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Hammam Chic

When Paul Smith sent his models out onto the runway with glowing dewy skin and wet locks of hair falling around shoulders, we knew something was up. Backstage at the designer’s spring 2009 show, both makeup artist Petros Petrohilos and hair stylist Peter Gray said that Smith’s directive was to create a “hammam chic-fresh out of the spa” look.

In the last few years Paris has witnessed a renaissance in small boutique-style hammam-spas that have sprung up in some of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. Influenced by the North African and Turkish tradition of public steam baths; this new generation of hammams is attracting a Parisian clientele with sumptuously tiled interiors and modern facilities. Here is our pick of Hammam-spas with a following amongst the city’s style conscious.

Les Bains du Marais

My Photo Album

You love your individuality and are the type of person who likes to personalize your belongings. Well now you can even individualize your special moments by having photo albums that are every bit like you.

Whether your style is boho-chic, delicate and feminine, modern or retro, Alya Khunji has the vision to create beautiful individualistic one-off pieces. Her trademark is a mix of modernity with a shabby chic touch and feel.
Albums which vary in size and design are made with various materials, ribbons and embedded Swarovski crystals. Bespoke for each client, none of Khunji’s albums looks like the other.
So next time you share your photos at a dinner party, they’ll be in a special album that screams me, me, me…

Winter Reads

If you’re curling up in a ski resort, off to the beach, or just ready to switch off the TV and open a book, here’s our selection of winter reads.

White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

SOS Christmas Tree

Cedar Park is an ex-quarry turned into one of the biggest compost station's in the counrty. Its founder, Ziad Abichaker talks about his re-planting efforts and how Cedar Environment can give a second life to your Christmas tree. So whatever you do, come January 1st, don't drop it off on the streets of Clemenceau or Ashrafieh...
What exactly is Cedar Park?
Cedar Park is an old quarry which stopped all quarrying activities in 1985 after the "developer" went bankrupt.  We rented the place from the Mar Elias convent and decided to turn the quarry into an ecological industrial park where industry exists in harmony with its surroundings. At the same time we decided to take 10% of our revenues as a company and spend that money into turning the quarry into an organic farm and to add greenery in the barren landscape due to previous quarrying activities.

Bella Casa

For many of us, ELLE Decor (UK edition) is one of our must have magazines. For those who want the Oriental feel, they can also get Byzance, which recently launched an Arabic edition. Now comes the third option.

Launched by Kuwaiti entrepreneur and editor Suhaila Al Salem, Casa packs architecture, lifestyle and home decor into one magazine.

Distributed in Kuwait and Bahrain, Casa is a monthly magazine published in two languages simultaneously - English and Arabic - a first time concept in Kuwait.

Topics revolve around the happy few and their opulent houses, luxurious cars, travel, fancy bathrooms, spas & resorts amongst many other things. An interesting highlight is a recent piece on Diaa Bahbahani, a Kuwaiti designer who just launched a home line.

Late Christmas Shopping

Tucked away on the first floor of an old downtown building in Cairo, the gift shop Oum El Donia is definitely one of the hidden gems of the city.

Taking its name from the infamous, if not slightly egocentric phrase Egyptians use as a description of their country, the store is a shopper’s smorgasbord.
Everything from books, in French and English, scarves, pottery, brass lanterns, leather wallets, gallabeyas, pillow cases, curtains, knick-knacks, textiles, candles, jewelry, and handbags can be found in this shop. Filled with endless ideas for his and hers Christmas gifts, Oum El Donia might just be your one-stop shop for all your holiday shopping.

Ready to Party?

Whether you’re looking to experience Paris’ Algerian raï scene, lounge to a soundtrack of Mid-East fusion in sultanate splendor, listen to an indy rock band straight out of Cairo or just spend the evening at a chic café watching the stylish crowds go by; The Polyglot gives you the scoop on the best clubs, innovative music venues and Arabian-modern café’s to wile your nights away in the French capital.
Andy Wahloo

The Munching Bakery

As the slogan to Jeddah's latest bakery announces, Munch is ‘a colourful delicious playground for the kid in all of us.’  So now, we can all admit we like pink and Nutella.

The bakery is a welcome treat, specializing in cupcakes, cheesecakes, and muffins.  Although eating on site is not encouraged, effort was put into the decoration, with cute cardboard cupcakes hanging from the ceiling and sweets in every color and shape decorating the shelves. There are also fun slogans written on the blackboard walls.

Hollywood Jewels

Karma el Khalil might possibly be the most low-key jewelry designer in Lebanon. Let us explain.  How many other designers from this part of the world, can boast having  Charlize Theron, Nikkie Hilton, Cameron Diaz and Jessica Simpson as clients?  Dia Diwan meets up with the passionate yet modest designer.
How did you start jewelry design?

Tavola Rasa

London-based, Egyptian furniture designer Sameh El Shahat, is a mission statement to the world. A former investment banker, El Shahat left everything to become one of London's most intriguing cabinet-makers and now jewellery designer too, amongst other activities...

How does one go from investment banker to cabinet maker? 

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