Rani Zakhem Couture Show at Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture 2018

July was a magical month for me – I got to visit my favourite city for the third time for something I never thought would happen in a million years, Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week!

It all started with an invitation from a production house that is in charge of organizing some of the shows during this highly anticipated week. I admit I was a bit sceptical of the invitation primarily because I never imagined I would attend fashion week in Paris, let alone be invited to one of the shows! Also, I’m ashamed to admit I had never heard of the designer but that’s nothing Google can’t fix.

And that is precisely what I did – I looked up the production house and the designer in question, Rani Zakhem and once I saw everything was legit, I let myself breathe again, jumped up and down with joy for a couple of minutes, called my fiancé to share the amazing news and booked our flights and accommodation with a big smile that I couldn’t wipe off my face. Finally, all that was left to do was fly to Paris of course, and patiently wait for days to roll by for the 5th of July!

Here’s a bit of background information I found online about Rani Zakhem. Hailing from Lebanon, Rani Zakhem is one of the country’s top couture designers and after seeing his work up close, I would even dare say he is on par with compatriots Zuhair Murad and Elie Saab, two of my favourites. 

His timeless creations have earned him a reputable presence across the Middle East, all the way to Hollywood. Born in Lebanon and raised in Kenya, Rani Zakhem has pursued a career in design from a very young age. He first obtained a degree in architecture in Lebanon and then moved on to graduate in fashion design at Parsons the New School for Design in New York. Today, the Rani Zakhem brand has three main lines - ready-to-wear, couture and bridal.

With that in mind and having had a look at some of his past works, including his first debut in Paris during the SS18 Haute Couture week, I knew I was in for a spectacular show of the finest in haute couture. I wasn’t let down just one bit – to be invited to experience Paris Haute Couture Week is a dream come true and it most certainly did feel like a dream. A dream with beautiful beaded gowns and exceptional tailoring being paraded in the most beautiful of settings - Pavillon Cambon. The collection is a vibrant tribute to the combating woman, the ‘Glamazonian’ who is fatally seductive when like a warrior goddess she puts on her crystal armour.

Rani Zakhem redesigns the camouflage motif used in battle in different grounds and transforms it into new opulent, embroidered, crystalline tonalities of emerald green, gold, black, red and silver as can be seen on sheath dresses, jacket cuffs and pencil skirts, along with other military insignias such as the glittering gold chevrons. Another dominant colour in this collection is white, which although considered fragile, Rani Zakhem re-invents it as luminous, bold, a symbol of renewal and resilience. Through this collection, Rani Zakhem also wants to convey a poetry of an imaginary jungle depicting a delicate guardian of a paradise that she will not let falter. Heavy embroidery on skirts shows images of flora and fauna blending in a palette of sky blue, pale pink, gold and copper, brought beautifully together by flights of black birds here and there. Dragonflies flutter over pastel hues of aquatic vegetation on another exquisite ball gown, as well as a bright, colourful sheath dress in tulle cascades from orange to pink – a reminder of poisonous flowers of the jungle or panoply of native warriors.

This collection includes subtle references from Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan and Azzedine Ala a, between a Saharienne detail, a draped moulage or simply the powerful minimalism of a white dress, all expertly given Rani Zakhem’s personal interpretation!

Hair was either slicked back or braided in a horseshoe shape at the nape of the neck – away from the face, ready for battle, while makeup was fairly dramatic on the eyes, much like war paint, complemented with bare lips and matte skin.

By the end of the show, I was speechless. It is a truly marvellous collection. A true celebration of the glamorous warrior in women, all set in the equally glamourous Pavillon Cambon Capucines right in the heart of Paris! Thank you Mephistopheles Productions for inviting me and again, bravo Rani Zakhem!

Production: Vigari, Mazzini Eventi

Consulting & casting: Paola Rebeiz

Music: Sebastien Perrin

Photos: Imax Tree

Hair: Sebastien Bascle

Makeup: L’Oreal, La Roche Posay

PR: Mephistopheles Productions

An International Night of Culture Through Fashion - Press Conference

Ahead of tomorrow's big night, An International Night of Culture Through Fashion, I had the pleasure to attend the press conference in relation to the event at The Palace Hotel in Sliema, one of a chain of hotels run by AX Group. 

An International Night of Culture Through Fashion has become a yearly appointment for us in the fashion industry, an event synonymous with the month of July and is organized by The Chamber of Fashion (Malta). The Chamber of Fashion is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting culture through fashion and support educational initiatives for students who will take up Textile and Fashion Design as a career.

This year, the event will take place within the beautiful gardens of Verdala Palace in Rabat, which is one of the residences of the President of Malta. Apart from showcasing different fashion and jewellery collections from different designers from different countries, the event will raise money for the Malta Community Chest Fund.

The designers are, Giada Curti and Marina Corazziari (Italy), James Dimech (Malta), Sibu Misimang, Brenda Quin, Katherine Montague and Karla Morton under the name of One Africa (South Africa) and Sladana Krystic (Croatia). They will each be exhibiting their collections during tomorrow's event, which I am really looking forward to!

Dr. Gavin Gulia from the Malta Tourism Authority highlighted that fashion tourism is a niche that is already being explored, even on a local basis, where you have people like for example bloggers, media and even regular tourists, flying into a country specifically to attend fashion events and the Chamber of Fashion, with their events, are starting to do just that. 

Interview with Giada Curti

I will be going into more detail about the collections in the post following the event but I got the chance to interview Ms Giada Curti about her prêt-a-couture collection entitled Jackie which will be showcased on the runway for the first time during tomorrow's event. 

Photo by Bernard Polidano

She started off by explaining to me that the prêt-a-couture concept for her has only started 2 years ago, which the designer has named Giada Curti Resort. Garment production for this line happens at her atelier in the province of Frosinone which lies between Rome and Naples and is distributed in over 170 countries.

The Jackie collection is her take on S/S19 and is inspired by the timeless elegance embodied by Jackie Kennedy. The collection was already presented during 'Sposa Italia' in April in Milan but was never modelled on a catwalk before, hence Malta will serve as the springboard for this collection to be launched on the catwalk. The collection, however, is not inspired from Jackie Kennedy the First Lady, but Jackie Kennedy who loved her summers in Italy and cruises in the Mediterranean, so we are expecting to see a lot of elegant, wearable, colourful looks that truly capture the essence of summer.

Photo by Bernard Polidano

I am really looking forward to tomorrow's event and can't wait to share all the happenings live from the show on my Instastories so be sure to follow me there.

This event could not have been possible without the help of Malta Tourism Authority, AirMalta, Retail International Ltd., Marks & Spencer, The Palace Malta, Busy Bee Caterers, Stivala Group, Dean Gera Salons, Brittania Tours, Beauty Plus, SU29 Boutique Hotel, Porsche by Continental Cars, Hilton Hotel, Nexos & Co. Ltd., Tower Supermarket, Bernard Polidano Photography, Niumee, Digigraphics International, Camilleri Paris Mode, Mediterranean Ceramics, Myoka Spas, Alfsons Enterprises, All Clean Services, PressH Juices, Deco Manufacturing, Barba Italiana, Il-Malti Restaurant and Queens Laundry and Dry Cleaning.

From the Catwalk to the Street - Part 1

I'm very excited to release this blog post today in collaboration with Caroline from Diva Inside and three local designers which have just showcased their latest collections during last month's edition of Malta Fashion Week. We chose to showcase an outfit from each of Gaetano's LEGACY collection, Rosemarie Abela's Al Magrib collection and Marco Parascandalo's STAR collection. The aim of this post is to contrast the way the looks were worn by models vis à vis how Caroline and myself 'pulled them off'.

Rosemarie Abela - Al Magrib

First up, Rosemarie Abela. I chose this chambray denim dress with lace paneling across the torso and a matching hem and pockets. I paired it with red shoes and sunglasses which really popped against the blue and black of the dress. I felt really comfortable in this dress but of course since I am only 5 feet tall and the dress was designed for a model who is waaaayyyy taller than I am, the dress fit me a bit baggy. Nonetheless, this is something I would go for and I would wear this to lunch or a casual event - just add heels and some popping accessories to dress it up. I went for a geometric pair of earrings and a bracelet and ring by another local designer - Yana's Jewellery who just celebrated her fifth year in the business with the Colores del Flamenco collection also launched during this year's Malta Fashion Week.

Marco Parascandalo - STAR

Next is Marco Parascandalo which I thought was going to be the most difficult for me to pull off because street-wear is really not something I reach for at all. Funnily enough though, come the shoot, I really had fun in this crop top and slit trousers ensemble and well you can tell I had fun styling it in a rather unusual way for me - cat ears and all ;) I also used a stamp tattoo from Rimmel London's Ink Me collection in the shape of a star which was just right seeing the collection is actually named STAR :) Again, since I'm quite short, Marco hemmed the trousers higher for me and I actually think they looked cooler with the gemstones showing from the underside of the trousers too.

Gaetano - LEGACY

Lastly, my favourite - Gaetano. I chose this beautiful dress which features a heavily patterned skirt, a multi-way top and a red applique which really stands out against the monochrome fabric. I had a ball wearing this dress and would wear it to a special occasion such as a gala dinner. I went for a choker-style neckline with a pussy-bow at the side of my neck rather than at the back as worn on the catwalk and I paired the dress with just a pair of simple earrings. You will have the chance to see Gaetano's LEGACY collection being showcased during a fashion show which is going to be held tomorrow night in Hamrun.

Hair & Makeup

Hair and makeup for this shoot were entrusted to Marlene Vassallo and Bernice Catania from Bliss Hair & Makeup. The makeup was done using Makeup Factory and Marlene opted for a classic red lip look with a twist - she did an ombre lip and added a pop of purple and pink to my eyes. I really liked wearing this look and I would like to give it a shot myself too. The hair, on the other hand, was styled by Bernice in a braided upstyle. I think this look complemented both the casual looks as well as the more glaourous evening dress so kudos to these two ladies for their impeccable work!

About the location - Talbot & Bons Boutique Hotel

We set the photo shoot at the newly opened Talbot & Bons Boutique Hotel in the heart of the quiet, charming village of Gudja. The hotel is a 400-year old converted farmhouse situated in a quiet street. Apart from the stunning, peaceful surroundings, one thing I found to be really charming and unique are the room names - they are all named after the surnames of everyone involved in the building of the boutique hotel - from the owners to the designers. I really liked the modern touches and how well they complement the rustic element of the farmhouse. The bed and breakfast is truly the ideal escape if you want to experience a taste of old Maltese villages and their charm.

Which was your favourite look and did you like the way I styled these three different outfits? Be sure to check out Caroline's post too and see which looks she picked and styled her way :) Huge thanks go to our sponsors for this shoot and the designers who believed in us and allowing us to give their clothes our own spin :)

Photography: Gordon Formosa from Go Raw Photography
Catwalk photography: Justin Ciappara from JCiappara Photography
Hair: Bernice Catania from Bliss Hair & Makeup
Makeup: Marlene Vassallo from Bliss Hair & Makeup
Location: Talbot & Bons Boutique Hotel

Styling A Cape Blazer

Summer is well underway but we're still getting colder temperatures in the evening. My way to beat them? Add a cape blazer! 

I bought this white cape blazer from Zara a couple of months ago and whenever I wear it, I get asked where it's from countless times and the second most common question is - 'what can I wear it with?'

Here are three ideas how you can style a cape blazer for the early summer days.

1. All black and a dash of white

Paired with black, this jacket really is a stand-out piece and I love the look of it with trousers as it has a long-line cut. If it's a bit chilly, go for something with lace sleeves to balance the look out and have an interesting detail peeping out from beneath the cape sleeves. Also, wearing a cape blaze with trousers does give off Khaleesi vibes no? ;)

2. Wear it with a crop-top

I wore this blazer again with a more colourful look for an event and I paired it with this bright blue crop-top, skinny jeans and colourful shoes and I must say it worked well too! The blazer balances the look all over, lending it a more sophisticated, structured feel and tones down the bright colours.

3. Chic in Monochrome 

Photo by Neil Psaila

For the last day of shows at Malta Fashion Week, I wore this blazer again, this time with a knee-length dress which I found still works well with this blazer. I love how this whole look turned out and it is possibly one of my favourite ways to wear this blazer.

See, cape blazers are not as tricky as we think they are! Which outfit is your favourite?

LEGACY | Fashion Film from Couture by Gaetano ahead of MFWA 2018

Couture by Gaetano needs no introduction in the local fashion scene with the young designer being catapulted to fame after winning the New Designer Award in the 2015 edition of the Malta Fashion Awards and he hasn't looked back since.

I've had the pleasure of working with Gaetano last year and I to say I was ecstatic when he asked me to take part in his fashion film to launch this year's collection, is an understatement! I immediately agreed because it is an honour to work with such a humble individual who keeps his feet planted firmly on the ground amidst all his success. And besides, I have yet to find a creation of his that I don't like! 

Fast forward to last Saturday and along with 4 other local bloggers and friends, a whole team of models, singers and influencers, the fashion video for Gaetano's LEGACY collection started taking shape at the stunning Casa Asti in Valletta.

The Charming Casa Asti in Valletta

I headed to the makeup and hair room where I had my makeup impeccably done by Kay Grech Coldman and my hair blow-dried by Marilyn Mizzi before I got changed into a stunning gown designed by Gaetano himself, then proceeded to the filming area to get briefed about what we had to do.

Designer Gaetano and myself before filming

I am really looking forward to seeing the end result when Gaetano launches his collection during Malta Fashion Week on Monday 28th May at the majestic Fort St.Elmo in Valletta. In the meantime, here are more behind the scenes photos and clips :)

Location: Casa Asti

Lead Singers: Claudia Faniello and Marilena Gauci
Lead Actress: Taryn Mamo Cefai

Bloggers: Dorianne at Ask Dorianne, Blog by Grazielle, Diva Inside and Denis Aljush

Extra Singers: Janice Mangion, La Barokka, Franklin Calleja, Pet ra, Anthea Bezzina, Sebastian Calleja and Daniel Muscat
Models: Daniela Bezzina, Samuela Bugeja, Naomi Hammet, Jess Gherxi, Elenia Cauchi, Neil Scerri, Marvin Scerri, Melvin Micallef, Justin Axiak, Clyde Caruana, Iven Mercica, Dylan Camilleri, Bernard Gellel and Rosario Pace

Make up for filming (Marlene Vassallo‘s team): Gordon Sultana, Kay Grech Coldman and Rodianne Caruana, Bernard Gellel
Make up for Claudia and Marilena: Justin Brincat
Makeup for Taryn: Karl Zammit Nash

Hair for filming: Marilyn Mizzi
Hair for Taryn: Dean Gera Salons
Hair for Marilena: Prive’
Hair for Claudia: Marilyn Mizzi

Photographer: Alana Bondin

Suits for male models: Reno’s Tailoring – Hamrun

Production: Blend by Marley Lagana

Assistant to filming: Sarah Gatt