My big day is barely four months away, and India Bridal Fashion Week Delhi 2013 came along at the right time. Looking at all the pictures from the week gave me a good idea of outfits I could try, some embellishment options I could explore, or hot colours for brides over the next few months.
Here’s my pick of the outfits I’d choose to wear for my wedding (and the related ceremonies). My top choices range from lehengas for the wedding ceremony to gowns for the sangeet. Which outfit is your favourite from these?
Fashion videos are not new. Internationally, luxury brands like Dior and Prada have created fascinating videos that are beyond product showcases, and standalone works of art.
In India, I think Anita Dongre is among the first Indian designers to present a fashion video (for her Timeless label). And what a video it is!
The Jaipur Bride is a two-minute video featuring Jyothsna Chakravarthytwirling in Anita Dongre’s signature lehengas with gota patti work. In the flared skirts and sexy cholis, the sublime bride wanders around the hauntingly beautiful Vidyadhar Ji Bagh in Jaipur.
The new age rendition of the Gayatri Mantra, Jyotsna’s mesmerizing eyes and the empty centuries-old fortress gave me goosebumps. I felt I was looking at a Rajasthani princess at her maternal home, waiting for her long-lost beloved prince. Take a look:
With ace cinematographer Colstan Julian’s skilled eye capturing the arid royal residence, and soundtrack by DJ Sayem World of Flowers, this video is not to be missed.
I can’t wait for more designers to give video creation a shot. I would love to hear stories narrated through the videos- they would make epic short films. What better way to portray the twirl of fabric, the beauty of a garment than the audio visual medium?
While Sheela ki Jawani (aka Sheila ki Jawani) rocks the charts, Katrina Kaif seems to be rocking on the Bollywood fashion front with a confusing outfit in the chartbusting song from Tees Maar Khan. So what on earth is that pink thing? Is it a sari, is it a skirt, or is it a cutoff lehenga?
It’s none of them, folks. It’s what the fashion world is calling a half-sari. What it comprises: a knee-length underskirt/ petticoat (or whatever fancy-shmancyname you want to give it), and a “sari” that’s not the sari’s length, but shorter and not even the same width as the traditional sari. It looks like something’s missing. Length, fabric…and a wearable garment.
We asked some people about their opinion on the half-sari concept. Some of the spontaneous reactions:
“It’s neither this nor that! Awful!”
“It would look stupid off-screen.”
“I wouldn’t want to wear that, but it might just become a hot trend.”
It’s worth noting that Tees Maar Khan costume designer is Aki Narula, and not Manish Malhotra, which is a refreshing change.
Meanwhile Katrina Kaif rocks another look in Sheela ki Jawani: loose white shirt with black shorts, very similar to what Veena Malik wore on Bigg Boss the other day.
Gold is everywhere this season… around your neck, on your ring finger and wrist, and of course, it’s on our clothes. Designers can’t bring enough gold to their lehengas and saris, and we don’t mind, because this time it isn’t OTT.
At Lakme Fashion Week, Anupama Dayal’s collection, which made plenty of good use of Indian embroideries and embellishments in the form of zardosi, gota and brocade.
How to wear gold in your wedding outfit:
Wear a sari, lehenga or kurta with gold metallic embellishments.
Tone down the bling with a broad gold border on your dupatta or sari.
Wear a gold blouse or choli with your lehenga or sari.
As promised, Speaking Chic brings you a special wedding wear series. Our series is not just for Indian brides, but for all our readers who are attending weddings of their friends, family and relatives over the next couple of months.
We kickstart our wedding 2010-2011 series with our top sari, lehenga and churidar-kurtas trends for Indian weddings.
Jewel Tones
Indian weddings are delightfully colourful. Wear jewel tones to make a striking appearance at the wedding, but make sure it’s not ostentatious or loud. (Shyamal & Bhumika lehenga below.)
Printed
Who says printed saris should be restricted to day wear? Embellished printed saris look rich, festive and traditional, and can be worn to a wedding with the right jewellery. Take a look at the Satya Paul creation below:
Shruti Hassan is wearing a blue silk sari with embellishments on the border and blouse (bodice and cuffs).
More hot trends to wear (for sari, lehengas and other Indian wedding wear) coming soon. Stay tuned!
My first thought when I heard about the Sara Khan-Ali Merchant wedding on Bigg Boss 4: “OMG, what are they gonna wear? Track pants?!”
Turns out I need not worry: Bigg Boss has roped in designer Vikram Phadnis to design exclusive wedding outfits for the couple! Here are some preliminary sketches Vikram has made for the young couple. No one knows the final designs yet, but we need to wait just a bit to satisfy our curiosity.
What Sara will wear
Sara Khan will wear an exquisite lehenga embellished with intricate zardosi, gota and kundan embroidery, artistic motifs with gentle fluid drapes in vivid colours.
But which of these lehengas will Sara wear? Take your pick:
Sara’s jewellery
Kundan and jadau polki from Jaipur.
What Ali will wear
Sherwani in soft colours, embellished in antique gold and paired with a patchwork stole.
Are you looking forward to Sara and Ali’s wedding outfits on Bigg Boss 4?
