Crystal Clear
Awash with transparent feminine elegance, this sea green gown oscillates with lace, sequins and light embroideries.
www.jackguisso.com

Make waves with over 300 carats of faceted emerald beads.
www.rasko.com
416.226.5000

A magnetic meadow of gems and diamonds unite in this 18-karat white gold dazzler.
www.rasko.com
416.226.5000

Eavesdrop on a whisky coloured trifecta of 18-karat white gold, trillium-cut lemon stone and round brilliant-cut diamonds.
www.rasko.com
416.226.5000

CULTURED COUTURE
Art, fashion and novelty culminated in an exhibition of neo-couture at Rome’s Limited/Unlimited event. A collection of designers revealed its own interpretations of dressmaking, with limited-edition items ranging from clothes and accessories to shoes and jewelry at the Palace of Italian Civilization.

Running Wild
The raw talent of Jack Guisso receives howls of approval with a gown that prowls the runways of Rome with animal instinct.
www.jackguisso.com

Dipping seductively into womanly curves, this white gold necklace weds onyx with black and white diamonds (707 of them!) for a mysterious trail of luxury.
www.rasko.com
416.226.5000

Your finest crystal collection couldn’t put a finger on this. Gleaming with 16 princess-cut diamonds, why would it even try?
www.rasko.com
416.226.5000

Standing tall and dignified, these white gold earrings with four rose-cut black diamonds add ear-catching glamour for a night on the town.
www.rasko.com
416.226.5000

Rub shoulders with Jean Schlumberger’s stunning conique necklace, swathed in exquisite diamonds and red spinels set in 18-karat gold and platinum.
www.tiffany.com

The diamond drop earring steps outside the box with dazzling blue tourmaline and a platinum backdrop. www.tiffany.com

Plunge into the depths of untold beauty with renowned jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger. The Four Flowers ring blooms with marquise diamonds and a cushion-shaped tanzanite set in 18-karat gold and platinum.
www.tiffany.com

A passionate pursuit in persimmon orange radiates warmth and seduction for a modern woman inspired by history.
www.abedmahfouz.com

Brumani Earrings
Your life will be anything but simple with these white gold, white diamond Brumani earrings with smoky and pink quartz stones. www.brumani.com

Brumani Ring
An elegant cluster of glistening gems set in pristinely polished white gold, this marvellous Brumani ring will turn heads at those formal spring galas. www.brumani.com

Matthew Campbell Laurenza Earrings
With three tiers of dangling pink sapphires, these lovely pavé drop earrings from M.C.L. by Matthew Campbell Laurenza will have you sparkling under the soft lights of those sultry summer events. www.mcldesign.net

Semi-transparent Gown
Embroidered with royal blue floral arrangements, this flowing, semi-transparent gown is a graceful display of divine beauty that is sure to floor potential suitors. www.abedmahfouz.com

Sutra Earrings
These eye-catching Sutra earrings rest bold pink tourmaline gems on a fantastic field of petite diamonds. Become a Jewel of India with these fabulous accessories. www.sutrajewels.com

Cocktail Dress
As if from a chic contemporary ballet, Abed Mahfouz dazzles audiences with glittering gold on this frilly and unforgettable cocktail dress. www.abedmahfouz.com

Abed Mahfouz Soft-pink Gown
Designer Abed Mahfouz adds a refined touch of elegance to AltaRomAltaModa with this graceful, soft-pink gown. So stunning, even Cinderella would be jealous.

Le Vian Earrings
Sparkling with soft and sweet colour, a sizeable cotton candy amethyst is draped with pink topaz and chocolate diamonds on these dazzling earrings from Le Vian. www.levian.com

Summer Dress
Soft champagne-coloured fabric gracefully dances around the body, while feathery frills accent the single-shouldered strap of this darling summer dress. This light and breezy outfit showcases the splendid designs and beautiful mind of Tony Ward, and is certainly worth raising a glass to. www.tonyward.net

Amrapali Cuff
Sharp pink tourmaline triangles blend beautifully with the gold frame of this marvellous Amrapali cuff. This golden band will make you the centre of attention at any black-tie affair.
www.amrapalijewels.com

Tony Ward Cocktail Dress
A flock of wildly scattered and silky squares juxtapose sophisticated yet sexy embroidery on this unique cocktail dress from Tony Ward. www.tonyward.net

Tony Ward Gown
Tony Ward’s smart and sophisticated style radiates from this elegant piece of haute couture – an ideal piece for any formal affair. www.tonyward.net

Pavé Drop Earrings
An endless array of sapphires and diamonds rival the evening’s twinkling twilight on these gorgeous pavé drop earrings. www.vivre.com

Christian Louboutin Pumps
Electrify the night with Christian Louboutin’s sparkling Swarovski Crystal-encrusted peep-toe pumps. www.net-a-porter.com

From January 27 – 31, 2008, world-renowned designers showcased their most noteworthy designs to guests at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome. This year, the event boasted a third room and an additional 27-metre catwalk, marking this event an important one in Alta Roma fashion week history.

Some notable designers at this year’s event included Sarli, Curiel, Carlo Contrada, Abed Mahfouz, Tony Ward, Ella Zahlan, and for the first time in Rome, Edward Arsouni. The many participating fashion houses previewed their haute couture collections for Spring 2008. Floor-length gowns skimmed the catwalk, exhibiting seamless embroidery, elegant tassels and flirty ruffles.

Above image: One-shouldered black tulle dress with floral motif by Abed Mahfouz. www.abedmahfouz.com

This year’s showstopper, Lebanese designer Tony Ward, best known for his work with Lagerfield for Chloe and Claude Montana for Lanvin, debuted his signature spring 2008 haute couture line. His use of flirty neutrals, soft silks and racy metallics wowed the crowd.

With two shows annually, one in January and one in July, Alta Roma’s AltaRomAltaModa fashion week is slowly becoming the most anticipated haute couture fashion event of the year. Showcasing young artists and established designers from all over the globe, this fashion spectacle only makes sense to be held in the glamorous city of Rome. www.altaroma.it

Gallery 1: Romantic and feminine tri-level ruffled gown with bowtie accent by Tony Ward. www.tonyward.net

Gallery 2: Sheer lace overlay gown by Camillo Bona. www.camillobona.it

Gallery 3: Red and white silk tube gown by Abed Mahfouz. www.abedmahfouz.com

Gallery 4: Embroidered a-line tassel gown with cap sleeves by Ella Zahlan. www.ellazahlan.com

Gallery 5: Flirty, canary yellow gown with ruffled layers by Tony Ward. www.tonyward.net

Gallery 6: The finest talc is encased in this Acqua di Parma Colonia Talcum Powder Shaker. www.vivre.com

Gallery 7: Douse yourself in Guerlain’s prominent Shalimar Black Mystery eau de parfum. www.vivre.com

Gallery 8: Live like royalty with this 18-karat gold, ruby-banded jewelled crown ring, by Carlos de Souza for Most Wanted Design. www.vivre.com

Tony Ward
The sophisticated, ultra-feminine woman looking to make a timeless fashion statement will thoroughly enjoy the exquisite embroidery and seductive transparencies of the Tony Ward Fall Collection. The Lebanese designer has worked alongside fashion icons Gianfranco Ferré and Karl Lagerfeld, providing him with the indispensable quality of learning from the best.

Above Image: Designed by Tony Ward

Renato Balestra
The Fall Collection of established fashion designer Renato Balestra showcased models sayshaying across the runway in an explosion of light. Flowing and luminous, the floor-length gowns featured plunging necklines and ruching. Balestra is definately no amateur, with his creations debuting at The Rome Fashion Week many times over, as well as designing elaborate gowns for the Queen of Thailand, Saudi Arabian princesses and countless celebrities.

Abed Mahfouz
It’s not hard to imagine an audacious woman wearing one of these dresses at a regal cocktail party, softly tapping her hand to the soothing melody of a Scott Joplin number.  Lebanese fashion designer Abed Mahfouz left guests in awe with the debut of his stunning New Jazz Age Collection. Mahfouz’s seductive models dominated the catwalk in vivid, floor-length gowns made of delicious textiles like silk mouselline and taffeta. Especially made for the modern, classy woman, Mahfouz’s collection would have made F. Scott Fitzgerald proud.

Fausto Sarli
Infused with geometric patterns and firm aesthetic principles, the Sarli Fall Collection is as timeless as its designer. Sarli has been immersed in the trade of high-fashion for 50 years and to this day, his pieces are still desired by every woman.

Gallery 1: Designed by Tony Ward
Gallery 2: Designed by Tony Ward
Gallery 3: Designed by Tony Ward
Gallery 4: Designed by Renato Balestra
Gallery 5: Designed by Renato Balestra
Gallery 6: Dior watch / www.dior.com
Gallery 7: Chanel shoes / www.chanel.com
Gallery 8: Chanel ring / www.chanel.com
Gallery 9: Chanel shoes / www.chanel.com
Gallery 10: Romika Jewels / www.romikajewels.com
Gallery 11: Designed by Abed Mahfouz
Gallery 12: Designed by Abed Mahfouz
Gallery 13: Designed by Abed Mahfouz
Gallery 14: Designed by Fausto Sarli

If you are as crazy about dresses as I am, you would have loved this year’s Alta Roma runway fashion shows. The eternal city abounded with superb up-and-coming talent alongside some of the big names in Italian fashion, such as Fausto Sarli and Raffaella Curiel. Bright reds, yellows and mauves, with details embellishing every piece of clothing, from tiny bustiers atop fitted skirts to flowing, floor-length gowns, kept fashion fanatics delighted throughout their trip to Rome.

Gianni Galliano’s festive mood was a pleasant surprise from the usual black. Indeed, the show was all about joie de vivre! What could be wrong with that? And what more could a girl ask from a city filled with spiritual and architectural significance, Spanish steps and romance and romanticism that oozes from all the local lips. I can’t help but smile at the memory of “Ciao bella!” and other gallant compliments offered by strangers as I innocently walked through the countless shops and exquisite boutiques.

Above image: Gown designed by Gianni Galliano.

Gallery  1, 2 & 3: Gowns designed by Gianni Galliano.
Gallery 4: Gown designed by Abed Mahfouz.
Gallery 5: Bracelet designed by Romika Jahar of Romika Jewels. www.romikajewels.com
Gallery 6: Ring designed by Laura Munder. www.lauramunder.com

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ALTA ROMA II
In a shower of brilliantly coloured paints, Lebanese fashion designer Abed Mahfouz’s models strode down the runway, shaking their magical hues like fairy dust over the front row guests. Mahfouz is tired but relieved. Finally, on Tuesday, January 30, his dream of displaying his latest collection of eveningwear at Rome’s High Fashion week was realized, even though he was not sure whether he would be able to pull it off until the last minute. Mahfouz said the last six to seven months were like a nightmare, with the political instability in Lebanon growing almost daily. However, judging by the collection he displayed in Rome, his country’s political tension did not stifle his creative flair. This season’s creations were inspired by ceramic and porcelain, both of which look strong but are, in fact, delicate. Mahfouz says that this reflects the situation in his homeland.

Gallery 1: Gown designed by Camillo Bona.
Gallery 2, 5 & 6: Gowns designed by Fausto Sarli.
Gallery 3 & 4: Gowns designed by Abed Mahfouz.
Gallery 7: Shoes by Renee Caovilla. www.vivre.com
Gallery 8: Ring designed by David Webb. www.vivre.com

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ALTA ROMA III

Black and white – the wonderful, understated colour combination for spring 2007!

Whether you are stepping out for dinner or just for a dip in the pool, choosing these colours will ensure that you make the best dressed list.

Gallery 1, 5, & 6: Designed by Raffaella Curiel.
Gallery 2: Designed by Gianni Galliano.
Gallery 3 & 4: Designed by Bluemarine.
Gallery 7: Shoes by Bruno Frisoni. www.saks.com