US fashion site Fashion Gone Rogue featured a special photoshoot with Israeli singer-songwriter Noga Erez last week.

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In the photos, taken in New York City, Erez can be seen modeling pieces from such famous brands as Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs, and Highlight Studio. The Israeli production team included photographer Shai Franco, stylist Tomer Almoznino, and hair and makeup artist Roza Schwartsman.

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Erez, who is known for her unusual sartorial style, modeled oversized men's suits and polo shirts, as well as coordinating outfits comprising Bermuda shorts and platform shoes, in the photoshoot.

"This was a very spontaneous shoot," Amoznino explained. "Two months ago, we were each by chance on a private vacation in New York, and we decided to organize a fashion shoot."

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At the end of the shoot, Franco offered the photos to a number of magazines.

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"We received responses from a few magazines that wanted the shoot, and we chose an American magazine because this is a respected magazine that focuses on the visual aspect of fashion and celebrities' clothing style. They also talked a little about Noga, and it was the most fitting in all respects," he said.

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The first Disney Home design store in Israel opened in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

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Disney Home stores sell Mickey and Minnie Mouse-themed home furnishings and décor.

A second Disney Home outlet is slated to open at the Grand Kenyon in Haifa next week, with three more stores scheduled to open their doors in Israel in 2022.

The items were developed and designed by the studio Tutto Arte and include towels and bathrobes, easy chairs, bed linens, rugs, slippers, décor items, kitchen tools, and pieces for children's and babies' rooms.

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Movie star Gal Gadot was featured on the front cover of Elle magazine's November issue dedicated to "Women in Hollywood." 

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The fashion monthly featured a lengthy article and interview on Gadot's breakthrough in the movie capital of America. Gadot recalled how she was about to give up on her acting dream and return to Israel when she was informed that she had been cast as Wonder Woman, a role that changed her life and put her on the Hollywood map. 

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 Elle piece also praised Gadot's willingness "to stand up for herself and others," especially with regard to injustices women face in the film industry. 

The actress spoke of her alleged clashes with Justice League director Joss Whedon on set. According to reports, Whedon threatened Gadot's career when she shared concerns about her character and dialogue.

When asked about her initial reaction to those comments, Gadot said, "Oh, I was shaking trees as soon as it happened. And I must say that the heads of Warner Brothers, they took care of it.... Going back to the sense of righteousness that I have...you're dizzy because you can't believe this was just said to you.

"And if he says it to me, then obviously he says it to many other people. I just did what I felt like I had to do. And it was to tell people that it's not okay."

In addition, Gadot shared preparations for her role as Cleopatra in a film directed by Lexi Alexander. She also spoke of the production company she and her husband, Yaron Varsano, formed in 2019, named Pilot Wave. 

Others featured in November's issue were Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Lauren Ridloff, Salma Hayek, Jodie Comer, Halle Berry, Rita Moreno, and Jennifer Hudson.

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During 2014's Operation Protective Edge against Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, jewelry designer Inbal Duvdevani noticed a rocket that had fallen near her studio on Kibbutz Nirim and rattled her world.

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"I took a few pieces of shrapnel and kept them as souvenirs," Duvdevani says.

"Because the kibbutz is always in range of rocket fire in every round of fighting, kids would collect the pieces of shrapnel that fell, and so would my son, who collected them and added them to a box that was in the closet," she continues.

After Operation Protective Edge was over, Duvdevani visited the US to take part in an expo intended to promote business from southern Israel. She took the box of shrapnel with her to show visitors with what residents of Israel's south were forced to contend.

"When I displayed the box, someone came up to me and wanted to take a few as a souvenir, and mentioned that if I made jewelry from it, he'd be the first to buy them. When I got back to Israel, it stayed in my mind."

It took Duvdevani two more years until she dared take the box of shrapnel out of the closet and start turning its contents into jewelry.

"After all, it was a tool of war that killed and wounded people I know. But two years on, I decided that I wanted to turn the war into love, and I started crafting jewelry that combine gold and shrapnel, the same rocket that landed next to my studio. After a few tries, I designed jewelry and put them up for sale."

Duvdevani, 41, was born in the western Negev and has lived there all her life. Today, she is a resident of Moshav Sadeh Nitzan in the Eshkol Regional Council. For 25 years she has designed and sold jewelry at her studio on Kibbutz Nirim.

"It's not easy living in the western Negev. Managing an independent business there is hard," she acknowledges.

With assistance and mentorship from the Lauder Employment Center, which works to promote small businesses in Israel's periphery, Duvdevani launched a website through which she sells her creations. Her collection includes pieces made from gold, gold-filled, and silver as well as the items from mortars, which have proved popular and some of which are already sold out.

"Instead of being afraid of the material that's sent to kill us, I chose to make lemons into lemonade and design jewelry from it," she tells Israel Hayom. The designer says that responses have varied widely: "There are people who when they hear that the jewelry is made of a mortar or rocket are put off and don't want it, even if the piece appealed to them originally. On the other hand, there are people who say they have to have it and also ask me to design more for them."

Duvdevani says that during Operation Guardian of the Walls, the loaded issue returned. "People reached out and ordered presents like keychains and necklaces to give them to people who hosted them in other places in Israel. This is material sent to kill us, but I'm proving that things can be different and we can approach it from a stronger place."

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Nadir Eliyahu is a 28-year-old male Israeli fashion blogger who defies traditional gender roles in a field dominated by women. 

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"I never intended to become a fashion blogger," he told Israel Hayom. "I began uploading photos of my fashion style on social media, and eventually, it caught on." 

Eliyahu works as a graphic designer and social media manager at an advertising agency. It is in his spare time that he began uploading posts on his Instagram page that has by now garnered more than 20,000 followers. He is also vocal about current fashion styles and famous brands. 

"I am very authentic and do not suck up to famous brands. In my stories, I express my opinion as is."

Speaking of his fashion style, he said: "I like to dress up, and I have a lot of fashion styles. One thing is sure: I never leave the house by just throwing something on. I do not extensively plan what I will wear in advance, but I do think of what to put on before I step out."

Q: What can you tell your followers who cannot afford pricy brand items?

"It's true that with money you can buy expensive brand clothing, but personally I prefer to wear clothes that are comfortable, and that work for me, and it doesn't matter what brand it is. It can be items purchased at the flea market or a second-hand store. It all depends on one's confidence and how one carries oneself."

Q: Would you say that men in Israel dress well?

"Well, there aren't many fashion options for Israeli men, because they don't really invest in their clothes. Most of them like to dress casual, like Bermuda shorts and flip-flops. 

"Although, there has been a change in recent years, with Israeli men slowly becoming more interested in fashion styles. Celebrities uploading their photos to social media is definitely helping. Israelis might not dress like famous singers, but it makes them realize that it might be worth it to invest more in how they look, especially the younger generation."

Q: What is one fashion tip you would give to Israeli men? 

"To branch out. There are so many options out there. There are so many colors. Don't be afraid of button-down shirts. Combined with a pair of pants and shoes correctly, it can create such a chic look. 

Q: And what can you say about the fact that Israel has so few male fashion bloggers? 

"It's a pity. I am not afraid of competition and would like to see more men enter the field, to showcase their style, but, unfortunately, it's not happening.

"We live in the era of social media, and people are judged by the number of their followers. I know many who have few followers, but are passionate about fashion and have a unique style, and I tell them to keep doing what they love even if it doesn't necessarily gain them more followers.

"And fashion lovers who see someone upload good content and have a great style should compliment them! So what if someone doesn't have a lot of followers? That's not the most important thing."

Q: What is one item you would never wear?

"Crocs. I'm sorry, but I just don't see it as something stylish."

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A number of Israeli designers are set to take part in Dubai Fashion Week this October, opening up new business channels for Israelis businesses, thanks to the efforts of entrepreneur Elad Borenstein.

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Israeli designer Berta Baliti has signed on to collaborate with exclusive Dubai boutique Bride Avenue. At an event last week, brides-to-be interested in seeing the bridal gowns Baliti sells under her namesake Berta brand up close.

"It was very exciting to get pictures from there," Baliti told Israel Hayom. "Brides from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Dubai would travel to London for fittings and to buy dresses there. When the peace accord was signed, it was clear there would be a greater demand, and we started promoting the subject."

"Many brides-to-be from around the Arab world, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and other places" came to Bride Avenue, which offers gowns from a large variety of international designers," Baliti said.

"They all flew to Dubai especially for this event to try on dresses from the new collection. We were also supposed to have done a big show as part of our collaboration with the boutique, but it wasn't possible. I believe it will still happen later down the line."

She described seeing pictures of brides-to-be trying on her 12 designs available at the boutique as "very exciting."

"The collaboration with the boutique will also include my next expanded collection when it comes out, so that this is a long-term collaboration."

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Makeup brand NARS has opened its first store in Israel, with business launching Thursday.

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The store, located in the Ramat Aviv shopping mall, is the brand's largest in Europe and the Middle East.

By opening the Ramat Aviv store, the brand – whose blush in "Orgasm" has become a cult favorite – hopes to increase its footprint in Israel. In July, the brand plans to launch a localized website, and open a total of 14 stores across Israel in the next five years.

NARS plans to open a store in Haifa by the end of 2021.

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The coronavirus pandemic with its restrictions on public outings, gatherings and, of course, lockdowns, has forced many of us to find new hobbies to help pass the time, and over the past year, Israelis have gotten hooked on an old-new craze – yarn. More specifically, knitting and crochet.

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The age of social media and especially the rise of Instagram has brought with it a revival of knitting and crochet as a pastime and – judging from the hundreds of Facebook groups and the ever-growing number of accounts across all platforms that are dedicated to the various techniques, patterns and yarn varieties – what was once the exclusive domain of grandmothers and elderly aunts is now all the rage.

Maya Goldstein, the marketing manager for Israeli educational toymaker Or-Da Industries, says all things yarn are now "an inseparable part of the younger generation's hobbies. Over the past year, we've seen how things like sewing, knitting, and embroidery have again become very popular."

Blogger Idit Paran, who runs a Facebook group with over 10,000 members, told Israel Hayom that crochet and knitting are very simply "good for the soul.

"I've been knitting for as long as I can remember," she said. Knitting "is relaxing; it brings people together and it allows us to express our creativity – not to mention, it gives us a break from [computer and phone] screens and from whatever may be bothering us."

When the pandemic hit Israel, she said, "People were looking for ways to pass the time. I got requests on Facebook to hold demonstrations, and now I teach on Zoom."

Tali Dalal, who runs a Facebook group dedicated to crochet with over 8,000 members, agrees that the Israeli yarn scene has become much more lively during the pandemic.

"You can definitely see a wide variety of audiences emerge over the past year. Since the corona [erupted], there are young women, and those place on leave [from their jobs] who have never before picked up a crochet hook take to it, and on the other hand, young girls are also interested in it.

"There's been talk about a revival of knitting for about 10 years," she explained, "but the coronavirus has certainly raised the demand and interest in the field.

"YouTube tutorials get more hits, more groups are launched [on social media] for a variety of audiences and knitting styles, and there is a real boom in the field."

Channy Rosenblatt De Haas, whose Facebook group has nearly 4,000 members, teaches children to knit.

"I teach girls ages 8-12, who knit sweaters and ponchos. Some of them got their mothers into it, and they tell me that their daughters won't put the knitting needles down," she told Israel Hayom.

"I think that's a very positive thing – instead of being on TikTok all day – they knit."

The knitting and crochet boom has birthed dozens of women's circles seeking to give back to the community.

The Israeli Association of Community Centers, for example, hosts knitting groups where women meet once a week and work on various projects together, which are then donated to the community, hospitals, IDF soldiers, children with special needs, and more.

Mosaic, a network of community centers in Nof Hagalil, in northern Israel, has a group of 10 young women knit and crochet hats for the neonatal care units in Israeli hospitals, the Israel Cancer Association, Holocaust survivors, and the residents of the city's nursing homes. They also make baskets for kindergartens in the special education system.

In southern Israel, the community centers network in the city of Sderot has 100 volunteers knitting and crocheting hats and scarfs for soldiers deployed in the southern sector, as well as dolls for the maternity wards and neonatal care units in Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba and the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.

Private community outreach initiatives are also thriving.

Aviv Wasserman, from the Hefer Valley Regional Council in central Israel, heads a knitting project seeking to bridge the intergenerational gap with none other than yarn.

The project brings together children and teens who knit and crochet with the elderly, and what started as a small community project two years ago, now stretches across 200 community centers across Israel.

"A good friend who lives in London introduced me to the idea of bringing people in the community together through knitting," Wasserman said.

"I started appealing to local councils around the country for funding for materials and placed [to host meetings]. Today, the project runs from Eilat in the south to Kiryat Shmona in the north, in Samaria, and in Arab and Druze localities.

"The project also involves people with special needs and those with hearing and visual impairments. These are groups of adults and children who knit together, and even I join meetings and have already learned how to knit."

All products are donated to the community, he stressed.

The pandemic, he said, has not slowed down the project, with meetings held on Zoom or in small groups outside, in accordance with the Health Ministry's guidelines.

"In some groups, members have become very close, like family," he explained. "You see them take care of each other, of the elderly women who couldn't leave the house for fear of the pandemic. I have no doubt that this project has fostered ties that will continue long after the coronavirus is gone."

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Israel model Yael Shelbia has been awarded the top spot on the magazine TC Candler's list of the most beautiful women in the world for 2020.

The list ranked actress and "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot No. 22.

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Overnight Sunday, TC Candler released a video compilation showing its readers' picks for the most beautiful women in the world. The 15-minute clip ends with a picture of Shelbia's face and her title.

The clip garnered some 200,000 views in the first two hours it was posted online. Later Monday, the magazine was expected to formally announced Shelbia as "loveliest of them all" on its official Instagram page, which has roughly 1 million followers.

Shelbia has recently climbed in the list's rankings over the past few years. In 2017, the model placed 14^th; and in 2018 she was up to 3^rd place. In 2019 Shelbia came second on the list, and now she has made it into the top spot.

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Unlike Dior's small branch at the high-end TLV Fashion Mall in Tel Aviv, the Jerusalem store will span 143 square meters, essentially making it the brand's largest boutique store in Europe and the Middle East.

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The Jerusalem store will present a different and innovative concept, similar to Dior's flagship location in Shanghai, China, which incorporates the sale of cosmetics, fashion, and lifestyle products.

"For the first time in Israel, we will sell the brand's jewelry, sunglasses, handbags, wallets, and scarves alongside makeup, hygiene, and perfumes – including Dior's exclusive makeup collection," said Tami Biton of Dior's public relations team in Israel.

As for the timing of the Jerusalem opening, Biton said the store was "supposed to open in May, but the coronavirus delayed the timetable a little."

Biton added that the launch of the Jerusalem location is a formal expression of Dior's faith in the Israeli market.

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