Morning Rituals, Skincare Favourites And A Sneak Peek Into His New Bridal Collection: 24 Hours With Rami Al Ali

The Dubai-based founder and creative director talks us through a fashion-filled day

6:00 A.M. Is the time I wake up every day. I love getting up early, even when I travel. How much sleep do I get? Six hours is average. Seven is a good day. Eight… it’s an official holiday! My secret to waking up refreshed is to avoid late meals, and to hydrate with lots of water before going to bed. Then, the first thing I do in the mornings is drink water with fresh lemon slices.

6:15 A.M. I take a walk around my fabulous garden to check on my flowers and feed the birds, then I meditate.

7:00 A.M. I have a light bite with a coffee while I check my emails and messages. I allow 30-minutes of social-media browsing and then I hit the gym.

9:00 A.M. After working out, I love big breakfasts and usually eat eggs, tomatoes, avocado, toast with peanut butter, and berries with honey. Everything is freshly made, I don’t like anything that’s frozen or out of a tin.

9:30 A.M. Shower time. I love using products from Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Aqua Universalis is one of my favourite fragrances. I’ve recently been introduced to Charlotte Tilbury skincare and I’m really enjoying it. I like to treat myself whenever I can and I enjoy regular Moroccan baths. My favourite spa is at the Address Boulevard. I don’t take very long to get dressed each day. I mostly wear polo shirts and jeans if it’s a relaxed day without any meetings. For formal days I wear long-sleeved shirts and blazers. ’50s and ’60s fashion are usually my references. To finish, beaded bracelets and a ring are musts. I wear a lot of Bottega Veneta, Acne Studios, Maison Margiela, AMI, and Qasimi – they all share a clean aesthetic with modern lines and a timeless elegance that suits my style. The most-cherished item in my wardrobe is a Dior tuxedo that I wore for my 2007 show – it brings such good vibes and great memories.

 Looks from the new Rami Al Ali White collection

10:00 A.M. I leave home and set off for work with my Fendi Peekaboo bag. It’s a 15-minute drive to my atelier on Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah.

10:15 A.M. Upon arrival at work I go through my schedule with my assistant followed by quick updates on social media and press coverage. My office has a big window that allows lots of natural daylight to pour in. All books and reference images are well organised on shelves. I also have special moments from each show framed on the wall. I don’t play music at work, I enjoy the silence or the natural noise coming from the atelier… that’s my kind of music. We are almost 60 members of staff. I interact with most of the heads of departments on a daily basis and we have weekly meetings to go through tasks and goals.

10:45 A.M. I attend to emails after my morning meetings unless it’s something urgent that requires an immediate approval. I consider myself to be a focused multi-tasker as I often travel for work – mainly to Paris and New York at least once a month.

1:30 P.M. It’s lunchtime. I’m very health conscious. I usually bring fresh food from home. I have lots of protein and vegetables, it keeps me focused, awake and energised. If I’m in D3 (Dubai Design District), my favourite place to go is The Lighthouse where I meet other design community members.

Looks from the new Rami Al Ali White collection

2:30 P.M. The rest of the afternoon is spent working on special projects and meeting with clients. I always like to see my designs on women who share the same values as the brand – someone who is strong, ambitious and is confident in herself. One of my favourite moments was when Helen Mirren wore one of my dresses on the red carpet of the 2018 Berlin Film Festival. She looked flawless. I didn’t actually know she was wearing it until the images were published – it was one of the most beautiful surprises.

6:30 P.M. I usually leave work around this time. I like to spend my evening relaxing or having dinner with friends. I try to limit evening work events to one or two per week.

7:30 P.M. I make dinner. I like experimenting with new recipes and I love entertaining. To unwind I enjoy watching Planet Earth documentaries. I’m also a fan of The Crown.

11:00 P.M. I clean my face, apply night cream, take my vitamins and have a large glass of water – then it’s off to bed. I’m currently reading Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami. The last thing I do before turning the light out is wish for a great tomorrow.