Zara, the high-street fashion brand made its debut in Cairo Thursday morning, opening its doors to hundreds of customers who gathered around the store waiting for the clock to strike 12 noon. US President Barack Obama's historical visit to the capital and all the traffic detours didn't stop some ardent fashionistas from showing up. Nothing could've prepared us for the pushing, shoving, snatching that took place once the doors were open. In no time, all the fitting rooms in the store were filled and shoppers were lining up at the cashier with at least a handful of items, not to mention a couple of customers fighting at the cashier, each claiming that the other cut the queue. Zara is the most successful chain store of Inditex Group, which also operates favored brands such as Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka and Stradivarius. The store is exceptionally large, with special sections for menswear and kidswear. Of course, ladies wear has the lion's share when it comes to space, in addition to a designated area for Zara's more junior ladies' line, TRF. Ladies can find formal and party attire at the Zara Woman section, which features their higher-end line with posh fabrics such as chiffon and satin. Zara Basic has some real catches, bohemian tops coming in a variety of colors and different prints. The long summer dresses, whose styles have been featured in all of the recent fashion magazines, are also available. Zara TRF has jeans in all colors and fits, in addition to simple cotton dresses and t-shirts with cool prints that are perfect for Egypt's hot summer weather, both in the capital and in the North Coast. There is an interesting collection of shoes and accessories, but nothing tops this season's must have gladiator sandals. Thanks to Zara prices, I guarantee that you won't stay up tossing and turning at night with a pang of annoying guilt, but be forewarned, it's not as affordable as H&M. Yet with the opening of a new popular store, the inevitable concern pops up: wearing the same outfit as everyone else. But the variety of stores available should set your heart to rest. Here's a tip: avoid buying from the first collection. And Zara's "instant fashion strategy will definitely help. The store plans to release a new collection every 15 days. According to Wikipedia, Zara works on a two-week production cycle, compared with a six-month industry average. It launches around 10,000 new designs each year. Zara was described by Louis Vuitton fashion director Daniel Piette as "possibly the most innovative and devastating retailer in the world. The store is currently open at CityStars, phase 1, and its Mohandessin branch on Gezirat Al Arab Street is set to open before the end of the year.
