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'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
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 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
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
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.
