Vanity Mode: Style.Styling

Showing posts with label Style.Styling. Show all posts

Sunday, 2 June 2013

Dubai's Top Model Search Cavalli Club

Earlier, this year I was asked to take part in Dubai's Top Model Search. Immediately I was like

"Stop the Press! Close the door and shut up!" "Tyra Banks has brought Next Top Model to Dubai?!"

And then after some phone calls, wiping the coal out of my eyes and clearing the soap out the ears had realized it was not the case, that Glitz Models and Events had partnered with Cavalli club to do Dubai's Top Model Search, a show to run over 3 months and feature the hottest of the hot and prettiest of the lot. Ran once a week in Cavalli Club with one winner selected wto go on and battle it out in the lineup of the finalists at the end of week.

A male edition kicked in half way through which I only had the pleasure of attending one show, I mean I had to see if the tales of the impromptu lap dances and Chippendale jiggles for the audience were all but true!? Duh! And it certainly did prove as entertaining if not different from the ladies half. Sadly minus the lap dances passed for talent. Back to the story they asked for Van der Haer designs to be featured in the Week 4 show and below is a mix of what went on behind and on the stage! 8 models, 2 outfit changes each and a couple frocks for the MCs all fitted in under 24hrs! Nothings impossible when it comes to me and fashion! I must say it was a fun and rewarding experience to of worked hand in hand with Cavalli Club. *Note Special thanks to selected dresses featured were by Shams Syed of Ghanati Couture, Dubai.

O'! and P.S; Any ideas or offers for cameras that don't turn its subjects into characters from True Blood would be well appreciated! tee hee! I just cant take the poor quality of my i-phone 5 anymore!

End of the Night was Boogie Woogie time with Dubai Model Finalist and now good friend Mimi Guapita!

Thursday, 16 May 2013

Mens Wardrobe "Creative" Personality; feat. Dorian C. Grey Fashion Designer; Zafar Ahmed

A couple weeks ago, I blogged the first of articles in a series on Mens Wardrobe Personalities; The Creative. I felt it wasn't enough to just educate everyone of the science of Mens Wardobe choices through pictures of celebrity styling alone, but felt it vital to relate real every day style for men here in Dubai namely.
So, I was pleased when struck with this idea and after approaching several friends that they agreed happily to participate and share with my readers their definition of style.
House of Van der Haer caught up with the down to earth eccentric, Zafar Ahmed, who along with Marlon Weir, represent Dorian C. Grey Atelier for a look at his Creative's Wardrobe Personality and how it reflects in his work.

Tell us a little of your background?

My background is in Architecture, Art and Fashion... hence, my responses are atypical to that of a fashion designer.. i.e. question 3

Describe your style in 5 words? Classic, Grey, Epileptic, B&W

Name a common fashion faux pau of men? As far as garments are concerned, there are none. A weak character, A man is the fashion, a characterless man is unfashionable.

Name some of your favorite designers? Tabor Kalman , Paul Rand, Oscar Niemeyer, Alexander McQueen – just a few of the many, the list really never ends

Who is the ideal Dorian C. Grey customer? An ideal DCG customer would be someone that wants a confident edge... its give you that extra swag.. a person, wiser than myself once said, lingerie is to a woman is what a good suit is to a man...

If you were a car, what model would you be and why? Chevy Impala – it’s iconic and yet it somewhat represents the unpolished rogue. It was never designed for what it has evolved to become.

Who, dead or alive, would play you in a movie on your life? Adrian Brody – he makes for a good manically depressed introverted character.

What would be your best Mens Styling tip? Always imagine how you would like to be perceived, dress accordingly for the situation

Describe Dubai's Fashion style? It’s an ever evolving scene like the shifting of sand dunes.

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Day 3: Fashion Forward Diaries

Enroute to Fashion Forward! Running late but defiant that we would make the Amato show on time! I couldn't quite grab a full length shot but I'm wearing my own design blue plume feather bolero, A vintage style mixed sequin shoulder shrug that I draped over the front of my black camisole to make a top, with a black cob web knitted skirt with a gold clasp belted waist . People always ask me, "Do you wear your own design?" And "Yes", I try to of course, but more so for public events, fashion shows especially, after all I am the prime reflection of my brand aesthetic and who I design for. But in the day you can catch me in basic classic staples from High Street to Designer (designer mostly in bags and shoes-they are my investment!) Anyways! Feeling the Art Deco 40's look slowly developing from my ensemble, I instantly knew to go with my ombre hair pinned to one side and cascading in ringlets over my right shoulder with pin curls at the front-thank God I went to the salon a day earlier! What do you think?!

From left; MJ, Sam, et moi

Amato Fashion Show 9pm

Furne's show opened with a melodic symphony of film and music with a circus jingle. Models stood numblessly like beautiful dolls who'd been sold for black market lobotomies. They were almost angelic, their finger tips ever so lightly touching told of the pulling magnitude of heaven with an undertone of the hell soon to garishly glam set to unravel! Closeups of purpled lips and drained skin tones quickened with spurts of laughter and spats of blood. Sure enough this is the Amato madness we know and love! His talent to mix the beautiful with the dark side! I felt a bit of Joan of Arc in the Air with a model laying peacefully whilst appearing to await sacrifice on a willowy altar. Graceful in a sanguinary gown enriched with laborious embroidery and cuts, weaving its way around her body like weeds extract life from daffodils.
Cut straight to subliminals of a model who soon begins to be showered in blood whilst cradling the designer's newly launched perfume. The crowd applaud, slights gasps are released and those fashionistas with a strong enough stomach all lean in on the edge of their seats in further anticipation of the show to start. Blacks, Nudes, whites, rose golds, Furnes colour palette was concise ethereal and romantic as it was disturbing.
The dramatic capes, breast shields, hip guards and blood stained barbwire head pieces left us with enough drama to keep our fashion libidos running at an all time high till next season! Especially with talk rife of a Furne and Lady Gaga collaboration?! Bravo Furne!
**Wish List; I wouldn't mind the S&M patent leather obis!

a fan

I loved the twist on the white shirt, from left Tatyana and Anel

So CHIC! SO ROCK! SO HOT! #Trend; Women doing the mens suited look
and at often times...better then the men!-Yikes!

Loved this menacing school boy look! Leather shorts and studded glasses.

Sequined Frock

Blow me Away!....and he did!

Take a bow

Designer Monsieur Michael Cinco

Ladies got the blues; Moi with Ester Quek @Amato, new Editor at The Rake magazine and total style sweety!
Esther was ecstatic to see that Dubai had so much talent!