The launch of Dubai’s newest gastronomical hot-spot Clé Dubai was made that little bit more glamorous last night by the arrival of a host of celebrities – not least the impossibly glossy Alessandra Ambrosio. Find out about the star-studded event below, but first, read our exclusive interview with the Brazilian Victoria’s Secret Angel on the black carpet last night…
EW: This is your first trip to the UAE, what are you loving most about it?
AA: The people! I think wherever you go it’s the people that make the place. Everyone I’ve met here has been so warm and welcoming and it’s so full of colour and energy. I’ve made friends here that I already can’t wait to come back and see.
EW: I see you’re wearing a local designer, which is great. What’s your opinion about style in the UAE?
AA: Yeah, I’m wearing [Beirut-based, Lebanese designer] Zuhair Murad. I love the style out here. A friend of mine gave me an abaya as a present here – it’s so beautiful with all the embroidery on it. I love how they add things like that. I absolutely love it! The women out here are so beautiful too, they have a very sensual look.
EW: Do you have any style icons?
AA: I always look to icons like Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren for style inspiration. I love that old school glamour – those classic beauties.
EW: And what does style mean to you?
AA: Style to me is just being completely true to yourself and not trying to be someone else.
EW: You travel so much with work and model all over the world, in your opinion, what’s the country or city with the best style?
AA: Every country and city has its own unique style and beauty – that’s what I’ve found. Everywhere is so different. I love it here, though!
EW: You have two children, can you offer any advice to other working mums?
AA: I was really lucky as I’ve always had my mum around and always there. She’s an incredibly strong woman and a huge inspiration to me. Her advice has always been great – she taught me to stay true to who I am.
EW: What would your Plan B be if you weren’t a model?
AA: I’d probably be a yoga instructor somewhere!
Cle Dubai
The Clé Dubai Party | Behind The Scenes
The great and good of Dubai’s party crowd came to rub shoulders with Paris and Nicky Hilton, Khloe Kardashian (looking svelte and JLo-esque in a white body-con mini dress), Akon and Alessandra’s fellow Victoria’s Secret alumni Irina Shayk. Paris, when not on her phone, entertained the crowd by DJing after Cirque Eloize warmed up on the al fresco terrace overlooking the Burj Khalifa, before contorting herself for a stunned audience. Meanwhile, rumour had it that they were filming an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Naturally, Emirates Woman tried to camera-bomb without much luck.
Paris Hilton hits the decks
Officially opening to the public tomorrow, the general manager told us they’re almost fully booked for the next month. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise, after the much-hyped launch of Michelin-star chef Greg Malouf’s inaugural Dubai outpost. His Lebanese background and innovative ideas have helped him transform the contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine on offer in the region – think Breaded scallops topped with humous, stuffed cherry tomatoes and dried beef canapés, which were served on tehnight as well as a seemingly never-ending flow of Dom Perignon (Emirates Woman was told the restaurant ordered 10,000 bottles for the evening). A fitting figure, for somewhere quite so glamorous. All black interiors and dramatically-high ceilings, Clé is an impressive spot that’s bound to become the new destination dining. Happily, the food lives up to the expectation, too. Book quickly – the Hilton sisters might not be there, but the scallops still will be. That’s reason enough. For bookings email reservations@cle-dubai.com, Clé Dubai, Al Fattan Currency House, DIFC
The stylish Cle Dubai interiors
