Dana Hourani with daughter Zoe Ray. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
When Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet partnered with British luxury fashion house Ralph & Russo, it marked the coming together of two families. Both founded on a spirit of independence and a dedication to craftsmanship, creativity, and reinvention, the family-owned businesses found a natural synergy in the artisanal principles that underpin their exquisite designs. It’s these shared values and the idea of creative collaboration that lie at the heart of Audemars Piguet’s film My Creative Clan, which stars another member of its extended family, Lebanese recording and visual artist Dana Hourani and her daughter Zoe Ray. The film sees Hourani hand over the style reins to her mini fashion editor to offer an unusual lesson in how to wear Audemars Piguet’s latest Royal Oak timepieces with the Ralph & Russo Fall/Winter 2020 Prêt-à-Porter collection, following the collaborators’ first official outing during the virtual show in London.
Allowing your own child to choose your outfits can be an unnerving prospect for those with a fixed aesthetic in place. But for someone like Hourani – whose earliest style memories can be traced back to her own childhood – it offers an exciting opportunity. “I remember my mother subscribing to fashion-shopping magazines that used to land on our doorstep every month,” Hourani told Vogue Arabia. “She would look through it and place an order by telephone. Sometimes I would flip through the kids’ section and ask her to order something for me as well. That was way before online shopping ever existed.” And now, Hourani’s daughter is going through the Prêt-à-Porter collection to pick something that inspires a similar feeling of excitement for her mother.
Dana Hourani with daughter Zoe Ray. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
“As most daughters are usually obsessed with their mothers’ wardrobes, makeup, accessories, and whatnot, I felt that it would be fun for her to actually take the lead,” shares Hourani. “I introduced to her the idea of styling me fully and the rest pretty much came rolling with her naturally, and I just marched to the beat of her drum.” From a black corset gown with lace trim, to a raspberry pink gown, and a pale pink and burgundy dress ripe for the winter season, the fledgling stylist expertly completes each of her mother’s Ralph & Russo looks with one of Audemars Piguet’s delicate Royal Oak designs. Steeped in generations of in-house craftsmanship, the new Royal Oak Selfwinding collection in 34mm features four different models in stainless steel or 18ct pink gold and guilloché “Grande Tapisserie” dials available in silver or blue-gray hues. “The Royal Oak watch is a timeless staple of taste,” said Hourani. “For me, it’s not about reflecting a statement of wealth and status but rather a humble and high-quality product that would always have an iconic stamp.”
Dana Hourani wears Ralph & Russo. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet’s latest women’s watch is also expertly designed for smaller, daintier wrists – making it perfect fodder for our mini stylist as well as her time-conscious mother. “The best thing about having a daughter is getting to relive my time as a child with her all over again,” says Hourani. “Rewatching all the movies I’ve seen growing up with her, reading her books that I read countless times, the games I used to play, and so many other moments like these take me down memory lane.”
Dana Hourani wears the Audemars Piguet 34mm Royal Oak Selfwinding in steel and pink gold. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
Hourani’s relationship with time also affected her perspective on fashion. “I always conformed to the time I was living in,” says the singer of her style evolution. “I’ve definitely had my cringeworthy moments looking back, but each period in time had its own influence on my style given the culture and surroundings. Growing up I always followed the styles that were popular at the time. I would say now, I’ve grown into having my own particular classical and comfortable fashion sense, regardless of what is trending.”
Dana Hourani wears Ralph & Russo. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
Time management has also become absolutely sacrosanct for Hourani, who appreciates the beauty, class, and efficiency that Audemars Piguet’s artisanal methods and cutting-edge technology bring to timekeeping. “Audemars Piguet represents the epitome of excellence in craftsmanship and creation with precision, all while remaining quiet and discreet at the same time,” explains Hourani. “It feels like you are wearing more than a watch, a piece that says a lot about you without having to use words. For me, this is pure luxury and elegance.”
Dana Hourani wears Ralph & Russo. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
Watch the short film ‘My Creative Clan’ to see Dana Hourani and Zoe Ray expertly styling the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak line and Ralph & Russo FW20 Prêt-à-Porter collection, above.
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