Glamouria

Lebanese Designer Dina Jisr: Embrace Your Figure & Dress For Yourself

May 11, 2015

Dina JSR SS15

Lebanese Designer Dina Jisr talks to Glamouria about her Summer 2015 collection, her paris based label, and her personal style. Want to know the must- have pieces you should own this season and how to transition your look from day to night? See the advice Dina has for you…

Why did you choose to open a store in Beirut and not in Paris?
I wanted to start in my own country first. The mix of ancient and modern really inspires me and it’s where my heart belongs.

What are the essential items that a woman should add to her wardrobe this summer?

A long skirt, I recommend one of my Spring-Summer 2015 skirts!

What silhouettes are we going to see?
Straight cuts, edgy lines, openings in the back, slits at the legs, and details on shoulders.

What’s the easiest way to transform your look from day to night?
I love an outfit that can transition easily from day to night, and in my latest collection I focused on pieces that can do just that. The collection is more for the woman that has a busy life but adores fashion and loves to look fabulous. This woman is a true reflection of our time, an empowered woman, a working woman, a mother who has a busy schedule. She could wear a DINA JSR design during the day or to work with flats and can transition to night still looking fabulous- just add heels and jewelry and a darker lipstick and she’s ready to go!

Are maxi skirts wearable to the office?
To me, there are no rules in fashion. It all depends on the way an outfit is worn and elements such as the fabrics, the cut and whether it’s worn with flats or heels.

Any tip on how to wear leather this summer?
I suggest wearing laser cut designs, as they don’t look wintery, and can give a nice shape while also showing some skin.

You’re famous for your geometrical shapes. Are they easy to wear? How can we style them?
They are quite easy to wear, as they are very simple on the body. Styling them depends on the piece itself; each piece can give a different sense of elegance. The way a woman mixes and matches her clothes and accessories will play with the piece and give her a unique style.

Your advice for women?
It is really important for women to embrace their figure and dress for themselves, not for others. As my mother always said, the key to making a good impression doesn’t come from revealing too much, but from the fit of the fabric, and the importance of colors and styles that suit you.

Lebanese Designer Dina Jisr

Dina Got Style

How would you define your personal style?
I’m not sure I have just one style. It really depends on my mood or which side of the bed I wake up on! I create my fashion looks, with a mix of rock combined with a bit of elegance, bohemian, chic or hippie. I am very daring in my style, and I like to take risks in fashion.

Who are your favourite designers?
Karl Lagerfeld and Victoria Beckham.

Where do you like to shop?
My favorites are Chloe, Chanel, Dior, Victoria Bekham, and Topshop. When I’m shopping, I also like to walk into one shop after another to see what I can find.

How is your daily schedule?
I go to the gym in the morning then head to the office. I have my cinnamon and turmeric while reading my emails, and then start my work for the day, which includes researching fabrics and looking for inspiration.

What do you feel an entrepreneur woman need to succeed?
She needs to always be positive, and to have the strength to continue with her work no matter what.

What are the major obstacles that you encounter?
Every step comes with its own challenges, but the biggest one is with fabrics. A fabric can sometimes really change when you start using it, for example when you steam it or iron it. Some fabrics shrink, and some actually expand. Sometimes I’ll find myself sewing a dress and then I’ll actually have to hang it for about a week or so to let it breath and see how it reacts, then from there I decide on next steps.

What did you learn take from every city that influenced you (Paris, London, Saudi Arabia, Beirut)?

I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and lived there until I was 17, then I moved to London for my studies, and at the age of 23 I returned to Lebanon. For the last few years, I’ve divided my time between Paris and Lebanon, and I’ve travelled quite a bit as well. Living in such vastly different places has given me a diverse perspective on women and fashion, and allowed me to create a style that is a combination of all of these experiences, cultures and fashions that I have been exposed to.

My fascination with fashion and jewelry began when I was young. I was very inspired by the Bedouin times and the traditional Saudi kaftans and jewelry. The traditional kaftans were always hand-embroidered or decorated with coins, sequins, or brightly colouredfabrics. They were elaborately detailed and looked like pieces of art. Although they were loosely tailored to the body, the women wearing them always looked so elegant, like jewels. Seeing those women made me realize the importance of fabric choice, details and ornamentation. It also showed me that a woman didn’t have to reveal too much to be elegant and beautiful.

I also used to collect old handmade Saudi jewelry. Some of the pieces were made of silver or gold, and many were made with semi-precious stones such as turquoise, amber, or coral. They utilized intricate geometric patterns and the pieces were big and bold. A woman would be covered with jewelry, and she would look like a painting. It was a very memorable image, to see this elegant woman who appeared to be a moving piece of art. This influence gave me my first understanding of how fashion could create a woman’s image, and it gave me my first definition of elegance—it was equal to art.

Once I moved to London, I was exposed to a completely different perspective. Suddenly, traditions and culture didn’t dictate everyday fashion; it was purely left to individual choice. I was surrounded by cosmopolitan people, and the styles varied according to neighborhood. I was bombarded and inspired by all of the beauty that London had to offer, and that played a decisive role in shaping me as a person and as a designer.

I returned to Lebanon because I wanted to learn about the country of my roots. I found a country that was a true mix of modern and ancient times, decorated with women who were always stunningly dressed. I was taken with the Lebanese women’s ability to look fabulous, not only through their clothing choices, but by using their personality as well. It felt as if I had come full circle, from the women as art in Saudi Arabia, to the pure individual expression of London; finally, I found a combination of those two extremes that gave me inspiration and allowed me to find a balance.

When I started coming to Paris for work, I found another influence as it’s a place that is truly stunning; with its architectural history, the intricate detail, and the years of experience with savoir-faire in the fashion industry. French women really set the standard. The fashionable style of the French woman is so simple, but chic, with a strong personality that definitely makes an impression.

Each experience showed me something different about women and fashion and culture, and I’ve been fortunate to be able to utilize those aspects in my designs. Living in such diverse places also made me realize the importance of finding a place that you can call home. Here in Lebanon, I have learned how to live life to the fullest. I have found a place that fills my heart with love, and that is the greatest source of inspiration of all.

What are your future plans?

I am currently working on a new jewelry line that I’m very excited about, and I look forward to presenting it.

Click Here to view the full DINA JSR collection and for more on Dina JISR