Karma Pink

Karma Pink is a wonderful extrapolation of making Karma an accessible and fun brand for those young at heart. Its mother brand has always been associated with elaborate high-end designer wear in bold colours and styles. And Karma's prêt line plays with colours, trendy designs and of course the Karma ethos with its quintessential motif. You get all this and more at a comparatively nominal price as the Karma Pink range uses lighter fabrics such as cottons and chiffons and very minimal work, making it a great buy for weddings since you can get lots of repeat wear. Recent collections include this season's all time favourites in a wide palette of hues from deep reds to royal blues and breezy pastels. 
(Left: A yellow piece of Karma, Above: Designer, Maheen Kardar Ali)
Ensemble

Now accessible in Lahore as well as Karachi, Ensemble has just the perfect semi formals for weddings. Not only does it have Karachi's bigwigs under its banner, but also low profile designers such as Sanya Muneer and a new trend setter Nida Azwer whose collections are uncomplicated and elegantly styled, focusing on cuts and silhouettes with hardly any embroidery and instead using embellishments built into the fabric of the garments. These collections are priced a bit higher than the store's in-house line (which is just as chic, stylish and affordable) but have a very luxurious feel if you're up for a bit of self indulgence. And luxury is what fashion is about; you hit an ideal when you can find fashion that is affordable. Drive out to the Mall of Lahore or 76 Old Clifton in Karachi for that last minute purchase if you haven't sorted out your festive wardrobe yet!
 (Above: Retailers Zeba and Shehrnaz Husain of Ensemble, Right: A Sana Safinaz outfit at an Ensemble show)

Hasan Sheheryar Yasin R2W

Stocked exclusively at The Boulevard, the HSY ready-to-wear line is what one may call just the prettiest prêt available. With ruffles, satin ribbons, princess hem lines, pom poms, crocheted laces and use of wooden beads as tassels in lovely girly colours like mint green, baby pink, fuchsia and orange, this collection oozes traditional yet urbane girl glam. The whole feel of the line is really feminine and pretty although the shirts are a bit short, unlike the season's rage for extremely long gown like kamzees, so can be teemed with tights or churidaars. A definite buy for those of you who conform to the belief that good things come in small packages.

(Left: Iraj in HSY, Above: HSY)

Sublime

Simple and sophisticated ala Sara Shahid, the Sublime collection keeps up the subliminal quality of her garments with a great emphasis on silhouettes with minimal work and superb styling. Catering specifically to tasteful women, the designs are elegant and easy to manage with just the right amount of embellishment and finesse in the finishing. This season's collection at Sublime is all about sleeves adopted from peasant tops: puffed at the top and tapering towards the end. There are interesting twists that add great flair to the traditional shalwar kameez. The collection also includes pieces that are borderline western, which might attract women and girls looking for something less traditional and more edgy. The overall feel of the garments is exquisite: ingenious cuts that streamline the body shape, the use of pearls and chiffons in light pastel shades, along with Sara's favourite black and white, lend the collection a ethereal feel. Just the brand you would want to adorn to hide all those tell-tale signs of indulgence this Ramazan!
(Above: Designer, Sara Shahid; Right: Vinnie in Sublime.)

Khaadi Khaas

This brand takes funk to a different level all together. A unique combination of hand woven high quality cotton, with traditional embroidery done in a quirky and fun manner, and styled in the trends of the season, Khaadi Khaas pieces are certainly something 'khaas'. From heavily worked kameezes and culottes, to kimono like peshwaaz, Khaadi Khaas is the label that allows one to go wild with a rich palette of colours. Each piece in this collection is art itself and will appeal to those who take fashion seriously but believe in having fun with it simultaneously.

(Right: A Khaadi Khaas creation, Above right: Designer, Shamoon Sultan)