Middle Eastern Trends for A/W16

Another season of Fashion Forward and the newly launched Dubai Collections has drawn to a close. We’re looking at five of our favourite fashion trends from the region’s autumn/winter 2016 shows.

By Aishwarya Tyagi

Models walk the runway during the Soltana show at Fashion Forward autumn/winter 2016 held at the Dubai Design District

Looking back on our favourite trending styles from the autumn/winter 2016 collections, two burgeoning schools of thought seem to have taken hold when it comes to Middle Eastern fashion. In one camp, whimsical pops of colour and sweeping romantic statements looked fresh, from the soft candy colours at Madiyah Al Sharqi to the pastel pyjamas with oriental motifs at Taller Marmo. Elsewhere, a darker undercurrent ran across mood boards—think Amato Couture’s gothic princesses with yards of ruffles and lace and Hussein Bazaza’s artistic ball gowns. The result was a captivating clash that’s brimming with enough transformative promise and fierce femininity to carry us into next season.

Art Attack

Designers paid homage to modern art and its endless experimentation with materials, colours and ideas turning eveningwear into an edgy art-school statement.

1. Orkalia a/w16 | 2. Taller Marmo a/w16 | 3. Hussein Bazaza a/w16

Desert Red

We saw a plethora of rich crimson hues across the runways, reminiscent of a burning sunset in the desert; with shades of tan, rose and burgandy being the go-to colours of the season.

1. Lama Jouni a/w16 | 2. Bougessa a/w16 | 3. Soltana a/w16

Fairytale Jumpsuits

Perfectly tailored jumpsuits with edgy romanticism reigned on the catwalks, where sugary hues in mint and candy floss were structured into graphic, sexy jumpsuits; sometimes with corseted bodices and lacy sheer textures.

1. Madiyah Al Sharqi a/w16 | 2. Amato Couture a/w16 | 3. Sotra a/w16

Bomber Brigade

This season’s favourite bomber jacket is here to stay, with regional designers offering a variety of options ranging from luxe utilitarian to artistic jackets with painterly prints.

1. Kage a/w16 | 2. Bedouin a/w16 | 3. Salta a/w16

Glistening Sequins

We spotted an abundance of twinkling sequins on the catwalks. Designers paired dazzling dresses with unique seperates such as polo neck sweaters, maxi skirts and even OTT feathers for the ultimate party-ready look.