Fifteen Fall 2020 Accessory Must Haves

By Nanise Mohamed

In the good faith of that old fashion saying “An accessory can make or break an outfit”, we’ve decided to dedicate this fashion feature to every single trendy piece of accessory you will need in your closet this 2020 fall. Buckle up; you will have a lot of shopping to do after reading this!

One of our favorite head accessories for this year is the padded headbands. They definitely add a cute edge to your outfit and turn it from a 5 to a 10!

Looking for something handy and hip? Try out this fresh new phone necklace this fall.

Next big thing? Heart lockets everything. Belts, earrings, rings, bracelets, YOU NAME IT! 2

The classic chain watches are coming with full on force this season; unleash your inner Audrey Hepburn now!

If you’re a fashionista who enjoys going the extra mile for a fashion look, we highly recommend you own one of these. 5

Bored of your old scarves? Embellish them with some brooches for a fancy night out!

Another trend we won’t be kissing goodbye anytime soon is the tinted and colorful framed sunglasses.

The number one trend that started this summer and will be taking over the fall as well is the buckets, of course. Try the plussized ones for extra groove!

For the second year in a row, the hair clip game is on fire. Try different shapes and colors for a hip frizz-free look this fall!

We honestly just love a shirt dress with a wide belt. Haven’t tried it yet? This fall is your chance!

Chains are in, we get it. But this chain belt look is so trendy we just can’t hype it enough!

Hoop earrings have been trendy for what, 3 years now? We honestly lost count. But those new ones with a pendant twist will make you want to buy tons of them now!

Into belts? You have to give this belt trend a try this fall. Make sure you add it to a plain simple outfit!

Another way to channel your inner Audrey Hepburn is owning white sunglasses. They’re so in and will gracefully complement any fall outfit!

You don’t need us to remind you of this one fall accessory, right? It’s simply a MUST. October 2020 21

By Nanise Mohamed

We have some news for you, summer is now over and it’s time to make some necessary wardrobe changes. Did we say necessary? Yes, but also fun changes. The fall season is upon us, and it’s officially the sweater weather. Good news is, you don’t have to give up on all your summer clothes just yet; some fall trends combine a few of our favorite light pieces too! Sleeves are back with amazing hip twists. No, you won’t be looking like your mom and aunt throwback outfits. Sleeves are all sorts of fun this season. Shoulder Pad the sleeves area, be it puffy sleeves or Lucky for us, this retro trend is making draped sleeves or something else we’ll its way back to the fashion scene and find out later. Don’t underestimate the strongly. Don’t worry though, they power of sleeves! Make sure to pick items that play around

Belted Blazer Know what’s the coolest way to wear a blazer this fall? With BELTS. It’ll add a more defined vibe to your silhouette and will kill the boring office blazer look no one wants.

Collars Say hello to collars, everyone. Big collars, medium collars and even small collars are back. No, without the Charleston pants. But they’ll add a nice touch to your sweaters and blazers for sure!

Knitted Vest Like them or not, the knitted vests are the one fashion item most designers seem to agree on this fall season. Try it in your favorite colors, we think it’s worth a go!

Leather Coat Ready or not, the leather coat is this season’s must have. It started to reappear a little last year but this year it’s strongly becoming a celebrity staple.

Bags with Pochette A huge bag trend that we’re going crazy about is the cross body bag with mini pouches on the strap. It’s super stylish and will have you looking like a fashion blogger with any casual outfit!

By Nanise Mohamed Give the girl the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world, right? Actually, we believe the rule also applies to bags and accessories. With the right accessory pieces, a girl can feel confident and whole in her outfit. Accessories are things you just can’t skip. That’s why we’ve decided to focus our seasonal trend report exclusively on the hottest accessory trends for the fall, freshly picked out of the runways!

Hobo Bags They are chic and practical and have this retro touch to them that we just love. We think it’s about time you too catch the trend. But if you just can’t work a small bag, you should look for a different style though!

Chunky Boots Don’t you just love some added height? No, we’re not talking about heels. We mean the other amazing find that is the comfy yet super stylish chunky boots. Lucky for us, they’re strongly back in the shoe game this fall!

Chains Chains are everywhere now. Boots, bags, headbands and necklaces. And, honestly, it’s fine by us, we love the trend and we always rooted for its comeback!

Heavy Gold Chokers Are you still wondering what the statement accessory piece for the fall season is? Don’t look any further, it’s heavy gold necklaces. Add it to any plain outfit this fall and up your fashion game sky-high!

Over the Knee Boots There’s always something about high boots that gives us “Pretty Woman” vibes. If you don’t mind catching some eyes, try this comeback trend and channel your inner 90’s Julia Roberts.

Fancy Headbands Headbands witnessed a huge spike this summer and we’re glad they’re also making their way to fall and winter. Make sure to get at least patterned and embellished ones!

Interview by Aya Aboshady

Photographer: BATOOL AL DAAWI - BLOW CREATIVE STUDIO Stylist: YASMINE EISSA Makeup Artist: DIANA HARBY Hair Stylist: AHMED MOUNIR

Netflix is finally bringing us the first Egyptian original on its international platform and it’s based on none other than the widely popular book series all over Egypt and the Arab world, “Paranormal”. The mystery/ thriller was written by the late author Ahmed Khaled Tawfik and we’re going to see it on screen through the eyes of its creator and director Amr Salama.

We had the pleasure of talking to him as well as director Majid Al-Ansari, producer Mohamed Hefzy and the amazing cast Ahmed Amin, Razane Jammal, and Ayah Samaha about this highly anticipated project!

1. How was the idea of bringing a huge series like “Paranormal” to life on screen initiated? What did you have in mind during the casting of the show?

Amr Salama: Back when I was only 9 years old, the very first non school-related book that I’ve read was “Paranormal”. As I grew up I started to have the dream of becoming a director and bringing this specific project to life. I’ve always been a huge Ahmed Khaled Tawfik fan that I later began to stalk his social media accounts everywhere in order to officially meet him. He was like a godfather to me, as he is to a whole generation. Years later, in 2006, producer Mohamed Hefzy and I finally acquired the series’ copyrights and have tried to work on it numerous times until we finally pitched it to Netflix in 2018, and now here we are! In terms of the casting, I always stop at questions like “Why Ahmed Amin as Refaat Ismail?” and I’m always like “Well, who else?”Simply because when I was still imagining the show and how everything was going to be like, I only pictured Amin in the role and could no longer see anyone else because for me, he is 100% Refaat Ismail. Same for the rest of the cast, they’re all very talented, smart, and have done nothing but make things easier for Majid and I as we worked together on the characters. To the point that every time I saw any of them on set with their character’s makeup and costumes, I would get super excited as if a child has just seen the actual character from their favorite book in real life.

2. “Paranormal” is such a different genre for both the entertainment scene in Egypt and yourself as an actor. This time around, people will be seeing you in a different light, how did you prepare for the character of Dr. Refaat Ismail and what initially drew you in to the role?

Ahmed Amin: From the very beginning of my career I’ve worked in theatre so it hasn’t always been comedy roles for me. But it’s true that my kickoff in the entertainment scene was as a comedy actor so I would understand why the audience will be seeing me in such a different light. As for this role, director Amr Salama and I have been working closely together in order to figure out how I could accurately portray Dr. Refaat Ismail on screen. It took both of us countless hours of rehearsals, effort, and hard work. It’s also important to note that this character has always had a very special place in my heart because I was actually a fan of the Paranormal series itself as well as the late Ahmed Khaled Tawfik on both the personal and the professional levels. And I cannot, in any 28 October 2020 way, deny that playing such a unique role has been quite the challenge, but I honestly hope it turns out well and that people enjoy it! 3. You’re definitely aware that the mystery/thriller genre is not very common in the entertainment scene in Egypt and the Arab world, especially when it comes to series. How do you think our audience will react to this different genre?

Razane Jammal: Yes that’s definitely true. However, as actors, it’s very progressive. We usually receive the information little by little. So when we first received our scripts and the idea of the show itself, instead of focusing on the genre, we focused on our own roles and did our research accordingly. As for the audience reaction, I feel that they’re going to focus more on our performances and the atmosphere of the show rather than the uniqueness of the genre itself and how new it is. And I personally think and hope that they’re going to really love it. 4. Filming and wrapping up during the Coronavirus pandemic surely wasn’t easy, how did you guys handle these challenging times?

Mohamed Hefzy: There’s no doubt that it’s been very difficult, especially since “Paranormal” is already a huge project and a rather challenging and very ambitious one in itself. But thankfully, we were able to make it and push through all the rough times together as a team. Ayah Samaha: The necessary precautions were very well taken care of so the location was very safe. Everything was very well scheduled, on point, and extremely organized. Every crew member was very aware of their roles and tasks on set. There was no pressure at all to finish shooting or get something done because there was a time set for everything and everybody was very committed. 5. What do you personally love about your characters and how was it like playing a role that’s completely different from anything you’ve ever done before in your career?

Razane Jammal: What I love about Maggie, my character, is how smart she is. She has a thirst for knowledge, she loves adventures; she’s also completely honest and not afraid to voice what she thinks. Most importantly, while shooting, we focused on the human side of our characters and were really passionate about bringing Refaat and Maggie’s relationship to life. For me, walking in her shoes was very fun, especially that we share a lot of qualities.

Ayah Samaha: I love that the show is set in a different era. Back then, things were very different for women and for people, in general. And bringing this kind of calm and different atmosphere to life right now was a challenge. As for my character, Howaida, despite the difficult times and the fact that she comes from a conservative family and had a complicated relationship, I like that she is a very strong woman and the love triangle in the show really portrays that. 6. You’ve already expressed your love for Dr. Refaat; did you read all the books preparing for the role? What did you find really challenging about his personality - considering that he’s very complex and multidimensional? Ahmed Amin: I actually read the series more than once growing up. And when I was the editor in chief of a children’s magazine, I was lucky enough to befriend Ahmed Khaled Tawfik during my time there because he was working at the same place. I got to learn a whole other side of Refaat Ismail due to the great similarities between both of them. But I would say that the one challenge and the side that was harder to portray on screen was how as a person, Dr. Refaat Ismail never showed what goes really on inside his mind.

7. How was the experience of working with Amr Salama like on such a very significant project? Razane Jammal: Amr is a visionary; he’s very talented and it’s been a pleasure working with him. He’s also not the kind of director who imposes his view; it’s a collaborative work for him. So he trusted us and gave us a voice. And it was honestly the same with Majid, despite how different their work styles are. Ayah Samaha: As an actress, I’ve always wanted to work with Amr Salama. And as soon as I landed the opportunity, I clinged to it and it was a dream. Everything I had already heard about him turned out to be true and he really is that director who would give a lot of space for creativity to his actors. I was truly comfortable and at ease while working with both him and Majid. It’s been an honour. 8. We’ve been hearing so much about how the visual effects and graphics in this series’ postproduction are going to be out of this world and we’re so excited! Can you talk to us about the execution?

Amr Salama: All I can say is that we’re very proud of the outcome and we’re very grateful that Netflix helped us in the execution and post-production process with their expertise. Not to mention that all of what you’re going to see on screen has been proudly done in Egypt, which is very new and of course was under Netflix’s supervision. Majid Al-Ansari: It was quite the challenge but we’re very proud. It’s slowly getting there and we’re thankful for the team behind the execution and even though we can’t really talk much about this part right now, I’m pretty sure that people will enjoy it! 9. Did you expect the huge reactions post the announcement of the series? What are you hoping that the fans take out of “Paranormal” once it’s released?

Amr Salama: Well, I’ve been getting threats on my social media for quite a while now from the fans of the series as soon as they heard about the adaptation. So I’m honestly terrified but really excited and definitely hoping they love it! Mohamed Hefzy: Even though Amr mentally prepared me for the hype that was going to follow the announcement due to the popularity of the book series, I still didn’t expect the amazing reaction and it only gave me the push I needed to work harder and really give the fans and the audience what they deserve! Ahmed Amin: Above everything, I’m personally hoping that it satisfies the fans and readers of this book series and I would love to see it surpass the success of the books - considering that Netflix is an international platform and the chances of “Paranormal” making it all over the world are not at all unrealistic so we’re very excited! Razane Jammal: I can promise you that the fans will fall in love with Refaat. And for me, I’m very excited and looking forward to the release because I believe that Netflix brings people and different cultures together and it’s great for the Egyptian audience to be represented on such a global platform. Hopefully, we can continue to produce more works from the Arab world and share our stories and love for cinema with the world.