My name is Samar.
I have lived in Paris for almost 18 years.
Ten years ago, I created my blog Libanaise à Paris.
I was born and grew up in Ivory Coast, Africa,
which makes me a bit of a world citizen if you can put it that way.
Here we are in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.
This is my little bachelor pad that I have had for two years.
This is a handmade Rubelli folding screen that I bought
in the Rubelli shop which is right next door, in the 7th arrondissement.
I had asked people I was interviewing at the time,
to give me their definition of happiness (bonheur).
And this was done by Inès de La Fressange with her daughters.
And I think it's really pretty.
There is "bonne heure".
There is "All dogs are pink".
That is the definition of happiness.
To bring joy into the house.
It's very important to bring joy.
Here, this small painting comes from the (Makt) Gallery.
It is a work of a Lebanese painter, (inaudible).
It's a portrait of his father and a self-portrait, I think, too.
It's true that I really like the light in this flat.
This flat finally looks like me because there is a bit of Lebanon,
there is a lot of Paris.
I really realised that there was a real French spirit.
And this French spirit and impertinence, I wanted to show on my T-shirts,
so I launched my brand called Das Mot.
I am also an influencer on social networks.
Recently, there have been explosions in Beirut.
It so happens that I had returned to Paris the day before.
I told myself that I had to raise money.
I had already started before the explosion.
So thanks to social networks, thanks to the generosity of my entire community
whom I thank, I was able to raise more than 100,000 dollars
for Lebanon and I'm very happy to help
through social networks.
I realise that I really am a true Lebanese in Paris.
Here, for example, is an ordinance of the King to sentence
girls of bad behaviour that will be found with soldiers
in two leagues around Versailles, to have their nose and ears cut off.
They were crazy at the time.
Otherwise, this is Lebanese.
It's a Sarah's bag, an incredible woman.
She makes women who are in prison work.
This is a completely handmade backgammon bag.
I don't buy much, but I do buy nice things
I love and that I will wear over and over again.
So this is the dining room, where I host guests.
Post-Covid, I don't get as many visitors and I end up spending a lot of time working here.
I really like my Bertoia chairs.
It brings a bit of exoticism.
Here is an Egyptian artist who, 20 years ago, did what Lady Gaga
does today, in relation to all the art of wearing very strong scenic clothes.
Her name is (Shahenn Ilham).
She's kind of my idol.
Here is a picture I like very much.
The photographer is Paul (Ginies).
This is a photograph so Brigitte Bardot and Sacha Distel
taken behind the scenes of a show.
I like everything about this picture.
I like the fact her hair is over-coiffed,
that she has her little cigarette,
that she has a pretty black and white dress,
that she's touching her lover.
We are not used to seeing Brigitte Bardot like that.
Another photo of my lifelong idol, Nelson Mandela.
I think he's really incredible.
Because in the end, the people take ownership of a man.
I don't like to say a strong man because he was very human
and that I think it's good to have a little bit of vulnerability.
Finally, I furnished my flat over time in a very natural way.
There are as many beautiful pieces as these Bertoia chairs or the table,
but I also bargain-hunted the buffet.
Everyone is jealous of this ashtray.
This is an ashtray I found on sale at Zara Home.
My very pretty little cup from Monoprix.
BHV makes very nice lamps.
I love it because what's great is that you can combine them.
You choose the shade, you choose the support and you can really choose
to make a light that is 100% you.
For a long time, I was embarrassed by my height.
I wore heels for a long time, but in the end, 10 years in
fashion business, people say it's a ruthless environment.
For me, it was useful because I was surrounded by people who taught me
to accept my body, little by little.
Notably Inès de La Fressange who is two metres tall.
Every time I was with her, she would say, " Stop it.
Just because you have two little legs doesn't mean they aren't pretty".
It's not bout the length of my legs or the size of my breasts
or of my waist, it's about what I do.
I think it's so much more important to do things.
Taking action is so much more important than spending two hours in front of the
mirror wondering, "Am I OK or not?".
But I look at myself, like everyone else.
There are mornings when I find myself very ugly.
There are other mornings when I look at myself and say,
"oh my god,
how beautiful you are Samar this morning".
And so this is kind of my uniform.
The flare trousers you wear throughout your life.
And this is the latest addition to Das Mot, New normal.
I've practised floor bar for two years now.
It's done me a lot of good.
It is a very gentle sport for the body.
It stretches.
And it doesn't hurt.
You don't force it, you take it easy.
And little by little,
you get there.
I take care of my body.
I eat very healthy.
I will make you some balila hummus.
It is the Beirut hummus, that is to say an ultra-light hummus
that we eat without feeling guilty.
You sleep well afterwards because hummus is quite heavy.
Namely.
It's very simple.
Lemon, garlic.
We have a very good olive oil.
No need to worry, canned chickpeas that
you can warm up with a little water, 20 minutes.
Quantities, never ask.
It's as you feel, as you want.
You stir, you stir, you stir.
That way, you feel like you've done something very elaborate.
Then you put a little cumin and voilà.
You can crush them, but it's not very good to crush
chickpeas because it is very important to chew food.
So I don't crush it.
I can't tell you it's no good,
I did it myself.