Our monthly round-up refreshes your style radar with a fashion collaboration, the unveiling of a new boutique in Doha, a bag design celebration, a book release and a striking campaign.
Fashion Forward
M7, Qatar’s epicentre for innovation and entrepreneurship in fashion and design, and Printemps Doha, set to be the largest luxury department store in the region, have announced the inception of The Collective. The project aims to guide selected Qatar-based established and up-and-coming designers through their creative process while enabling them to better understand the fashion business. The programme connects young designers with industry experts, offers workshops, gives one-on-one tutoring and prepares them for their entry into the retail market. Following an initial screening process, 14 designers with categories in womenswear, abayas, kaftans, eveningwear, casual wear and accessories will be invited to introduce their brands. Seven of them will be shortlisted by a jury panel, composed of fashion industry experts and professionals from M7 and Printemps Doha, for the three-month coaching programme and the opportunity to showcase their creations and sell their capsule collections in a dedicated M7 X Printemps Doha space. An opportunity not to be missed!
The Guerlain Experience
For the first time, French luxury perfume, cosmetics and skincare brand Guerlain has opened a boutique in Qatar – the biggest one in the whole GCC. Inspired by its emblematic boutique at 68 Champs Elysees, Paris, the new shopping experience brings an enticing selection of skincare, fragrance and make-up creations – from contemporary design to bespoke products. Located in the Place Vendôme mall, guests can immerse themselves in a premium Guerlain experience, highlighting almost 200 years of history, heritage and art. Stocked with their trademark fragrances, such as L’Art & La Matière collection, you will be able to embark on a personalised beauty session with a dedicated space for luxury skincare and make-up. There is also a VIP space dedicated to private consultations allowing you to capture the true essence and magic of Guerlain’s unrivalled creations.
Celebrating a Classic
Fendi recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Baguette bag with a capsule fashion show. The bags’ legacy began in 1997 when the current Artistic Director of Accessories and Menswear, Silvia Venturini Fendi, designed the Baguette to revive the brand’s image. The Italian company headed to New York, where the bag gained ‘it bag’ recognition, to present a celebratory collection with designs from Marc Jacobs, Tiffany & Co., Japanese brand Porter and the Baguette’s number one spokesperson: Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP). The SJP X Fendi capsule kicked off the show with pieces in a softer colour palette. Porter’s contribution to the collection features the Baguette in glossy nylon. The Tiffany & Co. X Fendi capsule is dubbed ‘Fendi at Tiffany’s’ and brings the brand’s signature blue hue paired against dark neutrals and the use of diamonds. Marc Jacobs put a classical twist on the street style that is signature to the essence of New York, capturing the ‘casual meets formal’ concept. Which re-interpreted Baguette is your favourite?
Objects of Desire
The Swiss haute horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet and luxury publishing house Assouline partnered to celebrate the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary with the book Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon. Assouline is known for producing incredible publications of extremely high quality. The two entities share a common endeavour, to create lasting cultural artefacts to be passed on across generations. Written by Bill Prince, an awardwinning cultural journalist, the book presents the Royal Oak’s history. It brings new archival materials uncovered by Audemars Piguet’s heritage department and exclusive testimonials of long-standing friends of the brand. The narrative is illustrated with imagery from six decades of art, architecture, fashion, music and cultural history, registering the evolution of this trailblazing timepiece.
Feminine Scent
Carolina Herrera announced the arrival of Good Girl Midnight, a new limited-edition fragrance in the brand’s Good Girl range, which was exclusively launched in the Middle East. The new campaign starring Lebanese actress Nadine Nassib Njeim features regional icons such as gold and sand. Nadine was chosen to represent the fearless confidence intrinsic to the Good Girl universe. The campaign was created by Lebanon-based production company Plastic Studios and celebrates the magical mystery of the night by exploring the multifaceted personality of the Good Girl woman. The fragrance re-interprets the iconic jasmine signature of its predecessor with a feminine heart of tuberose and orange blossom.