The new Loafer bag by JW Anderson. Photo JW Anderson
The new Loafer bag by JW Anderson. Photo JW Anderson
The new Loafer bag by JW Anderson. Photo JW Anderson
The new Loafer bag by JW Anderson. Photo JW Anderson

Black Book: Fendi ski wear, new Loafer bag from JW Anderson and ceremonial grade matcha from Haiyatea


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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.

Fendi Skiwear

Fendi hits the slope with its new collection of ski wear. Photo: Fendi
Fendi hits the slope with its new collection of ski wear. Photo: Fendi

Fendi's familiar double F logo is all set to hit the slopes for another season with the arrival of its next-generation ski wear collection. Ski suits, trousers, jackets, gloves and eyewear arrive in new colours, such as co-ordinated trousers and jacket in mocha and a shearling hood, as well as black and tan, and black and red, that come with and without belts, but always with a high neck. These also come with technical panels on knees and elbows to reinforce these stress areas. For apres-ski meanwhile, feet are kept warm in insulated, lace front boots.

Prices start at Dh2,350 for gloves

Valentino perfumes

The Valentino Anatomy of Dreams eau de parfums are available at Bloomingdale's for a limited time. Photo: Bloomingdale's
The Valentino Anatomy of Dreams eau de parfums are available at Bloomingdale's for a limited time. Photo: Bloomingdale's

This is the final opportunity to get new Valentino Beauty Anatomy of Dreams eau de parfum collection from Bloomingdale's. A series of seven unique scents, these have been created to give Italian heritage a modern twist, for a new level of haute perfumery. Unusual and unexpected, these are skilfully mixed. Behind the Seen has a top note of turmeric leaf oil, a heart of hazelwood accord and geranium oil, and a base of cedarwood oil, vetiver and sandalwood heart. Punk Romantic mixes black pepper with juniper berry and olive wood, with base notes of vanilla bourbon. Sogno In Rosso meanwhile is an enchanting mix of spicy and creamy notes, that opens with petitgrain, with a heart of orange blossom and creamy latte foam accords, that deepen into a sandalwood, ambergris and Madagascar vanilla for a sensual finish.

Dh1,405 each for 100ml

Solar Aqua looks to the past

Solar Aqua, the Canadian watchmaker, is looking to its own history for its latest timepiece, limited to 300 pieces. Photo: Solar Aqua
Solar Aqua, the Canadian watchmaker, is looking to its own history for its latest timepiece, limited to 300 pieces. Photo: Solar Aqua

Solar Aqua, the Canadian watchmaker, is looking to its own history for its latest timepiece. Limited to just 300 piece the new Prima Abyss has been inspired by the late 1950s. While not a big player on the global market, it is gaining traction worldwide. Inspired by the Solar Aqua Prima 7951 from 1958, the new watch brings a new sportiness while retaining the details from the original. At 42mm, it has a screw-down crown, and a closed case back. Its lugs are classical while the central counter marks the hours in the centre, with minutes and seconds on the edges. The dial has a radial guilloche finish, and is available in army green, navy blue, oxblood red or black, while this has been tested in rugged mountains and to a depth of 200 metres.

Price on request

JW Anderson' s Loafer bag

The new Loafer Bag by JW Anderson. Photo: JW Anderson
The new Loafer Bag by JW Anderson. Photo: JW Anderson

Irish designer JW Anderson, who in addition to running his own label runs Loewe and just won Designer of the Year for the second year in a row, has released a new bag, inspired by the penny loafer. Called the Loafer Bag, it is a clever reimagining of a shoe into a bag, where the sole is echoed as the base of the bag, and the handle calls to mind the finishing welt that edges the sole. Even the front of the bag carries the same distinctive whale-tail, penny keeper detail as the shoe, now hand-stitched. In two sizes – classic and large – it is offered in different materials including calf skin, leather and suede. JW Anderson's logo, meanwhile, is lightly embossed on to the zip pullers.

Classic Dh6,250 and Large Dh9,950

For Haiyatea, tea is life

The name Haiyatea is inspired by the Arabic for 'my life'. Photo: Haiyatea
The name Haiyatea is inspired by the Arabic for 'my life'. Photo: Haiyatea

Haiyatea is a tea company inspired by the Arabic word 'hayati' ('my life') in demonstration of the importance of its leaves to the founders. Ten years in the making, this artisan company now offers refined tea's such as Imperial Moonlight Mini Cake (Dh115 for 100gms) to Shogyokuen, a heritage, ceremonial grade matcha, that costs Dh400 for 40gms. Aimed at the tea connoisseur as well as the curious, it sources from small farms across China, Japan and Taiwan, seeking out limited edition teas, and collectors grade blends. In addition, it offers exquisite accessories such as delicate hand-painted Tokoname Yunomi teacups, to Saikai Ceramics Porcelain tea sets from Nagasaki that feature one of the seven autumn flowers of Japan.

Things Heard & Seen

Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton

2/5

BRAZIL%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20Alisson%2C%20Ederson%2C%20Weverton%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDefenders%3A%20Dani%20Alves%2C%20Marquinhos%2C%20Thiago%20Silva%2C%20Eder%20Militao%20%2C%20Danilo%2C%20Alex%20Sandro%2C%20Alex%20Telles%2C%20Bremer.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMidfielders%3A%20Casemiro%2C%20Fred%2C%20Fabinho%2C%20Bruno%20Guimaraes%2C%20Lucas%20Paqueta%2C%20Everton%20Ribeiro.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EForwards%3A%20Neymar%2C%20Vinicius%20Junior%2C%20Richarlison%2C%20Raphinha%2C%20Antony%2C%20Gabriel%20Jesus%2C%20Gabriel%20Martinelli%2C%20Pedro%2C%20Rodrygo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

'Brazen'

Director: Monika Mitchell

Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler

Rating: 3/5

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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.
If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS

Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)

Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye

Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine

Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye

Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)

Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)

Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra

Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh

Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar

Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine

 

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: CVT

Power: 170bhp

Torque: 220Nm

Price: Dh98,900

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Updated: December 13, 2024, 2:01 PM