LITTLE bLaCk dRESS
STYLE
LITTLE bLaCk dRESS FADWA BAALBAKI Re-think fashion is the motto at Lebanese Designer Fadwa Baalbaki’s Boutique in Jumeirah, where the traditional robe noir can be whatever you want. Opening the Fashion Catwalk at this year’s BRIDE Abu Dhabi, the dressmaker unveiled a rainbow collection of stunning evening dresses – proof that all great LBD’s are limitless, but most importantly inherently classic. Diksha Vohra & Maryan Abdinur
Hailing from Lebanon, The Little Black Dress continues its bespoke tradition in the UAE. Five years since opening her first boutique in Beirut to resounding success, Fadwa Baalbaki’s tailor-made concept continues to draw praise. Her approach is strictly to make transcendent pieces, inspired by the classical era of Audrey Hepburn and eighties Parisian chic of revered couturier Azzedine Alaia. She didnt always know she was going to be a designer. It was only after a few photo shoots, where she witnessed the mixing of colors and textures when she decided to take it up as a career. It was in 2010 that she finally decided to take the leap and launch her own boutique in Beirut which gradually gained more and more popularity among women who wanted to set styling standards for themselves and stand apart from the crowd. “I create dresses to bring a sense of unique style to women, maintaining an elegant and timeless approach to fashion, no matter how modern the piece” muses the designer. Baalbaki’s Spring Summer 2015 collection brought this
attitude to BRIDE Abu Dhabi’s runway where dreamy visions of rose, violet, crimson, and sea foam drew whimsical notes to be swept away in. Mixing vintage tastes with modern and daring twists, Balbaaki‘s play of contrasts depicted the female form with the LBD signature take on femininity. Off the runway, clients are invited to tailor their own creations under Balbaaki’s expert eye. For fashion lovers, her Palm Strip Mall boutique is a special gem. Storefront windows display delicate works of tulle, lace, chiffon, silk and organza. To the ladies who stream in, they are artworks, but more than that, each dress reveals another facet of the meticulous designer. Balbaaki is one of the growing designers in the region being recognised for her distinct ability to fuse her Eastern aesthetics with Western design influences. Citing her time in France as extremely influntial during her formative teen years, the designer reflects on the eclectic fashion that positioned her brand several years later.
“I didn’t always know I was going to become a designer, however after attending numerous photo shoots of high end couture designers, and observing their creations coming to life, and watching their mixing and matching of different textures and colours, I was even more drawn to the world of design and this encouraged me to enter it.” . 16
17 .
“My target audience is any woman, no matter whether she is a celebrity, a working woman, or a mother, looking to feel different, wear a masterpiece of a dress and shine. In my world, every woman is treated like a star.”
“I didn’t always know I was going to become a designer, however after attending numerous photo shoots of high end couture designers, and observing their creations coming to life, and watching their mixing and matching of different textures and colours, I was even more drawn to the world of design and this encouraged me to enter it.” Her gowns meld ornate embellishments with simpler style lines and bold palettes, with bi-annual on trend collections meant to stand the test of time. While referencing fashion icons like Hepburn for their timelessness, Little Black Dress’ clientele form the crux of the boutique’s inexhausable appeal. A consumer focus is deliberate and commercially sensible as savvy ladies increasingly look to labels that can help them create their own special fashion moments. As LBD cements its position as the definitive stop to undertake such a task, Balbaaki stands at the helm, guiding such moments along. “The fact that more and more women are coming into my store and ordering dresses and customizing them is a wonderful feeling for me. It shows me that they trust in my design and expertise, and this is what keeps me going and makes me feel accomplished.” At the heartbeat of it all, is the atelier nestled within the boutique. It’s the calming assurity that no two dresses are ever the same – every woman’s dream. In a world where online shopping and retail giants rein supreme, Baalbaki’s commitment to handcrafting sets her apart. Every cut
. 18
and adornment has its purpose, ensuring clients are “fully satisfied with what they are wearing, that their personality shines through.” Though Baalbaki has dressed local celebrities and big names who have graced Society pages, the designer is satisfied with the privilege of having been part of all the ’wow’ moments at her atelier. “My target audience is any woman, no matter whether she is a celebrity, a working woman, or a mother, looking to feel different, wear a masterpiece of a dress and shine. In my world, every woman is treated like a star.“ Inscreasingly as the luxury fashion industry churns out this season’s style stars, where fashion is a statement to be produced, captured and shared, Balbaaki credits advancements in social media channels and advertising methods with the growing prominance of regional designers. All the same it is her attitude towards fashion, defined by the very real women around her which set the stage for the expansion of her brand. Most resonating to clients is Balbaaki’s understanding that luxury is in the details. “Luxury to me is the effort and time that has gone into a certain creation, really making it unique, valued and worth the wait or price.“ It is distinctly her ability to echew mass appeal for individual flair which delivers the LBD moment so many are after, and thus her broader definition of luxury seems all the more pertinant to the modern woman.
19 .
LITTLE bLaCk dRESS FADWA BAALBAKI Re-think fashion is the motto at Lebanese Designer Fadwa Baalbaki’s Boutique in Jumeirah, where the traditional robe noir can be whatever you want. Opening the Fashion Catwalk at this year’s BRIDE Abu Dhabi, the dressmaker unveiled a rainbow collection of stunning evening dresses – proof that all great LBD’s are limitless, but most importantly inherently classic. Diksha Vohra & Maryan Abdinur
Hailing from Lebanon, The Little Black Dress continues its bespoke tradition in the UAE. Five years since opening her first boutique in Beirut to resounding success, Fadwa Baalbaki’s tailor-made concept continues to draw praise. Her approach is strictly to make transcendent pieces, inspired by the classical era of Audrey Hepburn and eighties Parisian chic of revered couturier Azzedine Alaia. She didnt always know she was going to be a designer. It was only after a few photo shoots, where she witnessed the mixing of colors and textures when she decided to take it up as a career. It was in 2010 that she finally decided to take the leap and launch her own boutique in Beirut which gradually gained more and more popularity among women who wanted to set styling standards for themselves and stand apart from the crowd. “I create dresses to bring a sense of unique style to women, maintaining an elegant and timeless approach to fashion, no matter how modern the piece” muses the designer. Baalbaki’s Spring Summer 2015 collection brought this
attitude to BRIDE Abu Dhabi’s runway where dreamy visions of rose, violet, crimson, and sea foam drew whimsical notes to be swept away in. Mixing vintage tastes with modern and daring twists, Balbaaki‘s play of contrasts depicted the female form with the LBD signature take on femininity. Off the runway, clients are invited to tailor their own creations under Balbaaki’s expert eye. For fashion lovers, her Palm Strip Mall boutique is a special gem. Storefront windows display delicate works of tulle, lace, chiffon, silk and organza. To the ladies who stream in, they are artworks, but more than that, each dress reveals another facet of the meticulous designer. Balbaaki is one of the growing designers in the region being recognised for her distinct ability to fuse her Eastern aesthetics with Western design influences. Citing her time in France as extremely influntial during her formative teen years, the designer reflects on the eclectic fashion that positioned her brand several years later.
“I didn’t always know I was going to become a designer, however after attending numerous photo shoots of high end couture designers, and observing their creations coming to life, and watching their mixing and matching of different textures and colours, I was even more drawn to the world of design and this encouraged me to enter it.” . 16
17 .
“My target audience is any woman, no matter whether she is a celebrity, a working woman, or a mother, looking to feel different, wear a masterpiece of a dress and shine. In my world, every woman is treated like a star.”
“I didn’t always know I was going to become a designer, however after attending numerous photo shoots of high end couture designers, and observing their creations coming to life, and watching their mixing and matching of different textures and colours, I was even more drawn to the world of design and this encouraged me to enter it.” Her gowns meld ornate embellishments with simpler style lines and bold palettes, with bi-annual on trend collections meant to stand the test of time. While referencing fashion icons like Hepburn for their timelessness, Little Black Dress’ clientele form the crux of the boutique’s inexhausable appeal. A consumer focus is deliberate and commercially sensible as savvy ladies increasingly look to labels that can help them create their own special fashion moments. As LBD cements its position as the definitive stop to undertake such a task, Balbaaki stands at the helm, guiding such moments along. “The fact that more and more women are coming into my store and ordering dresses and customizing them is a wonderful feeling for me. It shows me that they trust in my design and expertise, and this is what keeps me going and makes me feel accomplished.” At the heartbeat of it all, is the atelier nestled within the boutique. It’s the calming assurity that no two dresses are ever the same – every woman’s dream. In a world where online shopping and retail giants rein supreme, Baalbaki’s commitment to handcrafting sets her apart. Every cut
. 18
and adornment has its purpose, ensuring clients are “fully satisfied with what they are wearing, that their personality shines through.” Though Baalbaki has dressed local celebrities and big names who have graced Society pages, the designer is satisfied with the privilege of having been part of all the ’wow’ moments at her atelier. “My target audience is any woman, no matter whether she is a celebrity, a working woman, or a mother, looking to feel different, wear a masterpiece of a dress and shine. In my world, every woman is treated like a star.“ Inscreasingly as the luxury fashion industry churns out this season’s style stars, where fashion is a statement to be produced, captured and shared, Balbaaki credits advancements in social media channels and advertising methods with the growing prominance of regional designers. All the same it is her attitude towards fashion, defined by the very real women around her which set the stage for the expansion of her brand. Most resonating to clients is Balbaaki’s understanding that luxury is in the details. “Luxury to me is the effort and time that has gone into a certain creation, really making it unique, valued and worth the wait or price.“ It is distinctly her ability to echew mass appeal for individual flair which delivers the LBD moment so many are after, and thus her broader definition of luxury seems all the more pertinant to the modern woman.
19 .
