This season, the journey of the man of flowers continues, emerging from his Winter world of evening formality and the Opera House, to the bright sunshine and colour of Summer. The Dior Homme man led the way into the House’s sartorial secret garden, walking through a verdant bed of roses embedded in wooden parquet flooring at the Paris Tennis Club. The Fée des Neiges flowering white rosebushes throughout the venue mirrored the embroidered flora that wound up shirt sleeves, across the torso of suiting and down trouser legs. These whimsical blooms were contrasted with Kris Van Assche’s crisp and sharply cut suits, which also came with contrasting top stitch details, abstract embroidery and argyle patterns.

‘In this collection, the dialogue with Christian Dior continues in a more abstract way,’ says Van Assche. ‘There is an insistence on the ‘Frenchness’ of Dior, both the man and the house, and what that symbolises. At the same time, the collection could be seen as an exploration of sportswear, from its traditional roots to its contemporary incarnation.’ The colouration of military uniforms, the orange interior of the MA1 bomber jacket to khaki camouflage patterning and naval blues, was translated into a buttercup yellow ostrich skin coat, a crocodile coat in vivid tangerine and crocodile bomber in delicate apricot. Together with playfully mixing contemporary and tradition for Dior’s approach to sportswear with gentlemanly Argyll knits and hunting checks.

BY ADRIEN DIRAND

BY ADRIEN DIRAND

The work of the American ceramicist Kristin McKirdy, with its nod to the mid-century, and the creative peak of Mr Christian Dior, is adapted to jewellery. Here, the Dior lucky charm becomes a contemporary ceramic sculpture; an abstract talisman embodying the textures and colours of the collection, the bright, enamelled coatings becoming a code for key colours of the season.

BY MORGAN O’DONOVAN

BY ADRIEN DIRAND

BY MORGAN O’DONOVAN

BY ADRIEN DIRAND

BY MORGAN O’DONOVAN

BY MORGAN O’DONOVAN

‘For me it is always about finding codes, menswear is full of them, and this is something I love,’ say Kris Van Assche. ‘In this collection many of the codes are traditional, but it is the accumulation of those traditions that makes it both extreme and essentially about contemporary elegance.’

After the excitement and emotion of your wedding, it is essential that you organise the perfect honeymoon escape. Whether you want a romantic hideaway, a glitzy city destination or an action packed adventure, we have it covered. Our guide gives you the insider information on the finest resorts and tips of what not to miss when you are there, together with the best time of year to visit.

RELAX AND RECHARGE

Check in to one of these boltholes for sun, sea and sand – then sit back and unwind.

Constance Halaveli, Maldives

Best between: November – April

Flight time: 5hrs

Powdery white sands, endless blue skies and crystal clear waters make the Maldives one of the most beautiful and sought after destinations in the world. Constance Halaveli is a floating dreamscape of a hotel that is shaped like the a dhoni, the traditional Maldivian boat, and is located in a sparkling lagoon in the North Ari Atoll.

The hotel itself consists of 86 villas dotted across the tiny private island, 57 of which are over water and the rest nestled on the sands of the beach, each with their own plunge pool.

The Maldives is known for its rich marine life and the hotel dive centre runs tuition and dive trips to the incredible nearby reefs, together with manta ray and shark awareness courses. There are plenty of other watersports on offer, from snorkelling and kayaking to catamaran lessons and windsurfing. Although if you fancy something a little more relaxed, then we recommend getting slathered in fragrant Ila and Valmont products at the blissful overwater spa.

Six Senses Con Dao, Vietnam

Best between: Feb  – April & Aug – Oct

Flight time: 7hrs

If you are craving a relaxing retreat for your first trip of wedded bliss, this is just the place. Located on one of the world’s most idyllic beaches, the resort is nestled between lush fauna and flora on an island south of mainland Vietnam.

The private villas, of which there are 53 in total, are crafted from locally sourced materials with a contemporary and sleek finish, including colossal bathrooms and outdoor monsoon showers. The best part about the design are the giant glass walls that open onto your personal infinity pool.

It’s all about the spa and wellness concept here at Con Dao, with personalised detox programmes, wraps and Vietnamese facials.

When you are feeling fully rejuvenated either go scuba diving where there is astonishing visibility, or experience Green and Hawksbill turtles nesting and laying their eggs.

The Brando, French Polynesia

Best between: May – Oct

Flight time: 22hrs

Thirty miles north of Tahiti is an enchanting necklace of 12 beach fringed islets that was once the private atoll of Hollywood legend Marlon Brando. Now it’s home to a very exclusive escape which you can only reach by the resort’s own plane.

The mood here is luxury unplugged, with 35 majestic, thatched roof, beachfront villas, each with an outdoor bath, plunge pool, rocking chair for two, and a pair of chic vintage-style bicycles for freewheeling through the coconut palms. Everything here is included in your booking, from dreamy Polynesian spa treatments, lagoon cruises, and delicious French cuisine created by two Michelin star chef Guy Martin.

This idyllic spot is best known for its castaway feel, whether you are snorkelling in the crystal clear South Pacific waters or eating fresh fruit whilst lounging on the white sands. However, the highlight has to be the whale watching, and it’s a location which is hard to beat. Watch humpback whales from your villa if you visit between August and October.

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

Best between: Nov  – April

Flight time: 5hrs

‘No news, no shoes’ is the only rule at Gili Lankfanfushi, where the one thing you’ll fret about is whether or not the dolphins show up when you go diving. From the moment your feet hit the sand, you are encouraged to embrace island life at this tropical hideaway.

Breath-taking villas are built from reclaimed wood and are accessed via a rickety jetty stand on stilts over a turquoise lagoon. These are among the largest villas in the Maldives, with giant bathrooms, open air sitting rooms, private sundecks and steps directly into the sea. The hotel prides itself on preserving the environment, from having a marine biologist in residence, an organic garden and all of the bathroom goodies from insect repellent to after-sun lotion stocked in eco-friendly ceramic containers.

But don’t be fooled by this hippy feel, luxury is key and each villa has its own butler to assist you, meaning you can focus on completely unwinding. There is little need to move, although we recommend you hop on your bamboo bicycle and head over to say hello to the resident octopus lurking in the lagoon by the overwater bar. Or for movie night, hire the jungle cinema and enjoy a three course dinner while watching your favourite film.

North Island, Seychelles

Best between: March – May & Sept – Dec

Flight time: 4.5hrs

North Island Lodge is a colonial chic sanctuary for both wildlife and guests. Just a short helicopter journey from the main island of Mahé, the privately run island is lapped by the tropical waters of the Seychelles.

The 11 handcrafted villas, which are all bare wood and billowing cotton, have a quintessential rustic Robinson Crusoe feel, together with all the modern conveniences. Raised off the ground to catch the cooling Indian Ocean breezes, the villas, which are complete with plunge pools and outdoor showers, open up onto your private garden and the beach.

After a day soaking up the sun, take in the Island’s scenery as you walk over to the Sunset Beach Bar for cocktails. Although, keep an eye out for Brutus, the island’s 160-year-old tortoise. To add to the feeling of desert island life, you won’t be finding a menu at meal times, the chef prepares seasonal fresh food to your taste with a plentiful supply of fish caught offshore.

COOL AND CHIC

Looking for a contemporary and chic destination? These hotels come with culture and beautiful architecture.

Ceylon Tea Trails, Sri Lanka

Best between: September – April

Flight time: 5hrs

The interior of Sri Lanka has a mountainous and cultural beauty. Rising 2243 metres above this lush landscape is the sacred Adam’s Peak, which attract pilgrims who climb it’s 5500 steps at night.

However, on a clear day you can enjoy these views from the comfort of Tea Trails, a quartet of elegant boutique villas in lakeside Bogawantalawa Valley. Each boasting a distinctive character, these restored planters’ bungalows befit a Somerset Maugham lifestyle, with timbered ceilings, panelled libraries, claw-foot baths and bay windows. They are surrounded by gardens where, in the evening, you can hear the chanting from temples across the valley.

Feast on tea-inspired cuisine, think asparagus soup infused with green tea and blueberry cheesecake with hibiscus flower tea sauce, before exploring the surrounding tea estates, ravines and waterfalls.

Iniala, Thailand

Best between: September – May

Flight time: 6.5hrs

Iniala Beach House is quite unlike any other hotel, with an enviable location right on the golden sands of Natai Beach, and just a 20 minutes’ drive from the airport, this unique boutique hotel not only boasts breath-taking views but is a masterpiece of both architectural and interior design.

With just ten suites at the property contained in three distinct villas and one spectacular penthouse, Iniala Beach House is the epitome of luxury living. Each villa houses three suites, their own individual spa and personal outdoor pool.

From the eclectic extravagance of the Collector’s Villa with its aquatic colour scheme to the spiritual space of Villa Siam, and the beautiful fusion of Eastern and Western design in Villa Bianca, the suites are the inspiration of 10 world class designers who wanted to create an ‘out of the ordinary’ property. Of course, for couples the one-bedroom suite that makes up the penthouse is the perfect romantic retreat, with its futuristic design and holistic environment.

You will be in for a culinary treat at the property’s signature restaurant, Aziamendi, which is considered a top gastronomic venue in Southern Thailand. Feast on a menu overseen by Chef Eneko Atxa who received his stars in Spain and who is the mastermind behind the Basque and Thai cuisine.

Urso Hotel and Spa, Madrid

Best between: March – November

Flight time: 7.5hrs

Madrid is a city that is buzzing with life, from gourmet restaurants to a vibrant art scene. Located between the super trendy Malasana and Chueca districts is the elegant Scandi-style Urso Hotel and Spa.

This lovingly restored 20th century neo-classical palace is walking distance from some of the city’s best sights, museums and galleries. But with so many options to choose from, we suggest visiting the picturesque Palacio de Cristal in Buen Retiro Park and the iconic Plaza de Cibeles, a square full of fountains that’s synonymous with the city itself. The cultural centre Círculo de Bellas Artes, with its calendar packed with shows, films, exhibitions and events, is also worth a visit.

The city is simply too much fun, so you are better off heading out and exploring. But before you leave you must experience the Natura Bisse spa, with its extensive list of boutique treatments. Also, be sure to visit The Table, the hotel’s inventive pop up restaurant where a guest chef takes charge each month.

The Arch, London

Best between: May – September 

Flight time: 7hrs

Tucked behind the glorious marble arches of Hyde Park’s sturdiest landmark, The Arch London hotel is a grand Georgian pad, spread over seven former townhouses and two old mews houses. Walls are covered in hand-made Italian wallpaper and artwork by rising British talents, and bedrooms are kitted out with all the technology you could wish for.

Pop down Park Lane to the Dorchester, for some fine dining at a British institution. You can pick from several options, the Promenade for afternoon tea, the Grill for British classics, Alain Ducasse for some fancy French and China Tang for Chinese food and celebrity spotting. Also, on the same street as the Arch, you’ll find Rhodes W1 behind a huge black door. The menu features French and Italian influences, as well as London favourite, smoked eel.

If serious sightseeing is on your agenda, book one of the hotel’s London Pass packages, which offers access to the city’s notable attractions. Follow this up with a visit to traditional pub Windsor Castle in Marylebone, and while you are there you can admire the shrine to George Best and curious collection of commemorative plates, they’re even on the ceiling.

ADVENTURE

From skiing to safari, these places were meant for intrepid travellers.

Awasi, Patagonia

Best between: November – March   

Flight time: 14.5hrs

Torn between safari and South America, this destination has the solution. Awasi combines safari style excursions, luxury standalone lodges and breath-taking views of the Torre del Paine mountains.

Opened on the former campground of adventurer Florence Dixie, who pitched her tent beneath the iconic peaks in 1878, the hotel is spread out like a classic estancia, with the stylish restaurant and guest lounge just a 5-minute stroll or a short golf-buggy ride from the furthest-flung villa.

Spend the day traversing rivers, kayaking around icebergs, horse riding with gauchos and even puma spotting. Then it’s back to your lodge, one of the twelve secluded log houses, for a soak in your hot tub with awe inspiring views.

Spend you evenings alongside wood burning stoves dining on mouth-watering food, from Patagonian lamb, organic vegetables from the garden and slow-cooked Wagu beef.

Aqua Mekong, Cambodia and Vietnam

Best between: Feb – April & Aug – Oct

Flight time: 7hrs

This a very glamorous and luxury cross between a cruise and back packing, with just 20 suites, all clad in teak with floor to ceiling windows. The floating five-star boutique hotel snakes its way from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, providing amazing views that you can enjoy from the comfort of your king size bed.

Take an excursion on a skiff with your expert guides down narrow waterways lined with lush paddy fields, visiting the most off the radar villages. You will sample mangosteen, sugar cane and pineapple at a local market, receive blessings from Buddhist monks in their secret sanctuaries and float through ancient flooded forests. On your return you can cool off in the pool at the back of the boat and continue watching the sights.

Cheval Blanc, Courchevel

Best between: December – March

Flight time: 6.5hrs

In the Alps’ most exclusive ski resort, Courchevel, is the Cheval Blanc, an haute-couture property in the fashionable Jardin Alpin area above the resort.

The 34 rooms and suites are decorated with rich velvet, deep faux-fur rugs and throws, sleek animal hide and photographs commissioned by Karl Lagerfeld. With bathrooms stacked with Guerlain goodies and your boots warmed for you in advance, this is as close to alpine ski heaven as a hotel can get.

For the experienced skiers you can be picked up by helicopter and whisked off for some thrilling skiing on untouched off-piste slopes.

Ulusaba, South Africa

Best between: October – May

Flight time: 8.5hrs

There is so much to see and do at Sir Richard Branson’s private game reserve that you won’t want to sit back and relax. Situated near Kruger National Park, Ulusaba has just 21 rooms that are split between three lodges. Both Rock Lodge and Cliff Lodge are perched on the summit of the reserve with views for miles, and Safari Lodge is 500 metres away on the plain of a dry riverbed, amongst the wildlife.

The highlight here is the twice daily game drives, together with the option of requesting a romantic picnic in the bush. For a more exhilarating excursion you can take a helicopter flight through the lush valleys, deep canyons and over waterfalls, or otherwise a ride on an African elephant.

We recommend you finish your day of outdoor activities with a relaxing couples massage at the Aroma Boma Spa, you even get to take away the scented candle from your treatment as a memento.

CLOSE TO HOME

Whether you’re taking a mini-moon or just don’t fancy travelling far, you will still feel miles away in these resorts.

Alila, Jabal Akhdar

Best between: Jan – April & July – Oct

Journey time: 2.5hr drive from Muscat airport

Cradled by soaring mountains and dramatic canyons, Alila’s infinity pool and stone-clad clusters of luxurious suites are scattered on the edge of a clifftop, blending seamlessly into the rugged desert beyond.

The eco-friendly resort comprises of 78 suites and two Jabal Villas with private pools, constructed using local building materials and traditional techniques. Inside you will find a mix of contemporary decor coupled with authentic Omani style, there are earthy tones of wood and stone, accented with bold rugs and furnishings.

If you aren’t feeling zen enough from the breathtaking views and secluded location, then a soothing therapy in Spa Alila will do the trick. Sourced from villages in East Bali, unrefined coconut oil is mixed with sweet almond, kukui nut and wheatgerm oils for an out-of-this world massage.

Al Maha

Best between: Jan – April & July – Oct

Journey time: 1hr drive from Dubai

Al Maha Resort is nestled in a verdant palm oasis, deep within Dubai’s desert and dune landscape, showcasing the heritage and architecture of the Bedouins alongside a sense of desert adventure.

The Arabian Oryx & the Gazelles are the star attractions in the reserve, and can be viewed as you take a dip in the infinity pool.

Stand-alone ‘tents’ are decked out with wooden chests, Arabian antiques, and Oriental carpets, making up the luxury desert camp. The ‘old Arabia’ theme carries on to the communal areas with billowing curtains, low banquette seating, decorative brass tray tables, traditional carpets on the floor, and old Bedouin artefacts on display, from antique rifles to copper coffee pots.

When you return from wildlife drives or the sunset camel ride you can savour views of the vast expanse of desert as you sip sundowners on the Terrace Bar, there’s even a telescope if you’re not quite done with wildlife spotting, before feasting on Arabic cuisine prepared from organic produce on the alfresco deck of Al Diwaan.

Anantara, Sir Bani Yas Island

Best between: Jan – April & July – Oct

Journey time: 45min flight from Abu Dhabi

Sir Bani Yas Island is a nature-based destination alive with wildlife and adventure activities. Set on a remote and beautiful island just off the coast of Abu Dhabi, the natural island houses the once private Royal Nature Reserve of HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. We recommend that you split your time between two of the Anantara resorts, Al Yamm and Al Saheel, for a taste of everything the island has to offer.

Enjoy the natural beauty of the savannah from your luxury rustic lodge in the heart of the island’s vast Arabian nature park at Al Sahel Villa Resort. It is a small collection of villas in a section of the 4,200-hectare Arabian Wildlife Park, which is home to thousands of free-roaming animals including Arabian oryx and sand gazelle, as well as cheetahs and giraffes. Either take a nature and wildlife tour, where your expert guide drives you up close to the animals, or just sit back and spot the oryx and gazelle from the privacy of your private plunge pool.

Over on the eastern shores is tranquil beach front seclusion at Al Yamm. The villas, which have touches of local flair inspired by the barasti of the early fishermen who inhabited the island, open up to a stretch of wild beach strewn with shells, sponges and corals. At night you can leave your doors open so you sleep to the sound of the lapping waves.

Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

Best between: Jan – April & July – Oct

Journey time: 2hrs drive from Dubai

There are views and there is the view from Zighy Bay. Cradled by dramatic mountains on the Northern Peninsula of Oman and dipping into the opal blue waters of the Musandam’s fjords, the remote resort can be reached by speedboat, 4×4 or paraglider.

Laid out like a traditional Omani village, individual stone-walled dwellings house standalone villas and suites. Every villa has a private plunge pool and our pick of them all are the sunrise-facing beachfront villas, with uninterrupted sea views and only a few sandy footsteps between you and the water.

During the day you can relax at the freeform infinity-edged pool, which winds down towards the sea, with plenty of palm-shaded loungers, and the occasional mountain goat. There’s also a saltwater swimming pool with Roman steps and a swim-round island.

There are a few options for dining, but we recommend Sense on the Edge, Zighy Bay’s mountaintop fine-dining showcase, which is 293m above sea level. Expect twice-cooked deliciousness presented three ways, with interesting reductions and lashings of jus.

Located in Milan’s modish Montenapoleone district, the hotel has a discreet entrance on a quiet side-street in the heart of Milan’s fashionable Quadrilatero district, home to the city’s most exclusive boutiques and fashion labels, which is just a stone’s throw away from La Scala Opera House and the Duomo. The hotel tastefully blends Italian design and furnishings with Oriental features, with its contemporary interiors taking inspiration from 1940s Milanese interior décor.

Milan exterior facade

Style

Housed in a re-development of four elegant, 18th century buildings, formerly the headquarters of a bank, the original coat of arms of the Lombard provinces are still visible in the inner courtyard. Interiors aim to recreate a Milanese residence of the early 20th century, with soft wall tones and oak wood fittings.

Hotel lobby lounge

Fine dining seta courtyard

Rooms

Mandarin Oriental, Milan offers 72 guestrooms and 32 suites spread over five floors, with some overlooking the hotel’s inner courtyards, others rooftops, and the remainder, surrounding historic streets. The contemporary rooms are furnished with bespoke Italian fittings and natural materials including oak parquet floors and walnut and oak boiserie. Purple and beige dominate, with plum-coloured armchairs and velvet textiles complemented by smoky linen curtains. Modern ‘penthouse aesthetics’ mean the hotel architects have designed grand windows for rooms on the fourth and fifth floors which provide expansive views over Milan that encompass the Duomo in some cases. Spacious Italian marble bathrooms have glass-fronted rain showers and bath tubs.

Suite Presidential Bedroom

Food and Drink

Acclaimed Chef Antonio Guida, originally from the two Michelin starred Il Pellicano in Tuscany, is at the helm of all hotel’s dining outlets, bringing his refined techniques, his attention to the quality of ingredients and his creative touch to the fine-dining restaurant, Seta, and to the bar bistro, Mandarin Bar. The sleek Mandarin Bar is a modish spot for an aperitive or cocktail, featuring black and white geometric mosaic patterns. There’s a leafy inner courtyard with wicker sofas and lounge chairs where light meals and snacks are available throughout the day, while the lunch and dinner à la carte menu offers an excellent choice of Italian dishes. The sophisticated Seta restaurant, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2015, serves Italian cuisine with a touch of French and a pinch of Oriental, achieving this culinary balancing act by highlighting the original flavours of each element in the dish. Each dining experience is a voyage of discovery that ‘calls’ at five selected stops when ordering the tasting menu.

Fine dining Mandarin bar courtyard

The Spa

A temple of wellbeing, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Milan offers a holistic experience that results in long-lasting regeneration of mind, body and soul. By applying the five key elements of Chinese Feng Shui philosophy, Fire, Earth, Wood, Metal and Water to the design, the architects have harmonised the interiors of the 900 square metre spa masterfully creating a welcoming environment that encourages relaxation and rejuvenation. The Spa has six treatment rooms, including two couples suites, two retreats for individuals, one Thai massage room and a VIP suite with its own vitality pool, and a beautiful, heated, indoor swimming pool. A hair salon headed by celebrity hairstylist, Massimo Serini, and beauty studio for make-up, manicures and pedicures complete the range of services offered at The Spa.

Unique impressions of classical architecture.

Stylish, fine and modern, the decorative variant has a unique design with clear lines and luxurious ornamentation.

Inspired by the domes and rotundas of great European cathedrals, the symmetrical platinum patterns are beautifully set off against the white porcelain.

Photographer : Henry Pascual

Fashion Director : Eliza Scarborough

From designers to wedding planners, who are more in the know than most about weddings. We chat to them to get their top tips and advice, for the perfect day.

Negin Fattahi-Dasmal

Founder & Chief Executive of the Grooming Company

Negin Fattahi-Dasmal

When Negin Fattahi-Dasmal returned to Dubai in the late 1990s after a spell in Los Angeles, she decided to launch her own take on the nail bars that she had loved in LA. Negin began by opening the first N.Bar in 2001, which has since hugely expanded, encompassing male grooming lounges and blow dry services. The mother of four tells us about her American style wedding day.

Tell us about your dress and shoes?

My dress was by Vera Wang. I set my eyes on the gown when in Barneys New York with my mother and sister at my side. It was the first dress I saw and I fell in love with it instantly. Although I continued to look, I eventually went back to this first design.

Where and when did you wed?

In July 1999, at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles

How did you make the flowers your own?

It was a summer wedding so I went for a soft palette of pink, peaches and ivory, with touches of green, peonies, hydrangeas, and roses. The Beverly Hills Hotel is a historical landmark, so I wanted to go with classic arrangements that would tie in with the understated yet elegant feel of the location. Especially the main feature of the Crystal ballroom, which is a large chandelier with blown glass roses.

Tell us about your cake?

The cake was an eight tier cake with butter cream icing, it was decorated with alternating tiers of the same flower arrangement of fresh flowers.

What was your personal touch?

The name Negin means diamond. So I personalised my husband Salem’s platinum band with a .25 carat diamond on the inside of the band, inscribed with ‘Your (diamond) forever’.

Best advice you were given for the day?

The best advice was to enjoy every second and always remember to smile. It is your special day and you never know when the camera will capture a moment.

Your top tip for future brides?

Always remember the camera is on you at every moment and most importantly be yourself. The bride and groom set the tone for the party, and the guests will follow your lead. It is also important for the bride and groom to make a point to greet every table and have a personal exchange with guests so they don’t come across as inaccessible. I especially recommend having a speech room, so your guests can leave personal messages which you can watch later.

by Eliza Scarborough

From designers to wedding planners, who are more in the know than most about weddings. We chat to them to get their top tips and advice, for the perfect day.

Amy Jarczynski

Founder & CEO at Aroos Joon

Amy Jarczynski

Amy Jarczynski founded Aroos Joon, the premier multilingual online wedding resource for elite international brides of the Middle East, South Asia and beyond. The concierge style website aims to provide sophisticated and discerning couples with a one-stop wedding planning experience, allowing them to enjoy unparalleled access to all categories in bridal while showcasing the very best each region has to offer. Amy is recently engaged and is currently planning her wedding day, she shares with us her plans and dreams for her own big day.

Tell us about your dream dress?

I haven’t selected my dress or shoes yet, however, I have recently been at New York Bridal Fashion Week with my Aroos Joon team, so I have some top choices by Mira Zwillinger, Naeem Khan and Ines di Santo. There’s also a Peter Langner gown that I’m still in love with from last April, so we shall see. My aesthetic is a sleek silhouette and soft, silk organza fabric with a little embroidery lace or sparkle, which all of these gowns have.  For shoes, something fabulous and comfortable at the same time, this decision will have to be made after I purchase my dress. I did see the collection of Emmy London shoes recently, which have a vintage flair and gorgeous beading and mirror embellishments, so at the moment, I’d have to say a rose gold pair of Emmy London heels are holding my top slot for my wedding shoes.

Where and when will you be getting married?

We’re planning a destination wedding, either on the beach in Tulum, Mexico, my favourite beach in the world, or a rustic, countryside villa setting in Umbria, Italy, ideally in 2017. I do of course want to be able to book all of my wedding details directly on AroosJoon.com, and allow my guests to connect via the social platform I’ve created, so that technology should be available to users by July and my official digital wedding planning will begin then.

Do you have plans for flowers and the theme of your day?

For me personally, flowers aren’t the most important detail of the wedding, as I believe it’s more about choosing a beautiful setting that represents you as a couple and then selecting complimentary decor, which can consist of many mediums, flowers, lighting, furniture, linens and props, and other natural elements. I’m most drawn to a stylised table top look with low centrepieces consisting of many elements, however until I decide on the setting for my wedding these are just ideas.

Tell us about your cake?

Although naked cakes are all the rage, I’m an icing girl, so it will definitely be a buttercream confection and covered in hand painted fondant. I love the sleek, hand painted cake with minimal embellishments.

How do you aim to give your wedding a personal touch?

No matter what destination we choose for celebrating our wedding, my personal touch will be more focused on offering an amazing experience to all of my guests over the 3-4 days that everyone gathers together in that destination. As an avid traveller, I know the destinations very well, so I have many activities in mind for my guests, highlighting the beauty and local culture of the region and showing them a great time as a ‘thank you’ for their traveling the distance for me.

Have you received any advice yet for your upcoming nuptials?

It’s funny, now that I think about it, I actually haven’t received any wedding advice from anyone. I guess since I’m the one always giving out wedding advice in my career, people don’t feel the need to offer me theirs.

Your top tip for future brides?

Stay true to yourself and who you are as a couple in every detail of the wedding.  Whether you’re paying for that detail or not, you need to make this day all about you, and you both as a couple. From the setting, to what you wear, the decor, food, music and entertainment, a wedding is a celebration of your union and should reflect your personal tastes in every detail.

From designers to wedding planners, who are more in the know than most about weddings. We chat to them to get their top tips and advice, for the perfect day.

Jelena Bin Drai

Designer & Entrepreneur

Jelena Bin Drai

Serbian born Jelena Bin Drai became an entrepreneur, following her move to Dubai. She used her extensive knowledge of the fashion industry, which she gained as one of the regions first supermodels, to build an empire of beauty salons, health clinics and nurseries, before launching her own fashion brand. Jelena Bin Drai is a luxury clothing brand, which uses exquisite craftsmanship and the highest quality fabrics to create chic and wearable collections.

Tell us about your dress and shoes?

Dubai-based fashion designer and close friend Rami Al Ali designed my wedding gown. Just like every other bride-to-be, I was very picky with the details and style of what I pictured my wedding dress to be. In fact, Rami said I was his most difficult client ever. I wore Dior heels to compliment my beautiful, elegant gown.

Where and when did you wed?

I got married in 2008 and had my wedding at our family farm in Al Awir, Dubai. We felt it was the perfect place to hold the ceremony and celebrate with our closest family and friends.

How did you make the flowers your own?

I ordered huge bouquets of hydrangea from a boutique located on Jumeirah Road. Because of its size and enchanting colors and varieties, I was so mesmerised by the ornamental flowers I knew it would be perfect for my magical day.

Tell us about your cake?

My three tier stacked vanilla and fruit flavoured cake was decorated with white icings on top in the form of hydrangea flowers, while the bottom of the cake had vine leaves. I wanted my cake to have the nature element.

What was your personal touch?

The invitation cards were the item I mostly added my personal touch to and tried to create on my own. It was a big envelope that looked more like a champagne coloured clutch covered in pure raw silk and was wrapped with a delicate silver rope. Then, I sealed the card with two beautiful Swarovski crystal drops. The invitation was translated into three languages: English, Serbian and Arabic and included a map to our venue.

Best advice you were given for the day?

Before my wedding, a close friend told me to just relax and enjoy my special day and that no one will take notice if things don’t go as planned.

Your top tip for future brides?

My top tip for future brides is to just take it easy on their big day and to enjoy their day without worrying about things not turning out the way they were expected to. Nobody will ever know!

From designers to wedding planners, who are more in the know than most about weddings. We chat to them to get their top tips and advice, for the perfect day.

Zainab Alsalih

Managing Director at Carousel Events

Zainab Alsalih

Born in Baghdad and raised in Europe and the Gulf, Zainab Alsalih moved to Dubai in 1990, working as a banker. However, she always had a talent for planning memorable parties and dinners for family and friends. This led to her into wedding planning as a career, a business, and life-style choice, with the successful company, Carousel Events. Married almost 19 years ago, Zainab gives her tips for the wedding she would plan now.

If you were planning your own wedding again today, how would you change it?

If I were to plan my own wedding all over again, it would be an affair that is intimate and timeless. Not trendy, or showy, but with simple, natural and authentic beauty. My wedding, was a very elaborate affair with 500 guests, 2 bands, a belly dancer, and a DJ, it was a real party! Today I would opt for a very simple, yet elegant day. I envision a single long table, with only our families and our closest friends. It would be intimate and highly personal, where we would know everyone on a first name basis, I didn’t know half of the guests at my own wedding!

What colour scheme and style would you choose?

For colour, it would be all white, with simple accents of green, and maybe a bit of silver. I would have the freshest and most luscious flowers, tulips and hydrangeas come to mind, with single flower and single colour arrangements. I would surround myself and my guests with an abundance of beautiful flowers.

As a wedding planner, would you create a day like the elaborate events you plan?

It’s very interesting that when you ask accomplished chefs what they cook for themselves and their family and friends, it’s almost always the simplest of dishes, with basic and high quality ingredients, delicious but not pretentious. A meal meant to be enjoyed and deeply satisfying, and not made to impress others, meet any specific expectations, be judged by food critics, or follow any of the latest food trends and fads. I suppose in some ways the same applies to me as a wedding designer and planner. For the meal, it would be a seated dinner, and I would go to extreme lengths to make sure the food and the meal are as memorable as the day. I would select every single item on the menu, and would insist on the highest and most precious possible ingredients, truffles flown in from Italy comes to mind. Not a fussy meal, but simple, seasonal, real, and delicious. 

The ambiance, music and time of day tend to set the tone for an event. What would be your ideal combination?

I would choose a late afternoon outdoor wedding, where day melts into night, and where the setting and the mood get transformed as the light changes. For the day, I would have live music, something soothing and beautiful, classical or smooth jazz comes to mind, and for the night, I would switch over to a DJ and really get the party started, this is where we all let our hair down, and just have a great time! It would almost feel, and look, like two separate events. I would also make it a weekend-long affair, using the time to bond with family and friends who have travelled to be with us.

What advice would you have liked to receive before you planned your own wedding?

That a wedding should always be a reflection of your personality and your lifestyle, whether you are a casual person a glamorous girl. Personalise your wedding by creating a theme that is a reflection of you, your culture, and your background.

Your top tip for future brides?

Focus on the things that really matter. The celebration of love, life, family and friends, making sure that you not only enjoy the day, but the entire process leading up to it. This is the most exciting time of your life, so enjoy every part of it.

From designers to wedding planners, who are more in the know than most about weddings. We chat to them to get their top tips and advice, for the perfect day.

Emmy Scarterfield

Shoe & Accessory Designer

Emmy Scarterfield

Emmy Scarterfield is Creative Director of luxury shoe and accessory brand, Emmy London, the go-to footwear designer for brides-to-be with a penchant for all things sparkly and luxurious. From her iconic fan designs to the intricately beaded detail on each and every piece, Emmy Scarterfield has created some seriously lust-worthy shoes and accessories.

Tell us about your dress and shoes?

My dress was a super simple Jenny Packham bespoke gown, and was actually a wedding gift from the designer Jenny and her husband Matthew. For me, my bridal look was all about the accessories, so I was looking for a blank canvas of a dress that moved beautifully, was comfy to wear and exuded the 1930’s look I was creating. It was basically a full length vest top in ivory silk crepe with clever panelling, so it was both super flattering and of the era. I had 3 pairs of shoes, I mean I am a shoe designer! There was a mule lace slipper for the getting ready part of the day, it was blush and matched my silk robe perfectly. For the day I wore a round toe Mary Jane style, which was super comfy and supportive. The beaded detail caught the light and sparkled as I walked. For the evening I changed into a higher heeled, strappy sandal with a beaded T-bar called Pearl, which was perfect for dancing the night away. I chose the pieces in a rather unorthodox way really, it was between meetings at work, so there was no bridal experience, but I felt lucky to have the opportunity to create my look from scratch.

Where and when did you wed?

We got married 10 years ago in a country manor house in Devon with its own chapel. It was a winter wedding and we were blessed with snow.

How did you make the flowers your own?

I bought my favourite blush roses from the flower market in London. I loosely grouped them together with long stems for a relaxed look and tied them with a pretty blush silk ribbon.

Tell us about your cake?

My dad made a tiered cake stand that had ivory pearl necklaces draped from each tier, so that in itself was a project. The cakes were simple cupcakes with ivory iced flowers in gold cases.

What was your personal touch?

Our invites were embossed blush leather and everything had a blush crystal on, the name places, room signs and table plan, it was all about the detail.

Best advice you were given for the day?

To spend plenty of quality time with my new husband. Dickie and I did this, so it felt very romantic and together. I know that should be an obvious take away from such a special day, but so many couples focus on hosting and end up being very separate. It’s about you as a couple, so focus on that and make happy memories on the day together.

Your top tip for future brides?

Be true to your own style. Ten years on I would still choose the same look, dress and details because it is so me. Your true sense of style doesn’t date, so be confident and the best version of yourself on the day.

From designers to wedding planners, who are more in the know than most about weddings. We chat to them to get their top tips and advice, for the perfect day.

Suzanne Neville

Fashion Designer

Suzanne Neville

Suzanne Neville is one of Europe’s leading designers of bridal and evening wear. All of the gowns are British made, using the techniques of contemporary couture, and only the finest silks and hand embroideries. Starting the business in 1991 after studying at the prestigious London College of fashion, the designer gained recognition after Harrods took on her entire first collection. Suzanne tells us how she kept her typically English wedding contemporary with some modern twists, whilst keeping with old traditions.

Tell us about your dress and shoes?

For my dress I actually combined aspects of my three favourite dresses from one of my collections. It was a modern asymmetrical design made in a beautiful rich Italian Duchesse Satin and a delicate Chantilly French lace. The weight and density of the satin allowed me to create neat, clean pleats and detailing, bringing a contemporary vibe to the softness and delicacy that came from the lace. It was strapless with a structured boned bodice, built into a fishtail Duchesse skirt, which incorporated soft pleating detail and a dramatic kick at the bottom. It was so lovely working on the bespoke design with my production girls based in London, as they all had an input at some point during the couture process, and were able to be part of my special day.

When it comes to shoes, people who know me, know that I love a really good high heel. I’m 5’2″, so the higher the better! I chose a classic pair of ivory platform court shoes by Gina, as they were the highest I could find, whilst still having the chic court shoe shape.

Where and when did you wed?

My husband and I were married in December 2010 at Highclere castle, which is where the famous British drama Downtown Abbey is filmed. It was the perfect winter wedding venue, and we even had snow, making it a magical setting.

How did you make the flowers your own?

Because it was such a stunning venue, I wanted to keep the flowers as simple and clean as possible. The crisp wintery wedding was complimented with flowers in a crisp ivory.

Tell us about your cake?

My cake was created by a friend of mine, it was made up of lots and lots of delicious white chocolate and raspberry cupcakes.

What was the highlight of your wedding?

Just having my children there with me and being surrounded by all the people I love most in the world.

Best advice you were given for the day?

Enjoy every moment, both during the months before your big day and especially on the day itself. The day flies by so quickly, so ensure you step back, take it all in and have a moment to absorb everything around you. The scenery, occasion, happiness, beauty and love. It isn’t very often that you can say you have most of your loved ones in one place at the same time.

Your top tip for future brides?

Always be yourself and enjoy every moment. Time will fly by, just take a step back and take it all in.

Maserati’s new highlight in terms of customization and sartorial excellence are the new Ermenegildo Zegna Interiors, exclusively for Maserati.

Like Maserati, Ermenegildo Zegna looks back at over 100 years of Italian heritage and today is one of the leading luxury menswear brands creating the world’s finest textiles. A 100% natural fibre Zegna Mulberry silk was developed in cooperation with Maserati and combined with fine leather to create the Ermenegildo Zegna Interiors.

The Ermenegildo Zegna Interiors are available in three colour variants for the interiors of the Quattroporte and Ghibli and are the most exquisite of all Maserati customisations.

The specialized Ermenegildo Zegna silk cloth, always in Anthracite colour, can be combined with three different shades of luxurious fine leather, for three individual looks in Black, Natural, and Red.

The outsides of the seats are created in extra fine grain leather and combined with central inserts in Anthracite silk with a micro-chevron weave with a vertical roll pattern on the seats and backrests. The mid-section features a special macro-chevron weave with leather applications on either side adding to its three-dimensional feel and technical look.

On the door panels, the central parts are covered with Zegna Silk Jersey and embellished by a diagonal roll pattern, with tone-in-tone ornamental stitching and alternating rib embroideries. The same fabric is used to cover the vehicle’s roof lining and sunshades, the latter carrying grosgrain “Ermenegildo Zegna Exclusively for Maserati” labels on the inside.

The seat covers and door panels receive an added touch of luxury with stitching in a contrasting light grey colour.

The sophisticated, luxurious finish of the interior is further enhanced by the eye-catching embroidered Trident, Maserati’s brand emblem, on the headrest.

Managing Director for Middle East, India & Africa, Umberto Cini commented: “Maserati is quintessentially Italian, exclusive and sporty with a strong focus on tailor-making. Owning a Maserati must be like wearing a tailor-made suit in a world of uniforms. With Zegna we have taken this adage to the ultimate level, by bringing the suit into the car and making a fabric, that is normally worn as luxury clothing, last the lifetime of a car. It is something no one else can offer.”

The Ermenegildo Zegna Interiors are exclusively available on the Maserati Quattroporte, the Trident brand’s flagship, and the Ghibli, Maserati’s sports executive sedan and the latest addition to its model range.

With the original Quattroporte, Maserati invented the concept of the luxury sports sedan and the new Quattroporte continues to be the benchmark for high quality engineering, supercar performance and limousine comfort.

In the early Sixties Gino Rancati, a Cremona-born journalist, suggested the idea of what was to become the Quattroporte – the world’s fastest sedan at the time. The very first Quattroporte was designed by Pietro Frua in 1963. The 4.2-litre V8 engine powered the car to a top speed of 220 km/h.

Maserati launched the latest generation Maserati Quattroporte in 2013. The sixth-generation model delivers a leap forward that not only sets the high-technology tone for Maserati’s upcoming new-model onslaught, but also remains faithful to Maserati’s long history.

The Quattroporte GTS, the Quattroporte S and Quattroporte are powered by state-of-the-art high performance engines. The direct-injection engine family boasts a 3.8-litre V8 (Quattroporte GTS) and a 3.0-litre V6 (Quattroporte S and Quattroporte), both of which are all new, twin turbo charged, developed by Maserati Powertrain in partnership with Ferrari Powertrain and built by Ferrari in its world-leading engine construction facility in Maranello.

The engine of the Quattroporte GTS, the flagship of the range, provides Maserati’s new performance benchmark, reaching 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds and achieving a 307km/h top speed. It is 20km/h faster and has up to 200 Nm more torque than its predecessor Quattroporte Sport GT S. The Quattroporte S engine doesn’t lack for performance, either, reaching 100km/h in 5.1 seconds and achieving a 285km/h top speed. Both, the Quattroporte GTS and the Quattroporte S have a rear-wheel drive configuration.

The Quattroporte S is optionally available with Maserati’s first ever all-wheel-drive system. The sophisticated Maserati Q4 system has been designed to enhance the high-performance, grand touring qualities of the Quattroporte, and offer absolute safety and genuine all-weather capability, whatever the road conditions. The Quattroporte S Q4 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds.

The 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 with 330 hp is available an addition to the existing portfolio of the 530 hp Maserati Quattroporte GTS and the 410 hp Quattroporte S. With 330 hp at 5000 rpm, the V6 of the Quattroporte delivers a powerful drive with a torque of 500 Nm between 1750 rpm and 4500 rpm. It delivers 90 per cent of its 500 Nm of torque from 1600 rpm. The latest addition to the Quattroporte range retains its sporty Maserati character with an acceleration of 5.6 seconds from zero to 100km/h and a top speed of 263 km/h.

Maserati’s new diesel engine, a 3.0 litre V6 Turbo, has been specifically developed by VM Motori according to Maserati’s requirements in terms of performance, efficiency and driving satisfaction. The Quattroporte Diesel delivers 600 Nm of torque and a maximum power of 275 hp. The engine accelerates the Quattroporte from 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6.4 seconds up to a maximum speed of 250 km/h.

With the Ghibli, the Italian marque produces two concurrent four-door sedan models for the first time in its 100-year history. It is the second model after the flagship, the Quattroporte, to be manufactured to new benchmark quality standards in Maserati’s new state-of-the-art production facilities in Grugliasco close to Turin.

In line with Maserati’s long tradition of naming cars after winds, the name “Ghibli” originates from hot and dry, dust-bearing desert wind descending from the interior highlands of Libya toward the Mediterranean Sea. Although the wind may occur throughout the year, it is most frequent during the spring and early summer.

The first Maserati Ghibli, the mark “I”, was launched in 1967 as a two door, two-seater grand tourer with a V8 engine and 330 hp. The Maserati Ghibli II appeared in 1992, with a 2.0l V6 engine and 306 hp – the highest hp/liter output ever at the time.

Today’s Maserati Ghibli range offers unmistakable class, top-quality performance and a thrilling yet comfortable drive in an eye-catching sedan. Both versions of the petrol range, Ghibli and Ghibli S, feature a new-generation twin turbo-charged 3.0-litre V6 engine and an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. With its power output of 410 hp the Ghibli S races to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 285 km/h. The Ghibli delivers 330 hp, a top speed of 263 km/h and acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. The Ghibli S is optionally also available with the Q4 all-wheel drive system. The Ghibli S Q4 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds up to a top speed of 284 km/h.

The Ghibli Diesel with its 3.0 litre V6 engine has been exclusively developed for Maserati by VM Motori under the watchful eye of Powertrain Director Paolo Martinelli, a legendary ex-Ferrari F1 engine designer. This new engine produces a best-in-its-class power output of 275 hp.

NEW MODEL YEAR 2016 FEATURES FOR MASERATI GHIBLI & QUATTROPORTE

Euro 6 Engines

For the Quattroporte and Ghibli gasoline engines (V6 Twin Turbo from 330 up to 410 hp and V8 Twin Turbo with 530 hp), the introduction of EURO 6 homologation brings up to 12% reduction in emissions, consumption and unchanged performance compared to previous EURO 5 engines. The MY16 engines also benefit from the introduction of the Start & Stop system.

On the GranTurismo and GranCabrio ranges, where the naturally aspirated V8 engines already had emission levels in line with the prescribed standards, the upgrading to Euro 6 did not generate any changes in fuel consumption or emission figures.

Blind Spot Alert & Rear Cross Path

In both Quattroporte and Ghibli, the Blind Spot Alert alerts the driver with visual and audible signals when a vehicle enters the blind spot zones. This important safety feature has been introduced to avoid unwanted collisions during lane changes. The system monitors blind spot areas using two radar-based sensors, located inside the rear bumper fascia. When a vehicle approaches from behind, the LED warning signal embedded into the side mirrors lights up while a chime alert can also be heard.

The Rear Cross Path function is designed to assist the driver when reversing, and is particularly useful when backing out of a parking space, when oncoming vehicles cannot be seen. Via sensors fitted on each side of the rear bumper, a system detects any vehicles heading towards the car and alerts the driver by means of lights and a chime. The system is active at speeds from a minimum of 3 km/h to a maximum of about 16 km/h, typical of parking areas, and provides a useful checking function.

Power Boot Lid with Hands-Free Mode

With the introduction of the Power Boot lid the light aluminium boot lid can now open or close on its own. Thanks to electric actuators and a motor-operated locking device, the system allows automatic control of the boot lid, with a selection of activation options to suit different situations: from inside the car, using the car remote, using the buttons on the boot lid or in Hands-Free Mode.

With the Hands-Free Mode, the boot can be opened or closed by just moving a foot underneath the rear bumper; a special sensor picks up the movement and opens or closes the boot. In this case and for safety reasons, the lid will open or close only if the “Passive Entry” system acknowledges the presence of the key.

Siri Smart Personal Assistant

Thanks to the Apple chip contained in the MTC, a useful on-board feature that exploits iOS functionality has been introduced: the Siri “smart” personal assistant, already incorporated in Apple devices. Based on Bluetooth technology, Siri allows users of Quattroporte and Ghibli (both standard) to perform tasks on iOS connected devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) and make requests using voice commands. The advantage is that Siri uses natural language to understand commands. For safety reasons, when the car is on the move Siri deactivates all applications which use visual content or require user interaction and replies to commands given or questions put to it with voice feedback only.

Audio

The audio system is totally new from Model Year 2016 and brings on board the new Harman Kardon system as a standard feature on all Quattroporte versions and upon request on Ghibli. It gives outstanding power and sound quality, based around 10 speakers and a 900W 12-channel amplifier. The door woofers and the subwoofer installed underneath the rear shelf also feature a new design for a more powerful sound.

The optional Bowers & Wilkins Premium Surround audio system is as good as it gets in production car hi-fi systems, with the new Clari-Fi function.

The Clari-Fi function is an advanced solution designed for digital music and capable of restoring the artistic details lost in digitally-compressed songs. Clari–Fi scans all types of compressed audio files for lost music details, supporting MP3, AAC, Satellite Radio, Playback and Streaming Music Services and intelligently corrects waveform deficiencies based on existing music information and audio source quality. By recapturing the missing highs and lows, restoring the vocals to their natural tone, returning to a true stereo sound and removing unwanted distortions and artefacts, these features exclusive for the Bowers & Wilkins Premium Surround audio system set a new benchmark in automotive audio.

Other features

While the standard equipment on the interior is sumptuous, Maserati also provides an exceptional degree of personalisation with a vast range of materials for the client to choose from, including wood, carbon fibre, leather, Alcantara, as well as coloured stitching in contrast with the leather colour, for areas such as the upper dashboard, doors and seats.  With the introduction of Model Year 2016 headrests with contrast stitching and an embroidered Trident are available upon request. A lacquered Black Piano trim – already available for the Quattroporte – becomes also available for the Ghibli.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is rich in history, elegantly old-school and beautifully set right on Lake Como. Top that off with an Espa spa, waterside bars and in-house Italian dining and you’ve got la dolce vita.

Style and Location

The stylish five-star property with Art Nouveau interiors is a stone’s throw away from the beautiful 17th-century Villa Carlotta, and is positioned on the western shore of the lake. The hotel itself has spectacular 20-acre gardens decorated with sculptures and fountains, which are home to all manner of exotic plants and flowers. Inside it is decorated with lavishly appointed fabrics, period furniture and antique paintings and prints.

Rooms

Rooms are decorated in pastel hues and refined furnishings, and have wonderful lake or garden views. The stylish Rooftop Floor houses the hotel’s suites, featuring private terraces, outdoor hot tubs and butler service. Our favourite has to be the spacious Emilia suite, which is in the spa building and will have you feeling like you’ve moved into your own lakeside property.

Poolside

You could easily spend a day rotating between Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s three pools. We particularly love the heated, water-on-water floating pool on the lake, which is close to both the beach and T Beach Champagne bar. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, Flowers Pool is both heated and family-friendly, and situated next to the authentically Italian T Pizza restaurant. If you would prefer a quiet sanctuary, then the adults-only indoor infinity pool is directly connected to the T Spa and has a panoramic relaxation lounge overlooking the lake.

Spa

T Spa is just next to the main hotel, in the 18th-century Villa Emilia, and specialises in anti-stress and rebalancing treatments, all custom-designed with Espa. It has five treatment rooms, a Spa Suite for couples, a nail bar, a Hammam suite, a humid area with sauna and steam bath, a Mediterranean sauna, salt relaxation room and a whirlpool. You can sip on herbal teas and nibble on snacks in the relaxation areas which have floor to ceiling views of the lake, or float in the pool between treatments.

Food and Drink

Grand Hotel Tremezzo has two restaurants and three bars. La Terrazza is helmed by head chef Osvaldo Presazzi and serves Italian gourmet traditional cuisine, while L’Escale Fondue & Wine Bar opens its doors for dinner and serves boards of local Italian cheeses and cold cuts and fondues. A wine tasting will let you properly peruse some of the more than 300 Italian regional wines. Before you head to supper enjoy the view over Bellagio with a signature cocktail from the panoramic terrace of T Bar.

Activities

The countryside around Grand Hotel Tremezzo is zig-zagged with hiking trails and cycle paths, and the concierge can provide maps and arrange bike rental, walks and picnics. For the real Lake Como experience, take a trip in a 1950s boat, along with a picnic basket, and explore Isola Comacina, or hire a seaplane for a bird’s-eye-view of the lake.

This season, the Louis Vuitton Men’s collection is a celebration of the similarities in global style. Instead of its differences. ‘Rather than look at one destination, this season I decided to look at travelling the world,’ says Kim Jones, the Men’s Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton. Both transposing and transforming traditional and contemporary dress codes from Thailand’s Lahu tribe to America’s Ivy League, the Louis Vuitton collection playfully collated a treasure trove of wonders.

Soft Lambskin Bonded Organza Coat, Trousers, Shoes, Necklace

All Louis Vuitton

Cotton Sateen Short, Cotton Shirting, Textile scarf

All Louis Vuitton

Shirt, Trousers, Bag Noe Marin, Sneakers, Textile scarf

All Louis Vuitton

Shirt Silk Pyjama, Short Silk Pyjama, Sneakers

All Louis Vuitton

Jacket Fine Cotton Cashmere blend, Necklace, Trousers high twist denim, Bag, Sneakers

All Louis Vuitton

Backpack, Trousers, Jacket Camouflage

All Louis Vuitton

Lacquered calf jacket, Silk Short, Sneakers, Textile scarf

All Louis Vuitton

Shirt,Short, Textile scarf

All Louis Vuitton

Textile scarf, Satin Monkey Embroidery

All Louis Vuitton

Don’t underestimate the transformative power of a stylish pair of shades that fit your features

Square

A square face has more angular lines and distinctive features, with equally wide cheekbones, forehead and jaw.

The perfect fit –

Soften your angular features with rounder frames, like oval frames and pilots.

Choose a thinner frame that won’t overwhelm

Ensure the width is slightly wider than your cheekbones

Semi-rimless styles also help balance a prominent jaw.

Oval

An oval face shape is the most versatile to fit and is compatible with all styles of shades. You have slightly wider cheekbones and a gentle narrowing at the forehead and jaw.

The perfect fit –

Most frames suit you, so experiment and pick a bold shape that compliments your style

Standout by playing with colour and texture

Oversized frames work great with your features, and rectangle frames can balance your face’s vertical shape

Semi-rimless styles also help balance a prominent jaw.

Round

A round face has a roughly equivalent height and width. You have softer angles with slightly wider cheekbones and an equally wide forehead and jaw.

The perfect fit –

Sharpen your softer features with rectangular frames

Offset facial contours with geometric shapes like horizontal frames and wayfarers

Ensure the bottom hits just above your cheekbones

Heart

Generally characterised by a broader brow and a narrow chin, your face shape lends naturally to prominent, striking eyes. You are widest at the forehead and gradually narrows through to the jaw.

The perfect fit –

Frames that elongate your look, even out proportions, or direct attention downward are a good match.

Ensure the width is slightly wider than your forehead for balance

Choose light-coloured frames and frames with thin temples or detailing on the lower portion

by Eliza Scarborough

When it comes to travelling and packing, style can prove problematic, either reaching your destination with an inappropriate wardrobe, or arriving feeling dishevelled with crumpled clothing. We all experience long delays and cramped airline cabins, so it is imperative that you dress accordingly when setting off on your travels.Follow our fool proof guide and top styling tips for you, which will transform your travel experience.

Luggage

There are few things that never go out of style, and chief among them is great luggage. A well-made bag is potentially a future heirloom, and although the first scuff can be heart-breaking, use will give it character and in time a beautiful patina.

Chanel Coco Case

Footwear

Be prepared for the increased scrutiny that is now experienced at security with a pair of slip on shoes. A pair of loafers, either smart or casual, saves you hassle at the metal detector when taking them off, and can be easily kicked off when you are on board.

Chanel SS16

Layering

The ideal travel outfit is made up of layers that can be added or subtracted depending on the temperature. During your travel you will always encounter a wide range of temperatures, from the chill of the air conditioning on board to the heat of a warm destination.

Key Piece

A soft blazer will both complement your loafers, together with effortlessly raising the sartorial tone. A navy blue style can take you to smarter events and meetings when teamed with a crisp white shirt and tie, or for more casual occasions it will be equally appropriate.

Mad Men

Mad Men

Your Travel Companion

Quick tips:

Call your bank before leaving to ensure they know your planned whereabouts, so you don’t get an unexpected denial of service.

For air travel, wear as little metal as possible. Packing your belt in your carry-on and putting it on while waiting for your flight will save you time at security.

Place a business card both inside and outside your baggage. This will both help you spot your bag on the carousel, and offer extra back-up when recovering a missing bag.

Choose a wardrobe colour scheme, the key to packing light is making sure every piece can be interchangeable with one another.

At the heart of the Pays de Fayence, not far from Grasse, Christian Dior lived out his final dream. The Château de La Colle Noire was to be his last haven of peace. The imposing house, set against a stunning Provençal backdrop, had the nature-loving couturier utterly spellbound.

Lovingly restored, the castle became a place dedicated to the arts and to good taste, attracting his artist friends and housing his creative passion.

In addition, the garden became a veritable Eden, crafted by his own hand, and designed to reawaken childhood memories of “Les Rhumbs”, the family home in Granville. Planted with thousands of trees, May Roses. Jasmine Grandiflorum and other fragrance flowers cultivated on Grasse terroir, these scented green hectares embodied an ideal for the avenue Montaigne couturier-perfumer. It was the garden of a visionary genius, who dreamed of flower-women and created fragrances that have endured throughout the ages.

Today, Dior Maison de Parfums has chosen to restore this renowned place and to redecorate it in keeping with what Christian Dior wished. May Roses bloom again in the garden, and the castle’s prestige has been restored, as has its magnificent décor.

Once again a place filled with life and creativity, the Château de La Colle Noire relives, under the sunny skies of Provence.

Christian Dior’s dream has been fulfilled.

“The avenue Montaigne seems far away” – Christian Dior, Dior by Dior, 1956

Ornamental pond designed and built by Christian Dior © Philippe Schlienger

Chapter 01:

The Long History of the Château de La Colle Noire

From its beginnings to Dior Maison de Parfums

1 – From seigniorial fief to the

“Château de La Colle Noire” in the 19th century.

Lying at the entrance to the Pays de Fayence, forty kilometres from Cannes and eighteen kilometres from Grasse, the Château de La Colle Noire overlooks the Montauroux plain.

It was there, in 1951, on the border of the Maritime Alps and the Var region, that Christian Dior acquired this Provençal country house, surrounded by grounds in which sat the Saint Anne Chapel, dating back to the 19th century.

In 1858, at the age of 66, Henri Emmanuel Poulle, a lawyer and deputy of the Var region, chose to build a large house here. The construction was to go on for three years. On this same site, Maître Poulle had a chapel built, dedicating it to Saint Anne, in reference to his daughter Anne-Victoire, and services were conducted here by the parish priest.

Upon the death of Maître Poulle in 1877, the property was inherited by his daughter Anne-Victoire (1827-1894), and then his son Paul-Félix Honoré Reibaud, who showed little interest in the family domain in his native Var. The neglected Château de La Colle Noire would be sold to an industrialist named Fayolle, whose widow would in turn relinquish the property to Pierre Gosselin in 1921. The latter remained its owner until 1950.

2 – 1951, Christian Dior buys and restores the Château de La Colle Noire.

It was in 1951 that the property was bought by Christian Dior, who had lived close by in Callian with his sister Catherine and their father during the Second World War.

Although vast, the place was much neglected. But the plot of land, bathed in the light of Montauroux, named for Mons Auros (windswept or golden Mountain), caught the couturier’s imagination.

One of Christian Dior’s most symbolic acts was to undertake a two-year restoration of the chapel, before donating it, in 1953, to the village of Montauroux, on condition that the villagers maintain it. The locals were in the habit of attending mass at the chapel, and Christian Dior perpetuated this tradition. By restoring and donating the chapel to the village, Christian Dior ensured that it would endure, as though to ward off the ephemeral ghosts whose triumph he oversaw season after season.

Having admired André Svetchine’s spectacular, 1949 transformation of the Auberge de la Colombe d’Or, Christian Dior decided to turn to him to renovate the house. A veritable master of neo-Provençal architecture, André Svetchine reinstated the fundamentals of the Southern French aesthetic, transforming what amounted to little more than wine cellars and barns, into salons and suites. The house was once again restored, but the renovations would continue, and the work would not be completed before Christian Dior’s demise.

Although Christian Dior carried out colossal renovations at the Château de La Colle Noire, he was nevertheless respected, as he remained discreet and was careful to honour the traditions of this village of less than 900 inhabitants, whose summers were punctuated by games of boules, and Sunday lunch served with traditional aioli sauce. Every summer, Christian Dior would participate in a solemn, Saint Barthélemy’s Day mass, led by the Pays de Fayence bravadiers.

To this day, the villagers still attend a mass held in honour of Christian Dior every year on August 24th, and every October 23rd, they celebrate the anniversary of his death in 1957.

More than just a summer residence, the Château de La Colle Noire was a large agricultural domain on which the couturier cultivated fragrant roses, vines and jasmine, which were then delivered by his sister Catherine. At the time, the house was set on a veritable domain of more than 50 hectares.

“I have spent the day among my vines, inspecting the future wine harvest.” – Christian Dior, 1956

Main front door of the Château de La Colle Noire © Philippe Schlienger

3 – In 2013, the Château de La Colle Noire finally becomes a Dior property again.

Christian Dior left his domain to Catherine Dior and Raymonde Zehnacker, one of his closest colleagues. Then in 1968, “The Dior Château” was sold to the Laroches. But, situated inland in the Var region, far from the splendour of the French Riviera, it was once again neglected and pillaged. In 1976, it was re-sold, and was used to host functions and holidaymakers. In 1999, the group Oasis recorded their fourth album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, there.

Finally, in 2013, Christian Dior Parfums acquired the Château de La Colle Noire, and began major renovation works aimed at preserving and enriching this element of Dior’s heritage, which is deeply rooted in the culture of Grasse flowers and perfume.

Chapter 02:

Grasse, Christian Dior’s favourite place

Reminiscence and terroir

1 – From Granville to Grasse: the journey of a man in search of memories.

“I am in fact at Montauroux as I write these last lines: fate has brought me into the calm and peace of the Provençal countryside to put the finish to my work. Night is falling and, with it, infinite peace.” Christian Dior, Dior by Dior, 1956.

When Christian Dior acquired the Château de La Colle Noire in 1951, his designs were championing a look that was “soft yet not flowing, simple yet not dull.” His collections had taken a step towards a more natural look, with slender but not cinched waists, “measured” fullness and embroidery that revealed a bucolic influence, as the inventor of the New Look continued to cultivate his poetic garden. This transition marked a return to the child he had never ceased to be, whose flower-women expressed an ideal, for which the South of France would now provide a beautifully lit setting.

“I think of this house now as my real home, the home to which, God willing, I shall one day retire, the home where perhaps I will one day forget Christian Dior, Couturier, and become the neglected private individual again.”- Christian Dior

The gardens of the Château de La Colle Noire facing on the Village of Montauroux and the hills of Provence ©francoislacour.com

2 – The perfume of a rediscovered childhood

When the couturier decided to make the Château de La Colle Noire his Provençal retreat, he was celebrating the family soul in the South of France. The perfume of the Rosa Centifolia flowers recalled the rose garden at “Les Rhumbs” villa in Granville where he had spent his childhood. But far from the rainy skies of Normandy, everything was light, wonder and a source of inspiration, for it was at the Château de La Colle Noire that the couturier dropped his mask, sketching to the sound of the cicadas’ concert, among pathways of white jasmine. Although Svetchine conducted the principal renovations, Christian Dior himself entirely redesigned and created the entrance to the house. He chose to take up the symbolic motif of the compass rose from his childhood home, and to create a “mirror of water,” a large ornamental pond more than forty metres long.

3 – Christian Dior and Provence: a love story.

From the “cool room” to the “guest rooms,” Christian Dior’s Château de La Colle Noire reflected an epicurean lifestyle that basked in the sunshine of friendship. Provence went hand-in-hand with trips in his Austin Princess that took him from Comps to Oustau de Baumanière in Les Baux de Provence, where he enjoyed the generous Provençal cuisine. And then there were excursions in a “pointu,” or Provençal fishing boat, to Porquerolles and Saint Tropez, where Christian Dior absolutely adored Senequier’s candied tangerines.

For Christian Dior, Provence remained a favourite place where he took refuge, for it was here, during the Second World War, that he had spent much of his time at the Nayssées’ house, purchased by his father before the war.

“As I finish this book, I am in the process of finishing the decoration of my house in Provence, at Montauroux, near Callian. I cannot describe this new house fully, since it is still not completed. It is simple, ancient, and dignified: I hope its dignity conveys the period of life which I am entering.” – Christian Dior, 1956

Chapter 03:

The Château De La Colle Noire, and a passion for art

Christian Dior, an aesthete in Provence.

1 – Christian Dior at the Château de La Colle Noire: his other self.

Why did Christian Dior choose the South? Well, it is worth noting that among the artists represented by Christian Dior in his days as a gallery owner from 1929 and 1934, were painters from the “Grasse Group,” who, like him, had fled the occupied zone. Jean Arp and Sophie Taueber were two such artists.

But it was probably also because, just like the artists to whom he was so close, Christian Dior was captivated by the Mediterranean light. In a very real counterpoint to the grey-blue clouds of Granville, the azure Provençal skies made an ideal shine through.

Christian Dior would not live to see the renovations completed at the Château de La Colle Noire, but it was here that he would write his autobiography, “Dior by Dior.”

“In the large house where I am alone, it is almost cold. The heating has not yet been put in and it is taking a long time for the electricity to be connected. Only two rooms are habitable, including the one I am in. Wood is burning in the fireplace and the glimmer of the candle I have lit disturbs the dancing shadows on the ceiling.”- Christian Dior

Summer living room on ground floor papered with red on white flower cretonne, the same fabric is used for covering the 18th style furniture André Svetchine / Collection Luc Svetchine

2 – From Chagall to Marie Laure de Noailles, the Château de La Colle Noire Visitors’ Book.

In the Château de La Colle Noire visitors’ book, from August 6th 1956 to August 28th 1957, fifteen pages were filled with numerous autographs and drawings by Christian Dior’s guests, who were a combination of artists, prominent women and close colleagues, first and foremost Raymonde Zehnacker, who really ran the place.

Among the guests were artists such as Maurice Van Moppès and Bernard Buffet – who acquired the Château l’Arc near Aix en Provence in 1956 – Marc Chagall, who had lived in Vence since 1949, and also Aimé Maeght’s wife, Marguerite Maeght.

The Château de La Colle Noire regularly received “neighbourly” visits from Christian Dior’s friends, starting with Marie Laure de Noailles, the queen of the Félibrige cultural association, whose cubist villa near Hyères had been built by Robert Mallet-Stevens.

Under the pergola that hummed with the cicadas’ tune, lazy lunches were held with Marie Blanche de Polignac (Jeanne Lanvin’s daughter), Paul Louis Weiler, a financier and patron of the arts, and Elisabeth Chavchavadze.

The Provençal countryside provided Christian Dior with material for a dream he shared with Jean Cocteau, the “frivolous prince” of the Côte d’Azur:

“I go out little, alas, and leave that to my legendary double who goes out and about instead of me. I can speak only of a shore where the mythical fragrance of the Mediterranean produces an admirable blend of idleness and work.” (Jean Cocteau)

Christian Dior office at the ground floor of the Château de La Colle Noire, Empire style with 16th century desk and decorated with 19th century paintings and a Charles X barometer, 1956 André Svetchine / Collection Luc Svetchine

3 – Decorating the Château de La Colle Noire in triumphant neo-Provençal style.

From gondola bergère chairs to the earthenware flowerpots in Wedgwood style, the spirit of the Château de La Colle Noire was that of a neo-Provençal house.

Here, Christian Dior revealed eclectic tastes, ranging from the 18th century to romantic interiors augmented with occasional furniture and jardinières.

Christian Dior’s Grand Salon was a concentration of the neo-Louis XVI style already seen at avenue Montaigne in Victor Grandpierre’s “Pompadour grey,” and the 1950s neo-classical style worthy of Christian Bérard’s watercolours.

Moreover, the kentias, ferns and rose-filled vases in every bedroom were another indication of Christian Dior’s sense of hospitality.

4 – A gentleman’s table, Christian Dior receives friends at the Château de La Colle Noire,

The pantry at the Château de La Colle Noire housed oyster forks, crystal preserve jars and coffee cups and saucers decorated with a fleur-de-lys motif, as well as golden finger bowls and Christian Dior monogrammed silver menu-holders, which sat alongside champagne flutes, cognac glasses and eighteenth century Burgundy wine glasses.

Monsieur Dior’s spirit can be seen in his approach – at once sophisticated and rustic – which plays on a blend of eclecticism. He had a certain art de vivre that combined nineteenth century English style, French tradition and the modern elements of a neo-Provençal house.

“The first stars have come out, and are reflected in the pool opposite my window.” Christian Dior, 1956

South-west facade of the Château de La Colle Noire © Benjamin Decoin / Visula Press Agency

Chapter 04:

2016, In the footsteps of Christian Dior’s dream

Reviving the Château de La Colle Noire.

1 – Christian Dior Parfums undertakes restoration works (2013-2016).

A house of Dior property since 2013, the Château de La Colle Noire was the object of a major restoration project that began in 2015.

From the grounds to the ornamental pond, and from the guest rooms to the reception rooms, the Château de La Colle Noire once again came to life, basking in the sunlight of rediscovered memories.

The Provençal salon, the entrance hall and Monsieur Dior’s office, as well as the Egyptian room, were all returned to their original state, while the newly created Chagall, Bernard, Picasso and Dali suites were designed by the decorator Yves de Marseille, in a spirit of eclectic affinities and in the style appreciated by these artists.

The bishop’s room, which Christian Dior had not had time to decorate, became a reception room, designed in keeping with his wishes: “I would like a pair of Louis Seize console tables with gilded mirrors,” he had said.

The grand staircase was entirely rebuilt. In addition, a perfume atelier has been added to the castle, in an extension of eighteenth century Provençal style.

South-west facade of the Château de La Colle Noire © Benjamin Decoin / Visula Press Agency

2 – The Château de La Colle Noire, the legacy of a garden

Interview with Philippe Deliau, landscape architect.

Philippe Deliau is the owner of ALEP (Atelier Lieux et Paysage), which he created in 2002. He graduated from the École Nationale des Ingénieurs des Techniques Horticoles et du Paysage (ENITHP).

He has worked on various natural and historical sites.

The Château de La Colle Noire was his second project for LVMH, following the restoration of the Jardin d’Acclimatation, by the Louis Vuitton Foundation, with Frank Gehry.

How would you define Christian Dior’s garden at the Château de La Colle Noire?

Originally it was an agricultural garden. Through the Provençal, festive, fragrant and invigorating character of the garden, Christian Dior had always wanted to express how attached he was to the very origins of the place, and to transform it into an Eden where he would feel happy and at one with nature and Provence. Christian Dior was present, like a father, working with the gardeners as he worked with his seamstresses at avenue Montaigne. At the Château de La Colle Noire, having inherited this eminently agricultural and rustic land, he put in an ornamental pond of eighteenth century inspiration bordered with box trees. He planted rose bushes, lilies, violets and jasmine. Everything he did was related to light and shadow, plants and minerals (he sketched a stone fountain decorated with nymphs), to heighten the feeling of charm and relaxation, without ever rejecting the origins of the site. This garden was a genuine manifesto for both its horticultural heritage and its agricultural legacy.

How did you manage to give such a site a future?

In the beginning we worked very carefully. We identified everything that had accumulated over forty years in order to recreate the original plans. I didn’t attempt to reconstitute everything. The trees had really grown, starting with the cypress trees which are now more than fifteen metres high. It was more an attempt to recompose the landscape – on the one hand I wanted to free the tree bases to open up the view, and on the other hand I wanted to reconstitute a setting of olive tree, in order to filter the background views. We replanted the elements which seemed important and right to us, such as ten thousand May Rose bushes, vines, olive trees and Monsieur Dior’s cherished almond trees. In addition there is a pathway through the oak wood, a flower garden, and a beautiful terrace below the chapel to open up the views again.

What, in your opinion, is this rediscovered ideal?

This is not a ceremonial garden. It is an ideal nourished by elements of surprise, and by a radiant and high-quality art de vivre. You can feel it in the very creative way that Monsieur Dior had of combining flowers, vines and olive trees, and in his desire that nothing should be still. The movement of life and the idea that nature is first a promise, then movement, reflects the collections of a couturier who carefully gave women a new silhouette every season, in order to make them look more beautiful.

Chapter 05:

Christian Dior Parfums and the Grasse terroir

Reviving fragrance flowers

“Miss Dior was born of those Provençal evenings, alive with fireflies, where young jasmine plays a descant to the melody of the night and the land.”- Christian Dior, 1954

1 – Grasse, an aromatic city with a

signature terroir.

May Rose, Jasminum Grandiflorum, mimosa, tuberose and bitter orange: in Grasse, certain names create bouquets of sensations. In this ancient Roman station, the water and exceptional flowers form the site’s memory, and its history. For more than three hundred years, its roots have sunk deep down between the Alps and the Mediterranean, beneath the western Provençal sun. Although the tannery industry was developed in Grasse in the fourteenth century, the fragrance plant culture took off in the seventeenth century, with the fashion for perfumed gloves, then grew more intense in the following century.

Lulled by the winds, this land blessed by the Gods enables the flowers to develop the best of their fragrant qualities. The calcareous-clay soil and the local microclimate, which sees mild winters alternate with hot humid summers, partly explains this superiority. But the mystery of these haute couture plants remains, as the plots of land described as “extreme zones” are limited to a few hundred hectares, at the borders of which the flowers will no longer bloom.

Although Grasse used to produce 5000 tonnes of flowers every year until the 1940s, annual production since 2000 has been limited to a few hundred tonnes. However, thanks to passionate growers who endeavour to keep their generations-old family secrets alive, and to the great perfume houses such as Dior, this terroir, the only one of its kind in the world, continues to shine.

“Grasse Jasmine and the May Rose provide exceptional olfactory results. In terms of power and subtlety, no other flower can surpass them.”

François Demachy

2 – Dior, and reviving the fragrance flowers

of Grasse:

The “Domaine de Manon” and the “Clos de Callian,” Dior’s exclusive domains.

Beneath an azure sky, the undulating hills seem to overlap. Their slopes are edged by silver-leaved olive trees, cacti and palm trees. In the distance, the sea is a blue line. It is here that the “Domaine de Manon” and the “Clos de Callian,” the house of Dior’s exclusive partners, demonstrate their vital expertise in their flower fields.

For Carole Biancalana, who manages the family business (4th generation) at the “Domaine du Manon,” the art of flower cultivation is subject to strict standards, from rotating the flowers, enabling the land to lie organically fallow for two years, to hand picking the harvest.

In 2006, a meeting with François Demachy completely revitalized this tradition, which the house of Dior endeavours to champion both in terms of culture and spirit.

“I chose to cultivate exceptional flowers for I wanted to be in control of what we are doing,” confirms Armelle Janody from the “Clos de Callian.” This inspired ecologist is devoted to a project to plant 20,000 May Rose bushes. The flower is extremely fragile, because if it is not picked on the day it blooms, it is unusable.

Armelle Janody chose to plant clover in order to fertilise the soil during the cold season. She is currently testing hemp and jute mats to protect the rose bushes and preserve the micro-organisms and insects that contribute to biodiversity. Plans for fields of tuberoses are also in the works. Both the “Domaine de Manon” and the “Clos de Calian” reserve their harvests of Rosa Centifolia (in May) and Jasminum Grandiflorum (from July to October) for the house of Dior. The hand-picked flowers are immediately sent off to be transformed into Absolutes and then Concretes.

Photograph by Lord Snowdon of Christian Dior near one of his two stone lions bordering the courtyard of the main entrance, 1957 © Lord Snowdon / Camera Press / GAMMA

3 – The Fontaines Parfumées

    The new site for Dior perfume creation

    in Grasse

Dior fragrances will now be created exclusively at the Domaine des Fontaines Parfumées, a site nestled in the heart of Grasse.

François Demachy, Dior Perfumer-Creator and native Grassois, has set up his laboratory in the city centre, going back to his roots in this terroir of exceptional flowers.

A protected place of memories, the Fontaines Parfumées domain holds an important position in the collective memory of Grasse. Aware more than ever before of the heritage value of this lush domain situated in the city centre, Christian Dior Parfums decided to set up their creative laboratory here.

Inspired by the most beautiful flowers, Dior perfumes will henceforth be created in the heart of Grasse.

“Christian Dior had made this property look wonderful! But what he wanted more than anything was fragrance flowers.”

“The property was blossoming; we were happy to have Christian Dior because he was kind […] he really liked the land, and he liked people.” – Lucienne Rostagno, an employee at the Château de La Colle Noire gardens in Christian Dior’s time.

KEY FIGURES

• 8,000 to 10,000 blossoms make one kilo of jasmine flowers.
• 2006: François Demachy named as the house of Dior nose.
• 700 kilos of jasmine flowers are required to make one litre of absolute.
• 10 to 20 kilos: the daily rose harvest of one flower-picker, who must ensure that the flower is picked below the calyx.
• 350 m2: the size of the new perfume laboratory created by LVMH at the Fontaines Parfumées site in Grasse.
• 50 to 100 absolutes are contained in a Dior perfume.
• 30 years: the life expectancy of a jasmine plant.
• 15 years: the life expectancy of a rose bush.
• 300,000: the number of roses required to make one kilo of Absolute.

“I am in fact at Montauroux as I write these last lines: fate has brought me into the calm and peace of the Provençal countryside to put the finish to my work. Night is falling and, with it, infinite peace.” – Christian Dior, 1956

A luxurious blend of classic and contemporary

High Jewellery bracelet in yellow gold with cabochon amethysts (223.45 ct),  green peridots (180.53 ct), orange garnets, and diamonds

High Jewellery earrings in pink gold with 2 spinels , 2 amethysts , peridots (60,20 ct) and diamonds

High Jewellery necklace in pink gold withspinels, peridots (310,40 ct), amethysts (58,16 ct) and diamonds

High Jewellery earrings in yellow gold and mother of pearl with 5 pear shaped aquamarines, 5 pear shaped tourmalines and 2 brilliant cut diamonds.

High Jewellery necklace in yellow gold and mother of pearl with 15 aquamarines (92,12 ct), 25 tourmalines (68,97 ct),

14 emralds (21,59 ct) and brilliant cut diamonds.

High Jewellery necklace in pink gold with chalcedony insert and 33 pearls , tourmalines, and pavè-set diamonds

High Jewellery earrings in pink gold with 2 round emerald beads , 2 cushion shaped spinels, 2 fancy turquoises and pavé diamonds

High Jewellery necklace in pink gold with 16 emerald beads (53.60 ct), 5 cushion shaped spinels (26.84 ct), 6 fancy turquoises (18.75 ct) and pavé diamonds

High Jewellery ring in pink gold with 1  cabochon Rubellite (39 ct), 56 emeralds and pavé diamonds

Photographer : Greg Adamski

Fashion Director : Eliza Scarborough

Hair & Make-up : Marisol Steward

Model : Eliza at MMG

Location : Nikki Beach Dubai

Clothes available at Boutique 1

This treasure trove of accessories is straight off the runway and deserves to be the finishing touch to your Spring Summer look. Pile them high, there is no excuse not to indulge.

Chanel Fantasy tweed jacket and skirt

Saint Laurent Classic

Medium Monogram bag

Dior Diorever bag

Dior buckled pump

On floor

Christian Louboutin Paloma

large tote bag

Chanel silver quilted bowling bag

Louis Vuitton Speedy Amazon

Anya Hindmarch backpack

Stella McCartney dress at net-a-porter.com

Dior Be Dior Double Flap bag

Christian Louboutin Paloma small tote bag

Charlotte Olympia perspex clutch at net-a-porter.com

Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps

Chanel silk toile top and skirt

Dior Small Diorama bag

Edie Parker clutch at net-a-porter.com

Lulu Guinness lips clutch at Etoile La  Boutique

Gucci Lace dress with knit web

Gucci Leather platform pump

Gucci Dionysus leather top handle bag

Salvatore Ferragamo Small Ornament Signature bag

On Trolley:

TOP ROW

Gucci Cat Lock handbag

Salvatore Ferragamo Medium Gancio Lock shoulder bag

MIDDLE ROW

Gucci Tian Print Suitcase

Versace Palazzo Empire bag

BOTTOM ROW

Globetrotter briefcase at Harvey Nichols

Globetrotter suitcase at Harvey Nichols

Globetrotter vanity case at Harvey Nichols

Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandouliere 60

Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandouliere 55

Louis Vuitton City Steamer

Dior striped wool coat

Saint Laurent Opium Minaudière Bag in gold plexiglas and black leather

Louis Vuitton Twist MM

Dior Classic cuff bracelet

Christian Louboutin Gradipump

Victoria Beckham Slim leg trousers and top

Anya Hindmarch KitKat clutch at net-a-porter.com

Anya Hindmarch Maxi Featherweight Ebury

Anya Hindmarch Georgiana clutch

Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps

Jonathan Simkhai skirt and top at Boutique 1

Azzedine Alaia belt at Etoile La Boutique

Chanel white square tweed shopping bag

Chanel quilted leather and plexiglass miniature bag

Chanel golden metal cuff with pearls

Tods handbag

Jimmy Choo Dora sandals

Photographer: Henry Pascual

Fashion Director: Eliza Scarborough

Model: Amy Williams

Location: Waldorf Astoria Dubai

Rigby & Peller is one of the UK’s leading luxury lingerie retailers, not only renowned for their expert bra fitting and styling advice, but also for their Royal Warrant of Appointment. For more than 75 years, the lingerie specialist has curated the best lingerie brands and must-have products to create an extensive collection of stylish, quality ready-to-wear lingerie and swimwear.

Founded in 1939 by Gita Peller and Bertha Rigby, with a single store in the heart of London, Rigby & Peller has since expanded, with stores in the most prestigious cities and postcodes, together with recently launching their flagship Middle East store in Dubai. The new store features the pioneering Rigby & Peller 3D mirror, which uses body scan technology to create a model of the upper body, recording over 140 measurements, thus determining the customer’s exact bra size.

Synonymous with style, quality and service, Matthew Hazell, Managing Director of Skelmore Retail & Fashion, the Middle East franchise partner for Rigby & Peller, talks to us about their new venture in the Middle East and what keeps this English corsetière as a favourite with customers made up of royalty, stars from the stage and screen, and the world of fashion.

How does Rigby & Peller differ to the other lingerie brands on the market?

With over 75 years in the lingerie business, Rigby & Peller is known for being the go-to destination for women looking for beautiful lingerie, nightwear and swimwear. Our pioneering lingerie styling service is a unique service that helps women find the perfect lingerie to match their shape and style. As a multi-brand boutique, our range of premium lingerie brands caters to a wide array of styles and sizes, ensuring every woman who visits us feels more confident and beautiful in perfectly fitted lingerie.

Does the store and collection in Dubai differ from what you offer in the UK?

Rigby & Peller customers will find some of the same premium brands in the Dubai store, such as PrimaDonna, PrimaDonna Twist, Marie Jo, Marie Jo L’Aventure and Andres Sarda. However, we have also introduced some new brands to the market, to cater to our Middle Eastern customers.

Will you be tailoring specific ranges for the Middle Eastern customer?

We have tailored our offering to be inclusive of the styles and size curve that is particular to the region. In addition to this, we have a beautifully curated selection of loungewear, nightwear, and bridal lingerie, which are popular with Middle Eastern customers, from brands such as Marjolaine, Mimi Holliday, Lise Charmel and Silent Assembly.

Has the Royal Warrant been key to successfully growing your business?

The Royal Warrant is a recognition of our heritage, quality, and lingerie expertise, which has made Rigby & Peller one of the most talked about brands in London. Internationally, the Royal Warrant serves as a symbol of the high standards our brand operates under, helping us to tell our story and build stronger brand awareness globally.

How are you ensuring that you remain loyal to your traditional British roots while you expand globally?

As a heritage brand, our British roots are an important part of our story when introducing the brand to new markets. From our inception in 1939 by two corsetieres, to the thriving 1980’s under June Kenton’s leadership, our history is full of exceptional moments, working with everyone from crowned heads, rock royalty and iconic female figures. Our heritage, combined with our pioneering lingerie styling service and curated premium lingerie collections make up the pillars of the brand that are the mainstay of the Rigby & Peller experience, no matter which store you visit. In each store, our story wall serves as a visual timeline of our history, linking back to our British roots.

Where can we expect to see future expansion from the brand?

Over the past few years we have been expanding internationally with boutiques across USA, Europe and Asia, our focus is now on further expansion in the Middle East.

The Perfect Fit

How to choose wedding lingerie

Getting the fit right in lingerie is very important. But it’s not everything. Not only should your set of lingerie fit to perfection, but it should also work seamlessly with your lifestyle, wardrobe, likes and dislikes.

Here we chat to one of Rigby and Peller’s lingerie experts about selecting the ideal lingerie for your big day, to perfectly suit your shape, dress, style and skin tone.

What lingerie works best with these dress styles?

Boat neck

This neckline tends to be fitted to the bust, so going for smooth, seam free styles is a good idea. The boat neck is a good style for fuller busts, so going for a full cup means you are less likely to have any over spill.

Sweetheart neckline

A balcony shape will push you up a little bit, together with giving you a good cleavage.

V-Neck

When wearing a V-neck, opt for a plunge bra. It gives a great décolletage, centres the breasts and draws the eyes inwards to make you look slimmer from the front.

Ballgown

If the bodice is very structured you might be able to get away with not wearing a bra. Otherwise choose a good supportive strapless bra.  Due to the full skirts why not go all out and choose some beautiful lacey briefs, suspenders and a garter.

Fishtail

Opt for high waisted shapewear, so that lines won’t be visible, yet they will give structure to your silhouette and enhance your waist.

When is best to start shopping for bridal lingerie?

We really encourage women to select their lingerie before the first dress fitting, to ensure that they can shape the dress around their ideal silhouette. It’s not just the dress you need to think about, your foundations are just as important. Many brides lose weight before their wedding so we advise you plan a couple of fittings to take into account any weight fluctuations.

What type of bra is best for a backless gown?

Many wedding dress makers will offer to sew in cups to the bodice of the dress to give a good shape, however these provide minimal support, so only work well for smaller busts. Whether a backless gown will work for you really does depend on your breast size, so it’s always a good idea to have a lingerie fitting either before or just after you first shop for your wedding dress to ensure your expectations are realistic. 

Do you have any recommendations for the best strapless bra? How can you ensure that it stays in place?

It is essential that strapless styles are fitted correctly so that you feel comfortable throughout the day, and they feel firm and secure. Strapless bras that are silicone lined around the back or have an elastic border around the upper part of the cups can give added support and ensure the bra fits closely. There are some great practical options like the Marie Jo Avero strapless, which has multi-way detachable straps so you can use it in a number of ways for different necklines.

If the wedding dress has structure will it offer sufficient support to negate the need for a bra?

If you have a smaller bust, then you wouldn’t necessarily need a bra as a corset or structured bodice should provide enough support. However, if you are fuller busted we would still recommend wearing a bra, so you get the shape that you want and enough support.

When it comes to colour of the lingerie, is it best to go for white or skin tone?

If it works under your dress then nude and blush pinks are very elegant and easy to wear, and are colours that compliment most skin tones. We often see brides choosing nudes over white as they are more practical, less visible and are not as harsh as pure white.

What would you suggest between a beautiful set of lingerie or shapewear?

It depends on your dress style and what you can get away with.  We see many brides who choose two sets, one for support and structure during the day and then a second wow piece for the wedding night. If you are self-conscious about your stomach, a waist clincher or basque are great options, and most of our shapewear pieces are surprisingly comfortable, pretty, and functional.

What brief style is best for avoiding any visible lines?

Again it totally depends on the style of the dress, but high-waisted briefs or control briefs are usually safe options as they won’t be visible and will give you a smooth, sleek outline. Also look for seam styles. Marie Jo Colour Studio briefs and thongs come in a silky soft fabric that is almost like wearing a second skin.

by Eliza Scarborough

Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to find.

Kristina Fidelskaya spearheads her eponymous womenswear brand, which was launched in 2014, and has its headquarters in Dubai and production in Italy. The contemporary luxury fashion brand offers ready-to-wear separates, evening wear, dresses, coats and jackets. Think elegant textures, delicate lace, luxurious silks, cashmere and soft wool, all in muted hues and with razor sharp geometric lines. This is a brand that celebrates the feminine figure, bringing a pinch of the chic 60s silhouette back, for a timeless yet glamorous wardrobe of wearable pieces.

Kristina’s love for fashion stemmed at a young age, watching her mother create unique pieces at a time in history where the concept of individuality and expression were against the norm. She later studied at Dubai’s Esmod Fashion Institute, where she learnt her trademark exquisite construction and tailoring techniques. It was at this stage that Fidelskaya, like her mother, discovered that fashion, as an art form, would become her creative outlet.

We chat to the entrepreneurial mother of two about her inspirations, style, and the perfect wedding guest.

Your brand celebrates femininity, power and independence. How would you describe the modern woman?

The modern woman is a go-getter and ambitious. Yet she doesn’t compromise on femininity and elegance when it comes to her style.

What were your fashion influences when you were growing up? Did you always dream of going into fashion and becoming a designer?

Growing up and even to this day, my surroundings act as my fashion influences. My mother had a huge impact on my style and my love for fashion. She was not a fashion designer but she had a love for creating fashion that she passed on to me. My dream was to be a creative being and to create art, in any form I could with any medium as well. I became a designer because I wanted to give women the style and elegance that I myself search for, and I wanted to empower women through the language of fashion.

If you hadn’t been part of the fashion industry, what would you be doing?

Besides my full-time job of being a mother of two, I would have ventured into photography. I love capturing a specific moment in time, or a scene that resonates with me. Experimenting with different photography equipment, from using various objects, to models, is a passion of mine. Photographs in general are really meaningful to me, since I love keeping them as mementos or souvenirs.

How has your brand evolved since it was founded two years ago?

My brand has evolved in the sense of me gaining more confidence in the process, which in turn affects my designs and collections. Being more in tune with my aspirations and creativity when it comes to design has made my brand evolve to reflect my personal taste and style more. My brand represents my vision of what it means to be a woman. It revolves around and celebrates the modern and contemporary woman who is feminine and elegant, yet ambitious. It is also a reflection of the current times we live in, for the woman we all aspire to be, in the sense of having great fashion sense, being goal-driven and simply inspirational.

What inspires you?

When thinking about a collection, I ask myself, ‘What would I like to wear?’ I find inspiration everywhere, from my surroundings to my mood. There is no end to the creative process, it is ongoing and constant. The modern contemporary woman also plays a role in inspiring my designs, she is a woman who sees fashion as a form of self-expression. The designs’ tailoring and structure promote versatility and functionality, with a touch of chic and elegance.

How would you define your own style?

I would define my style as versatile and timeless. Versatility comes from the modern woman, who has a career and a social life, whose wardrobe must easily and fashionably suit her current lifestyle. Every woman who wants to look elegant and sophisticated searches for a timeless style. I make sure to mirror my style within all the pieces.

What is your favourite era of fashion?

My favourite era of fashion is definitely the 60s, the decade of Audrey Hepburn and of garments that highlighted and accentuated the woman’s silhouette and figure in a stylish manner. I particularly love the bright colours and the slender shapes that the era was known for, and I aim to emulate this in my designs.

Whose style do you admire and why?

I highly admire Amal Clooney’s style. Her style portrays that she is a powerful intelligent woman who always looks put together, and as a force to be reckoned with.

Who would you love to see wearing your designs?

Amal Clooney, she embodies the contemporary sophisticated woman, combining both beauty and brains.

The items in your collection are all very elegant and wearable go-to items that you never tire of. What are your top five wardrobe must-haves?

A dress coat, like the ones featured in every one of my collections

A tailored blazer

A little black dress

A little white dress

A jumpsuit

When it comes to dressing for events, do you tend to be more dressed up or casual?

It depends on the event but I tend to dress up because I truly enjoy it. Plus, it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed!

What do you feel is the decorum for a wedding guest, should they make choices to ensure they don’t upstage the bride?

It is proper decorum for wedding guests to dress reasonably and sensibly for a wedding, particularly not to upstage the bride. After all, it is a day dedicated to celebrating the love between the bride and groom and nothing should upstage that.

When shopping for the perfect wedding guest outfit what would your advice be?

My advice is to wear a piece that is flattering, fun and feminine because after all, the guests do set the stage at a wedding. One must be comfortable in the dress as well, to allow easy movement.  A wedding is meant to be enjoyed with plenty of dancing that runs well into the evening, so comfort is key.

Which pieces from your collection would you say are ideal choices to wear for a wedding?

Depending on the venue of the wedding in question, and besides the white pieces, my ideal choices to wear for a wedding from my collection would be the black dress with soft pink and white stripes, the two pastel green dresses that comes in a strapless version and in a knee-length dress. I would even consider the pastel pink and green colour blocked stripe dress.

Would you choose a large hat or a smaller headpiece at weddings?

I would choose a large hat because it will be a statement piece that will pull the entire outfit together.

Your collection is chic and simple with a muted colour palette. Tell us your tips for accessorising it.

I have designed my pieces in such a versatile manner that they act a blank canvas so that the wearer’s personality can shine, through the use of accessories. She can accessorise with a statement piece, be it an eye-catching necklace, a bright heel for a pop of colour, or a trendy clutch or handbag.

What is the one piece in your own wardrobe that you always turn to when you want to transform a simple outfit?

The piece I turn to is my white dress coat. I am such a fan of the design of a dress coat, that I have incorporated the piece, using different fabrics, in all of my collections thus far. It upgrades a simple outfit by giving it substance and elegance.

Tell us what is on your wish list at the moment to add to your wardrobe?

On my wish list at the moment is a vintage Chanel jacket. It embodies timeless class and is a staple of fashion history.

If you could give one piece of style advice, what would it be?

Sincerity and confidence go a long way. Stay true to yourself and showing confidence will set you apart from the rest.   

by Eliza Scarborough

Designers are finally embracing diversity

Lineisy Montero for Prada

It is no secret that a lack of diversity, as reflected on runways and in magazines, remains a troubling problem in fashion. But with the spring collections shown at the end of last year came signs of progress. Most notably was Lineisy Montero, who for the first time in many years as a woman of colour, was the top ranked face of the season by models.com. Just the season before, Montero was the only afro in a line of 40 slick ponytails at the Prada AW15. In the 15 years between 1993, when Naomi Campbell took to the catwalk, and 2008, when Jourdan Dunn did the same, not a single black model had graced Prada’s runway, and before Malaika Firth became the face of their campaign in 2013, Naomi was the last person to hold that accolade in 1994. Since then Prada has been a frontrunner in the race for cultural diversity within fashion. Riccardo Tisci has been revolutionary for Givenchy since his appointment as Creative Director. Not only creating exciting collections, but also being at the forefront of bringing variety to the runway. He spoke about injecting a diverse range of women into his shows, ‘I opened my second couture show with nine black girls, some of them I’d discovered, some of them were established like Naomi Campbell or Liya Kebede.’ He further explained, ‘I did it in a very naive way and, in retrospect, a very honest way. I remember all the magazines talking about the casting, and that surprised me. People make such a big deal about using black girls in your casts, but it shouldn’t be a big deal, it should be normal.’

Naomi Campbell for Prada

Back in 2011, the beauty industry caused ripples as cosmetics giant Estee Lauder were forced to find a new image in order to go global. They achieved this with an arresting campaign which was fronted by Chinese supermodel Liu Wen, French beauty Constance Jablonski, and Puerto Rican-born Joan Smalls who went on to become the brands first Latino spokeswoman. However, other designers and brands have been slow to embrace diversity, especially when you consider that the list of Forbes Top 10 Highest Paid Models in 2012 was all white, then fast forward a few years and in 2015 the same list features South American Adriana Lima, Jourdan Dunn and Puerto Rican Joan Smalls, hardly a significant shift in diversity and industry trends.

Estee Lauder Idealist Campaign

But the industry’s commitment to reflecting reality comes largely as a result of years of campaigning by modelling veterans, led by Bethann Hardison, with support from Naomi Campbell and Iman, to correct homogenised representations of beauty that many observers equate with racism. Together with this, the power of social media highlights inequalities that are persistent throughout society, keeping the pressure on and driving the conversation forward.

Diversity on the runway isn’t just about race. It is also about size, gender and sexuality. At AW16 fashion week in Paris, high street Swedish fashion chain H&M went all out to attract attention with a showcase which welcomed a host of diverse personalities to the catwalk. Transgender model Andreja Pejic and plus size beauty Ashley Graham were joined on the catwalk by veteran models Amber Valetta and Pat Cleveland, who appeared alongside daughter Anna. Pejic was one of eight transgender models, and Graham one of just six plus size models that walked the catwalk across all of the AW16 Fashion Weeks.

Zac Posen AW16

Let’s appreciate the statements from designers like Zac Posen, who featured predominantly black models on his AW16 catwalk, and Dior who placed Rihanna to be the first black woman as the face of a campaign. The issue isn’t about numbers or skin colour, but as fashion has become such an important part of human culture and identity, it is the contribution and acknowledgement from these heavyweight brands that is pushing the debate forward, representing the seismic shift in social attitudes.

by Eliza Scarborough

We caught up with the couturier to the A-list about his inspirations and what makes the perfect gown.

Couture Spring Summer 2016

What is your favourite fabric?

Organza and lace

What is the best bridal accessory?

The veil, in my opinion, is the most necessary accessory that is vital to creating the overall bridal look.

Who is your hero?

I consider anyone who works diligently for positive progress and stays true to their character, despite pressures to conform or change, as a hero.

Who do you follow on Instagram?

Though my social media usage is limited due to my busy schedule, I do enjoy following major fashion brands, celebrities, international magazines and international photographers.

What is your favourite scent?

The orchid and pansy flower aromas.

How would you describe your new collection?

It’s a collection reflecting the inspiring beauty of the blooming bridal bouquet.

Couture Spring Summer 2016

Couture Spring Summer 2016

Couture Spring Summer 2016

What is happiness to you?

Family

Who is your dream to dress, past or present?

Grace Kelly on her wedding day.

What is your favourite celebrity wedding dress?

Grace Kelly’s wedding dress, because it is the perfect reflection of elegance and simplicity in a bridal context.

What films have inspired you?

Many movies have inspired me, but I particularly like biopics, films shot in a gorgeous natural landscape and films that focus on art in some way.

Where is your favourite place to visit?

Paris, I feel that it is my second hometown.

How do you switch off and relax?

Spending time at my mountain home with my family.

What is your biggest achievement?

My family and my fashion brand.

Which era most inspires you?

Definitely, the Renaissance era.

RTW Bridal 2017

What would you be if you weren’t a fashion designer?

An Interior Architect.

What is your advice for a bride to be who is dress shopping?

Select a silhouette and style that suits her body and her personality.

by Eliza Scarborough

Stack up layers of these jewels in clashing vivid brights

Veleno Earrings

Tango necklace and ring

All Pomellato

Nudo Earrings

On right hand, Middle finger, Capri new collection in blue and rose, Ring Finger, Tango ring

ON LEFT HAND, INDEX FINGER:

Nudo ring, Middle finger, Capri new collection

All Pomellato

Capri necklaces

Middle finger, Luna ring, Ring finger, Nudo Ring and Nudo diamond ring

All Pomellato

Tango Earrings

Victoria necklace

Middle finger, Sabbia mini ring, Ring finger, Sabbia Grandi ring and Nudo Solitaire ring

All Pomellato

Colpo di Fulmine earrings

Right hand from bottom to top, Nudo Grande ring, Nudo ring and Nudo ring in smoky quartz

LEFT HAND FROM BOTTOM TO TOP:

Veleno ring in smoky quartz and Veleno ring

All Pomellato

Bahia earrings

Bahia ring

All Pomellato

Photographer : Adam Browning-Hill

Fashion Director : Eliza Scarborough

Hair and Make-up : Annesofie Begtrup at The AgenC

Model : Alina at Bareface

Location : Blue Marlin Beach Club

Dresses by Rami Al Ali Pret-a-Porter

Couturiers Ralph & Russo are known for taking the concept of a bridal gown to new levels during Paris Haute Couture Week, and this season they chose Brazilian top model Isabeli Fontana to pull off the exquisite creation. The gown itself was crafted from multi layered tulle, featuring a duchess satin bustier and kimono sleeves stretching beyond a three-metre train, all lavishly embroidered with 3D silk and metallic thread-work, silver bullion, silk organza petals, pearls and crystals. As she glided to the end of the catwalk, Fontana was assisted by half a dozen atelier ‘petites mains’ to spread out their dazzling masterpiece, revealing a paragon of ‘savoir faire’.

The gown in numbers:

826 metres of tulle

46 metres of organza

50 artisans

6000 hours of elaborate embroidery

Millions of micro-beads

London based Ralph & Russo was founded by couple Tamara Ralph, who heads up the creative direction, and Michael Russo, who is the company’s CEO. Known for their romantic dress collections, the couple had an equally romantic encounter that began both their personal and working relationship. Falling in love after a chance meeting on the street in London in 2003, a year or so later Tamara relocated from Australia to Britain and the duo began the now globally successful company, with a sewing machine and ironing board. With upcoming nuptials of their own, and plenty of experience in dressing brides to be, we have a short chat with Creative Director Tamara.

What is your biggest achievement?

Showing at Paris Haute Couture Week has certainly been a huge achievement, but we are growing so much as a brand that every day presents a new challenge and a fresh achievement.

Who is your ultimate style hero?

Lauren Bacall and Sophia Loren. But my inspiration is not limited to a single style hero. I am always inspired by individuals just walking the streets of London, anyone that embraces their own sense of style and is confident enough to exude their own individuality.

What is your insider tip when picking the perfect wedding dress?

The cut of the bridal gown is incredibly important, it should flatter the brides figure and enhance her natural beauty, not overwhelm her. But the gown should also be a complete reflection of her own style and personality, it should be the most beautiful gown she will ever wear.

What is your advice for a bride to be?

Enjoy every moment as it is such a fun process planning for the event! Also ensure you allow enough time for the perfect gown to take shape. It’s such a lovely experience for us being part of the planning process and designing the dream dresses of so many brides every year, it’s a real privilege to be able to turn our bride’s dreams into a reality.

Which bride would you have loved to have dressed?

Lauren Santo Domingo. She’s such a naturally beautiful woman and has a great sense of style.

by Eliza Scarborough

Patchwork Lace Silk Dress

Mid-Length Heritage Trench Coat in Honey

Woven Suede Ankle Boots

All Burberry

Burberry Long Heritage Trench Coat in stone

Mid-Length Heritage Trench Coat in Honey

Check Walking Umbrella

All Burberry

Burberry Long Heritage Trench Coat in Parade Red

Burberry Floral Lace and Mesh A-Line Dress

Mid-Length Heritage Trench Coat in black

Long-Sleeved Patchwork Lace Dress

Cut-Out Suede Ankle Boots

All Burberry

Gabardine Trench Coat in Aqua Green

Lace-Up Suede Ankle Boots

All Burberry

Photographer : Lezli + Rose

Fashion Director : Eliza Scarborough

Hair and Make-up : Julie Read

Model : Shannon at Select

Location : The Arch London

No wedding outfit is complete without the addition of something sparkly and special. Complement your look with this pick of jewels

HANGING ON SILVER JAR:

Buccellati earrings, Bloomingdale’s Dubai

ON TOP OF SMALL GOLD CAKE:

Buccellati bracelet, Bloomingdale’s Dubai

AROUND SMALL MINT CAKE:

Buccellati necklace, Bloomingdale’s Dubai

MACAROONS:

Both Buccellati rings, Bloomingdale’s Dubai

RIGHT CAKE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Flowerlace clip

Flowerlace necklace

Flowerlace earrings

All by Van Cleef & Arpels

HANGING ON TEACUPS:

Buccellati watch, Bloomingdale’s Dubai

Platinum, white gold and diamond necklace, earrings and bracelet

All Cartier High Jewellery

CAKE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Snowflake bracelet

Snowflake necklace

Snowflake earrings

All by Van Cleef & Arpels

MACAROON:

Une Soirée à l’Opéra solitaire ring, Van Cleef & Arpels

LEFT CAKE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Bouton de Camélia Earrings

Perle Couture Necklace

Plume Earrings

All Les Icones de Chanel,

Chanel Fine Jewellery

MIDDLE CAKE:

Camélia Ajouré Necklace,

Les Icones de Chanel,

Chanel Fine Jewellery

MACAROONS, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Plume Ring

Camélia Ajouré Ring

All Les Icones de Chanel,

Chanel Fine Jewellery

Divissima necklace and bracelet

All by Bulgari

Bagatelle necklace

and bracelet

All by Dior Fine Jewellery

Cakes supplied by Sugarology

Photographer : Henry Pascual

Fashion Director : Eliza Scarborough

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Simone several times during international fairs and events. A serious woman of substance and success, she is a role model to young women entrepreneurs in a men dominated sector.

Simone, we met you last year and discussed the novelties of that time. Now in 2016, after SIHH and Basel took place, what watches caught your attention at each of those fairs and why?

At the SIHH this year, I admired the new colorful collection of the Men Diver Audemars Piguet watches launched in 4 colors, yellow, blue, orange and green. I was very happy to see this provocative and different collection, which will most probably be a best seller.

Montblanc also launched an amazing new watch collection Heritage, a strong and sophisticated design on the wrist with a classical and timeless interpretation of the moon phase and date.

On the other hand, at Baselworld last month, I saw the new collections of Hublot in which new colors for the ladies Big Bang 41 mm were launched as well as an impressive sapphire timepiece for men.

Breitling also launched a new collection, where my favorites were The Avenger Hurricane, a compendium of boldness, innovation and performance, as well as the Superocean Héritage, an exceptional 100-piece limited-edition, improving user friendliness but also rating regularity and thus precision.

I also had the chance to discover the new collection launched by Omega, as my favorite remains the Speedmaster Grey Side of The Moon “Météorite”, a real piece of space that you can wear on your wrist.

As for Bomberg, it launched an amazing Skull Bracelet Collection inspired by skulls, denim and studs following the vision of Rick Delacroix, Chairman and Founder of Bomberg.

We saw a lot of brands having the blue dial in their watches, and the return of the yellow gold with Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, what can you tell us about this?

The blue Dial 39 mm extra thin model, boutique edition, is manufactured in stainless steel and pink gold. The blue dial is very hard to produce which makes this color rare to find and hardly accessible. The new perpetual calendar in pink gold and the new yellow gold timepieces are also available with a blue dial as well. I am very excited to receive the first pieces of the yellow gold watches, as I believe that they will be a worldwide hit. Audemars Piguet has been the trendsetter in their choice of material and combination of different material in their watches whether with the use of titanium few years back, the black carbon and ceramics, the bicolor launches from last year and the yellow gold this year.

What are the trends that we will expect to see in 2016?

The watch industry has been working hard the past year on finding new technologies to create harder, stronger material when it comes to scratches and combinations of different materials that can improve the quality and esthetics of watches. From what I have seen till now in the new launches, 2016 trends are based on colors, nice diamond settings for ladies, new materials and colors for men, and adding new ranges within same older best-sellers. This definitely gives clients more choices to renew models they already liked.

How do you forecast this year for the Lebanese market? Since last year despite the economic challenges, certain brands maintained their sales growth.

The Lebanese market remains very unpredictable, influenced by the current political and economic situations surrounding us. I strongly believe that the watch market will not experience a real drop unlike other luxury fields in the market such as clothing or accessories, as watches are items that have a solid value and the value of the watch remains high after purchase and use. This is the case specifically with High End Luxury watch brands that have fought throughout the years to settle in the watch market, with a respectful strategy and a well-known consistency in their image. Despite all the economic challenges, we respect the brand image of all the brands we work with and this is what maintains the loyalty of our clients and attracts newcomers to our boutiques as they know that the value of any item bought won’t change due to promotions or liquidation.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar

Today, what can we find under the roof of Tamer Group? And any plans to extend product lines?

Today we represent Audemars Piguet, Hublot, Breitling, Omega, Montblanc, Bomberg, Swatch and Flik Flak within our range of products in the Watches and Luxury department. We are planning new Boutique openings this year and we are very keen on investing in a healthy manner despite all challenges.

How would you describe your personal style?

I would describe my personal style as simple. I like colors, without mixing a lot together. In fact, my favorite outfit would be a nice light-color t-shirt, blue jeans and a dark blazer with dark shoes that match, and a big watch on my wrist. I love to add small jewellery pieces to my daily outfits that are trendy but very simple and elegant.

Are you a person that follows fashion trends or you go for what suits you?

I choose from the fashion trends what suits me best. I simply refuse to wear something that will look not elegant only because it is today’s trend. I follow the right trends and choose what I would love to wear since it fits me well. I am very much into online shopping too, I find it very practical and less time consuming.

The face of fashion is changing nowadays with the hype of social media, to what extent social media plays a role in your life and do you think this tool of mass communication delivers well for luxury brands?

Social media plays a big role in my business as I use it mainly for benchmarking, information search and analysis too. As for my personal life, I consider myself someone who uses social media a lot, as it is today one of the easiest ways to communicate and to look for new upcoming trends. It is also the most efficient and cost effective way for brands to reach trendsetters nowadays, we certainly cannot deny this. It surely delivers well to luxury brands but I remain very reserved concerning this subject, because we might be starting to lose the touch and feel of products, the experience that the luxury boutiques can offer with the extended services and personalized one-to-one experiences that we miss when visiting websites or pages. Also, according to our new findings in our boutiques, through buying behavior statistics, a dramatic change is on the rise where people request to have pictures of the items sent through communication application in order to choose and check products before buying them.

I know you’re a fan of couture, and since this is our couture issue, would you name some of your favorite couturiers and why?

I remain a great fan of Elie Saab because despite all challenges he had to go through, he was able to reach the highest peaks of notoriety that any Lebanese designer could ever reach, in terms of brand name, perfect locations for his stores, a product like no other, brand perception and product quality. He understands the woman’s body and offers a collection that suits elegantly all the aspects and features of it. On top of proving to have a great talent, he is also a great person… Fame and international exposure did not alter his personality. I have also great respect for Zuhair Murad, I admire his collections, his character and all the great goals he is able to reach despite the local challenges.

What’s next for you, your objectives for this year?

For this year we will be working on new structure methods, as well as a strategy to adapt fast to the market needs, changes and challenges in order to always serve our clients in the best possible way.

Interviewed by Lara Mansour Sawaya

If you choose to dial down the hues in your wardrobe, prints are a seasonal way to stand out. However, prints need to be deployed with care and not overindulged in, to ensure you aren’t too ‘look at me’. Worn well, patterns can either pull outfits together or subtly clash, they are the softly-softly way to make a statement. The current spring collections are awash with a vibrant array of prints and patterns, from poppies and pineapples at Valentino to florals at Burberry Prorsum and even Japanese cartoon robots at Loewe. Here we show you how to get it right and what is considered appropriate attire without being too extrovert.

by Eliza Scarborough

Tribal

Bohemian-chic has had an upgrade and now it’s about tribal inspiration instead. Whether you go for animal prints, suede, or brass accents, swap the daintiness of boho for strong and statement styles. 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:  Saint Laurent Emmanuelle Baby Chain bucket bag • Christian Louboutin Ottocarl shoeboot • Chloe Mini Drew bag at Net-a-Porter • Valentino tribal necklace • Karen Walker sunglasses at Boutique 1

Colour Pop

Paint-box brights saturate our must-have styles. Colour-in your accessories with pops of bright yellow, orange and magenta.

FROM LEFT: Christian Louboutin patent Pigalles Follies • Paula Cademartori bag at Boutique 1 • Edie Parker ‘Yes’ clutch at Boutique 1 • Christian Louboutin cork chevron So Kate • Olympia Le-Tan clutch at Net-a-Porter