Dana Al Tuwarish reveals her treasure trove of high jewelry, timepieces, fashion, and art
Bright sequins complement Dana Al Tuwarish’s pink Hermès Pochette. Photographed by Shahad Al Ajeel
1. BEAUTY BIZ
Kuwaiti-Iraqi beauty entrepreneur and social media maven Dana Al Tuwarish has just hit a new highlight with her Cheya salons. At the end of February, she opened the third location in Kuwait, in Sabah Al Salem. She launched the salons ve years ago with her partner, out of a need, not for the sake of starting a business. She had struggled to book a makeup artist and stylist when she had shoots scheduled in the morning, as there are no salons open in Kuwait before 10am. So she decided to open her own. “People assume that my salons are successful because I am behind them, but it’s due to the service,” she says.
Amina Muaddi mules and a Chanel bag. Photographed by Shahad Al Ajeel
2. HOME DYNAMICS
Dressed in a navy blue Chanel tracksuit trimmed with gold tweed and fur Gucci loafers, Al Tuwarish is relaxed in her contemporary art deco living room. “It took me six months to decorate, since my husband and I clash when it comes to our taste in furniture,” she laughs, reaching for the gold coffee dallah perched on a side table featuring a kaleidoscope of glass-blown bubbles by Jonathan Adler. “I see my home as an extension of my style. I’m experimental and I’m not afraid of color,” she adds. Coffee consumed, Al Tuwarish strides down a hall lined with her limited-edition Hermès bags in glass displays that lead to the kitchenette, where meals are elevated through designer tableware and Christofle flatware concealed in an egg-shaped case. “Why wait to bring them out when guests come over? I like adding a little luxe to my lunch.”
Al Tuwarish’s jewelry is all custom-made. Photographed by Shahad Al Ajeel
3. ART ARRANGEMENTS
When I started decorating, the art came first,” the influencer shares. “I found some pieces during trips to New York and London, and many I’ve sourced locally,” she says. Drawn to grand canvas art, she picked up large pieces by Kuwaiti artists Abdullah Al Zaid and Khaled Al Shatti from Den Gallery. “I also like the work of Alec Monopoly. There’s a piece I found in London that’s going up in my new home in Dubai.” Meanwhile, two torsos locked in an embrace by sculptor Randy Cooper are brought to life through a play of shadows and light beaming from the living room’s skylight. Up the main staircase, a large painting by Iraqi artist Wadhah Mahdi brightens the first floor with its colorful palette. “I got this one when I was pregnant with Deem. It reminds me of family,” says Al Tuwarish, who recently gave birth to her first child.
An Hermès Cheval D’orient porcelain plate and a rare Hermès Birkin 25 Matte Alligator Bag in lime. Photographed by Shahad Al Ajeel
4. LITERARY DELIGHTS
Al Tuwarish cherishes her home library. “I’ve always loved reading, especially books by Egyptian authors,” she says. Her bookcase is filled with titles by some of her favorite writers, including Yusuf Sibai, Naguib Mahfouz, and Ihsan Abdel Quddous. “Chicago by Alaa Al Aswany is one of my favorite books, I’ve read it more than a dozen times.” Al Tuwarish is also currently completing her bachelor’s degree in mass communications at the American University of Kuwait. Before rocketing to recognition, she enjoyed writing. “When I opened my Instagram account eight years ago, I would only post short stories on my feed, before I started sharing pictures of myself. At the time, I wasn’t comfortable showing my face on the platform.”
A neon Marzook bag offsets a Mayka top. Photographed by Shahad Al Ajeel
5. COLOSSAL CLOSET
The entrepreneur’s closet makes a strong case for “more is more.” Glimpses of her three-room, walk-in closet was caught on camera during the first and second season of the reality series My Fabulous M.E. “I love Chanel,” she says of her more than 20 tweed suits by the brand. “I’m also into Chanel bags and sneakers.” Behind the closet doors are an oversized Mugler trench coat, a floor-length Off-White dress, a Louis Vuitton monogram puffer jacket plucked from the men’s collection, baroque-print Versace separates, Balenciaga dresses, Givenchy suits, and Elie Saab beaded gowns. “Alexander McQueen is my go-to for leather jackets,” she says while holding up an intricately embellished biker. “I wear it when I want to feel edgy.” Her affinity for the British brand runs deep as she reveals she has a small tattoo inspired by the label’s skull logo. Mini Lady Dior bags line a shelf in nine different shades, while Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin pumps rival a Pantone color guide. Stacks on stacks of orange boxes labeled with Polaroid pictures house her collection of Birkin, Kelly, and Constance bags. Al Tuwarish is also actively on the hunt for sought-after emerging names. “I’m currently crushing on Liudmila boots and Amina Muaddi heels.”
Photographed by Shahad Al Ajeel
6. BLENDING NOTES
At the center of her sartorial wonderland are floor-to-ceiling shelves featuring rows of perfumes housed in jewel-tone bottles. “I
love creating my own customized scent by layering fragrances. I start with a concentrated oud oil as a base and build up the intensity from there,” she explains. Her olfactory repertoire ranges from Chopard Rose Malaki and Frédéric Malle The Night to Givenchy Amarige. “I like to dab a little oud oil on my wrists, behind my ears, and trace my neck and collarbone. Then I mist a light fragrance all over for the day,” she says. “Bakhoor is a must in the evening, especially if I’m visiting family, going to an event, or a wedding,” she says. “This bakhoor leaves a trail after you leave the room.”
An Ermanno Scervino crystal top and Hermès Constance 24 Limited Edition Multi-Color Bag. Photographed by Shahad Al Ajeel
7. TIMEKEEPER
Checking the time is habit for Al Tuwarish. “Watches are my weakness,” she shares. A plum Richard Mille RM 07-01 featuring a gemstone set center hugs her wrist as she reveals it’s one of three in her collection from the Swiss watchmaking brand. “I like Cartier if I’m feeling casual and I like my Charles Oden piece with Arabic numbers. It’s classy with the right amount of diamonds that I can dress up or down.” Her collection also includes four Patek Philippe and five Audemars Piguet watches.
Al Tuwarish in a Materiel Tbilisi top, Gianvito Rossi heels, and bag by Folklore. Photographed by Shahad Al Ajeel
8. ROCK SOLID
“I adore solitaire diamond rings,” Al Tuwarish says. “Ten, eleven, twelve carats… I go extreme and I can keep counting,” she adds with a giggle of her 10 rings in different cuts. They are rarely revealed on her social media platforms and are kept secure in velvet-lined boxes. As she recounts the stones that make up the crown jewels of her collection, the glittering banquet of brilliant facets takes shape in round, cushion, emerald, pear, and oval cuts. “For me, jewelry is more than just adornments, it’s an experience.”
