JUly 24, 2016
Hey Weekenders!
CONTENTS 06. Around Town... One party at a time! 42. Let Your Jeans Talk Pepe Jeans brings its Custom Studio in Pakistan for the first time. 48. The Makeup Edit
A letter from the Queen of Pop Colour addressing all your beauty calls.
52. Scent of a Woman
Weekend’s top perfume picks.
56. Hot Date
In conversation with restaurateur Raza Ahmed of Bamboo Union.
60. Weekend Scouts
Our hot new talent this week is Lahore based emerging artist, Ameer Akbar.
64. Hey! It’s OK
Cut the guilt-trip short, because all your embarrassments and bad habits are OK with us!.
66. The Reading Room
Asmara Ahmed of The Doctor Reads reviews Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
68. Travel & Cake
Discover our favourite spots in magical Istanbul.
72. Men Weigh-ing
We get the boys to break the silence on the trend of the season, the infamous Tulip Shalwar.
70. Love Struck
Weekend’s editors’ picks!
Chairperson/Publishing Editor: Rameeza Majid Nizami Editor The Nation: Salim Bokhari Editor-at-Large: Amal Khan Managing Editor: Shazay Salahuddin Features Editor: Nur Zehra Qadri Contributing Editor: Minahil Batool Shirazi Sub Editor: Rana Faizan Hussain Karachi Correspondent: Farah Vayani Fashion Correspondent: Fatima Ameer Creative Head: Faiz-ur-Rehman Creative Team: Faisal Fazal, Talat Mahfooz, Zeeshan Arif, Shoaib Qadir Photographer: M. Basharat Irshad GM Marketing: Bilal Mahmood For Advertising: Kherzan Zaidi - 0321 8976730, Ata-ur-Rehman - 0332 2427473, Khalid Sheikh - 0345 5130728
Time is a crazy thing or what? Summer just started and now we’re already at the end of July! But there’s still a couple more months left in the season and we’re here to keep you in stride starting with our favourite perfume picks that will keep you fresh and fragrant in all this humidity and heat. We have a letter this week from The Queen of Pop Colour, Emaan Maqbool, addressing all your beauty calls, our Hot Date is with restauranteur Raza Ahmed of Bamboo Union. In Weekend Scouts we discover the talents of Ameer Akbar, an emerging Lahore based artist, in The Reading Room, Asmara Ahmed of The Doctor Reads reviews Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, in Travel and Cake we show you our favourite spots in Istanbul and we’re back with the Men Weighing In on the ever so popular Tulip Shalwar! For all this and more happenings around town, start rolling the pages! Happy Weekending! Sincerely, Team Weekend.
weekend | around town
Eman
HEM Store Launch HEM opened its flagship store in Mini Market, Lahore. The PR of the event was done by Amjad Bhatti.
Mr. & Mrs. Pervaiz Malik
Sumbal
Amjad Bhatti & Razia Sultana
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Amna & Mahrukh
Amna Niazi
Sabina Ali
Rubia Moghees
Aamna Rahim
weekend | around town
Samana & Kherzan
Sana & Shehzad
Aiman Hikmat
Mohsin & Bilal
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Marib & Rehab
Farhan & Babar
Faiza & Omer
Beenish
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Amir, Ali, Awais, Bilal, Sumbal, Samar, Sabeena & Zubair
Mahrukh
Anum
Nimra
Munib
Nida Saboor
Saad
Anaum Ahmed
weekend | around town
Afsheen
Spa Day! Sana Butt organised a party at her saloon, SB Beauty Bar & Spa. The PR was managed by Latitude.
Sana & Annam Barki
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Anum
Maha
Spa staff
Anam
Momin & Eman
Vanessa & Ali Chaudhary
weekend | around town
Huma Ansari
Fashion Forward! Saleha Qureshi showcased her Eid Collection at her outlet in Zamzama, Karachi. The PR was managed by Walnut Communications.
Saleha, Nazish & Rabia Aziz
Reja Asad & Zainab Asad
Najda Mujtaba
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Jehan-e-Khalid
Nadia Rameez
Unaiza Goplani
Mahwish Aziz
Farah Yameen Khan
weekend | around town
VJ Shehzad
Food Adventures! 7Up hosted an event Foodies Without Borders at Royal Palm. The event was managed by JBnJaws and PR by Cartel.
Kumail & Sarfraz
Wali & Noor
Asad & Anousheh
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Omer Malik & Nadia
Natasha Khan & Cybil Chaudhary
Shavaar Ali Khan with wife
Zainab & Ammara
Rabia & Munib
weekend | around town
Qurram & Sana
Natasha
Tony & Babloo
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Hassan & Sundus
Nauman, Umer Saud & Omair Rana
Momin, Iman & Murtaza
Kuki
Schehrezade & Omer Zaman
weekend | around town
Omer, Jahanzeb with friend
Dr. Farzeen & Ramina
Adeel
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Alizey Gabol
Rana Nauman
Omer, Usman, Sabeel & Ali
Ammar & Mehtab
weekend | around town
Junaid
On Collision Course! The Cheetos’ ‘Ice Age: Collision Course’ premiered at Cinestar. The event was managed by JBnJaws and PR by Cartel.
Nimra & Jahanzeb
Rima & Amber
Aden & Rehan Baber
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Beenish & Isha
Ahmed Ali & Fatima Butt
Umer Saud
Nayab Qayyum & Vanessa
Sana & Fakhar
weekend | around town
Sadia, Rem, Usman & Rayan
Zoya Nasir
Shahbaz & Amanat
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Natasha & Alina
Sarfraz, Jahanzeb & Kumail
Shoaib & Annie
Qurat Javed
Nouman & Arun Zafar
weekend | around town
Zainab & Amara
Sulman, Omer & Sophia
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Shavaar Ali Khan
Sahar, Zara, Kumail & Ramina
Mandana Zaidi
Ali, Zara, Zain & Mehek
Faiqa & Waqas Khan
weekend | around town
Sana Shakir
#SummerEssentials Hira Tareen organized a two-day exhibition of the #SummerEssentials 2016 collection at the ICON studio in Karachi. The PR was managed by Walnut Communications.
Hira Tareen & Mariam Mirza
Haya Malik
Aatiqa Lateef
Maha Rizvi with friend
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Areeba Habib
Nefer Sehgal
Abdullah Yasir Nawaz
Samra Muslim
Ayesha Tanvir & Family
weekend | around town
Mehreen Sonia
Eid Celebrations! Tapu Javeri, Laiqa Hasan & Nubain Ali
Laiqa Hasan organized a special Chand Raat festive at Laiqa Hasan Salon Spa to celebrate the night. The PR was managed by Walnut Communications.
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Mohsin & Warda Saleem
Aliya Murad & Aisha Shaheen
Sofia Khan
Areeba Habib
Zainab Chottani & Sana Shahnawaz
Huma & Tooba
weekend | around town
Khawar Abedi & Laiqa Hasan
Anisa Farooqi
Mishi Khan
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Laiqa Khan with guests
Ayaz Anis, Nubain Ali, Warda Saleem, Mohsin, Fathma, Khawar, Sami with friends
Mr & Mrs Imran with their family
Samra
weekend | around town
Humaira Faisal
A Step Forward! The City School launched its Alumni Association in Karachi for its Southern Region. The PR of the event was handled by Starlinks PR & Events.
Shehryar Ahmed
Faculty at the launch
Shehryar & Robin
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Khaqan
Arzameen Moini Chawla
Club 777
Arzameen & Afia
weekend | around town
A party affair! Farah, Sana and Amna hosted a black and white theme tea party at the latter’s residence.
Eisha, Sana, Amna & Anum
Humaira Abdullah
Adila Irfan
Rozima Jamil
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Farah Israr & Sam Ali Dada
Mariam Ahmed & Ambreen
Maria Daar
Faiza & Ayesha
Sadia & Zoffeen
weekend | around town
Samrah Khan, Mehar Khan & Ambreen
Naila, Faiza & Ayesha
Muzna Danish
Shakila & Nuzhat
Rima Farid
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Shehnaz Tahir
Saniya Tiwana
Neelma
Sobia
Sidra Mansoor
weekend | around town
Maha & Pashmina
New in Isloo! Zahra & Sarah Raza
Rezz Aly Shah & Natasha Adil
Amna Wattoo Kasuri & Naveen Saad
Samia Aslam & Nahida Raza
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Mehru & Michelle
L’atelier launched new flagship store in the heart of the Capital. The PR and the event were managed by Rezz PR and Events.
Ayesha Iftikhar & Sadia Khwaja
Sania Sameer Baig
Abida Nauman & Natasha Ahmed
weekend | around town
Noreen, Amna Salman & Arooj
Qurat Chaudary, Vijji Barry & Farzana
Wajiha & Madhu Asim
Sabeen Shahban
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Uzma Chaudary & Juju Haider
Uzma Zia & Roohi Sheikh
Natasha Kazmi
Maureen Foley & Basia Heath
let your jeans talk Pepe Jeans brings its Custom Studio in Pakistan with a line of denim customised by style star Faryal Makhdoom. The Pepe Jeans Custom Studio is a unique interactive concept that allows our customers to design their own denim, creating the perfect pair that caters to the comfort of each individual’s ideal fit and selective style.
Label: Pepe Jeans London Campaign: Break Your Jeans – The FM Collection Starring: Faryal Makhdoom Shot by: Adnan Qazi Hair: Aamir Naveed Makeup: Faryal Makhdoom Cosmetics Production: Silver Lemon Media Location: Notting Hill, London
weekend | lifestyle JUNE 24, 2016 | 48
The Makeup Edit Dear readers, How are you? I’m excited to be writing to you for the very first time, at least one of us is. Why do I write? Well you see before I begin, I would like to point out that there is absolutely no shame in a Pakistani aesthetic. I know that most of you reading this will say ‘well that’s obviously not us, I watched that American girl giving a YouTube tutorial and my highlighters come from such legit international brands, that they don’t even sell their products here. I have to buy smuggled maal’. I do not disagree with you at all, however I would just say let’s focus on all those things but in regards to the summer. You see it’s that time of the year where the humidity is so high that you wonder why you can’t see the hot water you’re walking through or you wonder why you
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spent that time showering in the bathroom when you could have stood outside in the sun for half that time and let nature do its work. I have full faith that everyone knows not to step outside in the sun without sunblock or BB cream as we do live in Asia, and the sun shows us too much cute aggression out of love. Now keeping all of that in mind, wouldn’t you want to look like you woke up, took a shower and had a bowl of cherries or maybe some falsey ka sharbat and that feeling just translated on your whole being and particularly your face? Well that’s what I want for you. Well it’s the summer, extra light falls on your face and we really do not need dark colors and heavy lines to make an impact. I would say ditch the highlighter. Use some of that BB cream, it’s already glossy enough and use some powder on it to help it set and of course to make sure your whole face doesn’t melt. Just a sweet reminder that since there’s so much sun everywhere and everyone can see everything clearly, stick to your natural color. We’ll be able to tell from a mile away in this light if you have a fairness complex. Go back to that bowl of fruit, particularly to focus on the colors. I know these aren’t Victorian times; you don’t have to rub any of the fruit on your face just focus on the palette. Why argue with what nature has decided for us? Use those pinks and peaches on your cheeks. Also for fun, they can be sprinkled with glitter or shine because in the summer using highlighter
weekend | lifestyle Fashion LimitedJUNE editiion 24, 2016 | 08| 50
separately will just make it seem like you have a mermaid or jalpari fetish. Also avoid harsh lines like contours because; a) It’s too dark b) you can achieve the same effect on your cheeks by using blush on smartly/correctly. Yes I realize I just went against the brown in contouring but it’s better than black and the entire point of my love filled letter to use is to inspire you to be softer. I know we like our kajal, I know we like our thick and often times catty eyeliner. Who doesn’t? However, if you don’t want to spend all that time perfecting lines over the most sensitive part of your body, take the brown from your eyebrow pencil and rub it in your lash line instead. I understand that you must be thinking we’re not goras with our cool undertones and that such light colors will do us no good. Actually it is precisely our wonderful wheat and honey colored skin that our eye-brow pencil will go so well with, without making it look like most of your getting ready time took on your face. If you insist on wearing something inside your eye like kajal, there are always other options like white or baby pink which according to physics reflect more light and therefore should make your eyes seem bigger. Apna highlighter
wala shauk yahan poora kar lain. Oh and always wear mascara. I know this is all strange coming from the Queen of Pop Color, who has spent most of her life trying to convince people to wear bright purple lipstick, but even I have to admit, let’s not go there at this time of the year. I know more than anything else we all have a hoard of lipsticks. So many fun colors and it’s where we can really go crazy with color. I’m not saying don’t go crazy, I’m just saying clean your lips, put some Vaseline on (also to ensure lip liner doesn’t work) and then smudge that lipstick on with your fingers. I repeat, do NOT use any of your fancy tutorial inspired tools. I don’t think there’s much left to say, as you can tell by my letter I care a lot about you. Be well. Sincerely, The Queen of Pop Color
weekend | beauty
Weekend’s Top
Fragrances
By Minahil Batool Sherazi
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When it comes to fragrances, we like to have all our ‘bases’ covered. We need an option for every situation we find ourselves in; a smell for the workplace, one for the summer and one for the winter, something that says we’re ready to party when we are, a sexy number for that special someone, smells that remind us of our parents—you get it, the list goes on. We don’t claim to have the olfactory glands of a sommelier or that we can tell one men’s cologne from another, but we do know what we like. And because perfumes are very evocative, with just a whiff of a note conjuring up memories and feelings, it’s important to get your scent right for each occasion. Here is a list of all the smells that we are rubbing all over ourselves right now (doesn’t sound quite right but work with us).
weekend | beauty
ON OUR WISH LIST THIS SUMMER: Chloé Eau Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum Tom Ford has the Midas touch when it comes to anything he releases; clothes, accessories, beauty products—he could come out with Tom Ford water and we know it would taste better, more luxurious than plain tap water. So when we sniffed his latest release whilst rushing to catch a flight, we knew we had to have it. Sadly for us, the flight took precedence over shopping—go figure that momentary lapse in judgement. The perfume is best described as expensive and that’s because it is—it’s an expensive, seductive and luxurious holiday in a bottle. The smell is sultry, heady, spicy with a hint of coconut (think being on a private island with Tom and his smouldering gaze) and floral because of the tuberose and jasmine in it. Notes include: cardamom oil, bergamot, benzoin extract, coco de mer, pistachio.
THE WORKDAY SCENT: Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette It’s important to smell nice at work but you have to be careful when you’re surrounded by colleagues or customers so you have to be smart about what fragrance you choose. Remember that a little goes a long way because you don’t want to be distracting someone by how strongly you smell (that goes for perfume and body odour so deo up). Daisy is fresh, feminine and floral. It has a subtle freshness with a hint of sophistication and elegance. Notes include: strawberry, violet leaves, ruby red grapefruit, gardenia, violet petals, jasmine petals, musk, vanilla, white woods.
We don’t what it is about this smell but it is just the right fragrance for pretty much everything. It is light but not too light that you cannot smell it when you sniff yourself hours after, it is fresh and not too heady so it makes for an ideal daytime scent. It isn’t too strong that you would overpower your colleagues and make them wish you hadn’t walked by. It makes us feel chic, feminine and sexy. Its subtle freshness has us reaching for this everyday which is why we go through a few pricey bottles every year. Notes include: pink peony, freesia, lychee, lily of the valley, magnolia flower, rose, cedarwood, amber, honey.
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THE EVERYDAY STAPLE: Chloé Eau de Parfum
weekend | beauty Fashion
THE WORKING OUT SCENT: Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning If there’s one time you want to really smell nice, it’s when you’re sweating profusely—we can all agree on that right? No need to douse yourself in perfume just to go sweat it out but there’s no harm in sporting a fresh, clean scent whilst working out. This scent evokes the smell of fresh laundry, sunny Sunday mornings and a lush green garden. Notes include: lily of the valley, white musk, patchouli oil and aldehyde.
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THE WINTER SCENT: Dior Poison Girl Eau de Parfum
If there is one time of the year where it’s perfectly acceptable to wear a strong, sweet, heady fragrance, it is winter. Poison Girl isn’t sickly sweet for which we are thankful to Dior for, but it is definitely sweeter than the fresh scents in this list. Like the previous perfumes in Dior’s Poison range, Poison Girl is in your face with its smell so if you don’t like that then steer clear but for us in the cold winter months, it works. But we suggest giving it a whiff before you make up your mind. Notes include: bitter orange, may rose, damascena rose, tonka bean and vanilla.
GIRLS NIGHT OUT SCENT: Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum We want night-long fun when we’re out with our girlfriends on the weekend and Flowerbomb is all about the fun. It’s warm, oriental, sensual and addictive with a mix of spicy and floral. Spritz it on at the start of your night and you’ll still smell it after a night of dancing. Notes include: jasmine, rose, musk and patchouli.
weekend | conversation
In Conversation with Raza Ahmed of Bamboo Union
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Raza Ahmed is an upcoming restaurateur who is opening shop in Lahore with Bamboo Union, a Pan-Asian eatery with a unique mix of Thai, Korean and Chinese dishes that promise to deliver something fresh and unique to the city’s dining experience. This week we met up with this young entrepreneur for a conversation on challenges in the business and rave reviews that make it all worth the worry.
Nur Zehra Qadri: When and how did you decide to pursue a career in the restaurant business? Raza Ahmed: After I finished college I joined my family’s pharmaceutical business. It was just something I naturally landed into but didn’t feel any passion for. My uncle runs a couple of restaurants in Dubai and that’s where my interest in the restaurant business developed. I
I can easily say that for a person to start any business here is very challenging!
thought it’s a good business to be in. I went to Dubai worked under him at his restaurant for some time. When I came back to Lahore I decided to start one on my own. NZQ: Tell us a bit about your business. RA:It’s an Asian fusion restaurant that serves, Thai, Korean and a bit of Chinese. We also wanted to include
weekend | conversation
NZQ: Tell us a bit about your educational background. RA: I went to Aitchison College in Lahore for my schooling and did my bachelors in Economics and Sociology from the University of Western Ontario.
NZQ: Who or what influences you as a restaurateur? RA:I don’t have anything or anyone particular in mind. I believe anything done out of passion is fruitful and that is what drives me. I leave the cooking to the experts, I can cook but I’m not skilled at it which is why I’m not behind the counter.
NZQ: What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your journey so far? RA: So far I feel like I have only faced challenges! Starting with finding a location, which was perhaps the hardest
I believe anything done out of passion is fruitful and that is what drives me
task of all. Fortunately we found this place and on a prime location. Also there are many obstacles we face in terms of setting up a foreign cuisine eatery in a place like Pakistan where consistently getting the most basic thing sourced, like for example vegetables, becomes an issue. Then there is the issue of other lacking basic resources like gas, I pay a lot of money for cylinders which is not feasible at all. I can easily say that for a person to start any business here is very challenging!
NZQ: What is the most memorable thing you have experienced in your journey so far? RA: It’s been heartening to hear stuff like how the food represents me and just general compliments about the food. I’ve worked really hard on making sure everything I serve is unique and not what is available everywhere around town. NZQ: Are there any reviews in particular you would like to share?
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Japanese but were unsure if we could manage so much altogether and in a limited space kitchen.
weekend | conversation
RA:So far we have gotten rave reviews. The main menu is totally different from what you expect at a Pan-Asian restaurant in Lahore. The idea was to bring something new that wasn’t already in Lahore. Initially I wanted to make a Lebanese restaurant but finally worked my way here.
NZQ: When is the big opening? How excited or nervous are you? RA: The opening is hopefully in a couple of weeks. I’m nervous about the fact that we have a tiny kitchen and handling the pressure when there is a heavy flow of customers is pretty nerve wracking. I want to make sure everyone is served on time. Other than that I’m happy and excited.
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NZQ: Okay so let’s get to know you a little better. Tell us something no one knows about you. RA:I want to kill it at sky diving, I have a massive height phobia.
Everything I serve is unique and not what is available everywhere around town
RapidFire
NZQ: What is the craziest thing you have ever done? RA:At my friend’s bachelor trip to Thailand I held two Iguanas on my shoulders.
NZQ: Name one thing on your bucket list. RA:Sky diving! NZQ: What is something you will never compromise on? RA:Family
NZQ: Something you will always take out time for? RA:My sister, she’s sixteen and always complaining that I don’t spend enough time with her. NZQ: What is your ultimate dream? RA:To run a chain of restaurants with different cuisines, all of them doing the same amount of good business!
Raza Ahmed City: New York for the food! Food: Everything! TV Show: Mad Men Style icon: James Dean Music: House Music Spirit Animal: Dog Book: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Weekend Scouts ameer akbar Artist City: Lahore
What does the word Art mean to you? To say that Art is your expression on paper is clichÊ. For me art is the ability to create something imaginary, or even imitating reallife. Artists have the skill to see something they like and transfer it to paper and preserve it. It may not be the actual thing but you’ve created it and that’s good enough.
What kind of art do you most identify with and why? I adore Portraiture; nothing is more fascinating than painting the human body. It is one of the most complex forms in regards to shadows, colour and posture. Portrait is one of the most difficult genres of art, in comparison to still-life or landscape. Hence this is challenging and gives me thrill.
What is your work influenced by? My art is inspired by the Renaissance period or then the Victorian Era. My renaissance paintings consist of ancestral portraits, whereas my animal paintings mainly stags, ducks, birds and horses are inspired by Victorian prints. I call it evergreen, as it is limited to no era as such. What was the very first piece you created? I can’t recall my very first piece since I started using my hands since the age of three. I remember my mother limiting me to 10 sheets of A4 paper a day but that wasn’t enough. I would start scribbling on my body and tattooing it with faces of women usually, very seldom was it an animal or an object. My first proper framed painting was at the age of 5 when I drew the Kaa’bah and the Dome of Madinah upon my return from Umrah.
How would you describe your pieces? Well, in my portraits I like to give a lot of detail to the jewellery and the regalia on the garments. I also add in a lot of detail to the eyes and skin. The part I really don’t bother with, which has now become my signature, is the clothes and background. My backgrounds are realistic but in a way abstract, meaning not very clear. It kind of forces the form to separate from the background—making it stand out.
weekend | lifestyle
There is such Are there any memorable responses you ahave received for your work? stark difference Not really as such a particular response, but since a child I always yourLahore. A painting done by me was stood out in my schools inbetween London and drawings and always hanging in the headmaster’s office in every school. I was known paintings, even the for my artistic skills from mood the headmasters is different,to the students. why is that? Most of my drawings are for my eyes only, drawn from life or from memory, they are just little you would like to create Is there anyone in particular inside jokes about a piecepeople for? Who would it be and why? and things I’m notI find quiteamusing. sure, I just want that whoever likes My my work, shouldarehave it and admire it. I don’t like paintings more creating pieces request because knowing your formal andoneven piece will be with you, you sort of lose interest. I a bitnotalienating wouldperhaps sell pieces I have made from my own inspiration. because will eventually Name a few artists who inspirethey beyou.viewed by I can’t put my finger on any particular someone. artist. I could hate all the pieces of an artist but fall in love with one. I don’t like abstract art but I think Gustav Klimt has the to tastefully juxtaposemissing classical and abstract art, like The women in ability your paintings are sometimes a face, why is that? Givingpainting a face of to Adele a painting it aboutrealistic someone;faceI want my out paintings the Blochmakes Bauer—the stands from theto resonate with everyone. In a doesn’t society where busy pattern but lose itsmodernity form. is often confused with sexualising and painting doe-eyed nudes, I prefer to instead paint women in control- and this has little to do with face or body.The women I paint are not victims of any kind; they are in a position of power, which I find is more liberating. My painting of Judith for instance is more reminiscent of David and Goliath than of Judith.
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You have a very distinct colour palette, from the painting of your grandfather, to something morbid like Judith, to a landscape. Is this something intentional? These are the colours I am perhaps subconsciously drawn to. Somehow when I am mixing paint, I am making the same colours, I don’t even realize it. What is your ultimate goal/dream as an artist? Well wouldn’t it be cliché if I said to make a difference in this world? Let’s be honest that’s not really possible through me particularly. My goal is rather simpler, I would like my work to be hanging on the walls and beautifying someone’s home.
weekend | lifestyle
Guilty of these popular habits? Don’t fret because hey, it’s ok with us!
Hey, It’s ok...
...to not calorie-count after midnight... ...to shave only parts of yourself that will be on display... ...to order a salad and then eat someone else’s fries from the table... ...to include legal jargon in everyday conversation after watching one too many episodes of The Good Wife... ...to start thinking about lunch, at breakfast... ...to ignore calls and pretend you were in a place with no network signals... ...to not make any big decisions until you’ve read your horoscope...
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...to die a little every time anyone ask you “so what are you doing with your life?”... ...to abbreviate every word... ...if you read 50 Shades of Grey... ...if you accidentally called your teacher, ‘mama’... ...to make a cup of tea just to dip your biscuits in...
weekend | books
The Reading Room Book: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro BOOK REVIEW BY: ASMARA AHMED QAISRANI
Picture this: you’re sitting alone, comfortably nursing a warm cup of chai between your hands as you look out at the world passing you by. A young woman walks over and sits across from you: ‘My name is Kathy H.’, she says, ‘I’m thirty-one years old and I’ve been a carer now for over eleven years.’ She is calm, a phantom memory of someone you loved from childhood, and you’re lost in the cadence of her voice. If there is a character whose breath has almost fogged the mirrors of my spectacles as she narrated her story to me, it has to be Kathy H., the friend, lover and almost-physician in Kazuo Ishiguro’s phenomenal ‘Never Let Me Go’.
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Labelled as a strange love-child of sciencefiction and coming-of-age, Mr Ishiguro’s novel is so much more than that-- it is an alternate, almost-possible history of England in the last half of the 1990s, a decade more than some of us belonged to as adolescents or young teens. Set against the back-drop of human disease being conquered by organ ‘donations’ from clones like Kathy H., ‘Never Let Me Go’ is deliberately hazy surrounding the more science
The novel itself is deeply engaging: Mr Ishiguro captures the fleeting passage of time for us as teenagers and the murky depths of despair that come with being a young adult and realizing for yourself-- is this all there is to life? He is commendable for not offering any patronizing or easy answers. After all, when it is someone we
love in need of a healthy organ or even ourselves, would we care to still distinguish a clone as a human being capable of thinking, feeling or being in love? Still, as Kathy muses in the film adaptation, Death comes for all of us, ‘we all complete’. As bleak as that knowledge is, do any of us ever really prepare for that final eventuality? It is a testament to the strength of Mr Ishiguro’s characters that they make a very successful transition to the big screen. While watching the film, I completely forgot that it was Kiera Knightley plotting desperately for more time or Andrew Garfield’s agonized screams echoing over a serene English country-side-- it was always Ruth, always Tommy. And watching them, caring for them, remembering them even as the clock wound down for her too, was Kathy H., portrayed compassionately by Carey Mulligan. As often as I re-read this novel, Kathy’s voice remains as compelling as ever, gaining more and more layers with each page. It is by no means a light book. While a part of you will clamour for a more conventional plot (there is no hero here, no brave attempt at a rebellion by clones fighting their fate, no ‘magic of science’ moment), the more realistic part of you will acknowledge that the book is offering what life itself often does-- no answers, no rhyme or reason, just moments that you must live with for as long as you are alive. Take it or leave it.
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aspects of science-fiction, which makes it all the more real as a narrative-- we are never left to marvel at the horror of their brief, controlled lives. We are never bogged down by the distractingly bright bells and whistles of classical sci-fi nor does the doomed romance between Kathy, Tommy and Ruth ever descend into sappiness-- as they battle their failing healths to hold on to their memories of each other, you feel the same trapped grief as them, hoping against hope for a miracle, for them to survive.
weekend | books
Favourite lines: I saw a new world coming rapidly. More scientific, efficient, yes. More cures for the old sicknesses. Very good. But a harsh, cruel, world. And I saw a little girl, her eyes tightly closed, holding to her breast the old kind world, one that she knew in her heart could not remain, and she was holding it and pleading, never to let her go.
weekend | travel
Istanbul, Turkey
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It sucks that Turkey had a period of terrible political upheaval recently, but the upside is the cheap as chips hotel rooms and airplane tickets!!! Seriously, this is the best time ever to go, and also to show your support to Turkish peeps – because no one knows better than us Pakistanis, that one day of bad news doesn’t mean stuff is unsafe forever.
weekend | travel
Stay at... Soho House
This super chic hotel needs you to APPLY to be admitted to a room!! Doesn’t get more exclusive than that! All the nakhra is totally worth it though, because the rooms are split level gorgeousness, and the lighting is to die for. There’s no place in the entire building where you can take a bad selfie.
Stuff your face with... Doner kebabs You’ve got to try as many doners as possible, because there’s no one place that does the perfect ones. That doesn’t mean they aren’t all good -- just means you have to try a whole bunch of them!! Don’t stop at one!! The local ice cream joint in Istanbul is Mado, and they do a mean brownie and fruit crumble to go with their home made ice creams. Slightly fancier than the street stand ice creams -- which are also awesome!!
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Mado ice cream
weekend | travel
Don’t miss.... The Dolmabahçe Palace Stunning inside and out, the palace is placed right at the edge of the Bosphorus river, and has huge white gates that open right on to it!! Oh and it also has these unbelievable frescoed ceilings, and a crystal chandelier in the main ballroom that is honestly the size of a small house. It’s magnificent!!
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Sulaymaniyah Mosque
More intimate, and more intricate than the Blue Mosque, this is a mosque mostly overlooked by tourists. But if you have time, it’s well worth a visit to see its beautiful red dome, and experience the quiet solemnity of the prayer area.
weekend | travel
Hagia Sophia
Stunning inside and out, the palace is placed right at the edge of the Bosphorus river, and has huge white gates that open right on to it!! Oh and it also has these unbelievable frescoed ceilings, and a crystal chandelier in the main ballroom that is honestly the size of a small house. It’s magnificent!!
Just because...
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Buy yourself flowers, because just look at them!! And why not!!
weekend | Fashion
men weigh in
Although most women dress for themselves and maybe other Women, we love how men never shy away from giving their opinion! this week, we ask them how they feel about the oh so popular Tulip Shalwar.
Rehain r: Munotis for women. like dh y. They looyk village meets cit r Ve
Shazil Naqvi: Looks like they got caught in barbed wire on the way over to the shaadi
TULIPAR SHALW Muhammad Ahmed: It’s like an improvised dhoti
Babar Rashid: Some might call it the next generation of pants and just like our next generation it’s pretty confused; not a shalwar, not pants and not a dhoti. Don’t know what it is, where it’s going!
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Farooq Amin Sufi: It can be a good Halloween costume
Faizan Nave : I think it looks absurd. Also lacksed of both shalwar and trousers. The the grace could work is if you make it hip wit only way it h a t-shirt and converse sneakers or roman san dals.
Shahzaib Ahmad: It looks like a shawarma roll
Akmal Sheikh: Give anything a name and it becomes normal and acceptable. For example, a “selfie”. If someone took a self pic 10 years ago you’d think they’re self centered. Call it a selfie and it’s a phenomena. Tulip Shalwar is another shining example of the statement above.
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CRIMSON LUXE BY SAIRA SHAKIRA
True to its ethos of creating beautiful clothes at affordable prices, Crimson is delighted to announce its collaboration with Saira Shakira to bring to you Crimson Luxe, an unstitched collection of 12 designs in luxury fabrics and embellishments - chiffon, silk, hand woven nets and organza with a diverse colour palette ranging from pastel hues to darker shades. It is set to launch at the end of August 2016. The Saira Shakira duo are prominent in the local fashion market, regularly
participating at fashion weeks showcasing their edgy silhouettes, brilliant use of colour and innovative embellishment techniques. Having graduated with distinction from fashion school, the designers have a flair for creating immaculate clothes. Crimson Luxe by Saira Shakira marks the duo’s debut into unstitched wear. It is a labour of love that has had the entire team collectively working relentlessly - dying and re-dying colors to perfection, drawing all embroideries
by hand and spending endless nights poring over piles of research to create this collection. With its vast industrial experience, Crimson has employed the most cutting edge production technologies for weaving, dying, embroidery and printing with an firm commitment to providing quality. The collection is bright, joyful and aims to make the Crimson woman unapologetically beautiful, fiercely resilient and delightfully adventurous.
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weekend | PROMOTION
weekend | lifestyle
Novelty Chest of Drawers PKR 20, 999 Khas Stores
Bird-cage Earrings
Editors’ picks
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e v o L Struck
Price upon request Esfir By Tasbih and Hafsa
L’Oréal Paris Makeup Genius App
weekend | lifestyle
es Storage-B6o9x00 PKR 4900 Hobo by Hub
Price upon request 9Lines
g planNER weddin 0 Rs 200 dding planit @the we
Summer Dress Price on Request @styleberri
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Quirky Cushions