I found the following on Jang’s Fashion MAG newest issue – entitled “Sharp Dressed Woman.” I’m often surprised to see how much of these Pakistani fashion sites and magazines show women in entirely Western clothing. This issue seems to imply that for a woman to dress “sharp” she has to dress in a Western style. Isn’t there anyway for women to look sharp in more traditional Pakistani clothes?
Does “sharp” mean professional and refined?
What do professional women in Pakistan usually wear to work?
(also note that not all of these are work clothes. Some look pretty casual)
They’re nice. But I’m not sure I agree with the message they are sending. What do you guys think?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Sahar02: *
I found the following on Jang's Fashion MAG newest issue -- entitled "Sharp Dressed Woman." I'm often surprised to see how much of these Pakistani fashion sites and magazines show women in entirely Western clothing. This issue seems to imply that for a woman to dress "sharp" she has to dress in a Western style. Isn't there anyway for women to look sharp in more traditional Pakistani clothes?
Does "sharp" mean professional and refined?
What do professional women in Pakistan usually wear to work?
(also note that not all of these are work clothes. Some look pretty casual)
They're nice. But I'm not sure I agree with the message they are sending. What do you guys think?
I agree, why does being sharply dressed imply that one should wear western clothing???
The only explanation I can think of is that Pakistanis constantly strive to be as western as possible. They take pride in speaking English rather than Urdu. They take pride in dressing in western clothes over their own clothes. It’s very unfortunate and sad that Pakistanis are constantly trying to be like westerners.
Pakistanis should be proud of their own identity and traditions, rather than conforming under the influence of other societies.
I'm pretty sure most professional pakistani women wear shalwar kameez to work. (But who knows?) I think irem, seema and other girls who work might be able to tell us.
I have yet to see women in offices in western outfits (someone of them might wear them at home), there are a few exceptions but those places are where either they dont have much public dealing or the people they deal with are the ultra-mod top one percent of Pakistani society (you know people with filipno maids and swiss holidays).
People just have this thing in their mind that only thing that can look sharp is something western and if you wear shalwar qameez or any other eastern stuff it will make you look paindo.
There is only one way to have fun with these people ;) ..... wear eastern dresses when you go to meet them and to everything question they put forward in english reply back in Urdu (i prefer Punjabi) :D
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by CareBear: *
I'm pretty sure most professional pakistani women wear shalwar kameez to work. (But who knows?) I think irem, seema and other girls who work might be able to tell us.
[/QUOTE]
hmmm...i cant actually see the pics CB, some problem with my isp maybe...
but yes the majority of pakistani women do wear shalwar kamiz to work...tho some, very few, do wear western outfits...its slowly becoming acceptable in the office environment... but still only a small percentage of women do if u look at the entire workforce...the vast majority wear shalwaar kamiz...
i'd like to remind u here tho that shalwaar kamiz too can be worn in different styles/prints/fabrics corresponding to different levels of modesty/conservativeness in dress...i.e. with/without burka/hijab/chadar, loose or fitted, quarter or half or full sleeved, dupatta worn properly or not etc etc...
also sometimes shalwaar kameez can be tailored in a way that it looks westernish too...like pants and a short shirt with a dupatta worn on one shoulder only...
so it totally depends on ur taste/style and image u want to promote i guess...
i've seen ladies in offices, or shopping malls and stores etc for that matter, dressed in niqaab and burka to not-that-skin-revealing-but-not-so-modest imho western outfits...theres all varieties..
lekin yeah the vast majority still wear shalwar kameez...
Larki: Yeah. I don't think there's anything wrong with the Western clothing. Wear what you want to wear and whatever suits you and the situation best, but why not show the diversity of the Pakistani population in magazines like the one mentioned?
Irem: Thanks for the info. That's what I figured. You're right -- shalwar kamiz has its variants and can look more "sharp" or "professional." I was really struck that not one of these pics showed anything more Pakistani.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Sahar02: *
SP: Does it depend on location?
[/QUOTE]
Yes Sahar it does depend on location
lemme give you an example, couple of weeks back i was in Lahore and went to Pizza Hut with some friends, the floor manager on duty was a lady who was wearing black color pants with coat. Now this is something i doubt you would see at places like Gujranwala, Gujrat, Peshawar, Quetta etc.
One might find women in western outfits in cities like Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad but other cities i seriously doubt that you might find anyone wearing them.
They take pride in speaking English rather than Urdu. 
