Inside Inanna Reborn’s first runway, with Byredo

Inanna Reborn, a fashion project by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, made its first runway appearance in the Mleiha desert. Built around ideas of feminine power drawn from ancient queens and mythology, it looks at how those histories can carry into the present without feeling fixed in the past. The show unfolds against the Al Faya Mountains under an open night sky. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, but the setting isn’t overplayed. An Arabian horse opens things, followed by a live score that carries through the space. It’s simple, but it lands.

The references come through without being literal. Figures like Zenobia, the Queen of Sheba, Mavia and Samsi sit in the background, shaping the tone rather than dictating it. It’s less about recreating them and more about holding onto what they represent.

Beauty follows the same approach. Byredo and Dr. Barbara Sturm work from the base up. Skin is carefully prepped using products like Glow Cream, Glow Drops and the Super Anti-Aging Eye Serum, building a finish that feels light and hydrated rather than overdone.

Then the eyes come in. Byredo’s Vesuvio palette moves through bronze, crimson and black, layered in a way that adds depth without feeling heavy. Kajal keeps the lines sharp, pulling from familiar beauty rituals but keeping it current.

Lips are more restrained. Satin Lipsticks in Dust and Nomad, alongside softer finishes like gloss in Fantôme, keep things balanced. Jewellery and headpieces add another layer, but never take over.

Byredo and Dr. Barbara Sturm don’t try to stand out on their own. They sit comfortably within the show, helping shape how it looks and feels without pulling focus.