Bahrain Edition BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | PARENTING | LOCAL ISSUES FEBRUARY 2012 | Issue 108 www.womanthismonth.com The Love Issue The Secrets of Romance Revealed The Bold and the Beautiful Elie & Jean Lead the Hair Revolution Your Love Type Our Relationship Quiz Dinner for Two Those Who Eat Together Stay Together Nurture for the Future Your Child’s Self-Esteem
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2 | February 2012 | woman this month 14 52 16 66 42 contents | February 2012 Shopping 8 This Month’s Most Wanted: Winter Handbag Essentials 10 Coat’s a Plenty: Cool Weather Staples 12 Drive them Wild: Leopard Print Frenzy Romance Features The love issue: 18 Take our Love Quiz 39 10 Tips: Singleton’s Survival Guide 64 The Key to a Man’s Heart? Valentine’s Recipes. Fashion 20 Fashion Forward: February picks 24 Fashion News Bulletins 26 Dress for Romance Feature Beauty 34 News: February picks 36 Beauty Tips: The Brazilian Way 38 Fragrances: Love-ly Scents Wellbeing 42 Campaign: Reading Matters 44 Feature: Solve your Skin Problems Parenting 52 Feature: De-Clutter for Life 55 Column: Show them the Love Regulars 6 Write Here, Write Now 66 Travel: Valentine’s Traditions 68 Horoscope: Love Scope! 72 Columnist: Make a Connection DECEMBER 2011, issue 108 Long Tall Sally brings some romance to the table. Bahrain Edition BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | PARENTING | LOCAL ISSUES FEBRUARY 2012 | Issue 108 www.womanthismonth.com The Love Issue The Secrets of Romance Revealed The Bold and the Beautiful Elie & Jean Lead the Hair Revolution Your Love Type Our Relationship Quiz Dinner for Two Those Who Eat Together Stay Together Nurture for the Future Your Child’s Self-Esteem 10 12
4 | February 2012 | woman this month Welcome EDITOR's letter Some people say they are unlucky in love. Although this might be the case in extreme circumstances, I personally believe that this is an excuse for not taking action. Time and time again we refuse to accept responsibility for the way our lives unfold. We resign ourselves to fate and hope that the right situation or the right person will magically appear in front of us. And when they don’t, we claim to be unlucky. It is my strong opinion that if you want something, you need to go out and try your hardest to make it happen. You cannot sit idly by and wait for your dream job, house or Mr Right to grab you by the hand and whisk you into your perfect future. If you want the best for yourself, you are going to have to try very hard to ensure that you are making the best of yourself. Despite what Hallmark and Hershey’s might have you believe, Valentine’s Day is about more than just spending money on meaningless gifts. It is a day of optimism and it is a day, above all, of action. By celebrating a love that is already in your life, you are not only thanking them for what they are in the present, but you are projecting the message that you wish to continue enjoying their company in the future. And by making a declaration to someone who you have not yet shared a romance with, you are taking an active role in securing something that you want for yourself. Don’t let Valentine’s Day envelop you in a mood of pessimism and dissatisfaction with the state of your own life. If you aren’t happy, do something about it. Your luck is yours for the making! Natasha Bird Editor For of the moment news, tips, advice and fun links, follow Woman This Month on Twitter @WomanThisMonthB responsible editor Jubran AbdulRahman chairman & publisher George F Middleton publishing director David M Robertson editorial consultant Dr Paul Balles editor NATASHA BIRD contributors Dr Claire McInroy george r vaughan James Claire staff writers Elma Bartholomew Maryam A. Toorani ALISON COLDBRIDGE print production manager Sabu Sebastian layout & graphics RODOLFO A. REYES JR. Dalal Al-Sabbagh RomEO San Miguel media coordinator SARAH ANSARI media executives ESKY Girmay SHANI DAVEL sales manager Mayukh Majumdar circulation FAWAZ AL BALOOSHI photography editor anil Ravi Shankar photographers Shankar Kunhambu Subeesh Kumar NS printing press Union Press, Bahrain Contents copyrighted 2004© 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 for women in Bahrain wishing to celebrate a unique cosmopolitan lifestyle and community spirit in an objective and proactive manner. 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 the address below. The publisher reserves the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. 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 224, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Woman This Month is a member of BPA Worldwide Be So Lucky You Should
6 | February 2012 | woman this month Letters Thank You STAR LETTER Write Here Write Now Interview 17 woman this month | January 2012 | Totally in Charge Young, Fun and Woman This Month Editor Natasha Bird chats to journalist, designer and talented entrepreneur Wafa Alobaidat about creativity, social media and the key to early success. Post millennium we have seen a wonderfully steady increase in daring, young entrepreneurialism. This is fantastic because it means that the shape of modern business is continually transforming. The success of the latest generation of super-youths is largely down to a clever ability to take advantage of new media environments. Social networking, digital artwork, viral advertising — these are the key components of efficacy in the 21st century. There is a dangerous trend, though, that sees new media as an exclusively “young” concept. If older businesses are to compete with their younger rivals, they are going to have to get on board, but can you really teach an old dog new tricks? I sat down with Wafa Alobaidat who, in her early 20s, has already set up and oversees popular niche magazine Sketchbook and runs successful design agency Obai and Hill, to talk about her own achievements and the need for better understanding of social networking and digital design in Bahrain. 16 | January 2012 | woman this month Tell us a bit about your businesses: I set up Sketchbook magazine in 2009, after having worked for a number of luxury magazines, including Vogue China. I just felt that there was something missing in many of these high-end magazines; something that was going unexplored. I think that interactivity is really important and I was getting frustrated by the need to conform to strict word counts and space allowance. I wanted to find a way to marry blogging, social media, art in the city and fashion under one roof, so to speak. I used my experience from my art degree and we got people to draw and sketch some of the most current and respected voices — Susie Bubble, Henry Holland, the Sartorialist, for example. It was creative and, incidentally, it was also one of the cheapest ways we could have chosen to be productive! I think part of Sketchbook’s success is down to sheer determination and persistence. I met with at least five people a day for about a year. Obai and Hill grew organically out of the process that I had started with Sketchbook. People began requesting the illustrations. They wanted us to make t-shirts, cards, invitations and eventually advertising packs. I saw a new gap in the market and I moved in to fill it. I set up an agency which concerns itself with graphics, illustrations, websites and design consultancy. How do you think your youth has affected your work? In the beginning it was really hard. Website designers and illustrators would laugh when I asked them to work for me. I had to do a lot of problem solving. I had to convince hundreds of people to put their faith in me and do work for free. I began emailing people so that they wouldn’t see me face-to-face and underestimate me. I had to be proactive about it and I didn’t let myself get fazed by people not being interested. I’d just say, “Okay, thank you for your time, don’t worry if it’s not for you”. But I always wanted to do it this way. I know that in my 20s I have the most energy and passion that I will ever have. I needed to set up my businesses quickly so that I could develop the brands and maintain them. What do you think explains the success of your two businesses? With Sketchbook, we aren’t in the business of telling people what to do. We ask them what they would like to do for us. It is about celebrating people’s unique individualities, the talents that make them special. Once you take an interest in someone else’s work, they become incredibly willing to go above and beyond for you. We ended up receiving some of the coolest and most unique content, purely because we took the time to check out their previous work, their blogs and their interests before talking to them. Obai and Hill is willing to take on all sorts of challenges. We have helped to shape brands, providing them with fun newsletters, advertising packages and web designs. We’ve produced custom t-shirts, put tearaway lyrics on canvas bags. It’s a constantly creative process and it generates a different, interesting impression for companies. What do you think of Bahrain’s relationship with online technology? I still feel that people in Bahrain tend to be relatively uneducated about what PR and social media is all about. They don’t often look past the basics and people see it as a luxury rather than a necessity. There is a bit of a cultural gap. Islam is a very reserved religion and people worry about too much information being disseminated, but there are ways to prevent things being out of your comfort zone and, at the end of the day, if you don’t embrace these sorts of online advances, you’ll be left behind. Online tools are completely invaluable. Sketchbook is available online, in PDF and in print, we have our own online video channel and we keep track of all our users and subscribers via Twitter or Facebook. Content can be offered in so many different ways, so why not take advantage of all of them? People love new and different experiences — it keeps them hooked. What do you reckon is the most useful online tool? Twitter, without a doubt. It gives you the fastest record of response. You can tell very quickly whether an idea is appealing or destined for success. People love to feel like they are being heard. We had a follower who kept sending us Twitpics of her artwork as she developed it. I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but it turned out to be dedicated to Sketchbook and we loved it so much we did a whole piece on it for the blog! It also gives you an amazing, direct access to many of your idols and allows you the immediacy of being able to see what other creative people are up to at any time. It’s not too difficult to get the hang of Twitter. You just have to be willing to give it a go. Do you think online resources will eclipse print publishing? No, I think they work hand-in-hand. I read about ten to 20 blogs a day, but I don’t keep them or go back to them. Whereas I love to buy Brownbook, Monacle, Wallpaper or, of course, Woman This Month. Sometimes you want to collect things and savour them. Print is a different experience — there is an association with quality and durability. I make room for both print and online publications in my life. Final message? The online world has changed, in fact made, my career, My experience wouldn’t have been possible without all the amazing online resources. So my advice is to always have an online strategy. Don’t be left behind, assuming social networks are just for young people or personal use. Get with the programme! The Younger Generation I enjoyed reading the article about Wafa Alobaidat. I think her company sounds very interesting, although I am not sure I completely understand what she offers, but I think the really good thing for her is her age. Even though she is so young, she has achieved and travelled a lot and I think she is setting a good example to other women her age. I also think that the writer makes a good point about needing Bahrain to become more aware of the resources on the internet. Although I am not on Twitter myself, I do have a business and I have a Facebook page for it. It is a really good way of getting information to a lot of people and if you use it in the right way it can be a really useful network. I do think there was a point in the article about the Middle East being behind other places when it comes to this, so I think it is good if we all begin to learn what is out there and catch up. Lana, by email WRITE IN AND WIN Send your letter to editor@womanthismonth. com, by fax to 17 813-700 or by post to PO Box 20461, Manama. The star letter will get the chance to attend three free classes of their choice at Life-Fit [DASH] the brilliant lifestyle and fitness centre in Budaiya. Choose between Zumba, Dance-Fit, Boot Camp and many more! I just wanted to say that I really appreciate the Woman This Month parenting pages. Both Clare McInroy and Jinan Darwish seem to have some really thoughtful and wellinformed ideas about child-rearing. I always read these pages with an avid interest and they, more often than not, do give me ideas about activities and methods to use with my own children. I thought the focus on New Year’s resolutions for children and parents was a really special one. It didn’t just stick to the usual subjects and the clichés that you associate with resolutions, but it encouraged you to think hard about what your child might actually find achievable and what would be good for their development. Every week I do admire these two experts, because time and time again they are able to approach parenting with a really positive and loving attitude. It makes me happy to think of the children that will grow up having benefited from this sort of advice. Lisa, by email. Encouraging our Children Dear Woman This Month team. I just wanted to say thank you so much for writing and printing that article about Gaynor Morgan’s invention to prevent incontinence. I have had a problem with this for some years now and have been too embarrassed to get any proper help for it. I didn’t know there was such a product out there. I think that Gaynor is an inspiring woman who will help many other women out there and I think this article is going to bring some relief to a lot of people looking for a solution to such an embarrassing problem. I just wanted to bring something to your attention and the attention of the readers, though. There was a mistake in the website address at the bottom of the article. It should say www.incostress.com, not “incostess”. I hope this helps people looking for it. Anonymous, by email. Interview 15 woman this month | January 2012 | In-flight to In-vent From Gaynor Morgan speaks to Annabelle Godwin of her journey from Gulf Air Stewardess to inventress of one of the most useful female products on the market. Gaynor Morgan is something of a phenomenon. At the age of 20 she decided to up and leave the safety of the UK to take up a position as a Gulf Air stewardess in Bahrain. Although many women have made similar decisions before her, it is what she did with the opportunity that really strikes a chord among the ambitious and independent women among us. It is fairly common for women in the Gulf to slip into a well-paid position, especially one with the benefit of travel, and to stay in the same job for a decade without noticing the time pass. While this is a fine idea if it suits you and keeps you satisfied, there are others who use these sorts of jobs as a platform or leverage to further themselves even more. Not satisfied with remaining a member of the in-flight crew, Gaynor decided to look at what else Gulf Air might be able to offer her. “Gulf Air has one of the toughest training programmes for safety and survival”, she recalls. Speaking of this training, Gaynor says, “It taught me a great deal about discipline and self-control”. Her career progression within the famous airline didn’t stop there, however. Within four years Gaynor was promoted to purser in charge of cabin crew flying on B737 B767 and L1011 aircrafts. She continued in her 14 | January 2012 | woman this month role of safety and survival instructor at the same time. “Gulf Air made me who I am today”, says Gaynor. “It taught me management skills, which I still use today in my own business. It shaped the way I am now able to deal with all sorts of people from all walks of life”. During her time at Gulf Air she came in to contact with the full spectrum of humankind. “One day I would be serving a Royal and the next I would be interacting with a labourer who earned about 50BD a month for hours of arduous work”, she remembers. This experience proved entirely invaluable. “Now, dealing with large retail stores and distributors with C&G Medicare Ltd., I need the best sort of negotiating skills. Living in Bahrain, dealing with tricky customers and haggling in the souk gave me a great head start!” Unfortunately for Gaynor, although her career in Bahrain had been looking to bear some exciting fruit, the region hit troubled times and her situation changed. Her time in the Middle East was interrupted by the first Gulf War, during which she helped evacuate passengers to safer, nearby countries. “After the Gulf War things were very difficult for everyone in Bahrain,” says Gaynor, “Bahrain changed, leaving many local people jobless. Gulf Air were encouraging Bahrainis to apply for jobs within the airline. All the expatriates holding teaching positions in the safety school were made redundant.” After a stint as an English teacher for the British Council, Gaynor realised that her career in the Gulf was drawing to a close. Although she didn’t immediately move back to the UK, she still made regular trips back to the place of her roots. It was during one of these visits back that she became inspired to embark on the most important venture of her life. “My mother Carole had started having problems with incontinence around the age of 40. At 45 the incontinence was such an issue she had the TVT operation (a procedure to help women with stress incontinence). Although this worked on a temporary basis, a few years later the symptoms returned”, she explains. Gaynor, witnessing her mother’s embarrassment, set about trying to find a solution. Millions of women experience incontinence, largely due to insufficient strength of their pelvic floor muscles. Some may lose a few drops of urine while running or coughing, while others may feel a strong, sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount. Many women experience both upsetting symptoms. Incontinence can range from slightly bothersome to totally demoralising and, for many women, the risk of public embarrassment stops them enjoying many activities and impacts on their quality of life. Additionally urine loss can also occur during sex and cause tremendous emotional distress. As incontinence isn’t a life threatening condition, very little money is spent on research. The most common solution offered for incontinence is pads, which only hide the problem but never solve it. Gaynor and Carole were looking for a more permanent solution. Carole and Gaynor began brainstorming. During one of their discussions about the intricacies of the condition, Carole mentioned that the problem was not so bad when she was menstruating. After some research they discovered that when Carole wore a tampon it went some way to support the urethra and the exerted pressure was able to gently suppress the loss of urine, while not interfering with the normal flow. Knowing the dangers of using a tampon outside the recommended period they decided to look for a re-usable tampon. There was nothing available, and so they made their first working prototype in 1998. Testing the design, “she started doing star jumps in the middle of the kitchen,'’ says Gaynor, “and though she had a full bladder, she didn't leak at all. ‘It works, it works!’ she yelled. She wore it every day after that, and started to go out again without the slightest leak.” Gaynor financed her business with savings earned with Gulf Air. The product they developed grew from strength to strength. What started as a daughter’s attempt to help her mother with an embarrassing condition has now won many international awards [DASH] and has transformed the lives of thousands of others who suffer from incontinence and pelvic floor weakness. Gaynor works on a personal level with her distributors, ensuring that the right information and advertising is given. She supports them in promotions and raising awareness about the incontinence issue and has been commended by her government for the amazing work she is doing. For more information visit www.incostess.com 63 woman this month | January 2012 | What Do Children Learn From New Year's Resolutions? This is really a “how long is a piece of string?” style of question. Children will learn what you teach them, but it might not be what you wanted to teach them, or thought you had taught them. The way that children view goals varies from child to child and from goal to goal. Some of it depends on how a child sees time and how he/she views herself in the world. Time is not experienced in the same way by everyone. Consider that one year is 20 per cent of a five year old’s life! If you have spent any time with a five year old, a week is a very long time, so a one year plan is probably too big a commitment. The things that children will learn from goal-setting also vary. One child might learn to be proficient in making and working towards a resolution, another might get a lesson in delayed gratification. A different child might learn about how best to access new information or pick up a new understanding of how the world works. Children are endlessly learning new things, helping them to cultivate more of a sense of how adults see the world, but this doesn’t mean that we should forget that their world view is very different. They are still developing skills and control over their world that we take for granted. They are still learning how to build and attain a goal. What would seem a small goal to an adult can seem huge to a child as he/she is still developing mastery over the process. Learning the process with a very small goal is probably the most appropriate thing to do. Children with larger-than-life imaginations, for example, will need to begin to see the world more realistically. This can be done through realistic goalsetting. However, some imagination is no bad thing, so it is important not to quash the “dreamer” mentality altogether. Small steps and small goals will lead to bigger feelings of triumph. If your child takes on a goal that they need your help with, be sure that you can follow through with your fraction of the agreement. If you have agreed to drive the child to Karate lessons regularly, for example, make sure you take this agreement seriously. Adults and children will experience days when it seems that things are not going to plan. They will need encouragement and rewards. Talk to your child about setbacks and challenges and help him/her to envisage what obstacles might be encountered along the way. When the obstacles do crop up, you can make light of them, empathically, as they are anticipated and part of the process. Remind them of how fabulous it will be when the goals are achieved! Teaching children to set goals and follow them through to completion is all part of growing up. child apart For feedback, comments or questions contact Dr Jinan Darwish via email at: [email protected] • Don't turn New Year's Resolutions into a chore! • As soon as your child has made his/her resolutions, make sure he/she takes immediate action. This is an important part of the process as it creates momentum. • Praise and encourage him/her as they work through the process. Be supportive when he/she gets discouraged, or hits an obstacle. Help him/her to see that it is not the end of the world, and that obstacles are part of the process. • When your child reaches an obstacle, this is the time to remind them why they wanted to succeed with this resolution, and to repeat the visualisation of success, just as they did when the list was first made. • Succeeding with goals and resolutions involves more than just following a set of instructions. It also involves having the right mindset, overcoming negativity, problem solving, and being persistent. Tips Setting your
Heading out in the colder months of the year means having to plan ahead. You’ll need a handbag that can fit a world of things in it, whilst still being stylish and chic. We looked around for the perfect February handbag essentials. It doesn't rain much, by golly when it does, it really pours. Better have a brolly just in case. Hoss Intropia. It's always good to have some flats as back up and they happen to be a neat handbag size. Jimmy Choo. New This Month Winter Handbag Essentials The low winter sun can be pretty bright. Protect your eyes with some Louis Vuitton shades. This Versace bag is a great hold-all for every winter essential. Shopping Sometimes painted nails need protecting. Pick up these Nina Ricci raspberry python gloves! Massimo Dutti know how to create a lovely scarf or head covering. Every girl needs a quality-assured leather wallet. This one is called The Lex, by Marc Jacobs. | February 2012 | woman this month 8
10 | February 2012 | woman this month Showcase Although we all know that Bahrain isn’t exactly Baltic, it can get pretty chilly, especially after the sun sets. So if you are heading out for an evening stroll, or if you are off to dinner somewhere smart, then be sure to pop on something warm and chic. Here are a few of our Winter picks. Cosy Cover-Ups Very.co.uk Marks and Spencer La Redoute East H! by Henery Holland at Debenhams Monsoon Asos Carolina Herrera
12 | February 2012 | woman this month Shopping R-r-roar into 2012 Leopard is THE print of the winter season. From full-length trench to iPad case, the big cat has travelled everywhere. As you know, February is the valentine’s month and what could be more sexy than having a touch of the feline about your outfit? Whether you are heading to the bar or saving your outfit for behind closed doors, be sure to pick up one of these fab items. Pilot Banana Republic Bvlgari Tod's Accessorize Christian Louboutin Top Shop Dune
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14 | February 2012 | woman this month Interview Progress A Woman’s Fight for For centuries, women have helped to build the societies we live in today. From the housewife to the CEO and right through to the members of parliament, every woman has made her contribution. It makes no sense, therefore, for women not to receive equal rights to their male counterparts. The Supreme Council for Women (SCW) has been working tirelessly for the last 10 years to improve women’s rights and to instill a sense of gender equality in the region. With more and more women in prominent and important roles in all fields of work, Bahraini women today are upholding a unique balance of their traditional and modern characters, participating alongside men in public dialogue and decision-making processes in the Kingdom. Created in 2001 and headed up by her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the SCW became a new advisory body to assist the government in framing policies concerning women’s issues. Emulating famous leading feminist thinkers, such as the likes of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Antony, the council is made up of 16 head members, all women in possession of major roles in a variety of fields and from all sectors of Bahraini society.
15 woman this month | February 2012 | Some of the council’s many objectives have been to empower Bahraini women to assume a greater role in their country's development, promote better awareness of their capabilities, ensure their fair rights are protected and help them tackle problems in all areas. Steps for change Spending most of their first term developing a national strategy for the advancement of women and also identifying their vision and ambitions, today the SCW is not only considered as a women’s rights body, but a ruling factor in the Kingdom’s economical and social advancement. The real action, though, started after the council’s first term. After this time, several economic projects, aiming at training Bahraini women and empowering them , were launched. One of the most important achievements of SCW was the launching of the National Strategy on the Empowerment of Bahraini Women. This strategy aims to legitimise the female role in different fields, including decision making, the economy, civil society, education and training, family, health and the environment. Since then, the council has held events to highlight the achievement of women and introduce them to the society as a means to support qualified Bahraini women. Also under the SCW’s belt is a series of training projects. These have included workshops and seminars, coaching women in job specific disciplines and qualifying them to enter the workforce. The Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa award for the empowerment of Bahraini Women was also established. The first of its kind in the Arab world, the award aims to encourage government and private institutions to provide equal opportunities for reaching decision making positions. In an effort to change the public’s perspective of women, a number of public awareness programmes were also held. A political empowerment programme was initiated by the Council in co-operation with the United Nations Development Programme to train and educate women to join the Kingdom’s political workforce. The Council has its own offices in Riffa, which include a secretariat and a documentation centre, where the council’s research is stored along with an extensive library of publications, studies and data related to women’s affairs. Start of the movement It first started in the year 2000 when the National Action Charter was issued; stipulating that the country would promulgate laws that would defend women and protect families. The establishment of the council a year later confirmed the presence of women and initiated a movement that is still in progress today. Within the following 10 years, the council’s involvement, participation and triumphant efforts moved more women towards academic excellence and important career roles, which may have been limited to men in previous years. The role of the youth It is undeniable that, though women of all ages need to make themselves heard, it is in the hands of the youth that the future cultural mindset rests. The special SCW Shabab council for the youth of both genders has been established, with an aim to encourage the youth of Bahrain to positively participate in the growth of society and to respect each other as allies in bringing about the future they desire for Bahrain. Some of the most important achievements of the youth council include the “I am Bahrain” campaign, aimed to plant the understanding of national unity between Bahraini citizens through holding series of events around the Kingdom. Among their other successful projects were the “We said yes, we will all work” in collaboration with the General Organisation for Youth and Sports, the “We will build your home” project and the “Be Heard” project, which is the biggest suggestion box for youth in the region; opening the door for the Kingdom’s youth to share their thoughts, ideas, identify their problems and obstacles. Women’s day event Celebrating the milestone of its 10th anniversary, as well as the Bahraini Women’s Day, — which was launched four years ago bye Princess Sabeeka — the 45 Entrepreneurs Gallery was held. Aiming to highlight the achievement of Bahraini women, the Women’s Day theme this year was Bahraini women in economic development. Forty-five young businesswomen aged up to 45 took part in the exhibition, showcasing their abilities in several sectors — service, retail and cosmetics, event planning and food and beverages. Among the 45 women this year were Bahraini fashion designer Sima Ahmed, interior designer Ghada Al Sayed, lawyer May Showaiter, graphics designer Shaikha Noora Al Khalifa and photographer Fatma Al Mannai, who have all succeeded in establishing their own businesses and entrepreneurial projects. Though the Council’s successes and achievements for women have been plentiful, there is still a long way to go and they are constantly renewing and reviving their objectives, in order to best suit the changing needs of women in the region. Here are some of the aims for the coming term: Aims of the council l To propose a general policy for the development of Women's Affairs in the institutions of constitutional and civil society. l Enabling women to play their role in public life and to integrate their efforts into development plans without being discriminated against. l To activate the principles contained in the National Action Charter and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain with regard to women and to develop appropriate mechanisms for co-operation with ministries and official institutions and civil society institutions. l Monitor and evaluate the implementation of public policy in the field of women and progress with the Council, including the suggestions and observations to the competent authorities in this regard. l To arrange a submission process for proposals to amend existing legislation relating to women and to facilitate the expression of opinion on draft laws and regulations. l Follow-up enforcement of laws, regulations, resolutions and international conventions related to women to ensure their implementation in order to achieve non-discrimination against women and follow up the implementation of programmes that have been adopted in the plans and government programmes for women. l Participation in committees and official bodies formed by the Government on all matters relating to women's issues directly or indirectly. l Facilitate Bahraini women's representation in international forums and Arab and international organisations concerned with women's issues and to engage them in cooperative agreements and joint programmes. l Establish a documentation centre for the collection of information, data and studies on women and conduct studies and research in this area. l Educate the community role of women and their rights and duties and through the use of appropriate mechanisms. l Publish newsletters, magazines, printed materials and electronic data related to the objectives of the Council and its powers.
16 | February 2012 | woman this month Interview Bold and Beautiful Bahrain's It was back in the 70s when brothers Elie and Jean took Bahrain by storm with their innovative, chic and internationally inspired hairdressing. Now their successors, the next generation of the family, are ready to step it up a level further. Since 1976, when Lebanon born Jean flew to Bahrain to join his brother Elie in establishing a hairdressing salon, the Elie & Jean brand has gone from strength to strength. They now possess five star salons in the Ritz Carlton, the Regency InterContinental, the Movenpick, another in Lebanon and have opened salon supply stores in Bahrain and Dubai. The original concept for the Elie & Jean brand was to bring international knowledge, as well as unique and individual talent, to the Middle Eastern region. The dream was to have people perceive hairdressing as an art form rather than just a cultural formality. With training from some of the most prestigious hairdressing empires, including the Vidal Sassoon academy, Elie and Jean soon made a name for themselves. As we look down the lens of 2012, we can see changes afoot for Elie & Jean. Although Elie and Jean themselves are still very much involved in the brand and the day-today running of the company, their offspring John Luke and Elias have taken responsibility for its forward propulsion into hairdressing superstardom. John Luke heads up the artistic team, in charge of making sure that the boldest, most beautiful hair styles are introduced to the Bahrain market. “I worked for Toni & Guy’s main company from 1995 to 2000, when it really was in its heyday”, he says of his formal training. “We did loads of really big shows. I trained with their artistic team, which is about as cutting edge as you can get. Then, I went on to work with Anthony Mascolo, who has been at the very
17 woman this month | February 2012 | forefront of the hairdressing industry for the last 30 years and this is how I became so closely affiliated with TIGI.” Indeed John Luke’s relationship to TIGI is really important. Together with the global hair product brand, John Luke and his team have launched the Elie & Jean Academy, a training institution designed to educate up-and-coming hairdressers in the region. It is their firm belief that the more any individual hairdresser learns and trains, the better the whole industry will be as a result. “As well as being creative director for Elie & Jean”, says John Luke, “I am also the TIGI educational director for the Middle East, which means that we are able to bring international designs, knowledge and expertise to the region as a whole. By educating everyone, even the competition, we feel that the reach and impact of professional hairdressing will grow and grow.” “The shows that we do and the seminars that we teach are also a great way of bringing attention, models and press coverage to the region”. His cousin Elias, or Lalas as he is more informally known, heads up the Salon Supply branch of the company. “If you are going to be performing the latest techniques and treatments,” says Lalas, “you need to be absolutely sure that the products you are using are really the right ones for the job. This is why we have opened the Elie & Jean Salon Supply, to cater for the needs of all the salons in the area.” The problem with this region, according to both John Luke and Lalas, is that rumours of new treatments, procedures and styles tend to spread like wildfire, via word of mouth or the internet. Salons in Bahrain and the surrounding countries want to keep up with the trends, understandably, but often don’t have access to the best products and the most appropriate training, to ensure that they are offering the best and most client-conscious services. “Some of the keratin products available, for example,” says Lalas, “are not altogether in the client’s best interests. Some of them contain a lot of formaldehyde, which can have harmful after effects.” “As the resident experts for the region, we have done enough research to know that the products we use and sell for this treatment — the Brazilian Blowout products, are the most safe and nourishing of the products available.” All-in-all it seems that John Luke and Lalas have built upon Elie & Jean’s original mission statement. Where once the Elie & Jean goal was simply to pull Bahrain to the forefront of the hairdressing industry, through cutting-edge design, daring and raw talent, the aim according to the next generation is to continue this brave and bold approach, whilst ensuring that it is not just Elie & Jean who can offer the people in Bahrain the best and most highly recommended services. By teaching at the Elie & Jean Academy and by offering top notch products at the Elie & Jean Salon Supply to all hairdressing outlets in the region, Elie and Jean are helping to ensure that the region’s hairdressing industry, as a whole, is nurtured into being the best that it can be. The vision has now gone beyond two brothers on a mission to prove themselves and has become a whole family, backed by an increasingly large and uniquely talented team, wishing to prove to the world that hairdressing is a constantly growing and inspiring art-form.
18 | February 2012 | woman this month Wellbeing Love comes in different shapes, forms, timeframes and quantities. If yours is the deep and powerful kind — the sort that you know will last a lifetime — lucky you, but that isn’t to say that there aren’t other, just as valuable, perhaps more practical and realistic forms of the emotion. Take our quiz to find out which category your relationship falls into… Love Quiz The When you first met each other… A. Your meeting was the one all the songs were written about. You locked eyes across a crowded room and something clicked. Your first conversation had you enthralled and you knew almost immediately that you wanted this person in your life for some time to come. B. You met him with a group of other people. You thought he was charming and interesting, but it wasn’t spellbinding. There weren’t fireworks, exactly, but you found you had a lot in common. He made you laugh, you liked the way it felt to be around him and you decided to give it a shot to find out if there was the potential for something more. C. Either you, one of your friends or members of your family had known him for a while. He hadn’t really presented himself as a possibility, but over time and with some encouragement from those who had known him for longer, you found yourself giving him a chance. The decision to get together wasn’t exactly yours, nor was it instantaneous, but you trusted the judgement of those close to you. In those first few months… A. The initial phase of your relationship feels like a blur. It was a heady rush of laughter, lust and unimaginable closeness. You realised you had never felt this way about anyone before and you couldn’t bring yourself to be parted from him for any significant length of time. B. Days passed and then weeks. You saw each other quite regularly and what started off as intrigue seemed to become something deeper. You began to feel drawn to him in a stronger way than you had predicted. There were ups and downs — some days saw you second guessing yourself and wondering if it was really right, but the other days gave you the confidence to pursue it. C. Knowing that you had been given good advice, you tried hard to give him a fair chance. Over the course of some months you realised that he was a kind, helpful and attentive person, who looked out for your interests and treated you with respect. You became very fond of him, even if you knew it was probably never going to be the stuff of fairy tales. The Beginnings The Honeymoon Period
19 woman this month | February 2012 | A few years on… A. Life never feels like a chore when he is around. You take on the world together. There are still romantic weekends away, love notes on post-its and breakfasts in bed. You feel extremely lucky because you found the one. B. Life is so much better than you had expected that it would be. Over time you have grown to love this man more than you could have imagined. Sure, you argue about the price of milk and you know he is far from perfect — he still drops his wet towel on your freshly made bed — but these things are inconsequential. He has a good heart which you value deeply and you have come to realise that life is just better with him there to share it all with you. C. Over time your respect for each other has grown and grown. He has worked out what makes you happy and what doesn’t and he does his best to accommodate your needs. There are ups and downs and you still question your decision from time to time, but you have come to realise that his companionship is extremely valuable and you love him for that. Day-to-Day Life Mostly As – The Soulmate Love This is the love that little girls dream of and some people wait their whole lives and never experience. There are those who would say it is unrealistic or a bit fantastical, but if you feel it, then you feel it. It is intense and binding, which means that when it hurts it really hurts, but you know in your heart that it is worth it because you have something irreplaceable. Mostly Bs – The Growing Love A love that grows and grows is arguably more powerful or valuable than all the others. It took you somewhat by surprise, which means that you didn’t burden it with the pressure of unrealistic expectations. You love them for who they are and not what you want them to be. You might not be completely certain that they are the only person you could ever love, but the longer you are together, the more you realise that this doesn’t matter, because you love this person enough to never want to go through life without them. Mostly Cs – The Pragmatic Love People hate to hear the words “practical” and “love” in the same sentence. We all have this crazy idea that the all-consuming Soulmate Love is the only one worth having. This just simply isn’t true. If you have found someone who makes day-to-day life better, who you respect for their beliefs as well as their kindness and who you would rather be with than be without, then you are lucky, for you have found a team work and a partnership that many will never experience. Love doesn’t have to be the stuff of fairy tales for it to make you happy. Your Love Type
20 | February 2012 | woman this month Fashion Fashion Forward Don’t be afraid to be bold and to stand out this February. We’d all rather be remembered than fade into insignificance, so why not let your clothes announce your unforgettable arrival? Fashion Expert Want It New sparkle designed by Arik Levy for Atelier Swarovski. Blinging and beautiful! What’s Hot The shoe-boot isn’t going anywhere, but be sure to experiment with unusual shapes and styles. Bin It Floral might not be completely over, but there are certainly better things to focus on at the moment! Resident fashion expert Natasha Bird picks her February favourites. Shimmer and Shine Some of you will have struggled with the over-the-knee style boots that have been around for the past couple of years. On those without skinny legs, they look overbearing and paired with the wrong outfit they have a slight hooker air to them. Luckily for us, the knee-high boot is staging a comeback. Check out Jaeger London’s offerings. Knees Up! Get to the Point This is not to say that round and square-toed shoes have completely had their day, but their light is dimming as an old acquaintance comes to the foreground. Pointy-toed shoes, like this bronze Casadei version, are back with a bang. They have been recently sported by the likes of the Duchess of Cambridge and Elle Macpherson. How could you not want to follow in such stylish footsteps? The Autumn Winter runways were delightfully dazzling. Everyone from Stella McCartney to Balmain (pictured) had some form of glitter and gold adorning their creations. Stand out at any party by finding yourself some sequins, lamé, glitter, studs and crystals — just be sure to make them gold, bold and beautiful.
21 woman this month | February 2012 | Everyone’s wearing snakeskin. There are snakeskin handbags, snakeskin gloves, snakeskin shoes in the shops, but the thing that nobody can keep their hands off are the snakeskin trousers. Whether you stick to the print version, like these Mango jeans, or you splash out on a metallic leather variety, be sure to have at least one snakeskin item in your wardrobe. Be Wild Hats are in, there’s no doubt about it. Abandon the hair clips, the turbans and the fascinators, because a hat really is the only way to go about things this year. For the faint of heart, the usual trilby and fedora styles will do, but for those with more stomach, why not try a pillbox cap in the style of Marc Jacobs AW11? Unusually Charming
22 | February 2012 | woman this month are Wearing Kate Beckinsale The lovely British actress Kate Beckinsale had the pleasure of co-hosting a dinner with FLAUNT magazine at the SLS Hotel in LA and she chose a Michael Kors Autumn 2011 dress for the occasion. Although black is a little safe, we think the dress looks stunning. She paired it with Jimmy Choo “Esam” pumps, a black satin clutch and Chopard jewels. Fan Bing Bing Oriental megastar Fan Bing Bing likes to take risks with her wardrobe. Whilst promoting her latest movie My Way in Seoul, South Korea, though, she chose a sweet, pink Marc Jacobs Resort 2012 dress and paired it with the popular Louboutin “Lady Daff’ pumps that we’ve seen on so many celebrities. This dress is adventurous in shape and texture, whilst still being pretty and feminine. We approve! What the February is the month of romance and fine dining. What better way to look forward to it than by checking out some fabulous, sensual frocks, as seen on the stars?! Stars Natasha Bird Mary J Blige Mary J Blige sashayed down the red carpet in a nude Michael Kors Autumn/Winter 2011 jersey dress. The crystals seem appropriately bling for such a big event, but we aren’t wild about the fabric or the colour. We would have liked Ms Blige to have stepped outside the box just a little bit more… Estelle British songstress Estelle, famous for such hits as “American Boy”, graced the Hammerstein Ballroom with her gorgeous presence in a Diane von Furstenberg “Clarice” dress. This is a bolder gown than many of Furstenberg’s, but has been created in the usual wrap-over style. We think the shimmering gold is just divine and looks glorious against Estelle’s beautiful skin. Fashion
23 woman this month | February 2012 | Florence Welch Singer Florence of Florence and the Machine fame is known for her quirky dressing, which it was nice to see her in something a little bit tame and feminine at the VH1 Divas Celebrate Soul event. Her Antonio Berardi Spring 2012 dress is sweet and floaty without being sickly or too much. The nude ankle strap pumps don’t detract from her look. An unusually sweet choice for Flo! Katy Perry You can’t say that Katy Perry doesn’t know how to make an attention grabbing entrance. She appeared at the launch of her new fragrance “Meow” riding on a green and gold trolley adorned with holiday decorations. Unfortunately, we aren’t altogether fond of her pink Moschino Autumn 2011 dress. The satin is just a little unflattering. The black bow and grosgrain waistband do help though and she looks like she’s got some cool nail art! Charlize Theron For someone usually extremely stylish — we’ve all seen those amazing Dior adverts — she put together a very weird ensemble for the LA premiere of Young Adult. Her Stella McCartney Spring 2012 dress is ill fitting around the bust and the asymmetric hemline looks a little too rough. Plus, she paired the frock with a fairly harsh looking pair of bondage style Manolo Blahniks. Elle Fanning Elle Fanning, younger sister to Dakota and actress in her own right, is fast becoming a fashion icon. The outfit that she wore to the New York premiere of We Bought a Zoo Today is no less stunning than her usual choices. The Louis Vuitton Spring 2012 dress is an ethereal, origami-esque creation. The pleats, the organza and the laser-cut sections are unusual, but totally beautiful.
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