FM March '11 - Issue 151

FEMME MAGAZINE | MAR ISSUE 151 | FMLIFESTYLE.COM

FM / March 2011 - 1

WELCOME Some film opening scenes stick in your memory like strawberryflavoured gum to a cinema seat.

There is the one red coat in an otherwise monotone Schindler’s List, the digitally-created fresh rose petals that cover high school vamp Angela Hayes in American Beauty, and Citizen Kane’s ‘No Trespassing’ sign hanging on a giant gate in the night’s foggy mist.

Then there’s the thirty-metre thumping strike of them all. The first few minutes of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now show a man lying naked on a bed in a room a long way from home, and from anywhere. The heat is stifling, the kind of heat that can snap a man’s sanity like a crisp prawn cracker. Overhead, a fan struggles like a shot bird, throwing down gusts of despair. The man is drunk and, as he falls about the room, he turns suddenly to be confronted by the reflection of himself in a mirror. In one movement, he smashes the mirror and paints his face with his own blood.

For the past weeks, we’ve been watching men and women dying for freedom, childhood and adolescence rudely and brutally interrupted, towns and cities the name of which we couldn’t even pronounce just months ago, being bombarded and reduced to rubble and dust.

They all look like openings to a film we’ve already watched. And the more we watch, the higher our levels of endurance become. What shocked us yesterday no longer triggers emotions.

And yet, as EM Forster wrote in Howards End, ‘Only connect’. We need to feel sympathy, anger, emotions, and go beyond the actual medium – newspapers, running commentaries and blogs – to see the news for what they really are. Because what for us looks like a film’s opening is in reality someone’s life ending.

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CONTENTS 7 Obsess me not

46 So Seventies

13 The politics of clothes

49 Out of the closet

Is Islamabad Fashion Week the first stilettoed step to freedom, asks Daniela Brockdorff.

16 We have a dream

What fashion items do we fantasise about, asks Maria Michela Formosa.

20 A star in stripes

Always fashionable and fabulous, it’s the return of the stripe.

23 Choc therapy

I’ll have two scoops of ice cream and a side order of stress please, says Martina Vella as she snacks on comfort food.

40 Spring awakening

FM dresses you up for the beautiful season.

4 - FM / March 2011

Stylist Kira Drury Hair Michelle Galea at Roots Hair Salon, San Gwann 2745 4164 Make-up Nicola Powell M: 9986 5369 Model: Cristina at models.com.mt wearing, Piazza Italia polo-shirt - €12.99, Ralph Lauren cardigan - €79.00, Mango skirt - €39.90, Topshop socks - €5.00 Debenhams brogue - €34.00, New Look shades - €6.99 Editor Anthony P. Bernard Email: anthony@fmlifestyle.com

Sign up for your chance to become the next FM model thanks to FM and models.com.mt

Alison Bezzina speaks to four women with peculiar habits.

COVER CREDITS Photographer Tonio Lombardi W: www.toniolombardi.com

Relive the 1970s with the deals of the decade.

Stylist Luke Engerer turns Jeanette Micallef into a 1950s diva.

52 Power dressing

FM votes for the 10 best dressed politicians.

56 What I bought this month

Consulting Editor Stanley Borg Email: stanley@fmlifestyle.com Design & Art Direction Porridge | www.weareporridge.com Email: hello@weareporridge.com Printing Progress Press All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed in FM are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. All reasonable care is taken to ensure truth and accuracy, but the 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.

Little sister Jacqui Losco comes of age.

60 Style wise

Kelsey May Connor models her learning curves.

63 A German master

Art hotel virgin Mona Farrugia paints a pretty picture in Munich.

66 The queen of Chess

Singer Chess makes the right move on music, fashion and a gothic wardrobe.

For any information regarding editorial, promotion or advertising contact Tel: 00 356 2131 8522 00 44 20 3286 6808 Email: fm@madmediainternational.com FM is published by MADMEDIA International, Mezzanine West, Hadfield House, Library Street, Gibraltar and is distributed free with THE SUNDAY TIMES

Confessions

Obsess me not

Say helloo, wave goodbye Ritty Tacsum, 21 gets sick to her stomach at the thought of someone ever hearing her pee.

“I’m obsessed that someone will hear me, so I automatically block myself and literally can’t go to the loo. As ridiculous as it may sound, even when I’m swimming, I’m still worried that someone will hear me.

I’ve had this obsessive worry ever since I was young, and because of it, I’ve never managed to use public toilets, not even at school when I was a kid. I’m just too worried about what others will think or say if they hear me, so I can’t relax enough to actually relieve myself.

Shopping, eating, exercising, sex – what’s your obsession? Do you have recurrent thoughts that won’t go away?

Is the urge to do something taking over your life, or is your obsession still at a controllable stage? Alison Bezzina speaks to four women with peculiar habits, some verging on the obsessive.

Most of us will read and laugh but should these women seek a remedy, or are they just toying with a little twist in life?

“Whenever I’m at the beach with my friends I have to find somewhere secluded where I can go do my thing all alone. I know it’s all extra hassle and I wish that I could do like most people do, but I just can’t. Over the years I’ve tried to confront my fear by pressing my tummy hard or by drinking a lot of water. I’ve also tried leaving the tap open so as to confuse people, but it just makes things worse because I still don’t manage to do it, and end up with a bigger need to pee.”

Empty nest Karen*, 22 can fit all her possessions into one bag, and it’s not because she’s too hard up to afford anything else.

Rather, it’s a choice, or rather an imposition of her obsession – the need to have clear closets and drawers is stronger than her desire for material things.

“I need to get rid of personal items at least once a week. The amount of things I give away or sell could be as abundant as half my wardrobe contents, or as small as a simple pencil. The bigger the amount of things that I get rid of, the better the feeling I get after.

VA L L E T TA | S L I E M A | PA O L A | G O Z O

Bigger and better Peacocks

Peacocks has just opened a bigger and better outlet at Level 1, the Plaza, Sliema. This new outlet also introduces Peacocks’ much anticipated menswear range and hence has become the chain’s biggest outlet in Malta.

Arkadia introduced Peacocks to Malta in 2006 at Arkadia Commercial Centre, Gozo. The brand proved to be a major success with three other stores opening in Valletta, Paola and Sliema.

“I cannot even fathom the idea of having more than one of any item, like one bag, one purse, and one pair of heels. If I have two items of the same type I get anxious to the point of triggering a panic attack. As soon as I get something new I get a daunting feeling at the back of my mind that I need to throw something out, so if I get a new handbag for instance, I have to get rid of my old one. I usually give it to friends or family, or to the person who complimented it last. My biggest nightmare is the idea of a full wardrobe.

As soon as I get something new I get a daunting feeling at the back of my mind that I need to throw something out.

“It all started about two years ago and now I’m running out of stuff to give away.

Usually the urge is stronger towards the weekend, when I get to spend more time at home. I have no idea how or why this was triggered. I’ve blamed it on boredom, unhappiness, OCD, but I honestly cannot find a connection that makes sense. For the past few months I’ve been seriously contemplating seeing a psychologist since I realise that it is getting out of hand and that it is a real burden to live with.” *Name has been changed for privacy.

FM / March 2011 - 7

Confessions

Her dark materials Estelle Grech, 36 has been a chocoholic for as long as she can remember.

“I don’t recall anything in particular triggering it off – it was always there. As a child I was a very fussy eater and till this day I don’t like popular sweets and desserts. But with chocolate, all that changes. Even my wedding cake was a chocolate cake as opposed to the more traditional almond cake.

The joy of text For Sera Dalli, 28 the smell of paper and the feel of leather binding on her fingers trigger absolute joy.

“My room is completely filled with books, shelf after shelf full of book collections which I treat like my children.

Books have taken me from Middle Earth, 18th century London, Transylvania, to The Holy Land and the jungles of India – each book is like a friend welcoming me into its hidden world.

“But it’s not just about the narrative.

For me to consider a book collection complete, all the books have to be of the same height and have the same binding.

If the spines have a hidden design, they must be precise throughout all the books, and anything different is an irritating eyesore that leaves me no choice but to hide them until I find the missing books to complete the collection. It is infuriating when publishers stop issuing books half way through a collection – it feels like my children have gone missing. This happened with my Tolkien collection where the binding of the last book is different to the rest, so in my head I’m still missing the last book and the collection is still incomplete.

“The collection that I treasure most consists of six books. When I had finished reading the fifth one I just had to get my hands on the sixth. It was half six in the evening but I couldn’t wait until the next day, so I called my most trusted bookshop and I told them that I was on the way to collect it. I ran to the bus stop, caught the first bus and arrived just in time before they closed the shop. I was huffing and puffing and I remember the look on the old man’s face behind the counter. I finished reading the book that same night.

“Of course, I don’t think that I am overly obsessed, but I suppose even a drug addict would have a hard time accepting their addiction.”

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“I have been told that it’s an addiction because it’s impossible for me to imagine going without it. Depriving myself from chocolate would be akin to Chinese torture.

“I did try on several occasions though. Once, following the usual Christmas over indulgence, I went on a week-long detox diet. This consisted of a strict regime of fruit, vegetables, plenty of water and obviously no chocolate. I managed for the first two days but fell off the wagon on the third when in a desperate attempt to distract myself from the craving, I decided to clean out a drawer that had not seen the light of day in a long time. I found all sorts of junk in its dark recesses, including a lonely sugar coated chocolate ball which rolled out from among the debris. It must have fallen out of an old wedding favour and I had no idea how long it had been there. It was covered in dust and other bits of muck, but to me it was the most beautiful sight ever. With tears in my eyes I gingerly dusted it with my fingers, and popped it into my mouth feeling that incredible adrenaline rush.

“Another day I was stuck at home with the flu and got the usual craving. Since I was all alone and too sick to go out, I starting rummaging through my sin cupboard with the hope of finding some chocolate, but no luck. Then I got a brain wave. I emptied a carton of chocolate chip-cereal on the kitchen table, picked out all the chocolate bits and ate them.

When I was done I did not even have the decency to throw it all away and instead, I put it all back in the carton and tried not to look guilty when my husband came home from work and helped himself to a bowl of cereal. After a couple of spoonfuls and one look at my face, he knew exactly what I had done.”

Daily denim New Look has launched a new initiative that puts customers at the centre of their latest denim campaigns. Real people are the stars of New Look latest photo shoots – Iona, Anthon, Kamilya and all the other New Look stars will soon be seen in campaigns worldwide.

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Confessions

The idée fixe

Claudette Portelli is a qualified psychologist as well as a trainer and senior collaborator at the Centro di Terapia Strategica of Arezzo (Italy) founded by Paul Watzlawick (USA) and Giorgio Nardone (Italy). She is also a Strategic Coach and Trainer at W&D’s Business Advisory Unit.

All the cases reported here show a state of idée fixe, each dominated by a recurring thought which often dictates a specific uncontrollable behaviour. The name originates from the French idée meaning idea and fixe meaning fixed.

Although it is not used technically to denote a particular disorder, idée fixe is often considered a parent category of obsession and obsessive compulsive disorders. This state can become pathological when the individual’s life is completely taken over by an attachment to another person, being or object.

Usually individuals get obsessed or fixated on things that they or others consider to be inappropriate – they can

10 - FM / March 2011

become obsessed with a lost love, with collecting something which is practically never-ending, about something they cannot control, or something that they cannot have. Sometimes they can become obsessed with something illegal or immoral or which is considered bad for them.

It is very easy for humans to obsess on particularly anything. An obsessive thought can get fuelled further by a compulsive act and our very efforts to block something or someone out of our minds and out of our lives, can turn that something or someone into an obsession, hence the common complaint – “The less I want to think about him or her, the more I do.”

While a compulsion often starts off as a means to generate pleasure, alienate from pain or anger, or relieve anxiety, over time, the individual can then lose control and the compulsive behaviour takes over their entire existence. Moreover, obsessions and compulsions can give the individual a certain identity (chocoholics, collectors, perfectionists) and their behaviour becomes their specific exclusive characteristic. This might give the individual what psychologists call “secondary gains” which makes that person more resistant to any attempt to modify this condition.

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Feature

The politics of clothes Is Islamabad Fashion Week the first stilettoed step to freedom, asks Daniela Brockdorff.

L

ast January 24, all eyes were turned in anticipation on Islamabad, Pakistan. This time, what captured the world’s attention was not breaking news about turmoil in the area. Rather, it was dazzling colours, stunning textures and fabrics, and diverse, cutting-edge striking designs that captured our imagination.

January 24 will be a day to remember as it was the first day of the first ever four-day fashion week in Islamabad.

A creation by Nilofer Shahid, who participated in the Islamabad Fashion Week

The IFW stops being about fashion and takes on a visible and perceptible political tinge.

The Islamabad Fashion Week was a spectacular feast for the eyes. Pakistan’s traditional colours flowed down the catwalk along with contemporary Western touches. IFW showcased the collections of designers of world-renown, with Iabel Meeras, Ammar Belal and Nilofer Shahid amongst others.

Yet apart from the glitz and glamour, was the intention to capture a new picture of Pakistan successfully fulfilled by the IFW? The fashion week was indeed a subtle liberal riposte at the Pakistani traditionalists.

The Guardian fashion writer Huma Qureshi maintains that, “The organisers of the capital’s four-day fashion show hope it will prove that there’s more to Pakistan than politics.”

But can such an event in such a location ever be apolitical? A quick glance at any features written in relation to the IFW hint at, or directly refer to, the political issue in Pakistan. Qureshi’s same feature ends with Andleeb Rana Farhan’s (editor-inchief of Pakistani fashion monthly Xpozé) highly political comment: “There’s definitely a lot of uncertainty in the air and a war between ‘them’ and ‘us’ – them being the mullahs, and us being the open-minded liberals who want a change,” states Farhan. “The latter have come to a point where they’ve stopped giving a damn and just want to have a good time.

The Pakistani fashion industry is on a roll.”

FM / March 2011 - 13

Feature

The Pakistani fashion industry is definitely on a roll but will it carry along with it a burst of liberalism in Pakistan?

Certainly, the attempts are evidently there. Referring to the work of students from the Gujranwala Institute of Fashion and Technology, who were given the opportunity to show their repertoire to worldwide viewers, Zainab Omar (from Blue Chip) said that, “This is how we will combat fundamentalism. Give people a chance to express themselves, show their creativity and do something productive and meaningful.”

What’s more, at the Press Conference given at the close of the IFW, Paco de Jaimes, founder of the WFO (World Fashion Organisation), maintained that the event helped at “Building global bridges of understanding across nations.”

Suddenly it is as though the IFW stops being about fashion and takes on a visible and perceptible political tinge. The IFW website even includes messages for the occasion from the Pakistani President and Prime Minister. There is practically no difference between the two messages – both highlight the economic boom that this show was expected to bring along with it, given that the textile industry is a predominant one in Pakistan.

“The holding of such events,” states the President, “plays an important role to attract local as well as foreign investment in the country. In addition, it will also help create jobs, alleviate poverty and thereby helping fight extremism and terrorism.”

As for the Prime Minister, he

14 - FM / March 2011

echoes the President and claims that, “The holding of such events plays an important role to attract foreign investment in the country.” Even the organisation’s objectives cited on the website are predominantly economic.

Undoubtedly, the social fabric proves to be inextricably woven within the fashion industry. As proven, it can no longer be just about fashion. Great expectations accompany the birth of the IFW, expectations which are intensely ideological. Of course, following such a stream of thought, one is led to ask: What about the women?

As Rewaj.com states, “For the first time in the history of any fashion week being held in Pakistan, a model hunt was conducted to bring on board new models.” Thirty models from the streets of Lahore and Islamabad were chosen specifically for the event and put through rigorous training. Very well, but what will this truly signify for the oftensilenced Pakistani women? A big hush surrounds such a question. On the web, not much is voiced about what this female exposure will entail to the Pakistani culture. True, de Jaimes does declare, “People don’t realise how fashion industries contribute to the eradication of poverty, to social integration, to empowerment of

women,” but will such fashion events, in fact, empower the women of Pakistan? Perhaps, one might argue.

Yet, only time may tell.

Furthermore, what needs to be said is that through the IFW, Islamabad managed to give itself a new face through its next top model Anam Ahmed, a 16-year-old O-Level student.

Unquestionably beautiful, will she however come to symbolise a fresh new liberal Pakistan? Will she ever dispel the oppressive cloud that seemingly hovers over the heads of Pakistani women?

According to the IFW website, “The first ever Islamabad Fashion Week will indeed create both history and inclusion of Islamabad with the world’s fashion capitals.” Indeed, it did mark its place on fashion’s calendar but will it truly make history? And most importantly, what future will follow this history? Islamabad may soon be included with the world’s fashion capitals alongside London, Paris and New York, but what changes will this bring to the world’s perception of Pakistani culture? Yet again, I must conclude by saying that, ultimately, only time may tell.

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Feature

We have a dream What fashion items do we fantasise about, asks Maria Michela Formosa.

Most of us

live in a world where beauty has become a trade, fashion an art and designers demigods. It’s a world where we are what we wear.

Unfortunately, the average woman is not a celebrity or a millionaire. When it comes to keeping our closets updated, the bank savings are just able to stretch to high-street items, leaving the designer wear reluctantly in a dreamy corner.

Students have it worse because their purchasing power is obviously weaker. Yet that doesn’t mean they don’t make an effort – on campus, you can immediately tell which girls have an eye for fashion. They’re the ones who strive to look a million bucks. However, when it comes to designer items, all they can do is dream.

Francesca Farrugia For her dream fashion item, this beauty chooses a Louis Vuitton Keepall 60 travel bag.

“This piece is a classic example of the Louis Vuitton travel collection. It is one of the smallest versions of the travel collection but it features comfortable rounded leather handles, a double zipper and an elegant removable ID holder.”

Why a Keepall and not any other Louis Vuitton bag from the collection?

“I would go for a Louis Vuitton Keepall rather than a simple handbag because the latter is too ubiquitous. Also, travelling with such a bag would dress up any outfit I would have on, and hey, I would feel like a celebrity.”

Maria Grech Brunette Maria dreams of having a Marc Jacobs Crossbody bag in her closet.

“Its rich colour is just enough to heighten the senses and attract attention. Yet it has such a simple design.”

Darcell Falzon This 21-year-old dreams of owning a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps.

Why Marc Jacobs?

“The Crossbody is a spacious carryall without all the bells and whistles that other designers are adding to their bags. It would be perfect to go to school with it, always with the aim of staying stylish.

I have been saving a long time for a Crossbody, but I still don’t have enough to buy it.”

I have been saving a long time for a Crossbody, but I still don’t have enough to buy it.

16 - FM / March 2011

“Not just any pumps, though. Louboutin is known for his signature red-soled shoes, but for the opening of the London Selfridges Shoe Gallery he created a yellowsoled black patent leather pumps to go along with the boutique’s theme.”

Why Louboutins and not a pair of Jimmy Choos?

“Getting to know about Christian Louboutin himself made me fall in love with shoes. His designs are just unique – you can never predict what his new collection will look like. He dares to be different and that is something I really admire in people. Louboutins are something I would wear with pride because a pair of shoes can change your life. Just ask Cinderella.”

OPENING SOON AT 18, TOWER ROAD, SLIEMA.

Feature Gail Camilleri This fashionista dreams of owning a Louis Vuitton bag.

“Any bag from the Louis Vuitton collection would do, be it the monogram brown or white one, the checked one or patent ones.”

What makes Louis Vuitton so appealing to you?

“Owning a Louis Vuitton bag is something that I have always longed for. How Louis Vuitton became such a famous designer is also an interesting story which contributes to my love for this designer. I love the bags mostly because they are chic and to die for. Roaming the streets with a Louis Vuitton on my arms would be one of my biggest wishes.”

Nicole Borg This University student dreams of hanging a maxi Versace dress in her wardrobe.

“I would love a gorgeous vivid blue Atelier Versace maxi dress from the SS 2011 collection.”

Why a maxi dress?

“First off, maxi dresses have always been my weak point.

They are in fashion at the moment and wearable for any classy occasion, whether it’s a wedding, a gala dinner, or for award nights. As soon as I saw Jessica Alba wearing this dress for the Bafta Awards, I fell in love with the colour and the way it just flows.”

Nicolette Livori This Waterfall dancer dreams of having a Balmain dress in her closet.

Facial expression Facials are a great way to freshen up and deep-cleanse your skin. Chemimart’s facials vary from soft and hydrating to deep-cleansing and suit different skin types. During the facial, the Chemimart team will diagnose your skin’s needs and give you skin maintenance tips. Visit Chemimart stores to discover just how much a facial can do for you.

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“I dream of one day owning a hot-pink-and-glitter Balmain dress from the SS 2009 collection. This dress deviates from the norm but it still remains stylish. I love skintight sophisticated dresses.

Also the detail it has, mostly on the chest and sleeve, is very much in vogue, even though I doubt that a dress like this can someday become unfashionable. Plus, it would feel brilliant to wear a £15,100 designer dress. It smacks of 1980s rock and is totally hot.”

It would feel brilliant to wear a £15,100 designer dress.

These girls got me pondering about the dream wear I lust for. Mine has got to be just like Gail’s – a Louis Vuitton monogram bag. The texture, the form, the little golden lock, the trademark monochrome – everything contributes to what makes this bag probably the most wanted bag of all decades.

Labelled items have taken the world by storm. Designers create and invent new stuff in order to make us dream. These dreams, though, come at a price – a pair of Nicholas Kirkwood shoes or a Hermes bag do not come cheap.

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Fashion

A star in stripes Always fashionable and fabulous, it’s the return of the stripe. Photography - Tonio Lombardi, Stylist - Kira Drury

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01. Tommy Hilfiger cardigan - €75.00 / 02. Mango jumper - €24.90 / 03. Miss Selfridge top - €26.00 / 04. New Look pumps - €18.99 05. Oviesse hat - €12.99 / 06. Bershka dress - €19.99 / 07. Dorothy Perkins top - €28.00 / 08. Orsay top - €12.95 / 09. Stradivarius tee - €9.95 10. Peacocks bag - €22.50 / 11. Piazza Italia shades - €9.99 / 12. Tommy Hilfiger sandals - €129.90 / 13. Ralph Lauren shirts - €92.00 each 20 - FM / March 2011

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Food

Choc therapy

L

urking in the corners of the kitchen cupboard, it patiently waits to be released from its clinging wrapper. And who am I to keep it waiting?

Oh chocolate, how I love you so. You give me this warm fuzzy feeling inside, on days when all I would want to do is abandon everything, live on an island and befriend a coconut tree. Yes, you are definitely a keeper.

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You see, chocolate is my number one comfort food. It lifts me up when skies are grey and the mood is black. Of course, that is not to say I don’t have other comfort foods. There’s ice cream, sweets – really the list is endless. However this need to eat such delicious guilty food doesn’t just affect me. No matter how much lettuce you put on your salad or how many veggies you stuff in a wrap, in stressful times, women will turn to one food category – comfort food.

What is it with women and comfort food? Why are we so prone to stuffing our faces with sinful treats when we’re stressed? There we go hunting in the sweets cupboard, fingers snooping around for that tub of ice cream you’re sure you didn’t finish off last Tuesday after that horrendous day at work.

I don’t know what men use as therapy for their dog days, but women have a tendency to indulge in food which makes us feel better and comforts us when we’re down in the dumps. Psychologists, researchers and everyone who is involved in tracking brain activity is determined to explain why in times of stress, women always go back to that particular food which comforts them, albeit gaining a few kilos in the process.

All women know that the difference between men and women is so extreme at times that it leaves us wondering if they really did come from another

I’ll have two scoops of ice cream and a side order of stress please, says Martina Vella as she snacks on comfort food.

planet. Studies in comfort food have established that difference yet again, saying that while men would pick meat, pasta and pizza as their main comfort foods, women tend to go for food which is high in fat and sugar like chocolate and ice cream.

Not only that, but for men, comfort food is associated with positive emotions like a promotion at work or their football team winning. Unfortunately for women, as usual, it is not that easy. Women indulge in comfort food in order to alleviate the negative feelings they’re going through. Whether it is a bad day at work or a fight with their partner, fatty foods such as cakes and sweets are what a woman eats when trying to beat the blues.

Although one has to take into consideration individual differences for choosing a particular comfort food, most women generally tend to indulge in chocolate, ice cream, fried food, crisps, sweets, cakes and cookies. But why do we keep going back to this delicious fatty brigade? Well, apart from the fact that they’re just basically a yumminess overload, some of them contain components which trigger a sense of wellbeing when eaten. Phenethylamine is a component that makes you go all Willy Wonka for chocolate. A molecule found naturally in our brains and also in chocolate, phenethylamine raises blood pressure and blood glucose levels making us more alert and giving us a sense of contentment and relief.

It is also known as the ‘love drug’ as it quickens your pulse, thus mimicking the feeling of being in love.

Although in times of stress you see women reaching for the cookie jar, sometimes we just want to eat something that takes us back in time when life seemed just a little bit simpler. It’s not surprising for a woman to eat ice cream for comfort if it probably takes her back to childhood memories and rosier times.

FM / March 2011 - 23

Food

Sins on a plate Ladies, you are not alone. Having a bad day? It’s ok. Be a little selfish and just treat yourself to the kind of food that is a warm blanket to your cold winter.

Bernice Camilleri, 25 Hairdresser and part-time model Comfort food: Nachos

Isabelle Borg Magro, 32 Business woman and mother Comfort food: Bread and cakes

Since I was a child I was always active and I knew that I needed to practise a sport to keep fit and look good. Being a professional hairdresser and salon owner, I’m always very busy but I make sure that I eat healthy and nourishing food.

Growing up I used to love playing with my brother and sister in my family’s field where we would then sit down all together to eat a delicious meal of fresh vegetables, fruit and meat. Being a mother and wife as well as a boutique owner, I always try to cook nutritious, healthy food even if I’m occupied with work most of the time. Still, there are days when I don’t eat anything for hours, only to end up indulging in bread and cakes at home after a stressful day. But what I really love about bread is that it takes me back to my childhood and all its innocence.

On the other hand, I also have my eating and munching moods.

When it comes to cravings I’m totally addicted to salty snacks, mostly nachos. After a busy day at work and an hour of intense training at the gym, the only moment I’ll be looking forward to is having a nice hot shower, relaxing on the sofa and enjoying a well-deserved packet of crunchy, salted or spicy nachos.

Jackie Busuttil, 38 Speech therapist and mother of two young children Comfort food: Anything but especially chocolate When I lived on my own I never kept any chocolate, biscuits or cheese in my kitchen cupboards – it was the only way I could stop myself from eating them. Now when I’m on a diet and I’m upset about something or someone, I immediately go for chocolate, cereals, anything really.

More than stress it’s the fact of not having any time to eat properly, no routine. Taking care of a baby and a young child, it’s difficult to have a proper meal so I eat whatever I find, even my daughter’s school lunch.

24 - FM / March 2011

Krista Ellul, 21 University Student Comfort food: Bread and meat I just love food. I try to be careful about what I eat but come exam time, salads and soups go straight out the window. I have cravings but they always change when studying for exams, from cheese toasties to strawberries and ice cream. Never chocolate, though.

Apart from University I also work so sometimes trying to juggle things around can get a bit stressful. Nothing makes me feel better than a typical Maltese ħobża – it always puts a smile on my face, as does a juicy hunk of meat.

shop at

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Promo

Being man woman

Shot in Malta, the new FCUK campaign is witty, tongue-incheek and visually captivating.

FM goes backstage and meets photography collective Blinkk and stylists Jodie Barnes and Georgina Hodson.

Leila and Damien de Blinkk Q: What makes French Connection campaigns so hard to ignore?

A: The sense of humour. It is very difficult to mix fashion, sexiness and style with a humorous twist, but I think we achieved it.

Q: How did you manage to give the campaigns such diverse qualities as elegance, confidence and a sense of humour?

A: The team has worked with French Connection for three seasons now so we know how we all work. This helps, particularly when we work abroad. The secret is, even with a crew of 40 and five tons of equipment, to be just the photographer and model having fun together and really becoming the ‘The Woman’ or ‘The Man’. It also helps having fantastic locations like Malta and Gozo, which gets everyone into the spirit of the process.

Q: The campaign is both immediate, in that it captures the viewers’ attention, and long-term, as viewers have to invest time in watching the campaign and discovering multiple layers. How critical is this time factor in an advertising campaign?

A: You must work on every layer of the campaign working by itself and being engaging by itself. Having a theme run through the campaign means that everyone discovers new elements of the campaign every time they see it and hopefully they ‘get it’.

Q: How did you marry your own style with that of your client, French Connection?

A: I’m really comfortable working within the framework of French Connection, particularly with the online films where we can express ourselves visually and through humour.

FM / March 2011 - 29

Promo

Jodie Barnes Q: With an academic background in English and French literature, what pushed you towards a career in styling?

A: I was interested in fashion but not that interested in designing and just fell into it. Fantastic Man magazine has given me the opportunity to express myself more as an artistic director, which has been enormously fun and rewarding.

Q: How important is good chemistry between stylist and photographer for a successful campaign?

A: You have highs and lows but the best approach is to be good humoured and politely offer advice. A good photographer will know when to listen.

Q: How does styling help clothes have a deeper conversation with viewers in the context of a campaign?

A: It is about feeling the context. If someone is on a beach, a lot of jewellery and high heels can seem weird. Often you find yourself taking things away to make the look work.

Q: How did you marry your own style with that of your client, French Connection?

A: I view the whole collection and then edit down my choices. This gives a fair reflection of my style mingled with French Connection’s style.

Georgina Hodson Q: How important is good chemistry between stylist and photographer for a successful campaign?

A: It can be political but if you know the photographer you help guide them. Also, the photographer will be interested in how the clothes look within the context of the photo but not how they actually look – so it’s important to make sure you have selected the best possible clothes.

Q: What is the essence of the French Connection man?

A: He is stylish but not obsessed with fashion. He likes quality, expensive looking fabrics and bringing a distinctive look to his most casual clothes. The designs take a lead from London fashion even more than the ladies collection does.

Q: How does styling help clothes have a deeper conversation with viewers in the context of a campaign?

A: It is simple. They just have to feel right. Sure, the viewer might not ride a motorbike but he can get away with a leather jacket if he feels comfortable and cool.

Q: How did you marry your own style with that of your client, French Connection?

Read on. Join our Femme Magazine page.

30 - FM / March 2011

A: This is my third season so I really feel I ‘get’ the French Connection look. The clothes really suit a modern man, so I feel there is a synergy between myself and the collection.

Beautiful on the outside Photographer - Tonio Lombardi www.toniolombardi.com Stylist - Kira Drury Make up - Nicola Powell M: 9986 5369 Hair - Michelle Galea T: 2745 4164 Model - Cristina at models.com.mt

Oviesse shirt - €16.99 Mexx cardigan - €37.50 Topshop shorts - €55.00 New Look gloves - €1.00 Accessorize necklace - €23.50 Debenhams heels - €42.00

French Connection dress - €99.50 Bershka heels - €35.99 Mango necklace - €24.90

Dorothy Perkins dress - €59.00 New Look waistcoat - €14.99 The Doll’s House necklace - €15.00 New Look socks - €6.95

34 - FM / March 2011

Monsoon tunic - â‚Ź130.00

FM / March 2011 - 35

Topshop blouse - €49.00 Bershka polka-dot dress - €35.99 Peacocks hairband - €5.00 The Doll’s House shades - €8.00

36 - FM / March 2011

The Doll’s House shades - €8.00 The Doll’s House shirt - €45.00 Tommy Hilfiger trousers with belt - €140.00 Tommy Hilfiger heels - €179.90

Dorothy Perkins dress - €49.00 Monsoon jacket - €99.00 Oviesse hairband - €5.99

FM / March 2011 - 37

New Look blouse - €24.99 Miss Selfrdige shorts - €44.00 Bata shoes - €69.00 Carpisa bag - €35.90 Accessorize ring - €14.90 Accessorize ring - €12.50

38 - FM / March 2011

Miss Selfridge jumpsuit - €66.00 Peacocks waistcoat - €29.00

FM / March 2011 - 39

Trends

Spring awakening FM dresses you up for the beautiful season.

Finally

, the hints that spring is here are pretty obvious – the weather is calmer, birdsong is all fluttery and happy, and we can finally shed those winter layers and strut our stuff.

The colours, shapes and 32-tooth smiles of spring are reflected in the season’s fashion trends.

This season, it’s all about feminine silhouettes, fun playsuits, and head to toe white. Colours are soft like powder blue, lavender and dusty pink while prints are floral and watercolour, which sit particularly well on satin, chiffon and linen.

Other materials like georgette and lace are popular, especially for layering and creating that romantic look.

Two decades that have particularly inspired designers this season are the 1950s and the 1970s. Tuxedo pants walk in straight from the 1950s while the 1970s is present in neon colours, flares, fringes and maxi dresses.

Denim also makes a comeback, though we suspect that it never actually went away.

Jeans are skinny and straight fit in darker hues like charcoal.

High-waisted shorts and mini-dresses are also body-conscious and ultra-short – perfect to show off your first tan.

Accessorize - €27.90

Post-war freedom The 1970s are visually present this season, with waist-fitted skirts, short jackets, leisurely sleeves and exposed stomachs.

Yet the 1950s also make a grand appearance – John Galliano, especially, wowed Paris with a line-up of voluminous dresses, embroidery and tulle layers creating a chiaroscuro effect.

Erdem

Flower power Spring is the perfect season to wear flowers in your hair and on your outfits. Oscar de la Renta went for lush roses to create majestic dresses while Karl Lagerfeld combined floral prints with chintz dresses and silk collars.

Monsoon - €132.00

Monsoon - €21.50

Accessorize - €54.00

John Galliano 40 - FM / March 2011

New Look vest €21.99 skirt €44.99

Kristina Nesvadbova model Valerio Gianni certified accountant

shirt 24.99 EURO

dress 29.99 EURO

Eleonora Abbagnato ballerina

shirt 19.99 EURO

Michelangelo and Erica

jeans 39.99 EURO

Celebrate the new opening with us with a full day of activities and animation and get a 10% off for the day

Trends Zac Posen

Accessorize - €21.50

Emilio Pucci

Getting tough

Halter skelter Monsoon - €217.00

Military trends may have taken a back seat this season, yet fear not as the S/S 2011 girl is still a tough nut to crack. Her strong silhouette is further toughened up with punk accessories as well as leather biker jackets and denim vests.

Celine

Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Fendi and Vena Cava have all turned to halter necks in long and short dresses – instant sophistication.

Accessorize - €39.00

Monsoon - €116.00

Sleep over For this season, designers like Michael Kors, Vena Cava and Alexander Wang have gone ultra-casual with very relaxed items in soft, natural fabrics. Think boudoir.

Accessorize - €54.00 42 - FM / March 2011

New Look vest - €21.99 shorts - €24.99 strap wedges - €32.99

bigbon franchise

St Lucia Street - Valletta The Point - TignĂŠ Follow us at www.stradivarius.es

Trends

The Barometer The Barometer The Barometer The The Barometer Barometer It’s in the jeans

Thakoon

Numerous denim pieces have walked this season’s catwalk, especially Celine, Stella McCartney and Derek Lam who have showcased skirts, denim tops and vests in all washes.

Wear Nicki Minaj – move over, Lady Gaga Relax in loose pants

Diane von Furstenberg’s Zia shoes – spring in your step Luca Luca’s Fall 2011 collection – ultimate elegance

New Look dress - €54.99 wedges - €32.99

Tear Local talent shows. Erm, where’s the talent?

Short skirts, good. Having to wax again, bad Katy Perry wearing a plastic bag Very expensive jeans – a sad day for that most democratic of fabrics

You are model?

Dolce & Gabbana

White hot True, it’s not really a colour. Yet this season, head to toe white is all over – Max Azria took a minimalistic approach, Ann Demeulemeester went all multilayered while Valentino used white for the ultimate romantic effect. Victoria Beckham also came up with a great interpretation, using white for her graceful dolly dresses.

44 - FM / March 2011

French Connection is giving aspiring models a chance to kick-start their career by applying for a model search that could land them on an editorial shoot by a top photographer from Milkshake magazine. The winning model also receives a one-year contract with top local agency models.com.mt, a French Connection voucher to spend at their outlet in Baystreet, a weekend break at The Palace Hotel as well as getting to appear in the French Connection 2011 Spring/Summer collection launch.

Any female models wanting to try their luck need to head down to French Connection, Baystreet to pick up an application and then hand it in at the search event on March 30 from 5:00 pm onwards.

Blog watch The who, what, why, wear of the net www.alltheprettybirds.blogspot.com Fashion goes out on the streets www.swagger360.blogspot.com With a swagger in your step www.flypaper.bluefly.com Your daily dose of trends

Spring / Summer 2011 Collection

Old Theatre Street Valletta Tel: 2385 9330 The Point, Tigne Point, Sliema Tel: 2385 9385 De Tigne Complex,(Next to Nazarene Church), Sliema Tel: 2385 9375 The Duke Shopping Mall, Republic Street, Victoria Gozo Tel: 2385 9367

So Seventies

Fashion

We’re going ga-ga over this drool-worthy spring trend. It’s a fashion-flash back. We <3 the 70’s.

Photography - Tonio Lombardi, Stylist - Kira Drury 02

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01. Clarks black wedges - €89.95 / 02. Mango black platform heels - €99.90 / 03. French Connection bag - €95.00 04. French Connection belt - €69.00 / 05. Stradivarius dress - €27.95 / 06. Mango necklace - €39.90 / 07. New Look shades - €4.99 08. Bershka jeans - €29.90 / 09. Accessorize hairband - €7.90 / 10. Topshop blouse - €55.00 / 11. French Connection necklace - €18.20 12. Stradivarius top - €25.95 / 13. Stradivarius belt - €9.95 / 14. Accessorize ring - €12.50 15. Accessorize ring - €12.50 / 16. Peacocks bag - €19.50 / 17. Mexx bangle - €16.48 / 18. Oviesse stud bangle - €4.75 19. Oviesse bangle - €3.50 / 20. Peacocks bangle - €10.00 / 21. Miss Selfridge shoes - €58.00 22. Mexx wallet - €32.95 / 23. Orsay shirt - €24.95 / 24. New Look skirt - €29.99 46 - FM / March 2011

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.

You should be so lucky

Makeover

Out of the Closet Stylist Luke Engerer turns Jeanette Micallef into a 1950s diva.

Before

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.

We meet Jeannette at Roots Hair Salon. She’s wearing dark leggings, top, and, horror of horrors, Ugg boots. I hate Uggs – I just can’t understand how anyone would want elephant ankles.

We have some serious pampering in store for Jeanette. I had dropped in on her a couple of days before and had a good rummage through her wardrobe. Jeannette has a good selection of clothes and lots of different styles, but after meeting her and having a good look at her I really want to do something tastefully sexy.

Jeanette’s classically beautiful face inspired a 1950s pin-up look.

If you want to be our lucky makeover girl, drop us an e-mail at model@ fmlifestyle.com and tell us why we should choose you. Also, include your contact details and attach two photos of you – one full body and one headshot – with your e-mail.

About a girl I’m a very joyful and what-you-see-is-what-youget girl. However, I’m also very sentimental. My style reflects all that. That said, I also experiment a lot with my style and like to adapt it to the season’s trends.

My iPhone is a precious possession – it’s great to have all my apps and notes on one single device.

Make up

Melanie Gregory, M: 7772 8043 “I first used an illuminating cream as a base and then followed with silky pale foundation and shimmer powder.

I used a touch of soft apricot blush on Jeanette’s cheeks and for her eyes I went for a cream coloured eye shade as a base and a peachy shade on the outer eye corners. I also used a gel contour liner and a pair of faux lashes.

To finish off the look I used a blush pink lip colour followed by a clear gloss.

I like my eyes best. On the other hand, I don’t particularly like my lower half, since I’m a bit curvy.

The nominee Our nominee for this month is Jeanette Micallef, who is all of sweet-16 years old.

Jeanette wrote to us saying how, “I have always wondered what having a makeover would feel like. I changed my look a lot over the last couple of years in search of my personal style, but I still have not found one which gives me the right amount of elegance.”

Jeanette, who is currently studying at Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School, also finds her fashion inspiration in Gossip Girl.

Hair

Michelle Galea at Roots Hair Salon T: 2745 4164, M: 9945 4164 “I first applied a natural gloss and added a bit of tone for more illumination. Then I set Jeanette’s hair in rollers from end to root to give her more bounce, and put her under the dryer for half an hour.

Afterwards, I took out the rollers and styled Jeanette’s hair with a 1950s twist.”

“I love those fancy, expensive dresses that the girls in Gossip Girl wear. Of course, I don’t have the budget for them, but I still try to get the same effect with more affordable options.

“I really wish you would choose me for your FM makeover – it would be a dream come true.”

Currently, my favourite item in my wardrobe is a black lace dress which can be dressed up on really classy occasions and dressed down for a more casual event.

Shopping is my weakness. I buy anything with a bow and cannot resist a gorgeous pair of high heels. I also buy things which I never find the occasion to wear. And when I cannot choose between two items, I end up buying them both.

I have a rigorous daily beauty routine. I always wash my face, apply toner, moisturiser and, if I have a stubborn pimple, some treatment. Three times a week I also treat myself to a face scrub.

As for make up, I don’t wear a lot during the week – it’s just eye liner, mascara and lip gloss and I’m ready to go. Then during the weekend I glam up with foundation, eye shadow, black liner on the upper lashes, mascara and lipstick.

During the week, I take half an hour to get ready.

I wash, choose my outfit and accessories, get dressed and splash some perfume. When I’m going out during the weekend, it takes me two hours to get ready. I wash, dry and straighten my hair, choose my outfit and accessories, get dressed, apply make up and perfume, and I’m out.

In my spare time I jog, watch movies, and search on YouTube for new make up looks I can experiment with.

FM / March 2011 - 49

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After “I really like the outfit Luke chose for me – it’s fun yet stunning and goes very well with my make-up.

The white shirt and cute jean shorts are so 1950s. The curls make me look like a different person and the make up definitely brings the whole look together.

“I loved the whole experience. I was very excited and curious at the same time – the final look is just gorgeous.”

FM / March 2011 - 51

The list

Power dressing FM votes for the 10 best-dressed politicians

THE LADS

Barack Obama

Prince Felipe

The USA’s first black President and one of the few leaders who actually looks good on a t-shirt. Always sharp in tailored suits, but when the going gets casual, he’s the first to put on a pair of jeans and still look stylish.

Prince Felipe of Spain’s athletic figure – he was a member of Spain’s Olympic sailing team at the Barcelona Games in 1992 – is certainly a plus point. And he knows how to use it stylishly.

Dmitry Medvedev

Prince Charles

John Fredrik Reinfeldt

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev is one of the most powerful men in the world, and his sartorial style is a reflection of that – polished yet mute, it suits a man who is totally in control.

True, he’s not a politician, yet his careful attention to sartorial detail still gets Prince Charles a place on our list. Polished and dapper, the future King of England dresses for the occasion.

The Swedish Prime Minister is one of the few politicians who can successfully coordinate colours. Looks best in well-cut suits, but his carefully chosen ties are a mirror of the soul.

Nyamko Ana Sabuni

Ruby Dhalla

Eunice Elizabeth Olsen

THE LADIES

Mara Carfagna Alina Kabaeva The former showgirl turned Italy’s Minister for Equal Opportunity is widely considered to be the most beautiful minister in the world and is often referred to as “Mara la bella”. And her wardrobe is the envy of all women.

FM / March 52 - FM March 2011 2011

A member of the Public Chamber of Russia, Alina Kabaeva is a former Olympic gymnast who certainly makes politics very interesting to follow.

Last January she graced the cover of Vogue Russia dressed in a gold Balmain dress.

Currently serving as Minister for Integration and Gender Equality in the Swedish government, Nyamko Ana Sabuni matches her model looks with the kind of wardrobe that is uncannily simple yet elegant.

The first South Asian woman to be elected to the Canadian Parliament, Ruby Dhalla was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. It’s not just beautiful looks and a stylish dress sense for Dhalla.

True, she’s no longer a Member of Parliament in Singapore, but how can we ever forget Eunice Elizabeth Olsen, a former beauty queen who made parliamentary sessions look like a catwalk.

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Always knows that if you look and feel pretty and feminine, you feel better – there’s no question about it. Not just a bit better - a heck of a lot better. And it’s the little feminine touches, however big or small that help you put a spring in your step and give you confidence.

Always also knows just how far the way us girls look affects how others see us. We may be burning up inside after a painful break up, or with nervous anticipation before making that work presentation. But if you’re wearing a killer dress or super chic suit, and your nails are beautifully manicured (in the latest, must-have nail colour – even better) you project something quite different. You look great, pulled together and in control – and that gives you a quiet, inner confidence, like a serene, beautiful water lily floating on the water’s surface.

8 Fabulously Feminine Confidence Boosters: • • • • • • • •

Use a new scent Wear silk underwear!

Wear your favourite lippy – even when picking up the kids from school Keep a sexy pair of heels under your desk at work in case of last minute evening plans Get a new haircut Use highlighter cream on your cheek bones & cupids bow Wear statement earrings!

Use a floral water spray to keep you feeling fresh all day

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Shopping

What I bought this month Little sister Jacqui Losco comes of age.

Photos by Christian Sant Fournier.

B

eing the youngest sister of three does have its advantages.

“If I didn’t have my sisters, my wardrobe would be dull and boring,” says Jacqui Losco, 17. “Both Lisa and Ira have different styles which I happen to like, and so it works well for me when I borrow their clothes. The only problem is that the feeling is not always mutual,” Jacqui laughs.

Currently studying Maltese, Italian and French for her A levels and ballet, which she has been practising for the past 10 years, Jacqui burst on the local modelling scene last year.

“I was always interested in fashion. I love studying models in fashion magazines and always try to memorise what my sisters wear to try and recreate their outfits. My first modelling experience happened last July when, together with another 11 girls, I was chosen to take part in Supernova Model - The Competition. I won the competition and continued to model.”

For a model, Jacqui doesn’t shop a lot.

“I only shop about once a month,” she says. “I then let go when I’m abroad and buy a lot since clothes are usually cheaper. Still, I always look at price tags as my budget is tight. But if there is an item that I must have, then I’ll just buy it – otherwise, I’ll moan about it for ages.”

Jacqui rarely makes mistakes when shopping.

“I always seem to wear anything I buy. If I don’t like the way something looks, then I’ll just alter it to look better.”

What does Jacqui think suits her best?

“If it’s comfortable and looks right I guess it suits me.

However, my friends tell me I look good in very flowing pants similar to harem pants – I have a pair from Promod which I adore. I’ve also recently bought a cheap pair of indie pants from an Italian market which I adore.”

As a model, Jacqui is obviously on the ball when it comes to current fashion trends.

“I refer to magazines for fashion updates, but I sometimes like to mix and match. Also, I don’t seem to have any problems to create my own look. This season, my favourite trend is punk – I like the studs, heavy boots and the whole rock chic look.”

56 - FM / March 2011

Jacqui's wardrobe

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MODEL SEARCH T he Photography: Pierre Camille Styling: Carina Camilleri

scouting challenge FM and models.com.mt have teamed up to scout for upcoming models.

If you think you have model looks and style, e-mail your photos to info@models.com.mt and you will have the chance to be the next FM model, and part of models.com.mt team.

This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s model Name: Aleta Tabone Age: 20 Works: at HSBC Ambition: to travel around the world and start my own beauty business Favourite colours: Pink and black What do you love? Ketchup What are you wearing? Dress and shoes by Fornarina and cardigan by Nora Joe from YouYou Favourite make up? Waterproof eye pencil by Deborah Milano

FM / March 2011 - 59

Style wise

What I know about style Kelsey May Connor models her learning curves.

I’m 18 years old and currently studying Art and Design at MCAST. I hope that in the future I’ll be an art teacher and organise art exhibitions.

I remember when I was around five years old, my mum used to take me on her shopping trips. I would spend hours going through rails of clothes, trying them on and posing in front of the mirror. And I always had a say in what I wore. I think that got me interested in fashion.

I’ve always wanted to model but because of my studies I didn’t have much time. But last year I decided to go for it – I signed up for a modelling competition and did very well, considering it was my first experience.

I did my first fashion shoot last year and it was very exciting – I was very shy but it turned out well.

I’m a very timid girl but in front of the camera I become a different person.

Models like Brooklyn Decker and Bar Refaeli are my inspiration. They are curvy and have a flawless face.

My current favourite item in my wardrobe is a dress I wore for New Year’s Eve. It is a body-conscious black dress with roses around the neckline. It’s sexy and elegant at the same time.

I don’t like baggy or knitted clothes as they don’t suit me. I prefer tight dresses which bring out my curves.

I’m currently preparing for Miss World Malta and working towards competing in more competitions, working on campaigns and building my modelling career.

60 - FM / March 2011

Kelsey’s rules of style Take small steps not big ones when changing your style and you won’t make any mistakes.

Dress your age and yet don’t. Find clothes that suit your age but also be bold and dress out of your age group. What matters most is how you feel in what you are wearing.

It’s true what they say about black – it makes you look more sophisticated and thinner and always looks expensive and chic. Year after year, black is always in fashion, so invest in black.

No matter how popular a trend is, don’t wear it if it doesn’t suit your figure.

It doesn’t matter what you wear, so long as you feel good in what you are wearing. Walk tall and proud and make your outfit shine from within.

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Drink milk as part of a healthy diet.

CAMPAIGN FINANCED WITH AID FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION AND MALTA Co-financing: 50% EU Funds, 20% National Funds, 30% Private Funding

THE LEARNING ISSUE ISSUE 06 MARCH/APRIL 2011

MALTA'S LEARNING CURVE

EDUCATION MINISTER EXAMINES OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

TRAINING & MOTIVATION

JEFFREY PULLICINO ORLANDO ON SCIENCE

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Cool rooms

A German master Art hotel virgin Mona Farrugia paints a pretty picture in Munich.

T

he guy behind the reception desk at the Anna Hotel is about to have a major panic attack. His worry levels are so dangerously high that I can see fresh wrinkles creasing his face by the second, and I start worrying that maybe, he is worrying a bit too much.

Then he mumbles an apology or six and retreats to the back of the store next to the reception, where he proceeds to examine the contents of around five cardboard boxes. They are packed with every charger known to businessman and woman.

Nonetheless he cannot find the one I want â&#x20AC;&#x201C; either a three-pin to two-pin adapter or an iPhone charger with two pins. I never thought this would be such a tall order.

The moment he accepts defeat and presents me with the news, I am almost relieved that his Herculean task is over. A full-blown first aider I might be, but I have no idea how I would have explained to the Malta embassy in Germany that I had to resuscitate a guy after asking him for a converter plug.

The irony of it all is that the Anna Hotel is the kind of place which you would expect to store a million chargers. It was converted, from the ground up, with the achingly hip and electronically connected in mind. To get in, I got thoroughly confused because it has three glass doors overlooking a square in the very centre of my favourite German city â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Munich. The first leads to the long bar which is packed day and night, the second is the entrance to the dining area, while the third is, in my case, the right one as it grants me access to the reception, a cute little thing fashioned out of what seems to be brass.

FM / March 2011 - 63

Moreover, the hotel is also odd in its modern methods of organisation. There is, for example, no room service, as I find out in the morning when I call for my hotel staple – the cappuccino in the room. Yet every item in the mini bar costs a ridiculous €1, which must be some kind of hotel world record.

The design is lush, minimalist and warm at the same time. This is why I approach my room on the fifth floor with some trepidation. I have never stayed at an art hotel before, simply because normally, this means that when you get to your room, you walk into a blank space and you have no idea where the designers have hidden the bed. You need a map to make it to the shower in the morning. Then once you do, you need your mobile phone with you at all times simply to call reception and ask them where the real phone is.

The Anna is not this at all. The rooms are simply made up in beiges and whites but all the materials are fine. I have learnt, having stayed with friends, that in Germany they do not do fluffy towels, and here they are also slightly sandpapery. There must be some kind of environmental, anti tumbledryer movement operating underground.

Maybe the condoms are also recyclable.

Whoa there. What are those? I open my amenity box in the bathroom and find a pack of cotton buds, tissues, and bang in the middle, between those two, a couple of condoms. Oh well, for those who have been in a position (or various positions) to swear halfway through the night simply because they have not packed any, this is a hotel that really sorts out your sex life too. After all, Germany is the place where even prostitutes are so organised they are unionised.

Most hotel rooms in European cities are really tiny. I have been in posh 5-star properties in Paris where there are two steps from the bed to the bath and the lift will take either me or the luggage but not both.

My room at the Anna, a standard double for single use, is simply huge by comparison.

There is a comfort and cleanliness to the design. The television is on a stand and I can turn it whichever way I like.

I settle in and snuggle up against the down cover. Somebody knocks on the door. I look through the peephole and I see the receptionist, fixing his hair and sweating behind my door.

I open, hoping not to shock him too much now that I’ve stripped all my make up off.

“Is this it, Madam?” he asks me, handing over a converter plug.

64 - FM / March 2011

“Yes it is,” I beam a smile at him.

“Are you sure? Is that it?”

“Yes it’s fine,” I reply. “It’s perfect.”

“Oh thank goodness,” he breathes out as if somebody has just announced he is not about to die. “I had to run to the other hotel to get it.” He almost bows and speeds off down the thickly-carpeted corridor.

Service, Bavarian style. Who would change it for anything?

Capital shopping In Munich, shopping is fun and as you would expect, really organised. It is also good quality and surprisingly good value.

Munich’s Apple store in the Rosensstrasse is every techie’s starting point. As with every other Apple store in the world, there are three million staff to handle what seem to be 90 million customers.

Or, not to exaggerate numbers, it is packed with staff but no matter how many of them they put there, there will always be too many customers to handle. It took me half an hour in the queue in order to buy a simple DV wire. I cannot imagine what would have happened if it had been the full-blown iMac I was going for. Remember also that German keyboards are different from British and US ones so if you plan to purchase a laptop, call ahead.

Beauty products are of excellent quality, especially in pharmacies where top-end creams and unguents such as those from Dr Hauschka are available. Pharmacies also stock a wonderful selection of homeopathy products as a matter of course.

Boots and shoes are also good quality and due to the nature of the weather in Germany you will find sexy styles which are also practical – lined boots and shoes may come with rubber soles (warm and nonslip) but they don’t make you look like grandma.

Mona Farrugia edits and writes for restaurant review, food and travel website www.planetmona.com.

Her work for FM has been syndicated in India.

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Last word

The queen of chess Singer Chess makes the right move on music, fashion and a gothic wardrobe.

My family lives and breathes classical music – it’s my parents’ passion, especially my mother for whom it is also a profession. This had a very positive effect, as my family could understand my love for music. However, I was the one to push forward and decide that I wanted music to be my life.

I cannot imagine myself doing anything but studying music, singing and performing.

There are a lot of artists who inspired me to go into music, although admittedly, some influences are quite embarrassing. As a young girl, I used to spend hours singing along to Westlife, the Spice Girls, Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. But then I discovered the wonderful voices of Stevie Wonder and Freddie Mercury and I said, that is what I want to sound like. A more female version, of course.

I believe it is very important to be versatile in the music industry as it is forever changing. The more experimental you get with your music, the more interesting and original it is. The more you can do and understand, the more you can create. Ultimately, if you can specialise in two areas, you’re twice as employable. By experimenting with R’n’B, dance and pop music, I’m just trying to explore the wide spectrum music has to offer.

Girl aloud

Name: Francesca Galea, Chess Age: 18 Studying: Music at the Academy of Contemporary Music, Surrey I love fashion. However, I would never wear something just because it’s in fashion – I have to genuinely like it. Style and fashion are equally important to me.

If I had to choose between a pair of Louboutins or Jimmy Choos, I would go for the Louboutins – that red sole just does it for me.

My appearance is a vital part of my performance.

It is amazing how a performance can radically change with a great outfit. I like daring clothes; daring but classy. When I am writing a song I even imagine the choreography and clothing for the song.

My wardrobe is very heavy on black – but at least, I can say that everything matches. I’ve got a lot of different materials though – lace, velvet, satin, suede, leather. I’ve got a few coloured bits, including a cow suit, which is just for fun really. I also love short dresses and really high platforms.

I write my own songs. However, I need to be in the right mood because there are days when I can’t even write a decent line. I can be quite dark when I write, and I tend to depict these experiences in my songs. When I’m sad my songs seems to write themselves. On the other hand, I can write really simple, happy songs like Can’t Get Enough.

66 - FM / March 2011

Settling down in the UK wasn’t as bad as I thought.

But that’s just me – I’m up for adventure. After all, this is what I want to do so there’s no reason to hold back or be afraid.

In a couple of years, I hope to be making some sort of financial profit out of singing and performing so that I could dedicate all my time to music.

T E L UT

O T A W N NE OPE MA NOW ZA, SLIE LA

P THE

INT ROD UCI NG

MENS

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