Shehla Chatoor’s fashion soiree wove a grand tapestry of color and exuberant design as she unveiled her latest regal bridal showcase titled ‘Nur-e-Alaleh on Sunday, March 18th in an all exclusive event at a beautiful old colonial bungalow in Karachi.
Known to stun the audience with her divine pieces, Shehla’s first ever solo couture show for bridal collection brought to life a heavenly enchanted forest.
The mystical evening began with prominent personalities walking down the red carpet looking their best in chic ensembles and being interviewed by gorgeous Anushe Shahid who looked like a vision in Shehla Chatoor’s exquisite white-tailed gown.
This was followed by a soothing musical performance by the young and talented Leo twins; Haroon and Sharoon from Nescafe Basement who serenaded the crowd with some theatrical violin and guitar pieces.
Shehla’s artisanal bridal couture collection, Nur-e-Alaleh, meaning light from a heavenly flower, was a romantic ode to what she is known for. The age-old Karachi residence was turned into an avant-garde museum where regal ensembles with exquisite and intricate old-world handcrafted embroidery – resham, beaten mukesh, zardozi, vintage sequins, metalwork as well as pearls and Swarovski crystals with sleek, contemporary silhouettes were fashionably showcased down the ramp.
Tracing its impetus to Rumi’s esoteric quotes about nature’s stunning flora and fauna, the collection’s sumptuous embellishment was wholly handcrafted into delicate floral, exotic birds and butterfly motifs and transposed onto a medley of draped, ruffled, cinched, flared and cascading lamé, vintage velvet and tulle objects. Not just that but subtle hues emboldened with rich accents, soft salmon accented with deep magenta; delicate ivory with royal blue inflections and an assemblage of whispering blue, grey, mint, gold and silver pieces created indubitably ethereal, enchanted and dreamlike visions at the show that were highlighted with Shehla’s signature detailing of fringe, plumage and shimmer.
“Keeping in mind that a Shehla bride is modern, elegant and someone who’s peculiar about intricately luxe details; desires effortless glamour and yearns to make an enduring impression, juxtaposing timeless elegance with contemporary romance and femininity in her bridal choice, I designed Nur-e-Alaleh, the dreamy and swoon-worthy collection specifically in a manner that’s ideal for both a cool, relaxed destination wedding to Marbella, the Maldives or Santorini or to a traditional and majestic family affair,” said Shehla Chatoor. “I am also utterly grateful to Sophia Webster, the leading international shoe designer, for providing the shoes from her collection for this show that perfectly blended with our flora and fauna collection designs and gave a complete glamorous finish.”
Each element, the outfits, and music, perfectly blended together, creating an ethereal and pulsating majestic ambiance. A ramp show featuring Pakistan’s top models such as Mehreen Syed, Fauzia Aman, Alyzeh Gabol, Amna Ilyas, Areeba Habib, Amna Baber, Sadaf Kanwal and many more blew away the crowd in awe-striking and incredibly gorgeous pieces. Shehla Chatoor’s bridal collection showcase invoked the spirit of the light of heaven transcending into a world of mystique, magic, and marvel that left the audience bedazzled and romanced by the light and shadow of her stunning bridal capsule.
Amongst the tastefully lit lighting and décor were famous faces with the likes of Deputy British High Commissioner Ms. Elin Burns, Bunto Kazmi, Sadaf Fawad Khan, Asim Raza, Ali Safinaz, Hira Tareen, Hareem Farooq, Safinaz Muneer, Tapu Javeri, Maheen Khan, Nadia Hussain, Huma & Amir Adnan, Sana Bucha, Feri Rawanian, Umer Sayeed, Asad ul-Haq, Saqib Malik and many more friends, clients and distinguished media.
The event was managed by Production 021, the on-ground décor and installations by Anisa and Amina Rasheed Khan for RAKA, creative direction for the fashion walk by Frieha Altaf at Catwalk Productions, ornate Jewels by Chhotanis, Faisal Kapadia for digital amplification and styling by Nabila rounded off a stylish event.