The Fashion Girl's Guide to New Year's Eve Outfits.

I can't believe 2014 is almost over! Wasn't it just May right now? There's one more day to New Year's Eve and no matter what you may be doing (unless the plan involves staying in your pjs and watching movies) pictures will be taken and memories will be made, so you might as well look your best.

Which brings me to this post's purpose, what do you wear to your New Year's Eve shindig? If you can't figure anything out, here are a couple of tips to help you decide:

The Intimate Dinner: Intimate dinners are great because you get to welcome the new year with a bunch on your closest friends catching up on all the shit you guys did together over the year. You want to be comfortable but of course fashionably on point (there will still be pictures taken). Look for pieces that are easy to wear and are on trend. Draped silhouettes, in the form of a well shaped dress or trendy capes, for instance, really flatter the body.

If you feel that the androgynous look is more your style though, go for luxe separates in basic colours that are both relaxed, yet high fashion.

The All Night Party: If you're going to be going to a New Year's Eve party, look for sexy, stand out pieces. Focus on a specific area, like your limbs or abs, or better, look for pieces with strategic cutouts or nude paneling, for a more intriguing look. And while black is always a classic, go for a brighter shade to really stand out.
Note: Be sure to wear comfy shoes, or you'll be regretting it all night!

The New Year Ball: On the other hand, if you're going to a more formal event, look for pieces that are glamorous but still fun and trendy. The best way to do that is to go for outfits with classic silhouettes coupled with trendy fabrics and new age cuts and detailing.  The new year should be all about taking risks, so don't be afraid to be a bit flashy that night. 

Beauty: Of course no look is complete without a complimenting beauty look and one option you guys can go with is a smokey eye with nude lips and messy hair.

Happy New Year Everyone! xx

Source: Tapu Javeri and team, vogue.com, harpersbazaar.com

Is Kim Kardashian The New Style Icon?

This week we saw Kid Kardashian and Kanye West grace the latest Balmain Menswear campaign and after months of seeing Kim K really try to transform into the next fashion maven, this campaign has got me wondering, is Kim Kardashian the new style icon?

Gone are the days of exaggerated makeup and flashy not fashion(y) outfits, after all those years of experimentation, Kim, post pregnancy,  is all about high fashion and staying close to her new style persona. The new Kim seems to take style queues from Carine Roitfeld, portraying a balance between sophisticated and risqué. And while the makeup is still very much there, the application is a lot more subtle and on trend.

But is she a style icon?

While it can be argued that style icons get their title naturally and not through a series of trial and error and numerous stylists; they also get their style icon status because their persona has an influence on the fashion world. At 5 foot 3 inches and a fair share of curves, Kim is bringing her own spin to fashion. Clothes that at first seem to be designed specifically for the tall, thin models, are garnering a whole new personality with Kim's styling. Women are now proud of their curves and they, like Kim, want to show them off. And even with Kim keeping a comparatively lighter hand or her makeup, her influence on the shift towards facial contouring can not be disregarded. If style icons are meant to be remembered, then Kim's hold on the media makes it difficult for her to be forgotten.

Think Kim Kardashian's a style icon? Get her look here:

SPLURGE

                                                                

1. JOSEPH Clan leather pencil skirt
2. MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA Strapless stretch-jersey bodysuit
3. HELMUT LANG Gala tailored blazer
4. GIANVITO ROSSI Business point-toe leather pumps
5. SAINT LAURENT Sac De Jour Nano Baby mini leather shoulder bag

SAVE

                                                                    

1. RIVER ISAND Black high waisted leather-look penci skirt
2. H&M Short-sleeved Bodysuit
3. ZARA Coat with wrap around collar
4. ZARA Leather court shoes with straps
5. H&M Handbag

Shanghai by Faraz Manan

Read all about Faraz Manan's edgy and contemporary Shanghai collection at Fashion Pakistan Week A/W 2014 here

Style Haven in Islamabad

If any of you follow me on Instagram you'd know about my recent trip to Islamabad. My friends and I really needed a break from Karachi life and so we decided to visit Isloo for a couple of days and I am so glad we did. The food was  amazing, the weather perfect and the people are extremely sweet.

Here are a couple of pictures I took during my five day stay:

Chaaye Khana

The Hot Spot

The Hot Spot

Serena Hotel

Serena Hotel

Till next time Isloo!

Fashion Pakistan Week Autumn/Winter 2014- Day 3

The last day of Fashion Pakistan Week AW14, may have also been the last time one of Pakistan's most celebrated designer, Maheen Khan showcased her collection on the runway. Young and trendy designers of the day paved the way to Maheen's show and together brought fashion week to a glamorous end.

Day three designers stayed true to their original style and presented collections that brought with them an influx of new trends and stand out pieces all fashionistas will be coveting.

Click on any picture for a clearer view.

Sadaf Malaterre: Presenting a monochrome collection, Sadaf Malaterre's presented an understated line full of clean cuts and fuss free accents. Detailing was in the form of a scattering of floral motifs that were placed around the hip or spread around a pant leg, or fringe detailing seen on dresses and skirts. 

A collection with an acquired taste, while some may appreciate Sadaf's attempt to creating a line that was unique, the collection seemed to fall short for me. I found the clothes outdated and uninspiring and on the whole not something I would be looking out for.

Maheen Karim: On the other hand, Ravissant by Maheen Karim was a modern and glamourous collection. Ravissant had everything from embellished attires to printed alternatives; alluring gowns to seductive jumpsuits- the line was sophisticated yet sexy, giving us tons of options for evening wear.

The detailing on the outfits were impeccable; especially the work done on the backs of some pieces. These paired with novel cuts and flawless tailoring makes Ravissant proof of Maheen's technical ability and the reason why her label, though still young, is such a favourite among the fashion crowd.

Nida Azwer: Renaissance by Nida Azwer was a young, fresh and desirable collection. This was a diverse line, where on one hand we saw skirts with crop tops, while on the other we say beautiful, feminine saris. There were innovative prints and modern cuts; digital prints and laser cut detailing.

Even with the use of darker shades like maroon, navy, black and grey; Renaissance came across as youthful and trendy and the fact that she focused on seperates, giving them their own character, made the collection that much more wearable.

Mohsin Ali for Sana Safinaz: And then there was '50 Shades Deep' by Mohsin Ali for Sana Safinaz and what a collection this was! Taking inspiration from the wild, everything about the collection screamed perfection.

First lets talk about the clothes themselves; staying true to the 'wild' theme, Mohsin pulled out all the stops and really just let his creativity flow with this line. He used deep shades of browns, aubergine, reds, cobalt blue, greens and greys and paired them with fun, jungle themed prints.His fabrics were rich and coupled conventional materials like lame and silks with more distinctive ones like mesh and leather.

Next, let's talk about the execution; another collection with strong seperates (like those well structured blazers or sexy off shoulder tops), each piece was styled flawlessly. It was all about layers, but not ones which bulked the body, but instead showcased the feminine silhouette in a strong and classy manner. What really took the styling to the next level though were the beautiful Outhouse pieces that have been brought to Pakistan for the first time by Sana Hafeez Sheikh.

Presenting a well-thought out line, 50 Shades Deep hit all the right fashion notes!

Faraz Manan: One designer whose collection I was excited to see was Faran Manan and he did not disappoint. Faraz's Shanghai collection was edgy and contemporary. He created drama with the use of metallic and black shades and off set some of the pieces with blush tones that added interest to the line. I absolutely loved the pink blazer seen on one of the male models, not only do i want that piece; I'd probably style it the same way as well!

It was the details that really made the pieces stand out, like scalloping on the neck line or embroidered cuffs and by adding focus to only one area of the body, like an assymetric dress to bring focus to the shoulders or a crop top paired with high waist pants to add attention to the waist,  he added subtle sensuality to his collection. Faraz paired glamour pieces with edgy ones to create a line that could be described as rocker chic and with this balance, he managed to create a collection that was bold but not loud.

Nauman Arfeen: Nauman Arfeen's Royal Parade brought the grandeur back in to fashion with a stunningly cohesive collection. By staying close to a neutral pallette of blacks and earthy tones and just adding a touch of lavender, he managed to really bring focus to his craftsmanship through the means of intricate embroideries, fine needlecraft and gold beadwork worked on opulent fabrics. 

A menswear collection, with the exception of one look, models walked down the runway in ankle length pants or chooridars and scarfs tucked in to their jackets. There were clean lines and solid colours used as the base, as a way to really highlight the intricate work done on the jackets. As a whole, Royal Parade was strong and classy!

Maheen Khan: An ballad for Karachi, Maheen Khan's collection, To Karachi With Love brought fashion week to an end with the sophistication and remembrance that can be expected from Maheen Khan. 

This is most  possibly the last  collection the label will be showing on the runway and the show started of with an emotional tribute to Maheen and all that she has contributed to Pakistani fashion (Maheen Khan has undeniably been a huge influence on the setting up of Fashion Pakistan Council and on Pakistani Fashion as a whole).

Bringing back the glory days of the sixties and seventies in Karachi, Maheen built a collection that was reminiscent of the trendy cafes, shops, cinemas, nightclubs and discotheques that were packed with the fashion crowds of that time. The show began by turning off all the lights and all of us being asked to switch on the mini torches, that were provided to us at the start, as a means of signifying love and hope for Karachi. 

In the darkness, a model walked out wearing a black hooded cloak and as she threw of the cloak, we set our eyes on Maheen's first look- a beautiful gold sari, worn over a gold shalwar and a halter blouse. What followed, were louche, minimal, easy looks; that stood true to the Karachite style and in a way, true to classic Maheen Khan, with beautiful, understated, high quality pieces. 

The show ended with Maheen bringing out the three top models that have graced her catwalk over the years- Iraj, Frieha Altaf and Attiya Khan and with this showcased a collection that was the perfect end to her runway history- forward thinking and very much Maheen. 

Photo Images: Tapu Javeri and Team
I would also like to give a special mention to Maliha Rao of Red Alice Rao. Do check her blog out!