Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Gianne Middelton, a former St Christopher's School pupil who is now studying at UCLA in the US, has returned on summer vacation to Bahrain and GulfWeekly put her funky street credibility to the test with a fashion challenge. She took on reporters Shilpa Chandran and Mai Al Khatib as well as members of staff at one of Bahrain's leading fashion outlets at a new board game designed to find out who can really play the style game.
Think you know about fashion? Have a rendezvous with your television set after work to watch Project Runway?
How much do you really know about the origin of those Louboutin heels hugging your ankles? And honestly, do you really think you could say what truly inspired Coco Chanel's early work?
Shopping just doesn't stop at the malls, it's a practice of strategy, cunning and more ... and just to prove it, a new board game has been launched to test the style obsessed and hardcore fashionistas of Bahrain.
Whether you are a budding young stylet who wants to brush up on fashion history or a well-seasoned shopping veteran who wants to show who is boss, 'Fashion Rules!' is the game to play.
The board game centres on testing a player's knowledge of the industry as well as celebrity pop culture and creative design.
This is a call for all ladies to remove the limits of their credit cards ... and take a shopping challenge at home to become the queen of style.
First launched in the US by the game's creators in Hollywood it is now exclusively available in the kingdom at the Ounass store at Bahrain's Al A'ali Mall.
Company buyer Clair Seffen discovered the game and was immediately excited at the idea of bringing it to the region.
'I knew that it would be popular especially for Middle Eastern women as they have such an innate sense of style,' she exclaimed, simultaneously rolling two golden diamond pipped dice across the vibrantly colourful board. 'Bahraini women are always up-to-date on the latest style and, in my opinion, they really break perception boundaries around the rest of the world!'
Using an array of multi-coloured handbags as playing pieces, four teams begin a trepid and determined journey into the world of chic, careful not to fall on a 'penalty square' (Off the Rack, Credit Declined, Last Season, PassŽ) and waste valuable time trying to collect the highly-sought fashion accessories including delicate cameras, sunglasses, scissors and phones which can be won and placed in the handbag.
There are four trivia categories to master, namely Divas (celebrities), InPrint (fashion magazines), Glam (beauty, hair, make-up) and Style Makers (designers, stylists and fashion houses).
'The first player to collect all the accessories will be able to strut up the 'red carpet' to the centre of the boardwalk and try their luck at answering the 'strictly fashionista' question to be hailed Queen of Style,' said Nicole Ward, retail manager for Ounass.
'I got the Best Dressed square,' she smiled.
Landing on a 'bonus square' such as Best Dressed, Diva Moment, Gift Bag or Sample Sale gets you the rewards you want. After two-and-a-half hours, the approximate time that it takes for the game to be played, the scene for a perfect girl's night in will have been set.
'Fashion Rules!' is likely to prove a hit with women wishing to spend time together after those forthcoming hearty Iftar meals.
Indoors and away from the heat, the girls will be able to sit down feeling satisfyingly full without having to worry about squeezing into a size 10 ... and still enjoy a fashion thrill. 'The game isn't only about fashion - it's a lifestyle concept as well, a gift to a friend and a great way to spend time together with family and friends!' said store manager Fadi Ahmed.
He's right, and just in case you wondered about the result of our in-store challenge last week? Welcome home, Gianne, the Queen of Style ...
new game A catalyst for youngsters
FASHION Rules! was created by the ex-wife of Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine, Margaret Maldonado, the owner of leading hair, makeup and wardrobe stylist teams on the US West Coast.
She believes that a game focused on trivia detailing the rich and beautiful history of the fashion world could act as a catalyst in awakening a surge of passion within the younger generation to want to pursue fashion as a career.
The game now boasts its own fashion online blog - https://fashionrules.com - for eager players who want to brush up on their knowledge of fashion in preparation for playing the real thing.
Ounass is located at the new extension of Al A'ali Mall in Bahrain, with stores at the Boulevard at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Wafi and Souk Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai and Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi, UAE. A launch party for the game in Bahrain is currently being organised.
