Latifa Al Shamsi is a tastemaker, entrepreneur, and mother with a long list of professional and academic accomplishments. Her timeless, classic, with a twist style, which never hesitates to make a statement, reflects her values.
Latifa Al Shamsi has always liked bold prints and color. In 2010, the influencer from Dubai started her fashion and lifestyle blog. She gave her 340 000 followers inspiration for food, fashion, and traveling. Additionally, she and her sister Fatima established The Lounge, a company that organizes events.It gives regional and local fashion designers a place to show off their collections.
Abayas take up a portion of Al Shamsi’s closet. She began wearing styles that not many people would wear. When she first started blogging, she wore colored abayas before they became popular. Her first colored abayas were a pistachio green Mauzan one with a lavender overlay and orange details on the sleeves. Al Shamsi stocked her closet with Nafs Designs. They are straightforward, but their cuts are novel. She exclaims, “I have one in beige that is a skirt with an abaya on top and a deep chocolate brown silk design with pleating details.” Her summertime go-tos are Line and Mariam Al Mulla linen designs from 1988.
Her fashion sense is stronger than ever, She enjoys creating that ideal contrast. “If I’m wearing a colored abaya or if it has some embroidery work on it, I will wear a dress in a neutral color like white, beige, or black. If the abaya is black, I will wear something printed and colorful underneath.” she says.
Al Shamsi’s jewelry, particularly her Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra collection, speaks volumes in addition to her carefully selected wardrobe. “The brand is close to my heart,” she shares. “I’ve been collecting the five motifs bracelets for years and I have all the colors.” Since she wears the hijab, she likes bracelets more than any other jewelry piece. She can go for necklaces if they are really long.
She is on a tight schedule at the Lounge, but her heels do not slow her down. In one of her interviews, she mentioned that she likes Manolo Blahnik and Sergio Rossi’s heels.She describes them as chic and simple to wear as a result of her fashion sense. Al Shamsi can be seen wearing one of her many satin Manolo Blahnik Hangisi heels to an event or dressing up for a family gathering in black or blush pink pointed-toe, embellished Sergio Rossi pumps.
As for her style for ramadan (Muslim’s Holy month), Silk kaftans from Voguish Boutique and Dar Kaaf with gold and silver embroidery complete her new look. A favorite is an AK Concepts silhouette that is asymmetrical and only has one sleeve. Her outfits are completed by Oscar de la Renta flats, Chanel mules, Hermès clutches, and ornate traditional jewelry that she only wears during Holy Month.
In recognition of Latifa’s distinctive sense, she collaborated with the luxury jewelry brand Samra to launch a stunning and sophisticated jewelry collection (Bint Al Matar). A natural wonder from the Arabian Desert is depicted in Bint Al Matar. The collection that is translated into “Daughter of the Rain” sparkles with infinite movements and has a fascinating design and story. Bint Al Matar is an insect with a velvety texture and a vivid orange coloration that emerges after heavy rain. Latifa Al Shamsi wanted to incorporate a piece of Emirati folklore into a modern interpretation.
