Lamya Abedin’s latest collection takes you on a fairytale ride through the Enchanted Forest
Creations portray a feminine but edgy fashion fairytale reminiscent of the Middle Ages, with hoods, tunics, surcoats and capes
Hollywood celebrity, Fashion Police and E! News host Giuliana Rancic is the first owner of two exclusive pieces from this feminine yet edgy assortment
Dubai, UAE: Bedtime stories for her little ones have never failed to intrigue Lamya Abedin, founder and creative director of Queen of Spades. Her love for all things fantastic has now become a full-blown inspiration for her latest seasonal collection – The Enchanted Forest. Knights and kingdoms, love and nostalgia has weaved creativity into Lamya’s design imagination as she unveiled yet another array of 75 unique pieces for her signature brand.
On a recent visit to Dubai during the ever popular Dubai Shopping Festival, Fashion Police and E! News host, Giuliana Rancic, became the first to get her hands on the Enchanted Forest Collection by Queen of Spades. Along with a specially monogrammed grey outfit customised for Rancic, Lamya created another sheer shawl hooded abaya with lace and sequin trims to suit the star’s gorgeous personality.
The two exclusive pieces Rancic now owns are quintessential picks from Lamya’s new Queen of Spades creations, inspired by medieval century fashion of folklores and fairytales. Lamya has envisioned knights in shining armour and brave heart princesses who ride through the deep forests to find love, peace and glory, thereby creating her own moody fairytale for our everyday heroes.
Tunics and chemises, gowns and headgears of yesteryears have been redefined for today’s feminine fashionistas. Favourites of the bygone era – hoods, coats, capes, cloaks, surcoats, and kirtles have become the mainstay of the Enchanted Forest Collection. This is in fact the first time you will see Queen of Spades abayas in these fashion avatars. Perfect for the brave hearted, the new collection is dedicated to the women who were born to rule. “Today’s woman to me is a visionary and a seeker, who cherishes her past as she rides into the future,” visualizes Lamya. “This collection is dedicated to these women – the powerful leader, the confident feminist, and the charming princess who spreads her magic where ever she goes,” says Lamya.
Lavish winter textures take centre stage as tweeds and suedes, fur and wool juxtapose with velvets, linen, organza, leather and cotton. Mesh works, embossed jacquards, tassles and lots of layering blow magic into her creations. “I’m always experimenting with fabrics and their consistency. Mixing and matching to surprise is my favourite creative pastime” says Lamya, busy in her atelier. As you feel the touch of rigid leather in combination with softer, fluffier materials like velvets and organzas, you will know exactly what Lamya means.
Deep plums, plush crimsons, emeralds, mint and forest greens, ochres and sunset oranges are smeared over the new collection of abayas, displaying a winter palette that is cool, bold, vibrant and intense.
Patterns and shimmer, two Queen of Spades favourites, reappear in the latest collection in various forms. The sizzling winter abayas show off geometric shapes, stripes and florals in abundance. Jacquards, sequins, beads and brocade raise a toast to the glamourous diva. Lamya’s personal favourite is a layered ensemble with a shimmering, hooded mini cape, which she envisions as a beautiful evening-wear piece. “The cape covers the upper body revealing a gown underneath, perfect for the wedding season. Something Cinderella would wear,” she imagines.
Lamya attempts another showstopper of its kind with a solid coloured, all-red, cape abaya in velvet and fur for this collection. And all at once you will envisage Red Riding Hood, who has grown into a beautiful, fearless woman. Feminine yet edgy; the fantastic collection by Queen of Spades is dedicated to all such women. Collection now in stores at Galeries Lafayette and Valleydez Boutiques, ready to surprise and enthrall the fashion forward.
******
BEHIND THE SCENES:
Lamya partnered with the best in their class to bring alive her Enchanted Forest Collection in a self-styled photo shoot.
Luxury furniture boutique Envogue on Jumeirah Beach Road turned into the sets for Lamya. Choicest designer pieces became props to heighten the look. Leather horse by ever-popular Andrew Martin, the Bacall Chair and stunning wallpapers from Kelly Wearstler cannot be missed.
GET THE LOOK:
Contemporary jewellery brand, Adelya was chosen as the to style her latest collection. Adelya’s Keyz Collection with handcrafted pendants inspired by Zodiac signs was a great fit for Lamya. “It felt as though the key connotes the realisation of dreams to enter a world of happiness ever after,” the designer muses on the sets of her collection photo shoot.
Lamya has opted for the big and messy hairdo with twigs, leaves and dried flowers for her models. “Thematic and dramatic” is how she wanted the hair to stand out for her collection.
For makeup Lamya ensures a pretty and feminine look, with pastel hues and nude lips reminiscent of the Middle Ages. Long dreamy lashes glamourised the look with a bit of shimmer to make the look stand out for the models strutting the Enchanted Forest Collection.
LAMYA’S SHOWSTOPPERS
QoS Favourite 1: Pale ash overall abaya in linen and wool. Appliqué- style embroidery in a wrought iron pattern with hand-knitted crochet work on blanket-stitch borders.
QoS Favourite 2: Full leather abaya with a variety of patched vintage skins on the entire front and back, sure to keep you chic and warm
QoS Favourite 3: Inspired by the armours of the knights Lamya created an abaya out of a clever mix of suede, leather and wool giving a rustic look with a chic asymmetrical, layered design on the front.
QoS Favourite 4: A real standout is this forest green abaya with embossed patterns in a sleek pencil cut. Vintage velvet borders in feminine filigree combined with autumn ochres and oranges makes this an on-trend choice for Fall-Winter. Don’t miss the shimmering bottom panel!
QoS Favourite 5: Lamya has a line of monogrammed abayas in this collection with words from the lands far, far away. Available in navy, grey, olive, brown and black. Pictured here is a navy blue piece with pearl white embroidery reading Alice in Wonderland. These can be customized to preference of embroidery style and colour on the abaya one chooses.