Trips, Falls and Fun on the Catwalk

We couldn't help but share these videos with you, we love the way a lot of the models style out their trips and falls-Hats off to them! 

Poor girls we would really hate to be in their shoes, but you really cant help but laugh. Enjoy!

and heres the TOP TEN!

Keep Smiling!

Elegant Outfits 

Pakistan Fashion Week- November 2012

We were browsing some of the designs which were showcased at the Pakistan Fashion Week that was held in London on 16-18 November 2012, so we thought we would share our thoughts with you.

Overall we never noticed too much creativity in the designers this year. We are mindful that designing something completely new is hard work and takes a lot of time and research, so we appreciate all the designers and the time and effort they put in.

Two of the pakistani designers that stood out the most were 'Rani Eman' and 'Shaziya Kayani', here are some of the designs we find are truly inspirational and beautiful.

Rani Eman

                                      
Shaziya Kayani

To see other designers work that was showcased on the day you can check out the Riwayat  fan page on Facebook. Hope you enjoy looking through the designs as much as we did.

Best Wishes,

Elegant Outfits

Embroidery Techniques- Useful to know

Pakistani/Indian outfits are traditionally known for the intricate embroidery used on them, this gives the outfit the rich and extravagant look. Ever wondered what different techniques of embroidery/kaam is used and the hard work that goes in to the making?

Below we will briefly discuss some of the techniques that are involved to create the traditional style embroidery:

Zari/Zardozi Work

These are fairly generic terms referring to gold thread embroidery. There is an endless variety of specific technical terms referring to various different styles of zari and zardozi work ie. dabka, aari, nakshi

Dabka Work

Dabka refers to embroidery done with tightly coiled golden wire...it's very commonly used in Pakistani clothes.

Kundan Work

Kundan is the use of "gems" (usually plastic or glass) in the embroidery, if you use glass, it becomes "cut glass" work, if you use swarovski crystal, it becomes "swarovski" work.

An example of Kundan work with diamantés

This is an example of Dabka and Kundan work used together

Aari Work

Aari work is a kind of flat chain stitch that's done with a special hooked needle (a lot of traditional Kashmiri embroidery is aari work), it can be done in metallic or coloured thread.

Nakshi Work

Nakshi work is done with a special kind of very shiny thread.

Overall traditional Pakistani/Indian outfits are made with a combination of many techniques to make us look and feel special for our big day or special occasion.

Best Wishes,

Elegant Outfits

Body Shape- Do you know yours?

A very important part of dressing is knowing your body. Do you know yours? 
These are four main body shapes that we will discuss below:

THE APPLE/THE INVERTED TRIANGLE

The second most desirable figure shape - the body is larger above the waist then below. It is produced by a proportionally-large bust line and small hips. Long-legged women often have this body shape. (famous figure for this striking shape, - beautiful Angelina Jolie)

Your goal: Balance full upper body by increasing the visual width below the waist

Dressing guidelines: A-line skirts or skirts with patterns or bold textures. Horizontal stripes below the waist and fuller-leg trousers. Single-breasted jackets and garments that are smooth and soft in texture. Wear vertical lines in garments worn above the waist or throughout the entire garment. Narrow collars and lapels. Short, loose sleeves hemmed just above or below the fullest part of the bust.

THE PEAR/TRIANGLE

This is one of the most common body types .The body is larger below the waist then above. You may necessarily have a large hip line. Possibly you have a small bust line which makes you appear triangular. Short-legged and balanced-bodied women are commonly this shape. Alternatively, thighs and bottom may be fuller. (famous figure for this shape - stunning Latina, Jennifer Lopez).

Your goal: Width needs to be created in the upper body to balance the full lower half.

Dressing guidelines: Shoulder pads are the most slimming accessory when worn, as long as they are not apparent and the good thing is they are back in fashion! Horizontal necklines. Smooth, matt fabrics below the waistline, darker colours in skirts and pants, straight or slightly-tapered trousers and skirts. High-positioned accessories and medium to high heels.

THE RECTANGLE

Another common figure shape. Little or no waist line definition, long-legged and balanced women most commonly have this shape. Some hourglass figures may become rectangular with weight gain or maturity or women in sport. (famous figure for this shape – beautiful, blonde Cameron Diaz)

Your goal: Visually thin and lengthen torso, also create strong shoulder line and the illusion of a waistline.

Dressing guidelines: Colour blocking to create the illusion of a waistline, semi-fitted or slight shape in clothes, soft, fabric tops and matching skirts. Single breasted jackets and fitted vests left open.

THE HOURGLASS

Hip and bust measurements are very similar with the waist about 10 inches smaller. Women with this body shape often have the good fortune that weight gain or loss is evenly distributed and will go unnoticed for a long period of time, (famous hourglass figure of all time - Marilyn Monroe)

Your goal: This figure is considered the perfect body shape. Since the aim or the goal with dressing all body types is to create an hourglass or inverted triangle.

Dressing guidelines: Clothing is easy to fit and find. Factors such as weight, skin tone, prominent features and age become increasingly important to be well-dressed.


Whats your body shape and how do you like to dress to compliment this?

Best Wishes

Elegant Outfits 

Clothing Colour- What does it say about you?

The colour of your clothing can affect your day and also influence the way other people react to you. Colours can affect you in many subtle ways, sometimes a bright colour may be a great pick-me-up and on a cold day a rich colour my give you a sense of warmth and comfort.

Here are some colours and how they affect you when you wear them:

Black
If you’re going for a promotion at work or interviewing for a new job, you might want to wear black – it signifies power, seriousness, authority, and responsibility, all qualities your boss is likely looking for. Outside the office, black is also a color that will give you class, elegance and a chic look

White
Missing summery? Wear white! It reflects light and reminds us of sunnier days. It’s also associated with peace, innocence, simplicity, and cleanliness. Wear white when you want to bring out any other colors you’re wearing – it enlivens anything you pair with it.

Green
Shades of green are calm and soothing, as well as associated with nature and the outdoors. That’s why green is one of spring’s most popular shades. Green is also refreshing and has been found to reduce stress in those who look at it. If you’re feeling really overwhelmed, add green to your outfit and you might feel more relaxed.

Yellow
Sunny shades of yellow are the perfect thing to cheer you up on a bad day, so if you’re feeling down, wearing yellow could help perk you back up. Yellow is also associated with intelligence and inspiration.

Red
Want to get someone’s attention? Red is your color! The color red empowers and draws attention toward the wearer. It’s also strongly associated with romance and passion, making it a perfect date-night color. But be careful – it’s also been said that red stimulates the appetite and makes us hungry for junk food, so wear with caution if you’re trying to eat healthier.

Orange
Like red, orange draws attention and energy, but unlike intense red, it’s a little more soothing. While orange is a difficult colour for some skin tones to pull off, if you have the skin tone to work with it, orange will help put you in a positive, energetic mood.

Blue
Blue is a color that can be both peaceful and calming as well as cold and standoffish. If you’re feeling really stressed out, the color blue can help you feel more relaxed. If you’re sad, however, you might want to steer away – the color blue can subconsciously make you feel more “blue.”

Purple
Regal and sophisticated, purple is associated with creativity and luxury. Like red, purple is a very stimulating color which can boost your energy level when you see it. It’s also a color that’s sometimes associated with spirituality and intuition, so if you’re having trouble making a decision, paint your nails lavender and see what comes to you.

Pink
Of course we all know pink as the true girly-girl’s favorite color, but it’s also associated with romance and happiness. Pink is very calming, so don’t wear it if you need tons of energy. Because of its romance association, pink is a good choice for a date. You can also wear it anytime you’re a little bummed out for a boost. Of course, if you personally hate pink, then (obviously) this won’t work for you.

What colour do you feel most comfortable wearing and why?

Best Wishes, 

Elegant Outfits 

How to Dress 'Elegant'??

Assalamu alaykum,

Since naming our venture 'Elegant Outfits' we have always been quite curious about how one is to dress 'Elegant', we use the term commonly to describe clothing, our taste/style and generally anything to do the aesthetics of any object.

So, we decided we will do a little research on how we can dress 'elegant' (Disclaimer: We are by no means saying that 'We are elegant-est of them all')

So, after our extensive research and hours of hard work and dedication, we found there was some very stringent criteria to qualify as being 'elegant'.

We hereby bring you the list below, which will help you maintain 'sheer elegance in your life' (posh accent). Ladies, hold fast to these rules and tie it to your dupatta/hijab (anyone heard the asian version of that. lol) for in life you will always need a little bit elegance.

That brings us on to our findings, incorporate the following on your special occasion to look Elegant and Classy:

* Always use subtle makeup- Take some time out and pop down to your local makeup counter and have your makeup shade matched to your skin colour. Use makeup that is good quality, not the kind that sits on the surface your skin or creases in your skin (search for makeup that compliments you skin type),

* Less is more- When shopping for clothing concentrate on quality rather quantity, however cliche this may sound it is true as generally cheaper clothing means cheaper quality fabric. (Cheaper fabric has a tendency to shrink markedly when washed and patterns may become skewed and not properly aligned.) 

* Focus on fit, quality and classic appeal, so that these pieces can be used over and over through the years. 

* Handbags and shoes- Select well made classic hand bags and foot wear in neutral colours. Black is always a safe option, but beige, browns and neutral metallic also work really well to achieve the 'elegant' look. Try to find a pair of comfortable heels to coordinate with the rest of your wardrobe, nothing dresses an outfit up more than a pair of heels (IMHO).

* Wear very Classic Jewelry- When shopping for jewelry search for beautiful classic pieces, pearl earrings, dinky necklaces and bracelets. 

* Practice your posture- Good posture adds to a well-put-together look, as well portraying a more confident image there are a myriad of reasons for why we should be more conscious of this. Some of which are, your breathing becomes easier, this helps muscles and joint alignment, healthy spine and finally it can help your frame of mind from being depressed to feeling uplifted and positive (Ta-chi, Yoga use techniques that focus on the posture to help he body and the mind).

* Be yourself- Let your personality and character shine and and do not try to be something that you are not to prove to people you are 'elegant'. This is the real deal! In other words, if non of the above mentioned things fit well with you then don't do them! 

As long as you are happy and confident in what you do, that's what makes you a real Elegant and Classy women.

A few celebrities that are dressed elegantly in my opinion

Oh and before we leave you must go and look at this, '100 Ways To Elegant', the things you have do to be Elegant!


Best Wishes, 


Elegant Outfits

Elegant Outfits

Assalamu alaykum,

So, it only makes sense to maybe doing to the 'ribbon cutting' post being about us. What are we all about and what do we hope to be able provide?

We are a 'bespoke design label', being able to essentially design and produce anything that YOU want. We hope to be able to help in the situations where 

*You know what you want but cant find it any where,

* You have fallen in love with a dress, but your size is not available,

* You love a particular dress design, but it has  low neck or is sleeveless, 

* You have seen someone wearing something and wish you could have something like that,

* You have seen a beautiful dress in some designer boutique, but it isn't really in your budget, 

* You like a dress, but the colour combination is not right or you would like to change something about,

* OR finally you have your own ideas and want something in particular made for you to make it special.

Yes I have personally experienced these problems, if I really fell in love with the outfit the chances would be it would not be in my budget and then anything in my budget didn't quite excite so much. So I would find myself wearing something because it fit in my affordability or just because that was what was readily available.

 I mean who has the time these days to drive up and down the country searching for that perfect outfit or dragging oneself in and out of asian clothing stores on Ladypool Road! (Yes I am from Birmingham), These retailers aren't always the most friendliest I might add, why do most south asian retailers have such bad customer service? ( I am digressing, this may be a topic for another blog post)

If you have seen an embroidery design you like, but did not like the colour scheme, we can also help. Here is an example of where we have recreated the embroidery design, but used a colour palette our customer requested:

Then we can prepare outfits based on our customers very own colour and fabric choices. We also can give you many embroidery designs to choose from, so if there is an outfit you like, but the embroidery is not quite your style that can easily be changed to you suit your personal taste. 

We always keep you involved through the process, from when the fabric is dyed to when the embroidery design starts. You can have as much involvement throughout the process as you wish.

We inshallah hope to be useful to many of you and that you enjoy the process of working on your very own outfit with us, to make it all that more special!

Nadia

Our New Blog

Assalamu alaykum,

We have started this new blog so that we can chronicle the journey and development of Elegant Outfits, this will also be a place where we can talk about eastern and western fashion trends and also tell you what we are up to behind the scenes.

We trust and hope you will all join us through our blogging life and this can be a place that you find yourself returning to from time to time.

Best Wishes


Elegant Outfits