Ana Zahra Photoshoot & Joelle Mardinian wears Aiisha

August 20th, 2010

Prior to launching www.anazahra.com, the team that is entirely made of women (not to mention gorgeous ones) gathered for a photoshoot at the Villa Rotana hotel on Sheikh Zaid Road, Dubai.

As previously mentioned, this blog is in Arabic and it covers almost all aspects of a woman’s lifestyle. I contribute to this site and my section is about my fashion diaries in a very personal way. If you don’t read Arabic, feel free to use Google Translate http://translate.google.com/. I’m sure somethings might not make sense, but you’ll get the point.

So far, I hear that my diaries (which can get personal)  are the most popular.. Ironically.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the photoshoot

Aiisha Ramadan for www.anazahra.com

Aiisha Ramadan for www.anazahra.com

The Team - for www.anazahra.com

From Top Left to Right: Noora Al Ibrahimi, Nawal Al Ali, Aiisha Ramadan, Asmaa Mohamed,Ola Khseiroof
From Bottom Left to Right: Joelle Mardinian, Zoya Sakr, Nahida of Love & Label
In this photo, Joelle Mardinian, the very famous makeup artist and TV presenter on MBC TV, is wearing an Aiisha Ramadan golden one-shoulder fully beaded short dress from the Love Affair collection. This dress took 99 hours to make and the result is worth every bit. The golden shade worked so well with Joelle’s golden skin. Also, Joelle was about 7 or 8 months pregnant and the dress (due to its bubbly hem effect), hid the tummy and revealed the best parts of Joelle, which is practically everything else.
Thank you Ana Zahra, and thank you Joelle for making me proud.
Credits 2010
Photographer: Hikmat Wehbe
Art Director: Julia Purcaru
Hotel: Villa Rotana Hotel, Dubai
Copyright: www.anazahra.com

Zahrat Al Khaleej features Aiisha

August 1st, 2010

I always say yes to under water themed photo shoots. With Zahrat Al Khaleej and one of my favorite models Dima, it was a very successful photo shoot and I instantly fell in love with the results.

Zahrat Al Khaleej - Issue 1634

Thank you Zahrat Al Khaleej.

Zahrat Al Khaleej featuring Aiisha Ramadan design

Zahrat Al Khaleej featuring Aiisha Ramadan design

Zahrat Al Khaleej featuring Aiisha Ramadan design

Zahrat Al Khaleej featuring Aiisha Ramadan design

Zahrat Al Khaleej featuring Aiisha Ramadan design

Zahrat Al Khaleej featuring Aiisha Ramadan design

All above items are available at Studio8, Jumeirah, Dubai.

Simone Heng wears Aiisha for Pink Pepper

July 25th, 2010

4 words:

She made me proud!

When you meet Simone Heng after speaking to her on the phone, you smile immediately. Her voice is bigger than her petite figure. Her beauty is pure. Her personality is embraced by her honesty and the positive vibes she brings to any place she steps into.

Simone is a Radio and TV presenter and previously a model.

When it comes to Simone’s style, its sexy funky. Long dresses may drag her down if they didn’t come in smartly assorted colors and with minimum volume. However, short dresses pay her a tribute. She can wear a lot of color combinations, with or without belts, puffy or tight.. it all works.

In the below photo taken by Pink Pepper, Simone is wearing one of the Aiisha Barbie Dresses that also took its course on the runway at the Love Affair fashion show. It was one of the smallest pieces on the runway and it looked like it was custom-made for Simone. The gradient pink and fuchsia degrees compliment her skin tone.

Simone Heng wearing Aiisha Ramadan for Pink pepper

In fact, on the big bow on the back of the dress were some silver thread embroidery shaping some Arabic Calligraphy. The words meant Play, Laugh, Live and Love. In the project for Barbie, they were supposed to be simple messages to a generation fascinated by Barbie. For me, Simone did this dress justice.

Thank you Simone

Aiisha on Ana Zahra

July 8th, 2010

For those familiar with the Arab Media, Zahrat Al Khaleej magazine is one of the top 3 in the GCC. The team behind Zahrat Al Khaleej has come together to extend their vision into an Arabic only website under the name of Ana Zahra. Incidentally, Ana Zahra means (I’m a flower). The website will be under www.anazahra.com

It will be covering lifestyle, fashion and beauty. Contributers will be from Paris, Saudi Arabia, Beirut, and of course the UAE.

A few months ago, I was approached by Zoya Sakr, most likely the tallest lady I’ve ever met. But also one of the finest, most elegant and has some mystery in her eyes. She observes a lot.. she appreciates well.

After hearing about my lifestyle and all that I do, I was immediately categorized as one of their Inspirational Women and was requested to write my diaries to Ana Zahra.

Aiisha Contributes to Ana Zahra

The challenge to me was to write in Arabic. I “was” the top student in high school with my Arabic, but that kind of evaporated  throughout the years for the lack of practice. However, when I started writing, it all started flooding. I had a style in writing. Its easy yet deep. At least thats how I like to think about it. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

The first few articles will be more like an introduction and talking about my history on how I got into Fashion, talking about each collection, what was behind it and what it meant to me, my styling career and lots about my family.

Its about my personal fashion oriented life.

My policy was to delete as less as possible. Just let it out, be myself and within the borders of respecting the public.

Experts and contributors will include the likes of Joelle Mardinian, who looked stunning wearing one of my Love Affair dresses at our group photoshoot. I’ll write a separate blog about that.

For now, I’d like to thank Zoya, Ana Zahra Team, my family and all of those who have supported me.

Do check out www.anazahra.com and I really hope you’ll enjoy it.

Second Skin

June 27th, 2010

I’m not really a foundation girl but like it or not for TV shooting or photoshoots, foundation is a must. It evens up your face tones and makes it look “supposedly” flawless. What I “Hate” about foundation is when it makes the face look like a cake mask. It hurts me to see it gathered around wrinkles or on the sides of the nose and so on. I also have a combination skin, so neither purely matt nor very liquidy could work on me.

Carmen Kass for Max Factor Second Skin Foundation

That was until I tried Max Factor – Second Skin Foundation. One word: BRILLIANT!!

Nothing can describe this miraculous foundation better than “Second Skin”. Just select the closest shade to your skin tone among 5 options and your good to go.

Different shades from Max Factor Second Skin Foundation

Braun Satin Hair Brush with Iontec

June 21st, 2010

Braun Satin Hair Brush Iontec

What’s Iontec???

That was the first thing that came to my mind. I actually took a shower and tried to comb my hair with it waiting for the magic. Clearly, none appeared. So when I came across an expert who knew more about this new innovation, she explained that when the hair is mostly or fully dry, use Braun Satin Hair Brush with Iontec to comb your hair.

In fact, make it your only brush to use as it doesn’t only provide gentle brushing, but most importantly protects your hair from potential or existing damage. IONTEC is a unique technology which is specifically designed to protect the health of your hair. The uniquely designed green ion jet releases millions of satin ions proven effectively onto your hair. These satin ions immediately begin to reduce static and friction to instantly restore you hair’s shine and smoothness.

So when (like most people) I brush my hair, due to its softness and thinness, it becomes static and looks like anything but well done.. that until I have to contineously run my hands over it several times.

I took the notes, and combed my hair everyday with the Satin Hair™ brush that has truly provided me with instant benefits very much like a conditioner. It effectively tames frizz and flying hair for tangible smoothness compared to brushes without leading IONTEC. That alone, reveals the healthiness of my hair via a radiant shine.

Rima.. Beirut’s Bride

June 12th, 2010

Those who know me, know that I’m not a fan of big weddings. For me, the perfect wedding is that where I have around me those I love dearly and love me back. The perfect wedding is not about the loud music and sweating from dancing. Its about sharing a beautiful moment with your sober husband in a sober crowd and having good food that won’t be thrown away. But that’s just me.

Rima’s.. Like a flower

The title of her email was: Thanks Aiisha, it was all about the dress!!

When I saw the pictures, I understood. I was overwhelmed..

When she first called asking for a custom-made wedding dress, I couldn’t help but be inspired by her passion. Her story on how she met her husband, now, captured me. I began telling it to everybody around me. She didn’t want any crystals or beading. All she wanted was to be herself in her most beautiful status – like the princess of her day - and she did well.

Rima in the Old Beirut

As she swayed in her white dress with pink insertions, she waited leaning over a wall in the middle of old Beirut, saying goodbye to years away from her soulmate.. welcoming a new life where she holds his hand every step of the way.

Rima’s message to the world:

So you are born and then as soon as you can walk and talk, you start dreaming about the white dress. Long story very short, I met Aiisha and explained to her what I wanted as a wedding dress. Stitch by Stitch, with all the uncertainties and worries I had that maybe something would go wrong, the most beautiful dress was then delivered to me, right on time.

Hand freighted to Lebanon, I proudly wondered in the streets of the Beirut down town where whispers, camera flashes and clapping surrounded me. I even had small girls in school uniforms wanting to take a picture with me. It was just perfect; better than I imagined.

What’s more important, I’ve never seen the look in my husband’s eyes the moment I walked out of my houses’s gate to marry him.

Thank you Aiisha. Thank you thank you!
Rima Wehbe

Together.. Forever

Mabrouk Rima.. you made me proud

Photos used by permission from Rima Wehbe

M for My first and only Manolo…

June 10th, 2010
“M”
As you know, we’ve had one of the finest collaborations with the living legend Manolo Blahnik during our previous collection, Love Affair. Needless to say that posing next to Manolo was a moment to cherish as I made sure I scanned him from his bow tie down to his fuchsia shoes. As I always tell the sales person at any shoe boutique- I have no need of a particular shoe color or style. I have a need of a shoe. Period.

Photo shoot (Victoria Casal, Manolo Blahnik, Aiisha Ramadan)

So among few other styles I got, specifically 1 crazy green ruffled Toubid pair, came home with me a pair of the most famous Hangisi blue jeweled Manolos that Mr. Big used to propose to Carrie in Sex and the City and I made sure that the legend himself signs on their sole.

Manolo Blahnik Hangisi

Manolo Blahnik autographing on Aiisha's Hangisi

A pair of Toubid MB to kill for!

Recently, I looked into my shoe closet and thought to myself “I’d really like to see some colorful pair where my eyes would almost hurt!”. So I hit Bloomingdales and found some elegant ones by different brands. Plain elegant wasn’t quite what I was looking for.

The moment I stepped into the Manolo Blahnik boutique in Dubai Mall, I was captivated by one specific pair from the latest season.. The photos won’t give it justice and no words can express the powerful combination of the Blue, Fuchsia and Orange on my tanned legs with a hot red pedicure.

Manolo Blahnik Petasap

Then my heart started pounding a little more as I walked by the Golden/Black pair that Victoria Casal and I wore during our photo shoot with Manolo Blahnik. They’re called Innamor and they had to be mine. The only way to describe this pair is “Mysterious”. They’re elegant, sexy and they seem to be in love.. constantly.

The girls in the Innamors

Manolo Blahnik Innamor

Its worth mentioning that at Manolo Blahnik Dubai Mall, you only get 1 piece of each size. I mean seriously! This is why I make sure that my feet sized 36/ 36.5 get their pairs picked even before they land in Dubai.

Some of the below collection will be showcased in the latest movie Sex and the City and will be launched in Manolo Blahnik Dubai Mall in July.

Manolo Blahnik Denzi

Manolo Blahnik Lezza

Manolo Blahnik Delaya

Manolo Blahnik Amacha

All will be launched and much more soon at the Manolo Blahnik boutique in Dubai Mall..

Manolo Blahnik Boutique Dubai Mall

Aiisha in Russian! (Fashion Invasion)

June 7th, 2010

The Russian magazine PLATINUM - The master-sample of the luxurious life, gave us a beautiful coverage that I wasn’t able to understand a word from, but given that we were on 3 pages, hmm… I guess it was a good feedback ;)

PLATINUM is spread to American Express Platinum bank card holders and VIP clients in Baltic States and some other neighboring countries

As always, thank you, and thank every singles tv/ press/media publication for their support.

UAE and KSA: Are you ready to win?

June 3rd, 2010

Named as Hia magazine’s favorite whitening innovation, Olay White Radiance is giving you the chance to design your dream dress and have myself, Aiisha Ramadan, create it exclusively for you. Olay White Radiance features new whitening technology that works to penetrate skin cells, eight surface cell layers deep, delivering skin fairness with an even tone and soft glow from deep within.

To celebrate just how innovative White Radiance is, Olay has launched a competition for you to create your own dazzling innovation and design your dream dress. It can be a design for something you’d like to wear everyday, or on a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, but it must capture the essence of innovation and radiance. Submit your entry in five simple steps:

1. Register online on www.olayarabia.com (skip this step if you’re already a member)

2. Go to the Olay aisle in participating outlets* from May 23rd to June 5th,2010

3. Enjoy a skincare consultation from one of our Olay beauty consultant, then ask for your entry code

4. Design your dress then log on to www.olayarabia.com and use your entry code to upload your design.

You have till June 15th to do that, after which competition will be closed. A judging panel made up of fashion and beauty industry experts including myself, top magazine editors and an Olay representative will choose one winner from the UAE and one winner from KSA.

Winners will be announced by July 1st, 2010 so keep visiting our blog and www.olayarabia.com to see if your innovative, radiant dress is a winner!