Nabila Changes: Her journey through the streets of fashion

Stylist to the stars, socialites and most models, Nabila Maqsood, launched her first book, Nabila Changes, in Karachi on Sunday night.

The tastefully-done event at the Commune Artists Colony featured the who’s who of Pakistani fashion and society in attendance. Cricketer Wasim Akram joined designers Safinaz Munir, Deepak Perwani, Umar Sayeed, Sonya Battla and Amir and Huma Adnan, photographers Tapu Javeri and Amean J, models Aaminah Sheikh and Tanya Shafi.

Over cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and servings from a discreetly placed bar, attendees surrounded Nabila Maqsood, who has worked in the industry for 25 years now, and showered her with praise. “You look 16!” exclaimed one gentleman to Maqsood, whose constant reinvention dominates the narrative of the book.  Conversation varied from the state of affairs in the country after Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer’s murder to idle gossip.

“It was a therapeutic experience to put the book together,” Maqsood, clad in black, told The Express Tribune. “I was told by the marketing director of L’Oreal that I need to come out with my own book. I went through my archives, press cuttings and laid it out on the table and I could tell how my life, work and salon had evolved and were linked. After the first edit and refining it to the last version, I feel I understand myself and am more motivated. When I look at the end product, I feel it is time to pat myself on the back — I may have done something right!”

“It was all very spontaneous,” Maqsood said. “I never advertised and my work spoke louder than I did. I got a lot of clients through word of mouth and became known as a celebrity hairstylist, etc.”

“Her contribution is unprecedented,” designer Sonya Battla said. “She brought fashion as we understand it to Pakistan.”

Former cricketer and commentator Wasim Akram said his late wife, Huma Akram, and Nabila, helped him a lot in shaping his image. “My advice to cricketers would be that if they can afford to, they should visit Nabila. She can be a great help,” he told The Express Tribune.

Guests milled around at the event and stopped only for a brief speech by Geo TV president Imran Aslam. The 135-page book was launched by L’Oreal Professional and is described as a ‘literary and visual celebration of 25 years of the iconic Nabila’s journey within the Pakistani fashion and entertainment industry’.

Maqsood has worked wonders on many of Pakistan’s glitterati and when asked who she would like to make over now, she replied, “Our parliament. They look like wannabe Akhbar-e-Jahan covers. They are very much in the public eye and they look quite inappropriate — though I suppose they have better things to do.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2011.