fm september '10 - issue 147

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147.

WEDGE BOOT €44.99 BROGUE €21.99 FAUX FUR BOOT €39.99 STUDDED COURT €35BUCKLE BOOT €44.99 HEELED LACE UP €39.99

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4 –– FM September 2010

September ISSUE 147

COVER CREDITS

Photographer: Tonio Lombardi

W: www.toniolombardi.com

Stylist: Kira Drury

Hair: Michelle at Roots, San Gwann

T: 2745 4164

Make-up: Nicola Powell M: 9986 5369

Model: Francesca

Editor: Anthony P. Bernard

E: [email protected]

Editorial Consultant: Stanley Borg


Design: Jon Calleja


Printing: Progress Press

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or

in part is strictly prohibited without written

permission. Opinions expressed in FM are

not necessary those of the editor or publisher.

All reasonable care is taken to ensure truth

and accuracy, butthe editor and publishers

cannot be held responsible for errors or

omissions in articles, advertising, photographs

or illustrations. Unsolicited manuscripts are

welcome but cannot be returned without a

stamped, self-addressed envelope.

The editor is not responsible for material

submitted for consideration.

For any information regarding editorial,

promotion or advertising contact

Tel: 00 356 2131 8522

00 44 20 3286 6808

Email: [email protected]

FM is published by

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and is distributed free with

THE SUNDAY TIMES

WELCOMETake the weather with you, sang Crowded House. And wear it, we add, because it is the weather that has the right of fi rst refusal over our wardrobe.

When temperatures start dropping, winter becomes

a wonderland of giant knits, stylish trench coats and lovely layering. Spring and summer, on the other hand, take the woolly sting out of winter. The light is fabulous, the sky is a hundred feet deep, and clothes are a free, fun, fabulous acknowledgement to bare feet, sand, colour and ice-cream laughter.

So yes, take the weather with you, except in autumn. Contrary to what Eliot wrote, it is not April that is the cruellest month; rather, it is the dull months when the white of summer and the black of winter overlap in a boring shade of grey. Come autumn, normally quick-thinking women stand for hours in front of their wardrobe, dazed and confused as they try and decide what to wear, and not wear. As for men, something emerges from their wardrobe that should never see the light of day – the pullover.

But never you worry because following our summer break, FM is back and to the rescue, spiking autumnal woes with fun.

In this issue, we give you the cream of this season’s fashion crop – from statement accessories and sharp tailoring to lace, velvet and big knits, your autumn will be a bright one.

We also interview Lucy Wood, Look magazine’s fashion news editor. Wood’s blog has also been recently nominated by Asos.com as one of the top blogs to follow while fashion expert Leon Bailey-Green listed her on his annual Online Fashion 100 for her contribution to online fashion journalism. And she’s just 23 years old.

In this issue, we give singer and songwriter Carrie Haber the famous FM makeover treatment. Not only does the young singer have a great voice, but she also has a beautiful eye for fashion.

There is, of course, more. We tell you how to wear eco-friendly fashion, take you to the shores of Lake Geneva, and help you avoid the pre-winter slump.

Read on and enjoy.

CONTENTS

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The fi rst correct answer wins New Look’s fab prize.

7. You won’t miss this Wood

11. Fashion goes the vie en vert way

14. Carry on handbags

17. Are we finally growing up?

21. What Kira Drury bought this month

22. Autumn delights

41. Fashion goes location scouting

45. Carrie Haber’s makeover

48. Sleeve notes on autumn jackets

51. What Enrique Tabone

knows about style

53. On a Swiss roll

57. Beating the autumn slump

58. Christina Darmanin plays for a draw

Which one of these footwear trends is not an A/W must-have:1. Clogs / 2. Biker boots / 3. Lace up wedge ankle boots / 4. Thigh highs

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September 2010 FM –– 7

INTERVIEW

At just 23, Look magazine’s fashion news editor Lucy Wood has achieved more than most people twice her age have. Currently styling the nation on the UK’s biggest selling women’s fashion

weekly, she has also been nominated for the prestigious PPA Association of UK Magazine and Periodical Publishers News Section Editor of the Year Award in 2008 and contributed to big names such as The Sun, The Daily Mail, Drapers Record and London Metro.

Asos.com has also listed Wood’s Twitter as ‘one to follow’ at Asos Follows Fashion. Working on screen and radio, she has appeared as a fashion expert on BBC television series Mary Queen of Shops and contributed fortnightly fashion slots for a BBC Radio Friday afternoon show.

“I realised that fashion was what I wanted to do back at college,” says Wood. “We were being pushed to start applying for universities and to be completely honest I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I scanned the UCAS website, skimming over all of the courses. They all looked so dull. Then the fashion journalism course popped up at The London College of Fashion and it dawned on me how much I had an interest in magazines and shopping. It was the only course I applied for and I told myself that if I didn’t get in, I wouldn’t go to university, full stop. It’s a good thing they accepted my application. Fashion is something I know about inside out and that is why I didn’t go down the mainstream journalism route. As a tastemaker you need to know what you are writing about.”

“After reading for a degree in fashion journalism at The London College of Fashion, I spent two years at Grazia magazine as their fashion news and features assistant. After that, I took on the position of Look’s fashion news editor. I’ve been here for two and a half years now, managing the fashion news team. That involves styling, writing, shooting, researching and lots of shopping.”

“I also edited style publication Random (www.random-magazine.com) for a year alongside my job at Look and am now running my own fashion blog at www.fashion-editor.com. My blog allows me to open up my notebook to the globe. As a fashion editor I’m always stumbling across fab new labels and my inbox is crammed with the latest new designer items hitting the shops – so why not share all of the extra bits and bobs that don’t make my pages with the rest of the world? I love that I can be completely indulgent and feature all my favourite things.”

“Asos.com recently nominated fashion-editor.com as one of the top blogs to follow via www.asosfollowsfashion.com and online fashion expert Leon Bailey-Green listed me on his annual Online Fashion 100 for my contribution to online fashion journalism.”

“The secret behind all this? I was extremely lucky which, combined with hard work and with my being in the right place at the right time meant I had a bit of a fast track.”

“While studying for my degree I went to Grazia on a two-week work placement and it soon became apparent that the magazine was going to be a great success – I could see the potential for new jobs as the fashion team grew. I asked the fashion coordinator if I could come in each Friday – my one day off university – to help her. I did that for a few weeks and eventually, the fashion editor asked me which direction I wanted to go in and I chose fashion features. The fashion editor then introduced me to the fashion news and features editor and that was it – she didn’t have an assistant so I made myself hers. It was a case of making myself disposable and it worked.”

“At the time it was the last year of my degree and I was working at Grazia full time. I even wrote my dissertation at the Grazia office.”

Kira Drury meets Look magazine’s fashion news editor Lucy Wood, the fastest eye in the fashion west.


INTERVIEW

FM

Lucy Wood’s greatest hitsFlying on a private jet to the Grand National horse races

Meeting Christian Louboutin – my knees literally went weak

Sitting opposite Kate Moss at a fashion show – I missed

all of the clothes and couldn’t stop staring at her. She

looks like fun

At a London Fashion Week party at Bungalow 8, I

practically pushed Erin Wasson into a speaker while my

friend grabbed her thigh and told her how skinny they

were. Of course, it was the champagne’s fault

What Lucy said nextWhat’s hot and not for A/W 2010

Invest in the have-to-own aviator jacket – you’ll live in it

and it’ll end up paying for itself. And don’t forget to pop

the collar so that it’s ear-grazing. Shearling-lined clog

boots are comfy and cosy for bitter mornings – layer

them over woolly socks and top with a cape jacket.

Another must item is a vintage-look tan leather bag and

belt. Wear together for a combo that will overhaul and tidy

up any frock, whether it’s from the supermarket rails or a

designer boutique.

“My editor Melanie Rickey taught me everything I know about fashion journalism and for that I owe her the world. By the time I graduated, my current position had come up – I applied and got it. It was just like a dream – a degree and a job as Look’s fashion news editor overnight. If you have a good eye and the ability to edit rails and rails of great clothes down to about ten pieces a page, you can do it. Oh, and I know the dictionary inside out.”

“You also need to work hard. Even a normal day is hectic. First thing every morning, I make a cuppa and read all the papers. Next, I go through all the new paparazzi pictures that have come in overnight and spot emerging trends. As e-mails start coming in, I plan what the team will be working on for the day and delegate pages. Then it’s onto calling in product, styling up pages, press appointments and writing articles. If I’m lucky I’ll squeeze in some lunch somewhere along the way.”

“Of course, there are ups and downs. The best part of my job is that every day is a shopping day. Topshop’s 40 per cent discount card comes in handy here. There are also bags of free beauty products – I haven’t bought shampoo for years. Still, my biggest achievement yet is becoming an editor at 21. This year’s The Online Fashion Agency named me as one of the 100 most influential people in online fashion, which was a real buzz.”

“The downside to my job is that I’m never going to become rich unless I achieve Gok Wan’s level of fame. And there’s no eye candy either – the industry is 80 per cent female.”

Beauty and the bestMassimo Dutti has reunited top models Edita Vilkeviciute and David Gandy who together, brought to fore their mesmerising beauty for Massimo Dutti’s latest fashion shoot for the brand’s A/W 2010 collection. Massimo Dutti also commissioned renowned Paola Kudacki who underscored the brand’s casual elegance.

This year’s A/W collection is available at Massimo Dutti at The Point, Tigné Point, Sliema.

Photo by Alistair Guy

And the awardgoes to…Carpisa has awarded Carpisa Malta as the best retailer out of all 560 Carpisa outlets around the world. Carpisa Malta was the fi rst outlet to open outside of Italy and was successful in introducing the brand to Malta. Thanks to constant hard work and outstanding performance in the fi ve years since its opening, the Carpisa Malta outlet had the biggest increase in sales compared to the previous year. In a few months, another Carpisa outlet will be opened in Malta’s prime high street.

www.massimodutti.comwwwww .maassimododuttutti.comm

NEW AUTUMN / WINTER COLLECTION

NOW AVAILABLEAT MASSIMO DUTTI STORE,

THE POINT, SLIEMA


ECO FASHION

We all know the feeling – waking up zombifi ed in the early hours of

the morning, groping our way to the bathroom, stumbling over a

pair of vagabond shoes, and fi nally rummaging through the wardrobe

for something decent to wear for the long day ahead. Now let me

ask you a question. Have you ever stopped to consider, in those dark

and dreary moments, whether those jeans that are going to hug you

throughout the day are eco-friendly or not? Probably not – we usually

don’t even have time to question whether what we’re about to wear is

from last season or this one.

But we need to start asking such questions as the world of fashion

is going green. And by that I don’t mean that we should all hit the

stores for a green maxi dress and a pair of verdant heels to match.

Rather, it’s the eco quality that is strutting its stuff down the catwalk.

Taking care of the environment is not simply about the infamous

three R’s: reducing, reusing and recycling. There is a whole wide world

beyond the confi nes of our cosy homes and that whole wide world is

where our clothes come from, passing through countless processes

before fi nding itself nice and pretty-looking in a shop near you. It is

this process which we least care about and yet, it is most vital for

awareness of what truly makes fashion eco-friendly or not.

The Sustainable Technology Education Project identifi es eco-

fashion as “clothes that take into account the environment, the health

of consumers and the working conditions of people in the fashion

industry”. No one is asking us to do anything silly, so we can wipe

away the thought of leaves that must be passing through our minds.

In fact, top designers from all around the world are leaving their mark

on what is to become a wholly guilt-free process of making clothes.

Moreover, their fashion is just as stylish and chic as ever. In the

meantime, the BBC has also decided to take action and has launched

an online eco-fashion magazine called Thread with tips on how one

can be both stylish and sustainable.

This autumn, go a fashionable shadeof eco green, says Daniela Brockdorff.

La vie en verte

Hair todayWhatever your hair type, there’s a specially designed hair care regime by The Body Shop to unveil the full beauty of your hair. Dry, damaged locks can be revived with the Moisture products, which restore the hair’s softness without weighing it down. For glossy head-turning, indulge in the Shine regime, which delivers incredible light-refl ecting shine. Colour treated hair can retain its vibrancy with the help of the Radiance range, while the Balance products reduce excess oil and refresh the hair.


FM

It certainly is time for all the fashion-lovers

out there to get to know what actually goes into

the making of the items of clothing that inhabit

our wardrobes. Perhaps, little did we know

that clothes are usually made by those living

in developing countries, people who spend

about 18 hours a day working ceaselessly in

a sweatshop. One cannot fail to mention the

pesticides that farmers use when growing

fabrics, with cotton being the crop which uses

the most pesticides.

Pesticides are not only a serious threat for the

environment but also for all of us as they often

end up in the food we eat. Shockingly enough,

towards the end of last century, the World Health

Organisation estimated an overwhelming annual

fi gure of 3 million poisonings and 20,000 deaths

caused by pesticides. Furthermore, the chemicals

used to bleach and colour textiles go hand in

hand with these pesticides to destroy the world

we live in.

Opting for organic cotton seems to be the

answer and 18 countries have already stopped

the use of pesticides in favour of growing

organically. Statistics show that even though

crop yields fall initially when choosing the

greener option, eventually organic production

proves to be benefi cial both for farmers and for

the environment.

Other options include the use of recycled

textiles and ensuring fair trade. More importantly,

a system of eco-labelling is being considered

to make sure that the buyers are fully informed

of their purchase. The maxim that ignorance is

bliss certainly does not apply here. Or rather,

unwittingly contributing to our Earth’s downfall is

not my idea of bliss.

Now you might say that practically most of us

are not those farmers dumping pesticides on the

face of the earth or businessmen in suits choosing

sweatshops to cut costs. Neither are we in a

position to change the world simply by clicking our

fi ngers. Yet we cannot deny the fact that we live on

this planet and clothes are a fundamental part of

our daily lives. So what can our humble selves do?

The online magazine Thread gives some

practical guidelines, including not feeding your

wardrobe any clothing that you would probably

end up throwing away after a few months or so.

This is what Thread calls “ethical luxury”. Along

with the occasional fashion item that is in vogue

at the moment, make sure to buy clothes that

are classics and that will therefore last longer.

Re-vamp what you consider a soon-to-be-

joining-the-bin item. Don’t just throw things

away – sometimes, adding a belt, changing

some old-fashioned buttons or shortening a

hemline might extend an item’s shelf-life. True,

we might not have the time for such jobs but

creating something for yourself may prove to be

quite rewarding.

And when you can’t possibly imagine what

you can ever do with that piece of clothing

haunting your closet, don’t just send it off to join

the endless heaps of rubbish in the landfi lls (we

all know what a nightmare these landfi lls are).

Instead call up some friends or family members,

invite them over to rummage through your

wardrobe and let them choose whatever they

want. It could actually be quite fun – after all,

your trash might be someone else’s treasure.

Last but not least, make sure you watch out

for websites that sell eco-friendly clothing or

rails in stores that are specifi cally designated for

sustainable clothing.

You cannot ignore the world you live in.

So it might be worth it to give yourself a touch

of green.

ECO FASHION

Tangle Teezer Cortex Ltd. has just launched a new brush aimed especially for young princesses. This de-tangler is like the original Tangle Teezer but also includes a place to store and keep hairclips and pretty ribbons safe. Available from hairdressers or online atwww.cortexltd.com

Play onThe new Pedigree Toyshops megastore will be launched this month. The new megastore covers 500 square metres of open space and will stock your favourite toys and games. This one convenient megastore includes parking facilities and on site restroom facilities for kids, including nappy changing. Pedigree Toyshops will soon unveil a season of fun and exciting pre-Christmas activities. Visit the new megastore on the Birkirkara bypass, 200 metres ahead of Mater Dei hospital.

Mini takes it to the maxThe new Mini Countryman was launched last week at Numero Uno, taking the hallmark driving fun of the brand to a new level. This is the fi rst Mini to come with four doors and a large tailgate as well as a versatile interior off ering space for up to fi ve people. It is the fi rst Mini which can be ordered as an option with all-wheel drive. With these features, in addition to the Countryman’s raised seating position

and optimised ride comfort, the world’s only premium vehicle of its kind crosses the boundaries of urban mobility to take the trademark Mini feeling into new dimensions. For more information contact Muscats Motors Ltd. on Tel: 2326 4505 or [email protected].

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FASHION

Carry on

Debenhams blue bow

clutch - €13.00

Carpisa black bow

clutch - €15.90

Accessorize sequin

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New Look grey

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Debenhams green

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French Connection sequin

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Accessorize silver

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Add a little glam to your handbag collection with a chic clutch – the perfect call to arm candy.

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ST.JULIANS

VALLETTAMOSTA


CONFESSIONS

A fashion model’s career is usually over in a

fl ash. For many, many years, successful

models had to be so young and skinny that

most looked liked they fell off the back of a

school van and onto the catwalk. However,

in recent years, there has been a visible shift.

Somehow, underage, underfed, dried-up stick

insects stopped being the only type that the

fashion industry would consider, and slowly we

started seeing more and more 40- to 50-year-old

attractive women boldly representing big cosmetic

and fashion brands.

A number of former models who had long

thought that their career days were over, are

now being called back and strongly sought out

to get back on to the catwalk and in front of the

cameras. They had assumed that their modelling

days were over, and left the profession to pursue

alternative careers or to have families, and

now, they are returning to an industry that once

deemed them too old. And they can hardly keep

up with the bookings.

Just a few days before her 48th birthday,

Sharon Stone was signed up for Christian Dior’s

new campaign. As expected, at 48, Stone had

formed a fi rm opinion about the situation in

Tibet, and soon enough she had to be dropped

from all of Dior’s Chinese advertisements for

controversial comments that she passed during

the Cannes Film Festival. Miuccia Prada then

signed up Kim Basinger, 52, for her campaign

while Versace contracted drop dead gorgeous,

52-year-old diva, Madonna. British model Angie

Hill, who was very popular in the 1980s, and

one of Europe’s highest paid models, had left

the modelling world at the age of 24. She then

joined her husband’s fashion design fi rm and

went on to have two children. 18 years later, at

the age of 42, she is being called back and has

signed a major contract with Garnier.

Industry experts think that this newfound

preference for older models is a result of

audiences being fed up of seeing waif-like girls,

barely of age, showcasing clothes that most

people would look horrible in. They now

believe that audiences want to see something

more realistic.

In recent years, Dove applied this theory, taking

it to a particular extreme. They used 95-year-old

Irene Sinclair in their Campaign for Real Beauty.

The advert candidly posed the question: “Wrinkled

or wonderful?” and it was followed by a long

series of ads featuring Merlin Glozier, 45, asking

the question: “Grey or gorgeous?”

What does the rise of the older model say about our age, asks Alison Bezzina.

ARE WE FINALLY GROWING UP?

“The more legal and material hindrances women have broken through, the more strictly, heavily, and cruelly, images of female beauty have come to weigh upon us... During the past decade, women breached the power structure; meanwhile, eating disorders rose exponentially and cosmetic surgery became the fastest-growing specialty... and 33,000 American women told researchers that they would rather lose 10 to 15 pounds than achieve any other goal...

More women have more money and power and scope and legal recognition than we have ever had before; but in terms of how we feel about ourselves physically, may actually be worse off than our unliberated grandmothers.” The Beauty Myth, 1991, Naomi Wolf.


CONFESSIONS

But personally I wonder – is this sudden

demand for older, mature models really

aimed at satisfying the audience’s need

for more realistic role models? Or have

designers woken up to the realisation that

it’s this age group’s spending power that

keeps luxury designers and cosmetic brands

in business? Have they fi nally realised that

their target customer is not a 16-year-old

who eats once a week, but is more likely to

be a middle-aged woman with hard-earned

disposable cash? Has it fi nally sunk in that

it is more likely for the same older women to

part with her spare income if she identifi es

with the images that she’s presented with?

In 2006 Marks and Spencer also tested

this approach when the mainstream fashion

chain revived Twiggy, four decades after she

was fi rst discovered in 1966. They used her

across all media and within 13 weeks M&S

sales rose by 2.9 per cent, while the share

price rose by 50 per cent. As famous and

desired as she was, Twiggy had retired at

the age of 20, and now, four decades down

the line, she is back in high demand and has

even appeared as a judge on the hit reality

TV show, America’s Next Top Model.

A really good nightA good night’s sleep rests and restores our body and mind. For women, periods should not stop them from having a good night’s sleep. During the menstrual cycle, female hormones not only regulate reproductive tissue function but also exert infl uence on sleep. Always Ultra Night has been specifi cally developed to ensure women feel comfortable while sleeping. With Always Ultra Night, every woman can have a good night’s sleep and wake up feeling dry and light.

The result? We are now surrounded by images of preternaturally young, strangely plasticised,

airbrushed, photo-shopped, digitally and surgically enhanced images of older women. The saddest

part is that celebrities are not the only ones falling victims to the plastic-youth look, because with

editors and designers overdoing it with these images, we’re all starting to think that we’re the only

unlucky ones who did not apply enough sun protection during our youth, who never chose the right

products to suit our skin, and who never invested enough in our appearance.

In the past, mature women used to look at magazines and rationalise that the pictures in front of

them were of much younger women, or rather girls, and therefore incomparable, but with today’s

trend of using older models, there’s no such excuse that we can cling to.

It is no wonder therefore that almost two decades after Naomi Wolf wrote The Beauty Myth, 99.9

per cent of us women still think that our thighs are too big, our breasts are too small, and that our

clothes are just all wrong, so off we go, like we did back then, to purchase whatever these models

happen to be endorsing, thus keeping the fashion industry thriving and well in business. FM

Have they fi nally realised that their target customer is not a 16-year-old who eats once a week, but is more likely to be a middle-aged woman with hard-earned disposable cash?


SHOPPING

I’ve been trying to be good with my money – save,

save, save. So a work trip to London doesn’t bode

well. I encounter my fi rst hurdle at a vintage market

on Brick Lane, where I spot a leather pencil skirt (1). I

have to grab it. Real leather for £20 – a bargain.

While whizzing down Oxford Street I shriek to a pit-

stop at the legendary Primark and snap up a 1970s

look maxi dress (2), skull vest (3) (from the boy’s

section) and cute cream brogues (4), a steal at just £35 for the lot.

It’s off to Topshop next – one pair of fl oral jeans (5), a baby-doll dress (6)

and a trench coat (7) later, I make a hasty exit.

Back in Malta I accompany my boyfriend on a shopping spree while

repeating the mantra, over and over, ‘I shall not shop.’ I fail at the fi rst

hurdle when I spot a stripie t-shirt (8) at Pull & Bear. I fi nd consolation by

telling myself that I’ll wear it season after season – after all, stripes never

go out of fashion. However, the truth is that I don’t really need another

one – I’ve already got six but shhh, don’t tell anyone. I forget my usual

shades at home, so I buy a pair (9) from my shop, The Doll’s House.

They’re shiny and red and I love them. And anyway it doesn’t count – I’m

putting money back into the business. Any excuse will do.

FM stylist Kira Drury is trying to stick to her budget. But on a trip to London,

she goes from bad to purse.

putting money back intto the business. Any excuse will do.to th

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AUTUMN DELIGHTS It’s the season of love – FM is all heartbeats, shoots and autumn leaves.

Just three months ago, we were furrowing our sun kissed brows, not with worry mind you,

but in deep thought on how we would spend our summer holidays. Parties and barbecues, long-haul holidays and quick trips to the continent – the possibilities of summer just stretched and yawned in front of us, seemingly endless.

And now here we are, putting away our shorts in daring neons and bracing ourselves for the winter cold. And we’re not happy bunnies.

The only thing that will cheer us up is that this autumn, fashion does not refl ect the threatening clouds and absence of sunlight. And it’s not the brown, muddy puddles that provide inspiration but rather, the bleached, red leaves of the season.

This autumn, fashion trends are fun. Purple, in electric and plum shades, continues to be a staple colour, as do blood and fl ame red as well as fl esh tones. Romance is also high on the agenda – make sure you invest wisely in a small, black number that plays hide and seek with lace. Animal prints also continue roaring, with leopard print coats and zebra print dresses.

Silhouettes are either sharp or a celebration of femininity, as seen on the Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton catwalks. There is also a nod at wartime fashion and at fun items like jumpsuits in cobalt blue and black velvet.

Textures also come out to play this season – luxurious fabrics are embellished with fur elements and jewels, embroidered, draped and pleated. Diff erent textures also create a patchwork of fur, sheepskin, suede and knits.

So yes, the holidays might be over, but that doesn’t mean you should stop having funwith fashion.

Fur enoughTo continue on the animal trend, this season, fur is used in detailing, especially on jackets, satchels, handbags, shoes and accessories. Fox fur looks especially good on mini skirts, while lamb adds a cute element to your cuff s.

Present clawsAnimal prints are once again roaring down the catwalk. This autumn, designers took a walk on the wild side, with leopard spots, tiger and zebra stripes, and snakeskin. While some, like Lanvin, opted for the full on look, Emilio Pucci and Dolce & Gabbana used animal prints as details to match sequined skinny trousers and one-shoulder dresses.

Used as subtle accessories and on tights, animal prints add a dangerous yet classy element to long, black evening gowns.

Blu

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Cos

tum

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atio

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Monsoon leopard clutch - €43

Monsoon feather

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TRENDS Womenof the clothThis season, diff erent fabrics and textures create a multi-layered, complex, stylish trend. Velvet is a statement piece in itself, whether it comes in the shape of a classic black dress or a rich, elegant gown. Silks make for stunning party dresses while feathers and furs add layers to an outfi t.

Fabrics also fi nd comfort in simplicity. The simplest, yet hottest, item this autumn – the cape – changes personality according to fabric. A knitted cape spells home in front of a crackling fi re while a grey, cashmere one is an elegant alternative to a coat.

Em

ilio

Pucc

i

T h e P o i n t S h o p p i n g M a l l , T i g n é P o i n t

w w w . d e b e n h a m s . c o m . m t

Designis at the

of everything we doHEART


TRENDS

The war isn’t overThis season, it’s military, but not as we know it. The military trend takes cue from 20th century uniforms – instead of the pomp of epaulettes and medals, the trend is more subtle with lined boots, draped jersey dresses and cashmere dresses. It’s utilitarian meets comfort and style. And it’s playful, rather than deadly.

Now you see itOnce again, fashion is in love with lace. Apart from classic black lace outfi ts, cute day dresses and sensual see-through gowns, this season also mixes lace with animal prints and loud colours. For their pre-fall collection, Dolce & Gabbana paired their lace creations with neon green, pink and orange separates.

Erd

em

Miu

Miu

Roc

has

Car

olin

e C

harl

es

Mar

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Post-war silhouettesThis autumn, fashion is nostalgic for the 1950s and 60s, the Mad Men days when men smoked all day and women had the kind of cleavage you could get lost in. Louis Vuitton paraded A-line mid-calf skirts and dresses nipped at the waist. Full-length gowns also hark to the swinging, big band ballrooms while the Ivy League is represented by blanket capes, fox vests, high tube socks and tweed skirt suits. This season, back in time suits us just fi ne.


TRENDS

Wearing the trousersSharp tailoring is the name of this season’s fashion game. Pencil skirts make for the sleekest and most sculptured of silhouettes while 1970s-inspired fl ares will instantly transform you into a Charlie’s Angel. Trench coats give your shoulders a smart makeover, while attracting the looker’s gaze towards your slim, belted waist.

Sharp tailoring comes of age in this autumn’s elegant trousers. Easy to wear, trousers are nonetheless fl attering, making a statement without giving you an overkill of power.

Bal

mai

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Monsoon Katy print

tea dress - €95.00

Monsoon Fion Fairisle

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The winner takes it all French Connection in association with Lufthansa was proud to announce the winner of their Fashion Fabulous trip to New York along with a $500 shopping spree in French Connection’s store in Soho. The happy winner, Daniela Grech, was presented her fl ight ticket at French Connection’s store in Baystreet by Lufthansa General Manager Mr. Heydlauf and VF Group Operations Manager Daniel Camilleri.

Love in acold climateIt might be easier to fall in love in the summer months. But this autumn, fairy tales come true with a line-up of dreamy fabrics, including velvet, lace, fur, silks and sheer, which all celebrate the beauty of femininity in love.

The autumn palette also throbs with love: deep reds, soft greys, whites and clarets all create a baroque, love vibe. It’s not tragic love, of course, because ruffl es and wide 1940s- and 50s-inspired skirts make this romance a pretty, playful one. The Dior catwalk presented layers of ruffl es while Oscar de la Renta told a fairy tale in crimson, pink and turquoise.

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TEAR

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Mumford & Sons – they’re

young and handsome. And

their music will make your day.

The beautiful game makes a

welcome return.

Lady Gaga makes it to the

cover of Vanity Fair.

Fashion icon.

THE WHO, WHAT, WHY, WEAR OF THE NET

diaryofavintagegirl.comThe life and times of a 1940s enthusiast.

lefashionimage.blogspot.comNo words – just a happy snap collection.

fashionbananas.comA blog about fashion, beauty and love.

FASHIONBAROMETER

13-year-old Lourdes designs

a fashion collection with mum

Madonna. Talk about getting a

head start.

Kate Moss hires exorcist to rid

her London home of evil spirits.

Away.

One day it’s too hot, the other

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BLOGWATCH

TRENDS

Spinning yarnsOne of the perks of the cold weather is that we get to wear big knits that hug and cuddle us like no man would. But apart from their huggy bear quality, knits are also a smart, casual alternative. This season’s alpine trend presents chunky knits in warm shades – team with leather boots and fl owing skirts for maximum eff ect.

Back to schoolwith a New LookNew Look is putting fashion fi rmly back on the school timetable by giving Sixth Form and University students 10% off each transaction by showing a valid SMART card when they make a purchase. Terms and conditions apply. Join New Look Malta on Facebook for exclusive off ers, fashion tips, competitions and more.

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FASHION

One step furtherBata’s A/W 2010 collection is characterised by elegance and style for the city look with a bit of glam. The New Collection gives a dynamic and decisive look to all those who wear it, courtesy of the latest trends of colours and mixed materials. The Bata Collection is exclusively available from Old Theatre Street Valletta, The Point Shopping Complex Sliema and The Duke Shopping Complex Gozo.

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From catwalk to floorwalk

/KEY TREND MODETTES

Modettes takes inspiration from the youthfulness of the 1960’s Mods. Featuring simplistic silhouettes in boyish jackets, boxy tees, super skinny jeans and long line cardigans to create a masculine feel. Sexy, feminine injections come from tight pencil skirts, micro kilts and mini shift dresses. Outerwear is key to this story, including bomber jackets, swing coats and capes at 3/4 lengths with hoods.

The Look:

Tees are a sexy key look for the Modettes story, in shapes from long and fitted to boxy and square. Key features on tees include dropped shoulders, patch pockets, rolled up sleeves and dropped hems. Bold, pretty colours, gypsy florals and prints are also key to the look.

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The boyfriend trend

of dressing continues.

Shapeless and oversized

pieces can be worn

slouchy to create an

urban, relaxed feel. In

contrast, the Modettes

story can help create a

sexy feminine appearance

by cinching in at the waist

to create a sassy hourglass

shape.

The Styling:

A base colour palette of black, charcoal and grey and navy,

combined with oxblood, red, khaki, nude and white helps

create a retro 1960’s colour palette heavily influenced by

the youthfulness of the Mods of that time.

The Colours:

Fashion

sweats,

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Snake print

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Wansteadlace boots, C40.50

Striped jumper dress, C26

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bomber jackets, C45

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Rock Tees,

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Photography: Tonio Lombardi

www.toniolombardi.com

Styling: Kira Drury

Hair: Michelle at Roots T: 2745 4164

Make-up: Nicola Powell M: 9986 5369

Model: - Francesca

Stay stylish in these classic wardrobe must-haves

TIME OF YOUR LIFE

Orsay skinny jeans - €34.90

Orsay black vest - €5.95

Bowler hat, stylist’s own

The Doll’s House chunky necklace - €25.00

Opposite

Tally Weijl black dress - €19.95


French Connection grey dress - €150.00

Orsay leggings - €12.95

Opposite

Orsay grey vest - €5.95

Peacocks denim shorts - €20.95

New Look waistcoat - €39.00

Accessorize necklace - €14.90

Debenhams tights - €6.00

Mexx boots - €59.95


Esprit stripe t-shirt - €19.95

New Look dungaree shorts - €29.00

Opposite

New Look dress - €37.99

Mango jacket - €159.00

Specs, stylist’s own


New Look mac jacket - €44.95

Mango leather gloves - €29.90

Debenhams tights - €6.00

Opposite

The Doll’s House bow necklace - €15.00

Piazza Italia white shirt - €20.99

New Look black skirt - €19.00

The Doll’s House ring - €10.00


FASHION

The business aspect of fashion has

always been at a mediocre level in Malta,

barely scraping by as an industry and very

misunderstood by the general public. Even joining

the EU has not assisted the presence of Malta

within the European fashion industry.

Malta is at a ripe stage to be introduced to

Europe’s fashion industry.

Apart from the incredible talent base of models,

photographers, make-up artists, stylists and

fashion designers that Malta has to offer, the

natural beauty of the island provides the perfect

backdrops for fashion shoots.

So why has it taken so long for these elements

to be properly marketed to the worldwide

industry? Why has the island never drawn much

international attention to its fashion sector?

One local company that is fi nally making this

happen on the island is InFashion Malta, a well

established, three director agency representing all

aspects of Maltese fashion talent.

“InFashion was set up six years ago as a

modelling agency only. Now we represent models,

make-up artists, photographers, stylists and

fashion labels. We try to be a bit different than the

average talent agency and we promote each other

as a collective,” says Kristoff Zammit Ciantar, one

of the directors.

“We also like to promote our talent abroad

more than locally. The local market still knows we

are here and we get regular work through them,

but our resources and our concentration go on

getting our talent placed abroad or getting media

from around Europe to shoot here”, adds Shideh

Olafsson, the newest of the three directors.

This is evident in the agency’s work as they held

their fi rst edition of the Malta In Fashion event on

Sunday, August 29 at Marrakech in Rabat. The

night was held in two parts – the VIP showcase

which was more like a casting for all of their

models and a seven-label fashion show to the

public later in the evening. The night also featured

some respected names from the European fashion

industry that were fl own over especially for the

occasion.

“We got to the point where we had to think

productively about how to showcase all aspects

of Malta and its fashion talent. So we thought of

a way of getting these people to the island to see

fi rst hand what we had to offer,” says Antonella

Vella of InFashion.

The guests included journalists, TV personalities,

advertising agents and Geoff Cox from Top

Model, one of the most recognisable fashion and

modelling industry brands in the UK which has

expanded with a worldwide division in 2010 along

with a recently launched TV Channel – Top Model TV.

Location, location, location

InFashion Malta is putting the island on the

fashion map, says Melanie Fielding.

Photos by David Mansfi eld.

Left to right - InFashion’s Antonella Vella, model Kristen, InFashion’s Shideh Olafsson, UK’s Geoff Cox and Amy Symons, model Leah and InFashion’s Kristoff Zammit Ciantar

Model Audrienne walking for new Maltese label Celeste

Models Trinity and Ilona backstage in Fat Gold

MUA Karen Schembri Grima and model Leah backstage

Models Antonella and Kim walking for Charles and Ron

Model Kurt during Malta In Fashion showcase

Model Marion walking for Benetton

Geoff Cox and Amy Symons choosing models for auditions


FM was fortunate enough to chat to Cox

about his visit to the island.

“Malta makes for a stunning backdrop,”

said Cox. “I have been very fortunate to

have had a chance to see most of the

islands’ feature areas and have already

considered a number of options for

possible future shoots, including one during

this particular stay with two Maltese models

signed to InFashion Malta.”

As for the Malta In Fashion event, Cox

said that “It was a great showcase for the

local talent and I was very impressed with

the organisation. I look forward to seeing

the show grow and am proud to have

been part of such a pioneering venture.

Moreover, I have made some great contacts

and hope to have some of the models I’ve

seen working in London.”

Mr Cox also extended his trip to Malta by

four days to conduct more auditions

and castings.

“We love outside infl uence on our talent,”

says Shideh Olafsson. “We love hearing

what they can do better and how they can

improve. Sometimes you get stuck in your

own way if you don’t let others guide you.

And to be honest, our models are strong

and they love the international feedback

and they take it on board beautifully.”

The agency is now riding the successful

wave that this event created – two of

their models confi rmed to walk at London

Fashion Week in September this year,

while they have also secured some very

good business from the other attendees.

Not only has this been good exposure for

the models, photographers and make up

artists, but it has also put Maltese fashion

labels such as Fat Gold, Celeste, Erin-Coal

and Charles & Ron in front of the right

people to help launch them in Europe.

“Push It magazine from the UK is

returning at the end of the month to do

a full shoot on the island. They have

booked our models, photographer, stylist

and make-up artist after meeting them at

the event and seeing their work. This is

amazing news for us. Insignia magazine

from Russia has also shown interest in

coming back to the island, this time for a

cover story,” says Kristoff Zammit Ciantar.

Another of the agency’s VIP guests was

Marcellous L Jones, the fashionably famous

TV host of Paris show, The Fashion Insider

which has now expanded into a website

and a published magazine. The TV crew

walked around the event and interviewed

some key players in the island’s industry

and plan to run a full show on the event in

the next few months.

“We are very happy with the result of

our event. It took months to plan and

organise but with the help of some great

sponsors onboard, we hope to do this at

least annually. If nothing else, it helps put

this little island on the map in the European

fashion industry and gives hope to up and

coming models and designers that once

they start in this fi eld, only the sky is the

limit for them,” concludes Shideh Olafsson.

FASHION

FM

Fashion Insider TV interview with Shideh Olafsson and Kristoff Zammit Ciantar of InFashion

TVM conducting interview with InFashion Kristoff Zammit Ciantar and Geoff Cox

Fat Gold designersJon Calleja and Ken Chircop

Model Marion walking for Benetton

Pavli Medvevova, InFashion show stylist

Model Carl walking for Tommy Hilfi ger

Model Maria and Erin-Coal designer Caroline Vassallo

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MAKEOVER

out ofthe closet

Every month, stylist Luke Engerer and his makeover team will visit one lucky reader, rummage through her wardrobe and give her a restyle. It’s all treats but no tricks as Luke & Co. only use your own clothes to create a new style for you.

I was really excited to work with Carrie. I had caught her

performance at Teatru Unplugged last year and loved her quirky,

theatrical style of music and clothes. I just knew that Carrie’s

makeover would be lots of fun.

Carrie is currently living in London, so we meet up with her

while she is in Malta. Carrie is a very sociable, fun loving girl –

she greets us wearing olive green shorts, an olive green tube top

with an orange fl ower design, and her Cheeky Monkey badge.

I had been warned that she only had a few pieces with her as

she was only visiting for a few days but I was still confi dent that

we would fi nd the right outfi t. Carrie had laid out all the clothes

she had with her in preparation for my visit. I had a quick scan

and went straight for the black tulle ballerina skirt – I felt it really

embodied Carrie’s look. Then I came across a corset-like red and

black lace-up top, and the rest is style history.

BEFORE

Make-upMelanie Gregory, M: 7772 8043

“I first used a light foundation base complimented and a shimmery translucent powder. Then I highlighted Carrie’s cheekbones and used a bright pink blush on her cheeks. On her eyes I used a shimmer eye-shadow in sparkly white colour and a glossy black liner followed by a pair of glam faux lashes. To finish off the look I gave Carrie cupid lips to match herfun and quirky personality.”

ABOUT A GIRL

THE

STYLE COUNCIL

FM’s makeover team is

made up of stylist Luke

Engerer, photographer

Tonio Lombardi, make-up

artist Melanie Gregory and

hairdresser Michelle

Galea at Roots

Hair Salon.

Hair Michelle Galea at Roots Hair Salon.

T: 2745 4164, M: 9945 4164

“Carrie already has a really cool cut and colour so it was not difficult to get it looking super cool. I first washed and conditioned her hair. Then I applied some leave-in conditioner for added moisture, and volumising mousse and curl cream to give definition to Carrie’s curls. I diffused her hair and used volumising dust for some extra boost. Then I used some hair spray for hold and finished off with some shine and hold spray.”

Carrie Haber, singer and songwriter.

People see me as a pretty bold

character with a few loose nuts. I

blame that on my hair colour and

expressive gestures.

What you see is not the real me – my

stage persona is slightly quirkier and

quite theatrical. I achieve this simply by

setting my emotions free.

I’m a Leo, which means that behind

my achievements there is a lot of hard

work. Some people think that it’s luck

all the way, but I believe that you create

your own luck.

Wanting to stand out is in my nature.

And I fi nd it secretly entertaining to see

people’s different reactions to me.

I love vintage clothes. I just wish I

was born in the 1940s or 50s so I could

wear those gorgeous frocks. Many

have described my style as a meet-

in-the-middle between slightly old

fashioned and modern touches.

My favourite physical feature is my

hair. The same cannot be said for my

thighs though.

I love my little hats. I think they make

an outfi t that much more unique –

they’re the cherry on the fashion cake.

My beauty routine is quite simple. I

walk a lot – I feel that it revives me. And

every now and then, I enjoy a nice bath

while my facemask dries. It’s bliss.

If I’m in a hurry I can get ready in 20

minutes. When I’m not, I can stretch it

to two hours. My outfi t has to match

my mood, otherwise I won’t feel right. I

usually spend some 30 minutes staring

at my wardrobe, hoping for inspiration.

Then I shower – the hotter the water, the

better – and dry my hair. I spend ages

getting my make-up right. For me, make-

up is an art and it deserves as much

passion as I give a painting. The fi nal act

is choosing which accessories to wear.

Still, I rarely have time for that and usually

end up without any accessories – save

for my hat, of course.

Always take other people’s promises

with a pinch of salt – that way, you’ll

avoid a lot of disappointments.

Now that I’m living in London

I cannot see myself living anywhere

else. I’ve already gained so much

from being here.

I’m currently working on my second

music video for one of the tracks

on my EP, It’s Complex. The song is

called Spectator and it is a very dark

song which I am eager to portray in

the video. Martin Bonnici and Denise

Scicluna are directing it – the two are

a match made in heaven. I’m also

recording with Steve Orchard, whose

production CV includes names like

Sting, U2, Massive Attack and Peter

Gabriel. I’ve also been invited to host at

a London venue where I will be booking

the artists myself as well as headlining

each show on a weekly basis.

Stylist Luke Engerer and Carrie Haber sing a song in the key of style.Photography - Tonio Lombardi

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FM

MAKEOVER

Carrie is all smiles during her makeover.

“The skirt is actually an undergarment,” she says. “It came with another dress

I had bought in Camden. I particularly love its resemblance to a ballerina skirt – I

always wished I could be a ballerina, and this outfi t brings out the elegance and regal

femininity that I love in professional ballet dancers. The red and black work beautifully

together and the lace of the top with its skin-tight fi t is extremely fl attering.”

“I feel the whole mood of the outfi t is rather dark, which suits my music very

well. What makes the outfi t unique is the combination of feminine elegance that the

clothes portray and the shock of the quirky hair and make-up.”

“I loved every bit of my makeover – the make-up is particularly impressive. I would

describe the fi nal look as a love story gone awry.”

“Everyone on the makeover team is friendly and professional. I was so happy to

see a group of such talented people working together towards achieving the same

goal. There was a lovely atmosphere and lots of laughter, yet not one detail went

unnoticed. This is exactly what I look for in a team of professionals.”

YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKYIf you want to be our lucky makeover

girl, send us an e-mail at model@

fmlifestyle.com and tell us why we

should choose you. Also, attach two

photos of you – one full body and one

head shot – with your e-mail.

AFTER

“I loved every bit of my makeover – the make-up is particularly impressive. I would describe the fi nal look as a love story gone awry.”


Keep cosy as the nights turn chilly with one of thesegotta have ‘em trans-seasonal cover-ups

Photographer - Tonio Lombardi - www.toniolombardi.comStyling - Kira DruryPhotographer Tonio Lombardi www.toniolombbardi.comStyling - Kira Drury


Sleeve notes

Mexx cream jacket with

chinese collar - €139.00

Debenhams crop leather

jacket - €39.00

Mexx black tux

blazer - €139.95

Piazza Italia plum

jacket - €27.99

Orsay tweed

jacket - €39.95

Peacocks pinstripe

blazer - €35.50

New Look black rose

jacket - €35.00Mango denim

jacket - €49.90

FALL / WINTER COLLECTION2010

VallettaSliemaSliema

Victoria Gozo


STYLEWISE

Style is what you make of it, says designer Enrique Tabone.WHAT I KNOW ABOUT STYLE

Phot

o by

Kam

y Li

lly

Style is not fashion. While fashion changes, style will keep developing with you, especially if you overcome your fear of it. Stick to your style and take risks. Express your inner self. To keep my work as fresh as possible, I make it a point to not let the infl uence of fashion compromise the originality of my designs.

Feel good about yourself. It’s useless buying the latest fashion if you don’t feel comfortable with yourself. Style requires self-knowledge, both physical and mental – it’s the only way to turn your style into self-expression. Style is not only about the clothing but also about character. It cannot be merely expressed through clothes – style is inside you. Style is a combination. It’s the way you dress, talk and move.

Get on a fi rst name basis with the language that is spoken through diff erent types of clothing. This will help you transmit the message you want, while giving a positive fi rst impression. Although style is in your own refl ection, do not reveal too much about you – keep it fresh, with just a hint of you.

Be yourself. Style must refl ect your truth. If your style clashes with your personality, it will be like wearing a costume. Style is personal creativity and not invention.

Appearances do matter. How you look like will infl uence the message that you send out. Style is a visual language.

Style is priceless, but doesn’t cost anything. Style is what you make of it. When you think you have nothing to wear, look again. Numerous bits and pieces can be combined together to create endless possibilities. Maybe for some it is about luxury, but personally I feel that it is more of a personal need.

Fashion is just a part of style. You can have loads of clothes and no style, and vice-versa.

Style is a journey. Comfort is the fi rst stage, leading to self-confi dence and joy in self-expression. Eventually, your personal style becomes an inherent part of you which you can carry with minimum eff ort. FM

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It’s just my luck that I arrived at Ouchy and walked into the Beau Rivage Palace a week before chef Anne Sophie Pic did.

During a wonderful motoring trip, I decided to do what the Michelin guide is always telling me to do, and that’s to ‘go out of my way’ for some great food because it’s ‘worth the drive’. As it is, the going out of my way ends up being lovely anyway, but by the time Pic had arrived,I had already stepped on the gas and whizzed off again.

If the whole point of my overland trip had been to go from the proverbial point A to point B, there were a hundred alternative, and faster, routes I would have taken. Yet ease was not the intention – scenery was. And some speed too. Going to the Beau Rivage meant that I had every excuse to whizz through the no-limit motorways of Germany – expensive as that motorway tariff was, it was still worth the cost.

The route I had chosen, accompanied by my trusty Tom Tom (with the John Cleese voice), involved a scary ride through the Great St Bernard pass on the way: up, up, up I went, through tunnels and frozen roads, with seemingly no down, out of the tunnels through ice and snow and hail. Not to mention stops to warm myself in cosy little mountain bars where the men were as rugged as the landscape. On a motoring trip, the stops are always the highlights.

After such an experience, where the white and shiny grey are seemingly never-ending, the moment the sun comes out to shine on your glowing face is like an epiphany. Mine was the sight of the most beautiful hotel to ever grace the edges of Lake Geneva – the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel just stood before me, shimmering out of the great body of water like a wet mirage.

Anne Sophie Pic, the chef ’s chef, was the first woman to be awarded three Michelin stars at the tender age of 37 and elected ‘Chef of the Year’ by the 8,000 chefs in the Michelin Guide. She was still dusting the tables at her new restaurant when I crunched my way noisily into the hotel car park. Still, the café was open – it would have to suffice.

And it certainly does. On a Sunday afternoon, the Café Lausanne was packed with the extremely posh families living in the area. To the Maltese, any Swiss person with their French-German twangs may seem posh, but the Beau Rivage is such an institution, both local and international, that having lunch here is like dining at The Ritz without the Russians and the Saudis.

The lobster salad was stratospherically good, fresh, simple and very well executed. The chips that accompanied the main were fat, square cut, crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. The steak came from some ecstatic cow. The dessert-trolley was old-style and just wonderfully replete with every single sinful sweet known to man (and even more, woman): it took me a full ten minutes to choose, at which point I suggested to the very patient maitre d’ that it would be best if he just gave up too and gave me little bits of everything: the tarts oozing fruit and custard, the profiteroles gushing chocolate and cream, the mousses of everything, the berries dipped in chocolate. I was ecstatic.

The rooms in the hotel reflect this general finesse – decked out in the chicest materials, the soft furnishings are fashioned in a very modern,yet classical style. Both periods come together to form a very organic kind of fusion where the customer feels absolutely at home, yet not at home enough that the cushions on the sofas are scuffed or un-plumped. The atmosphere feels as if there are hundreds of invisible fairies constantly cleaning up after you and blowing away every single stray hair from surfaces.

On a SWISS roll

COOL ROOMS

The view of Lake Geneva is the best wake-up call for Mona Farrugia.


FM

Bittersweet symphony

Life is a box of chocolate and chestnut

truffl es.

You need:

75 g butter

100g dark chocolate

50 g milk chocolate

180 g sweet chestnut puree

40 g icing sugar

3 drops orange blossom water

To decorate

2 tsp almond slivers

3 tsp chocolate streusel

1 tsp coloured hundreds and thousands

3 tsp chocolate chips

1 tsp icing sugar

Method

Melt the butter and both types of chocolate

in a bain-marie. Stir in the chestnut puree,

sugar and orange blossom water until the

mixture is creamy. Refrigerate for 24 hours

until the truffl e mixture sets.

Toast the almond slivers until light brown.

Chop and place on a plate. Mix the streusel

and hundreds and thousands and place on a

second plate. Place the chocolate chips on

a third plate.

Shape the truffl e mixture into little balls,

the size of a nut. Toss in the different

decorations. Finally, dust the truffl es with

icing sugar and keep in a cool place until

ready to serve.

“Sofas are important at the Beau Rivage, for the simple reason that these are rooms with a seriously gorgeous view that demand you sit down.”

Sofas are important at the Beau Rivage, for the simple reason that these are rooms with a seriously gorgeous view of Lake Geneva; the kind of view that demands you sit down and pay your respects. Like a very generous (but stylish) mama, the town itself is constructed over three hills, draped with vineyard-covered slopes all around, and the huge body of glistening water at its feet. Opposite, on a good day, you can see the Savoy Alps. Not bad for a wake-up call.

Most of the town’s meandering alleys and twee shops is thankfully car-free. After a bracing walk around it and some stockpiling of chocolate (essential for the journey as any long-haul motorist will tell you), I crunch my way out of the Beau Rivage car-park, past cars so expensive that a normal human being would need to take out a mortgage to afford them, and out on the well-built roads which sadly take me, and the taste of that chocolate ganache still nestling on my tongue, away.

COOL ROOMS

For more info call 21342155 [email protected]

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CHEMISTRY

Every time our little island steals a mention on

the international news circuit, the patriotic core

inside me throbs with emotion. The features

which make me blush with pride are abundant. Yet,

especially of late, we are often discussed for less

fl attering reasons. Unhappily, one topic which we

invariably star in is antibiotic abuse.

Malta boasts one of the highest rates of

antibiotic consumption within the European Union.

While a barrage of educational campaigns has

improved the situation, our reckless yet resilient

love affair with the wonder drugs continues. The

subject is becoming topical once again as yet

another summer draws to an end. The warm

season caresses us with feelings of relaxation

and wellbeing, and our passion for pill-popping

somewhat wanes. However, as al fresco diners

and partygoers quietly move indoors, sore throats

and colds make a comeback and our passion for

pills fl ares up again.

The problem does not lie with antibiotics.

These drugs are indispensable and have saved

countless lives since their discovery. The trouble is

that they are completely useless against all colds

and most sore throats. These annoying ailments

are caused by viruses, while antibiotics attack

bacteria. Unnecessary use of antibiotics harms

the body and stimulates the evolutionary battle,

with the strongest, most destructive bacteria

emerging victorious, in true Darwinian style. Those

who insist that antibiotics always cure their sniffl es

should rest assured that munching on a handful of

fruit pastilles will achieve the same outcome, at a

much lesser cost.

The good thing about many common viral

infections is that they are self-limiting, and resolve

without treatment over a number of days. In these

situations, medication can be taken to alleviate

the symptoms, rather than cure the illness. This is

where anti-infl ammatory and antiseptic gargles,

soothing lozenges, nasal decongestants, and

analgesics take centre stage. Drinking lots of

fl uids, keeping warm, and taking it easy all help to

ensure a speedy recovery.

Regrettably, when you are forced to drag

yourself through the day in a hazy delirium, with

a crimson nose and a prickly throat, these good

tidings are of little comfort. What every person

wants – bar a certain category of attention

seekers and the exceptionally lazy – is to never

fall ill at all. This is impossible. However, ushering

in disease-causing organisms through an open

door can be avoided by taking some simple

measures. These include frequent, careful hand

washing, as well as permanently kicking the

habit of continuously touching the eyes, nose,

or mouth. A complete, balanced diet, abundant

in fresh fruit and vegetables, is the foundation of

a healthy immune system, which helps to stave

off infections. In some cases, vitamins or other

dietary supplements may also be of assistance in

preventing, or sometimes treating, infections.

It is inevitable that one time or another, the

pesky little microbes will somehow make their way

in. When this happens, no matter how miserable

you feel, avoid bullying your doctor or pharmacist

into handing over antibiotics or other medicines

which they do not deem necessary. Trust them,

and lay back and rest. Ask yourself what would

happen if accountants were to suddenly start

designing buildings and if lawyers were to fl y

aeroplanes. The answer, I suspect, is complete

chaos and bad publicity for Malta.

Summer is almost over, and as cold spells grab us by the throat, we resort to popping pills. Yet there are much simpler cures, says Anne Marie Spiteri.

SUPPLEMENTARY BOOST

Nearly all nutrients are involved in maintaining

a healthy immune system. Often, excessive

amounts of a particular nutrient are just as

harmful as insuffi cient amounts. A complete,

balanced diet is often the best way to keep the

immune system in tip top shape. However, it

may sometimes be appropriate to take vitamins,

minerals, or other dietary supplements in order

to boost your immune system.

ECHINACEA

Echinacea has been used for centuries to

treat common colds, coughs and other

respiratory tract infections. There are many

different species of echinacea – the main

species used in echinacea formulations is the

echinacea purpurea.

Echinacea should be used as a treatment

which is commenced at the onset of

symptoms, and should not be taken

prophylactically. It is also sometimes taken

during the change of season – however, it

should not normally be taken continuously for

long periods of time.

While some studies showed no benefi t, other

studies have shown that echinacea reduces

the severity of symptoms and decreases the

duration of the illness. However, more studies

need to be carried out to provide further

evidence of benefi t.

VITAMIN C

Unlike echinacea, Vitamin C does not seem to

be of any signifi cant benefi t when it is taken

after the onset of symptoms.

The value of Vitamin C is in prophylaxis

– when it is taken before the onset of

symptoms it has been shown to decrease

the duration of the illness. Vitamin C was also

found to cause a signifi cant reduction in the

risk of developing a cold when it was given to

athletes and soldier exposed to extreme cold.

Vitamin C supplements abound. However,

there are also plenty of foods which are

rich in Vitamin C, including blackcurrants,

strawberries, citrus fruit, peppers, brussels

sprouts, and broccoli.

MULTIVITAMIN PREPARATIONS

Nutritional defi ciency, which is most likely to

occur in children and the elderly, is associated

with decreased immunity. In these cases, a

supplement containing a range of vitamins and

minerals may help to boost the immune system.

In studies carried out using multivitamin and

mineral preparations, an enhanced immune

response and a decrease in common infections

was observed in children, elderly people, and in

people suffering from Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

These supplements should contain beta

carotene, Vitamins B6, B12, C, D, E, folic acid,

as well as minerals such as zinc and iron.

FM

Beating the bugs


LAST WORD

Christina Darmanin sees fashion as painting in motion.

Play-ing for a draw

I’m currently reading Philosophy, Theology,

History of Art, Entrepreneurship and Marketing

Management at Durham University, UK.

I love the world of fashion and have modelled

for Miss Summer International in Malta and

participated in other fashion shows.

For me, fashion is the making of wearable, mobile

poetry. Fashion is visual verses that you carry

around with you. Clothes and accessories - they

are an artistic expression using coloured fabrics

and patterns which feel good on their own and

when worn. Perhaps fashion could be defi ned as

painting in motion.

Design is my way of being creative and

innovative. Nature is my main inspiration,

especially bird feathers and beehive textures.

I have fond memories of the wardrobe I had when

I was a little girl. Rather than the contents, it’s the

wardrobe itself that was unique - a vintage piece

of furniture with the coolest keyhole and a large,

heavy key.

Nowadays, my wardrobe is more eclectic. It

is a magical array of colour and a curious mix

of hand-me-downs, men’s dinner jackets and

vintage collectibles.

The most expensive item I have ever bought is a

pair of Pinko wooden platforms in Florence. Then

there’s my…wait, I had better keep that a secret.

All the clothes I make and hand-paint have an

individual story tailored specifi cally to inspire and

embrace the wearer.

A person makes an outfi t all the way. You could

wear a garbage bag and still look stunning. It’s

all about the way you project your inner self - the

feeling inside always creates the beauty outside.

One of my goals for this year is to fi nish a

collection for a fashion show I am organising and

designing for Trevelyan College in conjunction

with the Fine Arts Society in Durham. FM

Pho

to b

y C

hris S

ain

t F

ourn

ier

Zachary Street

VALLETTAArkadia

GOZONaxxar Road

BIRKIRKARA

fm september '10 - issue 147

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