Fashion is a barometer of our collective moods and 2024 has delivered plenty of jolting moments. From Artists4Ceasfire protests at the Oscars to doll-like models in porcelain make-up at the Maison Margiela show in January, the year has offered many occasions that hold up a mirror and let us take a long, hard look at ourselves and our priorities.
Each time, one message that came through – no matter what else is happening around us, there is a kind of joy in allowing yourself to enjoy the moment and sink into fashion's extravagance. Just look at Elie Saab, who was able to celebrate his illustrious career, while striking an empathic note about the situation back home in Lebanon. There is a lesson there for all of us – embrace the beauty we are surrounded by. Here are some of the moments that stayed with us from the year.
January: A first at Gucci and a haute couture moment
Sabato De Sarno delivered his first ready-to-wear men's collection for Gucci, while in haute couture, the astonishing beauty of the collections tipped into a cultural moment at Maison Margiela, where designer John Galliano and make-up artist Pat McGrath sent out models wrapped in corsets, layers of deshabille tulle and glassy, glossy skin. A vision of imperfect perfection, it was as if Galliano had remade men and women as dolls, and as they wove unsteadily through the venue, it was a glimpse into a beautiful, yet dystopian future.
February: Zendaya in a suit of armour
While no stranger to making bold fashion statements, Zendaya's stylist Law Roach raised the bar again for the premiere of Dune: Part Two in London, when he dressed the actress in a vintage metal suit of armour. Made by Thierry Mugler for his haute couture autumn/winter 1995 show, it was custom fitted to the model who wore it. However, just as Kim Kardashian managed to squeeze herself into Marilyn Monroe's Happy Birthday Mr President dress at the 2022 Met Gala, so Zendaya somehow poured herself into this metal armature. No doubt heavy, uncomfortable and impossible to move in, she made quite an impression on the red carpet.
March: The Oscars and bidding farewell to Iris Apfel
In March, we lost New Yorks's famous style figure Iris Apfel, while in a surprise move, ex-Gucci designer Alessandro Michele was named as the new creative director at Valentino, ousting Pierpaolo Piccioli, who had led the brand for a quarter century. Dries Van Noten stepped away from his eponymous brand and Beyonce leant into cowboy styling with the release of her Cowboy Carter album. At the Oscars, actor Ryan Gosling wore head-to-toe pink Gucci to perform a song from Barbie, while actress Ava DuVernay accessorised her Louis Vuitton gown with a badge protesting against the war in Gaza.
April: The Mango collaboration we didn't know we needed
High/low collaborations are almost the norm these days, yet there was something about Victoria Beckham teaming up with Mango that felt like a validation. Panned for her sartorial choices during her Spice Girls days, Beckham has fought long and hard to be taken seriously as a voice in fashion. When this collection hit stores, it drew legitimate criticism for tiny sizing, but the clothes were truly chic, cheap high street fabrics aside. As if finally proving her merit, Beckham delivered the collab we never knew we needed.
May: Kim Kardashian at the Met Gala
The annual Met Gala can be relied upon to supply over-the-top outfits, and it did not disappoint this year either. Gigi Hadid arrived in a black-and-white gown by Thom Browne that seemed to be made of an exploded man's jacket, while Cardi B wore a gigantic swirl of black net by Windowsen. Nicole Kidman looked like a fairy princess in black-and-white Balenciaga and Kim Kardashian brought the house down in a tightly corseted metal dress by Maison Margiela.
June: Naomi Campbell celebrated at the V&A
London's Victoria & Albert Museum opened its Naomi: In Fashion exhibition, in celebration of British model Naomi Campbell, who has become one of the most famous models in the world during her 25-year career. Campbell has become a regular visitor to the Middle East in recent years, walking the runway at Dubai Fashion Week in 2023 and attending a slew of events in Saudi Arabia.
July: Paris Olympics style and the Ambani wedding
The two-week sporting event may have started in the pouring rain, but that hardly dampened the mood. Team Mongolia was hailed for wearing striking hand-embroidered uniforms inspired by historic Mongolian clothing, created by sisters Michel and Amazonka Choigaalaa, under their brand Michel & Amazonka. While Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec channelled unfazed energy in everyday glasses and one hand in his jeans pocket. Snoop Dogg stole the world's heart by cheering on seemingly every event and dancing, in full dressage gear, with a paddock full of horses. Fittingly, Dior dressed Celine Dion for the opening ceremony in shimmering silver.
Also in July was the impossibly lavish six day wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in India. Notable for its impressive guest list, which included the Kardashians and Mark Zuckerberg, as well as a performance by Justin Bieber, among other high profile names. The groom's mother, Nita Ambani, was seen decked out in jaw-dropping jewels, while the couple wore some truly extravagant looks through the week, including fully embroidered ensembles by Indian couturier Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. For the final day, the bride wore a sari by Anamika Khanna with a filigree corset by Dolce & Gabbana.
August: Lady Gaga goes for drama in Venice
The Venice Film Festival drew a huge crowd to gawp at the stars, and of course Lady Gaga rose to the occasion. For the premiere for Joker: Folie a Deux the singer arrived wearing a dramatic Christian Dior Haute Couture ballgown, Tiffany & Co diamonds and a striking black lace Philip Treacy headpiece. From Treacy's 2001 collection, the head piece was also worn by the late stylist Isabella Blow, who is credited with discovering designer Alexander McQueen.
September: Cavalli closes Dubai Fashion Week and Oasis spark a run on parka jackets
Roberto Cavalli was the guest of honour at Dubai Fashion Week and drew the busy event to a rip-roaring close with its runway collection. In the United Kingdom, news that Oasis will reunite sparked a frenzy for tickets, parka jackets and bucket hats, while ex-McQueen designer Sarah Burton was named as the new head at Givenchy.
October: A cultural shift at Riyadh Fashion Week and star-studded runways in Europe
Saudi brand Hindamme hit the zeitgeist at Riyadh Fashion Week, when it sent a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Saudi Arabia is the future" down its runway on the final day of Riyadh Fashion Week. Modelled by cousins Mishaal and Taleedah Tamer, who walked arm in arm, this felt like a significant moment in Saudi fashion history.
Also in October, Hedi Slimane left the French brand Celine after seven years, while over in Paris, Miu Miu had actor Willem Dafoe walk its spring/summer 2025 runway. Not to be outdone, Vetements called on Travis Scott to open its show, while Chanel had singer and actress Riley Keough (and granddaughter of Elvis Presley) perched in a cage, above its runway, singing Prince song When Doves Cry as the brand returned to the Grand Palais for the first time in four years. Coperni, meanwhile, closed out the week by staging its show at Disneyland Paris.
November: Elie Saab celebrates in Riyadh
Lebanese designer Elie Saab celebrated 45 years in fashion by throwing a lavish show and party in Saudi Arabia called 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab. Celebrities, performers and press from around the world were flown into Riyadh to witness a specially created collection. Attended by Celine Dion, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, and Nancy Ajram, it was a glittering event and showed why Saab is so beloved by red carpet stars.
December: Matthieu Blazy joins Chanel
Ending months of speculation, in mid-December, Chanel finally announced Matthieu Blazy as its next creative director, taking over from Virginie Viard, who quit in June after five years. To fill the gap at Bottega Veneta left by Blazy's departure, Louise Trotter has been handed the reins. She had previously been at Carven. In another shock move, John Galliano announced he was leaving Maison Margiela after 10 years. After speculation that fashion was losing its thrill, as brands chased after a middle ground to maximise sales, recent movement has made things feel young, spirited and exciting again.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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The years Ramadan fell in May
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Zayed Sustainability Prize
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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info-box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Happy Tenant
Started: January 2019
Co-founders: Joe Moufarrej and Umar Rana
Based: Dubai
Sector: Technology, real-estate
Initial investment: Dh2.5 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 4,000
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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MATCH INFO
Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern: Zirkzee (26'), Goretzka (86')
Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
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Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
RESULTS
Women:
55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2
Men:
62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
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The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
