Matrimonial fashion: The modern bride

Design­ers and stylis­ts shed some light on bridal looks for Pakist­ani women.

LAHORE:

As Pakistan’s fashion industry matures and hopes to keep up with international trends, individuals are growingly becoming aware of their sense of style. When it comes to regular day styling, women are more willing to experiment with their looks. But it is not at all the same for a bridal affair.

“We constantly have brides bringing in pictures of Kareena Kapoor and Aishwariya Rai as they want to recreate those looks,” says designer Umar Sayeed. “It is impossible for us to make them understand that they are not Bollywood actors and that they need to dress according to their body, face and style.”

Aside from clothes, hair and make-up also play a crucial role in defining the eventual and final look of the bride. However, most brides these days look the same — whitewashed with smokey eyes — without realising that the same look doesn’t work for everyone. “Your make-up should be simple and effective,” says stylist Nabila. “It should be something that brings out your features and personality.” She further adds: “A confident bride is one that is secure in her skin. She knows her weaknesses and strengths and is willing to face them. Weddings are special and it is important to look classy, flawless and the best you could possibly look.” She feels, however, that most make-up artists lose sight of the features and face-cut of the bride and tend to go overboard with the make-up.

Perpetual power outages have not just taken a toll on the country’s industrial sector, they have also had a significant effect on the wedding industry. During the winter season, there is a new trend of day time valimas. Brides need to realise that in daylight, hair, make-up and outfit choices need to be altered.

“From colour choice to design, day weddings have changed the ball game all together,” says designer Ali Xeeshan. “Brides should practice doing their own make-up. They will then be able to know what looks good on them and what doesn’t,” he advises. He feels that individual research is now as important as research done by the designer and stylist. “A bride should be touchable, huggable and kissable,” continues Xeeshan. “She is not a center piece and should not be treated like one. It is high time make-up artists realise that turning a bride into pastry dough is not flattering.”

Designer Sania Maskatiya is the latest sensation on the market as she creatively uses imagery to define the look of an outfit. “I love traditional cuts and old school looks but it is important to revamp them with the type of embellishment one uses,” says Maskatiya. “For day events, I always advise brides to go for pastels and creams but most brides have a set idea of what they want and do not tend to budge from it.”

Some designers are keen to know their clients before designing outfits. “I have tea with the bride to get a sense of who she is and where she is coming from before I take the order,” confesses Xeeshan. “No two girls can carry off the same outfit with the same poise and grace so it is important to know the bride’s style.”

Just like our mothers all looked the same on their wedding days some 25 odd years ago, it seems as if 30 years from now, all the brides today will also have no versatility. It is important to not just study the portfolio of the designer but also study yourself to know what will look good on you. It is essential to know your style and carry a designer’s outfit in a way that shows that you have made it your own.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2012.