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summer
living
Coming up spring/summer 2009 blockbuster:
Deconstructing fashion!
Featuring: Sana Safinaz and Rizwan Beyg in roles you have never
seen before, introducing Adnan Pardesy as the hot new thing to happen
and an exciting ensemble cast of innovative designers that will have
you holding onto the edge of your seats…or outfits!
By
Aamna Haider Isani
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Coming
soon to some of the most fashionable wardrobes in town
It's been a long as well as a drab and dreary wait, but fashion
has finally made a comeback in Karachi last week. Many socialites,
waiting to flaunt their newly acquired finery, strapped on their
Pradas as the social networking - that fashion mobilizes - jump
started into action. As most of us would bear witness, fashion has
been pretty low on priority for the past several months and it has
been grossly overshadowed and sidelined by the not so pleasant political
waves that have been hitting the country. Not anymore. With a general
air of well being looming large these days, things certainly are
looking up for fashion too.
And where better to witness the glory of that than the Ensemble
Avenue, where Sana Safinaz and Rizwan Beyg launched their spring
summer collections last week? It was where the new season kicked
off with a definitive focus on rejuvenation. Who says spring is
only about the birds and the bees? The regeneration of fashion that
one saw was just as exciting and more, because it took the spotlight
away from 'safe styles' gearing it towards the trendy and bravely
experimental. One says 'bravely' because not every woman has the
guts to undertake the road less traveled and scrap her short embroidered
chiffon shirts for poufs or kaftans. But those few that do need
to be appreciated, as change is exactly what fashion needs now. |
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Change
is what one got from Sana Safinaz and their funky kaftan-kurtas,
Rizwan Beyg's simple yet structured muslin tops and even Adnan
Pardesy's casual yet extremely modern and contemporary line.
Pardesy was introduced as the newest member to the Ensemble
Karachi family last year and it took him over six months to
stock his first collection (as was the case with Sana Safinaz
as well) but it was well worth the wait. His collection was
a capsule of well-defined, pleated silk tunics, flaired white
jackets reminiscent of the origami pleating that Galliano
has been featuring in Paris, and classic long dresses. It
was a red carpet collection that will safely see itself to
the red carpet soon. |
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Likewise,
this year's fashion line up dictates shape and structure, as the
new must have. The global stress of economic recession has forced
fashion to ease up on body hugging silhouettes, with a result of
the comeback of the kaftan. It's a summer must have and is the best
option whether you are lounging around or hitting the beach.
"I
would just love to wear that Sana Safinaz kaftan over a bikini to
the beach," sighed one fashionista that evening. Another speculated
how it would be the perfect resort wear item if worn with flip flops
while someone else weighed the options of picking one up for a summer
afternoon wedding. Worn with dangling chandelier earrings, it would
be perfect. Versatile, light and breezy as well as being beautiful,
these kaftans from Sana Safinaz's first 21-piece collection were
a sure shot hit. Surely they merited a 21-gun salute!
Other designers have been playing around with shape as well. Iman
Ahmad of Body Focus Museum is another example: Frieha Altaf was
wearing a coffee coloured 'bubbly' from Iman's last collection.
Originally it came with a jacket, but even without a jacket, the
sleeveless top was all expressive on the importance of structure
as opposed to embroidery. Draping from the top and poufing above
the knees, this dress could have easily be worn with or without
tights (which Frieha was wearing) or even casually over a pair of
denim jeans. |
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Sadaf
Malaterre - a hugely under rated yet extremely talented designer
- is also a great fan of playing around with shapes. Her own
black wrap around trousers were a classic example of why the
skin tight calf high Capri should be put away now. Sadaf's
trousers, constructed in a soft linen fabric allowed the legs
some breathing space as they fell lose around the ankles.
And just as smartly, they could be knotted at that calves
or even above the knees. Innovation at its best. And a top
that Sadaf had designed for Andleeb Rana (editor Xpoze) that
evening was equally imaginative. It was a sleeveless that
could be worn three ways: with either yellow or hot pink as
the front or reversed with the black and white polka dots
on the outside. Thanks to hidden seams, this tunic could be
worn inside out, front to back, any way desired. That's what
one can call great value for money! |
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Having confidence and throwing caution
to the wind is what fashion innovation is about and Pakistani
women are such a beautiful breed that this should be no problem
at all. And the best place to begin at is lawn. If you're thinking
twice about investing huge sums of money into designer clothing
that might give you cold feet at the end of the day, then use
lawn as a warm up and ease yourself into the first jump. The best
thing about branded lawn is the way designers like Sonya Battla
and Sana Safina, for instance, have conceptualized it for you.
The catalogues and look books were available at their exhibitions
and are still around at retail stores. Whether it's a poncho,
a kaftan or a harem pant, copy away to your heart's delight and
step into the incredible world of fashion. It'll be one step you'll
never regret taking! Think of fashion as your first step towards
change. After all, fashion is about making you stand out, not
blend in!
– Outfits
are currently available at Ensemble Karachi
Photography by Kohi Marri
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