Friday, September 18, 2015

Pakistan L'Oreal Bridal Week (PLBW 2015) Favourite Looks

Pakistan L'Oreal Paris Bridal Week (PLBW 2015) has been the predominant fashion event making headlines this month. Designers catering to the high demand for exquisite bridal outfits and wedding trousseau by the insatiable fashionistas of Pakistan have not failed to deliver. Fashion enthusiasts were dazzled with a wide array of silhouettes, exquisite varieties of handiwork and embroidery, luxurious cloth materials and copious attention to detail.

22 brands showcased their collections this week, ranging from fashion heavyweights to newcomers launching their first bridal collections. I decided to make a list of few of my favorite pieces from the PLBW that took place in Lahore, Pakistan during the three day period of 16-18 September 2015. I will start with the collection which I think was one of the best of the week. That honor was bagged by Elan which showcased its collection titled 'The Jasmine Court'.



When it comes to wedding wear, I personally prefer bright colors but Elan is such a master when it comes to intricate details and ethereal craftmanship, it is as if everything it touches turns to gold and that is quite the complement.


Elan wanted to create a collection that would be a heirloom since a bridal outfit should be beautiful and timeless enough to pass on to the next generation. I believe it has managed to achieve that goal.



Ali Xeeshan also showcased his collection on Day 1 and titled it 'Tufaan'. There were some misses but some gorgeous pieces as well, which scream royalty and opulence.


Ali Xeeshan is known for drama and adding an element of theater in his shows, and he added it again to this one. The audience was in for a surprise when Mickey and Minnie showed up in traditional outfits during the fashion show. Below is another gorgeous piece by Ali Xeeshan, fit for a princess.



Fahad Hussayn named his collection 'Matam' which I was surprised to hear, since Matam in the Urdu language means mourning. I mused about why a fashion designer would name their bridal collection 'Matam'. It turns out that he was inspired by how intense the act of matam is and so that intensity along with Chinioti craftmenship was the inspiration behind his collection. Two of my favorite looks from Fahad Hussayn's collection are shown below.


Kamiar Rokni is one of my personal favorites and was the best on day 2. I love how the outfits of the House of Kamiar Rokni are so vibrant and colorful and at the same time have such beautiful intricate details. The designs are a beautiful marriage of traditional and modern with unique color combinations and artistic silhouettes. My favorite piece from the collection titled 'Alchemy' is shown below.

Nomi Ansari held to his trademark style of vibrant colors in the clothes he designed for the PLBW collection titled 'Oudh' and was inspired by the boldness of the fragrance itself. It was a stunning collection, colorful like an artists palette and at the same time embellished with intricate detailed embroidery to make heads turn.



Another picture showing more clothes adorned by the models of the Nomi Ansari fashion show is given below. 


A noteworthy mention would be fashion designer Ammara Khan whose collection titled 'Memoirs from a Moonlit Garden' had stunning details and cut-work on it. The colors were a bit dull but the handiwork and craftsmanship was brilliant as can be seen from a close up picture given below.


Overall I would say that PLBW 2015 was indeed a success. In fact it would not be an exaggeration to say that PLBW 2015 has shown that when it comes to fashion and luxury, the Pakistani Bridal fashion market can indeed be amongst the leaders of the world.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Fashion Week 2015 Inspiration

September hails the start of Fashion weeks around the globe and also on the national front, with L'Oreal Paris Bridal Week taking place in Lahore, Pakistan from 16-18 September. International trends for Spring/Summer 2016 are making waves at the New York Fashion Week in NYC from 10-17 September. Then there is London Fashion Week from 18-22 September followed by Milan Fashion Week from 23-29 September. The month will end on a high note for fashion with Paris Fashion Week commencing from 30 September and lasting up till 7 October.

Anyone who loves fashion can't help but get caught up in the excitement of fashion that is taking the international arena by storm. I have also been tickled by the fashion muse into blogging about some sophisticated style. However instead of discussing SS 2016 trends, I decided to do a more practical and time appropriate fashion blog. This is a time when there are loads of weddings going on in Pakistan, especially as we approach the cooler months. Hence I decided to do a fun fashion blog about how you can make a glamorous and sophisticated fashion statement at a wedding soiree.

I will start putting the look together with the outfit. The cloth material that is the most popular these past few months has been Organza.  The designer whose outfit I chose is Saira Rizwan. Saira Rizwan is not as well known or established as some of the other Pakistani brands, but her clothes have won her a pretty sturdy fan base. She started initially working for Karma in 2004 then ventured out to start her own brand in 2007. The outfit I chose is shown below, and is from her mid 2015 Bridal Collection titled 'Gul Mohar'.





A picture showcasing the front and back during the fashion show is also given below to get an overall idea of the ensemble. Though there is a fad of wearing embroidered light jackets at wedding functions, I prefer this short shirt with straight pants style in hotter weather. Jacket style is more suited for winters where a layered look is not only fashionable but also practical.



Now for my favorite bit, the accessorizing. I always love accessorizing, for me it is actually more fun than choosing the outfit itself. Let's start from the top. A hair updo would look sophisticated and leave you feeling cooler during these hot summer months. For the earrings, I would choose these very trendy and chic ear cuffs by Amrapali Jewels from Jaipur, India. A well established brand in India, it is also being launched in Pakistan soon. With the hair in a simple, classic up-do, these would be very visible and make a great fashion statement. The picture below was taken from the Instagram page of Amrapali Jewels and shows the earcuffs being modeled on a woman.



Every fashionista has heard about Christian Louboutin. Famous for their trademark red soles and stunning designs, Christian Louboutin shoes have adorned the feet many fashionable women in the world. For this look, however I will choose the Christian Louboutin Lipstick, which have just been launched this very month, September 2015. With three different textures (Velvet Matte, Silky Satin and Sheer Voile) and 38 shades, along with a bullet amulet design which doubles as a necklace, these are as iconic as lipstick gets. For this particular look, I would suggest using Rouge Louboutin in Silky Satin texture.




Since we are talking about Christian Louboutin beauty, I would also suggest using their Rouge Louboutin shade on beautifully manicured hands. The color 'Rouge Louboutin' is a highly pigmented and glossy shade of red.




When it comes to shoes, Manolo Blahnik is another name whose shoes have enchanted fashionistas around the globe. Manolo Blahnik has also forayed into a new department different from shoes, launching his new bag line in end July 2015. Capitalizing his love for ornaments and jewels which is apparent on his shoes, he has created six beautiful classy clutches in satin adorned with shiny embellishments. These are quite similar to some of the most popular Manolo Blahnik shoes, so paired together they would look gorgeous also. For this particular look, I have selected the new deep red Manolo Blahnik Okka clutch pictured nested in the artistic capture below.




Adding this dazzling Ruby and Diamond geometric bracelet by luxury brand Cartier would add the perfect bling factor.




To complete the look, I have chosen red Lilyth stilletos, with its gorgeous red tulle bow, from iconic shoe brand Jimmy Choo's Autumn Winter 2015 collection. The red tulle bow would look really beautiful under the pistachio green straight pants of the outfit.



You now have the complete look. The gorgeous pistachio green outfit in shimmery organza accented with deep red flower embroidery and sequins, along with contrasting red accessories will enable you to make a fashion statement and guarantee you enjoy any wedding reception in sophisticated style.  Just finish it off with the most important accessory of all: A Smile, and you are good to go.