UAE mourns Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qassimi

آللہم ارحم الشيخ صقر بن محمد القاسمي.إنـُآ لله وانا اليه راجعون
Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, the world’s oldest reigning monarch has passed away.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all on this sad day.

xxx

Just for Fun: A nice healthy dose of Inspiration

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Balding post it notes

Lipstick business card

Make Eating Fun

Make your own mars

Name bike

Rainbow wiper

Reading light

Seasonal rug

Spread the love

Street art

Typewriter 1870

Every image has a sound

Bird friendly roof

Book titles

Daydreaming

Gorilla marketing

Gorilla marketing

Scratch my back

Impressive balcony

Hope you’re smiling!
Love to all,
Symphony Insider

xxx

First look at the Lanvin x H&M collaboration…

Photo courtesy of Vogue.com

It looks promising! What do you guys think?

xxx

Most Inspiring of the Day

Sarah Burton’s first full collection for Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2011: Accessories in Detail

The Minx Nails and Skull Clutch

“I kind of like it the way it is right now, … I believe in that one-on-one sell. I don’t really believe in flooding the market with loads of goods that don’t mean much, and (you) lose your identity.” – Lee Alexander McQueen, CBE (17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010)

xxx

NEW at Symphony: Skeem Candles

“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”
In a world full of luxury candle brands, Skeem are trying to make they mark and differentiate themselves. Their unique approach makes for a candle that not only fills the room with its beautiful decadent scent, but also acts a cute little decoration to brighten up your desk, home, garden (delete as applicable).

Skeem don’t get the plain-ivory-candle-in-the-fancy-box thing, the way they see it is: as soon as you take the candle out of the box and throw the best thing away (i.e. the box) you are just left with a boring candle. A nice smelling candle sure, but a boring candle nonetheless. Skeem have thoughtfully designed all of their products so that they are beautiful and intriguing on their own without the need for excess packaging. Skeem candles are silk-screened and then poured with their custom soy/paraffin wax blend to ensure a clean, even burn. And then once the candle has burned down, the pillars are reusable as drinking glasses! Genius. In addition, the 3 wick and 1/2 pint candles can be used for holding cotton balls to brighten up your en-suite, storing paper clips to add some fun to your desk or even as a sugar jar in your kitchen. The best part about this is that you are contributing to a positive impact on the environment when you reuse or recycle a Skeem candle.

Let’s face it, it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness :)
Available at Symphony
Ground Floor
Fashion Avenue
The Dubai Mall
T: 04 330 8050

Have a fabulous weekend Symphony Stylers!

xxx

Whitney Port x Symphony x Grazia = Exclusive Shoot Out TODAY!

As you know, Whitney Port visited us in Dubai recently for the official Symphony Launch Party. Whilst she was here she shot a beautiful, exclusive shoot with Grazia Middle East …which is OUT TODAY so make sure you go and grab a copy!
**Behind the Scenes with Symphony, Grazia and Whitney Port**

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The lovely Elaine and Naomi from Grazia

LOVE those Willow leggings

 

Wearing Luisa Beccaria AW10 ♥

 

 

 

 

Charlotte Olympia booties

 

 

SHOOT CREDITS
Model: Whitney Port
Clothing: Symphony and Temperley, The Dubai Mall
Styling: Elaine Greenshields
Stylist’s Assistant: Naomi Chadderton
Photographer: Susanne Spiel
Hair & Make-up: Dennie Parson
Studio: Capital D Studio

Most Desirable of the Day

The Full Length Mustard Gown by Jason Wu Autumn/Winter 2010

The perfect gown for this busy wedding season no?
As worn by the stunning actress Diane Kruger at this years SAG Awards and Raina Hein in the Symphony inaugural Autumn/Winter 2010 Campaign.

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Available at Symphony for you to procure NOW!

Symphony
Ground Floor
Fashion Avenue
The Dubai Mall
T: 04 330 850

xxx

a peek into the future: what’s in store for Spring/Summer 2011?

The best and worst thing about working in fashion is just when you think you can put your feet up and have a cup of tea something else starts … Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have seen that we have been very busy officially launching Symphony with a star studded event. Call it a moment of madness, but we decided to throw said launch event in the middle of Paris Fashion Week. So we were globe trotting the fashion capitals for buying appointments as well as attending our fave shows whilst simultaneously planning a major event. Suffice to say – Skype was our friend!

No sooner do we start to think “YES, we can relax for a while” do we have start submitting our orders for Spring/Summer 2011 and thinking about our second campaign for SS11. And the AW10 deliveries haven’t been in the stores for long! It’s enough to make your head spin. Yes Symphony Stylers, working in fashion is not the “glam, glitz and parties” that it is made out to be. It is a lot of hard work. Thankfully, we love hard work (really we do) and we obviously LOVE fashion so we won’t complain too loudly. Check out some of the pieces / new designers that are working their way onto our wish list for SS11… (and are making our late nights and early mornings all the more beautiful)

Charlotte Olympia Spring/Summer 2011 collection “Blame it on Rio”
Designer Charlotte Olympia Dellal returns to her Brazilian roots for SS11 and produces a collection that is inspired by 1940s Hollywood star Carmen Miranda and her iconic fruit laden hats.

Dolly in Black Python: The Dolly is reworked with a gold platform for SS11 with a red underlay

Banana Is My Business: featuring a wooden platform and adorned with fruit akin to Carmen Miranda’s famous hats

Marina in Leopard: If you can’t hack the height of Charlotte’s heels then these are a perfect alternative

SUNO Spring/Summer 2011
The best thing about Suno, aside from their beautiful creations, is that they are giving back. By purchasing a piece of the Suno pie you are supporting a brand that has built a successful company employing local Kenyan talent, treating workers fairly and showcasing some of Kenya’s artistry which could affect positive and lasting social and economic change. The design and development for SUNO takes place in NYC, employing skilled sample and pattern makers in New York’s Garment district. The patterns and samples are then brought to Kenya where the garments are artisanally produced in small workshops. What we love about this collection for SS11 is the styling. You can buy into the pieces safe in the knowledge that you can mix the prints and pull together that “vintage, I haven’t tried” look we all long for with minimal effort. Here are some of our favourite looks…

Acne Spring/Summer 2011
Acne have luxury basics down to a (capital) T and we are so excited to stock the line for SS11. The Tahiti Jacket is the most perfect oversized blazer and the Seagull Tattoo dress in leather is just divine.

The Tahiti Jacket (right) and Seagull Tattoo Dress (left) by Acne for SS11

Check out the Matrix-style sunglasses we saw at the Acne showroom in Paris. Love or Hate?

Belle Sauvage Spring/Summer 2011
Every now and again you stumble across a brand that makes you tingle all over. Belle Sauvage is just that. A niche London-based brand created by Chris Neuman and Virginia Ferreira, we love this collections striking statement digital prints inspired by American abstract expressionism which reference artists such as Frank Stella and Jeff Koons, and the strong, structured silhouettes.

Ports 1961
We’ve already gushed over the Ports 1961 SS11 runway looks which were inspired by Creative Director Fiona Ciabanis trip to the Sahara desert. BUT we just *died* for these specially carved swarovski crystal pieces. Doesn’t this photo just transport you to a perfect summers day? *sigh*

And we can’t wait to get our hands on Ports quirky accessories for SS11…

Rodarte Spring/Summer 2011
The Mulleavy sisters concentrate more on the clothes, the art and the dream than “the business of fashion”, hence their rather unimpressive showroom. Is there anything wrong with that? We think not. Especially if you are as talented as the Mulleavy’s. Rodarte inspires us because of the dedication to “the cause” that they consistently show – “the cause” being creating the most awe-inspiringly beautiful garments which are free from pretension and not cut in certain ways or made in certain colours to generate sales to “the masses”. They are slightly rebellious and we love that. For Spring/Summer 2011 the girls were inspired by their childhood backyard – enter every brown you can possible image, carved wooden heels and gold – which all translate to the seventies suburbia in Northern California where the sisters grew up. We can not wait to have these pieces hanging on Symphony’s rails.

Bodyamr Spring/Summer 2011
When we attended Bodyamr’s SS11 show in London back in September we couldn’t wait to get to the showroom and see the pieces that set our hearts aflutter up close. This figure-hugging full length gown with black overlay is at the top of our wish list for SS11…

Prabal Gurung Spring/Summer 2011
Dear Prabal Gurung
Thank you so much for producing two of the most perfect LBD’s we have ever clapped eyes on. We can not wait to see them hanging in our wardrobe.
Kindest Regards,
Symphony Insider

Erickson Beamon Spring/Summer 2011

When something is so beautiful, quirky, sparkly and resembles the Symphony emblem (okay, sort of) what else are we supposed to do but fall head-over-heels in love with it? The Erickson Beamon earcuffs are at the very very very top of our wish list for SS11! *sigh sigh sigh*

All of these beautiful pieces will be available at Symphony for you to procure from late 2010 / early 2011

Symphony
Ground Floor, Fashion Avenue
The Dubai Mall
T: 04 330 8050

Pssstttt! For all of our favourite picks for the current AW10 season, don’t forget to pick up a copy of The Symphony Edit Autumn/Winter 2010 – our first magazine, in store along with the AW10 collections NOW!

Love to All,

Symphony Insider

xxx

We have a new twitter name, seek us out and followeth!

www.twitter.com/SymphonyTweets

xxx

Abra…Cadabra, The Official Symphony Launch Party Oct 7 2010

The most hotly anticipated fashion event of the year, Dubai stood still on Thursday the 7th of October 2010 when Symphony, The Dubai Mall officially launched with a star-studded event featuring exclusive guests Raina Hein (the face of Symphony for AW10), Whitney Port, Christian Siriano,
Camilla Skovgaard, Erin Fetherston and Rupert Sanderson. The event also marked the start of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s and The Dubai Mall’s Fortnight of Fashion.

Symphony Style LLC celebrated the opening of their first multi-brand concept boutique on Thursday evening with an unforgettable private party at the store, which is located in the heart of Fashion Avenue at The Dubai Mall. Guests started to arrive at 7pm sharp and were treated to an exclusive unveiling of the Symphony AW10 art installation which was produced by local art talent; The Tinkah Studio. The Symphony hoarding “Art in Progress” was stripped away to the sound of Big Ben calling 7pm and all were left inspired by The Tinkah Studio’s beautiful creations. The window features hanging ropes, suspended books and sketches of the Symphony designers runway looks. The installation also seeped into the store, with The Tinkah Studio replacing the store furnishing with specially made pillow covers and carpets. The Tinkah Studio translated Symphony’s AW10 theme of “Abra…Cadabra!” into travel, owing to the fact that the abra is a boat which is steeped in the Middle East’s history and culture and has long been used as a method of transport. The Dubai Creek, which is where the abra’s are docked, was the economic hub of Dubai before oil was discovered. The Tinkah Studio’s creation, entitled “Symphony No7: The Arrival of Her Garments”, explored how these beautiful garments arrive in Dubai and the magic of how an idea is translated into a garment and then shipped far and wide for women to enjoy and procure.

The Tinkah Studio x Symphony Art Installation for AW10- Symphony No7: The Arrival of Her Garments

The Exclusive Tinkah Studio art piece which was signed by all designers as well as the artists themselves and auctioned off for the FACE Africa x Symphony Charity Auction The Tinkah Studio also designed the private event invitations which was an extension of their art installation and featured a “shipping box” as the packaging and a garment tag which was printed with the event invitation. It also included the “replacement beads / buttons” that you so often get with luxury fashion and featured a Symphony emblem charm and beads as well as string, which invitees could use to make a charm bracelet should they wish.

The Symphony Official Invite
The crème de la crème of Dubai’s fashion scene were invited to celebrate the opening of the new Symphony concept boutique which proudly differentiates itself as Dubai’s first and only concept boutique with soul. Symphony is also the first and only luxury, multi-brand concept boutique at the world’s largest mall – The Dubai Mall. Guests at the private event enjoyed sumptuous canapés which included datterino tomato, boconcini, taggiasca tapenade, foie grass terrine with black truffle on sweetly spiced bread and beef tartar, crispy capers and dijon mustard as well as cured salmon teriyaki on Rice Crisp. Those with a sweet tooth enjoyed white chocolate truffles, dark chocolate crunch cake and Sweet Stuff’s Symphony cupcakes in red velvet and vanilla.

Sweet Stuff’s Symphony cupcakes

Guests who rubbed shoulders with Symphony designers Whitney Port, Christian Siriano, Rupert Sanderson, Camilla Skovgaard, Erin Fetherston and model Raina Hein included Dubai socialite Lina Samman, international hairdresser Andy Uffels, artist Patricia Millns, Editor in Chief of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Louise Nicholl, CEO of Bonham’s Matthew Girling and a room packed full of Dubai’s most beautiful and stylish women. By 7.25pm the store was packed and at 7.45pm the crowd was alerted that the special guest’s arrival was in the offing, by 8pm the designers were “sewing” their autographs onto the Symphony art piece which was later auctioned off for the Symphony x FACE Africa charity auction hosted by Bonham’s CEO Matthew Girling. Guests then mingled with the designers/celebrities and took pictures with their favourites. The event also featured a special FishFayce photo booth with which guests could take photo’s which were then printed and taken home as a keepsake of the magical evening.

Designer Whitney Port sews her autograph onto the Tinkah Studio’s art piece which was later auctioned off in the Symphony x FACE Africa charity auction. Every dirham raised will go to the worthwhile cause.

At 8.30pm Matthew Girling kicked off the Symphony x FACE Africa charity auction, guests were given special Symphony auction sticks and a brochure detailing the lots available for bidding as well as more information about the FACE Africa charity. Symphony is very pleased to announce that we raised a total of 18,350dhs for the FACE Africa charity – each and every dhs will go directly to the worthwhile cause and Saran Kaba Jones, Founder and Director of FACE Africa, will use the money to build a clean water project in one of Liberia’s needy villages. Aside from the charity auction, Symphony is also sponsoring Whitney Port’s trip to Liberia to bring a much needed spotlight to the dire situation in Africa. Under Symphony’s sponsorship Whitney will be visiting Liberia and touring FACE Africa’s clean water project sites. More importantly, she will be visiting a women’s factory in Liberia called the Liberian Women’s Sewing Project; which is a women’s economic empowerment program that provides employment and economic opportunities for women. The pilot factory currently produces t-shirts and other cotton knit apparel using fair-trade and eco-friendly practices. In November 2010, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia will run an exclusive piece detailing Whitney’s trip through a personal diary and exclusive photographs.

The Symphony Auction Sticks

Camilla Skovgaard’s donation for the Symphony x FACE Africa charity auction which was won by Whitney Port

British Shoe Designer Rupert Sanderson gets into the auction spirit with Bonham’s Matthew Girling

When the auction finished, the event started to wind down and guests were sent home with the Symphony goodie bag which included Symphony’s inaugural magazine, The Symphony Edit Autumn/Winter 2010, a limited edition postcard and an invitation to enjoy a complimentary photo shoot with Pink Pepper Photography.
Full event images are on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=231721&id=339012579077&saved#!/album.php?aid=231721&id=339012579077
We would like to thank everyone that attended and each and every one of you for your overwhelming support. We couldn’t do it without you.

Symphony
Ground Floor, Fashion Avenue
The Dubai Mall
T: +971 (0)4 330 8050

W: www.symphony.ae

Event Credits
Photography: Kelly at Pink Pepper
Catering: The Address Downtown
Photo Booth: Fish Fayce
Cupcakes: Sweet Stuff
Auction: Bonhams
Artwork: The Tinkah Studio
Flowers: Olivier Dolz

xxx

NOTE: The images in this post and on the Facebook page belong to Symphony Style LLC. Please do not use them without first seeking permission from holly@symphonystyle.ae