24 Hours With Nadine Kanso: How The Lebanese Jewellery Designer Spends Her Day
The jewellery designer, photographer, trendsetter and all-round artist finds her days are filled with creative expressions
I usually end up being woken up around 6:30AM by my cat Ashta who starts begging for fresh water from the shower. Then the first thing I do when I wake up is make my first coffee of the day, a Nespresso Arpeggio to be specific. I follow intermittent fasting so I only have coffee in the morning with no sugar and no milk. I love bread, I avoid it in the morning, but I have it during other meals… it’s a constant battle. I then proceed to sit outdoors no matter what the temperature is to get my daily dose of sun, even in the summer with the heat. My other cat Kifah is my usual companion sitting with me. This time for me is the time when I reflect, gaining energy to start my day on a good and positive note.
Each member of my family has their own routine. Now, my eldest son Amr is in town, so we catch up and have a quick chat before we go about our day. My husband Aziz has his routine of going to the gym every morning, breakfast and listening to the news. At times, we catch up during coffee to discuss a few things related to the kids or to our work. He is great at giving me advice regarding my jewellery brand Bil Arabi.
As for me, I check my Instagram and emails, and answer a few messages every morning before heading out. I always call the office before my Pilates classes (I go three mornings a week to a one-on-one class… this keeps me sane and in shape), to make sure everything is in place and good to go for the day. My overall morning routine including my shower takes around 45 minutes. During my shower, I use my Clarins face wash and L’Oréal or Kérastase products on my hair. I use Dove as my daily soap, but when I travel, I love to use soaps that are all-natural and have a smell of home, so typically the soaps will have olive, lavender, and citrus scents.
As for my daily make-up routine, I am a big fan of Dior cosmetics. I also love the serums from La Prairie. Recently, I have been trying out products from Guerlain. For my fragrances, I like to experiment and layer but I have specific ones that are my regulars like Dior, Guerlain Pamplelune, and a few other favourites from Frédéric Male. Living in the Gulf has given me a more open approach to perfume and scents.
I do have regular facials and like to treat myself to a few machines every 4-6 weeks to keep my face as fresh as possible with my busy on-the-go life! In Dubai, my go-to places are Dermalase and Skin Experts, they always advise me on treatments that suit me, and I trust them. For treatments such as Botox and laser around the eyes, my go-to doctor is Dany Touma who ensures I look as natural as possible. I usually get blow dries once to twice a week and I touch up on my hair roots every two weeks. As for my nails, I believe they should always be on point, so I do a polish change once a week and I get a manicure and pedicure every 10 to 14 days. I go to Nail Bar.
I have always been told that I have cool style – I would say that my personal style is edgy but chic. I wear pieces that I have collected over the years, styling them in different ways. Every morning is a new day and that inspires me to dress depending on how I feel on that day. It doesn’t take me a long time to get dressed, I always try to be practical and wear something suitable for meetings and for a day at work where clients might walk in, or someone might be flying into town so I have to be ready to take them out for lunch. I love fashion generally and I follow trends, but I also love vintage fashion. I am a fan of local and international brands and I wear what suits me. Brands like Gucci, Prada and Valentino inspire me with their stories, beauty and their quality. As for regional designers, I love wearing Rami Al Ali and Rabih Kayrouz, who are recognised on an international scale as well.
In terms of accessories, I absolutely love big pieces and big rings. I am bolder when it comes to jewellery styling, which is how I usually accessorise my look. I always wear my own jewellery. Bil Arabi has become an integral part of who I am and it represents me. Bil Arabi defines the modern Arab woman and highlights her identity and pride in her culture. I have not worn any other brand in years. One piece I wear and cherish all the time is my Hobb cuff, I never remove it. It represents the essence of Bil Arabi, it is our “love” cuff, a signature piece from a signature collection, and it has become an icon for the brand.
At about 10:00AM I drive to the Bil Arabi offices in D3, which usually takes me 15 minutes from my house in Jumeirah 2. The first thing I do when I get to the office is have a quick chat with the team to see if they need me on any propriety matter. We play chill Ibiza music in the office and it’s a cool open space at work so everyone is interacting with each other, and we all are engaged on matters. This way, everyone knows what’s always happening. We are a team of eight, including myself. And I like to think of myself as a team player and a cool boss, but at times, one must be strict to make sure things are on the right track. At the same time, I don’t have a structured, organised day per se, it’s not who I am. As an artist and a creative, I like to keep a natural flow to things when it comes to how I work.
I try to have lunch around 1:30PM. I love food, especially Lebanese and Italian, so what I eat for lunch depends on the day and what plans I have for the evening. If I am in D3, I eat at The Lighthouse or The Name. Otherwise, I order pizza from Akibadori or Joe & The Juice if I am eating in the office with the team. I also like to have lunches and even afternoon bites at The Arts Club, it’s a great place with a different vibe, and the food is delicious. Lunchtime is like any other time of the day, I just go with the flow. If I don’t feel like eating and I am busy working, I just keep going until I get home for dinner at around 6:00 PM.
My evenings over the last few months have become more intense as I attend several events happening around town, and pretty much every night, including on the weekend. But I try to avoid events on weekend nights as it’s the time I spend with my husband. As fun as it is, I have to say it can also be quite tiring. When I come back home from work, I try to have 30 minutes of downtime to recharge before getting all dressed and head back out to support my friends in the industry.
Getting dressed to go out is super easy for me. I have my go-to basic make-up routine done in five minutes; Smokey eyes, and I am all set. As for my outfit, it depends on the scale and feel of the event. I always have black pants and black dresses ready for any occasion. I always rely on Gucci outfits; they are versatile and can be dressed down or completely dressed up for any occasion.
But for me, an ideal evening is one spent in my garden with a glass in my hand and a cigar! I also love entertaining at home, the more the merrier. I start by inviting eight friends and end up having 25 people for dinner.
Life is good when you can have fun with friends you appreciate. I try to be in bed by 11:00PM but with my busy schedule and events almost every evening… and then by the time I shower and apply my night creams… I end up usually climbing into bed at 1:00 AM. Then I check my IG, answer a few messages, and comment on some posts. Once I put all the electronics aside, I try to sit for a minute and think. Usually, my thoughts revolve around what deadlines I have, what to work on next, what collection to shoot or amend, and what to name new Bil Arabi collections. I just try and be present as much as I can in each of my 24 hours.
Nadine’s Picks
Interview: Jessica Michault. Photos: Benjamin Malick, Ziga Milhelcic, Supplied Images.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s February 2023 issue.