As the many men in the region, we confide in Ahmad Daabas's fashion advice, stylist and critique of fashion as a lifestyle within the UAE. He expresses the importance of entitlement to personal style. A fashion figure that has opened a line of communication with his audience as he invites readers to ask questions on The Trendy Gentleman, working on projects with Esquire Middle East, and being the Deputy Director/Fashion Editor for Velvet magazine, he stresses that being a stylist is not just telling people what to wear but exploring everything from etiquette to socializing.
Define fashion from your perspective?
Fashion is fluid, transitory, a momentary statement of the times, reflecting that moment’s context. Style, on the other hand, is something that trandscends fashion and trends, and has more to do with individual, creative and artistic flair. One can be certainly stylish without being trendy or au currant. Style is informed by the individual’s own creative expression
Dress for the occasion, how is that done in the U.A.E?
Arab men in UAE wear the thobe, a loose, ankle-length robe made from fine white cotton (or heavier woollen material in winter). There are different styles of thobe, both in the cut of the cloth and in the fastenings at the neck and front. The thobe can be worn for all occasions, either social or business. An outer cloak, the bisht, is worn on formal occasions and can be very costly, made of the finest cloths, with gold-embroidered borders. Having said that, the presence of fashionable men in the UAE is really increasing, due to the increasing presence of high end boutiques, and the more interaction of the Dubians with the rest of the world.
As a critic and stylist in the UAE, how would you describe the gents' style in the region?
It's hard to ascribe an adjective to describe the couture scene of men lately in Dubai; most designers have contrarian views on this which gets reflected in the Dubai Fashion Week held each year. The increasing participation of cutting edge design houses and multi-brand retailers reflects the immense potential here.
What, in your view, are the 'It' brands at the moment?
Well, for men there is a lot happening. Just a few items that should be in every man's closet, in my opinion, include a Tom Ford suit, shirts from Neil Barrett, shoes from Prada, bags from Bottega Venetta, and a few pairs of loafers from Louis Vuitton, especially with their new range of colors.
When buying wardrobe essentials do you vote 'branded or non branded'?
Although I mentioned a lot of brand names in your last question, as I said before, style is quite distinct from fashion. There's no need to dress yourself from head to toe in brand names--in fact, that probably indicates a lack of confidence in one's own style
How do you see online shopping within the region, are you for it (and why)?
It is becoming a trend lately in the Middle East and in Dubai in particular, and I know some departments stores here that are offering online shopping, but honestly I haven't tried it yet. But, I believe I will soon be sticking to Mr. Porter for their online shopping. They managed to collect the very best from different boutiques around the world.
Recommended best local shopping destinations?
There are so many, but from the top of my head, I can recommend Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue, which all carry the best of the big brands under their roofs.
"There's no need to dress yourself from head to toe in brand names--in fact, that probably indicates a lack of confidence in one's own style"
Define fashion from your perspective?
Fashion is fluid, transitory, a momentary statement of the times, reflecting that moment’s context. Style, on the other hand, is something that trandscends fashion and trends, and has more to do with individual, creative and artistic flair. One can be certainly stylish without being trendy or au currant. Style is informed by the individual’s own creative expression
Dress for the occasion, how is that done in the U.A.E?
Arab men in UAE wear the thobe, a loose, ankle-length robe made from fine white cotton (or heavier woollen material in winter). There are different styles of thobe, both in the cut of the cloth and in the fastenings at the neck and front. The thobe can be worn for all occasions, either social or business. An outer cloak, the bisht, is worn on formal occasions and can be very costly, made of the finest cloths, with gold-embroidered borders. Having said that, the presence of fashionable men in the UAE is really increasing, due to the increasing presence of high end boutiques, and the more interaction of the Dubians with the rest of the world.
As a critic and stylist in the UAE, how would you describe the gents' style in the region?
It's hard to ascribe an adjective to describe the couture scene of men lately in Dubai; most designers have contrarian views on this which gets reflected in the Dubai Fashion Week held each year. The increasing participation of cutting edge design houses and multi-brand retailers reflects the immense potential here.
With Dubai now firmly entrenched in the mindscape of the swish set, its fashion scene has become more mature and cosmopolitan. However, unlike Milan, London and Paris, Dubai's fashion industry does not yet have a distinct identity of its own.
What, in your view, are the 'It' brands at the moment?
Well, for men there is a lot happening. Just a few items that should be in every man's closet, in my opinion, include a Tom Ford suit, shirts from Neil Barrett, shoes from Prada, bags from Bottega Venetta, and a few pairs of loafers from Louis Vuitton, especially with their new range of colors.
When buying wardrobe essentials do you vote 'branded or non branded'?
Although I mentioned a lot of brand names in your last question, as I said before, style is quite distinct from fashion. There's no need to dress yourself from head to toe in brand names--in fact, that probably indicates a lack of confidence in one's own style
"Style is informed by the individual’s own creative expression"
How do you see online shopping within the region, are you for it (and why)?
It is becoming a trend lately in the Middle East and in Dubai in particular, and I know some departments stores here that are offering online shopping, but honestly I haven't tried it yet. But, I believe I will soon be sticking to Mr. Porter for their online shopping. They managed to collect the very best from different boutiques around the world.
Recommended best local shopping destinations?
There are so many, but from the top of my head, I can recommend Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue, which all carry the best of the big brands under their roofs.
1 comments:
so proud of you Ahmad,all the best.
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