1. Once
UPON A
TIME
For a wardrobe-like library,
JUDY ANTON-ANSARI
tops the best dressed’s reading list
Words and styling by SHANNON WYLIE
Photography by LESTER ALI
Judy Anton-Ansari wears
dress by Paule Ka at Harvey
Nichols, shoes by Christian
Louboutin at Saks Fifth
Avenue and earrings by her
own label, Tobi the Cat Candy.
Hair: Stephanie at Salon INK.
Make-up: Bobbi Brown at
Bloomingdale’s. Shot on location
at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC
220 | Harper’s BAZAAR INTERIORS
2. TALKING POINT
Best BOOKS
Judy picks her favourite
o put me into a sentence is a jewellery, garden, decoration and lifestyle. coffee table books
difficult thing to do,” says German- Leveraging the skills of her husband’s
born-Dubai-based Judy Anton- family-owned business, Shaheen Interiors
Ansari, 38, who has made it her FZE, the one-of-a-kind libraries are already
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
mission to make the UAE better-read. a favourite with the ruling families across
(Dhs1,965)
From a love of reading, Judy has the Gulf. “If you have the space and interest,
developed a business built around go for it,” advises Judy, who can help CARTIER: JEWELERS
her passion. “I’m the person who imagine-up the ideal place for your books EXTRAORDINARY
couldn’t live without books,” she sighs, to sit pretty. “Any sideboard, windowsill or (Dhs1,045)
“new media or not, a beautiful book is still bedside table is perfect for showcasing your MAUBOUSSIN:
a beautiful book.” Last year, Judy teamed coffee table book treasures,” she urges those EDITIONS DE REGARD
up with Potterton Books from the UK to who may not have the space or inclination (Dhs4,605)
provide exclusive, out-of-print and first to build an entire library.
edition titles to Middle Eastern customers. More than simply a business venture, THE ART AND CRAFT
OF GIANNI VERSACE
She now creates bespoke libraries for books, Judy says, have shaped her life.
(Dhs580)
private and corporate clients, stocked with “For me, books have been an escape to get
seriously covetable coffee table titles to another world, to live someone else’s life, DREAM HOMES OF
covering interiors, entertaining, fashion, to learn something absolutely new, to LEBANON AND
admire something truly beautiful.” In 2001 BEYOND
Judy took a leaf out of Karen Blixen’s (Dhs840)
“Books are an escape Out of Africa experience and ventured to
Nairobi to relive the steps of the Baroness,
CHANEL BY JEAN
LEYMARIE
to another world” – who wrote her bestselling classic among the
wilderness, and to see where the eponymous
(Dhs260)
BE DAZZLED!
Judy Anton-Ansari Oscar-winning film was made. “It’s
probably my favourite book of all time and
NORMAN HARTNELL
SIXTY YEARS OF
I’ve seen the movie a hundred times. I can GLAMOUR AND
still remember now sitting in that house,” FASHION
she smiles, adding that the experience was (Dhs380)
made even more memorable thinking,
“of Robert Redford sitting there sipping
afternoon tea.”
But it is where publishing meets fashion
and design that Judy’s worlds really collide,
as evidenced by her own personal collection
of tomes signed by the likes of Tom Ford,
Giorgio Armani, Diane von Furstenberg,
Manolo Blahnik and Oscar de la Renta.
“I’ve been in love with Tom for a long
time,” she giggles, “But meeting Oscar de la
Renta was as equally exciting because I’m in Fashion
love with his clothes.” Alongside her own
wardrobe filled with Christian Louboutin,
Oscar, Jimmy Choo and Louis Vuitton,
HISTORY
Alongside coffee table tomes Judy
Judy is starting to branch out with her own
creations. “I’m designing jewellery, I’m also offers original Christian Dior
designing dresses,” she confides, “all the sketches from the 1970s
pretty things. I’ve collected quite a bit of CHRISTIAN DIOR
bling over the years!” Indeed her own SKETCHES (from
jewellery line, Tobi the Cat Candy, which is Dhs8,500 to Dhs10,500)
made in Italy, is already flying off shelves in “They are believed to
boutiques across America, but, “bringing it have been designed for
to Dubai, that’s the next step.” ■ Nan Kempner who was a
great American socialite
Judy Anton-Ansari’s libraries and books are and charitable hostess in
available by calling +971 (0) 50 551 4731 the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.
or emailing treibgutmiddleeast@hotmail.com To own a true piece of
history created by the
master himself?
Unbelievable. Not
repeatable and once they
are gone they’ll be gone.
I still play with the idea of
getting one for my own
dressing room.”
Harper’s BAZAAR INTERIORS |221