Qatari emerging designer Abdulla Al-Abdulla returns to fashion design for a second season, having taken a short hiatus to focus on his study of law in London. When Savoir Flair met with the young designer last week, he explained the origin of his brand’s name, stating, “The name The Gild comes from my favorite quote from Shakespeare‘s King Lear: “We all laugh at gilded butterflies”. By this, Shakespeare meant that we laugh at people who place luxurious items or gold on themselves to pretend to be something they are not. I took that and put a little twist on it, because when you wear The Gild you can be whoever you want to be.”
This season, he is back with a fresh outlook on winter fashion that riffs on the subject of the Arabian winter, from the Qatari Sidra flower woven into garments to the short hems and sheer paneling that make this collection appropriate for our warmer end of year. This fourteen-piece collection alternates between flirty, body-conscious separates, and elegant, romantic silk looks. Occasionally, Al-Abdulla errs on the side of the masculine with reinterpreted tuxedo jackets and slim pants, but the hint of décolletage that comes with these is astutely feminine.
Click through our gallery above to discover The Gild’s Fall/Winter 2014 collection.
Photos: Courtesy of The Gild