Fringe benefits
For special standout accessories that don't follow trends and will last you several years as opposed to one season, Akong London is the go-to label. Based in the experimental fashion capital of the world, the brand lives up to the standard with its brightly coloured and heavily embellished pieces. Try your hand at the always cool fringe trend with this necklace, which will give a hippy edge to any outfit.
Dh2,775, Boom & Mellow, Mall of the Emirates, 04 341 3993; Mirdif City Centre, 04 284 0609
The need for speed
Abu Dhabi's first "hip" art gallery, Ghaf, is celebrating this year's F1 race with a fresh stream of local talent. The space is exhibiting pieces from UAE-based artists with the theme of grand prix races in the Middle East. Whether you're a fan of the 1920s races in Tripoli, 1981 in Dubai or modern-day competitions in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, you'll find a piece for your living room at Ghaf.
Vision of Speed exhibition, through November at Ghaf Art Gallery, Khaleej Al Arabi Street between 7th and 9th streets, 02 665 5332
Alphabet accessories
No holiday or weekend away is complete without a decent sponge bag. After a marathon month of Eid breaks and Formula One parties, ours has been looking slightly tired and battered. We have, therefore, fallen in love with these initialised, handy-sized ones from Alphabet Bags. Screen printed in black onto natural cotton - which has been laminated to protect against scuffs and stains - they are ideal to pop into your overnight case or even make great personalised gifts.
Dh93, available from www.alphabetbags.com
It's a wrap
Ditch the jacket this month and opt for this super-fine cashmere leopard print scarf. Buttery soft plus a generous size (78x200cm), it wraps deliciously round your shoulders or neck in several ways. A luxurious look for breezy nights.
Dh695, available at www.lotuslondon.com
Wear them high
Every few seasons a new shoe hits the market and becomes a hit with pretty much every crowd. The Lady Daf by Christian Louboutin undoubtedly fits into that category and has been seen on the likes of Victoria Beckham (while she was pregnant, mind you), the pint-size Kim Kardashian and the more demure Jennifer Hudson. The six-inch heel may look impossible but the two-and-a-half-inch platform at the front does wonders to help with pain. The shoes, which combine the chunky heel trend with a classic stiletto, are perfect for giving yourself a lot of height and fashion kudos.
Dh6,230, Christian Louboutin, Mall of the Emirates, 04 399 0998; Dubai Mall, 04 325 3935
Performance driven
Porsche, the name synonymous with car-as-a-status-symbol, has teamed up with Research in Motion, makers of the ubiquitous BlackBerry line of mobile phones, to deliver the Porsche Design P'9881, an exclusive, luxury smartphone with the timeless style and high performance you'd expect from a Porsche. The P'9881 features a next-generation BlackBerry browser, HD video recording, a fast and smooth touchscreen experience and 8GB of onboard memory, so you have top digital media performance at your fingertips. Plus you'll look great holding it.
Porsche Design P'9881, Dh7,000, coming soon to Porsche Design stores in the UAE
Jewellery two-in-one
You know the story, you're racing to leave the house, blow-drying your hair while trying to find the right shoes and stuffing your bag with your "essential items" that leave your tiny clutch bursting at the seams. So you can imagine our excitement when we found these adorable lip-balms-cum-accessories from the natural beauty connoisseur Andrea Garland. Each pretty piece appears to be a vintage style jewellery item - but pop open the secret compartment, and inside you'll find a small pot of 100 per cent natural and handmade lip balm. Made from organic beeswax and softening shea butter, the lip balm also tastes as good as it looks. Indispensable.
Archimedes Brooch, Dh172, www.andreagarland.co.uk
