I recently sat down with London based designer, Julien Macdonald who was recently in town to promote his STAR by Julien Macdonald for Debenhams collection. I spoke to him about Dubai (which he compared to Miami), why he likes creating high street ranges as well as his London hotspots. (FYI I’m wearing a Milly dress!)

How does it feel to be here in Dubai?
Its great! Every time I’ve been to Dubai, and it’s my 4th time, it changes. It always has new hotels – it just keeps on getting bigger and bigger.

What are your thoughts on the region?
I really like it! Dubai reminds me bit of Miami because in Miami, more people dress up no matter what time of the day it is, which is amazing and fabulous. People make an effort. I like the kind of fashion and the style in Dubai.

I know that you met your customers this week. How was it meeting your customers in the region?
There was such a variety of different kind of people, different ages, we had  kids there. It is just nice to mix variety of people. They were just all like shopping!

You’re quite good with creating affordable ranges. Aside of your main line, you have star and a jewellery brand with QVC. What draws you in to doing those lines?
I think it’s very important to do this, there is a customer for every kind of occasion and I’m sure that everybody would love to wear my main line collection, it’s expensive and it’s great to give people that chance to wear a Julien Macdonald piece to the customers that can’t afford it.

Who is the star by Julian Macdonald woman?
Well…. (laughs) She’s definitely a woman who loves fashion, who’s feminine and a woman who is forward thinking. A woman that can enter a room and looks amazing! she’s a woman who enjoys being a woman and enjoys life.

Could you talk me through this season’s collection?
This seasons collection is a winter collection, basically it’s a collection with a bit of rock and roll attitude, the new attitude of fashion. Everything from a lightweight biker jacket to trouser suits that can take you from day to night in Jade green.

What are your 3 favourite London hotspots?
Chiltern Firehouse, that is the number one. Electric Brasserie on Portobello road, it’s really cool..you get meet all the kind of locals there and I also recommend that you go to Mount street, It’s the new fashion spots for designer clothes in London… You’ve got great fashion designers in a very old and traditional settings. If you want to go to an incredible fish restaurant I strongly recommend Scotts on Mount Street. If you are into healthy food then I would definitely recommend Nopi, they do really great, healthy and fabulous food.

What are you currently working on?
I’m currently launching a range of spectacles – very fashionable ones..with my signature animal prints, so I’m excited to do that..and obviously London fashion week and next month I will launch a range of crystal jewelry and fine diamonds on QVC.