Slippers from Paris, ring from Ibiza: The perfect souvenir from your summer vacation
In the period between Talitha Getty in 1960s Marrakech elevating kaftans to couture status, and Spanish super-luxe label Loewe's game-changing tie-up with legendary 1970s Ibiza boutique Paula's in 2017, resortwear suffered a tendency to naff. Think hasty purchases from airport chain stores, or market stall souvenirs that only ever make sense in holiday mode. I confess to stockpiling tie-dye pieces in Phuket that have never seen the light of day in Dubai.
Then, eight years ago, Loewe teamed up with Paula's to inject the Balearic Island's bohemian energy into its polished luxury, introducing the previously uptown chic brand to a whole new audience of aesthetic nomads. Nearly a decade on, each drop of Loewe Paula's Ibiza sets the style tone for the coming summer, proving that raffia, pareos, and knick-knack frippery can look expensive. Which is helpful, because these pieces are certainly pricier than anything you'll find at Ibiza's Las Dalias Hippy Market.
Narrowing fashion's pin drop down even further, legacy hotels are increasingly pairing up with fashion, lifestyle, and beauty brands to create merch that's covetable, not cringe. Hotel marques, some hundreds of years old, can read stuffy and staid, but marry them with a young, hip, aspirational but accessible independent fashion brand, and they're reinvigorated from grand dame to girl-about -town. For fashion brands, the union offers a step up to the kind of experience its customers might desire, but not necessarily be able to afford — yet. A Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc x Sporty & Rich tank, from the third chapter of the collab, costs Dh479. A night at the Antibes hotel starts from Dh11,500 (and you'll need to book five of them).
Beyond official collabs, there are a wealth of destination-inspired buys this season to tell the story of your trip, long after you've returned home. The best, stylish enough to display on a shelf in place of that market stall trinket. Here's my pick of city-inspired style souvenirs that semaphore you're tastefully well-travelled.
Paris
Step out of bed, slip these on, and for a blissful moment imagine Paris's fairytale Place Vendôme awaits outside your window. From the latest collection birthed by American casualwear brand Frame's collaboration with the iconic Paris Ritz, the limited-edition pair of 'Late Checkout' slippers promise five-star luxury both on and off vacances. For bragging rights outside of the bedroom, there's also swimwear, cashmere and leather — definitely a level up from a canvas tote and branded baseball cap. Between us, you don't even need to fly to France to score a piece, with much of the collab available via Ounass for delivery to your door. Quite literally putting on the Ritz.
Ibiza
The collision between the party island of Ibiza and the 134-year-old Beirut fine jewellery brand L'Atelier Nawbar is a dazzling match made in heaven. Drawing on sun insignia and a vibrant rainbow of sunset shades, pieces include pinky rings, chokers and bracelets featuring hand-painted enamel and precious stones. Think of them as a wear-anywhere reminder to keep the party alive.
Tokyo
Strictly speaking, the pink blossoms on Loewe's sunglasses are daisies, but they more than pass as a stylistic homage to Japan's sakura season, when the cherry trees blossom, blanketing parks in a wash of pink petals. So, whether you are planning a trip to witness a spring 'hanami' cherry blossom festival or simply value a reminder of seeking beauty in the present moment, these sunglasses will keep your dopamine levels in full bloom.
Japiur
The teardop patterns of paisley have long been associated with Yves Saint Laurent's fascination with India, now playing a central role in the spring/summer 2025 collection under the creative vision of Anthony Vaccarello as light-as-air blouses, maxi skirts and dresses. The casually cool 'Amalia' bag in silk twill navy paisley incorporates an artisanal jewellery chain featuring the 'Cassandre' YSL motif, ideal for a winter wander around the Pink City. While the cultural history of paisley, from ancient Persia to 11th century Kashmir, is as swirling as the design itself, the motif still effortlessly recalls the urge to travel and is as chic at home or abroad.
Bali
Escaping to Bali for the final days of summer? Pack Dior's Toile de Jouy Palms fan, covered in lush jungle motifs, to waft the warm Indonesian breeze in style. Returning to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, a Dioriviera pop-up is open until the end of August, with towering rattan sculptures of elephants, giraffes, tigers and palm trees for an Insta-goals fusion of fashion and nature. There are even Dior pool floats in the infinity pool.
Antibes
Cherries from the magical south of France town Antibes are typically harvested in May and June, but a piece from Valentino's 'Cherryfic' collection will sweeten your day all year round. Adorning jacquard raffia bags (the best with bohemian fringing), charm bracelets, swimwear and a bucket hat, Valentino's cherry print recalls an enchanting summer idled away on the French Riviera. Cherries have also popped up at Louis Vuitton x Murakami this summer, proving that one bite and we're smitten.
Greek Islands
No need to artificial intelligence-out the crowds from the vista adorning book clutch brand Olympia Le-Tan's heavenly keepsakes. Featuring illustrator Madalina Andronic's picture-perfect imagining of a dreamy tablescape overlooking the Aegean Sea, the embroidered silk thread and felt appliqué clutch will prove a far more lasting addition to wardrobes than island-market souvenirs that never quite translate to home soil. Sold as a numbered limited edition, the handcrafted clutch is the antithesis of an iPhone snap, engineered with heirloom artistry and imbued with evocative memories of sun-drenched afternoons framed by bougainvillea sweeping over blue doors punctuating whitewashed walls. In the words of Mamma Mia!, how can I resist you?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
14 hours ago
- The National
Helipads, fortresses and celebrity-filled parties: Inside Cannes' most private retreat
I find myself surrounded by hundreds of diners, standing on their chairs, waving around their napkins, dancing along to the DJ's hip-hop mash-up, as he shouts, 'Do we have Dubai in the house?' Our table – and many others – erupt with yells and rounds of applause. I'm not surprised, because we could quite easily be at a weekend brunch in the emirate. But we're not, we're in the French Riviera. Well, to be precise, we're on Ile-Sainte-Marguerite, an island off the coast of Cannes, at a restaurant called La Guerite, beloved by celebrities and only accessible via boat from the glitzy mainland. I'm here with a group of media from across the Gulf visiting Le Grand Jardin, the only luxury residence on the island. The property is a sprawling historic estate dating back to the 13th century, when it was originally a monastery. It was also once owned by Louis IVX and the Dukes of Guise, but now it's under the helm of hospitality brand Ultima Collection, which is known for its ultra-luxury private residences. Le Grand Jardin, set in 1.4 hectares of botanical gardens, spans 14,000 square metres, with 12 bedrooms that are only available for full buyout from €175,000 ($204,000) per week. The estate – whose previous guests were a 'major tech mogul' and his family who arrived by helicopter, although no one will say names – also has an ancient fortress with a casino downstairs and a bedroom on the upper floor, as well as a pool and spa, where facial treatments are performed exclusively using Augustinus Bader products. It's the kind of place where no request is too big or small, and I feel like one of the guests in Below Deck. The chef will cook whatever meals you like, catering to any and all dietary requirements, and you can book whatever themed parties and activities you like. We enjoy a sweet, aromatic private perfume-making workshop by Fragonard, one of the oldest perfumeries in Grasse, as well as a morning yoga session by the pool that is positively dreamy. At dawn, some of our group watch the sun rise over the bay from a nearby spot on the shore. Others take the opportunity to explore the forested island, inhaling the intermingling scents of the native flora. I choose to sleep, since my bed in the master suite – on the first floor of the so-called Governor's House – is so unbelievably comfortable. Visiting Ile-Sainte-Marguerite While Le Grand Jardin is inaccessible to non-paying guests, anyone is allowed to visit the island. It's only a 10-minute speedboat ride from charming Cannes and aside from La Guerite and a second restaurant called L'Escale, each of which are open from April to October, on the island there's also the Royal Fort. This historic monument is notorious for its most famous prisoner, the Man in the Iron Mask, who, legend has it, may or may not have been Louis XIV's brother and been imprisoned in Le Grand Jardin's fortress – or so I'm told. The fort, once a jail, is now a public museum with a warren of rooms displaying old Roman artworks and many other ancient artefacts. You'll see the remnants of an old 17th-century chapel and the cell where the man who inspired Leonardo DiCaprio 's character (in 1998's Man in the Iron Mask) once lived for more than a decade. There's also a three-star hostel on site, the only other place to stay on the island besides Le Grand Jardin. The rest of the island is full of wild yet preserved nature, so don't forget your hiking boots. More than 150 hectares of state-owned forest are filled with looming pines and eucalyptus trees, including some that are hundreds of years old, forming a stunning, shaded, nature-filled escape, almost the antithesis of Cannes' club-lined shoreline. Discover the botanical path, the ornithological reserve and its aquariums. Take a dip in the beautiful blue-green bay, where speedboats and superyachts idle about during summer and, beneath the surface, snorkellers will find statues by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor in what's known as the Mediterranean's first underwater eco museum. A trip to Cannes A jaunt to Cannes for a shopping trip is a must. I see notable beach clubs dotted next to each other along the city's famed oceanfront promenade. I spot famous hotels, like Hotel Martinez, dubbed the Arc Deco king of the Croisette, well known for hosting some of the most glamorous red carpet premieres during the annual Cannes Film Festival. World-renowned brands have gorgeous boutiques paving the narrow, cobblestoned streets, including one of the most striking Dior storefronts I've seen. The scenery might be different, but once again, as the wealthy and well-dressed make their way down either side of the Croisette, where supercars also sidle along, I'm reminded of Dubai – and that feeling is compounded when I walk into a tiny street-side deli full of gourmet French delicacies and, on the counter, spot not one but two varieties of ' Dubai chocolate '. Cannes might have the cinematic prestige, storied architecture and centuries-old fortresses, but the modern energy – that familiar blend of extravagance, ambition and multicultural buzz – feels unmistakable. What sets Ile Sainte-Marguerite apart is its contrast. At Le Grand Jardin, we're close enough to the heart of Cannes to feel its pulse yet secluded enough to hear only the breeze making its way through the forest canopy, the birds flying overhead – and the odd thumping techno tune from a nearby yacht. It's a rare kind of luxury, not only defined by price tags and private chefs, but by space, silence and the ability to switch off. As our boat pulls away from the pier on our final day, I look back at the Royal Fort, towering over the bay from its cliffside location. I think about the Man in the Iron Mask, Louis XIV, the 'tech mogul', even the napkin-swinging celebrities at La Guerite – and how, for a brief moment, I too was part of this grand garden's story.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
a day ago
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
How The Corset Made Its Comeback
Once a symbol of restriction, today a symbol of reinvention — the corset has made its triumphant return No longer exiled to just period dramas or Victorian-themed costume parties, the corset is back and bolder than ever. From haute couture runways to bridal collections, on the red carpet and even pervading streetwear, the corset has claimed its space in our wardrobes once more. When news recently broke of iconic on-screen character Carrie Bradshaw hanging up her Manolos, there was one image from the final season of And Just Like That that went viral – actress Sarah Jessica Parker sporting the 'Cinderella dress,' complete with silk boned corset. She was, however, far from the first to harness its shape-hugging silhouette. A little history lesson – the corset's origin as an undergarment traces back to Italy, but it rose to popularity in the 16th century, when it was introduced to the French courts by Catherine de Medici, and from then on, it was used to mould the body into a fashionable shape, with the laces of the corset tightened to the point of extreme rigidity. By the Victorian era, it had become synonymous with female confinement, worn beneath layers of fabric to create a coveted hourglass silhouette. In the 1950s, Dior's New Look hung upon a silhouette defined by a tiny, corseted waist and full, swirling skirts, but by the close of the 1960s boxier, loose-fitting dresses signalled a step away from a cinched midriff. It was Madonna who catapulted corsets into pop culture in the 1990s by donning Jean Paul Gaultier's cone bra corset on her Blond Ambition tour, transforming the undergarment into an emblem of female empowerment. Meanwhile, Dame Vivienne Westwood injected punk sensibility into 18th-century corsetry, regularly fusing rebellion with elegance in her ready-to-wear collections, in a way that still shapes corset culture today. With the resurgence of 1990s trends in the last few seasons, the corset has been creeping further to the fore, and the red carpet has become its runway: Bella Hadid, the inarguable queen of the contemporary corset, has incorporated the silhouette into many of her awards ceremony looks. At the 2024 Met Gala, Bones and All breakout star Taylor Russell turned heads in a sculptural high-neck, wooden corset by Loewe, it was undeniably ethereal, anatomical, and unforgettable. The corset was custom made for the starlet – 3D printed to fit her perfectly, before being painted using a method called hydro-sublimation, a technique which Loewe had previously used in their 2023 collection. And then there's Sabrina Carpenter, who has harnessed the corset for many of her performances and red carpet appearances – part showgirl, part pop princess, she continuously proves how the corset has found new life in the hands of Gen Z icons. But the corset's evolution isn't limited to avant-garde couture or pop songstresses. Streetwear has taken a bite out of the craze too – think leather corset tops over baggy jeans, or corset-laced hoodies that nod to the silhouette while staying rooted in casual cool. On TikTok, #corset has billions of views, as creators style theirs over crisp white shirts or sheer dresses, layering rebellion in new, tongue-in-cheek ways. Bridalwear has long championed the corset, but structured bodices have dominated recent couture collections. From Vivienne Westwood's whimsical bridal corsets to Danielle Frankel's deconstructed elegance, designers are using corsetry to sculpt silhouettes while still allowing space for softness, romance, and individuality. It's not longer about cinching in to oblivion, more about emphasising the natural form. In 2025, the corset is no longer just an undergarment, it's a piece of wearable history made modern. And as long as there are bodies to dress and rules to bend, the corset will continue to evolve: tighter, looser, louder, softer. Any which way we please.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
Slippers from Paris, ring from Ibiza: The perfect souvenir from your summer vacation
Souvenir shopping has never been more stylish — from resortcore hotel merch, to global brands leaning into the world's hippest destinations — luxury resortwear is having a moment. In the period between Talitha Getty in 1960s Marrakech elevating kaftans to couture status, and Spanish super-luxe label Loewe's game-changing tie-up with legendary 1970s Ibiza boutique Paula's in 2017, resortwear suffered a tendency to naff. Think hasty purchases from airport chain stores, or market stall souvenirs that only ever make sense in holiday mode. I confess to stockpiling tie-dye pieces in Phuket that have never seen the light of day in Dubai. Then, eight years ago, Loewe teamed up with Paula's to inject the Balearic Island's bohemian energy into its polished luxury, introducing the previously uptown chic brand to a whole new audience of aesthetic nomads. Nearly a decade on, each drop of Loewe Paula's Ibiza sets the style tone for the coming summer, proving that raffia, pareos, and knick-knack frippery can look expensive. Which is helpful, because these pieces are certainly pricier than anything you'll find at Ibiza's Las Dalias Hippy Market. Narrowing fashion's pin drop down even further, legacy hotels are increasingly pairing up with fashion, lifestyle, and beauty brands to create merch that's covetable, not cringe. Hotel marques, some hundreds of years old, can read stuffy and staid, but marry them with a young, hip, aspirational but accessible independent fashion brand, and they're reinvigorated from grand dame to girl-about -town. For fashion brands, the union offers a step up to the kind of experience its customers might desire, but not necessarily be able to afford — yet. A Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc x Sporty & Rich tank, from the third chapter of the collab, costs Dh479. A night at the Antibes hotel starts from Dh11,500 (and you'll need to book five of them). Beyond official collabs, there are a wealth of destination-inspired buys this season to tell the story of your trip, long after you've returned home. The best, stylish enough to display on a shelf in place of that market stall trinket. Here's my pick of city-inspired style souvenirs that semaphore you're tastefully well-travelled. Paris Step out of bed, slip these on, and for a blissful moment imagine Paris's fairytale Place Vendôme awaits outside your window. From the latest collection birthed by American casualwear brand Frame's collaboration with the iconic Paris Ritz, the limited-edition pair of 'Late Checkout' slippers promise five-star luxury both on and off vacances. For bragging rights outside of the bedroom, there's also swimwear, cashmere and leather — definitely a level up from a canvas tote and branded baseball cap. Between us, you don't even need to fly to France to score a piece, with much of the collab available via Ounass for delivery to your door. Quite literally putting on the Ritz. Ibiza The collision between the party island of Ibiza and the 134-year-old Beirut fine jewellery brand L'Atelier Nawbar is a dazzling match made in heaven. Drawing on sun insignia and a vibrant rainbow of sunset shades, pieces include pinky rings, chokers and bracelets featuring hand-painted enamel and precious stones. Think of them as a wear-anywhere reminder to keep the party alive. Tokyo Strictly speaking, the pink blossoms on Loewe's sunglasses are daisies, but they more than pass as a stylistic homage to Japan's sakura season, when the cherry trees blossom, blanketing parks in a wash of pink petals. So, whether you are planning a trip to witness a spring 'hanami' cherry blossom festival or simply value a reminder of seeking beauty in the present moment, these sunglasses will keep your dopamine levels in full bloom. Japiur The teardop patterns of paisley have long been associated with Yves Saint Laurent's fascination with India, now playing a central role in the spring/summer 2025 collection under the creative vision of Anthony Vaccarello as light-as-air blouses, maxi skirts and dresses. The casually cool 'Amalia' bag in silk twill navy paisley incorporates an artisanal jewellery chain featuring the 'Cassandre' YSL motif, ideal for a winter wander around the Pink City. While the cultural history of paisley, from ancient Persia to 11th century Kashmir, is as swirling as the design itself, the motif still effortlessly recalls the urge to travel and is as chic at home or abroad. Bali Escaping to Bali for the final days of summer? Pack Dior's Toile de Jouy Palms fan, covered in lush jungle motifs, to waft the warm Indonesian breeze in style. Returning to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, a Dioriviera pop-up is open until the end of August, with towering rattan sculptures of elephants, giraffes, tigers and palm trees for an Insta-goals fusion of fashion and nature. There are even Dior pool floats in the infinity pool. Antibes Cherries from the magical south of France town Antibes are typically harvested in May and June, but a piece from Valentino's 'Cherryfic' collection will sweeten your day all year round. Adorning jacquard raffia bags (the best with bohemian fringing), charm bracelets, swimwear and a bucket hat, Valentino's cherry print recalls an enchanting summer idled away on the French Riviera. Cherries have also popped up at Louis Vuitton x Murakami this summer, proving that one bite and we're smitten. Greek Islands No need to artificial intelligence-out the crowds from the vista adorning book clutch brand Olympia Le-Tan's heavenly keepsakes. Featuring illustrator Madalina Andronic's picture-perfect imagining of a dreamy tablescape overlooking the Aegean Sea, the embroidered silk thread and felt appliqué clutch will prove a far more lasting addition to wardrobes than island-market souvenirs that never quite translate to home soil. Sold as a numbered limited edition, the handcrafted clutch is the antithesis of an iPhone snap, engineered with heirloom artistry and imbued with evocative memories of sun-drenched afternoons framed by bougainvillea sweeping over blue doors punctuating whitewashed walls. In the words of Mamma Mia!, how can I resist you?
