Et voila! Fashion month is finally back. After a long Covid-imposed pause, the region’s fashionistas are getting ready to attend global Fashion Weeks again. This means street style is back on the agenda. While New York Fashion Week (September 8th-12th) kicks off the Spring/Summer 2022 fashion shows, the Middle Eastern fashion contingent are more inclined to attend the Milan (September 21st – 27th 2021) and Paris (September 28th – October 5th 202) shows and so right now are busy preparing their looks.
As much as trends are set on the catwalks of glamorous fashion shows, the streets also contribute to global fashion. The upcoming shows should be interesting: the pandemic has caused a fashion reset, and made the whole industry rethink their consumption habits – so could street style get a conscious make-over at fashion month this year?
Minimalism with Maximum Heels: Zainab Abdulaziz Soud Alabdulrazzaq
Media Personality and Editor-in-Chief, 3oud.com
This Kuwaiti trailblazer founded 3oud.com (pronounced – Oud.com), a leading Arabic fashion hub and hybrid portal straddling the worlds of luxury and fashion, in 2015. You can see all her previous Fashion Week looks in the highlights section of her Instagram page. The Editor-in-Chief says, “I have to admit, I am slightly nervous as it’s been a while since I have travelled by air, but I miss every single moment and can’t wait to go back.” She describes her post-pandemic Fashion Week look as “minimalistic” and is on the look-out for high-quality pieces.
Alabdulrazzaq is, however, looking forward to putting on her high heels again. Her list of Fashion Week street style essentials includes, “a good pair of sunglasses, a sleek and elegant clutch which can work for a day or night look, a long-lasting red lipstick and of course, lots of shoes.”
Vocal for Local: Mthayel Al Ali
Founder of Tkhayyal, a creative marketing company
Al Ali, an Emirati style influencer is attending Milan Fashion Week representing Bulgari and this will be her first Fashion Week. While she is excited, she is not overthinking her own style, she’s more focused on the overall picture, “I think people have changed their perception about fashion and practicality, therefore I believe brands and individuals will be exploring a different approach at fashion and styling”.
Al Ali feels that as an Arab woman it is important to represent local brands: “I will be wearing a mix of international designers and regional designers that have been struggling because of the pandemic.”
Conscious, Chic and Comfortable: Valia Taha
Publisher ELLE Arabia
This Dubai-based Lebanese media veteran was one of the few Arabs to attend the Dior Cruise show in June and says, “Fashion Weeks have always been the streetstyle red-carpet moment for so many, but I don’t feel the street style hype will be the same as before.” The pandemic has made her more conscious about her style decisions and also bolder in her color choices, “I started wearing more and more colors and started looking for brands linked to sustainability,” she says.
She has earmarked some pieces for her trip to Milan and these include elevated essentials such as light capes teamed with white shirts and black leggings. Also on her Fashion Week packing list are Ganni and Staud dresses that will be worn with Valentino and Prada boots. For Taha Zeidan, it’s all about being comfortable and chic.
