Cards pile up fast in wedding season. Dholki saga, mehndi day, baraat event, walima reception and a nikah. That’s six outfits in ten days, and no tailor manages that. So shopping for formal wear for women at this time of year mostly means readymade pakistani suits. Generation’s Formals collection has over a hundred pieces in sizes 8 to 16, and the readymade suits online page loads fine on a phone, which helps when the shopping happens in the five minutes between calls.
Here’s how the events usually sort themselves out.
Dholki and Mehndi
Floor seating, and a dance circle that starts without warning. Whatever gets worn has to handle both. A balloon shalwar kamzeez does, because the loose volume doesn’t pull when you sit cross-legged. A formal maxi dress in chiffon is lighter still, though a long hem in a crowded room can be a gamble. Mehndi is the one night where bright colours are expected: mint green, lemon tonic, naranji, rani pink. Generation’s Pakistani formal wear in Heartilicious and Chamak Dhamak runs in those shades. Ladies’ co ord sets save time as well, since nothing needs matching.
Nikah and Walima
Both run long and slow. Heavy fabric feels heavier by the third hour, so cotton chanderi blends and voile carry embroidery without the weight. Raw silk and zari tissue suit a walima that goes into the evening. Colours lean toward ivory, steel grey, rose gold and soft pastels.
Ready made dresses skip the tailor altogether. Ready to wear Pakistani suits in this range follow a size chart from 8 to 16, so the fit can be checked at home the night before. A readymade shalwar kameez with embroidery at the neckline and plain fabric below is enough for most nikahs. These formal dresses don’t need extra effort piled on. Formal dresses for women in softer shades also sit comfortably beside the bride’s outfit, which is worth thinking about.
Baraat
This is the night for full ronaq. Long formal dresses in anarkali and kalidaar cuts suit it, partly because the length does half the work. On the formal dresses online page, filters sort by length, fabric, colour and piece count, from one piece up to four. The ladies’ formal dresses range from understated to very loud.
Heavier formal wear carries zari, gota kari, sequins and batik dori. Formal frocks suit anyone who wants something lighter that still feels festive. A Pakistani formal dress can go bold at the baraat and softer at the walima. Many formal Pakistani clothes in the collection arrive as complete sets, and formal wear Pakistani dresses in raw silk, organza and zari tissue add evening shine without much jewellery.
Making One Outfit Last
3 piece suits stretch a budget, since shirt, trouser and dupatta are cut together. Change only the dupatta and one set can cover two events. A 3 piece ready to wear set from Chamak Dhamak or Heartilicious needs nothing added. Four-piece sets exist for the heavier nights.
The farshi shalwar kameez in Chamak Dhamak and Shades Of Gold sweeps the floor and slows the walk, which helps at a baraat that drags on. Formal party wear in lighter voile or chanderi is easier to sit in at the dinner after the rukhsati. Ready to wear dresses from the range save time on all of these days.
There are also formal sarees, from Rainbow Fantasy and Silver Linning, in zaari weave and sequin. A formal duppata in net or organza can change a whole outfit without touching the rest, which is useful when one set has to appear twice.
Four Checks Before Paying
Sleeves come first. If the event involves a lot of hugging, the armholes need room. Hem length is next, because stairs, heels and a long dress go wrong more often than expected. Then fabric weight, since July humidity and heavy silk rarely get along. Last is the dupatta. A stiff, heavily worked one usually stays pinned for the entire evening, so the rest of the outfit should be planned around it.
Planning Without the Panic
Write the events down. Pick one outfit per big night and let the dupatta handle the repeats. Order early, because popular sizes go first. BaadMay splits the payment into three installments, so wedding week doesn’t land on one paycheque. Thora abhi, baqi baad mein.
Generation’s Formals collection is live at generation.com.pk and in stores across Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and beyond.
