Paris is the city of love. The birthplace of couture and world-class fashion capital. Paris is famous for great food and for the guilty pleasure of watching the world go by.
As often as we can, we visit this wonderful city and here is what we love to do and how and where we find inspiration.
1. Louvre forever…
Almost as soon as we arrive we always rush to the most wonderful museum in the whole wide world. Le Louvre Museum is so vast, you can never see all of it and you can easily get lost in it.
One of the things we enjoy seeing the most of is the wonderful ceilings so many of the halls and salons display. More than anything they inspire us with their colours and opulent decorations.
One of the many opulent ceilings we can’t take our eyes away from.
Our tip – start anywhere and get lost. While trying to find your way out, you’ll also discover so much unexpected beauty, artefacts and unexpected small details sprinkled everywhere.
2. Indulge at Le Meurice hotel
If you want to indulge in luxe style, enjoy great interiors, feast on delicious food and have it all imbibed with a dose of French history – Le Meurice hotel is the place to be.
Hotel Le Meurice, Paris
This hotel epitomises French hospitality. Their breakfast is a must-have not only because the food is great, but for the joy one experiences by the service alone.
Last but not least the interiors are as always for us a big inspiration and deciding factor in our choice of places to stay.
3. The one and only Rue St Honoré
A brief walk from the Musee du Louvre is the famous shopping Rue St Honoré.
Here you can find all the luxury brands, as well as concept boutiques and small independent shops.
This street symbolises the creative frenzy that is the soul of the French capital.
Acclaimed by fashion professionals worldwide, visited by tourists and locals alike, this street is at the vibrating heart of Paris, where many fashionistas go to find inspiration.
4. Watch the world go by at George V
The historic hotel is situated by the Champs-Elysées and is surrounded by both mainstream megastores and haute-couture fashion boutiques.
We love visiting the hotel and its famous chocolate and pastry shop.
Our tip: Take your time and watch the world go by here. Let life stop and indulge in the pleasures Paris provides.
The Loodyana new collection 2020 was previewed in London early in the season.
Loyal long time international customers were invited and allowed to catch a glimpse of the new designs.
The signature shapes and opulent hand embroidery, now expected by our clients, were in full regal display.
Warm tones of ochre and silver-grey pastel greens and blues are the seasonal colourways of choice.
Unusual asymmetrical detailing is featured on every dress, ensuring that our clients will always stand out and glow in any room.
The versatility of our dresses makes them the perfect choice for any special occasion. Wear them to a wedding or black-tie event, family or Ramadan celebrations.
Whatever the occasion, the Loodyana new collection 2020 elegant and feminine style is unique, timeless and yours to enjoy.
One of the fashion capitals we most like to visit, as often as possible is London.
You can be anyone and do anything in this vibrant city. From shops to parks – there is nothing missing.
And despite loving to explore new places, every time we go we also have our favourite spots that we look forward to re-visiting.
Here they are…
1. Relax at the Athenaeum Hotel, Piccadilly
The Athenaeum is the best hotel for the location. Situated on the main Picadilly street, it is central without the hustle and bustle of central London. Convenient to get to anywhere by foot or transport, opposite Green Park and a short walk away from the best shops and museums and numerous other tourist attractions.
The stylish interiors of the one and only Athenaeum Hotel
If this wasn’t enough of a reason to stay there, it is a great reason to pop in and relax, catch your breath, take a break. Because the hotel itself is wonderful.
The interior is spectacular and truly inspirational for creatives like us. The colours, the artefacts and wall art is often a source of ideas and colour combinations for us.
2. Breakfast at Hide
Unforgettable stairs that dreams are made of
There are many great places one can have breakfast in, but we love starting the day at the Hide restaurant.
Aside from the delicious food, the interior is spectacular. The central staircase has to be seen to be believed. The asymmetrical twisty structure is fluid, yet edgy and strong. We draw a lot of inspiration for our collections from just sitting and admiring it.
Just like the stairs, our dresses are often asymmetrical and while they are impossibly feminine, there is an undeniable strength to the silhouettes we create.
3. Lunch at the Aubaine, Selfridges
Selfridges has always been a favourite shopping destination. It is the best place to discover new designers and check the fashion pulse.
But there is also another reason for going to this wonderful place. It is the Aubaine restaurant and its flower interior.
Regardless of the season, this restaurant transports you to the most wonderful summer setting. It is so dreamy that no one wants to leave. Getting a table is sometimes a mission but well worth the wait.
Aubaine restaurant interior
4. Coffee at Harrods
From one shopping mecca to another. Harrods is a must-see destination to those new to the city.
For us, it is a favourite place for coffee. After all, not many cafés make the effort to surprise you with a simple coffee.
Our branded coffee
5. Brown’s Hotel – stay in the heart of London
If you are in London for a short time, there is nothing better than staying at the heart of it and being a walking distance to shopping, galleries and great restaurants.
Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair. A favourite place to stay.
One of our favourite places to stay in is the Browns Hotel in Mayfair. This is not just any hotel – it is, in fact, an institution. So much so that the hotel has its own historian. It is here that Rudyard Kipling finished The Jungle Book and where the first-ever telephone call in London was made from. Also, Agatha Christie loved staying here so much that one of her books is allegedly based on it.
They say every person must have some character from the meaning of their name.
Our younger sister’s name is Shatha and it means “Beautiful strong fragrant”.
Ever since she was a child, she loved collecting kid’s perfumes. She grew up mixing and matching different scents to get a unique scent.
Friends and family always asked, “You smell so good. What are you wearing?”
She couldn’t give them an answer, other than that she just mixed different perfumes together.
Later on, she discovered the world of perfumery around 2010. With the help of her bachelor degree in biochemistry, it was easy for her to dig deeper into the beautiful world of aroma.
Sash “Beautiful strong fragrant”.
Shatha became passionate about creating a long-lasting perfume with high-quality ingredients.
Travelling around the world, she visited perfume manufacturers and sourced the finest oils so she can create the most beautiful scent. there were many trials and tribulations before she was ready to reveal to the world what her passion her led her to.
Finally, in 2011, she proudly announced the launch of her perfume brand -SASH.
She was confident that her perfumes will be loved by anyone that smells them. She wanted her customers to receive compliments just like she did as a child – “You smell good! What are you wearing?”
With the support of our family, friends and amazing customers she is still passionate about creating new blends and unforgettable scents. 2020 began with her launch of the new perfume scent “Rain”.
On her website or at her boutique, you’ll find a range of scents from Musky to Oud – Flowery to Leather, all with unexpected twists.
Christian Dior once said, “Make me a fragrance that smells like love”. This is what inspires our talented sister, just as much as it inspires us, to continue designing beautiful dresses that bring and bestow love.
The short Arabic phrase ‘Jeddah ghair‘, often used by locals simply translated means ‘Jeddah is different’. It really is, but you have to see it to understand it. Saudi Arabia’s oldest, biggest and busiest city has everything one needs – beaches, art galleries, restaurants, cafes and it is great for fashion and shopping. Here are our top three recommendations for visitors old and new alike that will show you why Jeddah is different.
1. World’s tallest fountain
Located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah boasts the world’s tallest fountain. Constructed between 1980 and 1983 and was launched in 1985 and is said to jet water to a maximum height of 260 metres to 312 m above the Red Sea. The fountain was donated to the city of Jeddah by King Fahd, hence its name. The fountain is visible throughout the vicinity of Jeddah. The fountain uses saltwater taken from the Red Sea instead of freshwater. Over 500 spotlights illuminate the fountain at night. If you visit Jeddah, you cannot miss the sight and nor should you wish to.
World’s tallest fountain in Jeddah.
2. Red Sea Mall Shopping
The Red Sea shopping mall is one of the best places to hide from the heavy heat. It is famous for its traditional decorations and paintings of historical Saudi figures as well as boutiques that sell local items and designer dresses.
Spectacular shopping in Jeddah
3. Visit Athr Gallery
You’d be forgiven if you didn’t know that there is a thriving art scene in Jeddah. The Athr Gallery is perhaps the perfect place to visit if you must pick only one. It is one of Jeddah’s leading contemporary art spaces. It regularly hosts diverse exhibitions and is recognised as a great platform to Saudi and Arab artists.
Athr Gallery, Jeddah
4. Largest flag in the world
The Jeddah Flagpole was erected in 2014. It is located in King Abdullah Square in Jeddah. Standing 171 metres (561 ft) high, it is been the tallest flagpole in the world and can be seen from most corners of the city.
The flag is in the world book of Guinness.
A spectacular sight for kids and adults alike, it is a little different from what one can see anywhere in the world.
5. Open art museum
One of the most special aspects of living in Jeddah is the little known fact that the city is what’s often referred to as “open museum”. Everywhere you go and look, there is a statue in the streets and by the sea.
The Jeddah Sculpture Museum has an initiative that is an ongoing project involving the restoration of a number of sculptures along Jeddah’s Central Corniche. The initiative also often showcases the work of up and coming artists.
Sculptures by the new waterfront.
The development of Jeddah’s waterfront has offered new opportunities for artists to display their work, such as the above horses created by the world-renowned Syrian sculptor Rabia Al-Akhras.
Jeddah is different. That is why despite our travels around the world, we are always happy to be back. To be surrounded by the beauty of our home city, that is an integral part of our work and the Loodyana brand.
6. Don’t miss out on Nozomi
Jeddah is lucky to have many wonderful restaurants to dine in, but our favourite is Nozomi – an Award Winning Contemporary Japanese restaurant.
Nozomi Restaurant, Jeddah
7. Don’t leave without stopping by Toqa
Toqa is a traditional cafe that is a favourite of ours. The simple interior hides the great atmosphere of the place and the delicious traditional drinks and sweets customers come for.
She was confident that her perfumes will be loved by anyone that smells them. She wanted her customers to receive compliments just like she did as a child – “You smell good! What are you wearing?”
