Simply Abu Dhabi VIII

1 7 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I A graduate of l’Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Nantes Atlantique in France, Mr le Masne de Chermont is a veteran of Asia, with over twenty-two years of experience in the luxury goods sector. Prior to Shanghai Tang, he held executive-level positions at brands within the Richemont Luxury Group – which includes Piaget, Baume & Mercier, Officine Panerai and Cartier. He first joined the group’s London operations in January 1988. The new Shanghai Tang ‘Dragon Plateau’ collection The Shanghai Tang Autumn/Winter 2012 collection leads lovers of luxury through the phenomenally beautiful landscapes and the impressive cultural heritage of the Tibetan highlands. The collection was inspired by the traditional tale of Jade Dragon SnowMountain and Haba Snow Mountain – a journey around the impossibly picturesque peaks of Yunnan province. The stunning garments take us into a nomadic world of spirituality, subtlety, and nature: The world’s gentlest and purest elements mingle with its savage beauty. Women’s collection The thrilling designs of the new Savage Beauty women’s collection evoke the sights and landscapes of the exquisite highland mountains. Traditional Tibetan rugs, camouflage, and mountain streams are among the inspirations for designs that incorporate bold animal prints, silk twill dresses, and crystal clutch bags. In an exquisite blend of fabrics, materials and colours, metallic bronze textures mix with splashes of turquoise brights. The Savage Beauty pieces are absolutely stunning. Another Shanghai Tang collection, called Sacred Robes, pays tribute to the traditional way of life in the Jade Dragon SnowMountain. It impressively employs hues of burgundy, yellow and sun-scorched scarlet familiar from the robes of Buddhist monks. The inspiring balance between opulence and piety, the ornamental and the spiritual, is powerfully communicated. Sophisticated silk jersey dresses and blouses incorporate the Sacred Wall print, which refers to the walls of temples dramatically set on the sides of mountains. Amazingly, these have survived harsh winds, snow, extreme cold and heat, droughts and more. The Mosaic print from Shanghai depicts the lotus, peony and waves, mixing the richness of Chinese heritage and Tibetan culture. Presented in rich reds, or gold and black colour combinations, the superb Mosaic print makes a statement on silk twill wrap dresses, modern qipaos, and silk/wool blend scarves. The sublime coats of Autumn/Winter 2012 use telling details like statement Chinese knot buttons on long shearling coats, quilting on leather jackets, and elaborate embroidery on padded down jackets, to add a chic, dramatic finish to this season’s outerwear. Shanghai Tang also has an exquisite collection of accessories for the season. For example, the brand has reimagined the Mongolian Hobo bag in new colours and finishes, including supple deer skin and wave-patterned fine leather. The exciting colour range includes hot pink and burnt orange. Men’s collection In the Shanghai Tang Men’s collection, the powerful Radical Neutrality range oozes effortless style and simplicity. It takes advantage to gorgeous effect of an elegant palette utilising muted greys, khaki and olive greens. A sublime leather-trimmed padded jacket is one of the stand-out items of this sophisticated collection. Partner the garment with slim-cut cargo pants for a subtly refined look this winter. The Hyperculture range, on the other hand, takes bold colours and imaginative juxtapositions to travel down thrilling and unexpected fashion routes. With a nod to diverse cultural references and the Bohemian underground, take a chance and unleash your imagination. You could add a bold twist to your elegant party outfit with Shanghai Tang’s Festive range for men. Dashing silhouettes are enlivened with deep red hues and intricate Chinese motifs. Shanghai Tang is always worth a visit when you’re lucky enough to find yourself in a city with a boutique. In particular, when you next happen to be in Hong Kong, the Shanghai TangMansion is now open at 1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong – it’s definitely worth a visit!