S/S 08MUSE

www.alothman-fashion.com

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SE

S/

S 08

AlOthmanMaryam Complex, Salem Al-Mubarak Street,

Salmiya, KuwaitTel + 5/4954 575 965

AlOthmanLa Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art92 Hoora Avenue, Manama 306, BahrainTel + 280282 17 973 / Fax + 532761 17 973

AlOthman & Tabiat Fashion Co - Head OfficeP.O.Box 8644, Salmiya 22057, Kuwait

Tel + 9/8/4957 575 / Fax + 4956 575 965

It has been an ongoing challenge to maintain AlOthman’s

leading role as one of the top fashion houses. Our clientele’s

high level of fashion awareness has continuously challenged us

to be more innovative.

MUSE was created to provide our clients with the opportunity

to view the season’s latest collection and to choose their looks in

advance and earlier than everyone.

Allow MUSE to be your window into AlOthman’s trends, special

collections and the must-haves of Spring/Summer 2008.

Enjoy!

Rashad Tabiat

Your MUSE

Receiving the new season collections is always an exciting time for us, especially for the Spring/Summer season with all the bright colors and vibrant bold prints. We have scouted the designer collections and runways to present you with the most wanted items of the season to hit the streets in style.

In this edition of MUSE, you will be introduced to all the designer collections we carry and what inspired designers to come up with such divine creations. You will also be the first to see the looks that are arriving in-store now, and view the entire fashion and accessories selections we made. Just what you need to be one step ahead of the fashion crowd.

Whether you’re still building your spring wardrobe for our long hot summer months or simply wanting to invest in iconic items, MUSE will guide you through the season’s top trends and key pieces.

Sit back, skim through MUSE, and make your season’s selections.

For orders & inquiries email: info@alothman-fashion.com

Say goodbye to fall's gothic fixation with all things resembling black and gray, and instead inject some bold and bright colors into your wardrobe this season. Follow the rainbow colors that burst down the Spring/Summer runways and dress from head to toe in cheerful eye popping colors-starting from green, yellow, orange, red, or blue. To tone it down, pair a vibrant colored accessory with your neutral-colored clothes.

Color Crazy

Designers flourished their spring collections with a garden variety of sweet floral adornments and patterns. The blossoming trend was obvious on just about everything from accessories to dresses and jackets. Flower-loving fashionistas will enfold themselves in large, graphic floral prints, while those who shy away from oversized patterns can opt for a softer take on the blossoming trend by choosing one item in small prints.

Spring Flowers

Take your cue from ancient history and showcase the Aphrodite within you. Go for draping and intricate pleated one-shouldered evening gowns which graced down the catwalks for spring. Or wear a pair of gladiator sandals for sun-soaked days with your

good old kaftan dress.

Grecian Goddess

This season fashion is sending you off global-trotting with trendy elements borrowed from Africa, India, and Far East Asia. An array of batik prints, nature-inspired, exotic, and tropical prints swept down the runways providing a fabulous fashionable global fare. Hop on to this trend by picking up a safari suit and throwing a chunky tribal jewelry into your summer wardrobe.

Global Chic

Not anymore a thing of our past, Tie-dye is having a major revival and has gained its catwalk status. Looking sophisticated and dramatic at night with this trend is now made easy with some of the biggest names in fashion introducing dazzling tie-dye gowns down the catwalk. Or you can make a fun bold statement by teaming a funky tie-dye top with some faded skinny jeans and peep toe shoe boots for daytime.

Shine on with this season's timeless and over the top sparkly trend. Glitzy and bright metallics in most colors have worked their way in an endless array of opportunities on the runway. From evening gowns and fitted jackets, to platform heels and unstructured bags, add a touch of glamour to your wardrobe with any metallic addition to guarantee a stunning accompaniment to any outfit.

Metallic Magic

Tie - Dye For

Look exceptional with the season’s best evening gowns. Slip yourself into a bedazzled swanky short dress or breathtaking long gown. Give your hair and make-up the star treatment to really complete your evening look.

Night Glamour

Planning for your exotic-island gateway? Gone are

the days of fanny-packs and visors. Now it’s all about

choosing your own adventure and the right items to

accompany you to make yourself look effortlessly chic

and most of all, comfortable. These cotton kaftans and

dresses are more than a pretty cover-up. They can go

from day to night with jeweled flats and a statement

necklace for an alluring look.

Beauty & The BeachReception Ready

From baby and wedding receptions to Eid and formal dinners, our social obligations are endless, and so should your outfit choices be. Break out of the “formal suit” routine and go with this season’s vast selection of dressy and glamorous creations. Don’t be afraid to mix & match as this is the séance of personal style.

Boy - Meets - Rock - Chic

Foster an image of yourself as a rock chic with this season’s washed out denim with slogan t-shirts, topped off with a tuxedo jacket. Or go for boyish pieces with feminine details and walk down the shopping lanes parading the latest craze in street wear for casual chic days.

Step to It

It’s all in the details this season for

shoes. Think mouthwatering color

contrasts, zippers and buckles, and

shimmer and shine adornments.

From high heeled platforms and

peep toe shoe boots, to feet-

friendly flats and sculpted chunky

heels, it’s just what you need to

give your outfit an added edge.

Alexander Wang Antik Batik

Arcangel

We all need a little magic in our lives, and that's why Arcangel Spring Summer Collection is in its purest sense - it is romantic and fantasy driven, so I would love people to discover this in our collection - that magic is a special part that no marketing concept can possibly reach people, so I truly believe that people sense this magic when they wear Arcangel. If we can catch your breath for just a moment in time - or if we can catch the love in your life's breath for just one moment in time, then we have achieved that magic.

"

"

Azzaro

"For this collection I wanted to combine an urban Safari chic and Iconic Azzaro shapes in mini-versions. The color range is based on jewel tones, as I love their strength and softness. The Accessories were designed mostly in transparent Plexiglas to give them an extreme lightness. "

Balmain

Jumping headlong into the season's nouveau boho trend, Christophe Decarnin opened with a strapless dress, its bodice densely beaded and its long, flowing skirts rendered in a soft, pastel floral shot through with gold Lurex. Evident throughout was the designer's unbridled affection for embellishment. Confronted with an unadorned surface, he'll add studs, fringe, or lacing—anything to make his girls sparkle after dark.

"It's a mix of Native Americans

and India”

"It's also about

freedom.”

Barbara Tfank

The Barbara Tfank Spring 2008 Collection is inspired by Federico Fellini's muse, the actress Anouk Aimee, who could exude an effortless glamour with a single telling glance. From Fellini's La Dolce Vita to Claude LeLouche's "A Man and A Woman", Anouk Aimee telegraphs an indelible sense of chic -- forever mesmerizing, always feminine. Barbara's love for rich textiles combined with classic feminine silhouettes is the hallmark of every Tfank collection – luxurious, sensuous, sophisticated, and always refined by a touch of wit. This season is not only rich with texture, but alive with color – geranium pink, golden lemon, lavender lilac, vibrant silver lame, ballet-slipper pink, a playful toile chameleon. Sensuous shapes call to mind a Dolce Vita-like movement, with waterfall and pleated backs and blouson details. Timeless elegance expressed with charming jolie makes this spring collection forever chic, always engaging.

Behnaz Sarafpour

For this spring 2008 collection, Behnaz Sarafpour continues to push her variety of fashion forward; her collections are the epitome of modern elegance and witty style. Her appreciation for innovative fabrics and exquisite, precise design are reflected in this new collection in a range of beautifully textured fabrics evoking nature's flora and fauna, such as a leaf mattlelasse coat dress or an etched floral sheath dress.

"Spring 2008 also marks the beginning of sustainable yet elegant, organic luxury pieces, which will continue to be

highlighted in future seasons.”

Bill Blass

"The inspiration is the always beautiful, chic, fun, and unfailingly intriguing New York society

girls. The Daisy Buchanan's of today."

Bodyamr

This season, I wanted to bring back the woman that is in love with her body, her curves, her sexually empowered figure. The collection is designed to enhance her confidence, and celebrate real women by allowing movement with stretch satin and body contouring power net linings. Spring/Summer 2008 BODYAMR woman needs no approval.Femininity dominated the Spring/Summer 2008 catwalks and Bodyamr have taken their own stance on this. Signature pieces include alluring draped gowns in metallics and blacks, guaranteed to turn heads. Lavish body-con dresses in rich berry colours are perfect for those fun summer evenings. The lines and cut compliment the female body while on-trend detail, i.e. bold zips, hoods and structured shoulders, add interest.

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Bruno Frisoni Calvin Klein

"The spring collection is very feminine and easy to wear. The fabrics are a perfect blend of technical innovation and luxury and the clothes

reflect a much needed optimism.

"This collection was inspired by colours and textures from sunny southern countries.

I wanted it sexy, elegant, bright and lively!" "

Camilla Skovgaard

"The styles you are getting are all about profile and material as opposed to decoration.

"I like shoes that are elegant and sexy, not too fashionable as they date terribly fast - it's harder to do something a little

more sustainable and yet individual.

Shoes really come into their own on foot as a pair with the cuts showing skin.

The gold 'biker' sandal came out of a racing idea like what you see on race-back tank tops and professional swimming costumes, a sport element making an elegant shoe a little more interesting. The steel/white two-band sandal is about materials' composition, again a sport element with the contrast white patent to the dressy leather. The black symmetry sandal is a play with symmetry.

"

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" "

The Carolina Herrera spring 2008 collection is inspired by the watercolors of Jeremiah Goodman and the many delicate layers of paint used to work in this medium. This festive palette of pool blue, pear green, brick red, peony pink, and clementine orange make up an explosion of exotic and rich colors. Layers of raffia, oversize paillettes, and sculpted feathers add further dimension to layers of devore organza, printed gazaar, and lacquered chiffon. Cocktail shorts, elongated cardigans, and abbreviated jackets update classic white shirts, light day and evening dresses, and easy skirts ideal for your summer journeys. This collection is a lavish expression of a women's love for color and drama.

Carolina Herrera

Catherine Malandrino

" Spring/Summer 2008, Catherine Malandrino evokes the urban charm of

Nice with colorful parasols and feminine silhouettes for a Pique Nique on the

beach or an evening Rendez-vous on "La Promenade des Anglais "

Christian Louboutin

A lot of bright and shining colours -red, yellow, pink, blue, silver, gold, and warm brown as well. Material- a lot of patent leather for shoes and bags, strass and satin. The collection is as usual, sexy, feminine and urban.

""

Collette Dinnigan

Exuding a disregard for conventional standards approaching the question. What's fresh, what's modern and what's pretty ....Collette Dinnigan Spring Summer 08 brings with it personality, attitude & glamour where nothing is compulsory & individuality is everything- Modern Love. Fashion that is free to express ones self. Dress to perfection with a touch of sporty elegance, Modern Love dissolves conformist boarders. The return of the Dress - straightforward symmetry stands alongside eye-popping prints. Long and short, luxurious, voluminous metallic lace & tulle, colourful & clear – modern romanticism with vivid depth in tangerine, peach & saffron. Textures of georgette mixed with lace, tulle with zippers, jersey sunray gowns with cashmere nuances....a world of juxtaposition.

Courtney Crawford

" The inspiration for the Courtney Crawford for 2008 came from the comic world, Catwoman to be exact; Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Michelle Pfeiffer to name. My addiction and love for Catwoman has been a long one, not only the physicality of her beauty that has held since the early 1950s but the empowering personality that she has carried throughout the years as well: I tried to recreate these shoes in her personality, movement, power, and prowess, as I have known it, those of movies, television sitcom, and comic books. "

David Szeto

" I wanted to bring back a sophisticated version of Deborah Harry from her BLONDIE

era, circa 1980's to the collection; young, edgy with mix of sophistication and class. "

Derek Lam

Derek Lam's spring 2008 collection has the provocative, feminine, and flirtatious feeling of Guy Bourdin's photographs. The length is either very brief or grazing the calf. The silhouette is sleeker, with an emphasis on accentuating the shape of the waist and curves of the hips. There are a variety of abstracted and modernized animal prints in crisp silk faille or more languid georgette. Sleep crepe de chines and sequin beadings add shine. Navy, white, and black provide a neutral base, and bold, saturated colors such as lacquer red, deep lavender, pomelo green, and coral provide vivid contrast.

Devi Kroell

" It's a mix of a hot summer in the city and far flung white sandy

beaches. "

Elie Saab

The collection unfurls its petals with

the natural elegance. Like a veritable

stroll through sweet peas and tall grass,

its fabrics are awash in bursts of color:

leafy green, iris, poppy and golden

yellow. Rendered in a painterly style

and with the dazzling flair, these motifs

mimic the blossoming of a lush garden.

Armfuls of flowers take to the air and

grace themselves around the hem of a

long dress, splay across a skirt, or lay on

the front of a stiletto. Silhouettes are cut

close to the body, sculpting its curves in

layers of grosgrain taffeta. Devastatingly

chic, the accent is on bustiers, figure-

hugging looks and platform heels.

Encircled by dark straps with architectural

curves, the neck becomes a focal point,

underscored by ribbons. The finale

dresses are embroidered with sequins,

shot through with geometric motifs and

flirt with shadows and tints, shades of

violet, dark purple and mermaid blue.

Elie Saab

Erdem

Fashion legend Iris Apfel, vintage colour photographs of my mom from the 60's and 70's and The Rite Of Spring proved the predominant influences of the Spring/Summer 2008 collection. Iconic 80's French Vogue covers resonated, too. The structure of a classic 50's motorcycle jacket inspired a new dress shape. Technically, it is all about contrast. Volume and texture, used with strong graphic prints offset with delicacy of hand-made lace form the basis of the collection. The standout features? Huge, voluminous dresses contrast and a new sleek body conscious silhouette.

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Giambattista Valli

" Giambattista Valli always has a particular woman in mind when he starts his collection. This season, it was Veruschka in her desert mode, which (partially) explained his opening caftan shape, caught in at the ankles as an all-in-one. Valli had also been inspired by a research trip to Jordan (it may be significant that Queen Rania is a known client of his), where he was stunned by the sights of ancient Petra and the brilliance of flowers blooming against the dusty noncolors of the landscape. "

Giles

A techno floral of reflective and grey tonals are

of set with hematite embroidered Swarovski skull

caps. Modern tie dyes and prints that evoke a

tough modern Marilyn. The whole collection has

a high feminine worked appeal with an edge of

embellishment that is anything but saccharine.

Issa Lela Rose

This year Issa is the signature of love, summertime and easy weather. So come and be that woman. With perfect cuts and easy to wear dresses, chic, elegant and eclectic. Issa's classic Jersey dresses and some cotton to match the hot hot heat of the summer. Yellow, blue, red, turquoise, gold, pearls and crystals...Issa is every woman. In the day easy and adventurous, the dresses and cuts are short (...very short). And because the night is always young with Issa, cuts are long...(...very long). The look is clean and still quite open which gives you a matter of choice, because the Issa woman is first of all FREE!!! So if you feel like making your world colourful and bright with the smiles that shine like thousand diamonds on the shore of love...you are an Issa woman!

Using the color palette of Matisse, Spring 2008 is about taking the casual sporty silhouettes of Katherine Hepburn and giving it the luxe and femininity of Audrey Hepburn, i.e. a belted taffeta Anorak paired with a burlap sweetheart dress.

Linda Farrow

"" Timeless in design, uncompromising in quality, unabashedly luxurious,

Linda Farrow Luxe takes sunglasses to the next level

Malandrino

The Malandrino spring summer 2008 collection was inspired by the famous hotel, La Colombe d'or, in the peaceful village of St. Paul de Vence."

"

Marios Schwab

Marios Schwab's Spring Summer 2008 collection takes a literal journey within the body. Enthused by Andreas Vesalius' De Humani Corporis Fabrica, the fabric of the human body becomes the fabric of the collection. This fascination with the body's topography is explored through the inner structure of a garment, which is transformed and reflected on the outside.

Matthew Williamson

" The inspiration for this season's collection was on the idea of a modern girl who is a constant traveler, and whose style is defined by incorporating new cultures, traditions

and customs. It is a celebration of global style and the many different ethnicities that exist in the world today. "

Mayle

"

I decided on a Mexican funeral theme for Spring 08 after viewing the Manet exhibition at Moma. Alongside these exhibited paintings were photographs that showed a very different reality and how much Manet had fictionalized the facts and privileged storytelling and composition over truth.

"

Naeem Khan

Luxurious India meets

Glamorous America. ""

Oscar de la Renta

Bold geometric prints in earth tones with bright accents. "

"

Oscar de la Renta

Peter Som

" On a recent trip to Spain I came upon the inspiration for my Spring 2008 Collection Frank Gehry's curvilinear and sleekly undulating Bilbao Guggenheim and his Hotel Marques de Riscal. The silhouette is architecturally inspired with a defined waist and fitted bodice, skirts are longer pencil skirts or tailored A-lines. The palette is an array of cool icy tones of dove grey, pale crocus green and light slate blue with shots of red and marigold. Fabrics are highly textured while keeping it light as air. Satin linen stripes, melange pale grey seersucker, Japanese 'shibori' washed metallic brocade, washed leathers, silver burn-out lace, 'pixel' print cotton silk faille and cotton jersey tissue. Embellishments include graphic matte sequin swirl embroideries, chiffon strips on tailored skirts, graphic organza overlays and bold tulle embroidery. "

Proenza Schouler

A continued exploration into the idea of contrasts--an attempt at reconciling extremes. Something organic and man made, refined and primitive. A return to elements of a more organic nature. Hand made mud cloths and organic Hemp burlaps coexist with gold leafed silks and elements of a more traditionally refined quality. The play of matte and shine is a focus. Tribal elements are reconfigured into sophisticated volumes reimagined and modernized to fit today's world. High-relief textures and subtle hand embroideries inspired by wildlife are key. Layered tailoring is a central motif. Suited, sophisticated, clean. Accessories are a major focus for Spring. Belts, hats, and shoes all posses an irreverent mix of materials: custom metals, lacquered resins, horsehair, feathers, and exotic skins. Shoes are mostly of the sandal variety. Platforms have been retired. Focus and/or volume on the bottom of the shoe are replaced with focus/volume on the upper.

Redux Charles Chang-Lima was inspired by Heaven and Earth. Earth is reflected in the deep, grounded tones of the collection. He juxtaposes this grounded feeling with the light, airy fabrics and ethereal silhouettes of Heaven.

Redux Charles Chang-Lima

Reem Acra

" The looks are fresh and ethereal with a modern touch. The common thread of this collection is the

emphasis on the waist and the refined feeling of luxury."

Réyes

" My Spring'08 collection pays homage to Jean Patou and his

contribution to Sportswear in the 1920's.

Throughout the collection, there are strong tennis, swim and golf influences set within a modern framework of

shape, detail and color

""

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Rupert Sanderson

Rupert Sanderson's Spring Summer 2008 shoe collection has grown like topsy – the long Spring season allows for further cogitation and flights of fancy. The result is a collection bursting with colour, contrast and contradiction. The colour rush of Rupert's Resort collection, with its boiling hot patents and linens, has been tempered a little. Patents are here to stay - seems like forever but boy, they still look so bloody fresh! There has been some monkeying around with pinks and yellows that are so bright you could read by them! "

"

Temperley

Spring/Summer 2008 includes an array of new silhouettes and plays on volume and proportion. Voluminous sleeves are paired with constricted waistlines and corsetry details whilst fabrics are manipulated with layers, frills, drapes and folds. The daywear has been increased, with more innovative tailoring and unusual knit techniques. Bold prints on velvety crepe de chine and softly draped silk jersey dresses with plaiting and gathering details are perfect transition pieces. Printed striped cotton is combined with cotton lace while fine soft leathers with pin tuck details and slouchy trousers add an edge to the collection. Chiffon is used to create ornate dresses, some covered in hundreds of tiny silk feathery layers and others using delicate chiffon braids and weaves. The Black Label offering has been expanded to include a wider range of elaborate cocktail and full length evening dresses. Playing to Temperley's strengths of designing evening dresses fit for any red carpet occasion, these employ complicated handwork techniques and use opulent and unusual embellishment components.

The Row

The inspiration for S/S08 was Lauren Hutton. The collection

was designed with her in mind, for women who grow

older gracefully and still look amazing. The Row

is ageless, looking both sophisticated and appropriate on women of all ages. "

"

Tracy Reese Tuleh

Tracy Reese graces Spring 2008 with a collection that awakens a mysterious spirit, enlivened by exotic romanticism and tempered by a sense of ease. Linear tailoring and subtle sensuality headline Ms. Reese's Spring 2008 Collection, while North African-inspired prints, colors, and textiles splash themselves across beautifully structured dresses, coats, and separates. Femininity is exuded in body-hugging silhouettes and sumptuous seas of fabric. Vivid color and high shine modernize the intricate construction of the 1930s and the laissez-faire lines of the 1970s, creating the perfect mélange of ready-to-wear for Spring 2008.

The inspiration behind Bryan Bradley's Tuleh was the "Italian Alta moda" from Rome. Bryan wants to make "beautiful clothes to make women feel beautiful".

The handmade work on every garment and the hand died fabrics respect the unique tradition that can come only from Italy. Colors and light fabrications are made to make women

feel special and beautiful every time they wear Tuleh.""

Twinkle

The Twinkle by Wenlan collection was born from designer Wenlan Chia's affinity for knitwear design, love of art and prolific imagination. The designer's clever knit designs transform yarn into unexpected shapes such as tuxedo jackets, shrunken capelets, quirky scarves and unique sweaters. An innate understanding and advanced application of knitting is also visible in her intarsia designs. Each season, Wenlan presents an animated nature-inspired story or abstract graphic design through her intarsia knits.

Vaza

" Spring was all about having fun and working with interesting materials like cotton backed platinum glitter, tortoiseshell, quilted

eels, veneered patents and bright exotics. "

Vera Wang

Like Resort in June, the Vera Wang Spring-Summer 2008 collection continues to explore the vibrancy and seduction of ancient Rome with all of its physical beauty, its poly-cultural society and its long lasting influence on civilization.From the vivid color palette to the easy fluidity of relaxed silhouettes this season, the collection is also punctuated with structure: carefully engineered cuts and volumes, and dramatic mixtures of weights, textures and proportions. While there is real design emphasis on pants, trousers, and boyish shorts; dresses, and coats worn as dresses, as well as sweater and skirt dressing, all help to reinforce the modernity and nonchalance of the collection. This spring gowns represent an integral part of the overall attitude --- like t-shirts and togas, they reflect a certain fluidity with the central focus on cut and texture rather than ornamentation.

"From the colors found in Nature, which the Romans

worshiped... to the colors of their civilization (as my imagination

would have me believe) ancient Rome represented an energetic, romantic take on life from which

to play with cut, color, and construction."

Vera Wang Lavender

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