Prisma Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Style.com Elisa Sednaoui on Motherhood, her Egyptian Childhood and How Fashion Can Make a Difference October, 29 by Deena Aljuhani Adbulaziz. Photo: Courtesy of Elisa Sednaoui. Last year, my dear friend Elisa Sednaoui launched her namesake foundation, which promotes creative learning among children in rural Egypt. Her latest fundraising initiative is a collaboration with Christian Louboutin, Lisa Marie Fernandez, and MyGoodness.com. Elisa recently shared with me pictures from her childhood in Egypt and the experience of becoming a mother and a philanthropist. Why did you focus specifically on promoting after-school activities for children in rural Egypt? I have always had the dream to work in the social field. As a little girl, I didn’t really imagine becoming an actress or a model; I wanted to become a diplomat—a cultural attaché of some sort. But I have to say that the moment that pushed me to effectively begin something was while I was filming a documentary in the countryside of Egypt, which I am directing. Through interviews with the subjects, it came across that a lot of them had dreams when they were children, which they unfortunately were never able to realize. It was extremely hard to hear this, especially when it was coming from my childhood friends in Luxor. I grew up with them and they are still an important part of my life today. There is a sense of helplessness and frustration when one can’t realize her dreams because of economic or social obstacles. So I established a foundation with the goal of empowering individuals, by giving them opportunities to grow creatively. Bill Clinton once said, “Talent is equally distributed in the world. It is the opportunities that are not.” That is what keeps me going. Why establish your own foundation instead of working with an existing one? I realized that in order to carry out the work I wanted to do in Luxor, I needed to do something that hasn’t been done before in that area. We are not inventing anything new, but I needed a fresh start, detached from specific methods and ideas belonging to a specific organization. I also didn’t like the idea of having to deal with the bureaucracy that often entangles existing foundations. Our aim is to work on partnerships with local associations and unite with those who have been doing the same type of work in Egypt and around the world. It’s only together that we can make a difference! What are some of the after-school programs you’ve initiated? We did our first workshop in Luxor in April of this year. It was a musical workshop in which we brought in an American organization called MIMA, which works on music and improvisation all over the world. To us, working on enhancing a sense of national identity is also extremely important, and that is why we asked two teachers from Makan, an organization based in Cairo that works on preserving traditional Egyptian music, to join us. It was a wonderful experience to see so much joy and excitement in the children’s eyes and their connection to the music. The community responded very warmly and 150 local children joined us for the workshop. Together they composed a song and performed it. When you were growing up, did you visit Egypt frequently, and what are some of your fondest memories? I spent the first six years of my life in Egypt, and I’ve traveled back several times a year since. My father lives in Cairo. Egypt is extremely close to my heart and is a fundamental part of my identity. For me, being Arab is about a mentality, a way of looking at life. Lots of importance is given to the spiritual, to what is bigger than us. There is a sense of unity, community, and generosity. There is Arab warmth, the (cutting) sense of humor, the passion, and an Arab way of receiving people at your house, for example, which is very particular to the culture. I have so many childhood memories from Egypt, and some of my fondest times were spent in Luxor, playing in the sugarcane fields with my neighbors, who are still my friends to this day. I used to go to the local market and buy meters of funky patterned textiles, which I would then have my neighbor sew up into outfits for me. I must have been 11 at the time, and I remember Christian Louboutin would tease me about my entrepreneurial spirit. My memories of Egypt are ultimately a multisensory experience. It’s as much about the sounds and smells I can recall. There were the 50-degree summers spent playing in the shade, belly dancing in the kitchen in Cairo, or going to kindergarten on my father’s shoulders. All of these memories explain my love of Egypt. How has becoming a mother changed your life and influenced the work you do for your charity? My son is a huge part of the inspiration that enabled me to begin this journey. I was pregnant when it truly hit me that it was time to do what I could to try and make this world a little better. Also, at that time I was reminded that God has given me specific gifts so that I can make something constructive with them. On a more practical level, motherhood has taught me how to manage my time better. Before I had a child, I never really made plans in advance, but now I do. And it does feel nice! The greatest thing that comes with becoming a mother is learning selflessness. Putting other people’s needs in front of yours and feeling joy from it. Motherhood has also taught me to become a little more patient. Do you think fashion can play a positive role in changing people’s lives in rural Egypt? Fashion has a huge potential to transform people into agents for change. As a multibillion-dollar industry, it touches so many, so there is a potential to harness this power in order to better people’s lives. Personally, I’m more inclined to buy a luxury item or a dress if I know that parts of the proceeds are going toward a good cause. Source: http://www.style.com/culture/style-map/2014/elisa-sednaoui-egypt-philanthropy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 More pictures from Mario Testino's birthday party. I couldn't get the kind of full body pic I expected (a picture that shows her dress in detail) but I read her outfit was an Alberta Ferretti dress and a Philip Treacy mask. Today in Dubai for just 24 hours to attend Vogue Italia Gala. Another dress I'd love to see in detail... In Dubai, at the International Design Showcase during the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience on October 31. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Woman of the Year for GQ Spain (readers choice). She's in Madrid to attend GQ Men of the Year Awards today. In spite of the magazine is rewarding the most outstanding men of the year (chosen by the readers) Elisa got an award, too: she was chosen Woman of the Year. This is the link (in Spanish). http://www.revistagq.com/actualidad/articulos/premiados-hombres-gq-del-ano-2014/20840 https://twitter.com/GQSpain/status/529408682573180928 Translation: "@ElisaSednaoui, the sexiest French allure, Award #MenGQ2014 to Woman of the Year #GQ20". In Spain, a few hours ago, punishing herself with some "prosciutto". She seems to like it so much... https://twitter.com/ElisaSednaoui/status/529330137603784704 The party is taking place right now and these are the first pictures I could get. I guess there will be more pictures soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 First picture of Elisa receiving her Award as Woman of the Year GQ 2014 at Palace Hotel in Madrid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 More pictures start being uploaded...The dress is awesome. Maybe Dolce & Gabbana? Or maybe she was kind enough to wear a Spanish designer...Not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Elisa Sednaoui attended the GQ 2014 Men of the Year awards at the Palace Hotel on November 3, 2014 in Madrid. Photocall. Bag by Charlote Olympia and shoes by Louboutin. HQ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 GQ. Awards, Photocall, Dinner and Party (most of the pictures from GQ website). Elisa wore a red lace dress by Dolce & Gabbana. Some couple videos from the event. Elisa at 1:05. Hola.com. http://videos.hola.com/ver/elisa-sedanoui-pareja-de-alex-dellal-tenemos-ganas-de-darle-un-hermanito-a-nuestro-hijo/3874042859001 According to the interview, she won't work so much (in the short term, at least). She has to travel to Brazil and Miami where her husband has some hotel projects. There (and in her own words) her profession will be "wife". Besides, she talked about her desire to become a mother again. Elisa Sednaoui facebook page. Her speech on stage. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=528866270582298 Q&A on Facebook. She'll be answering questions LIVE on November, 6 via Facebook (1PM - GTM). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balenciagaaa Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Stunning ir red Thanks Prisma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 You're welcome, Balenciagaaa! Elisa Sednaoui attended the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards at Claridge's Hotel on November 4, 2014 in London. She presented the award for Simone Rocha who was named the Best Young Designer of the Year. Dress by Simone Rocha; bag and shoes by Charlotte Olympia. I love the hair and makeup. And the dress too...but it doesn't look so good from certain angles, in my opinion (like the picture number 10 or the view from the back, for instance). She didn't wear it in the same way it was shown on the runway and it was a great choice... But maybe the body suit she was wearing under her see-through dress should have been less revealing at the bottom (maybe something like the runway pic). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Elisa Sednaoui attended the H&M x Alexander Wang Launch on November 5, 2014 in London. I just could get a few pics with watermarks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Elisa Sednaoui attended the "Diane Von Furstenberg: Journey Of A Dress" exhibition at Phillips Gallery on November 6, in London. The picture with watermark is the only one full body image I could get in order to see her outfit. HQ. Edited: I found a couple of full body HQ pics to see her outfit in detail. The DVF Times. Diane von Furstenberg celebrates 40 years of the wrap dress and Elisa was part of the project. Photos: Billal Taright. Fashion: Vickie Keeble; Sophie van der Welle. Elisa wears Nina dress and Beckett ankle boots, both by Diane von Furstenberg. Source: http://www.dvf.com/world-of-dvf/post/?cid=blog-post-5513 The Shoot: 40 years of Diane von Furstenberg. 1 iconic designer. 40 years of the DVF Wrap Dress. 11 strong women wearing the dress their own way. Elisa Sednaoui Dellal. Actress, film director, community worker and model. What is the first thing you dowhen you wake up?‘Time for morning cuddles with my son'.What inspires you?‘People fighting and working hard to make their dreams a reality, my husband, my son, my parents, my friends,my collaborators'.Tell me about a cause that is important to you.‘I established Elisa Sednaoui Foundation (ESF) last year. It provides after-school programmes – that focus on art and culture – to children in both rural and urban areas. We want to create a cultural centre where children can attend daily art classes, from painting, photography and acting to languages'. To show other women portrayed. http://www.matchesfashion.com/womens/the-style-report/aw14-the-workwear-issue/the-shoot-diane-von-furstenberg-40-years-of-the-wrap-dress To show Nina dress and Beckett boots. http://www.matchesfashion.com/product/215835 http://www.matchesfashion.com/product/202837 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Vogue Germany. November 2014. Backstage video. Or you can watch it on vogue.de website. http://www.vogue.de/mode/videos/model-mutter-gypsy The editorial was posted on previous page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 thelast-magazine.com THE ELISA SEDNAOUI FOUNDATION November 5, 2014. By RACHEL ELLISON. It’s six PM in London and Elisa Sednaoui has just passed through customs. She was in Italy only three days ago, and now she’s off to Dubai for a Vogue Italia event. Over the phone, her deep voice seems all-knowing, exuding wisdom and grace while expertly injecting humor to downplay her world travels. She is only twenty-six, yet speaks five languages, has lived in three countries, and has grown up a fashion darling, working for Chanel and Giorgio Armani, among countless others.Still so young, yet approaching the age at which the fashion industry often rinses its hands, Sednaoui has prepared herself for a future beyond portraits and couture. For the last three years, she has been co-directing a documentary which illustrates and humanizes the struggles of life in a small Egyptian village, a tale of love and coming to terms with one’s own identity, something Sednaoui knows well. “The hard part of being multicultural is that you feel like you don’t really belong anywhere. Sometimes I feel an outsider", he says of her childhood split between Italy, Egypt, and France. The film inspired Sednaoui to extend her reach, and most recently she has spearheaded a foundation to encourage children in the arts. The foundation began in Egypt because “that’s where I saw the most evident need of doing this work", she explains. It aims to bring art and creativity into the lives of young people, something that Sednaoui found was slightly lacking in her own life. “There was a lot of creativity in our house, but I didn’t feel like I could pursue everything I wanted. I had responsibilities and I had to become financially independent.” She was able to parlay her fashion relationships into charitable support, and her current collaboration with her godfather, Christian Louboutin, gives one winner the chance to meet the two as a fundraising effort. Sednaoui has plans to expand her foundation to Italy in 2015, but is currently busy raising her son: “You want to inspire your child to be driven, but mostly to understand that in order to obtain anything you need to work and you need to struggle and you need to fight.” Source: http://thelast-magazine.com/elisa-sednaoui-foundation/ Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards (London). Arrivals. I had certain reservations about the Simone Rocha dress she wore at that event. But I hadn't noticed how gorgeous it is and how good it looks on her until I watched the video (Elisa at 6:36). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Twin Magazine. Issue nº 11 F/W 2014-2015. Cover. Photo: Boo George.Fashion Editor: Celestine Cooney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Twin Magazine. Director: David Richardson. Starring: Elisa Sednaoui. Stylist: Celestine Cooney. Photo by David Richardson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prisma Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Jury at Marrakech Film Festival. Marrakech Film Festival unveiled lineup and jury today. Elisa will be part of the jury for the short film competition. "The Cinecoles jury for the short film competition will include director Zoe Cassavestes, Moroccan actor Driss Roukhe, Italian actress Elisa Sednaoui, French actress Ana Girardot, French actor Gaspard Ulliel and jury president Abderrahmane Sissako". This jury will look at student films. The Festival will take place from 5 to 13 December in Marrakech, Morocco. Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/marrakech-film-festival-alan-rickman-749543 It's not her first experience. She was part of the jury at 37th Deauville American Film Festival in 2011. Today in Brazil...at the dentist. "Ok my #Wisdom, YOU ARE GOING, here and now!!!! #Brazilian #dentists the best". How can somebody looks so good with all that stuff on the face? It must be what people call "natural beauty"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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