fashion

By Zieman

If you miss the weddings of top celebrities like Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Ning Baizura or Amber Chia, you still have a chance to feast your eyes on what they wore on their big day.

A total of six dresses including Datuk Siti Nurhaliza's wedding gown, Amber Chia's wedding gown and Ning Baizura's wedding costume have been placed on the first floor of the main museum building

Thanks to the joint effort of The Pearl Centre Rafflesia and the Department of Musuem Malaysia, this rare opportunity is made possible.

Six of the most exquisite wedding gowns worn by these celebs and jeweled couture shoes worth more than RM3.3 million are currently on display at the 'Pesona Mutiara Exhibition' in Muzium Negara.

According to Rafflesia's director, Winnie Sin, the beauty of pearl is manifested through the through the craftsmanship of designers Khoon Ooi, Rizman Ooi, Keith Kee and Professor Dato' (Dr) Jimmy Choo. "Its truly one of a kind and simply awesome. In fact it is one of few rare exhibitions of such in thsi country," said Winnie Sin.

Among the items on display include Datuk Siti Nurhaliza's wedding gown designed by Khoon Hooi, worth RM300 000, model Amber Chia's wedding gown by designer Keith Kee worth RM380 000, Anita Sarawak's red gown created by Khoon Hooi made at RM180 000, Winnie Sin green gown (Khoon Hooi) at RM400 000, Winnie Sin wedding anniversary's gown worth RM300 000 by Khoon Hooi and celebrity Ning Baizura's wedding costume by Rizman Ruzaini worth RM150 000.

The diamond rings made of White South Pearls worn by actress Erra Fazira for her wedding which costs around RM378,000.00 are also on display.

Other items which are up for public viewing include the White South Sea Pearl with diamonds ring worn by Datuk Siti Nurhaliza during her wedding worth RM180,000.00, Golden South Sea Pearl with diamonds pendant worn by Ning Baizura during her wedding (RM150,000), jeweled couture shoes with White South Sea Pearls and diamonds for Amber Chia's wedding at RM260,000 and jeweled couture shoes with White South Sea Pearls and diamonds during Winnie Sin's 16th wedding anniversary at RM380,000.

Another highlight of the exhibition is the selected Fresh Water Pearls brooch with diamonds, which was first worn by Professor Dato' (Dr) Jimmy Choo OBE during the recent First Malaysia International Shoes Festival 2-4 April 2010 worth RM138,000.00.

The 'Pesona Mutiara Exhibition' will be on for five weeks till May 16. The entrance fees is RM2 for adults while children under 12 can enter for free.

Sourcing for that perfect dress has just become easier.

sharmilla@thestar.com.my

SHOPPING for an evening dress can be quite a daunting affair, what with all the various considerations that go into selecting the right one: size, cut, colour, fit, appropriateness ... the list just goes on. What more if that dress is for your wedding!

Just's Wardrobe, however, specialises in giving that little extra to ensure that their customers leave with not just a glamorous outfit, but also with smiles on their faces. The company stocks clothing for all needs, from casual and semi-formal to officewear, but their forte is evening wear. Having been in the line of clothing women for seven years, the company has three outlets around the country and dressing up women is something it takes very seriously.

Breezy: Shades of apricot soften the bold look of a bouffant skirt and train

Justina Lee, who manages the boutique, says they try their best to stock evening wear to suit their customers' every need. Not only do they have a huge array of styles, they actually carry dresses up to size 24.

She says mature women, or those with plus-sized figures, often find it difficult to get evening dresses that flatter them, and so Just's Wardrobe tries to provide them with more options.

This extends to their wedding collections as well; the entire wedding party from bride, bridesmaids and mothers of brides will be able to find a suitable gown. This year, Just's Wardrobe, which opened in 2003, has plans to take the brand further. They are providing exclusive collections for events like beauty pageants and fashion shows that are not available in their stores. They are also highlighting their bridal collections in wedding fairs.

Sourced from all over the world, including Europe and Australia, their evening dresses combine current trends with classic looks. Using a wide variety of luxurious materials like chiffon, silk, satin and Thai silk, many of the dresses feature eye-catching embellishments like beading, embroidery and sequins.

Take a bow: Revel in these elegant yet youthful gowns

"We travel everywhere to get these dresses; some of them are great finds from little villages or unknown factories," explains Lee. She adds that they also own a few small factories where they employ their own designers.

This means that many of their gowns are single pieces, so the customer can be assured that her dress will not be seen anywhere else.

"We don't stock our dresses based on seasonal trends, because different people have different requirements and tastes. We follow what our customers require," she says.

Lee and her employees keep in tune with what their customers want by treating them like friends. They provide free consultations where the client can discuss a desired look, give advice on how to accessorise and do the hair to best suit the dress. Lee adds that if a customer can specify what she wants early, she can even try and source for the perfect dress for her.

Classic beauty: Floral prints add a touch of old-fashioned charm to these evening dresses.

"Especially for our plus-sized customers, it may be difficult to find something that fits well, so I'm glad to help them. We also do minor alterations (for free) that help a dress to fit better.

"We want to make sure everyone, from ages 15 to 80, and with all body types, can find something at our shop. Whether you're after something sexy, sweet, classic or trendy, we have it," Lee says.

> Just's Wardrobe has outlets in Petaling Jaya ( 03-7725 8223/9226), Penang ( 04-227 5229) and Juru ( 04-501 9229/ 9223). Prices for casual wear start from RM49 and evening wear from RM299 onwards. Wedding packages cost RM2,988 for eight outfits.