H&HH at Abu Dhabi Bride Show 2012

This is officially the first , on the job review that H&HH has the pleasure to writing . From the 8-11 of February , The Abu Dhabi Bride Show was held at  ADNEC, and  H&HH was invited to cover the event .
So here is our review on the best  Haute Couture and Bridal wear Designers that featured this year .

Rami Al Ali , who was the opening show at the Bride Show , was a pleasure to watch . With a background in Fine arts , it comes as no surprise that this established fashion mogul , gave the show some of its best highlights .
Rami Al Ali , featured Bridal and evening attire . He displayed a very astute range of ensembles that were both functional as well as ravishingly pleasing to the female form.  He has featured in the AltaRoma in Rome , Italy and has also been published in the acclaimed book  Unbridaled published by Swarovsky .

Another brand that showed some fabulous designs was TRIO COUTURE .
Trio Couture is a hot new label from Abu Dhabi that specializes in abayas, dresses, jalabiyas and wedding gowns. Each design is unique, offering bespoke luxury to women who value a personalized approach to fashion.
A fresh and innovative brand, Trio Couture was launched in September 2010 by three talented ladies who share a vision to make a mark in the fashion world, in hearts and in wardrobes with one-of-a-kind designs.
The essence of the Trio Couture brand is grace and elegance. With Arabic culture at its core, the collection reinterprets traditional designs of the past in harmony with the latest trends in global fashion, finding an exceptional pairing of modesty and chic.

 

A show  that left its audience with a lovely after glow was the  Dar Waad Collection with its colorful aesthetic sense and smart color blocking . The collection of kaftans and jelebiyas are young, trendy and full of personality . It is a very fashionable form of fusion between almost Asian inspired silhouettes and middle eastern prints .

 

Two of the household names in international fashion that featured at the bride show were La Sposa Barcelona and the Dubai based Couture label Amato by Furne One . Although these labels deserve their own posts respectively H&HH will not waste time talking because the visuals are beautifully self explanatory. Each design is an epitome of class and elegance . Amato is sheer dramatic brilliance. 

La Sposa Barcelona 

Disclaimer : Hommous&Highheels does not own any of the above photographs , all art works are courtesy of their respective websites and /or publications and social networks .

Up Close an Personal with Haute Couture Designer AFRA AL ABDULLA

Today Hommous&HighHeels is very happy to present Afra Al Abdulla , a pioneering emirati woman in the field of fashion . Her haute couture line of high fashion gowns for pregnant women received rave reviews in  the past fashion week . Currently busy preparing to launch a new men's wear line , Afra spared a little time to give Hommous & HighHeels an exclusive interview.

Afra Al Abdulla started her career at an early age . She believes design is in her blood  and that have aunts that were in the same line and a family business in clothing , made it natural for her to follow the same line. After handling the family business for over six years , she decided to pursue her own career in fashion , the beginning of which was in Milan ,Italy , where she studied Fashion at the Instituto Di Moda Burgo .

Afra Al Abdulla is the first emirati woman to launch a fashion label with clothing for pregnant women and also a haute couture belt collection . Her  collection  showcases  haute couture  pieces for red carpet events, bridal gowns , maternity evening wear and abayas. Her brand AFRA AL ABDULLA is now synonymous with class and elegance in evening wear for many arab women .

When asked where she drew her inspiration from , she replied that any thing and everything can inspire her. “ Nature , colours , food , a particular smell , it could be anything” she says. “I am a very moody person,  my designs reflect my mood.” Her trademark is creating  clothing ensembles with movement , she loves to use different cuts , fabrics , and plays around with very western silhouettes , fusing them with Asian  embroidery.

  This is what she had to say , when asked the following questions

What advice would you give to other aspiring designers ?

Be Positive , especially while starting a business because in business you have to go through a lot of ups and downs.  Hear what others have to say but always do what you believe is right in your heart . Stand by your designs and believe in yourself .

Who do you idolise or look up to ?

To be frank , I have never looked up to a celebrity or a famous person and said ; That’s what I want  to do or that’s who I want to be like . I have been asked this question many times and I have never had an answer .  Of course I admire and appreciate the work of designers like , Roberto Cavalli , John Paul Gaultier and Versace in its earlier years .

Fashion advice on Valentine’s Day ?

Well the colour for valentine’s day is obviously red , but I would tell women to wear whatever colour made them look the most flattering . Stand out in what you wear , and look beautiful.

What is a common mistake you find, women make ?

There are a lot of women who will see a sketch or a design on a mannequin and like it so much that they will forget to consider whether it will flatter them or not . Most designers are good at designing , but they are not image consultants . They often forget to keep in mind who their client is and what their preferences are . So my advice is , choose an ensemble only after determining whether it will look good on you . Don’t let the opinion of the designer or the sales representative cloud your own judgement .

To view the whole collection by Afra Al Abdulla go to www.afraalabdulla.com

H&HH's haute couture 2013 By Pooja Gajraj

H&HH's S/S 2012-2013 By Pooja Gajraj