Saudi artists shine at Sotheby’s summer exhibition 

Saudi artists shine at Sotheby’s summer exhibition 
Abdulhalim Radwi, ‘Untitled.’ (Supplied)
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Updated 26 July 2024
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Saudi artists shine at Sotheby’s summer exhibition 

Saudi artists shine at Sotheby’s summer exhibition 
  • Selected works from ‘Khamseen: 50 Years of Saudi Visual Arts,’ which runs at Sotheby’s in London from August 12-30 as part of ‘Hafla,’ a celebration of Middle Eastern culture

Mohammed Al-Saleem 

‘Untitled’ 

Al-Saleem was one of the Kingdom’s most significant artists, who has, as the Sotheby’s show brochure notes, “greatly contributed to the growth and evolution of Saudi art in the Kingdom.”

In the 1980s, Al-Saleem developed a style he called “Al-Afakia” (Horizonism), which was “inspired by the gradating skyline of Riyadh from the desert.” This piece from 1986 is a prime example of that style, which balances modernist and traditional aesthetics, and demonstrates why Al-Saleem was widely regarded as the leading abstract artist of his generation in the Kingdom and the wider Gulf region.

“(This work) banishes form and landscape, reimagining the distant dunes of the desert horizon through contained slabs of color, which emerge as if struggling against one another across the surface of the image,” the brochure states. “Its layering and shading suggest a search for subtle accords and variations similar to that with which a composer achieves musical harmony, creating an astonishing sense of energy and dynamism.”

Abduljabbar Al-Yahya 

‘Flask’ 

Another pioneer of Saudi modern art, Al-Yahya’s first solo exhibition was held in 1971, before his “stylistic tendencies” transitioned into what Sotheby’s calls “his recognizable oeuvre, characterized by its ability to convey the beauty and complexity of his country’s landscape, culture and people. In this piece, created in 2000, the brochure states, “Al Yahya depicts a female figure against a kaleidoscopic form that her figure merges into, further bordered by a golden background. Recalling the spirit and silt of Saudi Arabia’s landscape, Al Yahya’s canvases are habitats of earthy hues and architectural flatness, balanced against a figurative abstraction derived from his time in Europe. Ultimately foregrounding these explorations was Al Yahya’s focus on the notion of belonging, to both nature and humanity.” 

Al-Yahya himself once said of his work: “I followed the theme ‘art for life.’ Art is not only a hobby or entertainment. I strongly believe that I have a message I must achieve … (delivering) an idea bringing hope to the human being … I know my humanity through art.” 

Abdulhalim Radwi 

‘Untitled’ 

The late artist (who was also a prolific sculptor and poet) studied in Rome in the 1960s, where he began to take an interest in abstraction. But, as Sotheby’s notes, “though he was absorbed by Western artistic discourses, Radwi never strayed far from local heritage and traditions, and instead invoked his own narrative of the Arab world through cubism and expressionism which set himself apart from his contemporaries. This work was created in 1989 and is, the brochure states, “exemplary of Radwi’s later paintings” and an “attempt to reconcile modernity and artistic authenticity.” 

It continues: “‘Untitled’ is kaleidoscopic in its composition, with a scene that is imbued with the effervescent bustling energy — the vivacity of popular life — in the old towns of his beloved Saudi Arabia. The vibrancy of the city is depicted through a futurist scene blending traditional Ottoman architecture with contemporary influences. Radwi borrows the swift strokes and striking hues of Cezanne and Van Gogh, and similarly imbues his canvas with an effervescent, almost cosmic, energy. The very essence of his works lies not in their physicality but in the emotions they trigger.” 

Abdulrahman Al-Soliman 

‘Untitled’  

The Al-Ahsa-born artist’s works, Sotheby’s says, “convey a deep appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s culture and heritage.” He was particularly concerned with the “erasure of heritage that exists on a personal and collective plane.” This specific “rare cubist” work, created in 1980, was “produced amid a transitional period in Saudi” and can be “set against a backdrop of social shifts, as Saudi society steered towards a more conservative societal trajectory,” the brochure states. “There is a delicacy depicted through the simplicity of Al-Soliman’s subtle use of lines, colors, shadows that convey a certain peacefulness. Furthermore, the subject bears testimony to the artist’s love of his country, a place he calls home. One can engage in a graceful nostalgia delivered through this early cubist work.” 

Mohammed Al-Resayes 

‘Architectural Element 5’  

After finishing high school in Riyadh in the Seventies, Al-Resayes traveled to Cairo to learn more about art. There, Sotheby’s says, his practice focused on “attempting to integrate the brushstroke techniques of Impressionism with the contracted, reassembled space of Cubism, depicting sceneries reminiscent of his rural background.” In the Nineties, having returned to the Kingdom, Al-Resayes “became involved with the emergent expressionist movement of the Saudi pioneers who preceded him,” and became president of the art department at the King Saud University. The 1982 series “Architectural Elements,” to which this work — depicting three vertical forms that could be interpreted as three figures crouching slightly — belongs, revolved, according to Sotheby’s “around exile, pain and misery.”  

Arwa Alneami 

‘Spring Camel’ 

Alneami’s practice, Sotheby’s says, “interrogates themes of acceptance and inclusion within Saudi society” and “reflects her own experiences as a female artist, (having) struggled to integrate in the regional contemporary arts environment.” She can be regarded as something of a trailblazer, having been the first woman to photograph inside the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah (a project exhibited in the British Museum). This piece from 2012, Alneami told the Royal Arts Magazine, is an “homage to the best friend of the desert. Not to that cliché subject ‘camels for tourism,’ but to that loyal companion of humans … Camels as celebration, colorfully festive, welcoming the Springtime, eternal symbols of the endless journey, travelers and travel, silent, hardworking, melancholic and trustful. Again, an artistic subject based on the souvenirs of the past.” 


Red Sea International Film Festival kicks off in Saudi Arabia

Red Sea International Film Festival kicks off in Saudi Arabia
Updated 19 min 1 sec ago
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Red Sea International Film Festival kicks off in Saudi Arabia

Red Sea International Film Festival kicks off in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival kicked off on Thursday night at the event’s new headquarters in Culture Square, Al-Balad, Jeddah.

The fourth edition of the film festival will feature the usual set of glittering names, many of whom hit the red carpet on Thursday night.

Hollywood stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Emily Blunt and Cynthia Erivo joined Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh on the red carpet while there was also a strong showing from Bollywood with Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor posing for photographs at the opening ceremony.

Vin Diesel, Will Smith and Riyadh-based model Georgina Rodriguez also made surprise appearances.  

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee — known for films such as “Malcom X” and “BlacKkKlansman” — is presiding over the features competition jury this year, while Oscar-winning actress and producer Viola Davis and Egyptian star Mona Zaki are this year’s honorees at the festival, which will run until Dec. 14 under the theme “The New Home of Film.”

“I’m going to see some great films by young filmmakers… you’ve got to support the youth, they need to make their films and tell their stories,” Lee told Arab News on the red carpet as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas hit the red carpet behind him.

“We call it the bride of the red sea, finally we are having guests in this historical place,” Saudi actor Khaled Yeslam said on the red carpet. “Being a Saudi citizen, I’m so glad to have all these global stars in our city,” he added.

Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones on the red carpet. (AN Photo/Hashim Nadeem)

Meanwhile, “The Fall Guy” actress Emily Blunt was honored at the opening ceremony, with the honor being presented by Yeoh.

The British actress took to the stage in a glittering gown to say “we have so many stories to tell, we are brimming with them.”

“I am so deeply grateful to be here,” she added before Bollywood icon Amir Khan was also honored on stage. 

Wicked star Cynthia Erivo joined the host of famous faces walking the red carpet in Jeddah. (AN Photo/Hashim Nadeem)

The opening ceremony featured a screening of Egyptian director Karim El Shenawy’s “The Tale of Daye’s Family” about an 11-year-old Nubian albino boy who faces adversity because of his appearance.

The festival will feature 120 films from 81 countries at the new venue — previous editions were held at the city’s Ritz-Carlton hotel — where five purpose-built cinemas and a large auditorium will host back-to-back screenings as well as In Conversation panels with celebrities.

Georgina Rodriguez, Riyadh-based model and partner of Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was also in attendance. (AN Photo/Hashim Nadeem)

Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey’s semi-biographical feature “Better Man,” inspired by British pop star Robbie Williams, will close the festival while Johnny Depp’s “Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness,” which was supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation, will be given a gala screening as part of the International Spectacular lineup.

Other star power-laden titles set for gala screenings include Peter Chelsom’s “A Sudden Case of Christmas” starring Danny Devito, Pablo Larrain’s biopic “Maria,” starring Angelina Jolie as opera singer Maria Callas; Mehdi Idir’s “Monsieur Aznavour,” starring Tahar Rahim as the French singer; Thierry Teston and Lisa Azeulos’s Jane Fonda-narrated documentary “My Way”; and “We Live in Time” with Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.


Riyadh Music Week hits high note

Riyadh Music Week hits high note
Updated 05 December 2024
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Riyadh Music Week hits high note

Riyadh Music Week hits high note
  • Set to run until Dec. 14, the event will showcase a wide array of activities designed to advance the Kingdom’s music scene
  • Launch showcased a composition blending Saudi Arabia’s musical heritage with international influences, embodying the theme of the event

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission on Wednesday inaugurated Riyadh Music Week as part of efforts to establish the capital as a global hub for the music industry.

Set to run until Dec. 14, the event will showcase a wide array of activities designed to advance the Kingdom’s music scene.

The launch showcased a composition blending Saudi Arabia’s musical heritage with international influences, embodying the theme of the event.

Riyadh Music Week seeks to establish the Kingdom as a global cultural hub, elevate and showcase musical talent on the international stage, and promote cross-sector collaboration to drive the growth and development of the music industry.

It also offers a dynamic program, including dialogue sessions, workshops, training courses, and concerts featuring a mix of performances by Saudi and international artists.

The Music Commission is committed to fostering the growth of music in the Kingdom as an art form, cultural expression, science, and source of entertainment. Its efforts are centered around five key pillars: music education, music production, live performances, support and promotion, and establishing a comprehensive licensing system.


Recipes for success: Chef Clet Laborde offers advice and a tasty cheese balls recipe

Recipes for success: Chef Clet Laborde offers advice and a tasty cheese balls recipe
Updated 05 December 2024
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Recipes for success: Chef Clet Laborde offers advice and a tasty cheese balls recipe

Recipes for success: Chef Clet Laborde offers advice and a tasty cheese balls recipe
  • The executive chef of Sushi Samba Riyadh offers advice and a tasty cheese balls recipe  

DUBAI: French-Brazilian chef Clet Laborde discovered his passion for cooking while preparing snacks and sandwiches for events during his hospitality studies. “I enjoyed learning the ways that we do things and how we work in the kitchen that is very different from hospitality, from being a bartender or a server or a waiter,” he told Arab News.  

Encouraged by a mentor who recognized his potential during a culinary competition in Brazil, Laborde pursued formal training at the renowned Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France. He went on to work with legendary chefs Yannick Alléno and Alain Ducasse in France, before expanding his horizons in Brazil and Peru. 

In January 2023, the chef moved to Saudi Arabia. “I really love this country. It is very nice. It is a safe place. It is a very good country to live in with the family and kids. So I am very happy to be here,” he said. He is now the executive chef of Sushi Samba Riyadh, where he crafts dishes that blend Japanese, Peruvian and Brazilian flavors. 

Here, the chef discusses mistakes, his favorite cuisines, and offers tips for amateur chefs. 

When you started out, what was the most common mistake you made?  

Organization is the most important thing in the kitchen. A very big mistake that is common in the beginning is that you don’t have everything ready to make the dish. We call it the “mise en place.” So, you don’t need to run around or be desperate to cook something very quick because you forgot something.  

Seasoning is another thing that comes with time. Every person — and every country — has a different palette. I’ve had the opportunity to work in Europe, Brazil, Peru and Saudi Arabia, and the palette of each country is completely different. So, you need to adapt the seasoning. A common mistake in the beginning is that we tend to put too much salt, or not enough. 

What’s your top tip for amateur chefs?  

The best tip that I can give is don’t get stressed out. If you make a mistake, you can always change and adapt the dish without destroying the idea behind it. For example, when you put too much salt in something, the most effective thing to kill the salt is to put a raw potato in the dish. Let’s say you are doing a stew, and you put too much salt, just put a raw potato inside. The raw potato is going to absorb all the excess salt, so your dish is going to be perfect again. Everything can be solved, everything can be adapted. 

What one ingredient can instantly improve any dish? 

I have two. The first is soy sauce — a good quality soy sauce can improve a dish a lot. The flavor helps you not use salt, and it can give flavor to the dishes very subtly. The other ingredient is mushrooms. They are very earthy products, but the mushroom has umami — a flavor that comes from the earth that is something very delicate in the palette.  

When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the food?  

I'm very critical and my wife — who’s also a chef — is too. So when we go out to eat, we see all the details in every dish. I think everybody that has this career will be the same. We are always looking to learn — even if that’s learning what not to do. 

What’s the most common issue you find in other restaurants? 

The seasoning. Like I said before, it’s something very personal — some people like to eat food that is more salty, less salty, more sweet, more spicy… But, in the kitchen, we always need to have a base flavor. When we add salt, it’s not necessarily to make the food more salty, but to increase the flavor of the product. So, if we don’t put enough salt, like on a steak or on a fish, the fish is going to be bland, so we’re going to lose this good flavor of the product.  

What’s your favorite cuisine? 

Peruvian. I lived in Peru for 12 years. The cuisine has a mix of cultures and flavors that you’re not going to find anywhere else. My favorite dishes would be ceviche and pollo a la brasa. We have both on our menu here. La brasa is a very traditional dish that the Peruvians eat normally every Sunday — like how the Italians sit together to eat pasta on Sunday, in Peru they eat chicken la brasa with fries and salad. It’s very traditional and it’s delicious.  

What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home? 

Stroganoff. It’s an Eastern European dish. It is very quick. You can do it with salmon, you can do it with chicken, you can do it with steak. It’s very versatile. You can do it with just vegetables too. All you need is paprika, ketchup, cream and the protein that you want. Everything sauteed together, and you serve it with rice. In 20 minutes, you have the dish done.  

What customer behavior most frustrates you? 

Fake allergies. It is very common. I understand that some people have very specific allergies, like nuts, peanuts, seafood or shellfish. But now, you have people saying I’m allergic to mango, I’m allergic to kiwi. I prefer them to be honest, and say, “I don’t like mango. Can you do the dish without mango?” We either say, “Sorry, we cannot,” or we can give you another option, and we can work with it. But don’t try to give allergies that don’t exist. It’s something that’s very stressful in the kitchen — to try to adapt to allergies that you know don’t exist. But you cannot say no to the customer.  

What’s your favorite dish to cook and why?  

There’s a dish I always make at home for my kids and my wife. They love it. It’s a flavor that can bring us back to Peru. It takes time, but it’s not complicated. You need to marinate your chicken for 24 hours minimum, and after that, you put your chicken in the oven, and it’s done. So it’s very easy to do, but it takes time. But it’s very easy and very tasty. 

What’s the most difficult dish for you to get right?  

A traditional French dish — fish in puff pastry. The whole fish is cooked inside the puff pastry. So to have the perfect cook of the fish, to not be dry, or raw, with the puff pastry cooked perfectly, is very difficult. It’s a dish that needs a lot of attention to detail and decoration.  

Are you a disciplinarian? Do you shout a lot? Or are you more laidback? 

I’m not laidback, but I don’t shout. I think the image that a lot of people have about me because I am French, is that I will shout. Some French chefs are very nasty with the employees. I’m the opposite of that. I lived this environment when I was in France. I know how it is to work for a person that screams at you, hits you or denigrates you in the kitchen in front of everybody. That’s something that I am against. I always try to have a healthy environment for my chef and for my team. Here in Sushi Samba, I have 56 cooks under my responsibility. I know all of them. I tell everyone, when you arrive in the kitchen, you need to say hi to everybody. This is what makes the bond within the team — everybody cares about everybody. My team knows that my door is always open to them. And if I have any issue with a cook or any problem in the kitchen, I never call the person out in front of anybody. I take the person out of the kitchen, we go to the office, we sit down, we talk and we try to solve the problem instantly.  

Chef Clet’s Brazilian cheese balls (Pão de queijo) recipe  

INGREDIENTS: 

Tapioca flour: 500g 

Water: 100ml 

Sunflower oil: 80ml 

Milk: 180ml 

Salt: 2g 

Eggs: 2  

Parmesan cheese: 250g 

INSTRUCTIONS:  

In a bowl, mix the tapioca flour, salt, and grated parmesan cheese. 

In a separate container, combine the warm water, milk, and sunflower oil. 

Gradually add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing well. 

Add the eggs one at a time, stirring until the dough becomes smooth and homogeneous. 

Form small balls of approximately 30g each and place them on a baking tray. 

Bake at 180°C for 25 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown. 

Enjoy with salted butter or cream cheese. 

 


Arwa Al-Banawi: ‘I always want women to feel comfortable, cool and confident’ 

Arwa Al-Banawi: ‘I always want women to feel comfortable, cool and confident’ 
Updated 05 December 2024
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Arwa Al-Banawi: ‘I always want women to feel comfortable, cool and confident’ 

Arwa Al-Banawi: ‘I always want women to feel comfortable, cool and confident’ 

DUBAI: Every young designer today who decides to go it alone with their own label must perfect a sort of solo high-wire act where the only way to look is forward. They must juggle cultural relevance, craft, representation, community and sustainability, and, all the while, create clothes that are not only covetable but actually say something about the world.  

Since launching her eponymous label in 2015, Saudi designer Arwa Al-Banawi has navigated these pitfalls with flair and remains one of the Kingdom’s most exciting design talents. Now rebranded as the shorter, chicer, ARWÁ, Al-Banawi is preparing for her second act. 

Arwa Al-Banawi launched her eponymous label in 2015. (Supplied)

“I always had this in mind,” she says of the pivot, “that after a period of time and after the brand had developed, to make the name shorter and of course more recognizable internationally.” In addition to the new name, there’s a slick new e-commerce site and a collection of day-to-evening separates with permanent appeal, brought to life by a vibrant campaign featuring 70-year-old Swiss model Gabriela Rickli-Gerster.  

The Al-Banawi hallmarks are all still there: exceptional tailoring, elegant cuts with a contemporary edge for modest dressing, messages of female empowerment, styling versatility and timeless design. This is not a reinvention but rather a reemergence and refinement of her vision. 

“I always want women to feel comfortable, cool and confident, even when they are dressed conservatively — that’s why I love what I do and it has always been one of the main aesthetics of the brand. Especially for me, as an Arab designer who also likes to dress that way, it’s something important to deliver in the offerings.” 

Born and raised in Jeddah, Al-Banawi “travelled a lot from a young age,” visiting family and vacationing in Europe – specifically Switzerland and Germany – which she credits as helping to shape the “eclectic East and West style” of her brand. But what put fashion on her radar in the first place?  

“I have to say that’s really because of my parents,” she says. “They are very into art and have a beautiful, authentic sense of style…My mom collected Vogue from back in the 80s and still has this insane library of fashion magazines. I grew up naturally learning about all the historical fashion houses and feeling the fabrics in her closet.” 

It’s hard not to attach meaning and emotional weight to clothing; what you wear not only reflects who you are and how you carry yourself, but also who you want to be — and no one understands this nuance better than women’s designers like Al-Banawi. Yes, there are feather trims, form-fitting maxi dresses and shimmering kaftans (a nod to her “graceful” mother) but there is also relaxed suiting, belted blazers and a monochrome trench coat with Arabic calligraphy on the lapel (inspired by her father and his love of sharp tailoring). Her approach is thoughtful, with attention to detail — versatile lengths, materials and colors – —that transcend demographics while mirroring the multifaceted and unique perspectives of women navigating the modern world. 

“You have to be in touch with your instincts as a creative because it is a very emotional experience,” says Al-Banawi, who lets her autobiography lead. “Inspiration can come from anywhere. For me, the concept is simply to be creative, to have fun. Fashion is really just the medium where I found myself most connected and able to share my story.” 

Much of the beauty industry is built on inspiring insecurity in consumers. It is worth billions worldwide and a big chunk of that is spent in the region, where perfectionism and high glamor are revered. Given the ubiquity of anti-ageing propaganda, it’s refreshing — encouraging even — to see Rickli-Gerster in Al-Banawi’s campaign visuals.  

“When I hear terms like ‘dress your age’ when women get older…what does that even mean?! I really don’t like that,” Al-Banawi says. “The message with the campaign is to show that confidence has no age limit — it’s something you have to celebrate within yourself. I know how it feels when you put something on and you feel immediately transformed… empowered, strong, beautiful — you feel like you can do anything.” 

Running an independent brand today is like being a musician and also owning the record label. To survive, you must be adaptable and incredibly self-aware, knowing that what you are producing is just as much a business as it is a creative project.  

“At the beginning, most founders are also the CEO of their company…half-business, half-creative,” says Al-Banawi, adding that her father encouraged her to complete her degree in finance before entering the fashion world full-time. “His way of thinking was that school will not teach you to be creative — that’s already part of you — but it will teach you the skills to perform in the profession that you want. I’m very grateful for that.”  

Her education has served her well, with a savvy business model that focuses on sustainable production values and limited supplies of seasonless investment pieces. She currently produces one or two main collections each year and two smaller drops to coincide with Ramadan and the summer season, eschewing the international calendar (like many of her regional peers) in favor of a strategy that complements both her goals and the needs of her customers.  

What works in the West isn’t necessarily relevant or reflective of the varied infrastructures or medley of cultures that currently exists across the Arab world. There have been various attempts at regional fashion weeks since the mid-noughties, some with more success than others. But ultimately what these events revealed was that without a healthy backbone — proper programming, guidance from industry leaders and intelligent investment at grassroots level in the nurturing of design communities — they couldn’t gain the trust or support of the designers they intended to serve. 

Burak Çakmak, the CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Commission, is attempting to change the narrative. In June 2021, he spearheaded the launch of the Saudi 100 Brands initiative, an annual, year-long development strategy for emerging local designers, educating them on everything required to grow a brand from the ground up with infrastructural support on Saudi soil. And last year saw the launch of Riyadh Fashion Week, where Al-Banawi showed her latest line. 

“At the moment it makes sense for me to present once a year — to show the vibe of the brand, connect with customers and the press — and when I do, it would be in Riyadh,” Al-Banawi says, remarking on how far the country has come in building a credible fashion industry. “The talent has always been there,” she says, “but what the Fashion Commission is doing is incredible and I know more designers will keep coming through every year…like us, they are telling the story of Saudi, its rich culture and heritage, through their brands — we’re all very proud.” 


Best and Worst: Saudi influencer, podcaster and entrepreneur Rae Joseph talks fashion and travel

Best and Worst: Saudi influencer, podcaster and entrepreneur Rae Joseph talks fashion and travel
Updated 05 December 2024
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Best and Worst: Saudi influencer, podcaster and entrepreneur Rae Joseph talks fashion and travel

Best and Worst: Saudi influencer, podcaster and entrepreneur Rae Joseph talks fashion and travel

DUBAI: The Saudi influencer, podcaster and entrepreneur discusses style and her favorite destinations. 

Best TV show/film you’ve ever seen?    

I don’t love anything too dark or too serious. I get too engaged, so if it’s something too heavy or emotional, it can really drag me down. So I avoid things that are intense or too dark. I enjoy shows that take me somewhere different. I love sitcoms like “Friends,” and shows like “Sex and the City.” I also like “Ugly Betty.” People make fun of me for that, but I loved it because it is just a happy show. It was a simple love story, enough to lift you up and keep the storyline going. Other than that, I do not follow a lot of series. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Rae Joseph (@theraejoseph)

Worst TV show/film you’ve ever seen?   

Like I said, I really don’t like dark things. I know it’s some people’s cup of tea, but it’s definitely not mine. I don’t like those.  

Best personal style moment so far?    

Whenever I feel most in my element and feeling the look. I love vintage. I have my own big collection of vintage pieces, and I love mixing them with modern pieces and with pieces from local brands. I love creating that fusion that I feel truly represents who I am, and kind of shows the possibility of translating different cultures, different realms, different eras, into personal style. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Rae Joseph (@theraejoseph)

Worst personal style moment?    

Let’s say my late teens. Well… maybe from 14 till my early 20s? I was very experimental — to a fault. I look at pictures and I’m, like, ‘What was I doing?’ I experimented with my makeup, with my hair — I dyed my hair so many different colors, so many different styles. But, honestly, as embarrassing as it was, I’m also grateful for that phase, because I feel like I got a lot of things out of my system. It helped me shape my own way of styling and enabled me to explore myself better without having any restrictions.  

Best accessory for a little black dress?    

Less is more. Adding just one simple piece of jewelry adds so much character. I love that kind of dynamic, and I think it says a lot about a person’s personal style. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Rae Joseph (@theraejoseph)

Worst accessory for a little black dress?    

Just over-accessorizing. You want to keep it chic — elevated and refined. You don’t want to overwhelm the look. You allow the dress to shine, and when the dress shines, you shine as well. When you don’t overcrowd the look, you wear the outfit, the outfit doesn’t wear you. 

Best fashion trend of 2024?     

I’m not really a trends person. I’m aware of them, but I don’t necessarily implement them in my personal style. But, I really enjoy that it’s heading away from loud, in-your-face fashion — the prints, the logos, all that busy style — and people are now opting for a more sophisticated, understated look. Simpler looks allow you to show your taste better, in my opinion. I think Gen Z are a big part of that change. They are dressing more true to themselves. They see fashion as a way of personal expression, as opposed to just following what trends are out there.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Rae Joseph (@theraejoseph)

Worst fashion trend of 2024?    

The worst thing is when you see people lost in their outfits, and you can tell it’s really them following whatever they read, whatever they saw on someone else, rather than personally expressing themselves. 

Best advice you’ve ever been given?  

With everyone having access to everyone’s life and what everyone’s doing with all these different websites and apps, I feel like there is a lot of, sometimes subconscious, pressure, where people see everyone’s journey and then get overwhelmed. But, at a relatively young age, someone told me, ‘Don’t worry. Everything happens to different people at different times. Everyone has a different journey.’ I think that allows me to be more content and live life more peacefully. And have healthier relationships. 

Worst advice you’ve ever been given?  

Any advice that pushes you to be something that isn’t who you are. Some people give advice where they’re suggesting that you change the core of who you are — your values, what you stand for. I always think that never works.  

Best book you’ve ever read?    

I really enjoy Iraqi author Ali Al-Wardi. I find him quite insightful, especially his writings about social dynamics and society. He was such a visionary that even when you read his works today, you find parallels with our society. They tell you a lot about people and who we are as societies and communities.  

Worst book you’ve ever read?    

If I don’t like a book, or I’m not connecting with it, I’ll just put it down.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Rae Joseph (@theraejoseph)

Best thing to do when you’re feeling low?    

What I do if I am overwhelmed or feeling some kind of stress or anxiety take solo walks. I love just grabbing a cup of coffee then going on a walk by myself, and clearing my mind and allowing myself to settle. Even if you don’t resolve the things that are causing you anxiety, I think you'll return from the walk feeling a bit more settled and you can probably make better decisions and think more clearly. 

But if you mean you’re sad or depressed, then I think there's nothing better than spending time with someone you really trust — a family member or a very good friend. There’s so much power and human communication, as long as it’s with the right people. It could also be a therapist. Just spending time with someone who can understand, knows how to listen, and could give you helpful advice based on them knowing you.  

Worst thing to do when you’re feeling good?    

I think our brains sabotage us. We don’t allow ourselves to fully immerse ourselves in whatever is making us feel good. So I think you just have to try to relish it, and not think about other things. Just allow yourself to celebrate whatever it is that is making you feel good. Don’t take away from that. And make sure you share whatever is making you feel good with the right people. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Best holiday destination?    

My three favorite cities — which I will never, ever be bored of — are New York, Paris and Cairo. Those cities have personalities. If you walk on the street by yourself, you don’t feel alone. They have so much character.  

Worst holiday destination?    

You see some people that go to the same place every year and do the same thing, see the same people. They don’t explore or expand their horizon. I don’t think that’s ‘the worst’ — it’s just unwise. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Best subject at school?    

It makes me sound like a nerd, but I really enjoyed math. I really enjoyed equations and breaking them down and finding solutions.  

Worst subject at school?    

Physics is something that I just studied to pass my exams and get the grades. A lot of things did not add up for me. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Best thing to do to ensure you have a productive day?   

I feel like starting the day right — whatever that looks like for you … maybe working out, maybe meditation, maybe spending time with family — and starting relatively early, sets you up well. 

Worst thing to do when you’re trying to have a productive day?    

Have a lot of distractions around. I think we became so addicted to checking our emails or messages, that it really can kill productivity. But we can try to control it as much as we can by limiting the distractions.