villa moda

Where? Opened in 2003, fashion emporium Villa Moda, is a one-stop shop for high-end designer labels. Located in the heart of Dubai, it is in the Emirates Tower Shopping Boulevard, near Gucci, Bottega Veneta and other luxe stores.

Why? The brainchild of Sheikh Majed al-Sabah, who has been dubbed the 'Sheikh of Chic', the Villa Moda franchise has become a big hit since the Kuwait store opened in 2002. Since then, it has challenged the concept of 'department store' retail.

What can we expect? The store makes you feel like you have stumbled onboard a futuristic spacecraft or the set of the latest Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster, with its holographic glass walls and concrete floors spanning more than 3,000 square metres. Designed by Jean-Philippe

Evrot, look out for displays hanging from

the ceiling, suspended counters and clothing rails, plus three 25-square-metre 'capsule' units.

Fashion finds: The likes of Prada, Marni and Miu Miu jostle for space with lesser-known but up-and-coming names. Other lables include Easton Pearson, Colette Dinnigan, Clements Ribeiro, Brazilian Carlos Miele and Italian innovator Capucci.