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Fashion expert
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Only-in-Dubai fashion finds
Wed, March 8, 2023
You can uncover incredible designers, bespoke buys and cool couture in Dubai... if you know where to look. Style insider Louise Nichol reveals her favourites in the city.
Louise Nichol
Fashion expert
You can uncover incredible designers, bespoke buys and cool couture in Dubai... if you know where to look. Style insider Louise Nichol reveals her favourites in the city.
1
Find inspiration at the Gucci store
Dubai is a fairytale centre for luxury shopping, and there are few places that are more chic than the light-filled Fashion Avenue in Dubai Mall. Even if you’re not spending, the three-storey Gucci store is a treasure trove of inspiration – a love letter to the creative passions of designer Alessandro Michele.
2
Take home a special memory from Maria Tash
Also in Dubai Mall, pop into luxury jeweller Maria Tash to pick up a lasting memento of your trip – a pair of the designer’s delicately rebellious earrings. You can even rub shoulders with the region’s most stylish women and get a piercing done onsite.
3
Soak up the glamour at BySymphony
To immerse yourself in the glamour of Arabian style, browse the rails at BySymphony where regional designers offer unique pieces (my pick is Bambah’s pink feathered kaftan) alongside dreamy international evening wear. The store’s café, Two at Symphony, is the perfect place to enjoy traditional karak tea and rose pistachio cake.
4
Find the perfect handbag at Halm
Outside of the malls, Dubai is carving a niche in made-to-measure fashion, accessories and jewellery brands that harness the city’s design community and pool of talented international artisans. Embodying the concept of quiet luxury, handbag brand Halm uses the world’s finest leathers and is a favourite of Meghan Markle’s stylist Jessica Mulroney. Bespoke orders are welcome and a unique handbag can be designed and made in as little as two weeks.
5
Treasure a unique take on Arabic calligraphy
Located in Dubai Design District, jewellery designer Nadine Kanso’s brand Bil Arabi has garnered a cult following thanks to her irreverent take on Arabic calligraphy. Nadine will customise a pendant or ring featuring your name in Arabic – creating a precious piece of the Arabian tradition for you to cherish.
6
Create the wedding dress of your dreams
If you’re getting married, Dubai can be a cost-effective destination for a bespoke wedding gown. HOM Bridal creates the kind of dreamy modern frocks that make me wish I was walking down the aisle all over again. Designer Barbaranne Sandham will video call you before your trip to start the creative process, even couriering fabric swatches to your home. On arrival, a toile mock-up will be ready for you to try. After two further fittings, the final dress is couriered within weeks. Prices start from AED9,000 for a fully bespoke gown.
7
Discover fashion, art and design at Gigi
Finally, for creative adventurers looking to discover brands from across the Middle East, head to concept store Gigi in the Galleria Mall at either Jumeirah or Al Barsha where fashion, accessories, art and interiors come together under one roof. It’s the perfect place for a snapshot of the region’s creative landscape.
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