Abaya-inspired silhouettes remain a popular choice for Eid. Traditionally modest and elegant, the abaya dress afford freedom of movement. In many ways, its contemporary cut is a baju kurung extended into a column dress with long sleeves. This season updates this long dress with bolder style statements to imbue it with some panache.
Borrowing from the modern baju kurung, Variante introduced prints in the form of oversized florals on its abaya dress in a colour combo of pink and black that can carry from day to evening. Another look in darker green and fuller skirt opts for geometric lines, thus lengthening the silhouette.
Laguna Sydney on the other hand takes things a step further by offering chiffon dresses that veer closer to nightgown territory but amps up the drama by injecting bold colours into the designs. One emerald green number plays sweet and sexy by balancing its thigh-high slit with three-quarter sleeves reminiscent of the kurung Kedah. Decorative accents come by way of some delicate embroidery that extends into a hooded shawl. Another look commands attention in fuchsia, with panel blocks that switch between the sheer and the opaque.
Embroidery experiences a new lease of life too. Fiziwoo borrows the style of embroidery usually reserved for classic Nyonya kebaya and fashions it into a blouse with a matching bolero jacket with beaded accents. Elsewhere, the designers translate delicate kebaya embroidery into embellishments for a men’s button-down shirt while Jimmy Lim turns it into a sports-inspired couture-like blouse with three-quarter silk sleeves.
On the other hand, Kree presented a new take of a traditional silhouette. The billowy long-sleeve dress-bearing tiny floral prints reminiscent of old school baju kurung-stops at the knees where it then flares out into a pleated white skirt, to create a look very similar to that of a two-piece baju kurung.
Ultra-feminine touches bring a measure of romance this season, ranging from the soft and airy to the ornate and sophisticated.
Hatta Dolmat presented dresses that flow like fairy tales, some complete with pussy-bows for a hint of the romantic. Wynka offers a dreamy vision of a modern-day princess in a sheer blouse with balloon sleeves paired with a belted pink silk dress that appears resplendent with fields of tiny flowers.
A gorgeous top-to-toe lace outfit comes courtesy of Fiziwoo, who offered a fancy t-shirt in brown lace and embroidered yellow flowers with matching trousers. It’s a deceptively casual look yet dressy enough for Raya celebrations due to its elegance and intricacy.
The design duo proved that florals work on menswear too, with a full floral shirt and matching trousers in porcelain white and blue-not unlike printed baju Melayu- complemented by a knitted cardigan adorned with beaded wildflowers.
Resort wear has transitioned into Raya-appropriate fashion in recent years. Long-sleeve kaftans and wrap dresses offer ease of wear and movement with a much-needed flair for celebration-while also providing enough modesty to not shock the grandparents, of course.
A champion of modest clothing for the modern woman, Variante showcased a resort collection built on lightness and (post-pandemic) optimism. Among the offerings is a literal twist on the baju kurung, featuring an elongated blouse that appears gathered and knotted on the side to create an asymmetrical look, paired with palazzo trousers. A printed kaftan in red and orange finished with a dainty pussy bow looks prime for the festive season.
