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Trends
What’s in, What’s out
By Ayesha Nasir
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yesha Khurram has taken the world of fashion by storm: her unique embroidery motifs, such as the Marilyn Monroe Andy Warhol style shirt, the old man shirt and the Buddha shirt have become must-haves. She is now being referred to as the queen of prêt. What’s the mood for this winter with regards to the fashion industry? One of the most modern style and fashion trends for winter is textured fabric. What’s the new colour of the season? Burnt orange. What colours would you advise brides to explore? Red, pinks or neutrals like beige or grey. Should the jhoomar be bigger than the tikka? The tikka should be bigger than big nowadays: that’s the look for brides. What is the perfect colour for a walima? A pale pink or a pistachio green: something very fresh, new and soothing. Should we expect a comeback of any particular style? Short shirts are definitely coming back in fashion this winter, so for all those of you who have long flowy garments hanging in your wardrobe, get ready to chop off the lengths. What’s the new colour for mehndi? Green and purple make a striking and stunning combination. What fabrics, in your opinion, are going to be in for winter? I’m using a lot of karandi – shampoos and bosky silk for this season. Are there any colour schemes that you are focusing on? Especially yellows and oranges. Are heavy embellishments in fashion this winter? It depends on where you are going: I personally prefer simple clothes. Any striking or recurrent patterns or prints that are popular? Mostly we are focusing on combining striking prints and designs such as merging polka dots and stripes on one shirt, or slants and horizontal stripes.
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Changing Construction
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am convinced that one of the many reasons we cannot achieve the status of a developed nation has to be the fact that getting any kind of construction done is parallel to scaling mount Everest in the
peak of winter. This August, I finally decided to be ambitious and approach everything in my life with the spirit of change; yes I can. This meant shifting our humongous flagship store to a new location, moving our office/karkhana to a bigger space, and finally providing a better place to live for my tiny family which includes a demanding wife and her elitist cat, whose pitiful sighs I have had to endure for two years now. I am sure you are wondering why on earth I would subject myself to this kind of stress all at once and the truth is that if there is only one thing that is worse than construction is a landlord whose mission in life is to make yours miserable.
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I was tired of fighting in the justice system when I realized that I was spending more time around lawyers instead of models and fashion designers which is supposed to be one of the so called perks of doing what I do
Three years of enduring mental torture that makes water boarding in Guantanamo feel like swimming in a Caribbean resort would even make a sensible person insane. My greedy landlord, who I might add is an oil and gas tycoon, could not digest the fact that I had turned his dungeon of a property into a stunning flagship store and a prime retail destination. Eventually, I
got tired of fighting in the justice system when I realized that I was spending more time around lawyers instead of models and fashion designers which is supposed to be one of the so called perks of doing what I do. If you have ever tried renovating your house or personally dealt with any kind of labour, then you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that our initial plan of finishing the big shift in a month ended up taking two
and a half months. With every painter, carpenter, and glass worker taking days off for funerals and weddings along with the two Eids that came in between, I felt frustrated to the point that I wanted to pull my hair out. Dealing with our Pakistani labour and getting solid work out of them has to be an art, which very few of us have the ability to acquire. In conclusion, we have finally shifted the Design Emporium to a better, more lively place which is full of positive energy. The World Fashion Café building, which is right across the street from our old location on Kasuri Road, is now in the signature Ammar Belal glossy red. The café and sheesha lounge in the basement is a nice retreat for our male clientele as they shop away at the best of Pakistani Menswear outlet. The new Design Emporium boasts of more than 25 labels which include seasoned designers such as HSY and Ismail Farid along with a variety of up and coming talents by the likes of Jazib Qamar and Ahmad Zubair. Apart from the designers, the store also offers a multitude of retail brands that provide every possible item required for a man’s wardrobe ranging from footwear, accessories, and sunglasses. If you believe in karma like I do, then you know that everything happens for a reason and as the first customer walked out smiling with his brand new shirt, I somehow knew that we were on to something better. Send your feedback to ammar@ammarbelal.com
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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 true Fashionista. Her unique esthetic 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 musthaves and how to wear them.
Nautical Stripped Trousers Channel your inner fashionista with striped pants from 2011 collections. Bold stripes has been big this season in tops but they are going to be even bigger next season in bottoms and striped denim jeans are a great way to work the trend. Skinny jeans have been around for a while but as they have gained mass accessibility for some time, they have lost the ‘latest’ fashion credibility so watch out for the new cigarette trousers in stripes for the coming season. Fashionistas are adopting not only striped skinny jeans but also leggings and legwarmers. Striped pants are a fun challenge, but it’s hard to find a non-man repelling pair so if you are in need of any inspiration on how to rock some nautical stripes, then we can show you how it’s done.
Runway
The striped pirate pants and cigarette trousers were a huge hit on the 2011 runway and we’re spotting more and more Fashionistas wearing them with new romantic blouses & beaten leather jackets. The look is deconstructed yet tailored, modern yet traditional, sophisticated yet fun & full of contradictions, sartorial tricks to entice the eye & tease the mind. At Viktor & Rolf, the collection took on a futuristic “Jurassic Park” feel with his high waisted grosgrain striped wool pants. Thakoon showcased stripes in a very chic way. Balmain’s b/w striped jeans add that extra for those who want a classic American look. Phillip Lim’s collection featured oversized cropped and colour block stripped pants. Celine’s trouser collection was classy with a menswear yet feminine vibe. Hannah Mac Gibbon’s current offering for Chloé of two-tone pants lent a tactile element. Derek Lam’s collection had more of a downtown, casual feel with his high waisted boot cut pants featuring contrast side panels. The luscious yellows, corals and greens dominated the runways with the colour-blocking trend for trousers.
For my Pakistan
To follow this trend, develop a more subtle take on this trend & wear striped trousers with plainer tops that match to the shades on the stripe palette. For the larger lady keep the trend simple by wearing a plain top with straight cut stripped trousers. The more fashion forward lady can wear as many stripes as she desires; however stay clear of looking like a fashion victim. Black and white vertical stripes in pants allow the eyes to move up and down, giving the illusion of slimmer leaner legs but when shopping for your stripped bottoms, keep in mind a heavier lady should wear thin lines. These cropped pants add a plus to this trend because it gives you the chance to show off your fabulous heels. When completing the outfit, stay away from prints. Keep it basic on top with blouses and shirts within the neutral colour family like grays and creams. Don’t be afraid to be well-heeled with a pop of colour. Red pumps will make a haute statement when paired with black and white striped trousers.
Key inspirational pieces
Here are some key pieces from international market so you can take the inspiration and E translate the upcoming trends into your outfit: A. Balmain Striped low-rise skinny jeans £1,165 B. BalmainSequin striped cropped jeans £3,370 C. A Child of the Jago Striped trousers £170.00 D. Balmain striped pants 2011 fashionistafatimakhan@gmail.com E. Chloe striped pants 2011 facebook.com/fashionistafatima F. Derek Lam Fall 2011
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‘I shot ‘Sheeshon Ka Masiha’ in one day’ said Muzzaffar proudly, during an exclusive interview for Lounge. The aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy was documented and presented remarkably well by the story teller which shook many souls
By Adeel Makhdumi & Sikander Ahmad Khan
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he Centenary celebrations of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, one of the greatest Urdu poets of the subcontinent recently came to an end. The occasion was marked by two films screened at the Shakir Ali Museum in Lahore. Those present included personalities from the literary circles of Lahore and young professionals who are looking for a career in the film industry. Our special guests were the legendary Indian film maker Muzaffar Ali and his crew who crossed the border especially for this event by the invitation of the
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organizers. Muzzafar Ali, best known for his Urdu classic ‘Umrao Jaan Ada’, a 1981 Indian film industry production, was present for the event. The screening also included ‘Sheeshon ka Masiha’ for an audience that craved a quality film. We had a chance to speak to the legend himself the very next morning at Mian Yousaf Salahuddin’s haveli in the walled city. He came across as a soft spoken and an articulate intellectual who is every bit a visionary that he is perceived to be. ‘Sheeshon Ka Masiha’ is a short documentary that investigates the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy which claimed
thousands of lives in Bhopal. ‘I shot ‘Sheeshon Ka Masiha’ in one day’ said Muzzaffar proudly, during an exclusive interview for Lounge. The aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy was documented and presented remarkably well by the story teller which shook many souls. The main event of the day remained the screening of ‘Umrao Jaan Ada’, which is based on an Urdu novel by Mirza Hadi Ruswa of Lucknow. First published in 1899, it tells a tale of a courtesan and poetess of 19th century Lucknow. This novel has been a source of inspiration for many and has been filmed by both
When I showed it to Faiz Ahmed Faiz his comment was: ‘Muzaffar Ali’s ‘Ghaman’, is a poem in visuals.’ Its tragic lyricism, its muted eloquence is deeply perceptive. It’s a sensitively conceived and truthfully captured slice of reality around us
Pakistani and Indian enthusiasts for television and cinema– only recently it has been reproduced by JP Dutta staring Aishwariya Rai, Shabana Azmi, Sunil Shetty and Abhishek Bachchan. However, Muzzaffar Ali’s version of the film remains the most widely appreciated as a classic presentation. His film has great Indian actors of the parallel cinema namely, Rekha as Umrao Jaan Adda, Farooq Sheikh as Nawab Sultan, Naseeruddin Shah as Gohar Mirza and Raj Babbar as Faiz Ali. The songs included few of the alltime greatest Indian hits of the era like ‘Dil cheez hai kiya hai’ and ‘In aakhon ki mastee’ by Aasha Bhosle. Here is what he had to say for our readers: Tell us about your experience of
visiting Pakistan. The first time I came to Pakistan was in 1962 to see my aunt who lives in Karachi. I have been invited to visit Pakistan on many events, such as this one, in the past as well, so I have been in and out of Pakistan a few times mainly because I enjoy interacting with the people of Pakistan immensely. What inspired you to become a filmmaker? I have always been an artist inspired by visual language and concerned about social issues – Film is a very sacred and intimate medium for those who have a passion to share. I was inspired by the Bengali cinema and always wanted to be associated with visual arts. What is your opinion about the new Bollywood? The new Bollywood reflects the modern film viewership. Film has always been a money-run industry. The market dictates what needs to be produced and how. The Indian film industry is dictated by many factors. There is also an absence of true vision. Hollywood has subjugated the world and we need to rise above that. If you were to remake Umrao, who would you cast from the today’s Bollywood stars? That depends on the budget – If the budget was not an issue then I would take the top artists. What made you select this novel and not any other for your film? This novel told a beautiful story very tastefully. It was original. I selected this novel for its perceived commercial and social benefits.
Have you seen the new Pakistani films, ‘Khuda kay liye’ and ‘Bol’? What are your comments on them? I have seen ‘Khuda Kay liye’. I liked the film and think that it’s a great effort to put the Pakistani film industry back on track – I haven’t seen ‘Bol’ yet, however I plan to. How does Faiz inspire you? Faiz has inspired me throughout my life, especially as a young artist. I read his poetry regularly and was influenced ideologically. It helped me address many social and cultural issues. When I was making my first film ‘Ghaman’, I asked permission to use his poetry in it, which was very generously granted. When I showed it to Faiz Ahmed Faiz his comment was: ‘Muzaffar Ali’s ‘Ghaman’, is a poem in visuals.’ Its tragic lyricism, its muted eloquence is deeply perceptive. It’s a sensitively conceived and truthfully captured slice of reality around us, the heart break of the human situation in town and country makes it sheer delight, a veritable tour de force’. We also need to keep in view that at the time Faiz was writing, it was a ‘Fikar Ka Daur’- Faiz would’ve not been Faiz if there wasn’t a political turmoil in Pakistan. What made you come to Lahore for this event and why? I was invited by the organizer of this event. I am a fan of Faiz whose poetry has had an immense effect on my life. I am honoured to be a part of this event. Red flags in your film, Faiz’s socialist ideology and Muzaffar Ali? Where do they all meet? There is no connection between the flags and any sort of socialist movement. I did not put those flags there to promote Marxism or any other ‘ism’. December 11 - 17, 2011 I 33
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Dr Zarqa’s Tips for beautiful skin this winter
Five winter skin treatments:
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onsidering the skin issues related to winters faced by our ladies, we recommend the best five skin treatments:
1- Microdermabrasion:
MDA is a clinical cosmetic technique that uses a mechanical medium for exfoliation, to remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells from the face or any other part of the body. It may be performed to decrease the unevenness of skin tone or to bring that freshness and glow on your face and to boost up the complexion which is dimmed by the cold winter breeze. MDA with vitamin infusion is the new facial everyone wants to have. Ideally it needs to be done 12 hours before any event you need to attend.
2- Tripolar skin tightening:
Winters bring another terrifying change in your skin. The fine lines that appear with aging tend to increase in depth due to increase in dryness index of the skin. The dry cool air seems to take away the moisture and freshness from skin leaving it flaky, dry and dull with a higher degree of fine lines on face and other parts of the body. Tripolar skin tightening works by stimulating the collagen deep down in your skin making it divide faster and thus filling the fine lines in the skin. It is also called a non surgical face uplift and serves not
only to remove lines but also treats uneven skin tone and large open pores. It is good to get the same day as the day of attending a party.
3- Chemical peels:
Chemical peel is a skin and body treatment technique used to tighten and improve and smooth the texture of facial skin using a chemical solution that causes dead skin to slough off and eventually peel off. The regenerated skin is smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. It is useful especially for open pores, for hyper pigmentation resulting due to sun exposure, after pregnancy stretch marks, pigmentation due to any drug reaction, surface scars as a result of acne, fine lines and dilated pores.
4- Mesotherapy:
Mesotherapy is a medical rejuvenation using painless microinjections of vitamins and pharmaceutical formulations. It can be applied for the treatment of face and neck rejuvenation that will bring glow to your complexion. The results are dramatic but require some time to give it effect- almost 7-10 days. So plan to get it done at least a week before any special event.
5- Laser resurfacing:
Smooth, radiant skin with just a click of laser sounds like a dream come true for many people. Fractional laser or laser resurfacing is a cosmetic treatment that employs a laser beam to remove wrinkles, reduce acne scarring, eliminate dark pigmentation resistant to any other procedures and in short gives your face a new baby skin. It is the ultimate treatment every woman plans to get done when everything else haven’t met their expectations. With a downtime of 5-7 days the skin completely rejuvenates in a month’s time. This treatment can also smoothen out any old chicken pox marks, acne scars or pits too. All the above mentioned procedures are completely safe but require great competence and expertise to be performed. Only a cosmetic dermatologist can decide which procedure is good for you and will suit your skin. So visit your consultant to let your skin breathe in dull and cold winters because its all about looking good and feeling great! Dr Zarqa’s clinic will offer free skin consultation to anyone who will bring this coupon with them.
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Top 5:
Fun Winter Accessories By Amara Javed
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inter months in Pakistan are short and few, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t intense. This dark winter season, brighten up your mood with fun accessories that are functional as well as stylish. You need to stay warm, why not have fun doing it?
1. Earmuffs:
I don’t know about you, but every time the biting cold hits, my ears suffer the most. Grab some leopard print earmuffs and spread the jungle fever.
2. Blingy Gloves:
Gloves aren’t very big in our neck of the woods. But this December and January why not take care of your hands and keep them toasty with some gloves? The traditional knit versions are great, but something with a little bling is what you really need. Studs, crystals and spikes – make a statement with your hands.
3. Pom pom hat:
A hat is essential for protecting yourself from the harsh winds and cold that hits us in the mornings as we venture out for school and work and it doesn’t have to be boring. Grab a hat with some poms poms, they add a bounce to your step. And the best part – they instantly make you feel like a child.
4. Fur gillet:
This is the fashionista’s winter accessory of choice. Rachel Zoe made them big, and they are here to stay. A fur gillet adds just the right amount of glamour to any winter look.
5. Patterned leggings:
Ditch those boring jeans. A thick pair of patterned leggings or tights is what you need to complete the perfect, festive winter outfit. Not only will you be making an impact, your legs will thank you for keeping them so warm. 38 I December 11 - 17, 2011
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By Sadyia Babar
Café Aylanto’s
Minted Lamb Chops Ingredients: 4 1-inch thick lamb chops 2 tablespoons oil 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped 1 teaspoon rosemary 1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon garlic Salt to taste 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 5 steamed string beans 2 sprouts of cauliflower 2 sprouts of broccoli
afé Aylanto promises an extraordinary culinar y experience and offers a consistently pleasurable dining experience in an elegant atmosphere. The menu provides an exclusive selection of favourites which can be enjoyed by everyone.
2 wedges of zucchini 1 potato 1 tablespoon cream 1 tablespoon milk I tablespoon shredded cheese Extra mint for garnish I basil stem for garnish
Method
1. In a small bowl, stir together mint, rosemary, oil, garlic, salt, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and black pepper. Rub on chops. Cover chops with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight. 2. Place the lamb chops on the grill and cook for about five minutes on each side. Remove from the char grill and rest for three-four minutes. Another option could be to cook lamb chops in a frying pan, on a high heat for about six to seven minutes. 3. Steam string beans, cauliflower, broccoli and zucchini and arrange in a platter. Place cream and milk in a medium sauce pan placed over medium heat. Slowly bring the cream mixture up to temperature while stirring occasionally. Peel and thinly slice the potatoes in two inches squares. Use a ramekin to alternate layers of cream, potato and cheese. Preheat oven to 375 F degrees. Place the ramekin in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the top has turned a medium brown. Remove the ramekin and let the potatoes sit for at least 10-15 minutes. Arrange the potato gratin in the platter as well. 4. Place the lamb chops on a serving platter, criss-crossing the ends for a fabulous presentation and pour sauce. (See recipe for sauce) 5. Garnish with remaining mint and basil stem. December 11 - 17, 2011 I 39
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