
Monochrome Monday: The Cream Tan Edition
Cream Tan is the understated neutral that's anything but boring.
Cream Tan sits somewhere between nostalgia and nonchalance—a hue that feels instinctive, like sun-warmed skin, aged leather, or the quiet wear of time-loved fabric.
In the 1970s, Halston and Yves Saint Laurent leaned into muted earth tones, letting fabric and form do the talking. The '90s took it further, with Calvin Klein and Donna Karan proving that pared-back palettes hit harder than any neon flash. Cream Tan is that perfect in-between—neither too light nor too deep, effortlessly slotting into any wardrobe while still demanding attention. It tempers sharp tailoring, deepens cool shades, and carries the weight of vintage nostalgia without trying too hard.
In recent months, MENA and global brands have taken the shade into stride, putting out some of their most innovative pieces to date…
Khawla Alaiban | Gilded Embroidered Dress
This creamy, draped gown flows like liquid gold, topped with a sheer embroidered veil that catches the light just right. The structured draping and subtle shimmer make this a no-brainer for effortlessly-elegant styling. By Sana Osmani | Wella Dress
This soft champagne-gold dress is draped to perfection. The delicate pleating, halter neck and subtle shimmer make it the ultimate special-occasion dress— just add a glossy lip and let the magic happen. Jimmy Choo | The Saeda
These creamy pointed-toe pumps with a crystal-embellished strap feel like jewellery for your feet. The perfect mix of sophistication and sparkle, they're the kind of heels that make you want to dance all night— because why not? Salam | Amira Dress in Vanilla
This sand-colored wrap dress with fluid movement is cinched at the waist for that perfect, flattering shape. The soft sheen gives it an ethereal glow, making it ideal for sunset strolls and rooftop iftars. Style with strappy sandals and let the dress do all the talking. Noble & Fresh | Look Five in 'Stereotype' Collection
This boxy, raw-edge blazer from the Saudi brand in the softest shade of beige is paired with wide-legged trousers that scream 'effortlessly put together'. The exposed seams and slightly undone feel make it an anti-suit suit. Vaga the Label & By Farha Farouk | Dragon Pin
This pair of intricately designed dragon pins in gold bring drama and mythology into the mix. Pin one on a sharp blazer or both on a structured dress for a tiny detail that makes a big impact. Knitss | Cashmere Cardigan
The cozy, oversized camel-toned cardigan feels like a wearable hug. The mix of textures makes it both luxurious and laid-back, perfect for sipping coffee in an art-filled café or catching a flight in first-class style. Ropea Bags | Mini Bucket Sand
This structured yet soft tan bucket bag features intricate basket weaving and a chunky rope handle. The neutral shade makes it a year-round staple, with the texture adding a handcrafted touch. Wear it with breezy linen in the summer or an oversized coat in the winter. Faok | Bucket Hat Vanille
Faok's bucket hat adds a relaxed streetwear edge to any look, perfect for those 'cool without trying' moments. With its effortless shape and neutral tone, it's the kind of piece you throw on without thinking—and somehow, it pulls everything together. Mehtap Elaidi | Artvi̇n Shirt & Ultra Wide Leg Pants With Pleats
A playful twist on a classic, this top brings together crisp white poplin in a structured button-up silhouette with a beige parachute overlay for a deconstructed, layered effect. Featuring a sharp shirt collar, short wide sleeves with turn-up hems, and a contrast fastening line, it's a piece designed for effortless styling.
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CairoScene
5 hours ago
- CairoScene
Acclaimed Saudi Film ‘Hobal' Now Streaming on Shahid
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Egypt Independent
a day ago
- Egypt Independent
Humanity and Honesty
Lord Francis resides in a beautiful estate about an hour outside central London. Each year, he invites me to a very special dinner where he gathers guests from literally around the world. Last year his dining table hosted 36 guests and although I didn't count this time, it must have been a similar number, if not more. It is a black-tie event and even though I am not fond of those I complied each year and arrived at 6:30 pm on the dot, as per the invitation. After being welcomed by Lord Francis, who inquired about my family and Egypt, and following a 45 minute reception where I mixed with many of the guests, we were then led to the dining hall. The sight of it never ceases to amaze me, with its sheer size, high ceiling, and intricately detailed walls featuring his ancestor's portraits alongside a dozen Rembrandts, Caravaggios and Gérômes, plus a huge Deutsch depicting the Egyptian 'mahmal' going to Saudi Arabia. Lord Francis had been to Saudi, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait on multiple occasions and also had a home in Morocco that he would visit frequently with his extended family. My seat at the dinner was between Jeff Randall, an American asset management firm owner and Elizabeth Sanderson, an Australian Senator. Facing me was Osman Sakur, a Turkish industrialist. Dinner was was beautifully choreographed, served by at least 40 servers with at least two orchestra conductor-type leaders impressively managing the servers incoming and outgoing. The menu was brimming with options, and I chose salmon to start of, followed by a grilled Dover sole and steamed vegetables, and finishing with a mouth-watering chocolate fondue. Conversation during dinner was light and entertaining. At the end of dinner, Lord Francis gave an amazing recognition of all his guests in a light but insightful manner. The group include: Rose, a Belgian author and academic Ramadan, an advisor to the Emir of Qatar Ezra, an Israeli media CEO Alex, a Russian energy billionaire Soliman, a Saudi investor David, an American journalist Penny, a Singaporean hotel owner Yulia, a Ukrainian model and agency owner in Paris Giuseppe, an Italian politician Andreas, an Argentinian IT entrepreneur Yuanyun, a Chinese EV company owner Patrice, a South African mine owner Rahul, an Indian data center owner Reza, a former Azerbaijani Minister of Investment Laila, a Moroccan parliament member Josef, a German industrial defense owner Sandro, a Brazilian crypto leader and former hacker Gloria, a Kenyan real estate owner Ralph, a Canadian aircraft charter owner Cindy, a Swiss heiress Pierre, a French senator I lost track of the guests after Pierre was introduced. Lord Francis thanked us for attending, and as the huge clock in the hallway noisily indicated it was nine pm with nine string gongs, we were invited for coffee, tea, cigars and sage conversation. We walked across the massive hallway to another large hall with an ordained ceiling and heavy wood paneling on the walls, where two imposing marble fireplaces faced each other across the room. Servers appeared with coffee, tea, liqueurs, cognac and cigars. I took a green tea and sat in a large semi-circle of plush sofas and large seats ordained with Lord Francis' crests. As most in the room were regulars, we knew what was to follow. A candid discussion of the state of the world and what we expect to occur in the immediate future. Chatham House rules, careful language, no speeches and precise moderation by Lord Francis were the carefully crafted mannerisms of the after-dinner discussion. Lord Francis turned to Rose and asked her if she could name how many conflicts exist in the world today. Rose's answer, precise to the point, was that as of May 2025, numerous armed conflicts were ongoing worldwide, impacting millions and contributing to widespread humanitarian crises. The Geneva Academy's Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts (RULAC) project monitors over 110 active armed conflicts involving at least 55 states and more than 70 non-state armed groups. I was taken aback, as many in the room were more or less shocked by the figure of 110. Gloria erupted 'Oh my God!' and David shook his head, commenting that the global population did not have such a figure in their perception. Osman, holding an unlit cigar, stated that, 'The worst conflicts were in Sudan, Palestine-Israel and Ukraine-Russia.' 'Don't forget Myanmar, Ethiopia and Somalia,' Yuanyun added. Reza said, 'Political violence increased by 25 percent globally in 2024 compared to 2023, with one in eight people exposed to conflict and over 250,000 people killed.' Lord Francis turned to Jeff and asked, 'What is the financial cost of these conflicts?' Jeff demurred and admitted he could not provide an answer but that it was in the trillions. Laila stood up and exclaimed, 'It's not only the killing, it's the maiming, the injured, the starvation and destruction that the world does not see…' She took two steps towards a table to place her coffee cup and continued, 'I went to Gaza to receive the body of a Moroccan journalist killed by a shot to the head and could not believe the hell I saw.' Before Lord Francis could take back the mantle of the discussion, Giusippe reflected in a quiet but audible voice, 'We have lost our humanity and our moral compass has become mired in a blind fog.' Lord Francis noted Laila's emotional state and said, 'We all have seen different challenging circumstances, but Laila has seen humanity at its worst.' Laila said, 'I pray you never see children's body parts in the rubble rotting outside a morgue.' I could sense that the conversation was touching a chord amongst most of the group. Josef interjected that the world was a better place during the Cold War. All players knew the rules and played by them. Now it was a free for all and killing, bombing, massacring, injuring and destroying is an everyday sport. 'It must stop,' he finished. As I heard the discussion continue, detailing how tribes in Ethiopia are slaughtering each other, the way Sudan's civil war was fueled by outside players and hearing of Yemen's famine and mass displacement, my mind went to the better days where human beings cooperated to make the world a better place. I remembered how I saw strangers help one another during the 1967 war, how I, standing in pouring rain in Austria, experienced a female driver stopping to drive me to a youth hostel in Vienna. There were no homeless people that I saw in the 70s in major cities, as I see everywhere now. My mind returned to the discussion as Sandro was saying, 'The world is experiencing an unprecedented number of conflicts, which appear increasingly intractable. Violence from conflicts has risen dramatically by over 37 percent from 2023 to the end of 2024. If you want peace,' he added,' go to Iceland, but remember President Trump's words!' Lord Francis turned to David and asked 'how is the US?' Before David could respond, Yulia responded promptly, 'Unstable. President Trump's manner of ruling, opting for rule of the jungle rather than rule of law has created instability internally and globally,' she explained in perfect English, with no accent. David conceded that even though he is a Republican the Trump/Musk duo has created an atmosphere of uncertainty, stress, worry and tension. 'It's amazing,' he mentioned, 'that Trump's shock and awe policies framed in America's Supreme Court's decision to grant President's total immunity for official acts, is the new norm in Washington DC.' Cindy, usually a very quiet observer, said to Lord Francis in her Swiss-German accent, 'As the world is losing its humanity let's not forget in parallel, we are losing our honesty. Fraud,' Cindy gestured, 'has increased in an unprecedented manner globally, driven by technology and evolving tactics used by fraudsters.' Ralph agreed the increase was evident in both the volume of fraud attempts and the financial losses incurred by individuals and businesses. David interjected as he shuffled in his seat, stating that Americans in 2024 were defrauded to the tune of a billion dollars in an abundance of illegitimate schemes. My mind wandered again. I remembered in the 70's and 80's when I concluded successful business transactions based on a handshake, whereas today with a battery of lawyers and auditors you were faced with shocking dishonesty and fraud on multiple levels, regardless of written contracts. The clock in the hallway announced that it was 11pm. Lord Francis stood and we all followed. The next 15 minutes were warm goodbyes and exchange of last minute comments. I saw Lord Francis, expressed my sincere appreciation and found my driver hovering at the entrance. As I was driven home, I was worried that the coming generations will face the complications of increased conflicts, a lack of wise leadership, more dishonesty, enhanced technology, a greater dark web, more complicated crypto tools and AI tools defining a new world with less humanity, and greater difficulty in defining fact and fiction.


CairoScene
3 days ago
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Abadia Weaves Palm Tree Heritage Into Ethical Saudi Fashion
Abadia Weaves Palm Tree Heritage Into Ethical Saudi Fashion Fresh off winning 'Womenswear Brand of the Year' at the Riyadh Fashion Awards, Saudi Arabia's ethical luxury label Abadia brought its timeless storytelling to Cairo for the first time. I wasn't expecting to get emotional at a pop-up, but something about the way the light filtered into Villa M that afternoon made it feel like more than a fashion event. The way the clothes were draped across the room, the soft murmur of conversation, the scent of candles in the air, it felt more like walking into someone's family story. At the centre of it all stood Shahd ElShehail, founder and creative director of Abadia, an ethical luxury brand from Saudi Arabia that was making its Cairo debut. There was no loud branding, no aggressive marketing, just careful details, intentional designs, and a quiet kind of pride. Shahd was mid-conversation when I met her, wearing one of her pieces, structured, soft, and seemingly made to move with her. 'I'm Shahd ElShehail,' she said warmly, 'and I'm the CEO and creative director of Abadia. We're an ethical luxury brand from Saudi Arabia, and we try to celebrate heritage in a modern way.' A sentence that, in many ways, captured everything the space held. What seemed like a pop-up was really the continuation of something timeless and profound. From the way she spoke, it was clear that Abadia was rooted in memory. 'What inspired me was the craftsmanship in Saudi Arabia,' she explained. 'It's often women who carry this craft, who pass it down. That's a really important part of our story: that we are empowered and powered by women.' A lot of Abadia's work is nostalgic, looking back at the past and asking how those stories can be retold through a contemporary lens. What began with that reflection has since grown into an award-winning brand. Just a few weeks before arriving in Cairo, Abadia was named Womenswear Brand of the Year at the Riyadh Fashion Awards, a milestone that only reinforced what everyone in that sunlit room already felt: Abadia is doing something special. That presence was tangible. Her own mother stood nearby, sharing smiles and stories with guests. Later, when we spoke, she looked at Shahd, then back at me, and said softly, 'We're proud of her.' It was simple, but it landed with weight. Every Abadia collection begins with a story. Sometimes it's an inherited phrase. Sometimes, a place. Sometimes, a palm tree. Shahd, who's from Al-Ahsa, the world's largest palm oasis, told me, 'I'm actually inspired by stories that my mum tells me about my grandparents.' 'There's a love story I have with the palm tree, the same trees my grandfather sat under are the ones my children now sit beneath. Even if they never met him, they can feel his presence.' These kinds of emotional threads, inherited memories, passed-down places, are woven into every collection. The new spring/summer line introduced bamboo as a fabric of choice. Shahd spoke about it like it was a trusted friend: soft, breathable, luxurious, and most importantly, sustainable. But she's also quick to draw a distinction. 'Sustainable' can be a buzzword, she explained. 'Ethical' is harder to fake, and it's the word Abadia holds close. 'It's the core of every decision. How can we reduce harm to the environment? How do we support people in the process?' You could feel that in the clothes. The kind of pieces that don't beg for attention, but still hold it. Things you put on and forget you're wearing until you catch yourself standing taller. The kinds of garments that feel like they know something about you. 'I always hope that when women wear Abadia, they feel comfortable and confident,' Shahd said. 'Like the best version of themselves.' Looking around the room, women of different ages holding fabric up to the light, sharing mirrors, asking each other for opinions, you could see that happening in real time. No one seemed in a rush to leave. Some guests stayed for hours, moving between racks, refilling drinks, and asking questions. Beyond fashion, the space held a sense of presence. It was one of those rare events that felt both grounded and lifted. A reminder that fashion doesn't have to shout to leave an impression, sometimes, it just needs to speak in a voice that feels like home.