Cairo: with its timeless minarets and old quarter not far from the desert sands. The Egyptian capital has a captivating beauty. It's also an ideal set

Pyramids, desert sands, camels, date palms, the old quarter--our CAIRO fashion feature this month explores the Egyptian capital and its environs. With its mysterious mix of the ancient and the more up-to-date, the metropolis has a compelling appeal and also makes an ideal setting for looks with a traditional air: black dresses and sleek suits. Then it's on to another kind of beauty, CAMERON DIAZ, and an interview with the seemingly daffy, actually canny California-bred performer who's the third-highest paid actress in Hollywood. She talks about the pleasures of New York--where she recently bought an apartment--and her new film, What Happens in Vegas. From the sublime to the charmingly silly.

SAHID HASSAN MOHAMED WEARS JOHN GALLIANO'S PRINTED COTTON SHIRT, AT BERGDORF GOODMAN, NEW YORK; DIOR HOMME'S COTTON T-SHIRT, AT DIOR HOMME, NEW YORK; ADIDAS'S POLYESTER PANTS, AT ADIDAS ORIGINALS, ADIDAS.COM. GABRIEL URIST HAIR-PICK NECKLACE AND BRACELET; M+J SAVITT CROSS AND CHAIN NECKLACES; GIRLPROPS.COM MASK AND ELEPHANT NECKLACES; NIKE SHOES.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

ZINEB BAZZA WEARS MIU MIU'S SILK SHIRT, AT SELECT MIU MIU BOUTIQUES, 898.977.1900, AND SILK SKIRT, NET-A-PORTER.COM; SELECT MIU MIU BOUTIQUES, 888.977.1900. JOHN GALLIANO HOMME SCARF; WOLFORD HOSIERY; CHANEL SHOES.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

SARA ABUKHADRA WEARS BALENCIAGA'S SILK JACKET, AT BALENCIAGA, NEW YORK, BALENCIAGA.COM; MIU MIU'S SILK SKIRT, AT SELECT MIU MIU BOUTIQUES, 877.977.1900; NET-A-PORTER .COM. SAHID WEARS KANI'S COTTON SWEATSHIRT, AT MACY'S, NEW YORK, MACYS .COM; DUCKIE BROWN'S SEQUINED COTTON SHIRT, TO ORDER, 212.675.8627; SEAN JOHN'S NYLON PANTS, AT SEAN JOHN, NEW YORK, SEANJOHN.COM.

ZINEB WEARS DOLCE & GABRANA'S SILK DRESS, AT SELECT DOLCE & GABBANA STORES, DOLCEGABBANA.IT, 877.70.DGUSA. LANVIN BELT, SAHID WEARS FADE BY OLIVER ROBIN'S COTTON SHIRT, AT FRED SEGAL MAN, SANTA MONICA, FREDSEGALFUN.COM.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

AT BACK TABLE, FROM LEFT: SARA WEARS BURBERRY PRORSUM'S SEQUINED SILK SHIRT, AT SELECT BURBERRY STORES. BURBERRY.COM. ZINEB WEARS CHANEL'S WOOL JACKET, AT SELECT CHANEL BOUTIQUES, 800.550.0005. CHANEL SHOES SAHID WEARS KANI'S COTTON SWEATSHIRT, AT MACY'S. NEW YORK, MACYS.COM.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

FROM LEFT: SARA WEARS MIU MIU'S SILK TOP. AT SELECT MIU MIU BOUTIQUES, 888.977.1900; UNDERCOVER'S COTTON SKIRT, AT SUSAN, SAN FRANCISCO AND BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA. CHANEL NECKLACE; JONATHAN ASTON HOSIERY; BALENCIAGA SHOES. JENANE ABUHHADRA WEARS BLAAK'S SILK AND METALLIC TOP, AT H LORENZO, LOS ANGELES, HLORENZO.COM; BLAAK.CO.UK. KADRIYA FODA WEARS ESCADA'S WOOL JACKET, AT ESCADA, ESCADA.COM. JIHAN EL-TOUNI WEARS CHANEL'S MUSLIN AND SILK DRESS, AT SELECT CHANEL BOUTIQUES, 800.550.0005. JONATHAN ASTON HOSIERY; CHANEL SHOES.

INTERIOR DESIGNED BY ALEPH GALLERY, ZAMALEK.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

DINA, A CELEBRATED ACTRESS AND BELLY DANCER, WEARS KENNETH JAY LANE BROOCHES.

BEAUTY NOTE: KIEHL'S SUPERBLY RESTORATIVE DRY OIL KEEPS CURLS HEALTHY.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

JIHAN WEARS LANVIN'S WOOL GOWN, AT SUSAN, SAN FRANCISCO AND BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA. BEN AMUN BY ISAAC MANEVITZ BRACELETS; LAII FOR BESS CUFFS. SAHID WEARS D&G'S COTTON TANK TOP, AT SELECT D&G STORES, 800.979.3038. RAY-BAN EYEWEAR.

PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE HOME OF DESIGNER MAHY KHALIFA NOSSEIR.

BEAUTY NOTE: SUSAN CIMINELLI RESTORATIVE RED MARINE ALGAE CREAM HYDRATES COMPLEXIONS AND SOOTHES SPIRITS.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

JIHAN WEARS DONNA KARAN'S WOOL, VISCOSE AND METAL JACKET AND SKIRT, AT SELECT DONNA KARAN BOUTIQUES; VALENTINO'S CASHMERE TURTLENECK, AT HIRSCHLEIFER'S, MANHASSET, NEW YORK. LANVIN NECKLACE; FOGAL HOSIERY; PROENZA SCHOULER SHOES.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

SARA WEARS ISABEL MARANT'S COTTON SHIRT, AT ALAN BILZERIAN, BOSTON; JOAN SHEPP, PHILADELPHIA; ISABELMARANT.COM; RODARTE'S SILK LAME SKIRT, AT OPENING CEREMONY, NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES; RODARTE.NET. LANVIN BELT; CHANEL SHOES. SAHID HOLDS JOHN GALLIANO'S COTTON POPLIN SHIRT, AT BERGDORF GOODMAN, NEW YORK.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

SAHID WEARS ADIDAS'S POLYESTER JACKET, AT ADIDAS ORIGINALS, ADIDAS.COM; CHEAP MONDAY'S DENIM JEANS, AT AMERICAN RAG, LOS ANGELES.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

FROM LEFT: DINA WEARS R.J. GRAZIANO BRACELETS. JIHAN WEARS GIORGIO ARMANI'S VISCOSE JERSEY DRESS, AT SELECT GIORGIO ARMANI BOUTIQUES, GIORGIOARMANI.COM. YVES SAINT LAURENT SHOES.

BEAUTY NOTE: JO MALONE DARK AMBER & GINGER LILY BATH OIL MAKES LIMBS SPOTLIGHT-WORTHY.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

HAIR BY CHRISTIAAN; MAKEUP BY VIRGINIA YOUNG. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: LESLIE SIMITCH; LOCAL PRODUCER: BRIGITTE BOULAD-KIESLER; LOCAL PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: 35 FILM PRODUCTION. PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANTS: KEITH KLEINER AND ANDREW BEARDSWORTH. MARKET EDITOR: CAROLYN TATE ANGEL. FASHION ASSISTANT: PATRICK MACKIE. SPECIAL THANKS TO DRIVEIN 24 AND THE TOWNHOUSE GALLERY.

WHILE IN CAIRO, THE CREW STAYED AT THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL CAIRO AT THE FIRST RESIDENCE. PLEASE SEE "PERSONAL SHOPPER," PAGE 30, FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

STYLED BY CAMILLA NICKERSON

Source Citation
DiCorcia, Philip-Lorca. "Cairo: with its timeless minarets and old quarter not far from the desert sands. The Egyptian capital has a captivating beauty. It's also an ideal setting for understated little black dresses and evening numbers." W May 2008: 163+. Academic OneFile. Web. 6 Dec. 2009. .

Gale Document Number:A178619640