Hari Raya Aidilfitri will soon be here and the choices in festive outfits seem to be endless, writes Aznim Ruhana Md Yusup
I HAVE a confession to make; I have no idea what to wear for Hari Raya. Halfway through the fasting month, I’ve not bought anything online or visited any Hari Raya bazaars or even made an order or two for baju kurung at the tailor’s, which really should have been done at least two months ago.
I suppose I can always go the austerity route and re-wear something from previous years. A classic, made-to-measure baju kurung or kebaya is timeless and can last years, or even decades, if you invest in quality fabric and the services of a good tailor.
But if I want to appear more fashion-forward on the morning of the first Syawal, there are plenty of options on the ready-to-wear racks. Designers like Jovian Mandagie and Rizalman presented their Raya collections months ago, and it’s now crunch time to make my pick.
LOOK EAST & WEST
Over at Zalora, Jovian presented a Japanese-inspired collection called Edo with wave prints, bamboo patterns and sakura petals. The kebaya comes in kimono form, complete with obi belts, while tops are cut at the hips and paired with mermaid skirts for a hourglass silhouette.
That said, some of the embellishments and design choices seem odd and superfluous. One top had a longer hem on the right than the left, while the collage of patterns on some pieces make the outfit more complicated that it needs to be.
Meanwhile, Rizalman’s collection is inspired by Bollywood. With actress Izara Aishah as his muse, he was censured for cultural appropriation — there were apparently no Indian dancers at his show, despite it being an Indian-inspired collection.
But it was a sumptuous selection, as the designer took iconic Indian patterns and beadwork and crafted these into caftans, kebaya and baju kurung. The ones with the mandarin collar — similar to the cekak musang neckline on men’s baju melayu — are particularly oustanding.
Other designers are looking closer to home for inspiration.
Syomirizwa Gupta’s muse is Noor Aishah Mohammad Salim, the first First Lady of Singapore. The pieces seem to appear right out of a black and white P. Ramlee movies and they even come with old-school names like Rubiah, Salmah and Habsah.
Meanwhile, Tom Abang Saufi stayed true to her Sarawakian roots, with ikat prints and pua spiral patterns as comfortable kaftans and baju kurung kedah. But in case you want to make your own baju, she’s also making the loose fabrics available on Zalora.
There are plenty of modern interpretations of traditional baju raya as well. NH by Nurita Harith, Ezzati Amira and Alia B (the diffusion line for Alia Bastamam) offered elegant pieces that are stylish, but aren’t over-the-top.
AfiqM, known for his sexy pieces, toned it down for the festive season though there’s still an edge of sexiness with his draped sarong and low neckline. Petra presented striking prints in rich fabrics, although the frills and ruffles that come with the baju kurung might not work on all body types.
OPTIONS FOR ALL
Speaking of rich fabrics, Rizman Ruzaini over at FashionValet has several pieces in brocade as close-fitting baju kurung, embellished with beaded bows.
Khoon Hooi’s modern baju kurung comes in bright colours and big shoulders and while Woo/Fiziwoo opted for pastel hues for their body-conscious designs.
But if you’re not up to sucking in your stomach as you enjoy your ketupat and rendang, Whimsigirl has you covered. The brand is known for its loose-cut baju kurung in comfortable cotton in bright, cheerful hues. And since it began as a children’s wear brand, kids sizes are also available.
Also available on FashionValet is Mimpikita and its printed kebaya and baju kurung in mint green and fuchsia.
Salikin Sidek offers accessible songket pieces while FZK by Fitri Zainal pairs embroidered tops with pelikat sarong in complementing colours.
Away from the two fashion portals, many brands are selling direct to their customers, via Instagram, Hari Raya bazaars or their own websites; and shops for those that are more established.
My favourites include Sueka Sueka with its embroidered kebaya tops as well as Ana Abu and her unstructured androgynous offerings. Places like Modvier in Bangsar, and the rows of shops in Seksyen 7, Shah Alam and Bandar Baru Bangi are also abound with options for the festive season ... just get ready to face the crowd.
So, from not knowing what to wear for Hari Raya, I am now bombarded with so many choices. It’s a matter of budget and comfort, but as the song goes, Raya only happens once a year so you might as well make it special.