Our favourite looks from Sole DXB 2024

Sole DXB is a hotbed for fashion – from the carefully curated sellers to, of course, the attendees showing up to what’s arguably the pinnacle of Dubai’s winter season clad in the metropolis’ best clothing. And like all events where many go to see and be seen, Sole DXB is a runway of sorts, and we couldn’t help but give in and capture the steady stream of outfits as they rolled in (sometimes literally). Partnering with Fujifilm, we’ve lensed 30 of our favourite looks across the entire 3-day weekend on the X-M5.

Day 1

On the first day, sole goers came correct, and while donning wildly different fits, one staple threaded them together: headwear in all forms. Akram Alnuaimy donned a full dark denim look with a vintage racing cap and a keffiyeh wrapped around; cowboy hats were everywhere, while furry or velvet ushanka’s stood out as a staple despite the foreheads that surely perspired underneath. Meanwhile, Edson Sabayo of Patta, one of the panellists who discussed community with Fady Nageeb Dazed MENA’s content director on day 1, consistently donned intricate kufi with geometric patterns and vibrant colours. As the definitive place where trends are surveyed, there’s no hiding it; hats are back and here to stay. Although, in many ways, throughout the region, they never really left.

Day 2

On Saturday, the penultimate and busiest day of the festival, the energy from day 1 intensified, and so did wardrobes–yet with an air of comfort. Or, for some who decided to wear balaclavas covering their whole face, perhaps inspired by the singer Tul8te who performed that day, maybe not? Speculation aside, the apex was vibrant and, in true Dazed MENA fashion, creative chaos: Afikra Quartertones spoke with Akala about social justice moderated by Mikey Muthanna while Tems brought the audience to the main stage into their feels with her ever-tender and rhythmic cadence. All the while, dancehall afro beats, mixed with heady arab trap, filled the centre of the sole space, streaming in from all sides.

Day 3

Day 3, the final day. The atmospheric bitter-sweetness is always inescapable as goers think of the week ahead and the looming end of the festival. There was a renewed sense of urgency: people were intentional as they marched to all the stands they made a mental checklist to visit over the course of the 2 days, and it showed – no one was playing; they were buying before being relegated to ordering from the vendors online and taking it all in, low-key already waiting for next year. Although the last day, fashion was, unsurprisingly, still the driving force, showing tenacity and stamina. Sole-ers showed up as masterclasses in layering, from accessories to knitwear, and others channelled arab-divas with a TikTok era spin and a tinge of irony – our favourite!

Discover more of what we got up to each day at Sole DXB on our IG