Ohlala! Bahrain October 2014

bahrain

THE ESSENCE OF STYLE

Be captivated by the sensuality of StÉphane Rolland’s

limitless muse

LARKIN POE

Beauty gets

SISTERS FROM THE DARK SIDE AN EXCLUSIVE WITH THE ROCK DESCENDANTS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE

SPORTY SEXY GLAM With Michael Kors

FASHION RUNWAY REPORT

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OCTOBER 2014 | Issue 119

bahrain BD2 | ksa sr20

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ANDY BAG

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DUBAI

AL AIN

KUWAIT CITY

MANAMA

DOHA

JEDDAH

RIYADH

AL KHOBAR

BEIRUT

NEW YORK

LONDON

PARIS

MADRID

TOKYO

SAO PAULO

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MEXICO D.F. BARCELONA SINGAPORE

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Editor’s Letter

Best of Beauty In true Ohlala! style, we’ve an eclectic line up of celebrity interviews gracing our pages this month. From local inspirations to household names and masterful perfumers, funky fashion designers and rocking female musicians, prepare to be seduced by exquisite indulgences.

We feature an exclusive with designer Michael Kors, as his inimitable vision for beauty comes to life with his global beauty lifestyle collection, which reflects the many facets and moods of his ideal woman.

If you want to really live life rather than just exist, take a leaf out of IFF perfumer Bruno Jovanovic’s book. He launches the new scent GUESS Dare, with aspirations to inspire women everywhere to take risks, live freely and continue to challenge the norm.

Next enjoy a spirited escape and transport yourself to a windswept shore with the new Jo Malone fragrance, Wood Sage & Sea Salt. We get the inside story from master perfumer, Christine Nagel.

Our celebrity scoop features some rather funky sisters from the dark side – Rebecca and Megan Lovell. Indulge yourself in the slick bluesy rock of this American Roots band – Larkin Poe, who have a fascinating link to the poet and horror writer, Edgar Allan Poe. It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder… With Stéphane Rolland’s AutumnWinter Couture collection, there is no question of its striking beauty. His muse is a limitless woman – “one who sees no boundaries. She is free and full of endless curiosity… the imperial sun. She is both veiled and unveiled. The world’s mystery surrounds her and enchants us…”

Kirsty Edwards-Harris Editor-in-Chief

hot picks

Lanvin

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Aennis Eunis - Saks

Roger Vivier

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CONTENTS

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STYLE The Hot List The Runway Report Fashion of the Stars The Style Diaries

celebrity scoop 60 Larkin Poe: Sisters from the Dark Side BEAUTY 70 Beauty Buzz 72 Celebs’ Secrets 74 Get the Look CHIC EATS 79 Saveur’s Fruits de Mer’ 80 Palate Pleasers

44 whimsical inspiration

Ohlala! chats with Stacey Bendet, the brains behind the eponymous Alice + Olivia brand.

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MOTORING 90 Diva Drives OHLALA! rendezvous 94 Ramee Grand Turns One! SOCIETY 108 Society Hotspots 112 Shot-On-Site 119 OBusiness OHLALA! STARS 121 Happy Birthday Ms Libra THE COLUMN 122 Has the Human Really Changed? www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Credits Publisher & Chairman John Hughes Chief Executive Officer Greg Hughes

Publishing Director Edward Smith

Editor-in-Chief

Business Development Manager

Enquiries

Kirsty Edwards-Harris

Selma Carolina Jemouai

Editorial: editor@ohlala-magazine.com Advertising: chelsea@ohlala-magazine.com General: admin@ohlala-magazine.com Telephone: (Bahrain) +973 1721 6099 Postal Address: Ohlala! Magazine, The Nans Group, P O BOX 30378, Budaiya, Kingdom of Bahrain

Editor Karina Lazarraga

Administration Executive

Editor-at-Large

Roy Varghese

Ben Whittaker

Motoring Editor

Accountants

Tony Sidgwick

Gigimon Thankachen Praveen Alexander

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Pallavi Ramesh

Creative Director Paula Leal

Senior Graphic Designer Raquel Henriques

Graphic Designer Rashed Bin Daina

Production & Distribution Manager Neil Mahmood

Distribution Team Jayapragash Ganesan Rajesh Abdul Kadar

Distribution Bahrain – Al Hilal Qatar – Dar Al Sharq www.ohlala-magazine.com

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, FACT M.E. Publishing and all of its publications cannot accept legal responsibility for any error, content or omissions.

Cover Image Stephane Rolland

Photographer Shobin Joseph

Feature Contributors Giovanni Lisa Speed Sophie Sana Alib

Ba & Sllerina arah Butt Jessicerfly a Pa by Cin rker dy C h

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FACES HAS ALWAYS BEEN WOJOOH your favorite beauty destination

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The Hot List

Style

Spice up your seasonal wardrobe with these designer must-haves…

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Ballerina Butterfly

This one-of-a-kind ‘Ballerina Butterfly’ brooch is the result of the collaboration between jewellery artist Cindy Chao and actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist Sarah Jessica Parker. Estimated to fetch between USD750,000 to 950,000, it will be auctioned this month at Sotheby’s Hong Kong to benefit The New York City Ballet. Featuring 4,698 diamonds and several fancy-coloured diamonds weighing 98.09 carats in total, our hearts are aflutter!

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Timelessly Elegant All hail Louis Vuitton’s newest offering – the

emblematic Capucines bag. Named after the rue des Capucines in Paris (site of Louis Vuitton’s first store in 1854), the bag has a semi-rigid handle secured by jewel-like rings, and a spacious and functional shape with two inside compartments. Wear the flap in two-ways: outside to reveal the monogram flower, or inside to show the LV initials.

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Bohème Lady This new watch collection embodies

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Decidedly Elegant

Tod’s Women’s RTW Collection for Autumn-Winter 14-15 created by Alessandra Facchinetti called the ‘Italian Set’, is based on a combination of leather with jacquard, wool, mink or cashmere to create a timeless, luxurious, sophisticated style. A military theme runs throughout. Think Montgomery duffle coats, capes, trench coats, half-belted cabans and uniform-style leather skirt.

The effect: decidedly elegant, rather than utilitarian.

ultra-femininity, independence and sophistication. The Montblanc Bohème lady timepiece has floral Arabic numerals with their sensuous curves discreetly raised by a minute scale. With the simple elegance of its case and its delicately curved, bevelled horns, in red gold or stainless steel, it can also be enhanced by choosing diamonds for the bezel or the mother-of-pearl dial; and either a leather or stainless steel wristband.

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Sole Good!

These colourful Christian Louboutin spiked flats look good enough to eat! Featuring multicoloured spikes on the trim and pointed toes, as well as the signature red soles, these Loubies are oh so comfy and will add an element of fun to your wardrobe!

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Bright Eyes Inspired by the magnetism, the charisma, and the timeless beauty of the divas, Bulgari creates new handcrafted, one-of-a-kind Diva high jewellery sunglasses.

The precious dĂŠcor of 4.61 carats of pavĂŠ diamonds enriches the handcrafted acetate, thought after the pink hues of tourmalines.

The iconic motif of the jewellery Diva collection is being reinterpreted in a contemporary design that creatively evokes the fan-shaped mosaics of the Caracalla Baths in Rome.

The unique colour of the frame is obtained thanks to a special craftsmanship made by two layers of nude rose that disclose a third layer in tourmaline colour.

This unique piece crosses the boundaries between accessory and jewellery, giving vent to an eclectic and feminine creativity, which combines the sparkle of pink gold and diamonds with the refined tones of the acetate.

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Exclusive Opulence Stand out from the crowd and let this Jimmy Choo Zadie do the talking – Ohlala!

Zadie is a neat little compartmentalised pochette that is worn across the body with a long chain strap.

An exceptional piece, we want to get our hands on this limited edition bag!

The Zadie collection bag in python is a rare find, with only a handful available across the Middle East.

The front hardware with Jimmy Choo logo adds attitude.

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ChlOĂŠ

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Saks Fifth Avenue, +973 17172000, City Centre Bahrain

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SEEF MALL 17583230 BAHRAIN CITY CENTRE 17172325

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STYLE

THE RUNWAY REPORT From cosy fleecy shearling to out-of-thisworld whimsical prints, fall found designers pulling out refreshing combinations for some noteworthy looks. Here’s what you’ll be wearing this season…

Delpozo

Valentino

URBAN SWING

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Louis

Paco Rabanne

Miu Miu

Fashion mixologists conjured a roaring throwback to an era where contrasting prints and bold graphics brought back dolly-bird dresses and Chelsea boots. Think a modern day version of Edie Sedgwick when channeling this look.

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WARM & FUZZY On giant collars, front sleeves and oversized jackets, shearling seems to be adorning just about everything. Get cosy with Miuccia Prada’s colour-blocked numbers; we’ve already ordered ours!

Akris

Burberry Prorsum

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Neil Barret

Isabel Marant

Marni

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Balmain

STYLE

3 COLOUR THERAPY

Emanuel Ungaro

Unexpected, yet super welcomed, are the brighter-than-bright colour palettes that washed over the glum fall runways. From Altuzarra’s shocking pink coat to the green scheme that took over Dior and Balenciaga, you’re bound to get noticed this season round.

Balenciaga Fendi

Altuzarra

Prabal Gurung

Dior

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Proenza Schouler

Dries Van Noten

Kenzo

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CRAZY DAZE

Prada

Peter Pilotto

Acne Studio

Marc by Marc Jacobs

From trippy art motifs to pattern-inspired graphics, print isn’t quite dead yet. Take a look at Marc Jacobs who headed to BMX for inspiration, while Proenza Schouler, the nutty duo, beautifully paid homage to electronic dance music.

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Dior

Roberto Cavalli

Alexander McQueen

STYLE

SHADOW PLAY

Emilio Pucci

Valentino

Nina Ricci

Mary Katrantzou

Lace, embroidery, beading and feathers, this fall’s eveningwear played on sheer seduction, making elegant and ethereal a must-have come nighttime.

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Bahrain City Centre - 17172307

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STYLE

Lanvin’s Midnight Magic The season is placed under the auspices of every extreme, from fairytale to witchcraft, from sunrise to darkened sunsets…

“Swinging in the dark…”

Black, mastic, granite, slate: the Lanvin Autumn-Winter collection reflects the shadow of every storm… An expression of the freedom of existence, of motion, of stepping from one continent to the next…

Nature itself acts as a cameleon, sumptuous and feline. The city becomes a cosmopolitan jungle in which to appear… The season is placed under the auspices of every extreme, from fairytale to witchcraft, simplicity and complexity, powdered halos and khol blacks. From sunrise to darkened sunsets…

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style

Walk This Way… Strut your stuff in Saks Fifth Avenue’s striking range of Autumn-Winter collections.

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Crayola

Brights From deep shades of burgundy to rich Bordeaux, whatever shade you pick, make sure you’re wearing it this fall.

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1. Chloe 2. M2Malletier 3. Charlotte olympia 4. maison boinet 5. Marni 6. Rochas 7. Paul Andrew 8. Eddie Borgo

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The all-time staple shade is back with a vengeance, with its dark shadows reminiscent of night time.

8 1. Rochas 2. Dior 3. Roger Vivier, Eddie Borgo, Hermes 4. Loewe 5. Laurence Dacade 6. Fallon 7. Charlotte Olympia 8. Nicholas Kirkwood 9. Sergio ROssi 10. House of LAVANDER

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STYLE

FAKE IT TO MAKE IT Faux leather is a staple for your minimalist winter wardrobe.

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hen you see a faux leather thobe on the plane from Doha to Bahrain, you better believe that leather has become casual wear in the Gulf. Not just for Hell’s Angels or dominatrix, the durable fabric is perfect for desert life (in the winter, that is), as the sand can’t penetrate it, and fits in with the new en vogue minimalism. The key to making it look less Meatloaf and more Kate Moss this season is to keep it casual. Team with loose jumpers and trainers for the ultimate sports casual look with a pop of colour, like red, to add a bit of drama.

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1. Jumper, Pinko 2. Faux leather jersey legging, Karen Millen 3. Red Crop top, Milly 4. Faux leather trainers, Pinko 5. Black jacket, Milly 6. Bucket bag, BCBG 7. Red Strapless jumpsuit, BCBG 42

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STYLE

What was the first garment you ever designed?

Bell bottom trousers!

Your first fashion moment?

Age two, insisting on wearing red patent leather shoes and a blue jean jacket every day to the park.

What inspires your designs?

THE INTERVIEW: Stacey Bendet In anticipation of her Doha store opening later this October, we caught up with the brains behind the eponymous Alice + Olivia brand.

I am inspired by different things every day. When you are constantly designing you are constantly inspired by things around you— travel, vintage, the drape of a curtain… you never know what will trigger your next design!

Describe Alice + Olivia’s signature style.

Sexy, elegant and a bit whimsical.

Tell us about the FW14 collection and the inspiration behind it.

The theme was an enchanted fairytale, one all about romance and mystery.

What are you wearing when you’re not wearing Alice + Olivia?

Yoga clothes or occasionally, vintage.

We know you love vintage shopping, so can you tell us a little about your all-time favourite find?

A red and orange floor length velvet printed Oscar de la Renta coat from The Way We Wore in Los Angeles.

Fail-safe piece that you can’t live without?

Our new Onell pants!

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COME IN & EXPERIENCE THE TASTE OF ITALY

Don’t miss out this October ...

BARBECUE NIGHT with live entertainment & free selected beverages Every Thursday from 7pm to 11pm BD15++, kids BD7++

BUY ONE GET ONE

Rialto drifts you all around Italy with our traditional Italian dishes offering a memorable fine dining experience.

Opening hours: Lunch: 12:30pm - 3:00pm Dinner: 6:30pm - 11:30pm

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Seef Area | Bahrain T: +973 17 111 999 rialto@rameegrandbahrain.com www.rameegrandbahrain.com

PIZZA & PASTA Everyday from 12pm to 3pm

* Terms & conditions apply

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Style

Sarah Gadon

Canadian actress, Sarah Gadon looks divalicious in her Armani Privé gown at the ‘Birdman’ premiere, which was also the opening ceremony for the 2014 Venice Film Festival in Italy. Sarah’s nude gown with shimmering gold stripes looks enchanting. Her sultry smokey eyes and dark lips complement her look. Wearing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Cordonnet watch, the striking piece encircles the wrist with its perfectly flowing cordlet-style bracelet, made with diamonds and an Art Deco-inspired design.

Sarah Hyland

Modern Family star, Sarah Hyland had heads turning on the red carpet of the 2014 Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre LA Live in Los Angeles. Sarah looks drop-dead gorgeous in a vibrant long coral skirt and white crop top

by Christian Siriano. With crop tops trending, Sarah brings in the glam mood of a structured top look mixed with the drama of a ball-gown skirt. Finishing off her look with bow-shaped diamond earrings by Lorraine Schwartz and Jimmy Choo heels, her look is effortless!

Fashion of the Stars

These celebrity ensembles prove a winner at every angle…

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Nina Dobrev

The Vampire Diaries’ stunner, Nina Dobrev, wows at the 2014 MTV Music Video Awards, at The Forum in California. Dressed up in a striking a classic red and black, colour-block draped gown from Zuhair Murad’s Resort 2015 collection, Nina rocks the bold and beautiful ensemble. Her David Yurman stud earrings and Michael Nelson clutch matches her outfit, and completes it with a stylish pair of Jimmy Choo shoes, a chic ponytail and matte red lips!

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STYLE

The Style Diaries Fashion and beauty blogger, Yasmine talks about her blog, fashion must-haves and her love for style and trends!

Tell us a little about your blog...

It’s where I love to talk about fashion, beauty and lifestyle with a bunch of people that enjoy reading my thoughts. I make sure to connect with my readers. So whenever I post, it is basically a little girly gathering that I look forward to every single time.

Blogger Bio Name Yasmine Sameer Profession Student Nationality Bahraini Blog www.yourteendiaries.blogspot.com

Why blogging?

It started off as a hobby and it quickly grew into being a huge part of my life. I love having my own space where I can be creative and reach out to people. It’s my favourite part!

Key pieces in your wardrobe My basic white T-shirt from Top Shop, light washed denim skinny jeans from Mango and Ecco nude heels. They can be styled with anything and everything! With winter coming, my Forever 21 scarf is an addition!

All season fashion trend Boots! They are definitely my favourite all-season staple piece. You can style them with any outfit.

Top fashion designer Gabrielle Coco Chanel, she is a woman who did what no one could during her time - a fashion and catwalk icon. From to-die-for handbags through to her breathtaking perfumes. I would love a wardrobe full of her designs one day!

Jimmy Ch

Top Shop

Tory Burch

Mango Jeans

Most coveted celebrity wardrobe It would most likely be the Gossip Girl styling studio wardrobe. It includes everything from girly chic to bold and edgy. But if I had to choose one person, it’s definitely Blake Lively; her style is always spot-on – chic, feminine and effortlessly flawless!

Bobbi Brown

Most coveted item The items that get most love from me are probably my maroon leather jacket from Forever21 and my York Buckle Tote from Tory Burch. I love the way they spice up any outfit and completely change a whole look.

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Desired fashion brand Chanel, I love how every item is always on-point and automatically becomes a classic. I currently have my eye on the classic black Chanel bag!

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Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience 2014

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Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience is back! Catwalks, exhibitions, workshops and most importantly, cutting edge fashion will take over Dubai Mall from October 30 to November 1.

ogue Italia is known for its inimitable style. When the magazine’s peerless editor, Franca Sozzani launched Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience last year with Dubai Mall, everyone in the fashion world took note. The lucky up-and-coming designers featured in the catwalk have gone on to reach staggering heights and the mall filled up with fashionistas from all over the region, who enjoyed the exhibitions and mall discounts. It showed the world that the Middle East could compete with the Fashion Weeks of Europe and the USA, and that we have a lot of talent here that’s going unnoticed.

But not for much longer. This year it’s set to be bigger and

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better. The concept behind VFDE is unique: to give burgeoning international designers a platform in the region to showcase their creations. This year, BySymphony.com launched a competition and designers applied to have their women’s and accessories S/ S2015 collection held at the Armani Hotel. 20 designers from all over the world were chosen, four of which are from the Arab world, to feature in the “International Talents Showcase”. In addition to this, Vogue Italia has chosen eight new international designers to feature in “The Dubai Mall Catwalk” on October 30.

Ohlala! investigates to bring you the things you need to know about these up-and-coming Arab designers. www.ohlala-magazine.com

style ASUDAMI After studying at Central Saint Martins of London, and working at the esteemed Alexander McQueen, Lamia Asudami launched her own label in London. The native Saudi Arabian’s SS2015 collection is an “aesthetic cultural trance”. Inspired by both KSA and London’s distinct style, Asudami’s signature is digitally printed geometric patterns, as well as the exquisite beading that was inspired

by Saudi craftsmanship.

SHAMSA ALABBAR Showcasing her jewellery, Alabbar’s brand is only one year old but she has already been exhibiting at events like Design Days 2014. The young Emirati has a background in graphic design, which you can see in her work; her jewellery may be inspired by Arabic calligraphy, but there is a structural, geometric and thoroughly modern aesthetic to her creations.

ENDEMAGÉ Sisters Nadia and Lubna Al Zakwani head up the Omani brand ENDEMAGÉ. Their talent is homegrown in the UAE itself, as Lubna studied Fashion Design and Pattern Drafting at ESMOD fashion school in Dubai. Their collection was inspired by Zanzibar, and focuses on pastel colours, structured silhouettes and soft patterns.

HOOKED/HKD Farah Nasri’s creations marry on-trend minimalism with extravagance to create a fantasy jewellery collection.

The architecture graduate, who is inspired by mythology and history, has sourced her materials from all over the world, using gold leaf from her native Lebanon, pearls from Japan and 3D prints from New York.

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style REEM AL KANHAL Joining the Saudi Arabia tradition of female fashion designers who defy all stereotypes, Al Kanhal’s designs are imbued with her strong personality. The graduate of The Art and Skills Institute in Riyadh’s collection “Window to the Soul” is both distinctly futuristic and flamboyant, with an emphasis on bright colours and animal imagery.

MADIYAL AL SHARQI Al Sharqi is a graduate in Fashion Design and Pattern Making from ESMOD, Dubai, as well as a finalist of the Woolmark Prize and winner of “Best Fashion Designer” at the Arab Woman Awards. The 70s inspired her collection; building about the decade’s staple colours like beige and khaki with lavender and peach, and textures like embroidered lace and flowery jacquards, she looks to a modern femininity.

N°3 DESIGN Co-founded by Bushra Badri and Amira Alkhaja, this homegrown Dubai label is sophistication personified; personified by oversized pieces, muted tones and structure.

Designing pieces fascinates the duo, a process they find architectural.

Their mission is to accentuate technique and functionality, while still maintaining their haute standards. www.vfdebyemaar.com

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Ticket Prices: BD 18++ BD 16++ Gulf Hotel Partners / Prestige Club Members Early Bird: Buy your ticket in advance and get special discount Prices are subject to 15% service charge and 5% government levy.

5th, 11th, 18th and 25th of November 2014 from 8pm onwards at The Gulf Hotel Bahrain, Poolside P.O. Box 580, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 1771 3000 • Fax: +973 1771 3040 Emal: info@gulfhotelbahrain.com www.gulfhotelbahrain.com www.ohlala-magazine.com

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TheGulfHotelBahrain

TheGulfHotelBahrain

@thegulfhotelbh

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Imagine a woman of character, one who sees no boundaries.

She is free and full of endless curiosity.

This is the woman who I present for Haute Couture Winter 2014� ~ StÊphane Rolland

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LIMITLESS This woman is the imperial sun. She is both veiled and unveiled. The world’s mystery surrounds her and enchants us...

STEPHANE ROLLAND FW14-15 HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION

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To reveal her sensuality, I have wrapped her body, stitching the fabric close to her form. To sculpt her curves, I have tailored the season’s finest velvet, into meticulous shapes.

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She is a heroine in graphic black and white.

Her bust, encapsulated with gold or tulle « point d’esprit » blooms forth into a giant rose; each petal covered in black and cardinal red.

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Her hips are enclosed in painted orchids whilst weightless skirts reveal her legs.

Hundreds of fine gold chains run like rivers from her edges.

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She is a traveller and she has just returned, with her face covered by transparent Japanese fans, embriodered with silk. Her bory has been painted with strokes of Chinese calligraphy and tattooed with the coloured feathers of the Samurai.

Odalisque, she captivates us, adorned with metal and gold lame. Her train erupts with light, Persian mosaic and white foam.

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Larkin Poe – Sisters From The Dark Side‌ Larkin Poe is an American Roots rock band from Atlanta, GA fronted by sisters Rebecca Lovell and Megan Lovell.

Ben Whittaker caught up with the two ladies who have a particularly interesting ancestor in the form of poet and horror writer, Edgar Allan Poe.

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Another definition of “career” is “walk of life”, and that definition feels more appropriate.

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ith their slick version of bluesy rock, Larkin Poe is aiming to bring their brand of music to the masses. Still only in their early 20s, the two sisters have big ambitions, which fortunately are matched by their unique talents.

Did you both always want to pursue careers in music?

Larkin Poe. In our teenage years, when we were starting out as ungainly, fledgling musicians, the idea of being a “professional” always seemed like a dream too good to come true. Frankly, it still feels a little that way! Another definition of “career” is “walk of life”, and that definition feels more appropriate.

Right now, we’re lucky enough to be walking through life with guitars in tow and will continue to do so for as long as humanly possible.

What kinds of music influenced you as you were growing up?

LP. As children, we were heavily involved in classical music, but we also grew up listening to the music our dad was cranking 62

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out in the car and on the home stereo. He instilled in us a deep love for the classics like Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, the Allman Brothers, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Later in our teens, we delved into Roots and Americana music; incredible musicians such as Jerry Douglas, Alison Krauss and Bela Fleck became our lifeblood.

Coming from a creative background, were your parents supportive of your decision to make a career in music?

LP. Truth be told, I think we’ve given our parents many premature grey hairs by having chosen such an unpredictable career! Both our mum and our dad have had careers in the medical field. That said, they’ve been 100 percent supportive.

Cliché as it is; there’s no way we could have done it without their support.

How difficult – if at all – is it being sisters and also working together?

LP. Working with family always has its challenges but in our case we wouldn’t have it any other way! Sure we know to push each other’s buttons but we can also read each other better than anyone else in the world. We’re a team in every sense of the word and our closeness allows us to work very quickly and efficiently.

Were you competitive as children?

LP. As children we were inseparable! We did everything www.ohlala-magazine.com

CELEBRITY SCOOP

together so I don’t think the idea of competition ever occurred to either of us. In our teenage years there was definitely the angst and friction that stems from adolescence – especially as each came into her own as a songwriter – but generally we’ve been lucky to have the sense to pull together as a team.

How difficult was it to write the album?

LP. During the early years of Larkin Poe it was always challenging for us to successfully write songs with one another.

In retrospect, sibling rivalry probably had a lot to do with it.

Leading into ‘KIN’ we decided to buckle down, put aside our different creative processes and write together. Once we made the commitment it was surprisingly easy! There’s so much of our communication that is wordless, so we can arrive at the same musical or lyrical conclusion almost simultaneously – it’s a pleasure; one of the biggest perks of writing as sisters.

How collaborative is the writing process?

LP. We call ourselves “soul extensions” of one another. That goes to say: our writing process is so intertwined it’s hard to really distinguish Megan’s ideas from my own!

How would you classify your music?

LP. We’ve always enjoyed experimenting with a lot of different genres of music but now with Rebecca taking up electric guitar and me sliding away on the lapsteel, we’ve landed on ‘roots rock ‘n soul’; it’s gritty and dirty without losing our folky roots.

Are there any nods in this album to your famous ancestor?

LP. The song “Jessie” is definitely a nod to our gnarly and knotted family tree. It’s a ballad based upon fragments of stories that we heard growing up; the stories our grandmother and aunts whispered about and tried to brush under the rug. Naturally we took some creative liberties in piecing the story together but tried to channel some of the dark, southern gothic tints of an Edgar Allen Poe work. www.ohlala-magazine.com

Do you enjoy touring?

LP. We love to travel and touring certainly facilitates that love!

Touring allows us to see parts of the world that we would have never thought to visit. Though it comes with its own challenges, we feel so lucky to have been able to sustain the gypsy lifestyle of ours for so many years. It also helps that we have an amazing team of people behind us; they help us get through the 15 hour overnight drives, the van break-downs, the rigorous schedules and make touring feel like a big vacation.

What do you think Edgar would have thought of your work?

LP. Edgar Allen Poe was one disturbed genius! For all our quirks and eccentricities as artists, I imagine he’d find our work pretty tame – but who can say?

Is there any artist you would like to perform or write with?

LP. From a musical standpoint we feel kinship with bands like the Artic Monkeys, the Black Keys or Jack White. It would be pretty fun to sit down and write some jams with those dudes.

Also, Lucius! We met the fierce ladies of Lucius at Newport Folk Fest while we were performing with Conor Oberst this summer and promptly fell in love!

What are your main interests outside of music?

LP. Music and Larkin Poe happily take up 99.9 percent of our time but we also share a deep love of reading. Seriously. We could spend all day on the couch with a good book. Or Two. Megan has an affinity for cooking pies of all shapes and sizes, Rebecca is deep into hiking. Our newest obsession is hitting thrift stores to see what vinyl finds we can score.

What are your pet hates?

LP. The small number of strong women musicians in the industry! There are plenty of jaw-droppingly awesome female singer/songwriters but we need more women that can “play like the boys”! We want to see tastier lady instrumentalists.

Visit www.larkinpoe.com OHLALA!

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SPORTY

SEXY GLAM Designer Michael Kors’ inimitable vision for beauty comes to life with his global beauty lifestyle collection. A collection exquisitely crafted to reflect the many facets and moods of his ideal woman.

Ohlala! brings you the exclusive story from Mr Michael Kors himself.

What inspired the direction of MK Collection? Why SPORTY SEXY GLAM? Michael Kors. My inspiration comes from the women in my life. I’ve always been interested in their layers. For instance, my mom was usually sporty.

She always had a suntan and she never spent more than two minutes on her makeup before she was out the door. My grandmother was a bit glam.

She was an indulgent fragrance user. It was always in her bath, on her wrists, behind her ears.

The collection is more than a trend. It’s about mood. For me, the Michael Kors woman has three main moods – Sporty, Sexy and Glam. Sometimes you want to feel sporty and effortless; sometimes you want to be glamorous and indulgent; and sometimes you want to be unabashedly sexy. Most women have all three inside of them. And sometimes they turn the volume up or down on one of those three elements, depending on the mood or the moment.

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BEAUTY What is sporty?

MK. There’s something about a woman who is active and a part of the world.

She pulls her hair loosely into a ponytail, whether she is playing tennis, walking the red carpet or at the office. It’s a relaxed yet colourful approach to living. I think of women like Gwyneth Paltrow pulling their hair into a simple ponytail on the red carpet. It’s all about ease.

What is sexy?

MK. It’s not obvious or overdone. It’s about confidence. Everything is effortless and sensual. Sexy is about knowing yourself well. Angelina Jolie has that strong, confident attitude from every day to the red carpet.

What is glam?

MK. Glam is a little bit of indulgence and a lot of attitude. When a woman is feeling glam, she wants to give a little bit more effort to making a statement.

She has a bravado that catches every eye in the room. Jennifer Lopez exemplifies modern glamour in every situation.

What role does fragrance play in your collection?

MK. This collection is centred on my fragrances, which are the most intimate thing I create. I’ve always been fascinated by the strong connection between scent and memory. For me, fragrance evokes a moment that is connected to a feeling. When I started developing these fragrances, I wanted to take the scents that spoke to me and combine them in a way that would let women easily express themselves.

“Sometimes Sporty.

Always Sexy. And never afraid to be Glam. Three individual fragrances take the Michael Kors woman from weekend chic to centre stage.”

What is your most important beauty tip?

MK. Makeup should not be a mask. The SPORTY SEXY GLAM woman exudes an easy, carefree beauty that looks like it took about two seconds.

Don’t cover the texture of your skin. It should glow. This collection gives you that effect – it’s easy and attainable.

Will we see the sporty, sexy, and glam moods in your fashion line?

MK. Absolutely. These are inherent feminine moods that always shape my collections.

What is your advice on the best head-to-toe looks for each of a woman’s moods?

MK. Sporty is the perfect on-the-go, got-to-get-there-fast look. It’s all about cool, casual pieces that have a bit of edge, like perforated accessories, great sneakers and a leather moto jacket and lots of cosy, sexy knits.

Sexy means taking everything up a notch. It’s a cocktail dress that hugs the curves, sky-high heels and a strut in the step. The sexiest women I know are the ones that ooze confidence, so I love accessories that express that, like an oversized watch or a python bag. They really up the sex appeal.

Glam is so much fun to dress for and is the ideal look for evening. I’d go for a sleek dress, embellished heels, a darker lip and a metallic clutch. Pile on the jewellery too – what could be more glamorous?

What is your view of beauty around the world?

MK. I travel a lot and whether I’m in Hong Kong or LA, the most beautiful women are always the ones who have confidence in their style and makeup that illuminates their own natural beauty. If you are confident, you’ll look fantastic. That’s universal.

www.ohlala-magazine.com

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A Spirited Escape…

With the debut of the stand-alone Jo Malone boutique in Bahrain City Centre, Ohlala! catches up with master perfumer Christine Nagel to chat about their joyful new fragrance Wood Sage & Sea Salt, which will transport you to a windswept shore.

H

ow did you feel when Jo Malone London asked you to create a fragrance inspired by the English Coast?

When I received this brief I knew it was something unusual; another great challenge. I was given some photographs of the English coast and old postcards to look at with rugged cliffs and moody skies. It was sepia photography and the colour was very emotive. When I looked at these pictures I instantly felt the sensation of sea spray, romantic but natural. I loved the concept straight away because it was so different. The brief was for a mineral scent rather than an aquatic, which is the normal approach to a fragrance inspired by the sea. The Jo Malone Studio took me to the English coast in March 2012, off season. It was a cold, foggy day and I could smell the sea spray and hear the sounds of the waves crashing against the cliffs. There were different herbs growing and pieces of driftwood, an interesting source of inspiration too. I could taste the sea salt, see the long grasses and driftwood on the beach; this was the start of the story for me.

How do you decide which key ingredients?

The salt element was a key departure. The salty taste sensation is very familiar to us all, but in a perfume it has to be more subtle. A salty aroma doesn’t usually work in perfumery, so I had to use a different ingredient to achieve it. I enjoyed mixing the salty element with the mineral one; this was the challenge. The mineral aspect is another texture that’s unexpected and unusual.

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“Escape the everyday along the windswept shore.

Waves breaking white, the air fresh with sea salt and spray. Alive with the mineral scent of the rugged cliffs. Mingling with the woody earthiness of sage.

Lively, spirited and totally joyful.”

The other important element was the sage. This is also rare in perfumery and here it makes up part of the woody element of the fragrance. It’s normally found in aromatic fragrances but sage in a woody fragrance creates interest and adds sensuality.

And for the rest of the fragrance?

In general in top notes citrus notes are most often used to add freshness to a fragrance. For this one however, I used rare ambrette seed, from a plant in the hibiscus family. This is a very expensive raw material that gives texture while still being fresh. It is enveloping and cocooning. A touch of buchu leaves adds another unexpected twist. Very simple, very chic.

I also added a trace of dried fruit accord in the heart of the fragrance to compliment the sea salt and mineral accords. Plum gives a sensation of comfort and softens the fragrance.

Dried fruit is important for the blend too; it is textural. The base notes contain the sage, as well www.ohlala-magazine.com

BEAUTY

as guaiacwood, which is textured and sensual.

On my travels I saw a lot of driftwood on the beaches; when you smell the wood, it is extremely sophisticated. The complex combination of the wood and the sea is at the core.

There is a trace of musk as well, a signature for me, which adds volume.

Why sage and salt? Why do you think it’s such a great combination?

I think it’s new and different. It is interesting because the scent works for both men and women. It has masculine attributes but also has a very soft and feminine side. These two characteristics are apparent in the sage too. I love the ambiguity.

What does the salt bring to the fragrance?

The salty part gives the fragrance an unusual and special character. It’s very different. When you smell it, you are curious. It provides purity and clarity as well as more texture and freshness. It isn’t easy to explain but I love when the raw materials are different, creating opposite sensations, but blend well together. www.ohlala-magazine.com

Ambrette seed and salt go very well together. It is comparable to tequila in this sense as tequila and salt work together. It is elegant and special, yet comfortable and different.

Who would wear this fragrance?

A person who wants authenticity and sophistication. Natural, fresh sophistication. A free-spirited liberty, freedom and joy.

What is your favourite fragrance combination for Wood Sage & Sea Salt?

I have tried this with lots of different fragrances but my favourite is with Peony & Blush Suede.

The touch of the floral element and texture of the suede makes it a great combination. It also works well with Lime Basil & Mandarin. I started combining with this, merging the freshness of the lime with the ambrette seeds and the basil with the sage, which was also a very good blend.

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Free Your Mind With aspirations to inspire women everywhere to take risks, live freely and continue to challenge the norm, IFF Perfumer Bruno Jovanovic debuts the new fragrance in GUESS Parfums portfolio: GUESS Dare.

What was your main inspiration for this fragrance?

Bruno Jovanovic. Thelma and Louise and the idea of a road trip somewhere in the mid-west.

What type of girl/woman do you envision wearing GUESS Dare?

Bold, free-spirited and sexy.

Can you tell us about the various ingredients and the roles they play?

In the top I played up some crisp citrus green notes for freshness and naturality blending kumquat and pear together. The heart of the fragrance is a blend of natural and wild floral notes to express a free spirited femininity: Sambac jasmine and rose convey floral petally nuances with an element of sophistication and unexpected: The Living Cactus Flower has been captured in dry surroundings of the Palm Springs region. It has a green mineral facet blending seamlessly with other floral notes. Sensual woody notes complete the fragrance for a seductive trail and skin-like feeling.

What makes GUESS Dare unique and different from other fragrances on the market?

Guess Dare is classified as a 68

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BEAUTY

green fruity floral. It has a fresh green departure from the rest of the current Guess feminine portfolio and builds further the offering for a daring Guess consumer.

Please describe the fragrance in three words.

Airy, refreshing, sexy casual.

“Dare to be bold, dare to be different.”

If Guess DARE were an accessory or piece of clothing, what would it be?

It could be a customised vintage stone-washed denim piece with embroidery.

What does the GUESS brand mean to you?

Guess symbolises a timeless sexy spirit.

Do you have any tips for women when it comes to picking the right fragrance for specific occasions?

A fragrance like Guess Dare could be worn throughout the day as it has both a casual feel with sexy undertone. Otherwise, I would recommend having a fresher scent for the day and one a bit more daring and sophisticated with richer floral and woody notes for the evening to complement the style of the evening.

What are the current trends in fragrance?

We still see a dichotomy between fresh citrus and blond wood fragrances and ones that are more Oriental.

How/when did you decide to become a perfumer?

I was a child, I knew I loved odours and fragrances. It came just so naturally that I always www.ohlala-magazine.com

find it hard to explain.

What is your first olfactive memory?

I remember, very early on, spending hours in my parents’ bedroom, smelling my mother’s fragrances. I guess I missed her while she was working, and smelling L’Air du Temps or Caleche always brought me closer to her.

Which of your other four senses has the greatest impact on your work?

It’s very difficult to pick one. There is so much creative material to be taken from all our senses that I would be limiting myself if I had a favourite…

Do you have any advice/hints about how to apply perfume?

I always enjoy smelling the trail of a beautiful fragrance from the hair of a beautiful woman. But everything works, hair, neck, wrist and even the back of the knees in summer.

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Beauty

The Lift Effect Fine, comfortable and feather-

light, Clarins Shaping Facial Li­ft instantly enhances the ‘lift’ effect for your skin. It perfectly tightens skin texture, leaving it incredibly soft­and silkysmooth. In less than two minutes it provides effective draining benefits to immediately lighten and reshape the face.

“Colour is life, joy, I can’t think in black and white” ~ Roberto Cavalli

Beauty Buzz What’s new in the world of beauty? We bring you the latest entrants to keep you looking and feeling more beautiful!

Irresistible softness

Roger & Gallet Crème Sublime Rose Hand & Nail Cream gets absorbed quickly to provide long-lasting hydration. Rose extract blended with shea butter provides soothing properties to protect against skin irritation. It also offers SPF 15 protection for added protection.

Fruity Floral

Vibrant fragrance Roberto Cavalli reveals a new facet of his

universe with the exclusive Roberto Cavalli Exotica fragrance. It opens with a full and luscious note of mango, which blends in with a sweet heart note of frangipani flower and a base note of sandalwood.

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L’Occitane has added the new, Neroli and Orchidee to their La Collection de Grasse. With zesty notes of orange and mandarin, the fragrance reveals another facet of Neroli, with floral notes and the presence of white orchid. Opening with fruity head notes, the fragrance evolves into a base of musk and iris. Neroli essence from the Mediterranean and white orchid absolute from Madagascar, create the perfect aroma of femininity!

Stressed Nails?

Sally Hansen knows you love colourful manicures, shiny gels, glittering polish, and on-trend Nail Art. Changing styles is harsh on nails and cuticles because of the dehydrating effects of polish remover. Sally Hansen has the perfect solution: Nail Rehab, which restores severely ravaged nails and Cuticle Rehab, the new brush-on cuticle treatment that hydrates, defends, and nourishes stressed cuticles. www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Beauty

Celebs’ Beauty Secrets Discover the beauty secrets from these topnotch Hollywood beauties, who look simply gorgeous ‘round the clock!

HALLE BERRY

KATE BOSWORTH

“I love doing the SK-II Facial Treatment masks a few times a week, especially when travelling. They instantly tighten and brighten my skin and give an instant glow.”

“This foundation is creamy and leaves your skin kind of dewy and evens out the skin well. I think that’s especially important for women of my age.”

KATE HUDSON

NATASHA BEDINGFIELD

“This is a multipurpose cream and a beauty staple for my whole family! If I’m on an aeroplane, I literally put it all over my face, and it never breaks me out. I’ll put it on my hair, on my skin, cuts, anything. I also use it on my kids!”

“This Lancôme mascara never smudges, even throughout the most hectic show schedule. It’s definitely my all-time favourite!”

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Get the look

BEAUTY

The Sixty-Sixth Annual Primetime Emmy Awards was graced with beautiful women, we chose Alexandra Daddario, the True Detective star. Here we decode her look – a stunning 1940s-inspired style.

2.

4.

Retro Movie Star 5.

3.

1.

8.

6.

7.

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1. Prep your skin with a touch of moisturiser, keeping in mind we are tiptoeing towards the cold season! Hydrate and soothe your skin with a mix of a beauty elixir and sorbet cream. 2. Apply foundation with a sponge to even out the skin tone – less is more. 3. Dab your face lightly with compact powder immediately after applying your foundation to give a nice matte finish. 4. To get that perfect contour, put some bronzer on, making sure to choose the right shade. 5. Choose a pink blusher and apply it gently on the apples of your cheeks. 6. For your eyeshadow, choose a shade that matches your outfit. In Alessandra’s case, she blends rosy and tan shades off the palette. 7. Use a brow pencil to define your eye brows. Stick on the fake lashes afterwards for added volume.

8. Define lips with a bold red lip liner and match it with the same shade of lip colour. www.ohlala-magazine.com

2014-2015

Fall-Winter

Collection For information call us at 17713999 www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Beauty

Beat the Heat Giambattista Valli Haute Couture FW 14

With humidity sending frizz waves across the island’s manes, we’re all looking for that hair-taming saviour. Well ladies, look no further than a patterned piece of fabric to keep your hair under wraps.

Avoid those frizzy strands now and wear your hair up!

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3 for 2

*

2014/359

*cheapest item free on all cosmetics, valid from September 30 until October 27

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MOIC/PC 3960-2014

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Venue: Saveur, The Westin Bahrain City Centre Date: Every Thursday Time: 7pm to 11pm Price: BD20 net including selected soft drinks and water BD25 net including selected hops and grapes Children aged six to 12 half price and below six free

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CHIC EATS

Fruits de Mer As islanders, Bahrain’s residents are well accustomed to the delight of fresh seafood dishes… This month, Ohlala! takes time out to experience one of the latest offerings on our sunny desert island, The Westin’s ‘seazzling’ seafood nights at Saveur.

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“An array of artistically presented dishes will satiate your palate, without adding inches to your waistline!”

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f you are a lover of seafood then The Westin’s decadent spread of fruits de mer (fruits of the sea), at Saveur is a must-try.

With elegant interiors awash with shades of cool Meditteranean blues and refreshing whites, the décor is reminiscent of the fine dining restaurants in the French Riveria, offering a welcoming ambience that sets the tone for an evening of delightful indulgence. Not that you have to worry too much about counting calories ladies, as there are an array of artistically presented dishes that will satiate your palate, without adding inches to your waistline!

With taste bud temptations at every corner – a wide variety of canapés, as well as main dishes and live cooking – the only problem that may arise while dining at Saveur is deciding what to sample first!

The buffet style and small bites concept allows you room to taste many mouthwatering dishes.

Savour cuisine from the healthy salad bar, assorted condiments and hot chafing dishes, to an extensive collection of food stations such as sushi, tempura, dim sum, Chinese noodle, cold seafood, whole fish BBQ , cheese and pastries.

We enjoyed tapas style offerings such as the delicious sea bass rillettes with baguette croutons and olive oil, avocado and blue crab meat in a divine cocktail sauce, and stuffed mussels with chive cream and smoked almonds.

A few of the noteworthy mains included the expertly cooked seafood tagine, with marinated olives and pan fried baby squid, and the traditional Spanish paella, as well as the BBQ fish station where you can sample delights such as grilled sea bass with rosemary essence, steamed baby hammour pave with lemon olive oil and oven roasted red seabream, among many others.

Friendly yet professional staff will see that your every need is taken care of, while the open cooking stations allow for direct interaction with the expert chefs to ensure that your dining experience will be a pleasurable one, with the beauty of adding your own personal touch.

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palate pleasers Whether you’re dining under the stars or a mood-lit room, you’re sure to enjoy these chic dining venues…

Spoilt for choice, all day & night International cuisines set to delight…

Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa

Ruka lets you dine throughout the day whilst overlooking the breathtaking views of Bahrain from the 24th floor. Guests can relish a fusion of Japanese delicacies prepared with the highest quality of ingredients. Rasoi is presenting Punjabi Nights on October 1 to 3 and 8 to 10 from 6pm to 11pm, with a Punjabi set menu and traditional specialities for BD14 net. Join in the Diwali Celebration on October 22 and 23, 6pm to 11pm and delight in the Diwali set menu and Gazals for just BD15 net.

Rialto lets you unwind with your family and friends at BBQ every Thursday from 7pm to11pm with live entertainment and free flowing selected beverages for only BD15++ and BD7++ for kids. There’s also a Buy One Get One Pizza & Pasta every Friday and Saturday from 12 to 3pm.

RESERVATIONS: 1711 1999

Party in the USA

American Week Specials on…

Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain The hotel is celebrating all things American with ‘Party in the USA’ promotions this month. Starting with the Wild, Wild West-themed Friday Brunch with Best Dressed Couple competition for BD31net (with access to pool) on October 17 from 12.30pm to 4pm; and from 4pm to 8pm, the Outdoor Pool Party with live entertainment will be on for BD10net plus 1 free drink. Next is the Californian Surf and Turf Wine dinner. Special guest Jose Fernandez from Robert Mondavi Woodbridge Winery will be flying in especially from California to entertain guests on October 21, 8 to 11pm. Cost is BD28++ or BD33.8. On October 30, 7.30 to 11pm it’s Thriller, Thriller Night for Thursday Night Brunch for BD26.6 net. The Best Dressed group wins a Kitchen Party.

RESERVATIONS: For a full line-up of events, call 1746 0000 80

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CHIC EATS

All Set for a Pool-side Party

Eid Al Adha festivities also on…

Gulf Hotel Bahrain Get ready for the Gulf Hotel’s Gulf Night Out with four dates set for the most popular pool-side party on the island: November 5, 11, 18 and 25. Price for the party is BD18++ per person. For Eid Al Adha, Zahle Lebanese Restaurant will offer an exclusive dinner set menu featuring live entertainment and a belly dancer during the three days of Eid for BD25++. Special Eid lunch and dinner buffets are also on at Al Waha (BD21.5++ for brunch and BD18++ for dinner) for the three days of Eid. Live entertainment by the Cris & Toni Duo during the brunch on the second and third day of Eid. At La Pergola, the new dining concept, ‘Casa Mia’ features a traditional Italian fair with a selection of antipasti, risotto, pasta, pizza, fish and meat courses topped with a variety of Italian desserts all for BD12.5++.

RESERVATIONS: 1771 3000

Finest Fusion

Celebrating originality in gastronomy…

Maki Bahrain Famed for their originality and innovative offerings, Maki Bahrain has a loyal following with dishes like Fusion Temaki, Maki Maki, New Wave Maki, and Tara Maki. If you’ve tried their highly acclaimed ‘15 Magical Moments of Fusion Cuisine’, a sampling of 15 different dishes, this month is a similar fare.

This time however, it is not a maki roll or a hot dish; it is a host of ‘special smoke’ beverages.

Enjoy amusing showmanship while the bartender prepares your favourite refreshment while indulging your taste buds in their new ‘bubbly’ and ‘smokey’ beverages. Book a table and experience these smokin’ drinks along with your Japanese fusion meal!

RESERVATIONS: 1752 2733

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CHIC EATS

Eid Celebrations & More

Two venues to please the palate…

Le Meridien & The Westin Bahrain City Centre

For Eid Al Adha, Le Meridien Bahrain City Centre’s Baharat is offering traditional Eid specialities along with delicious spread of international classics, modern fusions and delightfully fresh flavours. Offered throughout Eid Al Adha, 12.30pm to 4pm, for BD20 net with beverages, BD30 net with selected freeflow beverages; kids six to 12 half price and kids below six free.

Celebrate Halloween at The Westin Bahrain City Centre. At Boudoir, delight in flambéed lobster and pumpkin cappuccino whilst listening to the music of pianist Hanna Turtsevich, for BD5++ on October 31, 5pm to 2am.

For all three days of Eid Al Adha, there’s Unlimited Mixed Grills at Saveur. Eat as much as you like of succulent lamb chops and kofta, beef tenderloin, shish tawook, sea bream, sherry fish and Gulf prawns, accompanied by garden fresh salad and Oriental rice, all for BD12++ with one soft drink and water.

Offered from 12.30pm to 11pm.

RESERVATIONS: 1717 1441

A Charming Venue A taste of something quite distinctive…

Upstairs Downstairs

This charming two-floor restaurant, with its traditional English Country House style, their famed menu features mouthwatering international fajitas, fish cakes, interestingsounding salads and such, all feature, with vegetarians well catered for. With exciting entertainment lined up, performances include a Robbie Williams tribute on October 1, followed by the invitation-only ‘X-Clusive Party on October 2.

Taking your dining experience to another level, the restaurant will be serving up a Michelin-star dinner on October 25, whilst Lisa Morgan performs a day before on October 24.

RESERVATIONS: 1771 3093 82

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Unique masterpieces…

Dining unlike any other…

The Domain Bahrain

A Fine New Venue Opens More reason to head to the greens…

Royal Golf Club

The recently opened Repartee Lounge offers a light menu with a Far Eastern flavour. Settle into its cosy comfortable atmosphere with superb views across the greens and lakes of the golf course, and an outdoor terrace for those wishing to chill out under the stars. Repartee is open from Monday to Saturday, 5pm to midnight, with Happy Hour offers from 5pm to 8pm daily.

RESERVATIONS: 1775 0777

Imari makes Monday Nights more exciting! Be your own sushi chef and choose your fillings, wrapper, rice and toppings to create your unique masterpiece! For BD14++, it comes with drinks and a wide selection of the chef ’s favourite sushi rolls served buffet style. It’s on Mondays, 6pm to 9pm. At Imari’s Biru Garden, savour a selection of Chef Riichiro’s favourite dishes, served izakaya style. Choose what you like and the plates will keep coming, while you sip on a free flow of Kirin Draughts and red or white grape. It’s on Saturdays, 5pm to 9pm for BD17++ without spirits and BD23++ inclusive.

RESERVATIONS: 1600 0000

Tapas Treats

Satiate your Appetite

La Vinoteca Barcelona sets the Mediterranean scene this month, with flamenco dancers, live guitar music, cultural events and, of course, lots of food, La Vinoteca Barcelona is all set to wow you. On October 15 to 18, La Vinoteca’s celebrations will continue until the end of the month. Along with a sampling of Spanish culture and gastronomy workshops, there’s also a cooking class and exhibition of Spanish products, such as olives, fresh almonds, aged red-grape vinegar and other specialities.

RESERVATIONS: 1700 7808

A newcomer to Bahrain’s dining scene, Café Amsterdam is all set to draw in avid fans with the finest in Anglo Dutch cuisine and hospitality.

Bright, light and pulsating with Dutch courage, it’s a celebration of premium food. The menu serves up a combination of traditional dishes and modern cuisine with gourmet flasuch as fish and chips, smoked salmon, gourmet burgers, fondue, seafood and vegetarian options. Outdoor seating is available and they also welcome groups or parties, as well as children.

RESERVATIONS: 3200 0177

Experience a taste of Spain...

La Vinoteca Barcelona

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Great food with European flair…

Café Amsterdam

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A Festive Month special promotions on...

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

Dress to impress for the Halloween Beach Party on October 31. Cost is BD38 for five brews and food from the grill. On all three days of Eid Al Adha, Saraya Restaurant will serve exquisite buffets of international and Oriental delicacies.

It’s BD24 net including special upgraded buffet lunch and soft drinks. Eid dinner is also available for just BD18 net inclusive of buffet and soft drinks from 7pm to 10.30pm.

Experience Pashawat Under the Stars on October 4, 5 & 6. Weather-permitting, you can enjoy an Arabic Buffet on the Sofi Island with live entertainment and belly dancing for BD28 net inclusive of buffet dinner, water and soft drinks, from 8pm to 1am.

RESERVATIONS: 1763 6363

We’re Turning Japanese Halloween & much more!

Bushido Restaurant & Lounge

Dress to impress this Halloween, as Bushido Lounge is organising a masquerade event with a spooky, green theme. One of Greece’s biggest music producers, DJ Pantelis, will be flying in to perform an eclectic set of Balkan and tribalhouse dance music. Enjoy live fire shows and unusual secret performances, plus free masks for all. It’s on October 31 from 9pm ‘til late.

Free entry for ladies, and for gents – pre-sales is BD10 whilst at the door it’s BD20. Throughout the month, the restaurant will be celebrating the unique umami flavours of the humble mushroom in Bushido’s Mushroom Festival (or Kinoko Matsuri in Japanese). Bushido also welcomes Japanese executive sushi chef from Buddha-Bar Paris. Masato Nakabayashi will be delivering a special sushi show at Bushido’s Friday Brunch on October 3, 12noon to 3.30pm.

RESERVATIONS: 1758 3555 86

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Oktober-fun

Traditional food & entertainment…

The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa Celebrate Eid with family and friends on the second day of Eid Al Adha, from 12.30noon to 4.30pm, where a delectable buffet spread of Middle Eastern favourites and classic international dishes await you. Cost is BD29 net including beverages and BD31 net including house spirits. Enjoy traditional German Oktoberfest celebrations with authentic food and a traditional Bavarian band.

Cost is BD27++ offered at Al Khayma Tent on October 1 to 3 from 7pm to midnight. Also at Al Khayma Tent, Oktoberfest Brunch is on October 3 from 12noon to 4pm. Experience authentic food and a traditional Bavarian band.

Cost is BD27++ RESERVATIONS: 1758 6499

Festive Nights

Oktoberfest & Wahine Nights…

Trader Vic’s & Mai Tai Lounge For Oktoberfest fans, Trader Vic’s Bahrain are offering a special menu from October 1 to 11. Expect plenty of frothy, and refreshing beverages served with a selection of hearty German “Futter”, especially selected and prepared by their German executive chef, Andy Hoppe. Trader Vic’s heats up with the much anticipated reopening of MaiTai Lounge, and with it comes the return of Wahine Tuesdays – Ladies Night e­ very Tuesday from 6pm to 10pm. Ladies enjoy free entry, drinks and a selection of complimentary Trader Vic’s Tid-Bits.

RESERVATIONS: 1758 6555 www.ohlala-magazine.com

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A Passion for Food The Med comes to life here…

Nicole’s Restaurant

Opening soon - bahrain’s foodies will be treated to the unique Mediterranean concept at Nicole’s restaurant. With over 25 years of culinary experience and awards, with the most prestigious being Cordon Blue from France and Collegium Cocorum from Italy, Chef Valter Piergiovanni brings his unique expertise and knowledge and will infuse the cuisine with the Mediterranean style of the restaurant. Nicole’s offers traditional dishes with the original twist from Italy, France, Greece, Lebanon, and Spain.

RESERVATIONS: 17280700; 1728118

A Quaint Surprise

A gem in the bustling Seef district…

The Tea Room, Trousseau Bahrain If you want a quiet escape, the cafe at Trousseau in Al A’ali Mall could very well be just the place for you. Serving tea with a twist, tuck into unique finger sandwiches and scones (including olive with cream cheese and chutney, beetroot and cream cheese for the former and rose pistachio and cranberry pecan for the latter). In addition to serving tea in-house, a full menu is available and Trousseau also does catering for special functions.

RESERVATIONS: 1754 1041

Manama’s Gem

Traditional & contemporary offerings…

Sheraton Bahrain The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant offers buffet lunch from 12.30pm to 4pm. It’s BD18.5++ (adults) and BD8++ (children).

Enjoy a buffet dinner from 7.30 to 11.30pm for BD13.9++. At Soie from Sunday to Friday, 7pm to 11.30 pm, spend at least BD20++ per person and get a BD10 voucher redeemable at their all-day dining restaurant. Want to hone your cooking skills? Join Chef He Cheng every Friday from 10am to 12noon for a cooking class for BD12.5++. Slots are limited so book online at www.soiebahrain.com/cookingclass.

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A Bevy of Suprises Various venues to delight in…

Elite Group Hospitality

A bevy of gastronomical surprises are on at Elite Group’s venues. At Elite Resort and Spa’s Al Noor Tent Wednesdays from 7.30pm, it’s Paelleras Night at BD12. Savour Thursday Night Grills at Waikiki from 7.30pm at BD12.

Bring the whole gang for Friday Family Brunch for BD12 (adults) and BD6 for kids. At Elite Crystal Hotel’s Klub 360, it’s Finesse Nights, Sundays and Wednesdays. Ladies enjoy unlimited free beverages with a chance to win a luxury prize. Elite Seef Residence & Hotel’s Oasis Membership, gives you 15 percent off v on your F&B bills (plus other member benefits).

RESERVATIONS: www.elitegroup4u.com www.ohlala-magazine.com

Amwaj Island’s True Local

Happy Hours

Everyday 4pm - 7pm All Beverages 20% off The Lagoon, Amwaj Islands | tel. 16010160 | Open daily midday-midnight

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The Porsche Cayman GTS Ohlala! gets to grips with the supersporty Cayman GTS, which is the most powerful version of the superb little coupĂŠ to date!

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Diva drives

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“Ours came in the gorgeous Porsche red – the quintessential colour for GTS ome of the biggest news on the models. It’s a definite head turner, motoring scene was the arrival of the really standing out from the crowd, Porsche Boxster and Cayman GTS with all that black leather, Alcantara models in Bahrain earlier this year, which represent the most powerful finishing and red stitching.” variants in both model line-ups. They are also the most powerful engines that have ever been featured in both models.

More specifically, this means flat six-cylinder boxers, which are based on the 3.4-litre engines of the Boxster S and Cayman S, but uprated to produce 340hp in the Cayman, which will now hit 100km/h in 4.6 seconds, and a top speed of 285km/h!

Also standard is the exceptional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system, the Sport Chrono package with the active Sport Plus button (which we didn’t actually turn off at any point!), and the option of the Porsche PDK doubleclutch gearbox. The PDK is a costly option, but worth it in our humble opinion – if you’re going to go for a sportier option like the GTS, you might as well go all the way!

And go all the way we did, hugely enjoying the Sport Plus button to the fullest, as the meaty boxer engine takes the Cayman up into 911 levels of performance – this is the car the

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Cayman should have been all along!

Ours came in the gorgeous Porsche red – the quintessential colour for GTS models, (although “other colours are available) – which we loved, matching the red heels, Prada bag and lippy very well. It’s a definite head turner, really standing out from the crowd, with all that black leather, Alcantara finishing and red stitching.

The handling is superb, as you’d expect from a Cayman, with an incredibly responsive agility and excellent chassis that makes it huge amounts of fun to drive without being punishing.

Being a two-seater, it’s not the most practical family car, but there is plenty of interior cabin space for the two passengers, and there is definitely enough storage space for your Saks Fifth Avenue shopping bags, or even a small (carry-on size) travel case.

A nice finishing touch is the superb high quality sound system – we plugged in our Mp3 player, cranked up the volume, wound down the windows and had a great day roaring around town with the wind in our hair.

A hugely enjoyable experience all round!

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diva drives

Petrolhead Pretty Our resident Diva Driver, Lisa Speed, is seeing double this month – two V8s with two turbos each! Soooo much power…

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hat’s right! In this one month I’ve had news come across my desk of no less than TWO amazing automobiles, EACH with twin turbo V8s, resulting in a combined power output of 962hp. Glorious…

The cars themselves, however, could not be more different, as one is a super GT, and one is a super-luxurious sedan! First across the line is the much-anticipated replacement to the outgoing SLS AMG. The AMG GT, unveiled last month in Affalterbach - Germany, is the second vehicle to be entirely developed under the direction of AMG. Mercedes F1 driver and championship contender Nico Rosberg led the unveiling, because, well… who better?

Aside from looking absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, the front-mid engine super GT uses a lightweight aluminium construction and two versions of AMG’s monstrous 4.0-litre Biturbo engine, one which puts out 462hp and an uprated one in the GT S with 510hp. WANT! And under bonnet number two… many of you might remember from our last issue my extremely enjoyable jaunt in the Bentley Continental GT V8 S, with its magnificent 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8?

Well, the good news for those that don’t want a coupe is that the same magnificent V8 is featured in the new Bentley Flying Spur, which arrived in the Gulf last month.

In the new Flying Spur, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine produces 500hp and 660Nm, and powers the luxury barge to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds, and on to a top speed of 295km/h.

However, the Bentley and the AMG aren’t the only cars making double trouble this month, as BMW wades in with a twin-turbo of its own, only this time it’s on a teeny tiny 1.5l three-cylinder engine. Don’t think for a second this means it’s slow, because this particular engine is in the new BMW i8, and 92

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it is partnered with BMW i8’s intelligent hybrid system, that capitalises on a powerful electric motor, which also sends drive to the front wheels, resulting in a combined power output of 362hp delivered to all four wheels.

The two motors (electric at the front and petrol at the rear) work in harmony enabling the BMW i8 to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.4 seconds.

So there you have it – three twin-turbo powered cars to hit my inbox in one month that absolutely could not be more different from each other. Such are the amazing times of technology we live in. www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Ohlala! RENDEZVOUS “The sense of place and the anticipation of needs are crucial in our company philosophy.”

A New Beginning The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa welcomes a new general manager. Christian Zandonella is now at the helm of one of the island’s most luxurious destinations.

Tell us about your beginnings in the hospitality industry...

Christian Zandonella. My passion for service started as a child, when my father used to take me to sell ice creams from our shop. My first experience working in a local luxury hotel was in Germany age 16. I still remember receiving a warning letter, exactly 20 years ago. I was attending the cloakroom and I had difficulties finding the fur coat of one of our guests, so I decided to waive the charge, which the management penalised me for. Today, I am all the more proud to be part of The RitzCarlton because it is a company that encourages empowerment and being proactive.

What’s the secret to the consistent success of The Ritz-Carlton brand?

CZ. The secret is our ladies and gentlemen. They are the driving force, who have built a relationship with our guests based on trust. Their level of engagement is so high that you’re greeted by your name, with a genuine smile, and all your wishes are anticipated.

This is the level of hospitality that differentiates a hotel from other competitors.

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How critical is it to have an owner that engages you in all aspects of the hotel?

CZ. The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa is the best answer to this question.

The hotel has been a landmark in Bahrain for decades and remains a social hub in the island.

We share the same vision and enjoy a great partnership with our ownership.

Is it more challenging today to show what makes a property unique?

CZ. Today, what defines the identity of a hotel is its dining scene. Our venues have been so popular throughout the years that our resort has become a prestigious social hub. The hotel is part of the community. Our staff is also very active in our Community Footprints initiatives, where we engage and give back to Bahrain.

The word ‘luxury’ is sometimes overused. What’s your definition of it?

CZ. The notion of luxury is subjective and constantly evolving. Luxury is more than a physical

product. Our mission is to inspire life’s most meaningful journeys and create memories that last a lifetime by anticipating guests’ unexpressed wishes, by personalising their stay and creating WOW experiences.

What’s your vision for The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa? CZ. My first leadership mission is to know our staff; to discover what drives them because they all are unique and experts in their areas. Online presence is also a crucial part of the modern hospitality industry.

In this respect, we have just launched our new mobile app that allows our guests to interact with us.

What advice would you give to those entering this industry?

CZ. My most valuable lesson is to always be kind, engage with the people you work with, surprise them, and be present when it counts. Whether it is taking some time to visit them at the hospital when they are sick, or joining them to attend the first football game of their son.

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UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

PRINCE KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA PRIME MINISTER OF THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

The 23rd Middle East International Jewellery & Watch Exhibition

Chopard Red Carpet Collection: rubellite and diamond necklace

18 - 22 November 2014

Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre

Open daily to the public www.jewelleryarabia.com

OFFICIAL CARD ACQUIRER

ORGANISERS

VIP & REGISTRATION SPONSOR

EDUCATION & LABORATORY PARTNER

Telephone: +973 17 55 00 33 info@jewelleryarabia.com

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‫ﴍاﻛﺔ ﰲ اﻟﺘﻌﻠﯿﻢ واﳌﺨﺘﺒـﺮ‬

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‫راﻋﻲ ﻛﺒﺎر اﻟﺸﺨﺼﻴﺎت واﻟﺘﺴﺠﻴﻞ‬

‫اﻟﴩﻛﺔ اﻟﺮاﺋﺪة ﻟﻘﺒﻮل اﻟﺒﻄﺎﻗﺎت‬

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Ohlala! RENDEZVOUS

Ramee Grand Turns One!

Celebrating their first anniversary on the island,Ohlala! talks to Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa’s general manager, Michele Magrone, on his vision for the five-star property.

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Anniversary Special: Meals & Rooms for BD1!

Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa will be giving away lots of surprises to mark their 1st Birthday.

Enjoy meals and hotel room stays for BD1!

Simply follow them on Facebook and get updates on www. rameegrandbahrain.com

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aving been in the hospitality industry for thirty years, Michele Magrone has risen from the ranks, gaining invaluable experience along the way, including stints in London, Switzerland, Paris, Dublin, Rome and most recently Bahrain, before joining the Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa. “The property offers something truly special with attractive packages to satisfy guests’ every need. We want them to experience the very best in comfort and for them to feel right at home.

“My role as general manager is one of coordinating and supporting the efforts of my dedicated team towards delivering implausible levels of guest service: to make sure that the experience of our guests entices them to return to stay, or to frequent our many restaurants,” says Michele.

Running the 166-room property, Michele views daily challenges as opportunities. “Team effort is the answer. Hospitality is not a oneman-show and every guest’s touch point has an impact on their overall experience.”

With the hotel marking its first year of being on the island, Michele is right to be proud of their achievements to date. “This

“The first anniversary is an indication of our growth and commitment to our mission to provide high standards of hospitality.” first anniversary is certainly a milestone for us. More importantly, it’s an indication of our growth and commitment to our mission to provide high standard of hospitality. Since Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa opened its doors to the public, it has been instrumental in reinforcing Bahrain’s position in the fivestar hospitality sector in the region. We offer spacious rooms that are both chic and opulent and some of the best food and beverage venues in the Kingdom.”

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‘KNOT’ JUST A SCARF

Founded by sisters Nada and Noor Al Alawi, Annada has evolved into more than a brand. It embodies grace and elegance all through the humble but classic accessory – the scarf. What they’ve created is a delightful extravaganza of colours, emotions and beauty. Ohlala!’s Karina Lazarraga finds out more about their story…

Could you tell us more about the philosophy of the brand?

Annada. It really is based on elegance. We believe that how a person carries themselves is very important. It speaks volumes about the person. If you dress well and appropriately for the occasion, you will not only feel good, but also confident. A scarf is a classic accessory and is very versatile, so whether you’re in jeans and a shirt or heading to an evening party, a scarf can jazz up your style. We find that our scarves become a talking piece in itself.

“Every scarf has a story to tell, and is a piece of art. The stories are all very much connected to our heritage and culture.”

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Ohlala! RENDEZVOUS

What does ‘Annada’ mean? How did you come up with the name?

A. Annada in Arabic means ‘The Nada’, which represents many things for us.

‘Anna’, For instance, means ‘me’, or the individual – so for us that means to encourages each person to make each accessory their own, by using it in their own way and style. It makes sense to have an Arabic name for the brand as it represents our culture, which is something that means a lot to us.

How important is it for you to champion the exposure of Bahraini and regional artists?

Annada is stocked at Saks Fifth A. We are proud of the fact that Annada Avenue Bahrain and available online: www.annadaonline.com is 100 percent Bahraini. This region is abundant with culture and beauty that has not yet been fully explored, and we work on our products. We like to work with artists are so excited that we are able to show the beauty who have consistency and a signature identity, of their art through Annada. We are a culture full as it adds more value to the work itself. In many of stories and tales and we wanted to do use that cases, the artists themselves approach us with in each of our accessories. Every scarf has a story their work. We are very proud of our efforts in to tell, and is a piece of art. The stories are all very supporting regional artwork, and we love the idea much connected to our heritage and culture. that art speaks to the soul.

What draws you to certain artists from around the region?

A. We choose art that speaks to us, and speaks for our cause. When we have made a choice as to the art/artist, we then proceed into showcasing their www.ohlala-magazine.com

What’s the best part about collaborating with Middle Eastern artists?

A. Being surrounded by art, beauty and talent. We work very closely with them, and in some cases, we even inspire them. We just love connecting

with people – beautiful people inside and out.

What’s next for Annada?

A. We just celebrated our third year of being in the market. We are constantly expanding our product range to achieve our ambition of spreading culture and the art of gifting with a message within the luxury industry. We are present at Paris Fashion Week every six months, and this month Annada will be at Dubai’s Fashion Forward show.

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ohlala! rendezvous

Explore, Nurture & Inspire Blossom Events is the mother host of fantastic opportunities for young female, budding Bahraini entrepreneurs. Rasha Khunji chats with Ohlala! and discusses why she is a real entrepreneurial advocate.

Words by Sana Alibux

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he epicentre of how to perform your own startup company, with all the necessary training and guidance to help you along the way, Blossom Event’s Showcase 101 in Riyadat Mall, A’ali area, is the perfect example of a go-to venue for startups in Bahrain.

“I had my own startup business and I wanted to show people how to look after their concepts and market them the right way,” Rasha shares with Ohlala!

Officially founded in 2008, Blossom Events began by hosting exhibitions, showcasing local and international businesswomen in the startup scene. “Showcase 101 provides the ultimate stepping-stone for startups by providing a platform to display your products at a minimum cost, under one roof, with low charge and a local cashier.”

Rasha shares that it’s a way to educate people about the industry and host events, which provide insightful knowledge on how to improve, sell, train and educate with regard to startups and insurance.

These business-savvy ladies aren’t just about selling

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“Dreams can come true.If you work hard and really put your mind to it,you can achieve anything.” their handmade products, they are also worldly educators too, promoting training and offering advice on how to overcome the challenges businesses face.

It’s all about female empowerment at its best. The passion, drive and creativity that Rasha portrays for aspiring female entrepreneurs provides an inspirational journey worth exploring. “It’s not just a business but more of a mini exhibition.”

This month is all about female empowerment and unity. We can do it!

Tel.: 17640161. Showcase 101 is also prominent on Twitter: @showcase101bh

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Ohlala! Rendezvous

Thinking Ahead, Think Pink October is officially the month for breast cancer awareness. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourself to help tackle the cause through the incredible foundation in Bahrain, Think Pink.

Words by Sana Alibux

Since its inception in 2004, Think Pink foundation is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary. Founder, Julie Sprakel, has managed to pave the way for women touched by the illness by enforcing a foundation, which contributes to the research and wellbeing of women.

“This year, we are again targeting men.” Julie shares excitedly with Ohlala! about this innovative concept. “The key message we’d like men to take away is that we’re asking them to support the women in their lives with gentle encouragement about self checking, because ultimately, early prevention is the key to saving lives.”

The campaign promotes the idea of joining hands, male and female, in order to encourage women to perform regular monthly check-ups and self-examinations.

This message suggests that both bind to fight a cause that many women struggle with in the GCC and beyond. It is ideally advocating what is best in the female’s interests, with the love and support of their male counterpart.

“Education is the first line of prevention, and by spreading awareness we are making things happen that was even beyond my own imagination,” Julie tells us with warmth.

Remember: Every time you say iCheck you save a life. Yours.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS October 1 Pink Rooftop Party at Meisei from 7.30pm - tickets BD15.

Call Meisei on 1700 7770 October 3 Harley Davidson’s Owners Group (HOG’s) awareness ride leaving from Budaiya dealership at 8am.

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October 16 Royal Golf Club’s Ninth Ladies Texas Scramble. Contact 1775 0777 or info@ thinkpinkbahrain.com for registration or corporate sponsorship.

October 16 Royal Golf Club Men’s Night Golf.

Contact 1775 0777 or info@thinkpinkbahrain.com for registration or corporate sponsorship

October 17 Think Pink Bahrain’s Tenth Anniversary Gala Evening, Ritz Carlton Hotel and Spa. Call 3907 6717 or 1753 1008.

For corporate sponsorship: info@thinkpinkbahrain.com

Contact info@thinkpinkbahrain.com or visit www.thinkpinkbahrain.com.

Become a fan on Facebook or follow #thinkpinkbahrain

If your business

would like to officially support the Think Pink campaign please contact the Charity directly on 3907 6717.

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BAHRAIN BREAST CANCER SOCIETY

www.thinkpinkbahrain.com

Together. we save lives.

Hers.

Men can play a big part in the fight against breast cancer. It all comes down to showing support and joining hands with loved ones to encourage women to undergo monthly checkups and self examinations – these simple steps will go a long way to helping women feel supported, ensuring that together they aren't alone in the fight against breast cancer.

Early detection saves lives. Hers.

So please remind your partner, wife or mother to undergo regular checkups. Say icheck.

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ohlala! boutiques

A Hippy Vibe The season collection for Accessorize is all about youth, dynamism and just a touch of craziness – all mixed with dyes and large doses of boho jewellery and beautiful designs that feature rhinestones, bib necklaces or bags with retro inspiration – perfect for both casual and party moods..

Vintage Elegance

Certainly living up to its name, the Tissot Glamorous is a true lady’s watch with an elegance which can only come from a vintage design. Its small oval 18-carat gold case, which encloses the mother-of-pearl dial with a minute track surrounded by beautiful old style Roman indices, further adds to the luxurious aspect of the timepiece. This watch definitely conveys class and sophistication to anyone who wears it.

An Exotic Blend Bath & Body Works has just debuted Dark Kiss Eau de Parfum, an inimitable exotic blend of blackberry, plum and smoky dark vanilla.

Wear it and add that extra touch of elegance and sophistication. It also features in the The Daily Trio of Shower Gel, Pampering Lotion and Fine Fragrance Mist.

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Ohlala! Boutiques

‘FALL’ IN LINE These season collections provide plenty of inspiration for putting together your autumnal ensembles…

Textured Simplicity For its season collection, Dune London focuses on clean lines and new textures, with contrasting colours, plush embossed leathers and texture mash-ups to jazz up your classic winter staples. Linear silhouettes drive the collection, drawing together elegant profiles and simple, modern architectural lines.

Gatsbian Grandeur This season, Nine West stays true to its mantra of value, versatility, accessibility and ease whilst, always delivering quality and fashionable accessories. For autumn-winter, the collection is inspired by the Gatsbian era – feminine floral prints and pearl accents are a nod to 1920s extravagance – perfect for adding a little drama to your wardrobe.

Coast to Coast

Chic

Tommy Hilfiger celebrates the all-American aesthetic with quintessential English charm with three collections for the season. The ‘Boston’ features traditional menswear patterns reinterpreted with a feminine twist, from statement blazers to lightweight down jackets. ‘Middleburys’ earthy palette is paired with bright pops of ocean depths, sundown yellow and fuchsia – best for outdoor wear or chic city cocktails.

‘Portland’ meanwhile, is perfect for chilly fall nights with its chunky knit sweaters and chambray blues.

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SOCIETY HOTSPOTS

Pool Party with Jose Padilla

la!

Ohla ive s exclu

October 24

The Dragon Hotel

WHY GO? Eventions & The Dragon Hotel are back with the classiest pool parties on the island!

Featuring the man who started one of the most popular beach venues & brands in the world, Jose Padilla is known for producing and compiling some of the first quality chillout songs and albums for Café del Mar, IBIZA. He makes a comeback this year, bringing a taste of Ibiza’s infamous sunset experience! Jose will be supported by local DJs Damian D’Costa and Liam Farrell.

Call Damian on 6667 8666.

India through the lens Throughout October ‘til November 1

Bahrain National Museum

WHY GO? It’s a photographer’s haven.

Organised in collaboration with the TASVEER foundation, this exhibition portrays India through the contrasting oeuvres of four photographers – Jyotti Bhatt, T.S. Saytan, Maimouna Guerresi and Karen Knorr. The works of Jyotti Batt and TS Satyan communicate the life of the Indian populous post-independence – from street scenes to historic events, from the common man to portraits of prominent figures; whilst Karen Knorr and Maimouna Guerresi delves deeper by using staged events, manipulations and constructions to explore the religious, cultural and visual heritage of India, showing how this is communicated in the visual arts in the present day. www.moc.gov.bh 108 OHLALA!

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SOCIETY

Leona Lewis Live in Bahrain!

Bahrain National Theatre October 9

WHY GO? She’s about to set hearts racing. We’re talking about no less than multi-platinum and awardwinning singer songwriter Leona Lewis. She is coming to perform in Bahrain as part of the activities for the upcoming 23rd Bahrain International Music Festival.

The former winner of X-Factor UK stands today as the most successful female solo artist in UK chart history, with more Top 5 hits (eight) than any other British female artist in history. Lewis is famed for her expansive four octave mezzo-soprano vocal range, power, technical control, and use of the falsetto register. www.moc.gov.bh

1st HOG Grand Rally October 16 to 18

Coral Bay, BIC, Harley-Davidson Showroom WHY GO? Harley Owners Group Bahrain Chapter in association with HarleyDavidson Bahrain Dealership and Modern Age is launching the First HOG Bahrain Chapter Grand Rally. Join the excitement when Harley-Davidson riders from the MENA travel to the Kingdom for the first ever HOG Grand Rally. An expanded agenda will span three days filled with great rides, great people, a great dealership and, most of all, great riders looking for fun. To experience all that Bahrain has to offer, the rally will have guided and self-guided rides that travel all over the island. Participants can choose from all-day rides or a few hours on the road.

For event details, call Leila Dulay on: 66378828

Inspire Festival 2014 Inspire Arts Centre, Saar; other venues October 10 to 18

WHY GO? The Inspire Festival 2014 is a first event of its kind in Bahrain which will bring together the artistic genres of music, fine art, sculpture, photography, multimedia, poetry and dance through a diverse cultural mix of African gospel singing, a Malayalam choir, multi-national singers and musicians, traditional Western band line-ups, local artists, visiting speakers, guest artists and workshop leaders from a variety of backgrounds.

Workshops are free. For details: 3904 7734 or inspirebahrain@gmail.com www.ohlala-magazine.com

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“ Oh, the doors that willl open when you have the right key”

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C O M I N G

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S M A R T P H O N E

Society shot-on-site

Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show

Drape yourself in Fall’s newest and boldest pieces highlighted at the Saks Fifth Avenue Fall-Winter fashion show.

lanvin debuts Boutique in Saks

A cocktail reception was held to mark the opening of Lanvin’s debut shop-in-shop at Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Missoni Home Grand Opening Missoni Home marked their grand store opening at Al A’ali Shopping Complex.

The event was graced by HE Dr Hasan A. Fakhro (Minister of Industry and Commerce) and Wanda Jelmini, the Creative Director of T&J VESTOR for Missoni Home.

‘La Storia della Ferrari’

Celebrating the arrival of the latest Ferrari model: California T at the iconic National Museum of Bahrain, the launch consisted of a display of vintage Ferrari models and images featuring Ferrari’s ongoing heritage.

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Society

parisian cabaret at Bushido

Bushido Lounge partied Parisian style with the magical soiree, Parisian Cabaret, for which Ohlala! was the official media partner. DJ Ravin headlined the event, alongside fire shows and cabaret dancers.

The Palm Association’s Great Gatsby Ball

The Palm Association held the Great Gatsby Charity Ball at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa. A roaring 1920s extravaganza, the night included a sumptuous dinner reception, a swing band and DJ, vintage cars and mixologists and a high-end auction in support of the group’s charity projects.

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Maki Promotes Healthy Bites

Maki at The World Trade Centre, held an exclusive evening for loyal clients and dignitaries to sample their new brown rice recipes in their ongoing commitment to include healthy offerings.

Farewell & Welcome Reception for The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain’s GM

The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel & Spa held a reception at Al Ghazal Ballroom to bid farewell to GM Mark Neukomm, while welcoming the incoming GM Christian Zandonella. www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Society

Oktoberfest at Gulf Hotel The Gulf Hotel Bahrain hosted a grand Oktoberfest with lively entertainment by Germand band, Lasterbacher Musikanten.

Guests were treated to a fantastic atmosphere and a sumptuous buffet spread.

Paul Adams at Upstairs Downstairs

The hugely popular amazing super singer/ musician/entertainer Toddy Paul Adams was back at Upstairs Downstairs. The artist rocked the house with performances including the salsa, cha cha and pop music, much to the delight of patrons.

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Cupid Shuffle Magic at Ibrida

The Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa’s Ibrida was bustling as artist Bryson ‘Cupid’ Bernard made his way into the hearts of fans with a performance of his massive hit, ‘Cupid Shuffle’, among other tunes – making party goers dance the night away.

JBG & Monin Cup Reception Jawad Business Group (JBG) and Monin invited guests to the Monin Cup Bahrain 2014 at Ruka, Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa. A competition was held to select the best Monin drink, which sees the winner compete in Paris in December for the Monin world title. JBG and Monin France representatives graced the event.

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OBU˜ SINE˜ SS All the latest industry news from the luxury sector in the Middle East

Mövenpick Employee Health Week

STARWOOD LAUNCHES SPG TRIPLE CRAVE

The Mövenpick hotel management team kicked off the start of their employee health week with a fun and energising wall climb – the tallest one in the GCC reaching 15 metres in height – located on the premises of the hotel, overlooking the Arad Bay Lagoon. The week marked the first of many employee health weeks to come and is designed to introduce different possibilities and means for employees to look after their health.

Employees are also welcome to experience complimentary Zumba Dancing classes, as well as Hatha and Yin Yoga sessions.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced the ‘SPG Triple Crave’, a new dining offer for members of its award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) loyalty programme. Valid until December 30, 2014, SPG members may earn triple Starpoints when they dine at any of the 1,500 participating restaurants at Starwood properties worldwide from Monday to Thursday if they spend USD50 and above (per table). SPG Triple Crave offers an extensive choice of worldclass culinary venues, such as those at Sheraton Bahrain Hotel, as well as The Westin and Le Meridien Bahrain City Centre.

For a list of participating restaurants and more details, members will need to register, for free on www.spg.com/triplecrave by November 30, 2014.

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FINANCE EXPERT IS SPEAKER AT BIZNET EVENT Delphine Boireau, Senior Finance partner from Orange Group, was the guest speaker at the Biznet Networking Event held at the Capital Club. Delphine, who talked about ‘Revenue Assurance – The Milestones to Secure Margins’, is a seasoned professional heavily involved in telecoms. She shared her experiences and provided case studies around her 15 years in the highly competitive telecoms sector and addressed fraud prevention strategies whilst transferring her experiences in Europe to those of the local markets. Delphine commented that, “The Revenue Assurance activity is a permanent end to end control of operations, which underlines losses through the processes and manage projects to fix issues and mitigate risks. Act promptly and without delay your profitability will be addressed.”

Bahraini Wins Ahmed Zayani Raffle Draw Riad Al Zayani, one of Ahmed Zayani & Sons’ partners presented the winner of their recent raffle draw promotion. The prize was given to Faisal Al Jowder from Bahrain. He was chosen as the lucky recipient by a representative from the Ministry of Commerce who picked the raffle ticket. The prize handover ceremony was held at the Ahmed Zayani & Sons Showroom.

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ohlala! stars

libra

Many of you might feel like you are chasing your tails this month as you struggle to deal with the burden of responsibility of mounting debts and demanding children put upon you. Librans are sociable and intelligent people by nature: they have a great capacity for learning and like the freedom to move about within their chosen environments as they please. However, when you find this movement hindered by the pressures of a bank balance in a negative state then you can become quite an irritable and introverted animal.

Putting together a sensible and realistic budget plan is all that you need to set things straight so even though many of you will be celebrating a birthday it doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind completely!

Happy Birthday

Famous Libras Zac Efron Kim Kardashian Will Smith Simon Cowell Hugh Jackman Matt Damon Michael Douglas Catherine Zeta-Jones Gwyneth Paltrow Kate Winslet Sting

MsLibra

Giovanni reveals your destiny …

libra At-a-Glance

Libras are often kind, gentle people who also share a love of beauty and peace. They also like to keep everyone happy but in doing so they often find it difficult to say no to anyone and this can sometimes leave them a little stressed.

However, because they are born diplomats they can often negotiate a way through and whilst some might describe this as cunning, their motives are always driven by keeping the peace.

Like Taurus, they share the ruling planet of Venus and are extremely romantic, meaning most of their life is driven around feelings of love. They are charming and have a pleasant way of talking and a wide knowledge of subjects which means they are never short of a word or two!

They also have a strong sense of justice and of what is right and because of these diplomatic skills they also have a great capacity to listen and appreciate people’s needs.

Scorpio

There is no doubting your ability and enthusiasm for your job but on occasions you tend to become so deeply involved in matters that you lose sight of the “bigger picture”. There are exciting times ahead for you and your partner, so you should grasp the opportunities with enthusiasm because the chance to shape your future has been placed firmly in your own hands. On the financial front, you may have an considerable outlay to bear because of a problem with your car towards the end of the month so make sure you keep some money aside for this particular emergency otherwise you might end up immobile until pay day!

Sagittarius

You’re not one who likes surprises too much, mainly because you like to be in control of a situation. Consequently, when you are assigned to work with someone this month who turns out to be a bit of a livewire, it could unsettle you in quite a big way. It doesn’t hurt for you to let your hair down every now and then but it’s not an idea you’re likely to come around to in www.ohlala-magazine.com

a hurry. On the financial front, you’ll notice an improvement from the 21st onwards, although it may not be permanent.

Capricorn

For many of you, all you really want is a quiet life and that can be a very difficult thing to come across, especially when you have such demanding friends and family around you. This month you may find yourself put upon by one relative in particular and you may not be able to contain your anger as you discover that their agenda is completely selfish. It’s not often that the bunny gets to bear its teeth but people often forget that you have them and when the need arises you’ll use them. A few individuals are going to be very surprised but it will certainly change their perception of you.

Aquarius

You have some serious thinking to do this month, especially where the twin subjects of job and romance are concerned. On the work front, you are really allowing a troublesome colleague to get under your skin and it is causing you to lose your focus a little. So before the month closes, have a face to face to resolve unsaid issues once and for all. As far as matters of the heart go, you have probably been less than honest with a partner about what you want from a relationship and the time has come for you to assess your feelings and decide where you want to go from here. Living a lie as you are now is not going to help anyone in the long term – least of all you.

Pisces

A new, admirer has suddenly made an appearance in your life and if you haven’t already, you are soon going to wake up with a very strange feeling in the pit of your stomach as you realise you are quite taken by their arrival. Think about any current commitments or obligations you have because your loyalties are about to be severely tested and unless you are certain of what you want, you could end up in an emotional spin before the month is out.

Aries

There are many positives about your sign and the energy you create is often a great catalyst for those around you to push themselves or aspire towards better things. However, you also have a few naughty traits that you just can’t help giving in to – even though you know they always end up getting you into trouble. So try and temper yourself if any temptations are put in your way this month. People’s emotions are fragile and even if you aren’t acting with any malice, certain individuals may misinterpret your intentions.

Taurus

You have probably suffered more heartache than many other signs but you cannot change who you are as a person or what you feel. This month you could find that someone you are very keen upon settling down with is a little more distant than usual and this may force your inner fears or insecurities to kick in. However, rather than deliberate over the possibilities in your head, simply confront the person concerned.

You will find that the reason behind their actions is quite trivial in reality! Then you can go back to planning your perfect world again!

Gemini

Financial worries and concerns that are centred around a young child are set to cause you a few headaches this month. Where money is concerned, take some good advice and make sure you listen to what you’re told. It’s no use getting qualified help and then choosing to ignore it. On the matter of a young child, it could be that their health has not been quite right and rather than allow yourself to be dismissed by the GP as an over-anxious parent, take your problem to a higher authority if you are not satisfied.

CANCER

Although others close to you have provided you with more than enough warnings, you have chosen to ignore them in favour of your own beliefs when it comes to the actions of a partner. You could now rue your failure to take

on board what others have told you because in truth, you knew there was some weight to their words but stubbornness blinded you to the obvious. On a more optimistic note you will find out that a business plan you had been pining your hopes on is about to be accepted and this is likely to increase your chances of gaining that all important project. If you can seal it before the end of October then the rewards are set to be huge.

Leo

Right now, your relationships seem balanced and rewarding, finances are adequate and your health is also very good. One of the failings of your sign is over-indulgence. You never know quite when to stop and this problem is set to cause an issue for you when it comes to your misinterpretation of a colleague’s kind words.

You may find yourself driven towards something that isn’t a reality, purely out of your desire to reach for more than you can consume!

virgo

Work is proving to be quite a bind this month as you find yourself swamped beneath endless piles of paperwork and demands from those around you that just don’t show any signs of letting up. In part it is your own fault as you have in the past been more than happy to put yourself forward in moments of crisis and now it has become expected of you. However, it’s never too late to change things around so stick by your guns and ensure you put yourself first for a change.

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The column

Has the human really changed?

Ohlala!’s resident philosopher, Sophie, shares her musings on the illusions of perception…

anonymous

W

hat have humans really learnt in last two to 10,000 years?

Countries, leaders, organisations, groups, “individuals”, media – all scream, condemn and express shock and anger towards so-called atrocities, immoralities, wars, suppression, animal abuse, trafficking in all its forms, the listis endless.

We just need to see the news, of which the majority is hostile takeovers, economic instability with the illusions of future stability; the promises of improvement, wars, terrorism murders and traffic dramas.

Entertainment whether in book form, movies or computer games, is usually also filled with violence, pain, winning, loss, comparison and division. This might be a negative perception, but just look around, listen, read and feel.

What are we really doing to change? Have we really changed in the last couple of thousand years? Are we not in a downward similar overlapping spiral?

Sure we have fancy technology that is expanding as we speak at a tremendous rate, we have the illusions of comfort and improvement, while a large group of our fellow humans are in varying degrees of poverty, with only a small group that live in material abundance.

How have we evolved emotionally and spiritually? Basically

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we have not, we still create emotional chaos, pain, grief, wars, death and strife on a daily basis. We place hateful comments on YouTube and other social media, we are not very friendly to our fellow man let alone the other creatures of the world ,or even the planet.

We tease, make fun, ridicule, and create aggression on things that we don’t understand, whether it is racial, religious, political, sexual or just a different idea or belief. Something is seriously wrong in the sense that we are doing the same thing over and over again, not learning and not changing.

Interestingly, when you look at the world, and honestly at ourselves, we are violent creatures that favour chaos over peace, but deep down we know this already. We create laws to prevent, punish and control without thinking of another way, using operant conditioning with punishment to enforce those created laws. Punishment prevents but it does not emotionally and spiritually evolve the animals we call humans. Actually animals are far kinder to each other than we are.

Personal development is about understanding self and freely letting go of aspects that are disagreeable, not under force of punishment but with understanding, openness and balance with our surroundings, a personal journey for improvement, which starts with feeling, introspection, understanding of every step we take, taking action and the willingness within to adapt. and modify. Without understanding there is no change…

People could govern themselves, if ownly they took responsibility for their actions, were congruent within and built on the image of compassionate beings instead of mercantilism.

To be one with their fellow humans in a world of altruistic support.

Love,

Sophie

Illusions of Perception www.ohlala-magazine.com

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