Ms SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
ISSUE NO. 13
One beard to rule them all The hottie who sets our hearts racing
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Rock your frames Style tips that’ll see you beyond this year
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Section In Charge: Batool Zehra Send your feedback to women@tribune.com.pk
domestic goddess -
Sicilian inspirations
Hot fuzz
drama mama -
big dreams for little people
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hottie of the week
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
Abbas Jafri: The bearded bloke Birthday: November 30 Status: Single Born: Karachi, Pakistan
abbas Who he is
jafri
There is something so animalistic about a man with a thick, dense, unruly ... beard. Not everyone can pull off the uninhibited, aggressive sexuality reminscent of a wild caveman — but the ones who can easily trump today’s metrosexual men with their smooth, hairless jaws and buffed, shiny nails. Lux Style Awards Model of the Year Abbas Jafri must have been reading our minds when a few years ago, he grew a beard that literally started its very own hair revolution. Cascading down to his chest, Jafri’s beard is set off by his long locks and a piercing gaze which leaves women breathless. When Jafri started modelling, pratically every man was clean-shaven and over-groomed. Jafri’s standout look — layers and layers of unkempt hair — had him labelled a ‘fundo’ by the industry. No one could understand why a good-looking man would deliberately grow all that excessive hair and ruin all chances of scoring a photoshoot with top designers. Little did they know that the fashion world would soon be following that beard.
How it started
While on a trip to Vegas with friends, Jafri came across a bunch of gypsies and hobos sitting outside one of the casinos and thought how liberating it must be to not care about one’s hair altogether. Why should a real man fritter away his time shaving and trimming his facial hair? By the time he returned to Pakistan, Jafri had grown a full beard. This flabbergasted the immigration officers. They had seen bearded men go from Pakistan and return clean-shaven, gelled and spiked up; never the other way round.
Setting hearts racing
When Jafri jumped on the beard bandwagon, he was unsure how his look would be received by women. It wasn’t until he was approached one day by a young girl while out with his family that he realised the ravishing effect he had on women. The fan girl ran up to him and gave him a hug, refusing to let go of him. Both sets of parents were left astounded. After the awkardness passed, the girl revealed that she had pictures of him all over her walls and ceiling.
Bearded glory
Within a few years, Jafri’s unconventional look had garnered him tonnes of big projects. He was featured in an Ayesha Omar video and shot an advertisement for Ahmed Bham and Republic. The bearded bloke’s been making us drool every time we see a Bareeze Man billboard, but he’s got his melting hazel eyes set further — he’s just been selected to walk the ramp for Paris Fashion Week, and is on the cusp of becoming an international phenomenon.
Behind the beard
Jafri’s not just a pretty face — he’s a talented cricketer who has played domestic cricket and is currently playing league cricket in the US. And he’s not one of those models who party hard. He’s actually a chilled out, introverted guy who likes to stay out of the limelight. Ironic and yet so loveable considering that he’s always in the limelight!
the buzz 3
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
Beardor NOT What the girls have to say about Jafri’s unconventional look
Not often you get to see someone with such unbridled good looks. Love the locks and the beard. - Mariya Put stubble, and unruly hair on a guy and I’m absolutely kookoo for him. And this guy does all those things best! - Taneeya
He has that Moses look that very few guys can pull off successfully. Love the fact that the beard is not groomed, which otherwise gives a very metrosexual look on men. - Mifrah
Gives off a stalkerish vibe, I’d avoid him in an alley. - Zara Barbarian much? A really shocking look but still creative and different. - Saira
The right kind of beard equals the right kind of testosterone levels. And his beard can sometimes tell you more about his feelings and state of mind than his eyes ever can. Everything from laziness to style quotient and confidence level can be judged from the way he ‘scapes his face.
He definitely has an attractive face cut and his eyes say a lot. I wish I could see the rest of his face. - Ayesha
Long hair — yum — except when it’s longer than mine! Facial hair is very masculine. Groom the beard though! - Zainab
Fawad Khan
Waleed Khalid
Justin Theroux
If you thought there was no way actor Fawad Khan, who might as well as be Pakistan’s perfect damad, miyaan and abbu, could get any hotter, he just did! Sporting some seriously sexy fuzz on his face, it seems he’s decided to ditch his boy-next-door image for a manlier look. He’s embracing masculinity and exuding more confidence than ever before.
This LSA nominee for Best Male Model knows exactly how to sport a sexy stubble without looking like a complete mountain man. We love his shadow of a beard because it intensifies and accentuates his sculpted jaw and high cheekbones, giving him a dark, brooding look which is still sleek.
Who would’ve thought America’s sweetheart Jennifer Aniston would fall for the grizzly Justin Theroux? We’re assuming that Jen’s love for Theroux probably has a whole lot to do with his manly whiskers. Because when you have Theroux in a dark beard and tats all over his body, he literally makes Brad Pitt look like a plastic Ken doll. And we all know Ken was just an accessory in Barbie’s world!
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drama mama
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
Big Dreams for Little People It’s a grand life if you’ve got the right glasses on Hiba Masood is a stay-athome mother to 3-year-old Beta and 7-monthold Beti. Writing about parenting affords her time away from actually doing it. CONNECT WITH DRAMA MAMA ONLINE AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ETDRAMAMAMA FOR MORE THOUGHTS ON THE CRAZY RIDE OF MOTHERHOOD
by Hiba Masood
We have long suspected that our Beti looked a little too frequently at her own nose and when we took her to a paediatric ophthalmologist, it turns out we were absolutely right! Some corrective eye surgery was in order. At our first post-op visit, the doctor grinned at us, “Well, everything’s fine now but she’ll never be a pilot!” Hums and I laughed along with him, thankful and relieved with the results. Later in the evening, like a petulant child, I felt an irrational pang over my ten-month-old daughter’s lost dream, sighing, “She would’ve made a great pilot.” A few weeks earlier, when Michael Phelps won his 21st medal and became the most decorated Olympian of all time, he had sparked a conversation in my home that I remembered the night I spent mournfully musing over the career trajectories of pilots. It is the same conversation Hums and I have when we watch any one around us achieve greatness in any of the multitude of interests and passions that people pursue in this wonderful world: What do we want for our children? Did you, as you held your newborn baby, feel the awe of an unknown future? Did you whisper to your child: “Are you destined for great things? Are you going to be a champion swimmer, a renowned painter, a spiritual leader?” As parents, we believe it’s our duty to give our children dreams of their infinite possibilities and capabilities. Carpe the heck out of every diem! You can do and be anything you want if only you believe. I firmly believe in possibilities and hard work and I want my children to aim for the stars; but sometimes I wonder at the wisdom of that frame of mind. Does it make us ungrateful or unhappy with what we do end up doing? How can I, as a parent, help my kids balance dreaming big with living small and being happy? How to be content with things as they are, yet at the same time, not allow contentment of spirit to morph into laziness, lethargy or an indolent, passionless lifestyle? I had always thought that by this age, I would be an established writer and the head of my own school. But there is no school and there is no manuscript filled with great works of staggering genius. Happily, there is also no regret. Every day I talk to my parents, give time to Beta and Beti, share a cup of tea with Hums, and read something. I pretend to do yoga, prepare food and try to keep up with the laundry, my skincare regimen and the news. If it doesn’t sound very grand, it’s because it isn’t. I watch as all my peers discover that this will be their life. The women, putting their duties as wives and mothers first, and everything else second. The men, weighed down with the need to provide, trying to fathom how to pay the tuition fees for universities abroad, too busy getting by to remember their own dreams. Even those men and women with a great and desired career are still plagued with long hours of work, the banality of routine, the return home to a tired spouse and the dawning realisation that you may only do one or two things in your life that outlast you. I would seriously love to spare my kids the mini-midlife crisis that comes from realising they probably won’t be the subject of an amazing biography, that their lives will likely be a series of little achievements than any one big bang. If I let echo in their hearts that they can do anything, one night they may sigh and think ‘Is this all there is?’ Will I have done my due diligence in preparing them for this world? Is there anything I can do to spare them that sigh? How about I refuse to tell them that they can Be Anything they want to and instead tell them that they can Be Happy in any situation they choose? So that Hums and I give them a lifelong affection for life as it is — the exquisite privilege of some decades to fill? Because it’s in the extraordinary ordinariness of life that you catch glimpses of magic. In the divine opportunities to sit in the rain on a gorgeous September afternoon, to laugh so hard your sides hurt, to eat chaat with friends, to watch your mother play with your eye patch wali pirate daughter. To love and be loved, to build a marriage, to make a home, to raise a family, to live nobly and justly. To breathe in the body that was given to you, to use it well, and surrender it in the end. At which point, it won’t even matter that you didn’t become a pilot, even though, in a fit of contrariness, your crazy drama of a Mama suddenly really wanted you to.
domestic goddess 5
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
recipe Palak Paneer & Saffron Arancini In Sicily, they use leftover risotto to make Arancini balls — breadcrumb coated rice balls! I have made a Pakistani fusion by incorporating a palak paneer recipe with saffron yahkni into a risotto. Saffron is used in Italian cooking as well and these rice balls are great as a starter or a tea time canape.
Sumayya Jamil is a lawyer-turned-food writer and cookery teacher in London, who is on a mission to promote the love of Pakistani food in the UK. She blogs at pukkapaki.com
Prep and cooking time: 45 minutes. Plus overnight time to let risotto cool. Serves: Makes about 15 balls
method
1. To make the risotto: Boil the stock with saffron, cloves, salt, peppercorn and cardamom. Add the rice and stir until it comes to a boil. Turn down heat and cover and stir occasionally until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked through. 2. In a shallow pan, heat the oil, add the cumin and once they splutter, add onions and fry until translucent. Add the ginger and garlic, and cook until the raw smell leaves the pan. Add the spinach, butter and chilli powder. Now add the cooked rice and mozzarella cheese and stir until the mixture is stiff. Pour on a flat plate, cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight. 2. To make the Arancini balls: Prepare the breadcrumbs, flour and beaten egg in 3 separate plates. Start by heating up oil in a wok-like pan and keep on medium heat. Now using the cold rice mixture form balls and push in a small piece of paneer in the middle. The size of the balls depends on you. 3. Make a batch of about 5 balls at a time then dip in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Fry them together, turning them to ensure an even golden brown colour. Repeat until all the mixture is used up. 4. Enjoy hot with some chilli sauce or a cool raita dip.
ingredients Vegetable oil 1/4 cup Arborio rice 1 cup Chicken stock 2 cups Spinach, chopped 1 cup Paneer 15 small cubed Ginger and garlic paste 1 tsp Onion //2 Mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup Salted butter 1 tbsp Flour 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs 1/2 cup Egg, beaten 1 water Saffron 1 pinch Peppercorns 4-5 Cloves 3 Cardamom 1 Cumin 1 tsp Red chilli powder 1/2 tsp Green chillis chopped 2 Salt
2 taste
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en vogue
Classical inspirations
Designer Seema Khan effortlessly fuses traditional styles with classically inspired embroidery, resulting in beautiful clothes. Brand: Ranga Rang Designer: Seema Khan Styling : Thomas Fernandes Art Direction: Nomi Qamar Photography: Yasir Nisar Co-ordination: Abid Maqsood
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
fashion smashion 7
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
o Saba Khalid
Have you been framed yet? See way beyond this year — with style! Never has it been a better time to be blind as a bat than right now. Whether you’re visually impaired or have 20/20 eyesight, glasses have invaded the runways and taken over glamourous celebs. Here’s how you rock a pair without looking like a total daddi amma.
Eye make-up
• If you wear thick frames don’t overdo the eye makeup as it will appear even more accentuated once you put the glasses on. • No bright shadows unless you’re going for the “Ugly Betty” look. • Only go funky with your eye makeup if glasses are rimless. • When putting on mascara, pay more attention to the lower lash. If you overdo the upperlash, it will stick to the glass. • To avoid smearing, let everything dry up before you perch the glasses on.
Eyebrows
• Thick frames look good with thick eyebrows. So if yours are on the thin side, its best to use some dark shadow to make them appear fuller. • Thin frames look best with thin eyebrows. Since most people aren’t blessed with lush eyebrows, this style is easily adapatable.
Hair
• Short hairstyles are best if you want to show off your frames. • Pulling hair away from the face goes well with any set of frames. • Getting bangs with a thick pair can look very high fashion.
When to lens it up and when to perch it on
While some people think that a good pair of designer glasses can go just about anywhere, there are certain places where it is necessary to whip out those annoying lenses. Take for instance, shaadis, valimas, mehndis: all these dressy functions require lenses. When we’re all decked up in our eastern finery, a pair of spectacles — no matter how classy — really won’t do. You don’t want your heavy gold set dangling against your thick metal frames. If you really want to wear glasses though, make sure the rest of your get up complements them. For formal dinners and parties, it depends on how comfortable you are with your spetacles and what your personal style is. Floaty eastern chiffons will require lenses whereas if you’re wearing a classy silk block print and clean make up, chances are you can rock glasses. Steer away from over-accessorising though! For everything else, especially corporate lunches and dinners, breakfast and brunches, a pair of nicely polished glasses will do just fine.
Hot trends for 2012
• Geek chic is still in. But keep the frame polished, smooth and shiny to look less nerdy and more sophisticated. • For the adventurous, a cat-eye frame in a bright hue is a good choice. • For the glamourous goddesses, try a unique pattern instead of a jewel encrusted frame. • Round frames, Lady Gaga-style, are all the rage these days.
Frame faux pas
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to go all matchy-matchy with your glasses and your clothes. So wearing red frames and a red shirt will look hideous. Similarly, matching your hijab with your glasses also looks strange. If you’re wearing glasses with a hijab, keep your make up clean. Try to balance the overall look: if your scarf is brightly coloured or printed, glasses should be simple. But if you want the focus to be on your snazzy spectacles, wear a neutral hued hijab When wearing glasses, avoid wearing long earrings — it’s best to stick to simple studs. Complicated earrings can only work if you have a really long neck and are wearing long earrings, otherwise it just looks a bit much.
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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
Ms. T tells you how to make the most of your week.
watch
What’s in your mehndi Gilmore Girls
The complete antithesis of most teen shows on TV, “Gilmore Girls” is a unique combination of quirky and witty with a healthy dose of small town charm. Dropping pop culture references by the minute, “Gilmore Girls” focuses on single mother Lorelai and her only daughter Rory who are BFFs for life. The fast paced dialogue, the neurotic mother-daughter relationship(s), and the sheer amount of caffeine, make for compelling, addictive TV. If you haven’t ever seen the show, watch it from beginning to end and then replicate one of its gluttonous movie nights, complete with 18 different types of candy, pizza, and corn dogs. Reasons you should love the show? All of the characters seem grounded in reality (grain of salt, please, it’s television), dealing primarily with things like getting into a good college, negotiating a complicated relationship with your mother, and dabbling in a world where you may not fit in.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot Sometimes a non-fiction book does what fiction can never do: tell a true story that’s compelling and illuminating. The Immortal Life does just that, telling the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black woman who grew up in the American South and died from an aggressive form of cervical cancer. Her cells, taken without her knowledge, became one of the most important tools of medical research — eventually being used to develop the polio vaccine, in vitro fertilisation, gene mapping and more. However, Skloot’s book isn’t a boring tale of scientific research and medical ethics — it brings to vivid life Lacks’ family memebers, who can barely afford their own health insurance, and who don’t have enough education to understand what happened to their mother. The best part? The book is written in a tightly wound narrative that flows effortlessly from page to page — captivating you with scenes between Skloot and Lacks’ daughter, while breaking down cellular biology like it’s no big thing. At once heartbreaking and informative, The Immortal Life will have you questioning every medical advancement that HeLa cells brought about.
We love the intricate patterns and the demure eastern belle look, but before you reach for that mehndi cone, take heed. Doctors are warning women to figure out what chemicals are in their henna before drawing designs on their hands. It’s likely that some brands could cause an allergic reaction leaving patterned burn scars on you for the rest of your life. Not that most cones come with a handy ingredient list, but according to experts, p-Phenylenediamine — which has been known to put some in anaphylactic shock — is the chemical you should be watching out for.
Get better cardiovascular health With the amount of samosas and pakoras we’ve all been consuming, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn exactly how well your heart’s been working. According to the World Health Organisation, heart disease is high up on the list of causes of death for women in Pakistan. Check your resting heart rate when you get up in the morning. The lower, say the doctors, the better your heart is pumping away. If you’re on the higher end of the scale, think about upping your cardiovascular activities — just twenty minutes of some sort of cardio could extend your life significantly.