Colour speaks volumes and it talks differently to everyone. The articulation and interpretation of hues is a skill possessed mostly by the fashion savvy and it is an acquired taste. If one learns how to use this skill in their wardrobe for the right occasion, one certainly is able to gain not just attention but also respect from those around them. After all, the fashionably astute know that clothes are an expression and we all want to be eloquent, not just when we speak, but even when we dress.

But a lack of colour can also be eye-catching.

This season, with the holy month of Muharram around the corner, every outlet holds a collection of ensembles in the ever-elegant ebony and the always-effervescent ivory. Whether you want to choose an outfit that is embellished heavily or only printed geometrically is up to you. There’s something for everyone in these collections: they range from the high-priced silks that are screen- and digitally-printed in the most eye-catching monochrome patterns to the fairly-priced cottons and lawns. The straight pants, with their peek-a-boo lace and organza embellishments at the ankles and calves, are to die for and go well with your black or white kurti.

With Muharram around the corner, outlets have stocked up in elegant yet understated pieces in black and white

The PinkTree, for instance, launched its black collection recently using breathable fabrics suited to the hot climate. The cut allows for free movement and subtle silhouettes. Embroidered in muted shades, the collection boasts of the perfect amalgamation of comfort and style. All their outfits are available in three pieces so that you acquire a look in its entirety.

Farheen Surmawala also has a collection worth looking at. This season, it includes whites with the most delicate of patterns around the neckline and laced around the edges at the bottom, with strings of pearls and tiny diamantes. The subtle finery she uses in her clothes allows for these ensembles to be worn at the most solemn affairs without making a show of one, yet making a style statement.

If the starkness of these two contrasting colours is not too much to your liking, another pallor that has gripped the market is off-white or beige. Beige-on-beige is fast becoming popular and, to be honest, it gives the wearer a most sophisticated air.

If the starkness of these two contrasting colours is not too much to your liking, another pallor that has gripped the market is off-white or beige. Beige-on-beige is fast becoming popular and, to be honest, it gives the wearer a most sophisticated air.

From geometric to floral, from embellished to printed, black and white seems to be the way to go. Whether you like it or not, all designers have added a touch of duskiness to their ensembles, so why not take the lead and add a few to your wardrobe this season?

Men need not worry since there is a huge range of dignified outfits that team up the colour of soot and silver to satisfy their fashion needs. Throwing on a white stole on a black kurta is a look that never gets old for men and is still the rage today. Since waistcoats are still considered swanky, men are advised to pair their white kurtas with a black waistcoat to make heads turn.

Published in Dawn, EOS, September 17th, 2017