KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Some women strode the catwalk in vicious spiked bracelets and body armor. Others had their heads covered, burqa-style, but with shoulders — and tattoos — exposed. Male models wore long, Islamic robes as well as shorts and sequined T-shirts.
As surging militant violence grabs headlines around the world, Pakistan's top designers and models are taking part in the country's first-ever fashion week. While the mix of couture and high-street fashions would not have been out of place in Milan or New York, many designers reflected the turmoil, contradictions and tensions coursing through the society.
The four-day event, which was postponed twice due to security fears and amid unease at hosting such a gathering amid an army offensive in the northwest, is aimed at showing the world there is more to Pakistan than violence and helping boost an industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people, organizers said.
Many of the models, designers and well-heeled fashionistas packing out each night said the gathering was a symbolic blow to the Taliban and their vision of society, where women are largely confined to the house and must wear a sack-like covering known as a burqa.
"This is our gesture of defiance to the Taliban," said Ayesha Tammy Haq, the CEO of Fashion Pakistan Week. "There is a terrible problem of militancy and political upheaval ... but that doesn't mean that the country shuts down. That doesn't mean that business comes to a halt."
The shows are taking place in Karachi, the country's largest and most cosmopolitan city, in a five-star hotel just next door to the American consulate, which was bombed by Islamist militants in 2002. It lies two hours flight from the northwest, the heartland of al-Qaida and the Taliban, and has largely been spared the violence sweeping the country over the last month.
"Unfortunately, it is the bad side of Pakistan that gets everybody's attention," said top Pakistani model Nadia Hussain as hairdressers and makeup artists fussed over her backstage. "It has never been this bad, I don't know what will happen," as fellow models chain-smoked cigarettes.
While many of the city's 12 million people live in slums, hip cafes and restaurants in wealthy neighborhoods draw sophisticated crowds of young men and women into the early hours, more often than not speaking English with each other and wearing Western dress.
While the shows in Karachi resembled other fashion weeks in other parts of the world, there were no foreign designers or buyers. The organizers decided not to invite them given the precarious security situation.
"Who is going to come here with such negative stuff going on?" said Tabassum Mughal, a young designer who employs about 30 people. "Those who are here already are leaving."
Textiles make up some 60 percent of Pakistan exports and are worth around US$12 billion dollars a year. The country's cotton and silks are among the finest in the world. But the industry has failed to grew in recent years amid political unrest, violence and chronic power shortages.
As if on cue, a power cut during the fashion week's opening evening left the hall in darkness for several minutes.
The fashion industry represents a tiny fraction of the country's textile exports.
"We are still doing the 30 dollar a dozen T-shirt business. There is no value added," said Haq. "We should be employing millions of people, not hundreds of thousands of them."
Designers presented a mix of clothes, some drawing on traditional Pakistani outfits and tribal motifs; others that had little or no sign of traditional aesthetics. In a culture where most all women dress modestly, many outfits were too racy for local tastes.
"This does not represent what we are as a people," designer Ayesha Tahir Masood said. "Only 0.001 percent of Pakistani women would wear these clothes, and then only in a controlled environment when drunk out of their minds."
Associated Press
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The Things You Should Always Have In Your Purse
We've all had some sort of emergency, usually before an important meeting or during a big date. You don't need your whole makeup bag to fix them, but usually, something is needed. So how do you decide what to stuff into your purse? Here's the top ten:
1- Mirror. A lot of disasters can be avoided simply by knowing that something is wrong. Make a habit of taking a quick glance whenever you move from one place to another, get in or out of your car, visit the restroom, are waiting for somebody, etc. People have gone into meetings with a pinto bean stuck to their forehead simply because they didn't know it was there. As you do when you're driving, utilise the mirror often.
2- Blotting paper. If you have an oily face, trying to fix it with powder before an important event will only cause the makeup to slide of your face, accentuate pores and wrinkles, and turn into a glossy shine before the event is over. Find a quality blotting paper (some made of rice paper are excellent; you can buy an affordable version at Bath&Body for about $5), and when you see shine, eliminate it. If you have especially oily skin, step into the loo every few hours and you'll keep up your matte appearance throughout the night.
3- Chapstick. Way more important than lipstick or lipgloss. Even if your color is fading, chapstick will smooth it out and add shine. Chapstick can also be used to cure flyaways- just rub your forefingers over the chapstick, and run the TINY amount over your hair. In a crunch, chapstick can also be used as emergency moisturizer if you have excessively dry skin.
4- Gum. Nothing ruins a first impression like bad breath or lettuce between your teeth. Make it a habit to chew it between every meal. Get a whitening version, and you'll double the benefits. Also, you'll be less likely to snack throughout the day if you're occupied with chewing gum.
5- Nail clippers. In addition to curing hangnails, nail clippers can be used as scissors to remove stray strings on your clothing, without unravelling or running the material.
6- Clear nail polish. Fix broken nails, make chipped nail polish less obvious, and rescue detaching fake nails. Also run clear nail polish over a small hole in run in hose or tights to prevent them from spreading, or use after the nail clippers to prevent the newly-trimmed loose string from unravelling.
7-Tampons. This should be a no-brainer. You never know when you'll have a sudden early start, and the last thing you want is to walk around in a stained skirt. Almost nothing could be worse.
8- Ibuprofen. Once again, you never know when your little gift will decide to strike, turning you from presentation-ready and confident into a cramped, crumpled mess on the office table. You never want a headache to ruin a good date or your sore feet to stop you in your tracks. If you're also prone to other troubles, consider Tums, allergy medication, etc.
9- Purse-size Kleenex. You never want to need one and not have one, and you never know when it is you'll need one. Or when you'll forget to make sure there's toilet paper before sitting down.
10- A pen. How many times have you thought 'I wish I had a pen right now?' Exactly. Go put one in your purse before you forget.
1- Mirror. A lot of disasters can be avoided simply by knowing that something is wrong. Make a habit of taking a quick glance whenever you move from one place to another, get in or out of your car, visit the restroom, are waiting for somebody, etc. People have gone into meetings with a pinto bean stuck to their forehead simply because they didn't know it was there. As you do when you're driving, utilise the mirror often.
2- Blotting paper. If you have an oily face, trying to fix it with powder before an important event will only cause the makeup to slide of your face, accentuate pores and wrinkles, and turn into a glossy shine before the event is over. Find a quality blotting paper (some made of rice paper are excellent; you can buy an affordable version at Bath&Body for about $5), and when you see shine, eliminate it. If you have especially oily skin, step into the loo every few hours and you'll keep up your matte appearance throughout the night.
3- Chapstick. Way more important than lipstick or lipgloss. Even if your color is fading, chapstick will smooth it out and add shine. Chapstick can also be used to cure flyaways- just rub your forefingers over the chapstick, and run the TINY amount over your hair. In a crunch, chapstick can also be used as emergency moisturizer if you have excessively dry skin.
4- Gum. Nothing ruins a first impression like bad breath or lettuce between your teeth. Make it a habit to chew it between every meal. Get a whitening version, and you'll double the benefits. Also, you'll be less likely to snack throughout the day if you're occupied with chewing gum.
5- Nail clippers. In addition to curing hangnails, nail clippers can be used as scissors to remove stray strings on your clothing, without unravelling or running the material.
6- Clear nail polish. Fix broken nails, make chipped nail polish less obvious, and rescue detaching fake nails. Also run clear nail polish over a small hole in run in hose or tights to prevent them from spreading, or use after the nail clippers to prevent the newly-trimmed loose string from unravelling.
7-Tampons. This should be a no-brainer. You never know when you'll have a sudden early start, and the last thing you want is to walk around in a stained skirt. Almost nothing could be worse.
8- Ibuprofen. Once again, you never know when your little gift will decide to strike, turning you from presentation-ready and confident into a cramped, crumpled mess on the office table. You never want a headache to ruin a good date or your sore feet to stop you in your tracks. If you're also prone to other troubles, consider Tums, allergy medication, etc.
9- Purse-size Kleenex. You never want to need one and not have one, and you never know when it is you'll need one. Or when you'll forget to make sure there's toilet paper before sitting down.
10- A pen. How many times have you thought 'I wish I had a pen right now?' Exactly. Go put one in your purse before you forget.
Friday, July 3, 2009
It's swimsuit season!
For many, this is a wonderful time of the year-- Warm sun, cool water, all around comfort. For others, this is an uncomfortable decision-making, swimsuit-sampling, and sit-up-cramming time. Everyone wants the swimsuit that makes them look the best-- In most cases, skinnier. In some cases, to enhance curves. Hopefully these tips will help you find the swimsuit that's perfect for you.
First, you want to find a swimsuit that contrasts your skin tone. If you are very very pale, you want a swimsuit in black or a dark brown. If you extraordinarily tan, white will look good on you. If you have yellow skin tones, look for purple and green jewel tones. This will not only make you appear slimmer, but in most cuts, will emphasize the parts covered by the swimsuit and draw away from any flab that lies between the top and bottom.
If you carry weight on your stomach, it is your middle you want to cover- but don't drown it in fabric. Look for a side cut-out, sometimes called a monokini, or a diagonal cut and pattern. Avoid horizontal patterns, or cutouts where fat will bulge through.
To support a larger bust, look for halter tops. To emphasize curve in a small or flat but, look for a bottom with a little bit of ruffle. If you are pear-shaped, don't try to cover up your thighs with boardshorts-- this will make your legs appear shorter, and the horizontal line across the thigh will draw attention to its width. Instead, look for a diagonal cut in a dark color, and try to emphasize your smaller top. 
First, you want to find a swimsuit that contrasts your skin tone. If you are very very pale, you want a swimsuit in black or a dark brown. If you extraordinarily tan, white will look good on you. If you have yellow skin tones, look for purple and green jewel tones. This will not only make you appear slimmer, but in most cuts, will emphasize the parts covered by the swimsuit and draw away from any flab that lies between the top and bottom.
If you carry weight on your stomach, it is your middle you want to cover- but don't drown it in fabric. Look for a side cut-out, sometimes called a monokini, or a diagonal cut and pattern. Avoid horizontal patterns, or cutouts where fat will bulge through.To support a larger bust, look for halter tops. To emphasize curve in a small or flat but, look for a bottom with a little bit of ruffle. If you are pear-shaped, don't try to cover up your thighs with boardshorts-- this will make your legs appear shorter, and the horizontal line across the thigh will draw attention to its width. Instead, look for a diagonal cut in a dark color, and try to emphasize your smaller top. If you're still worried about how you look on the beach, remember- curl yourself into a ball, and your skin will fold and the result won't be flattering. When out of the water, lie stretched out with your legs extended in front of you and your feet pointed. This can seem daunting if it is your legs that you wish to cover up, but be aware that this is the slimmest way they will look.
Finally, good luck on finding the perfect swimsuit.
Photos courtesy of http://www.iloveswimwear.com/. Check out their quality swimwear.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Audrey Hepburn: Icon of Timelessness
The little black dress. Red lipstick. Pearls and pencil skirts.
We know that these things always have been in style, are in style now, and always will be in style. There's a reason they're called classics.
If one icon in fashion history best represents timelessness, it is undoubtably Audrey Hepburn. Her beauty is not trendy, but classic; Her look can be imitated and duplicated in any time or place and will always look fashionable.
We know her little black dress as the little black dress. The iconic piece, designed by Givenchy, has three copies: One in the Givenchy archives, one on display at the Museum of Costume in Madrid, and one which auctioned off for $920,000 in 2006. The dress has impacted the fashion world, and not just for those who can afford a Givenchy dress: Every girl knows that a little black dress is key to success. Few know that Audrey Hepburn was the original owner of that dress.
The final reason that Audrey Hepburn's look will always be beautiful is because she naturally had classic beauty. There is no such thing as eyes too big, or a neck or legs too long. The prominent facial features on such a dainty face, and the long, slim limbs will always be considered beautiful.
We know that these things always have been in style, are in style now, and always will be in style. There's a reason they're called classics.
If one icon in fashion history best represents timelessness, it is undoubtably Audrey Hepburn. Her beauty is not trendy, but classic; Her look can be imitated and duplicated in any time or place and will always look fashionable.
We know her little black dress as the little black dress. The iconic piece, designed by Givenchy, has three copies: One in the Givenchy archives, one on display at the Museum of Costume in Madrid, and one which auctioned off for $920,000 in 2006. The dress has impacted the fashion world, and not just for those who can afford a Givenchy dress: Every girl knows that a little black dress is key to success. Few know that Audrey Hepburn was the original owner of that dress.
In addition to the little black dress, Audrey Hepburn has introduced many other classics to the fashion world. The skinny pant, for example, is an iconic factor from Funny Face. In fact, even if you haven't seen the film, you've probably seen the clips The Gap used in their 2006 commercial (set to AC/DC's "Back in Black"), used to advertise the skinny black pant as part of the 'Keep It Simple' campaign. While the skinny black pant is currently regaining popularity as a trendy item in conjunction with other trendy articles, many from the 1980's, it has never lost popularity as an everyday, simple item. A simple pair of black stovepipe pants will never go out of style. The trend of wearing it with today's colorful accessories may soon fade, but an investment in a pair of skinny black pants that lengthen and slenderize the leg can be worn with the many changing fashions.
Of course, that is how Audrey Hepburn wore the skinny pants: With a boatneck knit longsleeved T-shirt and ballet flats (two more items that can safely be worn at any time in any year without fear of looking dated).
Audrey Hepburn also contributed to the creation of timeless classics with her hairstyles. From her short-banged pixie cut, to the longer hair constantly in an updo or ponytail, the 'Audrey Hepburn' look is a constant request at hair salons.
The final reason that Audrey Hepburn's look will always be beautiful is because she naturally had classic beauty. There is no such thing as eyes too big, or a neck or legs too long. The prominent facial features on such a dainty face, and the long, slim limbs will always be considered beautiful.
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