PARENTING Back to School tips and advice from the experts Get a taste for the frozen North TRAVEL Laura Jefferson The woman behind the social media site taking the island by storm JACQUELINE FERNANDEZ Bahrain’s own Bollywood babe joins the global campaign for women’s rights BEAUTY Eco-friendly products and the very latest treatments Wellbeing Dealing with common dental problems August 2016 | Issue 162 | BD1 / SR10 www.womanthismonth.com BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | PARENTING | LOCAL ISSUES Bahrain Edition Homes Creating your teen’s dream bedroom
Contact +973 17290091 / 36753625 [email protected] www.dreammakersIT.com
www.womanthismonth.com August 2016 4 AUGUST 53 For subscriptions visit www.womanthismonth.com Advertising rates are available upon request. Please e-mail [email protected]. The publication of any advertisement in woman this month is not necessarily an endorsement of the advertiser or of the products or services advertised. Although every effort is made to ensure factual information, woman this month cannot be held responsible for errors in contributors’ material, nor do the opinions expressed by individual writers necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Editorial Submission of articles is welcome. Send queries, letters and articles to the editor at [email protected]. The publisher reserves the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. 10 The Month in Focus SHOPPING 12 Pick of the Month: Here Comes the Sun 14 Editor’s Choice: School-run Chic FASHION 16 Fashion Trend: Colour Coordination 22 Fashion Forward: Backstage Pass 24 Get the Look: Statement Style PEOPLE 30 Jacqueline Fernandez : Bollywood Babe tackling the big issues 32 Laura Jefferson: Founder of Female Expats in Bahrain 33 Noof Abdulla: Champion game designer FEATURE BEAUTY 34 Looks Online: Meet the beauty bloggers 37 At the salon: Up-to-the-minute treatments explained 38 Go Green: Products to save face and the environment 40 News: The latest products in the stores 42 Celeb Spot: Make like Joan Smalls LIFESTYLE 44 Wellbeing: The Whole Tooth 50 Travel: In Search Of The Midnight Sun 56 Home: Teenage Dream 59 Food: Review PARENTING – BACK TO SCHOOL 64 Top Tips: Prepare for the big day 66 Family Matters: Counsellor Lamar Kanafani 68 Advice: Dr Jinan Harith Darwish 69 Tech Kids: Homework Helpers 70 Kids’ Playground: Nautical and nice 71 Horoscope: What to expect this month 72 In Her Shoes: Nishta Gandhi 41 56 64 33
www.womanthismonth.com August 2016 6 As we send this month’s magazine to press, we’re all enjoying the long Eid weekend and looking forward to our summer break. To get you in the mood we’ve got pages of fabulous summer fashion, including celebrity styles to steal, and a special beauty feature in which we meet the region’s favourite bloggers, scout out the latest beauty treatments (one of which is actually pretty scary) and come up with a bunch of products to help you save the environment at the same time as saving your skin. Our interviewees this month are a trio of truly inspiring women. Actress Jacqueline Fernandez tells us why she’s involved with Project Everyone which is remaking the Spice Girls’ Wannabe video to tell world leaders what women really, really want in order to achieve the UN’s Global Goals. We catch up with Laura Jefferson, the woman behind the Female Expats in Bahrain Facebook page, which gained hundreds of members in its first month. And game designer Noof Abdulla talks about representing Bahrain at the world finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup. In the wellbeing section, endodontist Dr Komal Sharma looks as some common oral problems and how to deal with them and we have tips on how to shift the holiday kilos. As the temperatures reach boiling point, our thoughts turn to escaping the desert heat and, in this month’s travel section, Puja Tiwari takes us to the frozen North to see the sights in Norway, Sweden and Alaska, brrr! And our revamped Parenting section is all about heading Back to School with top tips to make the first day go smoothly, expert advice from both counsellor Lamar Kanafani and Dr Jinan Harith Darwish and a whole host of homework helpers to give your youngsters a welcome boost. From homes to food to things to do, see, try and buy, this month’s issue is packed with loads of info and tips. Hope you enjoy it! chairman & publisher GEORGE F MIDDLETON editorial director LIZ O'REILLY marketing & electronic media director DEEPA SIVA fashion & beauty editor FERNANDA LANGHAMMER contributors APPLE SHARMA BEHNAZ SANJANA PUJA TIWARI DR JINAN DARWISH RAPHAEL LAMAR KANAFANI print production manager SABU SEBASTIAN layout & graphics ROMEO SAN MIGUEL GOPAL NAMBIAR media coordinator SARAH ANSARI media managers FARHEEN AHMED PEARLYN D MEHTA circulation KADAMBARI S photography editor MONA ABDUL JABBAR photographers RANJITH MOHAN SUBEESH KUMAR NS printing press UNION PRESS, BAHRAIN Contents copyrighted 2016© Reproduction in whole or in part by any means without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited. ISBN No: 1 899348 11 5. Licensed by the Ministry of Information, Directorate of Publication and Press. Code: SWTM 410 Woman This Month is here for the modern woman of substance and aspiration, embodying a personal style while exploring the best of all worlds: fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Bahrain office address Red House Marketing P. O. Box: 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain telephone: (17) 813-777 fax: (17) 813-700 email: [email protected] website: www.womanthismonth.com Published monthly by Red House Marketing (Jersey) Ltd. P. O. Box 641, No. 1 Seaton Place, St. Helier, Jersey JE4 8JJ Channel Islands, U.K. in association with Al-Hilal Publishing P. O. Box 1100, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain August 2016, Issue 162 On the cover: Jacqueline Fernandez PARENTING Back to School tips and advice from the experts Get a taste for the frozen North TRAVEL Laura Jefferson The woman behind the social media site taking the island by storm JACQUELINE FERNANDEZ Bahrain’s own Bollywood babe joins the global campaign for women’s rights BEAUTY Eco-friendly products and the very latest treatments Wellbeing Dealing with common dental problems August 2016 | Issue 162 | BD1 / SR10 www.womanthismonth.com BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | PARENTING | LOCAL ISSUES Bahrain Edition Homes Creating your teen’s dream bedroom EDITOR’S NOTE Woman This Month is a member of BPA Worldwide The only women's magazine distributed with the GDN Our month: Apple had fun trying out the Porsche Cayenne and Anne and Andrea Middleton joined the ladies saying farewell to Italian ambassador’s wife Romina Vecchi. Liz O’Reilly Editorial Director
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letters August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com 8 TALKING TECH • Bindu Titus • Inspirational Women • Great Gadgets Top Tips and Short Breaks TRAVEL Farheen Ahmed From Bookings to Books KIDS Summer Activities Homes Decor to Dine in Style July 2016 | Issue 161 | BD1 / SR10 www.womanthismonth.com BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | PARENTING | LOCAL ISSUES Bahrain Edition ISSUE 161 woman this month JULY 2016 ı TALKING TECH ı www.womanthismonth.com LAUNCH NEW BUSINESS & PRODUCTS WITH DREAMMAKERS Write Here Write Now Get in touch by email, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram! Great Gathering I loved seeing the pictures of your Mums’ Meet-up at the K Hotel. I wasn’t able to come to this one but it looks like all the ladies had a great time and I look forward to coming to the next event. I think this is a great initiative to get readers together and I’m pleased Woman This Month wants to hear our thoughts. When’s the next one going to be? Wanda Ed: We’re working on details for the next meet-up so check out our website and social media pages for details, there’s an announcement coming soon. Fashion Forward I always turn first to the fashion forward pages to see what's been going on, I like that you don't just include pages and pages of pictures of clothes but rather give news and bits of quirky information too. I wish you had more pages like this. Ella Ed: Thanks for your kind words. We’re constantly looking for new ideas and will try to incorporate more of the things you love, perhaps online or maybe even with further pages in the magazine. If there's something you'd particularly like to see, please email [email protected]. Go Girl Huge congratulations to Farheen Ahmed on getting her book Beyond The Ordinary published. It must have been hard to carry out all the necessary research and travel to India while also holding down a demanding position with Woman This Month. Miss Ahmed is a great example of what can be achieved when you put your mind to it and I’m glad to see the magazine celebrating her achievement. Mira Travel Tips The travel feature in the July issue came at just the right time for me. I would never have thought of taking a picture of the important pages of my passport but this tip really saved me a great deal of trouble. I visited Germany and managed to lose my passport, as well as various other valuables. Thanks to your advice, I already knew where to find the embassy and was able to give them all the details of my passport, including my Bahrain visa, which I’d also photographed. Well done, keep up the good work. Bina July 2016 www.womanthismonth.com 28 PEOPLE | interview The book is the story of and a tribute to Bhanumathi Narasimhan, who Farheen first met when she visited the ashram of Art of Living (AoL) in Bangalore. She says: “People were telling me ‘it’s a strange place’ but I wanted to see for myself. I went and there was an international women’s conference, which takes place in Bangalore every two years and that’s where I met Bhanu Didi. “I was doing some meditation but I hadn’t done any courses at that stage. The day I reached there, they were teaching sudarshan kriya [a breathing technique]. I was in the plush, green surroundings and I was sitting with Bhanu Didi. I found her to be very simple and down to earth. “She asked me if I had been to the schools which Art of Living runs, that are free for poor children. I made a trip to a school and when I came back to my room I thought to myself ‘everyone is writing about His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [the official founder and spiritual leader of AoL] but no one has written about her and she’s the director of children’s and women’s welfare’.” Two months later Bhanu Didi was visiting Bahrain and Farheen met her and told her she wanted to write about her. I said: “I want to write about your achievements. I’ve been inspired by you and I want other women to be inspired.” After taking permission for the book from HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Farheen became a regular visitor at the ashram. She says: “In the innumerable times that I’ve met her, there’s something about her values, what she shows about how you go about your life and your challenges. “If you look at books from the likes of Robin Sharma or Brian Weiss, there is always a life lesson. I wanted my book to have life lessons from Bhanu Didi. “She took me through her life journey, going to see people and telling them that girl-child education is important. One of her important messages is that empowerment doesn’t just mean educating those from the lower economic end of society – a person can be one of the most educated but not be enlightened. There are plenty of educated women facing emotional challenges which can even lead to suicide. Thus, it is important to nourish your soul. Meditation can help you to align that. This life we have been given, we have to use it.” She is keen to point out that Art of Living, contrary to popular belief outside India, is not just about yoga. It has schools and also runs programmes for women, particularly widows, in village areas offering training and helping them set up small businesses in things such as cooking, basket weaving and making school uniforms, thus enabling them to support themselves and their families. The organisation has also been involved in humanitarian relief in areas such as Syria, where it works, in particular, with female victims of abuse. The book was officially launched at the annual AoL celebration for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s birthday, an event attended by around 20,000 people and seen online by more than two million. Farheen says: “My concept, as an author, is that whatever I write should have a moral for others, it should wake people up. My grandmother told me as a child that we’re all born with a lot of wisdom; as you get older it gets dusty with all the things we go through. But some people will return to the light, get beyond the rainbow. My mission is to spread this. Go beyond the ordinary. Go for the road not taken. Be the best version of yourself. “And I’m not done yet ‘The woods are lovely, dark and deep and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep’.” Farheen Ahmed WTM sales manager Farheen Ahmed has recently become a published author with her book Beyond The Ordinary released to acclaim. She tells us about her inspiration. From Bookings to Books July 2016 www.womanthismonth.com FEATURE | travel 48 l Take a picture of the inside details page of your passport, including the number, and store it in your phone and with someone at home. So, should it get lost or stolen, you will have the details to report to police and the local consulate. l Store credit card details in your phone and make sure you have a note of the emergency numbers to call in case your cards should go astray. l Taking at least some cash in the currency of your destination is a good idea as you may find our Bahraini bank and credit cards don’t work in every ATM. Should you be unable to get currency here at the airport, you might want to consider taking American dollars as these are easily exchanged pretty much anywhere. And it’s also a good plan to download a currency converter on your phone. l Check out your country’s consulate or embassy at your destination. It may not be necessary to register, though this is a good idea if you’re going to be heading off the beaten track, but it’s certainly useful to know where it is and have the contact details handy in case you should need them. l Book travel insurance and make sure it covers not just you and your belongings but also any unscheduled delays. If you’re planning on taking part in any ‘dangerous’ sports or activities, such as skiing, bungee jumping or whitewater rafting, it’s a good idea to check whether these are covered – you may need to pay an additional premium but it’s worth it. l Leave your contact details with someone at home and, if you’re travelling alone, set specific dates and times to check in so they will know you’re safe and all is OK. l Check visa and vaccination requirements well in advance. There can be nothing worse than booking a flight and your visa not coming through in time, so make sure you check before you shell out for plane tickets. Also, some countries will not issue visas on a passport with fewer than six months to run. If you’re in this situation, you may need to get a new passport before your trip. l If you’re going to be arriving in a strange place late at night, make sure you’ve booked transport in advance. This is particularly important for lone female travellers. It may cost a little more than taking a local taxi on arrival but it’s better to be safe than sorry. l Always pack a waterproof. It doesn’t matter where you’re going, a lightweight rain cover weighs virtually nothing and you just never know when you might need it. Top Ten Travel Tips l Wear sunscreen. There’s nothing much else to say on this one except that it’s better to look pale now than to resemble a prune in the future! Follow our essential advice for a safe, stress-free holiday. 16 July 2016 www.womanthismonth.com SOCIAL BUTTERFLY Mums’ Meet-Up Woman This Month organised its first Mums’ Meet-Up which included cooking classes from the chefs at The K Hotel. George & Volker Mums at the cooking table with chef Nitai Muna, Lira, Liz, Bilal, chef Sylvester Rosario, Hussain, Deepa & Pearlyn Farheen & May Dea & Swati Spandana, Farheen, Israr & Nadia Pearlyn, Homa & Kayan Spandana, Heli & Deepty Happy kids and mums at the event Chef Nitai and chef S Gomes at the pastry table Farah, Rowel, Shalu & Samara Mala, Minal, Suparna & Bijal Naz & Sanjita Sudha, Shilpa & Shalu Ratna Follow us on: Instagram: @woman_this_month Twitter: @WomanThisMonthB Facebook: Woman This Month Letter We want to hear your thoughts on Woman This Month. Write to us at [email protected] WTM’s tweet about the winner of Week 3 of the Sheraton contest was the most favourited tweet. “The winner of Week 3 of #wtmcontest @SheratonBahrain is Bint E Khalid, congratulations!” The following #WTM post was favourited and retweeted on Twitter the most. The most liked post on facebook was WTM’s beauty contest to win Pure Gold Collagen. The Most Liked Post on Facebook The most popular picture on Instagram featured the City Centre Traditional Media Ghabga gathering to mark the #MakeADifference #Ramadan #Campaign. The Most talked about Picture on WTM’s Instagram
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www.womanthismonth.com August 2016 10 AUGUST IN FOCUS news What’s on our radar this month? Hello to allo&lugh Smart mums (and dads) will be checking out the newest kids’ store in Seef Mall. Bringing Spanish style to the island allo&lugh takes its name from the pet names for boy and girl and is an upscale baby and toddler brand known for its distinctive and contemporary style featuring vivid colours and cute motifs. The store carries a range for kids aged from birth to 12 years and also has items from Fourlads, Alfonso andn Zero to Seven. The annual Bahrain Summer Festival wraps up on August 4 with a voyage to the heart of Andalusia led by the Spanish singer and choreographer Luis de la Carrasca and his company Flamenco Vivo at the Cultural Hall. Brought to the audience in cooperation with the French Embassy and Alliance Francaise, the show brings a fresh take on this uniquely Spanish art form by integrating it with dramatic and classical plays. Call 17 298-777 or visit www. bahrainsummer.bh for more information. Flat Pack Happiness Be still our beating heart. Is it unreasonable that we’re so excited that work on Bahrain’s very own Ikea is under way? There’ve been rumours as far back as 2014 and, last year, a company spokesman was reported as saying it would open this year. Then nothing. But now it seems the yellow and blue sign has been spotted at a site near Riffa and work is progressing apace. Excited much! Spanish Rhythms A Little Mermaid At last the EUFA European Football Championship is over and now we’re looking forward to the Rio Summer Olympics, especially since our office boasts several different nationalities, each of whom will be shouting on their home contestants. But one thing we’ll all be united in is supporting 16-year-old swimmer Fatema Al Mahmeed, who’ll be representing the Kingdom in the 50m freestyle. We’re a bit sad that Alzain Tareq won’t be competing. WTM has been watching her progress for some time, but at just 11 years old, she was felt too young by the International Swimming Federation. Still, there’s always 2020. Playing A Round Ever fancied giving golf a try but thought it was too expensive? Us too, but the latest offer from the Royal Golf Club could just be the answer with two-hour introductory group lessons for beginners for just BD20 each! The first hour will be spent learning the basics of golf, with a PGA instructor, followed by a one-hour introduction to the Wee Monty par 3 course. Group lessons for beginners are available on Monday evenings from 6pm and Saturdays from 4pm. The price includes tuition, equipment hire, golf balls and refreshments. To book your place, call the club on 17 750-777 extension 302.
SHOPPING | pick of the month Here Comes the Sun Available at www.marni.com/bh Priced around BD266. Marni’s ME603S sunnies are both retro and bang up-to-date with a frame that front that progressively tapers down from the prominent, rounded corners until it almost vanishes, creating an unfinished effect that complements the thickness of the temples. The palette of saturated colours – a typical feature of Marni glasses – is accentuated by the metal bridge and rims of either gold or silver. www.womanthismonth.com August 2016 12
August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com 14 SHOPPING | editor's choice School-Run Chic Very soon the schools are going to be back and the hassle of picking up and dropping kids here and there is going to start. How to look effortlessly stylish while doing your everyday chores? These celebrity mums show us the way so take a leaf out of their style book. Reese Witherspoon Gwen Stefani Heidi Klum Miranda Kerr Washed jeans, American Eagle Outfitters 17 009-278. Sleeveless vest, Bershka 17 172-303. Studded pointy shoes, Dune London 16 686-215. Blue espadrilles, GAP 17 178-607. Tie-dye scarf, Mango 17 179-718. White trousers, Massimo Dutti 17 172-325. Black handbag, Michael Kors 17 178-630. Aviator sunglasses, Tom Ford 17 179-725 (Solaris). Striped blouse, Next 17 172-050. Grey top, Stradivarius 17 172-306. Cropped blue jeans, Zara 17 172-333.
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August 2016 16 FASHION | trend HOW TO WEAR IT? Mix brown and yellow, blue and brown or yellow and blue keypieces adding the third colour as an extra tone. The third shade is best used to paints accessories to complement the main duo. Handbags, sandals, necklaces and sunglasses are striking add-ons to look for! Colour coordination is one of the tricks of a successful look. We bet on a combination of hot and cold hues to capture the new season’s trends with style. ICE BLUE + YELLOW + BROWN www.womanthismonth.com Yellow and brown handbag, w 17 178-538. Sunglasses, Bershka 17 172-303. Brown trousers, River Island 17 179-485. Necklace, Stradivarius 17 172-306. Yellow blouse, Marks & Spencer 17 588-188. Laced top, Next 17 172-050. Bardot top, New Look 17 179-406. Shoulder bag, J by Japser Conran at Debenhams 17 179-887. Wrap skirt, New Look 17 179-406. Blue sandals, Dune London 17 179-314. Bandana, American Eagle Outfitters 17 009-278. Flat mule, Massimo Dutti 17 583-230. Chloe SS2016 Paco Rabanne SS216
18 August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com SOCIAL BUTTERFLY Kunal, Amrik, Capri & Sachin Al Rashid Group Ghabga Al Rashid Group held its annual Ramadan Ghabga in Bushra at Bushido. Ahmed, Vijay & Kiran Abdulla & Zahra Kunal & Nishta Azim & Rameez Hassan & Dr Ali & Asmah Mahmood Waleed Ali & Heba Becky, Ron, Sumesh, Nishta, Azim, Vinod & Kunal Ebtisam, Abdulaziz & Khalid Noor & Mahmood Models at the event Fatema, Bayan & Aya Esam Nawar, Mohammed, Sarah, Dalal & Mona Yousif & Um Ali Terence & Ajaynar Rawan & Reem Dr Asmah & Hassan Hamad, Ghada & Ali Nico & Ten Katrina, Catherine & Olivia Abdulla
20 August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com SOCIAL BUTTERFLY Store Opening Jawad Business Group opened a new Spanish kids brand, LOSAN, at Seef Mall. Faisal Jawad and representatives from Jawad Business Group at the event Abbas, Tommy, Vinod, Nigel, Kareem Jawad & Gerd Lovely & Jodel Ashwathi, Ameera & Gladys Sarah & Aprilin Ram & Vinod Azdi & Haseen Haseen & Ali Abdulla & Binil Tommy, Gerd & Nigel Store Opening Jawad Business Group opened a new kids brand retail outlet, Allo & Lugh, at Seef Mall. Ribbon-cutting ceremony Management & Staff at the opening Haseen & Vinod Jyothi & Nebu Maria & Ashwathi Suhail & Prijoe Nigel & Jin Tommy & Raneen Jin & Emily Melissa Jawad, Kareem Jawad & Abbas
August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com 22 FASHION | fashion forward AMERICAN CLASSICS Disney and Coach have joined forces to create a limited-edition collection featuring Mickey Mouse designs on leather goods and ready-to-wear fashions. The collection is part of a series of exclusive limitededition projects that commemorate Coach’s 75th anniversary. The famous mouse pops up on specially created sketches by Disney animators with the exclusive artwork stamped on T-shirts, bags, trainers and biker jackets. “Mickey Mouse is one of my earliest memories of American pop – his nostalgic charm, cheekiness, individuality and inherent cool make for the ultimate American icon,” says Coach creative director Stuart Vevers. AUTUMN CAMPAIGN The Italian brand Gucci shot its autumn and winter 16/17 campaign around the eccentric subcultures of Tokyo. Japan’s capital offered a kinetic meeting of the traditional with hyper-modern to Glen Luchford’s lens. The chaotic lights and sounds of the city are mixed with tea houses and pachinko parlours, a mix of calm and chaos. This vibrant place creates a psychedelic assault that echoes the vivacity of the brand’s creative director Alessandro Michele’s creations. LIFESTYLE PARTNERSHIP Michael Kors has announced an association with McLaren-Honda, the world championship Formula 1 team. Both brands believe in design and speed and the partnership will strengthen and amplify the brands’ embodiment of a fast, jet-set lifestyle. To celebrate the launch of the cooperation, Michael Kors has created a limited-edition men’s black leather jacket. The 50 specially produced items feature both logos as well as a limited-edition plaque with each piece’s unique production number. “This partnership is about the convergence of style and speed, which is inherent to both the Michael Kors and McLaren-Honda DNA. There is an energy, sophistication and confidence to our brands, and we wanted to create a limited-edition piece that spoke to that,” says Michael Kors. STYLE ICON Amal Alamuddin, also known as Amal Clooney, haven’t stepped back from her duties as a lawyer despite the glamorous red carpet events she’s often spotted at. Her flawless and smart style goes from court to film premieres. One of the handbags that she’s regularly seen carrying is Ballin’s tote bag. So the Italian brand decided to pay tribute to her charm, renaming the trapezoid-shaped bag with a metal lock, the Amal. The bag is available in a wide range of colours. BACKSTAGE PASS What’s cool, trending and fashionable
www.womanthismonth.com August 2016 23 CITY ADVENTURES The new limited edition of the ‘Urban Spirit’ backpack from Mont Blanc features personalised storm covers inspired by iconic city maps. Designed as a fineleather companion for city life, the backpack accompanies the multifaceted lifestyle of today’s explorer. Made with soft-to-thetouch Italian leather, it is equipped with a side compartment for laptops, a pocket for a phone with holes for headphones, a satellite system and reflective bands. The series features the designs of the transport networks of New York City, Seoul, Paris and London and is limited to just five pieces for each city. Celebratory Exposition Paul Smith and the British Fashion Council commemorate the 40th anniversary of punk with an exhibition of photography by Derek Ridgers. The images are taken from Punk London 1977, the new book of the photographer, launched to coincide with the exhibition. Ridgers' work offers a raw and honest account of the ‘70s punk scene. Additionally, Derek has teamed-up with Paul Smith to create a limited edition T-shirt featuring one of the photographs, with only 150 pieces available exclusively via paulsmith.co.uk. Ramada Manama City Centre, Al Seef Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 1710 4044 | Fax: +973 1710 4010 www.reemalbawadi.com Award winning, Middle Eastern themed Restaurant, renowned for its authentic cuisine and hospitality NOW OPEN Reem Al Bawadi Restaurant and Café
August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com 24 FASHION | get the look PERFECT PARTNERS. Pairing a cropped top with culottes is a smart way to pull-off both these summer trends. A cropped top that is fitted to the waist goes well with high-waisted bottoms. Choose culottes or long, wide-legged trousers to elongate your silhouette; perfect for most body shapes. Finish off the look with high-heeled minimalist footwear like Stuart Weitzman’s nudist sandals to steal the scene. STATEMENT STYLE Zara, 17 172-333 COS 17375-998 Bershka, 17 172-303 ! COMBO 1 COMBO 2 COMBO 3 New Look, 17 179-406 rainbowrules.com Stradivarius, 17 172-306. Dune London, 16 686-215 Matalan, 17 008-353 Michael Kors, 17 178-630 Furla, 17 178-538 Folli Follie, 17 178-631 New Look, 17 179-406
www.womanthismonth.com August 2016 25 MIGHTY MINI. A popular pick with younger ladies, the mini-skirt gives the impression of longer legs, which is a plus for those who aren’t overly tall. Chloe Moretz added an extra trick to get the best out of the outfit with a high waist, giving the impression of a longer lower body. The leather fabric brings a rebel element to the piece while the floral top complements the look for a more romantic and girly approach. A white handbag with black details is the final touch. Taking inspiration from celebrities’ looks is a smart way to build a stylish wardrobe. We’ve selected two summer outfits to take you from pool parties to a hot night out. COMBO 1 COMBO 2 COMBO 3 Marks & Spencer, 17 588-188 River Island, 17 179-485 Massimo Dutti, 17 583-230 Zara, 17 172-333 Debenhams, 17 179-887 Miss Selfridge, 17 179-497 Matalan, 17 008-353 Mango, 17 179-681 Topshop, 17 179-486 F&F, 17 162-120 Tod’s, 17 131-090 Parfois, 17 178-054
August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com 26 showcase With extensive experience spanning across the Middle East and Turkey, seasoned hotelier Burak Olcan is a promising new addition to The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa Bahrain. Burak, a Turkish national, was previously the director of sales and cluster director of sales and marketing for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group properties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “It is great to have Burak on board during such an exciting time for us. He joined The Rezidor Hotel Group in 2013 and has a proven track record of delivering results without losing focus on clients’ needs and market developments. His commitment to people development and his skills will make Burak a great asset to have in our hotel,” said Diplomat Radisson Blu’s general manager Panos Panagis. Panos also explained that the hotel is to undergo a renovation of all the bedrooms and the lobby in the last quarter of the year, and Burak’s experience will be a benefit with regard to marketing the upgraded property. The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel offers 367 rooms and suites, five restaurants and bars, along with 16 fullyequipped meeting rooms, making it the perfect venue for business or pleasure. Call 17 531-666 A leading five-star hotel and spa has appointed a dynamic new director of sales and marketing to head the team. DIPLOMAT RADISSON BLU HOTEL, RESIDENCE & SPA SEASONED MARKETER JOINS TEAM Burak Olcan Doreen, Michelle, Hussain & Minnie K Hotel Iftar Members of the media and special guests were hosted for a sumptuous Iftar meal at the K Hotel’s Kolors restaurant. Kaizad & Bilal Prasanna Kumar & Renzo Younis & Mahmood Ehsan & Hussain Mahmood & Mohammed Shivanand & Abdulrahman Mathias & Sylvester Islam & Zahra Mithun & Mathew Mani & Rajeen
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showcase August 2016 28 www.womanthismonth.com Having commenced its operations in 1992, the Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) was created for the purpose of helping the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Kingdom. Aside from adopting effective integrated programmes to fulfill this aim, the bank also focuses on the expansion and development of existing enterprises. The plan adopted by BDB has enabled it to play a major developmental role through the diversification of its investment activities, turning some much-needed attention to new sectors with added value such as the refining industry, food industry, tourism and health projects. At the core of this plan was also the aim to support troubled projects and put them back on the path to profitability. Since small and medium enterprises form an integral part of the business activity and impact entrepreneurial development in the The bank that started out with a goal-oriented vision has played a primary role in facilitating Bahrain’s economic enrichment. BAHRAIN DEVELOPMENT BANK PAVING THE WAY Kingdom, these mechanisms were designed and implemented in accordance with the BDB’s expertise in this area and were in line with the existing economic, financial and technological conditions at local and global levels. The insight of the bank’s top management resulted in the launch of a number of programmes such as Rowad, which aims to develop Bahraini youth and strengthen their capacity to take up entrepreneurship along with establishing small enterprises. This brainchild of BDB is a comprehensive programme designed to support entrepreneurs in developing their ideas and starting their own businesses. Supporting entrepreneurship will remain a key element in the bank’s development plans, as it will continue to provide a variety of programmes and activities that contribute in attracting existing entrepreneurs as well as encouraging students of secondary schools and universities to consider entrepreneurship as a viable option. Some of the valuable financial services provided by BDB include BDB finance, Islamic financing, education finance, BDB & Tamkeen finance, Letters of Credit and Letters of Guarantee, as well as loans for agriculture and fisheries. Call 17 511-111 or visit www.bdb-bh.com.
www.womanthismonth.com 29 August 2016 SOCIAL BUTTERFLY Joz Group Iftar Party Joz Group held an Iftar celebration at Taya restaurant in Seef Mall, Staff and guests at the Iftar Sharmid, Vinny & Ishfaq Zahid & Rayees Nair & Prodip Arif Zulfiqar Imran Sharmid Rana, Eloi, Venus, Vinny, Sarith & Maryam Ali & Mohammed Serajuddin & Raza Royal Bahrain Hospital Ghabga Royal Bahrain Hospital held a Ramadan Ghabga at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa. Ali Mosallam, Ahmed Jawahary & Salman Al Mahmeed Suhail, Sam & Jacob Rahma Jaberi, Duaij Rumaihi & Saad Al Askar Wajid, Santosh & Rajesh Manal & Yazan Intisar, Nehal & Shahad Madiha, Hana & Zainab Nagma & Jay Paritosh & Capri
www.womanthismonth.com August 2016 30 Project Everyone, in partnership with Getty Images and SAWA, the global cinema advertising association, will see the release of “#WhatIReallyReallyWant” as part of the Global Goals campaign for girls and women. MJ Delaney, of Moxie Pictures, directs a remake of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe which features Gigi Lamayne and Moneoa from South Africa, Seyi Shay from Nigeria, M.O from the UK, Taylor Hatala from Canada, Larsen Thompson from the USA and, of course, Bahrain’s own Bollywood babe Jacqueline Fernandez who hails from Sri Lanka but represents India and was born and brought up in the Kingdom. In September 2016, world leaders will mark the first anniversary of the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. These global goals are a mighty plan to end poverty, fix climate change and address inequalities over the next 15 years, but they will only succeed if they address the needs of the most marginalised first, particularly those of girls and women. Issues such as quality education, an end to violence, an end to child marriage and equal pay for equal work need to be top of every government’s agenda in order to give the Goals the best possible start. Project Everyone marks 20 years of Girl Power with an updated version of Wannabe and the tagline “#WhatIReallyReallyWant”. The film reflects the voices of girls and women all over the world and aims to get them speaking out. The film #WhatIReallyReallyWant is online on Global Goals’ official YouTube channel:https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=sZQ2RUFd54o&feature= youtu.be. Find out about the global goals at www.womanthismonth.com. Two decades on, a remake of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe video, featuring artists from India, Nigeria, South Africa, UK, USA and Canada, is being produced to tell world leaders what girls and women really really want in 2016 to achieve the UN’s Global Goals. GIRL POWER GOES GLOBAL PEOPLE | interview Jacqueline Fernandez Photos by @veroniquedeviguerie @gettyimages
www.womanthismonth.com August 2016 31 Why did you decide to get involved with the Global Goals Campaign – is there any part of it that’s particularly close to your heart? The world needs a dose of girl power and that’s why I’m supporting the Global Goals campaign for girls and women. I am delighted to be lending my support to the film, Global Goals and Project Everyone. I am a huge advocate for empowering girls and women, and I want to support my peers and others around the world to help create an international community where women feel secure, strong and supported. Our potential is limitless, and participating in this film is just one of the ways I am committed to help promote the Global Goals campaign. In a world where 70 per cent of the poor are women, improving access to healthcare and quality schooling are just a couple of the essential steps forward that will change everything for all communities around the globe. These goals can only be met if we do everything in our power to help marginalised communities of girls and women. If the last 15 years was about putting girls and women on the agenda, the next 15 years is about putting them at the heart of the agenda, which they themselves can deliver. This is embodied in the Global Goals where gender perspectives and special indicators for women are integrated across many goals. But as Richard Curtis [film director and supporter] has said before, you cannot fight for your rights until you know what they are! What I really, really want is for people to recognise the potential of girls when they are allowed to study instead of doing household chores. And what I really, really want is to end violence against women. I want women to feel powerful and beautiful. Nothing can stop us once we are given equal opportunities and are allowed to flourish. Investing in equality and the financial independence of women, who represent more than half of the global population in disempowered communities, is one of the safest bets when it comes to international economic and social development. How can readers get involved and help to make a difference? This calls on people to share a picture of #WhatIReallyReallyWant for girls and women. The visual responses from around the world will be presented to world leaders at the UN General Assembly in September to encourage new political and financial commitments from governments, in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. I would request the readers to use the #WhatIReallyReallyWant hashtag, share a photo of yourself holding up what YOU really, really want for girls and women. Aside from the campaign, what are you working on at the moment? I am again working alongside the UN for the #WildForLife campaign which aims to spur action to protect endangered species and end illegal trade in wild life. Few who see a tiger, elephant or rhino in the wild forget the experience. People can be equally inspired by seeing them on television or in films, and these moments make us want to explore nature’s wonders and can turn us into conservationists, scientists and people who care about the natural world around us. Kids’ rooms all across the globe are filled with stuffed likenesses of these iconic species. Wouldn’t it be tragic to know they disappeared in our lifetime? The illegal trade in wildlife is threatening these majestic beasts, and we have to join forces to stop it. Do you ever get back to Bahrain to visit and do you still have connections here? Having spent a major part of my childhood and teenage years there, I do visit my school friends and family. I love to spend some quality family time in Bahrain. Do you have a message for girls in Bahrain who might be experiencing any of the issues raised in the film? Gender discrimination needs to stop, and it needs to stop now. Speak up and do not give into it. This film is just one step in that fight. Many of the issues we’re spotlighting do not reside in one country alone and neither are these issues just for the developing world – it cuts across the world. Jacqueline Fernandez tells Woman This Month why this is an initiative close to her own heart. Bollywood Joins the Campaign I want women to feel powerful and beautiful. Nothing can stop us once we are given equal opportunities and are allowed to flourish
August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com 32 PEOPLE | interview Laura has not even arrived on the island yet but already a lot of people know her name and are eager to meet her. A single 27-year-old, she’ll be heading to the island in the coming weeks and set up the page as a way to get advice and information about her new home. She says: “I haven't done anything like this before. It’s ironic because I'm not personally big on Facebook. Before I arrived I wanted to connect with some locals to get an inside view of life in Bahrain. I have seen similar Facebook groups in other countries and tried searching for one in Bahrain. I thought surely there would already be one created due to the large expat community, but, to my surprise, I didn't find any online space where ladies in Bahrain can come together.” And her idea certainly seems to have struck a chord with the women of the expat community who signed up in their droves with friends recommending friends, each giving a short introduction of themselves, and a group meet-up organised within days. Laura adds: “I was completely blown away by the response! I kept double-checking the members because I couldn't believe there were more than 300 ladies within a week. Besides the quick growth, I love the diversity the group has attracted. There are ladies from all over the world, from Estonia to South Africa, from young to mature, married and single, children and no children. There is already a strong sense of trust and accountability in the group. We discuss everything from finding schools and apartments, to where to find Spanx!” Having studied public relations and fashion, Laura is looking forward to a new challenge working in child care in Bahrain and she’s eager to see what the island has to offer saying: “I enjoy trying new restaurants and cooking, exploring the art scene of a new city and volunteering.” She adds: “I haven't had the chance to ask, but I’m hoping to be pointed in the right direction to find the art scene in Bahrain. I love to support local artists and hope to attend some well-curated art galleries. I'm also still trying to find a place to learn film and digital photography.” And, as to what brings this globetrotter to Bahrain, she explains: “I come from a travelling family. When I was 12 I moved to Japan while cousins lived in Brazil. So from a young age, I never really had a ‘home’ but just stopping points in life. “I'm an avid traveller and had the opportunity to work in Bahrain or return to Japan. I did some research and learned of Bahrain's vast expat and diverse community and decided to give Bahrain a chance. I certainly expect to be challenged as I adjust to life in the Middle East and hope I transition well. Is it allowed to say that I look forward to all the scrumptious food in Bahrain? Because, I do. If you ask my mom, she would say I might need to focus on finding a husband rather than researching places to go on holiday! “Being single with no children I don't like to look at any city as permanent. But who knows, this might be the place I will finally call home.” g I haven't done anything like this before. It’s ironic because I'm not personally big on Facebook. WTM chats to Laura Jefferson, the woman behind new social media page Female Expats in Bahrain which has taken our local Facebook community by storm, gaining almost 400 members in its first month with women talking about everything from hats to marital issues and more. Laura Jefferson
August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com PEOPLE | interview 33 The marketing graduate from Bahrain Polytechnic is part of the duo which forms Team Vanguards, and will showcase a sci-fi game which doubles as a therapeutic tool at the Microsoft Imagine Cup world finals in Seattle in late July. As well as her journey to compete alongside the best of the best, Noof tells us more about her project, a survival game called Apollo X in which the player is stranded in outer space and must deal with fighting off horrendous creatures along with their own emotions. WTM: What is your role in Team Vanguards? What was the project about? NA: I am the business developer and user interface artist for the team. The project is a sci-fi horror game that uses virtual reality (VR) and biofeedback technology that adapts according to the player's heart rate. The more scared you get, the scarier the game becomes. This can be used to help people control their emotions. The game is not only for entertainment purposes but could also be used as a therapeutic tool. Being the female in the duo, did you ever find your ideas being in conflict with the other person? We regularly discuss ideas and decisions before implementing them. Thankfully, gender was never a factor in our discussions. We regularly discuss ideas and decisions before implementing them. Thankfully, gender was never a factor in our discussions. Fuelled by a passion to address some of the world’s toughest challenges, 23-year-old innovator Noof Abdulla will be representing Bahrain in the most esteemed student technology competition, in Seattle, USA. Noof Abdulla Girl Power What are your future hopes and aspirations? I am currently eager for us to win the world finals and be able to publish our game. I would also love to start a movement which encourages game developers in Bahrain to work on their talent. How was your experience at the Pan Arab semi-finals in Egypt? We saw creative Arab minds come together under one roof to communicate and share their wonderful ideas with the rest of us. The ideas were brilliant and very interesting, and we got to learn from other cultures. What does the team have planned for the world finals in Seattle? We are planning to enhance the game by creating more content, augment the VR experience and deliver all this in the best format so that we can impress the judges in all ways possible. What gives your project an edge from the rest of them that will help to impress the judges? From my research, we are the only project that uses the latest in high-end technology and adaptive game play. We believe those are going to be the two major factors for our project. Tell us something people don't necessarily know about you. I am a curious person and love to learn the latest trends and keep up to date with them while experimenting with new things. I am a passionate person who strives to achieve more in life and would stop at nothing to reach my goals. I live to learn and master skills. More women in the region are emerging as tech enthusiasts. What is your take on this? I am happy to see that women are becoming more encouraged to try and enter new fields and that men are supporting them to do so. g
August 2016 www.womanthismonth.com 34 FEATURE | beauty READ ALL ABOUT IT The Syeda girls love fashion and beauty and make it a joint effort to tell us all about it. Sara Abdul Ghaffar has made a name for herself with readers the world over giving tips on modest style. When you love beauty as much as we do, from the latest treatments to new products and star style, it goes without saying that we simply can’t get enough of it. When we’re not checking out products in the office, we’re researching online to find out what other people are saying. We're big fans of the region’s army of beauty bloggers, here we introduce you to four of our favourites. Who are The Syeda Sisters? We're two sisters who run a beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog called The Syeda Sisters blog. Our names are Omaimah & Areesha and we're two years apart. We share the blog duties together so we can juggle our studies and work along with blogging. One of us is a dentistry student and the other a finance graduate. We were brought up in Bahrain and have roots in Karachi, Pakistan. We belong to the Syed family, hence our blog’s name. How long have you been blogging and what made you start? We began blogging in the summer of 2013. The journey so far has been remarkable and exciting, we can still remember the thrill we had when we first typed up a fresh blogpost titled ‘About us’. We've always been fans of beauty products and all things girly since a young age. We would religiously read the beauty section of magazines and online reviews of trending products on international beauty blogs. One day the idea of blogging hit us. A Bahrain-based beauty blog with a little bit of fashion and lifestyle? Nah! Who would give our blog a read? We knew zero about the technical side and had no idea where to start. It has been a purely a ‘do and learn’ experience. The blogging is the fun part: taking pictures and writing thorough, honest reviews for our awesome readers. What has been the post that’s had the single biggest response? That would be our review of the Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil. It got a thundering 5,057 page views! It was also one of our very first reviews and got views from around the world from the USA to Singapore and Malaysia, even Russia! Who is The Modest Belle? The Modest Belle is a blog that revolves around fashion, beauty and lifestyle. I am a bubbly and positive person who enjoys life's simplest pleasures. I enjoy travel, delicious food and spending time with my family and loved ones. I began my career working in the PR industry, which exposed me to the blogosphere in Bahrain. I was motivated by the few Bahraini bloggers (at the time) to start my own blog - something I had always wanted to do. What made you start the blog, how long has it been running and how many followers do you have? I began my blog as a creative outlet to express my love of fashion and to inspire women to dress modestly. Through the blog and YouTube channel, I have unveiled my passions through writing and showcasing photos of my personal style, my favourite fashion and beauty brands, DIY projects, along with other interests related to food and lifestyle. I’ve always loved fashion and expressing my personality through my style. As a woman who wears hijab, I noticed how other women who wear hijab complain about how difficult it is to dress stylishly. I wanted to start a blog that would inspire women who dress conservatively to be fashionable, as I truly believe you can be stylish while remaining modest. The blog’s been running for around three years now and my YouTube channel has been running for a year and a half. I have approximately 3,500 Instagram followers. Since modesty is a popular subject for style-conscious Muslim women, do you find you have significant interest from outside the region? Absolutely. This came as a surprise to me in the beginning. I have numerous readers/followers/viewers based in the US, Canada, What has been your all-time favourite review product? That's a really tough question. They're many but if we could narrow it down to one it would be Benefit’s They're Real push-up eye liner. The response was over-whelming with girls applauding for our honest review. Any advice for beauty fans who want to start their own blog? Yes! You need to be 100-per-cent honest even if it's a sponsored product. If a particular company sends you a really expensive product and you genuinely didn't find it useful then let your readers know! Sisters in Style The Modest Belle Sara Abdul Ghaffar The Syeda Sisters, Omaimah & Areesha
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