Shanghai by Faraz Manan

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

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 I found the clothes outdated and uninspiring and on the whole not something I would be looking out for.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!

Fashion Pakistan Week Autumn/Winter 2014- Day 2

So day 2 of Fashion Pakistan Week was probably my most favourite days of the event, with designers showcasing collections that were trendy, innovative and most of all wearable.

Click on any picture for a clearer view.

Shehla Chatoor: The day started off with a lesson in fit and craftsmanship through Shehla Chatoor's beautiful 'Misaki' collection. Taking inspiration from Japonism artistry, Misaki dwells between sophistication and ferocity, traditional and unconventional, refined and raw; and yet, the way each piece was executed, all features seemed to compliment each other with ease.

There was a number of international influences in the collection, making Misaki one of the trendier and globally competitive collections seen during fashion week. There were crop tops and capes; skirts and sarees (beautifully printed ones I should add). There were slogans, sportswear accents and lots and lots of leather. Her leather detailing, either inter weaved, braided or quilted, was probably where her craftsmanship shone the most.

Shehla complemented the clothes with beautiful, intricately designed jewellery, clutches and shoes.

Emraan Rajput: Emraan Rajput presented 'Alpha', a minimal line, taking the military concept and redesigning it in to a clean and modern collection. All looks focused on clean lines, structure and movement. For men, he presented variations of the pant suit/jacket combo, while womenswear was all about peplum like tops paired with tailored pants.

While Alpha had some very well tailored pieces, what was missing in the collection was variety, both in silhouette and colouring.

Sanam Chaudri: Another one of my favourite collections from fashion week, 'Bano' aimed at accentuating and not displaying the feminine form. Naming the line after her own Nani, Sanam took classic pieces and made them young and fresh.

A collection full of wearable separates, each piece was worked on with extensive detailing. And by making use of beautiful shades and rich fabrics, Bano is both luxurious and classic.

P.S. I can't get over those jackets!

FnkAsia by Huma Adnan: Staying true to the FnkAsia ethos, Huma Adnan showcased her collection called 'Folk Spirit'. By taking basic silhouettes and adding in to them the FnkAsia touch of beaded embroidery, hand worked cuts and vivid palettes, Huma Adnan managed to create a young and wearable collection.

My favourites had to be the long flowy dresses styled with belted scarves; on trend and classy!

DnF: Deepak and Fahad presented 'Siyah Sufaid', a monochromatic collection, containing both menswear and womenswear. While their idea could have been strong, what the collection lacked was innovation and mastery, leaving 'Siyah Sufaid' just that, black and white, with no other defining element.

Adnan Pardesy: Unfortunately for DnF, the next collection presented by Adnan Pardesy, titled 'Labyrinth' was monochrome done right.

With a highly diverse collection, full of interesting prints, well-tailored cuts and an attention to detail, Labyrinth had something for everyone.What stood out for me was most definitely the beautiful black and white printed sari.

Deepak Perwani: Day two came to an end with Deepak Perwani's 'Everything but the girl'; a classy, understated and perfectly tailored collection.
The show opened with Xander's owner, Sikander Rizvi and for a minute everyone was too busy swooning to really focus on the collection; but what did follow thereafter was a refined and modern collection.

We saw velvet blazers and subtle embroidery detailing, silk shirts and well fitted blazers. The jodhpur made an appearance on the runway as well. A clearly well thought out Autumn/Winter collection, Deepak Perwani presented traditional pieces with a modern spin. This, topped with impecable styling of the entire collection, made 'Everything but the girl' the perfect end to a fashionable night!

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!

Fashion Pakistan Week Autumn/Winter 2014- Day 1

Fashion Pakistan Week was one of mixed reviews, with some designers really shining through with their collections, while others being unable to stir much of an excitement for the fashion crowd. In terms of the show itself, PR company LatitudeCRS did an amazing job at carrying out the event, while choreography by Hassan Shehryar and music by DJ Asif kept everyone excited throughout the shows. 

Now let's talk about the collections. Here's how the designers did on Day 1 of Fashion Pakistan Week:

Click on any picture for a clearer view.

Ather Ali Hafeez for Sana Safinaz: Pakistan Fashion Week A/W14 took off with’Venue: French Beach Karachi’ by Ather Ali Hafeez for Sana Safinaz. This collection will do nothing to keep us warm as temperatures fall and therefore, in some way, seems perfect for winters in Karachi.

Ather Ali presented a bright and colourful collection, complete with bohemian vibes and loads of layering. There was a sense of ease in the entire collection, which will hit the hearts of many Karachi girls, who yearn for relaxed but fashionably on point days.

With innovative prints and bold (but not blinding) colours, Venue: French Beach Karachi is one collection that will be surpassing the seasons.

Ishtiaq Afzal Khan: The next designer to show was Ishtiaq Afzal Khan with his collection, ‘Aurora’ which was inspired by the shades of morning. A fusion collection, mixing western fabrics and accents into eastern styling, with orange being the choice of colour and leather the fabric.

 Ishtiaq Khan even brought the shalwar back on the runway, pairing them with short kameezes and billowing sleeves. Even with the experimentation though, Aurora came across as safe and unimaginative

Levis: Levis presented styled pieces from its regular line to be showcased on the runway. Unfortunately, what lacked in the show was that defining factor that differentiates street styling to runway styling and brings that extra oomph to a collection. 

Levis may be all about wearable clothes but for fashion week, the looks ended up leaving us completely uninspired. 

Ayesha F. Hashwani: What managed to get the fashion crowd excited again was Ayesha Hashwani’s ‘Baroque’ collection; a definite winner on Day 1 of Fashion Pakistan Week. First, let’s talk about the colours; a very much on trend palette of deep reds, blacks and gold. Second, were the opulent fabrics; it was all about rich silks and gorgeous velvet. What brought the whole show together though was the beautiful embroidery showcased throughout the show. Presenting us with a regal and timeless collection.

Even with all the detailing, the clothes seemed to flow down the runway with such ease, bringing with them a sense of sophistication and sensuality.

On my must have list t are the capes and jackets. Very much on trend, their cuts were innovative and the details classic. 

Gul Ahmed: For their collection, Gul Ahmed presented a flurry of mixed prints and embroidered pieces and experimented with fabrics, mainly velvet, silks, pashmina and corduroy. 

The show developed from day to night contemporary looks and was styled in different ways, probably to attract both younger and mature audiences. 

Aamna Aqeel: Amna Aqeel’s ‘Black on Fire’ collection brought some sex appeal in to Day 1 of Fashion Pakistan Week. She took blacks or whites as the foundation of all pieces and injected colour in them through prints and embroidery.

The torso was the main focus of the collection, with the presence of cropped and assymetrical tops.  The cuts were risky, while the styling was feminine. And while there was plenty of skin on show, even the more covered pieces were anything but demure.

My favourite piece, though more girly-less bold than the rest of the collection, was a white cropped top with a midi-skirt, that was classy yet fashion forward.

A bold and sexy collecton, ‘Black on Fire’ is not for the meek.

Zaheer Abbas: Zaheer Abbas showcased his ‘Neo-Nude’ collection that looked at creating an illusion of being bare, while being covered.

The negatives were the fringe coats that seemed old fashioned and the lack of emphasis given to fit, something it seems Pakistani designers tend to struggle with. The power suits on the other hand were still a few of the better pieces seen in the collection

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!