Fads n Fashion

As Indian women step out to work, they are putting away their traditional Saris & salwar kameez & switching to western wear.

Women say they find Western clothing more convenient, especially when working or using public transportation campared to salwar kameez or Saree. Many offices now also prefer their employees to wear Western wear.

Branded trouser and skirts market has been growing at a whopping 27 percent in sales terms. Western influence is growing as people watch TV and films and style their own fashion in a contemporary manner.

The younger ones are shopping for cotton capris and short tops while working women like trousers and fitted shirts that don't interfere when they're driving or working. Shopping malls, selling branded clothes, have been growing in India like mushrooms, attracting youngsters.

Dressing up is an art and no matter how beautiful you are if you do not know the art of dressing up, your beauty will not be appreciated. You should know what to wear for a particular occasion.
Looking sexy and gorgeous is a matter of knowing your body, knowing what to wear and how to wear right kind of clothes. The important thing about dressing right is you should look slim and tall in whatever you wear, no matter what your weight is. Even fat women can look slim if they know the tricks of fashion. Learn how to camouflage your weight with proper dressing. Following are the tips that will make you look gorgeous, elegant and stunning!!

- Fashion starts with colors and using colors to balance your body the most advantageous thing you can do. Wear light colors where you are proportionately smaller and dark colors where you are proportionately bigger. For example, if you have large hips, wear any kind of a dark salwar, trouser or skirt a light colored Kameez, kurta, Kurti or a blouse.

- Dressing head-to-toe in a single dark color, like navy or black, is the single best way to look like you've lost 10 pounds.

- Wearing outfits with shoulder pads helps to balance wide hips. The shoulder pads will add to your shoulders therefore balancing with your hips.

- If you are overweight, avoid choose clothes that are too tight. Clothes that fit well will make you appear slimmer while tight clothes will only add pounds.

- If you are short try to wear clothes in solid colors with simple lines, this will make you appear taller.

- Always break in new shoes before wearing them out for a special occasion

- Vertical stripes make you look thinner. The skinnier the stripe, the thinner you appear. Pin strip suit works best.

- Avoid wearing black during hot days as black color absorbs a more heat than any other color.

- Women with heavier thighs should wear a straight cut skirt or a full leg pants. This will make your thighs look thinner.

- If you want your legs to look longer wear slim, straight leg pants.

- Whenever wearing a White or a light color shirt, wear a bra close to your skin color.

- Give a new updated look to an old blouse or jacket by sewing on new buttons.

- Pleats add pounds. If you want to look larger through the hips, wear pleats. If you don't, avoid pleats! · If clothes don't fit, have them altered. If they don't fit, they'll remain in the closet.

- Denims were big last summer and is expected to continue this year as well.

- Choose your accessories wisely. Accessories can completely change the look of an outfit.

- Women with larger hips should choose jeans that are generously cut through the hips with a flared leg.

- When losing weight, don't wait to choose wardrobe pieces. Choose pieces that will camouflage problem areas.

- Ditch shorts. Capris, on the other hand, are surprisingly slimming, especially if you stick to dark denim or black and wear ones that aren't too short or too long. They should end at the least-wide part of your calves, ideally a few inches above the ankle.

- Wear a sexy V-neck and deep scoop-neck tees elongate the neck and make the torso appear longer by showing off your collarbone.

- Sport three-inch heels. High heels give you a thinner profile and silhouette.

- Avoid ankle-strap sandals. The more of your leg and the top of your foot you show, the longer your leg line will appear.

- Pick a well-proportioned purse. Petite women look sexiest with smaller bags, while large women look best with medium-size purses.

- Score face-slimming shades. If your face is on the full side, wide rectangular-frame sunglasses give you a sleeker look.

- Think long jewelry. Long, skinny earrings and sleek pendant necklaces elongate and slim the face and body with their vertical lines.

- Wear bangles. Skinny bangles or a bracelet-style watch make your arms look thinner by creating space around your wrist, which fools the eye, making you look slim.

- Pick the right part. Opt for a side part -- a center part makes your face look round. A good rule of thumb to find the most flattering, face-slimming part: Use the arch of your eyebrow as a guide. Start the part above the arch and go back from there in a straight line.
Pull your hair back. If your neck is on the short side, pulling hair up off your neck and shoulders makes the neck look longer and upper body appear thinner.
Add volume. Hair that lies too flat on the head makes a full face appear even bigger. A full or wavy style, on the other hand, minimizes a larger face.

- Do an updo. Building extra height at the crown of your head narrows round features and makes your face seem thinner. For the simplest 'do ever, twist hair into a high knot and fasten with a pretty barrette.

Courtesy: Mystique Asia - Design Team

Url: http://www.mystiqueasia.net

Broad Shoulders - If you have broad shoulders then we suggest that you try outfits wide necklines, short sleeves and light fabrics help to visually reduce broad shoulders.

Big Bustline - If you have big bustline then we suggest that you try wearing outfits with high necks with full sleeve. Avoid wearing V-necks and scoop neck outfits as they emphasize the bust.

Small Bustline - If you have a small bustline the we suggest that you wear V-Necks, scoop neck, boat neck using bulkier fabrics, this will create an illusion of a fuller bustline.

Heavy Arms - If you have heavy arms then we suggest that you wear sleeves that are not fitted yet follow the body line. Avoid heavy fabric and elaborate embroidery on sleeves.

Heavy Hips - If you are heavier on the hips then we suggest that you wear moderately loose kameez with slightly longer length. Avoid wearing fitted, short garments which are going to further emphasize your hips.

Short legs - If you have short legs then we suggest than avoid trousers, go for Capris, skirts instead. Shorter styles work on a petite figure, as the legs aren't too hidden. Avoid stilettos and go for casual wedges. Flats are often avoided by short women, but try combining a flat with a Capri or a Skirt and see the difference. It looks great and creates the right balance and shows lots of leg. If you prefer trousers, pick a slim-cut leg and wear them with a heeled shoe or boots in the same colour. For a long leg effect, wear your trousers so they almost hit the bottom of your heel.

Heavy legs - Women with heavy thighs have wonderful lower legs, therefore consider yourself lucky and flaunt them. Go for knee-length skirt or Capri and combine it with heels. This not only looks great but also does great at extending and toning legs. Avoid short skirts, as these can emphasize wide thighs. If you like wearing trouser then go for fabrics that do not have too much stretch. Preferably go for a wool-mix fabric with a small amount of stretch. Jeans can have a slimming effect on big legs, but stick to dark denim.

Skinny legs - Women with skinny legs should try pairing skirts with boots and get a killing effect. Biker boots are great for fattening up skinny calves. It looks great with short skirts and skinny jeans alike.

Long legs - Women with long legs are looked at enviously by most, but tall girls have their own issues. We suggest that you go with cropped pants for the summer. As long as they are the right length (mid-calf), they'll look great.

Courtesy : Mystique Asia - Design Team
Url: http://www.mystiqueasia.net

Nadya Mistry came into the fashion scene a few years ago with her flagship store in the prestigious Park Towers Mall in Karachi. She has been a controvercial designer with her very bold designs, colors & cuts which make her stand out from the rest. Traditional lehengas are given a modern twist with mermaid style skirts and gota embroidery. This fusion along with a vibrant burst of bright colours creates an overall effect of elegance with an attitude.

Choices vary from person to person & place to place. This is actually depending on the climatic conditions of an area but be sure that the main aspect of color choice is personal like & dislike. Even in our homeland, choice varies from region to region. Our rural side & Northern areas like brighter colors as compare to the urban society. We can also observe a prominent change among cities. Like Karachi-ites prefer to wear lighter colors as compare to other cities specially Punjab side. Another reason of liking cooler colors by Karachi-ites is ‘weather’, because Karachi has hot & warm weather throughout the year. Winter is just for 20 days or a month. That is why they prefer to wear these colors. Well Karachi girls have still not forgotten to wear white shalwar & dupatta. This is the most famous choice especially in summer. Whereas Lahore & other cities are crazy about bright colors such as deep purple, orange etc. etc. Another interesting thing is that all the bright & loud shades are in fashion these days. Even we are passing hot summer but people still like to wear turquoise, dirty pink, deep yellow, magenta & orange family. Applied designs of dresses are also too bold, like sequins & other shiny embroidery stuff are in latest fashion these days. Black is an English choice & is all time favorite.

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Yousuf Bashir, has returned to Pakistan after extensive professional success with many big names in Hollywood movies, haute couture, fashion houses and garment firms. Yousuf's creations are spun from high quality fabrics and hand-loom French chantilly, distressed suede or delicate cashmere knits, steeped in colour.

A writer, entrepreneur, artist and designer, fluent in Urdu, Sindhi, Seraiki, Punjabi and Spanish, Yousuf now intends to bring his talent home to Pakistan, and the opening of his design house in Karachi should provide a welcome addition to the fashion scene.

Yousuf moved to Los Angeles in 1997, setting his sights on Hollywood and the music industry. His first high-profile client was Madonna whom he was introduced to by Arianne Phillips (Mod Squad). He made Madonna's costume, her set and the clothes for her dancers at the Enchante MTV Awards which included Madonna's "Om Shanti" video. He then started working closely with Sheryl Crow and subsequently designed for Alanis Morissette and Jewel as his career snowballed, primarily as a music video designer handling both set design and garments. His creations have been worn by Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Brook Shields, Angelina Jolie, Oscar winner Denzel Washington and many others. Later on he shifted from mainstream Hollywood to more independent sort of films, docu-dramas filmed like documentaries but scripted, or historical pieces for which I do my own research."

Yousuf Bashir has set up his design studio in a fairly large warehouse in the financial district of Karachi with all facilities and a fairly decent fashion & art library which is open to all Artists. He says that Karachi is the smallest biggest town I have ever seen. Something the city has not seen, something the city deserves."

Philosophy
Tazeen Hasan creates a niche in fashion with her sleek, structured silhouettes that are smart, elegant and which can take you breezing in from work to an afternoon tea to a party, dinner, even a mehndi.

Clients
My clientele consists of both working women as well as housewives. They are fashionable, trendy women who are very conscious of their appearance. They know how they want to look and my line definitely caters to their demands.

The Difference
My designs are simple, classy, sophisticated and above all very wearable. A combination of cut and embroidery gives style but it should be wearable too. I focus a lot on finishing which is so important.

Appearance
I design my cuts with people from real society in mind and not just models. We should not accentuate our heavier parts. Instead of wearing a close fitted shirt which mostly does no good for our appearance, we must try to wear clothes which make us look smart and in control of ourselves. As for many of my clients, I am very critical about how they dress. I would never sell an outfit if it is not going with their personality. In fact, I groom my clients too and sell an outfit which suits them best.

Color palettes
I do not follow a particular norm, instead I go by the International fashion scene and moods. As long as an outfit is beautifully tailored, finished well, uses a good fabric, it is rated high on the selling scale – color is no criteria.

About style
Basically a person is born with it. You cannot acquire it. It is within you and style is reflected outwards. Yes, a person can groom oneself and look stylish & trendy but style is really something you are born with.

HSY - Hassan Sheheryar Yasin is one of the biggest thing to happen in fashion in the last decade in Pakistan. Hassan has recently launched his new studio in the highly fashionable district of Zamzama in Karachi. The flagship studio is currently in the cultural capital of Pakistan, Lahore.

The collection this season is breaking away from supreme eastern traditions and is instead fusing them together with western sensibility. Opulent-detailing still remains the forte behind the new collection with intricate embellishments and elaborate elements.

The aim at HSY has been to showcase a diverse collection in order to represent the rich cultural heritage of the East.

This is what Shaiyanne Malik is all about. As a designer she is ranked among
Pakistan’s leading designers and is well respected not only in Pakistani Fashion
Scene but also in the in the International arena.
Shaiyaane Malik keeps coming up with something novel every time she does a show,which is a real pleasure to watch.

Here are some of Shaiyaane Malik's creations.

Style, innovation, attitude, individuality, creativity and lifestyle sums up any Deepak Perwani's Collection.

Deepak Perwani is one elite fashion designer of Pakistan. His range speaks for itself. Detailing and creativity embraces the personality of an individual wearing Deepak's styles. He has mastered the craft with an exceptional bold briliance.