Balmainia is taking over! From the front row to the red carpet, French fashion house Balmain has been defining style for decades. And not content with being one of the most coveted names in the fashion industry, Balmain looks set to cause a stir in beauty circles too, as its luxury hair extensions line, Balmain Hair, launches in the UAE.

With a company policy to source, select and process …

Did you watch this week’s episode of Gossip Girl? On episode 15 of the hit TV series’ fourth season, Leighton Meester’s character Blair Waldorf wore a stunning gilt blazer from Balmain’s FW 2010 collection on a workday at culture and society magazine W.

Bankrupt Italian fashion house Gianfranco Ferré is now rumored to be getting a new savior, Dubai-based fashion retail company Paris Group, after the deal with Samsung Group fell through late last year. WWD claims to have spoken to a source close to the deal, who assured that “This is a real offer, they are very keen.” Good news?

Whoever said you had to look like a homeless junkie to pull off the rock chick look? Paging Taylor Momsen, you don’t have to buy your clothes and shoes from a stripper store to look like a rebel. There are classier (read: designer) options out there and it’s a shame they haven’t been explored to the fullest extent.

In the spirit of honouring the departure of 2010, which has been a glorious one (save for McQueen’s suicide and Roitfeld’s alleged termination from French Vogue) for the fashion industry, we’ve planned a series of features celebrating the best of the best in fashion that were released during the last 365 and a quarter days.

How do you celebrate the UAE national day? No, don’t answer that. That was a rhetorical question. After commemorating Sheikh Zayed and congratulating the country and its rulers, you shop of course. And give presents to family and friends. That’s what everybody does here on every major occasion – we shop and we give.

Some people say commercialisation, we say consumerist tradition.

And to make your non-working holiday just …

September is the most important time in our industry because it marks the beginning of the Fall season, and God knows how much fun dressing up can be during these chilly times. Layers, textures, furs – it’s time to channel that inner style genius that’s been slumbering deep within you.

Here at La Moda Dubai, we feel it’s our job to elevate the standards of fashion consciousness in the …

Forget the shady China-made Balmain stuff we get here that’s 75% off every single day of the year. The real deal, touched by experienced Parisian hands and stamped with the French seal of quality, is going to be on sale at 85% off from June 22 at theOutnet.com.

Really exciting pieces are going to hit the virtual racks at theOutnet on Tuesday so you clickity shoppers better make time …

Having one of those days when the vogue in fashion doesn’t suit your mood? Tired of the having to put yourself through the same old buy-this-buy-that-this-is-the-it-trend-of-the-season dilemma every three months? Want something to last you decades, assuming you don’t turn into Shamu the whale? Annoyed by our endless questions already?

Look no further because the cutest, trend-indifferent frocks converge at one location on the web. ModCloth, an eight-year-old online …

We never thought we’d ever say this, but MANGO has finally learned a thing or two about fashion and is now giving us something worth wearing! Army green is the “it” colour this season and ladies are definitely going to have a holiday with MANGO’s martial collection. Meanwhile, gents can do some serious safari explorer costume play with Homini Emerito (MANGO HE).

Let’s pause for a moment to thank …