Wintour who? ;)

Click here to see interview with Anna on her new t-shirts

We all have style icons, from old movie stars and established fashion icons to the new hot-young-things-of-the-moment. But there is a certain lady named Anna who really makes us weak at the knees. No, not Wintour…. Anna Dello Russo; Vogue Japan Editor at Large and Creative Consultant. No-one can touch her. She always look impeccable and as the header of her blog (http://www.annadellorusso.com/) says “I don’t want to be cool, I want to be fashion” – Anna, love, you ARE fashion! We’re such big fans because there is a genuine love of fashion there, a genuine appreciation for the art and craft and she is always supporting designers (old and new) by stepping out in head-to-toe runway looks “to make people buy”. She always looks like she has had fun getting dressed and everything seems so effortless. If only these t-shirts weren’t already sold out :( we would SO snap one up…. http://www.yoox.com/selection.asp?sec=1&name=annadellorusso

“When you don’t feel to dress, means that you are depressed. You need a FASHION SHOWER.” – Anna Dello Russo

Love to all

Symphony Insider

xx

TREND REPORT – AUTUMN / WINTER 2010

It’s that time again; we are on the cusp of the changing of seasons… that awkward part of the year where we don’t know whether we should be wearing Spring/Summer, Pre-Fall or Autumn/Winter! Jeez.

So, as the Spring/Summer 2010 collections start to move into sale (yey, love a bargain), the new pre fall collections start to arrive in stores (yey, love new stuff) and the main AW10 collections are on the horizon (yey, love something to look forward to), we thought this would be the perfect time to show you our predictions for the AW10 trends and how to adapt the more tricky ones to Dubai’s winter-less “winter”. So forget the infamous September Issues; clearly all you need is

The Symphony Style File ;)

We thought we would start with the most difficult trend here; rip the band-aid off and all that jazz! Not only is Velvet a particularly unforgiving fabric (especially if you surname isn’t Bündchen, Klum or Moss) it is also pretty thick and warm. Fine for London, Paris and Milan in Autumn/Winter – not so fine for Dubai. Nonetheless, Velvet looks like a trend that won’t go away, with Dolce & Gabbana, Halston, Erin Fetherston and Altuzarra all incorporating the tricky fabric into their collections. So we have to be clever here Symphony Stylers, and I advise introducing velvet into your everyday look in a subtle way. For example, head to Satwa and get a nice piece of blood-red (the colour of AW10…more of that later) velvet and create a very chic, cost effective and most importantly on-trend head band. We loved the Prada ones MK&AO were rocking a few seasons ago and will be taking inspiration from them. Alternatively, you could embrace the ‘velvet challenge’ wholeheartedly and invest in the piece du-jour for AW10; a full length velvet skirt. Gulp. Good luck!

Whoopsy… did we say that Velvet was the most difficult trend for Dubai? Sorry, we lied. It’s this one. Leather. Yup, head-to-toe leather! The brave can take their pick with this trend; leather trousers, shorts, t-shirts, dresses and jackets will all be on offer next season. From Prada’s PVC A-line skirt to Celine’s leather t-shirts; leather is everywhere. For those who want to incorporate the leather look in a more subtle way, why not opt for leather cuffs, necklaces and headbands? Or invest in Christian Siriano’s black leather peplum jacket; perfect for the chilly A/C-ridden malls! Alternatively, go bag shopping… after all, it isn’t too hard to find a TDF leather bag at the Dubai Mall ;)

Blood red and black are definitely the colours du jour for AW10; we haven’t seen a single runway without this bold duo. Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Siriano and Vera Wang all sent head-to-toe black looks down the runway. The excellent news is that they are both very flattering and easy to wear colours (unlike spring’s neon’s); everyone knows that black is slimming and blood red looks amazing on very light blondes and very dark brunettes. Bonus! The key word here is gothic: Goths are back Symphony Stylers! But think Marlene Dietrich and Betty Paige; not Marilyn Manson. Blood red lips, vampy eyes, head-to-black and flashes of texture with velvet and leather (see above) and if you want to be the trendiest-trend-setter in all the Middle East; wear blood red and black together à la J. Mendel and Givenchy.

Heaps of designers sent their girls down the runway clad in knee high socks and ribbed tights – with light grey the favoured colour. As I sit in my air-conditioned office typing this post, I could quite happily pull on a pair; but as I walk outside and am hit by the 50 degree heat?! Hmmm… not so much. We think this is a trend best left to the cooler months of October / November … or better still; travelling to colder climates! Alternatively, you could opt for ankle socks à la Marc Jacobs which are still very cool (our fashion crush Alexa Chung is still wearing hers after all!).

Masculine elements were woven into an abundance of looks on the AW10 runways; Alexander Wang took the stereotypical Wall Street bankers suit and spun it on its head; reinventing it as sexy, dark and sophisticated. Another Wang, this time Vera, sent a minimalistic and feminine take on menswear down the runway; adding sequins to her charcoal felt double-lapel jacket. All and all, we think this is a very adaptable trend that is easily incorporated into ones wardrobe (if it isn’t already); simply invest in a few good basics – a blazer, suit trousers, a shirt, city shorts and get creative!

Okay this trend is nothing new, but unlike the ‘pomp and ceremony’ of military clothing as seen in SS10; AW10 paves the way for 20th century military uniforms. From the aviation jackets featured in the AW10 collections of Burberry and Issa (to name a few) to the army green shown at Celine and Dries Van Noten; military is altogether more subtle this season and we like it! Search the SS10 sales for subtle military pieces to carry through to AW10 and if you can only invest in one piece, make it the coveted aviation jacket.

If blood-red isn’t your thing then perhaps this is the trend for you. Oodles of models were churned out in head-to-toe grey from the likes of Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Jacobs. It’s tres chic to wear one block colour in slightly different tones; especially black and grey.

Other Trends to expect include: thigh high boots, underwear as outer-wear (again!), head-to-toe white, fur, cut-out clothing, the camel coat, sheer fabrics, draping, layering and long skinny trousers draping over shoes! <3

“Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.” – Oscar Wilde

Love to all

Symphony Style Insider

xxx

Look of the day…

Talk about shivers down the spine (do you like what I did there? ;))

I die. Do you die? Dsquared = TDF ;)

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At last! We have an opening date! Can’t wait to welcome you all to Symphony soon…..x

August 10 2010: Symphony opens at The Dubai Mall, Fashion Avenue. The only one of its kind, Symphony offers its discerning clientele a chance to procure collections from designers that are not readily available in the GCC region.

Symphony is the first and only luxury, multi-brand boutique of its kind in the Dubai Mall.

Symphony Style LLC is delighted to announce the opening of the hotly anticipated, new concept store, Symphony, which will officially open its doors to the public for the first time on the 10th of August 2010. Prominently located in the luxurious Fashion Avenue, The Dubai Mall, Symphony will stock a range of luxury ready-to-wear fashion alongside avant-garde accessories, lifestyle items and books. Symphony will offer it’s fondly named “Symphony Stylers” (after the owning company’s namesake ‘Symphony Style LLC’) “Fashion with soul”; with exciting creative collaborations between local artists, illustrators and international designers all in the pipeline for 2010/11.

A luxury multi-brand boutique, Symphony will stock brands with a young, fresh, feminine feel and house designers such as Christian Siriano (Project Runway Winner and dresser to the stars including Rihanna & Lady Gaga), Vera Wang, Halston, Ports 1961, Luisa Beccaria, Willow, Charlotte Olympia shoes, Thakoon and Jason Wu (see full brand list in separate attachment). Symphony’s mission is provide the local market with a creative, interactive shopping experience – clientele will have the opportunity to support young (and in some cases local) talent, pick up some great unique pieces and pair them with classic labels such as Vera Wang and J.Mendel, as well as to simultaneously indulge their passions for art and culture.

Symphony will be bringing imaginative lifestyle products to the region, alongside rare and coveted books and magazines, Lomography cameras, art, cosmetics and luxury vintage items.

“We love the idea of ‘harmony’ that the word ‘Symphony’ conveys. Our concept embraces the notion of harmony between fashion, arts, literature, and, most importantly, people,” said Salama Alabbar, Founder and Creator of Symphony. “We are extremely excited to be opening our first luxury multi-brand concept and hope to bring a lot of creative and original ‘firsts’ to the region. We’re really looking forward to welcoming our clients into a space that we hope they will find inspiring.”The stores design is very elegant, feminine and chic; embodying the Symphony woman. It features a large outdoor area with spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa and legendary dancing fountain display.

Symphony Style LLC will work on creative and groundbreaking seasonal Visual Merchandising themes and campaigns for Symphony. For Spring/Summer 2010, Symphony’s visual merchandising campaign will be centered on Ramadan from August – October 2010; with visual art and fashion items on display procured especially for the holy month and beyond. The emphasis will be on charity, culture and giving.

For Autumn/Winter 2010, Symphony will host an ‘official store opening’ event in the cooler month of October 2010; which is set to be attended by many international artists, designers and celebrities. The event will unveil the inaugural Symphony AW10 campaign in its entirety for the first time, which features America’s Next Top Model, Raina Hein and was shot by Susanne Spiel. The visual merchandising concept for AW10 will also be revealed at the exclusive event, in which a prominent local studio ‘Tinkah Design Studio’ have conceptualised a window and art installation in line with the (secret..Ssshh!) Symphony AW10 campaign theme. Symphony fans will have the chance to get a sneak-peak look at the AW10 campaign in July, when Harpers Bazaar Arabia will print an exclusive behind-the-scenes diary from the shoot which took place at the end of May 2010.

From August 10 2010, Symphony’s clientele will be able to take advantage of the Spring/Summer 2010 promotions as well as to purchase the new Pre-Fall collections from the likes of J.Mendel, Camilla Skovgaard and Rupert Sanderson to name a few.

Symphony Style LLC was formed in 2008 by Salama Alabbar. The young, avant-garde fashion company own and operate the Temperley London stores in Dubai Mall and Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi as well as the uber-cool accessories store Marami, The Dubai Mall. Symphony is the latest feather in the Symphony Style cap, with more exciting openings planned for the near and not too distant future. Stay tuned to www.symphonystyle.ae

Symphony

Fashion Avenue

The Dubai Mall

http://www.symphonystyle.ae/

“There is the happiness which comes from creative effort. The joy of dreaming, creating, building, whether in painting a picture, writing an epic, singing a song, composing a symphony, devising new invention, creating a vast industry.” – Henry Miller

Love to all

Symphony Insider

xxx

Symphony Style needs YOU!

CALLING ALL SYMPHONY STYLERS! SYMPHONY NEEDS TALENTED INDIVIDUALS!
As you should all know by now ;)  our new store Symphony will be opening in the next few months and we are very excited to share the following vacancies with you.

Sales Associates
Run of the mill sales staff need not apply. We want passionate fashion fanatics, intelligent and ambitious ladies and gentlemen who are enthusiastic and hardworking. In return we will give you the opportunity to be a part of the Middle East’s most exciting young fashion company; and to grow with us! You should have experience working within the luxury fashion industry and the ability to speak English is essential; other languages – specifically Arabic – will be an advantage.

Graphic Designer
We require a professional, creative, passionate and motivated Graphic Designer who has a flair for design and a great understanding and love of the luxury fashion industry. You must be able to think creatively and offer solutions and ideas when called upon. The role will include online work as well as creating collateral for our PR & Marketing department, and in-store graphics. Spoken and written English is essential; knowledge of Arabic is a plus. Please send examples of your work together with your application.

Visual Merchandiser
Symphony requires a talented VM to help think-up, visualise and create Symphony’s windows and VM themes. You should have experience in the luxury fashion industry and a proven track record of creating high-end, inspiring and innovative windows and in-store VM . The ideal candidate has a firm grasp on all of the basics of VM, see’s their trade as an art form and longs to work with a creatively challenging company. You will be required to source all of the VM materials as well as to assist in coming up with the seasonal VM concepts; this is a very hands-on role and will make a very exciting opportunity for the right candidate. Please send examples of your work together with your application.

Applications should be submitted to careers@symphonystyle.ae by the 17th of July 2010. Please include the job role that you are applying for in the title, as well as a cover letter explaining why you are right for the role. You should attach an up-to-date CV and examples of your work where applicable.

We look forward to hearing from you!

“One must work and dare if one really wants to live.” Vincent Van Gogh

Love to all

Symphony Insider

x

Outfit of the Week!

This weekend we will be seriously coveting this look… the perfect summery city ensemble; don’t you agree? It has everything; fiji water to quench our thirst in the scorching Dubai sun, V Magazine to quench our thirst for beauty and inspirtation, all of the hottest colours for Spring/Summer 2010, the TDF sunglasses OTM by SUPER which feature a cool Carl Zeiss lense, Charl Olymp’s super-comfy heels and the cute illusion pouch by Temperley to store our BB and lipstick… perfection.

Credits
V Magazine – Available at all good book stores and supermarkets
T-shirt – Jason Wu at The Symphony Showroom (see below)
Heels – Charlotte Olympia at The Symphony Showroom (see below)
Skirt – Burberry Prorsum at Net a Porter
Fiji Water – from Waitrose
SUPER sunglasses – available at Marami, The Dubai Mall (04 434 35 36)
Bag – Illusion Pouch at Temperley London, The Dubai Mall (04 3398 169)

The Symphony Showroom
Symphony Style LLC, Office E519
Saaha Offices, Level 5 G Core
Souk Al Bahar
Next to The Palace Hotel (Old Town)

Open Sun-Thurs 9am-6pm

Eml: info@symphonystyle.ae for more info!

The Symphony Showroom is a temporary space set up at Symphony Style HQ to enable our treasured Symphony Stylers to get a piece of the Symphony pie before the store opens in August 2010, The Dubai Mall.

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Would you like to see through the eyes of Christian Dior? Hmmm…

We are in two minds about this rather unusual new product launch from luxury fashion house, Christian Dior; who has recently announced their new range of contact lenses. No, you did not read that wrong… contact lenses! So now you can brand your eyes along with with your arm candy? Crazy!

On one hand we think the pale blue/grey colour, thick black rim and flick of gold used on these Christian Dior contact lenses is pretty snazzy, on the other hand we can’t help but wonder whether having branded contacted lenses is a little (*how shall we put it nicely*) tacky over the top? I mean whatever next… branding your eyebrows? Perhaps they would be better without the CD logo (although it is tiny), or will the inclusion of the coveted CD logo entice people to buy them?

Hmmmm… we are totally undecided. What do you all think?

Answers on a postcard please!

“The eye sees a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination awake.”  – Leonardo da Vinci

Love to all

Symphony Insider

xxx

LCF Bachelor Graduate Fashion Show, Graduate Fashion Week UK

Here at Symphony Style HQ we are constantly passing one another new “discoveries” and all share a mutual appreciation for young talent and emerging artists. Therefore, it is only natural that the UK-based annual Graduate Fashion Week is one of our favourite fashion events of the year. Take a look at some of our favourite designers from London College of Fashion (LCF) who graduated with aplomb this year…

Naoya Nakayma

Naoya Nakayma was inspired by ‘a frozen moment of object destruction and creation’

We love the tied ankle detail of this dress

Amber Siegel

Amber Siegel’s inspiration was based on finding beauty in collision, exploring clashing and complimenting texture.

The Symphony Style File: Search results for LCF Bachelor Graduate Fashion Show, Graduate Fashion Week UK

‘Bubble Lace’

Yuco Kamiyama

Yuco Kamiyama was inspired by a childrens novel written by Michael Ende called ‘MOMO’. The main idea is ‘a girl in a men’s jacket’, which came from a style of Momo, an orphan girl who wears an over-sized and tatty patched men’s jacket.

Steph Goynes

Steph Goynes was inspired by Native American Basketry, with the idea of converting traditional weaving techniques into knitwear. The vibrant patterns formed in the weaving process inspired the Jacquard designs, and the surface texture of baskets themselves some of the other pieces.

Mustard yellow + blood red = one of Symphony’s favourite colour palettes for AW10

Perhaps with the recent introduction of LCF in Dubai we will soon be blogging about a local talent being featured at Graduate Fashion Week? Here’s to hoping…
“Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse, wouldn’t quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and crawled out. Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse.” – Frank Abagnale Sr, “Catch Me If You Can”

Love to all

Symphony Insider

xxx

SUPER sunnies!

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS A REASONABLY PRICED, SUPER COOL, CELEB COVETED EYEWEAR BRAND WITH OUR CUTE ACCESSORIES STORE, MARAMI AT THE DUBAI MALL? A SELL OUT… THAT’S WHAT!

THESE ARE GOING TO FLY OFF THE SHELVES FASTER THAN YOU CAN SAY “KANYE WEST STOLE MY SUNGLASSES” SO HURRY TO MARAMI NOW!

SUPER celeb spottings…. (click thumbnails for a bigger sneaky peak!)

Sienna Miller

David Beckham

Gwen Stefani

Kanye West

Rihanna

The Kills (Mr. Kate Moss!)

SUPER
From 500-800dhs, available at:
MARAMI

THE DUBAI MALL

+971 (0)4 434 35 36

ABOUT SUPER
Daniel and Simon Beckerman are the creators of SUPER and are also publishers of PIG Magazine, the most prestigious independent music and fashion magazine in Italy together with PIG Radio, one of the most influential indie music web-radios on the net. The idea came out when Daniel realized that there was no eyewear brand that was representing a certain type of fashion culture:“All the companies that are in the market today are leaded by people that are interested in different, standard and established markets as D&G, Armani, Gucci etc. What about all the other street couture brands? Together with this nobody was playing fun in eyewear like the great expressions you can see in the clothing business. All shades were black, tortoise, grey and maybe some white or red, that’s it… where are the shades for me and my friends?!?!” At this point Daniel asked Simon, one of the undiscussed more influential and forward thinking personality in today’s market, and Sean Beolchini the unmissable piece of the team, to follow him in all of the creative aspects that Super had to face.

The Flea markets has been a great inspiration, not otherwise Sean, before Super, had always a different shade for the different moods of the day. The problem was that most of them are very bad quality and eye protection is important and something that many people does not underestimate. The business strategy, if there was one, became to give people something that was the best quality product at the most reasonable price. Luckily the home of the team was Italy, the best country in which to produce sunglasses. Together with the best manufactures Super has teamed up with one of the most well known German lens company: Zeiss Sunlensess division, that after a first look, joined enthusiastic the project. The first prototypes were produced on winter 2006 and the team, that was wearing them at all the events they attended, realized the immediate response and success they was having from the people around. In the meantime the distributor has been found and together with Milan’s showroom Pink and Chicco d’Errico, the sales master, Super has done an astonish sales campaign. All the Top stores that was receiving the sunglasses was continuously making reorders selling any colours they had in shop, draining away to the last piece produced.

MTV Movie Awards 2010, The Red Carpet Report

Last night, California hosted the MTV Movie Awards…. so you know what that means Symphony Stylers?? Lots of red carpet photo’s to swoon / laugh / cry over. Yipee!

Click a thumbnail to enlarge.

Christian Siriano and Katy Perry

Christina Aguilera in Versace

Eva Mendes in Stella McCartney

Audrina Patridge in sparkly

Our fave funny man, Jonah Hill

Kristen Stewart in D&G

Lindsay Lohan in Pamela Roland

LMFAO. Need we say more?

Mr. Katy Perry! Dashing!!

Scarlett Johansson in D&G

Whitney Port owning the neon!

Nice pigtails Snoop! ;)

Bodyamr

Camilla Skovgaard

Christian Siriano

Charlotte Olympia

Erin Fetherston

Jason Wu

Thakoon

All Available at The Symphony Showroom, Souk Al Bahar

Email info@symphonystyle.ae for more info and directions

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