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.
Elan’s Eid collection included metallic tones in elegant cuts.
A lightly embellished ensemble from Zara Shahjahan’s Eid collection.
Sania Maskatiya stocks everything from printed silks to sumptous embroidered outfits while Nida Azwer has a more limited but equally desirable selection.
A pastel outfit with floral embroidery from Sania Maskatiya.
A subtle ensemble with a printed silk dupatta from Sania Maskatiya.
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.
Traditionally cut kurtas, embellished with lace and embroidery from Ayesha Somaya.
There are 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 Chaudri’s Eid collection included pastel colours and floral embroidery.
Farida Hasan used green in elegant ensembles for her Eid collection.
Saira Shakira’s Eid collection included unique silhouettes in summery colours.
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.
Sehrish Rehan showcasesd edgy silhouettes.
Amber Gohar’s Eid collection showcased trendy cuts in pastel colours.
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’s Eid collection showcased pastel colours, embellished with laces and floral embroidery.
Mira Hashmi looks stunning in a unique silhouette from Aleena and Fareena.
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.
Nazli Akbar’s collection featured outfits in pastel colours.
Nazli Akbar’s lovely Eid collection was a smashing hit in Karachi this Eid.
While exhibitions can be a mixed bag, it’s worth trawling through them for those that combine good quality and a fine aesthetic sense. 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.
Faraz Manan’s Crescent Lawn featured unique colours.
Farah Talib Aziz’s Lawn Collection featured light summery colours perfect for this weather.
If tussling with your tailor is out of the question, Ideas and Chinyere both stock attractive formal ready-to-wear.
Chinyere’s Eid collection featured elegant colours with embroidery.
Ideas Eid collection showcased elegant outfits perfect for those going for a more subtle look.
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.
This lace ensemble from Aleena and Fareena looks gorgeous on Shazah Ayub.
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.
Embroidered capes in summery colours from Amber Gohar’s Eid collection.
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’s capes are 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.
Farah Talib Aziz combines this season’s favourite trends in a lace cape.
Layla Chatoor’s Dolce Vita cape is perfect for fashionistas who like to stand out in a crowd.
Ayesha Somaya stock both formal and semi-formal capes while every Eid exhibition in town seemed to showcase at least one. 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.
A flowing pink cape with silver embroidery from Ayesha Somaya’s Eid collection.
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.
Ansab Jahangir’s Cocoon collection features trendy outfits for your little ones.
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.
Blocked by Afsheen Numair does a lovely trendy collection for both boys and girls
Eid shopping has never been easier. With so many gorgeous options around, isn’t it great that Eid is a three-day affair?
A version of this article by editor Salima Feerasta first appeared on the style portal of newspaper Dawn: images.dawn.com
