The new BC Duo bag by Brunello Cuccinelli. Photo: Brunello Cuccinelli
The new BC Duo bag by Brunello Cuccinelli. Photo: Brunello Cuccinelli
The new BC Duo bag by Brunello Cuccinelli. Photo: Brunello Cuccinelli
The new BC Duo bag by Brunello Cuccinelli. Photo: Brunello Cuccinelli

Black Book: Brunello Cucinelli’s 'everyday bag', Dior’s futuristic trainers and Swarovski glam glasses


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Every week, The National's Luxury magazine team puts together Black Book, a cheat sheet of the most interesting and noteworthy arrivals in fashion, watches, jewellery and cars.

Capster launches Moving On elevated trucker caps

Linen trucker cap in muted jade is part of the Moving On range at Capster. Photo: Capster
Linen trucker cap in muted jade is part of the Moving On range at Capster. Photo: Capster

Capster, the UAE-born headwear brand launched in 2017, has introduced a premium line called Moving On. Crafted from breathable linen or cotton, the new caps eschew overt logos in favour of quiet refinement – think muted jade, greige, dove grey and classic black. A contrasting piped edge around the pre-curved brim adds definition, while a discreet monogram sits just off-centre. Understated, versatile and designed to fit all, this is stealth-luxe headwear poised to become an essential look for the summer.

From Dh600 ($163)

BC Duo bag by Brunello Cucinelli

The new BC Duo bag by Brunello Cucinelli. Photo: Brunello Cucinelli
The new BC Duo bag by Brunello Cucinelli. Photo: Brunello Cucinelli

Brunello Cucinelli has introduced Duo, a new collection of bags designed by co-creative directors Camilla and Carolina Cucinelli – daughters of the founder and custodians of the house’s quiet luxury ethos. Soft-sided and gently slouched, the bags come in four sizes, from mini to ultra-large, and are crafted in calfskin for a supple, lightweight feel, as well as in suede and a subtly metallic lame leather. Each piece features the house’s signature monili embroidery and a discreet embossed logo. The palette is characteristically refined: warm browns, timeless neutrals, and seasonal notes of sage, peach and denim.

From Dh5,992

Swarovski Millenia sunglasses

Millenia sunglasses, for summer 2025, by Swarovski. Photo: Swarovski
Millenia sunglasses, for summer 2025, by Swarovski. Photo: Swarovski

Crystal experts since 1895, Austrian house Swarovski is channelling its heritage into bold new collections for summer. Among them is Millenia – a love letter to crystal, expressed in full-spectrum colour. Sunglasses feature a row of white crystals tracing the brow line and arms, which taper to a transparent tip. Paired with a crystal-tipped chain, the look is equal parts retro glamour and high-voltage attitude. Each stone is set in gold-toned prongs to amplify the shimmer – this is eyewear for the unapologetically bold.

Price on request

Givenchy's new Eau de Parfum Ambree

Givenchy expands its men’s fragrance portfolio with the launch of Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Ambree. Photo: Givenchy
Givenchy expands its men’s fragrance portfolio with the launch of Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Ambree. Photo: Givenchy

Givenchy expands its men’s fragrance portfolio with the launch of Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Ambree – a bold, woody-floral blend with a distinctive signature. Opening with clary sage and juniper berry, it deepens through a heart of Madagascan vetiver, French narcissus and orris, grounded by organic Australian sandalwood. A warm dry-down of tobacco and Tasuki vanilla adds an unmistakably seductive finish.

Dh607 for 100ml

Dior Men's B35 Nxxt trainers

The number 47 is stamped on the toe – a subtle nod to the year Christian Dior founded the maison – while the chunky sole reinterprets the house’s signature cannage weave in bold, diagonal relief. Photo: Dior
The number 47 is stamped on the toe – a subtle nod to the year Christian Dior founded the maison – while the chunky sole reinterprets the house’s signature cannage weave in bold, diagonal relief. Photo: Dior

Dior steps into the future with the launch of the B35 Nxxt, its latest men’s trainer. Featuring a fabric mesh upper and sculptural lines that flow from sole to laces, the design is both aerodynamic and assertive. The number 47 is stamped on the toe – a subtle nod to the year Christian Dior founded the maison – while the chunky sole reinterprets the house’s signature cannage weave in bold, diagonal relief. The palette runs from crisp monochrome to high-impact neon accents in yellow, orange, or blue, with more understated takes in beige and brown.

From Dh4,900

A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

The bio

Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

Abaya trends

The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.

Votes

Total votes: 1.8 million

Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes

Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes 

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

Honeymoonish
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THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

PSL FINAL

Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

Other ways to buy used products in the UAE

UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.

Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.

Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.

For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.

Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.

At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.

The Bio

Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”

Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”

Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”

Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

Marathon results

Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01  

Specs%20
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Race card

4pm Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

4.35pm Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m

5.10pm Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m

5.45pm Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m

6.20pm Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m

6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m

7.30pm Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m

The National selections:

4pm Zabardast

4.35pm Ibn Malik

5.10pm Space Blues

5.45pm Kimbear

6.20pm Barney Roy

6.55pm Matterhorn

7.30pm Defoe

Islamic%20Architecture%3A%20A%20World%20History
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The Bio

Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village

What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft

Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

Updated: March 21, 2025, 2:32 PM`