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Saudi fashion star Nojoud Al-Rumaihi turns heads in Cannes 

Saudi fashion star Nojoud Al-Rumaihi turns heads in Cannes 
The pink two-piece set from the designer’s 8PM collection featured a strapless corset-style top with simple yet intricate embroidery, and a criss-cross back. (Getty Images)
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Updated 23 May 2024
Arab News
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Saudi fashion star Nojoud Al-Rumaihi turns heads in Cannes 

Saudi fashion star Nojoud Al-Rumaihi turns heads in Cannes 
Updated 23 May 2024
Arab News
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DUBA: Saudi fashion star Nojoud Al-Rumaihi turned heads this week at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, wearing a blush ensemble by Saudi designer Mohammed Ashi, founder of Paris-based label Ashi Studio. 

The pink two-piece set from the designer’s 8PM collection featured a strapless corset-style top with simple yet intricate embroidery, and a criss-cross back.

The skirt had a mermaid silhouette with a train that trailed on the red carpet. To complete the ensemble, the set included fluffy, feathered detached sleeves. 

The fashion icon, with her makeup done by Dior Beauty, styled her brunette locks in a short retro bob. She accessorized with Marli jewelry.

Al-Rumaihi attended the premiere of the highly-anticipated movie “The Apprentice,” directed by Ali Abbasi.

As Donald Trump’s hush money trial entered its sixth week in New York, an origin story for the Republican presidential candidate depicted a critical portrayal of the former president in the 1980s.

“The Apprentice” stars Sebastian Stan as Trump. The central relationship of the movie is between Trump and Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the defense attorney who was chief counsel to Joseph McCarthy’s 1950s Senate investigations.

Cohn is depicted as a longtime mentor to Trump, coaching him in the ruthlessness of New York City politics and business. Early on, Cohn aided the Trump Organization when it was being sued by the US government for racial discrimination in housing.

According to AP, “The Apprentice” is a potentially explosive big-screen drama in the midst of the US presidential election. The film is for sale in Cannes, so does not yet have a release date.




She donned a long-sleeved dress adorned with white florals. (Getty Images)

Al-Rumaihi was not the only Saudi celebrity in Cannes this week. 

Actress Maria Bahrawi attended The Red Sea International Film Foundation Industry Networking Event which took place on Sunday, at which she donned a long-sleeved dress adorned with white florals, featuring pastel hues of purple, yellow, and orange, elegantly cinched at the waist.




She wore a black jumpsuit with a white cape attached to the sleeve, sourced from Dubai-based Etoile La Boutique. (Getty Images)

She also graced the celebration of “Norah,” a film in which she stars, hosted by Film AlUla during the festival. For the occasion, she opted for a black jumpsuit with a white cape attached to the sleeve, sourced from Dubai-based Etoile La Boutique.

Topics: Nojoud Al-Rumaihi Cannes Film Festival Lifestyle Reads of the Week

Yara Shahidi talks ‘The Optimist Project’ podcast

Yara Shahidi talks ‘The Optimist Project’ podcast
Updated 01 April 2025
Arab News
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Yara Shahidi talks ‘The Optimist Project’ podcast

Yara Shahidi talks ‘The Optimist Project’ podcast
Updated 01 April 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Actress and podcast host Yara Shahidi is part of National Geographic’s list of 33 “visionaries, creators, icons, and adventurers” from across the globe and she spoke to the publication about the project that landed her on the list.

In 1888, the National Geographic Society was founded by 33 pioneers in Washington. The “bold thinkers … aimed to reimagine how we encounter our world. Much has changed since then, but the mission that guided them — to expand knowledge and promote understanding—drives us still. In that spirit we introduce the National Geographic 33, a collection of visionaries, creators, icons, and adventurers from across the globe,” the publication explained of its new list.

Part-Middle Eastern star Shahidi, whose father is Iranian, was named on the list in the Creators subsection that celebrates “out-of-the-box thinkers developing innovative solutions.”

The “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish” actress was highlighted due to her podcast “The Optimist Project.”

Shahidi, 25, launched the podcast to explore how to live a more fulfilling life with various special guests hosted on each episode.

Shahidi, a Harvard graduate, says she was inspired by the dynamic conversations she has with members of her diverse family. The actress has two brothers — one is an actor and the other works in fashion — while her father Afshin Shahidi is a cinematographer. Meanwhile, her cousin is the rapper Nas and her grandfather was a Black Panther activist. Shahidi and her mother, Keri Shahidi, who together run their own media company called 7th Sun Productions, decided to take their musings to a wider audience with the podcast, which launched in 2024.

“We feel so fortunate to be having these conversations,” Keri, who is Shahidi’s co-producer, told National Geographic “But equally, we felt the drive to make sure other people had the opportunity to hear what we were hearing.” 

The podcast’s guests so far have included “Saturday Night Live” star Ego Nwodim, Tony award-winning actor Courtney B. Vance, and Laurie Santos, a psychology professor at Yale University. 

“Having to pour so much thought into basic survival doesn’t give your brain space to think about, Well, why are we living?” Shahidi said. “What would make me excited to wake up the next day?”

In her conversation with National Geographic, she went on to acknowledge that this is a challenge moment for the next generation of leaders. “It’s overwhelming to think about how broken some of these systems are, how imperfect some of our tools for change are … but with that comes an onslaught of very inspired, very motivated young people.”

REVIEW: ‘Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog’ offers a gritty, narrative-driven adventure

REVIEW: ‘Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog’ offers a gritty, narrative-driven adventure
Updated 31 March 2025
James Denselow
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REVIEW: ‘Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog’ offers a gritty, narrative-driven adventure

REVIEW: ‘Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog’ offers a gritty, narrative-driven adventure
Updated 31 March 2025
James Denselow

LONDON: In an era in which retro gaming is somewhat mainstream with remakes, reboots and remastered games emerging on a daily basis, “Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog” on Nintendo Switch takes things to the next level.

Going further back in time than most, it is a throwback to classic PC-9800 visual novels, blending deep storytelling with a minimalist approach to gameplay. If you enjoy immersive narratives and do not mind slow pacing, this game delivers a compelling experience — though it may not be for everyone.

“Gun-Dog” is all about story. Its deep, character-driven narrative demands patience, rewarding players willing to engage with a text-heavy experience. It starts by setting the scene of the Solar War and our protagonist being unable to prevent the loss of his crewmates. Four years later, they (you can choose your own name) are re-assigned to the Jovian patrol ship Gun-Dog which has orders to investigate mysterious signals coming from the edge of Jovian Space.

On board, the assortment of characters includes a love interest, a rival from the past and others who all seem to be hiding something. While choice is limited to movement, item interaction and conversation, the game excels at making you feel like your actions matter, especially when decisions come with a countdown clock to force your hand.

This is not an action-packed adventure. The game moves deliberately and offers little in the way of fast-paced mechanics. Exploration is limited, but the weight of each choice — especially in high-pressure moments — keeps engagement high. With sparse visuals and bit-crushed music, “Gun-Dog” leans into its retro inspirations. Interestingly, putting it on mute might give the best experience; the soundtrack can be more of a distraction than an enhancement.

“Gun-Dog” is a game for those who love slow-burn, text-heavy adventures with minimal gameplay distractions. If you are looking for deep lore, strong characters and a narrative experience, it is worth the time. Just be ready for a slower ride than that offered by most modern games.

Topics: Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog Stories from Sol

Farshi Shalwar: Centuries-old staple of South Asian fashion makes Eid comeback in Pakistan

Farshi Shalwar: Centuries-old staple of South Asian fashion makes Eid comeback in Pakistan
Updated 31 March 2025
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Farshi Shalwar: Centuries-old staple of South Asian fashion makes Eid comeback in Pakistan

Farshi Shalwar: Centuries-old staple of South Asian fashion makes Eid comeback in Pakistan
  • Farshi shalwar is characterized by floor-length, flowing and wide, loose pants, creating a dramatic and graceful silhouette
  • Stylists say trend dates back to the 17th century and was popular among noblewomen and courtesans of the Mughal era
Updated 31 March 2025
BURAQ SHABBIR

KARACHI: A centuries-old staple of South Asian closets, the farshi shalwar, is back in Pakistan and ruling fashion trends this Eid Al-Fitr. 

The word “farshi” comes from the Persian word “farsh,” meaning “floor,” and the farshi shalwar, particularly popular in Pakistan and northern India, is characterized by its floor-length, flowing and wide, loose pants, creating a dramatic and graceful silhouette. 

“Right now, it’s the hottest trend,” fashion stylist and director Tabesh Khoja, popularly known as Khoji, told Arab News, saying he first styled a farshi shalwar in 2023 for the fashion label of model and actress Sadaf Kanwal.

“I styled Sadaf Kanwal actually and after that I have seen every other designer doing a farshi shalwar version of their own,” Khoja said. 

The picture posted by Sadaf Kanwal Fashion on February 15, 2025, shows Pakistani model Sadaf Kanwal wearing farshi shalwar from her latest collection. (Sadaf Kanwal Fashion/Instagram)

No doubt, Kanwal seems to have played a key role in bringing the farshi shalwar back this Ramadan and Eid, with her label Sadaf Kanwal Fashion creating a number of outfits over the last two years featuring the baggy trousers. 

“Throughout the [last] year, I shot so many collections of so many designers and all of those designers at least used to have two farshi shalwars for sure in their collections,” Khoja said. “So it took us an entire year to make it a fashion trend.”

According to the stylist, the trend dated back to the 17th century and was popular among noble women in the Mughal era. Modeled after the flowing gowns worn by British noblewomen, the complete outfit consists of three basic parts: a kurta or a long shirt, dupatta or long stole, and the third and most important, the farshi shalwar or pajama, a flowing two-legged trouser held by drawstrings that falls straight to the ankles from where it starts flaring and flowing copiously onto the floor, trailing as one walks. 

In media, iconic movies such as Umrao Jaan (1981) and Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977) that depict Muslim culture of 19th-century Lucknow show noblewomen and royal courtesans wearing farshi shalwars. 

“They had a variety of silhouettes in terms of a kurta or a jacket on top, among other things. The outfit has been there, the silhouette has been there since the 17th century but how you make it relevant now is very important,” Khoja added.

The picture, posted on August 4, 2022, by the Instagram page " Purana Pakistan," shows Pakistani women wearing farshi shalwar in 1970s. (Hibah Najeeb via Purana Pakistan)

HOW TO STYLE A FARSHI SHALWAR?

According to Khoja, some of the popular ways to style the farshi shalwar include pairing it with a button down shirt and accessorizing it with different kinds of jewelry pieces and hairdos.

“You can dress it up or dress it down. Sadaf [Kanwal] uses big organza dupattas. You can do big shawls also like [actress] Mahira Khan wore [designer] Banto Kazmi’s when she got an award at the UK Parliament. So something of that sort also with a plain silhouette.”

The picture, posted on July 16, 2023, shows Pakistani models wearing farshi shalwar by designer Hussain Rehar. (Hussain Rehar)

Pakistani actress Tuba Anwar said celebrities had been wearing farshi shalwars since last year but the trend had “peaked” among the general public in recent months. For her, the fact that everyone would be wearing the baggy trousers this Eid reduced their appeal. 

“I was planning to wear farshi shalwar on this Eid and then when everybody started discussing it, I was like ‘No, this is not what I’m going to wear because I have to do something very different’.”

When she wore farshi shalwars at all, Anwar said she preferred them in solid colors.

“In terms of styling, I would like to wear it with solid colors, not a lot of embroidery going on, not a lot of things or abstract things going on in the clothes that I am going to wear,” she said.

Pakistani actor Tuba Anwar is seen wearing farshi shalwar. (Tuba Anwar)

The farshi shalwar craze is not limited to women alone. 

Actor and host Fahad Mustafa has donned the farshi shalwar look on his hit gaming show Jeeto Pakistan during Ramadan. Singer and songwriter Falak Shabbir has been seen in the outfit as well. 

“It’s certainly not limited to women. Fahad Mustafa was of course wearing it on Jeeto Pakistan. I am going to wear it on Eid,” Khoja said. “So, you will see a lot of people of different sorts, male and female, wearing it.”

Pakistani actor and host Fahad Mustafa r is seen wearing farshi shalwar. (Fahad Mustafa)

 

Topics: Farshi Shalwar Pakistan Eid 2025

Review: Nicole Kidman’s ‘Holland’ is an underwhelming thriller

Review: Nicole Kidman’s ‘Holland’ is an underwhelming thriller
Updated 30 March 2025
Matt Ross
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Review: Nicole Kidman’s ‘Holland’ is an underwhelming thriller

Review: Nicole Kidman’s ‘Holland’ is an underwhelming thriller
Updated 30 March 2025
Matt Ross

LONDON: If you think there’s something unnervingly familiar about “Holland,” then you’re in good company. In this new thriller from Prime Video, directed by Mimi Cave (2022’s excellent “Fresh”), Nicole Kidman plays a permanently frowning wife who just can’t quite shake the feeling that something about her picture-perfect life isn’t quite right – which, when you think about it, could also be the logline for the actor’s turns in “The Stepford Wives,” “Big Little Lies,” “Expats,” “The Perfect Couple” and probably a half dozen others.

This time, Kidman’s Nancy suspects that her optometrist husband Fred (Matthew Macfadyen) may be having an affair. We don’t really ever find out why she thinks this, beyond the fact that she has ‘a feeling’ and suffers from weird, surreal dreams in which the town they live in — the titular Holland, Michigan — merges with the model village Fred is building in their garage. So, despite having no obvious reason to do so, Nancy and her work colleague-turned-extramarital crush Dave (Gael García Bernal) decide to follow Fred to find out what he’s up to.

The setup for discovering Fred’s secret takes up the majority of the movie. Macfadyen, here simply playing a more homely version of his character in “Succession,” makes for an entertaining enough man of mystery while, for the most part, Kidman and García Bernal are fine as co-workers with an obvious attraction and a shared interest in what Fred is really up to. The main problem with “Holland” is eccentricity for eccentricity’s sake — Cave plays up the town’s Dutch colonial traditions seemingly because they just lend an air of unfamiliarity and weirdness, Nancy’s feelings of dread manifest in those surreal dreams, but none of it has any real-world relevance beyond making for some odd-looking visuals.

The twist, when it inevitably comes, feels disproportionate and overblown given the small-town buildup. Elements, such as Dave’s experience as the only immigrant in town, or Nancy’s issues with their babysitter, are mentioned once and never touched on again. The film suffers from too many vague ideas at the outset, before dumping most of them to make way for the most shocking story arc. Turns out, not only have we seen this film a bunch of times before, we’ve seen it done a lot better too.

Hollywood red carpets play host to Arab designs

Hollywood red carpets play host to Arab designs
Updated 30 March 2025
Arab News
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Hollywood red carpets play host to Arab designs

Hollywood red carpets play host to Arab designs
Updated 30 March 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Awards ceremonies in Hollywood played host to Arab designs over the weekend with celebrities Sophia Bush, Becky G and Jennie wearing looks from the Middle East.

US actress Bush showed off a scarlet gown by Lebanese designer Jean Pierre Khoury at the at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Thursday, complete with a beaded bodice and separate form-fitting skirt. Bush’s ensemble was put together by Dani Charlton and Emma Rubenstein, the fashion styling duo known as Dani + Emma. 

US actress Sophia Bush showed off a scarlet gown by Lebanese designer Jean Pierre Khoury. (Getty Images)

Fast forward to Saturday night and singers Becky G and Jennie Kim, a member of K-Pop group Blackpink, both showed off looks by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad.

Jennie, who goes by her first name, showed off a look from Zuhair Murad’s Fall/ Winter 2025 ready-to-wear collection. (Getty Images)

US singer-actress Becky G opted for an all-white dress from Murad’s pre-Fall 2025 collection at the 2025 Billboard Women In Music event, held at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.

The halter neck column gown boasted silver embellishments on the bodice.

Jennie, who goes by her first name, showed off a look from Murad’s Fall/ Winter 2025 ready-to-wear collection at the same event.

The form-fitting red dress featured a double slit with studs across the slits and sweetheart neckline. The look was completed with a pair of heels by Jordanian Romanian designer Amina Muaddi.

She took to the stage in the outfit to accept the Global Force Award, which is given to "singers, songwriters, instrumentalists and producers making groundbreaking contributions to the music industry" selected by Billboard publication around the world, according to Billboard.

“I’m inspired by all the women in this room — and around the globe who continue to break barriers and make their mark on the world stage,” Jennie said during her acceptance speech. “This award is dedicated to every woman who dares to dream and create and shape the world with her vision.” 

This year’s honorees also included Doechii as Woman of the Year; Erykah Badu, who received the Icon Award; Aespa as Group of the Year; and Ángela Aguilar, who won the Breakthrough Award, among others. Presenters included Becky G, Lauren Jauregui, Kali Uchis and Julia Michaels.

Performers included Ángela Aguilar, Aespa, Gracie Abrams, Megan Moroney, Muni Long, Tyla and Erykah Badu.

For her part, US Mexican singer Aguilar dedicated her moment on stage to immigrants. “I want to take this moment to raise my voice for the women whose voices are not always given a stage, for the women who leave behind everything they know crossing borders,” she said.

 

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