Fashion will save Pakistan from terrorism n’ stuff
Fashion is not just what you wear. Sometimes, it’s a statement; sometimes, it’s a call to action. But in Pakistan, fashion is resilience - an ‘in your face’ to the forces that aim to destroy the country. Pakistani fashion is fast evolving into the counter-narrative that will put this nation on the fast-track to progress. Don’t believe me? Below is a selection of just a few of the ground breaking, era-defining, nation-building and instantly wearable designs that are fast eroding the cultural malaise we are experiencing. Behold! Design sense: Po-mo (post modern vs postmodernism) trash bag chique Inspiration: Neon signs, California beaches, trash bags. The ideal dress for the upcoming ...
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Torture behind the scenes of fashion
Last month, one of the biggest textile names in Pakistan hosted a typically grandiose and hugely successful event showcasing its latest line of fashion wear. Cameras flickered to capture celebrities and designers entering and exiting the venue. Glaring lights reflected against colourful backdrops which displayed the names of sponsors and partners. Stone faced models posed elegantly for the glitterati. In a land 20 kilometres away and some days earlier, 12 of the workers responsible for manufacturing towels sold at its outlet were arrested, detained, tortured and eventually charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The common factor uniting all 12 workers was that ...
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Mathira’s wardrobe malfunction: Nudity or modernity?
“It wasn’t part of the show. It was an accident!” pleaded designer Sanam Chaudhri after the scandalous Mathira fashion faux pas at her showcase on day one of Fashion Pakistan Week. Chauhdri spoke in Mathira’s defense saying “I felt so bad for her, and she started crying the moment she got off the ramp.” But when something of this nature happens with a personality like Mathira (whose last name is Scandal) people most likely assume that it was deliberate. Fashion writer and cultural commentator, Mohsin Sayeed, certainly thinks so. “Of course, it was deliberate,” he said. “If it wasn’t then why did the ...
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Veena Malik interview gone wrong
Veena Malik is back in the spot light for playing item girl “Channo” in a new Bollywood movie called “Gali Gali Chor Hai’. There have been mixed reactions to the video; some people hate it, some love it, but mostly people stare at it. Ali Zafar was wrong. “Channo kee aankh mein nasha” nahin hai… us ki choli mein LED hai. This sketch parody is what would ensue if Veena Malik actually started sporting the Bright Bra on a regular day. This and the Maya Khan show. I love this country. Only in Pakistan will you see ...
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84th Academy Awards: Predictions, tweets & snubs
The Oscars are a time when fans, TV anchors, stylists, live bloggers, tweeters and seat-fillers (the lucky people who sit on celeb’s seats while they’re visiting the bathroom or the bar) satellite around A-list stars in the celluloid constellation known as Hollywood. Die-hard viewers host Oscar parties at home while Hollywood’s B, C and D-listers try to attend as many after-parties as they can (since they’re naturally not invited to most awards shows). It’s fun for all, whether you’re watching the show live at the crack of dawn in Pakistan’s time zone (and heading off bleary-eyed to work), or watching the ...
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Your fake face forward
How often have you walked passed a store window, flipped through the pages of a magazine or fashion catalogue and thought to yourself: “Why can’t I look like that model?” While the fashion industry’s role in promoting unrealistic body images of women and girls is nothing new, and appears to only worsen every year, mega fashion brand H&M, the second largest retailer in the world, has taken things to an entirely new level by using images of models so perfect that they apparently do not even exist – literally. That’s right. The models themselves do not exist. That is because last year, H&M ...
Read Full PostGolden moments from the 2012 Globes
“I feel like five million dollars!” Sofia Vergara’s red carpet comment at the Golden Globes updated the million-dollar phrase to today’s currency values. Clad in her signature form-fitting, mermaid style strapless gown (this time by Vera Wang), with massive Harry Winston diamond cuffs on her wrist, she was a sight to behold. Mature glamazon Helen Mirren, trendy as ever, sported no less than five trends listed below, while wildchild-turned-crusader Angelina Jolie surprised many with an elegant old Hollywood look. Here are some red carpet trends and other memorable moments: Gowns Lengths: Typically floor-length and trailing. Colours: Ranged from pale champagne, metallic gold, teal, and ...
Read Full PostFashion 2011: Here to stay or totally passé?
2011 was a year of ups and downs. The year saw everything from international change (the youthful, high-tech Arab Spring modernised the word ‘revolution’) to tacky commercial publicity stunts (we’re used to seeing near-naked Bollywood starlets grace our screens, but Veena in her birthday suit was a novelty across the border). We were jolted by the demise of larger-than-life personalities like Elizabeth Taylor, Steve Jobs and the infamous bin Laden. And from the glitzy pinnacle of the Royal wedding down to the fall of the Murdochian empire and unprecedented urban riots, the city of London experienced a roller coaster ride ...
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Here come the brides (in 6 inch heels)
Ladies and gentlemen, regal velvet, long trains, glittering mokesh, and breathtaking long lehnga shirts are the new trends for bridal wear this year. The Pantene Bridal Couture Week (BCW) 2011, took my breath away. Held by Style 360 the show featured designs by the biggest names of our fashion industry. It also brought to light a few Indian designers and some newcomers with fabulous talent. All in all, the night was packed with glamour and was couture at its very best. J&S did a wonderful job of decorating the waiting area. The theme was predominantly Grecian with textured velvet draping on the walls ...
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Omar Mansoor: A collection for princesses
Getting into the London Fashion Week is a big deal for even the most established fashion designers. Getting into the London Fashion Week five years in a row is absolutely commendable. Last night saw Omar Mansoor display his collection at his fifth appearance at the London Fashion Week, at Charing Cross Hotel. The collection was reminiscent of fairytale princesses and the softest cotton candy; allegedly, it has been inspired by the exhibition of the Enchanted Palace at Kensington. The Enchanted Palace reveals hidden stories from the lives of the seven princesses who once lived there. The elements of pain, sadness, and ...
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