Crème de la Crème

March 2011

Arabia

THE

FASHION ISSUE

Shoe delights Being Tom Ford Economy Overview Advantage Aston Anna Enthralls French treats Tempting Tanzania Dibaj’s Duo

GALLERY ARGAN: Qurum Shopping Area, Al-Bustan Palace, Bareeq Al Shati Soon at Shangr-la-Barr-Al-Jissah, Muscat Grand Mall PRIMA GOLD: Muscat City Centre, Qurum City Centre, Bareeq Al Shati www.galleryargan.com

GALLERY ARGAN: Qurum Shopping Area, Al-Bustan Palace, Bareeq Al Shati Soon at Shangr-la-Barr-Al-Jissah, Muscat Grand Mall PRIMA GOLD: Muscat City Centre, Qurum City Centre, Bareeq Al Shati www.galleryargan.com

www.givenchy.com

The new fragrance

GALLERY ARGAN: Qurum Shopping Area, Al-Bustan Palace, Bareeq Al Shati Soon at Shangr-la-Barr-Al-Jissah, Muscat Grand Mall PRIMA GOLD: Muscat City Centre, Qurum City Centre, Bareeq Al Shati www.galleryargan.com

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Inside

Platinum Club

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Trailblazer Jimmy Choo and Giuseppe Zanotti shoes have arrived in Oman. Misha Daud has brought the creations of the two master designers that are available exclusively at her haute boutique – Eye Candy

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Icon He turned around Gucci into one of the best known fashion conglomerates. He left it all to start his own brand that deals with everything from perfumes to sunglasses to clothes. A look into the rise of Tom Ford

Business and Finance

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Economy The current state of regional affairs seem to cast looming shadows on the economies of various countries.

A report on the changes taking place in the Middle Eastern economy

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Advertorial Celebrating DANA’s first anniversary, Michael Donald of National Bank of Oman gives an insight on the progress of their prestigious project - Dar Al Hanan

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Automobilia

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First Look A look at Ferrari’s new Ferrari Four. The revolutionary car ushers in an entirely new GT Sports car concept

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Luxe Wheels The Aston Martin Vantage range comes of age with the new V8 Vantage S characterised by a host of new driverfocussed features designed to push the honed dynamics of the standard Vantage to a new benchmark level

Art and Design

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Canvas Acclaimed artist Anna Dudchenko recently hosted her 8th solo exhibition titled ‘Drip, Spill, Spray and a Touch of Nostalgia. A chat with the talented artist

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Impressions Internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry takes on a new project - of turning a treehouse into a corporate building. His new and novel architecture is trip down memory for the architect

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Gourmet & Hospitality

2011. Afaf and Aida, the two sisters behind the brand, share their passion for fashion

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Review Al Marjan Bistro, a new restaurant at Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat, serves some of the finest French classics. A review…

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Dining Ocean Blue International launched a new roof top dining concept, Bait Al Bilad at a scintillating event. The experience was unique as guests enjoyed authentic Omani cuisine under the starry sky

Travel and Lifestyle

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Destination Tanzania is beautiful, arresting and rich in culture.

Not to forget the famed safaris. The country is like a tonic.

One visit does not suffice

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Focus The Extreme Sailing series witnessed a nail biting finish last month which concluded during the Muscat Festival. Team Crème de la Crème was invited to the exhilarating event

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Lounge Must reads of the month: To a Mountain in Tibet

by Colin Thubron and The Dead Hand by David Hoffman

Showcase Christian Louboutin footwear grace the feet of royalty, celebrities, fashionistas and just about everyone with a penchant for fabulous footwear. The Spring/ Summer 2011 Women’s and Men’s footwear collection is every inch drool worthy

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Advertorial A look at the world’s most expensive handbag by renowned jeweller, Mouawad

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FASHION A ring-side view of the first ever Muscat Fashion Week, that was held during the Muscat Festival 2011

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New Look A look into this season’s hottest range of cosmetics and make up collection

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Advertorial A world leader in skin research, SENSAI is proud to introduce Cellular Performance Wrinkle Repair Collagenergy

Melange

Style and Beauty

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Fashion speak Dibaj, the eclectic and contemporary Omani fashion brand has been making waves in the nation, especially following its showing at Muscat Fashion Week

luxury

Simply Musts A selection of the finest buys for connoisseurs of

My View The stylish young Managing Partner of TRACCS Oman, Hassan Al Lawati gives a lowdown on Men’s Spring/Summer 2011 looks

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Reflections A sense called fashion Coco Chanel had once remarked: Fashion is not simply a matter of clothes; fashion is in the air, born upon the wind; one intuits it… it comes from ideas, manners, events… Nobody could have said it better!

While it is possible to have vaults overflowing with cash, no one can really buy fashion in its strictest sense. You either are born with the sense to understand fashion or as Chanel said, intuit it from various elements around.

Crème de la Crème chose fashion as one of its themes for 2011 as it is one of the strongest industries in the world. The world’s entire fashion industry generates almost a trillion dollars every year. In Oman, fashion designers and the interest in fashion is on the rise. We may still not have the big names in the fashion arena stocked in our malls, but the day is not too far away.

The eclectic and fashionable boutique Eye Candy is proof of that. From Matthew Williamson to Chloe to Jimmy Choo and Giuseppe Zanotti – you will find some of the classiest brands in there. We get the exclusive on what the boutique’s owner Misha Daud has in store for her discerning clients.

We also bring you the story of the rise and rise of fashion favourite – Tom Ford as well as skyhigh heels and stylish footwear from Christian Louboutin. And if you missed the recently held Muscat Fashion Week, we give you a lowdown.

And as always, there are interesting reports and features in all our regular sections. The report on the effects of the current political turmoil in some of the Middle Eastern nations is eyeopening and thought-provoking.

We have a big surprise for our readers in the April issue of Crème de la Crème. Make sure you do not miss out next month’s issue.

That’s it for now.

Ciao!

Editor anne@sjsoman.com

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PRESENTED BY

Suite 20-21, Assarain House, Greater Muttrah, Muscat PO Box 2058, Ruwi, PC 112, Sultanate of Oman Tel.: +968 24789680, Fax: +968 24751019 Advertising & Sales Enquiries: +968 99822501 Subscriptions: +968 96781712 E-mail: helpdesk@sjsoman.com www.cremedelacremearabia.com

BPA CONSUMER AUDIT APPLIED FOR ISSN 2077- 401 X

Crew

March 2011 Vol - 3 Issue - 28

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ABDULLAH AL TAIE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AUSTIN D’SILVA

PUBLISHER AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING (SAOC)

EDITORIAL Editor ANNE KURIAN

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Art & Design NEIL VICENTE CASTILLO

HEAD - SALES & MARKETING BEATRIZ PEREIRA

Senior Writer MADHULIKA MOHTA

Senior Designer SEBASTINE SILUVAI

Features Writers SUDIPTA DASGUPTA LEELA NAIR

Web Design SHERWIN .D

International Correspondent VAILIA FERNANDES

EVENTS MUSTAFA ABDEL RAHMAN SEEMA AL BALUSHI

PHOTOGRAPHER ELVIS FERRAO

SUBSCRIPTIONS ARUN DAS SHEIKHA AL HARTHY

ADVERTISING Oman KALPANA D’SILVA NAVEED SHARIF UAE AUDREY ALMEIDA International RUPA FERNANDES BARRY COELHO DISTRIBUTION ABDULLAH AL BALUSHI ZAHRA AL BALUSHI

DISCLAIMER All rights reserved. No part of Crème de la Crème or any part of the contents there of may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing.

The publishers regret they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused.

The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers

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PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE AFTER YOU HAVE ENJOYED READING IT

Platinum Club

Trailblazer w Icon March March 2011 2011

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platinum club

trailblazer

Zanotti and Choo are in town. The fashionable boutique Eye Candy is now home to irresistible footwear from the two master designers.

Anne Kurian meets the boutique’s owner Misha Daud to learn about the new treats in her store

Best Heel Forward 46

March 2011

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ou can never have too many good friends or good shoes. These two aspects are vital in a person’s life.

While good friends are treasures of our lives, good shoes maketh a man or woman, just like clothes do. A good pair of shoes can complete just about any outfit and transform the plain to fantastic.

Akin to precious jewellery are well-crafted shoes and the masters who create footwear. Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Sergio Rossi and Salvatore Ferragamo are some of the best known names in the world of exquisite footwear. But no best shoe designer list is complete without Jimmy Choo and Giuseppe Zanotti. While Jimmy Choo is every woman’s must-have shoe brand, Giuseppe Zanotti is definitely the luxe-have brand.

Yet shoe lovers in Oman could pick up these two brands only during their travels abroad. Though, not anymore. Eye Candy, the hottest fashion address in the city, is now home to shoes from Jimmy Choo and Giuseppe Zanotti. Misha Daud, a self-confessed shoe lover, has introduced the two international sell-out brands in Oman.

“I chose to bring Jimmy Choo because I wanted a brand that excels in quality, has beautiful designs and has stood the test of time. I also wanted a brand that covered all seasons and nobody quite does it like Jimmy Choo. They have shoes

for every basic need. Their 24/7 collection fits into every woman’s wardrobe effortlessly,” explains Daud.

Speaking about her decision to have Giuseppe Zanotti footwear in Eye Candy, Daud says, “Giuseppe Zanotti shoes have a lot of drama. In fact his shoes are spectacular. He can take the most basic of elements and turn them into fantastic pieces. The way he makes the shoes fit are amazing; it is unlike any other. The very fact that he was chosen to design for Balmain is proof of his absolutely faultless quality.”

Daud’s passion for fashion is almost infectious. A person who believes in giving her clients that is top of the line makes her stand out from the rest. “I choose brands that I believe in and like. If I don’t like a brand that I pick, then how can I expect my client to like it? I also pick brands that have a good reputation and carved a niche for themselves. When I pick up something from a designer brand, I am investing in it.

Longevity matters to me,” she says.

When quizzed about her decision to bring Jimmy Choo and Giuseppe Zanotti footwear to Oman, Daud says, “Shoes are so essential in a person’s wardrobe; a girl can never have too many shoes. Even on a bad day, a good pair of shoes can take you from dull to glam and make you feel just wonderful.

They are beautiful accessories. You can wear fabulous shoes with a plain black dress or jeans and white t-shirt to transform the way you look. For a lady who wears abayas her shoes and her bags are the most important accessories.

“I saw a demand for good shoes in Oman. There are some

March 2011

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shoe shops that sell expensive labels but these are brands I have not heard of. I would prefer to have brands that are wellknown and if I can, then why not?”

Daud is famed for bringing renowned international designers’ creations to Oman. Top among these are Matthew Williamson, Anya Hindmarch, Issa, Chloe and Givenchy, to name a few. While there are big conglomerates that could bring such acclaimed designers to the country to cater to the fashion conscious, few have taken the step. Yet, Daud never shied away from taking a risk.

“There is a risk to everything. If you don’t try how will you ever succeed? I believe in the country I live in and I want to invest in Oman. I was really fed up of going to Dubai to pick up Dubai to pick up brands. I would prefer to invest in my home, which is Oman and make things accessible for the people living here,” says Daud.

Her belief in Oman and her business has paid off well.

She has a growing number of loyal clients who swear by Daud’s choice of brands. She is also at the top of her game, often bringing to Oman collections even before they are available on the internet.

As for the latest shoe brands in the boutique, she will have every season’s collections as soon as they are launched by the designers globally.

Currently both the brands are stocked at Daud’s very fashionable boutique Eye Candy in Jawharat A ’Shatti mall in Shatti Qurum. But very soon she will be launching her exclusive footwear and accessories boutique – Foot Candy.

Along with footwear from Jimmy Choo and Giuseppe Zanotti, Daud will be introducing accessories by Stella McCartney and Givenchy to name a few.

As we come to the end of our interview, Misha Daud lets out a pearl of wisdom passed on to her by her father. “My dad used to say that you can tell a person by their shoes. And that is true. Shoes often tell about a person’s character.”

Coming from a lady who never fails to put her best heel forward, that adage sure holds truth!

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Misha on Jimmy Choo “Jimmy Choo shoes are timeless. They can be in your wardrobe forever. You can wear Jimmy Choo shoes to work and to a wedding. Their footwear is exceptionally well-made.”

Misha on Giuseppe Zanotti “Giuseppe Zanotti is the wonder shoe for me. He can turn plain flipflops to statement pieces. He is the design master. He has designed shoes for many of the big designers and that shows he truly is the master of his game.”

March 2011

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Platinum Club

Icon

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March 2011

Being Tom Ford Having turned Gucci into a global fashion colossus within the 10 years he was at the helm of the creative department with the Italian brand, it is no wonder Tom Ford decided to launch his own label. Creme de la Creme traces the rise and rise of the American designer

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F

rom Texas to the fashion capitals of the world, Tom Ford’s story is one of fervor, determination and sheer creativity.

The designer made the world take notice of him when he changed around the faltering profits of Gucci turning the conglomerate into one of the giants in the fashion world.

Ford, though born in Austin, Texas, spent most of his childhood years back in New Mexico. He later enrolled in an art history course at New York University and also trained as an actor. He also studied interior architecture at Parsons School of Design in New York. He later moved on to finish his studies at Parsons in Paris, France.

By the end of the course Ford he realised that he wanted to work in f ashion.

As soon as his studies w e r e

completed in 1986, Ford returned to New York where he began his professional training.

The designer moved to Paris shortly and in 1990was hired

by Gucci’s then creative director Dawn Mello as chief women’s ready-to-wear designer. In 1992, he moved up the corporate ladder of the fashion world and once again took on the role of Design Director. While Ford did turn around Gucci’s losses, business initially went bad for Gucci and Ford was nearly fired by Maurizio Gucci in 1993, but this was prevented by Domenico de Sole, director of Gucci America Inc. When Gucci took over Yves Saint Laurent in 2000 Ford designed the women’s wear collection and he was named Best International Designer at the first VH1/Vogue Awards in New York. By then Ford had helped change the fortunes of Gucci and was among the notable designers of the decade.

Ford quit the fashion industry in 2004, giving up the empire he had help rebuild for Gucci and to a certain extent, Yves Saint Laurent. His name, of course, was synonymous with fashion and he was also referred to alongside the renowned names in international fashion. He surprised fans and the industry alike when he returned just a year later by licensing fragrance and beauty collections to finance his future clothing ventures, including his design studio in London.

Just like his strategies for Gucci’s success, he introduced his own label through one such strategy; Tom Ford perfumes and cosmetics. And later menswear and accessories. While most designers launch clothes followed by extensions, Ford took the uncommon path. He launched his menswear line in April 2007 at his first menswear store on Madison Avenue. His slim-fitting suits and tuxedos are worn by stars like Brad Pitt and Jay Z. Attention to detail and impeccable craftsmanship are highlights of Ford’s designs. He has introduced many custom details and options in the ready-to-wear and made-to-measure menswear. Suits can be ordered in wool, mohair, cashmere, silk jacquard or velvet. A tie can be customised from among seven widths and matched to

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Attention to detail and impeccable craftsmanship are highlights of Ford’s designs. He has introduced many custom details and options in the ready-to-wear and made-to-measure menswear 52

March 2011

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an exact collar spread. A stickler for perfection, Ford takes this to his professional life too. His luxury and personalized services offer the wealthy with riding clothes, riding boots, shooting clothes, ski clothes, $900 walking sticks, $4,900 moon boots and jeans with 18-karat gold buttons.

Last year he launched his women’s wear amidst much secrecy and away from teh prying eyes of the media as he wanted to keep his collection exclusive. The collection was modelled by celebrity friends from his - from Lauren Hutton to Beyonce Knowles.

The women’s collection is just as comprehensive, with handbags, shoes and jewelry, as well as clothes for every occasion. The spring collection features an ivory viscose peak lapel jacket and wide leg pants, gold-dipped feather earrings; black lace and feather spiked heels and many gowns so luxe they have been listed simply as ‘price upon request.’

Gold and over-sized exotic stones were the focus in the accessories, the jewelry were sleek in design and had a sculpted look. Gladiator style cuffs in hammered 18k gold, amethyst and 18k gold pendant, and the stand out piece was a smoky topaz and 18k gold pendant.

He showcased a different side of his personality when he directed ‘A Single Man’ - Ford’s maiden foray into filmmaking. The movie that addressed about a suicidal, detail-obsessed middle-aged man either cursed or blessed with the ability to see the world in surreal hyper focus, got Colin Firth an Oscar nomination in 2010. Ford not only co-wrote the script (based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel of the same name) but cast, directed, edited and financed it.

What lies ahead for Tom Ford? Well the designer is not letting anyone know yet, but there definitely is a second movie in the offing and many more fashion splendours from the house of Tom Ford coming our way.

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Business & Finance

Economy w Advertorial March March 2011 2011

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

ECONOMY

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

The current state of affairs in the region is casting looming shadows on the economy in many countries.

Madhulika Mohta presents a report on the changes taking place and the effects on the Middle Eastern economy

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ear haunts the world as a blaze of political unrest spreads across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). First Tunisia, then Egypt and now fiery protests in Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Bahrain and Iran.

With Libya on the verge of revolution, Oman and other GCC countries have made swift economic and political changes. In times of unrest it can hardly be business as usual and this has implications for investors.

The Fallout Saudi Arabia’s stockmarket is down 19% while UAE-DFM index is down by 17% (YTD). Businesses across the Middle East are holding major investment decisions. UAE is facing disruption as a regional transportation and distribution hub. Fearful expatriates are sending money home.

Across the Mediterranean, Turkey’s stock exchange is down 18.8% YTD. The iShares Emerging Markets Fund, suffered a two-week 5.7% slide in February. The CBOE Volatility Index is racing higher. Almost 7 million put options have traded last month (double the typical volume). Gold has again retaken on the role of safe haven and traded upto $1,428. Crude oil prices are bubbling with Brent reaching $120 a barrel on February 24th. Crude oil futures are at a 2 1/2 year high.

Shares of American companies like Apache reeled (30% of its revenues come from Egyptian oilfields). Boeing and Lockheed Martin face loss of revenue and domestic jobs as new regimes spend on basic education rather than armament. FMCG companies are facing warehouse gluts.

Thousands of highly paid expatriates have returned home and humanitarian crises lurk around the corner.

All in all, more than $10 billion was pulled from stock markets in emerging economies last month. Is this just the beginning?

Making Sense The twenty-two countries comprising MENA account for $2.5 trillion (barely 3%) of world GDP. So why are recent political protests making investors jittery? The truth is that the economic risk from Arab unrest is more than what simple extrapolation suggests. The missing link is the “Black Gold” and MENA produces a third of it. Events in Libya showcase that lesser events than regime change can disrupt oil supply with significant impact on the United States, Europe and Asia. Research firm Roubini Global Economics has pointed out that three of the last five global recessions followed upheaval in the Middle East.

There are deeper reasons for investors’ fear psychosis.

Long-term supply and demand curves were already pulling apart before the turmoil. As per the International Energy Agency, global oil demand grew by an extraordinary

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Oil prices have a knock-on effect on the cost of everything leading to global inflation. Europe consumes over 85 per cent of Libya’s crude exports. If oil prices exceed assumed levels (as they already have) there are risks to the EU’s economic recovery

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“

The truth is that the economic risk from Arab unrest is more than what simple extrapolation suggests.

The missing link is the “Black Gold” and MENA produces a third of it

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2.7m b/d in 2010. The trend is likely to continue as the developed world recovers and demand again surges in Asia.

New supplies are not in the pipeline (if you excuse the pun) so supply glitches will create greater havoc than before.

On February 26th, for example, Iraq’s biggest refinery shut down after a terrorist attack. Nigeria is heading for elections in April and last time around this had led to 1m b/d of supply being knocked out.

There are also technicalities that could exacerbate the crisis even if spare capacity is utilised by the likes of Saudi Arabia to bridge supply gaps as promised. Saudi oil is more dense and sulphurous than the Libyan crude. Europe’s fuel regulations are less tolerant of sulphur content and its old refineries unable to process Saudi crude. So the Gulf oil will have to be shipped to Asia’s newer refineries creating bottlenecks, shortages and spikes for different products and regions.

Oil prices have a knock-on effect on the cost of everything leading to global inflation. Europe consumes over 85 per cent of Libya’s crude exports. If oil prices exceed assumed levels (as they already have) there are risks to the EU’s economic recovery. Andrew Burns, Worldbank’s manager of global economics is on record saying that increased oil price would knock upto 0.4%

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off economic growth in developing countries. Many like India subsidise fuel and Citigroup estimates that each $10 increase costs India’s budget 0.25% of GDP opening up a vicous circle of bankruptcy.

Investors also weight in on the reason for the oil price hike. A demand led increase is better as it indicates healthy economic growth as opposed to a hike due to supply constraints.

There are other cooks spoiling the broth. As many financial products are organized in blocks like the ‘Next 11’, (which includes Egypt and Turkey), trouble in one country leads to flight of capital from others as well. High interest rates in developing countries have poisoned those stock markets. Inflation in countries like China (about 5%) and India (over 9%) is already high and any energy price rise will make it spiral out of control halting not only their economic growth but also the global economic recovery.

Pricier oil means a net transfer to oil producers and as these countries save more, it leads to lessened global demand.

And then there is the real fear - that with Bahrain’s troubles being right at Saudi Arabia’s doorstep and if Saudi Arabia and UAE catch the regional fever, the game might change forever making oil companies declare force majeure, as in 1978.

Soothing Sensibilities While an oil shock can certainly derail economic growth, it would not be wise to simply drop emerging markets from the stock portfolio. There is a need to look for the silver lining.

In the long run, more democracy will be a net positive for the global economy. Emerging economies stand to gain from a flood of inward remittances from expatriate workers.

Political incidents would prompt governments to increase spending on job creation and public projects providing corporates and entrepreneurs with profitable opportunities.

In the US, inflation is extremely low giving the Fed, leeway to react to oil price increases. Europe with its heavily taxed fuel is more insulated from short term oil price hikes.

“

While the emerging world is more vulnerable, it can shore up investor confidence by taking bold steps to curb inflation and tightening monetary conditions.

Meanwhile, investors can use complex stock market tools like straddles and strangles (buying puts and calls on the same stock), directional put butterfly spreads, etc to hedge their bets. The global economy can probably withstand a 10 or 15 percent rise in oil prices without affecting the recovery. And perhaps the recent events will finally make a case for developing the infrastructure to reduce the dependence on oil.

The one golden rule in such times is to guard against fear. For, that after all is a contagious disease.

And then there is the real fear - that with Bahrain’s troubles being right at Saudi Arabia’s doorstep and if Saudi Arabia and UAE catch the regional fever, the game might change forever making oil companies declare force majeure, as in 1978

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Advertorial

As good as home

On the first anniversary of Dana, Oman’s first credit card for women, Michael Donald, Head of Cards Division, National Bank of Oman talks about the project - Dar Al Hanan Please tell us about the initiative taken by NBO and Dana to aid Dar Al Hana.

National Bank of Oman, is delighted to support National Association for Cancer Awareness’ for their project Dar Al Hanan (Home Away from Home), to support children’s rehabilitation for cancer, at the special facility, constructed near Royal Hospital.

Inaugurated by the Minister of Health in January 2011, Dar Al Hanan is an excellent facility for children undergoing cancer treatment. The cheerful facility has 16 rooms with separate sections for boys and girls as well as a Majlis. During their stay for treatment, children can be accompanied by their parents or other family members, making it comfortable and easier for both the child and the family.

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NBO has committed a share of card spends to be donated to the charity. Therefore, the more a consumer pays through his/her credit card, the more aid Dar Al Hanan gets.

How did you decide to choose National Association for Cancer Awareness as the charity to benefit from the money NBO raised?

NBO is always committed to supporting the community in different areas. We were looking to support something noteworthy and different and also wanted to focus on children. Cancer among kids is a crucial concern for all.

We found that a humanitarian project such as this is

more appropriate for NBO, as it provides us an opportunity to help the nation’s youngsters who do not necessarily have the means to look after themselves.

Can you share some of the salient features of Dar Al Hanan?

The Dar Al Hanan Facility has been designed and decorated to ensure the children do not feel they are entering a hospital. Islamic traditions have also been kept in mind.

There are separate sections for boys and girls and a separate majlis area for men and women. Every attempt is made to ensure the children and their families are comfortable in the cheerful surroundings offered, in order to help the children recover faster. It is indeed very encouraging to see the children actually enjoy the time spent at Dar Al Hanan.

Please tell us more about DANA and how the last one year has been?

In keeping with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s vision of encouraging and supporting Omani Women and in celebration of International Womens’ Day, Dana was launched on March 8, 2010, International Women’s Day. Additionally, women are very special; they are mothers, daughters and sisters and almost everything revolves around them in every society.

We launched the card in just eight weeks; which is considered by Visa as the fastest credit card launch they have ever done globally. It is also the only ladies’ credit card to have been launched globally, on International Women’s Day, last year.

The product has been well received by both Omani and expatriate women, in Oman. We have also tied up with various women’s organisations in the Sultanate.

As the national bank of the country, we have put together a financial services product in place specifically for women, which give them more benefits, thereby giving them greater access to various advantages.

How has Dana grown over the year?

The card has been received very well and will continue to grow as we will include new features and benefits regularly. We will be working with Visa so that clients get more international offers and discounts. We have also included benefits like comprehensive female cancer cover with 33% discounts on insurance premiums in 2011.

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Take pride in your possession!

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Automobilia

First Look w Luxe Wheels March March 2011 2011

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AUTOMOBILIA

First Look

The Stunning

Galloper Designed by Pininfarina, the shape and proportions perfectly interpret the FF’s harmonious blend of sporting DNA and extraordinary usability. A look at Ferrari’s new Ferrari Four

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he official Prancing Horse website, Ferrari.com, has revealed the first photographs of the new FF, the company’s most powerful, versatile four-seater ever, as well as its first ever four-wheel drive car.

The FF - an acronym for Ferrari Four (four seats and four-wheel drive) - ushers in an entirely new GT sports car concept. A decisive break with the past, the new car represents not so much an evolution as a true revolution.

This new V12 melds to an unprecedented level an extremely sporty, high-performance character with incredible versatility, superb comfort and sophisticated elegance, guaranteeing both driver and passengers an absolutely unique driving experience.

Designed by Pininfarina, the shape and proportions perfectly interpret the FF’s harmonious blend of sporting DNA and extraordinary usability.

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Completely integrated with the car’s electronic dynamic control systems, the four-wheel drive technology delivers record levels of performance on all terrains and in all conditions via continuous and intelligent predictive torque distribution to all four wheels

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The FF features the company’s first ever four-wheel drive system. Ferrari’s exclusive, patented 4RM (four-wheel drive) weighs 50 per cent less than a conventional fourwheel drive system, maintaining perfect weight distribution (53 per cent over the rear axle). Completely integrated with the car’s electronic dynamic control systems, the four-wheel drive technology delivers record levels of performance on all terrains and in all conditions via continuous and intelligent predictive torque distribution to all four wheels. The FF is also equipped with the latest magnetorheological damping system (SCM3), as well as the most recent development in carbon-ceramic brakes from Brembo.

Exceptional performance levels come courtesy of the new 6,262 cc direct injection engine which develops 660 CV at 8,000 rpm. In tandem with its transaxle dual-clutch F1 gearbox, stunning acceleration figures (0-100 km/h in 3.7 sec.) are guaranteed. The new model’s class-leading

weight-to-power ratio of 2.7 kg/CV, along with its ideal weight distribution, ensures exceptionally responsive handling. The result is that owners will be able to enjoy the FF’s prowess over a wide range of uses: city driving, on low grip or snow-covered surfaces and on the track.

Performance aside, Maranello’s latest model also offers standards of passenger space, comfort, in-car spec and equipment previously unheard of in such a highperformance car. It can comfortably accommodate four people and their luggage, thanks to the best cabin space and boot capacity (450 litres extendable to 800) figures in its category, including four-door cars.

A vast array of personalisation options and accessories has been developed for the FF. These include six model-specific exterior colours and sumptuous interior trim incorporating specially selected and treated aniline leather.

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AUTOMOBILIA

LUXE WHEELS

AdVANTAGE Aston!

Aston Martin sure knows how to get the adrenaline pumping and this time they have done it with the super buffed V8 Vantage. Crème de la Crème takes a walkaround of the stunning speedster

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he Aston Martin Vantage range comes of age with the new V8 Vantage S characterised by a host of new driver-focused features all designed to push the honed dynamics of the standard Vantage to a new benchmark level.

The rationale behind the V8 Vantage S was to push the boundaries of the already acclaimed V8 Vantage with the highest levels of driver involvement possible.

Aston Martin engineers set about enhancing nearly every dynamic element of the car to create a highly distinctive driving experience.

Aston Martin’s own 4.7 litre V8 engine has been engineered to deliver peak power of 430 bhp (436 PS / 321 kW) at 7300 rpm and torque of 490 Nm (361 lb.ft) at 5000 rpm and is coupled with a new ground-up developed Sportshift™ II transmission specifically designed for the

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Vantage S with seven short ratio gears to deliver the most engaging and intense driver involvement.

“The Vantage S epitomises every attribute of the V8 Vantage and pushes the driver experience beyond what we have offered before,” says Dr. Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin, “It combines dynamic exhilaration with all the charming finesse, beauty and practicality already associated with the Vantage range.”

Dynamic revisions are central to the Vantage S, with a quickened steering rack ratio of 15:1 compared to 17:1 on the standard car and a larger diameter front brake disc with new six-piston front brake calipers. New springs and dampers, and wider rear wheels also contribute to chassis revisions. A new dynamic stability control (DSC) system specifically tuned to the Vantage S along with a new brake module providing features such as

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The Vantage S is instantly recognisable as a true Aston Martin, characterised by its purposeful stance conveying its agility and performance capability

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At the core of the Vantage S is the new seven speed Sportshift™ II automated manual transmission, offered as standard and delivers exceedingly rapid gear changes, twenty per cent quicker than Sportshift™.

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Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) which provides assistance in emergency braking situations, and Hill Start Assist (HSA).

Bespoke tyres have been developed with Bridgestone to optimise road holding enhancing dynamic feel.

At the core of the Vantage S is the new seven speed Sportshift™ II automated manual transmission, offered as standard and delivers exceedingly rapid gear changes, twenty per cent quicker than Sportshift™. The extra gear permits shorter well-spaced ratios taking advantage of the optimum torque, which combined with a shorter final drive ratio of 4.182:1 delivers quicker acceleration and an enhanced sporting feel. The inherent benefits of a single clutch system reduces complexity and significant weight over a dual clutch solution. Sportshift™ II allows the driver to take an increased level of control, modulating the throttle pedal to achieve the desired type of gear change. In addition, the Vantage S features a ‘Sport’ button which quickens the gear changes and gives the driver a more aggressive throttle response while also opening the exhaust bypass valves across most of the engine speed range perfectly characterising the ‘S’ variant.

As with every Aston Martin, the Vantage S benefits from its own unique sound with a new exhaust muffler and bypass valve map, creating a very distinctive and highly vocal exhaust note.

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The Vantage S is instantly recognisable as a true Aston Martin, characterised by its purposeful stance conveying its agility and performance capability. From the front, a new lower front bumper finished in perfectly-aligned carbon fibre houses a larger air intake feeding the engine and front brakes. The splitter combined with the extended deck lid ‘flip’ work in harmony to provide increased down force at speed. New 19 inch ‘V’ spoke wheel styles are available as standard, while an optional 10-spoke lightweight forged wheel option, reduces unsprung mass further. A new rear bumper and side sills optically widen the car.

Bridging the gap between road car and race car, the Vantage S is heavily influenced by the 2011 Vantage GT4 race car. The GT4 takes advantage of the Vantage’s immensely rigid bonded aluminium chassis, providing the ideal platform for a race car. Minor racing safety modifications including an FIA approved roll cage and racing ‘bag’ petrol tank along with weight saving measures are made to the standard road car to convert it into a class winning race car. In 2010, it won its class at the Dubai 24 Hours following this up with further endurance race wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Silverstone 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours. It also won its first major international championship victory in the European GT4 Cup for DNA and extraordinary usability.

A non-profit organization offering a wide range of high-quality and exclusive handcrafted products interpreting the country’s history and culture. Bring home the essence of Oman’s rich heritage from a range of classy yet traditional products and at the same time turn your shopping passion into a cause by helping our craftspeople and artists.

The Gallery works closely with artisans from the province and features products that are designed by them.

Jawharat A' Shati Complex Next to Muscat Intercontinental Hotel Tel. 24696974

Art & Design

Canvas w Impressions March March 2011 2011

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art & design

canvas

Anna’s Art Anna Dudchenko

Anna Dudchenko

Anna Dudchenko is all set to host her 8th soloexhibition this month, ‘Drip, Spill, Spray and a Touch of Nostalgia’.

Sudipta Dasgupta meets the contemporary artist to know more

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“C

reativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

Anna Dudchenko is known not only for her intrepid art but her bold views on creative art forms too. What makes her art stand out is how she treats and transforms her subject on a given canvas which results in a colourful, unique and striking piece of art. Belonging to a group of contemporary artists in Oman, she sets an example by taking art to a new level.

After a year’s break, ‘Drip, Spill, Spray and a Touch of Nostalgia’ is Dudchenko’s 8th solo-exhibition in Oman which is due to be held this month at Grand Hyatt.

“Paintings displayed at this exhibition do not require much explanation, as the title says it all. It’s a fusion of different techniques, different styles, wild mixture of beauty and foolishness,” says Dudchenko.

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Cherry Blossom

Paintings displayed at this exhibition do not require much explanation, as the title says it all. It’s a fusion of different techniques, different styles, wild mixture of beauty and foolishness.

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How is this year’s exhibition different? Dudchenko replies, “For the last seven years I have been constantly working on developing new techniques, experimenting with different materials, searching, discovering, practicing, giving up and starting again … I don’t need brushes anymore. Dripping, spilling, splattering, spraying and using a palette knife is lot more exciting to me than spending hours trying to perfect the brush strokes. It might sound all too easy, but I can assure you there were quite a few canvases that ended up in the bin.

“A couple of years ago, I started using spray paints in my work. Smell and stains apart, it has now become one of my favourite mediums to work with, and what you

Psychedelic Stars

Reflections

Sunset on another planet

Indegenous - Red & Green

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Wise

Poem without words

Indegenous - Yellow & Purple

can achieve with spray paints cannot be done with any other techniques,” says the contemporary artist.

Dudchenko further explains, “Spray paints are used mostly by graffiti artists, and street art is a big world trend these days. I guess it’s a rebellion against conceptual art displayed at galleries and sold at auctions, art which is only made and sold by a select few. A small group of people creates, promotes, buys, sells, exhibits and decides the success of the art and the artists.”

When asked to describe her art, Dudchenko says, “My work is honest and completely unpretentious. Art is what thoughts and feelings look like. I truly hope that guests will enjoy this cocktail of my multi-coloured

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We need to open up institutions and make people aware about art. There is a huge scope for art in Oman and I truly believe that the government should put in a lot more effort in developing art in Oman

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Four Seasons

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I love to try new techniques and experiment with paints. It helps me to discover myself as an artist as well as create new kinds of art forms on my canvas

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feelings spilled, dripped and sprayed on canvas … and garnished with a touch of nostalgia.”

Dudchenko believes that there is still a lot that can be done as far as enhancing art and teaching art to local people in Oman. “We need to open up institutions and make people aware about art. There is a huge scope for art in Oman and I truly believe that the government should put in a lot more effort in developing art in Oman.”

In the past one year, Dudchenko has kept herself busy with commission work and holds art workshops for children. She also experiments with various art techniques and forms to keep her creative mind alive. “I love to try new techniques and experiment with paints.

It helps me to discover myself as an artist as well as create new kinds of art forms on my canvas.”

Her exhibition was sponsored by OQIC (Oman Qatar Insurance Company), KR (Khimji Ramdas), MPP (Mazoon Prinitng Press) and supported by A&E (African and Eastern), and Grand Hyatt Hotel Muscat and the Media Sponsor is Muscat Daily.

Jewel of Muscat

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art & design

IMPRESSIONS

The Corporate Treehouse Renowned architect Frank Gehry has taken on a big challenge – of turning a treehouse into a corporate building. His new and novel architecture takes him back to childhood

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nown for a postmodern approach that uses fragmented forms, star architect Frank Gehry has opted to look backward for his first commissioned building in Australia, taking inspiration from his childhood by invoking an adventurous youthful icon: the tree house.

In a statement, Gehry said that his new building for Sydney’s University of Technology will have “a trunk and core of activity and... branches for people to connect and do their private work.” The design is also characterised by two distinct façades, with the east side consisting of undulating sandstone-coloured brick while the west side will feature large, angled sheets of glass that will reflect and fracture images of surrounding buildings.

Frank O. Gehry & Associates has grown to over 140 employees, and the geographic terrain covered by the firm’s work includes the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.

With a total expected cost of $150 million — $20 million of which has been provided by Australian-Chinese businessman Chau Chak Wang — the building will house the university’s business school. Wang also gave an additional $5 million for an endowment fund for AustraliaChina student scholarships, making his the largest-ever gift by an individual to an Australian university.

Part of the urban campus’s expansion, the 11-story structure will feature a café, a student center, and event and exhibition spaces, as well as offices, classrooms, and work spaces. The basement will include bicycle parking and showers for students who bicycle to class. University of Technology vice-chancellor Ross Milbourne said that some elements of the design were still fluid and would be discussed in community consultation sessions from December 17 through January 14. Construction is planned for early 2012 with the building expected to welcome students and faculty in the 2014 academic year.

Frank Owen Gehry was born February 28, 1929 in Toronto, Canada. First moving to Los Angeles with his

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Part of the urban campus’s expansion, the 11-story structure will feature a café, a student center, and event and exhibition spaces, as well as offices, classrooms, and work spaces

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family in 1947, Gehry has gone on to become a pioneering architect recognised widely for his inventive and unique forms and practices. The award of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1989 brought increased recognition, and the years following have been among the most productive and rewarding of Gehry’s career. The introduction of sophisticated computer software in the early 1990s has facilitated the construction and engineering of complex building systems and successfully translated the gestural quality of his work from model to built form.

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1st. Floor, Jawharat A’Shati Complex |

2469 2486

9661 2020 | Open 8am to 10pm daily

Gourmet & Hospitality

Review w Dining March March 2011 2011

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Gourmet & Hospitality

Review

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French food is simple and when I cook I prefer to keep it that way. I do not like to add too much frill or make the dishes very fancy.

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Eat like the French If pure, simple yet classic French fare is what your heart seeks, then Al Marjan Bistro is the perfect place to visit. The new French restaurant at Al Bustan Palace blends together the charm of a bistro with the finer aspects of a five star hotel with food being the connecting factor

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good meal is a wonderful journey for the senses.

A journey that could begin in Muscat and head all the way to the countryside of France. Such is the experience of dining at Al Marjan Bistro, the new seasonal French restaurant in Al Bustan Palace Hotel InterContinental Muscat. The restaurant was launched in February this year and is among the very few French dining places in Muscat.

When the lease of celebrity chef Shannon Bennet’s French restaurant Vue ended, Al Bustan Palace decided to use the vacant space to open their own French eatery.

Viola! Al Marjan Bistro was born.

Headed by Chef Herve Guillaume, who launched the simple yet impressive menu and managed by Dominique

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Lemercier, Al Marjan Bistro is a wonderful blend of the characteristics of a French bistro and the stylish appeal of a five star venue. Nothing much has changed in the design aspect of the restaurant; the décor is pretty much what it used to be when Vue was housed in the space.

Regular diners would notice the change in the table setting and accessories.

“We wanted to give the restaurant a warm, relaxed ambience.

The menu is simple yet chosen with a lot of care,” explains Erika Anggreini, Marketing Communications Manager of the hotel. While you may not find too much fanfare in the cuisine, what does capture your tastebuds and attention is the food itself.

French food is renowned as among the most appealing of cuisines. Al Marjan Bistro is a fine example of this.

The menu features a tempting selection of classic French delicacies made the authentic way. Fresh vegetables, meats, seafood and delectable desserts are part of the menu.

We started the meal with fresh green salad; rock lobster, zucchini and mango salad and gazpacho soup. Bursting with freshness, the salads were light and tasting, offset with a hint of dressing that lent the salads a subtle and refreshing flavour. The gazpacho soup is the perfect choice on a hot day and the hint of balsamic vinegar is sure to tease your tastebuds.

Chef Herve who hails from Burgundy, France has put together a collection of eclectic and sensory pleasing dishes that provide diners with a choice of French delicacies that are served in the authentic eateries around the country.

The unassuming chef has an impressive career to his credit, having worked in MGM Grand Las Vegas, Hotel Okura in Tokyo and The Oriental in Bangkok, among others.

Sharing his views on food, Chef Herve says, “French food is simple and when I cook I prefer to keep it that way. I do not like to add too much frill or make the dishes very fancy.

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We wanted to give the restaurant a warm, relaxed ambience. The menu is simple yet chosen with a lot of care

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I prefer guests to see and taste what they get in front of them rather than do a complicated presentation. I like a little bit of Zen in my cooking and food.” And that is what you get at Al Marjan Bistro – simple, delicious and appetising food.

For the main course, we chose corn-fed chicken breast with asparagus and morel sauce, pizza and lamb rack with thyme ratatouille. The chicken and lamb won our votes hands down. Cooked to perfection, the dishes were rich in flavours. The pizza, more oval than the monotonous round, was crisp, light and just as appetising.

Much of the food on the menu reads like it has been tailormade for Oman while maintaining the ethos of a Bistro.

Chef Herve explains, “When I came to Muscat and looked out of the hotel (Al Bustan Palace), I saw the blue sea and blue sky; I felt it was reminiscent of the French Riviera. And that is how I decided to come up with this menu. I would say that the menu was inspired by the sun.”

Although it is easy to over-do on the fantastic creations of Chef Herve and thus be tempted to skip dessert, the Crispy Organic Apple Tart with Vanilla Ice cream is definitely a dish not to be missed. This probably is the lightest and most wonderful apple tart you would get in Muscat.

“When I cook in the restaurant, I feel I am preparing a meal for my friends at my home,” says Chef Herve. It’s now wonder that you come away from Al Marjan Bistro with the feeling of having had a lovely authentic home-cooked French meal!

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Gourmet TRAVEL & Hospitality & LIFESTYLE

Dining

Dining

With A Difference 86

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Crème de la Crème was invited to a unique dinner event hosted by Ocean Blue International at their newly launched roof top restaurant, Bait Al Bilad. The experience was a memorable one as guests enjoyed scrumptious Omani cuisine under the starry sky

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cean Blue International is known for offering guests tailor made services like events, corporate trips and since they have one of the largest sailing catamarans in the Sultanate of Oman they offer instant access to the best parts of the Muscat coastline too.

The restaurant, ‘Bait Al Bilad’ better known as, The Village House is the latest offering by this leading boutique tourism operator – Ocean Blue International.

Their success story started with one of their spectacular catamaran, Azzura which offers tourists and local corporate groups the chance to experience true Omani hospitality by creating the ambience of a cozy Omani home and authentic Omani food.

Their philosophy is to offer guests the true essence

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The ambience of this new and one of a kind restaurant is not only unique but something that local food lovers would enjoy amidst a picturesque village setting.

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of Omani hospitality which resulted in them exploring into various fields of hospitality. ‘Many tourists tell us that they have little opportunity to experience the ‘real Oman’ even on their visits to the desert or to the forts of the interior’, says Clara Zawawi, Chairperson of Ocean Blue International (OBI) and the creative force behind the new project.

“I really wanted to be able to offer a truly Omani experience which did not have a ‘hotel’ feel to it. After we bought the house in Qantab to use as our own headquarters, I thought, why not here?’ The house itself is a very typical Omani village house, built around a courtyard with a lovely big tree for shade and a large rooftop with stunning views of the beach and surrounding mountains. The original part of the house, known as the Omani room, probably dates back at least 70 years,” says Zawawi.

The ambience of this new and one of a kind restaurant is not only unique but something that local food lovers would enjoy amidst a picturesque village setting. There will be dinners and events held in the courtyard and on the rooftop; which at night takes on its own magical glow.

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“

In Omani homes, around their tables, you can find the most wonderful, mouth watering dishes, made with love and eaten with gusto. And this is this is exactly the experience I wanted to be able to offer visitors to Oman, the essence of Omani hospitality

Speaking about the ambience of the restaurant, Zawawi says, “to maintain the ambience, hurricane lamps, candles and flares add softness to the surrounding darkness. All music is live, provided by Oudh and Tabla players who meet the guests at the entrance and escort them up the stairs to the rooftop. Traditional muffraj seating in bright modern fabrics provides a cozy place to enjoy pre dinner drinks or a fragrant shisha; while dinner is served on low round tables with diners seated on large comfortable cushions.”

When asked about the specialty of food that is served at Bait Al Bilad, Zawawi says, “the food is a very special feature of the Bait al Bilad experience. “Traditional Omani food is home food. Large platters of food, cooked slowly in the traditional manner don’t lend themselves to a restaurant experience. It

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is all food meant to be enjoyed with family and friends, so it is perfect for a group experience. The dishes served at a Bait al Bilad dinner come from my greatest culinary inspirations, some of them being my aunts Bibi Maryam, Siti Meena as well as Madame Lamees Abdulalh al Taie, the author of Oman’s treasure, The Omani Cookbook.

Zawawi explained, “In Omani homes, around their tables, you can find the most wonderful, mouth watering dishes, made with love and eaten with gusto. And this is this is exactly the experience I wanted to be able to offer visitors to Oman, the essence of Omani hospitality.”

Bait al Bilad is open for groups of ten or up. For bookings or further information, call Chidi on (968) 96125081, chidi@oceanblueoman.com, www.oceanblueoman.com.

Travel & Lifestyle

Destination w Focus w Lounge March March 2011 2011

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Travel & Lifestyle

destination

The Deep Southern Safari Tanzania is like a tonic. One visit is just not enough.

Rob Wissing writes on the beautiful destination after his fourth visit. And he does not intend to stop

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ith Oman Air now flying straight into Dar-esSalaam, the burgeoning commercial capital of Tanzania, we can’t complain of having to fly north to the UAE first as we used to have to do. East Africa’s best destination is now only an easy five and a half hours away over the Indian Ocean. And Zanzibar is only a 20 minute hop away from Dar, with such a range of tempting destinations possible by quick air links it will be difficult to choose. After four trips, I keep on going back for more. Tanzania is a total tonic.

Now most first-timers will justifiably head for the wellbeaten northern safari sector of the Serengeti Plains and the Ngorongoro Crater, the setting for the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth, when millions of plains antelope migrate between Tanzania and Kenya. Then the heady attractions of the spice island of Zanzibar and for some, the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. But there are several prize gems in Tanzania’s crown besides tanzanite, one of the world’s rarest precious stones, a violet-blue the colour of Elizabeth Taylor’s eyes.

You really ought to consider heading south though. The true call of the wild, if you want to be far from the madding crowd in safari tour buses jostling for a space around those Serengeti lions, lies in the southern sector. No less rich in surprises, it is an easy option.

A vast 56,000 sq km, the Selous Game Reserve in the south east is Africa’s biggest game reserve and a World Heritage Site, dwarfing both the Serengeti and South Africa’s Kruger National park. It’s also largely pristine wilderness, bisected by two great rivers, the Ruaha and the Kilombero, uniting as the mighty Rufiji. The terrain varies from floodplain to forested hills and supports vast numbers of wildlife, especially big game: elephant, buffalo and hippo, with hungry predators in attendance.

It’s perhaps expensive getting to some of these wonderful spots, but it’s worth it. Not only will you be virtually alone, which is the essence of why people should experience ‘the bush’, but you’ll often have a surprise command performance that money cannot buy – socialising herds of elephants 300 strong, lions lolling

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Mikumi National Park is north of the Selous and accessible by road from Dar. Here are the typical open East African plains, with a diversity of game and birds

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at giraffe kills, great sweeps of tropical rivers heaving with grunting hippos, a sudden kaleidoscopic carmine and turquoise explosion of bee-eaters at a river bank. And, no less fascinating guest appearances from the smaller stars of this cast, from the ingenious hideout of a trapdoor spider to a colony of banded mongoose chirruping from their den next to your comfortable banda or luxurious tent. You can have it all, and if it comes at a price, remind yourself that you won’t get better anywhere else. Being remote and difficult to access by road, the Selous has a number of small luxury

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lodges. There’s the spanking new Amara Simbazi designer bush camp on the banks of the Ruaha, where a friendly elephant sometimes pops in for sundowners at the infinity pool, a giraffe nibbles acacia shoots outside your shower, and you’ll be spoiled witless by a friendly staff; Stiegler’s, set above the gorge; the Sand Rivers camp; the Mivumo River Lodge, run by the ubiquitous Serena Hotel chain; and more.

It will be a difficult choice, as each will work its spell on you.

An excursion to Lake Takalala and the hot springs of Maji Moto through a landscape of ancient tamarind trees and strange doum palms brings you to a lonely and atmospheric spot – the simple grave of Frederick Selous, the archetypical great white hunter. Ironically, he never hunted in the area that commemorates him; he was killed in World War One by a German sniper during the little-known but savage East African Campaign. (Military buffs will find Tanzania a fascinating insight into that fatal conflict which shaped the modern world, and it’s an unexpectedly moving experience to visit the still beautifully-tended Commonwealth War Cemetery on Bagamoyo Road while you’re in Dar.) After taking in the dawn chorus with a steaming aromatic Tanzanian coffee or surveying the sunset with an array of very satisfying golden local brews with evocative names to select from - Serengeti, Safari, Ndovu (elephant

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The true call of the wild, if you want to be far from the madding crowd in safari tour buses jostling for a space around those Serengeti lions, lies in the southern sector

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in Swahili), or Tusker, you won’t want to leave. The bush does that to you. You have a choice of going out for game drives or relaxing in camp, which is a rewarding option or a sunset cruise angling for tiger fish. Best of all, walks with a game guide are permitted, and there’s no better way of enjoying the environment. There’s just no point rushing things – allow at least two or three nights in any one place and chill out as you never have before.

The Ruaha is the second biggest park, best reached from the Selous by flying west over the unexpectedly cloud-wreathed forested Undzungwa Mountains, more like something out of the Amazon, to the dry heart of the country once called Tanganyika. Here the Ruaha River flows lazily through baobab-dotted granite country, and animals gather along the river in bewildering numbers, quite unconcerned about you. And there’s nowhere better to see them than from the comfort of the shaded Ruaha River Lodge verandah. Three swaggering young elephant bulls might come to check out the new guests and breakfast was set abuzz one morning by a pack of wild dogs doing their own breakfast run on the opposite bank. Throw in a pride of twenty-six lazy lions, sighting stately spiral-horned kudu bulls, a family of cheetah loping off to hunt, or baboons socialising, and it’s pure Eden. If anyone has a loud mobile phone encounter here, they’d be fed to the hyenas.

Mikumi National Park is north of the Selous and accessible by road from Dar. Here are the typical open East African plains, with a diversity of game and birds. The owl’s eye view from Stanley’s Kopje is indescribable. The camp is small and intimate, and a must.

All supplies have to be flown in to these remote camps, and standards are high. Their professional guides are top of the range, with a wealth of knowledge and bush skills.

Transport is usually in high, open safari-tough vehicles with an awning for shade. Safety standards are not compromised

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The Ruaha is the second biggest park, best reached from the Selous by flying west over the unexpectedly cloud-wreathed forested Undzungwa Mountains, more like something out of the Amazon, to the dry heart of the country once called Tanganyika

”

– guides know how closely each species can be safely approached and don’t take chances. Nor should clients wheedle (or try to bribe) them to get closer. Don’t be fooled - the animals may be habituated to man, and there might be a a deceptively tame gang of crusty old buffalo bulls grazing on the lawn, but they are still wild. Sensible precautions should be taken. This slice of Africa is not for health and safety freaks. There are no fences around most of the camps or parks and you might just need the services of a Masai guard to escort you back to your tent after dinner so you don’t bump into a hippo! The thrill of not being fenced in and being part of the environment is what makes Tanzania special. You’re far safer here than you would be in

many modern cities or on our roads!

Generally, accommodation is cheaper in the national parks and rises in the game reserves and private concessions.

You can easily book your trip online too, or rely on the expertise of a long-established local company like Leopard Tours or Foxes African Safaris, who will put together a very rewarding trip for you. That way, your trip’s prepaid and you don’t have to worry about too many incidentals and extras.

You will hear the word karibu a lot. Coming from Oman, you’ll quickly pick up that Swahili, the official language uniting Tanzanians, has many Arabic roots. Karibu means ‘welcome’, or “come closer”, from qarib. So pack your bags – this will only be the beginning….

INFORMATION Visas for most nationalities are available on arrival for $50.

Check with the Tanzanian Embassy at 24601174 Health: a valid yellow fever vaccination can be asked for, especially for Zanzibar. Vaccinations are done only in Ruwi at the Ministry of Health’s Centre for Infectious Diseases. Bring an NOC letter from your employer. There is no cost. It’s wise to take anti-malaria precautions. Ask your doctor, but it’s easiest to avoid taking medication and take steps to avoid being bitten.

Use the nets and sprays provided and cover up with sensible clothes. Take sunscreen and use it freely.

Money is freely exchangeable, but dollars are easiest. Visa cards are only accepted at large hotels. It’s easiest to prepay your trip and get cash as you need it.

National Park and conservation fees should be borne in mind

when planning your trip – they can cost up to $50 a day.

Bring along binoculars and a decent camera. You will regret it forever if you don’t. A small rechargeable torch is a good idea.

Luggage allowance in the small aircraft used is a 15 kg soft bag. Pack light clothing with a sweater/jacket for cooler evenings, sensible shoes, and a hat.

When to go: June to February, the dry season. Heavy rains fall from March to May. Safety from human predators is not a serious issue in mainland Tanzania. Take the usual precautions. Theft and robbery are rare.

Tipping your personal game guide is recommended, but there’s usually a tip box for all employees at reception. Do use it when you leave. Scrounging for tips is discouraged and rare.

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Winds March 2011

of Sail The Extreme Sailing Series witnessed a nail biting finish last month which concluded during the Muscat Festival.

Crème de la Crème was witness to the exhilarating sailing event

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he Muscat Festival concluded in style last month and Oman witnessed some of the most extravagant celebrations of world class cuisine, sports, fashion and much more!

Team Crème de la Crème was invited by members of Oman Sail to experience the very exciting Extreme Sailing Series that was held during the Muscat Festival.

For second time in a row, Oman had the privilege of hosting this international sailing series which was one of the most awaited events of Muscat Festival.

There were 11 international teams which included home teams of Oman Air and The Wave, Muscat that were part of this thrilling sporting event. With the world’s sailing heavy weights gathered on the water for the first time, the competition was not only a nail biting one but a highly charged one for public, media and guests.

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“

There were 11 international teams which included home teams of Oman Air and The Wave, Muscat that were part of this thrilling sporting event

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With the Extreme Sailing Series being the major highlight of the Muscat Festival, there was an array of other water sport activities held like Beach Football League, Off-road RC car shows, Kite Shows, Red Bull series of BMX, football and dance freestyle shows to name a few.

Commenting on the entire series and Oman, David Graham, CEO, Oman Sail says, “Receiving such an event is invaluable because it is a source of inspiration that will bring more Omanis to discover sailing and write the next page of the maritime history of Oman. We hope this event will also bring many new visitors to the Sultanate of Oman and an even larger number to discover the country through the media generated.”

“The country has initiated and developed a national sailing rogramme in recent years under the banner of Oman Sail. Oman has proved to be an ideal setting for the Extreme Sailing series providing spectators with a natural stadium where the racing can be watched from waters edge,” says Graham.

Members of the Crème de la Crème team had the opportunity of being on board with some of the skippers of the sailing series and be part of the thrilling competition, excitement and learn some of the techniques of extreme sailing as well.

After a three day event in Oman, the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series headed off to China. The Series consists of nine events on four continents over 11 months, ending in Singapore in December.

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After a three day event in Oman, the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series headed off to China. The Series consists of nine events on four continents over 11 months, ending in Singapore in December

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Travel & Lifestyle

Lounge

To A Mountain in Tibet 

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his is the account of a journey to the holiest mountain on earth, the solitary peak of Kailas in Tibet, sacred to one-fifth of humankind. To both Buddhists and Hindus it is the mystic heart of the world and an ancient site of pilgrimage. It has never been climbed. Even today, under Chinese domination, the people of four religions circle the mountain in devotion to different gods.

Colin Thubron reached it by foot along the Karnali River, the highest source of the Ganges. His journey is an entry into the culture of today’s Tibet, and a pilgrimage in the wake his mother’s death and the loss of his family. He undertakes it in order to mark the event, to leave a sign of their passage. He also explores his own need for solitude, which has shaped his career as a writer—one who travels to places beyond his own history and culture, writing about them and about the journey. To a Mountain in Tibet is at once a powerful travelogue, a fascinated encounter with alien faith, and an intimate personal voyage.

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Colin Thubron

It is a haunting and beautiful book, a rare mix of discovery and loss. In its evocation of landscape and variety of exotic peoples, of mythic and spiritual traditions foreign to our own, it is a spectacular achievement from our greatest living travel writer, an artist of formidable literary gifts, uncanny intuition, and wondrous insight.

Thubron has come to be known for his ability to summon just the right phrases to fix a place or person in the mind’s eye. In To a Mountain in Tibet, however, what seems almost as striking is his understanding of the power of silence.

Colin Thubron is an acknowledged master of travel writing. His first books were about the Middle East— Damascus, Lebanon, and Cyprus. In 1982 he traveled in the Soviet Union, pursued by the KGB. Colin Thubron is an award-winning novelist as well as, arguably, the most admired travel writer of our time. He lives in London.

The Dead Hand 

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David Hoffman

his riveting narrative history of the end of the arms race sheds new light on the frightening last chapters of the Cold War and the legacy of the nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that remain a threat today.

During the Cold War, world superpowers amassed nuclear arsenals containing the explosive power of one million Hiroshimas. The Soviet Union secretly plotted to create the Dead Hand, a system designed to launch an automatic retaliatory nuclear strike on the United States, and developed a fearsome biological warfare machine. President Ronald Reagan, hoping to awe the Soviets into submission, pushed hard for the creation of space-based missile defenses.

In the first full account of how the arms race finally ended, The Dead Hand provides an unprecedented look at the inner motives and secret decisions of each side. Drawing on topsecret documents from deep inside the Kremlin, memoirs, and interviews in both Russia and the United...

Americans are obsessed with weapons of mass

destruction and the damage they could inflict on us all. Books and films ranging from journalist John Hersey’s Hiroshima, published in 1946, to ABC’s television extravaganza “The Day After,” broadcast in 1983, from Fox’s ongoing counterterrorism Armageddon drama “24” to apocalyptic novels like Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, reflect a preoccupation with a nuclear-, chemical- or biological-weapons attack and its aftermath dating from at least the end of World War II. The fear that scientific expertise will be married to ideological conflict, technological advances and social hate pervades these doomsday-themed books and movies. Now comes David E. Hoffman’s The Dead Hand, a welcome, unsettling, nonfictional addition to this still timely genre.

David E. Hoffman is a contributing editor at the Washington Post, where he previously served as White House correspondent, Moscow bureau chief, and assistant managing editor for foreign news. He is the author of The Oligarchs: Wealth and Power in the New Russia. To learn more about the author, visit www.davidehoffman.com.

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Style & Beauty

Fashionspeak w Showcase w Advertorial w Fashion w New Look w Advertorial March March 2011 2011

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FashionSpeak

Fashion

with a twist The Omani fashion brand, Dibaj effortlessly brings together the charm of the traditional with the elegance of the contemporary. Afaf and Aida, the sibling owners of the fashion house, tell Anne Kurian about their fantastic journey since its inception

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hic. Contemporary. Sinuous. Omani. Dibaj is all this and more. The homegrown fashion brand brings together elements of design that are not often seen in the Omani fashion scene. The creations are classy and modern yet features traditional Omani touches. As a result, the garments are just as fashionable in London as they are in Oman.

Dibaj is the braindchild of sisters, Afaf and Aida. Their passion for fashion led to the launch of the brand three years ago. Officially. Even before launching the brand, Afaf, the creative hand of the two sisters, used to design her own garments.

“I had not been able to find the kind of clothes that interest me; that is how I started designing. Seeing the dresses Aida and I wore, our friends requested for similar garments to be made for them. In the beginning, it was really small and we worked out of our home. We got a lot of positive feedback; the garments did very well among our friends. Finally, three years ago, we decided to take open a little boutique,” says Afaf.

The duo opened their fashion boutique, Dibaj in Alasfoor Plaza and ever since then there has been no turning back. While Afaf handles the creative aspect of the brand, Aida manages the business. Yet, the two sisters never take a decision without conferring with each other.

“We both discuss every aspect of the business, be it the design element or expansion for instance, with each other.

Every decision that involves the brand and the business is made together by us,” says Aida.

Although Afaf has no formal training in fashion, she makes it up with her zealousness for fashion. She is particular about not designing garments for the sake of fashion. “I don’t follow harsh trends. I try not to make clothes that can be worn only during one season.

Both Aida and I do not see that as a good investment. We do not do that in our personal lives, so why should we with our professional matters!” says Afaf.

This is undoubtedly is among the highlights of the brand’s success.

The duo is insistent of not including too many seasonal pieces; thus their collection comprises mainly of classic and statement pieces that can be worn over the years.

Dibaj includes dresses that are both suited for day and evening wear as well as garments that can be worn to parties and even weddings. While

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the creations might seem to resemble the structure of jelabiyas, they are more dresses than the traditional Arabic attire. Each dress provides the wearer with the luxury of excess clothing that lends an elegant touch.

“I design clothes that we like to wear. I would not create something that neither of us would wear. I do not like tight fitting clothes, which is one reason we have such designs in our collections,” explains Afaf.

The Omani fashion brand, renowned for its loosefitting luxurious creations, has found admirers not just among the local ladies but Europeans too. Dibaj was well appreciated at the recently held Muscat Fashion Week 2011. Enquiries have poured in following the show that was attended by visitors from around the globe and also covered by international media.

While the collections under the brand have classic and identifiable designs as well as structure, an important element in every creation of Dibaj is the signature motif – a bronze lotus. The duo decided to choose the lotus as their brand signature for its simple yet understated elegance.

If the garments are a wonderful amalgamation of the modern and the traditional, the jewellery under the Dibaj is no less. The collection comprises 24-karat gold jewellery that is perfect for everyday wear while staying true to Omani roots. Each piece of jewellery is created from traditional jewellery and sometimes, from certain elements related to the Omani culture like kohl applicators and Maria Theresa coins.

“We wanted to create jewellery that young girls could wear everyday without it being too heavy or traditional.

It is also a way for the young girls today to stay in touch with their culture, to wear what their grandmothers wore, but with in modern styles,” says Afaf.

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While Afaf handles the creative aspect of the brand, Aida manages the business.

Yet, the two sisters never take a decision without conferring with each other

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Sourcing traditional jewellery and other Omani elements that could be fashioned into contemporary jewellery is not easy. “We travel quite a lot. Muttrah Souq and Nizwa are two places we regularly visit to pick up original Omani jewellery,” says Aida. Each original piece of jewellery is then cleaned, polished and dipped in 24 karat gold. Neckpieces are accessorised with colourful threads or beads.

At the Muscat Fashion Week, the duo introduced a new dimension to hand jewellery – colourful bands that wrapped the wrist on which bangles and cuffs would rest. The sheen of 24-karat gold against red and deep purple bands did not fail to impress the crowd at the show.

Speaking about inspiration, Afaf says, “I get inspired mostly by my travels, and also by what I see around me.

The collection showcased at Muscat Fashion Week was inspired by our mountains and sands. I even get inspired by our favourite designers like Alber Elbaz (Lanvin), YSL and Givenchy, among others.”

With summer on us, Afaf is busy with her summer collection. Without letting out too much too soon, she

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says, “Summer is always easy wear, casual yet elegant.

There will be lots of jerseys and cottons in the collection while the colours will be mostly blues, greens, fuchsias and other summer shades.”

While Afaf is busy with the summer collection, boutique expansion and taking the business international has Aida on her toes. Their boutique at Alasfoor Plaza acquired more space after they took over the shop next door. “We have also been getting enquiries from the region as well as abroad and we are hoping to explore the options,” says Aida.

Dibaj undoubtedly is poised for not just success within the Sultanate but globally as well!

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I don’t follow harsh trends. I try not to make clothes that can be worn only during one season. Both Aida and I do not see that as a good investment

”

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Style & Beauty

SHOWCASE

Lucifer bow And Spikes Suede patent specchio Multicolor

Stardust

Patent framboise

Chiara 100 python lucido roccia

Love thy Louboutins C

hristian Louboutin, of the eponymous red sole that graces every shoe he designs, has launched his Spring Summer 2011 collection. The master craftsman does not fail to astonish and delight with his scintillating designs that are oh-so-perfect for summer! While the women’s collection is truly tantalising, the men’s collection is a mix of punk-meets-rocker-headed-to-sunshine-land.

Just what the fashion police would approve!

Tres decollete

Python batik

Daffodile Watersnake nabuck

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Patent Calf Black And Pvc

Pampas 150

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hristian Louboutin’s Spring Summer 2011 Mens footwear collection is as eclectic and trendy as the women’s. He has embellished the footwear with spikes, shimmer and materials that lend the collection a quirky yet stylish appeal.

Change of the guard Suede

Blake 100 kid multicolor and patent calf

Une plume Police 100 Couche 45

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Advertorial

Bejewelled!

If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse is sure to be the most coveted.

The diamond-studded masterpiece has entered the Guinness Book of World Records

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enowned jewellers Mouawad’s handcrafted ‘The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse’ has entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the most valuable handbag in the world. Valued at USD3.8 million, the diamond studded handbag is breathtaking, to say the least.

Mouawad has taken inspiration from one of the world’s most epic tales of romance, intrigue and fantasy, The 1001 Arabian Nights, to create this fantastical piece. The heart-shaped purse, handcrafted from 18kt gold, incorporates 4,517 diamonds (105 yellow, 56 pink and 4,356 colorless) with a total weight of 381.92 carats. This diamond-studded masterpiece was designed by Robert Mouawad, a renowned name in the world of luxury. The bag was then hand crafted by 10 highly skilled artisans working for a total of 8,800 hours. The handbag recently received official certification from the Guinness World Records – the global authority on record-breaking achievements, as the most valuable handbag in the world.

“Just as the tales of Scheherazade have captivated readers with their intricately woven plots of uninhibited passion and daring, so ‘The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse’ is designed to mesmerise with its lavish attention to detail and elaborate workmanship incorporating thousands of

diamonds,” said Pascal Mouawad, co-guardian of the House of Mouawad.

“This breathtaking creation is a unique masterpiece,” said Fred Mouawad, co-guardian of the House of Mouawad. “Not only is it one of a kind but it is also the world’s most valuable, intensifying its power to enchant those who have the privilege of wearing it.”

The exceptional level of craftsmanship exemplified by the “The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse” has been a hallmark of the Mouawad name since the company was founded in 1890. From those early days Mouawad rose to global prominence through its passion for precious gems and mastery in the art of creating some of the world’s most breathtaking jewellery. “The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse” is the second record-breaking creation from the House of Mouawad, following in the footsteps of “The Very Sexy Fantasy Bra” valued at USD 11 million produced in collaboration with Victoria’s Secret in 2003 and certified by the Guinness World Records as the most expensive bra ever made.

The Mouawad statement pieces and collections are available at the Mouawad flagship store in the Dubai Mall and in other Mouawad stores in the region. For more details visit www.mouawad.com.

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Fashion

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Muscat’s Tryst with Fashion Muscat Fashion Week, organised as part of Muscat Festival 2011, brought together designers from the region, India and Oman over a three-day fiesta. A report…

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hen Muscat Festival 2011 was held this year after a two year hiatus, the organisers were keen on making the event different and noteworthy. Among the many associated events held around the city was the Muscat Fashion Week. The first ever fashion week to be held in the city had designers from the region, India and Oman showcasing their collections.

Held over the three days, the show was organised by the Muscat Festival committee and Dutch fashion company, Fashion Exclusive renowned for organising such events around the world. The venue chosen to host the fashion week was Riyam Park. The mountain on one side and the corniche on the other provided an unusual yet picturesque setting for the fashion show.

Designers who took part in the fashion week included Robert Abi Nader and Fadi Nahlé from Lebanon, Hanaa Wahaibi, Nadra al Ajmi, Anisa al Zadjali, Nawal al Hooti and Dibaj from Oman, Benyahya Nabila from Morocco, Amina

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al Jassim from Saudi Arabia, Zarif Design from Afghanistan and Shrekahnth from India.

Attending the show were buyers from regional and international markets, media from around the world and fashion lovers from Oman. Nawal al Hooti, one of Oman’s foremost fashion designers commented that the event was ideal for Arab designers to display their talent. Afaf, the designer of Dibaj, a brand that combines the charm of traditional Omani designs with the contemporary said that there was increased interest in the label following the show.

Taking a cue from the success of this year’s Muscat Fashion Week, we hope the show will be back next year with more international and Omani designers.

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New look

In Vogue Sun-kissed bronze, pastels or smoky vibes, the look for this season is unique and fascinating. Crème de la Crème taps into three amazing palettes that are all the rage

A SPOT OF SUNSHINE Guerlain Terracotta Collection 2011 Sunshine splendour on the skin is what Guerlain’s ever famous Terracotta 2011 collection promises. The latest Terracotta collection introduces some absolutely irresistible treats from the cult brand. The 2011 collection features some of the most scintillating products. The Terracotta Moisturising Bronzing Powder’s formula is enriched with moisturising ingredients that does not dry out the skin and ensures long-lasting comfort. Its lightness, ease of application and instantly recognisable scent make it a must have product. The Healthy Glow Foundation Second Skin Effect is a mesmerising combination of ingredients that leaves the skin with a natural healthy glow. The Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder gives a sun-kissed feel to the complexion. Complementing the original Moisturising Bronzing Powder, the Terracotta 4 Seasons compact contains five shades in a mosaic pattern – including an illuminator – cleverly designed to create a healthy radiant

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glow to suit your complexion. And for the first time, Terracotta 4 Seasons, the ultimate in bronzing powders, offers not one, but four shades for each of its two harmonies – Blondes and Brunettes. Flawless Bronzing Powder, made only with ingredients of mineral origin, works brilliantly to leave skin feeling soft and smooth. Terracotta Serum Tan Prolonging Complex is designed to add a tan-prolonging action to everyday skincare products for the face and body.

The concentration of the effective Tan Booster ingredient in this formula has been specially developed for optimum performance: tan-prolonging and soothing. Three absolutely divine treats include Terracotta Jambes de Gazelle Coolong Bronzing Mist that instantly cloaks legs in a natural, even tan and leaves them feeling relaxed and invigorated; Terracotta Eau sous le Vent Soothing Moisturising Mist that improves hydration in the skin and amplifies the tan while enchanting the senses with a sun-soaked scent and Terracotta Huile du Voyageur Nourishing Dry Oil SPF 8, a silky-light, dry oil that leaves the skin with a divinely smooth and luscious finish.

SHADES OF BEAUTIFUL GREY Dior Gris Montaigne 2011 Tyen’s Spring/Summer 2011 makeup collection for Dior pays a shining tribute to the colours of the legendary fashion house and to its timeless codes that represent the spirit of Paris for elegant women the world over. Grey is the colour of couture elegance by Dior. A reference to the Parisian atmosphere of 30 Avenue Montaigne, this noble yet simple grey transcends time and the senses. The Dior Gris Montaigne Lady Grey nail enamel by Tyen extends the elegance of the Couture House down to the tips of the nails. And to ensure that Dior Grey enchants beauty, the eyes dress up in the new smoke grey colours of the legendary 5 Couleurs palette, while lips are exhilarated by the intriguing Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Gris Trianon. To complete the absolute modernity of Grey, pink makes a statement on lips and nails. Rouge Dior lipstick wavers between baby pink and coral. Dior Addict Ultra Gloss scintillates with freshness to enhance beauty with harmony and candor.

Directly inspired by its interlacing lines and sensual curves, the unprecedented Dior Cannage palette, enhanced by the famous “D-I-O-R” metal charms, becomes a true showcase for the eyes. This totally irresistible couture accessory opens to reveal a palette of divinely quilted grey eyeshadows set off with pink to adorn the eyes with all their beauty. The palette is available in two irresistible harmonies: light (Gris Petit Jour) and dark (Gris Soupirs).

And before you step out, dress up those lashes with Diorshow 360 Mascara. With a simple rotation of the ring decorated with Dior Logomania, the helical brush revolves and, on its very own, effortlessly recreates the expert techniques known only to pros. It applies mascara to lashes and idealizes them with automatic and integrated techniques: zigzag, expert rotation, straight and spiral movements. Seduction knows no more limits.

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COLOURS OF DREAMS Clarins Neo Pastels 2011 Clarins goes soft and enticing with Neo Pastels this season.

Clarins celebrates with subtle pastels, worked in half-tones, for a poetic, romantic make-up look... soft, light pastels that glow with a halo of light which rekindles desire and emotion. The Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour includes six beautiful colour harmonies, in complementary shade pairs, to give the cheekbones both colour and light: a matte shade to sculpt the face and an iridescent one to highlight facial contours as it catches the light. The Instant Smooth Line Correcting Concentrate releases a texture enriched with Dermaxyl, a line-repairing peptide. Its high- precision tip ensures targeted application at the heart of the wrinkle, for optimal effectiveness. Skin appears instantly smoother, and more even. The result is spectacular and long-lasting. Neo Pastels Eye Colour & Liner Palette is like a watercolour palette. Six eye shadows in subtle, delicate tones, in three monochrome harmonies: browns, pinks and violets make up the hue dream. And to enhance the eyes with more depth, black eyeliner is also included in the palette.

The Rouge Hydra Nude Smoothing Cream Lipstick SPF6 is formulated with skin care benefits this new generation lipstick transforms into a cream on contact with lips. It glides on perfectly, for easy application and a perfectly defined lip contour.

The Wonder Volume Mascara perfectly coats and thickens lashes from the first brushstroke, to deliver spectacular volume. Joli Rouge Brillant Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick introduces new luminous shades and intense shine with a subtle colour for fuller-looking, luscious lips thanks to the extreme shine complex. The colours of spring give you the perfect glow this season.

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Skin So Good

Advertorial

Morning Care for the Skin, Senses and Spirit SENSAI has always been guided by the belief that beauty is a quality to be experienced with all the five senses. As a worldwide leader in fragrance research and sensory engineering, SENSAI has elucidated how certain textures and fragrances can refresh the senses and spirit, transforming mundane skincare routines into stimulating - and ultimately highly rewarding - interludes.

A world leader in innovative skincare solutions, SENSAI is proud to introduce Cellular Performance Wrinkle Repair Collagenergy - a product created with the concept of fast-forwarding the body’s internal biological rhythm to help improve skin cell performance every morning.

A light, fast-penetrating day fluid that contributes to re-energised skin cell performance every morning while enhancing the ongoing optimisation of the collagen turnover cycle. Leaves a smooth, moist, even finish while awakening the spirit with an original refreshing fragrance.

The Wrinkle Repair Collagenergy provides intensive treatment every morning, which is intended to delay the effects of natural fluctuations. Formulated with rare and potent ingredients like Moon Peach Leaf Extract and Star Fruit Leaf Complex, this fast-penetrating formulation works to energise skin performance as it approaches the nadir of its 24-hour cycle.

The Timeless Mystique of the Moon Peach A core ingredient of the Wrinkle Repair Series, Moon Peach Leaf Extract is derived from the Shell Ginger plant (Alpinia Zerumbet), which grows in splendour and profusion in its native Okinawa. The plant is locally known as Gettou (‘Moon Peach’) because its pink-tipped buds shimmer in the summer moonlight like miniature, luminescent peaches. The leaf of the Moon Peach is especially rich in polyphenols, which are effective in preventing strokes and treating arterial sclerosis, among other conditions.

A Rising Star in Anti-ageing Rich in dietary fibre, potassium and fat-burning niacin, Star Fruit has long been used in traditional remedies for hypertension and osteoporosis. In Wrinkle Repair Collagenergy, Star Fruit Leaf Complex provides a ‘power breakfast’ for cells - a timely infusion of vital energy that enables fibroblasts and other skin cells to rebound swiftly from their daily morning slump and perform at a higher level throughout the day. Being a superior antioxidant, Star Fruit Leaf Complex also protects the skin’s innate collagen against fibre deterioration.

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.COM Visit

March 2011 AVAILABLE AT TAHANI, SABCO CENTRE, TEL: 24562589

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SIMPLY MUSTS

A selection of the finest buys for connoisseurs of luxury Contemporary notes Amouage’s Creative Director Christopher Chong takes inspiration from the unconventional to create the new Opus V – the social media. Chong, who is a self-professed fanatic, said in a press statement, “Social media have liberated and empowered us to disclose and share thoughts and information instantaneously, bridging cultures and allowing knowledge to spread across all boarders. It is a powerful communications tool that today has become the norm for self expression.” Opus V is a mesmerising combination of floral and woody neoclassical masterpiece that pays tribute to haute parfumerie while still remaining connected to modern day living. The raw and classical beauty of Orris and the seductive resonance of Agarwood strike a perfect balance that allows each to manifest symphonically in a trance-like aura while the juxtaposition of Rum and Rose in the top and heart notes expresses many nuances; fragmented yet unremitting in an ingenious composition. The fragrance is rounded off with an opulent leathery and woody base.

Available at all Amouage boutiques

Skin Deep A gossamer-light, skin-brightening, moisture-replenishing lotion with a high level of SPF protection and multiple antiaging benefits, Cellular Radiance Emulsion SPF 30 is designed to help restore youthful luster and vitality to mid-life skin. Its luxuriously silken formulation employs a multi-layer, liquid crystal carrier system that mimics both the skin’s own cellular structure and its lipid composition. This gives the emulsion an extraordinary affinity to the skin, increasing its ability to deliver beneficial ingredients through intercellular pathways and enhancing the natural skin tone. Quartz crystals and reflective pigments, imbedded in La Prairie’s Radiance Complex, filter environmental light through miniscule prisms to soften the effects of harsh lighting and give the skin a subtle radiance. This action is intensified by the presence of colloidal gold, which has a warming effect on these radiant substances. www.laprairie.com

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Cool Accessory Swarovski crystals embellish a striking horseshoe pendant cast in gleaming rhodium-plated metal and threaded on a lustrous chain. The Rhodium-plated chain necklace, designed by Alexis Bittar is with faceted crystal-encrusted horseshoe pendant comes in 16 inches with 3 inch extender with a chain clasp. www.harrods.com

Madrid Inspired Chulapa is one of the creations inspired from the concept of the 2011 collection, “La Verbena de la Paloma”. This festivity takes place in a very authentic Madrid, full of light and noise, where young people dance to the rhythm of chotis, the most popular dance of Madrid. This face of Madrid works as a perfect scenery to present one of the most representative feminine figures of the city: ‘Chulapa’. This figure comes to life with Zarzuela (Traditional Spanish Operetta) at the end of the 19th Century and it perfectly reflects the character of the most daring women of Madrid. This historical figure can be reflect nowadays through the image of the most elegant, self assured and independent Spanish woman, director of her own future. A stylish yet classic piece of craftwork, very large in its interior with a soft structure which allows the user to store diverse sized products inside. With navy and white stripes which make the piece look original but timeless, “Chulapa” is a creation which perfectly encompasses the feminine fragrance: QUIZÁS, QUIZÁS, QUIZÁS. www.loewe.com

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Fashion Essential A quirky accessory with a solid detailed cast fly and Paul Smith signature embossed ring, this moving fly keyring is engraved with a Paul Smith logo. It is made of 70% copper 30% zinc and comes in 4.5 x 2.5 cm size. www.harrods.com

Chiming moments Ludwig van Beethoven’s prodigious reputation is due in large measure to his Symphony No.5 with its four-note fanfare opening. The note now ushers in a new chapter in the history of A. Lange & SÜhne: the most recent sibling in the LANGE ZEITWERK family is endowed with a chiming mechanism that is visible in its face. It strikes the quarter-hours with high-pitched tones and the full hours at a lower pitch.

Played fast-forward, the result is the famous leitmotif. The LANGE ZEITWERK STRIKING TIME is the first Lange wristwatch with an acoustic signature.

The sonorous timepiece comes in a 44.2-millimetre white-gold case with a black dial or in a limited edition of 100 platinum-cased watches with rhodium dials. www.alange-soehne.com

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Glamourous and chic Vertu, the market leader in luxury mobile phones, has unveiled its first smartphone, Constellation Quest. Created to seamlessly complement and enhance a discerning lifestyle, this unique qwerty device combines an unparalleled luxury services offering with the latest business tools, presented with Vertu’s unmatched attention to detail in design and materials. Constellation Quest has been designed with the user experience first and foremost in mind, creating a smartphone that is a pleasure to use. The home screen is uncluttered, displaying only the essentials as chosen by the customer. These may include email notifications, calendar appointments and selected news feeds.

Also featured is a Vertu design signature – an analogue clock – which automatically adjusts to the user’s location. The whole user experience is one designed to be effortless and intuitive.

Dedicated to providing an effortless user experience supported by services offered, Vertu provides technical assistance 24 hours a day with Vertu Remote Assist, a unique offering in the mobile phone market. www.vertu.com

Bold Technology Chic curves and modern elegance are the hallmark of consumer electronics—always a great choice for either him or her! Women or men, young and old—who doesn’t enjoy a designer gadget? The incredibly popular Samsung Galaxy Tab is the crème de la crème of the tablet market and has received global recognition for its slick design and high-performance applications. Just a few months old within the Gulf, consumers are able to experience PC-like web browsing and enjoy all forms of multimedia content on the perfectly sized 7-inch display. Combined with a 1GHz processor, support for the latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1, and native Arabic-language functions, the Galaxy Tab is the best way for loved ones to stay in touch wherever they may be. www.samsung.com

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My View

THE MALE PERSPECTIVE T

he Men’s Spring / Summer Collections which were first showcased on the runways of London, Milan, Paris and New York and now available in stores, witness a shift from ethnic looks to a cleaner and smarter feel. Garments boast soft and elegant tailoring with impressive lines of functional yet luxurious accessories ranging from belts to necklaces, cuffs and bracelets. This is by far one of the best and most diverse seasons in men’s fashion to date that harnesses young, effortless chic. Denim on denim, shorts, dip dye fabrics, chunky knits, trench coats and sportswear fusion are carried over this season.

One of the most notable trends is a “traveller” and “explorer” vibe with rugged and layered looks and styles.

Louis Vuitton and Gucci explore stylish luxe layers while Lanvin travelers verge on bohemian hippies.

Key points are functional pockets, zippers and details, rolled hems, cropped pants, knee and thigh length short along with rolled or short sleeves and utility pocket shirts to name a few. The passion for layering is a signature amongst most designers and is a reoccurring theme.

With Spring / Summer being a more active period, designs are elegant yet practical with a sense of fluidity, all exuding confidence. Jackets are also a key look from blazers to trench coats and biker jackets especially at Balmain, Dolce&Gabbana and Burberry.

“Pomp & Circumstance”, the first menswear collection from Alexander McQueen under the artistic direction of Lee McQueen’s long time head of design, Sarah Burton, draws on the DNA of the house and the archive. It is patriotic and the “England” of Alexander McQueen, a place of eclectic historical and cultural references.

Overall, fabrics are light, layering softly for a comfortable summer. Waxed and coated fabrics, synthetic blends, fine gauge knit at Dolce&Gabbana, dip dyed knits especially at Bottega Veneta and distressed leather dominate the collections.

Organic and 70’s geometric floral prints and strips are also common.

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March 2011

This season, men’s fashion have taken a change from the earlier rough, edgy cuts.

Hassan Al Lawati, who is always spot on with trends, provides the key looks for Spring/Summer

Colour pallets range from khaki and olive greens to rustic and rich darks with spice accents to warm neutrals with chocolate. Bright colours such as orange and blue highlight neutral colour blocks. Prada’s standout pieces add colourful pop to their preppy wardrobe.

Black subjugates some collections especially designers from Paris and Milan. Hermes presents a predominantly white collection, softened with putty grey and shots of faded teal, whereas Lanvin, Balmain and Dior Homme are bold with black, white and powdered grey. However the colour of the season is undoubtedly “Lido” and the French continue to prove that blue is a colour they really understand.

Top Sring/Summer 2011 Picks

1. Bottega Veneta intrecciato calf leather briefcase and soft crocodile document case 2. Black and White Lanvin Jacket in Linen and Cotton 3. Printed silk Louis Vuitton scarf 4. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 5. Opus V fragrance by Amouage 6. Brogues by Prada 7. Tom Ford “Shelby” sunglasses 8. Dior Homme jeans 9. Beige mélange Gucci shawl neck sweater 10.S-Bend Cardigan by Alexander McQueen

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