Event covered by Sadaf Hassan

I was recently invited to the first solo fashion show by Aroosi Iqbal Couture. Aroosi Iqbal is a much-loved fashion designer based in Abu Dhabi, who weaves her magic in Arabic, fusion, and ethnic wear. I have always been fond of her eccentric designs hence I was super excited upon receiving her show’s invite.

The show was called The Fashion Story and the theme of the show was Victorian, like her usual brand image, with candles and floral decor welcoming the guests. The refreshments were provided by Dusit Thani and included a gol gappa kiosk, which was a crowd-pleaser. Other snacks included lamb and spinach tarts, stuffed grape leaves, tikka boti bites, and drinks.

Refreshments by Dusit Thani

I got the opportunity to see some backstage action where much to my surprise, everything was very well-organised and well-timed. I have to say that there were no delays whatsoever and all the teams involved in putting this show together did an incredible job.

A quick chat with the designer revealed that her latest work is inspired by the “Tree of Life”, beauty in the nature that surrounds us, the colours of the flowers as they blossom and the serene sky. The outfits were indeed very dreamy and poetic as I got to see a few backstage before the fashion show.

I also asked the designer what people should expect from her latest collections, to which she replied that people will see a lot of fusion styles with creative and unusual cuts. Prominent materials used in the collections are lamé, organza, munga silk, banarsi, chiffon, lace, and net.

The show was hosted by Priya Jethani. The designer, Aroosi Iqbal, began the show by speaking about her passion for fashion design and giving us a glimpse of how she started her business.

The first collection to grace the ramp was the Evening wear followed by the Arabian wear, where the guests got to witness the Spring/Summer collection, jellabiyas, and abayas. The collection caught my attention because the pieces were very versatile. You can easily pull them off at any party, be it Arabic, western or Subcontinental. The maxi dresses with minimal details were my favourite.

The designer also brought a fresh take to the abayas by bringing in elegant colours, savvy cuts with embroidered work and intricate embellishments.

Next came fusion wear and the floral details the collection carried were to yearn for. It had a mix of pastels and brightly coloured skirts, maxi dresses and gowns.

Finally, the show headed towards the end with ethnic wear comprising semi-formal to formal outfits and bridal wear. The use of pastels was prominent while some gharara and sharara sparkled on the ramp with very sinuous embellishments and striking colour combinations. To pick a favourite in this collection was a tough call because almost every outfit was of aesthetic quality. A soft pink pleated jumpsuit with details on the cape captured my interest. I also liked a pair of champagne-coloured silk gharara pants that had pearls and threadwork all over.

The showstopper of the night was Miss India Worldwide, Stephanie Lohale while the chief guest was renowned Pakistani actress, Aisha Khan.

Left to right: Guest Of Honour- Dr Rusul Alnuaimi, Aroosi Iqbal, Chief Guest – Aisha Khan, Showstopper – Miss India Worldwide Stephanie Locale, Designer’s Daughter
The Designer With Aisha Khan
Aroosi Iqbal And Sadaf Hassan From Vogue Point

Following the fashion show, an exhibition was held, where guests enjoyed a flat 20% discount on all items.

If you are in search of a one-stop shop for all your semi-formal, formal, and bridal wear needs during the ongoing wedding season, make sure to visit Aroosi Iqbal Couture boutique in Abu Dhabi. I assure you that you will be delighted by her vast multicultural collections.