Pakistani Designers Impress At Lakme Fashion Week 2014

Three amazing Pakistani designers Rizwan Beyg, Sania Maskatiya and Zara Shahjahan, presented their collections at this year's Lakme Fashion Week (will be writing a piece on it soon) by Popxo.com in association with Hello! Pakistan. I have to say, this is such a great initiative taken by both sides, that not only gives Pakistani designers a chance to showcase their brands to a larger audience but also exposes Indian buyers to a variety or unique and creative Pakistani designs, fabrics and silhouettes.

Each designer stayed true to their design aesthetics and provided audiences with beautifully crafted, fresh and highly covetable collections. Check out their designs below!

RIZWAN BEYG: Taking inspiration from Pakistani Truck Art, Rizwan Beyg presented the 'Digitruck' collection, complete with shoes, bags and jewellery. He combined quirky prints, bold colours and modern cuts to create a line that is part funk, part tropical glamour. His cuts made even the most traditional pieces look modern, such as, my favourites from the line,  the yellow off-shoulder dhoti jumpsuit and the colour blocked sari!

SANIA MASKATIYA: Definitely the most wearable out of the three, Sania Maskatiya's collecton, Sakura, took inspiration from Japanese Cherry Blossoms. Known for providing the perfect blend between elegance and practicality, this line was nothing short of that, with each look more sleek and fashionably on point that the last. Worn as separates or as a complete look, Maskatiya's line is one that all fashion girls will be pining over.

ZARA SHAHJAHAN: Taking inspiration from old Lahore and floral vintage prints, Zara Shahjahan's 'The City of Gardens' collection showcased a beautiful, feminine line, complete with intricate emboridery, pastel tones, the frequent use of scallops and a lot of shimmer and shine in delicate fabrics like organza, net and lace. Her attention to detail and intricate workmanship proves why Zara Shahjahan is such a fashion power house!

Source: https://www.lakmefashionweek.co.in/

Style Haven meets Anam Falak

With wedding season underway, I  spoke to the multi-talented, international celebrity makeup artist, Anam Falak on the latest trends in bridal makeup and hair and asked her some essential tips that all brides should know. Here’s what she had to say:

Style Haven: How have trends in bridal hair and makeup changed since you first started?

Anam: I'd say right now it is all about flawless skin and out there lips! Plums, Fuchsias and Reds!

Style Haven: What is your favourite bridal hair trend?

Anam: I love volume! High hair looks great be in a beautiful intricate braid or bun but long high hair is definitely my favourite

Style Haven: What kind of hair and makeup do most brides who come to you ask for?

Anam: They know that my style of makeup is very classic with a hint of modern, so they ask for either my classic signature look on their Ruhksati with my signature red lips or my modern subtle on the Valima, where I try to play up the eyes with lots of shimmer and keep the lips lighter but with a beautiful gold tone complimenting the flawless, highlighted skin.

Style Haven: What kind of bridal hair and makeup do you find yourself most leaning towards?

Anam: My makeup is a mix of traditional and modern makeup of the west. I'll do a very traditional eye but do a nude shimmery lip, or vice versa.

I am known for my flawless, glowy base! I make sure I stick to my client's natural features rather than transforming her into someone else, which is typical of western makeup but not of traditional hence we tend to see alot of brides looking unrecognizable on their wedding day! I think it is a big faux pass as you want to look like yourself in your wedding photos! 

Style Haven: According to you, what kind of makeup suits Pakistani brides the most?

Anam: Well blended out makeup that looks good and transforms an ordinary girl into a gorgeous glamazon. Not done in the typical manner but done so beautifully that you look at it and go like 'how did she do that'.  I'm known for my eye makeup and I try to enhance my client's eyes without changing their natural shape, mostly shimmery smoked out as that is my signature look!

Style Haven: What are your top 5 bridal makeup products?

Anam:

1. Laura Mercier Primer
2. Josie Maran Argan oil moisturiser
3. Cle de Peau Concealer
4. Nars Blushes
5. Waterproof Mascara 

Style Haven: What’s the most important step in bridal makeup?

Anam: After prepping and priming the face, I'd say it’s applying False Eyelashes correctly! Never apply your false lashes all the way towards your inner eye corner as your tear ducts are present there and that area will constantly be wet causing them to come off from the inner corners. I like to apply Demi Lashes, which means cut halfway through and I start on the outer eye corner and end just a little more than halfway through! Also, use good quality glue such as Duo, to make sure your lashes last the entire time

Style Haven: How do you ensure your bride's hair and makeup stays put for the whole night?

Anam: I use a makeup fixing spray in the end, usually its Urban Decay's All-nighter.

Style Haven: One makeup/hair advice you’d like to give all our brides?

Anam: It is more a general advice, I'd tell them to get plenty of rest before their wedding, eat healthy, drink a lot of water and try to relax; even though I know exactly how nerve racking planning a wedding can be! Also, I make sure they get their facials and other bridal services done way in advance of their wedding as sometimes they can have allergic reactions to them and you don't want to have a face full of rashes or pimples on your big day!

Check out some gorgeous looks done by Anam, below:

To find out more on Anam, check out her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/anam.makeup

Robin Williams

Around five days ago news broke of Robin William's death and while I haven't said anything about it since then, it seems that I am only now realising the impact Robin Williams had on making the world just a little bit better and how that is now gone. I'm not going to say that I was his biggest fan or that I had watched all his movies and followed him religiously, but I will say that I am deeply sad by his passing.

I'v been watching and re-watching a lot of his interviews and performances (sadly, we only appreciate that which is gone) and all Robin Williams seemed to do was make people laugh. He made people happy and let them forget about their worries, even if it was for just a few minutes. And in this world where we all seem to so desperately cling on to our happiness, we may have lost a large chunk of that this week.

This post isn't meant to invoke any feeling of sadness, neither is this blog suddenly changing it's course from what it's actually meant to be. But for a man like Robin Williams, who made us all laugh many a times, I think I owe him this tribute, just as a way to thank him for introducing me to Mork, Peter Pan, Genie, Jack, Mrs. Doubtfire, Alan Parrish, Armand Goldman, Professor Philip Brainard, Sean Maguire, Patch Adams, Teddy Roosevelt and a hundred more amazing characters.

Robin Williams has given us enough material to keep us laughing for a lifetime and I hope, that in his heaven, he gets to meet all his characters and they get to spend their time just sitting around, cracking jokes and making each other laugh.

on Vimeo.

TREND ALERT: The Choker

We've been seeing some really cool pieces make a comeback from the nineties and one of those is the Choker Necklace! A major trend then and now, the choker seems to be everywhere. Though, now thankfully, the pieces are a lot more sleek and minimal compared to how they were two decades ago (yea, it's been two decades to the nineties) making it a must have piece for the season!

I myself am actually obsessed with chokers. They accentuate your neck and shoulders and can amp up almost every look, from a little black dress to just a plain tee. Minimal, classy, sexy, perfect, perfect, perfect!!!

Keep reading for some choker inspo and find out where you can find a piece for yourself!

Get your choker here:

Splurge:

BALENCIAGA Cage choker

EDDIE BORGO Bicone rose gold-plated choker

LELE SADOUGHI Gold-plated choker

Save:

ASOS Plaited Chain Choker Necklace

ASOS CURVE Snake Chain Choker Necklace

RIVER ISLAND Mixed Metal Twisted Slinky Necklace

TOPSHOP Rose Quartz Stone Choker

TOPSHOP Chunky Chain Double Row Choker

Source: https://www.whowhatwear.com/