From lunching with major designers to dining in star-studded restaurants and celebrating inspirational women, the past two weeks may have been the busiest, yet most rewarding of my career…
Lunch With Charlotte Olympia
With pandas on my feet and a fan in my hand I was all set and ready to meet the lady who has made playing dress up all the more desirable. Quirky accessories designer Charlotte Olympia visited Dubai to open her first stand alone store in the region – at Mall Of The Emirates – and I had the pleasure of attending a lunch with her at Roberto’s restaurant in DIFC ahead of her Hollywood-themed soiree.
I often find it slightly nerve-wrecking meeting someone who I really respect – I don’t want them to disappoint me and, even worse, I don’t want to disappoint them. So, the fact that Charlotte was the most down-to-earth, entertaining and insightful person I’ve ever met ensured her spot at the top of my favourite designer list. When asked about what she feels about fashion in the UAE, Charlotte, who is the sister of model Alice Dellal, was certainly excited. “It appeals to me,” she said. “People love to get dressed up here and I really like that. For me I like to dress up whether it’s a Monday or Saturday.” Hear, hear!
Pearls of Wisdom From Robert Wan
Long before the discovery of oil, the oyster and pearl trade was a source of wealth in the Emirates. Today there are many countries and companies around the world specialising in pearls, but none are as famous as Robert Wan, who is a legend in the cultured pearl trade, and the largest producer of Tahitian pearls in the world.
During his recent visit to the UAE, I jumped at the chance to interview Robert Wan himself and talk to him about the industry, the legacy he has created and the illustrious black pearl. He also spoke about what Chanel costume jewellery is doing to his industry and informed me on how to spot a fake! Stay tuned for the interview soon on emiratesowman.com.
La Dolce Vita With Roberto Cavalli
All good things come in threes and my third encounter was with the incredible King of Opulence, Roberto Cavalli. The Italian designer was in Dubai for the opening of the Cavalli Caffe on the JBR Walk and our introduction was one I will never forget. We talked football, we talked food, we discussed the elegance of women and the sometimes vulgarity of the industry. He was charming, he was cheeky and to my delight he was hilarious – his booming laugh was, and is, incredibly infectious. Stay tuned for the interview, which will go live on emiratesowman.com
Dinner At Cle Dubai
Dinner at Cle Dubai, which included the best falafel in the region! Fact.
From dining with stars of the fashion industry to dining at Cle Dubai, the hottest new venue in the region, which was opened by a gaggle of luminaries from the worlds of fashion and entertainment.
Specialising in contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine, Cle Dubai not only gives traditional dishes a modern twist but international favourites are also given a a culinary update – think breaded frogs legs (which tasted like succulent chicken) and the Malouf’s bistayeea (a sweet-spiced duck pie). Of course, my favourite was the falafel. I was warned it was the best and it is definitely in my top two – the number one spot goes to a Moaz Vegetarian in Amsterdam.
The idea at Cle Dubai is to share dishes – a concept I adore – ordering a selection of starters, mains and desserts and sampling a mix of what the kitchen, under the guidance of renowned Michelin-starred chef Greg Malouf, has to offer. The menu is vast and the flavours are electric – sparking life into your tastebuds – leaving you wanting to return again and again until you have tasted every dish.
The vibe is one of a sophisticated lounge bar with the who’s who of Dubai all rubbing shoulders. It’s certainly the place to don your red soles and your favourite cocktail dress, but as Charlotte Olympia (above) says, that’s what Dubai does well – getting dressed up.
Desserts at Cle Dubai are served up as pieces of art
Celebrating Inspiring Women
Last week saw the the 10th anniversary of the Emirates Woman Woman Of The Year Awards. There was not a dry eye in the house when Helen Williams was named as the overall winner. Click here to find out who won what, who wore what and what happened on the night. I guarantee you will be so proud and feel so inspired.
Capturing The Moments
Obviously with so much happening in the past two weeks I , as everyone does these days, captured the memories on my smartphone, which is why I’m loving the LG Pocket Photo Printer, which produces roughly business card-sized colour prints via ZINK inkless printing technology. Simply link the printer to your phone via bluetooth, select images and print! It’s that simple. Among many images, I printed my wedding photo, which I now keep with me at all times in my wallet. The device is available at all leading electronic stores and costs Dhs599 for the printer and Dhs50 for the printing paper.
For more images and insights from the day in the life of me follow me here: Instagram @alexandriagouveia and Twitter @alexandriagouve
