The Express Tribune hi five - March 2

Ms MARCH 2, 2014

ISSUE NO. 89

Eastern Regalia

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The Trouble with Tailors

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inside fashion smashion —

Capes and coats

domestic goddess —

For chicken lovers

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Section In-Charge: Batool Zehra Sub-Editor: Amna Hashmi

The Football Underdog

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the buzz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MARCH 2, 2014

Tailor Troubles

Sick of fighting with your tailor every day? You’re not the only one...

by Iram Moazzam It is the oldest story in the fashion books: the night of the big event you have been planning for months has arrived and yet, your outfit is still lying in rags with your tailor. Does it ring a bell? It does, right?

Almost each and every one of us has invested all our hopes and dreams — not to mention precious money — into a dress or two, only to be utterly disappointed by the outcome, provided that the dress gets stitched in the first place.

Most recently, I visited my tailor to have a banarsi lengha stitched for my brother’s wedding. I wanted to look absolutely stunning and after much planning, designing, matching and colour coordination, I handed it over. Fast forward four weeks and there I was at my tailor’s yet again, fighting back my tears. Not only was my lengha ruined, there was also not enough time to alter or find something else to wear. I had to resort to my mother’s old outfit to make do!

Hold the payment until all alterations are completed, otherwise they will never get done,” advises Rubina Whether it was delivering an outfit on time or stitching it differently from what we had wanted, every woman has suffered at the hands of her tailor for a great deal. And what’s worse is that every tailor has the same excuses! The words “Jee baaji, waqt per tayyaar hojaaye ga” simply hold no weight anymore.

One of the first and foremost excuses tailors have to offer — perhaps due to the complimenting circumstances around them — is that “Baaji, light nahin thi.” With rampant load-shedding across the country on their side, tailors have made it their go-to excuse for failure to deliver an outfit on time. And can you really blame them for it? No. After all, lack of electricity is indeed a valid reason. So you swallow your anger and accept your tailor’s alibi until you notice the myriad of finished dresses — ironed and ready — in the surrounding shops.

Wait a minute! Dont sewing machines work manually and not with an electric pedal?

While load-shedding may be a relatively plausible excuse, inadequate

material is not. Any woman who has ever been to a tailor will understand the sheer agony experienced when you find panels on your new dress or random jors on the sleeves and the words “Kapra kum par gaya thaa” ringing in your ears. According a Karachi-based university student Sidrah Waleed, “No matter how much material you give, tailors will always offer the same reason for putting a patch in your new kameez. Not to mention, even when you know that you gave more material than necessary, tailors always use up every last inch. I bet they hide the remaining cloth and save it for their wives and daughters.”

A common complaint amongst women is regarding tailors who think themselves to be fashion designers and often edit their outfits according to their own ideas. “My previous tailor used to forget all the instructions I would give him,” says Sana Naveen from Karachi. “He’d make the sleeves long when I asked for sleeveless or attach the lace in the wrong place. Once, he even dyed the dupatta another colour because he thought it would look better than the yellow I had chosen.

I was so upset,” she adds. Perhaps this is a ploy to cover a mistake or two but it is downright frustrating when tailors change your outfit deliberately. “This is what happens when they take on too much work and don’t pay attention to the customer’s orders,” says Lahore-based homemaker Yasmeen Akhtar. “Personally, I think it is wrong that they customise someone else’s outfit according to their tastes. They should do what they are asked to.”

Rubina Akhtar* from Lahore has been stitching clothes for herself and her daughter at home for nearly 35 years as dealing with stubborn tailors is not her cup of tea. “It saves me so much time and energy,” she says, laughing. “Why would I want to go over and fight with tailors every day when I can make my dresses myself and modify them as I want?” Rubina advises women to try on their outfits and checking for faults at the tailor’s, before paying and heading home. “Hold the payment until all alterations are completed, otherwise they will never get done.”

Unfortunately, most of the above-mentioned scenarios happen only if the tailor has bothered to work on your outfit in the first place!

With customer demands at an all time high, more and more women nowadays face rejection from tailors who refuse to accept their orders due to the backlog of work, particularly closer to Eid and the summer/winter wedding seasons. With so much workload, chances

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MARCH 2, 2014

are that the gorgeous new suit you are looking so forward to is going to end up on the back of a shelf, rolled up in a ball and forgotten. Some tailors may push your order up for extra money but rarely will an outfit stitched in such a hurry turn out to be right. To avoid inconvenience and disappointment, it is best if one has their clothes made well in advance.

When speaking about tailors, it is impossible for one to overlook the rising prices they ask for in repayment for their work. If you are having a fancy jora made, be ready to pay around Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 just for stitching. “For one simple kameez, my tailor asks for a minimum of Rs1, 000,” says Islamabad-based housewife Maira Noman. “I can’t imagine how much money working women spend on stitching. They need larger wardrobes and perfect matching, ahead of the latest fashions,” she wonders. But Aliya Khan, a full-time employee at a call centre in Islamabad, has found a cheaper and more convenient alternative: ready-made clothing. “I am sick and tired of tailoring blunders, excuses and soaring prices of kapray,” complains Aliya. “Instead of running after dyers, tailors, lace-waalay etc, I just purchase ready-made outfits from local stores. They save a lot of time and hassle, especially for working women like me.” Many like Faisalabad’s Ayesha Ahmad have devised creative solutions to counter the sky-rocketing prices. “My maid’s sister is a darzan,” shares Ayesha. “I get my regular, everyday home-wear stitched by her for cheap. And occasionally, when I need to have a formal outfit done, I go to a proper tailor.”

One might argue that owing to the rising prices and trend and convenience of ready-made clothes, fewer women are now seeking tailoring than ever before — especially in big cities. Ashfaq Zahid, a middle-aged tailor with over 15 years of experience, defends his community when asked about the

With customer demands at an all time high, more and more women nowadays face rejection from tailors who refuse to accept their orders due to the backlog of work, particularly closer to Eid and the summer/winter wedding seasons dying trend. “I can understand why women would not want to pay so much for one outfit,” he confesses. “But we are people too. We have our own set of problems. Inflation affects us more than it affects most of our customers but no one seems to realise that. I wish people would understand not all of us are liars and cheats.”

In contrast, there are some like Attock-based housewife Warda Ahsan who have never come across a badly-stitched outfit or a problematic tailor. Believe it or not, Warda says “Tailors are a blessing for women like me who don’t know how to sew or have access to ready-made clothing boutiques.” Lahore-based Alina Taj agrees. “So many women pick fights over the most trivial of mistakes,” she says. “I have heard some say horrendous things to their tailors in anger. It is no wonder these tailors are retaliating by refusing to work properly!”

Perhaps Warda and Alina aren’t wrong. “I think women should find one good tailor and nurture her relations with him,” suggests Alina. “Most tailors will favour the customer who gives them most business. Stick to one and they are likely to help you out whenever they can.”

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en vogue

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MARCH 2, 2014

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MARCH 2, 2014

Fahad Hussayn uses the regal combination of bronze and white in his latest formal wear Coordination: Umer Mushtaq Hair & Makeup: Maram Abroo Designer: Fahad Hussayn Photography: Maram Abroo Models: Anum Malik, Aqsa Ali, Sonia Nazeer and Dania Sheikh

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fashion smashion

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MARCH 2, 2014

Cape

Gone are the days of the desi coat and long kameez.

The fashion world has moved on to shorter shirts and smaller, sharper capes for spring 2014 by Nayab Najam While some of us may not be too happy with Turkish dramas taking up residency on local TV channels, we cannot deny the fashion revolution they have sparked in Pakistani society. Historic dramas like Mera Sultan have has us drooling over their extravagant Ottoman-inspired jewellery like crowns, maatha pattis and necklaces for months. Most recently, the drama brought a coat revolution in the fashion industry and encouraged scores of designers to come up with desi capes that could be worn to weddings and other formal events, complete with embroidery and local prints, etc. But now, this queenlike fashion has taken a turn for the contemporary: the shirts and capes have shrunk in length and are worn over a plain pair of tights. Also, while the queens of the yesteryears might have paired their bedazzled capes with a plain fabric underneath, today’s fashion combines spunky digital prints on both the inside and outside for added measure. And the best part: these capes can we worn anytime, anywhere! Read on to see how you can jump onto the cape wagon as well.

Formal Work Attire As comfortable as it is to wear shalwar kameez to work, the outfit unfortunately doesn’t always look the most proper and many working women try to pair their kurtas with a chic blazer in a futile attempt to appear more formal.

The short shirt with a cape on top can save you from all such troubles. Having a long gown on can transform even the dullest of outfits into a very polished one. Be it a quick office lunch or an important business meeting with the higher-ups, first impressions matter and you are sure to make a good one with this look. Just remember to have these gowns stitched to mid thigh length with a material that is sturdy and structured to give it the right fall.

Summer Style

Wedding Wear Dont know what to wear this shaadi season?

Afraid you’ll have to repeat old dresses?

Worry not! This is where the cape and its versatility comes in. Invest in a couple of embroidered capes and wear them interchangeably with different inner shirts to keep the variety alive. Alternatively, you can simply get one heavy, neutral-coloured coat stitched and change the inner shirt for every event you attend, making it seem like a new outfit every time. Some of the options include a short silk pleated shirt in bright pink or a dark, mysterious bottle green or blue, all of which will look fantastic with a white, black or even beige upper cape. This will not only save you time but also a whole lot of money.

This style is truly for everyone, even those who don’t enjoy dressing up.

The capes don’t always have to be made with heavy fabric — lawns and chiffons will look just as great as banarsi or velvet. Hence, this trend allows you to avoid the summer fashion faux pas and look your best, even in the scorching heat. Pair your coat with light chicken inner shirts or lawn camisoles and you are good to go. Not only will you look effortlessly chic, you will also stay much cooler in the blazing summer and that too for a cheap price! Once again, make sure your coat is midlength to keep in line with the latest fashion.

The gown is the best trend to emerge from our fashion industry in recent years. As the lengths of our kurtas inch upwards, we can conclude that nothing looks better than a short, sleeveless kurta in a pale shade, coupled with tights and a flowy, colourful cape on top.

domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MARCH 2, 2014

Recipe

Rolly Polly Chicken This recipe is ideal for chicken-lovers around the world. Not only is it easy to make, it is just as fun to eat as the name.

Method • To make the dough, mix all the ingredients together and pour in the milk to knead it. Once the dough is soft and ready, cover it with a damp cloth and leave it in a warm place for about an hour.

• After the hour has passed, knead the dough once again and set it in a warm place for another 30 minutes.

• While the dough rests, prepare the filling by frying the onions, shredded chicken, flour, salt and pepper together until the flour becomes a light brown colour.

• Add ketchup and water to the pan and mix gently.

• Once the mixture has thickened, add green chillies to it and turn off the flame.

• Divide the dough into 3 portions and roll out each portion flat.

• Add the chicken filling onto each portion, covering it completely.

• Sprinkle some grated cheese over the chicken.

• Roll the portions tightly and seal the ends using your fingers and a little bit of water to make the dough stick.

• Glaze each roll with egg yolk and bake until it puffs and the yolk becomes a light golden colour.

• Allow the rolls to cool and then cut them into slices.

• Serve warm. Your Rolly Polly Chicken is now ready!

Arooj Waqar runs a Facebook cooking page called Mona’s Kitchen and aspires to convert her passion for cooking into a career

For the chicken:

For the dough:

Flour 4 cups

Sugar 1 tsp

Yeast 2 tbsp

Egg 1

Milk powder 2 tbsp

Salt 1 tsp

Butter 4 tbsp

Milk (lukewarm) to knead the dough

Boiled chicken 2 cups

Onions (chopped) 1 cup

Oil 2 tbsp

Salt and pepper (to taste)

Ketchup 3 to 4 tbsp

Flour 2 tsp

Water 1/2 cup

Green chillies (to taste)

Cheese 1/2 cup

hottie of the week 8

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MARCH 2, 2014

Status Born

Unknown England

Birthday

28th February, 1994

Face

80%

Adil Nabi

Body

85%

Who is he?

Despite being a small fish in the world of football, Pakistan has a great bunch of footballers playing internationally, for various clubs in tournaments across Europe and Asia. One such example is Adil Nabi, a 19-year-old footballer who has been taking the English Premier League by storm ever since he burst onto the football landscape two years ago. A graduate from the Hawthorn Academy, Adil was trained through the West Bromwich Albion team. He signed his first professional contract in February, 2011 and has only furthered his impeccable football skills ever since. In addition to this, Adil has been capped for England’s national team at the Under-16 and Under-17 levels already! Now who needs Beckham when we can have our very own football superstar?

Talent

88%

Why we love him There is something endearing about Adil that we simply cannot put a finger to. Whether he is on or off the football field, Adil is almost always in great spirits and a delightful team player. Considering his excellent football skills, boy-next-door looks and a chiseled body that can only belong to a footballer, what’s not to love?

The best part about Adil is that at such a young age, he has not only begun to make a name for himself but also for Pakistan by representing the country in the international football world. He realises his role as hero for many aspiring Asian footballers and uses it as inspiration to do the best he can and encourage them to try as well.

What you didn’t know about him Adil’s talents were first spotted back when he was seven, at the Albion community coaching centre he used to visit along with his dad.

Focused and hardworking, Adil participated in last-year’s football season during Ramadan and had to be given a special training plan by his team.

Adil won the young player award at the Asian Football Awards, held in London last October.

Total Package

84%