Pantene Bridal Week Day 1: Hulla gulla, hits and misses

The brainchild of Style360, Pantene Bridal Couture Week (BCW) opened its doors to Lahore late on Saturday evening. This three-day event sees throngs of people from all walks of life coming to enjoy the
show.Even though BCW is the pioneering platform for bridal fashion showcases in the country, the likes of this show are far different from those of any council show. For one, it is undeniable that budget constraints are no issue when it comes to Hum TV and hence the scale of the show is much grander than others. But even with all the finances, the collections put forth can be pretty mediocre. That being said, more than avant-garde fashion and trendsetting, most designers at BCW reiterate their signature styles that have attracted a loyal client base and give a feel of their colour palette and choice of kaam of the season.  The ambience of BCW itself reflects the mood of the shaadi season; the elaborate floral arrangements on the red carpet with hanging gazebo tops give a very luxuriant and festive feel to the entire show. The ramp decorated with Mughal arches, jharokas, picture windows, chandeliers, and fresh flower arrangements exuded grandeur may seem over the top but for a show that is meant primarily for television, the elements translate well on screen. Lollywood actor Sana’s mayun dance performance, choreographed by Bodybeat Productions, had the audience cheering. While the dance was a regular mehendi sequence, Sana’s enthusiasm and filmi expressions during a Bollywood song mash-up that opening with “Teri Ore” earned a few wolf whistles.Kuki ConceptsZahid Khan showed his collection based on Gulabjan, a courtesan from the 1930s. This collection was a pleasant surprise due to its overall cohesiveness. The embellishments may not have impressed most but the use of textured jamdani and gota was remarkable. Staying true to a regal colour palette and style, most of the collection was done in hues of purple. The capri length lehenga transported one to Indian Gujrat in the ‘30s. The main bridals were all textured fabrics with hues of blue and purple. While the menswear was impractical, with pagan skirts and colours that were too loud, the darbari pajama for men was well-stitched and in keeping with the time period. However, the gota-filled shalwar for men did not work! Kuki Concepts used many colours such as maroon, brown and peacock green together in one outfit and somehow made it all work beautifully. It was definitely the introduction of the textured fabric that held the collection together.