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What to wear this Eid: Capes, lace and gently flared pants make the cut

What to wear this Eid: Capes, lace and gently flared pants make the cut

Jackets are still ‘in’ but the cape is this season’s must-have silhouette — and it hides a multitude of sins!
23 Sep, 2015

The run up to Eid is always full of exhibitions and new collections. Whether you splurge on luxury designer pret or shop the high-street for the perfect Eid jora, there are plenty of chic options to make a style statement.

At the top of the market, designers like Shehla Chatoor, Elan and Zara Shahjahan have exquisite Eastern pret collections. Shehla only offers bespoke outfits but Elan and Zara Shahjahan both stock pret at their outlets. The look is elegant and understated – delicate hand embroidery on silk nets and chiffon in contemporary Eastern silhouettes.

Lightly embellished choices for those who want to keep it subtle this Eid
Lightly embellished choices for those who want to keep it subtle this Eid

Sania Maskatiya stocks everything from printed silks to sumptuous embroidered outfits while Nida Azwer has a more limited but equally desirable selection.

Sania's luxury pret ‪Eid‬ Collection this year has been inspired by the ‪Moroccan‬ and ‪#Middle Eastern‬ artistry and culture
Sania's luxury pret ‪Eid‬ Collection this year has been inspired by the ‪Moroccan‬ and ‪#Middle Eastern‬ artistry and culture

Ayesha Somaya also offer a wide range of affordable designer pret. All three use a mix of hand and machine embroidery and offer both traditional and uber-trendy cuts.

Somaya uses machine embroidery, paired with flowing silhouettes
Somaya uses machine embroidery, paired with flowing silhouettes

There is a whole host of established designers working out of their studios and stocking at multi-labels stores. Sanam Chaudri’s Eid line is full of delicious details while Saira Shakira, Layla Chatoor and Farida Hasan are always hot picks at Eid.

Sanam Chaudhri's Eid line for this year pays attention to detail
Sanam Chaudhri's Eid line for this year pays attention to detail

Upcoming designers like Sehrish Rehan, Amber Gohar and Zohra Alam may never have shown at fashion week or stocked pret anywhere but they have a steady clientele and their Eid collections are highly sought. Look to these for modern cuts and an Eid look that is a little different from the norm.

Fun Ambar Gohar outfits
Fun Ambar Gohar outfits

Eid also brings out a plethora of indie designers and part-timers, who only exhibit occasionally. The weekends leading up to Eid are packed with exhibitions by the likes of Aleena and Fareena in Karachi and Maison De Lace in Lahore as well as lesser-known names.

Maison De Lace showcases pastel hues
Maison De Lace showcases pastel hues

Some of the prettiest Eid outfits are often to be found at these exhibitions. This year Nazli Akbar’s feminine lace and chiffon confections were particularly popular in Karachi. While exhibitions can be a mixed bag, it’s worth trawling through them for those that combine good quality and a fine aesthetic sense.

Akbar's exhibitions have repeatedly gotten sold out
Akbar's exhibitions have repeatedly gotten sold out

Various established designers, including Saira Shakira, Ayesha Somaya and Mehreen Menahel, started off with exhibitions of this sort.

Finally there’s always the high street or designer fabric. If you can trust your tailor to do a good job, Faraz Manan’s silk collection with Crescent and Farah Talib Aziz’s ‘Mediterranean Dream’ for LSM are two lovely mill-designer collaborations.

Ainy Jafri models for FTA lawn
Ainy Jafri models for FTA lawn

If tussling with your tailor is out of the question, Ideas and Chinyere both stock attractive formal ready-to-wear.

With Eid falling in late summer, many designers have been focusing on pastel colours and sheer fabrics with accents of beads and pearls. Lace is very fashionable as both an accent and as a base fabric, whether its faux Chantilly lace, giupure or crochet lace. Lace is also great for trousers - Mahnaz Adamjee’s bootcut lace pants are stunning and are available in go-with-everything beige as well as black.

Shahzah Ayub looks like a dream in this Aleena Fareena ensemble
Shahzah Ayub looks like a dream in this Aleena Fareena ensemble

The silhouette-du-jour is a boxy, knee-length kurta worn with slim straight pants or a shorter, slimmer kurta worn with a shalwar or dhoti shalwar. Jackets are still ‘in’ but the cape is this season’s must-have silhouette. Everyone is doing them – from top-name designers to part-timers who only exhibit at Eid. Sania Maskatiya was one of the first to introduce capes and Sehrish Rehan is particularly known for them.

Sehrish Rehan is quickly becoming a favourite on the fashion circuit
Sehrish Rehan is quickly becoming a favourite on the fashion circuit

Both Farida Hasan and Farah Talib Aziz have lovely cape collections while Layla Chatoor’s Dolce Vita cape is both unusual and striking. Ayesha Somaya stock both formal and semi-formal capes while every Eid exhibition in town seemed to showcase at least one.

Amna Ilyas for Layla Chatoor
Amna Ilyas for Layla Chatoor

The cape is a flattering, fashion-forward cut that hides a multitude of sins. Pair with bootcut pants or skinny cigarette pants for the best effect.

Fashion forward kids needn’t miss out. Designers like Blocked, Ansab Jahanghir and Chia have joined high street outlets like Origins in creating specific kids lines. Established designers will also whip up child-size versions of their outfits if you give them sufficient time. Choli lenghas and mini ghararas are having something of a moment in kidswear with some ultra-cute versions around.

Why should the little ones be left out?
Why should the little ones be left out?

Eid shopping has never been easier. With so many gorgeous options around, isn’t it great that Eid is a three-day affair?

Comments

Jawad pakistani Sep 23, 2015 03:51pm
Eid ai khushya laye. Beautiful women of pakistan make me proud.
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Mahmood Sep 23, 2015 04:22pm
Shouldn't they be wearing rich vibrant colors at Eid? instead of muted dull and boring colors which shows lack of imagination on the part of these designers.
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M. Malik Sep 23, 2015 05:07pm
I would say at least 95% of Pakistani women cannot wear these skinny pants due to their girth - without being embarrassed. And out of the remaining 5%, only half may be in the right age group to look good in them. And out of that tiny 2.5% of the female population, perhaps small segment, around 1/10th could even afford these pricey duds.
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Muhammad Usman Sep 23, 2015 06:19pm
way too expensive and not value for money
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Skeptic Sep 23, 2015 07:03pm
Can someone please tell me why they always use such anorexic skinny models in these parades? 99% of the female population does not resembles these specimen!
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Skeptic Sep 23, 2015 07:21pm
@M. Malik On the one hand, using such skinny models who may represent a very very tiny segment of female society - rich, well-traveled, health conscience, career-oriented women, the target marketing model is perfect. On the other hand, these also represent social-misfits, introvert, intimidating and isolated segment of society who have money to spend on these expensive outfits, but otherwise have few friends and nowhere to display these trapping except in their own tiny circles. That's why majority of us, never see any living-breathing normal person in these outfits.
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Zahir Sep 23, 2015 10:26pm
@Skeptic I don't think the lot is considered as skinny though
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SHAZIA AFRIDI Sep 23, 2015 11:59pm
So many guys commenting here on Pakistani fashion trends .. lol. IMO, all are fabulous and many of us do wear these styles since most trendy wear is customized and sized according to the client's preferences - especially by Pakistani designers. This is the beauty of buying designer clothing in Pakistan which can be shipped via international courier to their clients around the world. Some of these outfits are pricey, yet for some it's worthwhile since they are unique and flawlessly exquisite. For those who can't afford this clothing, there are many other alternatives from less pricey outlets in Pakistan.
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Chouette Sep 24, 2015 03:44am
This fashion world of elites is so out of touch with the real world on the streets of Pakistan.
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Ajay vikram Singh Sep 24, 2015 08:18am
I really want to know the history and origin of this dress "Salwar kameez". Can someone please enlighten me? Its such a perfect daily wear. Comfortable, modest and classy at the same time. I think its a perfect female wear for regular use.
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Ajay vikram Singh Sep 24, 2015 08:20am
@Skeptic - But i dont see any skinny models in these pics. Do we have the same definition of word - skinny? Those girls sitting on chairs ....are hardly skinny.
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Siripai Sep 24, 2015 03:41pm
@Ajay vikram Singh That is a good question. When I was in Istanbul I learnt that they have a traditional pyjama quite similar to the one we use and they also call it "Shalwar", especially being worn by the Kurds in Turkey. According to my research Shalwar comes from Central Asia. It was probably brought to our sub continent by the Moghuls who came from Uzbekistan.
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