In The Week According to YUNG we move between fashion, beauty, design and jewellery, with new launches that revisit heritage while pushing familiar codes forward. From unexpected collaborations and statement accessories to new beauty formulas, cinematic campaigns and regional openings, these are the stories shaping the week.
Without further ado, let’s jump into The Week According to YUNG.
Balenciaga introduces the Hourglass Avenue Bag, a new evolution of one of the house’s most recognisable silhouettes. Reimagined for 2026 by Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli, the design preserves the signature curved shape of the original Hourglass while softening its structure for a more fluid, practical feel. The result balances architectural precision with a sense of ease, bringing together elegance, functionality and spontaneity. With its refined proportions and less rigid construction, the Hourglass Avenue offers a fresh interpretation of a Balenciaga icon, designed to move seamlessly through everyday life.
Lebanese singer-songwriter Dana Hourani returns with “Badkon Shi,” a melancholic new single exploring memory, loss and unfinished conversations. The song imagines one last exchange with someone, somewhere or even a version of ourselves that can no longer be reached. Rather than clearly defining grief, Hourani leaves its meaning open, allowing the track to speak to lost people, places, childhoods and moments. Accompanied by a film, “Badkon Shi” reflects on the instinct to hold onto what has passed, and on the memories that continue to linger long after the moment itself is gone.
Tiffany & Co. has partnered with Design Commission Abu Dhabi to launch the Tiffany & Co. Design Residency Program, dedicated to jewellery and watch design. Running from November 2026 to April 2027, the initiative will select ten UAE-based residents to explore craftsmanship, material innovation, cultural storytelling and design development through mentorship and workshops. The program will culminate in a Capstone Exhibition in May 2027, while the three best-performing participants will receive a three-month internship at Tiffany & Co.’s New York headquarters. Applications remain open until September 20, 2026.
Summer Fridays is extending its signature skincare approach beyond the face with the launch of its new Body Collection. The range introduces three nourishing Body Butters alongside three coordinating Body Mists, designed to bring the brand’s sensorial, easy-to-use formulas into a full-body ritual. Each product is available in one of three new scents: Vanilla, Pink Guava and Pistachio Milk, offering everything from warm and creamy to bright and fruity notes. With the launch, Summer Fridays expands its beauty universe into body care while keeping the focus on hydration, fragrance and everyday indulgence.
Hublot has named contemporary artist Jeff Koons, naming him its new Global Ambassador and launching a partnership built around design, materials and craftsmanship. Known for transforming everyday objects into cultural icons, Koons shares Hublot’s fascination with material innovation and experimentation. The collaboration aligns with the watchmaker’s Art of Fusion philosophy, which brings together technical watchmaking, unconventional materials and contemporary creativity. Both Hublot and Koons trace defining moments in their careers to 1980, adding another layer to the partnership. Further details of the collaboration are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
BIRKENSTOCK and ETRO join forces this season, bringing together two heritage houses through a shared focus on craftsmanship and distinctive design. First revealed during ETRO’s Fall/Winter 2026 runway show at Milan Fashion Week, the collaboration reinterprets BIRKENSTOCK’s iconic Boston and Gizeh silhouettes through ETRO’s expressive aesthetic. The styles combine BIRKENSTOCK’s anatomically shaped cork-latex footbed with Paisley motifs, textured finishes, fringe detailing and Western-inspired buckles. A palette of taupe and chocolate is elevated with polished hardware and metallic accents. The first chapter of BIRKENSTOCK by ETRO has just launched globally.
CELINE and Reebok come together for a collaboration that bridges Parisian style and American sports heritage. At its centre is the Reebok Freestyle Lo, first introduced in 1982 and now reimagined through CELINE’s contemporary lens. The partnership explores the tension between heritage and forward movement, revisiting a sneaker that has evolved across generations while retaining its unmistakable identity. Offered in eight colourways, the Freestyle Lo becomes a meeting point between fashion and movement, past and present. With one iconic silhouette and multiple interpretations, CELINE and REEBOK give an enduring sportswear classic a distinctly modern new chapter.
YSL Beauty introduces the Skin Affair Soft Glow Cushion Foundation, a new complexion essential designed for effortless, on-the-go radiance. Available in 31 shades, the cushion delivers a lightweight texture with a soft-focus finish that enhances the skin while keeping the result natural and polished. Created for quick application, the spill-free formula is housed in a sleek compact designed to move easily from handbag to touch-up. With buildable coverage and a fresh glow, Skin Affair brings together convenience, performance and YSL’s signature sense of luxury, offering a modern take on everyday foundation from the very first tap.
LOEWE unveils Whisker, the newest bag from Creative Directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, first seen during the house’s Fall/Winter 2026 show. The silhouette reflects the playful, unexpected spirit shaping the duo’s vision for LOEWE, balancing character with refined craftsmanship. Launched on August 27, Whisker is available in black, cognac, carmine red and vanilla, alongside two multicoloured intarsia versions. With its distinctive shape and expressive finish, the new design adds another chapter to LOEWE’s evolving accessories language, bringing a sense of wit and individuality to the season.
Augustinus Bader introduces The Overnight Restorative Cream, its latest skincare innovation powered by next-generation Advanced TFC8 technology. Now available across the Middle East, the formula is designed to work in harmony with the skin’s natural overnight renewal cycle, targeting visible signs of fatigue while replenishing moisture. At its core, Advanced TFC8 evolves the brand’s signature technology to deliver more targeted visible results. The rich, moisture-binding cream supports firmer, smoother-looking skin and helps restore hydration throughout the night, leaving the complexion looking refreshed, revitalised and deeply nourished by morning.
Maison Margiela presents ANONYMITY, a psychological thriller-style campaign starring Rebecca Hall for Fall/Winter 2026. The actress confronts a masked double, exploring questions of identity, character and self-perception. The film echoes the atmosphere of the house’s Shanghai runway show, where masked models moved through stacked shipping containers in looks inspired by flea-market discoveries. Collection highlights include Edwardian silhouettes, distressed tapestries, second-skin pieces and fused garments, alongside the new Link bag, chain-link jewellery and floral Tabi styles. Masks, a longstanding Margiela code, once again become a tool for shifting attention from the wearer to the clothes.
Chloé has opened a new boutique at Mall of the Emirates, strengthening the Maison’s presence in Dubai. The space showcases the latest collections by Creative Director Chemena Kamali, spanning ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes and accessories. Designed to reflect Kamali’s vision, the boutique combines clean lines, open volumes and natural materials with sculptural furnishings and curated design pieces, including Christian Adam’s Tomato chair and a bespoke Parcela table by Aldo Alvarez Tostado. The result is a calm, intimate setting that brings together Chloé’s signatures of craftsmanship, lightness, elegance and modern femininity.
This September, Vhernier brings its playful jewellery language to Venice as part of the Homo Faber Biennial, the international exhibition curated by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship. A selection of the Maison’s distinctive animal brooches will be showcased alongside works by master artisans from around the world, celebrating exceptional handcraft and creativity. For Vhernier, the exhibition offers a platform to highlight its signature Trasparenze technique, known for creating depth and luminous colour through layered materials. The whimsical brooches bring together technical precision, sculptural form and the Maison’s unmistakable sense of character.
Bottega Veneta presents its Winter 2026 campaign, photographed by Juergen Teller and set across Milan. Moving between intimate interiors, organic architecture, open-air sculpture and natural landscapes, the campaign captures the city through contrasts of brutalism, sensuality and softness. Locations including Villa Terenzio and Fondazione Pagani create a layered backdrop for Creative Director Louise Trotter’s vision of the house, where craftsmanship and creativity remain closely connected. The images explore Milan beyond its familiar surfaces, revealing a city shaped by architectural tension, artistic depth and unexpected moments of intimacy.
Pandora expands its Talisman collection with a new zodiac-inspired chapter celebrating identity, individuality and self-expression. The latest designs introduce zodiac medallions, articulated rings and chain necklaces, crafted in 14-karat gold plating and sterling silver. Pieces combine textured finishes, mother-of-pearl details, stones, carved cameos and hidden Latin inscriptions, alongside symbols inspired by the four elements. A rotating Sun and Moon Flip Ring carries the mantra “Through hardships to the stars,” while necklaces and charms are designed for layering and personalisation. The collection is now available globally at Pandora stores and online.
Kosas is expanding its best-selling Cloud Set Loose Powder with four new translucent complexion shades, bringing its signature blur-and-set finish to a broader range of skin tones. Available exclusively at Sephora Middle East from September 2026, the new shades are Cozy, Toasty, Fluttery and Sway, joining Velvety and three brightening options: Candy, Peachy and Buttery. A special milling process gives the powder a lightweight, sheer texture designed to set makeup for up to 12 hours without looking cakey or dry, while bamboo stem extract helps absorb excess oil. The formula is talc-free, non-comedogenic and dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested.
Thom Browne presents The Long Way Home, its Fall 2026 collection photographed in Scotland. The season brings together heritage influences and contemporary construction, pairing traditional knitwear and tartans with technical outerwear and the house’s distinctive approach to modern tailoring. Against the rugged Scottish landscape, familiar codes take on a new sense of movement, balancing structure with utility and tradition with reinvention. The collection reflects Thom Browne’s ongoing exploration of classic dress through an unexpected lens, turning heritage references into pieces that feel distinctly current.
Valentino introduces the Valentino Garavani Stud Up sneakers, first unveiled in Alessandro Michele’s Interferenze Fall/Winter 2026–27 collection. Designed as a new statement in contemporary footwear, the silhouette brings together technical functionality and the Maison’s decorative codes. Soft suede or leather is contrasted with nylon, balancing tactile richness with performance, while multicoloured combinations mix vivid shades with earthy tones. Created to transition easily from day to evening, the Stud Up reflects Michele’s expressive approach to Valentino, transforming the everyday sneaker into a bold new signature.
Boucheron returns to one of Frédéric Boucheron’s favourite natural motifs with a new series inspired by ivy. Loved by the Maison’s founder for its untamed, creeping nature, ivy has appeared in Boucheron creations since the 1870s, embodying a spirit of freedom and audacity. More than 168 years later, Creative Director Claire Choisne continues that legacy with monochrome jewels crafted in white gold and diamonds. Through exceptional craftsmanship, the pieces recreate the plant with striking realism, capturing its winding stems and leaves while translating Boucheron’s fascination with nature into contemporary high jewellery.
Bvlgari pushes the boundaries of watch design with the new Octo Finissimo Dazzle, transforming its ultra-thin icon into an exercise in visual disruption. Crafted in titanium, the 40 mm watch is covered in a fragmented geometric pattern inspired by automotive camouflage, designed to blur the silhouette and challenge legibility. The motif extends across the case, dial and integrated bracelet, causing the familiar Octo Finissimo architecture to almost disappear into its surface. Only the bezel remains visually distinct. The result is less about conventional timekeeping and more about experimentation, turning the watch into a graphic, conceptual object that plays between concealment and recognition.
And that was The Week According to YUNG.
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