Tag Archives: Fashion

Paris Fashion Week 2011 – George Hobeika

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George Hobeika fashion show also took place at the Palais Tokyo in Paris. I love going backstage to see the clothes up close, so I did. When I met George, I asked him you seem nervous. He said he is and his publicist told me that George is always a nerve wreck before his shows.

It was very different from what Lebanon designers are used to showing us. It had very minimum beading, very flowy lines, some eccentric ideas and a general pale feeling to the colors. This is where I think he got it wrong. In the end its his vision, but I have to say that the combination of mustard, lavender, dove grey and White don’t exactly speak happiness. But then his inspiration was rocks from the natural.

Below are my favoritete pieces from the show.

Having said that, I thought that the designs had some truly brilliant twist. The wedding dress I felt was a piece of art. He is after all one of my favorite designers.

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Ahlan Hot 100! Restaurants

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How often do you want to invite someone special to a new place that you might have never experienced before? Its happens often with me. One of the most important magazine issues in the Middle East is the Ahlan Hot 100! Restaurants where you learn about the best restaurants in the UAE. In this year’s issue, I was a guest at the photoshoot of the restaurant Nineteen.

Aiisha Ramadan Hot 100 Restaurants

Mrs. Lina Samman was also a guest at one of her favorite restaurants, At.mosphere where she looks gorgeous in an AIISHA feather dress from the Love Affair collection.

Lina Samman Hot 100 Restaurants

Thank you Ahlan Hot 100! Restaurants and thank you Lina Samman for a lovely image

Ahlan Hot 100! Restaurants is a complimentary edition with Ahlan Magazine

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Aiisha awarded at the Gr8! Women Awards

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On the 15th of April at Madinat Jumeirah, I was awarded at the Gr8! Women Awards first edition in the UAE for my Fashion achievements. This ceremony, brought to us by Petrochem, celebrates women, their beauty and strength and promotes breast-cancer awareness. From India in general, some of the awarded women were Aishwarya Rai, Preity Zinta, and Zeenat Aman. From the UAE besides myself, some truly amazing ladies were awarded such as Lara Satrakian, Nayla Al Khaja and Sarah Belhassa were recognized for their work. In fact, most of the winners were ladies who made a difference to the world by being more like philanthropists.

This is where I felt speechless. Here I was, not exactly Alexander Mc Queen and have not publicly taken children off the streets and I was being awarded. From one side, I felt great for being recognized for my efforts and from the other side I thought, maybe its time to make a serious positive difference to this world. And it takes two to tango. I’ve always had a dilemma on whether being considered a celebrity would mean that I’m exploiting a cause I publicly support, or if  I’d promote it better.

When it came to the speech (yes we had to make a speech that I wasn’t prepared for), with some serious help, I came up with a simple yet witty speech that made people laugh.

I thanked the organizers for the award, congratulated my fellow winners and shared a quote by Nancy Reagan: A woman is like a teabag. It’s only when she’s in hot water that you realize how strong she is. My designs are inspired by the woman’s inner beauty to reflect on her outer one.

Thank you Petrochem for this beautiful award!

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Paris Fashion Week 2011 – Georges Chakra

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The first womens Couture fashion show I ever watched during the Paris Fashion Week 2011 was for Georges Chakra at the Palais de Tokyo. Its worth mentioning that just before the show started I had a chance to view a very exclusive and one-on-one presentation for the latest Chanel  J12 Chromatic watch. All in all, it was sensational. Very black and white.

I had to wrap up quickly and go to the backstage of Georges Chakra fashion show. I was fascinated by the generosity that Chakra loads in his creations. I have to say that it was my favorite show during the entire Paris Fashion Week. There’s so much regal and fresh feel to it all in one.

His inspiration was like most of the Lebanese designers, nature and flowers. That brought to my attention how the European designers were mostly inspired by certain characters. My favorite pieces involved a short fully CRYSTALLIZED by SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS dress and an coral/orange dress with a fully beaded tulle tight pants. Marvelous pieces. Yes, fully bling bling but in the most elegant way.

There was a tiny incident I enjoyed, that was when Mr. George Chakra was gonna have an interview with a TV station and he asked me to hold his telephone till he’s done. About 15 minutes later, his phone was ringing, and thats when I noticed that he’s forgotten his mobile with me!

On a separate note, a lot of people ask why are George Chakra’s creations so expensive. If you meet him and his staff, you’d be embraced with class and elegance. That alone makes you fall in love with the people behind the brand. But of course comes his beautiful designs, generosity in materials and crystals and a very fine end product. People, art is invaluable!

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Paris Fashion Week report soon…

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Just came back from Paris and Milan were I had the pleasure of being at the front row of nearly all of the fashion shows I watched at the Paris Fashion Week. I met with all the designers of the shows I’ve visited and had the best time backstage cuddling with their clothes as well as meeting with the hottest celebrities.

Anyways, since I came back – just 4 days ago, life has been upside down trying to catch up with a lot of work. Soon, I’ll update you on my trip in addition to our latest and really exciting news!

The shows I visited:

- Smalto (Homme)

- Cerruti (Homme)

- John Galliano (Homme)

- George Hobeika (Femme)

- George Chakra (Femme)

- Zuhair Murad (Femme)

- Elie Saab (Femme)

- Robert Abi Nader (Femme)

I’d also like to thank the below for inviting me, sorry I couldn’t make it, but I did watch all your shows later on and they’re amazing!

Among many others, Kenzo, Paul Smith, Basil Soda and Stephane Rolland (who I met later and found super charming!)

Here’s a little taste from George Hobeika’s backstage model’s running order chart:

George Hobeika models' running order

Thanks to all of the designers, their PR, and to Laith Bazari.. one of the sweetest, boldest and workaholic journalists I’ve ever met!

Laith Bazari

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South France and Paris – Part 3 (Fashion)

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Since I plan to visit Paris in January 2011 during the Paris Fashion Week, I thought that I should post the last post of my series about my summer trip to South of France and Paris.

It’s highly agreed on that fashion was born in the French capital Paris. When thinking about the International brands in the Fashion world, its Dior and Chanel top the list and indeed they are carved in the French presence. I don’t exaggerate when I say that there’s a woman with an LV or an Hermes every 5 meters. Whether in a sunny Nice or in the aristocratic Monaco or the stylish Paris, fashion floats on the roads and is the air that people breathe.

To buy the blush version of an LV Alma, I had to reserve the only remaining piece in France from Monaco 2 weeks before I reached Paris.

Louis Vuitton Alma - Blush

As for the Lancel – Brigitte Bordeaux edition, I fell in love with it from the moment I saw it. So I requested it in cream with gold before I left Paris and I felt a great joy when I received it in Dubai.

Lancel window display in Paris

Lancel Brigitte Bardot Edition

In St Tropez I had 2 special moments besides any others. The first was when I saw a lady wearing one of my dresses from the Valentine collection that sold at Galeries Lafayette Dubai. The second was when I visited one of my friends at her home in St Tropez. I was greeted by her daughter, Noor, wearing a dress that I made for her.

Noor, the first young girl to wear an Aiisha dress

Normally I do not design for children, but this child specifically wanted to look like her stylish mother, so I made them the same design for each. Noor also has a beautiful taste and we seem to always agree on the colors. Recently in December, I made her birthday dress with the theme being “Princess”. Needless to say how gorgeous she looked and always looks.

Brigitte Bardot ballerina dresses

I loved that in France International brands and local brands can be found to satisfy the different tastes and budgets. However, some people still live in the la la land where logic is not part of their dictionary. For example, in Nice when while wandering the Antique market on a Saturday, one of the sellers was displaying a used Hermes paper bag for 24 euros. Until this moment I could not understand what was going on that lady’s head and what were her sales expectations.

My favorite part was shopping for couture fabrics from Nice. It was a beautiful experience and everytime I’m in a fabric store, I feel like Alice in Wonderland!

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Emirates Woman – Fashion with a Heart

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Emirates Woman Magazine Cover - April 2010

I mentioned a while ago that Emirates Woman Magazine has initiated a fashionable charity project called Fashion with a Heart. The team of Emirates Woman  selected 10 of the very best designers in the UAE to work with. Each of the designers, of course including myself, was requested to make a bespoke dress that will be auctioned off at the Fashion With A Heart charity event that will take place at the Raffles Hotel Dubai, for the benefit Al Noor Training Centre for Children With Special Needs.

This project combines philanthropy and fashion where each of us, designers, have created a one-of-a-kind dress incorporating the themes of red, love and Fashion With a Heart concept. The 10 designers included myself, Aiisha Ramadan, Amato, Walid Atallah, Essa among others.

Aiisha Ramadan for Emirates Woman - Fashion with A Heart

Ironically, I was in touch with Al Noor last year and we had something in mind that didn’t work out. The good news is that now its happening and like I said before, its time to give back. In fact, its always time to give back!

My dress took an intensive month and a half and more than 30 yards of fabric!!! It was a sweet heart neckline, corset base bustier fully embroidered and beaded with Swarovski Crystals with layers and layers of tulle wired ruffles.I truly gave it my heart. In my opinion, if you want a dress to be auctioned, give it the best you can and don’t go cheap.

Not my favorite photo of myself, but the editor  chose one that reflects my character the most. I’ll let the photo tell you more..

I will post a separate thread about the event when it happens as the date is TBC.

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A Love Affair Collection Preview Video

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Preview Video of “A Love Affair” collection in glorious HD

Credits:

Aiisha Ramadan – Fashion Designs

Victoria Casal – Jewelery Designs

Manolo Blahnik – Shoes

All 4 Media – Video Production

Parov Stellar – Hurt – Soundtrack

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Aiisha @ Galeries Lafayette

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I understand how important it is to keep the blog up to date, specially after such a monumental event in my life, but I really have no time to update this blog followers with the event details, so I left the scoop for other bloggers (which I sincerely thank from my heart). But that doesn’t mean I won’t be updating my blog with the event photos and video, but all is good in due time.

La Dame a la Tour Eiffel

La Dame a la Tour Eiffel

The purpose of this entry is to announce that all the “Love Affair” collection is displayed at Galeries Lafayette in Dubai Mall.

At the main entrance of Galeries Lafayette Dubai Mall

At the main entrance of Galeries Lafayette Dubai Mall

At first we had the opportunity to display the collection for 10 days, which after an overwhelming reception, this extended till end of November.

Please, come and have a look at the collection first hand, it is on display at the main entrance on the 2nd floor.

Aiisha on Display

Aiisha on Display

I will be at Galeries Lafayette this weekend (Friday and Saturday), come and say Hi.

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Dubai ranked as # 11 Fashion City

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Dubai beats Tokyo on the fashion scene? That’s amazing!!

Dubai At Night

Dubai At Night

Well, Dubai is proudly ranked as # 11 fashion city while Milan topped the list surging New York after the latter dominated # 1 for 5 years.

“The global economic restructuring has affected the fashion industry just as it has touched everything else,” said Millie L. Payack, director and fashion correspondent for the Global Language Monitor. “The catwalks were still crowded though with the lights dimmer, the hype a bit more restrained, and ‘recessionistas,’ of course, thriving”.

“This exclusive ranking is based upon GLM’s Predictive Quantities Index, a proprietary algorithm that tracks words and phrases in print and electronic media, on the Internet and throughout the blogosphere. The words and phrases are tracked in relation to their frequency, contextual usage and appearance in global media outlets.” According to the Global Language Monitor

http://www.languagemonitor.com/fashion

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