Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Fit For A Queen?




Fit for a Queen? As much as I adore Nadine, this costume lacks the wow effect. If the reference is Cik Siti Wan Kembang, then this design in my opinion does not potray the famous Queen who ruled Kelantan in 1610M.


Cik Siti Wan Kembang's attire was rich with songket and adorned with gold accessories. Do compare the attire that was worn by Queen Hijau in the movie Langkasuka with the one worn by Nadine. If the designer wanted to inject a modern twist to his design, he may do so, but let's not forget that Cik Siti Wan Kembang was a Queen and not a dancer in Moulin Rouge.


I saw the costume when it was on display at Pavilion and I asked myself, "Where's Cik Siti Wan Kembang apart from the 'kemban' top?" Furthermore, it is also the right platform to display our songket and I could not see it. Another point of reference is the samurai/ninja costume worn by Kurara Chibana in Miss Universe 2006 (She carried a sword too.). The costume designed by Yuichi Miyagawa and Yoshiyuki Ogata won the best national costume award. It is modern but to me it retains the essence of samurai/ninja and you know it is Japan just by looking at it. Can our national costume bag the award and does it say Malaysia when the world looks at it? We will have to wait and see. All the best to Nadine!


(Photos courtesy of http://www.nst.com.my/ and http://www.ambranews.com/)