It’s *officially* the end of Summer of Style, Cosmo ME’s 12-week series of exciting fashion, beauty, and lifestyle events across Abu Dhabi’s best malls in an exclusive collaboration with Abu Dhabi Retail.
We’ve had so much fun with Abu Dhabi Retail over the course of these past 12 weeks. Our final Abu Dhabi Summer Shopping Season – Summer of Style event took place at Gap, Galleria Al Maryah Island – and Summer of Style ended on a very joyous note.
To commemorate the end of our successful Summer of Style era at Gap, we decided to treat our loyal guests to some ~delicious~ popcorn and refreshing juice. Founded in 1969, the American fashion brand made a name for itself by crafting versatile and functional jeans that truly fit and look good. And in the past 50 years, Gap has championed equality, inclusivity, and sustainability in all of their clothing items and accessories.
For our final Summer of Style event at Gap, we wanted to switch things up a bit. Cosmo ME’s Digital Editor Sara Al Humiri hosted a “Gap Icons” panel discussion with one of the most original and refreshing Dubai-based DJs, Sonya. In fact, Sonya curated a fun playlist specifically for our final Summer of Style event at Gap.
Our icons discussed Gap’s new back-to-school autumn collection, highlighting the chic essentials that compose it. Both Cosmo ladies stunned in all-Gap fits which were widely different from one another: Sara opted for a Friday daytime look while Sonya rocked a Friday nighttime ‘fit, showing off their unique and individual styles.
Our Gap Icons discussion with Sara Al Humiri and Sonya…
Sara: So Sonya, tell me a bit about your gorgeous outfit and why you chose these pieces in particular.
Sonya: Well, it’s very simple. I’m usually *very* extra, so I get to the store and I pick the most extra outfit I can get my hands on and then style it my way. The rest of my look is quite simple. These silver pants are a gorgeous statement piece that I love. As I said, I’m totally ready to go out.
Sara: And would you wear this outfit at your gigs? Do you feel like your music integrates into your fashion sense?
Sonya: Yes I would. To me, it’s like maths. Music + style = what I represent pretty much. I’m usually very extra in my outfits! I treat pretty much every single event I have as a show, and I prepare my outfits accordingly.
Sara: How did you get into music, and how did you grow? You do some amazing gigs in Dubai as a DJ! I mean, FYI you guys, the music that’s playing in the store is a mix curated by Sonya.
Sonya: Music has always been in my life, but I decided to learn the art of DJing when I was 24/25 years old. I moved to the United States and lived there for 2 years, and I took a college DJ class at Columbia University. Then I moved to Los Angeles, and I graduated from Scratch DJ academy that was actually founded by the late Jam Master Jay, one of the Run DMC members.
Sara: Gap is known for having wardrobe essentials that are super classic, like the white tank top you have on right now. But when you pair it with another Gap piece that’s so chic like your silver pants, it gives you a very balanced look. What other Gap outfits would you style on a day off?
Sonya: I think there’s so much you can do with Gap’s clothing items. I am very extra on my work days but I like the basics in a day-to-day situation. I think it’s cool to have very simple statement pieces, monochromatic probably… and I’d pair my ‘fit with cool sneakers. Kind of like a neighborhood girl vibe.
Sara: Yes, and Gap’s collection and range really allow you to get creative while styling if you wanted to. For example, this cute Friday beach dress I’m wearing, I prefer it so much more when it’s styled with a big white shirt like the one I have on. What’s your favourite denim style?
Sonya: Denim-on-denim-on-denim. A full denim look!
Sara: That’s perfect because Gap has a plethora of denim options and their sizing is brilliant. Because of their sustainable and super long-lasting denim pieces, it’s really easy to mix and match at Gap. You said you love street style, so who are your fashion inspirations in that sense?
Sonya: The first one that comes to mind is definitely Aaliyah. From my generation, I would say Teyana Taylor. I absolutely love her; she’s an icon! The thing is, these days, everyone looks the same. So you want to make sure that you are *you*, and that you dress like you. It’s important to get off Instagram, open your wardrobe, and think, “what kind of outfit am I feeling today?”
Sara: Yes totally- you want to participate in all the fashion trends, but like I said, when you’re shopping for essentials, I think they make or break your outfit. For me, denim is so important, especially for back-to-work or back-to-school season. And I *love* a good white shirt.
Sonya: Absolutely, you can pair it with absolutely everything.
Sara: What is your summer go-to outfit?
Sonya: Less is more (laughs), especially living in the UAE. I love linen stuff, I love simple white tank tops matched with shorts, denim pants… I love dresses as well. For example, if I went for a floral maxi dress, I would match it with a pair of army boots.
Sara: Do you generally shy away from really bold colours? Do you gravitate towards a look that’s a bit brighter?
Sonya: I mean honestly, when I pick and choose my clothes I usually go for white, black, and grey pieces. But I’m definitely not afraid to have colours in my look. For me, everyday is a different day and a different look.
Sara: And could you describe a day in your life?
Sonya: A day in my life includes an early wakeup call, a workout, then I work on music and prepare my outfits. Then I do hairstyling with my best friend who happens to be a hairstylist. Then, we have a looooong night of fun and music. I call it a day usually around midnight.
Sara: So it definitely helps if your clothes are comfortable! Also, you constantly need to be in and out of looks for the different events in your day.
Sonya: That’s actually why I’m trying to not buy a lot of clothes anymore. I really do recycle- there are pieces that I would just mix and match with different jewellery pieces and different shoes. I would recreate different looks with the same items.
Sara: You’re much better at this than I am. I’m one of those people that, if I wear an outfit once, I can never wear it again. I need to start recycling! So… the autumn and winter seasons are coming up, and GAP has some super cute collections coming out soon. How would you say that your style or fashion changes when it gets a bit colder?
Sonya: Since I moved to Dubai, it’s summer all year round. I crave the winter looks with big varsity jackets, but unfortunately we don’t get to wear that much in the wintertime. Last year, I wore a lot of leather – it was the right temperature and weather to be able to wear leather.
Sara: I personally shy away from leather a bit more- I’m very much into knits. I like cozy, I like baggy. I actually want to take all our fashion and styling tips to the floor, so please don’t be afraid to ask us questions!
It’s the end of our Summer of Style 2023 era. Thank you to our wonderful guests for joining us in our incredible collaboration with Abu Dhabi Retail. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed your presence, and we can’t wait to see you at more exciting events in the future. Much love to our Cosmo queens (!!)
Stay tuned for more of Abu Dhabi Retail’s exciting events and surprises by closely following their Instagram page and website. Until next time!