Politicians & luxury goods part 1: Maryam Nawaz

As the ban on imported luxury items takes effect, we can’t help but wonder how our favorite politicians intend to survive this. After all, when it comes to true luxury, the kind that’s found in Fendi boutiques and Hermès showrooms, it’s our leaders who are most inclined to dip into their foreign reserves. And while the government has put a ban on luxury items (including our pet peeve, cat food), we wonder if sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. This week, Something Haute will take a look at the luxury brands that are so inseparably seen on some of our leading politicians. We may be pushed into wearing local brands of shoes, for example, but will Bata ever replace the Blahniks that we see adorning their feet? Naturally, it is Maryam Nawaz who kicks off this series. A lot has been said about this PML-N leader’s fashion choices already. But surely a wardrobe that is valued at thousands of dollars is worthy of being revisited one more time?

Repeat after us, there’s an import ban on luxury items, including branded shoes.

The daughter of PML-N founder Nawaz Sharif seems to have a special preference for Manolo Blahnik’s Hangisi line. She owns at least eight different versions of the shoe, which amounts to a whopping USD 10,000 in total. A significant number even before the dollar’s recent rise. Maryam has been spotted wearing the Hangisi satin pumps in pastel shades of pink, blue, and white. She also owns several pairs of the Hangisimu mules in green, red, and black. Her love for the line extends to the Hangisiflat, which she’s been spotted wearing in sky blue and maroon. At some point in our lives, we all find a product that we love so much we just have to buy it in all its colours. Just a gentle reminder that one pair of theses shoes costs USD 1,300.     Maryam’s taste in expensive shoes is not restricted to Manolo Blahnik. She’s often been spotted in Gucci shoes and enjoys wearing their Horsebit collection, which retails for hundreds of dollars. For Maryam that’s probably little more than pocket change.     The fashion forward politician’s shoes aren’t the only accessories draining our foreign reserves. No discussion of Maryam’s wardrobe would be complete without mention of her Rolex watch. Inlaid with diamonds, the watch is from Rolex’s datejust line and costs over USD 28,000.     Another oft discussed accessory is her green Bottega Veneta bag that is valued at USD 3,000. Louis Vuitton’s Alma GB bag, valued at USD 1,500, has also made an appearance on her arms along with a range of other brands from Gucci to Chanel. Women across Pakistan envy Maryam for the elegance with which she carries her dupattas and scarves. However, her job is probably made easier by the luxury brands that populate her scarf collection. While Fendi seems to her favourite, Maryam has been seen draped in Louis Vuitton and Chanel as well.  Don’t worry ladies, while most of us can’t afford Fendi  – and couldn’t bring it into the country even if we wanted to – we can still perhaps learn a thing or two about draping from this luxury-laden leader of the masses.