When it comes to traditional male fashions, women, it would seem, are increasingly wearing the trousers. Take the humble tux, for example, and Tom Ford's autumn/winter 2011 collection of covetable velvet versions for ladies.
Bianca Jagger has been a lifelong fan of the tuxedo and famously wore a white one in 1971 when she married the Rolling Stones frontman Mick. Other leading ladies who've been making strides in silk suits for years include Lauren Bacall, Kate Moss and Lauren Hutton. And few could forget Celine Dion wearing a back-to-front tuxedo and jaunty fedora by Galliano for Dior to the Oscars in 1999.
It was the late great Yves Saint Laurent who made "Le Smoking" or the female tuxedo a wardrobe staple back in 1966. For a woman, the designer said, the suit was an "indispensable garment" which was "continually in fashion" because of its timeless qualities.
His prophetic words have rung true and the style continues to evolve, not least here in the Middle East with Emirati sisters Hind and Reem Beljafla fashioning abayas in line with global trends.
In recent months, the designers have been inundated with orders for their bespoke tuxedos, which start from around Dh2,500.
The pair have given classic tux features such as the ruffled dress shirt a twist, changing the colour from traditional white to pillar-box red. Bow ties, too, are getting similar treatment and come in a variety of customised shades, including gold, silver and of course the classic black.
View the autumn / winter 2011 collection at www.dascollection.com or visit the DAS boutique in Jumeirah 3.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months