From Russia with Love: Miroslava Duma

Few days back i received an email from local sushi restaurant, OKKU inviting to an evening with Miroslava Duma, former fashion editor to Harper's Bazaar Russia.

"Well, Who Dat?" i thought to myself.  See, i'm not very familiar with russian fashionistas, save Ulyana Sergeenko, Renata Litvinova and maybe a one or two more.

Apparently, Ms. Duma is young, petite, well connected and well dressed lady.

Russians, who still have quite a few "class issues" are often snicker at her accomplishments and style, saying that she is simply fortunate enough to be born into a right family - her father is a senator of sorts.

Well, lots of girls have rich and connected daddies, but not all of them manage to become fash editor of a prominent publication at the tender age of 25, get noticed for their individual style and make a name for themselves among artsy types.

Anyway, Miroslava Duma was in Dubai to star in a marketing campaign for a local store Symphony, Dubai Mall.
Check it out:

Dress by Alessandra Rich

Dress by Rachael Zoe. BANANAS!

Dress by Jason Wu

Dress by Luisa Beccaria

Not sure what is this, but whatever it is is by Naeem Khan

Shoes by Charlotte Olympia.  Awesome!

Pix from www.symphony.ae

GFY on Aiisha Ramadan

GoFugYourself  is one of my absolute fave blogs out there (Dlisted being another).  I love it for it's brutal honesty, devil may care attitude towards big fashion names, shits-and-giggles writing style and self-depreciating sentiments of the writers.
Basically, it's all that The Bag Snob used to be, but sadly sold out for big bucks.

Anyway, i was looking through it recently and to my utter surprise came upon THAT DRESS!
Clearly, Aiisha Ramadan is bringing out big guns in States, dressing young starlets and all.

Torrey DeVitto wearing Aiisha Ramadan

This female is an actress-type in The Vampire Diaries (is vampire fad ever going away?) and she wore Aiisha Ramadan's dress to Elton John's Oscar Party.

GFY, being a carelessly honest, harshly opinionated and far removed from the PR types of Dubai had this to say about it :

"This, I don't mind. It's kind of 1960s Bride, but I can live with that. The back seems particularly bridal, but it's pretty. Good pop of color with the earrings, too."


So, congratulations Aiisha Ramadan!
Not exactly a glowing review, but it's a compliment, right?
Right???

Rocket Man in Abu Dhabi

Mind The Gap, Y'all

If for whatever reason you don't have a ticket to Madonna's concert - they say there's still a few of them left in the box offices - don't despair!

Madonna's arch-rival, her gap-toothed twin and a queen in his own right is coming to Yas Island on March 29th for a concert.  Tickets for Elton John Abu Dhabi engagement are on sale now.

Wonder if he is bringing his dancers with him?

So, if you had a choice - a mediocre singer, but legendary performer in the scorcher of the desert summer or a superior singer and  good performer in spring?

It's a conundrum, frankly.

Happier Times

Azeri Male Model walks in NYFW Fall 2012

It might be an under-radar news for the much of fashion world, but it's pretty interesting for Azerbaijan.

I believe it's the first time that Azeri male model walks in one of the shows in New York Fashion Week.
Rustam Jabrailov (Рустам Джабраилов), who is an ethnic Azeri opened for Michael Bastian's show few days back.

I could  find just one picture of him, and i think he only opened and didn't walk after that.  Check him out, he looks dapper!

Michael Bastian and Rustam Jabrailov (background)

Here's the rest of Michael Bastian's looks.

Personally, i'm not a fan of a chalk stripe suit.  It reminds me of Big Boy Caprice and the gang from Dick Tracy:

But it's just me.

Jad Ghandour - New York Fashion Week 2012

Ok, so whole bunch of Middle Eastern designers are represented in NYFW this February.  Most of them are of Lebanese origin, but there is one Irani born and also Jordanian-Canadian.

The one that caught my attention, however is gentleman named Jad Ghandour.
Mainly, because it looks like he forgot to put his pants on before taking a final bow during his Sept 2011 show.

Also, he has a weakness towards golden hot pants on men and I think these will sell very well in Dubai.
Because, as we all know, Dubai's Best Dressed set enjoys to wear short shorts with formal blazers.

Spring 2012

Spring 2012

His Fall 2012 designs are not bad either - I like the fact that he doesn't abuse sequence, crystals, volume, organza like most Lebanese designers.  His stuff is nicely tailored, most of the time:

Really like this cape

Also this one.  I like capes, ok?

What are these things on her boobs? Dress looks like she
was doing naughty things with Lord Voldemort.

I Know, Right?

Rumor Has It...

Well, everyone is giving all their luvin' to Madonna's half-time show.  I didn't see it yet, but intend to do so right after i publish this post.

I have a confession to make - i love Madonna.

Yes, she's re-constructed her face, doesn't do fun songs anymore and has a weird British accent, that comes and goes for no apparent reason.  I stopped listening to her sometime around "Ray of Light", but i find her antics rather entertaining - hating on hydrangeas, being passive-aggressive to Lady Gaga, changing boy-toys at the whim, comparing Britney to "brick shit-house" and so on.  I mean, woman is 52, where does she get the energy and drive to be so venomous?

My first Madonna's LP (yes, you read it right) was "Like a Virgin", made in Bulgaria, out of all places and i still think this is her masterpiece album.

I love every single song on it; "Bed Time Stories" and "The Immaculate Collection" were pretty awsome too.  I remember vividly hearing "My Baby Has a Secret" for the first time in Mexico City, sitting in a rowing boat.  I don't recall exact circumstances that led me to that boat, but remember that feeling of "Wow, what is that song! Play it again!".

Sadly, i can't say that about any new songs of hers.

Anyway, rumor has it that Madonna is coming to Abu Dhabi on June 3, with tix going on sale Feb.27.  I'm a bit confused whether this is being billed as a leg of her world wide tour, or is she being paid $5 Mill for the performance.  Or both.

I, personally find this to be just a rumor - June here is hella hot and no one, especially high maintanance divas, comes here before winter.  Also, most people leave on vacations for the summer and the ones that stay most likely will not be able to afford $300 tickets.

But time will tell...

UPDATE:  It's official.  Madonna released tour itinerary and she's doing a show in Yas Arena, Abu Dhabi, June 3rd.  See y'all there!