The art of styling with Sana Anver

In a cosmos of extroverts, Sana Anver continues to be an introvert. It is, as she understands, a balancing act, but given her talent, honed over the last eight years, and her portfolio (which can be found on her Instagram account), it’s understandable. Her instagram is exciting and defining. It’s not something she does to make herself a beguiling figure within industry ranks in Pakistan or abroad. It is, as she says, who she is.

“I’m comfortable in my skin,” begins Sana Anver. “I don’t feel the need to attend every event, and I’m okay with missing out. People might have stopped inviting me because I often don’t show up or I’m traveling for work. I don’t attend every event even when I’m in town—not to snub anyone.”

I’m thinking in my head that Sana Anver could be a model herself. We do trail off slightly, and she admits that offers have come, but she has politely declined. “I only have one public Instagram account, and it rarely gives a glimpse of my personal life. You won’t see my family or close friends on it. I’m private, and I don’t feel the need to have a separate personal account. I mostly post about work—collaborations, outfits, and brands I’m working with. Balancing an introverted personality in an extroverted industry isn’t as hard as it seems. My work speaks for itself, and that’s what matters most. I’ve been lucky in that sense; my work hasn’t been affected by my introversion.”

Sana Anver has been a stylist, a dedicated one, for the last eight years. When she started out in the local industry, she worked for free because she knew that this was what she wanted to do. But as time passed and her work gained importance, she went from working for free to to being compensated.

These days, Sana Anver is making waves because it has been a year since she started working with Sonam Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, and most recently, with Kareena Kapoor-Khan.

The story, however, must begin, with the Kapoor sisters (Sonam and Rhea), as they played a significant role in Sana Anver’s rise to popularity in Bollywood. Consequently, her profile in Pakistan has also soared. Fashion industry insiders, journalists, and fellow stylists want to know how it all happened. But being a private person, Sana Anver is not someone who will ride on the coattails of these big Hindi film stars. Let’s just call it hardwork and serendipity.

To understand what Sana got right, in both Pakistan and India, it’s important to first understand the role of a stylist.

“As a stylist, when it comes to putting a look together, first, you get a brief from your client, whether it’s for a brand’s TVC, a campaign, or a celebrity attending an event. But perhaps even more important is sourcing. You need to reach out to designers. The client will outline the event or campaign details, the colors, and the style they want—whether it’s an Eastern look or a Western one. Based on that brief, you decide which designers to approach. Once the briefing is done, sourcing outfits becomes crucial.”

Often, Sana explains, the challenging part is reaching out to designers because unless the celebrity is well-known, international brands (in particular) may simply refuse. In other words, the profile of the celebrity plays a crucial role, as does the type of event.

“Sourcing,” she says, “involves sending out emails and WhatsApp messages—direct calls aren’t usually part of this relationship. Pakistani designers generally don’t say no, but some situations can still be tricky. As a stylist, your own profile also matters. Designers might look at your work and based on your reputation, decide whether to lend outfits, even if they’re hesitant at first.”

“Obviously, the relationship between a client and a stylist is important. When you’re part of a team that includes Rhea Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, as well as a slew of others who know what they are doing, it’s very different.”

In terms of personal recognition, what was it like for you? “It was a big moment, and I have to say that Sonam always gives credit where its due. She will tag you on Instagram and never pretend that a team didn’t contribute to the final look. That’s something worth appreciating and it makes you respect her.”

I remember when you styled Sonam Kapoor, everyone wanted to know how you managed to be a part of the team. The same thing happened when you worked with Kareena Kapoor-Khan. People took notice. Working with big names like them gave you the kind of recognition that’s impossible for an introvert to avoid. With Sonam, the relationship has been longer, though?

“Sonam Kapoor is not just an actress but an internationally recognized fashion icon. Her fashion status is global. Being a part of her team with Rhea and several others made me feel like I was doing something right.”

How did you work with Sonam Kapoor’s team, given that you’re based in Pakistan?

“Most of the time, I worked remotely, which is interesting given the talent they have in India. It’s not a one-person job. It’s a team effort with multiple stylists, makeup artists, and photographers—everyone comes together to create these looks. I’ve been working with Sonam for exactly a year now.”

“I first worked with Bhumi Pednekar.”Afterwards, Sana Anver was out of the country for a few weeks. But when she did come back, things fell into place when she got a message, followed by a call—for Sonam Kapoor.

“There was an event coming up—it was for the Ambanis, I think, after they opened the Jio World Plaza. They wanted a specific look and asked if I could come on board, and I did. I ended up getting this look from a brand based out of London, though not a typical luxury brand you’d expect. Sonam loved it, wore it, and the pictures turned out very well. Everyone loved that look. It was a great experience, and I think that was my chance to show them what I could bring to the table.”

“When you’re looking at these brands and hearing their names, you’re just flooded with big brands. The best part about Sonam is that she’ll wear any brand as long as she likes what’s sent to her. It doesn’t have to be a big name. If she likes it, she’ll wear it, and that really helps as a stylist. She’s very open to different ideas. You do your research and come across a lot of smaller brands that are not as well-known but offer terrific clothes and designs, and she’ll wear them.”

For the Ambani wedding, I styled Sonam for a cocktail party. She wore a black gown, almost like a dress with a puffy cape, from a designer in Beirut.”

That’s brilliant.

“As a stylist, you need to know how to reach out to brands and do your research. Having a network of contacts is your treasure as a stylist. Also, for me, it’s not always about knowing the latest trends. Yes, you need to know them, but trends can be fleeting. I’ve stopped investing in trends that won’t last long, and I don’t want my clients to do that either, beyond what is coming straight off the runway.”

25 years of Bebo

Now let’s talk about Kareena Kapoor-Khan. What was it like to be a part of the styling team for Kareena Kapoor-Khan’s 25-year milestone celebration in the film industry?

“She’s a goddess, and I got to be part of the look she wore for a milestone event. It was an incredible moment for me,” says Sana Anver, with a twinkle in the eye. “Working with Kareena Kapoor-Khan happened because of the work I had done with Sonam, and I guess they thought I could offer something unique. It was a pinch-me moment when I got that call. Her sense of fashion has evolved, and she’s very confident and comfortable in her skin.

I admire her confidence, and it really shows in everything she does. The look we created for her was something that represented her evolution as an actor and a style icon. It had to be carefully considered. It needed to represent her and embody the moment. We had a lot of options, including many international brands, but in the end, we went with an Indian designer—Amit Aggarwal. I believe it was a collective decision that this was the right choice for such an important event. The look had to be just right, and it turned out great. While we had fantastic international designers to choose from, I think going with an Indian designer was a good call for that particular occasion.”

Scrutinising the

importance of absract against movement

What role does tailoring, fabric, fitting, movement, non-traditional designs, as well as the cut, play in the final outfit?

“I’m not just talking about this particular event. This applies to many situations. Whether it’s Sonam Kapoor or other celebrities, including Pakistani ones, good tailoring always matters. A well-tailored suit, for instance, makes you feel powerful and confident. It’s part of a stylist’s job to bring all these elements together.”

“When we work with Pakistani celebrities, it’s a similar process. We brainstorm together, deciding on the best colors, patterns, fabrics, and overall quality. Pakistani clients are often quite stylish, and it’s our job to make sure they look their best. There’s a lot of work involved, especially when styling for multiple events, like at the Ambani wedding, where I was sourcing looks back-to-back from around the world. As a Pakistani stylist, I wanted to represent my country, and we managed to incorporate some Pakistani designers into the mix as well.”

“Sometimes, however, things don’t go as planned. You might select an outfit based on photos, only to find during fittings that it doesn’t work as expected. This happened with one of the looks we loved—it was beautiful, but the fitting was off, and we didn’t have much time to adjust. Fittings are often last-minute, so it can get chaotic, with stylists running around to make adjustments before the event.”

“One memorable moment was when Sonam Kapoor wore an airport look by a Pakistani designer, Hussain Rehar, from his Jugnu collection. Even though it wasn’t an official event, the paparazzi captured it, and it quickly gained attention, especially because it was the first time a Pakistani brand was worn for such a high-profile occasion. The social media buzz was amazing, and it made the designer very happy.”

“With both Indian and Pakistani celebrities, the process is similar, but it can vary depending on the workload. In India, there’s often a team of stylists managing multiple events for several celebrities at the same time. In Pakistan, things are generally more manageable—often one stylist can handle everything without needing a large team.”

“I’ve worked on many projects, including last year’s Lux Style Awards, where I designed a custom fusion sari for a celebrity. It was an Elan off-white and cream sari, and the look went viral. She looked beautiful, and it was a great feeling to see how much people loved it. Of course, not every look gets the same response, and as a stylist, you have to be prepared for praise and criticism. But when it works out, it’s incredibly rewarding.”

“I’ve been fortunate with all the celebrities I’ve worked with including Sonia Hussain (who is like family at this point), Mansha Pasha, and Dur-e-Fishan Saleem. They’ve shown a lot of trust in me. Dur-e-Fishan, for instance, told me, ‘You do you, this is your job, and you know better than I do.’ That trust is incredible. Mansha is similar—she gives me creative freedom but also shares her thoughts.”

“Of course, the final say should always belong to the client. They’re the ones wearing the outfit, so they should feel comfortable and have input. But I’ve had great experiences where our visions align perfectly. That’s been true with Bollywood celebrities too.”