DUBAI: Saudi fashion icon Aram Kabbani discusses trends, good and bad advice, and working out.
Best TV show or film you’ve ever seen?
My favorite TV show is “Friends.” It’s so funny. There are lots of movies I like. I watch the the Egyptian movie “Fi Mahattet Masr,” with Karim Abdel Aziz on a weekly basis. I also love “The Vow.” It’s such a romantic movie and I love romantic movies.
Worst film you’ve ever seen?
Something about aliens that I watched in the cinema. I don’t remember its name, but it was super-artificial. I prefer real stories.
Best personal style moment so far?
There was an image where I was wearing a suit from Zara and I had short hair. It was such a spontaneous picture, I just took one shot and that was it. It has thousands of likes. It was a burgundy orange velvet suit that I wore for one of the fashion weeks in London with big, chunky accessories.
Worst personal style moment?
It was a Versace show. My hair was dark and short. I had burgundy lipstick on and a dark abaya. I styled my hair in a very dramatic way. There was too much going on.
Best accessory for a little black dress?
Statement earrings. The hair is important, but when you have huge earrings, it adds a statement. I love chokers on me, but, generally, earrings attract me more.
Worst accessory for a little black dress?
A lot of bracelets. It distracts people when they are speaking to you and confuses them. They can look very off.
Best fashion trend of 2024?
Long skirts. I love it because it reminds me of my college days. It was a happy moment for me when it came back.
Worst fashion trend of 2024?
Surprisingly, nothing comes to mind. I forget about what looks bad. But one thing that throws me off is wet-look hair. It looks sticky and sometimes not clean.
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
It’s an Arabic saying that translates to “Lost time is never found again.” I really believe in that. I live by it.
Worst advice you’ve ever been given?
“Chill. Leave it till tomorrow.” I don’t like that. It gives me anxiety when people say it. I’m a Virgo. I’m very, very organized. I have to finish things and be productive.
Best book you’ve ever read?
I don’t really read books. But I like fashion books, coffee-table books and books about the history of fashion.
Worst book you’ve ever read?
Chemistry books in school.
Best thing to do when you’re feeling low?
I exercise. I like doing strength training. I do a lot of oxygen chambers and cryotherapy, which is something I have been doing for years, and it’s really good for your wellbeing.
Worst thing to do when you’re feeling good?
Recall a bad memory.
Best holiday destination?
Portofino, Capri and Los Angeles are my three favorite destinations. Portofino is a small and magical island that’s full of life in the morning. It’s very authentic. Italians in general are super-real. I like their vibe and their energy. The food is great. It’s a small village but everything is super-glamorous. At night, it turns into another village, where everything is dark and quiet.
I love LA’s vibes. Everything is pretty in LA, including the people. I’ve been going there for years. It’s also a different fashion scene than any other city. It’s not like Paris or New York. When I go to a city, I like to see good-looking people, and there everyone looks good. Everyone is well dressed.
Worst holiday destination?
Amsterdam. I didn’t like the vibe, or the food. I was told there are a lot of museums and it’s an artistic city, but I just did not like it.
Best subject at school?
Biology. When I graduated from school, I wanted to study microbiology.
Worst subject at school?
Chemistry. Well, both physics and chemistry.
Best thing to do to ensure you have a productive day?
Write a to-do list in the morning. I like to organize everything. It’s good to put your thoughts on a paper, because sometimes you’re all over the place. I make sure I organize my schedule a week ahead.
Worst thing to do when you’re trying to have a productive day?
Stress about it. You do nothing when you’re stressed.
Best concert you’ve ever been to?
David Guetta in Ibiza, Adele in LA and Fayrouz in Beirut. They were all amazing.
Worst concert you’ve ever been to?
Rihanna in California. It was one of those concerts where the performance was just off. People were waiting for something they didn’t get. No one was dancing or vibing.
