Shehla Chatoor — Twelve Looks, Decoded

Three decades of craft. Twelve looks decoded.

This is the blog edition of CELE No. 03, our Couturier Issue on Shehla Chatoor — the Karachi house founded in 1995, by appointment only, Karachi and Dubai. Rather than a biography, the issue is built as twelve style studies. Each one reads a single look three ways: the silhouette, the embellishment, and the code — the one word that tells you what the look is for.

Style Study I — Sajal Aly

I

Sajal Aly · Hum TV Awards · SC Couture

Black lace, awards night. A cropped cape-sleeve blouse over a floor-length column skirt; tonal thread and jet sequin worked into the lace. Code: after-dark.

Style Study II — Sheheryar Munawar

II

Sheheryar Munawar · LUX Style Awards

A pearl jacket, a masterclass. Collarless open jacket cut straight to the hip, over a fluid cream silk shirt worn unbuttoned; seed pearls and crystal at every lattice crossing. Code: sculpted.

Style Study III — Men of Nayirrah

III

Men of Nayirrah · SC Timeless Couture

Mirrorwork, in daylight. Long open jacket over a sheer kurti and straight ivory trousers; celestial mirrorwork set in gold thread grids. Code: heritage.

Style Study IV — Nayirrah heritage

IV

Nayirrah · The Heritage Chapter

Fur, net and antique gold. A fluid pant-sari with an antique-gold zardozi border and mirror inserts. Code: heirloom.

Style Study V — Nayirrah bridal

V

Nayirrah · The Bride

Performance in motion. A full-circle crushed-tissue lehenga cut to swing; storied paisley print, striped gota edging, an embroidered potli with tassel, layered kundan. Code: archival.

Style Study VI — The Nayirrah tribe

VI

The Nayirrah Tribe

A poetic revival, in a tribe. Anarkalis and pant-saris for the women, embroidered white jackets for the men, styled as one frame; jasmine garlands worn as jewellery, mirror-and-gota hems, tikka headpieces with round gold frames. Code: spectacle.

Style Study VII — Malaika Arora

VII

Malaika Arora · The Great Indian Kapil Show

Tone, texture, attitude. A two-piece: cut-out bralette with crossed waist straps and a fitted column skirt to the floor; gem-set embroidery and sequins in a lattice. Code: borderless.

Style Study VIII — The red chapter

VIII

Nayirrah · The Red Chapter

A cape that flies. Plunging V bodice, structured peplum, fishtail column to the floor; mirror lattice on the skirt, dense beading on the bodice, a floral rosette at the throat. Code: spectacle.

Style Study IX — Gurfateh Pirzada

IX

Gurfateh Pirzada · SC Menswear

Electric lime, fearless flair. A deep-V mirror-work kameez, sleeves pushed to the elbow, over a sequined gathered shalwar; paisley and vine embroidery, mirror lattice at the hips. Code: sculpted.

Style Study X — The groom

X

The Groom · SC Groomswear

Elegance without compromise. A long-line bandhgala with a side vent that swings, over narrow trousers; a single zardozi crest at the chest pocket, echoed on the collar and the slippers. Code: sculpted.

Style Study XI — Rouh Al Layal

XI

Rouh Al Layal · SC Resort Collection

Ivory drapes, emerald thread. Grecian one-shoulder drapes, kaftans and saree-gowns; emerald beaded vines at the shoulder and waist, hand-painted roses, crystal chokers. Code: heritage carried forward.

Style Study XII — Vaani Kapoor

XII

Vaani Kapoor · Nayirrah · Modern Heirlooms

Golden, grounded, powerful. Halter bralette, mirror-mosaic sharara, and a crushed-tissue overskirt engineered to fan open and trail; mirror mosaic in gold thread, zardozi border on the bralette, kundan cuffs and studs. Code: sculpted elegance.

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Photography courtesy of Shehla Chatoor (@shehlachatoor). Feature enquiries: zrehman@celecart.shop