FASHION NEWS

WELL ARMED FASTEST GUN The stars overhead were covered by the storm clouds but on the turf at Nad Al Sheba none shone brighter than World Cup winner Well Armed, once injured so badly
COUNTDOWN TO DUBAI FASHION GALA As shoppers clearly spend less on high-end fashion, we’ll get a much better idea of how the trend will play out at Dubai Fashion Week. Luxury and excess is dead, take our word for it if you didn’t already know. Even if you’ve got big bucks, flaunting them in fashion isn’t on.
Versace Spring/Summer 2009 Dubai got a dose of Milan when Versace rolled into town. Manila Chansmouth gets a sneak-peek at their 2009 preview. Back to basics is the theme for one of the most venerable names in fashion. Versace’s spring/summer 2009 collection is full of easy to mix-n-match pieces. Clean lines and easy care fabrics make this especially desirable for men on the go.
Shades of life Sunglass Hut kicked off a new campaign with a mega-cool catwalk party in Dubai. The ‘Put them on’ campaign is all about transforming appearances and allowing the wearer to express their personality through designer items other than clothes.
Fifth Ammendment When Saks Fifth Avenue’s new men’s concept store cruised into town it was going to large, lavish and extra-special. A must-attend ‘discovery party’ preceded a superb catwalk show, both held right outside the store at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence. Over 300 guests were welcomed to the pre-show cocktail. Lit balloons sporting directional arrows hovered above the many Saks Fifth Avenue VIP customers who attended.
Cortefiel Cortefiel presents its collections for next winter based on the strengths and colours of nature: Water, earth, wood and metal. Cortefiel is Spain’s biggest luxury fashion brand. With a strong emphasis on customer support and meeting customer needs, Cortefiel has set up a strong service structure while also renewing the in-shop clothing lines every two weeks in order stay up-to-date with the latest trends and bring in more colours and innovative
Colourful identities It seems designers have finally cracked some male behavioural patterns: Spring 2008 marks the first time trends in men’s and women’s wear match up. The feared pattern monster raises its head again. Stripes are still huge and a simple rule is to go for suit, shirt and tie in stripes.
Wristed development… Robert Tateossian gave up a career in investment banking to design accessories. He is now known as “the king of cufflinks” and he tells Georgia Lewis how he went from finance to fashion and why he is so glad he did.
Fast lane fashion With Victoria Beckham taking notes, Sophia Coppola looking understatedly elegant, Dita Von Tiesse looking her usual sultry self and Courtney Love looking once again like a glam star, it was indeed a star-studded turnout for Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2008 collection.
Fast lane fashion MEN’S STYLE was the only lifestyle mag from the Middle East to score an invite to the GM Style night in the US. Oscar and Grammy winners? LA’s hottest models and Detroit’s coolest cars? There was just a chance we could make it. PHILIP MOORE reports from the night of nights
Takes all types When Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis invented jeans back in 1873 as workwear, he certainly didn’t have high fashion in mind. Indeed, before they were called jeans, they had the distinctly unfashionable name of ‘waist overalls’ and were definitely not selling for several hundred bucks a pair.
Fashion grows up Once the weekend rolls around, the vibe is instantly more relaxed. But in recent years, men’s casual fashion has really chilled out – and in some cases fallen down – quite literally - when men who should have long ago thrown away their skateboards insisted on wearing cargo pants so low and baggy that underwear and sometimes more was on show.
Elegantly waisted When 24-year-old Abdul Rahman Saeed, a Bahraini, dresses for work, most likely he will put on a suit, perhaps even a three-piece suit. The same goes for Dubai-based American, Dave Niggel. They’ll be as laid-back as the next guy on casual-Thursday, but for the other four working days, it’s suits and serious suits at that.
Take a jolly good look At this time of year it’s important to know what was good and what was just hype – especially for men. Some of us care, certainly a lot more of you than there used to be – but for the most part, men just want shop where: a.) there is stuff that looks appropriate, fits well, lasts and is going for a reasonable price; b.) there are lots of attractive women shopping for boyfriends they don’t have.
Summer Superstylin’ Ever wondered why the designers we celebrate everyday get to where they are and yet your sister, brother or cousin seem to be able to do the same stuff with nothing more than your grandmother’s old sewing machine? Well, in short, it’s because the celebrated types are talented, they learn at the right fashion schools, they crave attention and they know the right people.
Originality is nothing new There used to be a time when any self-respecting man would not have answered the door without attaching a collar to his shirt. These days, in your leisure hours, you’re free to wear what you like – clothing that’s comfortable, what would have once quaintly been called bohemian. And in some areas of the media or entertainment, where it pays to be an individual, the same rules may apply to your working hours.
Magic moments Paris Fashion Week began at the gates to one of the most magnificent residences ever built: the Palace of Versailles. It opened at L’Orangerie with the show to celebrate the 60 years of the House of Dior followed by a garden party to celebrate the 10 years of British designer John Galliano at the helm.