What we wish our favourite celebs had worn to the Masala Awards 2017 instead

The Masala Awards 2017 took place in Dubai on Wednesday night, recognising some of the most prominent lifestyle and entertainment names from the South Asian community within the UAE and beyond.

Mahira Khan, Mawra Hocane and Saba Qamar bagged accolades for various accomplishments. Qamar took home the trophy for Best Breakthrough, Mawra bagged Social Media Sensation and Mahira was presented the Asian Woman of Substance award.

While we're proud of the ladies for their achievements, we weren't so impressed on the style front. The trio looked good, no doubt about it, especially Saba Qamar in that flirty Shehla Chatoor number but we couldn't help but wish they had stepped out of their comfort zones in the sartorial department.

Bear with us, we're going to play stylist to the stars; here's what we think they could have worn instead to really slay that red carpet and take us by surprise.

1) Mawra Hocane

The Sammi star showed up clad in a deep crimson Michael Cinco gown with some embellishments and floral accents. That being said, we felt like the look was way too predictable and reminiscent of gowns she's worn on the red carpet before.

At a time when the starlet is on such an upward trajectory in her career, she can't afford to be blah on the red carpet!

What she could have worn instead: Mawra's got a great physique so we'd love to see her in something less poofy, maybe like a cut-out dress with a sleeker silhouette. We think she could have really worked this black slinky number by Ramona Keveza that Kaley Cuoco wore to the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards last year (also similar to what Mahira wore to Lux Style Awards earlier this year).

It's form-fitting, sophisticated and has a couple of sexy peek-a-boo details we're loving!

2) Saba Qamar

Yes, she looked good in Shehla Chatoor but that's just the thing, she always looks good in Shehla Chatoor. The diva doesn't just show up to every other award function so when she does, we want her to make a statement.

What she could have worn instead: The powerhouse that she is, we feel she'd work a sleek jumpsuit like nobody's business! We're particularly digging this white-hot Rhea Costa number Gigi Hadid wore and can totally imagine Qamar rocking it with sleek hair and perhaps the same red Judith Leiber clutch she carried for a pop of colour.

3) Mahira Khan

Mahira Khan's go-to style is always the quintessential poofy dress, pastels and playing it super safe. For the Masala awards this year, she wore a Rami Al Ali dress coupled with some dainty Bulgari bling. The dress may have been hot pink but the look itself was just too bubblegum. We say bring on the metallics!

What she could have worn instead: We wish she'd show off her svelte figure and experiment a bit more rather than drown in those Cinderella gowns. This silver Roberto Cavalli gown with a cut-out rear design and much-needed oomph will hug her lean frame in all the right places.