"This collection signifies everything that is true to the Maison, true to French luxury, true to Art de Vivre – and we couldn’t celebrate in a better way,” explained Francesca Amfitheatrof, Louis Vuitton's artistic director for watches and jewellery, at this week's reveal in St. Tropez. The House's largest, most spectacular high jewellery collection yet is inspired by the innovation of 19th-century Paris. Closer to home, a beloved homegrown café swung open the doors of its flagship; Alserkal Avenue welcomed a new gem; and a luxurious escape opened in the mountains of Oman, just in time for staycation season. Here's everything you may have missed this week.
A Real Gem
Louis Vuitton unveiled its largest-ever high jewellery collection, Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds, in St. Tropez this week. The 220-piece collection is centred around the transformative period of 19th-century France and celebrates the century's greatest innovators, from Gustave Eiffel to Louis Vuitton himself. "France in the 19th century was a phenomenal time of incredible change, and when Paris really became the centre of the world," said Francesca Amfitheatrof, artistic director for watches and jewellery.
The first chapter, Awakened Hands, features 100 one-of-a-kind pieces across 11 themes and begins the 19th-century timeline with the end of royal court rule that allowed creatives in the city to flourish, including a 16-year-old Louis Vuitton. The following chapters are Awakened Minds, which captures the vibrancy of the 1850s, and Apotheosis: Coeur de Paris, the grand finale that reminisces on the 1889 unveiling of the Eiffel Tower. Discover the collection
Pout It Out
Byredo reinvents its best-selling lipsticks for summer; they are re-released with premium ingredients, a smoother application process and twenty shades, courtesy of newly appointed creative image and makeup partner, Lucia Pica. Presenting ten satin and ten matte finishes, The Lipstick offers highly pigmented payoff enriched with rose flower extract for long-lasting comfort. Shop now
To A Tea
Tania's Teahouse is all grown up. Six years after the launch of the Instagrammable café in Jumeirah, founder Tania Lodi unveils its Dubai Hills flagship. Featuring an expanded dining area, multiple event spaces and hidden, speakeasy-style tea room, Tania's Teahouse has transformed into a do-it-all space that caters for every type of customer, from remote workers to families and - thanks to its license - those seeking after-work drinks. The minimalist interiors are punctuated with books, curated artworks, adorable trinkets and mood-boosting pops of colour, keeping the whimsical spirit of the teahouse alive while celebrating the brand's evolution. Book now
Treat Yourself
An innovative bakery has settled into Alserkal Avenue in Dubai and queues are already snaking along the streets. bkry calls itself 'an experimental bakespace' and dishes up freshly baked pastries, specialty coffee and all-day dining in achingly cool surrounds that allow visitors to immerse themselves in every element of the creative process; watch wheat turn to flour, gawk over pastries being decorated and take part in workshops and masterclasses. Though the focus is on baked goods, bkry is a full-blown restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not a coffee drinker? Fret not, there are plenty of innovative beverages on offer. Bring the bkry experience home with you and shop artisanal spreads and jams, including blueberry and lavender jam and local honey. But you'll have to be fast - despite only being open a few weeks, word about bkry has travelled fast, so, if you want to secure that pastry you've had your eye on, be first in line when doors open at 8am. Learn more
Heirloom Status
Van Cleef & Arpels unveils new, limited-edition Perlée creations of bracelets, earrings and rings adorned in the Maison's emblematic beads. The five-row bracelet is a stand-out of the collection because it incorporates 50 coloured stones - ruby, sapphires and emeralds - amongst the delicately placed Perlée. Another new addition with an unexpected twist is the perlée diamonds duo ring, which offers an illusion of two interlocking rings. Van Cleef & Arpels' golden beads first appeared across watches and jewellery creations in the 1920s and has since become a signature of the Maison. Discover the collection
A Cinderella Story
Valmont, Swiss skincare specialists, celebrates 40 years of its best-selling Prime Renewing Pack with the release of an anniversary edition. Adorned in cartoon faces as a nod to the cream's reputation as the Happy Mask (it is also affectionately known as the Cinderella Mask amongst loyal clientele), the colourful box houses the tried-and-trusted cream which promises to erase signs of fatigue, stress and ageing. The science-backed formula can be worn daily as a leave-on regulating treatment or an occasional radiance-boosting mask when applied in a thick layer and removed after twenty minutes. Shop now
World Traveller
Fancy a culinary journey without the jet lag? Sushisamba is celebrating International Sushi Day with a limited-time menu showcasing signature Samba Rolls from Sushisamba locations around the world. Beginning with Las Vegas and leading into London, the adventure continues with Dubai, Doha and Edinburgh, before giving a sneak peek into the menus of upcoming Sushisamba locations in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. With unbeatable views from the 51st floor of Palm Jumeirah's St. Regis Hotel, an exclusive menu and electric atmosphere, this is one celebration sushi lovers shouldn't miss. 16 to 18 June. Book now
National Treasure
Staying in the UAE for the holidays? Your summer just got an upgrade, courtesy of Mandarin Oriental. Mandarin Oriental, Muscat has officially opened its doors in Oman, nestled in Shatti Al-Qurum among architectural sites and the breathtaking Hajar Mountains. From the grand hotel lobby to each of its 103 rooms and 47 suites, the interiors pay homage to Oman's natural beauty, utilising locally sourced materials - think: desert rose marble and ashwood - and authentic motifs honouring traditional crafts.
While away summer afternoons at The Spa and take advantage of award-winning Asian-inspired treatments, wellness journeys and traditional hammam, before polishing up for an evening of indulgence at one of the property's five restaurants. A collection of 156 private homes, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, rounds-out the spectacular property.
Watch It
As scorching temperatures are well and truly underway, residents and visitors alike are seeking solace from the heat. Escape to Theatre at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai to beat the heat and watch your favourite films in luxurious surrounds. The newly revamped cinema has transformed the cinemagoing experience - beginning in the private lounge (complete with games like shuffleboard and billiards if you are running ahead of schedule), guests order from a gourmet menu curated by in-house chefs, which offers everything from traditional cinema snacks to lobster ravioli. Once inside, settle into reclining seats (configured for individual viewers, couples or groups of four) with pillows and blankets and relax as your meals are brought directly to your (heated) seats. As for the technology, screens are larger than ever, equipped with 4k laser projectors and crystal-clear Dolby Atoms Sound to allow visitors to enjoy films as they were meant to be seen. Book now
