Monday 26 November 2018

10 MEN’S CLOTHING ITEMS YOU NEED TO OWN

Wear their clothes better than them


When we are so much better than men at everything, why not steal some of their sartorial options and rock them too? Blurring away the gender binary will open up more ways for you to ace the modern style game and at the same time gain more access to comfort and nonchalance. In fact, some items from the men’s section might actually be more flattering for tricky body types. Fitted dresses, showing some skin and walking around in high heels can be archaically stylish but, when done right, nothing can be sexier than donning some masculine garb. Here are 10 men’s clothing items you need to get hold of and some ideas to help you cross dress in a super stylish way.

1. Whitey Mightey


A classic white button down shirt will give you a cool, boxy look. Roll up the sleeves, pair it with ripped skinnies, summer sandals and add a dainty necklace. You can also tuck in one side and leave one out for a relaxed feel.

To wear it at night, team up with black leather pants and a black lace choker. Leave your hair in soft waves and sport some maroon lippy FTW.

2.  His jeans instead of boyfriend jeans


Why spend on the trending boyfriend jeans from the women’s department when you can get the same look in less by picking up men’s jeans instead? Try out the skin fit type in the men’s section and you can always go for a belt to keep them up and cuff them if they are a little too long. We bet you will get more comfort as well as a break from the overdone skinnies. Pair with a black off shoulder top, a cool pair of reflectors and embroidered denim loafers.

P.S. Check out the embroidered denim loafers at Chapter 13.

3.  Play red riding hood


A black men’s pullover hoodie paired with red pants is casual done right. Wear big silver hoops in the ears and opt for the no makeup look and a messy bun.

4. For the love of Paul Smith


If you have ever felt that women’s Peshawari chappals are uncomfortable around the toe area of your feet, go for classic tan ones made for the boys. They will work very well every time you slip into a casual t-shirt and jeans. Add a tan cross body bag and some ethnic rings to your look to femme things up.

5. Watch where you’re going


Chunky jewelry is in fashion so why not wear a men’s watch once in a while? Wear some beaded bracelets in different colours along with the watch and a leather band so create a happening look on your wrist. If you feel trendy and powerful wearing one, we will accept your note of thanks!

6. Say hi to the tie


Ties are not the best partners for suits only. Get your hands on some quirky patterned ties and pair them with solid shirts on days when the regular shalwar kurtas or cold shoulder tops feel boring.

7. Blazing hot


A black oversized blazer screams chic and you know where to find one from! Leave the buttons open and wear it with a maroon tee and dark blue skinnes. You can also simply drape the blazer on your shoulder. Add a gold bracelet or two on your wrists and some lip gloss for a hi-fashion look.

8.Waist that NOT


Get your hands on navy blue pin striped waist coat and wear it with a half sleeves grey t-shirt for a super chic look. For bottoms you can go for white skinnies or wide legged pants. Don’t forget a bag with a long silver sling, little shiny studs in the ears and a feminine silver bracelet.

9. Camouflage the sweat.


Grab a grey sweatshirt from the men’s section and pair it with camouflage pants (which are all the rage ATM). You can pick skinnies or a more relaxed fitting, depending on your style. Tie your hair in a messy ponytail and experiment with the colour of your shoes.

10. Plaid it right.


Play the queen of quirk with a red plaid men’s shirt paired with jeans and a black bomber. Don’t forget to add a pair of cat eye sunglasses for some casual glam.



This story was written for Limu Studio. You can follow them on Instagram here.




THREE SOUP RECIPES TRIED AND TESTED AT HOME

Let’s get cozy with bowls of goodness

Mahvish Ahmed

Curled up under blanket by the fireplace, a Netflix binge plan in mind and a huge bowl of warm soup in your hands…hmmmm…that does sound super attractive, given the weather, doesn’t it? Soups can help you fight the winter chills, they make a great meal when you’re looking for options lighter than nihari and paaye and they can be yummy and nutritious at the same time. As condiments, play with different types of bread (try Pie in the Sky for some great options), get hold of some soup sticks or prepare simple hunter beef sandwiches for a perfect winter touch (our mouth is already watering for Hanifia).

This month, we have been pretty active in the kitchen, testing some recipes at home. Here are three of our favourite ones for you to try and love. Get hold of some spinach, tomatoes and potatoes and get ready for soup-ilicious times ahead.

Cream of Tomato Soup


Ingredients
6 cups chicken stock
4 large tomotos
1 medium sized carrot
1 small sized onion
1 tsp soya sauce
A few drops of vinegar
Corn flour
½ cup cream
Salt and pepper to taste
.
Method
1. Chop onions, tomatoes and the carrot in small pieces and sauté in some oil (or butter).
2. Add the vegetables to the stock and allow to cook on medium heat in the broth for an hour.
3. Use a hand blender to make sure no big chunks of vegetables are left in the soup.
4. Add the vinegar, soya sauce, salt and pepper.
5. Use some corn flour to thicken the soup according to how you like it. (If you like the soup thin, corn flour can be skipped.)
6. Beat the cream and add a few teaspoons to a bowl of soup and serve.

Creamy Spinach Soup


Ingredients
6 cups chicken stock
500 grams roughly chopped spinach
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 small onion
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 cup milk
½ cup cream
Salt and Pepper

Method
1. Melt some butter in pan and lightly sauté onion and garlic
2. Warm the broth and add in the in the onion, garlic, spinach and broccoli.
3. Allow to cook for an hour on medium heat and then use a hand blender to blend in the vegetables. Make sure no big chunks are present in the soup.
4. Add milk and allow to cook for another 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Add 2-3 tablespoons of cream to each bowl and mix before serving.

Potato and Cheese Soup


Ingredients
6 cups chicken stock
4 large potatos
1 medium sized carrot
½ stock celery
8-10 leaves of parsley
2 tablespoons flour (white)
4 tablespoons melted butter
¾ cups of shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and Pepper

Method
1. Chop potatoes, carrots, and celery in small pieces
2. Add to the broth and allow to cook on medium heat till all vegetables are cooked and soft
3. Use a hand blender to blend in all the vegetables till no big chunks are left behind
4. In a blender, add butter, flour and parsley and blend to form a paste
5. Add the paste to the soup. Allow to cook for another 15 minutes on low heat
6. Add the cheese and season with salt and pepper
7. Allow the soup to stand for 5 minutes before serving


Friday 9 November 2018

#confessionsonsafarnamay: "My 29th Birthday"


Married for 3 years, the jibes and scorns had started coming my way for being ‘bold enough’ to plan when I want a baby. Hence, when the pregnancy test strip showed a faint red line on the morning of my 29th birthday, my social conditioning made me feel joyful. After all, I was going to become a mom, and the occasion was joyous.

It was too early in the pregnancy though. My periods had been delayed for only 25 days. The scan showed an empty uterus, but the pregnancy hormone was rising. My gynecologist asked me to not get carried away in my excitement and return after a week. 

As the hours passed, my excitement of motherhood increased. Perhaps that’s what God has made women to be like. I was ready to host the baby in my womb and eventually welcome the little being into my life, and my arms. My husband and I started Googling baby names too! But this magical feeling didn’t last. One day while I was hanging out with my mom, I felt a tight knot on the right side of my lower abdomen. I was taken to the emergency room, where fresh scans discovered that my pregnancy was ectopic. Instead of growing in my uterus, my baby was growing in one of my Fallopian tubes. The only option my doctor had was to kill my child with an administered dosage of chemotherapy. While for my family,the child was already a distant memory and my survival the focus, I couldn’t believe that my baby was being treated like cancer. How could it be that my own child could prove to be fatal for me?


I mourned the loss of the embryo that was supposed to be my first child. But I didn’t even get time to feel the pain of that loss. I was sent home from the hospital, only to return because of continued pain. It turned out that the baby survived the treatment and that had led to an eventual rupture in my Fallopian tube. There was massive internal bleeding and if not dealt with right away, this would be the end of my life.

The doctors did their business and post the surgery, I woke up. But I woke up with just one Fallopian tube. The other had to be removed. Since I was no longer pregnant, I began shedding my uterine lining. My threshold for the monthly pain is high, since ‘desi’ girls are instructed to curb their screams and not make a big deal of their menstrual pains. However, this time, I couldn’t control it. For hours, I screamed like a lunatic, until the pain subsided.

In a short span of 20 days, I had felt more than I had ever felt before. I went through the joy of knowing I’m pregnant for the very first time, being scared about childbirth, realizing something is wrong with me, going through chemotherapy, a surgery, losing my baby and losing a Fallopian tube. I couldn’t believe the emotional roller-coaster I had been through. I couldn’t believe I had suffered so much physical pain. I couldn’t believe I could have died. My future pregnancies may be affected. Will I have another baby? When will I have another baby…..I now think to myself.

It’s only been a week and I am trying to search for my peace in my surroundings. My husband somehow doesn’t exactly understand my pain. And on the other hand, my mother’s over caring attitude is getting to me. Perhaps, it’s too soon for me to feel normal. I am irritable. I know women go through miscarriages. I didn’t even hear the heartbeat of my child, yet I am living in despair. There are women who carry a child in their womb for 9 months and then deal with still births. Some have healthy children and lose them while they are just babies. I know I am not the first one dealing with this. Yet, I feel I have the right to feel sad….at least for some time. Do I not?

Hope is a wonderful thing. Women are wonderful creatures, capable of bouncing back to life from all kinds of situations. I do think that I will bounce back…but as of now, even if I am being over dramatic, I want the space and the permission to dwell in my pain for some time. I am engulfed with darkness, it is not easy to live once you survive a near death situation. But perhaps, it will take a long walk through this darkness for me to eventually see light again.

By Anonymous.


Illustrated by: Fatima Baig. You can follow her on Instagram here.