Designer Ahlem Manai-Platt wearing Ahlem Eyewear. Photo by Dan Monick for Vogue Arabia
French-Tunisian designer Ahlem Manai-Platt, behind Ahlem Eyewear, is making sure that 2017 is a standout year. Manai-Platt opened a standalone boutique on Abbott Kinney Boulevard, enjoyed some personal time in Paris with her one-year-old son before vacationing in Scandinavia, and just received a nomination for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. This fall the designer–along with nine other finalists–will compete in a series of challenges to win a AED/SAR 1,467,195 (US $400,000) prize and mentorship from CFDA members.
Inside June’s Vogue Arabia print issue, she shared with Nouriah Al Shatti the secrets to her laidback luxe style and summer must-haves. Read the Vogue.me outtakes below:
A French Spin on SoCal Cool
“I’m very Parisian in my style sense,” Ahlem Manai-Platt tells Vogue Arabia, “but it has become even more low-key since I moved to Venice Beach with my husband three years ago. It has a vibe that doesn’t live by brands or trends. I don’t wear tank tops or shorts, but I try to stick to nice pieces that are very subtle,” says Manai-Platt highlighting Céline and Alaïa as her go-to brands.
Ahlem Eyewear designer Ahlem Manai-Platt wearing a watch by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Photo by Dan Monick for Vogue Arabia
Can’t-Live-Without Accessory (After Her Sunglasses)
With a flick of the wrist, Manai-Platt reveals a rectangular-faced Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch. “I like it when functionality meets beauty in design,” she says. “I’m drawn to structure and lines derived from Bauhaus, Art Deco, and Pointillism, and I feel like Jaeger-LeCoultre combines these three art movements in a small mechanism.” Her love for delicate dials runs deep. Drawn to watchmakers with horological heritage, she also nods to a streamlined Patek Philippe watch. “You see how light those watches are? Light as leaf,” she says.
Ahlem Manai-Platt’s Marni sandals. Photo by Dan Monick for Vogue Arabia
Summer Splurges
“I don’t wear high heels, but I haven’t given in to flip-flops,” she laughs, instead opting for Marni sandals and Gucci loafers, which she wears to stroll down Abbot Kinney Boulevard. “I buy a pair of Marni’s every year.” Meanwhile, a pair of leather Vans sneakers from Colette is the newest addition to her already extensive collection, and her most recent bag is courtesy of Céline.
The Travel Wardrobe
This summer, Manai-Platt mapped out her wardrobe for a trip to Scandinavia. While in Copenhagen, the designer visited the cliff-side Louisiana Museum of Modern Art just outside the city. “I wish that place could be my house,” she says. For Stockholm, she packed a new Eres maillot and a breezy beach kimono from her boutique’s neighboring store. To complete her ensemble, Manai-Platt covered her tousled bob with bespoke headwear from her friend Gladys Tamez or a wide-brimmed hat from Alberto.
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