Rajputana Lakmé Fashion Festive

the last day of Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2013 kicked of with “Dark Angel” by Jinal Sutariya and Heena Surani under the label House of Chic. This chic and edgy accessories collection consisted of pieces from statement necklaces to skull shaped clutches and you could see how this fashion show came to light as show stopper Pooja Gupta was clothed in a jeweled body vest.

Pragya and Megha, the mother-daughter designer duo, presented their collection “Samor” inspired by exotic colorful birds. This funky line showcased modern drapes and cuts in a wide array of colors with sketch, smear and streak effect on the fabrics. The trendy bags, pom poms on the shoes and long quirky earrings were a few things that stood out from this collection.
“Charkha” by Rahul and Shikha Mangal under the label “Vrisa” was a boho inspired range of Indian and ethnic wear. A simple and clean cut collection in shades of white, beige, persian blue and brown consisting of trousers, long jackets, anarkalis, and stoles in tribal and oriental prints.

“Aangan” by Sonam and Paras Modi for their label “SVA” was portrayed as an exotic collection inspired from the land of the Rajputs and Maharajas. I loved the detailing on the garments which consisted of tiny cloth buttons, embroidery, and prints on the edges of dupattas, hemlines, tops and sleeves of the garment. 

“CHOKHI” by Archana Kochhar showcased a spectacular collection which was inspired by the rich state of Rajasthan. A few things that I liked from her collection was the bandanas, nose-to-ear nathnis, elephant print, mustache buttons, and the sequined belts. 

“A Royal Procession” by Shyamal and Bhumika was a collection inspired by the Rajput/Mughal era. Their collection consisted of Indian as well as Pakistani attire in form of pants, dhotis, cholis, ghagras and sarees in shades of red, cream, pink, and gold to adhere to the wedding theme.

Reliance Trendz presented Bisou Bisou by Michele Bohbot. In my opininion this was a very up-beat collection of ready to wear garments in shades of blue, pink and orange. She showcased a very young and modern range of western wear consisting of a lot of tribal prints and abstract patterns on dresses, peplums, jackets, pants, dresses and blouses.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee‘s royal collection was the perfect end to the Lakme Fashion Week. He paid a tribute to the regal era of queens with outfits in shades of  gold (obviously), red, black, cream and pink along with breathtaking details in each and every garment. A few things I liked from his collection were the striped blouses, half lace sarees, floral printed lehengas and the belted anarkalis.

That is the end of all the 5 days of the Lakme Fashion Week coverage. Although it took me a REALLY REALLY long time to cover the fashion week due to my hectic schedule I hope you guys enjoyed it :) the upcoming posts will get back to basics and the nail arts and outfit posts will come back in great succession!

ICONIC INDIAN BRIDAL LEHENGAS THAT SPARKLED ON THE SILVER SCREEN

The fashion scene in India has a plethora of designers who come up with innovative designs season after season. Despite the profusion of collections from both new and established designers, most women levitate towards movies when it comes to borrowing fashion ideas. Nothing creates an impact that is as powerful as Bollywood.  So it does not come as a surprise that on their big day, brides also want to be dressed in Indian wedding clothing that resembles the bridal wear they see on screen. With wedding scenes being a staple in most Bollywood movies, there is no dearth for Indian bridal lehenga designs to borrow from. Are you also looking at Bollywood for inspiration to choose your Indian bridal lehenga? If yes, then we show you some iconic actresses in Indian bridal lehengas who sparkled on the silver screen.

Orange Lehenga worn by Kareena in 3 Idiots

If there were ever norms regarding Indian wedding clothing, then Kareena has broken every single one of them with this outfit of hers. Conventional short sleeves and choli are ditched in favour of long sleeves and a long kurta type top over the lehenga. The colour of the lehenga is an amalgamation of rust and orange with a pink dupatta thrown in. The outfit is nothing like the traditional Indian bridal lehengas in terms of the silhouette. Yet, it manages to embody all that Indian wedding clothing stands for – elegant design, rich fabrics and shimmering embellishments. The embellished belt clutching the waist works wonderfully to accentuate it. Along the entire outfit including the borders you will notice the diamond shaped “butta” work in rust thread.  Indian wedding clothing in this design will work really well if you have a lean figure and long limbs. Do stay away from such silhouettes if you are bottom heavy since the long top will add an extra layer over the lehenga. Also make sure to pair such an outfit with kundan or stone jewellery that will stand out against the dull gold thread work on it. If you are in love with the full sleeves and the power that this lehenga exudes, then do take a look at this gorgeous golden Narendra Kumar lehenga that comes with a full sleeved embroidered jacket.

Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar

This outfit from Jodhaa Akbar would hands down win the award for the most resplendent Indian bridal lehenga on screen. Aishwarya is dressed in a vivid maroon lehenga choli with ornate dull gold embroidery and zardosi work. The short choli is completely covered in embroidery while the dupatta is kept plain. Mirror work breaks the monotony on the plain dupatta. The lehenga has thread work and sequins along the border. Royal Rajputana jewellery adds an element of sparkle in the ensemble. The beauty of Indian wedding clothing like this is that, minus the elaborate accessories, it can be worn during festivals or special occasions. If a red outfit like this is what you want, then take a look at our red appliqué embroidered lehenga by Narendra Kumar. The red lehenga has exquisite appliqué embroidery while the choli is covered by sequins throughout. It is a classic case of tradition meets modern and is perfect for the modern Indian bride.

Deepika’s pink lehenga in Break ke Baad

With changing times, Indian wedding clothing has also become more liberal. Sleeveless and extremely short cholis that were earlier frowned upon now make a regular appearance in Indian wedding outfits. Case in point this onion pink lehenga worn by Deepika Padukone in Break ke baad. If you are planning to look fetching in a shimmering sleeveless choli such as this, make sure that your arms are well toned and you have mean washboard abs. The pink lehenga in georgette and silk comes with zardosi work encrusted with stones and sequins. The entire length of the lehenga is adorned by thread work. A similar pattern can be seen on the tissue dupatta. The choli is made with pre-strung sequinned fabric. An Indian bridal lehenga like this gives you wide options to experiment with jewellery. You can try traditional gold jewellery, kundan jewellery or even silver if you want to make a statement. Pair the outfit with many bangles since the choli is sleeveless. Here is a similar outfit with a short sleeveless choli by Raakesh Agarvwal. It comes in varying shades of pink with crystal bead embroidery. If you are looking for Indian wedding clothing to show off intricate mehendi designs all over your arms then this is the perfect outfit for you.

Katrina Kaif in Singh is King

This lovely belle scorched the silver screen in a beautiful Indian bridal lehenga in the movie Singh is King. Indian wedding clothing of this silhouette, fitted at the hips, looks great on women with an hourglass figure. This outfit has a teal coloured choli which is a refreshing change. However, the designer plays it safe by pairing a red lehenga with it. Both the lehenga and the dupatta have a teal patchwork in the border. The choli has sequins and stone detailing in silver along the neckline and the sleeves. The lehenga comes with elaborate zardosi embroidery reaching all the way up to the knees. Another striking feature of the lehenga is the belt-like embellishment that clutches and accentuates the waist. If you are not too willing to bare your midriff in a short choli like this, you can always take cue from Katrina and drape the dupatta like a pallu over the torso. Here is a yellow wedding lehenga in a similar design. Yellow is considered auspicious and signifies prosperity. The Rakesh Agarvwal lehenga comes with a bandhini dupatta and an elegant waist band.

Rani Mukherji in Kabhi Alvida Na kehna

Here is another classic wedding lehenga from the movie Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. Rani wears a crimson lehenga with gold zardosi work all over the choli and the skirt. The rich gold detailing and the contrast created by the red fabric make this piece of Indian wedding clothing the stuff of every woman’s dreams. This Indian Bridal lehenga is the perfect choice for women who are not very comfortable showing skin. The choli is long and reaches till the waist. The skirt is neither too flared nor too fitted and comes with a festive green border. Both the choli and the lehenga come with embellishments and zardosi work that are not just intricate but are dazzling too. If you love this design but don’t want a red outfit, then may we suggest this lovely pink lehenga with silver zardosi work all over and beautiful embroidered dupatta.

The options are endless when it comes to choosing a lehenga inspired by Bollywood. You can scout for styles that are similar to what your favourite actress wore be it on the basis of colour or design. Remember to make sure that that colour and the silhouette suit your complexion and body type. Once you do that, there is no stopping you from looking ravishing on your wedding day.