Lounge with Lewis or jam with Jenson
We are hyperventilating at the number of parties this weekend – should we get down with Prince on Yas Island, kick it with Kelis on the Corniche or boogie with Beverley at the ball? At any rate, there's one hot ticket we'll be snapping up – to the exclusive Amber Lounge, back in Abu Dhabi for the second year running. The roving nightclub's managers have chosen the capital as one of just three host venues this race season. Parties in Monaco and Singapore earlier this year saw the likes of Elizabeth Hurley, Rachel Hunter, Princess Beatrice and the Harry Potter star Rupert Grint strutting their stuff. We hear drivers have a habit of going straight from the racetrack to the Amber Lounge, so we know where we'll be tomorrow night.
This year's party on the Hiltonia Beach Club's outdoor terrace on the Abu Dhabi Corniche will feature a restaurant, so you can feast on ginger- and honey-scented maigret of duck and lemongrass seabass before burning off some calories on the dance floor until 4am. Don't expect us to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at our desks on Monday morning.
Tickets start from Dh3,335 per person. Tables are priced from Dh26,700 and include unlimited drinks. Dinner is available from 9pm until midnight at Dh1,280 per head. To reserve, call +377 9777 1634 or 055 291 4013, or e-mail abudhabi@amber-lounge.com, www.amber-lounge.com
A bag with bling
Rarely does something so small make such a large statement. Covetable and collectable, the new Temperley London clutch from their Autumn/Winter collection displays sparkling pink and silver crystals with a gold-plated clasp. It's small enough for your wallet and phone but big enough for your Swarovski crystal binoculars (see opposite page). You're bound to shine with this bag.
Dh5,250, Symphony, Dubai Mall, 04 330 8050
A time-teller not to miss
Our grandmothers told us you can always judge a man by his shoes or by the watch he wears. We're guessing that the man who wears this watch will be classically stylish as well as on time. Designed to celebrate the return of the Formula One to Abu Dhabi, the Carrera Calibre S Abu Dhabi 2010 Limited Edition watch has been designed with precision in mind. With its electro-mechanical chronograph, inspired by motor-racing, the wearer will be counting down the seconds until the start of the first race. Sporting the Formula One colours, it's as durable as it is striking.
Dh12,000, TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre S, available in the capital at Abu Dhabi Duty Free, www.addf.ae; Al Manara, 02 644 6448; and Rivoli, 02 681 4039, and in Dubai at Seddiqi & Sons, 04 339 8555
Eyeing the action
Watch the race in style and, more importantly, turn heads with these ultra-cool silver-plated racing binoculars. Catch all the action on and off the track. Fabulously adorned with Swarovski crystals, they're a must-have accessory for the races and celebrity spotting.
Dh1,030, by Ice London, available at the gift library, www.gift-library.com
The fast and the fabulous
Turn the F1 track into your own personal catwalk with these turquoise-blue velvet YSL heels complete with a Mohawk spine. Team them up with a little black dress or wear with jeans for a show-stopping arrival. If there were ever shoes to wear on the run, it would be these speed demons.
Dh3,650, Yves Saint Laurent, Mall of the Emirates, 04 341 0113; Emirates Towers, 04 330 0445
Grab an upgrade
Statement bags and luggage are invariably seen on the arms of celebrities strolling down the red carpet or running through international airports. The check-in gate is the place to show off your status, and Gucci's new winter-season luggage will make the paparazzi's heads spin. Nothing shrieks jet-set glamour quite as loudly as these immediately recognisable Gucci-print suitcases.
Dh7,000-Dh9,500 Gucci, Mall of the Emirates, 04 341 0669; Dubai Mall, 04 339 8953
Sparkling conversations
Marilyn Monroe sang "Diamonds are a girl's best friend", but we're not content with the sparklers adorning only our necks, ears, and fingers. Vertu has just launched the Signature Diamonds mobile collection, and it's bound to put a smile on any girl's face. Featuring more than 1,000 precious stones, including four rows of cut diamonds with a total weight of six carats, this phone is the ultimate luxury accessory. But there's no chance of a quiet conversation – this is a phone to be heard on.
Dh252,000, Rivoli and Vertu boutiques; www.vertu.com