Balmain will show haute couture after being absent from that highest end of the fashion spectrum for 16 years.
In what can only be seen as validation that couture is still relevant in today’s age, the return to couture for this storied French house is also a return to its own history.
Pierre Balmain founded the label in 1945 as a couture house, and the designer was famed for his mastery of couture techniques. American writer Alice Toklas, who was part of the Parisian avant-garde, wrote of Balmain’s first collection: “Suddenly there was the awakening to a new understanding of what mode really was, the embellishment and the intensification of women’s form and charm.”
Balmain’s last haute couture collection was staged in 2002, under Oscar de la Renta. The brand ceased making couture that same year, citing declining interest and impracticality.
Today, under the guidance of designer Olivier Rousteing, who has been in place since 2011, Balmain has undergone a transformation. Present owner Mayhoola has also injected that all-important cash flow back into the brand. This increased funding enabled Rousteing to build up his atelier – the beating heart of every couture house - which then allowed him to present a couture-quality collection in Paris in January.
Entitled 44 rue François 1er, after the brand’s Paris address, the collection signalled a readiness to return to the precise and rarefied couture fold, which has now been formalised by this latest announcement.
The Balmain haute couture collection is expected to debut in Paris next January, and will place Balmain alongside the houses of Chanel, Christian Dior and Valentino, as creators of the finest, most spectacular fashion in the world.
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ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.
Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.
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Tomorrow 2021
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
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25-MAN SQUAD
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Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
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Three stars
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5.25pm: Etihad Museum – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m
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10.05pm: Al Quoz Creative – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
RESULTS
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
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Price: From Dh650,000
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

