‘Your clothes are your billboard and they give you the ability to tell people who you are and what you’re about without opening your mouth,’ Henry Holland has previously said in an interview with Nadia magazine. There’s a moment when you realise a city has gotten under your skin: when it influences your fashion style. When I was London-based, I coveted British designers, from the prints and kaleidoscope colours of Matthew Williamson and the glamour and whimsy of Charlotte Olympia to the classic luxury of Smythson and Mulberry (currently recovering from its period of chasing Middle Eastern and Asian customers with its soaring price strategy).

What’s more, there were the inspiring designers I met, from Clara Lago, the founder of Peruvian-inspired beachwear brand Pitusa and Hayley Menzies of her eponymous label based in Notting Hill to her neighbours, jewellers Philippa Holland and Zara Simon.

While living in Amsterdam, Dutch brand POM was my go-to for pretty yet practical scarves (perfect for gifts) and Shabbies (designed by Fred de la Bretonière) was my boot choice for the city’s cobbled streets. And I loved the moment I bumped into Bas Kosters at his pop-up in the Nine Streets, while my then boyfriend didn’t know where to look for all the penis prints.

And now I’m living in Dubai, a diverse city of 2.8 million people… The regional-based designers – who include Madiyah Al Sharqi, known for her ultra-feminine aesthetic; clutch designer Nathalie Trad, known for her sculptural, glossy collections; and couture designer Rami Al Ali – all exude a glamorous, elegant and polished style. It’s a style I’m aspiring to. Though, between paying my rent and socialising, it might be a while before I build my luxurious wardrobe. In fact, I still need to buy a wardrobe…

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