When you’re headed to Kuwait for Fashion Week,
“travel essentials” means more than just remembering your toothbrush and phone charger. Suddenly everything from beaded dresses and luxury leather clutches to glittering jewelry and metallic luggage becomes a necessity for your trip. I knew my days and nights were going to be jam-packed with shows, parties and events so I opted for two pieces of luggage: the Hartmann 7R Global Carry-on Spinner and Long Journey Spinner. The Rose Gold was an obvious choice given the destination; what better way to arrive in such a glamorous city than with a pair of bright metallic suitcases? The hardtop ensured not a sequin or lipstick would get damaged on the journey and the rotating spinning wheels meant each piece could be walked safely alongside rather than rolling behind. Chic and functional? Sign me up for the whole set.
So, what went into these chic cases for the trek across the Atlantic? Lots of sparkling jewels, for one thing. I love to keep my evening looks feeling fresh by balancing delicate, minimal pieces and modern, statement-making ones.
Gabriel and Co. has so many beautiful dainty, sparkly pieces its hard to choose just one - so I don’t! I layered their delicately iced bracelet and ring to offset the all-black ensemble I was wearing. The next night, I went with a gold geometric set to match the beadwork of my Dany Tabet dress. They’re the perfect balance of simple and dramatic— only ever adding to an outfit, rather than overpowering it. Gabriel and Co. has long been a favorite New York City jeweler. Founded by brothers Jack and Dominick Gabriel, the company is known for its special occasion jewelry and fine craftsmanship. A Gabriel and Co. piece is an investment meant to mark a woman’s most celebrated moments- red carpets included.
On those nights when a statement needed to be made, my jewelry choice was a no-brainer: Walters Faith’s bold, geometric jewelry is the perfect way to amp up an evening look. The brand was founded in 2013 by Mollie Good and Stephanie Abramow; the designs calls on Good’s interest in architecture, modern art and New York City for inspiration. At once timeless and fresh, Walter’s Faith designs combine edgy and classic in such a unique way— perfect for the red carpets of Kuwait!
For the perfect party dress to dazzle the red carpet, I turned to local designer Lioness Couture. And wow: the master beadwork and tailoring that went into my dress is absolutely breathtaking. After putting it on, it felt more like wearing a piece of art than a dress. To learn more about this incredible brand, read our interview with the owner here.
I also brought one of her favorite Dany Tabet dresses for one of my trips down the red carpet. The Lebanese designer’s dresses travel so well; the exquisitely beaded gowns don’t wrinkle and take up almost zero space in the suitcase! I have a deep love for mixing emerging talent with established brands. To round out my evening look, I chose a clutch from one of my favorite New York-based independent labels, Magri. Designer Isabella Pia Ayoub is a trained architect and her eye for scale and proportion is evident in her leather good collections. Handcrafted from fine Italian leather, Magri bags are modern, luxe, and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
I kept my make-up to a sophisticated minimum (since everything else was so dramatic!) and brought along my beloved collection of Bare Essentials make-up. From the mineral loose powder that makes you look like you’re glowing from within to the beautifully matte lipsticks - it’s the perfect brand to use when you want to transition from day to night with a simple swipe of smokey liner.