Latest from Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Boundaries, Baggage & Bliss: A Modern Guide to Navigating Summer Family Reunions
Heading home for the holidays? Here's how to survive the inevitable family flare-ups… As summer sets in and the world stretches out again, many expats return to their home countries – to the familiar warmth of extended families, home-cooked meals, and stories retold over and over again. But let's be honest: the anticipation of reunions often comes laced with a mix of nostalgia, tension, and emotional minefields. Whether it's a passive-aggressive comment over dinner, a resurfaced sibling rivalry, or the suffocating weight of being seen as your 16-year-old self, going home can bring up as much discomfort as it does joy. Roh Hafez, Life Coach at The Hundred Wellness Centre in Dubai, understands this rocky emotional terrain well. As she puts it, 'Many of us have done the work – emotionally, mentally, spiritually. But the moment we step back into the space we grew up in, old triggers can resurface like clockwork. The key is learning how to show up as our evolved selves, while still honouring where we came from.' So how do we survive (and even thrive) during these emotionally layered homecomings? Here's your elegant survival guide – think of it as emotional SPF for the soul. Pack Your Boundaries Alongside Your Bikini Before you even board the flight home, Roh recommends checking in with your emotional suitcase. 'Setting clear, compassionate boundaries is not about creating distance – it's about protecting your peace,' she explains. That might mean politely exiting triggering conversations, excusing yourself when you need space, or even deciding ahead of time which hot-button topics (politics, parenting, past relationships) are off the table. Boundaries don't have to be dramatic. Sometimes it's as simple as choosing presence over performance. 'Pause, breathe, observe. Acknowledge what's coming up for you before reacting,' says Roh. 'Give your inner child a bit of kindness before diving into your adult role again.' Let Go of the Old Script Just because your aunt still comments on your weight or your cousin treats you like the black sheep doesn't mean you have to keep playing your old role. 'People change – or at least, we hope they do. But even if they don't, you have,' Roh says. 'Approach your family with fresh eyes. Maybe your once-stern father has softened. Maybe your sister is more open than you remember. Release the old narrative and be open to new dynamics.' It's a gentle reminder that family roles aren't fixed. You're not obligated to shrink yourself just to fit back into an outdated storyline. Don't Underestimate the Power of Ritual Amid the emotional nuances of reconnection, shared activities can create new neural pathways for love and joy. 'Family traditions, even the smallest ones, can shift energy from tension to togetherness,' says Roh. Whether it's cooking your grandmother's lentil soup, playing a board game from your childhood, or watching old home videos, anchoring time together in ritual can provide both comfort and levity. This is also a powerful way to include the younger generation – connecting them to heritage, food, and collective memory in an easy, embodied way. Create a Soft Exit Strategy It's okay to leave the party early. In fact, it's okay to leave the whole reunion early if your emotional well-being is being compromised. 'You don't need to explain or justify your need for rest, space, or solitude,' Roh says. 'Self-trust means knowing when to lean in and when to lovingly step away.' If you know a certain lunch or dinner may be triggering, build in a follow-up plan – a walk with a friend, a solo coffee break, or a moment to journal and decompress. Be the Calm, Not the Chaos Clear, grounded communication can prevent misunderstandings and soften conflict. But don't go in trying to fix everything or everyone. 'You're not there to solve generational trauma in one weekend,' Roh laughs. 'You're there to witness, connect, and contribute where you can.' Sometimes, the most revolutionary thing you can do is hold space – for yourself and for others – with grace, empathy, and calm. Because Family Isn't Perfect. And That's Okay. Summer reunions can be beautiful, messy, and deeply transformative. But only if we allow ourselves to approach them with emotional flexibility and self-compassion. As Roh reminds us, 'You don't need the perfect family moment – just the real one. Stay soft. Stay sovereign. And if nothing else, stay hydrated.' .
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Let This Love-Filled London Wedding Inspire Your Chic City Nuptials
Proving that fuss-free can still be utterly fabulous, this London wedding is the epitome of city chic Inseparable after meeting in a London nightclub, it was an episode of Grand Designs that would inspire a truly unique proposal five years later for Charlotte Lucy Cijffers and Declan McGlynn. Having seen an incredible apartment inside the face of the St. Pancras clock tower on the show, Irish tech founder Declan contacted the owner to rent the exact same apartment and, in a room full of candles, asked for Charlotte's hand in marriage. Whilst the wedding planning didn't quite run like clockwork, due to a few hiccups courtesy of Covid-19, the couple said 'I Do' on 9 September, 2024, at a beautiful service in front of 50 family and friends. It was a day of many parts: A civil ceremony at Stoke Newington Town Hall, followed by drinks at The Prince pub, and a stunning reception at Jones & Sons in Dalston that later segued into a 'pizza and prosecco party' once the sun went down. As a chief media digital officer in Dubai, Charlotte is a self-confessed 'organisational freak,' and used her love of spreadsheets to plan the perfect 'chic and unfussy city wedding.' Personal details included tables named after their favourite nightclubs around the world, handmade truffles gifted to guests, and turning to Declan's best friend, a florist, to nail the 'wild English garden' brief with a hanging garden and tables filled with wildflowers. 'I wanted something that contrasted the industrial feel of the space – organic, unpretentious and full of greens and leaves!'expained Charlotte. After a dinner of maple-glazed scallops, Welsh lamb and sticky toffee pudding, dancing was the on the cards. Beginning with Let's Stay Together by Al Green, Charlotte – in a floor-length dress by Australian designer Lola Varma – and Declan lead the wedding party through a medley of music long into the night, from Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson to DJ sets by family and friends, accompanied by an explosion of glitter cannons. Despite being nervous about the vows, Charlotte says the wedding day went perfectly. 'It was low-key, chic, personal and totally 'us'.' Now back from a seven-month honeymoon backpacking around South America, her advice to brides is: 'Don't waste money or energy on traditions that don't mean anything to you or things you won't remember. We didn't have a veil, a cake, bridesmaids or a limo – and I've never once wished we had.' Dress: Lola Varma @ Jewellery: Pearl Octopussy, @pearloctopuss.y Wedding ring: Webley Jewellers @webleylondon Venue and Caterer: Jones & Sons @ Florist: Jen Hall of Belladonna Florists @ Music: Chris Barker @youlovextopher Photographer Rebecca Rees @rebeccareesphotography Videographer Chris Turner @christurnerfilm Hair & Make-up: Rachael Johnson – Alchemy Hair and Make Up, @Alchemy_ hairandmakeup
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
How To Wear Your Watch Like A Fashion Editor: Bvlgari's Serpenti Aeterna
Bvlgari's Serpenti has undergone one of its most radical reimaginings yet, as the maison introduces the Serpenti Aeterna – a study in effortless elegance Have you ever reinvented yourself? Let me tell you something, it ain't easy. You will never entirely escape your fundamentals – your genetics, epi-genetics, the lifetime of experiences and loved ones that have shaped who you are. But you can, with a lot of thought, some time, and a tonne of soul searching, reimagine yourself a little and re-emerge, ready to take on a new chapter. No one knows this better than Bvlgari's Serpenti. First designed in 1948, the behemoth brand's now iconic snake-inspired timepieces come with a legacy unlike any other jewellery watch of the 20th century. The earliest iterations showcased the Tubogas technique – a coiled bracelet inspired by gas pipes that drew on the utilitarian design movement of the era – and cleverly concealed a delicate watch dial in each serpent's head. The design shot to fame in the 1960s when Elizabeth Taylor was photographed wearing one on the set of Cleopatra, filmed in Rome; the very birthplace of Bvlgari. The Serpenti was, at that time, the ultimate It watch. More than 75 years later, the Serpenti has had too many glow-ups to count. Double-spiral bracelets, mechanical movements, a rainbow of gems and a veritable paintbox of colour palettes later, the Serpenti has managed to emerge as one of the most enduring designs of women's watchmaking history, despite its chameleon-like qualities. For 2025, however, there's a mic drop. The Serpenti hasn't been reimagined, it has been reborn. No scales, no eyes, no coils; the Serpenti Aeterna introduces a whole new design language, a vocabulary which according to Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, the maison's head of horology, is founded on the irresistible Italian concept of sprezzatura – the art of appearing effortlessly elegant, when great effort has indeed been made behind the scenes. This is the thing about Bvlgari, we do crazy things, in an effortless way,' smiles Fabrizio, introducing his new sleek and slinky creation at this year's Watches & Wonders show. He explains that the watch was designed to coincide with the maison's Aeterna high jewellery presentation, which with its contemplation of eternity, encouraged him to contemplate the future of the iconic snake silhouette. Fabrizio is adamant, however, that it wasn't a sculptural approach that brought this reptile to reality, rather simple pen strokes upon the page that set its svelte lines. 'Sculptural design can end up looking cold. The Aeterna doesn't look cold, it's gorgeous; you can see the Bvlgari proportions and it's bold. It has a very simple boldness.' The secret? 'There are golden rules, there is geometry, in the end it's mathematics, but it's also a secret and a mystery,' he quips. Fabrizio refers to the Serpenti Aeterna as a 'wow upon the wrist,' and it is this that makes it so wearable with, well frankly, anything. Crafted in 18-karat white or rose gold, dazzling with snow-set diamonds, this is a watch to be worn with an evening dress after dark, but by day? With whatever. Take Miu Miu's Breton stripe top – ultra chic when paired with shorts by Gucci, slung with chains by Tiffany&Co. and finished with this season's cult loafers-cum-sneakers. The perfect laidback-luxe look for a day's yachting, the Serpenti Aeterna's chilled-out charisma wouldn't look remotely out of place. The embodiment of contemporary classicism, it will morph to suit burlap or ballgowns, both timeless and timely. 'It's the beginning of something,' says Fabrizio. 'In Italy, when you cook the pasta, there's a precise moment that the pasta is done. Maybe we are early. Maybe we are late. I don't know. We will see,' he laughs. He isn't, however, proud of his latest timepiece. 'I'm always thinking about the next challenge, and it's never perfect. As a designer, if I was entirely content, it would be time for me to retire. You can always improve.' Amen to that. All Imagery Supplied
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Dior Unveils Its Latest High Jewellery Collection: Diorexquis
Unveiled at Dior's cherished Château de La Colle Noire, Victoire De Castellane transforms Monsieur Dior's private passions – for flora, fauna, and the pursuit of beauty – into poetic, emotionally charged High Jewellery Château de La Colle Noire in Provence was where Monsieur Christian Dior, as he wrote in his memoirs, could set aside his public persona and 'become just Christian again.' It is precisely in this intimate, storied retreat that Victoire de Castellane, creative director of Dior Joaillerie, chose to unveil Diorexquis – a collection that distils Dior's visionary aesthetics for the ladies of the beau monde and blends it with his passions for nature, fantasy, and fairy tales. A deeply personal tribute, it may well be the most 'Christian' collection yet. Victoire, who has helmed Dior's jewellery division since its inception in 1999, has long entertained an imaginary correspondence with the couturier – her eternal muse. She describes Diorexquis as a three-act reverie drawn from Monsieur Dior's inner world. 'Diorexquis unfolds in three chapters: delightful landscapes, delicate bouquets, and fabulous balls,' she explains. 'Each expresses a different facet of the word exquis – French for 'exquisite'.' In creating the pieces, Victoire once again challenges many of the unwritten rules of High Jewellery. In her compositions, a centre stone need not sit squarely at the centre – it may float off to the side or rest at a slant. Gems are not always meant to dazzle outwardly; they may be hidden, reserved for private delight or to achieve a subtle, unexpected visual effect. 'In this collection I played with layering different stones,' says Victoire, 'such as opal or mother-of-pearl, to achieve an iridescent effect with a different result. It's a colour that you don't find in nature, but to achieve it, you have to superimpose many layers of stones. This way I got a very electric blue, for example, in a brooch with night landscapes.' This technique, called the opale doublet, involves mounting a translucent layer of opal on a darker substrate like onyx or mother-of-pearl to achieve a depth and iridescence. It's a meticulous process – requiring both craftsmanship and a painter's eye – that allows colours to bloom from within, rather than sit on the surface. Another, equally enchanting technique is plique-à-jour, an ancient enamelling method revived and reimagined at Dior. 'It adds a new dimension to the bouquets,' she explained. 'Like a miniature stained-glass window, it lets the light shine through and magnify the floral ensembles.' At Dior, where lacquer has long been a signature, this open-backed treatment lends a delicate transparency Inspired by the stained-glass windows in churches, which were once entrusted with translating faith into visual narratives that stirred the soul, Diorexquis unfolds as a series of miniature theatrical compositions. Here, squirrels and deer play hide-and-seek in meadows of diamond and pearl-petalled flowers, while blossoms float across ponds of vivid opals in hues of lavender, mint, and rose. These endearing vignettes come to life across necklaces, bracelets, and asymmetrical earrings that don't simply mirror each other but instead engage in dialogue – each piece revealing a different moment in the fairytale, while also serving as a most unexpected stage for extraordinary gemstones. 'This new High Jewellery collection features several exceptional centrepiece stones with unique shapes and colours, says Victoire, 'including a 25.85-carat sapphire from Sri Lanka, a 10.59-carat Colombian emerald, and a 7.03-carat ruby from Mozambique, as well as an intense yellow diamond of 33.88 carats and two pure diamonds of 8.88 carats each, recalling Monsieur Dior's attraction to this lucky number.' But while the technical wizardry is impressive, Diorexquis excels at bringing to the fore a more intimate facet of Monsieur Christian Dior. His whimsy, his reverence for beauty and the emotions his private pursuits stirred in him, all the while respecting the house's long-established codes – nature, flowers, and femininity. With each high jewellery collection she has imagined over the past 26 years, Victoire has stitched together a fabric of fantasy, part-Dior-heritage-inspired-part-imagination, always rendered with exquisite – or should we say, Diorexquis – elegance. 'Each of my collections leads to the next,' she says. 'I adore the idea of going even further – going where I am least expected.'
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Book A Night To Remember At The St. Regis Abu Dhabi
With its refined service, beautiful surroundings, and sense of quiet grandeur, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi offers a wedding experience that feels both personal and exceptional Some weddings feel made for the moment while others feel timeless from the start. At The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, it's the latter – a landmark setting that's become a quiet favourite among couples seeking sophistication, intimacy, and unforgettable attention to detail. Set along the city's glittering Corniche, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi blends Arabian hospitality with classic elegance. At its heart is the Al Mudhaif Ballroom, an expansive 1,300-square-metre space with six-metre-high ceilings, warm desert-inspired tones, and three dramatic Bohemian crystal chandeliers. Whether you're planning a lavish reception or a smaller, more personal gathering, the ballroom can be adapted to suit any vision. And while the setting is only part of the story, weddings here are shaped by the experience of a dedicated team who approach every detail with care and intent. From bespoke menus crafted by expert chefs to beautifully designed wedding cakes, each element is tailored with the couple in mind. Every decision is thoughtful, every detail elevated. A private bridal suite, located just steps from the ballroom, offers a calm and elegant space to prepare. And the best part? There's a personal female butler is on hand to assist with final touches, making sure the bride feels truly pampered on her special day. Following the celebration, the newlyweds can retreat to one of the hotel's signature suites – complete with honeymoon amenities, early check-in, late check-out, and the signature St. Regis butler service. Wedding guests are also treated to special room rates, ensuring the celebration extends seamlessly across the weekend. As a final gesture, couples are invited back to mark their anniversary with a dining experience at one of the hotel's signature restaurants – an elegant return to the place where it all began.
