FM December '10 - Issue 150

DECEMBER 2010. ISSUE 1 50. FMLIFES T Y LE.COM

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December ISSUE 150 WELCOME Come December, the selfhelp industry gets a massive boost. And that’s because, as the year drops a gear and moves to the inner lane, allowing the new year to overtake it, we all get gripped by the desire to be better people, captains of our ships, masters of our fates on the sea of happiness to which we think we are so richly entitled.

We want to be happy. We want self-esteem. We want to put our hands on our hearts and proclaim that we love ourselves.

And if we’re feeling a bit Eeyore-ish, there are a hundred roads to take – we can go see a counsellor, a shrink and even a hypnotist or read a self-help manual, the kind which come with the eternal promise that ‘this book will change your life’ emblazoned on the cover. We go on a diet, quit smoking, buy a gym membership, engage in DIY or a spot of gardening, lose ourselves in a cloud of essential oils, and drum up a series of new year resolutions.

Happiness, we feel, is our God-given right. And we invest hundreds, nay thousands, to improve our happiness factor.

So why is it that, despite the steady growth of the selfhelp and happiness industry, we’re still unhappy. And how come obesity, drugs and alcoholism have all gone up?

Moreover, according to a Eurobarometer report, 10 per cent of the Maltese population were on anti-depressants over the past year. That’s no joke – 41,000 people popping pills for the sake of rising serenely above irritations and thereby attaining a greater state of inner calm and, there’s that word again, happiness.

But what we really need is to accept things – accept other people’s opinions in the hope that they accept ours.

Accept that the creative, successful, constantly happy demi-gods only exist in the world of self-help. Accept the fact that happiness and sadness are not necessarily within our control. Accept life.

A merry Christmas and a joyful start to the new year.

COVER CREDITS Photographer: Tonio Lombardi W: www.toniolombardi.com Creative Director: Luke Engerer Hair : Michelle Galea at Roots Hair Salon, San Gwann 27454164 Make-up: Nicola Powell M: 9986 5369

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CONTENTS 13. Dreaming of what Christmas?

Paul Caruana Turner meets four jolly good fellows to see how they celebrate Christmas.

23. Precarious timing

40. State of luxe

It’s that time of the year again – people to meet, places to go, and parties, parties, parties. Sparkle all night long in ultra-glam diamonds, satin and all things fabulous.

On one hand, women are marrying late, and on the other, we’re hitting puberty earlier than before, says Alison Bezzina.

45. Ending the year in style

26. Red alert

59. Out of the Closet

Celebrate the festive season in ruby red.

Twinkle, twinkle, because this Christmas, you’re a star. FM brings joy to the fashionable world.

Stylist Luke Engerer has a birthday treat for Melanie Darmanin.

29. Being straight on curls 63. What I know about style Curly or straight, asks Daniela Brockdorff as she untangles a hairy situation.

Personal style is a signature, says stylist Mandy Farrugia.

37. A different kind of soap opera

68. Stocking fillers

Some people are deciding to not clean up their act. Maria Michela Formosa scrubs away the soapdodging phenomenon.

8 –– FM December 2010

Treat yourself or that someone special with one of these perfect presents – ho ho ho, Merry Christmas.

71. What I bought this month

For Sarah Agius, any excuse is a good one to go on a shopping spree.

73. We are sleighing

It’s Christmas and Mona Farrugia is up, up and away.

78. A corpulent conundrum Huffing and puffing on the treadmill does not make you thin, says Anne Marie Spiteri.

Model: Andrea from Models.com.mt wearing French Connection jacket €93.00, and Tally Weijl top - €19.95 Editor: Anthony P. Bernard E: anthony@fmlifestyle.com Editorial Consultant: Stanley Borg E: stanley@fmlifestyle.com Design: Porridge W: www.weareporridge.com Printing: Progress Press All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed in FM are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. All reasonable care is taken to ensure truth and accuracy, but the editor and publishers cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in articles, advertising, photographs or illustrations.

Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome but cannot be returned without a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

The editor is not responsible for material submitted for consideration.

80. Lap it up

FM follows the northern lights to Lapland.

82. A girl walks into a salon...

Hair Stylist Michelle Galea lets her hair down.

For any information regarding editorial, promotion or advertising contact Tel: 00 356 2131 8522 00 44 20 3286 6808 Email: fm@madmediainternational.com FM is published by MADMEDIA International, Mezzanine West, Hadfield House, Library Street, Gibraltar and is distributed free with THE SUNDAY TIMES

Bisazza Street, Sliema - Tel: 2131 7951

INTERVIEW CHRISTMAS

“One day my sister and I came home and found all the decorations, including the tree, hanging from the roof.”

Dreaming of what Christmas?

Paul Caruana Turner meets four jolly good fellows to see how they celebrate Christmas.

T

he festive season is as diverse as the countries it’s celebrated in. While the Australians consecrate the birth of Jesus Christ with a barbeque by the pool, downing pints of beer in the sun, in America it plays second fiddle to Thanksgiving. In the Netherlands gifts are delivered by Sinter Claus on December 5 and his robes make him look more like a bishop than the Father Christmas that Coke has given us.

At home, Christmas was always a special time and all the family used to gather for an absurdly large lunch on the special day. I remember, as a pudgy child, giddily excited while eating my way through the run up for Christmas day.

Christmas always had a magic feeling as I was growing up, and I have such fond memories. When I was eight years old, I began to suspect the accuracy regarding the identity of a certain fat, jovial, white bearded, red coat-wearing character. I grilled my parents and they were pretty insistent as to his existence. So upon return from midnight mass – followed by English breakfast, another favourite in my younger, plumper years – my brother and I would find our stocking sat by our beds overflowing with presents. Rather than attack my stocking I would inspect it for clues as to how it got there, trying to sniff out reindeer scent and looking for grey hairs. But my suspicions were always and quickly laid to rest once I paid closer attention to the contents.

It was only once I was 12 that I figured out my dad had given the key to a friend so he could enter the house while we were at midnight mass and prepare the stockings.

But that did not chip away at my fondness for the season. And I yearn for that innocent time, especially when I look around and see how commercial Christmas has become and how a religions holiday has evolved into an excuse for overindulgence, overconsumption and overspending. Is it the same for the others?

Kristina Casolani In between rehearsals and her fastidious gym sessions, Kristina Casolani manages to find time for me to discuss how she celebrates Christmas. We dive right in and she echoes familiar sentiments about family, since unfortunately, “Due to my year round commitments I don’t see enough of my family.

However, I make it a point to be around for Christmas or, if I’m travelling during the period, for New Year’s Eve”, says Kristina, who has just won the Best Female Artiste at this year’s edition of the Malta Music Awards.

One of these commitments is the time she dedicates to helping out a child who suffers from Huntington’s disease.

“I see Christmas very much as a time for reflection. My favourite tradition remains that of attending midnight mass with my parents and sister.”

Kristina and her family celebrate every Christmas with a big family lunch, to which all family members, even those abroad, attend. “That’s part of what makes it so special,” says Kristina.

She goes on to share her fondest Christmas memory.

“We had adopted a cat who we named Ashley. He used to have a go at all the furniture and was always bursting with energy. One day my sister and I came home and found all the decorations, including the tree, hanging from the roof. Can you imagine? Sarah and I were in fits and my father just stood there with this bemused look on his face – he thought it was a great idea to keep the cat from destroying the Christmas decorations.”

Sharing a more poignant experience in her life, Kristina recounts her worst Christmas as being the first one she celebrated without her grandfather and grandmother.

“To me it wasn’t Christmas without them. I had grown up celebrating Christmas with them and for the first time they weren’t there. I think their absence struck me more at Christmas than at any other period during the year.”

December 2010 FM –– 13

CHRISTMAS

Maureen Calleja Photo by Chrsitian Sant Fournier

For Maureen Calleja, mother of two vivacious teenagers, Christmas is first of all a religious celebration. Maureen has a diverse heritage – she has an Irish father, is part German, spent time living in South Africa, obtained a British passport and has Maltese citizenship. This diversity certainly gives her Christmas celebrations a multi-culti feel.

One of the more curious ones she remembers is when, “We would polish a pair of shoes each and leave them out on the evening of December 5. Then St Nicklaus would fill them with presents.”

Her fondest Christmas memory took place in Bern where she spent a night with friends, singing along to harmonious carols in a wood surrounded by trees and glowing candlelight.

“I turned to my husband and said how wonderful that all these families were attending midnight mass together.

He quickly pointed out that they were going to the cinema not midnight mass.”

Before settling down in Malta, Maureen lived in South Africa and studied in Germany, She admits to giving in to some changes in her Christmas traditions. However a real, live tree remains a nonnegotiable issue. The tree, bought from sustainable forests, is put up in the first week of Christmas as opposed to Christmas Eve which is what Maureen used to do in accordance with German tradition. Back in South Africa the tree would have been lit with candles, but here in Malta, Maureen admits to using Christmas lights which she feels lack the festive touch and holiday glow that candles bring.

The pride of her decorations is the lametta, the same used to decorate the Christmas trees of her childhood. Another important tradition is putting up a wreath with candles, and lighting one candle for every week in the build up to Christmas. Maureen feels this custom helps to keep the religious aspect of Christmas alive. “After all,” she says, “Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ.”

Having arrived in Malta only two months before Christmas, Maureen’s family had not yet adjusted to Maltese life. She recalls how, “We were on our way to midnight mass and I was surprised at the amount of people walking through Swieqi. I turned to my husband and said how wonderful that all these families were attending midnight mass together. It gave me such a warm feeling inside, which my husband quickly extinguished by pointing out that they were going to the cinema not midnight mass.”

Having spent Christmas in so many different countries, Maureen has come to realise that, “It’s the Christian message and family traditions that are most important.”

14 –– FM December 2010

CHRISTMAS

“The police asked us to exit the car and we couldn’t stop laughing at their bewildered looks when they saw what we were wearing.”

Felix Busuttil Felix Busuttil manages to accommodate me into his perennially clogged schedule for a quick coffee and a cheerful chat on the upcoming festive season.

Christmas always tends to be a busy time for the self-made entrepreneur, but this year is proving especially busy since Felix has taken on the arduous task of choreographing the opening dance sequence for L-Istrina, for which he hopes to attract as many volunteers as possible. “What’s important is that they want to dance,” he says.

Felix is quick to say how, “Christmas is about giving as well as helping those less fortunate. L-Istrina is certainly an opportunity for people to help.”

The opening dance for L-Istrina comes on top of Felix’s normal demands. The festive season brings with it commissions for pantomime as well as private performances in hotels and clubs.

“Christmas is the time of the year people like to be most entertained,” Felix says, and few will argue that entertainment is what Felix does best. It comes as no surprise then that for Felix, Christmas Day is all about, “The dolce far niente, spending time with family and friends, and shopping.

“It has never really been about religion for me, but I love to decorate my house with a big tree and lights all over,” he says.

Felix recalls his favourite Christmas memory, as a cheeky smile encroaches on his face. “We were travelling from one show to another with the Alison White Dancers, fully attired in cabaret outfits, grotesque makeup included. We had managed to pack seven people into a car and while driving along we were stopped at a roadblock. The police asked us to exit the car and we couldn’t stop laughing at the bewildered looks plastered across their faces as they saw what we were wearing.”

Despite the childlike smile that appears on his face every time we return to the topic of Christmas, Felix incredulously claims to have never believed in Father Christmas, saying that he “Preferred to believe in Peter Pan.”

16 –– FM December 2010

CHRISTMAS

“There was my father, eating the cake my brother and I had left for Santa.”

Luke Buttigieg University student Luke Buttigieg is quick to cite the season’s holidays as a highlight in his calendar. Besides an excuse for holidays he feels Christmas is a time to encourage good relations between people as well as nations, quickly pointing out examples like Afghanistan and the Koreas.

“Growing up, the meaning of Christmas has evolved from a time for presents to a time for meeting up with loved ones and spending quality time together, something that during the year I don’t really manage to do since I’m balancing reading for a degree, a job as well as extracurricular activities at university.”

For Luke, “You cannot have Christmas without decorations – they really help create the wonder and magic of the holiday. Especially when I was younger, I enjoyed seeing all the streets decorated for Christmas – it would really get me in the spirit of things.”

With decorations, Luke doesn’t stop at Christmas. “I also decorate for every holiday, including Ramadan, Easter and Halloween.”

Luke’s fondest Christmas memories are, “The big lunches we used to have. I especially remember one when I was eight years old – the whole family was present and I remember how great it felt. There was nowhere else I would have rather been.”

His worst Christmas memory is when he found out that Father Christmas didn’t really exist.

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18 –– FM December 2010

“I must have been about seven years old at the time. I remember going to bed on Christmas Eve. I was so restless I couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning for hours. Then I heard a sound. It was coming from the kitchen, so I got out of bed and rushed down to the kitchen, all excited that I would catch Father Christmas in action. Instead, there was my father, eating the cake my brother and I had left for Santa. I flew into a rage and threw a tantrum. After that I couldn’t sleep and spent the morning sulking, but as soon as I got my presents it was as though it had never happened.” FM

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CONFESSIONS

Precarious timing On one hand, women are marrying late, and on the other, we’re hitting puberty earlier than before. What a schizophrenic state of affairs, says Alison Bezzina.

I

n most countries, the age at which a person is allowed to marry is usually around the age of 18. The legal age to engage in sexual activity is usually a little bit lower, and in some countries like Tanzania, Bangladesh and India, the marriageable age for men differs from that of women, with that of women being slightly younger than that of their male counterparts.

Over the years, we are seeing less and less people getting married, and when they do, on average, they now tend to be older than they used to be in the past. As expected, none of these statistical reports dare go into the reasons behind this social shift, but if I had to point a finger at something I would (loudly) say that the main reason is money.

While women are more financially independent and can afford to wait for the right partner, girls are growing up faster and even getting pregnant at ridiculous ages.

Of course this might sound like an oversimplified explanation for what is essentially a very complex (but not necessarily negative) social change, but in this case I honestly think that it all boils down to simple female economics.

In short, women have finally woken up to smell the sweet strong fragrance of economic freedom.

Let’s face it, marriage has always been an arrangement of economic convenience, especially until the 1960s, when very few women went out to work and were therefore almost entirely dependent on men for their daily living and financial security.

Even in the late 1980s, when women had been ‘doing it for themselves’ for over two decades, Newsweek magazine published an article saying that professional women over 30 had only a 20 per cent chance of

ever getting married. The same article went on to claim that when working women hit 40, their chances of ever getting hooked went down to a ridiculous 2.6 per cent. The article had caused uproar at the time, but there was no way to prove that it was wrong.

Today, (yet another 20 years later), we know that those numbers were way off the mark. They were published in the middle of a social revolution when women were getting out of the house, studying for degrees, and becoming financially independent. The predictions were based on outdated realities. They did not take into consideration the fact that with financial security women did not have to, and neither did they want to, go out and get married by age 20. Today the same researchers behind the Newsweek article claim that a woman over 40 has an over 40 per cent chance of getting married and that a man’s financial situation does not play such a major part in his eligibility.

The social trend of waiting to get married, if at all, is however in direct contrast to a recent physiological phenomenon – girls hitting puberty at an earlier age. According to recent studies, more girls today are starting to develop breasts by the time they are seven or eight years old, and though an increase in child obesity seems to have something to do with it, some researchers are also blaming certain chemicals that can now be found in our environment. Because there is a direct link between longer exposure to certain hormones and tumours, doctors are concerned that the younger a girl is when she gets her first period, the higher the risk of developing breast cancer.

December 2010 FM –– 23

CONFESSIONS

These biological changes at such an early age can have severe effects on the social and emotional life of a girl, who might have the mind of a child and the body of a woman, but another study suggests that this phenomenon might not be an entirely biological one. Recently, Dr Debra Judge, an Australian ecologist, reported that girls who have older brothers first menstruated at a later age than those who do not have older brothers. She investigated 273 women and found that on average, women with older brothers got their periods at least a year later than those who have no older brothers.

The current state of affairs is kind of schizophrenic. While women are more financially independent and can afford to wait for the right partner, girls are growing up faster and even getting pregnant at ridiculous ages.

This year alone, two 10-year-old girls gave birth to healthy babies.

And it wasn’t in some God forsaken country where we can blame it on underdevelopment – one case was in Spain and the other in Texas, USA. Both girls gave birth to healthy babies and the grandparents were not totally surprised.

Saving lives Pampers has partnered with UNICEF in its worldwide initiative to help eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus in developing nations. Between mid-November and the following three months or until stocks last, for every specially-marked Pampers product purchased in Malta, Pampers will donate €0.053 to enable UNICEF to contribute to the provision of a life-saving vaccine.

The youngest girl on record to have ever given birth was only five years old. It happened in 1939 in Peru. The girl, Lina Medina, was hospitalised for what her parents believed to have been a tumour. Three months later she gave birth to a boy by caesarean section. The girl had got her first period before the age of two and she had visibly developed breasts by the age of four. The father of the baby was never revealed, and the child was brought up by Lina’s parents as though he was her brother. He only found out who his mother really was at the age of 10.

As much as I’m glad that we’re not living at a time when women are compelled to get married just to survive, I find this new cycle of life mind blowing. On the one hand we’re having fewer kids, less of us are getting married at a decent childbearing age, and although we’re living longer and feeling healthier, our kids are hitting puberty when they should be hitting the school yard. FM

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24 –– FM December 2010

FASHION

Red Alert

3 2

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Photographer - Tonio Lombardi Stylist - Kira Drury 1. Monsoon long dress, €265.00 2. Peacocks nail varnish, €2.50 3. Esprit perfume, €20.95 4. Swatch @ Sunlab ring, €35.00 5. Accessorize necklace, €8.50 6. New Look clutch bag, €16.99 7. Dune @ Soul heels with bow, €100 8. Mexx vest, €17.95 9. Accessorize corsage, €8.90 10.New Look strappy heels, €29.99

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26 –– FM December 2010

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HAIR

t h g i a r t s g n i Be on curls kdorff asks Daniela Broc Curly or straight, n. tio ua sit iry ha a as she untangles

L

et’s eavesdrop on a commonplace situation. Friend A tells Friend B that she would give anything to have her lovely curls. Friend B is shocked: “My curls? But I hate them! I would kill to have such perfect straight her as you do.” Friend A is sure to reply, “But you must be joking! I look just like Morticia Addams.”

Alexander Pope once wrote how, “Beauty draws us with a single hair.” Unfortunately, despite all the words he put down on paper, Pope failed to add a crucial explanation on whether that “single hair” should actually be curly or straight.

It’s the classic conundrum – curly or straight? What is in or out, classy or naughty?

Some say that nothing beats the sleek and sassy look of flawlessly straightened hair while others fall head over heels in love with life-infused curls. It seems as though this unstoppable, irreconcilable, hair-tearing struggle between curly and straight hair will go on and on. But let’s hear it from the girls themselves.

Curling up Lara Boffa loves her hair. It is her distinguishing feature – in fact, she is commonly known as “tan-nokkli”. Friends also often compare her to Annie, the girl in the musical with the same name. She tells me that she loves her natural curls because they perfectly match her style and character.

Lara is not the type of girl to merge silently with the crowd – bright and bubbly, she likes to be the centre of attraction. A glance or two and her curls often do the trick.

However she admits that, yes, it’s true that her curls require lots of attention.

While telling me all about it, I get the impression that her hair is to her as a child to its mother – demanding constant care but ultimately worth all the while. Lara often has to wake up super early to get her curls nice and pretty for the day. Bad hair days are a common note in Lara’s diary, especially when a sticky south wind is blowing, which is a frequent occurrence in Malta.

Lara also has a budget for her hair, which she spends on various hair products – gels, hairsprays, shampoos, conditioners and the lot. Lara also has to treat her hair every week for it to maintain its lustre.

December 2010 FM –– 29

HAIR

“Bad hair days are a common note in Lara’s diary, especially when a sticky south wind is blowing.”

What she suggests to all those curly-haired girls out there is for them to constantly look after their hair. Washing it too often would lighten the curl and thus its texture would be lost. She also stresses that products which are specific for curly hair should be bought, rather than the first thing that comes off the store’s shelf. Furthermore, a regular trim is always advisable.

I ask Lara whether she would ever consider straightening her hair to save precious time and money. With nary a hesitation she utters a simple “No.” “To be honest,” she adds, “I did try to straighten my hair once.” The experience, however, has led her to associate quite a bitter taste with straightening her hair. What occasioned this change was her Confirmation. Unfortunately, the day turned out to be rather windy and the effect this had on her hair was simply disastrous.

Thus, from that day forth, Lara swore never to straighten her hair again. She goes on to say that even if someday, for some reason or another she might wish to do it, she would still refuse to because she fears that her curl would eventually lose its original texture. And who would want to lose those curls?

Gauda Sliema - Phone: 21346957 30 –– FM December 2010

“It seems to be so unique,” Lara tells me, “that once an Asiatic woman would not let go of my hair, wanting to touch it over and over again to reassure herself that it was not a wig.”

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HAIR

Straight on Agnes Wirkus has naturally straight hair. It seems as though straight hair requires as equal a monetary investment as curly hair does. Agnes tells me that she spends quite a lot of money to keep her hair in a constant good condition.

However, she does not consider this a problem at all as she believes that every girl should dedicate some care and attention to her hair. Therefore, buying hair products is not a burden but another feel-good factor.

Agnes washes her hair day in day out and this would usually entail 15 minutes for washing and another five minutes for straightening. It certainly seems that, even though curly and straight hair are at par when it comes to money, time-wise, straight hair demands less.

Having straight hair myself, on certain days I sometimes feel that I desperately need to do something to my lifeless-looking hair and I definitely would not decline a curl or two. I ask Agnes whether she thinks having curls would get her more attention, but she replies that she does not think it would make much of a difference.

However, Agnes does maintain that she somehow believes that a girl with a short and straight hairstyle seems to appear more serious-looking than with any other hairstyle. Indeed, many studies are carried out, especially in America but also around the world, to determine whether specific hairstyles generate different reactions and whether certain hairstyles are associated with certain character traits.

“If Agnes wants to add a little spice to her life she just curls her hair.”

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Contrary to Lara, Agnes has tried to cross to the curly side several times. She tells me that, at times, a girl needs some variety in her life so when there is a special occasion or if she simply wants to add a little spice to her life she just curls her hair. “It does feel strange at first”, she admits, “but then I get used to it pretty fast, obviously knowing that it would turn into its original self soon enough.” FM

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‘T

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32 –– FM December 2010

NEWS

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Thanks to SockCorner, you can now stock up on basic accessories for the entire family while shopping at your supermarket.

SockCorner is present at the most popular supermarkets and stocks anything from opaque tights and cosy home-socks to something smart for the man in the house.

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Dr Fitness Power Plate® Studio has just introduced the new box vibration, great for fat burning and total fitness. For enquires, contact Dr Fitness Power Plate® Studio at Hilton Malta on Tel: 7981 2235, 9982 5585, 2702 0376 or send an e-mail at drfitness58@gmail.com.

Avantech and Canon recently organised a free event at the Intercontinental Hotel for the benefit of Malta’s growing photographic community, users of both Canon and other brands. Over 300 persons attended. This event was a first for Malta and included a briefing by leading Canon Product Intelligence specialist Ferenc Torok, followed by an equipment demo and Q&A session.

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Privé Events Management has teamed up with Twenty-Two at the Hilton Malta to organise this year’s grandest New Year’s Eve event featuring celebrity DJ Guru Josh Project with a three-hour set, DJ Joseph Armani and Twenty-Two’s resident DJ Alex. Twenty-Two is the hottest VIP spot so the association with Privé is only natural. For this event, the conference centre will be transformed into a top club with a massive VIP area. For more information visit www. privepromo.com and www.22.com.mt.

Underground Quality Label has signed Owen Jay and Melchior Sultana for a number of releases on vinyl for worldwide distribution. Memories of You EP, featuring four deep house tracks, will be released in December. With the support of the U.S. Embassy, DJ Jus-Ed will be in Malta for the Record Release Party on December 7 December 2010 at The Fortress in Xemxija.

Local DJs Owen Jay, Giulivo and SSoker will also be performing. For more information call on Tel: 9929 0626.

34 –– FM December 2010

FEATURE

A different kind of soap opera Some people are deciding to not clean up their act. Maria Michela Formosa scrubs away the soap-dodging phenomenon.

I

t’s strange to see the extremes that people go to in order to economise.

And it cannot get more extreme than soap-dodging, where people ditch their daily shower to save up on their water and electricity bills.

What is stranger still is that those who adopt this fad believe they are as clean as those who invest in a daily shower.

Honestly, though, would you feel as fresh as you do if you skipped your cleaning duties?

A recent poll in England showed that 41 per cent of men and 33 per cent of the fairer sex do not shower every day.

When I first read about this new lifestyle, my dog came to mind. A mix between a labrador and a cocker spaniel, Dune will literally do anything to dodge his fortnightly bath. His sole reason (not that he told me, but I have my suspicions) is that he hates getting his coat wet.

Human beings, though, are nothing like their domestic best friends. I would like to think that most of us crave their morning shower or a relaxing splish-splash after a hard day’s work. As we step into that little glass cubicle and open the tap, the pressure of the running water is so refreshing that it washes the daily grind away.

A daily shower is an ingrained habit in the life of many but despite this, soap-dodging is growing increasingly popular. This carefree attitude is flourishing most significantly in the United States and in the United Kingdom.

A recent poll in England showed that 41 per cent of men and 33 per cent of the fairer sex do not shower every day, while 12 per cent of the British only have a proper wash once a week. Other polls have shown that British teenagers do not wash every day, instead opting for a quick spray of deodorant to mask the stink (figures sourced from an article by Kira Cochrane in the Guardian Eco published on November 2, 2010.)

Thinking about the term itself, one might start to picture a stinky classmate,

a disgusting teacher, or a work mate who smells like sour milk. Obviously, they are not appealing.

I cannot fail to mention an English teacher at college, who every time he opened his mouth to recite Keats’ Odes, made us turn green with the inexplicable odour he had in his mouth. We believed he only washed on Tuesday evenings, because on Wednesday he used to have no smell whatsoever, but the rest of the weekdays he was a living nightmare. His unbearable smell would suffocate the girls’ perfume and the boys’ aftershave and every living thing in his immediate circumference would visibly welt.

In days gone by people rarely washed.

Curiosity killed the cat, so I went to my granddad to see if he would confirm this practice. “Is it true that in the past people washed only once a week?” I asked.

“Once a week? My dear, we had a proper wash once a month, but then we did not have the facilities we have these days,” he said laughing.

In fact, as popular myth would have it, Queen Elizabeth I only took a bath once a month, and King James I apparently only ever washed his hands.

Soap-dodgers might be drawing some influence from what dermatologists are saying, that regular washing strips the skin of germs that could actually be beneficial to us. Others might just want to cut down on their high water bills, while laziness takes over others.

Of course, as with all things in life, there are the complete opposites to soap-dodgers.

There are people who wash three times a day on average, if not more. They are compulsive about cleanliness and trust me, you would not want to live with one of them.

December 2010 FM –– 37

FEATURE

Undoubtedly, cleanliness attracts more people – who would stand more than five minutes near a smelly person?

The international market for soaps has risen drastically and is now worth around €20 billion a year. Soap-dodgers also contribute to this growth, because they buy dry shampoo and various varieties of deodorant, products which people believe can replace the bathing activity.

In my first year at University, I lived with some girls in a flat close to campus. After three months, the water consumption read ‘Abnormal’. “No wonder,” my roommate and me thought, “that little elf in the next room washes three to four times a day.”

Generally, depending on how clean you are is reflected in the place where you live.

This flatmate of ours would drive us crazy

with the amount of soiled dishes she left all over the kitchen.

The truth is that nowadays, dirty things are not attractive, let alone hygienic. Take fast food franchises. Yes, they do serve fast food, but there’s nothing fast about their hygiene levels, and they serve customers in a spick and span environment.

Naxxar Road, San Gwann, Malta, SGN 9093 - Tel: 21385352

38 –– FM December 2010

“I use dry shampoo so as not to wash my hair more than once a week,” a friend of mine confesses, “and since I have to go to the hairdresser every time I wash my hair for a blow dry, I can at least only go once a week, and not up to three times,” she continued smiling.

Once I step out of the shower at the end of the day, my stress is trapped in the laundry basket together with the dirty clothing. I know I would never postpone the daily shower. So, finally, it is your choice – do you want to smell like a fresh flower or stink like a bin? FM

FASHION

State of luxe

1. Debenhams bra, €14.99 2. Debenhams panty, €7.99 3. Accessorize silver clutch bag, €54.00 4. New Look floral necklace, €7.99 5. Debenhams cape, €48.00 6. French Connection stack rings, €18.00 7. French Connection pearl cluster ring, €18.00 8. Dune @ Soul black sandals, €115.00 9. Ells chain bracelet, €5.99 10. Ells jewelled cuff, €4.99 11. Debenhams beige satin clutch, €68.00 12. New Look pearl necklace, €15.99 13. Accessorize black clutch, €25.00

It’s that time of the year again – people to meet, places to go, and parties, parties, parties. Sparkle all night long in ultra-glam diamonds, satin and all things fabulous.

Photographer - Tonio Lombardi, Stylist - Kira Drury

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40 –– FM December 2010

Oasis dress - €89.00

Angel delight Photographer - Tonio Lombardi w: www.tonilombardi.com / Creative Director Luke Engerer / Hair - Michelle Galea at Roots Hair Salon, San Gwann: 2745 4164 Make up - Nicola Powell: 9986 5369 Model - Andrea from Models.com.mt

Orsay dress - €29.95 Gauda at Sliema shoes - €35.00

Oasis dress - €126.00 Ells necklace - €5.99 Gauda at Sliema shoes - €45.00

French Connection dress - €203.00 Orsay neckalce - €14.90 Orsay bracelet - €9.95

TRENDS

Ending the year in style

Accessorize bag - €49.00

Twinkle, twinkle, because this Christmas, you’re a star. FM brings joy to the fashionable world.

I

t’s uncanny how we never have anything to wear. Of course, our overflowing wardrobe may have its own room, but look, that section is from last season, that one is for clothes that don’t fit, and nothing from the heap on the right actually feels right.

Which is where we come in, not necessarily dressed up as Father Christmas, but still bearing the gift of a stylish Christmas.

Emilio Pucci

Caroline Charles

It’s a conundrum that becomes more worrying during the festive season. You cannot wear black

because, well, everyone will be wearing black.

Red and gold is an obvious choice and smells of musty tradition. Leather and animal prints are a bit un-Christmassy. And the Christmas jumper – don’t even go there.

Accessorize brooch - €12.50

The colours of Christmas Christmas is rooted in routine – from the songs and the gifts to the Christmas day lunch menu, it’s pretty much the same, year after year. Another element stuck in routine is the festive wardrobe. Most people will opt for the safest colour, black, while others will be slightly more adventurous and add some sparkly or red accessory.

To really stand out from the crowd, you need a different palette. Red, for instance, shouldn’t be limited to a simple trim or accessory – it’s the sort of colour which really deserves more column inches and which, if you have the Joan Harris body for it, will really turn heads when worn in abundance.

Another colour for the festive season is purple – this season, purple in all its shades dominated all the major catwalks.

And if, in the end, you do opt for black, make sure that it has a different texture to it.

You can also work it as a background for a statement accessory.

Accessorize pouch - €46.00

Better lace than never Lace has been a wardrobe staple ever since we fell in love with anything vintage.

For Christmas, an outfit accessorised or trimmed with lace will be unique and will give you a classy, Victorian touch.

Whether it’s on your collar, as a trim, or even as a pair of revealing tights, lace gives a celebratory feel to your whole outfit. Pair with ankle boots for a naughty look or team up with full skirts for a slightly boho but chic effect.

For the ultimate in luxury, combine lace with that other rich material, velvet, or with cashmere, silk and wool – that way you will also achieve a nice contrast in textures. On that chilly New Year’s Eve, you will keep the cold out, but will be the hottest girl around.

December 2010 FM –– 45

TRENDS

Add a sparkle This may be the season to sparkle, but that doesn’t mean you have to go overboard and end up looking like a pile of Christmas presents.

The real VIPs

Rather, the sparkly element in your outfit needs to be a subtle yet eye-catching detail. From a sequined detail to glittery embroidery, the shiny element should be the little detail that completes, rather than overpowers, your whole outfit.

212 VIP, the new fragrance by Carolina Herrera, is inspired by New York’s most creative people, the young talents who are writing the future history of the city. 212 VIP is a fun, festive and floral fragrance that combines style with attitude. The bottle is a dazzling gold, giving the product a magical luminosity.

This season is also hot on Victorian accessories in dark and decadent berry and jewel tones. Cocktail rings are also in, as are chandelier earrings, statement necklaces and chunky bracelets.

Finish off with some glittery make-up and you’re good to party.

Luscious eyes Inglot offers over 100 different eyelashes styles at their Sliema store to try. From classic black flares to glitterencrusted, beaded, or foiled finishes, these accessories will instantly transform your look from ordinary to extraordinary.

Inglot, The Strand Sliema is open every day in December from 10.00am – 8.00pm. Call on Tel: 2010 7050/1, e-mail: manager@inglotmalta.com or join Inglot on Facebook.

Alberta Ferretti

Accessorize earrings - €14.90

Timeless. Classic. Unmistakeable.

Accessorize bracelet - €21.50

46 –– FM December 2010

The accentuation of the light, invigorating head note gives 4711 its characteristic and pleasant fragrance. Essential oils – renowned for their aroma-therapeutic properties – form part of the composition while lemon, bergamot and orange possess an unmistakeable, revitalising power. Lavender and rosemary have a relaxing effect and steady the nerves. Neroli is extracted from bitter orange blossom, and is extremely soothing and guarantees a positive attitude. 4711 – the Miracle Water. More than just a fragrance. Available from all leading pharmacies and perfumeries. For trade enquiries call Pharma-Cos Ltd. on Tel: 2144 1870.

St Lucia Street - Valletta The Point - TignĂŠ

TRENDS

FASHION BAROMETER

WEAR The Pirelli calendar 2011 shot by Karl Lagerfeld. Time stands still.

Monsoon dress €350.00

Lady Gaga on the cover of the March 2011 issue of US Vogue. More than just rumours.

Who will dress Kate Middleton for her princess wedding?

Question of the year.

Christmas.

Costume National

TEAR Black outfit for NYE. You and a thousand others.

Not another Christmas jumper, granny?

New year resolutions – overrated.

Monsoon Christmas decoration - €7.75

Wrap it up Goose pimples are never a good look, so you need to cover up with an elegant coat that will keep you under wraps until you arrive at the party venue. This season, coats with faux fur trims and which give a nod to the military trend are very popular.

If you don’t want to weigh yourself down, opt for a cape. From richly embroidered to plan and chunky ones, this season it’s all about looking as stunning as a caped crusader. FM

Great uncle Albert’s Christmas joke – coming near you for the hundredth time.

BLOGWATCH THE WHO, WHAT, WHY, WEAR OF THE NET

www.babynationxo.blogspot.com Young, liberal and fashionable.

www.flypaper.bluefly.com Accessorize necklace - €18.90

The motto – we shop therefore we blog – says it all.

www.showstudio.com Fashion caught on film.

48 –– FM December 2010

Le Ciel Boutique, St Paul’s Str. Naxxar. Tel no: 21437727

Portrait of a lady Photographer - Tonio Lombardi, w: www.tonilombardi.com / Creative Director - Luke Engerer / Hair - Michelle Galea at Roots Hair Salon, San Gwann: 2745 4164 / Make up - Nicola Powell: 9986 5369 / Model - Madeleine / Super Nova Models / Shot at the Xara Palace Relais & Ch창teaux, Mdina

Street Fashion dress - €137.00 Peacocks tights - €8.50 Peacocks shoes - €32.50 Accessorize earrings - €8.90

Massimo Dutti jacket - €350.00 Massimo Dutti dress - €125.00 Peacocks cardigan - €19.50 Massimo Dutti belt - €25.95 Peacocks tights - €4.00 Soul boots - €185.00 Accessorize bag - €49.00 Accessorize beret - €27.90 Centre Esprit jacket - €129.95 Street Fashion shirt - €52.50 Esprit skirt - €59.95 Esprit waistcoat - €49.95 New Look bag - €19.00 Opposite New Look jacket - €39.99 Esprit cardigan - €89.95 Debenhams shirt - €34.00 Monsoon skirt - €78.00 New Look shoes - €29.99 Peacocks tights - €8.50 Carpisa bag - €110.00

Tommy Hilfiger Cape - €310 Tommy Hilfiger - Waist Coat - €110.00 New Look Top - €25.00 Tommy Hilfiger Boots - €219.00 New Look Shorts - €25.99 Peacocks Tights - €8.50 Centre Bortex jacket - €79.00 Bortex trousers - €49.00 Massimo Dutti scarf - €39.90 Soul boots - €185.00 New Look bag - €19.00 Opposite Monsoon dress - €150.00 Monsoon necklace - €18.90 Soul shoes - €185.00

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Every month, stylist Luke Engerer and his makeover team will visit one lucky reader, rummage through her wardrobe and give her a restyle. It’s all treats but no tricks as Luke & Co. only use your own clothes to create a new style for you.

out of the closet

MAKEOVER THE STYLE COUNCIL is m FM’s makeover tea e Luk made up of stylist er ph Engerer, photogra make-up Tonio Lombardi, gory and artist Melanie Gre le hairdresser Michel Galea at Roots Hair Salon.

Stylist Luke Engerer has a birthday treat for Melanie Darmanin.

Photography - Tonio Lombardi

BEFORE W

e meet Melanie at Roots Hair Salon. She turns up in a pair of jeans and a long grey patterned top.

We have a cut and colour planned for Melanie so the salon is the best place to start. Melanie has never coloured her hair so Michelle and I talk her into a toner to warm up her colour.

This month I must confess I cheated with the dress. I picked

something up from French Connection and want to surprise Melanie with a glam festive look.

After Melanie’s hair is done, we go to her apartment in Marsascala. I pop into her extremely well organised walkin wardrobe in search of shoes and accessories. It’s an easy enough job as Melanie’s shoes are all organised in neatly labelled boxes.

ABOUT A GIRL

THE NOMINEE

I’m very bubbly and love being with my friends, having a good laugh.

I’m also very good at keeping secrets.

Our nominee for this month is Melanie Darmanin, a newlywed who wrote to us saying how, “Now that I have survived the hectic wedding months and settled in, I would be thrilled to do a makeover. It would be the best gift I could get after the stressful summer I had.”

My style tends to change a lot. I like to follow current trends especially when the nice summery colours are in. I also love casual dresses.

I like my eyes best. On the other hand, my least favourite physical feature is my hair. I have rarely experimented with it – it has either been plain short or long.

Currently, my favourite wardrobe item is a casual black and white dress. It has a vintage look and a very nice fit. Having such neutral colours, it also allows me to experiment with different shoes and bags.

I couldn’t live without my family.

When going out, it usually takes me just 20 minutes to get ready. After I choose my outfit and accessories, I shower, then put on my make up – a very thin layer of foundation, eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss. Then, depending on the style I choose, I either blow-dry my hair or apply mousse. And I’m off.

Hair

Michelle Galea at Roots Hair Salon.

T: 2745 4164, M: 9945 4164 “Melanie’s hair had never been coloured so we used a gloss tone, which is a shade darker then her natural hair, to warm it up and give it a more sophisticated look. I cut her hair to a short bob, which really brought out her features. Then I gave her hair a quick blow dry and finished with the Remington tongs for that sleek straight bob. I finished off with a hair shine spray for gloss and radiance.”

Melanie admits to being a shopaholic, especially when it comes to shoes.

“I have a three-metre wardrobe filled with winter clothes and a whole walkin wardrobe for the summer clothes. And that’s not mentioning around 50 pairs of shoes.”

Melanie, who teaches and is currently reading for a Masters at the University of Sheffield, also has a birthday wish.

“I’m turning 25 in December. Birthdays in December can be pretty boring, as people tend to give you a combined present for your birthday and for Christmas. To make things worse my birthday comes between Christmas parties, Staff parties and New Year’s Eve celebrations, so going out to celebrate my birthday is usually seen as a waste of time. But the FM makeover could really help me forget all that.”

Make up

Melanie Gregory, M: 7772 8043 “I started off by using a smoothing primer as a base, followed by foundation matching Melanie’s skin tone and a mineral powder to seal. I used shimmery dark eye shadow and highlighted it in white to create a smoky look. To finish off the eyes I used sparkly black faux lashes. I completed the look with rosebud pink blush and the palest pink nude lipstick with a touch of gloss.”

December 2010 FM –– 59

MAKEOVER

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY If you want to be our lucky makeover girl, drop us an e-mail at model@ fmlifestyle.com and tell us why we should choose you. Also, attach two photos of you – one full body and one headshot – with your e-mail.

AFTER I am really happy that Luke chose a dress because I always feel comfortable wearing dresses,” says Melanie. “At first, I thought the dress was too flashy, but once I tried it on, I changed my mind completely.

The final touches made the dress stand out more and the end result is stunning. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw myself in the mirror “I was very excited throughout the makeover. My hair has never been this short and I was scared that I wouldn’t like it but in the end I did. I did my best not to look in the mirror while the make up artist worked her magic on me but I gave in and was pleasantly surprised.

“This is definitely the best birthday present ever.”

FM

OK world, here I come The Remington Pearl Straightener features Advanced Ceramic Ultimate with real pearl coating, for an effortless glide. The plates are proven to last five times longer for a constant high-shine finish. Combined with Advanced Ceramic heaters, the straightener is ready to use in 10 seconds, heating to 235ºC with ultra fast recovery time. Find us on Facebook by searching for Remington – Malta or visit www.remington-europe.com.

December 2010 FM –– 61

STYLE WISE

What I knoWabout style Personal style is a signature, says stylist Mandy Farrugia.

My very first fashion memory is of the children’s catwalk competitions which my mum used to make me participate in. I believe that even though I was still eight years old, these fashion shows had a great impact on me as they helped me to start understanding fashion and to start cultivating a sense of style.

When I was younger, my wardrobe mostly consisted of clubbing clothing – I remember I used to experiment a lot with combining a variety of colours together. Nowadays, my wardrobe reflects my different attitudes towards life and my impression of different places I travel to.

My trips to Tokyo were a turning point in my personal style as I was impressed by the people’s ability to maintain a good balance between sensuality and elegance in their styles – this is reflected in my personal taste. As a matter of fact, at the moment my wardrobe consists of a variety of Italian designer shirts which I love wearing with leather trousers, 1960s inspired A-line dresses combined with patterned tights and a lot of chunky colourful woollen scarves.

I’m in love with vintage styles and always try to hint to a particular era, maybe through my

hairstyle or the way I apply make-up. I also tend to have a multi-personality issue with my style, and I like to follow all the current trends by adopting minimal elements to my look through accessories.

I decided I wanted to start working towards becoming a stylist on my very first fashion shoot, where I was modelling. During this shoot I realised that I was enjoying the direction and the styling part more than the modelling itself, and I remember I really envied the skills and attitude of the stylist that day.

My very first styling project was quite challenging.

I remember I had to coordinate and direct four models for a flickristi photowalk to which around 20 photographers attended. It was challenging in terms of managing to filter all the photographers’ requests for specific poses and scenes.

During a shoot, a thorough understanding of the shoot’s purpose is essential. Throughout the various projects I styled with LIGHT (www.lightsquad. net), composed of photographers Gege Gatt, Aron Mifsud Bonnici and Therese Debono, I have learned that you should first analyse the finished look before letting your creative ideas carry you away.

Different projects such as fashion shoots for local magazines, portfolio shoots for various individuals of different age groups, and beauty shoots for beauty pageants, all have different requirements. However, no matter the scope of the shoot I always endeavour to achieve harmonious, modern, fresh images and achieve a perfect balance of elements in each scene.

I am influenced by art particularly Mexican and Impressionistic art. The latter especially has helped me to understand my desired approach towards directing an outdoor shoot, that is of being able to immortalise with the photographers our impression of that particular moment, which is influenced by the way light falls on our models and the impact of the surroundings.

Before I start working on a shoot I always attend brainstorming and discussion meetings with the photographers – here we discuss what we want to achieve in terms of quality and photographic techniques and elements to achieve the desired effects. Following discussions I draft a detailed programme for the shoot, giving a thorough description of each scene by designing mood boards and also a written description of the theme and what should be achieved.

December 2010 FM –– 63

STYLE WISE

On a shoot, making the model feel comfortable is essential and I am very careful how I give my feedback. Good preparation and having an insight in photographic techniques helps to improve communication with photographers.

I have just completed a Diploma on Image Consultancy and Fashion Styling with Limperts Academy of Design and I am currently working on a photo shoot which will be presented at the Academy’s exhibitions. I am also organising an image consultancy seminar to help all those women who are not happy with their looks and style.

Fashion is an essential part of living. It is the artistry of designers based on their creative ideas, which in turn influences trends. Style, on the other hand, is an expression on one’s impression on the current fashion trends. Personal style is more powerful because, while fashion trends can be adopted by anyone, personal style is unique and constantly evolving.

Style is not just about clothes - it’s a full package that includes hair, make up, clothes, accessories and the sensibility to pull the trends together without looking like a fashion freak.

Style is also about understanding who you are and allowing that to reflect in your image. FM Read on. Join our Femme Magazine Facebook page

64 –– FM December 2010

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Christmas is... for giving!

Celebrate Christmas with a unique gift for the home that will be treasured for a long time to come. At One Two One Interiors, you’ll find a countless selection of exquisite and original gifts, all luxuriously wrapped and ready to present to your loved ones!

Quality table linen by Moltex in various qualities & sizes. Ideal for celebrations all year round.

Stunning frames, lamps & other accessories by SIA. From 15.

Candleholders in speckled glass by SIA surrounded with silver detail for added sparkle.

From 20.

An exceptional range of platters & kitchen accessories by Silea makes a practical gift. From 15.90.

Sambonet’s bar accessories make excellent gifts for Him. Cocktail shaker 69.50.

Luxurious silk & velvet cushions in a variety of colours by Moltex.

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From stunning table & glassware to enchanting table decorations by The Villa Collection, we cater for all you need to celebrate Christmas in style.

Chic duvets with coordinating sheets & throwover bedspreads form part of our winter collection of bedding.

Ready made curtains from our many original designs & colours. From 35.90.

Extended December opening times Weekdays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

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Monday 20 December to Friday 24 December: 9 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

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FASHION

Stocking Fillers Tis’ the season to give (and receive). Treat yourself or that someone special with one of these perfect presents – ho ho ho, Merry Christmas.

Photographer - Tonio Lombardi, Stylist - Kira Drury

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1. Tommy Hilfiger wallet, €99.00 / 2. Scholl Party Feet, €5.68 / 3. Street Fashion belt, €42.00 / 4. Debenhams eye shadow, €9.00 / 5. Debenhams sweet in a bottle, €9.00 6. Peacocks fake eye-lashes, €4.00 / 7. Peacocks nail varnish, €4.00 / 8. Tally Weijl hat, €9.95 / 9. Carpisa scarf, €5.90 / 10. Esprit beanie, €17.95 / 11. Just Cavalli @ SunLab watch, €139.00 / 12. Massimo Dutti ballerina pumps, €79.90 / 13. Bortex grey cardigan, €29.00 / 14. Debenhams bath salts, €10.00 / 15. Orsay gloves, €17.95 16. Tally Weijl bow clips, €1.45

68 –– FM December 2010

ACCESSORIES

Valletta

St. Lucia Street

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The Galleria Shopping Centre

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BUGIBBA

St. Anthony Street

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B’Kara • Valleta • Paola

SHOPPING

T

he January sales may be round the corner, but not for model and TV presenter Sarah Agius.

“I just hate January sales,” she says. “There is too much confusion, with shoppers grabbing clothes and throwing them around. However, January sales abroad are more organised, and I always find amazing bargains.”

For Sarah Agius, any excuse is a good one to go on a shopping spree.

But for the rest of the year, Sarah has no problems with maxing her plastic.

Photo by Kris Micallef

“On average, I go shopping four times a month. However, sometimes I instantly fall in love with something or I just want to pamper myself, so I just go shopping – I believe in retail therapy.

“I’m also a bit of a guerrilla shopper. Many times, when I draw up careful plans for a shopping trip, I end up driving around the island and buying nothing in the end. So I just go with my instincts, sometimes regardless of the price tag. Especially if it’s something classic, I look more at the quality and texture than the price.

After all, it’s best to spend more on something that is going to last for longer and which I can wear in several ways.” tank top to A Mango . e tulip skirt th go with

Sarah’s wardrobe consists mostly of dresses.

“I’m a big fan of dresses,” she says. “I feel good and sexy in them without having to show too much. However, a dress needs to be unique, and I would hate to see somebody wearing a dress which I already have.

“On the other hand, I hate baggy clothes which make me look like a walking Humpty Dumpty. At the moment there are these baggy genie trousers which are really popular, but which for me are a big no, no. Whatever you wear must fit well – my mantra is that a €20 dress can look like a €1,000 one if it is a perfect fit.

ious brown This Stradivar a very sweet s ha tulip skirt with a top rn wo fit when from the inside

“Having a personal style is also important. I do take a few tips from glossies, but some of their ideas are way over the top for Malta. So I take a few tips and blend them in with my style.

“Last month was a special one for me – apart from being my birthday month, I also went on a trip to America, which soon turned into a special shopping spree. I got myself a pair of Louboutin nude pumps and a Louis Vuitton speedy bag, which was my special birthday present. Then back in Malta, I bought a pair of Stradivarious stretchy leggings, a Stradivarious brown tulip skirt with a very sweet fit, and a black body-con dress by Debenhams.”

ir of want a nice pa oaning that I . fit ct I have been m rfe the pe es – these are Raybans for ag

“Right now I’m busy filming and have just presented the Malta Music Awards, so I don’t have much time left for shopping abroad. But Christmas will be the perfect excuse to go shopping.”

Louboutin nude pumps.

Louis Vuitton speedy bag.

Read on. Join our Femme Magazine Facebook page

December 2010 FM –– 71

COOLFASHION ROOMS

We are sleighing It’s Christmas and Mona Farrugia is up, up and away

F

or many years, come Christmas I would escape the hustle and bustle of the month by going to a country where Christmas is simply not celebrated. Usually, the countries or cities involved – Tunisia, Libya, Egypt – would be warmer to boot. So I would spend what to other people is the most stressful time of the year chilled out by some beach or shopping for spices at the souk.

This year I suggest a combination of warm and intimate, rather than warm and Europeanised, which Tunisia has sadly turned into. Marrakech is that place – it may be the hub of a city and a business centre, but once in the Medina, it’s somewhere that transports you back hundreds of years.

The walls close in around you – you cannot get around without getting lost and you cannot walk five metres without someone touting you or trying to overcharge you. It’s like Christmas shopping in Sliema, but so much more fun. And so much cheaper.

Getting to Marrakech is not easy. Go to an agent as combining flights on your own means that the moment a plane arrives late, you’ve lost the rest of your pre-paid tickets. I flew up via Milan and down via Paris. The airport is small and manageable but there is no money-exchange inside it so you need to pay your taxi driver in Euro. He will, in turn, take you to the Angsana Riad Si Said within the Medina in a beaten up Fiat Uno. From there, five hundred boys will descend to ‘help’ you with your luggage. Welcome to Marrakech, Madame.

The Riad Si Said is a colourful and chic reprieve from the hustle outside, where mopeds and electronic bicycles whizz past at the rate of twenty a second (no cars are allowed inside the Medina so they make up for it by driving anything on two wheels instead). The staff are gentle and courteous.

You do not need to celebrate Christmas like a 10-year-old – this time you do own a credit card.

Its housekeeping staff are extraordinary – true to their Thai origins (the group is a sub-group of the Thai Banyan Tree), they organised a totally messed-up suite in such a way that when they were ready it seemed as if the room was not just somewhere where I would spend a few nights, but home.

You are spoilt for choice when it comes to boutique accommodation in Marrakech. On the first night I got lost and knocked on the door of a building which seemed to be the Si Said. Two gentlemen led me to the beautiful courtyard and waited. We stared at each other for around a minute. “I’d like to go to my room please,” I said. “You must be somebody else’s guest,” they replied. I had actually walked straight into someone’s private riad. The Si Said provide you with a mobile phone so I called them and they came to pick me up. I swear the guy, decked head to toe in beautiful white jellaba, lit up the space in front of me with both his clothing and his smile. I followed him sheepishly – Marrakech had given getting lost a whole new meaning.

After this episode, I crashed out on the soft and crisply covered bed, listening to the hum outside – what had seemed like madness a few minutes before had suddenly vanished. The rooms are all placed around an open balcony, which in turn overlooks the central courtyard of the riad. It is impossible not to get into the whole Moroccan lifestyle as you sit out there reading a book and sipping mint tea. The riad, unlike many others, has a beautiful pool, decked out in those gorgeous hand-painted, hand-made zellij tiles which Morocco is famous for. It is obvious that the riad has been restored with much love and many man-hours thrown in – no attention to detail has been spared. Originally built in 1880, the courtyard is surrounded by three beautiful lounges complete with fireplaces – just the thing for spending Christmas away from home.

December 2010 FM –– 73

COOL ROOMS

Nearer to home If you need to spend this period anywhere European and celebrate commercialisation to the hilt, then you have to do it in style. High up there with the gorgeous places to be is Paris.

The Galeries Lafayette, in the run up to Christmas, have the most beautiful tree ever. Five storeys high and definitely larger than life, the tree is covered in shimmering gifts usually made from shiny, colourful materials. It is a sight to behold, an instant transportation back to childhood. You do not need to celebrate Christmas like a 10-year-old though – this time you do own a credit card.

The Moet & Chandon bar at the Galeries Lafayette is brilliant for this. Sit at the edge, overlooking the tree, and gawp at everybody else. A glass of rosé bubbles costs around €30 – this is no place to try and save money. Moreover, it does not seem to put anybody off – the Galeries Lafayette are so packed around this time of year that they need their own traffic management outside. The panic is worth every second. Dress in layers as it will be freezing outside but super hot inside.

A TOAST You need: 1 tbs rose syrup Champagne or sparkling wine Edible dried rose petals, to garnish (optional) Method: Place one tablespoon of rose syrup in a glass. Fill the glass with champagne or sparkling wine and garnish with petals.

Stay at the tiny but perfectly formed Hotel d’Aubusson, right next to the Pont Neuf. You can’t get more romantic than that.

Otherwise head to Rome, to dine in cosy trattorie and do your food shopping for the period ahead at the Campo de’ Fiori (also a lovely hangout for the evenings). Rome is organised in quartieri, all with their particular specialities. A lovely walk from the Campo de’ Fiori is the Jewish quarter, with its specialised sweets and savoury snacks, as well as kosher everything (and brilliantly done too).

I used to think that I was slightly blind for thinking the fake designer bags from the vu cumprà were a little too reallooking to be fake, until I read Roberto Saviano’s Gomorrah. You will feel a lot less awful for buying that Dolce & Gabbana from the first guy who asks you €35 for it.

DARK MATTER The idea of a sweet sausage sounds, frankly, a little disgusting. Yet this Italian Christmas classic is so wonderful and perfect for all those drop-ins during Christmas time. Serve with mulled wine.

You need: 200 gr dark chocolate 100 gr unsalted butter, chopped and re-refrigerated 2 egg yolks 2 tsp Tia Maria liqueur 1 tsp chilli flakes 40 gr chopped walnuts 60 gr broken up ginger biscuits 1 tsp good, dark cocoa powder 1 tsp dark brown soft sugar 1 tsp sea salt or, if you have any, fleur de sel

Rome is perfect for walking around.

Put on a pair of comfortable shoes and head out. Otherwise, buy them from there – around the Piazza di Spagna there still exist tiny shops where you can buy handmade leather boots and shoes for less than €300. If you get tired of the shopping, go to Giolitti for champagne ice cream.

Method:

Stay at the tiny but superbly luxurious 4-star Hotel Barocco, two minutes’ walking from all the highlighted spots. FM

Scoop out on to a silicone sheet, then push firmly until you form a sausage shape with it. Roll on to some stretch and seal until you can form into a smooth sausage shape.

Melt the butter and chocolate in a bain-marie until you have a smooth, thick cream. Gently whisk in the yolks, followed by the cocoa powder (sifted in) and sugar. Stir in the biscuits and walnuts.

Cool slightly, push a wooden spoon in and stir the salt in. You don’t want it to dissolve – the crunch will be beautiful.

Refrigerate and when cool cut into slices.

Mona Farrugia edits and writes for food, travel and review website www.planetmona.com.

74 –– FM December 2010

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CHEMISTRY

A corpulent conundrum Huffing and puffing on the treadmill does not make you thin, says Anne Marie Spiteri. So what does?

I

t is widely and grimly accepted that the good things in life, such as wealth, good repute, and success, are normally gained with great difficulty and plenty of hard work, but can then often be fairly or unfairly lost with the most cruel simplicity.

The bad things in life, on the other hand, seem to follow a diametrically opposite law. Weight gain is no exception. In fact, the hips of the unfortunate majority start to expand even before the first bite of doughnut has been completely masticated, and then continue widening long after the last sugarcrystallised crumb has disappeared.

Ironically, behind this apparent injustice lies a sound biological explanation in terms of evolution and survival of the fittest. In fact, the human body was originally designed to store as much energy as possible in the form of fatty deposits. This enabled our efficient ancestors to survive the food shortages which used to inevitably occur before the agricultural system was optimised to provide the developed world with a reliable and constant supply of food. However, after serving us so well for so long, our genetic makeup and highly developed agricultural systems have now seemingly ganged up on us, and their clever conspiracy has made excessive body weight one of the greatest health problems of our times.

As much as we would like to think that our generation retains the exclusive rights to the obesity problem, this condition has in fact been recognised and recorded for hundreds of years. Back then it was much less common, and it was most often associated with the higher echelons of society, whose members could afford abundant portions of rich foods. Though a status symbol in some ways, its dangers were recognised early on. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates was the first to correlate obesity with infertility and decreased lifespan. In addition, Hippocrates also made the association between weight gain and the ratio of calories ingested to calories used up.

This energy-balance equation is still used as the basis of all weight-loss programmes. The ridiculously simple principle is that weight-loss is achieved by taking in a smaller amount of calories than the total amount of calories required, so that the body will have to revert to its energy stores, located in the much loathed love handles, pot belly, or tree-trunk thighs. Exercising increases the number of calories expended, and was thus identified as a further driver of weight-loss.

78 –– FM December 2010

The exercise craze really got going in the late 1970s and reached fever pitch some years later, when Jane Fonda took to making exercise videos wearing neon leotards, impossibly bulky legwarmers, and the indispensable big hair. The craze never went away, and to this day countless people work up a daily sweat in the fervent hope of shedding some kilos in the process.

Unfortunately, a good number of people who exercise regularly do not see a reward in terms of lost kilos, no matter how hard they pound the treadmill. Even more unfortunate is the emergence of recent studies which confirm this observation.

It has in fact been found that exercise alone, without dietary intervention, results in little or no significant weight-loss. And if our various trainers’ immaculate bodies had not blinded us with the glare of absolute perfection, our common sense might have led us to this same conclusion sooner.

Although exercise does burn calories, it gets rid of a much smaller share than we would like to think. On average, one solid hour of cycling burns off a meagre 250 to 500 calories, which amount to about one or two doughnuts.

Secondly, exercise tends to trigger a caloric compensation effect, which basically has people reaching for food once the exercise session is over. This rapidly propels them right back onto the wrong side of the calorie counter.

It seems that the only way to effectively lose weight is to lay off the dessert trolley and generally restrict the caloric intake. To do this in a safe and sustainable manner, the uncontested best way is to consult a nutritionist, who will be able to draw up a plan which can be relatively easily followed in the long term. However, sweatpants and jogging shoes should not be thrown out the window. Though exercise might not play a pivotal role in weight-loss, it plays a crucial role in keeping the weight lost off and in toning the body. Besides, exercising helps to prevent and control countless disease states.

Like all the good things in life, significant weight-loss requires patience and perseverance.

However, while you wait, you might want to consider getting a haircut, clipping off your finger and toenails, and waxing your legs. That should shave off a couple of grams. Probably just about enough to make place for one last bite of doughnut. FM

YOU ARE NOT ALONE The 2008 European Health Interview Survey revealed that 36.3 per cent of Maltese adults are overweight, while another 22.3 per cent are obese.

Losing weight is by no means simple, and the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Department is offering a helping hand. The department is organising free weight management and aerobics classes for people with a BMI greater than 25, who are therefore classified as overweight. Classes are held at health centres and local councils.

For more information call on T: 2326 6000.

WHY YOU SHOULD STILL EXERCISE • Works out the heart muscle, making it more efficient and thus reducing the risk of heart disease • Boosts good cholesterol while decreasing bad cholesterol • Plays a role in prevention as well as control of type 2 diabetes • Strengthens the bones, reducing the chance of osteoporosis • May also decrease the risk of colon cancer, and breast cancer in women • Results in the release of brain chemicals which elevate the mood, keeping anxiety at bay • May promote and improve sleep, as long as it is not performed too close to bedtime • Boosts the immune system, resulting in a reduced incidence of colds and throat infections

ONE NIGHT IN

LAP IT UP

FM follows the northern lights to Lapland [Photos courtesy of www.laplandfinland.com - Lapland Marketing Ltd.]

L

ike a pixellated image, Lapland is all over the place – there’s the Swedish part, the Finnish bit, and the Sápmi area. Anyone with a doctorate in geography would get lost. And you wouldn’t be able to ask for directions because the names are guttural bursts which sound as if someone took a dozen tongue twisters, added some ice, and stirred them until they hit the ear as something half way between a cough and a sneeze.

But you know what? That doesn’t really make a difference. Lapland is where Santa Claus lives. And anyone who says the bearded man is a figment of our imagination is just a cheat and a liar. You want proof? Look at all the gifts we got.

See If you are travelling from September to October or from March to April, one of the greatest sights you can treat your eyes to are the northern lights, those greenish, reddish glows that are an affirmation of life.

Stay Santa Claus We believe (yes we do) that Santa Claus lives in the town of Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle. Here, you can see the busy elves rushing around to catch up with wish lists and you can even meet Santa Claus himself. And if you’re good, really good, then you will be allowed access to the Santa Claus command centre. Christmas doesn’t get any warmer than this.

80 –– FM December 2010

Of course it’s cold. But here, hotels look like they’ve jumped straight out of a postcard, with cracking log fires and steamy saunas. The Fontana Spa-hotel Ylläs Saaga in Luosto is a ski-in, ski-out hotel with incredible mountain views that just go on and on. The hotel is close to skiing tracks, ski slopes and snowmobile tracks – everything you need for an active holiday.

Rooms come with a fireplace and their own sauna, so there’s plenty of relaxation time in store.

Otherwise, you can opt for a cabin-style stay – the Arctic Polar holiday houses are located on one of the highest points in the land, in Kilpisjärvi.

Adventure, here we come.

There are also plenty of sights, and the best way to enjoy them is in the great outdoors. A holiday in Lapland is necessarily an active one. Canoeing is the best way to explore the rugged backwoods while camping is invigorating. However, the best physical and mental workout is taking a dip in the ice pools.

You can also sit back and relax. Lapland is an excellent destination for wellbeing services, and you can pamper yourself with natural treatments, massages, and the traditional smoke sauna.

EAT The staples of Lapland cuisine are fish, reindeer, game and berries. Stuff your face with hearty dishes and delicate berry desserts. And don’t be surprised if a reindeer hamburger crosses your path.

NOW AVAILABLE AT

FIND US ON Mdina Road Zebbug Tel: 20990065. Open all day inc. Sundays and Public Holidays www.gruppomangano.it

LAST WORD FM Sep 09 - Photo by Kris Micallef

A girl walks into a salon…

Hairstylist Michelle Galea lets her hair down.

Girl aloud Name: Michelle Galea Age: 31 Hates: Liars

82 –– FM December 2010

FM May 09 - Photo by Kris Micallef Ford Ka campaign - Photo by Tonio Lombardi

FM May 10 - Photo by Tonio Lombardi

FM Nov 08 - Photo by Kris Micallef

FM Sep 09 - Photo by Kris Micallef

Dream: To be a top hair stylist and have a franchise in Europe I always knew I wanted to be a hairstylist, ever since I was a little girl. However, it was only when I was about 17 years old that I started taking it seriously. When Horace L’Orbietto, where I used to go for my own hair, offered me a job, I knew it was the beginning of my journey.

I love experimenting with my own hair as I believe different styles can change your whole look. When I was young, my hair was generally long, even though later I went through a phase where my hair was very short. I even did a couple of perms back in the days, as I have a passion for curly, wavy hair.

I’ve changed the colour of my hair tens of times. However, I have never been a blonde.

As with fashion, hairstyles come and go. This season, a longer bob with a 1960s twist is very popular. Another current trend is long or short undone hair with plenty of curls or waves. As for colour, the more popular ones right now are block colours like browns, reds and caramel.

Hair is a confidence booster and shows how daring a person can be. Your hair is an expression of who you are or who you aspire to be, which is why the first thing women do when they are ready to turn over a new page is change their hairstyle.

Both men and women are conscious of their hair, however they look at it in a different way. While men want a full head of hair, women want sexy hair which they can use as an accessory to complement their look.

I like to use both scissors and blower, but if I had to choose one tool, I would go for a pair of scissors.

The best cure for frizzy hair is to wash your hair with a good shampoo and treat it to a hair mask. Then rinse with lukewarm water and style using cold air. Finish off with a quality serum.

During a shoot, photographer, stylist and hairdresser have to be able to listen to and communicate with each other.

It is important that all three elements are on the same page to really bring the look together. Also, you need to be passionate about what you are doing – otherwise, you might as well not be doing it at all. FM

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