Arab designers put on stellar show in Cannes

Arab designers put on stellar show in Cannes
Actress Urvashi Rautela showed off a gown by Lebanese designer Tony Ward. Getty Images
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Updated 18 May 2022

Arab designers put on stellar show in Cannes

Arab designers put on stellar show in Cannes

DUBAI: The 75th Cannes Film Festival rolled out the red carpet on Tuesday, attracting a wide spectrum of movie luminaries wearing their glittering best back to the French resort to celebrate the event.

As usual, Arab designers stole the limelight with their show-stopping looks, including Lebanese couturiers Tony Ward and Zuhair Murad, and Omani design house Atelier Zuhra.

Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela was among the stars who championed a design from the region.

The Miss Universe 2015 contestant made her Cannes red-carpet debut at the premiere of “Final Cut,” floating in on a cloud of white tulle. The frothy confection was plucked from the atelier of Ward. The Indian 28-year-old looked every inch a Disney princess in the voluminous, asymmetrical gown with a long train. She paired the look with a braided updo and a bold red lip.

Ward also found a fan in American actress Liza Koshy, who stunned at the opening ceremony in a white sheer creation embroidered with pink, blue, and green sequins. The gown featured a single shoulder and a high slit, and she paired it with gold open-toe pumps.




Actress Liza Koshy wore a sequined gown by Lebanese designer Tony Ward. Getty Images

Elsewhere, Dubai-based Moldovan model Elvira Jain, was a vision in a black tulle gown by Atelier Zuhra.

The plunging gown featured a black ruffled cape with a long train. A cascade of embroidered crystals shimmered even more brightly against the flashing cameras.

It was the second time that Jain had opted for a gown from the Dubai-based womenswear brand. She said: “Wearing an Atelier Zuhra (dress) means stepping into a magical world made of opulent gowns worthy of a queen. When I saw this gorgeous dress in the showroom, its spell was cast on me.”

She paired it with diamond-studded jewelry signed Noor by Jahan.





Alice Abdelaziz stepped out in a lavish look by Zuhair Murad, which she paired with a ballooning taffeta cape. Getty Images

Meanwhile, Lebanese reality television star and founder of beauty brand Take Me to Wonder, Alice Abdelaziz, stepped out in a lavish look from Murad’s fall 2021 couture collection.

Abdelaziz made the case for an appealing contrast between voluminous shapes and slim silhouettes in a black sinuous number that was dripping in dark blue and silver sequins, which she paired with a ballooning taffeta cape thrown over it.


Emirati singer Balqees Fathi named a Maison Valentino ‘Di.Va.’ 

Emirati singer Balqees Fathi named a Maison Valentino ‘Di.Va.’ 
Updated 21 March 2023

Emirati singer Balqees Fathi named a Maison Valentino ‘Di.Va.’ 

Emirati singer Balqees Fathi named a Maison Valentino ‘Di.Va.’ 

DUBAI: Emirati singer Balqees Fathi has been given the title of Di.Va. by Italian luxury label Maison Valentino.  

Akin to a brand ambassador, creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli’s chosen Di.Vas personify the labels’ “different values.” 

“The contemporary need to identify, to belong yet feel different, to risk and to feel strength. The modern DI.VA is a complex character of codes, upheld by inner values,” the brand previously explained on Instagram. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Balqees (@balqeesfathi)

 

Fathi took to Instagram to share the news with her 14.9 million followers. “I am proud to announce that I am a @maisonvalentino Di.Va. for the Middle East,” she wrote. “To me, it means being part of a community that shares my same values, and with every Valentino piece I wear, I feel liberated and in unconditional love with myself.” 

Before working with the label, the “Ya Hawa” singer was one of the brand’s loyal clients.  

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Valentino (@maisonvalentino)

 

In July, she tuned heads at the brand’s Fall-Winter Haute Couture show in Rome that was held on the steps of the historic Piazza di Spagna. 

She wore a pink creation from Valentino’s Pink PP Collection by Pierpaolo Piccioli to the show titled “Valentino The Beginning.” 

It was not the first time Fathi was spotted in Valentino. She wore an elegant all-white ensemble from the designer’s Rendez-Vouz collection back in March 2022 — a white silk shirt paired with a blazer and pants set that was an instant hit among fashion lovers on social media.  


Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar awarded Richard Mille Art Prize at Louvre Abu Dhabi

Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar awarded Richard Mille Art Prize at Louvre Abu Dhabi
Updated 21 March 2023

Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar awarded Richard Mille Art Prize at Louvre Abu Dhabi

Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar awarded Richard Mille Art Prize at Louvre Abu Dhabi

DUBAI: Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar has been awarded this year’s $60,000 Richard Mille Art Prize in a ceremony held at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

The award, held jointly by the museum with Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille, was given to the multidisciplinary artist who lives in Abu Dhabi.

The artist won for “Earthly Wonders, Celestial Beings” (2019–ongoing),  which was put on show during the Art Here 2022 exhibition in October.

 “I am grateful to be recognized amongst a group of peers for whom I have deep respect and admiration. The Richard Mille Art Prize represents a significant investment in the growth and development of an artist’s practice, instilling both the capacity and drive to forge ahead in their pursuit. I would like to thank Louvre Abu Dhabi and Richard Mille for their generous support, and acknowledge the esteemed jury for their trust,” Jabbar said in a released statement.

To date, the artist has had her work exhibited at Shubbak Festival (UK), SAVVY Contemporary (Germany), Rabat Biennale (Morocco), Biennale d’Architecture d’Orléans (France), Abu Dhabi Art, Jameel Arts Centre, NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, and Warehouse 421 (UAE).

The museum also revealed the theme for the upcoming third edition of the Richard Mille Art Prize as “Transparency.” Curated by Maya El Khalil, the open call for the upcoming edition will begin on March 30.


Sharon Stone shows off gown by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar at Beverly Hills gala event 

Sharon Stone shows off gown by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar at Beverly Hills gala event 
Updated 21 March 2023

Sharon Stone shows off gown by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar at Beverly Hills gala event 

Sharon Stone shows off gown by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar at Beverly Hills gala event 

DUBAI: Saudi designer Yousef Akbar has added another Hollywood star to his client list —Sharon Stone.  

The Oscar-winning US actress wore an embellished green dress designed by Akbar to the 2023 Women’s Cancer Research Fund Gala this week.  

Her dress, which was clinched at the waist, featured half-satin and half-sparkling fabric with built-in gloves. Stone accessorized her look with a metallic gold clutch.  

The star received the 2023 Courage Award for her support of breast cancer research and dedication to raising awareness for the cause.  

Upon taking the stage, Stone said: “So often things that start with women get overlooked completely, and I am so grateful to stand for something that doesn’t.” 

The event, which took place in the Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills, raised over $2 million to benefit the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation that is dedicated to ending disease by advancing research across the globe.


‘It will blow your mind,’ US actor Rob Lowe says of Egypt trip

‘It will blow your mind,’ US actor Rob Lowe says of Egypt trip
Updated 21 March 2023

‘It will blow your mind,’ US actor Rob Lowe says of Egypt trip

‘It will blow your mind,’ US actor Rob Lowe says of Egypt trip

DUBAI: US actor Rob Lowe is the latest Hollywood celebrity to visit Egypt.  

The filmmaker and podcast host shared pictures from his trip to the country this week. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Rob Lowe (@roblowe)

“Spent some quality time in this tomb today with the boy king himself! Tutankhamen’s body was only unwrapped last year,” Lowe wrote to his 1.9 million followers, sharing a picture of himself inside the tomb.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Rob Lowe (@roblowe)

He also posed for pictures in front of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza.  

“Nothing can prepare you for Egypt. No matter how many photos you’ve seen or books you’ve read, it will blow your mind. And the people were amazing,” the actor wrote on Instagram.  

Lowe is not the only celebrity to visit Egypt in recent years. He is joined by John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Kourtney Kardashian, Will Smith, Jason Derulo and more.


Bella Hadid champions up-and-coming Egyptian designer in Las Vegas 

Bella Hadid champions up-and-coming Egyptian designer in Las Vegas 
Updated 21 March 2023

Bella Hadid champions up-and-coming Egyptian designer in Las Vegas 

Bella Hadid champions up-and-coming Egyptian designer in Las Vegas 

DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid this week stepped out in a hot red dress by emerging Egyptian designer Amy Shehab as she attended the grand opening of Stanton Social Prime restaurant at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.  

The “Buckle” dress is form-fitting, with a flowy skirt, and has a belt tied around the waist with a square metal buckle. It is off-the-shoulder and features asymmetric draped sleeves.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bella (@bellahadid)

The designer, who is also followed by Argentinian model Georgina Rodriguez on social media, took to Instagram to share pictures and videos of Hadid at the event.  

The supermodel wore black stiletto heels and kept her brunette hair curly.  

At the opening, Hadid promoted Kin Euphorics, the non-alcoholic drinks and spirits brand she co-founded with Jen Batchelor.