KARACHI, April 20: Dream weddings, trousseaus topped off with a song and dance medley opened on Friday the three-day Pantene Bridal Couture Week 2013, focused on in its third year with impressive choreography by Hasan Sheheryar Yasin and hair and make-up by Saba Ansari of Sabs Salon.

The opening segment featured Nina Lotia’s onstage mock makeovers of models Rubya Chaudhry, Meera Ansari, Ayesha Omer, Sana Buccha and Kiran Khan before designer Zainab Chhottani showed her bridals featuring Mukesh and Jaipur paisley-inspired motifs with jamawar detailing on a pastel palette and ivory on gold.

Showstoppers Nida Yasir, Fahad Tunio and Shaista Wahidi walked for the designer. Argentum by third-generation jewellery designer Nadia Chhottani was up next showing off polka, stone work, chunky pendants, dangly nose rings and necklaces that come with years of tradition and finesse in craft.

The designs remained essentially eastern with a few fusion pieces adding to the design spectrum.

Screen darlings Aaminah Sheikh and Mohib Mirza performed to a medley choreographed by Hasan Rizvi and dancers from Body Beat Productions in an energized mehndi/mayun performance. Film, TV actress and talk show host Noor opened the show for Lahore-based designer Saim Ali who showed select brilliant pieces such as a cobalt blue and silver peshwaz-cut number in a collection that was very colourful. Bridal couturier Mona Imran chose Hina Dilpazeer to open her show featuring wedding formals in a myriad of cuts and embellishments with Saud and Javeria Abbasi as her showstoppers. This year, 18 bridal designers are participating in PBCW with leading names in design from both Pakistan and India, such as Anjalee and Arjum Kapoor for the latter.

Show Two of Day One opened with Zaheer Abbas’ fine sensibilities in couture design followed by Amna Ajmal and Asifa & Nabeel.

Lajwanti, Madiha Nauman, Maliha Sheikh, Teena by Hina Butt, Yasmeen Zaman and Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor were given slots on Day Two of the week.

Fuzon was also scheduled to perform on the second day, according to an official communication.

Day Three line up comprises Sana Abbas, Nadia Mistry, Mifrah, Deepak Perwani and a haute couturiers show featuring Emraan Rajput, Deepak & Fahad, Tabassum Mughal, Reshan Rivaj, Arsalan Yahseer, Ishtiaq Afzal, Nida Khurram, Nadia Saleem, Obaid Sheikh, Wahaj Moiz, Ruby Shakeel, Uzma Baber, Naureen Arbab, Vasim Asghar and Mussarat Bushra.