Old long since

Same again or all change? It's a new year, but does that mean a new style?

The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print nor even in manuscript, is enough to recommend any air.

When Robert Burns forwarded a copy of his new song to the Scots Musical Museum on December 17, 1788 with the above remark, he certainly didn't think it'd "recommend" a cool north western breeze over the Dubai Creek on the eve of 2007.

Flailing

Burns, Scotland's national poet, couldn't have imaged that in the flailing seconds of 2006 in the Middle East gathering in tiny pockets across the city would be fellow Scots hopelessly trying to remember the words to his reflective prose.

Auld Lang Syne, which means "old long since", or more idiomatically "long ago" or "days gone by", contains these lyrics: "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?/Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne?/For auld lang syne, my dear/We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

"But we've wander'd mony a weary fit, sin' auld lang syne./We twa hae paidl'd in the burn/Frae morning sun till dine/But seas between us braid hae roar'd sin' auld lang syne."

No, of course it's not in English. The Scots Musical Museum wouldn't have been too pleased had it been, besides, Burns wouldn't have dreamt of it. But then again, he wouldn't have imagined that his humble New Year offering would travel as far out as the Arabian Gulf.

Fireworks

I ushered in 2007 with the tolling of Big Ben (pre-recorded) and a sketchy rendition of Auld Land Syne set against a glorious fireworks display overlooking the creek in the Hilton.

And later, as DJ Flex and EZ-D worked the decks at Soul Candy, I thought: "this is different". Different — not in the sense of never been seen or done before. But different because as much as things were the same, the context in which they now lay was new. Brand new.

In the UAE, the new year definitely looks set to usher in a bunch of new styles and trends. Sorry, let me re-phrase that: auld, re-jigged and re-cycled styles enough to recommend any flair. Even in a multi-faceted Arabian context.
back for good

So, should auld trends be forgot and never brought to mind? For styles gone by we'll take a cup of kitschiness yet.
We've paddled in shopping malls, from morning sun till dine but seasons around us broad have roared since long ago.
For old long since gone trends, such as 19th Century vintage accessories, '60s oversized sunglasses, '80s leggings and of course 3rd Century tartan, friends, let's give them a warm welcome back. And this time, it looks like they're here to stay.

Tartan army

Tartan is type of pattern, originating in woven cloth, but now used in many materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Celtic counties (and especially Scotland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom).

Tartan is made with alternating bands of coloured (pre-dyed) threads woven as both warp and weft at right angles to each other. The weft is woven two over — two under the warp, advancing one thread each pass, forming diagonal lines. The resulting blocks of colour repeat vertically and horizontally in a distinctive pattern of squares and lines known as a sett.

Kilts almost always have tartans. Tartan is also known as plaid in the US, but in Scotland this word means a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder or a blanket.

In the modern era, specific tartans have become associated with Scottish clans or Scottish (and other) families, or simply institutions who are (or wish to be seen as) associated in some way with a Scottish (or other Celtic) heritage.

Brand focus: Bottega Veneta

Nobody is working the tartan look this season more that Italian fashion brand Bottega Veneta. Founded in the early 1960s, Bottega Veneta is a manufacturer of consumer goods, producing primarily men and women's ready-to-wear clothing, small leather goods, and exclusive home items.

The company is reputed for quality and exclusivity and its famed signature Intrecciato Line.

The Bottega handbag boasts classic clean lines, the softest leathers and a classic palette rather than trend-driven designs. Bottega is most known for its hand-woven leather bags, belts, and shoes.

Creative director Tomas Maier's ready-to-wear women's line posses the same timeless, ultra-luxurious look.