As far as exuberant starts go, it couldn't have got better than the neon-filled collection unleashed on Sunday, the first day of Dubai Fashion Week, DFW, by German-Arab designer Mona Fares. The Eighties-bright neons seem to have made a comeback as models sashayed down the ramp in vibrant disco outfits in fuchsia is, lemon greens and electrifying yellows.
In pictures: Dubai Fashion Week
In many ways, the psychedelic show was a perfect foil for the relatively muted abayas that dominated the opening day held in the tent at Atlantis, The Palm. Of the five shows, two of them, by Emirati designers Waad Bin Hammad and Lamya Abedin, were all about presenting the all-black outfits with some creative twists.
The opening day was also a first for many designers. Barring Pakistani designer and DFW regular Sobia Nazir, it was a DFW debut for designers such as Fares and Bin Hammad.
Unlike other seasons, the shows, except for the opening, surprisingly ran on time.
Predictably, bridal outfits — a staple of DFW irrespective of which season the designers are presenting — also made a re-appearance. Embellished tunics teamed with sheer culottes dominated Nazir's spring-summer "Goddess" collection.
"There's a huge demand for the kind of outfits I design. It's couture wear and is perfect for an occasion like weddings and festivals. Isn't Dubai all about that?" Nazir asked.
Drama and theatrics on the ramp were also a mainstay of the opening day. Models broke into a futuristic, robotic dance in glow-in-the-dark outfits at Electri-city by Neon Edge and wore burlesque-style frocks and elaborate masks for Joumana Al Hayek's Dar Sara High Fashion collection (above).
Dubai Fashion Week runs until Thursday.
Electri-city by Neon Edge (Mona Fares)
Designer Mona Fares, 25, considers herself a cheerful, happy person and her debut collection is an amplified reflection of her sunny personality. Vibrant tunics in neons and fuchsia is paired with shiny leggings were a dominant force in her 46-piece collection. Polka-dotted frilled dresses along with menswear (staid shirts with neon piping) also featured.
Perfect as disco-wear for teenagers, don't be surprised if you find yourself digging into your bag for much-needed sunglasses. Apparently, her psychedelic explosion on the ramp was also her way of stirring up an art movement.
"I am generally a colourful persona and I am trying to create an art movement on the runway. These clothes — youthful and futuristic — are an expression of myself," said Fares.
Though she is targeting the youth with her neon-tastic collection, the kids dressed in metallic frilly frocks stole the show with their cute prancing on the ramp. A tighter editing of her collection would have also gone a long way towards maintaining the vibrancy of the show.
Thumbs up: Kids prancing in neon-tastic creations.
Thumbs down: 46 neon-tastic pieces were a bit too heavy on the eye.
Front row fashionista: "Why didn't you start this fashion week on a weekend? My friends could have come too."
Godess by Sobia Nazir
Any Dubai Fashion Week regular will vouch that bridal couture outfits are an inherent part of this local fashion extravaganza. And who better than Sobia Nazir to take the tradition forward?
Her Goddess collection was dominated by embellished salwar kameez (a traditional tunic and trouser ensemble) and sheer tops. After kicking off her collection with embellished champagne tunics, she changed gears by bringing greens and blues into her stock. Sheer trousers also featured.
"Green is the colour of the season. I wanted to experiment with different shades so that brides and all those looking for couture pieces have variety," said Nazir.
Toeing the line of DFW tradition, she also brought in two Pakistani models, Fauzia Aman and Mehreen Syed, as show stoppers. But the highlight of the collection was a heavily-embellished bridal outfit in black and green.
"I didn't want my finale piece to be in white. With the black and green ensemble I wanted to show people that black is not an inauspicious colour but can look beautiful on a bride."
Thumbs up: Nazir's collection should be titled bride central.
Thumbs down: Don't be surprised if you are hit with a been-there-seen-that feeling.
Ward collections by Dar Waad designs (Waad Bin Hammad) and 'Hanami' Queen of Spades (Lamya Abedin)
While Emirati designer Lamya Abedin drew inspiration from the Japanese cherry blossom festival for her abayas, Waad Bin Hammad chose to infuse her abayas with old-world glamour. The latter used leather, floral brooches, animal prints and Chantilly lace to drive home her point, Abedin interspersed Japanese weaving techniques in her Hanami collection.
"I even learnt foroshiki — the Japanese art of gift wrapping, knotting and folding, so that I could incorporate it in my kimono-styled abayas," Abedin said after her show. Models with geisha-inspired lips gliding down the grass-covered ramp strewn with flowers lent authenticity. Her 30-piece collection also pushed the sartorial boundaries. Materials like Japanese suede, hand-painted silks and chiffons were used aplenty.
"The idea is to create abayas with interesting twists. These abayas are perfect for an Arab woman who is a mother, socialite and a career woman — all rolled into one."
Thumbs up: The individuality displayed by both designers.
Thumbs down: Abedin's Japanese twist may fit well only with daring women who love to take fashion risks.
Star attraction
Bollywood actress Minnisha Lamba will be the show-stopper for designer Zaeem Jamal label Z for Z's show tomorrow. The Well-done Abba star is expected to wear one of the gowns from Jamal's Angels & Seraphims collection.
