What sizzled and fizzled at TFPW 2015

Here’s a quick-fix style guide to some of our favourite and not-so-favourite looks this fashion season

KARACHI:

With spring finally here and another fashion week completed, it’s time for a complete wardrobe overhaul. We’ll be swapping our cashmere for chiffon, replacing the deep winter hues with bold prints and florals, and opting for fresh silhouettes and colour palettes. Before you shop for the new season, here’s a quick-fix style guide to some of our favourite and not-so-favourite looks from the Telenor Fashion Pakistan Week 2015.

Nida Azwer’s ‘The French Trellis’



Inspired by French architecture, Azwer opted for nude hues, using grey, beige, off-white and subtle hints of pink. Luxe fabrics, such as organza, chiffon, cotton net and silk, adorned with delicate embroidery, pearls and crystals, were accompanied by floral detailing and trellis-based patterns —  all made for a good collection on the first day and, definitely, a trend to follow.

Zaheer Abbas’s ‘Primavera’



Taking inspiration from Dolce & Gabbana, Abbas presented his ‘Primavera’ collection, using white as a canvas for bold floral prints, teamed with birds and finished off with intricate gold needlework. The collection exudes spring effortlessly and was kept interesting with a variety of cuts. Organza capes, cropped tops adorned with multi-coloured embroidery, and skirts of varying lengths made for the best collection on day two.

Sania Maskatiya for alKaram



Where Maskatiya lacked in her ‘Khayat —  the tailor’ collection, she made up for in her collaboration with alKaram. The two teamed up to produce a premium designer lawn collection, featuring a vibrant blend of both pattern and texture. Bright colours and unique prints on lawn, silk and chiffon made for a wearable pret line and will make us breeze through the spring season.

What not to wear this spring... or ever

Sheza Azhar



Drawing inspiration is one thing but going overboard with it is another. It wasn’t clear whether Azhar’s collection was a tribute to the 1970s because her excessive use of neon is a big ‘no’ for spring or any other season, for that matter. There is a subtle way to use neon (if you really must) and this was not one of them. Polka dots and stripes in an array of colours don’t go well together and this collection didn’t quite make the cut for the season.

Hassan Riaz



Riaz’s combination of leather and denim made for an interesting attempt to be creative but the collection was, in no way, a depiction of spring. Models were seen sporting suede boots, denim skirts, leather corsets and leather buckles in abundance, which made it easy to confuse the collection as an ode to Fifty Shades of Grey.

Abdul Samad



The ‘Uptown Funk’ collection put a damper on spring and felt like a trip to the circus. It wasn’t clear what Samad was trying to achieve with the primarily linen collection. The first section of the collection spelt monochrome disaster with dramatic cuts, while the second half comprised a puzzling mix of bright hues. We hope there won’t be a man brave enough to wear this menswear range.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th,  2015.

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