Shoes fit for a princess: Dune's autumn/winter collection

If you desire to emulate the effortless "town and country chic" of the Duchess of Cambridge, beat a path to Dune and check out its autumn/winter 2012 collection. From buttery-soft leather boots to dog-tooth ballerina flats, there's something to satisfy every lady's inner princess. We take a sneak peek at the collection with Dune's international chief executive Mohamediqbal Yacoobali ahead of its debut tomorrow.

As a quintessentially British brand, established in London's King's Road nearly 20 years ago, what appeal will the new collection hold for ladies in the UAE?

Dune is English and traditional - with a twist. And I see great synergies between Dubai and London - because both are very fast, dynamic. The UAE is 24/7, it's always on the go and so we've put together a capsule collection allowing you to rest or play - there's a pump, boot or bag for every occasion. Our Perfect Weekend collection has shoes ideal for staying in town or weekend getaways and there's a country heritage theme. For example, the range includes traditional riding boots.

What trends are you seeing worldwide in footwear that are influencing your collections?

We've seen a big twist in fashion in Europe, with the platform somewhat disappearing. The same goes for sky-high heels - they are disappearing - it's much more of a feminine look now. So what you can see with our collection is a lot more of the single-soled, pointed toe shoes with finer heels. These trends are reflected in our New Feminist look and campaign. And we also still have some platform pumps.

How would you describe a lady that wears Dune shoes?

She's independent, 25-years plus and very stylish. She wants to look a million dollars but without paying the million-dollar price tag and what we offer is the million-dollar product - the look and feel without that price tag.

How important is the UAE consumer for Dune? There's plenty of competition in the shoe industry, so how are you staying one step ahead?

We're really excited with the performance of the market here year-on-year. We saw the recession kicking in towards the end of 2008, and 2009 was challenging, but we grew and we're still growing. We're currently trading in four of the Gulf countries, we're about to enter Kuwait this year and we see major expansion in Saudi Arabia.

The new collection will be in stores tomorrow. For more information and to locate your closest Dune store, go to www.appareluae.com

The skinny on the new collection

• Perfect WeekendAndrogynous styling meets British equestrianism. Worthy of close inspection - boots, brogues and tassled loafers in high shine forest green, burgundy and tan.

• New Feminist Reminiscent of a 1950s femme fatale, the clean elegant lines of this collection make them very wearable for work or play. Cause a sensation this season in a pair of Balmoral suede and metal embellished pumps in oxblood.

• Urban Sports Perfect for a walk on the wild side in Dubai's urban jungle. Check out the line of trainers and high-tops with animal print and diamanté detailing.

• Golden Age Inspired by the extravagant Baroque period, these show-stopping heels come in a range of satins and multi-cluster sequins. Nothing quite says "party" like a pair of molten metallic heels, wouldn't you agree?

rduane@thenational.ae