Music and fashion are two different ways of expressing the same thing. Therefore, musicians all over the world have a fashion identity. It may not be the best but showcases their individualistic style nonetheless.
stylefile
The man behind the looks on Coke Studio and Cornetto Pop Rock talks about styling Meesha Shafi for ‘Yaar Mere’ and the extent of his creative control.
Music and fashion are two different ways of expressing the same thing. Therefore, musicians all over the world have a fashion identity. It may not be the best but showcases their individualistic style nonetheless. Their looks help build their persona which resonates in their music on and off the screen. Locally, some of the musicians making strong style statements that strengthen their huge personas are Ali Noor with his laid back style, Abida Parveen with her ajrak chaddars and Meesha Shafi in her rocker chic avatar. While their style statements are an extension of their inherent personalities, Pakistan’s stylists have a major part to play in the way the musicians look. One in particular, Ehtesham Ansari, has been working closely with musicians at Coke Studio and Cornetto Pop Rock - developing complete looks for the artists, house band and even the extras in the music videos.
Ansari has been in the field for well over a decade and his work runs the gamut from having styled fashion shows, editorials, red carpets to even casting films but he’s now comfortably settled into styling sponsored music shows. He admits that these shows are a lot more organized than films and more lucrative, given bigger budgets. As someone who earns his bread and butter from styling he feels that other projects are rarely worth his time.
“I’ve stopped styling for red carpets because the designer is putting an outfit out there but there isn’t much in it for the stylist. Whenever I’ve styled red carpets it’s been for free but that’s unfair because even minimal payment just serves as respect for another person’s work.”
According to Ansari, the best styling opportunity is one that gives him the chance to create a persona, a character, translate music with a singer’s look, “that’s challenging and exciting,” he adds.
His latest styling job that has everyone talking is Meesha Shafi’s four distinct looks in Cornetto Pop Rock’s latest ‘Yaar Mere’. In Pakistan, female singers are few and even rarer are those with such a unique sense of unabashed loud style. Meesha Shafi is one who has created a sensation not just with her strong vocals but also her fashionable appearances. With such strong personal style – we ask Ansari how much of the four distinct looks in the video can be accredited to him as the stylist?
“Meesha and I discuss everything. Since she usually travels and picks up fun pieces, we use them along with local elements to create looks for her.” For the first yoga sequence in the video, we see her in a long ethnic cotton number with loose pants. For those of you wondering who does yoga in clothes like that, Ansari has a response. “It could have been a regular yoga outfit but this Generation number made the right kind of statement. Stars must maintain a certain kind of mystery and distance from their fans because that’s what makes them larger than life. If they wear clothes that anyone can go buy or wear, that affects their stardom. It’s my job to help them achieve that,” he says.
He has a clear affinity for styling Meesha Shafi who brings life to any outfit she wears. “She can carry clothes really well so I don’t think twice before putting her in anything.” Together the duo enjoys using different designers to create looks. In the performance sequence alone, Ansari shares that Meesha is wearing a Tena Durrani skirt, Sania Maskatiya top and a belt from Mantra. “I never use one designer head to toe because that makes my job redundant. As a stylist it’s interesting to create looks. If I was using one designer I’d feel more like a coordinator.”
