RAGMAG Optimum issue | October 2014 | issue #46

MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2014

OPTIMUM

WARRIORS

IN PINK BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

NICOLE FARHI

Q+A ON CLOSING

BLC BANK

THE DOOR TO FASHION

GETTING TO KNOW

THE TEAM

ICLOUD

HOW TO STAY

ADVERTISING

SAFE IN THE CLOUD

IN FASHION

OCTOBER 2014

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MAGAZINE

CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHER Gina Gabriel El-Fady GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Amal Sabsaby Selected images Shutterstock

STYLIST Jony Matta PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR Lea El-Alam MARKETING LEAD Daniella Tayar ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR Teddy Younes

Lara Ariss Jonathan Cainer Jonathan Dagher Leanne Elahmad Susan Griffin Kaylyn Hlavaty Sarah Hourany Neringa Kisler Eva Kurilova Chris Lambert Francesca Maria Minaise Charlotte Williamson Teddy Younes Amanda Zahhoul beirut.com

ON OUR COVER: NIGINA FROM VELVETMODEL AGENCY PHOTOGRAPHY AND CREATIVE DIRECTION: RABEE YOUNES OVERALL: MORGAN | STYLIST: JONY MATTA MAKEUP: IVANNA BOU SALAME

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RESPONSIBLE MANAGER May Ziade

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OCTOBER 2014

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES COPYCAT

36

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

46

LEBANESE DESIGNERS

74

DON’T DITCH THAT DENIM

66

READY, STEADY, GO!

12

CULTURE CLASH WARRIORS IN PINK

18

NICOLE FARHI

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COCO CHANEL

70

ADVERTISING IN FASHION

REAL LIFE RUNWAY

RAGMAG’S FASHION SHOOT WALK THE WALK

5 WAYS TO UP-CYCLE YOUR OLD JEANS RAGMAG TELLS YOU HOW TO WEAR IT

SURVIVING BREAST CANCER CLOSING THE DOOR TO FASHION SIGNATURE LOOKS TO SWIPE THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVERTISING

120 STEPHEN KING INTERVIEW

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BLC BANK

76

MIND, BODY + SOUL WHY IS HAPPINESS SO IMPORTANT

GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM

THE MOST IMPORTANT HUMAN QUALITY TO POSSES

108 4 NATURAL TRATMENTS FOR ACNE

THE NUTRIENTS YOU NEED FOR A BETTER SKIN

110 ANTI-AGING FOOD SWAPS

LOOKING AND FEELING YOUNG START FROM WITHIN

112 OCEAN SPRAY

HEART HEALTH RECIPE

118 HELP ME WITH MY RAGGED PROBLEM ADVICE

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MIRROR MIRROR CAROLINA HERRERA

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DIORSKIN STAR

86

MAC

92

MAKE UP FOREVER

98

PACO RABANNE

100

DIOR

102

BOBBI BROWN

104

ESTEE LAUDER

105

CLARINS

130 131 133

SEE, SPEAK + HEAR NO EVIL SOUNDCHECK MUSIC WATCH OUT FILM READ’EM BOOKS

134

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY EXPAND YOUR PANTRY

212 SURF

DIOR STUDIO LIGHTING PLAYLAND 3 BLACK LONG-LASTING EYELINERS FOR STUNNING EYES A PASSIONATE SPELL THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND SURF & SAND

SCULPT YOUR LIPS AUTUMN 2014 COSMETIC

RECIPES

114

OUT + ABOUT MADNESS IN BEIRUT

124

TAKE ME WITH YOU THE FOUNTAINS OF BRATISLAVA

THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH

TRAVEL

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A Cancer Patient Today, A Pilot Tomorrow Your GIVE HOPE Monthly Donation Will Save His Life!

You can make your automatic monthly donation through: Your Bank • Online • Request a complimentary pick up •

Hamad, 4 years old, dreams of being a pilot.

OCTOBER 2014

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Enroll in the GIVE HOPE program today and register by calling +961(01) 351515

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FOR OUR OCTOBER ISSUE WE CONTINUED TO TALK TO YOU VIA OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS- PINTEREST, TWITTER, FACEBOOK + INSTAGRAM. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND PARTICIPATION AND WE HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO INTERACT WITH US ONLINE

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WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU SO KEEP IT UP!

WE’RE SHOWING OFF SOME OF THE BEST IMAGES THAT OUR READERS SENT IN VIA EMAIL AND TWITTER. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE READERS WHO SENT US TWEETS AND EMAILS OF THEIR COPIES OF RAGMAG.

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

With the dramatic and unrealistic economical and political situation that has been haunting us these past few months, it has become more and more difficult to shake our troubles away. So if you feel that you are alone in this, you are not! We have called this issue Summer Breeze, to remind everyone including us, that it is summer, so let’s kick our troubles away go out and have some fun. After all summer in Beirut translates to fun, going out, holidays, colours, feeling light and carefree. Why stop now!

This month we have a Q&A with Salma Hayek, on her animated movie in the making the Prophet. An interview with Pele. Cameron Diaz on her new movie out soon, SEX TAPE. Laugh out loud with Hayda Lebnen’s World Cup Cheering Manual. Join our writer on a trip to Bora Bora. If you manage to get tipsy after all of the above and you can’t handle more then use RAGMAG’s natural cures for sobering up and getting rid of your killer hangover.

We have worked this issue with another great photographer, known to many of you Sandra Chidiac. She has been an inspiration to us and has helped us see the light through her lens.

Stay on alert on our Facebook page and our twitter @ RAGMAGMAGAZINE for our RAGMAG competitions which will be starting soon. Drop us a picture of you with your favourite magazine #RAGMAG this summer for a 6 month subscription delivered straight to your door.

I mean it when I say keep us updated and write to us.

We look forward to hearing from you every month and we love your input.

So keep writing to publisher@ragmaglive.com and talk to me on twitter@GinaGabriel1.

Gina Gabriel El-Fady | Publisher

OCTOBER 2014

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CULTURE CLASH

WARRIORS IN PINK

Smiles, free-spirits and a renewed love and appreciation for life was the theme of a photo-shoot with the heroic women of Warriors in Pink. They have all suffered in different ways from an illness that, unfortunately, continues to carry a stigma in society. Despite all the different obstacles these survivors have endured they all unite on one mission: to inspire people.

Breast Cancer or cancer in general makes us feel unease. Maybe because quite often we think about the fatal results the illness can have on people. Or perhaps it’s simply because it’s a taboo topic that ‘we are not suppose to speak about’, well in Lebanon anyway.

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WARRIORS IN PINK

MIRNA HOBALLAH

Which explains the stigma that coincides with the illness; how are we supposed to be comfortable with cancer in order for us to be able to support people who are dealing with it? And more importantly how are we supposed to raise awareness about cancer to achieve higher early detection rates if the topic itself is off-limits?

These are precisely the aims of the four breast cancer survivors who participated in the Warriors in Pink awareness campaign photo-shoot organized by FORD. And so RAGMAG caught up with these heroic women to find out more about their journey, and what helped them overcome their battle with breast cancer.

Meet the vibrant yogini, Mirna Hoballah, 50, a breast cancer survivor and the Vice President of the Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundation. She was enthusiastic about sharing her story even after all the hardship she’d experienced.

“It was unexpected, I was shocked, I couldn’t comprehend what was happening or why. I then accepted it and I think that’s important,” she says.

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IN THE MIDDLE EAST WOMEN ARE PRONE TO GETTING BREAST CANCER AT 40 YEARS AND UNDER Mirna’s tumor was detected through a mammogram and she has been in remission for 8 years. She went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to ensure she had overcome the illness completely.

She says early detection is important and is a focus point in the programs of the Foundation. In particularly because, in the Middle East women are prone to getting breast cancer at 40 years and under, whereas it is 50 and over for the rest of the world.

Part of raising awareness means visiting schools, universities and getting involved in campaigns such as lighting up the Rouche in Pink, which the foundation did a few years ago.

Mirna says it’s important to stay positive and surround yourself with loving people, she encourages cancer patients to speak about what they are feeling. “Even if you are scared, tell somebody because it will make you feel better,” she says.

Being involved in the Warriors in Pink campaign doesn’t only allow these breast cancer survivors to inspire people, but it raises awareness about the illness and possible treatments.

Mirna says, “I feel joy because I am involved in this campaign. I see other women and it’s inspirational. You begin to appreciate life more. Every woman that goes through struggles is my warrior”.

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CULTURE CLASH One of the most difficult burdens of breast cancer is the one it has financially on patients and their families. “Today I am very active in helping people in Lebanon, people who need help both emotionally and financially. I know how expensive medicine can be,” Mirna says.

However she says every year, selected hospitals offer to perform mammograms free of cost for women during October. November and December. But for some patients this is not merely enough.

For Nada Aoun, 44, a nurse, staying positive and putting extra energy into herself to feel better was an important aspect of treatment, especially because she admits that very few people supported her during the time of her illness.

SELECTED HOSPITALS OFFER TO PERFORM MAMMOGRAMS FREE OF

COST FOR WOMEN NADA AOUN

However they don’t call her ‘the Queen’ for no reason, afterall she was first diagnosed when she was 34 years old, and at the time she wasn’t given too much hope or time to live. But with her determination and fighting spirit she not only fought breast cancer but lung cancer too.

She believes because she continued to live life normally and never missed a day of work, it helped her through her ordeal. Nada was one of the patients that did not experience any side-effects from chemotherapy, and luckily so, because she did it for five years.

You wouldn’t expect someone that has endured so much with cancer to the extent of doing a total hysterectomy, which is the removal of all reproductive organs to say, “cancer is like a friend to me because it has become a part of me, it knows what I’m thinking and feeling.”

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Then she leaned in and whispered, “do you want to know a secret? When I had a bald head that’s when I felt the sexiest”.

Nada admits her real strength came from the children she works with.

Her entire outlook on life changed. “I appreciate life more. I appreciate every moment I live. I get bothered by people who get worked up over the little things in life, like my hair is not right today,” she says.

WITH HER DETERMINATION AND FIGHTING SPIRIT SHE NOT ONLY FOUGHT BREAST CANCER BUT LUNG CANCER TOO OPTIMUM

WARRIORS IN PINK

Unlike Nada, Rania Alameddine, 51, experienced a different journey in that she became very paranoid and didn’t like to be alone because of her frequent panic attacks.

She was diagnosed in February 2009 after a 7cm tumor was found in her breast. She had a mastectomy performed on one breast.

“I cried a lot. When I lost my hair I became depressed. People would stare and say “why isn’t she at her house?” Rania says.

It is for these reasons that support groups are essential during the time of treatment.

“Support groups are important, it helps a lot because it provides great relief. It’s important to think about it like it’s the same as every other disease, because it is. The treatment is a bit hard, you struggle and it’s painful but it can be overcome,” she says.

RANIA ALAMEDDINE

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RANIA ALAMEDDINE | NADA AOUN | RIVANA KOTEICH | ALINE ISTAMBOULIAN

Despite the stigma associated with breast cancer, nothing society said or did could change the fact that Aline Stamboulian, 37, was a happy patient. She was diagnosed at 34 and admits, “the first shock was hard, the idea was weird and medical terms can be scary. I wasn’t familiar with cancer or how to deal with it. I had a three-year-old child at the time and I thought am I going to die?”

For me it was very important to have a supportive network with my family, friends and my husband. And the two essential things that helped her get through it were “love” and “faith”.

Aline says she used to go to treatment in full hair and make-up and this made her feel better. “I used to go to night clubs bald and people used to stare but this made me stronger,” she says.

The support groups also made me stronger and they are a “wonderful place to share whatever you want. It gives you a chance to open your heart and speak freely, to express your fears,” she says.

Her message to breast cancer patients:

“Don’t be afraid of the disease. Be a message to people and inspire them. Don’t bury yourself before you die.”

However she says, “I wish there was more awareness about cancer and talking about it, people are reluctant to speak. We need to raise more awareness”.

It seems like it’s the goal of every breast cancer patient and survivor to raise more awareness about the illness and the importance of early detection, especially in Lebanon. Furthermore, these breast cancer survivors say more needs to be done to secure financial support for women who are going through treatment and those who are in remission and want to have a breast reconstruction.

At the time of the interview Nada Aoun was still receiving treatment for lung cancer, and so or thoughts and prayers go out to her and all those people suffering from cancer who are still fighting…

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HOW WORRIED SHOULD WE BE ABOUT EBOLA?

Since its outbreak in West Africa last March, the Ebola virus has claimed the lives of 2300 people.

The virus first appeared in Congo in 1976, next to the Ebola River to which the virus owes its name. Primarily spread to humans by contact with infected animals, Ebola is transmitted between human beings through bodily fluids.

Ebola is not airborne, but its fast multiplication creates a high viral load that contaminates blood, sweat, mucus, saliva and even tears, making the virus dangerously contagious and extremely fatal. Within 21 days from infection, symptoms reveal themselves: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and bleeding. There is no cure or vaccine yet, and experts aren’t very optimistic.

The virus has been mutating extensively, which is normal but inconvenient. The outbreak has so far been contained within West Africa, mainly in Sierra Leone, and though villages had suffered the most, the illness has now found its way into the city of Freetown, where an infected boy transported it to a children’s hospital. Ginea and Liberia are also among the severely infected countries. Governments are already enforcing military law, but awareness, prevention and proper hygiene go a long way, and might actually be the best solution to the crisis.

RAGMAG’S VOTE DANGEROUS

HOW IS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REACTING TO THE ISLAMIC STATE? The self-established Islamic State that is terrorizing the Middle East has performed mass executions, slaughtered civilians, captured oil-fields, controlled nationwide infrastructures, attacked a Lebanese town, and persecuted Yazeedi, Kurdish and Christian minorities in Iraq. All that, in addition to the murder of journalists James Foley, Steven Sotlof and Bassam El Raies.

The caliphate, bred by the violent wars in Syria and Iraq, enforces the strict practices of extremist ideology. Analysts believe that ISIS rose to power as counterstrike to the Shi’a authority in the region. Naturally, the international community lines up according to its own interests. In the negotiations between USA and Iran, there is little doubt about whom each country supported. Nevertheless, it seems the tables have recently been turned. A few days ago, U.S. Secretary of

State John Kerry announced to the newly appointed Iraqi Prime Minister that “there is a role for the international community and for the United Nations and for the United States to act immediately to stop this [ISIS] threat.”

On the eve of 9/11, President Obama gave the green light to launch air strikes in Iraq and Syria, announcing his plan to “ultimately destroy” the terrorist organizations. Could this military interference bring hope, or is it just another foreign meddling with more cons than benefits?

FIVE QUESTIONS THE WORLD IS ASKING

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© 2014 NBCNEWS.COM

BY JONATHAN DAGHER

RAGMAG’S VOTE WHERE IS THE WORLD GOING TO OPTIMUM

WHAT ARE THE FERGUSON PROTESTS ABOUT? On August 9th, in Ferguson, St. Louis county, Micheal Brown, an unarmed, African-American teenager was shot dead by Darren Wilson.

The white policeman drove by Brown and his friend and asked them to get off the street and walk on the sidewalk. When the teenagers refused, the cop assaulted them, and forcefully dragged Brown into the car, screaming “I’m going to kill you”. Brown managed to run away waving his hands in surrender, but Wilson shot Brown in the back six times, nevertheless.

Even before the body was removed from the street, citizens of Ferguson gathered. They marched in groups and held their hands up in the air, chanting “Please don’t shoot me”.

Peaceful protests turned into riots and lootings as protesters expressed their grief and outrage. Tension with the police wasn’t new in Ferguson. With an almost all-white police force and a mainly African-American population, citizens have long complained of low level harassment due to race, but the shooting of Micheal Brown was the straw that broke the camel’s back. As Ferguson citizens engaged in both peaceful and violent protests, and after several clashes with police forces who went as far as using rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, the demands became clear: justice for Brown, reform, and the eradication of racial discrimination once and for all.

© 2013 THE DAILY HIIT | SCOTT OLSON-GETTY IMAGES | OYSTERCOLOREDVELVET.COM

RAGMAG’S VOTE NIGHTMARE

HOW DID JENNIFER LAWRENCE BECOME THE VICTIM OF A CELEBRITY SCANDAL? 4Chan has always been a website to raise eyebrows. Gore, political incorrectness, and inappropriate humor are the drives of its forums. Recently however, a line has been crossed. On Sunday September 6th, an unknown hacker leaked explicit naked pictures of Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence. Within hours, Twitter was flooded with thousands of tweets that reposted the photographs, and it wasn’t long before the private pictures were posted to the subreddit “The Fappening”. The person who posted the pictures in exchange for Bitcoins, claims to have a hold on the private pictures of 101 female celebrities including Kate Upton, Kirsten Dunst, and Rihanna. Both the FBI and Apple Inc. are investigating the breach that is believed to have been caused by a

manipulation of vulnerabilities in iCloud’s system. A spokesperson for Jennifer Lawrence has already announced that authorities “will prosecute anyone who posts stolen photos” of her client. The scandal threatens its victim’s privacy and promotes the objectification and dehumanization of women in general and hardworking celebrities in particular. While many users have been more than happy to view the pictures, the affected artists remind them that the images are stolen. To view them is to become accomplices in the crime against talented women and performers who shouldn’t have their bodies exposed to the world without their consent.

RAGMAG’S VOTE TRAGIC

HOW IS THE ALS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE HELPING ?

For a long time, ALS had been mostly unheard of. Debilitating and fatal, Lou Gherrig’s disease claimed the lives of thousands around the world. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that causes deterioration of motor neurons in the body, causing paralysis. The disease has no cure, and patients survive 2 to 5 years on average. There are exceptions of course: Stephen Hawking has lived with the disease for more than half a century. Nonetheless, ALS is extremely challenging and expensive.

The only drug, Riluzole, can extend life expectancy by a mere few months. Last month, the ALS Association created a phenomenon that went viral overnight and attracted the attention of millions around the world, including celebrities such as Justin

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Bieber, Matt Damon, and Donatella Versace.

You douse yourself with a bucket of ice water, post the video online, and challenge your friends to do the same. People are encouraged to make a donation, and a lot of them have. Since July, the association has raised more than $94.3 million dollars, in spite of complaints that most ‘donors’ were in it for show. Nevertheless, the viral campaign has at least brought light to the sufferings of many, and managed to promote other causes such as water shortages, the Palestinian crisis, the Syrian war and high school bullying. The challenge raised an important debate: though ALS patients are a minority, isn’t every life worth saving?

RAGMAG’S VOTE HUMANITY HAS FAILED

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CULTURE CLASH

NICOLE FARHI

Q+A

I’VE CLOSED THE DOOR TO FASHION

BY CHARLOTTE WILLIAMSON

Nicole Farhi is walking around her grand Georgian home talking me through her sculptures.

They are everywhere - on wobbly plinths in the hallway, lining the staircase, on top of the vintage bar she transported back from Paris several years ago.

The sculptures are of heads - “a combination of friends and people I admire,” she explains in her accent, which is still very French - all ze’s and zat’s - despite decades of living in London. There is Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon (both of whom she met while they were still alive), as well as Bill Nighy, Stephen Frears, Helena Bonham Carter and Dame Judi Dench - names that are indicative of the arty NorthLondon set she inhabits with her husband, the eft-leaning playwright Sir David Hare (Plenty, Blue Room, Stuff Happens).

THERE’S A NOD TO FASHION, TOO, IN THE FORM OF ANNA WINTOUR

© PURPLE PR 2012

There’s a nod to fashion, too, in the form of Anna Wintour, an old friend who attended every one of Farhi’s shows, although the Vogue editor looks remarkably less fearsome than usual.

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NICOLE FARHI | THE INTERVIEW

The sculptures, says Farhi, are first modelled in clay before being cast into concrete, glass, aluminium or bronze. Her subjects usually sit for a series of photographs. “Then I continue to study them when they come round for dinner.

I double-check my work.” Are they allowed to change anything? “No! Otherwise they would remove all the wrinkles.”

Farhi is endearingly shy talking about her art, quite the opposite of the direct gaze she offers when discussing other aspects of her life. She has an exhibition opening next month and, she says: “I am nervous. I am known for one thing and I’m doing something else.”

The “one thing” Farhi is known for is fashion. Indeed, fashion has made her a household name.

SHE COLLABORATED WITH HER THEN BOYFRIEND, THE ENTREPRENEUR STEPHEN MARKS, ON FRENCH CONNECTION IN THE SEVENTIES

SPINNINGWARDROBE.COM

She collaborated with her then boyfriend, the entrepreneur Stephen Marks, on French Connection in the seventies, before launching her eponymous label in 1983, again with the backing of Marks. It was an instant hit.

Her signature style was an approachable elegance with a timeless quality, an aesthetic that was reinforced when she launched her men’s line six years later. In keeping with the casual vibe, the first collection didn’t include a tie. The easy, breezy vision made it the label of choice for New Labour - both Tony and Cherie were fans - as well as Cate Blanchett, Emma Thompson and Colin Firth.

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Although somewhat conservative in style, the label was ground-breaking in many ways, branching out into a multimillion-pound “lifestyle” brand with homeware, perfume, shops in New York and Tokyo, and a Mayfair restaurant that became the epicentre for mid-nineties power-lunches.

But two years ago Farhi stepped away from her empire. “I was quite happy to stop,” she says now. “I remember the good times I’d had, because starting in fashion in the Seventies was wonderful. Everything was allowed and everything was possible.

But over the years there were more and more fashion companies, and more and more big conglomerates were buying fashion companies, and to survive, if you were a company on your own, was very difficult.

“And it became stressful.

You had to show not two but four collections a year, and then you had to do a second line because the first line was too expensive. It was endless, endless work.”

In 2010, with his fashion group suffering heavy losses, Stephen Marks sold the Nicole Farhi label. “The day he decided to sell the company was the day I knew I had a few years to carry on before the handover,” she says. “I knew my time to leave was close.

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CULTURE CLASH Working without him was not the same.”

The label went into administration last year, though Farhi had stopped working there the previous year. Perhaps it was because of this that she felt strangely dissociated when she heard the news.

“It has been bought again - I don’t know the people who own it; they never contacted me,” she says. “It’s my name, though, I know. But when I was 18 and a student living in Paris, all over the city there was this hairdresser called Nicole Farhi. So my name was out there. And I always thought, how odd! It’s my name but it’s not me. And that’s exactly how I feel now. If I pass a shop that is called ‘Nicole Farhi’ with clothes in the window that I haven’t designed, it’s not me any more. They’re not doing what I

MY FASHION WAS SOMETHING YOU COULD WEAR AND WEAR AGAIN. IT’S PERFECT - I NEVER HAVE TO SHOP AGAIN

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THEGUARDIAN.COM | INDIGOALISON.BLOGSPOT.COM

used to do. I have no connection with that Nicole Farhi over there. Me, I’m the sculptor now.”

Of course, she is wearing Nicole Farhi today - the original Nicole Farhi: “old pants, I think they’re five years old, and an old T-shirt. I have wardrobes full. My fashion was something you could wear and wear again. It’s perfect - I never have to shop again.”

And she still appears strikingly exotic, with her voluminous pyramid of auburn curls (“My mother thinks I’m crazy to keep my hair”) topping a petite frame. She looks amazing for 68.

What are her secrets? “Happiness and being loved.” Unlike many in the fashion world, she has never succumbed to the surgeon’s knife.

“Do you know, if I hadn’t married David then I might have had a lift and some Botox injections, but he’s so against it.

“And anyway, I’m lucky. See my mum over there?” she says, indicating towards a sprightly looking lady sitting beside the window in the adjoining room. “She’s 98. She lives with me.

So I have good genes!”

Farhi is thrilled that she can now devote all

NICOLE FARHI | THE INTERVIEW

her time to sculpture. “When I was in fashion, I used to have Wednesdays off to sculpt, but now it’s seven days a week. That was my goal, after working all those years in fashion.”

She was taught by one of the greats: the late Sir Eduardo Paolozzi. “We met 28 years ago and became friends. He would teach me every Wednesday. The day I touched clay, I realised it was in my nature. I tried to carve in stone, Eduardo taught me how to work in plaster and in wax, but every time I went back to clay.”

The daughter of Sephardic Jews from Turkey, Farhi was raised in Nice, where her father ran a lighting business.

She moved to Paris at 18 to study art. “I lived in an attic with no toilet or hot water, but Paris, in 1968, was great for a student, to rebel about everything.” To earn some money, she sketched drawings of catwalk shows for a fashion magazine. After graduating, she worked as a freelance designer, and was perfectly happy designing for others until she met Marks. They fell in love and Marks persuaded her to move to London to start French Connection.

“London was fascinating,” Farhi recalls. “And

LONDONTOWN.COM

I LIVED IN AN ATTIC WITH NO TOILET OR HOT WATER, BUT PARIS, IN 1968, WAS GREAT FOR A STUDENT, TO REBEL ABOUT EVERYTHING

WHEN I WAS IN FASHION, I USED TO HAVE WEDNESDAYS OFF TO SCULPT, BUT NOW IT’S SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ancient Beetle car. “I’m very faithful. I keep a lot of people, too. My friends from my school days are still my friends today. I closed the door to fashion, but that’s about the only door I’ve ever closed. I’ve kept my friends, I’ve kept my flat, I’ve kept my partners, my old clothes, my shoes - I have shoes that are 30 years old that I still wear.”

Farhi almost missed out on meeting her second partner, now husband, David Hare. In 1992, she was asked to dress the leading lady for one of Hare’s plays, Murmuring Judges, at the National Theatre. She was 44, and by then she and Marks had separated. Farhi had been invited to see the play, but had decided against it until she spotted Hare on television the night before.

That invitation - in the form of a letter from the director Richard Eyre - now hangs in the downstairs loo. It was a coup de foudre. Hare’s first question to her was, apparently, do you live alone? She still glows when talking about him.

“I always knew who I wanted to be with in my imagination. And the day I met him, I knew that he was the one I had been wanting. I still feel that every day.”

She still sees Marks, too. “Of course! He’s the father of my daughter.”

Both Marks and Hare were present when Farhi

received her CBE in 2008 (she has also been awarded the Légion d’honneur). “We all go on holiday together, especially now that we are grandparents together.”

Candice, now 39, lives in New York.

I’M VERY FAITHFUL . I KEEP A LOT OF PEOPLE, TOO

street fashion was so interesting. It was mad - you had everything in the street in the Seventies. So for a young designer, it was wonderful to come here.

“I was busy, busy,” she continues - she worked furiously, even after giving birth to Candice, her daughter with Marks, taking her around the world in a basket. “And then, in my thirties, I realised fashion was not enough. That’s when I started to sculpt.”

What does she think of fashion today? “I don’t go out! My only outing is to Waitrose one day a week to do the shopping. Anyway, I’m more interested in looking at the faces of people, their gestures, what emanates from the person. I don’t look at their clothes any more.”

She still has her place in Paris, as well as her

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CULTURE CLASH What kind of grandmother is she? “I’m not so good,” she replies, quite seriously. “I know there are much better grandmothers around than I am, because I am so involved with what I’m doing. I love to see my grandchildren - I have some here with David [he has three children] - but I could not see them every week. Not every Saturday, because it means I can’t sculpt that day. Life is long but it is very short, too.”

Farhi still retains the rigorous work ethic that propelled her through fashion. “I wake up at 6.30am. At 7am I have my breakfast and watch a documentary - I love animals, so it is usually a wildlife documentary. Then at 8.30am, I’m ready to work. I put on a sweatshirt, no make-up, nothing. And in two minutes I’m in the studio.” This is the vast conservatory that runs down one side of the garden.

“I don’t go out any more,” she adds. “And I’m on my own when I work. David has a studio down the road. I love being alone. I love not to have to say, ‘What do you think?’.”

Farhi is quite firm about never returning to fashion. “No. Never. Never,” she says definitely. “I don’t look down on what I’ve done - for 40 years I was a fashion designer, and every day I enjoyed what I was doing. But I don’t want to spend time thinking about fashion. I don’t find it important that important. I haven’t shopped since I left two years ago. I haven’t bought one T-shirt.

“This is another life - a new life starting. I don’t want a third life, though. I’m happy with this one.”

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH / THE INTERVIEW PEOPLE

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FARHI STILL RETAINS THE RIGOROUS WORK ETHIC THAT PROPELLED HER THROUGH FASHION

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CULTURE CLASH

BLC BANK

INTERVIEW GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM

BY LEANNE ELAHMAD

Doctors, teachers, lawyers and bank employees are among the many roles in society we take for granted.

While these roles are all necessary for a functioning society, we cannot deny bank employees are among of the most important, considering the fact we need money for most of our daily tasks.

BLC Bank is one of Lebanon’s fastest growing banks operating under the Fransabank Group.

With various branches around Lebanon, this financial institution pledges its commitment to “professionalism, innovation, excellence and technology”.

In order to maintain their promise, BLC Bank has introduced a new training center to continuously provide training, development and support for their employees.

BLC Bank provides services such as setting up new bank accounts, housing and mortgage plans, insurance, saving plans for parents who’d like to plan their children’s tertiary education early, business and corporate plans, personal loans and retirement plans.

So it’s no wonder we wanted to get to know more about BLC’s employees and what their daily tasks involve.

Rami Dib, 22, is a Customer Service Representative and teller at the Mar Elias branch. He has been apart of the BLC team for 18 months while also handling post-graduate commitments in Entrepreneurship at university.

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BLC BANK INTERVIEW | GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM

Rami has also gained customer service experience in other roles but says there is something about working in a bank that allows him to build a professional yet personal relationship with customers.

“You find out about the customer’s most personal details. I ask about his wife, kids, house, his wages, what he spends, what his goals are? What he wants to do?” he says.

Rami has also committed himself to Muay Thai, in which he is a representative in the National Lebanese team. But just like the physical challenges that come with combat sports, working at a bank also has its challenges and responsibilities.

SOMETHING ABOUT WORKING IN A BANK THAT ALLOWS HIM TO BUILD A PROFESSIONAL YET PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CUSTOMERS Rami says: “The customer doesn’t know what they can do but they have assumptions about the bank. There is a large demographic of people from different social and educational backgrounds and so some can’t comprehend how the system works.”

So part of my job is to “make them feel comfortable and special, like you are there to cater to their needs,” Rami says.

It is for this reason many customers have a preferred customer service representative, because they have dealt with them before and so the trust already exists.

However Rami admits the wages are just enough considering the amount of responsibility involved, but says “the bank makes up in other ways such as commissions”.

BLC Bank holds conference calls between branches on a weekly basis, where achievements are discussed, problems are addressed and tips are shared between colleagues.

“These conferences create the dialogue necessary to widen experience and knowledge,” Rami says.

And so it’s no wonder the importance of Customer Service is also one of the most important aspects of Joseph Zgheib’s job as a Customer Service Representative at the Bourj Hammoud branch.

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CULTURE CLASH

Joseph, 26, has been an employer of the bank since November 2011, and was promoted to his current role nine months ago.

For him, his role at the bank is to focus on building a professional yet flexible relationship with his clients.

“A CSR should always be positive even if the customer is being negative, to avoid any negative experiences for the customer,” he says.

While Joseph admits he enjoys dealing with people, he had dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer before working in the banking industry.

He also is a believer in creating a work-life balance, enjoying physical activities such as football, basketball and swimming.

The bank requires most employees to work between the hours of 8am to 5pm, and so while handling large amounts of cash money can be daunting it can also be a challenge to get clients to trust a customer service representative.

“People in Lebanon are hesitant when it comes to bank policies and so people always have this fear that banks want to rob them of their money,” Joseph says.

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He says a lot of his job involves trying to find alternative options to the client’s needs.

“Banks in Lebanon are usually very conservative and because of this they are very hesitant to give loans. They don’t like to take risks mainly because of the situation of the country. We are unlike the US, UK, Canada and Australia, they are more willing to give loans,” he says.

Joseph believes it’s the good relations that he has with his colleagues and managers that allow him to be comfortable at work and hence great at his job.

A LOT OF HIS JOB INVOLVES TRYING TO FIND ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO THE CLIENT’S NEEDS With plans to progress to higher positions at the bank, Joseph says most employees usually work for four to five years in one bank, before moving on to be promoted at another bank and acquire a better salary.

“Yes I do aim and hope to progress within the bank. I hope to gradually progress into a manager role and that comes about by PR and networking.”

With the situation in our beloved Lebanon, we’re not quite sure what types of policies the banks will have to come up with. But with its strong foundation, continuous development strategies and committed employees, the BLC Bank sure looks promising

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CULTURE CLASH

SIGNATURE LOOKS TO SWIPE FROM

COCO CHANEL “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” Coco Chanel not only said this, but she embodied this quotation in her own life. She is a timeless fashion icon, and the couture House of Chanel that she founded continues in her tradition today. Chanel is still one of the most successful and recognizable designer labels in the world.

Coco Chanel’s design philosophy went hand in hand with her own desire for stylish but comfortable clothing and accessories. She designed and created the clothing she herself wanted to wear. At a time when women still wore corsets and fussy long dresses that inhibited movement, Chanel adopted practical knit fabrics and flowing designs that allowed the wearer to move freely and in comfort.

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Her clothing had pockets that could actually hold items; her shoes made it possible to stride rather than walk in small mincing steps. She even created the idea of lipstick in a tube for portability (it was previously sold in paper-wrapped cakes).

Chanel’s designs are timeless -- the tweed suit, quilted handbag, and Chanel No. 5 perfume work as well today as they did in the 1950s and 1960s. Even better, they are ageless, looking good on college coeds and their grandmothers alike. Chanel’s own designs may be out of your price range, but you can incorporate Coco’s signature looks and philosophy into your wardrobe, no matter what your budget. Here are some ideas to get you started.

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©2010-2014 MODE 34B | ARTBLART.COM

BY COLLEEN MCMAHON

SIGNATURE LOOKS TO SWIPE FROM COCO CHANEL

THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS

CHANEL’S DESIGNS ARE TIMELESS

Before Coco, women wore black for mourning -- think Queen Victoria. In the 1920s, Chanel came out with black dresses in modern cuts with simple styling, and these quickly became an all-occasion staple, able to be dressed up or down depending on the formality of the setting.

Today the little black dress, or LBD, is a fashion necessity. You probably have at least one in your wardrobe already! To do it Chanel style, choose a basic cut with a high neckline and a structured but comfortable fit, such as the sheath dress. Even if you are on a small clothing budget, buy the best quality you can, because this classic look can be worn for many years. You can use less expensive accessories such as cardigans or jackets, scarves, and costume jewelry to change the look and make this one of the most versatile pieces in your wardrobe.

MULTIPLE CHAIN AND/OR PEARL NECKLACES Chanel loved to mix expensive jewelry with costume pieces, and over the years her design house has produced many designs for necklaces, earrings and bracelets. One of Coco’s favorite looks was wearing multiple strands of faux pearls or simple chain necklaces.

You can emulate this look by building a collection of costume jewelry that is easy to mix and mingle. Steer clear of big “statement” necklaces and look for single and multiple strands of beads or pearls, and chains of varying lengths and thicknesses. Strand necklaces are relatively inexpensive and also easy to find in thrift stores and yard sales.

Mix and match the chains so that you wear several lengths. You can also use a simple floral brooch or clip (Chanel favored camellias) to hold several strands together.

© 2014. FEMALE FATA L | ABOUTFASHIONANDTRENDS.COM

BALLET FLATS Chanel took her inspiration from the flat shoes that dancers wore, right down to the tiny string that can be used to tighten them around the foot. Ballet flats fit her personal need for clothing that she could easily stand and walk in, and though heel heights and styles come and go, ballet flats remain a stylish shoe choice year in and year out.

Wear ballet flats with longer, flowing skirts and a well-fitted top (think Audrey Hepburn) or trousers. Another signature Chanel look is the combination of these shoes with wide-legged pants and a horizontally striped jersey shirt with boat neckline. This is a more casual look that was inspired by sailors Chanel had seen on the docks of French cities like Marseilles. To get the true Chanel ballet flat look, choose flats that have a combination of matte and patent leather.

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SUITS WITH COLLARLESS JACKETS AND MENSWEAR FABRICS Chanel also originated the use of menswear fabrics like tweed in suits for women. The most iconic Chanel look is the boxy (but not frumpy!)

2-piece suit with skirt and jacket. The jacket has no collar and often has contrasting trim, braid, or buttons. Jackie Kennedy, another style icon, was a big fan of Chanel suits, and frequently wore them throughout her life.

The Chanel-style suit has become a staple in women’s business wear at all price points. Like many of her designs, it is both comfortable and elegant. Because this is a classic look that will not go out of style, this is another place to buy the highest quality you can afford. Look for tweed or boucle fabrics, and solid colors. Consignment stores are a great place to shop for higher-end versions of this suit style at a reasonable price. For less formal outfits, look for knit skirt and cardigan combinations. Steer clear of miniskirts -- Coco never designed or wore skirts that were shorter than just above the knee!

BLACK AND WHITE

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LADYFAIRY-SCLOSET.BLOGSPOT.COM | PHOTO GJON MILI

Though Coco Chanel sometimes wore different colors, she mostly wore black and white. The high contrast between black pants and a crisp white blouse, or a black dress with white trim, adds a note of drama to any look. When you do feel like adding in some different colors, both black and white are neutrals that coordinate well with almost any color. They are also a terrific background to set off a print scarf or a boldly colored handbag.

You can’t go wrong with a basic black and white wardrobe. You will always have an outfit on hand that will look good, and when you mix and match with different colors and patterns on accessories, most people won’t notice if you wear the same basic pieces repeatedly

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CULTURE CLASH

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ICLOUD | HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THE CLOUD

iCloud HOW TO STAY

SAFE IN THE CLOUD

BY RHODRI MARSDEN

After hackers leaked hundreds of intimate photos of celebrities, Rhodri Marsden suggests a few ways to make sure that private data stays that way (nude selfies or otherwise)

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CULTURE CLASH LEARN TO USE YOUR DEVICE This week’s theft and subsequent leak of nude photos of female celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton and others provoked heightened emotions in the motley bunch that comprise the online community. Curiosity, disgust, excitement and fury gave way to intrigue and then concern. With the initial theft assumed to be from “the cloud”, we glanced at our phones, tablets and laptops with suspicion, wondering if the settings lurking therein could expose us – quite literally – to a similar fate. Even if snapping nude selfies isn’t your thing, nearly all of us possess digital information that we’d rather other people didn’t get hold of, whether it’s our plans for world domination or our accounts for the last quarter. So, how can we protect ourselves?

It probably didn’t come with a manual – they barely ever do – but even if it had, you probably wouldn’t have read it. Understand what data goes where. If an app offers you “convenience” or “peace of mind” or “seamless back-ups” or “worry-free operation”, don’t necessarily be reassured. Take a moment to think about where your stuff is ending up. If it’s the cloud, its physical location may be in a data centre on the other side of the world. If your passwords are strong enough, that’s probably fine, but at least be informed. We’re being let down by technology because we don’t understand it. Absorbing enough knowledge to make decisions is a good thing.

ASSUME THAT YOUR PASSWORDS ARE RUBBISH The vast majority are; we’re what, two decades or so into a digital revolution and we’re still securing personal data with cryptographically laughable strings such as “123456” or “Arsenal1”. If there’s a recognizable word in there, make it unrecognizable. If it’s 8 letters long, make it 12 letters long. If it has the number “69” in it, change it.

If you use the same password on multiple sites, use a tiny amount of ingenuity to avoid doing so. It’s really not difficult. If you think it is, use a password manager.

IF YOU’RE A PUBLIC FIGURE TAKE EXTRA CARE Don’t secure your online accounts with questions such as “What was the name of your first school?” if the answer is freely available on Wikipedia. You may as well use your own name as your password.

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IF THERE’S A RECOGNIZABLE WORD IN THERE, MAKE IT UNRECOGNIZABLE OPTIMUM

ICLOUD | HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THE CLOUD

MANAGING TO ANTAGONIZE A BUNCH OF TRAGIC SOCIOPATHS

DON’T BE LAZY There’s a thing called 2-Factor Authentication which offers an additional layer of security online. iCloud (the Apple service being blamed for the leak) offers it as an option. Google services do. Paypal does. Use them. Yes, it might conceivably add 10 seconds to your log-in time. Your convenience will be marginally affected, but in the grand scheme of things it’s really not a big deal.

IGNORE ANYONE WHO STERNLY TELLS YOU NOT TO USE THE CLOUD It’s virtually impossible. All major email services use it. Incredibly useful back-up services such as Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive use it. We’re stuck with it. Make the most of its power by bearing in mind steps 1-4.

DON’T DENY YOUR INNERMOST FEELINGS. DO WHAT YOU BLIMMIN’ WELL LIKE. IGNORE THOSE WHO TELL YOU NOT TO TAKE NUDE PICTURES OF YOURSELF Don’t deny your innermost feelings. Do what you blimmin’ well like.

Feel free to succumb to sexual thrill and experience excitement. It’s fine. Just do so while bearing in mind steps 1-4.

OCTOBER 2014

IGNORE ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU THAT IT’S YOUR FAULT FOR BEING FAMOUS... ...or a woman, or for making a film that wasn’t up to scratch, or for somehow managing to antagonize a bunch of tragic sociopaths who can only derive meaning from their lives by making the lives of others completely miserable. It’s not you, it’s them. Deny them their pathetic pleasures by bearing in mind steps 1-4

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GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN PHOTOGRAPHY AND CREATIVE DIRECTION BY RABEE YOUNES DRESSED BY GS | STYLING BY JONY MATTA | MAKEUP BY IVANNA BOU SALEME

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SHORT: BARDOT BOOTS: NOAH

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SKIRT: MORGAN TOP: NOAH

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SHORT: BARDOT JACKET: MED

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TOP: NOAH LEGGING: BARDOT

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SKIRT: MORGAN TOP: NOAH

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DRESS: NOAH JACKET: BARDOT LEATHER LEGGING: BARDOT

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DRESS: NOAH JACKET: BARDOT LEATHER LEGGING: BARDOT

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JACKET: BEST MOUNTAIN

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

k l a w e h t walk

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LEBANESE DESIGNERS WALK THE WALK

ELIE SAAB

AW 2014-15 If there’s one thing that Elie Saab does very well, it’s a fairytale dress – the ultimate princess fantasy and one can’t help but fall in love with them.they’re the ultimate princess fantasy and you can’t help but fall in love with them. He is managed to give us once again a exquisite collection, with some beautiful shades of pink, pistachio and pale blue combined with crystals and pearls to match.

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

ZUHAIR MURAD

AW 2014-15 With a penchant for high-octane glamour, Zuhair Murad is known among the A-listers and starlets alike for his stunning red-carpet creations.

Exquisitely embroidered, bejewelled and flawlessly cut, Zuhair Murad’s show-stopping designs are more than just a flight of fancy – they are an investment.

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LEBANESE DESIGNERS WALK THE WALK

RABIH KAYROUZ

AW 2014-15 “It’s an attitude of legerity and liberty,” explained the designer backstage as he showed of a dress inspitred by the modest beauty o a towel wrapped about the body. He called his collection Barbes-Batroun in reference to both a multicultural melting spot in Paris where visiting a hammam is a cultural must and a summer village in his native Lebanon.

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

GEORGES CHAKRA

AW 2014-15 Conventional face washes, especially those made to treat acne, are made with harsh detergents that strip your skin of its natural oils and the healthy bacteria that are meant to fight infection. In some acne sufferers, the pimples are actually the skin’s reactions to these strong detergents. Castile soap is a safe, all-natural alternative to conventional face washes. It is made with olive oil and sometimes other

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LEBANESE DESIGNERS WALK THE WALK

TONY WARD

AW 2014-15 Gorgeous and Sophisticated.

He wanted to create dresses that express nature’s contradictory and overwhelming forces and found inspiration in an oil painting “Snow Storm” by William Turner from the 19th century. This collection expresses a feminine silhouette that showcases a woman character whose beauty is reflected in the clothing and appearance.

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alexandre vauthier aw 2014

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BIKER’S

NIGHTOUT iam by ileana makri necklace

louis vuitton aw 2014-15

GLAM gucci leathertrimmed silk crepe de chine shirt

CLASS N COLLECTED

tibi silk crepe de chine camisole

rick owens classic nz shearling biker jacket

alexander mcqueen scarf

natasha zinko earrings

SAINT LAURENT QUILTED LEATHER CARDHOLDER

the row leather skinny pants

MAKE A POINT joseph charlene wrapeffect leather midi skirt

A MUST burberry leather tote

ulyana sergeenko aw 2014-15

jimmy choo dezso by sara beltràn friendship bracelet

chloé studded texturedleather ankle boots

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alexandre vauthier aw 2014

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A-LINER

arme de l’amour

FLIRTY FRILL valentino aw 2014-15

tibi simona piqué peplum top

peter pilotto rh printed silk-blend cloqué peplum top

PLAIN JANE tibi silk crepe de chine top

HIGH T

jacqueline cullen

tibi katia cotton and silk-blend faille skirt

finds + shore projects grosgrain and leather watch

olympia le-tan embroidered clutch moschino cheap and chic printed satin mini skirt michael michael kors colorblock texturedleather tote

saint laurent aw 2014-15

SHREDDED KNEES frame denim jeans

bottega veneta intrecciato leather belt

jimmy choo agnes suede pumps

charlotte olympia

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burberry prorsum aw 2014

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BOUQUET

jennifer fisher single knot gold-plated ring

OF COLORS

aureĚ lie bidermann necklace

MYSTERIOUS

WRAP AROUND temperley london toledo floralembroidered wool shawl

dolce & gabbana aw 2014-15

dkny floral lace top

theory landran wool and silkblend top

live the process floralprint stretch-jersey leggings

aureĚ lie bidermann necklace

SIMPLY YOU burberry prorsum painted texturedleather ankle boots

alberta ferretti aw 2014-15

milly floral-lace midi skirt

versace medallionclasp leather belt

OCTOBER 2014

WALK THE GREEN FIELDS roberto cavalli satin-paneled printed silk-chiffon maxi dress

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

RAGING RUNWAY TOP CATWALK CHOICES FOR MEN

DOLCE & GABBANA

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AW 2014-2015

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RAGING RUNWAY TOP CATWALK CHOICES FOR WOMEN

GIORGIO ARMANI PRIVÉ

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AW 2014-2015

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

RAGING RUNWAY TOP CATWALK CHOICES FOR MEN

BOTTEGA VENETA

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AW 2014-2015

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RAGING RUNWAY TOP CATWALK CHOICES FOR WOMEN

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

OCTOBER 2014

AW 2014-2015

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

RAGING RUNWAY TOP CATWALK CHOICES FOR MEN

DSQUARED2

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AW 2014-2015

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RAGING RUNWAY TOP CATWALK CHOICES FOR WOMEN

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

OCTOBER 2014

AW 2014-2015

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

RAGMAG’S FAVOURITE

SHOES + BAGS With cooler weather ahead – and the latest collections hitting the racks – RAGMAG brings to you a blend of some of the best shoes and bags brought to us. Whether you’re dressing it up or keeping it down there’s a bit of everything to keep you on the right track and the envy of your friends for the season.

HOLDALL givenchy rave shoulder bag in madonna print

chloé leather shoulder bag

burberry prorsum painted nubuck tote

GIANVITO ROSSI

suede ankle boots

alexander mcqueen leather shoulder bag alexander mcqueen padlock mini texturedleather tote

PIERRE HARDY

dolce & gabbana twill tote

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color-block leather ankle boots

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RAGMAG’S FAVOURITE SHOES + BAGS

CLUTCHES the row lizard clutch redvalentino snow white disney© leather clutch

TOD’S

glossed-leather loafers

pierre hardy leather clutch

antik batik jango embroidered cotton clutch

charlotte olympia bao bao perspex box clutch

saint laurent diagonal minaudière leather clutch

GIANVITO ROSSI

lace-up patent-leather ankle boots

BACKPACKS elizabeth and james cynnie sling suede backpack

pierre hardy leather-trimmed shearling backpack

LANVIN

suede high-top slip-on sneakers mcq alexander mcqueen knapsack texturedleather backpack

BURBERRY

stud detail belted rain boots

OCTOBER 2014

3.1 phillip lim pashli textured-leather backpack

stella mccartney leather backpack

marc by marc jacobs domo arigoto floralprint twill backpack

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

READY, STEADY, GO! RAGMAG TELLS YOU HOW TO WEAR IT.

BY FRANCESCA MARIA MINAISE

Angelina Jolie wore them in red in Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

What’s more stylish this autumn than to own a black short Hunter Wellies that could be worn for any occasion. Along with the boots keep the summer breeze with this jersey mini dress!

Pull off a black leather pants with a classy Saint Laurent clutch, and even throw on a skinny stocking mid-rise jeans with some old school accessories vintage round shades, silver chain and backpack and you are ready to go!

FIRST KISS

charlotte olympia kiss purse suede shoulder bag

asos fine rib knitted turban hat

helmut lang satin-appliquéd cottonjersey mini dress

j.crew collection quilted leather biker jacket

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HUNTER

rubber rain boots

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READY, STEADY, GO! | RAGMAG TELLS YOU HOW TO WEAR IT

OLD SCHOOL neil barrett cropped woolblend top

le specs wild child round-frame metal mirrored sunglasses

stella mccartney quilted mini faux brushed-leather backpack j brand 620 super skinny stocking mid-rise jeans

ASOS

LA BADASS

thakoon addition checked gabardine top j brand the maria high-rise coated skinny jeans

saint laurent quilted leather cardholder

paula mendoza adriane gold-plated double ring

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

A wine bar night out to catch up with some friends, a blind date, or an English cup of tea during a sunny afternoon - these stretch wool shorts will give you just what you need to be comfortable. Very stylish and warm for the autumn and they can be dressed just the way you’d like it!

julien david cotton sweater

A GLASS OF WINE

malene birger kirah stretch-silk camisole

jimmy choo ava small lizard caimen and elaphe shoulder bag

ben-amun gold-plated chainlink bracelet

gianvito rossi leather sandals

CHLOE

stretch-wool shorts

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READY, STEADY, GO! | RAGMAG TELLS YOU HOW TO WEAR IT

BLIND DATE michael michael kors plaid silk-voile shirt aureĚ lie bidermann monteroso gold-plated necklace

gucci soho texturedleather shouder bag

adieu type 27 leather brogues

TEA TIME gucci wide-brim rabbitfelt hat

stella mccartney arlo tie-dyed silkcrepe shirt

the row leather shoulder bag maria rudman embroidered leather bracelet

t by alexander wang

tibi milou leather and nubuck sandals

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CULTURE CLASH

ADVERTISING IN FASHION

BY LEANNE ELAHMAD

It’s that time of the year again where fashion buyers, editors, fashion journalists, PR’s, publishing houses, retail businesses, celebrities, models, aspiring fashion designers and bloggers are excitedly anticipating the Spring-Summer Collections of 2015.

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week events produce the biggest fashion shows twice every year marking the start of Spring and Autumn fashion, and ultimately the beginning of a new fashion era.

The fashion filled month will kick off in New York, then off to Europe for London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks.

So it’s no doubt the biggest fashion publications will be in competition to produce their largest and detailed issues for September.

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This year, British Vogue filled almost 500 pages for its September issue, and Harper’s Bazaar presented its biggest issue yet with 418 pages.

So how does a magazine fill over 400 pages with content?

That’s a lot of research, stories and editorials, but when you actually fan through the pages of a publication you realize for the most part it’s all advertising.

Advertising is responsible for most, if not all of a magazine’s revenue.

While fashion magazine’s focus on big brand advertising campaigns, big market brands also take advantage of advertising in these publications to create an image that tells a bigger more luxurious story about their product to the consumer.

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ADVERTISING IN FASHION

It’s about creating a campaign that sells a certain lifestyle to readers they can relate to when out shopping. These campaigns usually portray the picture-perfect scenarios of what readers need, seasonal necessities and essentially how they want to live, with the use of models recently being traded with celebrities to help make these visions even more desirable.

Mainly because we have become obsessed with celebrities and how they live, what they wear, where they shop and what and where they eat. So if a celebrity is doing something you know it’s going to be the next trend and so publishing houses capitalize on this culture.

When talking about advertising in fashion there are four aspects that need to be addressed; celebrities, social media, branding and a new phenomenon called fashion psychology.

CELEBMAFIA.COM | STYLEFASHIONFAMOUS.BLOGSPOT.COM

HUMANS ARE HARDWIRED TO BE FASCINATED WITH CELEBRITY Howard Altman, an American journalist has written a report titled, Celebrity Culture, where he states: “On a very basic, biological basis, scientists say we humans are hardwired to be fascinated with celebrity, and that our brains receive pleasurable chemical stimuli when we see familiar faces.”

So I guess it’s important to ask why are we becoming more interested in celebrity affairs now?

Two words: Social Media.

We can’t deny the fact that social media plays a significant role in this obsession. Where at the click of a link or button you can like, pin, comment or follow people on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest and instantly we become infused in this compulsive obsessive world of pop culture and celebrities.

Furthermore, in her paper titled ‘The Impact of Social Media on the Fashion Industry’, Iris Mohr, states, “The emergence of social media has boosted interest in word of mouth and viral marketing among luxury brands. Word of mouth- interpersonal communication about products and services between consumers – is one of the most influential sources of marketplace information for consumers.”

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CULTURE CLASH

However it seems foolish to give all the credit to social media. We shouldn’t neglect the fact that before social media, the study of psychology tells us the way we dress says a lot about our emotional state. This new trend better known as fashion psychology has allowed us to realize why we are making certain fashion choices and how we can actually break down how we feel by what we are wearing.

In his book titled Fashion Brands, Mark Tungate, a British journalist says, “Clothes and accessories are expressions of how we feel, how we see ourselves - and how we wish to be treated by others.”

“Even when you say you’re not interested in fashion, you’ve been forced to confront it. Fashion is everywhere. What you choose to wear or not to wear has become a political statement.

You don’t buy clothes - you buy an identity.”

So basically a person’s identity is linked to brand values that we consume via marketing.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re classy, elegant, streetwise, debonair or all of these depending on your mood, fashion brands have something to offer you.

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EVEN WHEN YOU SAY YOU’RE NOT INTERESTED IN FASHION, YOU’VE BEEN FORCED TO CONFRONT IT

THUS, DRESS OFTEN SETS THE STAGE FOR SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL INTERACTION Johnson and Lennon state: “It is concerned with how an individual’s dress affects the behaviour of self as well as the behaviour of others.” “…Thus, dress often sets the stage for successful social interaction because we can use dress to identify others in terms of their social position, as well as other possible identities and group memberships they may indicate using their dress.”

So as fashion month continues to unravel one runway show at a time, pay attention to how many celebrity appearances there will be, how many Twitter, Facebook and Instagram posts you’ll read about fashion weeks around the world, how are celebrities linked to certain brands and why, on a personal level, do we catch ourselves admiring or trying to imitate certain styles. You will be surprised

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© 2014 OVERSTOCK.COM

So how does this all tie up with celebrities. Well celebrities have become a type of branding, where it’s not only about them being an actor or a singer or both. Recently celebrities have started to expand their talents into fashion designing, whether it’s their own labels or collaborations with other brands, and the production of cosmetics among other things.

So as our obsession with celebrities continues to grow. We buy into their empire of fashion, cosmetics and the ‘ideal’ lifestyle, which is parallel to the ideology of fashion psychology. The concept of this new phenomenon also has its roots in social psychology, which can be adapted to the notion of dress.

In the work of Kim Johnson and Sharon Lennon titled, The Social Psychology of Dress, it says, “the social psychology of dress is concerned with answering questions about how an individual’s dress-related beliefs, attitudes, feelings, and behaviours are shaped by the influence of others.”

Therefore, because we are so consumed by pop culture and celebrity lifestyles we also buy into the fashion they wear, the fashion they model (as we’re seeing in advertising campaigns for brands more recently), or what they design. And because these fashion choices embody the notion of being ‘cool’ and ‘stylish’ they provide a type of social acceptance that society has become hungry for.

JUICY COUTURE FALL 2014 COLLECTION RETURN TO HOLLYWOOD

Juicy Couture’s Fall 2014 collection evokes the effortless cool and irresistible glamour of Los Angeles as the Juicy girl returns home from her summer travels to embrace the new season with a sense of intrigue and adventure. “Go West” continues to be an inspiration to explore passions and create a unique journey while exuding the true LA style of the brand’s heritage. The Juicy girl moves seamlessly from natural beauty to sultry vixen to sweet Lolita: a true Hollywood Ingénue.

The collection’s influences range from the rebellious punk rock days of the Viper Room to the fresh natural beauty of the hills and the irresistible glamour of celebrity style. Yet the Juicy girl’s alluring attitude and inherent sense of style adds that touch of je ne sais quoi, as she casually throws menswear inspired coats over oral-printed dresses, and pairs faux fur vests with mixed lace blouses and over-dyed distressed denim. She styles her fall favorites with signature Juicy mirrored aviators and blinged out watches, stacked with pave bangles.

The essence of Hollywood style – fun and carefree yet always elegant – is explored through the collection’s offering of updated core wardrobe staples. Vintage-inspired oral, romantic lace and oversize knits are styled with tailored outerwear in novelty fabrics. While leather and leopard print moto jackets add a cool and sexy edge to printed rompers and A-line dresses. The iconic, casual luxury staple – track dressing – is redefined by pairing silk track pants with tweed jackets and embellished t-shirts for a true go-anywhere look.

ABOUT JUICY COUTURE: Juicy Couture is a glamorous, irreverent, and fun lifestyle brand for the decidedly fashionable. Embracing the effortless attitude of its Los Angeles heritage, Juicy discovers the couture in the every day, and delivers an element of surprise in all of its designs. The global phenomenon is identified as a casual luxury brand, offering apparel in the categories of women, girls and baby, handbags, shoes, intimates, swimwear, fragrance, accessories and jewelry.

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

DON’T DITCH

THAT DENIM! 5 WAYS TO UP-CYCLE YOUR OLD PAIR OF JEANS

Do you have old, comfy jeans that have seen better days? Do you know you should part with your worn-out denim, but just can’t bear to donate them to charity? Instead of sending your jeans off to a stranger, why not recycle your favourite pair of trousers into something fabulous? Check out these five creative ways you can repurpose an old pair of jeans.

THE PILLOW Cut denim into strips and sew strips together to form large squares.

Sew two large squares together, leaving one side open. Flip your denim cushion-cover right side out, insert a throw pillow, and attach an oversize button and button loop. You now have a handcrafted denim throw pillow perfect for a teenager’s bedroom or for your front porch rocking chair.

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DON’T DITCH THAT DENIM | 5 WAYS TO UP-CYCLE YOUR OLD PAIR OF JEANS

SEW THE FLAG PIECES ONTO YOUR SHORTS WITH CONTRASTING THREAD

SHORTS Cut the legs off of a worn-out pair of comfy jeans and attach decorative denim studs to the back pockets. Purchase a small, handheld flag from your local dollar store and cut the flag into pieces small enough to cover the two front portions of your new denim shorts. Sew the flag pieces onto your shorts with contrasting thread, and you now have a pair of patriotic shorts to wear all summer.

HOBO BAG Cut the legs off of an old pair of jeans about two inches below the end of the zipper. Sew the newly-cut section together with a sturdy seam and attach a long handle made from the leftover denim legs. Attach a decorative button and loop as a closure, and you now have a cool and trendy denim hobo bag.

Be sure to make the handle portion long enough so that your purse can be worn across the body.

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HAIR ACCESSORY If you are especially handy with a pair of scissors, cut up the legs of old jeans into flower shapes (thinner denim works best).

Purchase metal hair clips from your local craft or dollar store and then attach multiple denim flower pieces to each hair clip. Top your creation with a decorative button for a custom, one-of-a-kind hair accessory.

POTHOLDER

THE TRICK IS TO THINK OF USED DENIM SIMPLY AS FABRIC AND NOT AS A PAIR OF JEANS These are just five fashionable items you can make from an old pair of jeans. The trick is to think of used denim simply as fabric and not as a pair of jeans. Once you open your mind to the possibilities, you can come up with all sorts of creative uses for recycled denim. How many of these crafts do you think you will try to recreate?

Cut off the pockets of old jeans and sew two pockets together for an easy-to-create pot holder. If you are concerned over heat transfer, you can include a piece of felt lining in between the two pockets. These handcrafted potholders make a great addition to a moving-out basket when your children are ready to live on their own.

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MIND, BODY+SOUL

WHY IS HAPPINESS SO IMPORTANT Everywhere you look these days you see people, organizations and even companies declaring that happiness is the most important human quality you can possess. What they don’t often say is why being a happy person is such an essential part of life. What are the benefits, and what are the essential characteristics and actions of happy people? Here are the top nine reasons why happiness should be the ultimate goal in life:

THE FEEL-GOOD FACTOR

BETTER HEALTH

Happy people feel great. They are able to channel their energy into positivity and love, even when situations are not ideal. Happy people know that they have a choice: to let their minds and emotions get the better of them, or to take control and decide how they feel about life from moment to moment.

This kind of channeling is not always easy, but it can be learnt. The starting point is to switch off the negative inner voice that plagues us all.

When you notice that nagging voice in your head telling you things are bad, pointless or frustrating, take a deep breath, smile and allow the thought to drift out of your head, as easily as it drifted in.

Multiple studies have shown that happy people enjoy a healthier existence and have a higher chance of avoiding serious illness and disease. Stress and happiness have a longdocumented link, and the cocktail of chemicals released by the body of a positive person can aid cell repair, the immune system and overall strength.

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LIVE FOR LONGER A remarkable study at the University of Kentucky demonstrated a direct link between happiness and life expectancy. In the 1930s, a group of nuns were asked to write a short autobiography. Researchers then analyzed them in terms of their positive or negative outlook.

The results showed a clear correlation: 90% of the nuns whose biographies were mainly positive lived until they were over 85, whereas only 54% of those whose were negative lived that long.

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WHY IS HAPPINESS SO IMPORTANT

RECOVER FROM SETBACKS FASTER WHEN DID YOU LAST READ ABOUT A VIOLENT Problems and unexpected situations happen to everyone. The secret is how you deal with them. Happy people are optimists, and they view such setbacks as temporary. Positive aspects of life are viewed as permanent, providing the overall backdrop to everything else that life throws up. Even a small change towards a happy mindset can significantly help the speed at which you get over stressful occurrences.

ACT COMMITTED BY A “FUNDAMENTALLY HAPPY PERSON?”

HAPPY PEOPLE ARE OPTIMISTS LOVE INTERESTS A pleasant by-product of a happy life is an increased chance of romantic relationships.

Carry yourself with a positive, confident demeanor, and people will see you as more attractive. You will also be more open to forming connections with other people. Having that special someone to talk to and share life with can significantly boost happiness levels.

PEACE RULES

THEY HAVE LUCK ON THEIR SIDE

Peace and happiness go hand in hand. This is not just conflict avoidance, but conflict resolution by peaceful, thoughtful means. When did you last read about a violent act committed by a “fundamentally happy person?” Far more often, news headlines disclose that a violent person was lonely, jealous or simply desperate.

None of these are qualities of happy people.

This may seem impossible, but the logic behind it is that happy people see opportunities where others do not. Their optimism results in making the most of every circumstance, whether it is ideal or not. They keep their eyes open and recognize the possibilities that are present in every chance encounter.

HELPING OTHERS

PROBLEM SOLVERS Scientists have proven that a positive outlook can notably improve people’s ability to solve problems of all types. A happy person’s answers can be more inventive, confident and suited to the particular problem. This carries over into real life, where the daily decisions we make can directly influence our happiness levels.

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Helping other people makes us feel great.

Aiming to do one good deed every day is a surefire way of improving our self-worth. Furthermore, the happiness is shared, and we are contributing to the overall contentment of society, which cannot be underestimated.

THEIR OPTIMISM RESULTS IN MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE These nine attributes of happy people are achievable by anyone. You may need to calm your negative inner voice and open yourself up to the opportunities that come your way every day - if you can do this, happiness and contentment will come knocking on your door and stay with you for life

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WICKERPARK FESTIVAL

Sun-tanned youngsters with salt-sprayed hair lounging on straw mats and sipping cold beer, clumsy twenty-somethings attempting to juggle like circus pros, and the Mashrou’ Leila singer bellowing a curse to terrorist organizations mid-song. In any setting, the atmosphere would’ve been considered beautiful, but on that beach in the heart of Lebanon, surrounded by a late summer sunset on one side, and war and turmoil on the other, it was more than beautiful. Wickerpark was exemplary.

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For the fourth consecutive year, the Wickerpark festival has hosted some of the region’s most renowned artists to showcase their talent. At the entrance, next to a wall spray-painted “the supreme reality of our time… the vulnerability of our planet”, a woman explains to an amused bouncer the health benefits of the cooked eggs she had brought to the festival. Inside, Marsa NGO, hands out condom packets that encourage festival goers to “Slip and Roll”, while DJs Serge Yared and Imad Feghali set the mood.

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GINOSBLOG.COM

BY JONATHAN DAGHER

©2013 Wickerpark Festival | WICKERPARK FACEBOOK PAGE

Against the backdrop of an auburn sunset, the word ‘Wickerpark’ swings in mid-air above a stage that featured, during the night, an eclectic variety of international performances.

Mashrou’ Leila’s show was second-to-last and was arguably the highlight of the festival. With their well-established fame, Hamed, Haig, Firas, Carl and Ibrahim walked onto the stage, their stride that of a band that knew it had already captured the audience’s heart. DJ Oil accompanied their first number: an electronic medley of all the band’s classics. Songs such as “Ra’asuk” and “Wa Nu’id” rang powerful under the weight of political gridlock and strife drowning the country.

Also coming off as the stars of the festival were the two bands that preceded and succeeded Mashrou’ Leila. Z the People and Al Hijaz from Jordan, managed to infuse all their energy into an already hyped up crowd with the innovative fusion of Al Hijaz’s oriental beats and Z the People’s soulful vocals. Just as remarkable were Flum project. Jad Taleb and Patrick Abi Abdallah brought the curtain down on the event with their beautiful laidback rhythm that reverberated across the open-air venue.

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Scrambled Eggs performed halfway through. Fortunately, the audience still had enough energy for a good mosh pit, an interesting addition to the band’s rock music that enraged the crowd. They were a transition from the mellower mood that had dominated the first half of the festival.

Charlie Rayne, who actually kicked off the event, was easily one of the best performances of the night. Accompanied by a band for the first time, the folk singer got the crowd flocking to the stage with no more than five songs. The young performer then gave the stage to How Sad, a Canadian synth pop band who gave an astounding performance. The group had a lot going for it, particularly the contagious passion with which lead singer Harris performed one of their best hits “Indian Summer”. The band, who led the festival through the sunset and into the night, was followed by Youmna Saba.

With bright spotlights illuminating the stage from below, Saba played her acoustic music and her haunting animations, which were an appealing contrast for the rest of the night’s fast-paced music.

Wickerpark isn’t all music, though. The organizers, a group of social entrepreneurs who go by the name Soul Arch, are avid supporters of the environment. Aside from the ‘green’ venue, a Lebanese Woodstock in itself, several organizations including Train NGO and Arc En Ciel promoted their work, and encouraged their stand visitors to help an environment and a region that were in silent danger.

But danger breeds inspiration, and inspiration means hope. Wickerpark was a flicker of hope in the form of artistic talent. Leaving the festival with ringing eardrums, it became apparent that the yellow Wickerpark bracelets that were given out at the entrance were too tight to slip off. “Maybe it’s better that way” a friend said “we’ll keep them on for inspiration.”

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MIRROR, MIRROR

CAROLINA HERRERA

212 SURF In 2014, Carolina Herrera will be launching 212 SURF, her latest 212 Universe limited edition range. However, 212 SURF is much more than a limited edition. It is a fresh, young and carefree fragrance based on a fun, distinctive story that isinspired by summer memories.

A cool and merry atmosphere. The beach, surfing and friends take centre stage. Memories that evoke good times shared and fun on the seashore. SURF invites us to navigate through a sea of sensations and enjoy the two new fragrances for women and men.

Its original bottle takes its inspiration from the surfer style. Its colours are vibrantand transport us to a tropical, summery atmosphere.

FOR HIM, 212 SURF BRINGS US...

An intensely fresh fragrance created using a new aquatic accord that combines patchouli and a few drops of grapefruit, making it sexy, sensual and comforting at the same time.

FOR HER, 212 SURF BRINGS US...

A fresh, sensual and addictive fragrance. With an exotic touch and a woody contrast accompanied by notes of musk. Its aquatic accord makes it stand out, bringing an extremely original, young and sexy freshness

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DIORSKIN STAR THE FIRST “BRIGHTENING” FOUNDATION DIOR STUDIO LIGHTING

An intensely fresh fragrance created using a new aquatic accord that combines patcha The instant illuminating and perfecting effects of a studio makeover; the lasting radiance of a brightening skincare treament.* For the first time ever, Dior has infused a foundation with this two-dimensional light. Diorskin Star promises a “brightening”effect for a perfect, modern complexion and beautiful skin that is ultimately radiant: luminous and even, without dark spots or discolouration, and refined in texture.

This unique and weightless fluid instantly and lastingly recreates the spectacular and perfecting light of the Dior studios. Enriched with a concentrate of pigments and illuminating skin care ingredients, it combines the radiance of makeup and the effectiveness of skin care in a single formula. Diorskin Star MAXIMISES light, NEUTRALIZES colour imperfections and CORRECTS skin texture day after day.*with each application

A WEIGHTLESS EFFECT FLUID Making the purest possible light shine forth whilst correcting imperfections meant asking the impossible: creating a texture that left a weightless sensation on the skin. Diorskin Star met this challenge.

Unbelievably fine, it glides on with unprecedented ease, follows facial contours, evens, perfects colour and texture and is then forgotten. All that is left on the skin is a comfortable, correcting, long-wear veil that creates perfecting radiance.

TECHNOLOGY “LIGHT PULSION” COMPLEX TECHNOLIMMEDIATELY Two actors take centre stage to create the dazzling beauty of a studio makeup: radiance and even skintone.- Spectacular radiance is born of a new generation of hollow silica beads loaded with mineral pigments. Incorporated at the heart of the formula, they capture and reflect light, without shine. An intense corrective halo recreates the beautifully radiant complexion found on professional sets.

- Even skintone is revealed by colour filter pigments. These rebalance the chromatic irregularities of every skintone and, just like camera filters, they brighten dull skin. DAY AFTER DAY, This instant action combines with the efficiency of a skincare, operating at the source of radiant and beautiful skin. A trio of plant-based, anti “light-trap” ingredients acts on key skin markers to erase dark areas, spots and minor redness. With every application the skin becomes clearer and is graced with purer and more intense radiance. OGY

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MIRROR, MIRROR PHOTOGENIC SHADES Adapted to the subtleties of every skin tone, the 14 shades of Diorskin Star provide a made-to measure palette in the service of perfect skin.

Containing the ideal dose of warm-toned pigments, these healthy glow shades create even more intense radiance. Upon application, the colour seen in the bottle is faithfully reproduced, and remains the same throughout the day, without changing or fading.

PROFESSIONAL TIP The wide lateral part of the sponge can be used for blending from the center of the face outwards. The tip then takes over, working on more specific, difficult to reach areas of the face (sides of the nose, smile lines, etc.). The base can be used for sculpting volume and adjusting coverage levels in areas that require more correction.

THE ARTIST’S TOOL - THE BACKSTAGE BLENDER FLUID FOUNDATION SPONGE For perfect alchemy between the skin and the foundation that generates powerful and perfecting radiance, Dior has created the Backstage Blender Fluid Foundation Sponge. This tool was designed

by Dior make-up artists, and is the fruit of their studio experience, but is also a tool designed to make application easier for women on a daily basis. This egg-shaped, perfectly ergonomic sponge has multi-dimensional reach across the face. Unlike fingers or rectangular sponges with harsh edges that collide with features, it allows perfect blending on every part of the face, even the most difficult to reach.

Made from “soft-touch” very high-density material, this extremely smooth sponge blends Diorskin Star formula perfectly in an adjustable manner, revealing a polished finish that achieves ultimate radiance and a precision-sculpted face.

DIORSKIN STAR CONCEALER SPOTLIGHT ON EYES The eye contour, the focus area for signs of fatigue, deserves special treatment. With Diorskin Star Brightening Concealer, Dior transposes the foundation’s “Light Pulsion” technology onto the eyes.

Based on the make-up artists’ “adhesives,” its stretch texture has an incredible lifting effect that smoothes and sculpts the eye contour area. The eyes open instantly, lighting up and looking bigger. Beyond this immediate dual freshness effect, the specific eye contour area skin care ingredients act at the source of radiance. With every application, they help to reduce eye bags, dark shadows and redness.

Brighter and more rested, eyes are sculpted by the light and look dazzlingly seductive. Diorskin Star Concealer is applied using the applicator, after foundation, over dark shadows and to the inner corner of the eye. Its fine yet creamy texture is blended into the skin using the fingertips to gently pat and smooth outwards. Diorskin Star Concealer is available in five fusional shades to suit all skintones.

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MIRROR, MIRROR

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M.A.C Welcome to M∙A∙C Playland, a funtastical wonderland where spring becomes a fabulous whirlwind of creativity and amusement. Make merry in luscious shades of Lipstick and Lipglass in playful pinks, brilliant purples and bright corals, and toy around with a carousel of Casual Colour pots in neon orange and hotpink.

Pigments offer the promise of leisure and mirth, and Chromagraphic Pencil adds a cascade of colour to this season’s most fun-packed fantasy.

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MIRROR, MIRROR

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LIPSTICK

CASUAL COLOR FOR YOUR AMUSEMENT bright pastel pink YOUNG AT HEART bright pink HI JINKS! bright coral

PLAYLAND frosty yellow gold (frost) SWEET EXPERIENCE bright pink (amplified) HAPPY-GO-LUCKY hot pink (amplified) TOYING AROUND hot coral pink (amplified) RED BALLOON hot fuchsia (amplified) HEAD IN THE CLOUDS red with pearl (frost)

PIGMENT

LIPGLASS BRIGHT SIDE creamy yellow LOTS OF LAUGHS creamy peach CAROUSEL creamy pink LIVE IT UP creamy orange PURE SILLINESS creamy lilac

EVER SO YELLOW soft yellow with pearl HI-DEF CYAN cyan blue NEO-ORANGE intense neon salmon GOLDEN OLIVE high frosted green-gold

PLAYLAND COLLECTION APPLICATION TIPS BY M.A.C SENIOR ARTIST VIMI JOSHI

CHROMAGRAPHIC PENCIL GENUINE ORANGE bright orange HI-DEF CYAN hi-def cyan PROCESS MAGENTA matte magenta BLACK BLACK deepest black

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Create colourful eyes that are very trendy this summer by lining your eye water line with Hi Def Chromagraphic Pencil in Cyan.

You can also enhance the colour with Hi Def Pigment in Cyan on the lower lash line using brush #219. Bright vibrant lips that look soft and supple can be created by lightly patting Casual Colour in Young at heart on your lips.

Not only will it add a pop of colour but Casual Colour will also condition your lips at the same time.

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MIRROR, MIRROR

M.A.C TRENDS At the turn of each season not only does fashion change in terms of style, colour, fabric and texture but also all it’s accessories and more excitedly make-up trends. So with AutumnWinter approaching us, it was the perfect time to explore the world of MAC Cosmetics and get the latest in trends from the very talented MAC make-up artist, Vimi Joshi.

Vimi has 19 years experience as a make-up artist working on countless photo shoots for magazines such as Vogue India, Marie Claire India and Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, as well as various fashion shows and fashion weeks around the world. So we were excited for her to reveal the four major make-up trends for the upcoming colder seasons; Off Colour, Streamlined, On Reflection and Unprocessed.

The make-up trends for Autumn-Winter are about creating a paradox using cosmetics and colour to make-up the face to look natural and fresh. These MAC trends were used on models at fashion weeks in the most stylish cities around the world

UNPROCESSED Unprocessed is the final trend of the season created by MAC make-up artists. This trend is all about individuality and creating that effortless ‘real’ bare-faced look.

A style you don’t expect to see at fashion weeks, Unprocessed, uses a neutral palette of make-up such as nude colours, browns and light pinks to accentuate reality, it’s different from other looks that we are familiar with such as masculine, glamorous or grungy.

“This is, quite simply, how a strong, self-assured, cool, relevant woman today probably wants to look: like she has not tried too hard.”

OFF COLOUR Off Colour: is all about earthy neutral colours that reflect nature during the colder months. With a palette featuring polluted pinks, bruised plums, dirty khakis, dingy violets, unwholesome browns, and veined blues are applied in a fashion to add mood, not colour to the face.

The Off Colour look is all about the deeper lips and neutral colours on the eyes, with some fashion shows making up models with pink eye shadow and plum lips.

Vimi had one simple way to explain the trend, ‘It’s like when you go to a forest or the woods on a rainy day and you look to the ground, it’s all those colours mixed together”.

THE STREAMLINED The Streamlined trend is based on using primary and secondary colours such as blues, reds, purples, orange and yellows to draw lines with makeup to exaggerate the look. The lines add strength to the face creating a style between glamour and grunge.

Because of the geometrical elements of this trend it gives a very modern look to the face.

ON REFLECTION The third trend, On Reflection, uses a mixture of textures to reflect light.

It’s about blending shimmery and matte textures such as neutral metalics in particularly gold, copper, pewter and silver.

This style of make-up is used to enhance the features of the face to create a luxurious finish through the use of smooth pigments. MAC make-up artists used this trend to create reflection through telling a story.

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Vimi says the trend of the season is definitely skin. Women used to be divided in terms of make-up because each race had a trend however, women have adopted a mutual ideology about the aesthetics of beauty.

Women all around the world have united in the practice of looking after their skin and thus embracing these trends of Autumn-Winter 2014, which celebrate a woman’s real beauty; her individuality

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BENTLEY MOTORS

MIDDLE EAST ACHIEVES RECORD GROWTH IN H1 2014 Bentley Motors Middle East has announced its most successful half year ever with an overall increase in deliveries of 30% in comparison to the same period last year.

The results have also revealed a positive start for the new Flying Spur W12 since its arrival in the region in September, 2013. The popularity of the 6 litre W12 engine model is expected to continue throughout the second half of the year, alongside new introductions to the prestigious Bentley family, including the new Continental GT V8 S, which will arrive at Bentley dealers this month (August 2014), the new Flying Spur V8 and the new Continental GT Speed, which will arrive in the Middle East by the end of 2014.

Neil Wilford, Regional Manager, Middle East, India and Africa, Bentley Motors, said: “This is a particularly exciting time for Bentley Motors in this region. All of our key Middle East markets have grown during the first half of 2014 while our UAE and KSA dealers continue to hold the prestigious positions of the number one and two Bentley dealers in the world respectively.

“These positions are testament to the appeal of Bentley Motors with Middle East customers, who understand and appreciate the ultimate in automotive craftsmanship, performance and luxury.”

Wilford, continued: “Our continuing commitment to this region is my priority and together with our regional dealers we are looking forward to a pivotal year for Bentley Motors Middle East.”

The arrival of the new Continental GT V8 S, has added yet another new dimension to the Continental range. With lowered and retuned sports suspension, sharper steering, dramatic ‘S’ signature styling cues and a distinctive soundtrack from the uprated V8 engine, driving enthusiasts can look forward to a more exciting drive, with a sharper, more sporting edge.

LG INTRODUCES GAMES FOR QUICKCIRCETM CASE

OCTOBER 2014

Industry First Games for Play Specifically in QuickCircleTM Window for Fun on the Run Beirut, August 18, 2014 — Proving that QuickCircleTM can be as much about fun as function, LG Electronics (LG) today introduced the world’s first mobile game developed exclusively for its windowed LG G3 case. Now in addition to being able to check the time, place calls and take photos without opening the cover, LG G3 owners with the QuickCircleTM Case can now have a bit of fun on-the-go with a free game, Puppy Pop. Puppy Pop is a match-three puzzle game developed by LG specifically for the G3 with QuickCircleTM Case to be played through the open window on the cover. Players accumulate points by drawing lines through three or more identical puppies, removing as many from the board before time runs out. Scores can then be shared on the player’s favorite social network site.

A fun and unique way to experience the QuickCircleTM Case, Puppy Pop also represents LG’s continuing effort to develop mobile content that enhances the functionality of its products.

Puppy Pop is an example of the versatility and flexibility of the LG QCircle software development kit (SDK) available at developer.lge.com for developers to create new applications and functions for the QuickCircleTM Case.

Puppy Pop will be free to download from Google Play Store (play.google. com) and LG SmartWorld (www.lgworld.com) starting on July 23.

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OFFER YOUR EYES A SIGNATURE LOOK WITH MAKE UP FOR EVER MAKE UP FOR EVER INTRODUCES 3 BLACK, LONG-LASTING EYELINERS TO ACHIEVE THOSE STUNNING EYES

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With MAKE UP FOR EVER, it’s ALL ABOUT BLACK EYELINERS this season! Introducing 3 intense black, long-lasting eyeliners (Ink Liner, Artist Liner, Graphic Liner) with different finishes to its range, MAKE UP FOR EVER now offers you the must-have eyeliners which adapt to your preference and provide you with any look you desire‌be it defined eyes, enchanting eyes, intense color, adjustable

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line or precise line.

Black eyeliners are considered the IT trend, acting like real magnets to attract attention and allowing every woman to make that impactful fashion statement! With various techniques available to attain that stroke of perfection, they can transform the appearance of your eyes, enhance them and make them stand out.

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INK LINER Is a matte ultra-pigmented liquid eyeliner with a long and flexible tip which provides ultimate precision to create multiple looks. It defines the eyes with a rich matte black finish for that tattoo effect and a long-lasting result. It is ideal for simple or adjustable lines.

ARTIST LINER Is a twist-up pencil with an ultra creamy texture that effortlessly enhances the eyes with an intense and long-lasting line. This super gliding liner offers an intense pay-off and is easy to blend, making it perfect for quick and easy application

GRAPHIC LINER Is a vinyl pen eyeliner with a foam tip that quickly creates a precise line with just the right amount of product. It defines the eyes with a rich black finish and long-lasting result. Whether you prefer ultra-fine or dramatic graphic lines, this versatile and easy to use eyeliner offers you the freedom to achieve any style you desire.

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COLOR TAKES THE STARRING ROLE WITH MAKE UP FOR EVER ARTIST SHADOW MAKE UP FOR EVER introduces a breakthrough innovation in the eye shadow range with Artist Shadow MAKE UP FOR EVER, the go-to brand for color over the past 30 years, is totally renewing its iconic range of eye shadows. Dany Sanz, Founder and Artistic Director of MAKE UP FOR EVER, celebrates profusion and creativity by bringing out an exceptional range of 210 new-generation eye shadows ranging from nude to colorful shades .

Introducing a breakthrough innovation in the eye shadow world which extends the boundaries of creativity in all aspects, this amazingly rich range includes custom-crafted colors in a delicate alchemy to offer women the optimal result.

It is known that eye shadow is key in bringing out the beauty and color of your eyes, making them look more expressive and attractive.

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With MAKE UP FOR EVER’s new generation of eyeshadow, every woman is guaranteed to have the best in class results. five different effects (matte, satiny, metallic, iridescent, diamond) and nine color harmonies, this wide range adapts to any look you desire for your eyes!

“The extraordinary virtues of this new-generation formula inspired us to go even further, to dream up totally novel colors and effects, thanks to smooth textures that can be infinitely mixed and layered with outstanding color gradation capacities. The effect is instant: the result is visible from the very first stroke. And once it’s on, it won’t budge,” says Dany Sanz.

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A PASSIONATE SPELL Living intensely, provoking to the extreme, in a blend of impertinence and glamour. The Black XS rock stars flirt with excess, especially when it comes to love. Driven by an all-consuming passion, burning with extreme, boundless feelings, their desire blazes brightly. In this

new limited edition, the Black XS Potion fragrances for Her and Him reconcile opposites, conjuring up an alchemy of bodies and hearts.

The ultimate love philtre, Black XS Potion is the olfactory secret that beguiles and offers the promise of unending passion.

AN ENCHANTING ELIXIR FOR HIM For Him, Black XS Potion distils a woody aromatic elixir with a devilish charm. Juniper berries add a spicy touch to the top notes, while absinth bewitches the senses with its burning vapours. The spell works its magic. Cashmeran wood, with a torrid virility, combines its powers with those of cistus absolute to entice desire.

A few drops of rhum, with intoxicating, syrupy and woody aromas, enrich the essence with hushed final notes.

AN EXHILARATING POTION FOR HER This woody floral ambery opens with a burst of zesty notes, led by grapefruit. Then the heady, incredibly sensuous accents of Baccara rose – the icon of burning love and fatal passion – melt into sulphurous accords of even more captivating Hellebore rose, known in former times as “witches’ rose”. This overdose of roses, capable of single handedly transforming desire into passion, reaches its sensual paroxysm and bathes in smoulderingly voluptuous aromas of black sandalwood. This face-to-face between corollas and thorns sparks the alchemy by which opposites attract.

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5 COULEURS DIOR THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND This year, the House of Dior reinvents its legendary palette. Ever more fashionable and ever more Couture, the 5 Couleurs palette is graced with new textures and new effects, even more extreme and more audacious. Its new colour harmonies propel make-up into a new dimension. To celebrate this metamorphosis, it is revealing a slimmer, midnight blue case equipped with a set of professional applicators.

THE 5 COULEURS PALETTE A NEW ALLURE FOR THE EYES

Imagine a wardrobe for the eyes, complete with key pieces and accessory shades.

At the centre of the palette, the essential shade sets the tone. It is the fashion statement, dictating the look.

Around it, four accessory shades create the style for a multi-faceted eye.

The mind sharpens and the hands begin to play with tones and textures, in tone-on-tone shades or contrasting colours for infinite make-up possibilities. The order of the day is: liberty! Give free rein to your desires when creating your make-up look.

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Inspired by Bobbi’s favorite vacation destination, the new Surf & Sand Collection includes the ultimate summer beauty essentials for creating an effortlessly chic beach look.

Featuring sheer washes of color (from sandy neutrals, to surfy blues, to sunset pinks) and Bobbi’s beloved Beach fragrance in convenient rollerball form. This collection is as simple and sexy as it gets.

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BOBBI BROWN SURF & SAND COLLECTION LATE SUMMER 2014

LIMITED EDITION SURF & SAND EYE PALETTES Sure to be a summer essential, these two palettes feature eight subtle yet stunning eye shadows in a wide range of sheer tones and formulas for endless standout eye looks, both poolside and cocktail appropriate. The Surf Eye Palette is perfect for experimenting with pastel shades, from shimmering pink to sparkly soft blue to soft aqua. The Sand Eye Palette’s range of neutral eye shadows (from metallic bronze to sparkling gold) is ideal for layering. Both palettes are wrapped in a sand-like fabric, reminiscent of crisp linen tunics, a summertime favorite.

BRIGHTENING BLUSH This blush-bronzer-highlighter hybrid instantly creates a fresh, radiant look that will have friends guessing where you’ve been summering. Simply swirl the three shades in the compact together using a Blush Brush and apply on the apples of the cheeks.

SHEER LIP COLOR SHADE EXTENSIONS Summer makeup should be quick and easy, and Sheer Lip Color is exactly that. Now available in four new breezy shades that are sheer enough for summer but still deliver a pretty and polished look.

LONG-WEAR CREAM SHADOW STICK SHADE EXTENSION Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick provides easy-to-apply color that won’t crease, flake or fade. A pale, champagne gold, Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in 24 Karat is perfect for highlighting the inner corner of the eyes for a pretty, summer-time look.

NEW IN LONG-WEAR EYE PENCIL SHADE EXTENSIONS Pigment-rich formula applies easily and precisely and wears for 12 hours. It’s waterproof, smudge and transfer-resistant. These chocolate and bronze shades offer subtle yet impactful definition that goes from sunrise to sunset.

LIMITED EDITION BEACH ROLLERBALL FRAGRANCE Take the beach with you wherever you go. Bobbi’s cult-classic Beach fragrance is now available in portable rollerball form. This light and refreshing scent evokes warm sunshine and the sea breeze so summer never seems far away. Size: 6 ml

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ESTÉE LAUDER

INTRODUCES PURE COLOR ENVY SCULPTING LIPSTICK

Estée Lauder unleashes the ultimate object of a woman’s desire – introducing NEW Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick.

Intensify lips with saturated color. Sculpt with multi-faceted pigments. Hydrate with continuous moisturization. Pure luxury for lips housed in a new, ultrachic case.

INTENSIFY 20 one-of-a-kind statement shades with the power to define every curve of the lip. Rich in attitude and saturated in color, this provocative palette evokes fashion, art, and design with high-couture impact.

From the subtle whisper of insatiable nudes, to the drama of impassioned reds, daring mahoganies, powerful pinks and confident corals, each enviable lip look will satisfy every woman’s desire.

SCULPT In just one stroke, lips are sculpted with high-intensity color that stays true for up to 6 hours. From stick to lip, Multi-Faceted Color Pigments create shape, definition and volume. Amazing color density and dimension transforms lips for a full, curvaceous and sexy pout.

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HYDRATE The lightweight texture is creamy, sensually smooth and luxuriously comfortable. A uniquely modern formula, envelops lips in immediate and long-lasting moisture. Featuring a new and exclusive Time Release Encapsulated Moisture Complex with Hyaluronic Acid that help boost lips’ ability to attract, capture and seal-in continuous hydration. Lips feel kissably soft, smooth, supple and continuously moisturized throughout the day.

STYLE Inspired by modern architecture, the new and iconic package design is powerful, yet feminine. Its lines are contemporary, with a strong, sleek and elegant silhouette. The color cues reflect Estée Lauder’s signature navy and gold, while golden plaques at each end of the case, and golden tones within the interior, convey the modern glamour and style of the brand. An innovative, magnetic closure always clicks the case perfectly into place and new aspirational bullet shape make this ultrachic lipstick a statement in pure luxury.

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CLARINS AUTUMN 2014 COSTEMETIC COLLECTION

LADYLIKE A chic allure that’s natural, so feminine... so Ladylike.

Tones of nude, beige and auburn echo the autumn light.

The eyes adopt Ombre Matte: six new, long lasting eye shadows with a gorgeous “cream-powder” texture and a super matte finish.

The Eye Quartet Mineral Palette, with four shades of nude and the skin tones palette: a palette of elegant shades to match every eye color and beautifully warm the eyes.

The new and improved Perfect Eye & Brow Palette, the “eye and brow” essentials, easy to use: ad hoc accessorizes for a super-neat look and a complete eye makeup. 3-Dot Liner, now available in brown: it slips between the lashes to naturally accentuate the eyes with a perfect line, without running.

Rouge Eclat lipstick: eternal color classics, both sensual and intense, are coming back for the season.

Blush Prodige: pink cheeks and a brightening effect. The duo bois de rose and tawny pink sculpts the face and warms the cheeks, adapting to all skin tones. The complexion, eyes and lips harmonize, to captivate and charm.

CLARINS SUPER RESTORATIVE DAY SPF 20 With time, the skin progressively looses the integrity of its structure.

The hormonal changes that occur after 50 years are major causes of coetaneous aging. First signs are: density loss, facial loosening and the apparition of wrinkles.

Getting inspired by life and nature is fundamental to the Clarins Laboratories’ quest.

At the heart of the Madagascan biodiversity, «the harungana»: a tree with healing abilities. The extract from its leaves reveals extraordinary regenerative capabilities. It stimulates both collagen production and metabolic activity.

Clarins Super Restorative Day SPF 20 helps the demanding skin of women over the age of 50 revitalize and become fabulous, once again. Deep wrinkles and facial loosening disappear, the skin sparkles and the whole face becomes radiant.

OMBRE MATTE CREAM An audacious and seductive look The eyes adopt Ombre Matte: six new, long lasting eye shadows with a gorgeous “cream-powder” texture and a super matte finish. A soft and light cream that smoothes over the eyelid, melting onto the skin to give an even finish. The result of a new and unique technology, Ombre Matte eye shadow combines the comfort and smoothing effect of a cream with the fineness a powder. The soft focus pigments give color purity and radiance that lasts all day long.

Six mat shades, easy to apply, layer and blend, for intense shadows that suit all eyes.

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THE WORLD SPEAKS BB – 5 IN 1 CREAM FROM NIVEA Did you wake up late again? It can be so tempting to lie in bed just a little while longer after the alarm goes off in the morning. But if you don’t reach the bathroom early enough you’ll lose precious time to get yourself and your skin ready for the day. But the right care regime, like the new and first NIVEA BB Cream, can quickly and effectively turn tired skin into a radiant one. It provides all skin types with moisture, protects and smoothes complexions – and the best part is, it evenly covers any imperfect areas of the skin and is SHINE-FREE. The secret to Five Talents in One Tube.

The new NIVEA BB Cream 5 in 1 Beautifying Moisturizer combines the advantages of several products and has the ideal combination of caring, protecting, and beautifying skin-improving elements and is, therefore, a real multi-talent product. The unique formula offers five important properties for perfect looking skin with immediate effect: It evens the skin tone and refines the appearance of pores.

It covers imperfections such as blemishes, signs of fatigue, dark eye rings, color spots, reddish skin color and fine lines.

It illuminates complexion, underlining skin’s natural skin tone.

It provides light, fast absorbing moisture with SHINE-FREE effect.

It helps to protect the skin from sunlight induced environmental influences and premature ageing with SPF 10, vital in the hot and sunny Middle Eastern climate.

#TOUCHGIVESBACK

OCTOBER 2014

In just two weeks, the great collaboration between the leading mobile operator managed by Zain, touch, and its local community, customers, partners and employees along with the Children’s Cancer Center Lebanon (CCCL) and public figures, has had a tremendous impact on the #touchgivesback campaign initiated by touch during the month of Ramadan to provide treatment to two children from the center. This drive has achieved 16,000 tweets that supported touch in its life-saving campaign to fund the treatments of two children suffering from cancer!

“I would like to thank the touch social media community and all those who contributed to the treatment of the CCCL through this successful #touchgivesback viral campaign on social media. The act of giving back is largely endorsed by the public, and what really distinguished our campaign is the remarkable level of solidarity shown by social media activists and users with this noble humanitarian cause, represented by the support for the CCCL children” commented touch’s GM and Vice Chairman, Wassim Mansour, adding that “We are mostly pleased with achieving our main goal behind this initiative by allowing our customers active on social media to contribute in our Corporate Social Responsibility drive and help in providing treatment to the CCCL children”.

The Director General of the Children’s Cancer Center, Mrs. Hana Shuaib, thanked touch for “this significant initiative contributing to an interactive communication between social media users, touch and the children of CCCL, thus helping to raise awareness about the Center’s mission and to raise funds.”

It is noteworthy that the awareness campaign launched by touch is part of its several activities and initiatives implemented during the month of Ramadan, and is inspired by the values of sharing and giving back of this holy month.

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MIND, BODY + SOUL

NATURAL TREATMENTS

FOR ACNE

Does your face break out every time you’re under stress? Perhaps you develop pimples at a certain time of the month, or maybe those blackheads on your nose have been around for years. Everyone experiences acne differently, but the usual treatment approach is to rely on harsh chemicals like benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics to address the problem.

While these treatments work for a select few people, the majority find that they do little to address their acne problems. If you’ve experienced

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little relief from conventional acne treatments, it’s time to try treating your acne naturally.

Natural treatments work differently than conventional acne products.

They don’t dry out your skin or change its pH to kill bacteria. Rather, they boost your skin’s own ability to fight bacteria and heal acne lesions.

These four natural acne treatments give your skin the nutrients that it needs to be truly healthy, vibrant, and breakout-free.

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4 NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR ACNE

CASTILE SOAP Conventional face washes, especially those made to treat acne, are made with harsh detergents that strip your skin of its natural oils and the healthy bacteria that are meant to fight infection. In some acne sufferers, the pimples are actually the skin’s reactions to these strong detergents. Castile soap is a safe, allnatural alternative to conventional face washes. It is made with olive oil and sometimes other natural plant oils, and it cleanses gently, without disturbing your skin’s delicate balance.

The most common brand of castile soap is Dr. Bronner’s, but there are other brands, too. It comes in bar and liquid form, and either is okay for your face. Use castile soap in place of your face wash twice per day, and watch as your pimples become fewer.

THE PIMPLES ARE ACTUALLY THE SKIN’S REACTIONS TO THESE STRONG DETERGENTS

RAW HONEY

TEA TREE OIL

Honey has natural antibacterial properties, but it does not damage the skin, as do many conventional antibiotic acne treatments. Honey is also non-drying, so you don’t have to worry about flakiness and irritation. An easy way to treat acne with honey is to apply it as a face mask. Spread raw honey all over your face, and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Rinse it away, and then wash your face with a mild cleanser, such as castile soap. Since honey is sticky, it’s probably best to do this before a shower.

The idea of putting more oil on your already oily skin may sound strange, but tea tree oil is not like the oil your skin makes. Rather, it has the unique ability to cut through the excess oil your skin produces and unclog your pores to prevent pimples. If your pimples are accompanied by an oily sheen, there is no better choice for natural skincare. Purchase natural tea tree oil from your local health food store, and mix 1 part tea tree oil with 5 parts water. Use this as a face wash, rinsing well after use. Another option is to use castile soap made with tea tree oil to wash your face twice per day.

RAW EGG WHITES When you have been suffering from acne for a while, many of your skin cells become damaged. In order to recover and prevent additional pimples from forming, they need a little boost. Egg whites are loaded with the amino acids, vitamins and minerals that your damaged skin cells need for relief. To make an egg-white face mask, separate one egg white from the yolk, and whip it until it is frothy.

Smooth this mixture over your face, and let it sit until it is completely dry. Rinse well to enjoy your clean, fresh complexion.

THEY BOOST YOUR SKIN’S OWN ABILITY TO FIGHT BACTERIA AND HEAL ACNE LESIONS OCTOBER 2014

Since these acne treatments are gentle and natural, it’s perfectly okay to use more than one of them to clear your acne. Remember to give these treatments a chance before deciding whether they’re working for you. It takes your skin several weeks to adapt to a new routine. The secret to success with any skincare program is being consistent

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ANTI-AGING LOOKING AND FEELING YOUNGER STARTS FROM WITHIN – JUST A FEW SIMPLE SWITCHES IN YOUR WEEKLY SHOP WILL HELP YOU TURN BACK THE CLOCK

What we eat can be crucial to how we age. This was certainly true of Bolivian Carmelo Flores, who was the world’s oldest man until his death in June, who said his diet rich in grains and mushrooms helped him live to 123.

‘A high fibre, nutrition-rich diet is essential for keeping your body looking and feeling young,’ says naturopathic nutritionist Rosemary Ferguson. Toxins in processed food can clog your liver, preventing it from processing food, making essential proteins for growth and detoxifying your body.

Eating a balanced diet with fresh fruit, vegetables, grains and healthy fats is the ultimate youth boost, helping to prevent cardiovascular disease and cell breakdown, and keeping bones strong.

‘Skin can also become dry if it’s constantly detoxifying your body,’ says Ferguson. ‘A vitamin-packed diet will help deliver nutrients to skin cells.’

In particular, Ferguson says up your intake of vitamin C to increase collagen production and improve skin’s elasticity, and B vitamins to help your skin retain moisture, while vitamin K-packed dark green leafy vegetables will help reduce dark circles.

Try these swaps for a youthful glow.

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Anti-Ageing Special SWAP COUSCOUS FOR FREEKEH Freekeh is the new ‘ancient’ grain on the block, made from immature or green wheat, which is then roasted. It contains over seven times the amount of fibre of couscous, vital for eliminating toxins and leaving your skin looking fresh and blemish-free. Freekeh also has high levels of magnesium to aid calcium absorption, which increases bone strength and density to help keep osteoporosis at bay.

SWAP CLOSED CUP MUSHROOMS FOR SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS When you’re foraging for fungi in the supermarket, switch your standard one for a shiitake. Dubbed the ‘medicinal mushroom’, it’s been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. The Asian variety contains four times the amount of copper of its white counterpart. This mineral, which your body can’t produce, helps prevent ageing of your skin and hair and agerelated diseases, such as osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease.

SWAP GREEN GRAPES FOR CANTALOUPE MELON Although grapes are a healthy lunch-box staple, they can’t beat cantaloupe in the vitamin C stakes – the round orange fruit contains over 11 times more per 100g. Vitamin C can help protect cells, maintain healthy connective tissue and boost collagen production – essential for keeping your skin plump as you age. What’s more, cantaloupe boasts over 50 times the amount of vitamin A, which can help reverse UV skin damage, reduce wrinkles and encourage skin regeneration.

Its high levels of beta-carotene will also help protect your eyes from age-related deterioration.

SWAP VEGETABLE OIL FOR COCONUT OIL Avoid using processed vegetable oil as it contains large amounts of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can be harmful in excess – and most of us are consuming far too much. Instead, cook with coconut oil – it aids nutrient absorption and is rich in lauric acid, helping to reduce high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which can increase as we age. It also contains smaller, easily-digested medium-chain fatty acids, which go straight to your liver, so they’re instantly converted to energy instead of being stored as fat.

SWAP COW’S YOGHURT FOR SHEEP’S YOGHURT

SWAP CHICKEN FOR TURKEY

Dairy products are acidic and an imbalance can reduce your body’s ability to repair damage and can also affect the quality of collagen and elastin. Alkaline sheep’s (or goat’s) milk can restore this balance. Plus, it contains less lactose proteins, making it easier to digest – as we age, production of lactase, an enzyme needed to break down lactose, decreases. To top it off, just one cup contains 20% of your vitamin B2 (riboflavin) recommended daily allowance (RDA) – key for gaining and maintaining energy.

Start Christmas early and tuck into roast turkey. It has more protein than chicken and contains a staggering 11g less fat per 100g than its more expensive feathery cousin. The festive favourite is also a good source of vitamin B3 (niacin) and B6. The former helps older, drier skin retain moisture, while the latter helps form haemoglobin, which carries oxygen around your body. Eat the darker flesh for a youthful complexion, as it contains higher levels of vitamin B2 and zinc than the white parts, which are essential for protein and collagen production

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RESEARCHERS UNCOVER NEW RECIPE

FOR HEART HEALTH Just two glasses of a low calorie, high polyphenol cranberry beverage can help protect the heart and manage blood sugar levels Beirut, Lebanon (September 2014) – Recent studies show that cranberry, the tiny red fruit known for its positive effect on one’s overall health and wellbeing, improves heart health—strengthening long perceived theories about the cranberry’s health benefits.

THE HEART OF THE MATTER The study looked at what happens when overweight but otherwise healthy individuals drank a cranberry beverage containing heart-healthy polyphenols. After two glasses (15.2 oz.), the volunteers showed healthier blood sugar levels without spikes or dips, changes often attributed to cravings or fatigue. The health benefits were sustained if they continued drinking two glasses on a regular basis.

. . .

After eight weeks of daily cranberry beverage consumption, individuals had increased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which helps maintain artery health by sweeping up bad cholesterol.

Participants also showed better blood vessel function and less oxidative stress, which can prevent inflammation, a condition often linked to heart disease, obesity, diabetes and arthritis.

Researchers also noted that the cranberry beverage helped maintain blood sugar levels within normal range over the eight week study.

“We have long known the cranberry’s positive impact on one’s health and wellbeing, but we’re just beginning to uncover the full range of its natural power,” said Christina Khoo, Director of Research Sciences at Ocean Spray. “From maintaining healthy blood lipids to decreasing inflammation, more new evidence continues to emerge on the benefits of cranberries.”

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RESEARCHERS UNCOVER NEW RECIPE FOR HEART HEALTH

MORE BREAKING NEWS ABOUT THE BERRY Among the nearly dozen studies evaluating the efficacy and application of the fruit were a handful of studies on another form of cranberry—an extract. By isolating and applying the natural purifying element in cranberries – proanthocyanidins or PACs – these extract studies are making a case for how this natural compound, unique to cranberries, can improve overall health. Snapshots of the findings are below.

Cellular Health: Pre-clinical research indicates that PACs found in cranberries may have properties that limit cancer cell growth. While further studies are warranted, the latest findings suggest great potential for the cranberry’s anticancer activity.

Prebiotics: Move over yogurt! Cranberries have now been linked to prebiotic qualities, boosting the number of good bacteria living in the gut. That’s according to a team out who found that when cranberry extract rich in PACs was left overnight with bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract and human colon cancer cells, the PACs played an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant role, promoting the good bacteria’s activity on the colon cancer cells.

Heart Protection: To explore how the natural compounds in cranberries can protect the body against harmful substances, a team of scientists soaked heart muscle cells in cranberry extract for six hours. The result? The cranberry extract lowered the amount of tissue-damaging enzymes, called MMPs, which have been linked to heart disease, tumor growth and arthritis.

. . .

“While additional studies are warranted to truly understand the role of PACs in cell health and heart protection and in boosting the activity of good gut bacteria, initial research yields promising indications that cranberry PACs in the form of an extract can be leveraged as an effective way to improve whole body health,” said Christina Khoo, PhD, Director, Research Sciences, Ocean Spray.

For more information about the health benefits of cranberries, visit www.cranberryhealth.com.

ABOUT OCEAN SPRAY Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry and grapefruit growers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world’s leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the North American bottled juice category. The cooperative’s cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 90 countries worldwide. With more than 2,000 employees and nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities, Ocean Spray is committed to managing our business in a way that respects our communities, employees and the environment. In fiscal year 2013, Ocean Spray posted gross sales of $2.2 billion and net proceeds of $380 million. For more information visit www.oceanspray.com or our corporate blog at www.insidethecranberry.com

Mathison, B.D., Kimble, L.L., McKay, D.C., Chen, C., Blumberg, J.B., Kaspar, K.L., Khoo, C. and Chew, B.C., (2014) Chronic consumption of a high polyphenol content cranberry beverage improved glucoregulation and HDL cholesterol in healthy but overweight humans.

FASEBJ. 28, 831.10 2 Kimble, L.L., Mathison, B.D., McKay, D.L., Chen, C., Blumberg, J.B., Kaspar, K.L., Khoo, C. and Chew, B.P., (2014) Chronic consumption of a high polyphenol cranberry beverage protects against inflammation and improves endothelial function in healthy but overweight humans.

FASEBJ. 28, 830.26 3 Mansouri, R.A., Khoo, C. and Percival, S.S., (2014) Cranberry extract initiates apoptosis in HL-60 cell line through intrinsic apoptotic pathway. FASEBJ. 28, 644.9 4 Nyugen, T., Kimble, L.L., Mathison, B.D. and Chew, B.P., (2014) Cranberry extract promotes anti-inflammatory activity of lactobacillus plantarum on HT-29 human colon cancer cells. FASEBJ. 28, 647.35 5 Hurta, R., Thomas, A,. Kim, J., Patel, K. and Neto, C., (2014) Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) extract inhibits matrix metalloproteinase expression in aortic smooth muscle cells by affecting key cell signaling pathways. FASEBJ. 28, 934.1 1

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OUT + ABOUT

MADNESS IN BEIRUT THINGS TO DO THIS OCTOBER! SUMMER DOWN NOW, FALL IS ALMOST IN FULL SWING. WHAT’S BETTER THAN HANGING OUT WITH YOUR BESTIES AND BAKING SOME SWEET SNACKS ON A COOL, CRISP OCTOBER AFTERNOON? WELL, CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF TEN IMPOSSIBLY COOL THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH IN LEBANON TO FIND OUT.

ACTING COURSES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN Head instructor Nadine Sures is a teacher, performer, director and producer who has worked professionally and internationally in theatre, dance and performance art for over 15 years. She is the only certified Action Theater teacher in Lebanon.

She has taught children and adults of all ages and is finally offering Action Theater courses for the first time in Beirut. The practice of Action Theater incorporates the exploration of embodied physical theatre exercises that lead to better communication skills. Through this technique, adults and children learn to express themselves through the voice and body in a fun way.

SATURDAYS THROUGH NOVEMBER | +96171081840 | NADINESURES@YAHOO.COM | $150

WINE TASTING CLASSES AT ENOTECA Best paired with caviar and fine cheese, sip on some of the best wines in Lebanon at Enoteca’s spacious Zalka location. Choose from four different courses throughout the month of October, including champagne discovery and a food and wine pairing workshop.

OCTOBER 9, 16, 23 AND 30 | 6:00 P.M TO 8:00 P.M | +9611898597 or +9611876046

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THE KITCHENLAB COOKING CLASSES This month the chefs at Kitchenlab will show you how to transform seasonal ingredients into a variety of fall menus like Rouba Khalil’s “Cooking for a Crowd” cooking class where she will show you how to prepare food for your next big gathering. Visit the Kitchenlab Facebook page for the October calendar of classes.

OPEN DAILY | 10:00 A.M TO 6:00 P.M | +9611587870

HAPPINESS PROGRAM AT THE ART OF LIVING YOGA CENTER They say the best things in life are free. Enjoy an evening of relaxation, rejuvenation and energy at the Art of Living Yoga Center.

Learn and discover simple powerful tools to manage stress, emotions and life. Some of the techniques the Happiness Program offers include: yoga stretches that move naturally with the body, meditation, the Sudarshan Kriya - a powerful breathing technique, and practical knowledge designed to make life richer and more fulfilling.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6 | 6:00 P.M. | +9611281005

RADIO KVM ALBUM LAUNCH CONCERT AT BEIRUT ART CENTER Beirut Art Center will host the launching concert of ISSRAR, the first full-length album by Lebanese electronic musician Radio KVM. The album is also the first vinyl release by Lebanese independent label Ruptured. The concert will feature Radio KVM with VJ Rami el Sabbagh. The release album will be available at the door in a limited edition of 300 hand-numbered LP’s with gourmet jackets.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15 | 8:30 P.M | BEIRUT ART CENTER +9611397018 | ENTRANCE + VINYL IS 40,000 LL

OCTOBER 2014

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OUT + ABOUT BIKE TOUR ACROSS LEBANON The “Tour of Lebanon” is a multi-stage endurance event organized by amateur cyclers in Lebanon every year. It’s not a race or an official tour, and it’s not organized by an official or NGO. Each stage takes riders through the magnificent landscape of Lebanon. The route will traverse various topography, from the coastal roads that lead to the mountains and valleys to the plains and prairies of the Bekaa Valley. Some sections of the tour will include rides through major cities and picturesque villages. The entire ride will be fully-supported by escort cars.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 | MARTYRS’ SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN BEIRUT | +9613240170

DECADEATH HALLOWEEN PARTY BY MIX FM Mix FM presents its massive Halloween extravaganza: Decadeath.

This time, they’re taking you all the way to Hallowood, the city of demons. If you thought the past two editions were massive, wait until you see what they have in store for you this year. St. Georges Hotel will be transformed into a haunted Hollywood. Expect the craziest sets yet by DJ Rodge.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 | 10:00 P.M | +96170999104

PRODUCE YOUR OWN INDIE MOVIE WINE TOUR WITH VAMOS TODOS Lebanon is one of the oldest sites of wine production in the world. In the Bekaa Valley is where the majority of vineyards are grown. French influence on the country is apparent in the grape varieties most commonly planted: Cinsaut, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre, Grenache and Syrah. Lunch will take place in Kefraya.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 | MEETING PLACE: IN THE PARKING OF SAGESSE SCHOOL IN JDEIDEH, FACING THE PUBLIC GARDEN | +9613917190 or +96179115001 | 100,000 LL INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, WINERY VISITS, INSURANCE, LUNCH

So you want to make a movie and have no idea where to start? Join FADE IN for this two-day workshop and start thinking like a producer.

The workshop will cover: How to breakdown a script as a producer/ Tips to fund-raise through several means/Identify job descriptions and delegate deadlines/Organize and establish work flow based on an easy systemGet all your questions answered at this class with indie Producer and Founder, Nadia Tabbara. No experience is necessary – all levels are welcome.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 | FADEINBEIRUT@GMAIL.COM | $100

BEIRUT ART CENTER DESIGN EXHIBITION BY MARC BAROUD Artist Marc Baroud intends to explore and create an array of objects that would add a new dimension to the classical Mashrabiya pattern. Baroud’s collection includes lighting elements and furniture pieces. By explicitly showing the binary system and its infinite possibilities, the designer reveals in this collection the intimate connection between process and end product DAILY UNTIL OCTOBER 24 | 12:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M. | +9611397018

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OCTOBER 2014

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MIND, BODY+SOUL

HELP ME WITH MY RAGGED PROBLEMS I am 27 years old and still single so my parents feel the need to interfere with my future. They say I am getting too old and so they are planning an arranged marriage for me. I know they are only trying to help me but how do I explain to them without hurting them that there is no way I am going to do this? Ghinwa, 27

DEAR GHINWA,

We definitely understand your predicament. I’m sure your parents are only thinking of your best interest. Saying that, we are very much against arranged marriages and you are very right not to want to go there. Honesty is the best policy. You should sit your parents down and explain to them that you are happy the way you are and you will eventually meet the right person and he would be your choice. This is your future they are dealing with.

SAYING THAT, WE ARE VERY MUCH AGAINST ARRANGED MARRIAGES AND YOU ARE VERY RIGHT NOT TO WANT TO GO THERE I was out one night and happened to bump into a girl who was dating a friend of mine. The problem however is that she was all over another guy. After confirming that she and my friend are still together, I don’t know what to do! I don’t like interfering in others relationships but will I be a bad friend if I don’t? Maggie, 21

DEAR MAGGIE,

I can understand the situation you are in but from personal experience it’s best to not interfere. You never know what the outcome will be. You will definitely be stuck in the middle and you may even end up being the jealous friend who wants to break them apart. If she cheated once she will do it again, and eventually he will find out for himself. This does not make you a bad friend.

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My cousin is dating a guy that her parents are against because he is a divorcee with a kid. She is 22 and they have been together for 2 years which shows that they seem to be getting along pretty well despite the rejection from the family. Recently she spoke to me about secretly leaving her parent’s house and getting married to him. I want to tell her parents about this because I am worried for her, but at the same time I don’t want her to be upset from me.

What do I do? Jessica, 23

DEAR JESSICA,

She is old enough to know what is right from wrong and from what you are saying she is clearly sure of her decision to be with this guy. I suggest you don’t go against your cousin and spill her secret, but be there for her since you are very close to her and she trusted you to tell you. If you spot a problem that you think is harmful to her, then by all means do go to the parents.

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I was in a relationship for 6 years with a girl I was madly in love with. A year ago she broke up with me with no reason whatsoever.

She started being cold to me whenever I would talk to her and sometimes I wouldn’t even get a reply. She dated after me but they are now broken up and she wants me back claiming she was under pressure and missing me. I have a girl in my life now and I don’t really know what to do. Jack, 24

DEAR JACK,

A person should know your value when they are with you not after they have lost you, and definitely not after they have tried being with someone else. The same way she gave another guy a try is the same way you should be loyal to the new girl in your life. Don’t let it get to you. If she wanted you, she would never have left in the first place. We wish you the best of luck with your new relationship, and make sure that you give it your all.

SHE MIGHT SURPRISE YOU BY RECIPROCATING YOUR FEELINGS I really like this girl that I’m pretty good friends with. She talks to me about her relationships which make me certain that she only considers me as a friend. I’ve liked her for a while now but I really fear opening up to her and getting rejected thereby losing the friendship. What do I do? Daniel, 23

DEAR DANIEL,

When she tells you about her relationships, she is doing it because you are friends and you have not told her about your feelings towards her and she is comfortable enough to let you in on her life. If she means a lot to you, it is worth risking your friendship and opening up. She might surprise you by reciprocating your feelings. Keep in mind that reality is, if her feelings are not reciprocated then your friendship might not be the same.

SHE WANTS ME BACK CLAIMING SHE WAS UNDER PRESSURE AND MISSING ME §

I am a University student who was supposed to graduate next semester. After getting my grades I found that I had failed a course that is only offered every other semester which means I cannot graduate. My parents keep talking about how proud they are of me which is making it harder for me to break the news to them!

Laila, 23

DEAR LAILA,

it’s not easy news to break to your parents especially since they are already celebrating the fact that you will be graduating. You have to sit them down and talk to them about it. It’s going to be hard on you both but eventually they’re going to have to find out. Honesty is always the best policy. Don’t be too harsh on yourself or discouraged, this should not make you feel less successful.

Like every mother, I long to see my kids grow up and have their own family. I have four children who I am dearly attached to, three of which are married. The youngest girl still lives with me. She recently opened up to me about her relationship moving closer into an engagement. As much as I am happy for my daughter I don’t know how to adapt to the fact that she will soon be leaving home.

Lara, 56

DEAR LARA,

It’s hard to absorb that your little girl will be leaving home, but in the end that’s the way life goes. You could take up different hobbies and fill up your schedule that way you won’t feel it as hard. Pick up where you left off with your friends and let them into your life, you will find that they will be helpful as they have experienced the same thing. Thanks to technology today, you’ll still be able to have a voice or video call and pay her visits whenever you feel like it. Eventually it will all fall into place

OCTOBER 2014

TO JOIN THE READER RESPONSE PANEL send your name, age, and email address to raggedproblems@ragmaglive.com subject line: Interactive Panel We will contact you if you are chosen to www.ragmag.co | R A G M A G participate.

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CULTURE CLASH

STEPHEN

KING

“MY PUBLISHERS WOULD LOVE NOTHING BUT HORROR NOVELS, BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT’S A PLACE THEY’RE COMFORTABLE, BUT I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY NEW THINGS”

BY SUSAN GRIFFIN

He may be responsible for many a nightmare and sleepless night, but it’s not all about frights and shocks for Stephen King. The writer tells Susan Griffin how, 40 years into his career, he’s keeping the ideas fresh and still loves his job.

There aren’t many people who can say they survived their teenage years without being terrified by reading one of Stephen King’s novels, or watching one of the many movie adaptations.

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A child-eating clown in ‘IT’, and a deranged fan - willing to commit kidnap and torture to keep the object of her obsession close by - in Misery, are just two of the chilling figures created by the author, who has sold in excess of 300 million books since his debut novel, Carrie, was published in 1974.

You might expect him to project some dark, brooding force but, in the flesh, he couldn’t be more charming, laughing often as he reflects on his illustrious career - one he continues to forge.

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STEPHEN KING | INTERVIEW

At 66, he says the challenge is “to try and stay fresh and engaged”.

“And have something in your heart that you want to say that feels important to you. It’s not always easy to do that, but every writer gets a room to explore and to write stories about and I think to myself, ‘You’ve pretty well explored this room’, but then there are all these secret compartments and other places to look,” adds King, who was born, raised and continues to live in Maine, the American state often used as inspiration in his stories.

And in that search, he’s uncovered even more macabre material for Revival, due to be published later this year. “Revival is something I think would make people think of Pet Sematary,” says the author, referencing his 1983 novel which was turned into a movie six years later. “There’s some scary, scary s**t there,” he notes, grinning.

YOU MIGHT EXPECT HIM TO PROJECT SOME DARK, BROODING FORCE BUT, IN THE FLESH, HE COULDN’T BE MORE CHARMING, LAUGHING OFTEN AS HE REFLECTS ON HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER

© 2014 PARADE PUBLICATIONS INC. | © 2014 BONVON | ORIGINALSBYITALIA.TUMBLR.COM

He’s never been solely focused on the horror genre though, and continues to mix things up with the publication of the suspense story Mr Mercedes, the first in a trilogy of books about a retired policeman being taunted by a murderer.

“My publishers would love nothing but horror novels, because they feel it’s a place they’re comfortable, but I’ve always wanted to try new things.”

Ideally, however, he likes working on one at a time. “It drives me crazy to have to work on two or three different things at the same time, because it makes you feel like you’re schizophrenic, like your brain is split into different parts.”

Another of his ongoing projects is Under The Dome, his 2009 book which was turned into a TV series last year. King executive produces the series, with Steven Spielberg, among others, and it’s more sci-fi than scare-fest.

It follows the residents of Chester’s Mill after an impenetrable clear dome falls from the sky and cuts them off from the rest of civilization.

“My original concept was that these people would be trapped for months,” reveals King, who has three children with his wife Tabitha. But his writing process doesn’t work like that. “I have a situation, and then I like to see where it goes. It’s like following a thread, you just reel it in and reel it in and you go wherever that thread leads.” And in this instance, the thread only covered three weeks in time.

“I’ve been faced with a certain amount of purists on Facebook saying, ‘The TV series is not like your book! It was like your book at first, but it changed’, and I’m like, ‘We’ve extended the timeline’,” he reveals in mock exasperation. “I was really excited by the idea of seeing what would happen over an extended period of time.”

As with much of his writing, there’s a sociological aspect to Under The Dome.

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CULTURE CLASH

“I wanted to make Chester’s Mill a microcosm of the world where there are diminishing resources, and where people feel pressed for space, and the environment itself seems to be degrading,” explains King. “Because we’re all under a dome, we’re all on a little blue planet and this is what we’re stuck with.”

He admits that while it wasn’t his idea, he’s “totally down with” the second series exploring what happens when you discover your population is too great for your resources.

Big Jim, the self-appointed leader of Chester’s Mill, played by Dean Norris, begins to talk about euthanizing some of the people who are not contributing, or who can’t contribute. “It’s that lifeboat question; if the lifeboat is loaded, who do you throw overboard?” notes King.

When the second series was commissioned, he was asked if he’d like to take “a more active role”, and he requested to write the first episode. “To write the first episode gave me the first footprint, and it gave me a chance to set the course of the rest of the series, so that was a great thing for me.

I also got a chance to kill off a couple of loved series regulars and that was fun,” he adds, laughing, though he won’t divulge who.

Although an avid reader since childhood, in recent years he’s embraced the evolving TV landscape, as a viewer, as well as a producer and storyteller.

“Where I used to read and raid the refrigerator for snacks when I’d done my work for the day, now I watch TV. I have as much of a tendency to binge-watch as anybody else.”

King’s made no secret of his dark days of drink and drug addiction but, following a family intervention, he’s remained sober since the late Eighties.

He experienced another murky phase in 1999, after he was hit by a car while out for a walk and “was busted up pretty bad”.

He was still recuperating when he made comments in 2002 that suggested he was contemplating retirement. “I was in a low place mentally and then I got better, and when you get better, I think your mind turns to work again, and my imagination started to work,” he says now.

So, what does it take to give King the heebie-jeebies? His own great fear, it turns out, is being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. “My brain is my main tool and I don’t want to lose it,” he says, though he admits writing’s “harder than it used to be”.

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“I don’t think I have as much to say as I used to, so I write less. But it’s still what I am good at and what I like to do, it still makes me happy. When I was in my 30s and 40s, it made me happy every day. Now, it makes me happy every other day.”

Pondering the future, he believes the biggest challenge will be “knowing when to shut up”.

“I would like to leave people wanting a little bit more, and not saying, ‘This guy’s become an ageing bore’, or, ‘He’s not relevant any more’. I would hate that,” King adds. “But I want to entertain people. It’s what I’m built to do.”

PRESS ASSOCIATION / THE INTERVIEW PEOPLE

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SCENARIO-BUZZ.COM | © 2014 CREATIVECOW.NET

TO WRITE THE FIRST EPISODE GAVE ME THE FIRST FOOTPRINT

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TAKE ME WITH YOU

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THE FOUNTAINS OF

BRATISLAVA

BY EVA KURILOVA

OCTOBER 2014

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TAKE ME WITH YOU TOP TO BOTTOM: ROLAND’S FOUNTAIN, NIGHTVIEW STATUE OF MAXIMILIAN II PORTRAYED AS A KNIGHT, BUILT IN 1572.

OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: STATUE OF KNIGHT ST. GEORGE FOUNTAIN IN PRIMATE’S PALACE FOUNTAIN WITH THE LION, OLD MARKETPLACE

Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, is home to over 130 different fountains. These fountains range from small drinking fountains, to beautiful, giant sculptures from the medieval to the modern era that attract many tourists. Here are 6 fountains that you can either check out yourself, or see on one of the many tours that are offered throughout the city.

THESE FOUNTAINS RANGE FROM SMALL DRINKING FOUNTAINS, TO BEAUTIFUL, GIANT SCULPTURES FROM THE MEDIEVAL TO THE MODERN ERA ROLAND’S FOUNTAIN Roland’s Fountain, which is also sometimes known as Maximilian’s Fountain, was built

by Andreas Lutringer in the year 1572 and can be found in Old Town. Its construction was ordered and financed by the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II, following a 1563 fire in the city. Considered a Slovak National Monument, the fountain features a statue of a knight standing atop a 10.5-meter-high column. Legend says that the knight comes alive on Good Friday, but that he can only be seen by good-hearted people who were born and raised in Bratislava.

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THE FOUNTAINS OF BRATISLAVA | HOLIDAY ITINERARY

FOUNTAIN OF ST. GEORGE THE FOUNTAIN WITH THE AND THE DRAGON LION IS CONSIDERED TO BE A Constructed during the Renaissance, the BRATISLAVA CITY MONUMENT Fountain of St. George and the Dragon depicts the wide-spread medieval myth of a Roman army officer who saved a town from a dragon by killing it with a spear. It is located in the courtyard of the Primate’s Palace. The statue shows St. George in the act of spearing the dragon while sitting atop a horse. It is often viewed as a symbol of Christianity’s victory over evil.

A SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANITY’S VICTORY OVER EVIL OCTOBER 2014

FOUNTAIN WITH THE LION Constructed in 1592 by a sculptor whose name is now unfortunately lost to history, the fountain with the lion is considered to be a Bratislava City Monument, and is located in the Old Marketplace. The fountain consists of a stone pedestal topped by a lion which is holding the coat-of-arms of Bratislava. The lion that currently sits on the fountain is a duplicate of the original, which is today housed in the Bratislava City Museum.

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TAKE ME WITH YOU KEFT TO RIGHT: GANYMEDE’S FOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF SLOVAK NATIONAL THEATER HVIEZDOSLAV SQUARE IN OLD TOWN.

OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: OLD TOWN HALL WITH ITS TOWER AND SQUARE WOMAN WITH A VASE FOUNTAIN, FRANCISCAN SQUARE TRITON AND THE NYMPH FOUNTAIN, MIRBACH PALACE.

GANYMEDE’S FOUNTAIN Though not as old as the two previous fountains, Ganymede’s Fountain, which was constructed in 1888, is no less impressive.

Designed by Viktor Oskar Tilgner, Ganymede’s Fountain is a depiction of the myth of Ganymede, who was carried to the top of Mount Olympus by an eagle. Near the bottom of the fountain are four children, each holding a different species of fish found in the Danube River. Ganymede’s Fountain sits in Hviezdoslav Square in Old Town.

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GANYMEDE’S FOUNTAIN IS A DEPICTION OF THE MYTH OF GANYMEDE, WHO WAS CARRIED TO THE TOP OF MOUNT OLYMPUS BY AN EAGLE OPTIMUM

THE FOUNTAINS OF BRATISLAVA | HOLIDAY ITINERARY

WOMAN WITH A VASE The fountain of the woman with a vase today sits in the exact spot where the fountain with the lion once was, in Bratislava’s Franciscan Square. It was moved to the Old Town Hall in the 1880s, but was returned to its original position over a century later in 1998.

THE FOUNTAIN OF TRITON AND THE NYMPH IS IN FACT A COPY OF AN 1874 FOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTED BY VIKTOR OSKAR TILGNER IN VIENNA TRITON AND THE NYMPH The fountain of Triton and the nymph is a fairly recent addition to Bratislava, at least when compared to the other fountains mentioned here. Built in 1981, the fountain of Triton and the nymph is in fact a copy of an 1874 fountain constructed by Viktor Oskar Tilgner in Vienna. The Bratislava version currently sits in the courtyard of Mirbach Palace

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SOUNDCHECK

SPEAK, SEE, HEAR NO EVIL

Ed sheeran X English singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran is back with his second studio album “X”. Consisting of 12 songs, the album was an international success in its first week and made it to the top five positions in eleven countries and took the first position in twelve other countries.

His first album was generally about one person and the first track “one” in his new album “X” is the last song about that person. It was written by Ed back in 2011 in Perth, shortly after his album “+” came out and

what makes it unique is the fact that it was written on a guitar made out of a whiskey barrel. Some tracks in the album like “Afire love”, “The Man”, “Thinking out loud” and some others are signs of how Ed has evolved professionally in his songs especially when we focus on the different rhythms the album offers us. We find him experimenting in hip-hop and even joining up with producer legends Rick Rubin and Pharrell to help with some of the tracks.

Jason mraz YES American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz released his fifth studio album “YES” consisting of fourteen songs. The album includes a cover up for the song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” which was originally by American R&B vocal group Boyz II Men and I must say it sounds just as good. The song “Love Someone” is so far, the most easy-going song we’ve heard from this artist and definitely just the one for a summer night romance. The album’s final track “shine” is the most mind manifesting/psychedelic in the album, with folklore lyrics and instruments like

sitar, tribal drums, and also a bit of clapping. This track uses the sun, moon and sky to relate to a relationship where one person puts in more than the other and this is shown by the lyrics, of the first verse, “the sun and the moon made a deal with the sky… but the moon had a shadow, he felt like a liar, the sun was the only one who carried the fire, the sun saw this, she kept on glowing bound to the moon, never saying, you owe me”. Mraz as we know, always has the symbolic touch of reggae that he blends into his songs and the album “YES” is no exception.

Michael jackson Xscape The king of pop Michael Jackson still lives by his music, which until today is still being released. His new album “XSCAPE” got released this year by Epic Records and MJJ Music, and is composed of eight formerly unreleased tracks of the king recorded in the 20th century which were reproduced by Timbaland, Stargate, J-Roc, John McClain, and Rodney Jerkins. The Deluxe version of the album offers the original Jackson demo of each song in the album. The

first song in the album, “Love Never Felt So Good” was written

by Jackson and Paul Anka and dates as far back as 1983 making it the oldest in the album. The tracks “Loving You” and “Do You Know Where Your Children Are” were written solely by the late Michael Jackson. He also contributed in writing the tracks “A Place with No Name”, “Blue Gangsta” and “Xscape”, While the tracks “Chicago” and “Slave to the Rhythm” had other writers.

Mariah carey ME. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse Nearly four years since her last Christmas album in 2010, the remarkable American singer-songwriter and actress Mariah Carey makes a wonderful comeback with her latest album “ME. I AM MARIAH...

THE ELUSIVE CHANTEUSE”. The album consists of fifteen songs which like her previous albums, is classified as “Real music” and not just the kind for quick listening. The lovely soothing sound of a piano opens the first track in the album “Cry” followed by Mariah’s wonderfully controlled and comfortable voice singing with desire to hold a lover until they both

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break down. The last track in the album “Heavenly” is a gospel song where a man is heard preaching at the beginning, “Folks will taking advantage…be still and let God fight your battles” A twist from the peaceful tracks in the album is the hip-hop and R&B club friendly song “Thirsty” with American rapper Rich Homie Quan chanting in the background the words “you know you know you thirsty”. “ME. I AM MARIAH… THE ELUSIVE CHANTEUSE” is a showcase of diverse musical style that integrates hip-hop, soul, gospel and some elements of gospel all in one R&B album.

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WATCHOUT

SPEAK, SEE, HEAR NO EVIL

SEX TAPE

| 94 mins | Comedy Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel

To many if you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen the movie. Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz play Jay and Annie, a young couple in love with a very tight romantic and sexual connection that was intense until two new souls join the family. As their passion for sex became less regular and less exciting, they started questioning different ways to bring back the romantic connection they once had. A sex tape? Yes you got it. The couple

decides to make a three hour session sex tape trying out every position in “The Joy of Sex”. Not a bad idea had it not turned out to be less private. The video got uploaded accidentally to ‘the cloud’, which was obviously followed with a night spent chasing gifted iPads and breaking into offices the offices of YouPorn.

Grab your popcorn, drink and get ready for an exciting and easy to watch movie. What you see is what you get.

MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN | 119 min | Comedy, Drama Kaitlyn Dever, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ansel Elgort, Jennifer Garner, Judy Greer, Dean Norris, Adam Sandler Men, Women & Children,” a carefully diagrammed thesis movie about The Way We Live Now — specifically, how our attachments to the virtual world are destroying our relationships and turning us into a race of fame-obsessed, porn-addicted e-zombies. It disects a middle-class texas suburb, finding alienated youth, repressed adults and dysfunctional families.

The movie is also so preachy and square that it will be largely ignored by the very people it is trying to help.

Kids are on the Internet too much, texting, sending dirty photos, gossiping, and in general ignoring school,

their parents and the world around them. Parents are not any better - Both seek fulfillment in the arms of others. Helen playing dirty with an online hook-up (Dennis Haysbert), while Don just wants to snuggle with high-priced call girl Angelique (Shane Lynch) Men, Women & Children ups the ante on graphic sex, dipping into S&M and lingering over Internet porn sites. But underneath all the racy dialogue and tech talk lies a very straitlaced, old-fashioned story that’s been around for decades. Call it the white middleclass blues.

THE MAZE RUNNER |

113 Min | Thriller Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Aml Ameen, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter

When Thomas (O’Brien) wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of the outside world other than strange dreams about a mysterious organization known as W.C.K.D. Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his true purpose and a way to escape. Based on the best-selling novel by

James Dashner. Much of the action unfolds in a large field, and the spidery thingies that crawl out of the woodwork to afflict a band of boys trying to escape a mysterious confinement have an oldfashioned, bio-mechanical charm. Though the pacing drags a bit in the first hour and there’s not much character development unless you count the cast’s bicep-building hours at the gym.

THE SONG

| 117 min | Drama Alan Powell, Ali Faulkner, Caitlin Nicol-Thomas

A moralistic yet lushly romantic melodrama — about a rising singer-songwriter struggling to hold onto his marriage in the face of worldly temptations — boasts enough in the stirring music to play like an emotionally involving love story rather than a rote pro-monogamy lecture. “The Song” follows aspiring singer-songwriter Jed King (Alan Powell) as he struggles to catch a break and escape the long shadow of his father, a

OCTOBER 2014

country music legend. After reluctantly accepting a gig at a local vineyard harvest festival, Jed is love-struck by the vineyard owners daughter, Rose (Ali Faulkner), and a romance quickly blooms.

“The Song”takes a familiar tale of love, marriage, betrayal and redemption, and delivers a largely satisfying rendition. way of persuasive acting and With word-of-mouth support, a marketable

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READ’EM

SPEAK, SEE, HEAR NO EVIL

THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING Erika Johansen Why you should read this book

A gripping reality-escape

You are guaranteed to love this one, not to put it down and maybe ask for more.

On her nineteenth birthday, and after being raised in exile, Kelsea, the most un-queenly queen, starts off her adventurous journey to reclaim her rightful throne.

Erika Johansen involves the readers in the quest with kelsea with her incredible narrative descriptions and eloquent writing.

While she bears small resemblance to the stereotypical image of a queen, Kelsea’s characteristics are at once, realistic and idealistically honorable.

As the heroine embarks on her journey with her

diseased mother’s guards, she was soon able to change their opinion of her from plain looking, to a righteous queen, that is able to rule a kingdom with strength and power. Though her mother was the image of beauty, she was never a good leader and Kelsea proved to them that vanity is not what is important contrary to her late mother who, despite her good intentions, was never able to rule a kingdom!

Many obstacles stand in her way, many battles and crucial decisions were to be made along with the ambiguities she had to unravel in order to fix what has been caused by her mother’s poor decisions.

THE HEIRESSES Sara Shepard Why you should read this book

Sara Shepard fan.

If you’re a Sara Shepard fan, then this title ‘The Heiresses’ will definitely grab your attention – not for long! It is filled with pretty girls, lots of secrets and a crime scene. That’s about it. Past chapter three my struggle with this book started. It was painful to say the least. The longest time a book actually spent on my side table. Poppy, Aster, Corrine, Natasha, and Rowan are the heiresses of the Saybrook’s jewellery empire, a family business that is known for both its wealth, and a very old curse that leads

to family members dying suddenly. They were to live their lives with the utmost decorum, smile for the cameras, speak several languages, hold many degrees, cultivate the art of conversation and most important, refrain from doing anything that might bring scandal upon the family.

To never break the rules.

When one of the 5 heiresses is killed, and an online gossip site publishes a statement ‘One Heiress Down, 4 more to go’, an investigation is opened.

TOUT SOUL Karen Wheeler Why you should read this book

experience the unexpected.

Tout Soul is an emotional account of a year in the life of Karen Wheeler, a British fashion journalist, who lives in a French village. The title is a mixture of French and English which translates as “all soul”. It is Karen Wheeler’s third autobiographical, non-fiction book about her life in France. Sub-titled ‘The Pursuit of Happiness in Rural France’, Tout Soul was published in 2012 by Sweet Pea Publishing.

Tout Soul is a multi-layered book. On the most superficial level are Ms Wheeler’s descriptions of life in French villages, the surrounding countryside, and her friends and acquaintances. On the next level are her more

personal feelings about her ex-boyfriend, Luis, and the end of their relationship. On the most profound level is a battle between life and death and the effects it has on the author.

Life carries on until tragedy strikes. The unexpected happens as several twists and turns take place before the end of the book. True life seems more unpredictable and unexpected than fiction.

From hilariously funny incidents to heart-breakingly sad times, Tout Soul will take you through a variety of emotions as you read about the events of one year in the author’s life.

THE WATCHMAN Robert Crais Why you should read this book

will keep you on edge.

The latest Joe Pike novel from Robert Crais offers “edge-of-your-seat” action, a twisting plot, and likeable yet flawed characters. It’s an enjoyable read. The Watchman is the 11th book to feature former LAPD cop, ex-marine, and gun-for-hire Joe Pike. The action centers around a Paris Hilton-type Los Angeles socialite, Larkin Barkley, the daughter of a megawealthy real estate developer, who finds herself mixed up in a terrifying situation after she crashes her car

OCTOBER 2014

into the wrong people late one night. It seems the passenger in the car that fled the scene is a wanted drug smuggler.

Favorite Crais hero, Joe Pike is called in to protect Larkin after three attempts have been made on her life in as many days. No sooner do they get to the next safe house than a fourth attempt is made. Going underground, Pike tries to protect Larkin and figure out who’s leaking their whereabouts.

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EXPAND YOUR

PANTRY

BY LARA ARISS

My kitchen is my own personal playground where I venture in to cook, eat, and unwind. It’s the perfect setting for recreation and creativity, for alchemy and adventure. Allow me to share what comes out of my kitchen – fun stories, simple ideas, and of course recipes that are lovely, straightforward, and fine-tuned. As you go through my blog you will find improvised recipes that have materialized with the meals, imagined and simmered in my head before they were tested and realized, and ones that have come to me from friends, family, and cookbooks.

All I know of cooking is that it mustn’t be a drag, with complicated recipes and exotic ingredients that are impossible to find. Cooking should be accessible and frank. A meal doesn’t have to be fancy and elaborate to look and taste amazing. The simplest recipes executed in the right way make for food that is quite simply divine. I like honest recipes that don’t deceive or disappoint. Whether improvised, imagined, or shared, the recipes found here are meant to make your adventures in the kitchen more fun. Look forward to knowing your thoughts.

The menu selection, check her out on the web http://www.bylara.me @laraariss

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bylara

laraariss

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EAT, DRINK+BE MERRY

ROQUEFORT, PEAR & DATE SALAD

PREPARATION TIME 15 MINUTES SERVES 2 LEVEL EASY

INGREDIENTS • 3 bunches of rocca • Dates, handful, stoned and sliced • Walnuts, handful • 100 grams blue cheese, crumbled • 2 pears, peeled and thinly sliced.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE SALAD DRESSING • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar • 2 tablespoons date syrup • Salt, to taste.

METHOD

• In a bowl, toss together the rocca, dates, and walnuts • In a

small bowl, whisk the balsamic vinegar, date syrup and salt.

Drizzle over the rocca, dates, and walnuts • To serve, divide onto serving plates and garnish with blue cheese and pears.

MUSSELS WITH HERBS PREPARATION TIME 15 MINUTES COOKING TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 2 - 4 LEVEL MEDIUM

PHOTOGRAPHER NATALIE NACCACHE-MOURAD & ART DIRECTOR ALI AKEL

INGREDIENTS • 1 tablespoon canola oill • 1 onion, finely chopped • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 200 grams mushrooms, sliced • 150 grams halved cherry tomatoes • 24 black mussels, scrubbed and bearded • 1 teaspoon oregano • 1 teaspoon parsley, finely chopped • 1 teaspoon thyme, finely chopped • 400 ml dry white wine • 2 teaspoons unsalted butter • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.

METHOD

• Soak scrubbed and bearded mussels in clean, cold water for 20 minutes so that they will spit out any reserved sand • Heat

a saucepot over high heat, pour the oil, and add the onion and garlic. Cook until fragrant and the onion start to turn golden brown for 2 minutes, stirring frequently • Add the mushrooms and cook until it starts to give off its liquid for 2 minutes, stirring frequently • Add the tomatoes and stir to cook for 15 seconds • Add the mussels to the saucepot and shake well. Cook until they start to open for about 20 to 30 seconds • Once the mussels have opened, add the herbs and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 10 seconds and then pour in the wine. Stir well and bring to a boil • Add the butter, stir to combine, and reduce the heat to medium.

Cook uncovered until the mussels open and the liquid is reduced by ¼ for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. season with salt and pepper ground black pepper • To serve, divide the mussels and the sauce between the serving bowls.

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EAT, DRINK+BE MERRY

ROASTED STONE FRUIT PREPARATION TIME 10 MINUTES COOKING TIME 25 MINUTES SERVES 4 LEVEL EASY

INGREDIENTS • 4 nectarines, halved and stoned • 3 -4 bay leaves • 4 tablespoons clear honey • 100 grams blueberries • Vanilla ice cream

METHOD

• Preheat the oven to 220 Degrees C • In a shallow ovenproof

dish, place the fruits side by side. Tuck the bay leaves between the fruit and drizzle over the honey • Roast for 20 to 25 minutes until the fruit is tender • To serve, divide the fruit in serving bowls with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in each bowl.

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ZODIAC FORECASTS FROM JONATHAN CAINER

October 2014

ZACH GALIFIANAKIS © 2005-2014 JUST JARED, INC.

A LUNAR ECLIPSE WILL BE VISIBLE FROM SOME PLACES ON OCTOBER 8. WHILST ALL SUCH CELESTIAL SPECTACLES ARE SPECIAL, THIS ONE IS RICH IN SYMBOLIC SUGGESTION. THE PLANET URANUS IS NOT A ‘NAKED EYE’ OBJECT. IT CAN TAKE SOME FINDING EVEN IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. BUT ITS POSITION, SO NEAR THE ECLIPSED MOON WILL HELP AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS ALIGN THEIR TELESCOPES. IT SUGGESTS LIGHT IS FINALLY GOING TO BE SHED ON A TECHNOLOGICAL PUZZLE THAT HAS BEEN BAFFLING EXPERTS. IT ALSO SPEAKS OF A ‘SHIFT IN THE BALANCE OF POWER’ IMPLYING JUSTICE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED UNFAIR TREATMENT.

SCORPIO October 24 - November 22 Why ask a question that you can’t hope to get an answer to? Why try to understand what makes no sense? Because you can’t ever be sure about what constitutes a fruitless pursuit. The only way to find out is to try - but sometimes, it is not enough to try just once.

Plus you may gain a lot by travelling through tricky territory. The world’s most exciting discoveries are rarely made whilst pursuing the most obvious objectives. It can’t do any harm to stretch yourself a little in October, as long as you don’t stretch too far.

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

LIBRA

September 24 - October 23

SAGITTARIUS

We are advised from the earliest age that if we want to get on in life, we should exercise caution and consider the consequences of our actions before we make moves. Yet most of life’s most magical and rewarding experiences come as a direct result of ignoring such instructions, and acting out of wild passion and reckless abandon. If people really thought long and hard before they did anything, there would be no romance, drama or adventure. Decide if you are in danger, in October, of going too far or not far enough?

November 23 - December 21 Some astrologers believe in reincarnation. Others don’t. I have an issue with it. It may happen, it may not. But if the idea of it influences me to settle for second-best because one day, in some other world, things may be different, then it is doing me a disservice. Likewise, if I decide that things are going wrong because I am being punished for a deed in my past life that I can now neither remember nor atone for.

October brings you what appears to be an opportunity of a lifetime. Don’t question it, don’t postpone it, seize it.

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

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CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

November 23 - December 21 Here you are, right at the cutting-edge, on the front-line, in the thick of the action. Everything rests on your shoulders. Or at least, that’s how it feels. It perhaps also feels as if the universe has made a bit of a mistake in giving you all this responsibility. Confident though you can sometimes be, you are unsure of yourself in a sensitive situation now. So here is some good news. You don’t have to save the world singlehandedly in October. Others too, have power and they are about to use it in a way that benefits everyone, even you.

January 21 - February 19 Be glad you can’t levitate at will. Imagine the trouble you’d have in shops and public places; the attention you’d draw and possibly too, the accidents you’d cause. Thank goodness you can’t materialise and dematerialise as you choose. What if your clothes sometimes took a few seconds to catch up with you?

How embarrassing would that be? There are drawbacks to making even the most desirable of dreams become a reality. Something seemingly far fetched is surprisingly possible in October. But is it what you really want?

February 20 - March 20 Nothing seems to fit. It doesn’t seem to matter how you change a situation or to rearrange it.

You are trying to make sense of a paradox.

You’ve got lots of components but they don’t fit together to make a finished article of any recognisable description. You’ve got plenty to baffle you and plenty too, to cause exasperation and agitation. Can any of this chaos magically turn into a perfectly calm, satisfactory situation? Celestial events in October suggest it can. You just have to allow yourself to have a little more faith for a little longer.

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

March 21 - April 20 The more you reflect, the more you can learn about what has been happening in your world lately. You are none too keen to do that - for you fear that you have made some errors of judgement that it may be wiser to ignore and move on from than to sit around feeling bad about. Actually, though, you have much to be proud of. You have handled a difficult situation with great grace and ought to award yourself praise, not blame, for how things have turned out. And during October, they are about to get even better.

April 21 - May 21 Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Now I know that you’ve heard this before, and I agree that tomorrow, you will probably hear the same statement once more. And that it will be equally valid. But, then, we can deal with the first day of the rest of the rest of your life when we get there. Right now, it’s sufficient to know that things are changing - and that, if you now allow them to change, you may not need to make any more grand fresh starts for a long while. In October, you really do stand on the threshold of a great breakthrough.

May 22 - June 22 How many members does your fan club have? More than you might imagine. The subscribers, though, are sensitive. They know how awkward you might feel if you knew how widely admired you are. So they play it cool.

They hide the true depth of their appreciation. It is better, they feel, to leave you wondering if you’re loved or even liked than to overwhelm you with praise and worship. In October, though, they’ll have a hard job hiding. Prepare to make several pleasing discoveries about your power.

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

June 23 - July 23 Some things, you feel, have to be done right now. Questions must be answered immediately. Issues must be dealt with as fast as possible. Still, though, there are some plans that can be put off, some dramas that will have better outcomes if left alone for a while, some lines of inquiry that it’s counterproductive to pursue. When the time is right, you will know it. Unless, that is, you’re so determined to see now as the right time that you end up making the wrong choices. Trust yourself, and your sense of timing, this month.

July 24 - August 23 People born under your sign are notoriously good at asking difficult questions. But you are not always so good at answering them. Why is a particular question so difficult? On the surface, it seems simple and innocent enough.

There is, though, a layer of important information, hidden beneath what now appears to be obvious. It needs to be exposed, so that there can be real progress or meaningful dialogue.

Events in October, may feel challenging at times but they will help to put vital processes in motion.

August 24 - September 23 ‘Que sera sera, the future’s not ours to see‘ So goes the old Doris Day song. To this day, people still hum this tune. The melody, has made its way into our minds and more crucially, so has the sentiment. But is it true? Actually, it is surprisingly easy to see the future.

The truth is, most of us just really don’t want to know what it contains. You can now foresee an almost inevitable development in time to take full advantage of it. That simply requires you to find the courage to look ahead in October without fear or favour.

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

OCTOBER 2014

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NEW + NOW BEATIFUL

FUNDRAISING EVENT HOSTED HEDKANDI LIVE AT SKYBAR BEATiful is an action project created by iloveflair.com to spread awareness on breast cancer, early detection via Self-exam. The fund raising event took place on the 4th of August at Skybar Beirut, crowned by the 5 million hit-selling artist, HedKandi. The collected full funds were exclusively held in support of the May Jallad, Fair Face and the Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundations.

The night met huge success with over 1000 attendees enjoying the evening and winning lots of valuable raffle prizes while dancing to house music. Major prizes included a Ford Focus, a Paolo Bongia jewelry creation, a Carolina Herrera Gown from Esposa, an Elie Saab purse, Two curved UHD TV from Samsung,a Samsung Galaxy S5 with a custom-made My Danasha diamond cover, a Natuzzi Chair, a 3D Make up by Hala Ajam,a Hollywood smile by Medic8 and many more including gifts from Wojooh, Sophie’s Choice, Lancel, Lacoste, Ten2Ten, Abou Adal, China Glaze, Lalique and The Hair Avenue by Steve.

Breast Cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Lebanese women, constituting 38.2% of all cases, with 49.1% occurring amongst females below the age of 50. BEATiful tackles this national issue with an aim to reach 1 million women to raise awareness through ‘Breast Cancer is Beatiful if You Check Yourself Out’ to be released this October, the official global month for the fight against breast cancer.

FLYDUBAI Airline adds Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, announces flight details for Kazakhstan and takes delivery of three new aircraft.

Dubai-based Flydubai continues the expansion of its network in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) by adding Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Zagreb in Croatia.

These two new routes, on which operations will commence in December this year, bring the number of destinations the carrier serves in the CEE and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to 26. The airline will then serve a total of 75 destinations within a five-and-a-half-hour flying radius of Dubai.

To support the continuous growth of its network and added frequency on

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its existing routes, flydubai will take delivery of three new Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s in July, growing its fleet to 39 aircraft. The carrier will receive an additional four aircraft by the end of 2014.

Commenting on the launch, flydubai’s Chief Executive Officer, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: “We remain focused on opening up underserved markets and strengthening air links from Dubai’s aviation hub to the region. The new flights to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia represent new opportunities for travel, trade and tourism for passengers in both countries and the UAE.” Flydubai will become the first carrier to operate direct flights from Dubai to Sarajevo and Zagreb. The airline is also the first Dubai-based airline to serve Almaty and Shymkent in Kazakhstan and flights to these routes will commence in September. In addition, Business Class will be available on all four of these routes, providing passengers with additional convenience and comfort as they travel.

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Le Chat & KidzMondo: A venture towards cleanliness!

Le Chat, the renowned brand from Henkel, announced the beginning of an exciting joint venture with KidzMondo, the children mini city and their premier edutainment destination in Lebanon, in an inauguration ceremony held on June the 30th, 2014.

As one of Le Chat projects, this event attended by members of the press, parents and children, motivates the Lebanese youth discover the secrets of the laundry process with Le Chat detergent and softener, made from the renowned “Savon de Marseille� and dermatologically tested to protect their skin from allergies.

At the end of the ceremony, Le Chat expressed their deep sense of pride of this collaboration, and the chance of granting Lebanon children the opportunity to discover the importance of maintaining a perfectly clean laundry and a soft and healthy skin.

The cleanliness that respects the skin.

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IT’S A

ACLE! Old Whites are still as BRIGHT

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NEW + NOW

THE ADIDAS ENERGY BOOST

VIBRANT STYLE AND UNMATCHED ENERGY RETURN Adidas has introduced the newest model of the iconic Energy Boost with an improved fit, look and feel to help runners embrace the road with confidence and style.

Energy Boost provides unrivalled responsiveness with heel to toe BOOST™ foam that stores and returns energy to ensure the more energy you give, the more you get. BOOST foam is made of thousands of durable Energy capsules that maintain their soft cushioning season after season so every run with BOOST feels like the first.

The new Energy Boost also provides improved comfort with an elegant stretch mesh upper that hugs the shape of your foot and allows for added ventilation to keep your feet cooler during runs. Regardless of the environment you run in, Energy Boost is unwavering. BOOST cushioning remains consistent in any weather condition while standard EVA expands and hardens in varying temperatures. From the sweltering heat to the blistering cold, BOOST maintains its cushioning properties.

“Energy Boost allows runners to focus on the path ahead by providing a consistently comfortable and energetic run every time they lace up,” said Adrian Leek, senior vice president of adidas running. “BOOST responsive cushioning and the supporting technologies in Energy BOOST eliminate unwanted variables and provide runners with complete confidence.”

TAGHEUER

TIMELESS AND GLAMOROUS, YET VERY CARRERA A half-century after its dramatic arrival on the motor-racing scene, the Carrera returns in an enriched Lady Collection more feminine than ever.

The new Carrera Lady Collection is every bit as beautiful and strong as the glamorous woman who helped design it: five-time Grand Slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova.

Launching this October, the 12 ultra-feminine, chic & sporty new watches in the Collection are perfect night or day accessories, ideal for dressing up or down. The racing-circuit aesthetics that made the Carrera an icon of classic sporting style-faceted horns, wide-open dial and a thin bezel for optimum readability at the wheel-are still in place but reinterpreted in a more feminine way. The stunning details, in contrasting black and white, give new urban glamour. Like Maria Sharapova, their sexy, feminine appeal is at the forefront, but so too is their resilience and versatility. As hardworking and high-functioning as Maria-no matter what, no matter where-they are timeless classics that will never crack under pressure.

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RGB

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NEW + NOW URBAN ADVENTURER

MONTBLANC LEATHER COLLECTION: EXTREME Designed to successfully withstand the demands of man’s daily urban adventures, the Montblanc Extreme Collection pushes the boundaries of technical innovation to achieve new heights in durability and performance. Balancing style and functionality, these sleek leather goods with their distinctive contemporary designs have been crafted using innovative and highly resistant materials - a new generation of leather accessories tailored for the life of achievers, in search of functional pieces to carry them through their modern day life.

Building a bridge between a long tradition of fine craftsmanship and Montblanc’s constant quest for innovation, the Extreme collection masterfully blends leather manufacturing processes in use since 1926 when Montblanc opened up its first leather workshop in Germany, and new techniques pioneered by the luxury maison. A unique dressing and finishing technique ‘made in Germany’ uses cutting-edge technology to provide every piece with additional protection against the elements. This innovative high-performance leather delivers abrasion resistance, water and heat repellence.

It is behind the walls of the Montblanc Pelletteria on the outskirts of Florence, that ancestral craftsmanship, state of the art technology and enduring design were masterfully brought together to bring to life the Extreme concept. Established since 2006 in the historical centre of the Italian leather trade, a team of highly skilled designers and artisans source the finest skins from the tanneries and transform them into the finest quality leather pieces, adhering to Montblanc’s promise to continuously break

new ground, while ensuring the preservation of century-old traditions such as the stitching and quitting.

Technical prowess is achieved without ever compromising on design. Every minute detail of the Extreme collection contributes to a contemporary yet timeless carbon appeal: from the black calfskin leather displaying a subtle woven carbon structure in a mat and shiny lustre to the sleek deep black metal fittings made of light weighted black anodized aluminium. An unmistakable seal of quality and excellence in craftsmanship, the collection is rounded off with the classic Montblanc emblem featured in the centre of a contemporary black ring.

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS LAUNCHES SAMSUNG GALAXY APPS New app store allows customers to easily access and enjoy select applications across their Samsung Galaxy devices.

(August, 2014) – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., launched Samsung GALAXY Apps, an app store that offers hundreds of apps exclusively available to users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices.

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An improvement upon its predecessor, Samsung Apps, the new app store features apps that will allow greater customization of mobile devices, and will also function as a platform to offer various promotions and discounts.

“At Samsung, we continuously strive to create value for our customers by providing differentiated solutions and services coupled with innovative devices,” said WonPyo Hong, President of the Media Solution Center at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung GALAXY Apps is an extension of that promise, as it offers our customers exclusive apps to enrich their experience.”

Samsung GALAXY Apps features an intuitive user interface comprised of three sections, Best Picks, Top, and For Galaxy. Best Picks allows users to easily find recommended apps and promotions, while Top showcases the most popular apps which can be viewed according to their popularity, date, and price.

For Galaxy includes up to four sections. Galaxy Gifts offers premium apps exclusively for Galaxy devices. Galaxy Essentials delivers musthave apps for Galaxy devices. Apps for Professionals is the home of business focused apps and other services that fully utilize the features of Galaxy devices. Galaxy Specials lets users download apps specifically created by using Samsung SDKs. Samsung GALAXY Apps will eventually be available to over 130 million users across 161 countries around the world.

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NEW + NOW

ALLÉE DES ARTS

WHERE ART IS PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE Once again Har Properties is revolutionizing the real estate market with its latest development Allée des Arts, situated in the heart of Gemmayze.

Allée des Arts is a brand new concept that gives a unique space for living and business set amid a green and artistic environment; at the heart of the project a central alleyway is dedicated to art and to giving artists a space to exhibit and sell their creations, providing the inspiration for the project’s name: Allée des Arts. To launch this new flagship development, an event took place on June 19 on the site. Embodying a Pop Art theme, the central alley of the project was created for the event in its real size, highlighting the

MICHAEL KORS

TO OPEN ITS FIRST STORE IN BEIRUT Michael Kors is pleased to announce the opening of its first Michael Kors Lifestyle store in Beirut, Lebanon, this July.

The 1,361-square-foot store, located in downtown Beirut on Fakhry Bey Street, will carry a mix of accessories from the Michael Kors

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green aspect of the project alongside the work of exhibiting artists. The exhibition remained open to the public for several days. This new project (situated in the heart of Gemmayze, one of the capital’s most vibrant, cultural and artistic neighborhoods) offers a fresh approach to residential and commercial space in the capital. Art is indeed an integral part of the two blocs that make up the Allée des Arts development, while green spaces, a rare attribute in Beirut, provide a place to enjoy the outdoors and relax. The project’s architecture by Accent DG is a work of art in itself. The perforated facade exposes geometric shapes juxtaposed in a contemporary style, bringing forth an intriguing play of light. And since light is the source of life and art, allowing a maximum of light to enter each of the living spaces was one of the major architectural objectives. With its strong architectural play on volume, light and structure… Allée des Arts is a unique project.

Collection and MICHAEL Michael Kors labels, as well as watches, jewelry, footwear and eyewear. The store will also carry a selection of the brand’s fragrances.

Michael Kors’ in-house team designed the store to echo the label’s chic aesthetic, using zebra-print furniture, sleek metal fixtures and mirrored surfaces. Glossy, large-scale vintage photographs cover the walls, evoking jet set glamour and timeless sophistication.

“Fashion and style have really become global over the past few years,” says Michael Kors. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to open stores in new regions around the world, and I think Lebanon, which has always been renowned for its sophistication, is the perfect choice for our newest location.” “It’s always exciting entering a new country,” says John D. Idol, Chief Executive Officer. “The Middle East is a key piece of our expansion strategy, and Beirut is a shopping destination for many fashion and luxury customers. We’re looking forward to introducing them to our jet set lifestyle.” known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect its actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements.

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