Thana and Sakhaa Abdul at London Fashion Week Fall 2016. Photograph by Valentina Frugiuele
Get familiar with the new generation of fashion week-goers hailing from the Middle East. These style aficionados have a knack for combining off-the-runway pieces and statement accessories in unexpected ways. Speaking to Vogue Arabia, Sama Al Wasmi, fashion director at Al Ostoura, shares her take on personal style: “I am always excited when a woman’s style reflects her own uniqueness, and I try as such to invest in a style that represents not only my appreciation for design and craftsmanship, but for adventure and creativity.” From designers and bloggers to industry insiders, here we highlight five style-setters on the rise.
Thana and Sakhaa Abdul
London-based Saudi sisters Thana and Sakhaa Abdul are the founders of their namesake blog The Abduls and Coded Nation, a multi-brand concept boutique of emerging designers. Thana gravitates towards classic silhouettes that she plays up with contemporary accents from brands such as Sacai, Arwa Al Banawi, and Reem Al Kanhal. Meanwhile, Sakhaa is notorious for upping her edgy aesthetic with Balenciaga pieces.
Sama Al Wasmi at Milan Fashion Week Spring 2017. Photography by Jose Martinez
Sama Al Wasmi
The Kuwaiti fashion director at Al Ostoura is one to watch. She bases her style on tailored silhouettes from Co/Mun, Sacai, and Akira, which she outlines with a cherry-picked selection of in-season pieces from Dries Van Noten, Michael Halpern, and Razan Alazzouni. She ties her look together with a monochrome palette and clean jewelry.
Amina Muaddi at Milan Fashion Week Spring 2017. Photograph by Valentina Frugiuele
Amina Muaddi
Of Jordanian-Romanian descent, Amina Muaddi is the co-founder of Milan-based footwear label Oscar Tiye. She also teamed up with couturier Alexandre Vauthier to design a shoe collection of lace-up boots and embellished sandals. Her style is a mix of feminine meets playful, through eye-popping pieces. Her wardrobe includes covetable finds from Gucci, Attico, and Antonio Marras.
Samar Seraqui de Buttafoco at Paris Fashion Week Couture Fall 2016. Photograph by Valentina Frugiuele
Samar Seraqui de Buttafoco
The Lebanese, Paris-based blogger behind the blog Une Libanaise à Paris has a penchant for light-reflecting pieces and retro designs that draw on ‘70s influences. Her eclectic choices range between Lurex dresses and flared pants to bell-sleeved tops in vibrant colors. She grounds her look with a crisp button-down shirt, gold jewelry, and bold red lips.
Fajer Fahad at Paris Fashion Week Fall 2016. Photograph by Valentina Frugiuele
Fajer Fahad
The contributing editor at Violet Grey, who previously had a stint at Azzedine Alaïa, nails mixing tactical textures and rich materials with embellished accents. With a hint of glamour, Fajer Fahad makes her look her own by fusing edgier separates with opulent designs.
