Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best blessings, health and happiness for 2013. We can’t wait to share another year with all of you!

Ben Howard covers Video Games by Lana Del Rey

Gossip Girl | The Best Fashion Moments

Last week saw the Gossip Girl finale, and although the last season has been a little lack lustre in comparison to say, season 4, we are still said to see one of our favourite series go off air… for good. To comfort our fellow GG fans we decided to dedicate a blogpost to our favourite fashion moments over the past 6 seasons. Which is your favourite? xoxo

Blair’s iconic Constance uniforms in the early seasons

Serena’s bohemian look at the infamous brunch

BFF xoxo

Preppy Blair <3 Phillipe Adec blazer (worn with a Zara top, French Toast skirt and a Valentino bag)

Red, White and Blue <3

Blair at her Constance best

Summering in The Hamptons. Blair: Alice + Olivia dress, a Susan Daniels headband, Lulu Guinness shoes and a Kate Spade bag / Serena: Vena Cava dress, Helen Ficalora necklace, Te Casan shoes and a Chanel bag.

The White Party in The Hamptons, Serena channelling her in Greek Goddess in Oscar De La Renta

Chuck rocks an Ascot to the White Party #Swoon

Chuck at his best

Blair at Prom, this dress was a gift from Chuck <3

Serena in Stella McCartney for Thanksgiving Dinner

Serena looking chic in Paris - Georges Chakra Couture basket-weave dress with a Rag & Bone blazer, brogues and a Yestadt boater hat

Shopping in Paris

One of our favourite Blair looks. Blair and Chuck in Paris, Blair looking magnificent in Oscar De La Renta

Pucci and Tibi for Serena in Paris

One of our favourite Serena looks, we loved this stunning Zuhair Murad gown

A perfect summer look for Blair - Stella McCartney skirt, Peter Som blouse, Riki Rosetta tote bag and Brian Atwood pumps.

Serena in a Mary Katrantzou dress at Blair’s Tiffany-themed engagement party

Blair marries the Prince of Monaco in Vera Wang

The Grand Finale… We won’t give anything away in case you haven’t seen it

<3 Chair <3

Tell us: which was your favourite all time Gossip Girl look?

Behind-the-Scenes Symphony SS13 Campaign

Last week, we shot two stories for our Spring/Summer 2013 campaign. The first, set outside a stunning Palm Jumeirah villa, will feature in the SS13 edition of The Symphony Edit. The second was shot in a studio and will form our main campaign – showcasing all of the stunning gowns available at Symphony next season. We can’t wait to share the final results with you, for now, take a peep behind-the-scenes with these Instagram snaps…

SHOOT DAY ONE | Casual RTW Spring/Summer 2013 Magazine Shoot

SHOOT DAY TWO | Evening RTW Spring/Summer 2013 Main Campaign

Both campaigns will be released in full, together with a short film in February 2013.

Another Year by Brolin

If, like us, you are starting to feel festive and excited for New Years Eve and 2013, we think you may love this pretty song by Brolin

An Exclusive Interview with Fatima Al Qassimi of SOUGH

SOUGH Jewellery by Fatima Al Qassimi is a new addition to Symphony this season. Sheikha Fatima bint Mohammad bin Sager Al-Qassimi, is a talented jewellery designer and the founder of Sough Goldsmith and Jewelry Making . She has always been dedicated to designing, and Jewellery making has become her number one passion. We sat down with Fatima to discuss her inspirations and took a sneek-peak behind-the-scenes at her studio…

Symphony: How did you get into jewellery design?

Fatima: I have always been a gemstones collector since childhood and started designing in early years of school. When I went to University I took a totally different road and got a degree in business and management. After graduation I felt the need to making old dreams come true so I joined a course in jewellery business management in Dubai which was all I needed to understand where I wanted to go from there. The course covered gemology, design, jewellery making, jewellery retail business and all courses related to jewellery and I graduated with honors and was awarded as the best achievement student in the whole course and was in the Deans list.

I couldn’t stop from then, so I did private design classes to improve my technical design skills and went again and got a diploma in professional jewellery design.

I used social media to test how people would react to my designs that I did as a freelancer and in 1 year I obtained a client base that reached 2000 people locally and internationally.

Symphony: What inspires you the most in the design process?

Fatima: What inspires me the most is emotions, I transfer my emotions into my designs, with music, good cup of an espresso and a quite night my heart leads my designs.

Symphony: How does being a young Arab woman influence your designs?

Fatima: It does influences my designs a lot, Arabic women are tough and strong, and being an Arab designer makes me fight harder to set a name in the market that prefers international designers and designs on the whole. My pieces and designs are strong and they stand out. I set my standards very high especially when it comes to quality.  Every piece is made with pride.

Symphony: If you were not designing jewellery, what would you be doing?

Fatima: If I weren’t designing jewellery I would be a fashion designer! I love fabrics and designs. If not in the design field I would have my own association to explore talented women in UAE who are less fortunate or who are housewives and never got the chance to do something with their talent.

Symphony: What does 2013 hold for Fatima Al Qassimi?

Fatima: Inshallah alot of positive things, I established my new company Sough seven months ago – it’s a jewellery-making workshop with amazing team of jewellery makers and stone setters. My plans are to grow my business and launch my first fine jewellery line.

Symphony: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Fatima: Best advice was from a late friend who said, “make a choice, be a leader or be a follower”.

Symphony: Who do you recommend we check out?

Fatima: The designer Carolena Bucci – a jewellery designer who has some very interesting pieces, and the singer Imany – she has an amazing voice!

Symphony: What is your dream project?

Fatima: My dream project is to have an international fine jewellery brand and to be able to help women everywhere to be productive and part of it. Combine it together – because success to me is to be shared :)

Symphony: What has been your best moment of 2012?

Fatima: My best moment in 2012 when I showed my parents a picture of one of my pieces produced in my workshop and I saw pride in their eyes.

SOUGH is exclusive available at Symphony, Ground Floor, Fashion Avenue, The Dubai Mall, T: 04 330 8050 now.

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Heartbeat by Kopecky Family Band

Today’s Music Monday is the catchy song by Kopecky Family Band called ‘Heartbeat’. What do you think? It really makes us smile!

A new addition to the Symphony family is here…

A lot of time may have passed since the heyday of the Ancient Greeks but the spirit is alive! We LOVE the whimsical, fun and chic line Ancient Greek available for the first time at Symphony, The Dubai Mall now. With price points around 800-900dhs, soft luxurious leather and fun features such as these winged heel supports we think you will too. View our first delivery with images and prices on the Facebook page here now.

ABOUT ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS

At Symphony, Ground Floor, Fashion Avenue, The Dubai Mall

T: 04 330 8050

NOW!

UAE Patriotic Song – ميحد حمد داري علمها

41 years on, UAE unites to celebrate its past and future

via The National

نحتفل بمناسبة مرور ٤١ سنة على الاتحاد Celebrating 41 years of Unity

نحتفل بمناسبة مرور ٤١ سنة على الاتحاد Celebrating 41 years of Unity

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy National Day from all at Symphony

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Henna design and greeting by Shamsa Alabbar