H&M'S STAR-STUDDED FASHION AGAINST AIDS COLLECTION

Artists from the worlds of film and music are supporting Fashion Against AIDS (FAA) this Spring, H&M’s and Designers Against AIDS’s (DAA) mutual initiative to help spread the message of safe sex and HIV/AIDS prevention to young people around the globe.

Penn Badgley

Keri Hilson

Selma Blair, Penn Badgley, Keri Hilson, Sky Ferreira, Akon, Nikki Reed, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scissor Sisters, Shiloh Fernandez and The Misshapes are among the celebrities involved in this year’s FAA collection, which for 2011 is a unisex range. The collection is available online and in H&M’s Divided department from April 26th, with 25% of sales donated to the charity Designers Against AIDS (DAA) and various other international HIV/AIDS prevention projects. The FAA campaigns have so far raised more than 41 million Swedish krona.


“I think it’s really fitting that this collection is androgynous in style since the disease affects both men and women. It’s a universal thing and we are all in this together. It’s a disease that can be avoided and it’s especially tragic when our ignorance keeps us from safety.” Selma Blair.


“I’ve had a lot of friends who’ve been in the situation where their friends and family have been affected by HIV. As I travel the world, I see how much HIV affects people. It’s not like we have a cure for HIV, we only have prevention. Make sure you are protected so that you don’t ever have to worry about it. Ever.” Akon.


“Artists are an essential part of our campaigns, as they are role models for so many young people. Celebrities help to spread the message by speaking out about HIV/AIDS prevention. We’re asking them to help spread the safe sex message on social media: Twitter, Facebook, their own websites and at their concerts too.” Ninette Murk, founder and creative director, DAA.


When the stars come together for H&M’s Fashion Against AIDS campaign, it really shows this year’s unisex collection at its best. Selma Blair wears a stylish Spring coat over a slogan T-shirt, while Penn Badgley wears an essential hoodie over his T-shirt. Shiloh Fernandez sports a khaki nylon parka, T-shirt and jeans; Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters wears her peach version of the trench as a dress. Singer Keri Hilson has a cool slogan jumpsuit. It’s all so versatile, and all helps spreading the message about HIV/AIDS prevention.

[Press Release]CHOOSING MR RIGHT CAN OFTEN BE WRONG

Marriage guidance expert at The Bride Show Dubai to offer advice to brides-to-be

The Islamic Affairs Department is taking part in The Bride Show Dubai
 to offer brides-to-be advice building a successful marriage.

Dubai, UAE, 31 March 2011:  The most important decision for any potential bride to be is to choose the right husband to be, according to a leading marriage expert.

Iman Ismail Abdullah Al Hashimi, Manager of Social Projects at the Islamic Affairs Department, believes that too many young women are choosing the wrong husbands and do not think about the qualities of the man and their potential compatibility before they say “I Do”.

Al Hashimi and a team of marriage guidance experts, both male and female, are taking an important role at The Bride Show Dubai this week to reach out to young Arabs and expatriates and talk to them about the implications of marriage both in Islam and other religions.

“While the divorce rate in the Middle East has dropped from 35 per cent to 20 per cent since 2008, there are still far too many marriages which end in the divorce courts and we believe this rate will come down further if young people think carefully about embarking upon any potential union,” said Al Hashimi.

“It’s easy to get caught up in the glamour and sparkle of a wedding – choosing a beautiful dress, table decorations, diamonds and honeymoon destinations – but the most important decision is choosing the right man to build a life with.”

The Islamic Affairs Department’s participation at The Bride Show Dubai is part of a newly launched campaign ‘My Islam, My Identity’ which tackles every element of life for Muslims – from education, to employment, cultural sensitivities to budgeting and housekeeping. 

Getting married, Al Hashimi states, is a pivotal moment every person’s life but the role of the advice clinic is to ask the questions that young people may not ask themselves.

“A beautiful, perfect wedding day is what every girl dreams of and The Bride Show Dubai helps to make those dreams a reality providing all the products and services you could need under one roof,” said Daphne Cota, Exhibition Manager for The Bride Show. 

“We are responding to calls from social commentators in the region to do something to help combat the rate of divorce, which typically occurs among newlywed, young couples.  Family values and the growth of families are especially important to UAE nationals; in order to maintain the stability of the family as the core of a community, the institution of marriage must be addressed. 

“We believe the advice offered by the Islamic Affairs Department will help visitors to The Bride Show Dubai understand the complexities of marriage and the importance of working hard to make a union last.”

The Bride Show Dubai, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif, Chairwoman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE and wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor to the President of the UAE, is open from 2:30pm to 10:30pm, Wednesday 30 March to Saturday 2^nd April 2011 in Sheikh Saeed Halls 1, 2 and 3, Dubai International Exhibition Centre.  

Standard entry is AED10 and VIP tickets cost AED50.  The show is supported by gold sponsor Mohammed Hilal Group and silver sponsors After You Say Yes – SIMA, Khamsa Couture and Zadina.

For all the latest updates on The Bride Show, become a fan on Facebook, www.facebook.com/TheBrideShow or Twitter,www.twitter.com/TheBrideShow.

Fashion Show Schedule

Friday 1 April 5:00pm      Zahia 6:00pm      Louzan 7:00pm      Tijan Trading 8:00pm      Mauzan 9:00pm      M&A Abaya Art

Saturday 2 April

6:00pm   Oriental Red Carpet Competition by Dubai Ladies Club

7:00pm   La Maison Saouli

8:00pm   Dantella Designs

9:00pm   Satya Paul

[Press Release] NEW VIP LOUNGE AT THE BRIDE SHOW DUBAI

Tips and Toes offers brides-to-be beauty treatments ahead of their big day

The new VIP lounge at The Bride Show Dubai will offer brides-to-be rejuvenating treatments from Tips and Toes.

Dubai, UAE, 6 March 2011: Every bride should be treated like a princess on their big day, and of course it’s vital to get some practice in beforehand too.  That’s the idea behind the new VIP Lounge at The Bride Show Dubai, which will offer brides-to-be and their entourages pampering treats and goodies.

For AED50, shoppers can access the VIP Lounge to take advantage of top treatments from Tips and Toes, the largest chain of nail salons in the Middle East.  Trained beauty technicians will offer rejuvenation in the form of head, neck and shoulder massages, nail colour changes, nail art and mini facials.

After hours of browsing the aisles at The Bride Show Dubai, in Sheikh Saeed Halls within the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, even the most enthusiastic fiancée will welcome a well-earned break before continuing in her quest for all things bridal.

The VIP pass includes reserved fashion show seating, refreshments and a goody bag.

The Bride Show Dubai, the region’s most prestigious bridal and fashion event, takes place from 30 March to 2 April 2011 and will be officially inaugurated by Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif, wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

For all the latest updates on The Bride Show, become a fan on Facebook, www.facebook.com/TheBrideShow or Twitter, www.twitter.com/TheBrideShow.

Fashion Show Schedule

Wednesday 30 March 5:00pm   After You Say Yes – Sima 6:00pm   Queen of Pearls 7:00pm   Beautiful People 9:00pm   Demetrios Thursday 31 March 6:00pm   Dan Trading 7:00pm   Liberty of London for Lace Art 9:00pm   Farage (France)

Friday 1 April 6:00pm   Louzan 7:00pm   Tijan Trading 8:00pm   Mauzan 9:00pm   M&A Abayas Saturday 2 April 5:00pm   Dubai Ladies Club: Oriental Red Carpet 8:00pm   Dantella Designs 9:00pm   Satya Paul

[Press Release]HER HIGHNESS SHEIKHA SHEIKHA BINT SAIF NAMED AS PATRON OF THE BRIDE SHOW DUBAI

Event’s 14^th year promises to thrill brides-to-be and the fashion forward

                                            

Dubai, UAE, 1 March 2011:  Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif, Chairwoman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE and wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor to the President of the UAE, has been named as the official patron of The Bride Show Dubai, the Middle East’s most prestigious bridal and fashion event.

For the first time, Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif will cut the ribbon to open the four-day long fashion, beauty and shopping extravaganza which brings together wedding industry professionals, brides-to-be and fashionistas under one roof.

Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif has been a long time supporter of sister event, The Bride Show Abu Dhabi and her patronage of the more established and larger Dubai exhibition further strengthens her relationship with organiser IIR Middle East. 

Additionally, The Bride Show Dubai has announced its official support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE which is run by Her Higness Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif’s office and will donate a proportion of the entry fees to the charity.

Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE grants wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions; there are currently an estimated 1,800 children (aged three to 18) living with such a condition in the UAE.  All wishes granted by Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE are for the children of the UAE – national and expatriate alike.  To date, the Foundation has granted more than 250 wishes to children in the emirates, giving them an avenue of hope, strength and joy.

Now in its 14^th year, The Bride Show Dubai attracts approximately 300 exhibitors from around the world which showcase traditional and contemporary wedding wear, beauty products, jewellery, wedding venues options and honeymoon destinations.  Vendors range from international brands such as Estee Lauder, Max Factor and L’Oreal to regionally-based businesses such as UAE Abaya designers DAS Collection.

In another first, India’s premier designer label, Satya Paul, which has recently celebrated 25 years in fashion, has been confirmed to close the four days of fashion on the catwalk.  The label is synonymous with signature prints and exclusive bridal wear with designs in playful colours and innovative fabrics which enhance the beauty and elegance of the enterprising, sensitive and desiring woman of today.  The fashion show takes place on Saturday 2 April at 9pm.

The Bride Show Dubai opens on Wednesday 30^th March, 2:30pm to 10:30pm and runs until Saturday 2^nd April 2011 in Sheikh Saeed Halls 1, 2 and 3, Dubai International Exhibition Centre.   Entry is AED10 for general admission and AED50 for a VIP pass which includes VIP reserved fashion show seating, refreshments and a goody bag.  The show is sponsored by Khamsa Couture, Zadina and After You Say Yes – Sima.

Fashion Show Schedule

Wednesday 30 March 5:00pm   After You Say Yes – Sima 6:00pm   Queen of Pearls 7:00pm   Beautiful People 9:00pm   Demetrios Thursday 31 March 6:00pm   Dan Trading 7:00pm   Liberty of London for Lace Art 9:00pm   Farage (France)

Friday 1 April 6:00pm   Louzan 7:00pm   Tijan Trading 8:00pm   Mauzan 9:00pm   M&A Abayas Saturday 2 April 5:00pm   Oriental Red Carpet, Dubai Ladies Club 8:00pm   Dantella Designs 9:00pm   Satya Paul

For more information, visit www.thebrideshow.com/Dubai, or get the latest updates from www.facebook.com/TheBrideShow or www.twitter.com/TheBrideShow.  

[Press Release] Polka Dot Cat launched 2011 at the London Fashion Week

Polka Dot Cat 2011 Collection

The Polka Dot Cat Collection is a manifestation of the diverse background of its designer Rana Jamshed.  The designs are Haute couture created within a boutique environment that is made accessible to women around the world from the Middle East, Dubai.

Rana believes in the philosophy of femininity and romance; she adds new pieces to the Polka Dot Cat Collection under different inspirational lines and Single Cat is a bespoke service the designer provides herself. In 2010 she dressed top Interior designer Jules at the Sex in the City Premier in London and the Collection has appeared in many magazines and recently in Elle.

Dubai, rated as one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world has given Rana Jamshed of Polka Dot Cat, the opportunity to design for some of the worlds diverse and most fashion conscious women. With the scorching desert heat as a backdrop Rana has managed to create very unique wearable designs which allow the wearer to keep cool during the Summer months & lend themselves to accessorizing for cooler climates. 

Although only 2, Polka Dot Cat reached woman globally and is delivered today to UAE, UK, USA, and Asia.  Today, the 2011 Collection is launched at Pure London to include 12 key designs.  London Fashion week remains the favorite week for the designer so you will always see her around the streets of London admiring creativity and entrepreneurship that the city brings.  Noting Hill, Kings road and Covent Garden are her favorite spots.  NY and Montreal are also cities she is in love with so Polka Dot Cat will be accessible to woman through the new Wondermode.com; the luxury Fashion Incubator.  

Designer of the year 2010 award; was given to Polka Dot Cat by Hellwafashion.com Though the Middle East region has an emerging fashion blogosphere, Polka Dot Cat has fast established itself as a blogger favorite. The designs are much sought after and worn by the worlds favorite type of “IT girl” the fashion blogger. Thanks to blogger interest from the regions top bloggers Polka Dot Cat designs regularly feature in the social pages of the regions glossy fashion magazines. 

Wellbeing goes hand in hand with Aura-B

With new designers on board, well-being and shopping with Aura-b.com

It’s the time of the month when everyone relaxes, looks back how beautifully the year has begun.
The wellbeing syndrome creeps in and why not indulge?

Let’s indulge in some online fashion therapy for the month of March at Aura-b.com. Happiness and
prosperity surround the wellbeing element and this is what we are celebrating at Aura-b, we want
you to feel the sense of joy, happiness, relaxation and the comfort of shopping from a click away.

Dive into Aura-b.com’s online fashion world and spoil yourself surfing across more than 95
worldwide who will offer you their unique collection.

New creations to purchase from Aura-B

Dig into Drama queen for your sultry evenings out, as the brand name suggests, there’s some
immense drama playing around with clothes and different looks from this brand. Try Marshmallow
for beautiful march afternoon’s very subtle, flirty, pure indulgence is what this brand in our new
arrivals screaming out to us. Discover Catertainment chairs for adding some oomph to your living
room with these funky arm and bar chairs. Who said chilling at home is for the old heart?

Time to relax and enjoy... Play that Buddha bar lounge music, browse through Aura-b.com and
savour your online shopping.

Check out their site and indulge! http://www.aura-b.com

[Press Release] Amore, amore! Fall in love at Galeries Lafayette

Hi everyone!

I received this in the mail today. It's a press release from Galeries Lafayette about their Valentine's promo entitled, "So...In Love." from February 7-14, 2011. They will be having a lot of activities that not only couples but single ladies and men will also enjoy. So, if you're looking for something to do for this year's Heart's day, head over to Galeries Lafayette this week to participate in their event! :)

-          Love is in the air at Galeries Lafayette, with upcoming “So… in Love” week.

-         Fall in love with the latest collections, a romantic gift zone, an adorable heart-matching game and the wall of love.   

Love is in the air at Galeries Lafayette, which will be launching its “So… in Love” week from February 7 until February 14, showcasing the best of its latest divine collections, a romantic gift idea zone, and an in-store game of the perfect match; additional to amazing Valentine Gourmet offers at Lafayette Gourmet. Within the Galeries, there will also be a wall devoted to love with a wall of adorable messages between lovers, and a photographer to capture the perfect couples’ smiles. 

“For this is Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.”

Valentine’s Day; the perfect celebration of affection for the happiest of couples. The roses, the gifts and the love are enjoyed by couples everywhere. And nowhere will the magic of Valentine’s Day be more prevalent than at Galeries Lafayette’s “So… in Love” week.

For Her

For Him

Of course, the gifts make for one of best parts of Valentine’s Day. What better way is there to show your affection than by buying your lover the perfect gift? The most wonderful gifts speak of the heart, and of the person receiving them. And for this, Galerie Lafayette will dedicate a zone to the best gift ideas, featuring items from Lafayette Gourmet, the home section, and the perfumes and accessories sections.

Dressing fabulously is also a key to the perfect Valentine’s Day. It is the day when lovers look their best for each other, radiating their affection for one another. And Galerie Lafayette is here to help, with displays showcasing the latest in this year’s fashion trends from its most sumptuous collections.

Lovers can also display their affections by visiting Galerie Lafayette’s wall of love, a wall displaying heartfelt messages from one to another, along with beautiful photos of happy couples across a romantic landscape. Lovers visiting the store will be able to have their photos taken, capturing a moment of pure romance. They’ll be able to keep the photos for their own collections, or else put them on the wall, declaring their affection to the rest of the world.

And where would Valentine’s Day be without the prospect of being able to find the perfect match? “So… in Love” week’s heart-matching game will certainly have customers searching far and wide. Upon entrance, every customer will be given one half of a broken heart, with the other half residing somewhere among the various adorable brands. Find the other half, and you’ll be given a 10 per cent discount to go on top of the already fabulous discounts of the Dubai Shopping Festival.

So, for the perfect Valentine’s experience, visit Galerie Lafayette from 7 February to 14 February, where even the coldest of hearts will be melted by the romance in the air. Also don’t forget to book your food orders or dinners at Lafayette Gourmet on 04-3827335.

Here is their menu:

Gourmet Valentine Menu 2011

Set Menu 199 AED or a la carte

Starter

Foie gras terrine, date chutney and lavosh crisp

65 AED

Or

Crabmeat salad with caviar crème fraiche and confit tomato

49 AED

Intermediate

Japanese scallop, wagyu beef cheek ravioli, bourguignon sauce

42 AED

Or

Lobster bisque with shellfish cigar, truffle chantilly cream

39 AED

Main course

Butter poached halibut, tarragon gnocchi, creamed leeks and warm tomato dressing

99 AED

Or

Confit of wagyu striploin with artichoke, scallion mashed potatoes and truffle jus

125 AED

Dessert

Trio of ice cream hearts with snap crackers and raspberries

29 AED

Or

Chocolate fondant with chocolate mousse and cream anglaise

29 AED

Coffee Tea and Chocolates