Style file: Aiisha Ramadan

Aiisha Ramadan was a baby when her parents fled to Dubai from war-torn Lebanon in 1985. Ramadan, 27, has since carved a successful career in the Emirate as a fashion designer for her eponymous label. In 2000, while studying Fashion Design at American University, Ramadan was named Young Designer of the Year by Swarovski for her eveningwear. In 2008, Nokia chose her to design a line to showcase their PRISM 7900 handset. The PRISM collection showed at Dubai Fashion Week and toured Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Morocco, bringing Ramadan international recognition. Her label is now sold at select boutiques across the UAE, the US and Canada. She shares her sense of style and favourite possessions with Alexndria Gouveia.

My favourite fashion decade is the Fifties New Look era, which emphasises the hourglass silhouette. The worst decade is the Eighties.

Every woman should own a proper taupe seamless bra, a crisp white shirt, dark denim jeans and a little dress in black or white. A woman's signature should be a bag in her favourite colour.

From what I've seen this year, I think the singer Kesha has the worst fashion sense.

I never travel without a sketchbook and pencil to draw whatever comes to my mind. I also pack a pair of Manolos, a short dress and a necklace that goes with everything.

My Manolo Blahnik Petasap shoes are so colourful in a smart and sexy way. They work with everything, and they simply work for me!

Paris has the most fashionable people but London, for me, is the best city for shopping. For great deals I visit both Paris and London outlet malls.

Saint Paul de Vence, in the South of France, takes my breath away. I've never seen anything more beautiful. I've never smelt such fresh air, and never felt more alive than when I was there.

Every time I watch chef Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel I make a list of restaurants to visit. In Dubai, for posh food, I love Empire at The Monarch. For everyday meals it's PF Chang in Mirdiff City Centre.

My favourite book is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. I wish I'd read it earlier. To anyone spending their lives asking "Why?", it answers "Why not?"

The right perfume loves your skin and is absorbed by it, becoming your perfume. Mine are Organza by Givenchy and The One by Dolce&Gabanna.

AIISHA'S WORLD

MY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS ARE... collaborating with Manolo Blahnik on our Love Affair collection and seeing Paris Hilton in my dress... MY MOTTO IN LIFE IS... less is more... I'D DON ANYTHING FOR... my family. I'd do anything for my family. I remember when my brother got his birthday present in cash and he used it to buy me the latest Swatch. I can't forget how unselfish that was of him.