The new velvet manicure at Sister’s

You may remember our love for the Caviar Manicure by Ciate at Sister’s , well this time we visited our favourite salon to test run the new Velvet Manicure. Ciate’s latest product is available now at Sister’s Beauty Salon. Here’s what happened…

The process is quite similar to the Caviar, a normal manicure is given and then a undercoat, then two layers of your desired velvet shade polish (we opted for navy), but this time instead of the caviar beads, velvet “dust” is sprinkled over your wet nail and perfectly arranged with a brush, the excess is wiped off and voila! Velvet fingertips! This treatment should be reserved for a special occasion since it is not long lasting, it stayed perfectly for 24 hours, after which time the velvetness started to fade and we were left with a matt polish. We can’t wait to return to try the red colour.

Velvet Manicure by Ciate at Sister’s Beauty Salons in the UAE.

Downtown Dubai – The Centre of Now with Symphony

We are delighted to have supplied all of the women’s ready-to-wear to this beautiful short film on Downtown Dubai. With offices in Souk Al Bahar and stores at The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai is our home and we feel so blessed to be a part of it. We hope you enjoy the film as much as we did!

A Sneak-Peek inside the NEW Magazine

The Symphony Edit, Autumn/Winter 2012 is available in-store now in a limited edition print run. Take a look at some of the features inside the latest issue…

Pick up your limited edition print copy at Symphony, Ground Floor, Fashion Avenue, The Dubai Mall now.

The magazine will be available in full online shortly.

xoxo

Exclusive Interview with designer Sarah Baadarani

We discussed career highs, ice-skating at Somerset House, art and food with Symphony newbie Sarah Baadarani…

Designer Sarah Baadarani

Symphony: What has been the most prominent moment in your career to date and why?
Sarah Baadarani: Selling to my first stockist and watching the subsequent growth in sales in both the Middle East and North America. When I first set out to become a fashion designer, I was looking for a way to transform my passion for art into a career. For me being a fashion designer was a natural progression from my role as an artist. Since my first sale, I have witnessed a steady pattern of organic growth. The label is expanding and new possibilities for the brand are appearing. When I see such a positive response, I feel that, gradually, I am succeeding in realizing my goal. It gives you a strong sense of pride that people are relating to and understanding my work. I also love seeing my family, especially my twin sister, and friends wearing my pieces. They bring my designs to life and are the source of inspiration for so much of what I do.
Symphony: What is your favourite piece from the new collection and why?
Sarah Baadarani: The Isadora dress is definitely one of my favourites. It’s powerfully sensual, definitely a statement piece, or rather a piece making a statement. Even though the woman is completely covered, there is this raw appeal about her. Romantic lace appliqués dance across the sheer silhouette of doubled lace in powder and white, covering the body in just the right places. I used metallic sequins to enhance the natural curvatures and shape of the feminine form. Yet the metal also serves to provide a rougher contrast. The resulting aesthetic challenges the limits of conventional romantic designs.

The Isadora dress, Sarah’s favourite piece for winter.

Symphony: What is your idea of the perfect winter?
Sarah Baadarani: I love the typical picturesque white Christmas and fresh, crisp air of winter. It brings back childhood memories of ice-skating at Somerset House. When it starts to snow. I’m always the first out the door. To me it is just so beautiful and serene.

Symphony: Who and what should we look out for?
Sarah Baadarani: I am really impressed with the new generation of musicians and artists who use deep expression in all of their work. Art and music is about exposing the work of the mind and soul. I recently came across Gabriel Dawe’s exhibition ‘The Destiny of Light’. I was completely blown away by his work. My passion for art can only be rivaled by my love of food! I like experimenting with all types of food, but right now street food is a staple favourite. In London, I recommend going to Broadway Market; you can’t go wrong with any of the stalls, each one is better than the next!

Broadway Market, London

Symphony: What were you inspired by for the new Autumn/Winter 2012 collection?
Sarah Baadarani: For this collection, I was very much inspired by the Baroque period. The rich colours and lavish details of the era’s artwork influenced my colour palette and choice of fabrics. To temper these more lavish elements of design, I housed them in the classic minimalism of my tailoring. I highlighted these contrasts by emulating the techniques of framing and lining from Erwin Blumenfeld’s photography. Above all else, however, the woman behind the clothes inspires this collection. She is the source of inspiration behind all of my collections. When I design, I design for her. She is bold, riveting and captivating, never losing sight of herself.

Sarah’s Mood Board for Autumn/Winter 2012

Symphony: Which song best embodies the new collection?
Sarah Baadarani: I don’t think I could name one song in particular. However, I love working to instrumental music, anything from Vanessa Mae to Alexander Desplat.
Symphony: What is your main fault?
Sarah Baadarani: Neurotic perfectionism. I know it is a cliché, but it’s the truth!
Symphony: What is your present state of mind?
Sarah Baadarani: My present state of mind varies. I do not lose my vision, but I am constantly running over new ideas in my head and then trying to put them into practice and sewing it all together in the end. I think my mind works in many ways but is always harnessed. Presently, it is calm, but excited and very inspired.
Symphony: What is your favourite virtue?
Sarah Baadarani: I think it is very difficult to hone in on one particular virtue, but the natural virtues for me are patience and wisdom. I believe patience is something that comes with time and experience, whereas wisdom is something that can be inherent. Generally I think that they work hand in hand, growing out of one another. In my experience, with wisdom comes patience.

Sarah Baadarani’s Autumn/Winter 2012 collection featuring exclusive pieces is available now at Symphony, The Dubai Mall.
Images and prices on the Facebook album here.

Chances by Alpines (Cyril Hahn Remix)

Today’s Music Monday is the Alpine’s new track Chances, remixed by one of our favourites – Cyril Hahn.

Beautiful Birthday Messages

This time last week, we celebrated our 2nd Anniversary with the launch of our Red Carpet Exhibition (running in-store at Symphony, The Dubai Mall until tomorrow, more info here). We were very blessed to receive these beautiful Birthday messages and sketches from Symphony designers and our fashion friends…

Anna Dello Russo

Anna Sui

Aperlai

Badgley Mischka

Barbara Casasola

Bionda Castana

Christian Siriano

DAS Collection

Felicity Brown

Alice Temperley

Katie Ermilio

Madiyah Al Sharqi

Mimi Plange

Prabal Gurung

Razan Alazzouni

Sarah Baadarani

Moaza Matar

The Tinkah Studio

We feel very blessed to have such thoughtful designers and friends, not forgetting you – our dear Symphony family! Thank you to all who helped us celebrate!

xoxo

Our 2nd Birthday Party

On Sunday the 7th of October 2012 we celebrated our 2nd anniversary with a private event to launch our Red Carpet Exhibition (now open to the public until October 15th). Celebrating two years since we first officially opened Symphony with a star-studded event back in October 2010, which was attended by Whitney Port, Raina Hein, Christian Siriano, Camilla Skovgaard, Erin Fetherston and Rupert Sanderson, guests were treated to an exclusive preview of 8 stunning red carpet gowns worn by the likes of Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon.

The event also featured a preview of our special Anniversary Film highlighting our favourite moments over the last two years including last years 1st anniversary celebrations with Anna Dello Russo and our Spring/Summer 2012 campaign with Tommy Ton & Mira Duma. You can watch the short film here now. In our short two year history we have created five acclaimed campaigns, five coveted in-store magazines (the latest issue for Autumn/Winter 2012 is in-store now in a limited edition print run), as well as charitable projects for Oxfam, Dubai Cares and FACE Africa.

The Symphony Edit | Autumn/Winter 2012. In-store at Symphony, The Dubai Mall now.

The private launch for our anniversary Red Carpet exhibition featured a delectable dessert bar curated by Blossom Sweets with beautiful rose cake pops by Sweet Stuff, a fun photo booth by iBooth, tempting canapes by The Address Hotel and romantic red roses filled the store to complement the AW12 Creative Campaign (a collaboration with Mariam Abbas) by Olivier Dolz. The charity element was present via a silent auction of an original Mariam Abbas artwork, the auction is open to all until the 15th of October 2012, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Dubai Cares charity.

The iBooth (left) | The Mariam Abbas silent auction for Dubai Cares (right)

Inspired by our AW12 Creative Campaign, Cake Pops by Sweet Stuff Dubai

An array of decadent desserts were created by Abu Dhabi bakery, Blossom Sweets

Our new windows for the Autumn/Winter 2012 season, a collaboration with Mariam Abbas

Birthday greetings from designers and fashion friends including Anna Dello Russo, decorate the store

Guests at the private launch included the ‘Symphony Family’, to ensure you receive an invite to the next event, sign up to our exclusive list on the homepage of www.symphony.ae

We would like to thank you all for all of your support over the last two years, it means the world to us! Please come check out the eight gowns exhibiting at Symphony from the 8-15th of October 2012.

xoxo

Something Good by Alt-J

Today’s Music Monday is Something Good by Alt-J. We love this sweet little song. What do you think?

Presenting: The Anniversary Film | Symphony, The Dubai Mall

To celebrate Symphony, The Dubai Mall’s 2nd Anniversary, take a look back at some of our favourite moments over the last two years including our Creative Campaigns, Opening Event with Whitney Port, Raina Hein, Christian Siriano, Rupert Sanderson, Camilla Skovgaard and Erin Fetherston, our 1st year Anniversary Event with Anna Dello Russo and a special Spring/Summer 2012 campaign featuring Mira Duma and shot by Tommy Ton.

Symphony | Ground Floor, Fashion Avenue | The Dubai Mall | www.symphony.ae | +971 (0)4 330 8050

Symphony’s 2nd Anniversary Celebrations

On Sunday the 7th of October 2012 we will be celebrating our second anniversary. To mark the occasion, we are hosting an in-store red carpet exhibition of gowns worn by A Listers including Angelina Jolie, Diane Kruger and Eva Longoria at events such as the MET Gala Ball and the Golden Globes.

The exhibition will run in-store at Symphony, The Dubai Mall from October 8th – 15th 2012 and you are invited!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all of your support over the last two years. We look forward to celebrating our designer’s finest gowns and Symphony’s second birthday with you!

For more details and to RSVP, please view the Facebook event page here.