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This Persian Career Woman’s Styling Hacks Are so Effortless You’ll Want to Copy Them

Mahsa Nikdar Wearing an Alaïa Dress and Belt. Photographed by Ayah Ballout.

STANDING TALL
As the personal assistant to celebrity cosmetic dentist Dr Michael Apa, Mahsa Nikdar’s shoe collection plays a leading role in her career. “I have a pair of black Christian Louboutin heels that I only wear to work, because of our clientele,” she says. “The women who come to see Dr Apa have impeccable taste. I really admire that about them.” In a class of their own, patients from Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia flock to Dubai on their private jets for routine check-ups with the renowned doctor. “I’m the first person they see when they step into the office. They are label-wearing women and they like to see their brands. Small details like choosing designer shoes at work goes a long way,” she says. In addition to her Louboutins, Nikdar rotates her Gianvito Rossi heels in blush or dark green for a jolt of color. She plays up her masculine aesthetic in Louis Vuitton combat boots paired with Redone jeans and an embellished cardigan from Chloé.

Louis Vuitton and Celine Shoes

LESS IS MORE
Nikdar has mastered the art of minimalism. A fan of Jil Sander, The Row, and Phoebe Philo’s Céline, she says, “My way of dressing is very Scandinavian with the approach of less is more.” A neutral palette, solid colors, and tailored silhouettes build her core closet. “I like to balance masculine and feminine styles in my looks,” states Nikdar. “I have a pair of Céline trousers from a few collections back that I wear over and over.” She adds an air of whimsy to her slacks with a silk Saint Laurent shirt or a pair of green, crystal-embellished Hangisi Manolo Blahnik pumps. A fan of high street brands, she turns to Cos for cashmere and basic pieces to layer.

Staple Dresses from Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, and Lanvin

Originally published in February 2019 issue of Vogue Arabia.

Nikdar with her Dior bicycle, wearing a Balenciaga men’s shirt, Celine boots and Louis Vuitton trunk. Photographed by Ayah Ballout.

ONE CLOSET RULE
Nikdar strikes the right balance between professionally put together and off-duty drama. “I don’t segregate my clothes. Everything in my closet can be adapted for daywear and going out.” Her secret? Styling around one key piece. For an office lunch at the Flamingo Room, she’ll slip on a black Valentino dress with a ruffled hem just below the knees. “You could say it’s an evening dress – but I wear it for lunch. I feel more confident and beautiful when I wear a piece like that.” She’ll polish her look with a structured Phoebe Philo Céline blazer worn over her shoulders and a pair of pointy Balenciaga flats. “Simple for work, but not over the top,” Nikdar affirms. For dinner at Dubai Opera’s Sean Connolly, she will drop the blazer and switch up her flats for a pair of kitten heels. A small Chanel Gabrielle backpack serves as a finishing touch.

REGIONAL FAVORITE
Staying true to her minimalist spirit, for a black tie affair, Nikdar looks no further than Dubai-based label Beige. “The dresses in the line have a clean aesthetic mixed with understated elegance, which is very in tune with my style,” she says. For Cartier’s recent starstudded formal evening soirée, she floated in a gray embellished gown from the brand. Setting glamour in motion, she completed her ensemble with delicate Gianvito Rossi sandals and a striking pair of Isabel Marant chandelier earrings.

Bright Chanel Accessories in a Neutral Wardrobe

CURATED EAR
“I always say, if my home burns down, the only thing I’ll try my best to save is my small jewelry box,” she laughs. “It’s not because of the value, but rather the sentimental meaning behind all my pieces.” Her collection includes a chunky gold chain that she wears every day, a pinky ring that she pairs with a diamond band, and opulent sets that she pulls out for special occasions. “They are my mother’s pieces, which were crafted by Iranian artisan jewelers during the seventies,” says Nikdar, who is of Persian descent. “I was lucky to inherit them.” Meanwhile, she glams up a dress by The Row with diamond earrings that adorn her multiple piercings. “I just got them done at Maria Tash,” she says, flashing her Helix cuff that’s complemented by two earlobe piercings.

Favorite Accessories and Trinkets

SCANDINAVIAN LIVING
A stone’s throw away from Downtown, Nikdar’s Index Tower abode is a reflection of her personal style. “I’m really into Danish furniture – the classics by Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, and Poul Henningsen,” she says. “I’m the type of person who will save up for months for a chair.” While you might rarely see Nikdar dressed in color, her living room gets just the right dose. Sleek and modern, her space is styled with hygge – the Danish word for coziness and comfort – in mind. Think a tan leather daybed, sofas with curved edges, and a minimal chair with supreme finishing. The warm glow and inviting fragrance of Diptyque candles in Rose and Baies pepper her apartment. “When I was a student, there was a little vintage store in Copenhagen that burned a Diptyque candle near the cashier. I just loved the smell of the shop and it stayed with me. That, for me, is a little piece of home.”

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