< Previous. Remember, fashion is an art form, but wearing a statement piece shouldn’t make you the statement of the evening. Keep it elegant and avoid outfi ts that could double as a conversation starter. In Dubai’s vibrant social scene, it’s about making a statement with grace, not volume. . Th e only acceptable time to have your phone at the table is if it’s ringing with a call from the chef to ask if you’re enjoying the meal. Otherwise, let’s keep our attention where it belongs – on the conversation and the exquisite food in front of you. If you’re bringing a gift, make sure it’s not something that might be re-gifted. Choose something thoughtful and personal that refl ects your appreciation. And remember, always compliment the host on their home – sincerely, not just to be polite. A little genuine fl attery goes a long way. JOEY GHAZAL Entrepreneur . Everyone always ends up in the kitchen at a party. Make it the focal point with drinks and food. And get someone to help you clear up and keep the space orderly. Do not get experimental with dishes. This is not the time to get creative. Keep it simple . Make something that is tried, tested and true. SNOW FEINAN LI Entrepreneur . As a host, every detail should show that you have thoughtfully prepared for your guests. Whether you hire a chef or cook the meal yourself, it is crucial to ensure that the food is delicious and prepared with care and love. The eff ort you put into the food and the overall arrangement of your home should refl ect your genuine hospitality. . As a guest, showing respect for your host’s schedule and preparations is of top priority. Punctuality is a must. Additionally, if you know your host’s home has wooden fl oors, avoid wearing high heels to prevent any damage. . When hosting guests at home, the music playlist should be carefully selected to match the atmosphere of the gathering. Th e right music can enhance the ambiance and make your guests feel more comfortable and welcomed. CEEBO SHAH Founder, Creative Clinic . Th ere is a French exit, Irish exit, and now a Dubai exit. Instead of sneaking out of the back door, let the host know you have two other events to attend, but you made theirs a priority. Th en enjoy the rest of your night with your cats in bed. . You have until 1pm to cancel plans, after that you’re stuck with them. Th is gives ample time for them to rearrange or invite another friend. . When complimenting something in a home, don’t mention you’ve seen it somewhere before. Just appreciate it for what it is. . When out for dinner, all individuals should graciously compete to pay for the entire bill. Of course, this doesn’t apply if there are 20 of you. . Don’t wait for a special occasion to gift someone – gift randomly. It’s always more memorable. . When borrowing a piece of clothing, make sure it’s dry cleaned before it’s sent back, even it its just a T-shirt! BENN DAVEY Entrepreneur, CEO & Founder of Go fl ower Middle East and Go Flower LA . Elevate your gratitude with style. Instead of taking fl owers to a dinner party or event, send a chic bouquet the next day. Th is way the host gets to appreciate the gesture post-dinner party frenzy. . Th e art of being fashionably late (but not too late): show up just late enough to seem busy, but not so late that people think you don’t own a watch. Th ink ‘gracefully tardy’ not ‘oh no, they’re here already?’ . Always RSVP, even if it’s not your thing. Remember, RSVPing is like sending a message with your outfi t: clear and confi dent. Ghosting an invite can leave the wrong impression. . Selfi es are fun, but life is happening in real time. Th ere’s nothing chic about being glued to your screen when you’re part of the action live. . Sending a thank you text is nice, but a handwritten note on luxurious stationery? Th at’s unforgettable and oh-so-chic. You’ll have more time to spend with your guests. When attending a dinner party, don’t overstay your welcome. Two hours after dessert is served is the polite exit time. RAMI AL ALI Fashion Designer 78 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 HBA-194_OCT-24_074-079_Etiquette_13403770.indd 7801/10/2024 09:51PHOTOGRAPHY BY : MA TTIA HOLM. STYLING BY : LAURA JANE BROWN The TALKING POINT HBA-194_OCT-24_074-079_Etiquette_13403770.indd 7901/10/2024 09:51Fatima ‘Tima’ Abid Althaqafi weaves an ode to her Saudi roots through her eponymous haute couture line – and it’s a lyrical homage that’s thrust her into the international spotlight Photography by MAZEN ABUSROUR _ Styling by NOUR BOU EZZ _ Words by MARRIAM MOSSALLI HBA-194_OCT-24_080-089_Tima Abid_13391842.indd 8029/09/2024 17:28 The INTERVIEW Snowfl ake Necklace in Yellow Gold with Diamonds; Snowfl ake Ring in Yellow Gold with Diamonds, POA, Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewellery Dress, POA, Tima Abid Couture HBA-194_OCT-24_080-089_Tima Abid_13391842.indd 8129/09/2024 17:2882 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 “It was, in the beginning, like walking on a path without a map; an unknown road,” Fatima Abid Althaqafi explains about her journey to becoming a household name in the Kingdom. “Th e truth is, I never had the vision to become a brand.” A decade worth of accolades and industry awards would suggest otherwise. Fatima’s eponymous Saudi Haute Couture brand Tima Abid, is a manifestation of two worlds. Unlike most countries where fashion and retail fall under their respective chambers of commerce, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia intentionally has its local fashion industry under the guardianship of its Ministry of Culture – a testament to how it sees fashion and culture deeply intertwined. And that is also the hallmark of this high-profi le label. Each design is a decadent dance of drapery and unfettered embellishments inspired by the diverse beauty of the Kingdom and sewn together with the same attention-to- detail that we’ve witnessed with the country’s transformation over the years. Established over 20 years ago by the Jeddah native, this brand can now be seen sported by regional celebrities, dignitaries and socialites like Assala Nasri and Mila Al-Zahrani who are proud to wear her pieces whenever they want to steal the limelight. But like most Saudi designers at the time, Fatima started small – tailoring bespoke, made-to-measure looks for her personal clientele. “I don’t like to call them clients,” she interjects. “Th ey are my guests and visitors. And every garment is a fl uid art piece; my collections all part of an art museum.” Two decades later, Fatima is at the forefront of the regional fashion scene, representing her country under the 100 Saudi Brands initiative, having her pieces on display with museum lighting and gallery-like placards. “Th e relationship between time and fashion has changed dramatically, but I do not get carried away by trends,” she confesses. “Haute couture remains the pinnacle of fashion, simply because it is an eternal art form in itself.” But no relationship is more important to Fatima than the one she has with her Saudi identity. “Th e moment kept building within me, a pressing desire for the world to know who we are and for us to have our anticipated place at the global fashion table.” “As I delved deeper into the world of fashion, I discovered the richness of our identity and the world’s lack of knowledge about us. Th is identity became one of the greatest motivators for me to transform my art into a craft and a Saudi industry.” While her nationalism can be felt in every lyric she waxes poetically, her looks fl irt between a local aesthetic of maximalism combined with an international nuance of subtleness. “I saw the impact of our authentic identity on global taste. French newspapers have called me the ‘Coco Chanel of the Arabs,’ and what a great honour that is! However, being from the desert that shaped my essence and carved my identity, I must have my own unique signature.” She pauses. “Representing my country at any event, in any place; from an airport to a gala – makes me want to be myself: for being Saudi is an identity in itself.” And much like the distinctiveness of her identity, her brand has become known for its own aesthetic: unapologetically feminine in its strong, geometrical silhouettes that juxtapose with billowing draping If someone had ASKED ME this question in 2004, I would have SMILED like a STRANGER in a country that doesn’t SPEAK their language” HBA-194_OCT-24_080-089_Tima Abid_13391842.indd 8229/09/2024 17:28 The INTERVIEW Via Cappello Transformable Long Necklace in White Gold with 325 Emerald Beads, Sapphires and Diamonds; Lancet Arch Transformable Ring in White and Rose Gold and Platinum with Emerald, Blue and Mauve Sapphires and Diamonds, POA, both Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewellery Dress, POA, Tima Abid Couture. Hat, POA, B-No7 by Lia Gureeva. Stud Earrings, Tima’s own HBA-194_OCT-24_080-089_Tima Abid_13391842.indd 8329/09/2024 17:28À Cheval Ear Clips in Yellow Gold with Diamonds; Liane Long Necklace in Yellow and White Gold with Pink Sapphires, Turquoise and Diamonds; Ludo Bracelet in Yellow and White Gold with Diamonds, POA, all Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewellery Dress, POA, Tima Abid Couture. Hat, POA, B-No7 by Lia Gureeva HBA-194_OCT-24_080-089_Tima Abid_13391842.indd 8429/09/2024 17:28 The INTERVIEW 85 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 Trainée Lumineuse Earrings in White and Rose Gold with Diamonds; Diamant Fleuri Ring in White and Rose Gold with Diamonds, POA, both Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewellery Dress, POA, Tima Abid Couture HBA-194_OCT-24_080-089_Tima Abid_13391842.indd 8529/09/2024 17:28“ The world’s lack of knowledge about Saudi became a great motivator for me” 86 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 allowing for a softness and boldness that complement rather than clash with one another. “I don’t think recognising a Tima design is diffi cult or requires eff ort,” the creative announces with unabashed confi dence. “Th anks to the signature that distinguishes an artist from others.” Yet she goes on to admit that other factors infl uence her design: “I won’t deny that the personality and spirit of the person in front of me adds a lot. Of course, my moods and the seasons also play a role. All these external factors blend to help my creations take shape. Isn’t it true that the only constant is change?” And Fatima admits she is personally in a constant state of undulation. “Perhaps the chaos of my emotions and feelings has led me to create a personal space where I can embody my identity as a Saudi woman on a steady, clear, and systematic path to global recognition?” she muses rhetorically. “Th e fashion scene in my country is a celebration and carnival of joy,” explains Fatima, who snatched up this year’s Designer of the Year Award at the Fashion Commission’s award ceremony this June. “We [Saudi Arabia] have not borrowed from external experiences. We are carving our own path.” Last year, she was one of the inaugural designers to showcase her brand’s A/W Collection at the very fi rst Riyadh Fashion Week. She was also given the honour of opening the newly established Red Sea Fashion Week, this past May. Aside from returning this October to Riyadh Fashion Week, what is next for Fatima and her illustrious brand? “Th ough I feel it is in a constant state of labour, it will soon break into new areas in the fashion world. Let’s leave the element of surprise to play its role in the near future,” she says. She also has a message for her critics: “Treat me the way you would treat any global fashion house. I have lived my future from the past. Despite our late entry into the fi eld and our slow steps while the world around us was racing ahead, this does not mean that my collective history and the history of my country aren’t enough to make a grand entrance and capture attention.” Top: Eva Necklace in White and Rose Gold with Diamonds; Trainée Lumineuse Earrings in White and Rose Gold with Diamonds, POA, both Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewellery. Dress, POA, Tima Abid Couture Bottom: À Cheval Ear Clips in Yellow Gold with Diamonds, POA, Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewellery. Dress; Gloves, POA, both Tima Abid Couture. Hat, POA, B-No7 by Lia Gureeva. Stud Earrings, Tima’s own HBA-194_OCT-24_080-089_Tima Abid_13391842.indd 8629/09/2024 17:28 The INTERVIEW Brume De Saphir Necklace in Rose Gold with Pink Sapphires and Diamonds, POA, Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewellery Dress, POA, Tima Abid Couture. Stud Earrings, Tima’s own HBA-194_OCT-24_080-089_Tima Abid_13391842.indd 8729/09/2024 17:29Next >