Orient Palms – Online fashion magazine

“The Art of the Deal” Ready-to-Wear Outfits that mean business… S/S 2017

Couture Focus
Carving the fabric An interview with Garen Demirdjian Ghida Ladkani Read more…
Ready-to-Wear Trends
Army looks Khaki femininity of urban combattants Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France While military looks usually scream power, they can be beautifully twisted into a soft, feminine appearance. Balmain, Cavalli, Diesel, Jacobs, Coach, Kenzo, Fay and Ferragamo have managed to illustrate this contradiction through their army attires. They have played the duality challenge and they have thrived at it, as they brilliantly combine vulnerability and strength. Read more…
Ready-to-Wear Focus
Basil Soda’s legacy An interview with Jad Soda Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France During Paris ready-to-wear fashion week, I had the pleasure to meet the family of the late Basil Soda. I had a discussion with Jad Soda, his son, and I was thrilled to view the presentation of Basil Soda’s Fall-Winter 2017-2018 collection. Read more…
Couture Focus
Far-Eastern splendour & French playfulness Schiaparelli Couture Spring Summer 2017 Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France Kimonos, lobsters, bird cages, key holes, octopi, and ultra-saturated colors... These are the makings of Bertrand Guyon for Schiaparelli Couture Spring Summer 2017 collection. As always, it is an homage to the original Elsa Schiaparelli as well as the surrealist artists that inspired the design house in the 1930s. With pieces reminding one of Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau, this collection provides a splendid mix of loud yet gentle designs. The sensuality and femininity found in the fabrics, colors, prints, patterns and textures enliven their perfect geometrical structure. Also, one cannot miss the Far-East influence on the collection, which compliments the French designs beautifully. Read more…
Ready-to-Wear Trends
Flamenco The glamour of Spanish ruffles Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France As flamenco dance has long been associated with romance and sensuality, there is no wonder that flamenco dresses are synonym of flirtation and intensity. With their flattering cuts, flowing ruffles and matching accessories, these dresses definitely want to make you hit the dance floor! Join us as we delve into the Spanish glamour with the enchanting designs of Dolce & Gabbana, Jenny Packham, Alberta Ferretti, Roberto Cavalli, Rodarte, Altuzarra, Zimmerman and Prabal Gurung. Read more…
Couture Focus
A midsummer garden’s dream Christian Dior Couture S/S 2017 Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France In her first couture collection as Dior’s creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri takes a walk down mystical lane and invites us to explore an old forgotten garden. Throughout the journey, we luckily find ourselves in a fairy-tale aristocratic ball, organized by an enigmatic pagan society. Read more…
Ready-to-Wear Trends
Edwardian Summer Borrowing glamour from the 1900s Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France Do you remember Nicole Kidman’s costumes in the movie “Far and away”? I had them in mind when selecting these 7 looks from the Spring Summer 2017 collections. It’s know as the Edwardian style with its bow tie, frilled collar and bouffant sleeves. Each designer had his own different version, from the ingénue look of Reem Acra to the punkette in lingerie of Marc Jacobs... Read more…
Couture Focus
Fires and Waves Zuhair Murad Couture S/S 2017 Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France Zuhair Murad celebrates beauty, opulence and fashion in his Haute Couture Spring Summer 2017 collection. Inspired by the fireworks he has recently witnessed on the Japanese island Miyajima, Murad lights his show with “pyrotechnic” dresses glimmering in Swarovski Crystals. Also inspired by the eighties — the cuts, volume, shoulders — Murad transforms his runway – using disco music and colored changing lights – into a nightclub! With their spectacular volumes and glittery elegance, these 20 dresses are also a fun reference to the eighties TV series Dynasty. Read more…
Swimwear Focus
Salty Mermaid Salty Mermaid was born in 2016 with one thought in mind: create a Swimsuit that empowers the beauty of the woman within and the world throughout. The brand is the creative teamwork of owners Sarah Jon Porreca and Kara Versage. Read more…
Swimwear Focus
Maryan Mehlhorn Summer 2017 The Maryan Mehlhorn collection is shaped by currents and trends from diverse cultures, and features a remarkable range of ethnic inspiration. In-house created, exclusive prints, as well as skillful handicrafts like beads and embroidery motifs lend utmost sophistication to these imaginative tribal designs. Read more…
Culture Musique
Interview with Faia Younan A voice of the Levant She is a diva, an activist, a young Syrian beauty that sings and inspires millions. Faia Younan is one of the new voices of the Levant, a beautiful deep voice with a message that goes beyond the Levantine countries as people in the whole world identify with her plea for peace. It all started in 2014 with a video entitled “To Our Countries” — recorded with her sister Rihan — that went viral with 4 million views on Youtube. Now, two years later, she is releasing her debut album: “A sea between us”. Read more…
Swimwear Focus
Água de Coco Summer and Resort 2017 Read more…
Swimwear Focus
Primadonna Four bikinis with holiday vibes How do you make your body summer-proof? Ask us, all you need to do is put on one of these gorgeous bikinis. Just choose your style to go with your holiday destination. And thanks to PrimaDonna Swim you can rest assured: your bikini always shows your best side. Firm support for your breasts and a boost for your confidence! Read more…
Couture Focus
Dreamy girl Dany Atrache Couture S/S 2017 Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France This season, designer Dany Atrache invites himself into the world of secret gardens. The artist imagines a romantic muse that is transported by the rays of a Spring sun to a far away land. As Atrache says, “the idea was to create a collection inspired by a dreamy girl, who fantasizes about being in Nature, where dreams take her away from daily troubles and problems”. Read more…
Lingerie Focus
Marie Jo l’Aventure A graphical take on the flower trend Marie Jo L’Aventure whisks you off to a summer field of flowers in subtle simplicity. The Belgian label has let this floral inspiration wash over it to create graphical designs and a geometric pattern. The collection brings the spontaneous summer feeling to your lingerie drawer with a modernistic lingerie collection that stands up to every summer challenge. Read more…
Ready-to-Wear Trends
Heart to Heart Valentine 2017 Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France You might think that a heart is a too obvious icon to display on a Valentine’s evening, but you will be quite seduced by Christian Dior’s poetic ethereal dresses with discreet hearts or by the bold surrealistic pierced hearts by Schiaparelli. You will love Elie Saab’s Haute Couture long dresses that exude passion with a whirlwind of glittery hearts. Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana’s baroque style full of icons is a sophisticated option. Rodarte created quite a unique design with hearts as corsets, having a style oscillating between the medieval and flamenco. Marc Jacobs punkette street style is a good option if you’re going out to a concert. As for Proenza Schouler, it guarantees a dramatic effect with the unexpected skin-baring cut-out heart on a black turtle-neck. Read more…
Couture Focus
Festive grace Georges Chakra Couture Spring Summer 2017 Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France If you would like to instantly attend a joyous, high-end wedding celebration, just contemplate Georges Chakra’s Couture Spring Summer 2017 collection! Inspired by his daughter’s intended wedding, Chakra beautifully creates the impression of a modern, refined procession. He pampers not only his bride, but rather all female attendees. Confetti highlights the ceremony’s gaiety. Bridesmaids are numerous, but each of them is unique. As for the guests, they are offered flawless romantic gowns, with clear, contemporary cuts for some and fluid, filmy ones for others. With their delicate cuts and soft, dawn colors, the following designs will leave you yearning for the upcoming wedding season. Read more…
Culture Musique
Four Albums That Will Make 2017 Bearable Mona Issa Will Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, The XX and John Mayer save the year? Read more…
Couture Focus
A diamond tiara is a girl’s best friend Alexis Mabille Couture Spring Summer 2017 Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France Alexis Mabille turns his podium into an elegant ball, where modern brides impress the audience with their majestic tiaras, whimsical veils and playful colors. In fact the designer smartly uses the tiara in his Couture Spring Summer 2017 collection, keeping us wondering where it will be placed! Diadems are sometimes expectedly worn on the head, but are placed on the sleeves or waists other times. Another accessory that catches the attention is the veil: it serves as a bridal headpiece, a flowing overdress, or an extending train. Read more…
Accessories Focus
LalaQueen designer bags Interview with Sally Sarieddine Ghida Ladkani Sally Sarieddine, founder of LaLaQueen, is a force to be reckoned with. Through her designs and the concept store now open in Downtown Beirut, the beating heart of the city, you can easily tell that it’s not simply about bags, but about concepts and ideas that are embedded within each stitch in every bag, in every corner of the gorgeous boutique, and definitely through Sally herself. An entrepreneur who isn’t afraid to take risks and stand for what she believes in, Ms. Sarieddine was kind enough to let us into her brand new space and took us on a journey to discover her beautiful collection of bags and all the magic contained in LaLaQueen. Read more…
Culture Events
A Photographic Bridge across the Mediterranean Photomed Lebanon 2017 Rana Bou Saada This year’s edition of Photomed Lebanon, the photography festival, features the work of several highly-acclaimed Lebanese and international artists and takes place in different locations across Lebanon from the 18^th of January till the 8^th of February. Read more…
Culture Events
Finding Humor in the Everyday Interview with Anissa Rafeh Lara Mekkawi Aaliya’s Bookshop in Beirut hosted the launch of Beirut to the ‘burbs, Anissa Rafeh’s second book. The day after the launch, Anissa sat down with Orient Palms to discuss cross-culturalism, writing, and life in general. In this latest work, Rafeh brings to light the little nuances found in the everyday life of a cross-cultural individual, describing her own move from one locale to another with a healthy dose of laugh-out-loud humor. Read more…
Accessories Focus
The Body Shop Lust List Mona Issa Keep it natural, animal-cruelty free and fabulous this season with these 5 Body Shop essentials we’ve picked out for you! Read more…
Accessories Focus
Bassam Fattouh A pioneer of the Makeup World Rana Bou Saada Bassam Fattouh is an acclaimed make-up artist, especially amongst the stars and high-profile women of the Middle East. He conversed with Orient Palms about his personal journey and the do’s and don’ts of makeup. Read more…
Couture Focus
Blanka Matragi When Art meets Fashion Mira Teeny I had the chance to meet and interview Blanka Matragi in her bespoke atelier in Hamra street in Beirut. She is a Czech-Lebanese fashion designer who mingles diverse art forms into her Haute Couture and Ready-to-Wear collections. Her love of tailoring, her artistic concepts mixed to her innovative techniques make her unique: no wonder that her favorite motto is “take things out of the ordinary”! Read more…
Ready-to-Wear Focus
Gems from the ocean Georges Hobeika RTW S/S 2017 Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France Georges Hobeika’s Spring-Summer 2017 Ready-to-wear collection takes us into a journey of oceanic discovery and enchantment, a lyrical expedition with rich variations. First we dive into the mysteries of the deep ocean with its exotic creatures and aquatic plants in the coral reefs that inspire the color palette and embroideries of the collection. We resurface, breathing the blossoming of the seaside poetic flowers, flowers being the signature in Georges Hobeika’s work. The waves lull us on a bed of sea foam patterned lace. And at dawn, we are lost in the dreamy gold and silver reflections on the great ocean, hence the black fabrics and golden beads. Read more…
Swimwear Focus
Andrés Sardá 2017 collection The Andrés Sardá 2017 collection explores new fits, fabrics and colour palettes, designed to look especially flattering, accentuate the stylised effect of the silhouette, and meet the needs of different body types. A harmonious range that showcases the creativity of Andres Sarda, specially conceived to ensure pieces in the various series go so well together, in both lingerie and swimwear. Read more…
Lingerie Focus
Andrés Sardá Spring-summer 2017 This season Andres Sarda explores new fits, fabrics and colour palettes, designed to look especially flattering, accentuate the stylised effect of the silhouette, and meet the needs of different body types. The subtle and functional details – as part of Sarda’s DNA – are woven into the designs, adding a light touch to an especially luxurious and sophisticated season collection. Read more…
Couture Trends
Red Winter Our favorite evening red gowns this season Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France Whether towards consumed burgundy, deep carmine to flamboyant crimson, Red is the colour of passion, a bold and sensual choice to wear this Winter. We love the elegance of the Marchesa princesses with their profusion of flowers, the Zuhair Murad’s embroideries for his Haute bohemian, or Elie Saab’s perfect cuts and silhouettes. We particularly admire Alberta Ferreti’s serpentine satin gown that dazzles with its fluidity highlighting the body curves underneath it. Read more…
Couture Trends
Pink snowflakes 19 pink Haute Couture gowns this Winter Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, Paris, France Pink color reads Spring, that’s why designers love to use it to soften this harsh Winter season. Rose blush, Rosewood or pink bubble, it is simply sweet, romantic, and flirty. It gets even softer when combined with gold like Elie Saab, Ralph & Russo and Saiid Kobeisy’s gowns. It reminds of a Winter garden at Zuhair Murad, with the Rosewood pink gown all embroidered in flowers. And when paired with black, it is elegantly well underlined and sophisticated like at Georges Chakra, Ralph & Russo, Giambattista Valli and Versace. Read more…