Emirates Woman

emirateswoman.com 

UAE DHS25 OMAN RO2.70 BAHRAIN BD2.60 

KUWAIT KD2.10 SAUDI ARABIA SR25 

DECEMBER 2020 

A MOTIVATE PUBLICATION 

THE PARTY 

ISSUE 

The ultimate guide to after hours fun

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

#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 

work and play. We partnered with BYFAR for a cover 

that celebrates fun and freedom with the coolest touch 

of nineties revival. Our cover star Haya Jarrar, Founder 

of Romani, is an incredible woman with both beauty 

and business acumen. 

We’ve gone all-out this issue in 

terms of the experts with exclusive 

interviews from designer Alexandre 

Vauthier in The Showstopper on 

page 36, Ex Chief Marketing & 

Membership Officer at Soho House, 

Jodie Harrison in the Guestlist on 

page 42, tablescape guru Fiona 

Leahy in The Party Planner on page 

50 and global go-to for sequins Retrofête in Welcome To 

The Party on page 72. The Hero Buys on page 46 delivers 

high shine dressing, we look at a modern take on the 

classic tuxedo in Le Smoking on page 48 and channel 

WHAT BETTER 

LESSON THAN TO 

LIVE IN THE MOMENT. 

SEE YOU ON THE 

DANCEFLOOR. 

desk to dinner cool with transformative accessories in 

Crystal Clear on page 54. In terms of beauty we look 

at balms to keep skin smooth in Winter Skin on page 

88, compile the perfect edit for exceptional fragrances 

that last all night long in After Hours on page 106, 

hero the party prep must haves in 

Polished on page 96 and interview 

Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury on how 

to up the ante for party season in 

The Magic Touch on page 102. We 

also hear from incredible women 

on what keeps them looking fresh 

during festive season in The Skin 

Saviours on page 118. If you’re still 

undecided on where to celebrate, 

The Supper Club on page 126 will be your guide. 

As we close 2020, we stay grateful for the lessons 

this year has taught us and what better lesson than to 

live in the moment. See you on the dancefloor. 

Amy Sessions 

EDITOR / ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER 

THE HERO BUYS 

Kate medium croc-effect 

suede shoulder bag Dhs7,677 

Saint Laurent available at 

NET-A-PORTER 

Alexandre Vauthier 

Jumpsuit Dhs11,811 


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 

8 emirateswoman.com

CONTENTS 

DECEMBER 2020 

16 

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 

10 emirateswoman.com

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH 

at la Cantine du Faubourg 

December 25th from 12pm onwards 

Take your pick from our all-inclusive selection of 

Pastries, Eggs, Signatures, Viennoiseries and Sweets: 

Including Mocktails, Fresh juices, Soft Drinks, Hot Beverages - 345 AED 

Add-on House Red, White & Rose Wines, Sangrias, Pimm’s & Beers, Caipirinha - 450 AED 

Add-on Mimosa, Bubbly Sangrias, Champagne, Hendrick’s Gin - 695 AED 

Packages available for 3 hours

CONTENTS 

DECEMBER 2020 

The Edit – High 

Voltage p.34 

The Showstopper – 

Exclusive interview with 

Alexandre Vauthier p.36 

32 84 

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 

Crystal Clear – 

Instant desk to dinner 

dressing p.54 

Hermès p.60 

Max Mara p.66 

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 

Polished – The 

ultimate edit of beauty 

buys you need for 

pre-party prep p.96 

All That Glitters – 

Interview with the 

co-founders of 

Glitterbox p.100 

The Magic Touch – 

Interview with 

Sofia Schwarzkopf- 

Tilbury p.102 

AM/PM Beauty – Fajer 

Fahad p.104 

After Hours – 

Exceptional 

fragrances to last all 

night long p.106 

The Cover 

Baby Amber Matcha 

Bag Dhs2,046 BY FAR, 

The Sammy Dress 

Dhs2,571 Romani 


Welcome to the 

Party – Interview with 

Retrofête p.72 

Dinh Van p.56 

108 118 

Interview 

with Ex Nihilo p.90 

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 

The Skin Saviours 

– Skin secrets for 

looking flawless p.116 

LIFESTYLE 

The Sensation – 

Interview with founder 

and owner of Zuma, 

Rainer Becker p.118 

The New Hotspot – 

Interview with Roka’s 

executive head chef 

Libor Dobis p.120 

The Baller – Waldorf 

Astoria DIFC p.122 

The Supper 

Club – The edit 

of the superlative 

establishments across 

Dubai p.124 

Fine Finish – Interview 

with the creative 

director of Fine Blooms 

Chloe Szukilojc p.130 

The Rejuvenation 

– Rest, relax and 

revitalise ready for the 

New Year p.132 

Festive Finish – 

Decorations to add 

luxe and light to your 

celebrations p.134 

RSVP – True 

tablescape goals p.135 


13

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K

The Countdown 

With luxury colognes, miniature candles and bath & body 

treats behind each of the 24 doors, this is the perfect way to 

surprise someone special 

THE HERO 

BUYS 

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 

THREE TO OWN 

1 2 

3 

Coco silk-satin pyjama 

set Dhs1,995 Olivia 

Von Halle available at 

NET-A-PORTER 

Fria logo-print wool 

and faux shearling ankle boots 

Dhs3,392 Gucci 

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 

16 emirateswoman.com 

THE MONITOR – NEWS

Social Listings 

A curated list of who to #follow this month 

@maisonvalentino 

From strict tailoring to flowing 

dresses and separates, 

Valentino continues to dazzle 

for FW20. 

@renecaovilla 

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. 

@retrofete 

Founded by Ohad Seroya and 

Aviad Klin, Retrofete is known 

for its party season appropriate 

sequin dresses. 

@jomalonelondon 

Unexpected combinations 

of ingredients made British 

lifestyle brand Jo Malone 

famous for its elegant yet playful 

fragrances. 

@laurabaileylondon 

Modal, writer, Cultural 

Ambassador for the British 

Fashion Council and Brand 

Ambassador for Chanel, Bailey 

has a honed eye for style. 

@hayajarrar 

Founder and Creative 

Director of Romani, Haya Jarrar 

bring a rebellious edge to her 

ready-to-wear label. 

@alighieri_jewellery 

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. 

@gildaambrosio 

Gilda Ambrosio co-founded 

‘The Attico’ alongside long-time 

friend Giorgia Tordini, adding an 

edge to classic glamour. 

COMPILED BY: DIYANA HAKMI 

@byfar 

Taking reference from the 90s 

this brand is sustainable as well 

as fun. 

@fionaleahydesign 

Bringing dream dinners to life, 

Fiona Leahy creates incredible 

tablesscapes for royalty and 

rock royalty alike. 

@theartsclubdubai 

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. 

@camillecharriere 

Journalist and Broadcaster, 

Camille Charrier delivers her 

own sense of half British/half- 

Parisian style. 

THE MONITOR 


17

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 

18 emirateswoman.com COVER STORY

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 

COVER STORY 


21

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

Puff-shoulder satin mini dress Dhs6,033 Halpern available at 

MATCHESFASHION, Mini Rachel Matcha Croco Dhs1,244 BY FAR

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 

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 


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. 

“The pandemic showed us that with hard work, you can still 


What do you look for in terms of hiring your own team? Being a 

fast-growing successful start-up, which values their employees’ 

voice and contribution, we are looking for super ambiguous, 

amazingly talented people. BY FAR is like our child, and 

every new team member becomes part of our family. So, most 

of all, we’re looking for passion, dedication and loyalty. 

How has this year impacted the industry both positively and negatively? 

Fashion needed to change, and this was the wake-up call 

the industry needed. We are optimistic about the future of fashion 

and that it will continue to change for the better. The pandemic 

showed us that with hard work, you can still achieve great 

results no matter where you are based. We are eternally grateful 

that we managed to create a virtual showroom not once but 

twice already and stay in touch with our clients. It was definitely 

an amazing experience, thanks to which we learned a lot and 

grew as a brand. We strongly believe that digital is a huge part 

of the future of fashion, and it is something that we will surely 

continue to develop and implement into the BY FAR experience. 

How do you approach scaling the business and what works in 

terms of client retention? We wanted to create vintage-inspired 

designs which compliment any wardrobe, whilst combining 

comfort with an addictive contemporary edge. BY FAR has become 

the ‘It’ shoulder bag brand. Our nostalgic baguette bags 

and minimalist, barely-there sandals are the core of any effortlessly 

chic outfit. We felt like the industry needed accessories that 

are desirable, yet not overpowering, without sacrificing quality. 

BY FAR is about emotion, not age or nationality! Our shoes and 

bags are classic, yet with a modern twist. Your BY FAR piece 

will demand the spotlight whilst being infinitely wearable. 

The 90s is a strong influence aesthetically – was this part of the 

brand DNA from the outset? Our aesthetic combines playful 

designs and nostalgic silhouettes, and we always knew that 

we want to do effortless and colourful styles that just feel 

fresh. We are very much inspired by the fashion of the 90s and 

early 2000s. We’re constantly binge-watching iconic TV series 

from this period, which is how the Rachel bag was born 

(inspired by FRIENDS). There was something very authentic, 

empowering and emotional about fashion and we truly want 

to bring these feelings back. 

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 

love fashion and design – and be inspired by their 

style. At the same time, our profile is a collection of 

all the things we love, and it is a way to give a glimpse 

into the BY FAR world. 

Do you have any pre-bedtime rituals? We often work 

until late after the kids go to sleep, so we definitely 

do our best to balance family life and career. It is an 

exciting ride and keeps us inspired at all times. The 

biggest challenge in our routine is to tune out of work 

mode because we enjoy nurturing BY FAR so much. 

If you were not on your current career path, which 

other role would you have chosen career-wise? All 3 

of us are very passionate about visuals and fashion, 

therefore it was only natural to move to fashion and 

if By FAR didn’t exist, we would probably be doing 

something similar. 

This is ‘The Party issue’, where/how will you be celebrating 

this season? Given the complicated situation 

in the world right now and the difficulties of travelling, 

we are planning to spend the holidays at home 

with our families. Is there a better way of celebrating 

than to be surrounded by the ones you love the most? 

What should you gift the host when attending a dinner? 

A beautiful bouquet is always a good idea. 

What’s your secret to surviving party season and still 

looking flawless? Always drink a lot of water, don’t 

go to bed too late, and never trade comfort for style 

when it comes to shoes. 

What is your go-to party outfit?You can never go wrong 

with a slip dress and our Alla mules – a highlight of 

the season and the return to power dressing in a majorly 

glam kind of way. Of course, you should top the 

look with our ultimate obsession – the Mini Rachel 

bag. It’s perfect for your cocktail attire, and it fits all 

that you need: phone, credit card and a lipstick. 

What is on your wishlist this festive season? Right 

now, all we wish for is health – for our families, our 

friends, for everyone. 

achieve great results no matter where you are based.” 

COVER STORY 


29

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

WORK & PLAY 


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 

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 

I’m doing the right thing). With time, you learn that every 

successful person in any industry has to struggle a bit before 

finding their way. 

Do you have any mentors or guides and how does this help 

navigate the right path throughout life and your career? My 

inspiration and motivation in life is the person I aspire to be 

in the future. I try to work really hard 

on myself every day and try so hard 

to improve myself because everything 

you want in life and strive to achieve 

is already within you; you just need to 

carve your way in. 

What do you look for in terms of hiring 

your own team? It’s important for me 

to be surrounded by a team that understands 

my vision. That’s the most 

important thing. I also value a team 

that is hard working and that has 

something to bring to the table. 

How has this year impacted the industry 

both positively and negatively? 

Negatively, as a brand we’ve struggled 

in terms of production and missing 

fashion weeks and not being able to 

showcase our collections and connect 

with our customers and having to put things aside for 

a while and delaying production. Positively, it gave us the 

time and space to sit back, relax and breathe. It made us 

realize that we were constantly rushing before. Now, we are 

not rushing anymore. 

How do you approach scaling the business and what works 

in terms of client retention? I want to scale my business by 

going into more retails stores and I want to also expand to 

other areas (other than fashion) through Romani. We will 

be making this reveal very soon! 

There’s a rebelliousness and unconventionality to the pieces 

you create – was this part of the brand DNA from the outset? 

Yes. Usually, from what I see, a lot of designers base their designs 

on what buyers are looking for or what is the norm in the 

region. For me, I wanted to create designs that represent my 

identity and me from the beginning. 

Which pieces are your bestsellers and do you notice differing 

trends globally in terms of sales? The Sylphina jacket. It’s very 

dear to my heart since it’s the first piece I ever created for Romani. 

And luckily, it is our most 

popular piece. 

How has social media affected the 

“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.” 

WORDS: AMY SESSIONS 

luxury industry and which platform 

has been most useful? It enabled 

us to become closer to our customers 

and helped us understand them 

more. Instagram has been the most 

useful by far. 

Do you have any pre-bedtime rituals? 

Recently, I got into meditation. 

And it works so much better for me 

at night than in the morning. Also, 

I really enjoy a nice walk to clear my 

mind right before bedtime. 

If you were not on your current career 

path, which other role would 

you have chosen career-wise? I 

believe I was born to create. If not 

fashion design, then definitely interior and furniture design. 

This is ‘The Party Issue’, where/how will you be celebrating this 

season? I think I will be somewhere cold, cozy and Christmassy 

with my husband and family. 

What should you gift the host when attending a dinner?A candle 

is always a good idea. 

What’s your secret to surviving party season and still looking flawless? 

Lots of water, exercise, vitamins and a healthy routine. 

What is your go-to party outfit? Either a Romani dress or Romani 

suit. You can never go wrong with a Romani suit. 

What is on your Wishlist this festive season? Bottega Veneta 

boots, an Alexander McQueen knit… 

COVER STORY 


31

F A S H I O N 

F I L E 

DOLCE&GABBANA

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: BALMAIN 

HIGH VOLTAGE 

Limited edition satin blazer 

Dhs549 Zara 

Rita metallic snake-effect 

leather clutch Dhs1,570 

Ximena Kaalekas available 


Limited edition satin 

trousers 

Dhs369 Zara 

Henson chainembellished 

leather 

sandals Dhs3,055 

Amina Muaddi 

34 emirateswoman.com FASHION

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 

Slouchy ankle 

boots Dhs2,127 

The Attico 

FASHION 


35


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 

FASHION 


37


FASHION 


39

“Hurdles bring strength and always allow you to get out of the 

most perilous situations.” 

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. 

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. 



FASHION 


41


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 


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

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 

IMAGES: JONATHAN DANIEL PRYCE; DAN LI 


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 

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. 

FASHION 


45

46 emirateswoman.com FASHION 

BALMAIN

CELINE 

Triangle cutout crystal 

earrings Dhs1,745 

Alessandra Rich available 

at FARFETCH 

Satin-lapel sequinned 

mini dress Dhs7,955 


available at 



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 

Laura sequinned boots 

Dhs1,978 Alexandre Vauthier 

available at FARFETCH 

FASHION 


47


VERSACE 

Le Smoking 

After hours dressing calls for a touch of tuxedo 

01 

02 

03 

05 

06 

07 

08 

09 

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 

RIGHT PAGE: CELINE 

VERSACE 

04 



The 

Perfect 

Host 

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 

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 



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.” 

FASHION 


51


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 

FASHION 


53


CRYSTAL CLEAR 

Instant desk to dinner dressing 

ZARA; LEFT PAGE: BALMAIN 

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 


Silver-plated, faux pearl 

and crystal clip earrings 

Dhs1, 322 

Alessandra Rich 

FASHION 


55

LE CUBE 

Discreet lines and subtle volume epitomises 

Dinh Van’s simplicity and elegance 


WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

ALL AVAILABLE AT DINH VAN 

FASHION 


59

SPLENDOUR 

Hermès’s Enchaînements Libres fine 

jewellery collection showcases the beauty 

of each precious stone and the virtuosity 

of the stone-setter’s hand 


PHOTOGRAPHY: KARIM SADLI 


FASHION 


63

ALL AVAILABLE AT HERMÈS 



GILDED 

GLORY 

Max Mara’s Resort 2021 collection 

is dedicated to the opulence and magic 

of St Petersburg 


68 emirateswoman.com FASHION 

ALL AVAILABLE AT MAX MARA

WORDS: DIYANA HAKMI 

The Craftsman 

René Caovilla’s Creative Director, Edoardo Caovilla, 

shares his secrets to keeping the brand ever-evolving 

whilst staying true to its DNA 

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 



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.” 

FASHION 


71

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH 

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 

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 


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 

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 

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. 

“We want women to feel that wow factor, and now, even with our 

non-sequin items, women can experience the same feeling.” 




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 

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. 


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. 


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. 


FASHION 


77


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 

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 



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, 

… 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. 

FASHION 


79

CAMILLE CHARRIERE WEARING CHANEL 

LUXE 

FEET 

From cashmere to 

glitter socks and logo 

emblazoned tights, 

we’ve curated the best 

edit for FW20 

DOLCE&GABBANA 


Doris polka-dot 40-denier 

tights Dhs80 Swedish 

Stockings available at 


GG snake-print tights 

Dhs940 Gucci 

DOLCE&GABBANA 

COMPILED BY: DIYANA HAKMI 

Metallic logo-jacquard tights 

Dhs2,720 Gucci 

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 

Logo-embroidered 

zig-zag socks 

Dhs160 Missoni 

FASHION 


81


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. Showcased 

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 luxurious 

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. 


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

FASHION 


83

B E A U T Y 

F I L E 

BALMAIN

Hot New Buys 

An edit of the best party season make-up 

& skin saviours 

Depuff & Define 

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 

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 

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 


BEAUTY

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 

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 

Collagen Boost 

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 

BEAUTY 


87

88 emirateswoman.com BEAUTY

03 

04 

05 

01 02 

06 

Winter Skin 

Balms for superlatively 

smooth skin 


07 

11 

L I P S 

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 

14 

08 09 10 

IMAGES: GETTY AND SUPPLIED 

H A N D S 

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 NET- 

A-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 

12 13 

15 

BEAUTY 


89


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 

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 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! 

BEAUTY 


91

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 

“Letting go in 

the pleasures and 

desires of life. 

That’s also what 

being inspired 

means to me.” 

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… 

The Power of Scent 


The new J’adore Infinissime encourages women to embrace 

their boundless strength. Making the fragrance more powerful 

than ever, Dior’s perfumer François Demachy explains how 

this fragrance will make you feel like an icon 


The Beauty Shelf 

Cover star Haya Jarrar takes us through her hero products 

COMPILED BY: OLIVIA MORRIS 

The Face Oil Dhs840 

Augustinus Bader 

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. 

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. 

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 

The most flawlessly natural coverage 

with a velvet finish. 

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. 

L’Intemporel Blossom 

Beautifying Cream-in-Mist 

Dhs252 Givenchy 

The most refreshing mist ever. 

I use it when I’m on the go like 

when I’m running errands, on 

flights and more. 

Hair Oil 

I use a combination of different 

oils and I mix them myself. 



BEAUTY

PARTNERSHIP 

A Hilfiger Holiday 

TOMMY HILFIGER’S HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES 

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. 


95

Polished 

The ultimate edit of beauty buys you 

need for pre party prep 


S K I N C A R E 

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 


H A I R 

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-A- 

PORTER; 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 

M A K E U P 

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 



All That 

IMAGE: GETTY 

Glitters 

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 


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. 


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 

reached out to friends in our creative circle 

for help with our products and making them 

come to life on the website, most importantly 

remaining a team and supporting one 

another during a difficult time. 

What inspired you to create the biodegradable 

glitter range? With the world shifting to 

find ways to live more sustainably, we were 

also conscious about the impact we may 

be having on local ecosystems. We offer the 

biodegradable glitter at all our glitter stations 

so guests have the option to choose. 

We are also the first company here in the 

UAE to source a completely plastic free glitter, 

which “shimmers” rather than sparkles 

due to the absence of aluminum and plastic 

in the glitter. The glitter is proudly made 

from plants not plastic. 

How has social media helped scale the business 

and which platform do you prefer to 

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 COV- 

ID-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 

flew us to Jordan to complete her incredible 

costume with our glitter and then all the 

guests. We made everyone shine in a valley 

between two mountains in Wadi Rum. It was 

like something from a film! There are so many 

incredible parties we have had the pleasure of 

joining however at this time of the year working 

with Swarovski is one of our favourites 

where we literally ‘frost’ the guest with glitter 

and crystals to match the jewellery! 

This issue is ‘The Party Issue’ – how will you 

be celebrating this year? As you can imagine 

Christmas is our favourite time of the 

year, all the sequins come out and most 

nights are an excuse to get dressed up. Even 

if we aren’t glittering faces as much we will 

be shining on our sofas! You can usually 

find us at The Maine – one of our favourites 

with our family in the run up to the big day. 

BEAUTY 


101


The Magic 

Touch 

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 

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 

have a beautiful painting without a beautiful 

canvas,’ and she’s right! After cleansing 

with my two-step Goddess Cleansing 

Ritual every morning and evening, I like to 

use Charlotte’s supercharged Magic Serum 

Crystal Elixir to massage the skin and create 

a beautiful, smooth, hydrated filter effect. 

It helps makeup glide on better too! People 

are so much more focused on powerful skincare 

ingredients these days, and this is formulated 

with Polyglutamic Acid – which is 

four times more hydrating than Hyaluronic 

Acid, Golden Vitamin C to brighten and even 

the look of the skin, as well as niacinamide 

to tighten pores and help balance oilier skin 

types. I’ve seen a huge difference in my skin 

since I started using it. Then I follow with 

Charlotte’s Magic Cream moisturiser, which 

I never do my makeup without – it’s one of 

Charlotte’s biggest bestsellers! People adore 

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 Flawless 

Finish powder over my T-Zone to set the 

base and ensure nothing moves throughout 

the day. I couldn’t live without this powder, it 

is so finely milled; it blurs any imperfections 

and never looks heavy or talc-y like some 

powders. It’s the one product I always slip 

into my celebrity clients’ clutch bags before 

an event. I have one on me at all times when 

I’m going out in the evening. I am also obsessed 

with the new Airbrush Setting Spray, 

which sold out almost immediately when we 

first launched it. It primes, sets and fixes 

your makeup for up to 16 hours and it smells 

incredible – just like a day at the spa. This is 

going to be a gamechanger for all your beauties 

in the Middle East. 

What are your skin care tips to stay glowing 

during party season? Charlotte has taught 

me all of her secrets to make the skin glow 

“The sparkling, diamond-inspired shades instantly make 



efore 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 

such a hard question! I’m obsessed with all 

of Charlotte’s beauty secrets this year. She is 

always inspired by the most incredible lightplay 

magic and this year, it was all about 

JEWELS and GEMSTONES. I will definitely 

be gifting the Walk of No Shame Lip 

Kit, as it’s one of my absolute favourite lipstick 

shades, and such an adorable stocking 

filler. It’s a globally-loved, berry-rose that 

makes your lips look fuller, wider and justkissed, 

making it the perfect gift for everyone 

from best friends to your grandmother. 

I am also obsessed with the Bejewelled 

Eyes to Hypnotise Instant Eye Palette, 

which has four glowing eye looks inspired by 

topaz, rubies, amethyst and smokey quartz. 

We’re all wearing masks right now, so the 

eyes are more of a focus than ever this year! 

So many of my girlfriends are begging me for 

this! The new light-play textures are so velvet-soft 

and creamy. It’s such an easy way 

to create a sparkling smokey eye in seconds. 

Finally, I have to choose some skincare 

as everyone, everywhere loves hydrated, 

glowing, flawless skin – men and women. 

Charlotte’s Magic Skin Icons set is the most 

divine collection of supercharged, sciencepowered 

skincare for instant results. You’ve 

got Charlotte’s best-selling Magic Cream to 

cushion your skin in moisture, her groundbreaking 

Magic Serum to tighten your pores 

and smooth the look of skin, the eye-brightening 

Magic Eye Rescue and Magic Night 

Cream – which is literally like beauty sleep in 

a jar. I also love that it includes Charlotte’s 

Magic Lip Oil, as my lips get so dry at this 

time of year, and it’s easy to forget they need 

skincare too. Magic Lip Oil is like a serum for 

your lips that boosts lip volume by up to 70% 

in 4 weeks, so I am absolutely addicted. These 

are the products I never do makeup without, 

and I know my father, uncles, grandmother – 

everyone, will love them for the holidays. 

This is the party issue – how will you be celebrating 

this year? We all need a bit of joy and 

positivity in our lives and this year, I can’t 

wait to embrace new traditions with fun dinners 

at home with my family, virtual parties 

with friends who are far away, and lots of gifts 

and treats to spread happiness! I think that 

makeup and skincare truly have the power to 

change your mood and your confidence, so 

they make the perfect presents. And to make 

your holiday shopping even easier this year, 

Charlotte has created her new virtual consultations, 

so you can head to CharlotteTilbury. 

com and book a 1-2-1 with a beauty expert to 

get all of your gifting wrapped up! 

your eyes look brighter and more mesmerizing.” 

BEAUTY 

emirateswoman.com 103


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 

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 


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 

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. 

BEAUTY 


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 

Celine Black Tie Eau 

de Parfum 

An oriental woody fragrance for 

both women and men, perfect 

for any black tie event. 

200ml, Dhs1,200 celine.com 

Jo Malone 

Pomegranate Noir 

Cologne 

This classic scent encapsulates 

daring sensuality right in one 

bottle. 100ml, Dhs650 jomaloneme.com 

Ex Nihilo Atlas Fever 

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 

Carolina Herrera 

Gold Incense Eau de 

Parfum 

A warm and intense fragrance 

with notes of cedarwood, vanilla 

caviar and marigold, perfect for 

party season. 

Dhs1,090 ounass.ae 

Tom Ford Noir Extreme 

Eau de Parfum 

This woody-oriental fragrance 

is the ideal scent for those partying 

all night long. 

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 

An intense fragrance with deep 

woody undertones of Vetiver 

and Patchouli. 

50ml, Dhs471 givenchybeauty.ae 

Gucci Bloom 

Ambrosia di Fiori Eau 

de Parfum 

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 

BEAUTY 


108 emirateswoman.com FEATURE

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 


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. 

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- 

The 

Signature 

FEATURE 


“Iris & Ink and The OUTNET have supported me 

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 

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. 


inspiration? Hard to choose – but here are 5 

I love in diverse worlds: @thegreatwomenartists, 

@mubi, @britishvogue, @duroolu- 



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 – 

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 

FEATURE 


111



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 

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. 


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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113

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 

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? 

I will be celebrating this festive season with my 

husband and we’re likely to have a quiet one at 

home. After all, it’s all about who you spend it 

with rather than where you go. I love cooking 

and baking so I’m pretty excited to take some 

time off and focus on feeding people! 

What will you be doing to unwind at the end of 

the year? I still haven’t thought that far ahead 

but I usually decide with my husband a week 

before! I’m taking each day as it comes and I 

think this year I feel more inclined to do something 

relaxing. Anything that will still leave me 

feeling refreshed in the new year. 

ZEYNAB ELHELW 

BLOGGER AND INFLUENCER 

@fashion_pirate 

What have you learned throughout 2020? I’ve learnt that life is extremely precious, 

unpredictable and family along with health is everything. My priorities changed a lot 

this year therefore doing and saying what I feel without hesitation is paramount. 

How will you be celebrating this festive season? We will be celebrating with the delivery 

of my nephew which we are so excited about. Moreover, I’ll hopefully be having 

the company of my parents flying from London and joining us in Dubai to celebrate 

the festive season on the beach by relaxing and enjoying special moments together. 

What will you be doing to unwind at the end of the year? I’ll be spending exceptional 

quality time with the family and taking each day as it comes with no long-term plans. 

It is valuable for me to live in the now and unwind to start the New Year afresh. 

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 

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. 


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. 


I will be celebrating with my dearest family. 


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. 


FEATURE

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 

MODEL 

@lana_.jpg 

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. 


of the year? Try my best to be in nature and 

be in the winter sun – nothing relaxes me 

like the sun. 

FATMA 

AL OTAIBA 

FOUNDER OF ODEEM 

@odeem_official 


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. 

GHIZLAN 

GUENEZ 

ENTREPRENEUR AND 

BUSINESSPERSON 

@ ghizlan_guenez_ 


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 going 

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. 


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 


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. 

HANEEN ODEH 

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 

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115

The Miracle Worker 


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. 

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 

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 



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. 

What benefits does it have? The Gua Sha has 

so many benefits and it is no wonder that it 

has been so popular in Chinese medicine for 

thousands of years. It stimulates collagen production, 

brings fresh nutrients and oxygen to 

the tissue, it has an incredible firming effect 

and helps promote lymphatic flow. A stagnant 

lymphatic system can manifest in an abundance 

of blackheads –even acne – or just what 

people would describe as an overall dull complexion. 

We live in a world with a lot of stress 

and this can manifest on the face. By working 

on the face and releasing the tight muscles we 

are able to create the perfect environment for 

flow. When flow is not obstructed you will get 

an amazing glow. Puffiness will decrease and 

fine lines and wrinkles become less noticeable 

– or might even vanish. That’s why Gua-Sha 

is also known as “Holistic Botox”. 

You also specialise in the ‘Fire and Ice Facial’. 

Can you talk us through this? The facial starts 

with performing a double or triple cleanse 

of the skin with the Cleansing Complex to 

remove any trace of make-up. The next step 

involves applying the Intensive Resurfacing 

Masque. This is the ‘fire’ part of the facial 

which will create a slight tingle and warming 

sensation on the skin while it’s working its 

magic. After removing the mask, the skin is 

brought back to its normal pH level with the 

Cleansing Complex, before proceeding to the 

‘ice’ part of the facial where 

the skin will receive a cold 

infusing form of the Rejuvenating 

Masque. I will be 

massaging your skin with 

ice-globes while the mask is 

on. The facial is completed 

with different iS Clinical 

serums, eye cream, moisturiser 

and SPF. After the 

innovative Fire & Ice Facial, 

you will be ready to take on 

the world with a tremendous 

glow and a smooth, 

refined and ultra radiant 

complexion. 

Why is the Fire and Ice Facial 

so beneficial? The Fire 

& Ice Facial bridges the gap 

between a gentle facial and 

invasive peel, it is formulated 

with the purest pharmaceutical 

grade ingredients. 

It is specifically designed to 

THE 

HER SKIN 

STUDIO 

HERO 

PRODUCTS 

iS Clinical Super Serum 

Advance 15ml Dhs573 

iS Clinical Pro-heal Serum 

Advance 15ml Dhs573 

iS Clinical Active Serum 

15 ml Dhs558 

Rejuvi K cleanser 

200 ml Dhs115 

Rejuv S Tinted Sun 

Protection 65 g Dhs126 

Rejuvi A Night gel A 

45 ml Dhs252 

rapidly, but safely, resurface your skin and 

will help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, 

smoothen and soften your skin while encouraging 

cellular renewal. The treatment 

will result in a dramatically refined complexion 

and has zero downtime. There are no 

side-effects associated with the treatment, 

this is exactly why the red carpet-worthy facial 

is loved by Hollywood’s A-listers. 

For many of us fine lines creep in without us 

noticing. Your skin is incredible – what’s the 

best cure for this and what should we not be 

doing? I believe that the lines you are referring 

to in most cases are actually linked to 

surface dehydration. Surface dehydration is 

such a common condition. Once your skin 

is hydrated, you will notice all the fine lines 

vanish. Surface dehydration is a lack of water 

in the skin and it cannot be fixed by increasing 

your water intake. It has to be targeted 

topically. So usually this surface dehydration 

is from using too harsh or aggressive foaming 

cleansers stripping the skin by removing its 

natural oils. You can easily be dehydrated on 

the surface but oily underneath, so you really 

want to target the problem in the right way. 

So, to boil it down – stop using harsh foaming 

cleansers on your face. 


inspiration? I love Danna Omari @noyskincare 

– she is such a beautiful person and 

so inspiring to follow as 

an esthetician to help you 

grow professionally. I also 

discovered face reflexology 

though her and I cannot 

tell you how excited I am 

about offering this service 

in 2021. It fits perfectly with 

the Gua Sha. My teacher – 

Jackie Van Ruler @mindbodybeautyinsitute 

is also 

so incredibly talented and 

sweet. Finally, @educateyourskin 

@askneridajoy 

– such a powerhouse, gorgeous 

soul and the ultimate 

wealth of knowledge 

in skincare. We need more 

like her in my industry! 

Ultimately, I look for inspiration 

everywhere, but I always 

try to make it my own. 

Visit HER Skin Studio at 

Salon INK in Dubai. 

FEATURE 


117

The 

Skin Saviours 

Skin secrets for looking flawless 

this party season 


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 


FEATURE

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. 

HANEEN 

ODEH 

OWNER OF SNOB SALON 

@haneenodeh 

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. 


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. 


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. 

AYA 

FAISAL 

FASHION INFLUENCER 

@theayoot 


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. 


flawless during party season? The Estée Laud- 

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. 


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 


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. 


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. 


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. 

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 

FEATURE 


119


The 

Sensation 

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. 

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 

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 


120 emirateswoman.com LIFE

“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.” 

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 desperate 

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. 

LIFE 


121


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- 

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 leadership 

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. 

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. 



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 

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! 

LIFE 


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 


The Baller 

You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in the latest 

hangout in New York. Waldorf Astoria DIFC successfully 

delivers beautiful design and excellence in service 

NEW YEARS EVE 

Date: 31st December 9pm-3am 

A magnificent display of lights and 

fireworks across an unrivalled skyline. 

Dhs350 per person booking before December 

25th 2020 



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 


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 

Right: 

Il Ristorante – Niko 

Romito, Bvlgari 

Hotel 

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. 

THE HERO DISH 

Steamed langoustines with 

mayonnaise, lettuce and chilli 

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. 

THE HERO DISH 

Veal Piccatine al Limone 

Shanghai ME 

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 

Yellowtail Carpaccio with 

Black Truffle 



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 

Having been a staple of the 

Dubai restaurant scene for a 

decade, LPM Restaurant & 

Bar offers a superlative experience 

every time. 

THE HERO DISH 

Coquelet with Confit Lemon 

Roast baby chicken marinated 

in lemon 

CE LA VI 

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 HERO DISH 

Black Truffle ‘Sushi Rice’ 

Risotto 

L’Atelier de Joel 

Robuchon 

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. 

THE HERO DISH 

Crispy poached egg with 

caviar 

GAIA 

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 

Lamb cutlets, pita bread and 

tzatziki 

LIFE 



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 

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 

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 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 something 

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. 


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. 


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 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! 

LIFE 


131


The Rejuvenation 

Rest, relax and 

revitalize ready for 

the New Year 

Remède Spa, Abu Dhabi 

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 



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. 


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. 


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. 


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 

and psychological pain to reframe core beliefs, 

values, habits and emotions that are deep in 

the subconscious. 

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 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 

This page from top: Anantara 

The Palm Spa, Dubai; The SPA at the 

Palazzo Versace Hotel, Dubai 

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. 

LIFE 


Festive Finish 

Decorations to add luxe and light to your celebrations 


Clockwise from top right: Metal candlestick Dhs65 H&M Home; Feather Christmas garland 

Dhs145 Zara Home; Radiant Glitter Gold Star Ornament Dhs25 Crate & Barrel 

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 



LIFE

RSVP 

True tablescape goals 


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 

LIFE 


THE DIRECTORY 

All Fendi FW20 

A 

Accessorize (04) 3399098 

Adidas (04) 2325690 

Aerin (04) 4098888 

Aesop (04) 3293030 

Agnès b. (04) 3520391 

Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons 

(04) 3398881 

Aigner (04) 4341333 

Alberta Ferretti (04) 3398957 

Aldo (04) 2328162 

Alex Perry +44(0) 2039622362 

Alexander McQueen 

(04) 3398760 

Alexander Wang 

+44(0) 2039622362 

Alexandra Rich (04) 4098888 


(04) 409 8888 

Alexandre Birman (04) 3951200 

Alighieri +44(0) 2039622362 

Altuzarra Online at Farfetch 

Anita Ko +44(0) 2039622362 

Amina Muaddi (800) 5383573 

Antik Batik (04) 4343080 

Areej (04) 3405223 

Armani Exchange (04) 3399472 

Assouline (04) 4384546 

Aquazzura (04) 3882367 

Ayesha Depala (04) 5136415 

B 

Banana Republic (04) 3398462 

Balenciaga (04) 3951769 

Bally (04) 3231643 

Balmain (056) 1883796 

Bambah (055) 224 1538 

Baruni (050) 4579249 

Ba&sh (04) 3854557 

BCBG Max Azria (04) 4340627 

Benefit Cosmetics (04) 3951978 

Blaze Milano (800) 044 5703 

Bloomingdale’s Dubai 

(04) 3505333 

Bottega Veneta (04) 3951201 

Boucheron (04) 3410039 

Boutique1.com (04) 3951200 

Burberry (04) 3998243 

Bulgari (04) 3308834 

Byredo (800) 74676277 

BySymphony (04) 3106900 

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 


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 



THE ICON 

Chanel’s precision quartz movement and PREMIÈRE.BOY 

interchangeable strap makes the ideal gift 

PREMIÈRE. BOY Tweed Beige gold watch with diamonds DhsPOA CHANEL Watches 

138 emirateswoman.com MOST WANTED

Emirates Woman

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