Burberry’s London show draws Arab stars

Karen Wazen arrived in a beige trench coat with a belted waist. (Instagram)
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Updated 24 September 2025
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Burberry’s London show draws Arab stars

DUBAI: From fashion influencers and entrepreneurs such as Karen Wazen of Lebanon to filmmakers including Saudi producer Mohammed Al-Turki and models like British Moroccan Nora Attal, the Burberry show in London proved a hotspot for Arab talent.

The label presented hippie-inspired crochet dresses, fringed jackets and tailored suits in acid green, yellow and pink, drawing on counterculture fashions from the British music scene for its Spring/Summer 2026 collection.

A Black Sabbath soundtrack lent a rock ’n’ roll edge to the catwalk in the huge tent at Kensington Palace Gardens. The models’ boots and sandals crunched on a brown sand floor, evoking the muddy conditions of music festivals — a theme Burberry has revisited throughout the summer.

Dubai-based Wazen, who is the founder of eyewear label By Karen Wazen, arrived in a beige trench coat with a belted waist and double-breasted detailing, styled with knee-high black boots. She completed the look with long black leather gloves, a sleek black shoulder bag and sunglasses from her own brand.

The coat’s interior lining revealed Burberry’s signature check pattern.

Wazen posed for pictures with Al-Turki, former CEO of the Red Sea Film Festival, and Lebanese model Louai Alama, son of Lebanese superstar Ragheb Alama.

Meanwhile, on the runway, Attal appeared in a sleeveless mini dress adorned with metallic gold discs, styled with black lace-up combat boots. She carried a white fringed shoulder bag and wore oversized dark sunglasses, while silver accessories included a chunky ring and an armband.

The Burberry show, which closed London Fashion Week, was the sixth collection by creative director Daniel Lee and took inspiration from the connection between fashion and music. It was his third since Joshua Schulman became CEO and overhauled the British brand’s sales strategy.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Burberry (@burberry)

Under Schulman, Burberry’s advertising has drawn on Britain’s outsized influence on music, featuring artists from Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher to producer and DJ Goldie and hip-hop musician Loyle Carner.

Burberry’s check pattern featured on chainmail mini dresses in black and silver, and pink and neon green, and on trench coats, which also came in snakeskin and a tarot card print.

“Burberry’s collection felt like a confident embrace of a younger client, rooted firmly in British culture and the energy of music festivals,” said Simon Longland, director of fashion buying at Harrods.


Jessica Alba hails AlUla during Saudi Arabia visit

Updated 19 December 2025
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Jessica Alba hails AlUla during Saudi Arabia visit

  • On her Instagram profile, Alba described AlUla as “pure magic, calm, protected, deeply serene”

LONDON: Hollywood star Jessica Alba shared her admiration for AlUla during a recent visit to Saudi Arabia, sharing a video of the ancient desert destination on her social media channels.

The short clip, posted Dec. 10, showed the “Fantastic Four” star spinning on the spot with the famous rock formations in the background.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba)

On her Instagram profile, she described AlUla as “pure magic, calm, protected, deeply serene,” adding: “Every direction carried the weight and beauty of ancient history - like wandering through a living museum.” 

The actress was in the Kingdom earlier this month to attend the Red Sea International Film Festival.

The actress was among a host of global stars who attended the the fifth edition of the RSlFF, which kicked off on Dec. 4 with a glittering red-carpet ceremony at Culture Square, the festival’s open-air hub.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba)

Alba joined an A-list lineup that included the likes of Adrien Brody, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kirsten Dunst, Vin Diesel, Queen Latifah, Dakota Johnson, Ana de Armas, Riz Ahmed, Naomie Harris and Uma Thurman, alongside Saudi, regional stars and international film legends.

The event ran until Dec. 13 and showcased more than 100 films from over 50 countries, with its mission to bridge East and West while spotlighting voices from the Middle East and Africa.

During her visit to the Kingdom, Alba also shared several “get ready with me” clips and behind-the-scenes shots from the red carpet ceremony.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba)

Alba’s visit comes as Saudi Arabia continues to attract global creatives and cultural figures, with AlUla increasingly positioned as a must-visit destination for international visitors as well as a shooting location for some of Hollywood’s biggest studios.