We caught up with one of our favorite Saudi designers Alaa Balkhy, the lovely face behind cult brand Fyunka to find out a little about the face behind those quirky illustrations.

• Whats your favorite chocolate bar?
  I live for Cadbury’s flake
  
• If you house was on fire, what would you grab before you ran out?

My plastic shoes ( i can’t live without them!) and  my external hard drives with all my photos and illustrations

• Chocolate or Cheese
  Chocolate all the way!
  
• Heels or Flats?
  Neither – wedges!
  
• Whats the one beauty product you can’t live without?
  My black eyeliner! I wear it everyday

• Holiday on the beach or mountains?
  Definitely the Beach and I take one of my Fyunka totes because you can fit so much in them!

Get one of her tongue in cheek bags here before they fly off the shelf again!

When in Paris and craving a riot of color amid so much black and white, make way for Liwan. The gem-like boutique in the heart of the city, founded by interior designer Lina Audi in 1992, stocks homewares and fashion items: cushions, blankets, caftans, hand-carved soaps, sandals – anything, as long as it’s delightful.

Audi designs most of the items in the store herself, producing pieces in small, hand-made lots with Lebanese craftsmen. It’s all so that, “people who appreciate and know how to use or adapt the object in their unique, singular personal way, whether with clothes or homewares,” can discover the goods and make them their own, she says.

Her design ethos has attracted admiration from lofty quarters – Oscar winner Tilda Swinton is a fan, wearing a tartan djellaba from Liwan to a recent Cannes film festival event.

But it’s the vibrant embroidered sandals that are the true stars of this store, no matter the season. “I wear theses sandals day or night, informally or formally,” she says. “Even in winter, I could wear this sandal with Japanese socks.”

So long, black and white. Hello, Liwan…

“The beauty of a perfect clutch is that it’s a statement piece in itself, adding impact without taking away from the rest of the outfit,” Hakim says.

The classic bag shapes feature calligraphic metal closures that elevate them into pieces of functional jewelry. That’s the point: “A clutch is an accessory to your outfit, much like jewelry,” Hakim says.

“While day bags have to be practical, the beauty of a perfect clutch is that it’s a statement piece in itself, adding impact without taking away from the rest of the outfit.”

“A woman can’t ever have enough!”

Perhaps it’s time to consider a bag closet…

“My mother never wears her wedding band, but always has a cocktail ring on her finger,” says Hassan Bounkit. His eponymous jewelry line, rich in candy-colored stones and bold, organic forms, gives his mother and women the world over ample choice of tantalizing jewels.

His sculptural necklaces and statement earrings, in hues like green onyx, aquamarine, tiger’s eye and smoky quartz, add interest to any outfit. Bounkit designs have attracted the notice of an impressive roster of major celebrities, including Liv Tyler, Salma Hayek, and Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively and Leighton Meester.

But the most satisfying celebrity fan so far has been none other than First Lady Michelle Obama: “I loved when Oprah chose to wear some of my designs, and Michelle Obama asked her whose jewelry she was wearing,” he says.

Another admirer? Perhaps unsurprisingly, his mother: “She likes statement rings so much that in the past, every time I traveled abroad I had to go to a local jewelry market to find a ring to bring back to her,” Hassan says. “That’s the main reason I started designing rings two years ago… Now I am relieved, I don’t have to look for a ring to give her each time I travel.”

Mothers and wives, take note: jewelry-making courses suddenly seem like an excellent holiday gift idea for sons and husbands… or you could just introduce them to Bounkit.

What sets Geneva apart from other European cities?
Although I’ve traveled all over the world, there is nothing quiet like Geneva’s quality of life. It’s a city known for its beauty and peacefulness. With four official languages and a reputation for neutrality, Switzerland has a thriving community of expatriate polyglots, many of whom work in Geneva for international agencies such as the Red Cross and WHO. It’s worth visiting the Palais des Nations, which is home to the second-largest United Nations office, after New York. The city’s cosmopolitan history also dates back to the Romans, whose influences can still be found in Geneva’s architecture.

Has Geneva’s retail and design scene evolved over the years?
It has definitely evolved in the last 5 years, with the emergence of a new breed of cutting edge boutiques and galleries. Septième étage on the Rue du Perron showcases coveted New York labels such as Alexander Wang (my personal favorite) as well as the work of avant-garde international designers. For affordable jewelry and unique handbags (including a selection from Beirut’s own Sarah’s Bag and C by Cynthia), head to Colie Boutique in Geneva’s Old Town.  To discover contemporary Swiss design, stop by Philippe Cramer’s atelier at 8 rue de la Muse. The New York-born Cramer, who is a Parsons School alum, designs everything from furniture, to lighting and glassware. Recently he launched a line of nature inspired jewelry that caught the attention of Vogue editors.

Where is the best place to experience the city’s culinary scene?
Thanks to its multi-cultural population, dining out in Geneva offers a huge range of culinary options. On a cloudy Sunday morning, my favorite place for brunch is Le Pain Quotidien in Champel. The country-chic boulangerie /café is known for its organic artisanal breads and delicious tartines. Traditional Japanese cuisine can be found at Kakinuma in Eaux-Vives. Its intimate dinning room is the perfect venue for a low key dinner with friends or a romantic date. To savor the best pizza in town, head to the recently opened Luigia on rue Adrien-Lachénal. Housed in an industrial loft-like space, this restaurant has become the preferred dining spot for the city’s chic young set. For pre-dinner cocktails, the Leopard Room at the Hotel d’Angleterre offers a cozy piano bar and intimate lounge area.

What is your favorite area of the city?
Geneva’s Old Town is probably the most atmospheric and liveliest quarter in the city. Its cobble-stone streets, medieval buildings, antique shops and art galleries capture the city’s 2,000 year history. My one-bedroom apartment in the heart of Old Town is a block away from the charming Place du Bourg-de-Four. Looking out on the square is La Clémence, a café whose terrace is a popular meeting place during the summer. I also recommend visiting the Saint Pierre Cathedral. After a lengthy climb up its north tower, you will be rewarded with breathtaking wraparound views of the city.

What are the buzzy cultural areas?
The area around the artsy-boho district of Plainpalais is home to a vibrant art scene and a buzzing cultural community. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, is housed in a former 1950s factory, while neighboring streets are home to innovative art galleries such as the cutting edge Analix Forever, which showcases new media and virtual art. The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in Old Town, houses an impressive cross-section of art history. This includes a collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, as well as works by 20th century masters such as Pradier, Rosin and Giacometti. For a real treat head to the museum’s hip café/restaurant, Le Barroco.

How did the idea behind the XXeme Siecle gallery come about?

Ever since I was 14, I’ve had a passion for mid-20th century furniture and art. The first piece I acquired was a console by Jean Royere that belonged to my grandmother. Around the mid-90’s both Hala and I were living in Paris. It was a period when mid-century design was enjoying a revival, particularly in trendsetting cities such as Paris and New York. But the craze hadn’t reached Beirut yet, so we decided to return to Lebanon and open a gallery. We wanted to offer both Lebanese and Arab collectors authentic 20th century furniture and objets d’art, particularly from Lebanon’s golden age from the 1950’s-70’s.

Why is that period considered Lebanon’s golden age?

Beirut is a great place to collect the works of some of the most celebrated designers of the 50s and 60s. During that time, beautiful furniture was not only being imported from Italy and France, but also made here. In the 1950’s, the iconic French designer Jean Royere ran a thriving studio in Beirut with Lebanese architect Nadim Majdalani. Amongst their projects were designing interiors for the St. George Hotel, the Shah of Iran and King Farouk of Egypt. Pre-war Beirut was a Modernist paradise and west Beirut was the most fashionable neighborhood in the Middle East.

What do you enjoy the most about collecting mid-20th century design?

There is a lot of research and detective work that goes into finding new pieces for the gallery. Amongst our rarest finds was a low curvy wooden table and stools designed by Charlotte Perriand in the 60’s for a French ski resort. Perriand, who collaborated with Le Corbusier, is probably one of the most sought after designers today. Another memorable item was a limited-edition rotating chair designed in 1965 by Joe Columbo. It was not only featured in a James Bond movie, but was rare because its original leather was in such good condition. At the same time, we also carry interesting high-quality pieces produced by unidentified craftsmen in Beirut from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

Was it difficult to source pieces for your gallery when you first opened?

Surprisingly it wasn’t difficult early on. Beirut in the mid-90’s was busy rebuilding itself after years of civil war. Interiors untouched since 1975 were stripped without a thought and furniture discarded onto dumpsters. People also began coming to us with things to sell once we opened the gallery. We once received a call from a dealer who had originally imported a number of carpets to Beirut in 1968, but never sold them. The carpets, some designed by Victor Vasarely, had been kept in storage for over 30 years, all in pristine condition and still wrapped in plastic. Today, it’s getting harder to find vintage pieces in Beirut because of heightened interest. So for the last seven years we’ve been looking in Europe for specific pieces that we can’t find in Lebanon, such as works representing Scandinavian, French, Italian and Brazilian design.

Who are your clients?

We tend to attract a younger clientele, who want to discover the furniture and memorabilia of their parents’ generation. To individuals in their 50’s and 60’s, this kind of furniture may appear démodé, because they lived with it the first time around. My greatest satisfaction is sharing my knowledge of mid-20th century design with my younger clients. The gallery also has a well-stocked bookshelf to encourage visitors to linger, and even if people don’t buy right away, I want them to leave feeling they have learnt something new.

All images courtesy of XXeme Siecle Gallery and Joe Kesrouani

Nada Debs
“Inspiring home furniture—this store made mother of pearl trendy and creatively modern. A must in every house.”
Tel: 01999002

Papercup
“Nested in Mar Mkhayel between Mecanics and a Man’ousheh shop, Papercup is a haven of handpicked design and architecture books as well as inspiring art references, and a great selection of kids books. Why not indulge in yummy homemade cookies and brownies?”

Lahem b3ajine Armane
“The yummiest lahem b3ajine and mante (Armenian shish barak) in town.
Go for the “lahem b3ajine Armane””
Tel: 01375178

Ashghalouna
“Every Friday, friends of the social welfare Association organizes a lunch gathering, serving the best home-cooked food, the kind your grandma used to cook for you.”
Tel: 01366758

Casablanca
“The organic green salad and the salt and pepper calamari are to die for!”

Rosa Maria
“I never leave home without a piece from Rosie on me.”
Tel: 03652236

The Corniche
“Taking a stroll, whether in the morning, at sunset or at night makes me love Beirut over and over again.”

Rabih Keyrouz
“I love his designs and always look forward to his welcoming attitude.”
Tel: 01 566079

Osteria
“The first café-pub to open in Mar Mkhayel. I love their cocktails and their occasional band.”

It’s a sentiment that crosses our minds at some of the more directional fashion shows, but, this being a fashion-oriented office, we absolutely love trying out new styles, no matter how daring!

Thankfully, celebrities can be a huge help when it comes to road-testing trends.

Take this draped tan jumpsuit with shoulder cut-outs worn by Katy Perry on a recent trip to London. On the model, it’s almost intimidatingly cool, but Perry shows us that it’s an effortlessly fluid and unique piece for daytime.

Perry’s jumpsuit is by none other than Dia favorite BodyAmr. Named “one of the best kept secrets of fashion insiders” by Vogue.com, BodyAmr is all about modern glamor and bold designs, from body-conscious mini-dresses to fluid goddess gowns.

Besides Perry, other celebrities to discover BodyAmr over recent months include Kylie Minogue, Amanda Seyfried and Taraji P. Henson. They’re all women with different styles and body shapes, but one thing is for sure—in BodyAmr, they’re the coolest girls in the room.

Part style diary, part virtual inspiration board, the fairly new and fun blog beICONq8 was created by a group of two guys and a girl, MAHA AL WANYAN the photographer and editor, NAIF AL THUWAINI the graphic designer and YOUSEF AL TAHER the model.

“It’s about mixing all kinds of disciplines from fashion, to music, fine art and even acting. We want to show Kuwait and the world that fashion and art aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s about mixing both together to come up with iconic looks that are stylish and fashionable,” expressed Maha.

The group’s aim is to eventually get into setting up and styling fashion shoots in the future. “We don’t want to simply focus on big name designers. We want to explore various fashion looks, from boho to indie. It’s a reflection of what’s going on around us today. So many designers are inspired by what rock bands are wearing,” said Taher.

My favorite part of their blog is the photo shoots they created, that remind me of a group Gulf hipsters in New York’s East Village. More than ever we need alternative views on fashion from the region, and their take on style is a welcome breath of fresh air.

Written by Confashion from Kuwait

Images Courtesy of www.beiconq8.blogspot.com

Globally anticipated has been the opening of the Burj Dubai, in its 828 meters of glory, lays monumentally haute of art. Taking the time out of the speedy upcoming Art Dubai Fair in March, Ms Fekri, talks Middle East, politics, fashion and fascination.

What first attracted you to the integral world of art?

I studied fine art at Central Saint Martins and realised that I didn’t enjoy making art as much as I liked writing about it. I did a couple of internships in galleries in London, before doing my MA in the management of the arts. It just continued from there on. I’m one of those people that love the field I work in, and wouldn’t want to do anything else!

Why Art Dubai? Why not the Met in New York or Tate London?

They are both very different and operate on very different structures. The Met and Tate are national galleries that operate all year round, and have a constant rotation of exhibitions, whereas Art Dubai is a contemporary art fair, that occurs once a year, through a plethora of events that materialize for one week. The main focus being contemporary commercial galleries that exhibit their represented artists. I find the whole idea of building up to the event interesting as one is constantly faced with challenges.

Is there an obvious synergy between the world of art and Middle Eastern culture that cultivated you to work in such an area?

I’m from the UAE, and have studied the arts – so it is a simple combination of my heritage and my passion. As a child growing up, the arts were virtually non-existent. I now have first hand experience of watching it grow and diversify. I think my colleagues and I are very lucky to be part of this development and growth of cultural infrastructures in the region.

What response do you hope to achieve being involved in Art Dubai?

To provide this region with a good source of contemporary arts education, and to continue with making the fair bigger, better and more diverse through curating projects, and artistic discourse.

An archived interview with ZOULIKHA BOUABDELLAH saw you propose the question, ‘who are your largest influences’, is this variable taken into account when sourcing artists for the fair?

Zoulikha was one of the recipients for the Abraaj Capital Art Prize last year. When going through the selection process for the prize, it isn’t a major factor that is taken into account with the selection committee – but it is always interesting to see whom or what influences artists– and it often ranges from philosophers, contemporaries, through to musicians and politicians.

Do you consider yourself an objective critic when writing for the Art Dubai journal or do you draw on personal preference and experience?

It depends entirely on who or what I am writing on, particularly in a region that is sensitive such as this one. Sometimes, I need to be careful with what I say in review, as it might be offensive to someone else, but a lot of the time when I am doing interviews I often try to draw questions from personal experiences.

Do you have any parallel projects running along side your work at Art Dubai?

I do some freelance writing for various publications that are Menasa based, and this summer I will be curating a programme for an art collective that are based in ‘neutral’ waters between Israel and Palestine.

Studying the world of art is a new trade to me, what artists would you recommend I look up?

I have lots of respect and admiration from artists from the Menasa such as SAMA ALSHAIBI, NAIZA KHAN, GONKAR GYATSO, RAMESHWAR BROOTA, ALI REZA, and HASSAN HAJIAJ.

As this is a fashion website musing question to finalise, what’s in your handbag?

Sadly not much; A fountain pen, a couple of dollars, a cosmetic essential; cocoa butter lip balm, travel memorabilia; an old airplane ticket stub, sunglasses, my purse, and my notebook, (always have that to jot down inspirations, new artists, concepts and designs that can be utilised- you often discover magnificent art in the most unsuspecting of places).

Written by Claire Levick

Images courtesy of  Reem Fekri