Television channels’ allegiance to fashion week has ensured one thing: the star quotient. TV channels are known to actually put together a wish list of show stoppers and offer them to designers. It tends to get repetitive – how many times can you see the same star on the catwalk before you throw your arms up in dismay and absolute boredom - but every now and then we do get pleasantly surprised. We can’t say that all these celebs looked their best but we were happy to see them nonetheless…
Aisam ul Haq
Tennis star (introduced as ‘Pride of Pakistan’) Aisam ul Haq turned up in support of his sister, Shiza Hassan, who was showing at PLBW for the first time. Wearing an ornamental jacket, he sported an unshaven look and appeared very different to his usual clean-shaved self. As expected he was received with cheers that brought the house down.
Hareem Farooq
Actor and producer Hareem Farooq came in support of Saira Rizwan, also debutants at fashion week. Hareem has been riding the wave of success these days as she co-produced Jaanan, is appearing alongside Osman Khalid Butt and Maya Ali in Sanam and is part of the lead cast of upcoming Mehreen Jabbar film, Dobara Phir Se. Hareem isn’t one of those size zero stars we see and it was therefore very pleasant to see a real and full-figured woman on the runway.
Sohai Ali Abro
Sohai has had her share of runway appearances but they’ve usually come with theatrics so it was quite a relief to see her in a sophisticated and elegant avatar, walking for Shamsha Hashwani. Appearing with her hair tied up in a conventional bun, Sohai looked pretty and sedate, a far cry from the footloose and fancy impression she gives in award shows. We’d love to know what this petite bombshell is doing next.
Mahira Khan
Yes, we’ve seen her walk for many designers including Feeha Jamshed and Umar Sayeed, but one can never get enough of Mahira, especially when she’s part of the grand finale, a high energy Ali Xeeshan show, and is simultaneously walking for a cause. Mahira is someone who can carry herself in western as well as eastern garb just as comfortably and she looked lovely in all white, ornamented from head to toe in traditional jewellery.
Photographs by Faisal Farooqui Dragonfly