Today I was feeling a bit whimsical, so I put on this feminine, full orange-colored skirt and paired it with one of my favorite blouses, this silk emerald green number.
As part of a continuing series on scarf style here in Karachi, I bring you another look created with one of my favorite vintage scarves. Paired with a simple green tee and black culottes, this leopard-print chiffon scarf is what takes this look a notch up. I added some red nail polish to evoke the classically fierce image of animal print with fire engine red, and topped it all off with a citron clutch for an unexpected pop of color.
In
Art,
Pakistan's Art
Art is beautiful. And Pakistan has a burgeoning art scene hidden to many outside the country. As people in Pakistan have begun to look to art as an investment, some pieces have managed to triple in value over a very short period of time. I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of my favorite Pakistani art right now.
This is my favorite piece by artist Mashkoor Raza. Usually one to use horses as the dominant theme in his work, this particular piece is more abstract. I absolutely love the balance of color and texture.
Shauket Ali and Salman Farooqi both utilize a similar style when representing crowded Pakistani cities with that ever-so-familiar boxy architecture.
If you look closely, you will notice the silhouette of a reclining woman in the foreground of Ali's piece.
Moazzam Ali has a series of sketches of traditional Pakistani women over which he has painted bursts of watercolor for a sheer effect.
The woman depicted in this painting is wearing pieces common to women from the region of Sindh.
And finally, Wahab Jaffer creates portraits in an exaggerated manner reminiscent of Picasso.
This is my favorite piece by artist Mashkoor Raza. Usually one to use horses as the dominant theme in his work, this particular piece is more abstract. I absolutely love the balance of color and texture.
Shauket Ali and Salman Farooqi both utilize a similar style when representing crowded Pakistani cities with that ever-so-familiar boxy architecture.
If you look closely, you will notice the silhouette of a reclining woman in the foreground of Ali's piece.
Moazzam Ali has a series of sketches of traditional Pakistani women over which he has painted bursts of watercolor for a sheer effect.
The woman depicted in this painting is wearing pieces common to women from the region of Sindh.
And finally, Wahab Jaffer creates portraits in an exaggerated manner reminiscent of Picasso.
Today was a black and gold kind of day. Black and gold is one of my favorite classic color combinations! Here I paired a plain white tank with a high-waisted pleated skirt and blazer. I topped it off with a mix of black and gold jewelry. And voila! We're ready to face the day! :)
I must admit, I am not a big fan of most current popular Pakistani fashion. Despite having some of the most beautiful hand-crafted textile traditions in the world, Pakistani fashion of late has unfortunately taken a turn for the worse. For the most part, it's been awfully repetitive over the past few years - I don't remember the last time something jumped out at me as being fresh. The industry seems to have stepped into a rut in which it takes "more is more" overboard - five different types of lace, ribbon and tinsel, on top of that block print and embroidery, and just in case you think it needs some extra sparkle (it doesn't), throw on some sequins. It's no wonder most women end up looking like Christmas trees.
But every once in a while, a designer will come along and breathe some fresh air into the industry and remind you of the beauty of which Pakistan is capable. One such designer is Élan. Celebrating Pakistan's intricate embellishment tradition, Élan combines these details with simple, flowing silhouettes for a breathtaking result - not one overwhelmed by accents. When I think of Pakistani fashion, this is what I think of: beautiful gemstones on yards and yards of flowing fabric in a simple and elegant design.
I can only hope we see more designs like these in the Pakistani fashion industry in the future. The beauty of simplicity has been lost on the Pakistani public for far too long. It's time to put those Christmas trees away!
This should not be allowed to continue!
But every once in a while, a designer will come along and breathe some fresh air into the industry and remind you of the beauty of which Pakistan is capable. One such designer is Élan. Celebrating Pakistan's intricate embellishment tradition, Élan combines these details with simple, flowing silhouettes for a breathtaking result - not one overwhelmed by accents. When I think of Pakistani fashion, this is what I think of: beautiful gemstones on yards and yards of flowing fabric in a simple and elegant design.
I can only hope we see more designs like these in the Pakistani fashion industry in the future. The beauty of simplicity has been lost on the Pakistani public for far too long. It's time to put those Christmas trees away!
My grandmother has this gorgeous French sofa that she's had since forever. It's beautifully carved from mohogany wood and has these perfect little feet! I've always loved it, and it always inspires me in an uber glam way. I decided I'd use it for a shoot and share it with you all. Here I went for a glam vintage '70s feel with a gold headband, a black empire-waisted maxi dress and a faux-fur vest. I'm wearing my favorite jewelry, these vintage gold earrings made in a traditional Bengal fashion that a generational family friend handed down to me on my wedding. They are truly one of a kind and I love them! To complete the look, I kept my nails short and violet, and offset them with scarlet red lips.
Dress from H&M; vest from Zara
Dress from H&M; vest from Zara
My husband and I recently had the wonderful opportunity to visit his hometown of Bangkok, Thailand. After spending a few GORGEOUS days in the south in Phuket (which has the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen!), we hopped on a short flight to the country's capital. There, we explored some of the world's most famous Buddhist temples (known as Wat in Thai), including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) - which boasts a Buddha statue 50 feet high and 143 feet long!
Image from Wat Pho
Images from Wat Phra Kaew
Thai architecture is very distinct. Roofs of traditional buildings typically have multiple tiers and have curved, pointed corners to evoke the images of serpents and birds common in Hindu iconography.
The gold in the temples is just dazzling and is offset by boldly colored mosaics for a kaleidoscopic effect.
Remember, inspiration can come from anywhere! Seeing the majesty of gold in the temples reminds one what a luxuriously powerful color it is. And the supporting mosaics were appropriately made up of basic primary colors red, blue and green for a harmonious result.
Image from Wat Pho
Images from Wat Phra Kaew
Remember, inspiration can come from anywhere! Seeing the majesty of gold in the temples reminds one what a luxuriously powerful color it is. And the supporting mosaics were appropriately made up of basic primary colors red, blue and green for a harmonious result.
Hello lovelies! Another day, another outfit :) This time around I took a vintage yellow, blue and turquoise tie-dyed silk scarf and paired it with a citron top and full orange skirt for color, color, color all around!
Hope you're all having a wonderful day! xx
Hope you're all having a wonderful day! xx
In Karachi, one can't really leave the house without a scarf of some sort. So women here typically carry scarves called dupattas with all their outfits. But don't be fooled - despite being a required clothing staple, this scarf doesn't cramp anyone's style. There is a myriad possibilities in scarves here: silk, chiffon, fringed, laced, embroidered and embellished - you name it, it's been done. And each scarf adds a distinct look to an outfit. As I've noted in blog posts before, the opportunity to create custom pieces here by choosing the dyes and color combinations is a sheer delight. So with all the possibilities available, finding a stylish scarf hasn't been much of a problem :)
So here I am, adding a scarf with every outfit before I head out. Here I pair a vintage tie-dyed blue, yellow and purple silk scarf with some simple black leggings and a coral tank I got off a street vendor in Bangkok. (Watch by Michael Kors, shoes from Charles & Keith.) I am super-tan right now, so I added some hot pink lipstick and matching nail polish to complement the tan and bring out some pink tones.
So here I am, adding a scarf with every outfit before I head out. Here I pair a vintage tie-dyed blue, yellow and purple silk scarf with some simple black leggings and a coral tank I got off a street vendor in Bangkok. (Watch by Michael Kors, shoes from Charles & Keith.) I am super-tan right now, so I added some hot pink lipstick and matching nail polish to complement the tan and bring out some pink tones.
Today we made a trip out to the famous Sunday bazaar in Karachi. Here, you can find anything from organic veggies to recycled jeans from the '90s - and if you're lucky - some coveted vintage traditional Afghan jewelry (for which I am currently searching high and low! No luck yet though :()
Check out these shots of a stall in the bazaar carrying some colorful folk textiles. Each piece comes from and represents a different province in Pakistan - Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and Pakhtunkhwa. One familiar with Pakistan's rich textile history can easily identify which comes from where by the different types of embroideries and colors used.
All the bright colors spark so much vivid inspiration!
You can always pair a traditional folk piece with something clean and simple to create a unique look. The unexpected burst of color will be more than welcome. I found a gorgeous hot pink and turquoise embroidered bag at the floating market in Thailand, and paired it with a simple black shirt dress from H&M for a playful touch.
A little ethnic flair can always brighten up something that would otherwise be bland and predictable. And who doesn't love that!
Check out these shots of a stall in the bazaar carrying some colorful folk textiles. Each piece comes from and represents a different province in Pakistan - Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and Pakhtunkhwa. One familiar with Pakistan's rich textile history can easily identify which comes from where by the different types of embroideries and colors used.
All the bright colors spark so much vivid inspiration!
You can always pair a traditional folk piece with something clean and simple to create a unique look. The unexpected burst of color will be more than welcome. I found a gorgeous hot pink and turquoise embroidered bag at the floating market in Thailand, and paired it with a simple black shirt dress from H&M for a playful touch.
A little ethnic flair can always brighten up something that would otherwise be bland and predictable. And who doesn't love that!
In
Ethnic Style Inspiration,
Fashion
How to Wear Ethnic Pieces: Embellished Scarf-Print Jacket + Black and White
Hi everyone!
Today I decided to go for a mix of bold patterns - but I stuck with similar silk textures to maintain cohesiveness in the outfit. Here, I'm wearing the embellished color block print jacket from my collection with a black-and-white dotted satin shell and wide-leg pants from Banana Republic. I paired the outfit with a neutral envelope clutch and heels to balance the bold color and patterns:
Today I decided to go for a mix of bold patterns - but I stuck with similar silk textures to maintain cohesiveness in the outfit. Here, I'm wearing the embellished color block print jacket from my collection with a black-and-white dotted satin shell and wide-leg pants from Banana Republic. I paired the outfit with a neutral envelope clutch and heels to balance the bold color and patterns:
I recently helped style a friend who was having trouble putting together looks from her wardrobe. She had two whole closets bursting with clothes - jackets, skirts, tops - but didn't know what to do with them. What she did know was that she needed outfits to carry her from work to evening. So we needed something conservative enough for a professional work setting, but still dressy enough for happy hour or dinner.
Here are a few of the looks we put together.
This first look pulls together a relatively simple blush-toned BCBG dress with a a black BCBG blazer, taupe suede pumps from Nine West, and a beige Coach bag. By mixing different neutral shades together, we gave the outfit more depth and finished it off with a neutral snakeskin-print scarf for some added texture.
For our second look, we went with a pencil skirt silhouette by combining different black textures with a grey skirt. We carried the black and grey motif through, and paired the outfit with mixed-tone black and grey suede and leather Nine West pumps. Using the same black blazer from above, we created a different look by pairing the skirt with a layered satin shell underneath and a chunky gold necklace to break up the black and grey.
In the third look, we stuck to the pencil skirt silhouette by pairing a black satin pencil skirt with a black satin-outlined Zara blouse and black pumps. This outfit emphasized her hourglass shape in a flattering yet conservative way - making it perfect for work and after.
Finally, using the same satin pencil skirt above, we paired it with a simple, white short-sleeved cuffed button-down and finished it off with a black and white silk neck tie scarf and the same black pumps from above.
And voila! She has 4 outfits to carry her through the week - using the same pieces in different ways to create a versatile wardrobe.
Here are a few of the looks we put together.
This first look pulls together a relatively simple blush-toned BCBG dress with a a black BCBG blazer, taupe suede pumps from Nine West, and a beige Coach bag. By mixing different neutral shades together, we gave the outfit more depth and finished it off with a neutral snakeskin-print scarf for some added texture.
For our second look, we went with a pencil skirt silhouette by combining different black textures with a grey skirt. We carried the black and grey motif through, and paired the outfit with mixed-tone black and grey suede and leather Nine West pumps. Using the same black blazer from above, we created a different look by pairing the skirt with a layered satin shell underneath and a chunky gold necklace to break up the black and grey.
In the third look, we stuck to the pencil skirt silhouette by pairing a black satin pencil skirt with a black satin-outlined Zara blouse and black pumps. This outfit emphasized her hourglass shape in a flattering yet conservative way - making it perfect for work and after.
Finally, using the same satin pencil skirt above, we paired it with a simple, white short-sleeved cuffed button-down and finished it off with a black and white silk neck tie scarf and the same black pumps from above.
And voila! She has 4 outfits to carry her through the week - using the same pieces in different ways to create a versatile wardrobe.
I love Balmain for its strong, angular shoulders and geometric lines and patterns. The fashion house has mastered a fiercely stylish look - one that's androgynous but sexy. This season, we saw gold embellishments on a basic black, white and light blue denim palette, along with bolero-type jackets in a cohesive Western-style theme.
Lanvin is just so quintessentially French with its feminine, avant-garde form dresses. This season, the designer surprised us with a diverse collection that included of-the-moment fringe gowns, silk draped dresses, and minimalist structured skirt suits.
Isabel Marant was probably the most commercially wearable of the French design houses this season - taking a cue from American style heritage and even including football-inspired shirts:
Christian Dior was - unsurprisingly - perfectly feminine:
Elie Saab celebrates the female form in the most beautiful and feminine way. His S/S 2012 collection was no different - this season, Saab celebrated bright colors combined with the sparkly embellishments he does best:
And finally, Alexander McQueen - my favorite. I survey McQueen's collection each season the way I savor chocolate - slowly and relishing each moment. Each collection is wild, imaginative, profoundly artistic and provocative. This season was no different, with the following being my favorite three looks for the way they achieve feminine beauty while still being fierce, in classic McQueen style:
Lanvin is just so quintessentially French with its feminine, avant-garde form dresses. This season, the designer surprised us with a diverse collection that included of-the-moment fringe gowns, silk draped dresses, and minimalist structured skirt suits.
Isabel Marant was probably the most commercially wearable of the French design houses this season - taking a cue from American style heritage and even including football-inspired shirts:
Christian Dior was - unsurprisingly - perfectly feminine:
Elie Saab celebrates the female form in the most beautiful and feminine way. His S/S 2012 collection was no different - this season, Saab celebrated bright colors combined with the sparkly embellishments he does best:
And finally, Alexander McQueen - my favorite. I survey McQueen's collection each season the way I savor chocolate - slowly and relishing each moment. Each collection is wild, imaginative, profoundly artistic and provocative. This season was no different, with the following being my favorite three looks for the way they achieve feminine beauty while still being fierce, in classic McQueen style:
