Dubai, February 11, 2008: An occasion wear story featuring beautiful 1920's embellishment and art deco beading create an eclectic vintage look for Wallis spring summer collection. 

Influenced by 1920's glamour Wallis has introduced soft silhouettes such as the drop-waist flapper dress and the vintage inspired one-shoulder satin dress.  Silver screen icons inspire Grecian style evening gowns and the stunning crochet lace tiered dress.  Ruffles, frills and delicate corsages are important finishes on knitwear and dresses and add a sense of romance. A palette of soft pinks, duck egg, aquamarine and sophisticated neutrals with highlights of chartreuse and monochrome bring the collection together.

In contrast, tailoring is structured and echoes the 1950's, offering fitted jackets worn back with this season's essential wide-leg black trousers. Nipped-in waists remain strong and full-skirted prom dresses in luxurious satin keep this look sexy and feminine.  Layering remains important and mixing ultra-light chiffon pussy bow blouses with satin cover-ups adds to the drama. The look is accessorised with a vintage beaded evening clutch and modern wedge heels. 

Nautical returns as a favourite trend for spring summer, with clean shapes and bold primary colours. The white mac with large feature buttons will dominate outerwear this season and both stripes and polka dots are a must on knitwear, blouses and smart jackets.

A wide selection of this product will also be available in Wallis Petite, specifically designed for women of 5'3" and under.  The petite collection is available in sizes 8-18 and in all the stores nationwide. 

Wallis is operated through M.H Alshaya Co, a leading international franchise operator for over 40 of the world's most recognized retail brands.

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About Wallis
Wallis was founded as a small boutique in London fashionable Islington in 1923. The success of the brand is owed to a strong belief in the distinctive Wallis signature.

An in-house design team was formed in 1950 and today Wallis is still dedicated to producing their own designs from a team of 5, who create 10 looks per season. This design-led approach allows for a unique interpretation of emerging trends and enhances the Wallis belief of distinctive dressing.

Wallis strives to be seen as the "deliberately different" women's high street fashion brand. Wallis has its own interpretation of emerging trends and it is seen as a distinctive signature on the garments they sell. Our design-led approach allows for the individuality that sets them apart from our competitors. Wallis understands their customers and their design reflect this, and also provides a "must-have" wardrobe for each season.

About M.H. Alshaya Co.
M.H. Alshaya Co. is a leading international franchise operator for over 40 of the world's most recognized retail brands including Starbucks, H&M, The Body Shop, Foot Locker, Mothercare, Debenhams, River Island and Boots. The company currently operates over 1,400 stores across its operating divisions in the Middle East, Turkey, Russia and Southern/Eastern Europe and employs more than 14,000 individuals from over 35 nationalities.

The company has built a dominant platform for operating retail concepts in its markets.  Growth in each of its operating divisions and brands is supported by continuous investment in talent and infrastructure and application of best practices in retail operations, merchandising, marketing, information technology, logistics, real estate, human resources and financial controls.  You can learn more about the company at www.alshaya.com.

M.H. Alshaya Co. is the retail business of the Alshaya Group, which was founded in Kuwait in 1890 and today represents one of the most dynamic and respected companies in the Middle East.  In addition to its retail operations, the Alshaya Group is active in a number of other sectors including real estate, automotive, hotels, trading and investments.

For further information, please contact:
Lisa George/Jonathan Tudor,
ASDAA Public Relations.
Tel: 04 3355969.
E-mail: l.george@asdaa.com/ j.tudor@asdaa.com

Issued by M.H.Alshaya Co. W.L.L: Press Office: 
Tel: + 965 2242371 
Mob. : 7217802
Fax: 4848051,
E mail: Abdullah.boftain@alshaya.com

© Press Release 2008