Dubai Sizzles as Swarovski Stuns With New Collection, W Hotels Debut & More

Although Ramadan is in full swing, Dubai is still abuzz with events that are attracting a global draw to the city in the clouds. From stunning new hotels to fall and winter fashions being unveiled, Dubai continues to thrive and grow on the international scene.

Atelier Swarovski Unveils Autumn/Winter 2016 Collection

Atelier Swarovski unveiled new collections for Autumn/Winter 2016 from designers Peter Pilotto, Rosie Assoulin, Jean Paul Gaultier and Ye Mingzi, alongside the continued evolution of the Core Collection in a sneak preview in Dubai.

Members of the Swarovski Collective, and 2015 winners of the inaugural Swarovski Collective prize, designers Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos of Peter Pilotto have unveiled their debut jewelry range. Titled ‘Arbol’, the 13-piece collection showcases the design duo’s signature aesthetic in a colorful, kaleidoscopic menagerie of forms, inspired by patterns in nature and the mechanical structures within modern art.

Photo Credit: Atelier Swarovski

This season, fellow Swarovski Collective member Rosie Assoulin has designed ‘Jewel-y McHue-y’, a 12-piece collection featuring a blend of ton-sur- ton and contrasting colorways. For her first collection with Atelier Swarovski, the New York-based designer revamps traditional Georgian settings with modern materials, using bold, expressive Swarovski crystal to create an understated statement.

A homage to the power of contradictions, the ‘Reverse’ collection by Jean Paul Gaultier showcases the French designer’s continued exploration of ‘perfect imperfection’ in a series of asymmetric styles, some of which can be reversed and switched by the wearer according to mood.

W Hotels Worldwide Debuts in Dubai

W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Inc., debuted in the UAE with the opening of W Dubai – Al Habtoor City on Sheikh Zayed Road. Owned by Al Habtoor Group, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City redefines the city’s hospitality scene with its electrifying style, signature Whatever/Whenever® service and bold lifestyle programming.

Located within Al Habtoor City, the emirate’s first fully-integrated urban resort, the hotel offers insider access to Dubai, with a full calendar of W Happenings showcasing what’s new and next in fashion, music and entertainment. Rising to 33 storeys, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City shines a new spotlight on the pulsating heart of Dubai as the ultimate powerhouse, where guests can enjoy the brand’s iconic Whatever/Whenever® service philosophy that delivers whatever they want, whenever.

Guests checking into the hotel are whisked up 30 floors to W Lounge, W Hotels’ reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby. Here a multitude of lounge and entertainment areas set within a multi- tiered floor space will become second home to Dubai’s style set. Within this venue, panoramic views of the city’s stunning skyline and soon-to- be completed Dubai Water Canal are to be enjoyed alongside stylish cocktails and sizzling beats.

W Dubai – Al Habtoor City and its 365 rooms and suites boast a bold and contemporary design. Inspired by the hotel’s location, adjacent to the energy and vibrancy of Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, the interiors feature provocative linear patterns, reflecting the city’s social rhythm and constant flux. Future forward technology and custom furnishings double as abstract art to complement the vivid color palette against the sleek lines of the minimalist guest rooms. Adding to the bright and fresh mood, the open concept bathroom-to- bedroom creates a fluid flow throughout, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the city and sea.

Longchamp’s FW16 ‘Urban Nature’ Collection Showcased For Fashion’s Elite

The world renowned French leather goods and clothing house Longchamp hosted fashion’s crème de la crème for an intimate Suhoor at RW1 at the luxurious Grosvenor House Hotel.

For the epicure and socialite, Rhodes W1 provided the perfect backdrop for the event – clean white furnishings offset by standout colour, with bursts of fresh green tones, grass-covered walls, glass chandeliers of butterflies trickling from the ceiling. This vision of nature was in perfect harmony with the brands new collection.

VIPs and bloggers arrived for a Ramadan Suhoor that combined Middle Eastern dishes with Michelin Star Chef Gary Rhodes’ signature touch. Guests were then given a personal tour of the collection, with members of the brand explaining the essence and inspiration behind each piece.

The Autumn 2016 collection designed by Creative Director Sophie Delafontaine is inspired by the paradox of nature being needed more and more in this technology-driven world. Drawing her inspiration from the animal, vegetal and mineral worlds, she creates a new silhouette, both sensual and warm.

Longchamp’s “Urban Nature” collection is dedicated to a multifaceted woman who combines unexpected and contradictory daily moments. It redesigns a sophisticated yet totally free feminine wardrobe with garments giving each woman a determined and almost feline look. This collection is a tribute to leather as the House’s key signature.