A musky happening

The Body Shop fashion show introduces new fragrance, features performances and designer wear.

ISLAMABAD: There were no flowers — just a saucy musk made with a tinge of cinnamon, a dash of pepper and intense tobacco. The fashion show introducing ‘Red Musk’, the latest addition to The Body Shop fragrances took place on Sunday evening. It was a showcase of performances that could pass for a recipe for disaster.

Blazing red lights beamed through a palatial marquee that was all set to welcome the latest fragrance of The Body Shop in Pakistan. An elaborate setup of a stretched white ramp was fringed with a white lounge of seats. However, it was a real test of patience for some that were spotted walking out of the venue two hours before the show even began. As waiters snaked through offering juice and soup, the clock kept ticking.

‘Red Musk’ — a new collection of fragrances offers a strong scent of spices. With punch lines such as “Can you handle scandal?” the fashion show made an attempt to woo audiences with a sensual range of clothes by Arora, designed by Roma Azmat. The show had its highs and lows. To pick momentum, the show commenced with a collection that did not exactly make sense. The selection seemed like almost everything from the racks to the ramp. It comprised casual wear with modern-cut blazers, short dresses paired with tights, evening gowns and jumpsuits. It exhibited diverse looks from casual and trendy to evening-wear fringed tops, cropped jackets paired with jeans and ankle boots. It then went on to ‘The Valentines collection’ that consisted of red and black ensembles — mostly short dresses accompanied with tights and sequinned evening gowns.

Adding a dewy-glow, Faiza intelligently mixed dark heavy eyes with lighter shades on the lips. Supplementing the chic-cuts with big quirky hairstyles, she knitted the entire look, diverting attention from the outfits at times.  The ramp walk was choreographed by Serena Sherin Khan who also conceptualised the looks with the designer and makeup artist.

The only act that followed the theme could be by show stopper and plus-size model Saima Azhar. Azher in a jaw-dropping risqué red-sequinned halter dress strutted down the ramp spraying the Red Musk in an indecorous manner, adding disposition to the product.

Each segment of the fashion show was divided with dance and singing performances. Veer Andrew Dance Troope’ — a local dance troupe from Karachi managed to perform an appreciable break dance and contemporary routine suspending attention off the rest of the show.

“For a second I forgot what I was here for” said Aieman Aqeel who had come to see the show. “It was entertaining in terms of how it went from one performance to the show and back, but it was a little overwhelming for some,” she added. “There was too much going on. At times it did not make sense,” said Sarah Waqar. To add a little more flavour to the evening, Singer Umair Jaswal performed on his song Pal as models marched through.

The late Sunday evening, nonetheless, managed to lounge audiences until the show ended.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th,  2015.

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