The Bride Show Dubai

As The Bride Show Dubai draws to a close in spectacular fashion, the Middle East is joining the rest of the world in turning its attention to the most eagerly anticipated wedding of the decade, that of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April at Westminster Abbey in London.

As hundreds of exquisite bridal gowns graced this year’s catwalk, The Bride Show Dubai offers its top five wedding dress suggestions to the world’s most famous fiancé.

Bangkok-based bridal boutique After You Say Yes – SIMA took part in The Bride Show Dubai for the first time and opened the four days of fashion shows. This design would show off Kate’s curves but still add drama with the full skirt and train.

One shoulder designs have been very popular in the last year or so. We love the full skirt which flows from the corset of this Esra design, one of the Romanian Designers & Companies brands.

Long time Bride Show favourite Demetrios, from Saudi Arabia, never fails to disappoint. We think this lace column design would look truly stunning on Miss Middleton.

This tiered gown from After You Say Yes – SIMA is beautiful and we especially like the soft peach undertones.

A real show stopper, and the finale gown of the After You Say Yes – SIMA show. This has a definite nod to the Middle East; we would love to see Kate in something this intricate.

The Bride Show Dubai, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif, Chairwoman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE and wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor to the President of the UAE, will return from 4 to 7 April, 2012 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.

fation events

Top Bollywood designers Neeta Lulla and Vikram Phadnis are among the 31 international and regional designers who will present their fall/winter 2008 collections at the Isla Moda Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) to be held at the Godolphin Ballroom, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, from March 19 to 22. The event is produced by Concept Events and endorsed by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It will feature 16 solo and group shows to be held from March 20 to 22 from 3pm to 10pm. Entry to the event is strictly by invitation only.
The shows will feature prêt a porter, couture and diffusion collections by established and emerging designers including Troy Costa and Rohit Mittal from India, Hatem Alhakeem, Loai Nassem, Mahmoud Hafiz and Hend Halawani from Saudi Arabia, UK-based Lamia Asudari and Kuwaiti designer Nili Zahar. Participants from the UAE include Ghanati, Mille Rostock, Redaa-Amaal Murad, Charu Parashar, Surabhi Kalsi, Hamra Alam and Raakhee Raipanchola. Homegrown talents Rashmi Kumari, Muskan Taurani and Deeya Nanda will present their debut collections at the event.
UAE-based designers Jasbir Jamani and Buffi Jashanmal along with Lebanese talent Krikor Jabotian will feature in the third edition of the ‘Splash Emerging Talent' show, slated for the final day of the event. Also included this season is an Islamic Fashion Festival preview that will feature shaylas, abayas, prayer attire, Islamic swimwear and contemporary Islamic fashion presented by well known designers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Europe, India and the gulf region. A show by Dessange (Paris), displaying latest hairstyle trends is also part of the schedule. The grand finale on March 22 will feature the opulent collections of Neeta Lulla and UAE-based Lebanese atelier Walid Atallah.
"DFW is a trade event and our aim is to provide an exclusive platform for the development of the region's fashion industry. We want to focus on offering retail buyers, fashion professionals and the media an inside look into the latest collections from designers in the region and help generate increased exposure and revenue in the industry," said Rohit Sabikhi, Director - Fashion at Concept Events. "We have now moved to a bigger venue so that we can provide better facilities such as spacious exhibition areas, a media centre and a buyers lounge to further facilitate business opportunities for the established and emerging designers," he added.
DFW is presented by Isla Moda, the world's first dedicated fashion island, located in Dubai's The World development with support from Splash, L'Oreal, Dessange, Philips, Solaris, Emirates Bank Al Shaheen, Audi and Image Works

1) Haggle

Once shopping in UAE, from time to time haggling is totally suitable – in fact, sometimes it’s expected. However, at some markets it’s just not necessary . As a general rule of thumb, Dubai’s older, more established markets love a bit of banter, whereas the newer, snazzier options are less up for it. For instance, at the Gold Souk it’s completely accepted, but at Covent Garden Market or Baker & Spice’s farmer’s market it would be a bit out of place.

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