Monica Vinader
Wearability, says Monica Vinader, is the defining feature of the pieces she creates for her eponymous jewellery brand. “The design is very simple, but is very chic, and the style is very accessible. The pieces are designed to be worn every day,” she explains. “This is coupled with beautiful craftsmanship. We use very traditional techniques; we cut all of our stones; the design has a lot of integrity; and it feels like you are wearing relevant, contemporary pieces, with that classic twist.”
This mix has garnered a strong celebrity following, with everyone from Claudia Schiffer and Anne Hathaway to Kylie Minogue and the Duchess of Cambridge having been seen sporting the brand’s creations.
When Vinader and her sister set up the company in 2007, they identified a gap in the market for accessories that sat between costume and fine jewellery; that were original, non-generic and accessible in terms of both price and style. And for the first time, the complete Monica Vinader collection, as well the brand’s much-lauded engraving service, is available at Boutique 1 in Dubai.
There are plenty of things to love about the collection: the seamless intermingling of the precious and the casual, and the way the pieces can be customised and personalised – rings can be stacked, chains and pendants can be mixed and matched, and everything can be engraved, making these pieces perfect for gifting.
Fendi Micro Bag
As the old adage goes, less is sometimes more. Fendi reminds us of how true this is with its latest offering, the Micro bag. Available in Peekaboo and Baguette versions, this spring/summer 2015 offering is both modern and quirky. The Micro is available in nappa leather and special variations such as crocodile skin and “Bag Bug Eyes”, and can be used as an evening bag or paired with a larger bag for daytime use.
The launch of the Micro comes hot on the heels of the recent rerelease of the brand’s iconic Baguette bag, now know as the 3Baguette. A contemporary reinterpretation, the handbag maintains its original shape while offering a new double-pleated body extension in contrasting colours. The 3Baguette has also been the focus of a charitable initiative where the brand has asked five well-known New York women – Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jourdan Dunn, Leandra Medine and Rachel Feinstein – to create their own personalised versions of the bag. The bags will be on display at the brand’s new flagship on Madison Avenue and will be available to purchase through a dedicated online auction site. Bidding closes on March 13 and proceeds will go to each guest designer’s charity of choice.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
The pocket watch first appeared in the 15th century and was originally designed with a winding mechanism that required a key. Until 1870, that is, when Antoine LeCoultre, founder of Jaeger-LeCoultre, invented a keyless level-winding mechanism. The world of pocket watches would never be the same. Fast-forward 145 years to the 25th annual Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, where Jaeger-LeCoultre recently showcased a number of old and new timepieces. Among these was the newly released Circa 1895 Grande Complication pocket watch (shown). Housing three major complications that date back to the 19th century – the perpetual calendar, the chronograph and the minute repeater – the Circa 1895 version also comes with two new adaptations. The perpetual calendar is now accompanied by an aperture-type day and date, month, leap-year cycle and moon phases, and a chronograph now with a telemetric scale.
Also on display at SIHH was the Rendez-Vous Moon, which was released in December. Drawing inspiration from the cosmos, the Rendez-Vous features a beautiful moon phase complication. The disc, made of mother-of-pearl, waxes and wanes and sits surrounded by constellations. Available in 36 and 39mm diameters, the timepiece includes 18-carat white gold, navy blue numerals, hour and minute hands, a navy blue or black satin strap, a crown at 4 o’clock to adjust the time and moon phases, and 166 brilliant-cut diamonds for the 36mm and 208 brilliant-cut diamonds for the 39mm.
Elie Saab
Lebanese couturier Elie Saab pays homage to the quintessential Mediterranean summer holiday with his new limited edition fragrance, Elie Saab Le Parfum, Resort Collection 2015. Inspired by the designer’s summer couture collection and the blue seas of the Amalfi Coast, this is a floral and fruity scent with notes of fig, orange blossom and jasmine. Available in 30ml, 50ml and 90ml sprays, the blue ombre crystal-like bottle draws inspiration from the changing reflections of sunlight on the surface of the sea. Francis Kurkdjian, the curator of the fragrance, compares the indulgent scent to “a warm, gentle breeze caressing the face of a woman who stands on the deck of her yacht wearing a stunning long dress in a shade of blue that is reminiscent of the sea”.
Manolo Blahnik
Manolo Blahnik has turned his attention to the women of the UAE, with the launch of a limited edition pair of Hangisi shoes and matching Gothisi clutch. Exclusively available in the UAE, the Italian-made pumps and clutch both feature platinum fabric and a handmade pearl and silver buckle, making for a covetable combo. The four-inch, padded, leather-lined heels are priced at Dh4,450 and the clutch retails at Dh3,950.
The duo will be available at Manolo Blahnik Boutique at The Dubai Mall, Bloomingdale’s Dubai and Harvey Nichols in Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.
