Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus (my fave store in the universe!). Lisa's farther was actually born in Dallas.

Future Queen Noor went to schools in Washington, D.C. and in NYC. Her university of choice was Ivy League's Princeton, where she majored in architecture.

Lisa Halaby worked in Jordan, helping to establish Royal Jordanian Airlines, when King Hussein met her and they both fell in love.

She converted to Islam, chose the name of Noor (Ray of Light) and became King Hussein's last wife. In addition to 3 step kids from King's previous marriage - future wife of Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, Princess Haya among them - the couple also had 4 children of their own.

Widowed Queen Noor lives mostly in London now, i think and runs a gamut of various charities.

Shecame to Dubai a few years back and looked gorgeous.

Queen Noor dresses beautifully and appropriately for her status and keeps her hair big! Her Texan grandma would be proud!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Her Excellency Rafia Helal Bid Drai is a woman behind design house Mauzan that specializes in abayas.

I'm not quite sure what "Excellency" title represents in this part of the world, but she's neither an ambassador, nor a general or an admiral.

Anyway, she seems to be a strong, independent woman, who was raised in a family of a local aristocracy and "didn't have a mother", whatever that means.

Design house that she owns sells very expensive abayas and dresses with all kinds of bells and whistles for those who are into sort of things.

Back in December 2011 when Robin