PFW 19 - Pakistan Fashion Week London 2019

I was lucky enough to attend Pakistan Fashion Week London 19 a few weeks ago, and managed to see a few of the latest collections from upcoming designers as well as a few of the established Pakistani labels. Some of the outfits were stunning and it was a pleasure to see the designs up close.

I wasn't able to stay for the whole show, but luckily I've managed to get a few photographs from the official photographer of the show, Shahid Malik, so see below for your viewing pleasure...!

Adil Ali
This was a fairly colourful collection, using a traditional rich palette of reds, greens, gold and royal blue for the outfits. I have to be honest, I was a little underwhelmed with these, as I nothing stood out for me, although the blue drape dress was quite stylish.

Agha Noor
This was a pretty yellow and orange collection (which reminded me of marigold flowers) and I though this was a really nice summer collection which was light and simple. I'm lucky enough to have an Agha Noor store not too far from me so will definitely check these out when they come in!

Ananya
This was a collection which reminded me of the vintage, old era style outfits - big ghararas, short kameezes, shawls mixed with dupattas. I did like some of these but personally couldn't see myself wearing any of them, and also though the cream/nude designs were nicer than the other ones.

Ayesha Imran
I've seen this designer's collections from previous shows, and this one was very similar - very bridal focussed, with heavy work, rich reds, rusts and creams and a full on look. I didn't really love the bridals as the designs didn't stand out for me, but I did like their formals - although they may be a little heavy for some wedding guests!

Diva by Sana Rashid
I loved the concept of this collection - pastel, florals and flowers in baskets. I have to say, I much preferred the formal kameez pieces as they looked sleeker and more flattering, over the skirts and maxi dresses which looked a little fussy.

Fatima Saifuddin
This is a new designer, and I liked that she had a range of styles - maxi dresses, lenghas, jackets and jumpsuits. The collection is less about heavy work and more about rich fabrics, rich colours and flowy designs, which I quite liked. I can also see myself in the jacket below (or the purple dress) and love that the material and the cut of the outfits look quite flattering.

Gogi by Hassan Riaz
I had a quick look at this designer's collection at the exhibition before the show, and I liked the interesting cuts and work on his designs. Some of the pieces are a little too adventurous for me, but I do like how creative some of these are!

Haris Shakeel
This is a designer who has been around for some time, and I remember liking some of the bridals he has made a few years back. I do like the collection below, but I feel like he played it safe a little - the cuts and colours are quire traditional. Having said that, I love the yellow dress and would love to pull something like that off!

Komal Nasir
This is a collection which focussed mainly on shawls - which was a very colourful, rich collection. I love beautiful shawls and these were seriously pretty, and I like how this collection highlights that you can have a simple outfit and dress it up with a worked shawl.

LGBTQI Segment Designer Fahad Hussayn
This was a unique part of the show, and a first for a Pakistani fashion show - a catwalk collection by Fahad Hussayn modelled entirely by LGBT and transgender models. I thought these were pretty funky, and really colourful, which suits the models quite well!

Naika
One thing I don't see enough in Pakistani fashion shows is sarees, and this was a collection which was only sarees. I thought the floral prints were nicer than the heavier ones, although that's probably because I prefer a good floral saree!

Purple Haze by Rubina Azmat
I thought this was a decent collection of formals, I really liked some of the cape ideas and can imagine them being quite popular for Eid or weddings. It also mixed rich fabrics wells with the work so it doesn't feel overloaded.

Rana Noman
This collection focussed on golds, creams and whites and was all about opulent bridals and rich work. I did like these but a couple of the designs looked similar to each other - but I can imagine these would look great for a nikkah event or a reception.

Sanam Boutique
This collection didn't appeal to me at all, the bridal's were not anything amazing at all and the formals were ok but not that creative. I don't think this is a collection which I would look at if I went to the store, as there's probably other designers who would appeal to me more.

Sonia Mahajan

I liked this collection, it was colouful and pretty and  thought some of these would make really nice mehndi bridal or formal outfits. I also liked that there is a good mix of flowy dresses and skirts with rich kaam and art work on shawls, which looks feminine and flattering.

Voile by Sabeen Arshad
This was a collection I liked, the colours were pretty, the cuts were flowy and modest and I thought they were quite wearable. This is another designer whose pieces I managed to check out at the exhibition, and the work up close looked pretty beautiful

Wajahat Sharoz
This collection was quite a subtle but glitzy one, using subtle colours for a rich pieces. Their bridals were a little simple for my taste, but I liked their formals which had a nice luxurious feel to them.

Yatashi
I think out of all of the collections in the show, this one had the most which had pieces that were wearable and would be easy to look for online. I can't imagine these are very expensive, and I liked the colour palattes used - perfect Eid inspo!

Zarsha by Ahsan Waris
I thought this was an intersting collection - it had that old style Mughal glamour to it but I thought osme of the pieces looked quite nice. I liked how flow and dressy some of the cuts were, and they would make great pieces for a wedding.

Zoe by Zoha Khan
This is another collection which I didn't think was that great - the pieces look slightly generic and I can't imagine that there would be slightly better versions of these elsewhere, although the cream gharara was quite pretty and would look nice for a summer wedding.

What did you think of these collection? Which one was your favourite?

Credits: 

Show Produced & Directed by Adnan Ansari  

Choreography by Hira Shah 

Styled by Saima Kiran 

Choreography Hira Shah  

Model coordination by Muneer Muhammad   

Photography by Shahid Malik @iamshahidmalik 

Media partners ARY 

Brand Director Hajra Lalljee 

PR Enigme International

BRIDAL COUTURE: Yellow and Pearl Inspiration by Samreen Vance and Dhaani Official

This is a campaign I came across recently, which caught my eye because of the unusual colour combination - but it was one I really liked! Pakistani model and actress Sara Loren modelled for Samreen Vance jewelry company, and Dhaani Official (who outfitted her) and I love the results. There was a heavy presence of yellow to compliment the jewels, which I think looks stunning - yellow and grey, as well as yellow and orange, which make perfect mehndi bridal inspiration!

The jewels are mainly kundan (gemstone) and pearl, with a vintage look to some of the pieces. I'm not a fan of overly embellished naaths (nose-rings) as I'm a fan of the delicate, thin ones, but I love these pieces - each one looks elegant without being overly blingy (although I think this is helped by the makeup being balance well with the jewellery).

I'm also a fan of the outfits themselves - the colour combinations look beautiful together, particularly the grey and yellow (although my sister did once say the combo reminds her of boiled eggs!). Each outfit is quite vibrant but also has a slightly 60s look to it, with mirror work, beading and gota work (the strips of material sewn on in patterns) that reminds me of an older era.

What do you think of these colours - would you wear them? A campaign I really like - where the jewels are equally as gorgeous as the outfits!

BOLLYWOOD ISTYLE: Anushka Sharma Weds Virat Kholi

I’m sure a lot of you caught photos for this one – Anushka Sharma’s super-secret wedding to Virat Kholo last month, which was planned by the couple themselves, in a small ceremony in Italy (which I did follow via hashtag #Virushka!) The couple looked like they had a fun wedding, and it seemed like a pretty happy event all around. I wanted to post the outfits the bride wore, which were a good mix of styles - although all designed by Sabyaschi!

The Engagement

This was a pretty smart affair, with Virat wearing a smart suit and Anushka in a gorgeous velvet maroon sari which she rocked with a simple updo and red flowers in her hair, and a gorgeous choker necklace. I think this would be among my favourite of the looks she had, striking, classy and elegant done well.

The Sangeet

What I liked about this most of all was how genuinely happy the couple looked here – neither of them are overly dressed up, and the henna looks exquisite. I really liked Anushka’s and Virat’s outfits – they’re wonderfully colourful, and feel fun fun – perfect  for a henna event, and you can see how relaxed the bride and groom are. And I’m sure none of us missed the déjà vu feeling though – seeing some of these photos reminded me a little of the wedding in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil! Anushka looks pretty in a print, brightly printed lengha choli and Virat looks great in a complimenting hot pink waistcoat jacket.

The Wedding

For the wedding ceremony itself, Anushka wore a pretty floral lengha by leading designer Sabyasachi (who seems to be everyone’s first choice at the moment, I’ve noticed). The outfit was a girly one – pastel pinks and white, with a very spring vibe to it. I have to confess, I didn’t love this wedding look  – it was okay but it could have been so much better. Perhaps I’m used to the more glamorous looks, but something about this looked a little ordinary – especially the hair and makeup, which looked a little flat, and felt like Anushka’s  beauty didn’t shine through. I was a little surprised by rave comments about her bridal but I guess it’s down to different tastes. Personally I think Anushka would have looked amazing if she had gone for a similar look as this one (especially the hair which I love!) – but hey, that’s just me. Having said that, I later saw photos of Anushka's hair under the dupatta which had beautiful soft pink roses, which looked really pretty!

The Delhi Wedding Reception

For the couple's first reception in Virat's home town, Anushka looked appropriately ‘wifey’ in a rich red silk Benarasi Sabyasachi saree – can’t get more regal and respectable looking than that – and with her gorgeous figure pulled it off well. She got the ornamental side of things pretty well put together as well, and I do think that she looked more glowy on this event. having said that, I still think her hair was again, a little flat, and could have been made more glamorous, but it did showcase her sari and extravagant jewellery quite well!

The Mumbai Wedding Reception

This last event was the wedding reception in Mumbai with all the stars, where Anushka wore another Sabysachi ensemble, this time a nude-beigey gold lengha-choli outfit. I think this outfit suited her the most, and was another of all of her bridal outfits that I really liked. I also think her hair looked the best on this day – it framed her face well and looked elegant with her tasteful makeup.

  

Over all I think Anushka did look pretty on her wedding events, but some looks were better than others. I can guess that like a lot of Bollywood heroines, Anushka has done a lot of bridal looks before so wasn’t looking to go overboard or too blingy on her wedding, which makes sense. I also think that the first bridal look in pink pastels and florals looked great for a destination wedding, and I can see the theme she was aiming for.

What did you think of her bridal looks? Which one did you like best?

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Anushka's Wedding Outfit in Phillauri

I saw this today, the just-released trailer for Phillauri, a project starring and produced by the lovely Anushka Sharma. I'm quite looking forward to seeing this, it looks quirky, funny and I'm sure I'll enjoy seeing the actress playing a ghost bride!

I also like this first-look of Anushka in a simple, traditional bridal outfit - white and gold with simple embellishment and a plain hair/jewellery look. It's a nice change from some of the usual bling, and of course this is meant to show a 'old-timey' bride from a past era.

I couldn't get a clear picture of the outfit (these are about as good as I got!) but I like the classic colour combination. Anushka pulls off this look well, and it doesn't overshadow her natural look or personality at all. I also love a traditional lengha, these reminds me of the outfits we used to wear in the 90s, which I love!

What do you think of this first-look? Will you be watching the film when it releases?

Upcoming Expos, Shows & Exhibitions...Feburary 2017

February seems to be a pretty busy month (and not just because it's Valentine's Day that month!), and I've heard about a lot of events happening. As I get asked by some readers and friends to let them know when things are happening, here's a few that I know about (sorry guys, these are all London events!)

A lot of these are happening on the same days, but I'm hoping to attend at least one of these - let me know if you think you'll be attending any of these or if you know of any more events in February and I'll update this list!

The National Asian Wedding Show
When: Sunday 5th February 2017
The National Asian Wedding Show is launching a new wedding supplier connect service - Europe's largest Asian Wedding & Fashion Event. To celebrate the launch we are offering all brides and grooms free entry into the upcoming wedding shows. The prestigious Radisson Blu Edwardian at Heathrow will be hosting some of the capitals leading wedding service providers alongside catwalk shows throughout the day.
Venue: Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow, Hayes
Links: Tickets here, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Entry: £5.50 for general admission, free for brides /grooms

Asiana Bridal Show
When: Sunday 5th February 2017
The Asiana Bridal Show is your opportunity to meet 100 of the UK’s top wedding service suppliers under one roof. This is your chance to meet the suppliers personally, compare their levels of service and discover new ideas to inspire your dream day. Many of the companies will be presenting special offers on the day, so this really is an event not to be missed!
The fashion show features 12 of the UK’s top fashion designers – each of whom will be unveiling their 2017 Bridalwear Collections for the first time. The show is thoroughly entertaining and will inspire your wedding wardrobe with all the accessories to match.
Venue: Grosvenor House, 86-90 Park Lane, London W1K 7TN
Links: Website, Facebook, Instagram
Entry: £10.00 - 20.00

Hina Rasim
When: Sunday 5th February 2017
Hina Rasim, Luxury Shopping event part III will be showcasing the latest Formal, Pret and casual wear collections by the best Pakistani designers, under one roof. Bridal wear by Republic Womenswear, Rozina Munib and others will also be on display. Renowned designers such as Shehla Chatoor, Misha Lakhani, Sania Maskatiya, Nida Azwer, Afh, Rema & Sherbano & Elan will also be available! 
Jewellery by Aura Art and Tanaya Couture .

Venue: The Dorchester, 53 Park Lane London W1K 1QA

Links: Facebook, Instagram, Website email: info@hinarasim.co.uk - you can see my posts about the last two Shopping events here and here.
Entry: Free

London Bloggers Pre-Love Event for World Hijab Day
When: Sunday 5th February 2017
Our BLOGGERS PRE-LOVE event will be full of gorgeous clothing that you have seen your favourite bloggers wear on social media #ootd from a mix of clothing, accessories and beauty. Whatever your style, we will have it ALL and with incredible mark downs of 70-90% off RRP what more could you ask for!
Venue: Westfield Stratford City, Holiday Inn, 3rd floor
Links: Tickets, Modest Fashion London blog, Instagram email: info@modestfashionlondon.com
Entry: £5 which goes to charity

Social City London
When: Sunday 5th February 2017
Love fashion and beauty and want to learn how to run a successful business and blog or
Want to grow your business & network?
If Yes, #SocialCityLdN is tailor made for you!
​​​A day filled with glamour and excitement, bringing the best Beauty, Fashion, Health and Lifestyle brands and Influencers together, all under one roof.
​A place for like-minded individuals to connect and learn from one another, to network and be inspired.
Venue: The Grand Hall, Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen St, Covent Garden London WC2B 5DA
Links: Website, Instagram,
Entry: £45 for Socialyte / £95 for VIP

London Modest Fashion Week with Haute Elan
When: Sunday 18th February - Sunday 19th February 2017
London Modest Fashion Week is a new and exciting addition to the London fashion calendar, and the first event of its kind in the British capital. On the 18th and 19th of February 2017, over 40 brands from all over the world (both emerging local designers and international brands) will be showcasing their modest collections on the exclusive catwalk at the Saatchi Gallery. The event is open to the public for a day of exclusive shopping, runway shows, photo-booth, talks and workshops, as well as to industry for networking and trade discussions.
Venue: Saatchi Gallery, King's Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY
Links: Tickets, Website, Instagram, Facebook
Entry: £1 - £200.00

Saira Rizwan at Tehxeeb London

This weekend, Pakistani designer Saira Rizwan visited Tehxeeb London, which is a store in East London that carries designer bridals and formals. I was fortunate enough to get an appointment to visit the store, and have a look around at the collection Saira Rizwan was bringing.

The store's window display

The store was pretty busy when I got there (it doesn't look it below, but it was!) and very beautifully set out, with formals and pret-wear at the front and the bridal collection and consultation area at the back. The store was also beautifully decorated with flowers, and there was plenty of space to browse and speak to the staff.

Here's a few showpieces on display which caught my eye straight away - this gold bridal on the left, and the green formal on the left. Both of these were beautifully worked, the with a mix of embellishment, colours and fabrics. I loved the heavy formal on the left, especially the worked trousers and the heavy bodice, which gives a glamorous look.

The bridal collection itself is beautiful - I was in love with the range of vivid colours and the soft, feminine pastels. I also loved the mix of cuts, shapes and work, which looked amazing - as I'm sure you're not surprised, a lot of these pieces below got sold to brides-to be before the end of the weekend! Unfortunately it was too busy for me to get a good idea of prices for these, but you can contact Saira Rizwan's team or visit Tehxeeb London to get a quote for bridals.

There were also a lot of formals on display, which were a gorgeous mix of rich fabrics and colours. Most of these were short kameezes with embellished trousers and print/lace work on them - perfect formal wear for a wedding. I've seen a lot of these styles on Instagram at weddings being worn by guests, so would imagine these would be quite popular.

As well as these, there were also Saira Rizwan 2016 pret pieces for sale - these were unstitched and cost about £130ish each, although there is also a tailor available to get these stitched as well. I really liked some of these pieces, which look stylish, with pretty embroidery and colours.

There were also plenty of refreshments for customers, as well as sweets and savoury food - considering how busy the store was, these were needed! These were set out along tables for customers waiting for appoinments, along with beautiful flowers.

There were a lot of customers trying bridals on, which looked beautiful - I managed to get a few pictures from the Texheeb London's snapchat and insta-story on their instagram account. I love how colourful these bridals are, and how beautiful the embellishments looks - not to mention how a lot of these customers look like models!

Interview with the designer
I managed to meet Saira Rizwan at the store and have a quick interview with her - I loved how easy

she was to speak to, and how interesting her designing work is. I only asked her a few questions as I knew how busy she was, but she gave me a good insight into her work and her pieces.

What are your bridal trends right now?
At the moment, the current trends are modern cuts mixed with traditional - shararas and peplum tops, long kameezes and maxi dresses. At the moment, ghararas and peplums are very big in Pakistan, and quite popular. I also follow soft colour palettes for one collection (the Madamoiselle collection) and brighter, bolder shades for another collection (the Shalimar collection).

What is your favourite piece in your collection?
I'm not sure, of this year or last! I really like this piece (below) from my Madamoiselle collection, which is in soft greys and pinks, perfect for a walima or reception. But I also love my Shalimar pieces from 2016 because these are great for mehndis and wedding bridals.

Can you see yourself in the UK market - i.e. having your own store in the UK?
Well, I already have an outlet in Pakistan, and I definitely plan on spending more time in the UK. I don't know about an outlet yet as Tehxeeb London is currently carrying my collection, and a lot of these can be customised and changed, which can be designed directly with me via Tehxeeb London. I think I will see how it goes, but so far it has been positive. I also find that there is a bigger demand in the UK than in the USA, because a lot of clients come from other cities like Birmingham and further north to my exhibitions in London - in the US this isn't possible because of the distance, and the states are too far apart so not every one can go to the exhibitions.

Can we order online?
We already have an online website for formals and pret! But it isn't practical for bridals purely because we can change designs, customise and personalise, which isn't feasible via the website.

How long does it take to design a bridal?
It takes about 1 ½ months to design the bridals - it takes a lot of time because of the colours, swatches embellishments and layout which all need to be put into place and discussed with the client.

The colour of 2017 is 'greenery' - do you think you will be using this in your pieces?
We are already using this colour! If you look at a few of my pieces, I have incorporated this shades of green, and a lot of other shades of green in my designs.

I also managed to speak to the staff at Tehxeeb London

Ordering with Tehxeeb London

I also managed to ask the staff at Tehxeeb London about their ordering processes and advice for customers who are looking for bridals or formals.

• Come to the store for a consultation - takes about 45 minutes to talk over what you want
• Bridal orders take about 4-5 months. The store can do urgent orders within 2 months if they have confirmation from the designer (they have done this in the past)
• Formals take 8-10 weeks - again, this depends how customised they are, whether you want alterations etc.
• Designers they carry - Umsha by Uzma Babar, Dastaan, Kaamdaani, Sapphire, Saira Rizwan and sometimes pret for brands like Elan. They also have their own collection under Tehxeeb London.
• Advice for brides - come with an open mind, see what is available and try things on. It's good to know what you want but if you have too specific an idea on a look, it can be difficult to find something in the store which will match what you're looking for - keeping an open mind helps you try other things.
• Future - Tehxeeb London will be at expos and fashion shows this year - will be at the National Asian Wedding Show in Birmingham in February 2017.
• Tehxeeb London will look to do future collaborations with designers, so watch this space!

You can visit Tehxeeb London at:

Address: 197 Ilford Lane, Ilford Essex IG1 2RU

Website: www.tehxeeblondon.co.uk

Facebook: Tehxeeb London

Instagram: @texheeblondon

You can also contact them to order a Saira Rizwan piece or get a quote for one of the outfits.