Afghan Fashion – Part II

Posted by Lianne Gutcher at 13:03 on 18 Jan 2010

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Today I was going to do another post about Afghan fashion. I have been longing to see archive footage of a 60s fashion show in Kabul and I finally made an appointment with the head of Afghan Film - kind of like the British Film Institute - to see it.  ("Babes like you would never imagine," the head of Afghan Film told me when I went to see him previously, explaining about the catwalk show.)

But at about 11 am, news started filtering through about a suicide bomb attack downtown, gunfights and buildings on fire. Then a bomb exploded near enough to make me jump and say the f word. We gathered round the TV with our Afghan colleagues watching pictures of Afghan Security Forces in a shootout in front of the Serena hotel - a place we frequently go for Friday brunch and where one of my colleagues is currently staying.

It's funny. Sometimes when these attacks happen - and there hasn't been one as bad as this for some time - it's like water off a duck's back, I find. Other times, it kind of gets to you.

Anyway, I had to decide whether to keep my lunch meeting with Afghan Film. AF is just a hop, skip and a jump away from my office - but my office is a known target and there were still, apparently,
un-detonated suiciders running around.

I decided to go in the sort of not-letting-the-bastards-win kind of spirit, although I was thinking "is this incredibly stupid?" However, as I made to exit a burly man with a machine gun and bad English told me leaving was "forbidden." I am not going to argue with a man with a big gun. Or even a teeny weeny gun for that matter.

Anyway, I was a bit relieved not to be allowed out - both in case I ran into a Talib intent on martyrdom and because my mind really wasn't on mini skirts any more. I'd rather save it for another day.

Returning to my computer, I got an email from a friend asking if I'd like to place an order to replenish "refreshments" stocks.

Funnily enough, yes I would. I rather feel in need of a stiff drink. Today, it's kind of getting to me.

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