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Editor’s Letter: Why We Need To Inject Fun Back Into Fashion

Adriana Lima on the cover fo the Vogue Arabia Happy Issue (November 2019).

Adriana Lima on the cover fo the Vogue Arabia Happy Issue (November 2019). Photographed by Elizaveta Porodina. Here she wears dress, Emilia Wickstead; shoes, Fendi; hat, Ann Demeulemeester; gloves, Thomasine

Although I’m extremely proud of all our covers and issues, lately, I’ve been feeling that our magazine, and maybe fashion in general, has been losing its fun.

At a moment when the media industry around the globe is leading serious conversations on topics such as diversity and sustainability – with Vogue Arabia at the forefront of many of these discussions – that very basic quality that made us love fashion in the first place is becoming diluted by so many heavy topics. There are, of course, some exceptions, such as the Gucci campaigns and the Moschino shows, and the 2019 Met Gala theme of Camp. But can you remember when we just had a blast dressing up for the sake of it, in a moment of unapologetic and uncomplicated delight?

adriana lima, samir ghanem, vogue arabia, cover, november 2019

Model Adriana Lima and comedian Samir Ghanem on their joint cover for the Vogue Arabia Happy Issue (November 2019). Photographed by Elizaveta Porodina. Adriana wears wears dress, Saint Laurent. Samir wears jacket, shirt, bow, glasses, Samir’s own

Editor-in-Chief Manuel Arnaut with cover stars Samir Ghanem and Adriana Lima

Editor-in-Chief Manuel Arnaut with cover stars Samir Ghanem and Adriana Lima

Comedy and the capacity to create humor from the smallest things is a characteristic of the Arab culture that I truly appreciate. Look, for instance, at the work of legendary actors such as Doreid Lahamm, Adel Imam, or Samir Ghanem, who we pay homage to in this issue. This made me wonder, what if we completely break the mold of what we have been doing and fully dedicate November to fashion, beauty, and the people who make us have a good laugh?

If you ask me which are my favorite features in the magazine you are about to enjoy, I will say that I love our bright shopping pages and our cover story which brought together two legends in their own fields. Flying from Miami to Egypt, Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima was an absolute pleasure to work with, and a beacon of professionalism. She formed an unexpected but perfect dynamic duo with the legendary comedian Samir Ghanem, who paid us the honor of participating in a shoot where we explore the intersection of fashion and humor, with a touch of surrealism. At 82, Ghanem is the oldest person ever to be featured on the cover of Vogue – and one of the few ever men. “I believe comedians should continue to work until the last day of their lives,” he says in our interview. Ghanem continues to be as funny and energetic as ever, making the team laugh literally every other minute. It was a true treat to see him in action, while wearing some of the original props of his iconic character Fatota – big bow and green jacket included. We had an unforgettably fun day in Cairo.

Other highlights in this month’s issue include a feature in which style insiders reveal their happiest life moments; Silvia Venturini Fendi pays homage to Karl Lagerfeld in an exclusive interview; Tunisian actor Hend Sabri shares her hopes for the Arab film industry; and the Resort 2020 shows transport fashion’s elite to far-flung locations.

I hope you have fun reading the issue and have a good laugh. 

Read next: Manuel Arnaut on Why It’s Vogue Arabia’s Responsibility to Share Inspiring Stories of the Region

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