Contents
All that glitters
12
Style Spotting with Ammar Belal
32
Fashion: Contemporary red
35
Couple connections
42
Society’s Verdict on Mathira
44
Opinion poll Valentine’s Day
46
Love is not blind
50
Hottest celebrity couples
54
Star Gaze
56
Taroscope 60 The perfect Valentine’s Day
62
Editor Injila Baqir Zeeshan Sub Editors Fatima Zehra Naqvi Sahar Iqbal Creative Head Babur Saghir Graphic Designers Atif Rafi Javeria Mirza Sana Ahmed Photographer Mohammad Amir Baba
35 Contemporary red
Sanam Agha explores the novel concept of ‘modern love’ this Valentine’s. An explosion of vibrant colours, her collection is very contemporary with subtle touches of the East. All this, combined with the chic cuts and vivid patterns, makes these outfits as irresistible as red!
Photography: M Usman Zia Hair & make-up: Nasir Khan at Tariq Amin’s Designer: Sanam Agha Models: Qurat-ul-Ain and Zeeshan Tahir Text: Fatima Zehra Naqvi
Couple connections Some of our celebrity friends share some interesting facts about their partners. By Sumeha Khalid and Sahar Iqbal
Amna Sheikh What I love the most in him… He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. Even now, the more men I come across at work and otherwise, the more I adore Mohib. He’s definitely one of a kind. My idea of a perfect date… A calm, breezy evening; outdoors on a dimly-lit patio by the sea; subtle lounge-y music; being served delicate and scrumptious courses without a care in the world.
Ali Zafar What I love the most in her… Compassion. My idea of a perfect date… A perfect date would be one where both want to give more rather than take. It should end by each one of us getting more than we had ever wished for. My idea of a perfect gift…
A gift should always be perfect. It is always the fear of future or the remorse of the past that dilutes the happiness in it. What I would like to change in her... She is perfect the way she is. If my partner cheated on me I would… Blame myself for it.
Urooj Asif What I love the most in him… He’s patient, respects me and doesn’t shout! My idea of a perfect date… Holding hands and walking together in blissful silence yet understanding each other completely. My idea of a perfect gift … A bouquet of flowers along with my favourite perfume… and he should 42 I February 13 - 19, 2011
Mohib in casuals, yet handsomely dressed sitting across from me. That would be perfect! My idea of a perfect gift… A customised music selection album. What I would like to change in him... I would install a new and improved organisational application in him, which should be implanted in all males when they’re born! If my partner cheated on me I would… Say...’Aha! There, I finally found something typical in him!’
know which one it is! What I would like to change in him… Once he fights, he goes quiet and I have to make an effort to make up; I wish he did. If my partner cheated on me I would... Ask him where I went wrong and why he did it. However I will let him go because I love him so much that I would want him to be happy. I would then live my life with the hope that I find someone better as well.
Nadia Hussain What I love the most in him… That he understands and trusts me. My idea of a perfect date… It would have to be on a helicopter. My idea of a perfect gift… Oh, a trip to Paris. What I would like to change in him… That he should be more willing to go out with me… but since he has to get up so early in the morning, I have no complaints! If my partner cheated on me I would… Leave him in an instant.
Rizwan Baig What I love the most in her… She is very, very sweet, and she does not argue with me. My idea of a perfect date… Dinner at the beach under full moon. My idea of a perfect gift… I think there is no perfect present, it depends on her mood. It can be a rose only. What I would like to change in her... There is nothing I would like to change. She is the perfect wife. If my partner cheated on me I would… She won’t cheat with me ever... I can’t even imagine that.
Huma Adnan What I love the most in him… Everything. My idea of a perfect date… Going to no-mans land and exploring it. My idea of a perfect gift… Nothing expresses love like a great present, and there’s no opportunity better suited than Valentine’s Day for giving and receiving (lots of) gifts! What I would like to change in him… Nothing! If my partner cheated on me I would… He will never cheat!
February 13 - 19, 2011 I 43
Society’s
Verdict
If what Veena Malik had done had so piqued the religious sentiments of the society, why hasn’t Mathira been able to do so? By Bushra Shehzad
I
haven’t watched television in quite a long time now, two years to be precise. News depresses me while work and studies combined keep me too busy to bother myself to try and pretend to be cool enough to follow Bigg Boss. But because of the ripples that Kamran Shahid’s show created, I suddenly found myself back in front of the tube. And while I did, I managed to entertain myself with a couple of other shows too. One of these was a late night show being hosted by VJ Mathira. The lady wears pretty scanty clothes; massive cleavage showing! Facial expressions and her voice, all ‘tempt’ the poor viewers to say all that they do. After watching her show on TV, I decided to YouTube her. People’s comments sometimes give you quite an insight, biased or unbiased. Everything that I came across was shocking. A Pakistani TV channel airing a show where vulgarity is the only thing on the agenda would leave many eyes popped out and mouths hanging open. Since the show is live, a lot of people call in. As shameful as it is, the callers make explicit remarks, obscene too. The lady, on the other hand, remains unaffected by any comments the callers make about her, whatsoever. She is calm and coolly answers them and if need be, abuses them politely and tells them that “they should take out their frustration on their wives”. The channel seems to have taken modernity to a whole new level, I must add, for airing blatant vulgarity on live television. The reason I started writing this was not to bash Mathira. But only to point at the hypocrisy of our society, the maulvis and the media too, for its ‘selective engagement’. Veena Malik, as she most eloquently pointed out, that she had been “selectively” singled out and 44 I February 13 - 19, 2011
given the harsh treatment that she was given. She was also of the opinion that what she had done was no different from what was going on in the rest of the entertainment industry of Pakistan. True that. I shouldn’t be criticising Mathira here too. But the point is, if what Veena Malik had done had so piqued the religious sentiments of the society, why hasn’t Mathira been able to do so? Hasn’t she tried enough? The mufti so arrogantly pointed to Veena that her pictures online are something she won’t be able to see in front of her male relatives. (P.S. There are some photoshoped pictures.) If he can Google, I bet he can YouTube as well.
Facial expressions and her voice, all ‘tempt’ the poor viewers to say all that they do
Lend us your ears
Valentine’s Day Celebrations As Valentine’s Day nears, people and lovers in particular are warming up to the occasion to celebrate this day of romance and love. Red is in the air, and so is love. The history of 14th February varies in different traditions but the idea is to celebrate love and shower your loved ones with gifts, chocolates and roses. The day is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Pakistan. Shops all over are adorned in hues of red, with your roadside ‘gubaarewala’ selling various kinds of red balloons, ranging from heart-shaped to the plain big round ones. Pakistan may be becoming more modernized with every passing day. Yet there is this strange wave of conservatism going around that is felt by many and is hardly ignorable. We asked our readers if they feel that this slow change has in any way affected the celebration of the Valentine’s Day over the past 10 years. Here is what they think:
I think over the last one decade, people have become more open and welcoming towards change, especially modernism and this acceptance of Valentines Day points towards the same fact. The young generation in particular is of the view that there is no harm in celebrating this day. Amna Naeem LUMS
It has become much more acc eptable in the past 10 years, especially with greater access to western television, internet, etc. Howev er, the recent wave of conser vatism will definitely affect it too, especially regionally. For instance, while big cities like Lahore and Karachi will con tinue celebrating it extravagantly, other areas like Peshawar are likely to have some fear associated wit h publicly expressing love.
Anam Zakaria, Citizens Archive
of Pakistan
the ing trend in st w ro g a is t lea erally there Pakistan, a in ay D I think gen ’s e n I don’t of Valenti were kids, e w n celebration e h of an areas. W wearing red on 14th in the urb le p gazine ismany peo ows or ma sh remember V T g in the r watchin . However, ay d is February o th e ls and ated to th ong libera m a e id sues dedic iv of d e growing t the scope wake of th I am uncertain abou s, conservative ay. s on this d ool celebration Business Sch T S U N i, or so Sophia Man
Compiled by Bushra Shehzad 46 I February 13 - 19, 2011
, Valentine’s ed and cursed upon wn fro g in be it From enagers and way in Pakistan. Te ng lo a e m co s ha Day declare their me able to freely co be w no ve ha ts adul ents that are and now we have ev e els ne eo m so r fo love ber hearing r this day. I remem fo d se ni ga or ly ial spec couples with running after such s lvi au m t ou ab s storie e is this air of are events! Yes ther e er th w no d an s stick ll eventually Pakistani society wi e th t bu m tis va er cons in a highly ern values to survive od m up ke ta to have globalised world. , LUMS Mufaddal Tambawala
I think th e celebratio ns haven’t evolved. They really are still the sa me as they w when they b egan back wh ere enever they d don’t see an id... I y changes in the way Valen Day is celeb tine’s rated here... couples go o dinners... peo ut for ple wear bla ck and red.. clichedgifts fo . bu r each other like teddys, ch y lates, cards et ocoal... so yes, n o I don’t see evolution... th any ere was a revo lution when began but its it all been the sam e since then. Sheharyar Riz wan, Express 24/7
love is not blind By Shahbano Khan
“Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less” Julins Gordon
V
alentine fever has reigned upon us on this month of February. For some it is the most awaited day of the year because of the ‘legitimate’ opportunity to celebrate love, for others it’s just a chance to dress up for the occasion. One thing’s for sure though, florists all around the city are swarmed with orders and almost everyone avails the chance to observe the red code. It’s a great time to write about love but then again it’s an equally great time to write on how to dress up that ‘love’! Love is in the air, and many of us are wondering ‘what do I wear on this special date?’ Have no fear; we have some ideas to share. Truth is fashion has made its presence in every important event in life and when it’s the most romantic day of the year one has to make that extra effort. Some of us might say love is not based on ‘external looks’ but if the special person in your life wears your favorite color or looks the same way you first laid eyes, then it is definitely worth the endeavor!
The colors this Valentine’s are red, hot pink and white with the valiant color being black. The idea is to create an ensemble that speaks out who you truly are. Red is classy and pink is fun, white being graceful and black being bold. A red or a black silk lose blouse with skinny jeans or a pink or a white dress with tights pretty much conveys the same message of detailed attention but the buffer zone to create an original piece of the day is a thrill in itself. Even though the weather already seems to be changing but a red coat takes the day when it comes to dressing up for an outdoor Valentine’s dinners. 50 I February 13 - 19, 2011
If you’re looking for prints to wear, bright floral prints and stripes are the next big bang of the spring season. Runways are full of them and local designers can be seen incorporating them in their latest trends. If we keep a look out small scale exhibitions are picking up the Valentine fever and catering specifically for that in affordable price ranges. NYB Clothing an upcoming Lahori brand displayed their Valentine range of tops in a mixture of prints, shades and fabrics of silk, chiffon, jerseys, tweed etc last week, and it is important to keep our eyes open for more of these ventures so we don’t miss the chance to pick out that perfect top!
Accessories might just be the most important thing after clothes. There is no way a girl will not accessorize her outfit to brighten the overall look, don’t worry it will not be counted as narcissism merely an innate female feature! Bold colorful jewelry is another top trend of the season and it’s always important to highlight the best part of our attire. Bib necklaces have an eye popping appeal and have the tendency to make a statement. Wow-worthy jewelry always speaks a lot about a woman and her senses of style so don’t be afraid to try out an accentuating accessory for your date. Another diverse element to add is a beret. It changes a boring outfit to a classy one in one swish.
A further ingredient to add in your attire is a tote bag. The rule with these bags is, the bigger the accessory the better. Big bags have the practicality function and it is in style. The idea is to put the ‘fun’ in functional by going for funky handles, glamorous hardware, cool details and a range of colors.
Let’s get down to shoes. A very appealing design that seems to have caught everyone’s attention is the peep toe ankle boots or the peep toe wedges. They instantly transform the shape of the leg and give the sensually intimidating height. Red or black stilettos would take anyone’s heart away but comfort wise peep toe pumps is the next best option. You can try these shoes in every color in fact because they act as a color breaker.
So now we can straighten the forehead wrinkles, gulp the Oh-Lord-what-do-I-wear panic attacks and head out looking beyond gorgeous so we not only make all the heads turn but make the date’s heart skip two beats. February 13 - 19, 2011 I 51
Woo your Valentine with QUIZ
52 I February 13 - 19, 2011
Tinseltown hook-ups can be surprisingly unpredictable. One day the star couple is seen cuddling and confessing their eternal love and the next we hear they have landed in fallout. But some – till now, that is – have weathered the downs and enjoyed the ups. This Valentine’s, Lounge brings you the hottest real-life celebrity couples of Hollywood and Bollywood (in no particular order… we are being kind enough not to rate their chemistry and love quotients).
By Fatima Zehra Naqvi
Top Bollywood Couples 1. Hrithik Roshan and Suzanne Roshan 2. Imran Khan and Avantika 3. Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan 4. John Abraham and Bipasha Basu 5. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao 6. Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwariya Rai 7. Shahrukh Khan and Gauri Khan 8. Akshay Kumar and Twinkle 9. Ajay Devgan and Kajol 10. Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor 54 I February 13 - 19, 2011
Top Hollywood Couples 1. Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani 2. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie 3. Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez 4. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes 5. Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis 6. Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen 7. Jay-Z and Beyonce 8. David Beckham and Victoria Beckham 9. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart 10. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
56 I February 13 - 19, 2011
the recipe for
your perfect day
Let us suggest some wonderful ideas to make your Valentine’s Day special and complete - one you will remember for a long time to come!
62 I February 13 - 19, 2011
for him
Guys always confuse girls as there is a very limited choice of presents for them. Lounge has made this easy for young women, as now they know where to go for their Valentine’s Day shopping.
By Sahar Iqbal
64 I February 13 - 19, 2011
for her
On Valentine’s Day, most of us will give a present to the one we love. Now that day is just around the corner and if you are still confused about what to get then Lounge has solved your problem. Have a look at our galmstock and you’ll surely know the places to buy the best suited gifts for your beloved this year.
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