Clue-ing you in on birth control

The realisation that you’re married has barely sunk in; you’re still in your honeymoon phase so it’s not his snoring that keeps you up nights; you haven’t yet decided whether you want to deal with NADRA and officially change your status on your CNIC card. But already, the chachis and the mamis, the parosans and the parlour wali are doing a better job of scanning you than any ultrasound machine, and the question “Kia tum pregnant ho?” is on everyone’s minds, if not their lips. You hope not, but all the tips from your three unmarried friends and the married one with a teenage son seem unreliable. So every time you feel slightly nauseous you wonder if it has less to do with the fact that you just caught sight of your saas and more because of a ‘nanna shehzada’.

All this could be so much easier if you just knew what to do, separate the superstitions from the science and take an informed decision. So here is the low-down on all the birth control methods that you may be too embarrassed to ask your mother about. 

The oral contraceptive/ Birth control pill:

Despite all the bad rap the pill gets from your khalas and phuppos — weight gain, cancer, and scarier than both, nebulous ailments — it is the most reliable contraceptive and one of the most popular forms of birth control.

There are two main types of oral contraceptive pills available in the market. The combined pill contains synthetic versions of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone and stops the ovaries from releasing an egg to be fertilised. The progestogen-only pill, which is commonly called the minipill or POP, does not have the hormone oestrogen and acts by thickening the mucus around the uterus so that sperm can’t pass through.

The combined pill, if taken regularly, has a 98% success rate. One hormone pill is taken each day at about the same time and most combination pills come in either a 21-day pack or a 28-day pack. This means that, depending on your pack, you will either stop taking birth control pills for 7 days or you will take a pill that contains no hormones (a placebo) for 7 days. Some women prefer the 28-day pack because it helps them stay in the habit of taking a pill every day.

Failure in maintaining the pill cycle, excessive vomiting, diarrhea and intake of other drugs can increase the chances of pregnancy.

The progestin-only pill is recommended over regular birth control pills for women who are breastfeeding because the mini-pill does not affect milk production (oestrogen reduces the amount of breast milk). Gynaecologist Dr Saadia Pal considers the mini-pill the “safest contraceptive pill because it has low levels of hormones” and can be taken on a regular basis without any breaks between packets. The latest formulations even stop you ovulating, just like the regular pill, reducing your chances of pregnancy even more.

“The mini-pill can be taken while breastfeeding while regular combinations pills can be taken after 6 months of breastfeeding,” recommends consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Azra Ahsan.

The advantage of taking the mini-pill is that by omitting the hormone oestrogen in the formulation, it avoids the rare but dangerous side effects of the regular pill. It is particularly recommended for women who are breastfeeding, diabetics, smokers and those over 35.

While you may be scared off taking pills by aunties willing to exaggerate its disadvantages, it is important to know what its side effects are. Nausea, weight gain and mood changes are common and WebMD warns that more serious disadvantages which require immediate medical attention include stomach pain, chest pain, severe headaches, blurred vision and swelling or aching legs. You also need to be careful of pills containing drospirenone, a man-made version of the hormone progesterone, since they appear to increase the risk for blood clots.

With Pakistani women, the main gripe with pills seems to be weight gain. Dr Pal thinks this has more to do with our post-shaadi dietary habits than with the pill. “A lot of women start binging on food right after their marriage because they assume that their mission has been accomplished and they don’t need to look good anymore. They then blame the weight gain on pills,” she says.

The good news is that the pill comes with a host of advantages: it can make your cycle more regular and even solve your hair and skin problems. “Women who are on contraceptive pills have less risk of exposure to ovarian cancer and polycystic ovaries,” says Dr Ahsan. “However, the occurrence of breast cancer is high if you start taking the pill before your first baby.”

Failure rate: The risk of pregnancy is 1-3% for both the pills even if the user takes them regularly and on time.

What you should know: Some drugs, including antibiotics, can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Keep condoms (a pack of three costs less than Rs100) on hand in case you forget to take a pill. The severity of weight gain, nausea and vomiting varies and trying out different brands can ease symptoms. 

Condoms:

Commonly made of latex or polyurethane, condoms are the most easily accessible and handy contraceptives. Not only do they prevent conception, they provide a host of other benefits, including protection from sexually transmitted diseases. They are the safest contraceptive since they provide a physical barrier and have no side effect.

The main reason condoms fail — other than plain old male unwillingness to put them on in the first place — is that they may break or tear due to pressure during intercourse. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Ahsan, “People in Pakistan shy away from discussing this topic which is why more than half the couples don’t even know the correct method of using a condom.”

According to Health.com, condoms are 98% effective if used correctly and only 83% effective if you don’t put them on correctly. Though female gynecologists often call couples for counseling, Dr Ahsan explains that mostly it is just the woman who shows up, while the guy remains oblivious. This helps explain why men prefer not to use condoms and are often irresponsible in wearing them.  Dr Pal blames lack of education for this irresponsible behavior towards family planning. “To date, people in Pakistan consider sex education vulgar, which is why many couples who come in for counseling don’t even know the right way of procreating,” says Dr Pal, articulating a frustration many doctors feel.

Failure rate: Dr Pal however believes that the failure rate of condoms could be as low as 4% and as high as 40%.

What you should know: If the condom ruptures or slips off during intercourse, you should immediately take an Emergency Contraceptive Pill (available for as little as Rs 10) to avoid conception. Dr Ahsan says, “While using condoms, a couple should always have a stock of ECP at home. In case of an accident, the pill can be the back-up plan.”  

Intrauterine Devices:

The IUD is a long-term contraceptive with a high success rate that can easily be reversed and removed whenever you wish. The modern intrauterine device (IUD) is a small T-shaped device, that is placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy and has a string hanging down to check its position or to remove it. There are two types. The hormonal IUD prevents fertilisation by damaging sperm and thickening cervical mucus, so sperm can’t get to the uterus. It keeps the lining of the uterus from growing thick so that it’s harder for a fertilised egg to implant and grow.  The copper IUD makes the uterus and Fallopian tubes produce fluid that kills sperm, since copper is toxic to sperm.

IDr Pal considers IUDs “As good and effective as a permanent birth control method. It has the added benefit of being reversible.” The doctor recommends using this method before the age of 30. This is because she has seen women who have gotten the IUD removed after crossing 35 and have then faced trouble conceiving and ended up blaming the technology for hampering their fertility. “A woman’s biological clock slows down after the age of 30. Women should plan the insertion and removal of IUD properly to avoid disappointment,” says Dr. Pal.

Failure rate: With a failure rate of only 0.001% , this is as good as 100% protection but according to Dr Pal, “We should still keep a small window of failure in mind.”

What you should know: While IUDs are great if you’re looking for a method of birth control that requires little effort and is reversible, you should continue to see your doctor for periodical check ups. The copper IUD is approved for use for up to 10 years and hormonal IUD for up to 5 years. Insertion of an IUD can also lead to heavy periods and you should check the string of your IUD after every period.  Rarely, the IUD can perforate the uterus during insertion. Also, there is the risk of hormonal IUDs causing ovarian cysts, which usually go away on their own. 

The Emergency Contraceptive Pill:

The Emergency contraception pill (ECP) is usually taken after your normal birth control method fails or you’ve accidentally had unprotected sex. These tablets are most effective if you take them within 72-120 hours (3-5 days) of having unprotected sex but women are generally advised to take the pill immediately after sex, especially if they feel the chances of conceiving are high (such as during ovulation).

There is a general misconception in Pakistan that these pills are not easily available. In fact ECPs are available at almost all medical stores, can be bought without a prescription, and are quite cheap. It is a good idea to have ECPs handy, in case your normal birth control method fails.

“Unfortunately,” says Dr Pal, “a lot of couples even in the modern world don’t know about ECPs.” The doctor laments that the lack of sex education at the basic level and the indifference of the government has resulted in an utter lack of awareness about these crucial health issues. “There’s no need to shy away from these issues. If you can show sanitary napkin ads, then you can talk about this too,” says Dr Pal.

The chances of pregnancy are higher because “A lot of people don’t even know what ECPs are, let alone knowing that they must have an ECP in case the condom fails to perform,” adds Dr Pal.

Failure rate: Depends on the gap between the time of intercourse and the time of taking the pill but according to Dr Pal, “the failure rate of ECPs is somewhere around 000.1%.”

What you need to know: While a very good back up, ECPs are not a substitute for regular birth control, and reliance on them will reduce efficacy and can result in pregnancy.

This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Make sure you consult your doctor before deciding on the birth control method suitable for you.

6 myths about contraceptives

1. Breastfeeding prevents pregnancy

Breastfeeding tends to postpone ovulation but that doesn’t mean it can be used as a contraceptive. You can actually get pregnant without ever getting a period while you’re breastfeeding so make sure you have your birth control plan in place. 

2. Using contraceptives is equivalent to abortion

Contraceptives stop the sperm from fertilising the egg. Abortion comes into question when the fertilised egg comes in the lining of a woman’s uterus.

3. Birth control pills are the most effective form of contraception

Even though many doctors vouch for the effectiveness of ECP, combination pill and the mini pill, they still believe that all these pills have a 000.1%-3% failure rate.

4. Your body needs a break from birth control pills

Progesterone Only Pill (POP or minipill) can be taken regularly without breaks. The pill also proves effective in solving acne, facial hair and menstrual problems and can be taken while breastfeeding.

5. IUDs make women sterile forever

IUDs are said to be as effective as a permanent contraception but they can be reversed in case the user changes their mind about children.  Dr Pal suggests it’s better if women get it reversed before they hit their 40s.

6. ECPs are a form of abortion

Most ECPs start working before the pregnancy even begins. A woman can’t abort something that wasn’t even conceived in the first place.

How does pregnancy occur?

In order to become pregnant, the female egg (released from the ovary during ovulation) must be fertilised. This phenomenon of fertilisation takes place when the sperm ejaculated during intercourse, travels up the cervix of the female and combines with the released egg to form a single cell. The fertilised egg then needs to attach to a woman’s uterus lining and grow, a process known as implantation. Once the implanted embryo starts releasing hormones that prevent menstruation, pregnancy is confirmed. 

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, February 3^rd, 2013.

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As far as the shaadi-biyah scene is concerned, rishta aunties (and sometimes even uncles — awkward!) with their superlative social skills and admirable foresight have become the executioners of the plans God made up in the heavens, acting as liaisons between the boy’s family and the girl’s. Unfortunately, this situation has not made things any less stressful or awkward for us single girls. While your parents lecture you on how ending up an old maid is the biggest blight in our society, the rishta aunty will look at you with X-ray vision, tut-tutting and shaking her head at the sad dearth of desirable characteristics you possess. In the end, you’ll be ready to tear your hair out (don’t though — that’s a desirable characteristic right there) convinced that you’ll either die alone with seven cats or that you must resign yourself to marrying the first chota, mota, kaala, underemployed guy who has the stupidity to accept you as his bride.

If your self-esteem is taking a hit, we suggest you look at some of the typical requirements chalked out by the ‘larkay walay’ to find a match for their sons. When the wish list takes shape, you’ll begin to understand why you haven’t yet met Prince Charming.

Complexion

Back in the 90s, Junaid Jamshed was bashed for singing Goray Rang Ka Zamana but if we think about it, poor guy was just saying what he probably always heard at home. From Fair & Lovely advertisements to rishta ads in every C-grade newspapers, isn’t a fair complexion our biggest yearning after world peace? We like women whose pictures do not require brightness adjustments and whose skin does not need too many layers of pasty white foundation. Matchmaker Rubina Khan, who draws clients from upper-middle income localities in Karachi, says, “Even the darkest guys ask for fair girls. I blame the media for totally ruining the mindsets of our youngsters.”

And if one tries to persuade the larkay walas to be a little more reasonable? “The boy’s side is usually extremely demanding and if you shift even a little bit from their rigid requirements they refuse to meet the girl’s family after the first meeting,” says Nusrat Anjum, founder of the Defence Women Welfare Society.

Thanks, guys! I should probably go dip my face in peroxide now.

Education

The day I was born, my daadi decided I’d be a doctor. Sadly for her, I became a female journalist which, according to my grandma, are “women who go out in the field without dupattas and come back home at inappropriate hours.” Despite my continuous questioning she would never tell me the reason behind her obsession with doctors but rishta expert Rubina sheds some light: “The larkay walas have this inexplicable obsession with girls who are doctors or are studying to become doctors.” Nusrat adds that to the demand of the typical slim, fair and tall girl has been added the requirement of earning money. The families who come to Nusrat often demand rich in-laws because the job market is unstable and they want their bahus to meet their own expenses and not be a burden on the ‘poor son’.  “A wealthy background and professional career have made their way to the long and sometimes unrealistic list of traits the larkay walas want in their bahu,” says Nusrat.

Oh hey, you might want to add ‘should know how to walk upside down’ to your list!

Caste and creed

Rubina Khan expresses concern over the increasing sectarian divisions which is gradually making match making extremely difficult. “Previously people wanted girls and boys from their own sect but now the demands have been narrowed down even more,” she says. “Urdu speaking people now prefer Urdu speaking families from Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow and Moradabad which makes it difficult for us to meet all these specifications.”

Now we know why the Egyptian Pharaohs married their sisters: their requirements were so specific, that they eliminated the ‘panga’ and went for their ‘behnas’ who were equal to them in every respect. The next I know, I’d probably get rejected because I like cheese sticks better than chicken wings.

Family size

According to rishta aunties, larkay walas sometimes also have an issue with the number of members in the girl’s family. “The mother of the potential groom wants a small family because she doesn’t want her son spending too much on his in-laws,” says Rubina.

Heads up girls, the next time you have a proposal committee coming in for you, make sure you hide your siblings, burn their birth certificates up and use them for potpourri. And if God forbid they get spotted, just pretend they are avant garde furniture.

Physique

The rishta aunties have bad news for all you curvy girls out there: size 0 is hot. The subcontinent may be notorious for its pear-shaped women but when it comes to the rishta scene, boys and their mothers are looking for that elusive ‘dubli patli larki’. If the starved look is not your thing, you can forget all about finding a suitable boy.

Dear potential mother-in-law, if you’re reading this and if it makes you feel better I look much better in Photoshop — I’m just not real-ogenic.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, January 20^th, 2013.

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Pakistan’s female squash champion does not come from the squash courts of Karachi, nor did she grow up in the lanes of Lahore. Maria Toor Pakay, Pakistan’s number one female squash player, hails from the strife torn region of South Waziristan.

In 2007, when she was just 16, Pakay was honoured with the President’s Salaam Pakistan Award.

In May 2012, the 21-year-old left-hander became the first Pakistan-born woman to reach a British Open main draw after defeating Emily Whitlock in the qualifying competition and upsetting the seedings.

Pakay then caused a sensation when she clinched the Women’s Squash Association title on 23 September 2012 following a surprise semi-final win over English Lauren Selby in the semi-final of that tournament.

As of September 2012, she is ranked 52nd in the world.

The sportswoman talks about her journey from the tribal areas to the international courts.

On being brought up as a boy

“My sister and I were homeschooled by our father. My mother was a teacher, so her students also used to help us out in a lot of subjects,” says Pakay.

Since her tribal values imposed a regimented code of conduct on women, at the age of 10, Pakay started dressing and acting like a boy. She shaved her head and wore her brother’s clothes so that she could explore the world outside without her gender coming in the way. “My sister and I were the exact opposite. She used to sit at home and be the girly girl and I used to go out and transport water cans with my brother. That way, I saw more than other girls of that time did.”

At the age of 12, after she was introduced to her trainer as ‘Chingez Khan’ by her father, she started weight-lifting. In 2002, she travelled to Lahore with her brother for a weight lifting competition and won — no surprises, knowing our overachiever  — the first prize. 

On women in the tribal areas

“The conservative parties still resent the empowerment of women but the liberals think it’s our right to be taught how to hold a pen,” says Pakay.

The death of her uncle, Senator Fareedullah Khan in a terrorist attack, made her realise the importance of change and combating militant ideology. In various interviews, she has spoken out about the dearth of rights for women in South Waziristan and the restrictions imposed on them: they are not allowed to get an education, play sports or dress as they please. Pakay believes that the tribal areas need to realise how important sports are for development.

“The conservative parties objected to my growing popularity and even threatened my father, telling him to go back to tableegh and lock me up at home or else they would murder us all,” she says.

Pakay recounts how her father’s growing concern over their security led to her being virtually confined at home for about three years. “I used to play in my room and train myself,” the squash player says. “For a good 9-10 years, I exercised on my own. Many a times, I used to sleep with my legs tied up with dupattas and my arms buried under my body because they would hurt so much.” 

Her moments of glory

“I had a historic British opening in May and felt like I fulfilled my father, my mother and my sister’s vision,” says Pakay. “I also got the The Economic Club of Canada’s first annual Voice of Hope Award in October from the Prime Minister’s wife Laureen Ann Harper. Who would’ve thought that a girl from the tribal areas would get all this recognition and love?” 

On leaving the country and international squash

Despite her achievements, Pakay found that respect and acknowledgement from her own community was hard to come by. “No one would acknowledge that what my family and I are doing was for the greater good of our community,” she says sadly. She was insulted several times and told that “girls are not our priority”. Realising that her skill would never get the exposure it deserved, Maria flew out of the country to dabble in international sports.

Pakay is loving all the exposure and playing international squash, and says she has never been stereotyped because of her gender. “All my coaches are foreigners but they have never treated me like a stranger. People in South Waziristan have all these misconceptions about people from other religions — Christians, Jews — but they are totally false.” Pakay cites instances where her coaches helped her find the Holy Quran and a mosque, and spared her from strenuous practice so that she could offer her prayers. 

On being a role model

“I live up to my family’s values and my friends help me out. I live alone but I don’t go out to party or drink, because I want to set a standard for the girls back home,” says Pakay.

Having struggled in tribal society herself, Pakay feels strongly about women’s rights. “God gives you life just once and you have to justify it. Girls from tribal areas should break the wall of silence and voice their opinions on things that matter. People back home still don’t realise that if you educate a woman, she will educate everyone around her. If you feed her properly, she will feed everyone around her.”

But the 22-year-old has big plans: “Once I come back to my country I will open education institutes and squash training centres for women in the tribal areas,” she says. 

Her other loves and future plans

“I love music and want to get a proper degree in it. I have applied to several colleges and universities in the UK,” shares Pakay. The rising squash player says she will keep her focus on squash and learn music in her spare time. “For now I’m training for the World Open on December 13.”

And we’re hoping for another victory for our rising star!

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, December 2^nd, 2012.

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Master the art of wearing one of the hottest essentials of fall 2012

One of the trickiest things in fashion these days is to pull off the harem pants without looking like Aladin’s baby sister. The pants that somewhat look like what you see jocks wearing literally stormed into the vogue vicinity last year and since then they haven’t looked back.

If you are one of those who tried acing this look and instead looked like you’re wearing a banyan (vest) over your shalwars, then high five us and read this guide because we care about you and we don’t want you to look like a roadside thief ever again.

We are literally covering our pretty faces while we break it to you that the rule of thumb here is that women with heavy bottoms must avoid lowers that are loose around the thigh area and tighter around the calf area.

Warning: Do not go all hater on us just because we believe women who have a wide posterior can still pull off harem pants better than women who have an apple bottom.

The good news is that our loyal friend with an ethereal fashion sense vogue.com.uk tells us that a lot depends on the fabric of harem pants that you are wearing. One must know that these pants are puffy around the thigh area hence they add width to the wearers body.

If you are a curvezilla,  chance are you may not look like runway royalty Kate Moss in these pants, as harem pants have a tendency to add weight to voluptuous figures; however, with the right pair, you can create a stunning, sensual and exotic look.

Women with fuller bodies should go for harem pants in a more flowy cloth such as silk, satin or even jersey. Try to keep the focus away from your thigh area as much as possible by adopting these fashion tricks.

Funky side up

If you are opting for a more western look with the harem pants then pair them up with cropped jackets and shirts as this gives more breathing space to your body and makes your torso look longer.

Funky uppers also draw focus to your upper body and even if you are failing at pulling off the genie look chances are people wouldn’t even notice.

The rule of 1:3 (or 3:1) in photography implies that only one part of the human body should be in focus because it’s pleasing for the human eye.

To balance out the bagginess and the fullness at the legs, always wear a fitted top, like a tank top, casual graphic print T-shirt (brightly coloured tee) or fitted silk blouses.

Invest in fancy headgear

A bold accessory such as a chunky hairpiece is also a good idea to keep the eye more towards the upper side of your body.

Buckle up

Put the emphasis on your waist as much as you can. Add a wide, glittery or studded belt that draws attention to your curves and takes focus away from your thighs and mid leg area.

Don’t over-accessorise

Do accessorise but don’t over accessorise. Harem pants easily dominate the ensemble because of their puffiness and flare, hence over accessorising would confuse the observer’s eye.

Remember how experts in the make-up world say if you’re wearing heavy make-up on the eyes you should keep the lips nude? The similar rule applies to clothing as well.

If you are wearing harem pants, refrain from bringing on your bling blings because they would turn the whole look into a fashion mesh and trust us, looking like a rapper in Pakistan isn’t as cool as it is in Brooklyn.

Shoe stopper

When looking for that perfect pair to go with your harem pants, get your hands on peep toes or gladiator heels because they add height to your overall look.

Since these pants usually end around the calf area they could make your legs look shorter and stumpier; to avoid this situation one must add height and the key here is to show your feet.

Wearing pumps or covered shoes would make the human eye perceive you shorter than your normal height.

If you can’t seem to find a pair that flatters your body shape and size, look for alternative designs that have some similarity with harem pants. The flare in harem pants varies from brand to brand and if you feel too much flare is not for your body type then switch to something less flowy and flarey.

If even then you have trouble finding a look that works for you, then try a slouchy harem-style jumpsuit instead.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, October 26^th, 2012.

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Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2012. 

Be it flared, high-waisted pants, bohemian tops or even chunky bracelets stacked right up to the elbows, Feeha’s experimentation knows no bounds. One can trust her to manage a perfect blend of malang carelessness and high-fashion crispness. Even her fashion brand is a concoction of everything stylish in the East and West mixed with a bit of elaborate grandeur and finally seasoned with a zing of femininity. To say Feeha is the personification of everything Teejay stands for wouldn’t be an understatement. She believes in creating drama by using fabric, which is why one would never spot her wearing extremely loud colours that may overshadow the design element. She keeps her colour subtle, and one will seldom see her step out of her black, white, beige and caramel comfort zone.

Kudos to Feeha for being experimental and going all out with ethnic jewellery!

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2012.

The idea behind the eatery comes from cosy three-in-one cafes tucked away neatly in the city of Genova. Restaurateur Niazi visited the Italian city and thought of initiating a “one of its kind” hangout in the metropolis. He pitched the idea to his friend Fawad Naeem, who thought that a theme-based crash pad is just the thing that would tickle the fancy of Karachiites who want to eat and lounge about.

“Zamzama is usually clogged up because of traffic and people often complain about not being able to find parking there,” said Naeem and Niazi, explaining their choice of location. “For the enthusiasts of cafe culture, Sehar is the new Zamzama.” When asked about neighbouring competitors (Cafe Downtown and Latte Lounge) Niazi added, “We are not worried about the competition because we are offering three services under one roof.”

The top level of the restaurant has a small bar with fluorescent lights. The seating arrangement is just as funky as the bar with animal prints seating thrown in with a dash of red and black.

The cigar den in the basement transports one to the sets of Godfather – you can almost imagine Marlon Brando sitting like a morose hawk on one of the camel-coloured sofas. “The cigar lounge has pulled me here,” said fashion writer and critic Mohsin Sayeed, adding that he “supports everything that promotes smoking”. Most men present in the basement would agree, as they were seen making themselves comfortable in the spacious lounge while they smoked sheesha. In a corner of the cigar lounge stood two  bikes which were the centre of attraction for some guests who hopped on and posed for photographs.

The event was attended by a plethora of media personalities such as Zubaida Tariq aka Zubaida Apa, VJs Faizan Haqque and Anushay Ashraf, Freiha Altaf and Mathira Mohammad.

While Mathira felt “this is one of the places where people won’t judge you for who you are,” Zubaida Apa seemed concerned about the culture a place like Club Genova promotes. “I don’t really approve of all these ideas because they mar our cultural values. But let’s face it; this is one of the best ways to earn honest money in modern times.”

Club Genova may be currently focusing on experimental marketing, but it should really be giving more attention to its food which did not live up to expectations. The fried chicken balls were bland and the beef steak (read carelessly cooked chunks of cow) should be enough to warn one about what their taste buds should expect.

Additionally, in their ambitious attempt to host a grand affair, the restaurateurs invited too many guests to fit under one roof, which made seating a hassle.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2012.

KARACHI: Oscar Wilde’s famed saying, “Art is the most intense mode of individualism”, seems to be the gist of photographer/artist Hamra Abbas’ work. At a small gathering at the ArtNow office in DHA Phase 5 on Friday, the young artist spoke to a captivated audience about her inspiration — the culture and people of the various cities across the world where she has lived.

Abbas explained that her work is a visual translation of her state of mind at a given time. For instance, the time she spent living in Istanbul explains the Ottoman influence in some of her art pieces. It is not rare for an artist to consider a city as their muse, and Abbas proudly states that she also incorporated the milieu of Berlin and New York in her art, to share her experiences of the two cites.

While her main medium is sculpture, her work explores a diverse range of materials such as paper, plasticine, fibre glass, photography and video to suggest modalities of interpretation.

Her love for miniatures was born when she dabbled in macro photography; and when she felt she had been “trained in a classical, traditional way”, she returned to stone and clay and opted for plasticine to channelise her creative streak.

One of Abbas’ most recent ventures, “Idols”, is a collection of miniatures made from plasticine. One would expect a sculptor to say that making faces was the most gratifying stage of this project, but Abbas says it was the experience of human bonding that mattered to her the most.“I feel human interaction that serves as raw material for these miniatures is a prerogative. It makes one feel like more of a human than just a faceless consumer because people start looking at you differently.”

Abbas worked on these faces while she was living in New York and — in order to feel what the American dream tastes like — she invited people from the working class and made miniatures that resemble their faces. “The economic meltdown and financial crisis made me want to observe the common man and bond with him on a deeper level,” said Abbas, as she spoke to the crowd.

Moreover, Abbas shared anecdotes of her life which showed that her mind and body inhale cultural dynamics and exhale art. Abbas stated that she used her pregnancy and hormonal imbalance to her advantage by indulging in cathartic experiences and churning them into art.

Some of her most discussed works include The Woman in Black, a visual ode to “women empowerment that became evident during the Lal Masjid tragedy in 2007”. Others include God Grows on Trees, Lessons on Love and Paradise Bath.

Abbas was the proud recipient of a jury prize at the 9^th Sharjah Biennial in 2009. Her work has been included at one of Australia’s largest art festivals, the Biennale of Sydney (2006), along with the International Incheon Women Artists Biennale in Korea (2009) and Asian Art Biennial in Taiwan (2011). Currently, she is in Karachi and will be exhibiting her work at the Canvas Galley from June 19.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2012.

For Pakistani Parveens

More and more designers have brought forward their take of the gypsy culture by fusing Balochi/Sindhi malang culture with nautical and psychedelic prints and presenting them with a modern twist. Some of our favourite lawn collections this season are Junaid Jamshed’s Lawn, Deepak Perwani Premium Lawn and Khaadi Lawn. All three of these brands have managed to find the perfect equilibrium between international gypsy and desi malang and the best thing about them is that you can afford them without having to consider the option of selling one of your arms to afford one of their creations.

For the wild child

If you work in a regimented corporate environment, you can invest your moolah in some fancy headgear. Think Roman/Greek goddesses and their extravagant wreaths and rummage through brands such as H&M, Forever 21 and XOXO for the bands that fit your head and persona. Also, a little bit of stacking every now and then works and won’t really hurt the ego of that hoity toity Japanese company your boss is planning a meeting with.

You may want to get hold of some bold-coloured shirts and pair them up with a sombre suit to create the perfect fix of colour and sophistication. Colour blocking is as constant in the fashion fraternity as the northern star.

According to pantone.com, tangerine — the colour that looks like a love child of orange and pink — is the hue of the year and people should stick to the orange-pinkish side of the spectrum as much as they can.

Laces and buckles are back, be it sandals or heels. Think dominatrix or even Xena: The Warrior Princess and get yourself a pair of uber sexy gladiator sandals in preferably brown or beige (only because they go with everything) with a hint of gold. Those of you who love to make statements with their bright shoes can sigh with relief as bright hues will stay with us despite the obvious rein of pastels this season, according to millionlooks.com.

Women who work in a dress code-free environment try everything from big flowery prints to mind-boggling psychedelic prints. Ditch your pearls and gold for jewellery made from thread, rope, bones and colourful beads (big and small). Remember pedestrian-cool. However, make sure in your efforts to look casual-chic don’t start looking like a hybrid of a bear and a dishevelled pirate.

For men

Dear men, I request you to stop buying those ‘I hula-hooped my way to Pakistan from some funky island’ shirts with big flowers and fancy buttons. Go for the good, old neon-coloured polo shirts with checked Bermudas and sport some neon flip flops. If you are the funky bloke, try looking for Rastafarian flip flops or Ed Hardy Hawaiians.

Also, the bald look is back so if you don’t care about people comparing you to an egg or a football, go clean and enjoy the breeze.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2012.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2012.