INSTEP Magzine

The Lux Style Awards hoopla kicks off with a press conference in Karachi, announcing that this year's show will be held in Lahore
It's that time of the year again and though this year's LSAs are not being held in Bangkok, as originally rumoured, for them to fly up to Lahore will indeed add flavour to this already bubbling melting pot. This was made official at the Press Conference which put the show on the road. And stepping into the Crystal Hall at Karachi's Marriott Hotel, one realized exactly why these are called the 'style' awards.

As in the rest of the world this season, LSA fashion - whatever one saw of it that day - was all about black, white and crème. The women did the basics while most of the men decked out in shades of crème. And it was most refreshing to see a young and excited attendance in tow.

From the fashion industry, four out of the five nominees for Best Menswear attended the conference. Ismail Farid, the reclusive and yet immensely talented designer, was joined by equally innovative though whimsical Munib Nawaz, Ammar Belal and Kuki of Kuki Concepts, a first time nominee who walked in with Best Model nominee Rabya Butt.

"I'm so excited to be nominated this year," exclaimed another Best Model nominee Fauzia Amir, who just couldn't believe that she had made it to the top five. And until recently, it wouldn't have been believable.
The best thing about this year's competition is that it is all about recognizing upcoming talent that is making a mark in the industry while at the same time, lauding the veterans or at least those of them like Nilofer Shahid, Sana Safinaz and Rizwan Beyg who all have been nominated as this year's designers for Best Couture. It was disappointing to see none of them at the conference.

That said, their absence automatically made way for a new wave to command the spotlight. Most conspicuous was the generation of VJs, all present in full form. Mahira stood in the background, nursing a terrible flu but making it all the same. Adnan Malik preened in pride as his video clips played on LCD screens - Addu, as he is fondly called - is responsible for most of the graphics that play at the LSAs. Faizan Haqqi, also a jury member for the music categories, sat with VJ Anoushey as the speeches went on and Ayesha Omar, sporting a black and white striped strapless top with skinny jeans, exclaimed in the background as clips of the Nazia Hassan montage played. It was a montage in which all of them had danced.

Noticeable for the skirts they wore were Frieha Altaf and Aaminah Haq, both style icons in their own right. Responding to a question asking how the LSAs planned to compete with last year's spectacular ceremony as well as the recently held TMAs which got rave reviews, she said, "The show will be better and we do have surprises up our sleeve. But if we tell all, they won't be surprises, will they?"
From the music industry appeared Ali Azmat. Though not a nominee, his presence was an indication that he might just be hosting the show again this year. That is a promising thought as he sent the audience in stitches with his jokes last year. Also present from the list of music nominees was Omran Shafique from the group Mauj. As most musicians live in Lahore, it is assumed that will make it to the show even if they couldn't to the press meet.

All in all, these awards are for being enjoyed, whether as a nominee, a winner or as Khawar Riaz says, just as an entertaining show that gets the entire industry together. It will be interesting to see how this year's event unfolds.
– Aamna Haider Isani