What works on the Pakistani red carpet

Designers talk about who they like to dress for social events and why

LAHORE:

It’s safe to assume, the red carpet culture in Pakistan is evolving. However, the direction its taking is questionable. Up until a few years ago, the red carpet was reserved for annual award ceremonies and fashion shows but lately the demonstration has diversified itself, with the red carpet landing up on every other event on the social calendar. The glamour quotient therefore has significantly depreciated and when an activity becomes habitual, it isn’t as thrilling.

Red carpets serve their purpose wholly as celebrities and guests are seen parading up and down, serving as an ideal vantage point for them to pose against. Countless pictures ultimately generate the publicity the brand is looking for by appearing on our Instagram feeds faster than you can double tap. The Express Tribune talks to imminent designers who remain red carpet favourites regarding the changing trends.

Shehla Chatoor



At the HUM TV awards last month, Chatoor dressed stars, such as Sanam Saeed, Ayesha Khan, Anoushey Ashraf and Ayesha Omar. Chatoor is one to dislike designer overkill and firmly holds, “The Shehla Chatoor woman is one who’s able to merge her personal style and confidence with the atelier’s looks”. Recently, Chatoor has been more selective of the people she dresses at the red carpet as compared to the choices she made at the Lux Style Awards in 2013. “I’m very selective as to who I dress up. For me it’s very important that the individual relates to my brand and is a true ambassador of sophistication, elegance and glamour.” Her favorite red carpet look was of Ayesha Omar draped in a saree with an intricately worked choli at the HUM TV awards.

Nida Azwer



Azwer’s latest ‘Iznik’ collection was exhibited well at the PSFW red carpet – but unlike many other brands, only a few selected celebs were seen sporting the label. The outfit is definitely significant to making an ensemble, says the designer, but she adds that it also depends on whose wearing the outfit and how they style it – that in fact holds utmost importance. “We love how Maha Burney and Faiza Lakhani wear our brand locally and how Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy showcased our brand at red carpet events abroad.” Azwer’s favourite remains Amina Rashid Khan’s method of styling at the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week held recently. “It is important to have the right balance. For us, we always maintain that it’s better to be more unstated rather than over exposed. We are very careful as to who we dress and when.”

Sana Safinaz



At the recently held TFPW in Karachi, the duo showcased a gamut of outfits on the red-carpet. Since the brand wasn’t showing at that fashion week, they had the leeway to focus their attention on the red carpet by dressing stars and A-listers. At the PSFW however, there were only a selected few seen donning the label on the red carpet - Sadaf Muneer Jalil, Sana Hafeez Shaikh and Sehr Pirzada, to name a few, who Safinaz admits are her favourite to style. She adds, “Being a premium brand, we are picky about who we dress because one must choose women that can not only carry off the look but also do justice representing the brand.”

Muse



Muse, as a brand embodies glamour and red carpet worthiness. Faryal Aftab, the brains behind the brand says, “The red carpet represents high fashion, personal style and beauty. I feel red carpet stars need better stylists, more awareness and should not wear anything and everything handed out by designers.” Aftab acknowledges that she’s very discerning about who she dresses and tries to give as many styling tips as possible to her clients. “For me, the woman who wears Muse has to be sophisticated, stylish and alluring - otherwise I’m not interested in dressing them.” She enjoys dressing Meesha Shafi, Mahira Khan and Giorgia Toridini. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th,  2015.

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