Fashion and Style
Women Who Launch: Serra Türker Bayır, Founder of Misela
Meet Serra Türker Bayır, the founder of Misela. The Istanbul-founded luxury brand which has built a reputation for its exquisite, handcrafted bags and travel accessories
From evening clutches infused with understated glamour to capacious totes that make the ideal travel companion, there is a Misela bag for every occasion. Below Misela's founder, Serra Türker Bayır, tells The Sybarite how she honours her Turkish heritage in her every-expanding accessories brand and what it takes to be a female entrepreneur.
Read the full story
Exclusive Event Access
Insider access to the world’s most iconic events, from the Cannes Film Festival to the Grammys and beyond. Experience unparalleled VIP treatment, priority entry, and unforgettable moments at prestigious occasions, curated exclusively for our clients.
RED CARPET ACCESS
AFTER-PARTY INVITES
VIP ENTRANCE & SEATING
BACKSTAGE PASSES
Women Who Launch: Pepa Gonzàlez, Founder and Creative...
11th November 2024
London-based luxury childrenswear company Pepa London has been a big part of that. Hailing from the south of Spain, Pepa Gonzàlez came to London with a job working for the Andalusian tourist board and had no way of knowing that she’d soon find herself as a fashion entrepreneur. Her brand, Pepa London, features timeless collections of exquisite children’s clothing and accessories crafted in small factories in Spain. “Spanish children's fashion has long drawn its greatest inspiration from Britain—tartan patterns, Liberty prints, Peter Pan collars, hand-smocked dresses, and traditional mariner outfits—unfortunately, much of this has been lost over the years as fast fashion replaced these handcrafted pieces,” explains Pepa. She tells me that her passion for slow fashion is rooted in its thoughtful designs and craftsmanship that ensure the garments are made to last, whilst also reducing waste.
The Best Gifts For Frequent Travellers
29th November 2023
Whether travelling for work or pleasure this selection of thoughtful gifts will put a smile on their face on Christmas morning, and will make every future journey that little more luxurious. From smart luggage, to elegant accessories, and skin-plumping products, these gifts make the ultimate travel companions.
Navigating the Future of Fashion: The Implications of COP27
30th November 2022
In Egypt, a few weeks ago, the annual Cop27 summit (United Nations Climate Change Conference) brought together stakeholders from around the world. The spotlight soon shifted to the fashion industry, which is often ranked as the second-most polluting sector after oil and gas. Responsible for as much as 10% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions—surpassing even the combined emissions from international flights and shipping—it's no wonder that conversations at the summit revolved around the environmental consequences of the fashion industry. Source: Bloomberg
Santa Brands’ Yana Stanislavska on Creativity and Resilience
17th November 2022
Its founder, Yana Stanislavska, is more determined than ever to see its continued success through challenging times. “It’s hard to cope with something as gruesome as a ballistic missile landing 300 metres from your bedroom but somehow we all manage to carry on,” she says, of how the Russian invasion of Ukraine has impacted herself and her team. “Staying creative and always being on the run is a good way to stay sane in any circumstances.” The label’s partywear packs plenty of versatility and has been a hit with influencers - think Leonie Hanne and Chiara Ferragni - and members of the global style set. Shimmering sparkles, ultra-light feather cuffs, and sheer fabrics with rhinestone embellishments are but a few things that make Santa Brands garments so alluring. While it's these bold details that first capture your attention, what makes the label so successful is having perfected these best-selling designs - the sparkly dresses, skirt and trouser co-ord sets, etc. - and creating equally wearable garments and accessories to complement them, such as its “Crystal Basque”, “Moonlight Panama” hat, and single-breasted fitted “Lemon Jacket.”
Women Who Launch: Meet Authentic_UA founders Yulia...
15th November 2022
Authentic_UA came to life through the visionary efforts of Yulia Rorstrom and Eka Kapanadze, both born in Ukraine. Their aim was to establish a significant platform in London that celebrates and showcases Ukrainian fashion while also raising much-needed funds for their homeland, which is currently facing conflict with Russia. Yulia, the founder of Duck & Dry, joined forces with fashion stylist Eka to organise and curate an event that highlights over 20 Ukrainian brands. This event spanned a four-week period from November 7th to December 4th, hosted in Yulia's London salons: the Mayfair Duck & Dry location until November 20th, and the Chelsea Duck & Dry location until December 4th. This initiative not only encourages London residents to offer direct financial support to these Ukrainian fashion brands and designers, thereby assisting an industry navigating an uncertain future, but Authentic_UA has also committed to donating a substantial portion —ranging from 30% to 50% — of each sale to 'Rebuild Ukraine Together'. This charitable organisation, founded by Yulia, focuses on aiding Ukrainians during the conflict and collaborates with on-ground volunteers to source and distribute essential supplies. The Sybarite was fortunate to engage in a conversation with Yulia and Eka, delving into topics such as Authentic_UA, the state of fashion in Ukraine, and the personal motivations that propelled them to create this remarkable endeavor.
Women Who Launch: Meet KAAI Co-founders Ine and Helga
7th November 2022
We discuss KAAI’s scale-up journey, celebrating the brand’s 4th anniversary, its recent Paris pop-up store, and what’s next for the Antwerp-based handbag label. Since its 2017 launch, the business has charmed a growing fan-base of women with its ever-evolving range of high quality work-life bags. A KAAI bag will never compromise on style or substance and its “Carry your life” ethos holds true thanks to its “By women, for women” design strategy. Interviews with successful modern women have helped the team identify exactly what their needs are when it comes to bags and the gripes are universal; dependable work bags pack too masculine a punch and the more stylish models are impractical and amplify chaos. As for the name KAAI, meaning “The Quay” in Dutch, which was chosen to reflect Antwerp’s vibrant energy and the ever-moving waters of the River Scheldt, it also captures the fluidity of the modern woman’s day-to-day life.
Featuring Elevate Your Winter Wardrobe: The Ultimate Guide to Luxe...
4th November 2022
Winter stands as the quintessential style season. The art of layering, the allure of exquisite outerwear, and the subtle charm of accessories all converge seamlessly. From gloves to beanies, these functional add-ons transition from necessity to flair, effortlessly elevating your look. Let's delve into the winter trends of the 22/23 season, offering insights on their recreation.
Christmas gift guide for her
11th November 2019
Finding Christmas gift ideas for the woman in your life can be a difficult task whether it's your sister, mother, wife or best friend. If you fancy treating her to something extra special this year, then take a look at some of the fabulous ideas below that are sure to put a smile on her face this festive season.
Discover Karine Jackson: London’s most luxurious organic...
29th November 2017
Spanning two floors of a large Victorian building, it has been decorated with an exquisite modern feel. Having held so I was ready for my holiday, my hair colour was well overdue and my fringe had totally grown out. I was really looking forward to what the stylist had in mind for my lifeless locks. I arrived on a wet, blustery, dark winter's evening - still feeling slightly manic from my day in the office, however within minutes the calming atmosphere of the salon had rubbed off and I started to relax. The salon’s owner Karine is originally from Australia but came to London to train with Charles Worthington before setting up on her own in 2003. She is famous for only using Organic Colour Systems hair colouring that is ammonia free with fewer chemicals. I was interested to see if it covered my greys as well as normal.
Gucci teams up with Bocconi to launch a fashion research lab
29th November 2017
The research lab, which will be based in Italy's business capital Milan, is a three-year project that will focus on how luxury organisations can most effectively evolve in the 21st century. The project will look at how factors such as a start-up mentality, employee empowerment and risk-taking can lead growth and performance for luxury companies. A team of four professors will do dedicated research by analysing the core trends in organisational design and digital transformation, and their findings will be published in a publicly-available paper. “I’m delighted that Gucci and Bocconi University are collaborating on this important initiative, which is designed to reveal important insights that large and small companies can learn from, said Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci. "More than ever before, a company’s culture can be the differentiating factor in terms of competitive advantage,” he added.
Line the label and the 'Kate effect'
28th November 2017
At the official announcement of her engagement to Prince Harry outside the Kensington Palace yesterday, American actress Meghan Markle wore a white belted coat from Line the Label. It's a Canadian brand and a nod to her previous hometown Toronto. Shortly after, the clothing brand’s website crashed from all the fashionistas trying to get their hands on the sought-after item. But that particular coat isn't sold online, however, and the price isn’t known although a similar one is on the market for £450. This is just the start of the 'Kate effect.' Counting fellow American actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Bosworth within its client base, the Canadian clothing line was founded in 2000 by designers and best friends John Muscat and Jennifer Wells. The brand is most known for its luxury knitwear and lavish textiles. Markle wore the same brand at the Invictus Games earlier this year, the first time she made a public appearance together with Harry.
Behind the Quintessential Dior fragrance: J adore Jasmine...
21st November 2017
Vogue Fragrance recently covered the jasmine harvesting process in a video featuring Dior's perfume creator, François Demachy. In the film, Demachy describes how Dior's iconic 'J'adore L'Or' is created using the finest flowers from Domaine de Manon. Carole Biancalana's family estate Domaine de Manon, in the Grasse area, has reserved its jasmine harvest exclusively for Christian Dior since 2006. Grasse, which is considered the world's capital of perfume, is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera in the hills north of Cannes. The heritage of its long-established perfume industry is celebrated at the Musée International de la Parfumerie, in the town centre. The jasmine flower blooms between July and late October, and each year the Biancalana estate's entire centifolia rose and Jasminum grandiflorum crop is reaped for the benefit of Dior Perfumes.
The best of British: what’s the secret behind Victoria...
15th November 2017
Today Victoria has a fashion empire and her designs can be seen on various celebrities at high-end red carpet awards and galas. Her famous name might have played a role in the beginning, but without a doubt, her drive, ambition and skills in brand marketing have done their part in elevating her status as a successful businesswoman. Victoria’s rise in the fashion world started when she designed her own jeans - called VB Rocks for Rock and Republic in 2004. She then launched her own designer sunglasses range, dVb eyewear, which was followed by her own line of jeans. Beckham went on to create her first clothing line of dresses in 2008. By 2011 the creations could be seen regularly at New York Fashion Week, and Victoria by Victoria Beckham was launched, catering to a lower-priced segment of the market. The same year she also won designer brand of the year at the British Fashion Awards and Business Entrepreneur of the Year by business magazine Management Today.
Can luxury fashion make the move to sustainability?
9th November 2016
What does sustainability mean? It’s become a buzzword in recent years but while - when we buy something to eat, opt to walk to work or take public transport instead of climbing in our cars - we have become better about thinking about the impact on the planet, we haven’t done so well on the fashion front. And that’s an enormous concern because, according to the Living Planet Report, if we continue consuming at our current rate in the western world, we would need the resources of two planets by 2030. We’re also at risk of losing huge amounts of the wildlife and ecosystems which we depend on for food, fuel, clean water and more, due to expansion and development in an attempt to sustain our populations. For all that, luxury brands have been slow in embracing clothes that consumers can feel good about as well as look good in.
Bentley Christmas Gift Guide for women, men and children
3rd November 2015
Bentley has joined in the festivities too by curating their own selection of top 10 Bentley gift recommendations. Bentley fans can now browse the selection and get their hands on these Bentley inspired gift ideas in time for the holiday season.
Learn more about luxury lifestyle by signing up for free
For our latest experiences and editorials, be the first in the know. You'll learn about upcoming experiences happening worldwide and the secrets and lifestyle of a sybarite.