Designer Emraan Rajput and Pakistan’s top tier of male celebrities make a hit combo. He has a knack for dressing them well and they trust him impeccably. A quick scan of the designer’s social media profile attests to this. From suits for the red carpet to crisp kurta shalwar sets for festive occasions to formal sherwanis that you may see in a wedding staged in a TV drama, Emraan’s signature is visible all across Pakistan’s celebrity culture.
Every designer has a muse, but Emraan has many – celebrities that vary from today’s ‘it’ boys to established young heroes to more austere superstars of yore. He knows what works for them, suits them up according to their personalities, adding designer elements that make them stand out. And when the designer turned a gimlet eye towards actor Shuja Asad, the result was fabulous.
Shuja, of course, is TV’s latest new sensation; a young, very good-looking boy navigating his way through the TV drama landscapes, picking and choosing between roles that would do justice to his talent. He’s got a massive fan following, a burgeoning social media presence and he undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him.
However, while Shuja has a certain nonchalant sense of style and a boyish charm, his avatars in TV dramas tends to opt for very basic sartorial choices. Enacting a character, he’ll often be seen wearing a nondescript shalwar kameez or shirt and pants in an unremarkable palette. They suit the character but they don’t exude star power. The recent fashion editorial with Emraan Rajput, in collaboration with online portal Nichelifestyle, is in a different league altogether.
Dressed in suits that run the gamut from solid, austere shades to a dash of glitter or a pop of silver, this is Shuja Asad the star! In a sharp all black suit from the designer’s latest Shalima line, paired with a glittery jacket, Shuja gazes confidently at the camera.
He broods a bit, in an all-blue design, curiously standing atop a couch, the color of his clothes complemented by the grey shaded wall behind him.
A silver brooch gleams at the collar of a black suit, paired with a jacket accented by a dash of bling and silk lapels. The collars are cut sharp and the fabric falls impeccably, testament to Emraan’s skill.
Titled the ‘ER effect’, the collaborative shoot catches the eye and remains memorable. It’s sophisticated but adventurous, standout without being OTT, exuding style without relying on garish colors or overwhelming embroideries. Far from the generally pedestrian sartorial requirements of TV dramas, it’s a modern, fashion-forward look at one of today’s rising stars as envisioned by one of Pakistan’s finest designers for menswear.
What do you think?