< PreviousCREDIT HERE 80 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 2019 The STYLE SAEEDEH KESHVARI 33, Persian, modern calligraphy visual artist “Initially I wanted to be a lawyer, like my father, but he saw something else in me and, after just a year of studying law in France, he suggested I move onto a fi ne art and interior design course. Then, whilst I was living abroad, I received some beautiful Persian books from him and was mesmerised by the incredible words. My work grew organically from there to refl ect my passion for literature and poetry. As well as the inspiration I take from reading Persian poetry and Middle Eastern texts, I also fi nd that classical music, travelling and people I meet in my everyday life help to form my creative vision. The outfi ts I choose to wear change how I feel, and that in turn has a direct impact on what I produce on a particular day. I have often thought about turning my work, which is very romantic, into textile form, and that may well be next on my agenda – that, and I would love to see my art incorporated into interior design and architectural projects. One of my major goals would be to create a boutique hotel inspired by poetry, design and art – that is my big dream. Ultimately though, I feel that my main job as an artist is to change how people feel and for my creations to have a positive effect on their lives.” Saeedeh wears: Dress, Dhs2,350, Romance Was Born at Ounass. Shoes, Dgs3,900, Christian Louboutin81 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 2019 The STYLE MAITHA ABDALLA 29, Emirati, visual artist “When I was little, my mum would proudly show all my relatives my scribbles and paintings and tell them that I was destined to be an artist. That really motivated me, and I didn’t see myself doing anything else. I’m lucky, because my parents have always encouraged me to follow my passion. My style is all about vintage boutiques and bright colours – something that is emulated in my work, which is inspired by memories and by my childhood. When I’m at the studio and get paint on my clothes, which doesn’t wash out, I still wear them, the stains evoke vivid memories, which is the basis of the art I produce. Everyone with a talent has to have something that gives them the inspiration to do what they do, to be able to get across their personality in their work. One of my university teachers gave me a list of artists to study, one of which was Paula Rego, a Portuguese visual artist. She works from memories too, and to see someone who was doing something similar somewhere else pushed me to make my work even more personal, to not be afraid of showing my deepest emotions. My work is essentially a visual diary – it’s hard to open all that up and put it in front of people, there is nowhere to hide and it exposes you. My husband is a fi lmmaker and he introduced me to art house fi lms, which also inspire my work. So what’s next for me? I want to do my Master of Fine Arts next year – hopefully at Slade in London.” ■ Maitha wears: Top and trouser set, Dhs1,200, Rhode Resort at Ounass. Shoes, her own Prices approximate. Styling: Tabitha Glaysher. Hair: Leanne Matthews. Make-up: Katie Cousins at MMG Artists. Fashion assistant: Nazanin Jahani. Art director assistant: Idil Gurkan KoseogluPHOTOGRAPHY : AASIY A JAGADEESH. CARLA WEARS: TOP , NORA AL SHAIKH. TROUSERS, OFF-WHITE. SHOES, ALAIA. HAIR AND MAKE-UP: BLOWOUT&O 82 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 2019 The STYLE A VERY MODERN ROLE MODEL Entrepreneur and celebrity style insider CARLA DIBELLO on embracing our differences, celebrating our similarities and uniting as humanity he unknown is what we fear the most as humans, but the only way to overcome it is to learn about it, and lean into it. Whilst fear comes from a place of preservation, it can also be our greatest enemy. And fearing the unknown, can be one of the greatest enemies of all time, because it stops us, limits us, restricts us. Think about Christopher Columbus: imagine if the fear people had of him sailing off the edge of the world drew his explorations to a halt? History would have been written very differently. My point is, that the unknown, or simply the ‘other’, should be embraced not feared. The more you open yourself up to learning and embracing what you don’t know, the richer your life experience will be. Resist and regress. An analogy that comes to mind is about surviving a fall into a river with a strong current. One’s natural instinct is to fi ght the current, in an attempt to make it back to safe ground. But in actual fact, you’re supposed to do the opposite: face downstream, swim on a diagonal and work with the fl ow of the water. The more you struggle, the harder the struggle, if that makes sense. I love this as a metaphor for fi nding common ground. When we stop wasting time and energy pushing for our own agenda, and instead fi nd ways to use our different strengths to work together, so much more can be accomplished. In life, I fi nd that the root of so much confl ict can be attributed to two things: conquest for power and fear. Whilst the fear often stems from the unknown – of different people, places, cultures that we’re perhaps not familiar with yet – it tends to breed hatred or, at the very least, indifference. But if we could learn not to be afraid of the unknown, to work with it, to go with the fl ow, just think how powerful we would be. Powerful and enriched. Something that has brought me great success in my career is the ability to fi nd common ground with people from all different backgrounds and walks of life, working with people from myriad countries, ethnicities, political backgrounds and religions. This has allowed me to fi nd success, because when we are able to join forces with someone who is different from us, we open ourselves up to an entirely new world of resources and ways of thinking. When people bond together over an ocean of difference, there is a bridge that is built. And it’s from the bridging of these worlds, that a more powerful, and successful, environment can be cultivated. To look at it another way, whilst embracing our differences we should also celebrate our similarities. We all have hopes, dreams and fears, no matter where we’re from, and they will always bind us. We are all human, at the end of the day, and that should be the common thread. In the UAE, this is the Year of Tolerance, a continuation of values instilled from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in which we embrace our differences in order to coexist in a more accepting and inclusive, and therefore powerful, nation. With the UAE rising as a global capital for progressive change through acceptance and solidarity, understanding and celebrating our differences to focus on universal human values is, in my opinion, the ultimate power move. So how do you fi nd common ground with someone who seems different from you? First, embrace the unknown – let it challenge, inspire and drive you. Second, set aside all assumptions, because the things that make you different – be it religion, lifestyle, race, or gender – will unite you too, if you look for the commonalities between you as humans. And third, look at what you can bring to each other’s tables. Lean on each other, learn from each other, and fl ourish. “ L EAN O N EA C H O T H E R , L E A R N F R O M E A C H O T H E R A N D FL O U R I S H ” Car la Di Be llo T ■ The LOOK THE LOOK BR IG HT SI D E Beautifully bold fashion to make new season impact Photography by ANYA HOLDSTOCK Compiled by GEMMA DEEKS Jumper, Dhs1,620, Max Mara. Skirt, Dhs13,500; bag, Dhs82,100, both Bottega Veneta. Earrings, Dhs6,590; rings (from left), Dhs10,428; Dhs5,690, all Annoushka. Bracelet, Dhs1,330, Mulberry. Ring, Dhs24,600, Cassandra Goad 83 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 201984 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 2019 ST Y L E STE AL The LOOK ON TH E CAT W A L K T H E F L O R A L D R E S S A paisley tea dress is sum m er’s m os t co ve ted bu y 1. Top, Dhs450, Maje 2. Earrings, Dhs1,105, Alighieri at The Modist 3. Dress, Dhs1,700, Rixo at Bloomingdale’s - Dubai 4. Belt bag, Dhs4,015, Gucci at Matches Fashion 5. Dress, Dhs1,600, Rixo at Bloomingdale’s - Dubai 6. Bag, Dhs13,700, Prada 7. Shoes, Dhs3,050, Jimmy Choo Blouse, Dhs3,750; skirt, Dhs4,220, both Michael Kors Collection. Earrings, Dhs954, Roberto Cavalli. Cuff, Dhs2,540, Givenchy. Shoes, Dhs690, Russell & Bromley SELF-PORTRAIT S/ S19 V ALENTINO S/ S19 MSGM S/ S19 1 2 3 7 6 5 485 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 2019 ST YLE ST E A L ON TH E CAT W A L K 1. Bag, Dhs11,390, Fendi 2. Ring, Dhs900, Dior 3. Earrings, Dhs260, By Camila 4. Belt, Dhs1,715, Isabel Marant at Net-a-Porter 5. Dress, Dhs1,810, Solace London at The Modist 6. Trousers, Dhs7,063, Ralph & Russo 7. Shoes, Dhs2,495, Malone Souliers at Harvey Nichols - Dubai 8. Earrings, Dhs790, Mulberry 9. Bag, Dhs8,600, Louis Vuitton ST E A L The LOOK Top with belt, Dhs11,350; trousers, Dhs4,350; earrings, Dhs10,250; rings (from left) Dhs14,350; Dhs8,650; Dhs5,500, all Gucci. Shoes, Dhs3,200, Jimmy Choo T H E T W O -T O N E Pink and red are this seaso n’s hott est cla sh in g co lo ur co m bin ati on S A LV A T ORE FERRA GAMO S/ S19 BRANDON MA X WELL S/ S19 ESCAD A S/ S19 3 1 2 4 5 7 8 9 686 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 2019 ST Y L E STE AL The LOOK ON TH E CAT W A L K 1. Dress, Dh6,630, Mary Katranzou at Net-a-Porter 2. Cuff, Dhs2,250, AUrate 3. Earrings, Dhs79, Mango 4. Mules, Dhs10,470, Erdem 5. Skirt, Dhs4,865, Salvatore Ferragamo at My Theresa 6. Shoes, Dhs3,528, Chloé 7. Earrings, Dhs990, Marni at Bloomingdale’s - Kuwait 8. Belt bag, Dhs3,500, Jimmy Choo T H E P R I N T E N S E M B L E Eye-ca tchin g prin ts m ak e fo r an in sta nt m oo d en ha nc er Dress, Dhs10,480; tulle dress, Dhs6,075; ring, Dhs1,748, all Versace. Bangles, Dhs1,330 each, Giovanni Raspini. Bag, Dhs10,710, Chanel. Shoes, Dh3,450, Manolo Blahnik AL T H E P ST Y L CHL OÉ S/ S19 MARNI S/ S19 K OCHE S/ S19 1 2 3 4 8 7 5 687 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 2019 ON TH E CAT W A L K 1. Shoes, Dhs249, Topshop 2. Jumpsuit, Dhs6,985, Tibi at Farfetch 3. Watch, Dhs12,500, Dolce & Gabbana 4. Bag, Dhs1,470, Cult Gaia at The Modist 5. Dress, Dhs5,830, Balenciaga 6. Boots, Dhs7,650, Louis Vuitton 7. Earrings, Dhs1,145, Vanda Jacintho at Matches Fashion 8. Bag, Dhs7,700, Fendi The LOOK T H E B O L D H U E Pai r two super-saturated shad es to m ak e on e sh ar p lo ok Bag, Dhs9,165, Giorgio Armani. Jumpsuit, Dhs10,350; earrings, Dhs1,415; shoes, Dhs5,470, all Balenciaga Prices approximate. Styling: Charlie Harrington. Make-up: Polly Osmond at Premier Hair and Make- up using La Mer. Hair: Leigh Keates at Premier Hair and Make-up using OUAI and Babyliss Pro. Model: Olamide Ogundele. Stylist’s assistante: Rosie Arkell-Palmer Bag Gior Jum earr sho all B Pric Styl Har Poll Prem up u Leig Hair OUA Pro. Ogu assi Ark TIBI S/ S19 GIVENCHY S/ S19 BALENCIA GA S/ S19 6 7 8 4 3 1 2 5 ST YLE ST E A L88 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 2019 DR E A M I N G In Southern California, Bazaar discovers a community of Middle Eastern women working to create a better world alf an hour down the San Diego Freeway is Westwood Boulevard, which 45 years ago was a treeless stretch of road with an unremarkable assemblage of dry cleaners, hair salons and fast-food restaurants. By 1974, the fi rst Persian businesses began to emerge along its corridor, a few blocks south of the University of California’s campus. Today, the area in Westwood known as Persian Square, serves as the heart of Los Angeles’ Iranian community. It’s also home to the city’s Persian culinary scene, where restaurants and patisseries offer delicacies such as faludeh, frozen rosewater noodles, and bastani, a Persian ice cream that comes in fl avours such as saffron, pomegranate and cucumber served between slices of waffl e. Although LA and Tehran lie at opposite ends of the world, they’ve been linked together for over 50 years. The fi rst Persian immigrants arrived in LA as students in the 1960s and prospered in the early ’70s. As the 1979 revolution unfolded, a large number of educated Iranian professionals came to settle in the city and its surrounding area, attracted by its similarities to 1970s Tehran with its sunny weather, mountainous landscape and car culture. Many more followed to join families and in search of better opportunities. As a result, the LA area boasts the largest Persian community outside Iran, and is also home to diverse immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa. Estimated at close to 715,000, California has the greatest number of Arab Americans of any state, many of whom live in the LA area, in addition to San Diego and the San Francisco Bay. From the late 19th-20th century, they came from countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Morocco. It’s a community, which also counts a sizeable Armenian diaspora that traces its roots back to the Middle East and North Africa. Many settled in Glendale, north of downtown LA, where a mixture of Armenian, Persian and Arabic can be heard along its streets. As part of a year-long series exploring the Middle Eastern diaspora’s contributions to the American fabric, Bazaar meets a group of California women who are bridging cultures in their own unique way. Words by ALEX AUBRY Photography by SEBASTIAN BÖTTCHER H ➤CREDIT HERE 89 HarpersBazaarArabia.com March 2019 The TALKING POINT Behnaz Farahi begins her day surfi ng at Venice BeachNext >