Issue 52 - June 2013 by TheTalk PH7

Issue 52 - June 2013

LOUIS VUITTON OPENS FIRST

HAUTE MAROQUINERIE SALON IN THE REGION WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LETTER

Hublot

Big Bang Zebra. Chronograph in 18K red gold adorned with baguette-cut clear topaz and black spinels. Dial set with 8 diamonds. Rubber and zebra coloured calf strap. Limited edition of 250 pieces.

THETALK / June / 2013

Hublot

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twitter.com/hublot •

facebook.com/hublot

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EDITOR’S LETTER

THETALK / June / 2013

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EDITOR’S LETTER

THETALK / June / 2013

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EDITOR’S LETTER

THETALK / June / 2013

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EDITOR’S LETTER

THETALK / June / 2013

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Dear Trendsetters, It is amazing how life events can influence one’s style, and how one’s style can influence life events! Last month I went to a ballet performance and got transported in its beauty. The next day as I was looking at Chloe’s new collection, I spotted the cutest ballerina shoes and just couldn’t grab them fast enough!! A week later I was invited to ‘Les Jeux d’Hermes’ event where the new collection of scarves was introduced and the main objective of the event was to have fun with the scarves while wearing them, posing in them and taking the most colorful and joyful pictures. Looking at the pictures, I couldn’t get over how stylish it looked to wear the scarves on our heads, giving us a hairstyle and face-framing that truly stood out. Needless to say, I never leave the house without a scarf on my head anymore!! Life is so inspiring, so keep exploring and enjoying. Till my next quirk, Zeina Mokaddam

ZAINEB AL-MOSAWI

SIMON BALSOM

With Spring cleaning over it is time for a fresh start. I say throw out everything that is worn out; in your closet and in life. Embrace the new season with all things new! The more clutter you clear out the more space you give for new things and new opportunities. Embrace change, embrace new loves and embrace life! It is amazing what the world presents to you when your spirit is open to it!

The further I go through life the greater is my realization that it’s the summers I remember. It’s not the grey, overcast, dusty days that I recall, it is the days of endless sunshine and warmth. This is my time to recharge my body and my mind during a vacation. For me there will be plenty of rest for sure, mixed with plenty of inspiration through travel too. Whatever you do, wherever summer takes you, make the most of every day.

NOUF AL-HAJRI I recently came back from a trip to Amsterdam and it happened to be the coldest spring they had since 1947. It was so cold I wanted to cover every inch of my body including my face! We were literally praying for 5 minutes of sunshine. I came back to town and everyone was complaining from our summer heat! Then I realized that I truly took our weather for granted! Yes summer is beautiful, the sun is heavenly.. embrace it while you have it! There are always ACs everywhere, so we have nothing to complain about!

THETALK / June / 2013

Balmain

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CONTENTS

Contents June 2013

34 74

Local Features 16. Louis Vuitton 20. Shaika Intisar Interview 24. Balsam & Lulwa Al Ayoub 28. Fearlessly Fugoura 34. Style & Sophistication 90. Kuwait Exclusives International Features 26. Her Style Icon 40. His Style Icon 68. Street Styles 74. Fashion Feature Setting

Trends 42. Her Trends 48. His Trends 52. Watches 64. Interior 66. Cars

Health

80. Tanning the Healthy Way!

Travel

83. The Great Escape

Reviews 88. Restaurant Review 96. Book Reviews 98. Movie Previews

54 52

THETALK / June / 2013

TissoT Luxury AuTomATic LAdy diAmonds

chosen by Deepika Padukone – Actress

An exceptional and timeless piece with Top Wesselton diamonds, offering 80 hours of power reserve with a revolutionary COSC certified Powermatic 80 movement, in a 316L stainless steel casing with see-through caseback and water resistance up to 5 bar (50 m / 165 ft).

IN TOUCH WITH YOUR TIME

Tissot

Get in touch at www.tissot.ch

New Street: 22453927 :‫ • ال�شارع اجلديد‬Al-Bustan: 25713901 :‫ • الب�شتان‬Salmiya Souq: 25718224 :‫ • �شوق ال�شاملية‬Avenues: 22597727, 22597728 :‫اأڤنيوز‬ WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM 13 Behbehani Complex: 22406795, 22453863 :‫ • جممع بهبهاين‬Sharq Market: 22433770, 22433500 :‫ • �شوق �رشق‬Marina Mall: 22244839, 22244882 :‫مارينا مول‬ Al-Kout/Fahaheel: 23930338, 23930339 :‫ الفحيحيل‬/‫ • جممع الكوت‬Laila Gallery: 25719780/1 :‫ • ليـلى جاليــري‬TIK TOK(SoKu, The Avenues): 22200726 :(‫ الأڤنيوز‬،‫تيك توك (�شوكو‬

Published by :

CONTENTS Tel: (965) 2572 0810 Fax: (965) 2572 0860 email: thetalk@ph7-kw.com www.ph7-kw.com

Editor-in-Chief NOUF AL -HAJRI Publisher ZEINA MOKADDAM

Audited Since 2011 by

Circulation: 10,000 Copies Readership: 40,000+ as per PARC 2012 Studies Managing Editor SIMON BALSOM Acting Managing Editor ALI SULTAN Senior Editor ZAINEB AL-MOSAWI

Director Sales & Marketing ASSAAD NEMER Senior Marketing Executive HIND NASSAR Marketing Executive SARA MASOUH Creative Director LARA HOMSI Graphic Designer CHADI MOUFIED Head of Photography KHALED AL- SALEH

Creative Photographer ANDRE SHIRAZI Photographer KHALED SANDID Production Manager RAGHEED AL ANI Legal Consultant KHALED AL-KANDARI

Press Agencies - Afp

Interview - Viva Press (Uk) Images - Gallo-Getty Special Thank You to Fatemah Almosawi. Founder of Spread The Passion.

Distribution Company: International Media Group Printed In Four Films

Reproduction in whole or part of any matter appearing in TheTalk is prohibited by law without prior written approval of the publishers. Opinions expressed in TheTalk do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers and editorial staff of the magazine. The publishers do not hold out any guarantee as to its accuracy, neither do they indemnify any loss arising through use of the information. VISIT OUR WEBSITE ON: WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

THETALK / June / 2013

A NEW LEVEL OF LUXURY HAS JUST OPENED IN KUWAIT

NOW OPEN Welcome to Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, a new treasure to discover by the glittering shore of the Arabian Gulf. Luxury flows like water through its exceptional rooms and suites, exquisite dining choices, distinctive fountains and water features, private sandy beach and Talise Spa. As an opening offer, rooms start from 50 KD + 15% service charge, inclusive of breakfast for both single and double. Dive in and experience it today. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

To make a reservation, call us at + 965 2 - 226 - 9600 or email at jmbinfo@jumeirah.com

STAY DIFFERENT

Main Feature

Louis Vuitton: HAUTE MAROQUINERIE, a bespoke journey into personalization.

Louis Vuitton opened his first store in Paris in 1854. Now, almost 160 years later, the legendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success has provided us with stores all across the world. In 1983, the first store in Kuwait opened within Salhiya Complex and today THETALK has an exclusive tour of the latest in the greatest example of luxury; the new Louis Vuitton store in the Avenues Mall. 16

THETALK / June / 2013

THETALK had the chance to intimately explore the two floored store and experience entering the Louis Vuitton world of excellence in a harmonious presentation of their collections with a beautiful interior designed by renowned architect Peter Marino.

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Main Feature

THETALK / June / 2013

For the first time in the region, Louis Vuitton has opened their HAUTE MAROQUINERIE SALON. A VIP experience situated on the first floor among the ready-to-wear collections for women and their menswear collections, for the first time in Kuwait. The Haute Maroquinerie salon gives you the experience of an alcove of an elegant private home. There you can bask in the lavishness of your personalization experience with the choices of 11 models in 5 different shapes, 8 leathers and 26 different colours giving you the opportunity to design your very own bag making it completely unique and personal to your specific taste. Kuwait is the first country in the Middle East to have the personalization experience among the other twenty-one in the world and is the highlight of the process of receiving your very own Louis Vuitton bag, choosing every single detail from a brilliantly designed trunk that holds all the necessary options of what your bag may entail. Louis Vuitton has not only restated its compelling luxury and creativity but has brought us an opportunity to be part of its refined history by actually making it. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

Local Trendsetters

setting the trend in spreading positivity & happiness in kuwait Shaika Intisar Salem alsabah interviewed by Fatemah almosawi 20

THETALK / June / 2013

It is my great pleasure to start this series

with Shaika Intisar Salem Alsabah founder of Alnowair initiative. Philanthropy is not something new for Shaika Intisar, she is part of the executive committee of Bayt Abdullah children hospice as well as a board member of Human Rights Watch Kuwait chapter, and has numerous involvements in and support for charitable causes and volunteer work. Last year her company, Lulua publishing, launched a book entitled “the Alchemy of Wisdom” featuring Kuwaiti Pearls, individuals with great contributions. Now, back to the mother of pearl and her latest initiative Alnowair. Fatemah Almosawi: Tell me about your initiative and the idea behind it? Shaika Intisar Salem Alsabah: Alnowair is a five-year, minimum, initiative to help spread positivity in Kuwait. Basically, we are taking scientific evidence, research and published literature about positivity, which includes everything from your attitude, self-confidence, and happiness, and simplifying it through a visual, tutorial or how to do smaller acts so that it is within easy access to the lay person, without having to read books much. So it is small actions one after the other that leads you to a more positive outlook on life. Fatemah: What is the story behind the name and logo? Shaika Intisar: We are a Move, an initiative driven to spread positive attitude in Kuwait. An attitude that we believe can be a way of living and lead to finding fulfillment and happiness. Alnowair is a collective of 5 different species of flowers that grow across Kuwait. Although each has different shape of petals all of them are yellow and round, all need the same elements to survive and they all spring to life together. We call ourselves Alnowair because we know people are different. We know that each person is

unique just like the flowers, but collectively we are still the same. Our basic needs are the same, no matter what age group or what income group we belong to. We all might have different smiles, but the reasons behind our smiles are often similar. the logo is the petals of the five different flowers united in one Fatemah: What inspire you to start this initiative? Shaika Intisar: I was reading an article on CNN by Shawn Achor, a lecturer at Harvard University; he was part of a team that started positive psychology. What I found interesting is that he said human beings have one mind-set, either a positive or a negative. When it is positive they see mistakes as being possible to rectify, but if the mind-set is negative then the brain has literally no more resources to see anything good, because the mind-set is on a negative so nothing is good. That opened my mind and I thought, “that’s why I am able to do things because I have a positive outlook while for others they feel helpless because the brain cannot see anything good and they are handicap from doing anything in life or anything in a given situation” that inspired me and I thought, “What can I do?”

Shaika Intisar: I did. Even before starting I spoke to two people and as I was telling them I was very self conscious that they might think I am being silly because in my mind it was not about making people happy but rather when you are positive you will automatically have better wellbeing in life. Then people were saying, “oh, how lovely” and the more people I spoke to the more I was encouraged to go ahead. Since we started on 20th March we have yet to talk to anyone who does not want to collaborate with us. That is because we followed the first rule of marketing, which is, “make it impressive” and we did. Everything we do is impressive from the logo to the material everything is impressive and that gives us credibility. Until now we didn’t’ have any resistance, even with the pencil act I tell people it is not about the pencil but an attitude. Fatemah: What distinguished you for success?

I started thinking and wanted to start an initiative so I put a budget for it and I wanted it to put things in small pictures and small acts, not reading coz most people don’t like to read and the youth are much happier to see things and do things, rather than read. That is why the alnowair team is comprised of people who have been in the advertising and marketing field. So that is the platform we work with, we take information and translate them to acts, thoughts or messages.

Shaika Intisar: Three things, reading, we read a lot before implementing. I did six months of reading and the campaign manager all she did since she came in for three months was to read. We have a library of at least 70 of the best books on happiness or positivity, and we subscribe to different magazines, blogs, and websites. We are going to a happiness conference in Australia next month. So we know what we are talking about which makes it easy to explain it to you. The second strong point is that we made everything beautiful, in quality, content, and beautiful in illustration. We don’t do mediocre and once people realize that they find us credible. The third point is that we have fantastic people working and they have the passion for it. We don’t do this as a 9 to 5. We read all day and we are always looking for what inspires people to change. So it is the Passion, the whole look and the fact that we do our homework. It is a nice initiative.

Fatemah: So do you foresee any obstacles in achieving your goal?

Fatemah: What skills you found most useful for work? Shaika Intisar: What I discovered is that you WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

Local Trendsetters

have to love what you do if you don’t make sure you begin and if you can’t then change. Also, you have to know what you are doing and so you have to make an effort. Fatemah: On a bad day what would you say to yourself for motivation to keep on going? Shaika Intisar: Sunday was a bad day because I came back from travelling and my blood pressure was low so I went home to rest. What is a bad day? is it out of exhaustion, feeling tired? I don’t think there is a bad day. If things don’t work out the way I want them to, I know there is something better so I relax and continue what I need to do while keeping an open mind and things always turn out better than I anticipated. Fatemah: Do you believe all dreams come true? Shaika Intisar: If it is good for you, if it is yours, and you work for it. That always do Fatemah: What do you think of volunteer work? Shaika Intisar: Don’t we all have to do something for society; there must be a purpose in ones life besides me. If it wasn’t then that is a sad life. Fatemah: What is your tip for people wanting to start their own initiative? Shaika Intisar: Let them volunteer. Don’t start an initiative if you have not done any volunteer work because it is not easy and not a one-day thing. Please make it worthy, there is nothing worst than 15 minutes of fame, unless 15 minutes is all that they are after. Make a change, if you can’t don’t start.

One of the main causes of that is having a purpose in life. So have a positive purpose and let people remember you. Make sure you leave a legacy with friends and family and a good reason to be remembered by.

a non profit organization with the main aim of spreading awareness about the value of volunteer work under the slogan “Make giving part of your living” by connecting volunteers to volunteering opportunities.

Fatemah: Last words or wish?

Great final words. to find out more about the alnowair initiatives you can visit alnowair.com and follow them on instagram on al_nowair

Shaika Intisar: I wish everyone wellbeing. Happiness is about wellbeing and flourishing.

This interview was written by Fatemah Almosawi founder of Spread the Passion,

To find out more, follow @spreadpassion on instagram and twitter. If you have an initiative that you want to be featured please contact me via email: fate@spreadthepassion.org

THETALK / June / 2013

New Look

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Local Trendsetters

Kuwaiti fencing champions Balsam and Lulwa Al Ayoub visit Manufacture JaegerLeCoultre in Switzerland

THETALK / June / 2013

Balsam and Lulwa Al Ayoub, Kuwaiti

fencing champions and friends of JaegerLeCoultre, visited the brand’s manufacturing workshops, testifying to 180 years of continuous development on a single site and the unique integration of all skills under one roof. Welcomed by Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO Jerome Lambert, the sisters discovered different stages of watch manufacturing, decoration and assembly. Impressed by the work of watchmakers that requires an incredible amount of expertise and precision, Balsam and Lulwa particularly admired gem setting techniques that went into making the Rendez-Vous, a new ladies High Jewellery watch by JaegerLeCoultre. “Dedication and talent were all around us when walked inside the Manufacture. Committed experts who are eager to create the best watches. The sharpness of the time in the watch is almost a reflection of a sword cutting to a touché!” – said Lulwa Al Ayoub. Behind the regular beat of its Manufacture movement lies a concentrated blend of the creativity that has pervaded the history of the Grande Maison. These feminine creations continue to forge the legend of JaegerLeCoultre and testify to the Manufacture’s amazing creative liberty. More than a watch, the Rendez-Vous line embodies a free-spirited and spontaneous personality that is constantly reinvented and perpetually surprising. Women, fencers and social entrepreneurs, the two Kuwaiti sisters have managed to conduct their life and projects with determination and passion. They have been supporting the reinvention of the lives of the women in Kuwait and worldwide: women expression and empowerment through sport and development. This philosophy is in the heart of JaegerLeCoultre Rendez-Vous line, created for free-

spirited personalities. “Being in the historical Manufacture of JaegerLeCoultre gave us a unique experience. We made the connection between the precision of fencing and time” – said Balsam Al Ayoub. Lulwa and Balsam Al Ayoub, friend of the brand The Kuwaiti sisters began representing Kuwait as the first female fencers in 1996. In 2004, they were the first female athletes to sign a contract with the private sector in the history of Kuwait. In 2006 they began to represent Kuwait officially in various fields of sports, conferences, forums and events. In 2007 – 2008, they held the Al Ayoub “Swords for Peace” fencing

championship for children (first of its kind in Kuwait). In 2008, Balsam and Lulwa formed Touche’ Sports Development Management, specialised in the promotion of sport events and a to provide a platform for women and youth to participate in sport in the Middle East. In 2009 they were recognised by the Public Authority of Youth and Sports in Kuwait as the first professional female athletes in Kuwait. In 2010, they were invited to attend the Young Arab and European Young Leaders Forum. In 2012, the sisters were selected by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya to pursue our Masters in Sports for social coexistence and conflict resolution, and were invited to speak at the panel discussion at Global Thinkers Forum 2012 – Women Leaders in MENA. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

EDITOR’S HeR Styleicon LETTER

THETALK / June / 2013

Astounding Angel Candice Swanepoel

When thinking of summer our attention automatically steers to-

wards all that Victoria’s Secret offers in terms of swimwear, sportswear and most importantly; inspiration. Just looking at the VS Angels is enough to get us to the gym. So this month we are taking a closer look at one of our favourite VS Angels; Candice Swanepoel.

The South African beauty was discovered at a flea market in her home town when she was only fifteen years old. It is hard to believe the gorgeous model was first hired as a ‘fit’ model, meaning she would model clothing to be fitted for the actual models wearing them on the catwalk. No surprise that it did not take the industry long to recognize her potential in being one of the next supermodels. Ten years after being discovered she is now on the top of her game and not only famous for her model-esque stature and being one of Forbe’s Top 10 Highest Earning Supermodels but her incredible natural beauty, down to earth personality and love of the healthy life. Her everyday beauty is as simple as it gets! “I use coconut oil as lotion and rosewater spray to keep my skin hydrated,” she says. “On days off, I don’t use make-up.” And as for her fashion sense, she opts for the model-off-duty look in her worn out dark jeans and simple tanks and t-shirts. Comfort is her priority when she is not working due to her hardcore workout routine of resistance exercise three times a week. She does jump rope, boxing and muscle building exercises. When she has been over worked she counts on yoga for a proper stretch for added flexibility and a peace of mind. She admits that at times when she had no healthy food options she had skipped meals but hated the results and now does not feel guilty when indulging in her favourite foods of pasta and pizza as long as it is balanced with plenty of proteins and vegetables and with starting the day with a big breakfast. Above all foods her biggest weakness is Brazilian bread, and as much as she does not believe in depriving yourself, she needs to be told off every now and then from the large amounts she is able to consume. As for her love life, she has been in a long term relationship with boyfriend Hermann Nicoli, a fellow model whom she met in Paris whilst working at the age of 17. She is now fluent in Portuguese because of her Brazilian partner (the reason behind the bread) as well as speaking fluent English and her native language of Afrikaans. Besides spending most of her free time with Hermann and her family, Candice counts her fellow angels as her closest and most loved friends especially the other VS African beauty, Behati Prinsloo. An avid instagrammer, she admits it has become an addiction; “I don’t think too much about what I post. That’s why I sometimes get in trouble! I see things that I think are beautiful and use it as a kind of public journal of my travels and experiences,” she says. You can follow her on @angelcandices.

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Local Trendsetters

Fearlessly Fugoura! Hanaaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; El-Khashef

ast month, the store Fugoura was opened at Hilton Hotel; a beautiful boutique carrying unique pieces. Every piece is special, easily mixed with any oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basics or mixed collectively with other pieces in the store to create a look that is memorable; either way having an item and wearing it is a statement. We were lucky enough to sit down with the owner to find out more about this newly discovered treasure.

THETALK / June / 2013

Where did the name Fugoura come from? In Egypt when a certain actor in a play performs very well you call them the Fugoura of the play, this came from the story that Fugoura was a fighter, she use to move from country to country fighting for liberty! What led you to bring this store to Kuwait? I was in Egypt visiting my sister and her friend was having an exhibition that I attended which was held on a closed street. This cute girl was selling these beautiful pieces and I kept buying from her like crazy. I was in love with everything. I kept going back to her to buy for myself, for my friends and my daughter. I was so proud that it is an Egyptian product that is made so well. I travel a lot and have seen the works of big designers and could not believe the great quality for such prices. I kept in touch with the girl selling the items. I got the idea to be the distributor. I contacted the designer of the brand, who is a very big name in Egypt, and told him my idea and he asked me about my company. I did not have one. He saw my passion and love for his brand so he disregarded the fact that I did not have a company

or experience and took a chance on me and gave me the rights as the distributor. I told him to give me three months to establish a company and I started buying from him and selling them through exhibitions such as FA Gallery and Bait Lothan. As I was doing this I thought to create my own designs that compliment Fugoura and to complete it as a full store. Also, this way customers are not wearing the same brand head to toe but a combination of the two to create a full look. As I would come to my chalet in Hilton I would see the stores and started picturing having one of the stores to sell both brands and took the chance.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went from a devoted customer to the distributor.â&#x20AC;? When did you get into designing? I have been painting from a long time ago, I was always into art. I would design my own clothes. I love art. I am really good at mixing and matching. I can mix colours that are an unusual combination but they work when you have the right balance. I spent 16 years in Toronto, Canada. You can get anything you want there. So there was no need to make clothes there. But I got back into it with the

great inspiration that Fugoura gave me. I am very thankful to the brand that has encouraged me to establish my own company and brand. Having my own company gave me the opportunity to bring my children to Kuwait. *Her great sense of style is very prominent. Dressed impeccably, taking casual chic to another level, we asked her to describe her style... I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like wearing what everyone is wearing. I find that boring. My number one rule when it comes to how I dress is that I respect my age. I think everyone should. Respecting your age and body and knowing what looks good on you and suits you is key. What do you feel you veer close to? Colour. I love colour. I cannot wear all black. Colour is very exciting for me and I use that when dressing. I can love many styles and looks but that does not necessarily mean I will wear it since it may not be appropriate for me. You have to understand yourself.

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Local Trendsetters

Would you consider being a stylist? Absolutely. I have a great eye for what suits who and how. There was a pre-wedding celebration that I styled. I spent a week with the girls preparing. It was the bride and her bridesmaids. They wanted to all match by wearing the same clothing from Hanaaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. So I styled each one very differently to suit each girls shape, age and colouring. It was a great success. They all looked beautiful and they all matched but still were very individual. *She showed us pictures and we were very impressed. Have you met the designer of Fugoura; Abbas Aboelhassan? Yes. All our communication was through email until I met him at his store opening in Cairo, and then I met him once again at my store opening here in Kuwait. He is an amazing man; as a writer, actor, designer, and stylist and as a person. He is incredible, an amazing man. I love him so much. Whilst visiting Hanaaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at her store in Hilton we could not help but play dress up. She styled us along with herself. It was such great fun meeting such an amazing designer, stylist and all-round interesting person. We left feeling so delighted and we had been given the best gift for summer. Tanning Towels! Just like a face wipe, you wipe it all over your face and body and within minutes you have a beautiful sunkissed tan.

THETALK / June / 2013

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EDITOR’S LETTER

25734069 ‫ مارينا مول‬- 22597056 ‫األفنيوز مول‬

- W W W. U T E R Q U E . C O M -

THETALK / June / 2013

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Local Trendsetters

Style & Sophistication Ahmad Asb

THETALK / June / 2013

Ahmad Asb doesn’t need an introduction. We all know him as one half of the hybrids; the

stunning married couple that have found success from being fashionable and mainly for being their fun, active, fashion loving selves. We at THETALK love and appreciate those who do what they love, find success in it, and still stay grounded. That is a trait that is incredibly prominent in Ahmad. As soon as he entered PH7 it was as if he was walking in for the hundredth time and it was as if we were welcoming an old friend. No formalities! In fact half way through this ‘interview’ we began to realize that he was asking more questions than we were. It was just a great conversation with a great personality and lots and lots of laughter.

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Local Trendsetters

Tell us, where are the hybrids of you from? I am Kuwaiti, my mother is from California, she is Hispanic, her father is Spanish. Do you speak Spanish? SĂ! Besides being a style icon, what is your everyday job? I am a mechanical engineer at The Kuwait Fire Department. It is not an everyday job though. I am on a 24 hour shift then 2 days off. That sounds rough, do you like it? I love it. I have been working there for 6 years. I am used to the shifts. When did your interest in fashion start? My interest in fashion started a long time ago; before I got married. I was into fashion and into dressing properly then when I got married my wife would encourage me, I thought why not? So I got more into it, starting posting and it all just happened from there. How long have you been married? I have been married for 6 months. It is very different when you live with the person you love. Sometimes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like, who are you? *he laughs* but it is great. Which style would you describe as your main staple? I could say the preppy style. It is what I pull off most. Dressing up or down it is mostly a preppy look. But I love change and trying new things and experimenting. It depends on the

THETALK / June / 2013

mood. Sometimes I experiment to an extent where people are like what?! Like pink pants, guys would be like no way, I’m like naah I’d go for that. Let me try it and it was quite nice. You never know until you try it, right? Pink pants? How did that work out? I can pull it off! *He says as he pulls a virtuous look before we all burst out laughing* Another example would be when I wore a suit to one of my best friend’s wedding and did not feel like wearing socks. I liked the look but I got a very different feedback. Do you keep track of latest trends? I might sometimes find inspiration in new trends but I really don’t like to copy so I enjoy when I experiment with fashion in my own way. So trends are not something I pay too much attention to. Who are your favourite designers? Armani and Givenchy. I am always checking the stores at least once a month. Christian louboutin is incredible of course! *He pulls his leg up showing us his hot red Louboutin shoes* I love Diesel, Zara and H&M. So you mix high end with low end? All the time. I actually get asked about my lower end choices much more. I would get asked about my Zara shirt with no acknowledgement to my Prada shoes. I like that! It is an amazing compliment when you can make something look a lot more expensive then what it is. What do you think is key in putting an outfit together?

I think it is all about the shoes. Invest in great pairs of shoes and everything else will fall into place. Does Ascia help you with your fashion sense? We ask each other if something works or doesn’t. We definitely love sharing our opinions on each other’s outfits but we have a solid sense of what we both like for ourselves. Sometimes we give each other crazy ideas, for example I was wearing a full one color suit and she suggested I wear bright coloured socks. I did not understand it but I gave it a shot and loved the look. When I posted it a lot of people said that the socks ruined the look but I could not see that. I loved it. Do you have any rules on fashion? No! Dress how you feel. Do you plan on taking further steps into the fashion field? Yes absolutely. We definitely want to go to the fashion shows in New York, London, Milan. As for now we are really enjoying the process of our blog and the fact that we inspire people is amazing. Sometimes people feel like they can’t pull the looks off but we want to encourage them to try, and if they feel they want to look a certain way we want to push them to take that step into expressing themselves. How has the feedback been? The feedback we get has been really really great. It has been very positive. All the feedback means a lot to me, the likes the comments, they make me keep going. Especially when they ask

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Local Trendsetters

questions, specific ones, that show of interest is awesome. You really begin to love your followers and supporters. Are there haters? Wow, a lot of them. At first they grabbed my attention from their negative reaction that I am allowing my wife to do what she does and then I realized that at the end of the day they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand, and will not understand so why focus on them when we have so many great followers who do? Summer is here! So we have to ask what is your preference in sunglass brands? I love Chilli Beans! They are great with an affordable price tag so you can buy a few and have choices. Any summer trends you want to experiment with? Yes! I am bored with shoe strings blending in with shoes, so I am switching them with brighter ones and contrasting ones. Making them bright and stand out is so fun. For example, pink loafers with bright yellow shoe strings. What canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you leave the house without? My wedding ring. My wife will kill me. I may forget to wear a watch, I may forget my phone, but never the ring.

THETALK / June / 2013

When you have time, what hobbies do you like to engage in? I like taking care of my body so I hit the gym regularly. I love basketball, always have! I play that from time to time. That would be my favourite sport. When it comes to music, what do you mostly like to listen to? Music is a big part of my life. Depending on my mood I like to listen to techno, hip hop, r & b. Specifically music that can fit my moods and for the moment I am loving The Weeknd. I can have them on repeat for hours. We kept Ahmad at the office asking him for fashion advice; his opinion is golden with a constant base of wearing what feels right for you! That encouragement is rare and he is a living example of being yourself in all aspects, from fashion sense to personality as he proved his comfort in himself during our talk and his expressive nature and great sense of humour. *Follow Ahmad Asb on Instagram and Twitter @ahmad_asb

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His Styleicon

Rebel with a Cause James Franco

THETALK / June / 2013

Honest and open, whether it is a curse

or a blessing, James Franco is as real as it gets. His love of acting as an art form was incredibly apparent in his memorable role based on a true-life story (which seems to be a preference of his) in 127 Hours. Not only is he an actor but a director, producer and writer. Having dabbled in all aspects of film making he is quickly becoming an expert in juggling many projects at once. With the premiere of his latest movie Spring Breakers, James is making the media rounds, giving us all a chance to get to know more about .him and his very unique style of character James began acting in high school plays to get back at his girlfriend for kissing another boy on stage. Sad to say but we are very thankful for his ex’s unfaithful behavior. As he continued to act he became more dedicated and working at McDonald’s Drive-Thru to finance himself whilst auditioning for roles. He managed to practice his acting during his fast food shifts as he would pretend to be from different countries, “I’d be French and then Italian. One girl who liked me came around the drive-thru again and said, ‘Could you give me some Italian lessons?,’”

other, earning his license as a pilot and shadowing a male stripper, just to name a few. Although he dropped out of UCLA to pursue acting, James went back and finished his BFA in English and then continued on by studying and completing three MFA Degrees in writing and film in the East-Coast. As he studies towards his doctorate in Literature he has taught a graduate class a course which takes students through the whole process of making a movie. All this was in his spare time while acting in his 60+ films. Besides studying and acting he paints and writes and will be publishing his first book of poetry in 2014. A great icon and role model, he is constantly working on himself and has already gained more experiences, licenses and certifications than an average person triple his age could think of. Does he manage to relax? “Never. It’s an impossibility. I don’t even like to sleep. I feel as if there’s too much to do.” And we admire him for that. Full of passion and drive; was all this expected of the drug-dealer in Pineapple Express?

He took on a few small parts until he landed his breakthrough role as James Dean in the TV biopic. His striking resemblance to the icon was not something Franco banked on, he went as far as mimicking the legend’s everyday life to prepare for the movie; “I took up smoking, like Dean, and cut off most of my friends,”. The dedication paid off, earning him the Golden Globe for lead actor, as well as an Emmy and Screen Actor Guild Award nominations. His performance led actor Robert De Niro to personally choose him as his drug-addicted son in the 2002 Movie; City by the Sea. From one role to another James has set the bar for young actors as a true talent. His preparation for movies is astonishing. A few of his film preps include spending eight months boxing intensely, perfecting the skill to jump from one horse to anWWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

Setting Her Trends

LASELLERIA Cut, stitched and entirely assembled by hand, each bag from the Selleria line is distinguished by a progressive number series engraved on a silver plaque featured inside the bag.

THETALK / June / 2013

The new Selleria line further enhances its underlying craftsmanship by associating the name of each model to the exact number of stitches applied by hand by Fendiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s master artisans to sew together the different pieces of the Roman leather.

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Shoebox New York - Kuwait

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Setting Her Trends

Balenciaga has done it again with their incredible new collections just in time for our summer holidays. Their bright coloured bags, shoes and accessories are sure to set you in the fashion mode for the season! Here are our top choices straight from their store at Thuraya, Salmiya.

THETALK / June / 2013

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Setting Her Trends

Another mix of great finds from Al Thuraya Mall in Salmiya were found at the Chloe store. We loved their nautical style shoes with bags to match. Their metallic bags and accessories are perfect to add sparkle to any day look and each are statement pieces for evening. The nude wedges and ballerinas are comfortably chic and have now become staples in our closets.

THETALK / June / 2013

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Setting His Trends

ON THE RADIO: COACH AND TIVOLI DIAL IT UP THIS SUMMER Coach’s Spring 2013 Men’s Collection for Spring is inspired by the brand’s heritage and roots in artisanal leathers, yet updated with modern form and function. Color and new materials update the core collections. Handsome business totes in Coach classic leathers and new styles in extra-premium pebbled leather and canvas platforms introduce elements of innovation and creativity while maintaining the brand’s history of craftsmanship. Tivoli Audio, the iconic radio company, and Coach, the first name in leather goods, have joined forces to create a limited-edition version of the popular Tivoli PAL BT Bluetooth Portable Radio. Available this June and wrapped in

THETALK / June / 2013

either Coach leather or genuine lizard, the radio features Bluetooth wireless technology in addition to a sensitive analog AM/FM tuner. Just switch to the Bluetooth position and once paired, stream your music wirelessly from any smartphone, tablet or PC. It’s that simple. This instant collectible serves up equal amounts of chic and functionality. As part of this unique collaboration, Coach has wrapped the PAL BT in the same heritageinspired, burnished leather used in the Coach Men’s signature Bleecker Collection. The Coach PAL BT retails for KWD 151 and is available in four colors: Vintage Royal, Bonfire, Clover and Fawn.

The radio plays AM/FM stations or music from any Bluetooth technology-enabled device and features the PAL BT’s trademark equalization. True portability requires portable power, which is where the PAL BT’s NiMH battery pack comes in. It is environmentally friendly, has no memory and fully charges in about three hours. The radio provides hours of cordless playback and unlimited hours of style and superior sound. The Coach Men’s Collection is available at Grand Avenue, The Avenues Mall. Tel: 2220 0518

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Get the chance to be one of the 6 winners and receive a voucher from Email your full name to ttmarketing1@ph7-kw.com to enter the draw.

COACH

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Setting His Trends

Great Gatsby brings a new modernity to nostalgic menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style and nods to the elegance of the characters in the iconic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. Focusing on lightweight fabrications, Hackettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature tailoring epitomises twenties Hollywood style with three-piece suiting cut from wools, linens, silks and cottons. Lapels are wider to complement the double-pleated wide leg trousers that make a welcome return to the modern gentlemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wardrobe. In a palette of cream, ivory, bone and summer white teamed with tobacco and mocha tones, this story heralds a new era of sophisticated summer dressing. The look can be accessorised with a collection of vintage inspired bags ranging from holdalls to day bags. These pieces are created from a natural look coated cotton drill trimmed with tan calf leather to complete the essential Gatsby look. 50

THETALK / June / 2013

Sacoor Brothers unveils latest Spring/ Summer ’13 collection Sacoor Brothers revealed Thursday the latest additions to the leading Portuguese based fashion and lifestyle brand’s Spring/Summer 2013 Collection during a special in-store fashion preview event held at the Sacoor Brothers boutique in the 360 Mall. Highlighting the season’s key ‘looks’, models dressed in the latest apparel from both the formal and casual wear ranges displayed Sacoor Brothers’ fashionable men’s suits and casual wear and the latest styles in women’s evening wear, accessories and casual lines.

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Setting the watch Trends

Jaeger-LeCoultre Renaud Pretet Regional Brand Director

aeger-LeCoultre exudes elegance. The company began with the making of spare parts and the tools to make them, then it moved on to the movements. At first they were selling the spare parts to other companies that make watches. So most big brands, if not all, at some point were buying the pieces for their watches from Jaeger-LeCoultre.

On the worldwide level the trend is in timeless design as well as the transmission to the next generation, the value of the craftsmanship and of course the preservation of the know-how when it comes to watch making. There are only a few brands that still hold value to all these aspects which is why these manufacture brands are booming. Their customers in the Middle-East appreciate all that. They are connoisseurs; they take great importance in the movement of the watch; the front and back. The movement is a work of art. When you look at a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch you enjoy the front and back. An attribute that is very mesmerizing we must say. We love Aston Martin, can you tell us how the collaboration with JLC and AM came about? Before World War II, Jaeger-LeCoultre was designing speedometers for Aston Martin. The story continues seven years ago when we decided to reestablish the partnership with Aston Martin, being such an elegant car and in the same field as Jaeger-LeCoultre in being understated luxury. Both brands are for those who want to feel comfortable and enjoy luxury. It requires confidence and the need to please yourself over pleasing others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To wear a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch is to know you are wearing something legitimate in all aspects. It is true luxury with honest value for moneyâ&#x20AC;? 52

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Setting the watch Trends

How do you choose your Brand Ambassadors? We are not a brand that approaches celebrities and say we will give you x amount of money to wear our watch. Diane Kruger and Clive Owen approached the brand showing passion and interest for the watches. It is a long-time commitment. Diane Kruger has been with us for ten years now. The way they act and the way they behave is exactly like the brand in which they are discreet, very understated, and incredibly talented. Clive Owen has a charity, Diane Kruger is part of many initiatives; however, they never boast about their work. They do not publicize themselves but rather work hard and reinvent and grow. Besides the Brand Ambassadors we have many friends of the brand. They may be locals or they may be celebrities but we do not approach them. For example, Robert Downey Jr. wore the AMV0X5 in Iron Man 2 & 3. He chose to wear that watch because he saw it to be perfectly fitting to the characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personality. The producer of the movie wanted our finance which we do not offer and Robert Downey Jr. stood by the fact that he wanted to wear that specific watch and that is exactly what he did. We are a technical brand that invests our money in research and development over marketing. We have 1,200 people in the factory in Switzerland. They are the focus. Their intricate craftsmanship sells itself. We sat with Renaud as he explained the mechanics behind the staples of the brand, with so much passion and thorough understanding of how everything works and the history behind all the details, we walked out of the interview in absolute awe and with a new passion and standard for watches. Next stopâ&#x20AC;Ś a tour of the Jaeger-LeCoultre manufacturing company in Switzerland. We wish!

THETALK / June / 2013

New Look

Setting the watch Trends

AQUARACER LADY

The casual sport watch inspired by the aquatic world becomes a sophisticated and elegant statement. “Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, born of the sea foam and carried ashore...” Since time immemorial artists have used the image of water--Nature’s mirror--to reflect on the sensual beauty of women. The eternal symbol of birth and rebirth, water’s soft, undulating gracefulness, and its great, unfathomable depth and power, express the very essence of the feminine. The newest luxury incarnation of the Lady Aquaracer, with its shimmering surfaces and rounded curves, celebrates the timeless resonances and reflections between women and water. Exquisitely proportioned, it is fashioned from our most precious materials--coral pink gold, glittering diamonds and sensual mother of pearl. Water and woman inspired, it is an aquatic-inspired work of art. FROM BO DEREK TO CAMERON DIAZ... A Swiss watchmaking benchmark, THE FEMININE ESSENCE OF AQUATIC LUXURY ELEGANCE FOR 30 YEARS, represented by two icons of feminine grace and allure. 56

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In the 1980s, the Aquaracer vision was personified by a ravishing image of Bo Derek, whose first Aquaracer was a gift from her father. In an interview, Jack Heuer, the brand’s 80-year-old Honorary Chairman and the principle designer of the Aquaracer, tells the story: “I met Bo Derek’s father, Paul Collins in 1979, at Hobert “Hobie” Alter’s home in Southern California. Hobie is the inventor of the Hobie Cat catamaran, and Paul was working for him at the time. After the meeting, Paul kindly offered to drive me back to the Los Angeles Airport, and during the long drive we got to know each other much better. At the airport he asked me if I could get him one of our Ladies Heuer skindiving watches, which he wanted to give his daughter as a present for her 23rd birthday. I sent him shortly thereafter from our office in New Jersey a catalogue and he chose the smallest model we made, which I delivered him as promised with a nice discount in the fall of 1979. Shortly before Christmas, I received from Paul a Christmas card thanking me for the favor. Enclosed with it was a color slide of Bo Derek--wearing only our watch!”

Lights, camera, action! The Konstantin Chaykin Manufacture, the only Russian company creating unique, luxury class mechanical watches with proprietary calibres, announces that work on yet another totally new watch is complete – the first Cinema Watch is ready. The Cinema Watch contains an amazing animation complication, the first ever in a mechanical watch. The Konstantin Chaykin Manufacture will unveil the Cinema Watch on April 25, 2013 at Baselworld 2013 – the World Watch and Jewelry Show. The Cinema Watch from the Konstantin Chaykin Manufacture contains two movements: the timekeeping movement proper and an animation movement based on the principles of a zoopraxiscope. The animation function is launched manually and shows a small movie of a galloping horse and rider in a small window at 6:00. The first Cinema Watch, commemorates Eadweard Muybridge, legendary photographer and inventor, considered to be one of the fathers of modern cinematography. Muybridge created the first ever series of consecutive photographs of a running horse, capturing each movement precisely. In 1879 Muybridge invented a device he named a zoopraxiscope to show these photographs in a rapid sequence which created the illusion of a moving racehorse. The zoopraxiscope was the prototype of what the brothers Lumière would name a cinématographe camera a mere 20 years later. “Clockmakers have been making clocks with different types of animation for centuries”, says Konstantin Chaykin, Head of the Manufacture, “we have seen generations of clocks containing jacks, mechanical theatres, various automated figures controlled by the clock movements. And the world has long known movies as yet another form for viewing images. Just as movies were based on live theatre, in the same way classical clocks with jacks serve as one of the inspirations for a new branch in watchmaking – watches with a cinématographe inside. The Eadweard Muybridge Cinema Watch is my first attempt to combine watchmaking and animation. I believe that this idea has immense potential – who knows where further experiments will take us”.

9:00 respectively. A transparent sapphire caseback reveals the unusual inner works of the Cinema Watch. Finally, a black, custom-made alligator skin wristband completes this elegant and unusual watch.

The Cinema Watch is designed to resemble an antique photo- or cinema camera. The square steel case is finished using three techniques: polishing, grinding and hot pressing. The dial is designed to resemble an antique camera lens with the hour and minute chapter rings resembling aperture or f-stop rings on a camera lens. The face itself is finished in black lacquer decorated with ‘clous-de-Paris’ guilloché. The aperture housing the minimovie of the galloping horse and rider is located at 6:00. The winding and the animation launch crowns are located opposite each other at 3:00 and

The Cinema Watch contains a bridge and movements finished in a classic style appropriate for luxury class watches: with bridges decorated with pearling and ‘clous-de-Paris’, ruby bearings set in elegant gold chatons and gold-plated gear trains. What is unusual is the presence of two winding drums: one for the watch movement, one for the animation. Both are wound using the same crown, which is turned clockwise to wind the watch, and anti-clockwise to wind the animation.

The animation movement in the Cinema Watch contains a Maltese cross stopwork which turns a disc engraved with 12 images of a galloping horse and rider in different poses. Konstantin Chaykin borrowed the concept of an obturator from cinematography: he included an obturator, a tiny shutter, to screen the animation aperture at the start of the animation cycle in order to prevent a blurry effect. During the animation cycle, the frames move at the rate of 1 per 0.07 second, as does the obturator at the beginning.

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EDITOR’Sthe Setting LETTER watch Trends

RADIOMIR 1940 – 42mmRADIOMIR 1940 ORO ROSSO – 42mm

The Radiomir 1940, in both the steel and the red gold versions is also available with the case 42 mm in diameter with the P.999 hand-wound movement, the smallest and thinnest in the wide range of calibres produced by the Officine Panerai manufacture in Neuchâtel. Visible through the window in the sapphire crystal window which opens on the back, the P.999 has a power reserve of 60 hours and a balance which oscillates at 21,600 alternations/hour (equivalent to 3 Hz). In the red gold version, where the arrises of the bridges are chamfered, smoothed and polished, the active length of the balance spring is adjusted by a swan-neck regulator, while in the steel version it is adjusted by curb pins.The Radiomir 1940 and the Radiomir 1940 Oro Rosso are supplied with a black or brown alligator strap, and they are part of the Historic Collection.

THETALK / June / 2013

JAGUAR WATCHES NOW AVAILABLE AT 10:10, AVENUES MALL, PHASE III

Swiss watchmaker Peter Haas founded the JAGUAR brand in 1938. In doing so he set himself a mission: to imbue each of his collections with the same effortless strength and pedigree of the Jaguar, the powerful feline which incarnates the savage beauty of the Savannah. Like the jaguar of the Savannah, the brand has survived through time and evolution by continuously adapting to its environment. With its eyes fixed firmly on the future, JAGUAR now pays homage to its founders in a celebration of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heritage, its watch-making expertise and its distinctive style. This Swiss-made chronograph makes a powerful aesthetic statement with its meticulous finish and flawless functionality. Retaining a strong identity,

it fits perfectly in the Jaguar collection. Taken as a whole, the indications are emphasized by a sporting, yet elegant design: the dial features a matt base, brushed-finished minute and hour counters, and circular markings on the second counter. The date appears in a novel aperture with a triangular outline that takes its cue from the skeletonized hands of the counters and the design of the indices. The bezel is secured by means of six nuts. This graphical element is picked up by the finely wrought lugs. The luminous material insets and the layout and red of the dial ensure perfect readability. The case is available in a number of finishes - rose gold colour sporting a black bezel, all-steel, and bi-coloured models.

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Setting the watch Trends

Tissot T-Race MotoGPTM Limited Edition 2013 Thrill and style The Tissot MotoGPTM Limited Edition 2013 not only reflects a sporty and dynamic way of living, but also a taste for style. Everyone knows they need a sports watch in their collection. Add the latest trends to it and you have your winner. Additionally, this watch doesn’t take its inspiration from just any sport but from one of the fastest and most thrilling disciplines MotoGP. The inspiration came from years of partnership. This is reflected through elements of the watch, going from counters which were present on classic bikes, all the way to a brake-disk bezel and the dial’s carbon composition that are seen in today’s MotoGP motorbikes that race around the tracks. A light in the dark The Tissot T-Race MotoGP Limited Edition 2013 is the ultimate sports watch. Its details provide it with its bold style. The blue stripes on the black strap along with clearly visible white counters give it that sporty look. To this comes to add the prominent indices 12, 8, and 4 that will glow as you move into the dark, thanks to their Super-LumiNova® properties. This is to make sure that even in darkness you may keep track of time. Details go all the way to its packaging. This limited edition piece comes in a stylish helmet box. The odds are definitely in favour of the Tissot T-Race MotoGP Limited Edition 2013. For Tissot, “In touch with your time” is far more than an advertising claim. This phrase expresses the brand’s DNA; its proven dedication to being perfectly in tune with the technology and tastes of each era. Tissot has been growing and developing its tradition of innovation since 1853. From the early days to the present, in its home in Le Locle in the Swiss Jura Mountains, Tissot has translated craftsmanship and precision into stylish timepieces now sold in more than 160 countries around the world. Special materials, advanced functionality and meticulous design detail join forces to create the luxury of accessibility. Tissot is a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch producer and distributor of Swiss watches, as well as Official Timekeeper and Partner of MotoGPTM, FIM Superbike, FIBA, AFL, RBS 6 Nations Rugby and the World Championships of cycling, fencing and ice hockey. With the latest innovations in its communication and product, Tissot presents impressive proof of its signature, “Innovators by Tradition“.

THETALK / June / 2013

TICKETS ON

THE MOVE

Find out more at kw.grandcinemas.com www.facebook.com/GCKuwait

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Setting the watch Trends

Cartier announces the official opening of the worldwide Avant-Premiere exhibition

THETALK / June / 2013

Grand Atrium, the Dubai Mall The Cartier Collection Paris Nouvelle Vague exhibition is an imaginative gallery of jewellery and cocktail rings. A collection, linked by an invisible creative thread, a French charm whose incomparable spirit is embodied by Parisian ladies, designed as a hymn to her multiple nuances and hues, her secrets of seduction and style. A love story in motion, between the lady, the jeweller and Paris, mapped out in rings and streets, bracelets and bridges spanning day and night. From one neighbourhood to the next, the Parisian knows her way, playful or fatal, now bright, now delicate, always elegant wherever she goes. Once again, Maison Cartier affirms its splendour with the birth of a new creative collection, asserting its timeless style, craftsmanship and savoir-faire, a tribute to Paris, the city of freedom, creation and light, and to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Free spirit of Parisian Womanâ&#x20AC;?.

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setting the interior

THE HAAS BROTHERS FOR VERSACE HOME Versace is proud to present a special design project with The Haas Brothers for its new Home collection. The LA-based artists and designers Nikolai and Simon Haas have created a 12 piece collection for Versace Home, including new iconic pieces such as the Donatella Chair. Creative director Donatella Versace gave the Haas Brothers freedom to take the classic motifs of the house and create something pioneering and new. The result is a range of pieces grounded in tradition while looking boldly to the future. The Donatella Chair encapsulates the mood of the collection, and the glamorous rock’n’roll spirit of Donatella Versace herself. Made from honeycomb brass with black leather upholstery, the Donatella Chair pays homage to the craftsmanship at the heart of Versace, with its form that was hand-crafted by the Haas Brothers. Other pieces in the collection include The Stud Club, a armchair inspired by both Donatella’s personal style, and to the “Bondage” collection of 1992 designed by her brother, Gianni Versace, and The Bondage Bench, a provocative piece that plays with the sexuality of fashion and design.

THETALK / June / 2013

“I am thrilled by this special design project by The Haas Brothers for Versace Home. They have captured the spirit of Versace, and taken us somewhere new. To me, it is like remix of Versace, one that has resulted in new iconic pieces for the home,” says Donatella Versace. The Haas Brothers add “as artists and designers, meeting Donatella and exploring the world of Versace was an incredible inspiration. For this furniture collaboration, it was important to us to interpret the purest elements of Versace in order to create something completely new and unusual. We are so proud to present this collection for Versace”.

BENTLEY TO BRING ITS STYLE INSIDE Bentley is delighted to announce a partnership with Club House Italia for the development of its new Bentley Home Collection. This exclusive collection of furniture and homeware will combine the finest quality craftsmanship with exquisite modern design and the luxury finishes which underlie Bentley’s renowned global brand.

The state-of-the-art collection will combine traditional elements in contemporary contexts to enhance today’s residential, commercial and executive office interiors. Stefan Buescher, Director of Product and Marketing, Bentley Motors, said: For more than 90 years Bentley has produced the world’s finest hand-crafted car interiors – now we are making our approach to luxury available to people’s homes and offices.”The essence of Club House Italia is expressing the style of desire, giving a shape to luxury through a contemporary art made up of talent, sensitivity and expertise. Combined with Bentley’s legendary style and exquisite craftsmanship, the partnership will offer rare examples of elegance and fine finishes,

using the world’s most beautiful materials to bring out unique elements of character and craftsmanship. Lindsay Weaver, director of licensing and branded goods, Bentley motors, commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Club House Italia on this exciting new approach to luxury. Both brands have a strong belief in design and share an unrivalled attention to detail – our products will be exquisite.” The recent Milan Furniture fair provided the backdrop for a special preview of a small selection of items leading to the full collection launch at the Maison et Object International show in Paris, January 2014. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

setting the car trends

Kuwait Oil Company Selects Chrysler 300 and Al Mulla Rental & Leasing For Major Fleet Order

The outstanding quality and value of the Chrysler 300 has been recognised by Kuwait Oil Company which has, to date, received a fleet of over 1,250 Chrysler 300 Limited’s - the total order (which will be fulfilled by Al Mulla Behbehani Motor Company - MBMC, the official distributor for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep® and Ram vehicles in Kuwait) is expected to reach some 2,000 vehicles.

the vehicle’s quality, luxury, safety and overall value for money.”

“We’re delighted to receive such a prestigious order from Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) following on from the major order they placed for Dodge Chargers in 2010,” said Elei Zoghob, General Manager of Al Mulla Rental & Leasing (AMRL). “The fact that KOC selected the Chrysler 300 Limited after an extensive comparison testing programme speaks volumes about

The The Chrysler 300 has also achieved a 5-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 5-star rating is the highest rating for safety by the Administration and measures vehicle safety performance in three categories, including front and side crashes as well as for rollover.

THETALK / June / 2013

Vehicle quality and dependability is clearly of paramount importance to Kuwait Oil Company, which is involved in the exploration, drilling and production of oil and gas within the State of Kuwait as well as the storage of crude oil and delivery to tankers for export.

Fasten your seatbelt… the MINI Paceman has arrived in Kuwait Celebrating Challenges. Celebrating Driving.

Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive, the exclusive importer of BMW Group vehicles in Kuwait, revealed the all-new MINI Paceman at a unique activity at Avenues Mall, where visitors and media got the chance to interact with the brand.

creative, eye-catching stunts, including pop art and interactive drawing screens,. Entitled “Design with Bite,” the activation will form part of a region-wide road show, which includes visits to six countries across the Middle East.

With all the driving excitement of a Sports Activity Coupé and the hallmark MINI go-kart fun driving experience, the seventh addition to the MINI family is set to turn heads in Kuwait.

Customers can choose from four powerful engine variants including the Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper S ALL4 and from June, the John Cooper Works will also then be available. Endless exterior and interior customisation options will also be available to ensure that the MINI Paceman suits customer’s individual lifestyle needs. And with plenty of room for three passengers, MINI Paceman owners can escape from the urban jungle with three friends in tow too.

The activity which continues to May 4th allows importer shoppers will have the chance to interact with the brand’s newest addition and experience the new MINI Paceman for themselves via a host of fun,

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STREET STYLES

The STREET STYLES Collective

Blogger Margaret Zhang wears a top and skirt by Bec and Bridge at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Elle Pendleton wears a jumper by Maurie & Eve, skirt by ASOS, shoes by TopShop and carries a bag by Celine at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia.

Hoda Waterhouse wears pants by Scanlan and Theodore, scarf by Hermes, and shoes by YSL at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Fashion blogger Faye Tsui is seen at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Elle Ferguson wears a blazer by Camilla & Marc, necklace by Dylan X, and shorts by One Teaspoon.

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Romy Freedman wears a Celine dress and carries a bag by Prada, sunglasses by Ellery at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Candice Lake wears an outfit by Camilla and Marc, and carries a bag by Emm Kuo at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Blogger Brianboy wears a jumper by Christopher Kane at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

STREET STYLES

Donny Galella wears a dsqrd shirt, blazer by Zara, jeans by H&M and shoes by Alexander McQueen.

Alex Zobotto-Bentley wears a Harrolds jacket, Opening Ceremony pants and Dolce & Gabanna shoes.

Lisa Teh wears a Paul Walden headpiece, Ellery coat, Petter Pilotto skirt, Zara shoes and carries a bag by Alexander Wang.

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Actress Gracie Otto wears a top by Bec and Bridge, and carries a bag by Gucci.

Chloe Finley wears a dress by Karen Walker, shoes by Marni at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Margaret Zhang is seen at MercedesBenz Fashion Week.

Donny Galella wears a dsqrd shirt, blazer by Zara, jeans by H&M and shoes by Alexander McQueen.

Anna Hua wears a top by Mister Zimmi, shoes and blazer by Zara and carries a bag by Celine. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

STREET STYLES

Steph Dadon is seen at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Lee Hawkes wears a top by Brian Lichtenstein, shoes by Sass & Bide and carries a bag by Givenchy.

Michael and Lindy Klim are seen at MercedesBenz Fashion Week.

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Alex Carroll attends Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia.

Actress Reese Witherspoon attends the ‘Mud’ Premiere during the Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. Lauren Brain is seen at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Model Louise Van de Vorst is seen at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Amanda Shadforth wears by Givenchy.

Nora Tong wears a vintage outfit at MercedesBenz Fashion Week.

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FASHION FEATURE

The MET Gala “PUNK: Chaos Meets Couture”

Beyonce in Givenchy

Ashley Greene in Marchesa

Gwyneth Paltrow in Valentino

Joely Richardson in Roksanda Ilincic

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Stars enter at the base of the stairs, the beautiful embodiments of months of planning and hours of preparation, and instantly, they’re screamed at. “Smile!” “Ladies!” photographers shout, while fans who’ve gathered across the street shriek their favorite celebrities’ names, hoping for a head turn or wave. But even in the rain of flashes and sheer intensity, the surprises that come with each attendee’s interpretations .of the theme took our breath away

Katy Perry in Dolce & Gabbana

Wedding dress inspirations

Marion Cotillard in Dior

Emily Blunt with Husband; wearing Carolina Herrara

Elizabeth Banks in Atelier Versace

Cameron Diaz in Stella McCartney

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FASHION FEATURE

Anna Wintour in Chanel Couture

Sarah Jessica Parker wearing Giles Deacon

Lily Collins in Moschino with Jamie Campbell Bower 76

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Linda Evangelista in Marchesa

Wedding dress inspirations

Paloma Faith in Michael Cinco

Florence Welch in Givenchy

Minka Kelly in Carolina Herrera

Sienna Miller in Burberry

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FASHION FEATURE

Julianne Hough in Giles Deacon

PSY

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Model Chanel Iman

Coco Rocha in Ungaro

Wedding dress inspirations

Kate Beckinsale in Alberta Ferretti

Amanda Seyfried in RiccardoTisci for Givenchy

Emma Roberts in Diane Von Furstenberg

Actress Ginnifer Goodwin

Nicole Richie in custom TOPSHOP

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EDITOR’S HEALTH LETTER

Tanning the Healthy Way! Beach time is here so there is no need to worry about a Vitamin D deficiency. However, there are many accompanying nutrients that you will be needing plenty of so that your skin cells are at their optimum level and so that you do not peel, overheat or age from the effects of sun exposure. We have gathered the essentials for you in order to obtain a beautiful tan without the side-effects. 1 – Beta Carotene. Neutralizing free radicals in your body before they begin their damage is essential this time of year which is easily avoided with this nutrient. Found mainly in carrots, which are perfect for a snack on the beach, as well as sweet potato, spinach and kale.

2 – Antioxidants. We all know how great berries are for your skin. With your face being exposed to the sun the most and for the longest period, it is an absolute priority to keep your SPF close by for re-application but to also get a daily dose of antioxidants. If you do not get a daily dosage this is definitely the time to start.

3 – Potassium. With the extreme conditions of the sun, air conditioners and fully fledged workouts we put ourselves through, our blood pressure needs extra help in stabilization and potassium is perfect for doing just that along with helping in the prevention of cramps and in strengthening your nervous system. Bananas, yogurt, salmon and cooked greens are all great sources. 4 – Calcium. As vitamin D strengthens your bones and joints, calcium is needed along with it as it goes hand in hand with VD like peanut butter and jelly. Have calcium rich food and drinks and if you cannot stomach dairy nor soy then hit your closest pharmacy for a supplement so that you do not reap the side-effects in the future.

5 - H20. We know it is very obvious that you get dehydrated more in the summer. But waiting till you are thirsty to drink water is not a good idea. When you are thirsty it is your body telling you that you are already dehydrated and gulping huge amounts of water at once is not very merciful to your system. Sip water every chance you get, thirsty or not. The opposite of these foods and their effect can be found in “sun-sensitizing” foods that contain Psoralen; found in dill, parsley, cilantro, celery, lettuce, parsnips, fennel, artichokes, figs and citrus fruits. These cause the skin to become more reactive to the sun, not by tanning faster but burning and peeling. So make sure to avoid them before and during sun exposure. 80

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We are on Facebook & Instagram. Follow us for daily lifestyle news and updates on our activities. Find out which events we are covering and what new trends are on the horizon. We have posts on all things lifestyle, from fashion, interior, health and travel, we cover all things that are new and luxurious.

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TRAVel

The Great Escape

Prepare for your beach premiere with a visit to a retreat to restore your body to its most vital self and get into the best shape with programs that are specialized to your needs with experts from our choices of destinations. There is no better way than an intensive getaway to start your summer before all the fun action begins, you may want to revisit once again after the season is over to recover. Either way these destinations are sure to benefit your mind and soul in more ways than one. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

TRAVEL

Lumeria Maui - Hawaii Along the verdant slopes of towering Haleakala, nestled amidst lush gardens just a short walk from shimmering white sand beaches, discover the warmth and natural beauty of Hawaii. At this tranquil retreat center on Maui’s north shore, unplug and restore through classes, adventures, and an authentic island experience. The historic estate is a stunning example of elegance in simplicity, with wonderfully designed plantation-style rooms that blend the best of modern luxury and traditional Hawaiian aloha. Bright and vibrant, each individually styled room is instantly soothing, with natural sunlight streaming through picture windows, cool ocean breeze gently drifting throughout, and a tropical ambiance that has become legendary. Light, gentle tones contrast perfectly with rich, deep wood floors and dark wood furniture, while uniquely stylish river-rock showers create a serene atmosphere in each bathroom. Complete with deeply plush beds, daily yoga classes, and light, energizing breakfasts, experience Lumeria Maui and discover a .vacation unlike any other

Aqua Wellness Resort – Nicaragua Beautiful white sand beaches sparkle under the warm, tropical sun. The azure waters of the Pacific glitter invitingly, and your fabulous treetop villa awaits you as you enter Nicaragua’s resort. Overlooking a private stretch of Playa la Redonda and Redonda Bay, just a few minutes north of San Juan del Sur, this fabulous resort invites you to cast off from the world and relax in paradise. With one to three bedrooms, each luxurious villa seamlessly blends its indoor and outdoor spaces with a modern elegant style and serene tropical beach house ambiance. Crafted from gleaming local hardwoods and gorgeous hewn stone, with a design that allows the cool ocean breeze to flow perfectly through, each day is bright and beautiful and each night romantic and magical. Enjoy deeply plush beds, elegant rain showers and stunning views from your private beachside lounge deck as you soak in the warm wonders .of Nicaragua and the Aqua Wellness Resort 84

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The Rania Experience – Maldives “The Rania Experience” is an award winning and bespoke Private Island Residence, tucked away in the middle of the Indian Ocean and completely hidden from the outside world. It is your haven for relaxation, peace and tranquillity surrounded by clear blue waters, covered with tropical plants and coconut palms. The natural beauty of the island and lagoon, which is one of its kind, has been carefully preserved and integrated with the tastefully appointed accommodation and facilities to give the entire experience a stylish yet residential private island feel. Private, professional and personal… every aspect of your stay on Asia’s first and only exclusive Island Sanctuary with your very own private yacht is tailor made… just for you. Imagine - from top to bottom - the island, the home, the yacht, the staff, the privacy are all yours… and only yours!

The Westin Resort – Hilton Head Island, United States Nestled amid lush landscaping along a pristine stretch of white-sand beach, The Westin Resort, Hilton Head Island provides guests with superior quality and service in an elegant seaside setting. Enjoy breathtaking views from your private balcony, a vigorous workout fullservice health club featuring the WestinWORKOUT® Powered by Reebok Gym, or a soothing massage from one of our professionally trained therapists. Named to Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List, our resort is a relaxing retreat yet still provides an abundance of outdoor recreational activity. Bicycle rides on white-sand beaches, three championship golf courses, and sixteen tennis courts featuring all three Grand Slam surfaces are available within the resort area. Kayaking, sailing, deep-sea fishing, and horseback riding are just a short trip away. Experience fine dining in the resort\’s AAA Four-Diamond restaurant, The Barony Grill, sample our famous Seafood Extravaganza buffet in the Carolina Café, or watch the moon rise over the Atlantic Ocean from Turtles Beach Bar & Grill. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

TRAVEL

Mardavall Hotel & Spa – Spain A few minutes’ walk from the exclusive harbor of Puerto Portals, Mardavall Hotel & Spa provides firstclass golf, spa, and meeting amenities in an idyllic Mediterranean locale. Golfers enjoy play on two adjoining 18-hole courses located near Palma. The legendary Son Vida course—the first on Mallorca, updated in 2001—features tight fairways, four lakes, and strategically placed bunkers that place driving accuracy at a premium. Son Vida’s sister course, Son Muntaner, presents a setting of equal beauty accented by large greens, mature pines, and olive groves. The second and third holes feature water hazards running the length of the fairways—a true test of skill. At the 50,000-square-foot Altira Spa, guests unwind with the help of thalasso, Oriental, and ayurvedic treatments, as well as traditional Chinese medicine. Specialties include the thalasso bath with underwater shower and abhyanga, a full-body massage that employs medicinal oils. The saltwater pool and soothing Finnish sauna melt away tension and stress, as do classes in yoga, tai chi, Reiki and qi gong. A solarium and a relaxation area with waterbeds invite guests to linger at their leisure. Star hairdresser Udo Walz and La Prairie beauty treatments distinguish the full-service salon. Group events take place in five meeting rooms with sea views. In addition, the main hall’s 3,356 square feet divide into three sections for maximum flexibility. A foyer hosts coffee breaks, receptions, and exhibits, while a spacious terrace accommodates outdoor functions. Overlooking the sea and hotel gardens, 133 rooms and suites display original paintings from the hotel’s contemporary art collection. The artistic atmosphere continues in Es Fum, a fine dining restaurant where the cuisine blends the distinctive flavors of Europe and Asia. Known for its attentive service, Mardavall Hotel & Spa succeeds in creating a Mediterranean oasis of relaxation and refinement.

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Restaurant Review

Ashaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s To celebrate Ashaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s launch of their new menu design, for the first time since they opened back in 2004, we made a visit to their branch at Spoons in Mahboula. The branch has been open for three years and is the last addition to the three branches in Kuwait. The first branch is located in Marina Crescent whilst the other is in the less saturated end of Avenues in Phase I. Every year they have new dishes and promotions but this time it is a whole new look with many new additions. The highlight of these additions is their mocktails which we have dubbed The Best Mocktails in Town! There is one for every mood. There are so many incredibly exotic flavours being delivered to our taste buds with

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every sip. We were told that bar consultants from London came to Dubai to create these incredible concoctions for Ashaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The Rose Jam iced tea is an absolute dream. Sweetly refreshing with yummy Turkish delights that sit on top of the crushed ice is the perfect sugar craving fix. As the food began to hit the table we were told of Ashaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. Not just about the restaurant but Asha herself; the Indian singer who has the Guinness World Record for having recorded the most songs ever. An inspiration, she has gained international success through hard work but has still remained humble and is very involved in each aspect of the restaurants. When visiting her branches world-wide, you cannot keep her from rolling up her sleeves and getting into the kitchen and cooking the dishes herself. Passionate about food, she uses ingredients that speak to her,

which makes sense as we start to take our first bites of the Kesar Beryani the flavours spoke volumes to us. All the meats; from the lamb, chicken and seafood are unbelievably succulent. The chicken tikka salad and the seafood seekh burst with flavour, with many side dishes to compliment and complete the meal. After the main courses we had fallen into a deliciously food-induced coma. We were not sure how we would be able to try any of the desserts as we began to slowly sink in deeper into our chairs. (Chairs that were so comfortable, as if they had foreseen the necessity of this element) Before we could dwell on our fullness, the waiter presented to us a freshly brewed masala chai (tea brewed with Indian spices). It helped us digest fast and we did not think twice as we sat straight back up and continued the feast. For dessert,

as much as we were spoilt for choice, in the end we had only one choice, to try them all! And that we did. Each one with its own charm and hitting different sweet spots; from the chocolate mousse cake to the Cardamom Panna Cotta. We did not even try to choose a favourite we just ate and drank and ate some more and as much as we were struggling to walk out of the restaurant we could not help but plan our next visit. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

Kuwait Exclusives

EYE BOUTIQUE OFFICIAL OPENING AT THE AVENUES Following in the success of its locations at 360 Mall and Dubai Mall, Eye Boutique invited the media and press representatives in Kuwait for the opening of its third store located in The Avenues III. This latest addition to the Eye Boutique network features collections of some of the world’s finest eyewear brands, catering to a variety of lifestyles in both medical frames and sunglasses. Eye Boutique’s vision and philosophy has always been focused on the delivery of extraordinary service, bolstered with an exceptional collection of world-class eyewear pieces. A team that is not only technically proficient, but also well versed in fashion, style and the demands of modern life, complete the uniqueness of the Eye Boutique experience.

Jumeirah Delivers ‘Stay Different’ Promise to Kuwait Signifying the importance of guests from Kuwait staying in their properties, Jumeirah Group highlighted its 20 luxury hotels, resorts and residences across 11 destinations worldwide as participants got a first-hand insight into the first Jumeirah property to open in the Gulf region, outside of the UAE. “The road show is a milestone event that allows us to strengthen our relationships with our trusted regional travel partners while sharing and celebrating mutual successes over the past year,” said Christian Pertl, Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing, MEASA, Jumeirah Group. “This year is especially momentous as we reveal Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, which heralds a new chapter in our growth and expansion plan.” 90

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LG SETS THE BENCHMARK WITH 2013 SMART TV LINE-UP LG Electronics’ R&D is driving the development of “Great Products” and strengthening its core technological capabilities through the launch of world class televisions. The television segment currently represents approximately 45% of group sales from premium televisions such as Smart TV’s. However, LG does not want to stop there. They intend to increase their premium share to 60% by the end of 2013, with 70% of the organization’s TV portfolio compromising of Smart TV sales. “2013 is an important year because for LG, it marks the beginning of a new TV era,” said Mr. D.Y. Kim, President of LG Electronics Gulf FZE. “With game-changing products such as 2013 Smart TV: LA8600, OLED TV and Ultra HD TV, we are in a strong position strategically to lead the industry. The imminent release of our LA8600 series in the first half of 2013 will give us a head start in a market where speed is a critical component of success.”

VERSACE OPENS A NEW BOUTIQUE IN KUWAIT Versace has now opened a new boutique at Prestige, The Avenues Mall, with the new store concept conceived by Donatella Versace in collaboration with English architect Jamie Fobert. The store mixes the opulence and traditions of Italian architecture with the dynamism and energy of Versace today. Marble mosaic, brass and Perspex create a modern and luxurious environment for Versace’s men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories. Past meets future in the boutique with its mosaic floor, inspired by 9th century Byzantine churches, contrasted with Perspex walls and shelving which appear to float above it. The circles of the mosaic floor are echoed in the curved walls, which add energy and the unexpected. Brass fittings throughout consolidate the ultimate mood of luxury. “I love the new Versace store concept. In his designs, Jamie Fobert has created a space where the new Versace comes alive. To me, the store is like a continuing dialogue, between our past and future, between Jamie Fobert and me, and between Versace and our customers,” says Donatella Versace “The new Versace concept recaptures the opulent beauty of Gianni

Versace’s first stores, but layered onto this is an optimism for the future of Versace in the new century. There is a tension between the futuristic element of the Perspex and the deeply historic floor. Surrounding this centerpiece are soft, curving walls and shelves in rough plaster. The overall effect is undeniably opulent yet completely contemporary,” says Jamie Fobert. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

Kuwait Exclusives

Tom Tailor makes Kuwait debut with the launch of its first flagship store Tom Tailor, the international fashion and lifestyle brand offering stylish casual wear and accessories for the entire family, representated by Dagher & Hinnawi International Company W.LL, officially opened the doors of its flagship retail store at Al-Muhallab Mall in Hawally. The new store located on the ground floor covering 500 square metres is the first Tom Tailor store to open in Kuwait. Expanding its presence across the globe, Tom Tailor constantly develops new collections and adapts the product portfolio to new or changing trends for a great deal of efficiency along the entire value chain. Through passion, creativity and determination, Tom Tailor has become one of Germany’s top 10 fashion retailers.

Mercedes-Benz Kuwait launches the daring A 250 Sport for the driven generation A.R. Albisher and Z. Alkazemi Co. – the exclusive distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait – has entered an entirely new segment with the launch of the new A 250 Sport, setting a fresh luxury compact car benchmark with a powerful, sporty and luxuriously designed and appointed hot hatch that will excite and enthral the nation’s aspirational go-getting next-big-things. The launch of the A 250 Sport was held in Kuwait’s Avenues Mall. Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Co. senior representatives were present at the launch, where General Manager - Michael Ruehle, unveiled the A 250 Sport and announced its arrival as the hottest hot hatch in its segment. Ruehle, said: “No other car in this segment is as progressive as the A 250 Sport. Mercedes-Benz has gone back to the drawing board for the new A-Class and come up with an ingenious concept for the luxury compact car segment while retaining the very distinctive Mercedes-Benz character. There has been so much talk about the launch of the new A-Class and it did not disappoint; Mercedes-Benz is even setting a new benchmark for compact sports cars worldwide.”

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Alviero Martini 1CLASSE opens its fourth boutique It has been 14 years since Alviero Martini 1CLASSE was introduced for the first time to Kuwait market by Mr. Shaker Al Hazeem and Mr. Saheb Al Hazeem. “The increased competition in the local market allowed us to grow and after Al Thuraya showroom in 2009 we had an opportunity to open Alviero for kids showroom in Al Fanar and to have bigger showroom in 360 Mall in 2010. It was a strategic step for us to represent the brand in one of the largest shopping malls in the Middle East and we are happy today to welcome customers in Grand Avenues mall offering them high quality and trendy Italian products” - says the Sales Manager of the company Mrs. Lusine Safaryan. The opening event honored by their presence his Excellency Mr. Fabrizzio Niccoletti Italian ambassador in Kuwait, Mrs. Bernardetta Gravili from the commercial department of the Italian Embassy, singer Tareq from Miami group, family members, bloggers, celebrities, VIP customers and other guests.

Ted Baker to open third store in Kuwait in the prestigious Avenues Mall Ted Baker is delighted to announce the opening of his new store, situated in the Avenues Mall, Kuwait. The store interior has been inspired by the history of London and Great British design and architecture. The store front features old Victorian moulded tiles framing the entrance with a black and white chequered floorgreeting customers inside. Classic wall panels adorn the space, with dark red velvet curtains dividing and separating differentareas of the store. A feature wall showcases the best of British history with mini Big Ben souvenirs, red double decker bus models, commemorative plates and miniature telephone boxes, hung on the wall in the shape of the Union Jack flag. A feature wall of bookshelf wallpaper includes richreds, creams, hues of blue and gold accents to host floating book shelveswhich showcaseTed’s seasonal accessory collections. Customers are welcomed into the fitting rooms with Victorian style front doors whilst the walls featureold black and white photographs of London scenes with the iconic London underground tube map abstractly laid over the top. WWW.THETALK-ONLINE.COM

Kuwait Exclusives

Hublot opens its first boutique in Kuwait Hublot boutique in Middle East, momentum continues to build in the region. The Swiss watch brand can currently boast a boutique opening almost every month, and these continue to be at the most prestigious locations across the globe. “Kuwait is home to a large number of major watch collectors. They fully appreciate the expertise of the Swiss watchmaking art, expressed through our watch collections. I wish our teams every success and the best of luck, and would be delighted to come and visit them often”. said JeanClaude Biver, Chairman of Hublot. Located in the magnificent Avenues Mall-Prestige, this boutique has been designed in line with the concept so dear to the brand – “The Art of Fusion”: the fusion of materials such as natural buckskin and ebony which create a warm yet hushed atmosphere.

Une Nuit de Revês III with Lina Bakir Now firmly established as an annual favourite amongst Kuwait’s musical cognoscenti, Lina Bakir’s Une Nuit de Revês returned in May for its third glorious edition. A full house of 750 enjoyed a magical fusion of wellknown classics and contemporary music and song from the Arab and western worlds. It’s been quite a journey from Une Nuit de Revês I through to the deserved applause that concluded the latest show on May 17. The first edition featured students of music that have blossomed under Lina’s tutorage. Through to today Lina’s students play a role in her shows, and they continue to entertain as a key part of the show. Preparing for the show is a lengthy process, and one that for Lina begins in August. It’s a complex round of auditions, selecting and arranging music, bringing together the orchestra, and then seemingly infinite rehearsals lie behind the perfection Une Nuit de Revês delivers on the night. This year’s edition of Une Nuit de Revês was sponsored by Al-Zahem International Group, Fouad Alghanim (Audi), DHL, Al Ostoura, Fauchon, and PH7. 94

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Les Jeux d’Hermés Event It was a beautiful, fun filled afternoon at The Regency Hotel. We were invited to relive childhood activitivies in exciting Hermés fashion. From hop-scotch to hula hooping; there was plenty to see and do! The event was a very creative way in presenting the magnificent prints Hermés has to offer with all things decked with the colourful palettes. Our favourite activity was posing for pictures with workout gear and a whole stack of Hermés scarves at our disposal to wear in any way we liked. This was the event our Publisher Zeina Mokaddam mentioned in her Editor’s Letter this month. We have to agree with her. After wearing the scarves at this event we could not help but fall in love with the trend. Comfortable, stylish and very much put together, we have now found a style staple that was discovered out of pure enjoyment. The event was a huge success, proving once again the brand’s understanding of luxury, refinement, comfort and class.

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BOOK REVIEWs

Celeb Cook Books Eva’s Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends Eva Longoria may be most recognized for her role as Desperate Housewives’ saucy Gabrielle Solis, but on her own time, there are few places she would rather be than in the kitchen, cooking the food she loves for her family and friends. Here is the food Eva loves to eat, and the recipes in Eva’s Kitchen trace her life story, taking readers on her culinary journey—from the food she was brought up on to the recipes inspired by her travels abroad to the dishes she serves during casual nights at home.

It’s All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes that Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great

Don’t Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza’s Father-Son Cookbook “Our minds are like our stomaches; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.” - Quintilian In the Danza family, the men did most of the cooking — great Italian-American food that has remained the favorite cuisine in American households for more than a century. Now, actor, television personality, and exuberant cook Tony Danza and his son, Marc (and grandson, Nicholas!), invite you into the kitchen with their huge, at times hilarious, ItalianAmerican clan for 50 top-secret family recipes (the sauce and the lasagna) and never-beforeshared stories and photographs.

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Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has won an Oscar, but recipe hounds are far more impressed by her credentials as the author of My Father’s Daughter and Notes from My Kitchen Table. Her new It’s All Good begins with what seems to be some very bad news: To cure her maladies, Gwyneth’s doctor prescribes what seems like the ultimate elimination diet; one that prohibits sugar, wheat, coffee, alcohol, dairy, eggs, meat, shellfish, deepwater fish, and, did we mention anything processed, too? To survive this naysaying onslaught, she consulted cooking whiz Julia Turshen. Together, they concocted 185 delectable recipes, each of which somehow managed to adhere to the physician’s guidelines. As tasty as it is healthful.

Tana’s Kitchen Secrets Widely renowned for being the bedrock of the Ramsay household, and as a busy mother of four, Tana knows how important it is to use what little time you have wisely. Her philosophy for enjoying a relaxed and rewarding life is refreshing: it’s important to be healthy, but also to take time to have fun; it’s good to get your children to eat their greens, but also to instill in them a lifelong love of good food. Tana Ramsay will be your best friend in the kitchen, especially when time is limited and serenity is in short supply.

The Healthy Green Drink Diet: Advice and Recipes to Energize, Alkalize, Lose Weight, and Feel Great Celebrities, models, and nutritionists to the stars are all about the “green” drink—here’s how to enjoy them at home. One juice or smoothie a day—made from green vegetables such as kale, cucumber, celery, and spinach—works wonders for organ health, immune system strength, and weight loss. Now the founder of heathygreendrink.com offers a persuasive argument for adding a green drink to your day, as well as recipes for dozens of different variations.

If It Makes You Healthy: More Than 100 Delicious Recipes Inspired by the Seasons Rock star. Activist. Mother of two. How does Sheryl Crow have time to keep so healthy and fit? Sheryl knows how to eat right and deliciously thanks to personal chef Chuck White, affectionately known as “Chef Chuck.” The duo met while Sheryl was battling breast cancer, which for her, was a wake-up call to eat better. Since then, Chuck has taught Sheryl how to do just that by cooking foods that are seasonal, locally grown, and vitamin-rich to keep her on top of her game and always ready to perform. Now Sheryl and Chuck want to bring their nutritious, delicious creations from her kitchen into yours.

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Movie previews

movies showing this month Man of Steel Release Date: June 13 Director: Zack Snyder Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe Synopsis: A young journalist is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.

Monsters University Release Date: June 20 Director: Dan Scanlon Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman Synopsis: A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University -- when they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily the best of friends.

White House Down Release Date: June 27 While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the president from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders.

Now You See Me Release Date: June 6 Director: Louis Leterrier Starring: Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo Synopsis: FBI agents track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

World War Z Release Date: June 20 Director: Marc Forster Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale Synopsis: United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to decimate humanity itself.

The Heat Release Date: June 27 Director: Paul Feig Starring: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Marlon Wayans Synopsis: Uptight FBI special agent Sarah Ashburn is paired with testy Boston cop Shannon Mullins in order to take down a ruthless drug lord. The hitch: neither woman has ever had a partner -- or a friend for that matter. 98

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GEMINI (May 22-June 21)

Horoscopes VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 23) You will meet new people and they are from totally different circles that you normally move in. They will offer new perspectives and give you an idea. You will also learn that you may have to change your goals.

LEO

(July 23-Aug 22) There will be a strong focus on the younger members of the family and they really do need your help right now. Even if you are not their parent your advice will be appreciated.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Be careful with money as you will feel like splashing out during this month but curb your spending as summer will bring more trips and adventures.

You really need to avoid arguments with loved ones. You may be right in what you are thinking but don’t forget to consider others as well. It might be better to keep quite than offer an opinion which could cause offense, and anger.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) Remain emotionally strong and don’t let negative influences affect your thinking. Avoid confrontations at home and with work colleagues. Towards the end of June 2013 you will have more energy.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) If you are in a relationship you will enter a period of new adventures. Participate in events and enjoy your health which is really good at the moment.

TAURUS (Apr. 21-May 21) Things in your personal life move on really quickly and just as soon as you have got used to a new idea up pops another one. Your friends will discover that you are a bit of a trouble shooter, and they will learn to trust you.

LIBRA

(Sept. 24-Oct. 23) This is a month for relationships and family. You will learn to be careful in your dealings with others. Librans who are single have chances of finding their right partner.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21-Feb. 19) Handle family problems with care during June 2013, and try to see problems from another perspective. The idea is to solve the problem not to make it worse.

ARIES

(Mar. 21-April 20) Some close friends of yours might be going on a long trip and you feel a bit envious. Don’t worry too much about it or let it get to you as your opportunity will be along shortly.

CANCER

(June 22-July 22) You are going to win a struggle. This will boost your independence and give you more personal and emotional freedom. You will learn you don’t need to follow the crowd and the ideas you create within yourself work just fine.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Find new people to be part of the project and work together with them. You will find you have excellent leadership skills. June 2013 is an excellent month to expand your horizons.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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THETALK / June / 2013

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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