Dressing Up in Pakistan

Weddings in Lahore are dressy affairs that play an important part in people’s social calendar. The dress code is formal, expensive and glittery.

Having a party dress made in Lahore goes something like this:

First you buy the fabric. Pictured here are two kinds of silk jamawar. Both fabrics were white with the details in gold. I had them dyed in a turquoise shade to complement the gold, which is not affected by the dyeing process.

Once the dyeing is done, the fabric is taken to an embroidery shop, where a motif and pattern are chosen.

After the beading is complete, the fabric is taken to a tailor, who will put the outfit together.

I had this outfit made for the wedding of one of my husband’s relatives. The closer the relationship, the more formal the dress and heavier the embroidery.

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