Having fun with fashion and letting loose on the runway was rewarded at the Jaguar Style Stakes 2016, a contest held on the sidelines of Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday.
Surprisingly, it was the men who took it upon themselves to add fun and frolic to the evening.
Nader Tearab, who won the Best Dressed Man, wore an unconventional mustard suit with dark red piping, a walking cane with a golden jaguar handle, round golden glasses no-lens and a tan leather tote. His dramatic suit and his playful antics, including prancing on the runway and attempting to pick his bag with his cane, won him brownie points.
The 'Best Dresssed Lady' runner-up LaToyah Asha during the 2016 Jaguar Style Stakes at the Dubai World Cup. A.K. Kallouche/Gulf News
“I just didn’t want to stand there and just look at the judges. I wanted to break free and have some fun today … Most men are scared of colour. Yellow is a powerful colour, but is a forgotten colour. I wanted to remind people how cheerful it can look,” said Tearab. It also happened to be his 34th birthday.
“Imagine getting a Jaguar as a birthday gift. It’s awesome and that’s how we roll,” said Tearab, who works as a health and safety officer at MBC Group. His entire look cost him Dh3,500 and his suit was tailored by Royal Fashion in Karama.
“But you can’t put a price on creativity … It took me a year to come up with this look. Just like the city of Dubai, which is colourful yet elegant, I wanted my suit to be colourful, classy and cheerful,” said Tareab. He beat 50 contestants to emerge at the top.
Nadeer Tearab the 'Best Dressed Man' during the 2016 Jaguar Style Stakes at the Dubai World Cup in Meydan. A.K. Kallouche/Gulf News
The judges, too, loved his cheeky enthusiasm (orange floral socks from Forever 21 and gold chains on his vest completed his look).
“The men did really well. We chose him because of his character, attention to detail and how he was unique. He put on a little bit of a show on the catwalk and that showed a slice of his personality. Also, the red line throughout his suit was interesting. The colour may not be liked by everyone else, but for us we found it nice,” said Salman Sultan, social media manager at Jaguar Land Rover Mena.
“For all you know, dark yellow could be the new black. That’s the dream,” said Tearab.
While the men were appreciated for their adventurous streaks, the lady who won the Best Dressed was strictly conventional.
'Best Dressed Couple' Romain Zouhri from France and Charlotte Taylor from England during the 2016 Jaguar Style Stakes at the Dubai World Cup. A.K. Kallouche/Gulf News
Shaleen Alena Cheah, a Dubai resident from Malaysia, wore an embroidered cream dress with asymmetrical hemline and a matching hat. There wasn’t a pop of colour in her outfit.
“It was my first time at the Dubai World Cup and I knew when you come to races in Dubai, I knew I had to mix the modern with a vintage feel. I kept the UAE’s culture in mind and I designed something elegant. I didn’t want to show any skin, but wanted to wear a feminine, fun, floral dress,” said Cheah. The mother of three is a fashion designer and beat 212 contestants.
“It took me three weeks to make this dress. It’s handmade and hand-stitched with heavy French lace. I love the ‘uni-colour’ tone and the shape of my dress is something that you have seen a lot at the recent Oscars and the Grammys. The shape is so in right now,” said Cheah.
The winners in the Best Dressed category get to drive a Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé sports cars for six months, among other goodies such as a hotel stay at the Meydan property and beauty sessions at The Nail Spa.
“I want to take my family in my new car for a drive around Dubai. I can’t wait,” said Cheah.
While eyebrows were raised at the diametrically different choices for the Best Dressed Man and Best Dressed Lady, the judges maintain it was an unanimous choice.
“People may say it is a safe option, but Shaleen was the best dressed,” said Sultan.
LaToyah Asha, from Australia, won the Best Runners Up in the Best Dressed Lady category. She described her win as “incredible and overwhelming”. Her white dress is by the Australian label Judith Penak Couture.
“We named my dress June, after my nana. I travelled all the way from Australia and I won. My nana is going to be blown away. I am over the moon because it’s such a prestigious event. It has turned out to be a great evening,” said Asha.
The lady who won Best Hat, Ana Pribylova, is a milliner. Her rose gold headgear with spikes was a crowd favourite.
“Metallics are in right now, but I wanted to keep it elegant by keeping it modern yet vintage. I am thrilled that the judges loved my look too,” said Pribylova.
The Most Creative Hat award went to Korozana Celaj’s dramatic multi-fold white hat with a gold piping.
“I didn’t expect it to be so windy in Dubai, so it wasn’t easy keeping it in place. But this has turned out to be such a fantastic evening. This title is so precious,” said Celaj. Her hat was made by milliner Tatjana Isaj.
“Dubai has been wonderful to me and will never forget this evening,” said Celaj, from Germany, who works at an airbase.
Meanwhile, Tunisian actress Abir Bennani, who was dressed in a light pink Ted Baker dress, walked home with the Most Elegant Lady title and is now the proud owner of a Longines watch.
“I think I won because I got the mixture right: attitude, attention to detail, how confidently you walk and wear your dress. I can’t wait to enjoy the rest of the evening,” said Bennani.
Jaguar Style Stakes 2016 winners at a glance:
Best Dressed Lady winner: Shaleen Alena Cheah
Best Dressed Lady runner-up: LaToyah Asha
Best Dressed Man winner: Nader Tearab
Best Hat winner: Ana Pribylova
Best Dressed Couple winners: Romain Zouhri and Charlotte Taylor
Most Creative Hat: Korozana Celaj
Most Elegant Lady (sponsored by Longines): Abir Bennani
