Beauty talk

beauty

From time to time in our ‘beauty talk’ section we feature different celebrities who share their experiences, achievements and beauty secrets with us. This month You! talks to Komal Malik who designs beautiful ensembles...

Our indigenous fashion industry is growing and there are a number of young and talented designers who are making their presence felt in the world of glitz and glamour by producing good work. One such designer is Komal. Though she holds a double major in Sociology and Psychology, she has always been passionate about designing clothes. “I have always been interested in clothes, shoes and bags. These are magical objects for me that have pulled me towards them since childhood, I cannot resist pretty things. I have been a VJ, an actor for a brief period of time, I’ve taught University students, been a stock broker and worked with my father in his company. None of that was my cup of tea and then one day it hit me that I need to set up something concrete for myself, something that I have a passion for and something I can fall back upon....and that is when ‘Karighar’, my multi brand store, came into existence in June 2015 in Karachi,” says pretty and humble Komal.

You! What is your design philosophy?

Komal Malik: Colours play the most important role and if your colour palette works, that’s the key. My design philosophy is old school sophistication, timeless classics and designing clothes that bring out confidence and the personality of the woman who is wearing it.

You! What type of clothes you design for women?

K.M: I make clothes which are affordable and pretty. I have a digital line for working women who need smart clothes for work and then I have my luxury pret where I’ve been using the French knot/stump work technique and silk ribbon work trying to bring the classic work back.

You! Why do you think women should wear designer clothes?

K.M:  Designer clothes have the finest craftsmanship and quality, when a woman wears luxury clothing she radiates confidence and can pretty much conquer the world...

You! What do you like best about designing clothes?

K.M: Everything honestly! I get excited when I see pretty fabric, sequins, pearls, beads, buttons, laces and the list can go on. The best part though is when you actually see the complete piece and it has turned out exactly how you had imagined it... it feels like a design has come to life and it’s a wonderful feeling. My store ‘Karighar’ is the first curated multi-brand store in Pakistan and it feels more like a walk in wardrobe in comparison to a shop.

You! What was the first outfit that you designed?

K.M: It was a bridal outfit for my friend Falaq. She had a destination wedding in Mexico and asked me to make something for her in white. We worked on the idea together and I also ended up making her Mayun outfit. I was very nervous as I had never ever made a bridal in my life, but thank God everything turned out fabulous. This was back in 2014.

You! How would you define your own sense of style?

K.M: You will mostly see me wearing a button down shirt with pants or jeans. My personal style is simple and comfy.

You! What are your favourite fabrics to work with and why?

K.M: Every fabric is beautiful in its own way and I like to experiment with anything and everything. I absolutely love working with chiffons, missouri, net and organza as they have this beautiful elegance to them and the lightness of the fabric is perfect for the summers. For my casual pret, I use cotton net and linen.

You!  In your opinion what is the biggest mistake a person can make while dressing here?

K.M:  I have noticed how most people just follow trends blindly and would wear anything that’s in fashion, whether it looks good on them or not. I feel the biggest mistake people make is not dressing according to their body types, the second mistake is not dressing up age appropriately, thirdly its over accessorising, wearing too much make up and not knowing the difference between a day time look & an evening look (that includes clothes, shoes and appropriate makeup suiting the occasion).

You! What is the one piece of clothing that you shy away from wearing and why?

K.M: I probably will shy away from wearing a lot of things out in public and that’s obviously because of safety reasons.

You! What are the difficulties faced by designers in getting their work done?

K.M:  The delays in production due to the unstable economy, the strikes and the security concerns in Pakistan is frustrating and sometimes designers are unable to meet their deadlines.

You! What are the high points and low points of being a designer?

K.M: When clients genuinely give compliments, it has to be the best feeling ever and that’s when one knows their hard work is paid off. The low is when a certain design isn’t executed properly and the final result is not what you had in mind or if the customer is not happy it actually makes me sad.

You! How long does it usually take for you to design an outfit?

K.M:  It actually depends. It takes longer to design a luxury pret outfit, then again it depends on the detailing and the amount of work on the outfit. It all depends on the design; hand crafted ensembles take longer obviously in comparison to machine embroidered clothes.

You! Do you prefer sketching designs or actually constructing them?

K.M:  A little bit of both actually.

You! What are the latest trends in summer?

K.M: The tulip pants/shalwars, capes, Dhaka Pyjamas, the comeback of the shalwars which I absolutely love.

You! Do you think there is potential for new designers in our fashion industry?

K.M: There is always space for fresh creative minds. Their new concepts and ideas complement the designs of established/senior designers.

You! What are you currently working on?

K.M:  I am working on my next digital print capsule collection, a bridal outfit and my Eid -ul-Azha collection.

BEAUTY CORNER

You! What is one cosmetic you cannot do without?

K.M: Labello (Cherry Chap stick)

You! When stepping out, do you wear makeup all the time?

K.M: Nope

You! When it comes to cosmetics, which brands you usually use?

K.M: I use Mac, DMGM, L’Oreal, Nars, Bobbi Brown, Dior, Armani, Maybelline and magic cosmetic. When I travel I carry Nabila’s No Make-up palette.

You! Your make-up bag consists of...

K.M:  Maybelline colour drama lip pencils, Mac lipsticks, Bobbi Brown blush, L’Oreal mineral high lighter, Maybelline mascara (Falsies), cleansing wipes, etc.

You! Do you go to salon regularly for your facials?

K.M:  I’ve gotten 6 facials done so far in my life.

You! Your favourite local stylist or beautician:

K.M: I have been going to Neelo’s since I was 15.

You! Your favourite international stylists:

K.M: Erin Walsh, Rachel Zoe, Jen Rade and Samantha McMillan.

You! Your preferred spa or salon:

K.M: Neelo’s.

You! Your favourite perfumes

K.M: I love Armani Diamonds, Si and Versace Yellow diamonds these days.

You! Your beauty regimen

K.M: Use a toner/cleanser every morning and at night, don’t ever sleep with your make up on, let your skin breath, drink lots of water, use a good face wash appropriate for your skin type and work out to detox.

You! Do you use anti-ageing creams?

K.M. Nope, but I think it’s time I start using them... hahaha.

You! Do you believe in treatments like Botox?

K.M:  I think it’s a personal choice.

 

You! Are you fond of using too much makeup or you prefer a good skin with minimal amount of makeup?

K.M: The latter for sure!

You! Where do you go for your make-up shopping?

K.M: In Karachi my go to place is Vicky’s and abroad it has to be Sephora, Mac and the little kiosks inside the malls selling really cool stuff.

You!  Do you use whitening creams? Are they any good?

K.M: I am pretty content with my dusky complexion. The only cream/lotion that suits my skin is Pond’s oil control, Oil of Olay (in winter) and Fair and Lovely.

You! What is beauty to you?

K.M: A beautiful heart, mind and soul is beauty for me.