Luxury magazine's top fashion, beauty and lifestyle picks for the months of June and July also include timepieces from Graff Diamonds and membership details for The Burj Club.
SOFIA AL ASFOOR
Bahraini designer Sofia Al Asfoor drew inspiration from architecture and origami in her final year at London College of Fashion, which led to the creation of her trademark motif, the pyramid or "shield". This three-dimensional feature is found on the brand's signature Shield line, which comes in three distinct styles: Classic, Bespoke and Exotic. The Classic Shield is available in three sizes and three designs, Signature, Borla and Lafina. Colour options include striking shades of azul, tan, night, steel and orange, with a single or double handle. Each bag is crafted from calfskin and lined with suede or Nappa leather. The Bespoke range features calfskin on the front and back, and ostrich leather on the sides, available in night, cognac, almond or kango tobac. The Exotic range, available in Signature and Borla styles, can be customised with various skins, including ostrich or crocodile (pictured), available in natural and dyed colours. Detailing options include engraving, signatures and shield emblems, some of which are adorned with diamonds. The bags, which range from Dh3,500 to Dh33,170, are available at Tryano in Yas Mall and Galeries Lafayette in The Dubai Mall.
GRAFF DIAMONDS
The British jewellery brand Graff Diamonds has produced some beautiful timepieces in recent years – including the Graff Hallucination, which sold for an astounding Dh202 million in 2014, and The Fascination, shown at Baselworld in 2015 and encrusted with 152.96 carats of white diamonds and a single, flawless – removable – 38.13-carat pear-shaped diamond. More recently, the brand presented the Graff Serpentine Secret watch, part of a 74-piece travelling jewellery and watches collection that visited the brand's boutique in The Galleria, Abu Dhabi, last month. It features 1,264 white diamonds and a 5.64-carat pear-shaped diamond that, similar to The Fascination, can be moved to reveal a hidden timepiece. Also on display were the Scroll motif necklace; the Mastergraff Floral Tourbillon; and the Graff Butterfly timepiece (pictured).
CARTIER
It was a visit to Dubai that inspired Mathilde Laurent, Cartier's dedicated perfumer, to create a line of scents with oud at its heart. Les Heures Voyageuses de Cartier pays tribute to exotic lands and is a nod to the Cartier brothers, who were keen explorers. Laurent experimented with Oriental ingredients, including rose, sandalwood, jasmine and ginger, combining them with oud in unexpected ways. The final products are woody and evocative, and incorporate record levels of raw ingredients, rendering them almost akin to perfume extracts. Cartier has added two scents to the family this month, in time for Ramadan: Oud & Santal, which combines oud resin with sandalwood, and Oud Absolu, which can be worn on its own, or act as a base upon which to apply other fragrances. The company also marked the beginning of the Holy Month with the launch of a "malle prestige" (pictured), a case containing five of the six scents in the collection. In addition to Oud Absolu, the case offers 45ml bottles of Oud & Oud, Oud & Rose, Oud & Musc and Oud Radieux, an enticing mix of oud and ginger.
THE BURJ CLUB
The Burj Club, a 6,320-square-metre health and fitness facility in the world's tallest building, has, for the first time, opened its doors to non-members, who can now sign up for day passes, group-exercise sessions or long-term membership packages. Offering panoramic views of Downtown Dubai, the club, which is under new management, features five levels dedicated to health, fitness and leisure. In addition to a fully equipped gym, there are two fitness studios offering new group-exercise classes, including Les Mills programmes and yoga sessions. The club is also fitted with an Olympic-sized pool, and members and visitors can sign up to take part in swimming classes. A rooftop pool and lounge, and the Burj Club Spa offer a more languid experience, while an entire level of the club is dedicated to ladies, and includes a gym and spa. The option to tailor-make meal plans based on individual dietary requirements is also available. Day passes at The Burj Club start from Dh275, while membership rates range from Dh1,950 for one month to Dh18,000 for the whole year for individuals, and Dh36,000 per annum for families.
alane@thenational.ae