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The last days
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uring the last week before Ramzan, every single person I know was dying to get out and party over the weekend. It all started with mid-week celebrations of birthdays, event launches and elaborate dinners. I suppose everyone figured that an Iftar party had no chance of achieving the same amount of publicity or debauchery as one that is right before a full month of abstinence. As I tried to make an appearance on most of these occasions I could not help but notice the spirit at which I saw everyone trying to make the ‘best’ out of their evenings and go all out as if it was new years eve. Maybe the thought of not even drinking water for more than 10 hours straight in August weather has made most of the Punjabis go crazy, consuming everything else with such full force even before it all starts. Tuesday night was the Rahat Fateh Ali Khan charity concert at the Pearl Continental, which my dear friend and the super talented interior designer, Hamza Tarrar, invited me to. Considering the expensive tickets to the event, my wife and I were dressed to impress expecting the most tasteful part of our society.
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You can imagine the surprise, when I was pushed aside by someone with zombie like eyes making a lunge towards the barbecue section of the dinner hall. I finally felt at home when more of the fashion posse showed up to join us at the table which included the lovely designer duo; Nickie & Nina, the model; Mehreen Syed; and the brains behind Purple PR; Salma Turab. The highlight of the night was obviously Rahat’s vocals, which kept ringing in my ears even the next day. Although by the end of it, if I heard the word ‘nayna’ one more time, I was ready to stab someone in the eye with a fork. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate qawali for the poetry and the vocal talent that it signifies but 2 hours of someone screaming in your ear is a bit too much for me. The fact that Rahat’s adolescent son joined him on stage to sing one of the ‘nayna’ songs was too cute for even me to ignore and definitely helped in getting through the last 30 minutes of the performance. The weekend consisted of the Bonanza flagship store launch in Lahore and Fahad Sheikh’s T-shirt line fashion show at the Design Emporium. Considering the heat, I was not interested in attending either but in this industry if you don’t support your peers, you better not expect them to come out for you whenever you need them. A personal phone call from Frieha Altaf means that there is no way I am letting her
down especially when she has been there for me and my wife so many times. As we melted outside on the red carpet under the bright spotlights, praising Bonanza to the poor host Natasha Hussain, I couldn’t help but realize the hard work that goes into being part of the TV industry. Try standing for 2 hours outside in those conditions and have a perfect smile on your face every time you try to charmingly interview a disgruntled celebrity who just can’t wait for it to be over. The good news is that Bonanza has launched some new labels, which offer basics for men at very affordable prices. These days I have more respect for labels reaching out to the common man offering him options to dress well and that is exactly the future for the Ammar Belal men’s wear label also, as
It is refreshing to see the freedom in a young designer’s philosophy since he or she has not yet been subjected to the commercial constraints of a running business we launch our diffusion range this winter. The weekend ended with me missing the Club Caramel performance as well as another mini concert at Cosa Nostra. I figured I needed some down time before we all adjust to the Ramzan timings from Monday. Until next week folks, and don’t forget to be nice to everyone around you even though you are secretly thinking about drinking their blood to quench your thirst.
Top 5: Hairstyles Film
Top 5:
to try right now
Hairstyles to try right now
w o n t h g i r y r t to
1.
Braids/ woven: Braids have been the biggest hair trend for the past few seasons, and every season they become more intricate and fun - think milkmaid meets club-hopper. A braided, woven ‘does work both casually and formally. Best of all? It’s the perfect fashionable fix for a bad hair day.
2.
Undone: When Gossip Girl hit our television sets in 2007, all eyes were on Blake Lively. Among the countless trends spearheaded by the ladies on the show, was Serena’s flawless hair – she was sexy without trying too hard, at least that’s what her hair told us. The ‘undone’ hair style is all a rage this year, showing up on runways all over the world. While style isn’t as easy to achieve as it looks, it’s not rocket science either. Just add some product into your hair (TiGi Bedhead is preferred) and scrunch away.
3.
s e l y t s r i a H : 5 Top
Bouffant: The bouffant is a saving grace. This superflattering style works wonders for those of us with wide faces; softening up features and making your face appear thinner. And it is so much more versatile than you would think. A bouffant can work with loose hair, a ponytail, an up do – anything. If you’re feeling adventurous try a retro, bee-hived style.
4.
Sleek ponytail: It was inevitable that a sleek hairstyle to match the sleeker silhouettes being presented on the runways this year would reign supreme. Super-slick hair is the way to go, and how perfect is this for our hot humid summer? A centre or side-parted ponytail is perhaps the most flattering. A bit of gel and a fine-toothed comb are your best friends if you’re going to attempt this.
5.
Extreme side-part: Side-parted bangs are a trend I thought would never die, but it is slowly seeing its way out and being replaced with extreme side parts. The side part is flattering on all face shapes, and it looks great whether your hair is loose, in a chignon, braided – anything. 38 I Aug 7 - 13, 2011
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Dr Aurangzeb Siddique;
A true medicine man
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By Sikander Ahmad Khan
aving reached the skies when it comes to achievements in the field of medicine, we were fortunate enough to speak to Dr Aurangzeb Siddique who has already spent a decade working in the UK and the USA. During this time he bagged patients the likes of Dr Abdul Kalam, former Indian President as well as former British Premiere Tony Blair. His portfolio boasts the MRCP, the diploma in Cardiology (Dip Card) as well as the MSc Cardiology degrees from the UK. He has trained in the Cardiology department at the Kings College Hospital, London, as well as the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London. It doesn’t end there. He, then trained in the USA at the Johns Hopkins University, where he obtained his American College of Cardiology Certification in CT Angiography.
Q. Two former premieres have been under your care. Tell us how that came about? A. The consultant I was working with was on good terms with the Indian president. He was suffering from a certain condition. My consultant was unable to cater to so he nominated me for the job and I subsequently traveled up to Manchester for it. It was an exciting and unique experience as the Indians had a lot to say about their president in the hands of a Pakistani doctor. They ran a background check on me and only after I cleared it was I allowed to proceed. The president himself proved to be an amiable and patient man. Tony Blair on the other hand suffered from arrhythmia. I deem it fortuitous that I had just started working at the hospital where he was undergoing treatment. I was part of the twelve member team assigned to his care and later operated and followed up on him. Q. What do you specialize in? Do you feel that cardiologists in Pakistan lack expertise when it comes to certain cardiac procedures? A. I am an interventional cardiologist and I operate on patients who are having a heart attack. I feel like there is no shortage of talent in Pakistan and people do want to learn and try different things but the system holds them back. There is a lot of bureaucracy involvement and essentially we do have a dearth of resources. When a patient is having a heart attack we, here, tend to worry more about paperwork rather then look after the dying patient. Also if a patient needs angioplasty then we wait days before he or she can receive treatment whereas abroad that doesn’t happen. Q. Where do you see yourself in ten years? A. I have brought with me a booklet published in Urdu by the British Art Foundation, for the benefit of the Pakistani society in England. Through this, I hope to promote awareness regarding prevention and treatment of cardiac arrest among the Pakistani population. We have been distributing this anywhere and everywhere free of cost to whoever needs it. It’s a booklet that explains the preventions of heart attack and if one is already a heart patient then how to live life to the fullest while being one. Q. How do balance your private and professional life? What is life like outside of work? A. I am currently single so I do not have any familial obligations pressing down on me as such. In my free time I squeeze in some tennis and go riding with a friend whenever the heat is bearable. I also play the keyboards even though I am not very good at it. Most importantly I try and spend as much time with my parents as I can since they are the reason I moved back to Pakistan. Q. What would you like to say to aspiring doctors? A. In this profession there are no detours so hard work and dedication are imperative. Most importantly one should be genuinely interested in this line of work and enjoy what they do.
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Interview
Bilal Khan first picked up the guitar at the age of 16, and taught himself how to play by following instructions on the Internet. It didn’t take him long to realize that he possessed two distinct gifts: the ability to create catchy tunes and a good voice to go with it
Bilal Khan- Fervor for exploring dynamics By Ayesha Bilal
O
ne of the newest singers to emerge on Pakistan’s pop music scene Bilal Khan, at twenty-four, is already being hailed as the voice of the new generation. Bilal Khan first picked up the guitar at the age of 16, and taught himself how to play by following instructions on the Internet. It didn’t take him long to realize that he possessed two distinct gifts: the ability to create catchy tunes and a good voice to go with it. Khan recorded his first single ‘Bachana’ at home and sent it to some of his friends and family members. The song was about the tough time he was having at college and the struggle to keep his grades up. While his friends and family appreciated the track, it wasn’t until one evening in June 2009, when a friend filmed Khan singing at a university event in Lahore and uploaded the song to the Internet, that Khan began to attract serious attention. The song quickly became popular with a 100,000 hits in the first couple of months and Bilal Khan found himself facing a host of invitations for live performances at student events. Q1: Tell us something about yourself? Ans: I started my singing career when I was studying economics and politics at LUMS. Q3: What led you to decide to create music or become a singer? Ans: (Thinking), I think I just wanted to play guitar. The singing came later on as it felt incomplete somehow. So with the passage of time, I discovered I could write songs too and I’ve just been taking it from there. 42 I Aug 7 - 13, 2011
Q 6: You write all of your own music; where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favorite part about the proccess? Ans: Well, all of it is a lot of fun. The most frustrating part is when you can’t find the exact words to fit into the melody or its mood. I think otherwise songwriting comes naturally to me and over time I have developed a toolkit to write songs so I enjoy it a lot. Q 8: How was the experience taking part in Coke Studio seasonn4? What did you take away from it? Ans: It was fantastic. I made good friends and obviously a new musical experience. Q 9: Why did you choose to sing Is Toh Kya Hua song at Coke Studio? Is it an album song or an unreleased track? Ans: It’s a song from my debut album ‘Umeed’ and is unreleased. Coke Studio was the perfect platform to release the song because its one of those tunes that you are lucky to find as a songwriter. Q 10: What kind of music have you made for your debut album Umeed ? When it is expected to be released? Ans: (Smiles) let’s just wait and see. ‘Umeed’ will be released pretty soon. Q 15: If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? Ans: Sitting on the couch thinking about singing. Q 17: Do you have any recommendations for the young struggling talent, who want to make it big coming to this field? Ans: Well, if you are a singer or a vocalist just make sure you learn an instrument and learn it really well. Don’t worry about promotion, just worry about making your songs as good as you can. Great songs don’t need promotion.
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Weekly International Trend guide, spring / summer 2011
Fashionista Fatima
From the catwalks of Paris to the Fashion Houses of Milan, walking the streets of New York to the boutique lanes of London, Fatima Khan, fashion stylist, designer, graduate of NCA and The London School of Fashion is a self proclaimed Fashionista. Her unique aesthetic sense coupled with her experience as a fashion buyer/merchandiser for various Fashion Houses in London has helped to launch herself as a fashion connoisseur par excellence. Meet her every Sunday and learn what’s hot on the high streets in the global fashion village as well as the season’s must-haves and how to wear them.
Jewel Green Go for full-on fashion with Green trend. What is it? Quite simply, it’s a strong, bold look. Green has risen as the colour of the moment and popular tones include Kelly green, emerald green and fresh green, as seen at the Golden Globes early this year but that was not the start of this trend. Fresh Green and Emerald Green are on a comeback even before stars chose it for the red carpet. Bold green popped up on the spring runways and we just loved it, obviously high street projected it instantaneously. So it’s time to start adding some green to your wardrobe if you have not done that already but make sure it’s that right tone. I promise you won’t hear any Kermit the Frog jokes.
Runway
SS11 runway proved that green will be sticking around for a while. The designers that trailed this trend - saturated hues of Green included, Michael Kors, Prada, YSL, Mulberry, Gucci, Jil Sander, Burberry, & Chloé. The trend was best seen at Golden globes 2011, where a plethora of stunning green dresses were seen. Beautiful Angelina Jolie sparkled in a sequined emerald green Versace gown; Mila Kunis struck a pose in an elegant one shouldered deep-green Vera Wang dress. Catherine Zeta-Jones was gorgeous in a strapless Monique Lhuillier green silk gown. Elisabeth Moss wore a custom pleated, strapless green gown by Donna Karen and the list just won’t stop there.
For my Pakistan
It’s not just the bright colour wash we love from spring ‘11 runways; it’s the smart play between them that’s the real kicker. Fantastic on their own but powerful in the right mix, clashing colour is another great way to wear this look. Sharp duos like Kelly green and bubble-gum pink or a subtle mix of green tones played together in a totally fresh way will look searing. Bright blues and emerald greens also go really well together but to play it safe, pair it with white. Choose the right tones and remember brighter is better. Keep Accessories neutral to highlight the colour. If you’ve feared experimentation on your own, we’ve garnered the inspiration and the key pieces for your colour-coded play. Check out our favourite key pieces to get an idea.
Key inspirational pieces
Here are some key pieces from international market so you can take the inspiration and translate the upcoming trends into your outfit A. OPI Texas Collection in Don’t Mess With OPI, £5 B. Mawi ring, $385 C. Miu Miu scarf, $245 D. Cole Haan bag, $248 E. Equipment blouse, $208 F. Stella McCartney Faux patent-leather slingbacks £365 fashionistafatimakhan@gmail.com G. Alexander Wang knit sweater, $395
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facebook.com/fashionistafatima
What women want I wanted to discuss a hair problem that most of us have struggled with at some point or the other in our lives - Split ends. Yup, I’m talking about those annoying, ugly, protruding stray pieces of hair that can make you look like a porcupine that had just been cast into a cyclone.
There are four different types of split ends. The first of which is your traditional one is where the hair splits at the bottom of the strand making a V shape. If left without being tended to the split can increase further, causing more damage. Split ends can also occur multiple times in a single strand of hair. A split can also appear in the middle of the hair resembling a hole in the middle of the strand. The fourth kind isn’t really a split end but kind of a single strand knot that can appear in the middle of the hair. This is most often seen in fine curly hair. Once a split has occurred it is impossible to fix it. You must cut the hair bout 1/4th above the split to get rid of the problem. If you don’t cut above the split it will unfortunately reappear. Don’t rely on products that ‘heal’ split ends. There is no product that can fix a split once it has happened however they can cosmetically make them look better and prevent them from occurring again. The best product that I have tried so far is ‘Label M’s Split End Sealer’.
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From the back stages of London Fashion Week to working with the coolest man on the planet, Toni Moscolo, founder of Toni & Guy international; Shammal Qureshi, Brand Ambassador for Toni & Guy in Pakistan knows what a woman wants in their man and what a man wants in their woman. Catch his blog every fortnight on styling, and fashion along with trends both locally and globally.
So you may ask what causes the wretched nuisances of life. Well the answer is a lot of things. Split ends can be caused by excessive chemical damage. Most types of chemicals are known to damage hair. Some hair types get more damaged than others. Perming, rebounding, and even chlorine in the water can damage hair. To combat this problem, try using less harmful chemicals in your hair.
If you want to color your hair first see if ammonia free hair color is available. If you are thinking of a hair straightening treatment try opting for a Keratin treatment instead of rebounding. The best Keratin treatment in the market that I have tried so far is by Global Keratin, or Cappola Keratin. If you are a regular swimmer like me, put some conditioner and leave it in your hair, and always wear a swim cap before you get into that water.
How can we forget the sun? Apart from damaging the skin, the sun also damages the hair. If you’re going to be out and about in the sun be sure to use a leave in conditioner or a styling product with U V protection in it. I would recommend the leave in conditioner by ‘Label M’. Alternatively one could always wear a hat. Excessive combing or back combing also damages hair causing it to split. Stop teasing the hair for volume and try to get a cut that encourages it instead. You can also try ‘Label M’s resurrection dust’- a fine powder that gives you volume massive. Always use a wide tooth comb when brushing hair and don’t listen to your grand mama when she says brush your hair a 100 times. This will cause more split ends than anything else. Incorrect washing and drying can also be damaging to the hair. Please choose the right shampoo and conditioner. Certain shampoos can be dangerous, so always try using a shampoo which doesn’t have sodium chloride (salt) in it. If you blow dry your hair regularly as most Pakistanis do, please use a heat protection spray. My favorite is ‘Label Ms heat protection spray’. Well that is it for me this week. Hope you enjoyed this little insight. Till next time… Adios Amigos
Recipe
Penne arrabbiata pasta Ingredients
Method:
1/2 cup olive oil, divided 6 cloves garlic, sliced 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic and olive oil 1/2 cup tomato sauce 1 bunch fresh basil, chopped 1 (12 ounce) package dried penne pasta 2 eggs 2 cups bread crumbs 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 pound thin chicken breast cutlets
Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sautĂŠ for a few minutes. Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes, and sautĂŠ for another minute. Pour in the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, and add the basil. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta, and cook for 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain. In a small bowl, whisk eggs with a fork. Place bread crumbs in a separate bowl. Stir the garlic powder, salt and pepper into the bread crumbs. Dip chicken cutlets into the egg, then press into the bread crumbs until completely coated. Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry chicken for about 5 minutes per side, or until the coating is a nice dark brown color. Remove chicken, and cut into slices. Toss the chicken slices into the sauce, and simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in the cooked penne, simmer for a few more minutes to soak up the flavor, and then serve.
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Glamstock
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