AL FAYEG TV PERSONALITY AND ARCHITECT @walaa_official What is your go-to product to give you an instant glow? I like to use an overnight hydrating mask with hyaluronic acid to hydrate my skin and give it an instant glow or the 111SKIN Celestial Black Facial Diamond Lifting and Firming Mask is also amazing.

Your hero product or skincare trick for staying flawless during party season? I love my day and night vitality serum by Embyou Skin, as well as the advanced ceramide capsules by Elizabeth Arden for an instant glow under my eyes. I like to also gently massage my skin using a rose quartz roller by Omorovicza which is perfect to use over and over again.

What are your three skin saviour hero products?

I am currently obsessed with embyou products so totally in love with vitality eye cream, vitality serum and day cream. Makeup looks amazing on me since I started using this routine for a flawless skin preparation before makeup.

AYA FAISAL FASHION INFLUENCER @theayoot What is your go-to product to give you an instant glow? My go-to product for skin care would be the Truth Serum from Ole Henriksen and makeup would be the Cali Kissed Palette from Smashbox.

Your hero product or skincare trick for staying flawless during party season? The Estée Laud-

F E AT U R E

Advanced Night Repair Recovery Complex Dhs289 Estee Lauder; 1% Retinol Dhs33 The Ordinary; Sun Drops SPF 50 Dhs530 Dr. Barbara Sturm; Moisture Surge Overnight Mask Dhs172 Clinique; Truth Serum Collagen Booster Dhs154 Ole Henriksen

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The Sensation

Can you talk us through your career history? I trained in some of the most prestigious kitchens in Germany, including Goethehaus in Bensberg, Koenigshop in Munich and I eventually became Chef de Cuisine in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Cologne, where I stayed for three years. I then had a “breakthrough” moment when I was promoted to Executive Chef of Park Hyatt Sydney, in 1992, a role which I very proudly accepted. I was there for two years and gained some recognition including being awarded Executive Caterer of the Year. Following this time in Australia, in 1994, I became Executive Chef in the Park Hyatt Tokyo, where I was in charge of launching and running all of the five hotel restaurants.

I stayed there for six years before returning to London with dreams of opening what is now Zuma.

What eventually brought you to Dubai? We opened Zuma Dubai in 2008, four years after opening Zuma London and one year after opening Zuma Hong Kong.

At the time, and to this day, our decision to open in a specific location is really driven by our customer base.

Cities such as Hong Kong and Dubai are where our customers travelled for work or for vacations and it made sense to follow our clients.

How does the food and beverage industry here differ from other places around the world? When we first

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As the showstopper of all Dubai hotspots, delve deep into the 12-year journey of Zuma

opened, Dubai was a very different beast. The market has changed significantly in the 10 plus years that we have been open. It is now a lot more competitive; it is a crowded market but no more than anywhere else, you just feel it more because it has happened so quickly. I think this is a positive though, you need to be at the

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When it comes to being the crowning jewel of the restaurant space in Dubai, Zuma is certainly one of the strongest contenders to take that title.

Having been at the forefront of the F&B space in the emirate for 12 years, Zuma has continued to be a staple for restaurant-goers in Dubai. With impeccable service, an unbeatable menu, a stellar venue and its household name, the contemporary Japanese restaurant has stayed at the centre of the restaurant scene despite the ever-growing and crowded market in Dubai, which truly makes the establishment a showstopper.

Emirates Woman sat down with Zuma’s owner and founder Rainer Becker to find out what brought Zuma to Dubai 12 years ago, how the restaurant has stood the test of time, Zuma’s hero dishes and what it takes to stay at the top of your game in such a competitive space.

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top of your game all the time to remain a market leader.

Having first started in London, what was the appeal of bringing Zuma over to Dubai? I probably answered this earlier, but it was our customers! Aside from that the other deciding factor was my business partner, Arjun Waney, whose brother resides in Dubai and had for many years. He explained to us that there was nothing like Zuma in the marketplace and he felt we would do well there. The rest is history!

You’ve just celebrated an incredible milestone of being named the top bar in the Middle East. What does this achievement feel like? It’s wonderful! I could not be prouder of the team. I never would have imagined this after 12 years. It really illustrates how hard everyone works to be “at the top of their game”.

You’ve really paved the way for a lot of international brands to come to Dubai. How do you ensure Zuma stays ahead? I believe competition is very healthy, it drives the business forward and forces you to strive to be consistently better. Product and consistency are key!

Additionally, I believe all elements within a restaurant hold equal importance, the design, service, food, drinks, lighting, music. We have all been out for dinner and had great food but if the service is not up to scratch you are not likely to return. We work incredibly hard as a business to ensure that all areas are of the highest standard.

What are the hero dishes, in your opinion, at Zuma? Oh, that’s a tricky one but I would probably go back to some of the original Zuma London dishes. My hero dishes are the chicken wings with sake, sea salt and lime; they are very simple but have just the right level of sweet, salt and acid. Additionally, the tuna tataki; sliced seared tuna with chilli daikon and ponzu sauce is a particular favourite of mine. To be honest, there are too many hero or signature dishes to name. Others include the Chilean sea bass, spicy beef, yellowtail with ponzu – the list goes on!

Who would you say is your chef inspiration? There are too many to count but I would definitely say Alain Ducasse inspires me, he draws on classic techniques and puts a contemporary twist on his dishes. In the Japanese food world, Chef Hirohisa Koyama changed the way I saw Japanese cuisine and was very much ahead of his time. And I know she is not a “chef”, but my mother was a really good cook and I remember her cooking dinner whilst I was doing homework at the kitchen table, I would often jump up and try to get involved.

What are the hurdles you’ve experienced during your career? Sometimes naivety and enthusiasm are our best business gifts. I never opened Zuma with a concise business plan for the global reach it now has. I only ever wanted to open one restaurant, and I never thought beyond that at the time when I was planning the original Zuma.

As a result, I sometimes struggled with the idea and speed of the business expansion, you worry about being able to consistently deliver. But here we are and I am very proud of what we have built and the team behind it all.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, what are the milestones? I always wanted to cook. I used to come home from school and my mum would be cooking dinner. I am not sure if that was a driving force or impacted my choice but for as long as I can remember I enjoyed and wanted to cook. My father, however, decided it wasn’t much of a career so, in a bid to dissuade me, he sent me to his friend’s restaurant to work there one summer, in a des-

“My hero dishes are the chicken wings with sake, sea salt and lime; they are very simple but have just the right level of sweet, salt and acid.” perate attempt to put me off. I got stuck in doing basic cooking and kitchen duties – it was hard graft! Instead, I came back more fired up than before. From that moment, he supported me so that was a pretty big milestone. My career took me to Australia and from there Japan where everything changed, both experiences were very influential to me and therefore pretty big milestones.

What do you see next for Zuma Dubai? The team are driving the business, innovating and achieving great things – I would be happy to see that continue in the years to come.

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WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

The New Hotspot

As sister to Zuma, the new Business Bay restaurant ROKA has a lot to live up to and it certainly does Business Bay hotspot ROKA has taken the challenge of being the new contender headon and has become an instant hit amongst the Dubai restaurant crowd. Situated in The Opus, a building designed by Zaha Hadid, ROKA has brought its unique style of con-

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temporary Japanese Robatayaki cuisine to Dubai and it’s an absolute must-try. Like its elder sibling Zuma, ROKA’s flagship restaurant is located in London, but it’s undoubtedly already carved its place in the F&B space in the emirate under the lead-

Can you talk us through your career history?

My career really kick-started in London in 2004 when I started working at I Sapori

by Stefano Cavallini, an Italian restaurant.

My passion for food always stemmed from South-East Asian flavours and cooking techniques so I developed to work for the likes of Nobu, Nahm, a famed Thai restaurant at the time, and Naamyaa by Alan Yau. Finally, I landed at ROKA and worked both in the Mayfair and Canary Wharf locations where I worked my way up to Head Chef before moving to Dubai.

What eventually brought you to Dubai? From a career perspective, I was ready for the next step and a new opportunity but there was no way I was leaving the ROKA family so when the project in Dubai presented itself, I jumped at it. From a family perspective, we were also looking for a new adventure and Dubai seemed like the ideal place at this stage in our life.

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ership of executive head chef Libor Dobis.

Emirates Woman sat down with the critically-acclaimed chef to find out what it has been like opening a restaurant in the middle of a pandemic, how he believes the Dubai restaurant scene sets itself apart from other places, ROKA’s hero dishes and the future of the establishment in Dubai.

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How does the food and beverage industry here differ from other places around the world? Dubai is a new and different world.

It is relatively young from an industry perspective with lots of new restaurant opening all the time, it’s booming! There are obviously cultural diversities in every country, which need to be adapted to whether this is from a customer or business perspective.

ROKA opened just before the pandemic and then closed. What was that like for you as a chef? It was tough, I won’t lie, having just arrived in the country and then virtually going straight into lockdown. However, you must take the positive experiences out of difficult situations, I learnt a lot during this time.

How was ROKA affected during lockdown?

How did you adapt? I believe all restaurants were affected similarly. We started takeaway relatively quickly and when we were able to reopen, we adapted the restaurant swiftly in-line with the government’s regulations.

During the time we were closed we took advantage of it and used it to plan and strategise new menus etc.

ROKA really has found its own niche in the Business Bay area. Would you agree? I definitely agree, YES! We are fortunate to have a fantastic location; the terrace views are to die for. To top it off we are in a building which I believe is becoming an icon of the

“ROKA has heart, warmth and energy, which is a unique feeling I believe, it hits you when you walk through the doors.”

Dubai skyline – really it could not be better.

What are the hero dishes at ROKA? We have a large amount of ROKA signature dishes from London on our menu that have been firm favourites here as well. The likes of the Kampachi Salad, Lamb Cutlets and Mushroom Hotpot. In addition, there are dishes that are unique to the Dubai menu which I would consider are hero dishes now, such as the Bone Marrow & the Baked Potato.

What do you think sets ROKA apart from other

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eateries in Dubai? ROKA has heart, warmth and energy, which is a unique feeling I believe, it hits you when you walk through the doors.

It is driven by the passion to deliver consistently high levels of food, service, drinks; every element. The ROKA culture is a “thing” that exists throughout all the locations and I am yet to see this replicated elsewhere.

Who would you say your chef inspiration is?

Honestly, it is difficult to say as there are so many great chefs, and I have had many mentors but if I had to choose I would name David Thompson, who I worked for at Nahm, and the ROKA Group Executive Chef Hamish Brown, he has a unique passion and incredible pallet.

What are the hurdles you’ve experienced during your career as a chef? I would say the lockdown was probably the most stressful time, the business is forced to close, and you have no idea what the next day will bring…

On the opposite end of the spectrum, what are the milestones? Moving to Dubai was a milestone for sure. It started a new chapter in my life personally and professionally and has opened many doors that I never thought of when I was back in London.

What future do you see for ROKA in this region? I see ROKA having a very bright future internationally and within the region but ultimately the expansion is not within my control so I would simply say, watch this space!

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The ideal location to spend the festive period whether you’re there for the day or indulging in a staycation.

From world-class culinary delights to exclusive experiences and an aweaspiring view.

Bull & Bear

Inspired by the legendary eatery based in New-York, diners can relish an extensive array of dishes that cater to all palettes while adding a twist to the classics in a relaxed setting. Gather for New Year’s Eve to indulge in a gastronomic selection of delights.

St. Trop

For that Parisian chic avant-garde flair, St. Trop is an urban paradise of mid-day escapes located in the heart of the city with a stylish rooftop lounge – with its pool, whirlpool, timber decking and bright colours.

THE CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER Date: 24th December 6.30-11.30pm Make this festive occasion a special one with delicious culinary treasures filled with immense flavour.

Dhs325 per person with a Mulled grape cocktail on arrival

CHRISTMAS DAY Date: 25th December 1-5pm Guests can relish an opulent feast and enjoy a Wolf of Wall Street themed festive brunch with all the traditional trimmings.

Dhs325 per person WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

NEW YEARS EVE

The Baller

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Date: 31st December 9pm-3am A magnificent display of lights and fireworks across an unrivalled skyline.

Dhs350 per person booking before December 25th 2020

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The Supper Club The edit of the superlative establishments across Dubai WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

Left:

Indochine

Enjoy a piece of New York City right here in Dubai at Indochine, which has been a hotspot in the city that never sleeps for over 36 years.

THE HERO DISH

Beef Pho Rolls Steamed rice noodle, beef, Thai basil, scallion confit, nuoc cham, crispy shallots and cashew

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Scalini

Scalini Dubai brings a taste of its diverse heritage from London and Italy to the UAE.

THE HERO DISH

Tagliolini with Grana Padano sauce and Truffle 99 Sushi

This fine dining spot just recently made its way to Dubai after being a huge success in Abu Dhabi. With unbeatable views of the Burj Khalifa, exquisite Japanese cuisine and a chic ambience, it makes for the ideal spot to celebrate this festive season.

THE HERO DISH

Lobster maki with sake Nammos

Bringing the glamour and party atmosphere from the shores of Mykonos right to Dubai, Nammos offers superb taste and sumptuous views.

THE HERO DISH Lobster meat pasta

Above from left: Cipriani

High gloss wood interior and polished stainless-steel take centre stage at buzzing DIFC hotspot Cipriani. Expect nothing but flawless Italian cuisine from this superlative gem.

Right:

Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, Bvlgari Hotel

THE HERO DISH

Combining the aesthetic of the original Bvlgari Hotel Milano with unbeatable views of the Arabian Gulf, Il Ristorante – Niko Romito at the Bvlgari Hotel Dubai is the perfect place for a seamless dining experience during party season.

Veal Piccatine al Limone

Steamed langoustines with mayonnaise, lettuce and chilli

Yellowtail Carpaccio with Black Truffle

Combing the art-deco elegance of 1930s Shanghai with a contemporary twist, this restaurant has raidly become a firm favourite with those who love to dine amongst opulent decor.

THE HERO DISH

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THE HERO DISH

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Shanghai ME

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Right from top:

The MAINE Land Brasserie

The third brainchild of the MAINE man Joey Ghazal, the MAINE Land Brasserie combines a period fidelity with a speakeasy feel to create a contemporary gem located in Business Bay.

THE HERO DISH Angry Lobster Pasta Avli by tashas

Avli by tashas captures the essence of Greek cuisine combined with a chic and sophisticated space reminiscent of the Mediterranean.

THE HERO DISH

Lamb Youvesti Lamb shank cooked in cinnamon, orzo, tomato, kefalotyri and sage

LPM Restaurant & Bar

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon

Having been a staple of the Dubai restaurant scene for a decade, LPM Restaurant & Bar offers a superlative experience every time.

THE HERO DISH

As one of the worlds most renowned restaurant chains, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon recently opened its doors in Dubai just in time for party season.

Coquelet with Confit Lemon Roast baby chicken marinated in lemon

THE HERO DISH

Crispy poached egg with caviar

CE LA VI

GAIA

There’s no doubt that skyhigh restaurant CE LA VI gives the absolute best views of Dubai, and the contemporary Asian cuisine certainly matches the stunning skyline.

The brainchild of Chef Izu, GAIA encompasses the Greek Goddess of Earth, the mother of the sun, the mountains and the sea and is the inspiration for each exquisite Mediterranean dish.

THE HERO DISH

Black Truffle ‘Sushi Rice’ Risotto

THE HERO DISH

Lamb cutlets, pita bread and tzatziki

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WO R D S: D I YA N A H A K M I

Fine Finish

Chloe Szukilojc approaches creating fine floral arrangements with a daring eye for the unusual What do your first 30 minutes of the day look like? When I am up, I like to head to the gym or clean my house while listening to a podcast. I find this so therapeutic. I love coming home to a fresh, clean house because my days can be so busy that I need to be in a clear space when I return home. I try to take some time for myself in the morning because this is the only time in my day where I am able to do so. I have become addicted to podcasts and it allows me the space to not focus on everything else, even for a short time.

Tell us about your role as Creative Director of Fine Blooms. I love my job so much. There are so many different aspects to my role and every day is different from the next. I spend a lot of time sourcing and ordering flowers as most of our products come from our suppliers in Holland. Making sure the flowers are here on time for events and orders is essential. The role is ever changing, we all help out and work together as a team and this is key for the success of any business.

How did you know you wanted to be a florist?

I have always wanted to do something creative. I always excelled in textiles, design

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and art at school. My passion for flowers came from a young age, and as I grew older, I become more confident in pursuing my dream. Being a florist then, isn’t the same as it is now, back then it would have been very uncommon to leave school and do what I do. Now I think floristry is more exclusive, it’s like an art practice.

What has been the biggest challenge since launching and how did you overcome this? I relocated to Dubai at the end of February of

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this year and three weeks later, we went into lockdown. Not only was I in a completely new country and in a new role, but also in the middle of a global pandemic. There have been some tough times, but honestly, the good far outweighs the bad. I feel very proud of how Fine Blooms has excelled this year.

Which flower is your favourite, and why? This is honestly the most challenging question, and it changes every season. By the end of the peony season, I’m ready to see some-

thing different, unusual and unique. When we create our wildest designs, that’s usually what gets the most attention.

How should you look after your floral arrangements? Lots of water! Fill your vase right to the top as flowers drink super quickly, especially when it’s hot, and if you receive a bouquet the stems can be different lengths.

So, to avoid any dying off quicker than the others, make sure to fill right to the top of the vase and change the water every two days.

What’s inspires when creating floral designs?

I take a lot of inspiration from my surroundings. The environment, natural products and landscapes inspire me. I love using the unusual. Over the past year we’ve used sand, fruit and even salt rocks in our designs.

I want to do things differently and show people how to incorporate what you have in your fruit bowl into your dinner party table arrangement set up.

What key elements should be present in flower arrangements for the festive season, and will you be creating festive wreaths? Everyone celebrates the festive season differently, so I think it’s important not to box yourself into the stereotypical designs or colour schemes.

We will be focusing heavily on dried flowers this festive season so our customers can keep arrangements in their homes for longer, even through into the New Year.

Which Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration? @rubymarylennox is a magician. An Australian florist now living in Berlin and taking the floristry world by storm. I gasp every time I see a new post.

Also, my sister @isabellaszukilojc, she is fabulous. She is the Dark Lab’s Marketing Director, which holds the most captivating, eye-opening festival every year, Dark Mofo in Hobart, Tasmania. It honestly blows my mind what they do there.

What advice would you give to your younger self starting? Trust your instinct. I spent a few years working in the fashion industry because I thought it was the closest thing I could do to floristry. Obviously, in the end, I wasn’t happy, as it wasn’t where my passion lay. Also, always go for what you want and don’t get too caught up in what’s the traditional route of a career. You can make anything happen if you work hard and believe in yourself. Don’t seek approval from others; it will always hold you back.

This is ‘The Party Issue’ – how will you be celebrating this year? Like many others this year, I won’t be able to make it home to my family and friends back in Australia, which is heartbreaking. Still, I’m trying to make the best out of this situation and take some time off and explore the UAE and spend my first holiday season in my new home with my partner and friends. I’m so looking forward to it. I think the whole world deserves a good break!

thing new but when they come back, I’m in love again. That’s what’s so great about my job; things are always changing all the time.

Currently, I cannot live without chocolate cosmos. They look like chocolate and smell exactly like chocolate.

Which floral trends are the most popular in the region? Floristry is like fashion, and any other face-paced industry. Trends are continually changing and evolving. I think people in the region are now looking for some-

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WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

The Rejuvenation

Rest, relax and revitalize ready for the New Year Remède Spa, Abu Dhabi

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Immerse yourself in luxury at the Remède Spa at the St. Regis Abu Dhabi. This sanctuary has an array of therapists on-hand to customise treatments for every individual to ensure each person receives the optimum benefits.

THE HERO TREATMENT

Elemis Biotec Firm-A-Lift Using a blend of massages and sculpting galvanic technology, this treatment enables

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Left page from top: SENSASIA Stories at the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Dubai; Remède Spa, Abu Dhabi

you to rediscover the architecture of your face. Within just 60 minutes, the face is visibly strengthened for a contoured and lifted complexion.

Anantara The Palm Spa, Dubai

The philosophy at the Dubai-based Thaiinspired resort spa is “unending”, meaning that the Anantara Spa aims their treatments to leave a lasting effect on their guests long after they leave.

THE HERO TREATMENT

Magnesium Full Body Massage Combining magnesium – which is one of the seven macrominerals and contributes to healthy bones, supporting nerve and muscles function, promoting energy level and aiding a healthy immune system – and a deep full body massage, your body will feel like it’s had a complete weight lifted off it after the treatment.

SENSASIA Stories at the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Dubai

Aiming to give its guests a sense of escapism, SENSASIA Stories delivers a hushed, monastic and completely customisable spa experience – driven by mood and devoted to holistic wellness for both body and mind.

THE HERO TREATMENT

and psychological pain to reframe core beliefs, values, habits and emotions that are deep in the subconscious.

This page from top: Anantara The Palm Spa, Dubai; The SPA at the Palazzo Versace Hotel, Dubai

The SPA at the Palazzo Versace Hotel, Dubai

Unwind in true style at The SPA at the Palazzo Versace Hotel. With marble floors and mother of pearl details, you don’t get much more lavish and decadent than this.

THE HERO TREATMENT

The Ultimate This treatment truly is ‘The Ultimate’ giving guests the opportunity to unwind for seven hours and indulge in five of The SPA’s most luxurious treatments. The day includes a

chauffeur fetching you from your Dubai home and then breakfast at the Giardino Restaurant, with the spa journey beginning with the Signature Hammam followed by the Ceremonial Massage. You’ll also have a two-course meal, followed by a rejuvenating facial, blow-dry, classic manicure and pedicure, along with a glass of champagne or mocktail. It’s the perfect ‘me’ day.

Inhibit Face and Neck Lift This new beauty protocol combines the revolutionary Inhibit range of professional products with the most advanced facial massage technique to effectively soften wrinkles. It’s the perfect prep for the party season or rejuvenating for the New Year.

The Hundred Wellness Centre, Dubai

A wellness centre may not be where your mind goes to when you think of pampering, but it’s the perfect place to recentre yourself and rejuvenate your inner being. The holistic wellness centre, founded by Asma Lootah, encourages people to transform their physical, mental and emotional health through holistic practices, natural medicine and positive nutrition.

THE HERO TREATMENT

Rapid Transformational Therapy Combining hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, NLP, CBT and neuroscience, this treatment aims to give a truly transformational experience to people by targeting physical, emotional

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Festive Finish

Decorations to add luxe and light to your celebrations WORDS & STYLING: AMY SESSIONS

From left: Goat decoration Dhs55 Ikea; Gold maple leaf wreath Dhs649 A by Amara; Myrrhe Candle Dhs246 Diptyque; Glitter ball ornament Dhs30 Bloomingdales; Sheepskin Dhs195 Ikea

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IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Clockwise from top right: Metal candlestick Dhs65 H&M Home; Feather Christmas garland Dhs145 Zara Home; Radiant Glitter Gold Star Ornament Dhs25 Crate & Barrel

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RSVP

True tablescape goals WORDS & STYLING: AMY SESSIONS

Clockwise from left: Glass candle lantern Dhs27 each H&M Home; Venato Imperial China 27 Plate Dhs140 each Wedgwood; X Giobagnara Agora medium round suede bowl Dhs1,960 Nick Vinson Exclusively available at MATCHESFASHION

From left: Ripple Champagne Saucer Set of 2 Dhs177 Ferm Living available at Amara; Haas Lynda Box and Plate Set of 4 Dhs2,235 L’Objet; Marquis Maxwell Decanter Dhs315 Waterford; Art Deco teacup and saucer Dhs55 each Spal available at bloomingdales.ae

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THE DIRECTORY

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C Cartier (04) 3951000 Carolina Herrera (04) 3398132 Catherine Malandrino (04) 3398102 Céline (04) 3410585 Chanel (04) 3818400 Chantecaille (04) 4098888 Charles & Keith (04) 3398713 Charlotte Olympia (04) 3994122 Charlotte Tilbury (04) 4190100 Chaumet (04) 3398758 Chloé (04) 3300700 Chopard (04) 3414545 Christian Dior (04) 3235322 Christian Louboutin (04) 3990998 Church’s (800) 5383573 City Walk 800 637227 Claudie Pierlot (04) 3253798 Coach (04) 3398670 Cos (04) 4190858 CVC Stones (800) 044 5703 D Damas (04) 4459468 De Beers (04) 3412121 Deira City Centre (04) 2093105 Diesel (04) 3398615 Dermalogica (04) 3398250 Diane von Furstenberg (04) 3232257 Dior (04) 3308739 Diane Cordas (800) 74676277 Dione Lee Online at Farfetch, Ounass DKNY (04) 3414343 Dolce & Gabbana (04) 3308566 Dune (055) 2136194 Dubai Mall (800) 382246255 Dr Sebagh Online at noon E Elie Saab (04) 3951600 Ellery (800) 74676277 Emilia Wickstead (04) 3106900 Emilio Pucci (04) 3398525 Emporio Armani (04) 3951373 Escada (04) 3279191 Estee Lauder (04) 2995600 Etoile ‘La boutique’ (04) 3414166 Etro (04) 3411014 Eugenia Kim (800) 74676277

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F Fendi (04) 3399782 Farfetch (800) 0320327 Forever 21 (04) 3277488 Fornasetti (800) 74676277 Francesco Russo (800) 5383573 French Connection (04) 2273848 Furla (04) 3410285 G Galeries Lafayette (04) 3399933 Galleria Mall (04) 3444434 Gap (04) 3850988 Gérard Darel (04) 3399780 Giambattista Valli +44 (0) 2039848044 Gianvitto Rossi (800) 5383573 Giorgio Armani (04) 3951373 Giuseppe Zanotti (04) 3413117 Givenchy (04) 4227073 Globe Trotter Online at matchesfashion Golden Goose (04) 3355218 Gucci (04) 3398576 H H&M (04) 4190346 Harry Winston (04) 3398972 Harvey Nichols – Dubai (04) 4098888 Hermès (04) 8181390 Hervé Léger 800 382246255 Holland & Barrett (04) 3882401 I&J Ibn Battuta Mall (04) 3621900 Inglot (04) 2228344 Jacquemus (04) 3951200 Jaeger (04) 2840840 Jaeger-LeCoultre (04) 3398769 JetSet (04) 3995005 Jimmy Choo (04) 3398925 Jo Malone (04) 4190287 Joseph (04) 8803433 Juicy Couture (04) 3475591 K Karen Millen (04) 3398608 Kate Spade (058) 1030866 Kenneth Cole (04) 3555872 Kenzo (04) 3308455

Khalil Al Sayegh (04) 2276555 Kiehl’s (04) 2886376 Kristina Fidelskaya (04) 3627500 Kurt Geiger (04) 3413883 L Lacoste (04) 3410575 Lanvin (04) 3555310 Le Labo (04) 4190953 Level Shoes (800) 5383573 Loewe (04) 3253754 Loquet Online at thelabelhunter Louis Vuitton (04) 3950431 Lucas Hugh+44 (0) 2039622362 M MAC Cosmetics (04) 4190856 Maje (04) 8815988 Maison Des Fleurs (04) 2765886 Maison Michel +44 (0) 2039622362 Mall of the Emirates (04) 4099000 Mango (04) 3414663 Manolo Blahnik (04) 3398122 Marc Jacobs (04) 3951281 Mark Cross +1 8885509675 Marks & Spencer (800) 62637 Maria Tash (04) 8817885 Marni (04) 3549417 Marysia (04) 3951200 Massimo Dutti (04) 3399070 Max Mara (04) 3882070 Messika (04) 4255575 Michael Kors (04) 3253491 Missoni (04) 3951400 Miss Selfridge (04) 3398016 Miu Miu (04) 3249276 All Things Mochi (04) 4433451 Moncler (04) 3300280 Moschino (04) 3398079 Montblanc (04) 3304810 Monica Vinader (04) 3951700 N Namshi.com (800) 626744 NARS (04) 4227531 Natura Bisse (04) 2993090 New Look (04) 4340740 Next (04) 4190522

Nike (04) 4342683 Nina Ricci (04) 3308789 Nine West (04) 3410244 O O Concept (04) 3455557 Off White (054) 4541546 Oscar de la Renta (04) 3399005 Ounass 800 686277 P Paris Gallery (04) 3308289 Pandora (04) 3235607 Pastels Salon (04) 3883534 Parfois (04) 4343167 Paul Smith (04) 3951742 Paule Ka (04) 3882384 PE Nation (04) 3951200 Piaget (04) 3398222 Pomellato (04) 3882036 Prada (04) 3049700 Proenza Schouler (04) 448344 R Ralph & Russo (04) 874 8593 Ralph Lauren (04) 3308347 Rami Al Ali (04) 3945607 Reiss (04) 3410515 Rene Caovilla (04) 3253677 Repossi (04) 2771392 River Island (04) 3399415 Rivoli (04) 3413121 Roger Vivier (04) 3475695 Roland Mouret (04) 5519356 Rolex (04) 3627500 S Saint Laurent (04) 3410113 Salvatore Ferragamo (04) 3411022 Sandro (04) 3951281 Samsonite (04) 3398690 See by Chloé (04) 3951880 Sephora (04) 3951978 Sergio Rossi (04) 3324829 111 Skin (04) 4068800 Smythson (800) 589 Sonia Rykiel (04) 3308464 S*uce (055) 3447270 Stella McCartney (04) 3399179 Sunglass Hut (04) 3995824 Swarovski (04) 3685573

T Tabitha Simmons Online at Farfetch Tata Harper (04) 5245555 Ted Baker (04) 3997377 Temperley (04) 3398169 Temperley London (04) 3339943 The Attico (04) 4483444 The Body Shop (04) 3410551 The Nail Pavillion (04) 4229791 The Nail Spa (600) 544001 The Dubai Mall (800) 382246255 The Outlet (04) 4264900 The Row (04) 3951200 Tiffany & Co. (04) 3398350 Tips & Toes (04) 3412020 Tod’s (04) 3413033 Tommy Hilfiger (04) 3410260 Toni&Guy (04) 3303345 Topshop (04) 3399802 Tom Ford (04) 3400347 Tory Burch (04) 3253670 V Vacheron Constantin (04) 2406323 Valentino (04) 3471890 Van Cleef & Arpels (04) 3398001 Valextra (04) 3308030 Veja (800) 74676277 Versace (04) 3398285 Versace Jewellery (04) 4341570 Victoria Beckham (04) 3951200 W Wafi Mall (04) 3244555 Whistles (04) 3410951 Wolford (04) 4232832 X, Y & Z Yves Salomon (04) 5245555 Zadig & Voltaire (04) 3399186 Zara (04) 3308567 Zayan The Label (04) 3440104 Zimmermann (800) 74676277

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WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

THE ICON

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