Reem Jamal Fakhro
28, Bahraini
Reem Jamal Fakhro is one of Bahrain’s taste-makers – she makes a living out of creating delicious and beautifully presented desserts. After graduating as a pastry chef from Le Cordon Bleu in London, she gained hands-on experience working for The Ritz-Carlton (Bahrain) and London’s famous Coco Maya before setting up her own bakery, Blissful Temptations, in 2014.
Life imitates art for Reem, 28, whose well-honed style is as immaculately presented as her confectionary. She credits her mother as being a profound influence over her creative flair. “She’s an accomplished artist and her unique eye is evident in everything she touches,” she says, adding that “having such a bold and daring woman” as her mother who was “constantly and consistently demonstrating an authentic vision when it came to style” really helped shape her own aesthetic.
“I also started developing a greater interest in fashion when I started assisting my cousin, Lulwa Al Amin, on her fashion line,” Reem explains, with fashion quickly becoming a natural staple of who she is.
Reem also describes her personal style as maturing throughout the years, “I realised mixing high-end with mid-range designers and whatever cheap finds I fancy is far more stylish, unique and fun.” As a result, her wardrobe is “a mix of purchased, made, inherited and found.” And while things can get out of control when she’s trying to decide what to wear – “I enter my neat dressing room and half an hour later it’s like a garment graveyard,” she laughs – there are two unforgettable looks which stand the test of time. “A Christian Dior gown I wore for my brother’s wedding back in 2013 with jewellery from Remida Gioiellieri from Forte Dei Marmi,” and a traditional Bahraini dress her mum had made for her brother’s henna in 2013. “The outfit is deeply personal because it was designed by my mother, with gold thread handed down from my grandmother, along with traditional Bahraini gold jewellery from my grandmother. It encompassed three generations of women in one outfit,” Reem explains. Family heirlooms also account for her most precious jewels with a “vintage Bahrain gold bangle” from her grandmother and “a vintage white gold and sapphire cocktail watch from Rolex”, gifted by her parents, being her favourites.
To Reem a stylish woman is a woman who has one unique piece on her, “whether that’s a vintage bag, out of season shoes, or an heirloom piece of jewellery. I like pieces to tell a story, showing me the woman’s character and thought process,” she says, with Blake Lively setting the bar for Reem. “She’s simple, stylish and elegant, but always deliberately so.”
Reem Jamal Fakhro wears Osman top and trousers at Bloomingdale’s – Dubai. Gianvito Rossi shoes, Kwanpen clutch, Charles Oudin watch and jewellery, all Reem’s own.
Photography: Richard Hall. Styling: Teresa Karpinska. Words: Elaine Lloyd-Jones. Make-Up: Blowout&Go. With Thanks To Drift Beach Dubai, In One&Only Royal Mirage.