Esra Seziş Kiğılı, one of the most prominent figures of conservative fashion in Turkey, told her styles and the conservative fashion in Turkey to our magazine group. Stating that fashion has diversified in years in Turkey, Seziş said that: “Turkish fashion is growing rapidly and has made a distinguished name in the world. We can see the products of Turkish fashion designers in all fashion shows.” Acting as style consultant for numerous celebrities and brands, Seziş gave tips for those wanting to combine grace and stylishness and criticised the youth who wears only one type of clothes.
“Everybody has a colour”
Stating that her styles vary by the person and firm for whom/which she provides consultancy, Seziş added that: “My own style is always to be “plainly stylish”. I love rendering a white dress with a magnificent necklace. The clothes must be plain and we should ornament them with accessories. For instance, if I wear pants, I certainly combine them with long shirts. I never wear tight dresses. I am trying to be stylish by wearing modest dresses. All colours cannot be combined. Being plain is the most fundamental rule of being stylish.”
Stating that: “I very much benefit from the nature. There is a perfect match of colours in the nature. Of course the colours have mathematics and the colours of the nature are in a complete harmony.” Seziş added that: “Before starting making style consultancy for a person, I firstly have her/him take colour analysis. After the analysis, we determine the colours and go shopping. This is because of the fact that any colours do not go well with anybody. When they choose the suitable colours, people will look more stylish, noble and graceful.”
“Stil-i Esra”
Expressing that she started her career by working as fashion editor in a conservative magazine, Seziş added that: “Later on, I undertook the style consultancy of Sinem Öztürk who personify Şükran in the TV series named Huzur Sokağı. Now there are individuals for whom I work as a style consultant personally. Besides, I make styling and fashion consultancy in the collection shots of the brands. I mainly work with conservative brands. Shots are taken according to the theme that I determine. Now I am working with the online sales website named modanisa.com. The name of the project is ‘Stil-i Esra’. I present my favourite combination to my followers every week. There are many firms I work in this way. Brands present their projects to us and after a period of brainstorming, we start cooperating.”
2014-1015 Fall-Winter Season
Assessing the fashion trends of the upcoming season for the readers of our magazine, Seziş said that: “In 2014-2015 Fall-Winter season, sand colour will be one of the favourites of the winter season. The shades of purple, violet, lilac and purplish blue will also be used in winter. Another colour is red. We see that claret red will make a nice breakthrough. Cobalt blue has already shown that it will dominate the winter of 2014. We will see bright colours frequently in winter. Apart from these, the favourite pastel colour will be powder colour. We have also a colour resembling to the shades of mint named “Ice Blue”. More traditional and hand-made clothes will stand out. The size of the prints will catch the eyes.”
Brands Discovered Conservative Fashion
Stating that fashion designers and brands had ignored the demands of the conservative community in the past, Seziş added that: “Now the conservative community provides a good market for everyone. While there were 5 brands in the past, now there are tens of brands. Numerous world-famous brands make designs for those preferring modest dresses. In Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, for instance, there were really impressive collections in this field. Besides, DKNY prepared a capsule collection named “Ramadan Summer” in the month of Ramadan. Chanel organised its fashion show in the East in Dubai where Muslims live for the first time. While the world brands are getting more and more conservative, it is nothing but normal for Turkey to pay more importance to conservative fashion.”
Modest Dresses Diversified
Stating that those preferring modest dresses could wear only topcoats or long tunics, Seziş expressed that: “Since there were not too many alternatives in the past, people used to wear one type of clothes. But now fashion designers and brands manufacture magnificent products for this group of people. Therefore, more conscious and stylish consumers have emerged. In the past, we could never find clothes appealing to our tastes but now you can find long shirts, long skirts and jackets in almost all brands. Since everybody is aware of this market, now production addresses the conservatives, as well. I can say that everybody works for us.
As far as I observe among the youth, there is such a problem: they do not take their body types into account while creating their styles. They dress by imitating other people whose styles appeal to them. Therefore, although they get dressed in a beautiful and stylish manner, uniformity comes out as in the past.”
