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.
Saint Laurent brings back the Y with its new tote
The initials YSL have appeared in many guises across throughout the collections of Saint Laurent – from heel design to bag clasps. When the brand dropped the founder's first name, Yves, in 2012, it caused quite the stir. Now the letter Y is back and has inspired a new bag, simply called the Y Tote. Perfect for day-to-day use, the carry-all comes in three versions – in black or brick-coloured calf skin, as well as canvas with vegetal leather, in the colors brick and desert dust.
Y Tote in leather, Dh14,800, Saint Laurent
Duha shoes have arrived
Duha is a home-grown UAE shoe brand, the brainchild of designer and architect Duha Bukadi. She hit on the idea during the pandemic, with her innovative designs bagging a finalist spot at Fashion Trust Arabia. Fusing her Tunisian heritage and design experience has resulted in shoes that range from ankle strap sandals to flat mules, and a design named the Secret Sandal, which holds the foot in place, thanks to a see-through "secret" strap.
Secret Sandals, Dh1,890, Duha at Level Shoes
Strange beauty by Jil Sander
The edgy shine of the Jil Sander Resort 2025 collection is a mix best captured in an asymmetric crystal necklace. Rectangles of crystal are strung with irregular discs set at odd angles, meaning that shapes that should hang outside now sit closer to the neck. Like a necklace in reverse, it creates unexpected shapes that are strangely beautiful.
Crystal necklace, Dh10,535, Jil Sander
BMW's hybrid M5 2025 tackles the UAE's highest peak
To show what the new M5 2025 is capable of, BMW took it to the highest peak in the UAE: Jebel Jais. The new plug-in hybrid system combines an electric motor and eight-speed automatic transmission, with a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V-8 engine for real punch. With 727 horsepower and 1,000 Nm of torque coming from the M Hybrid drive system, this sedan may be new, but it retains BMW's famous M Motorsport DNA, with a sculpted front apron, a kidney grille and flared wheel arches and side skirts.
BMW M5 2025, Dh695,000
Tom Ford eyewear
Oversized, squared frames are something of a signature for Tom Ford. A distinctive element on Ford frames is the letter T that replaces the screws and hinging that holds the frames to the arms, along with the notable double bridge above the nose. This style comes with both clear and dark lenses, but perhaps the most daring is the yellow lens version, that adds a surreal glow to even the greyest winters day.
xxxx sunglasses, Dh2,194, Tom Ford
