Last week, the best in the business of Indian fashion showcased their newly designed couture collections at the FDCI India Couture Week. Perfectly timed for the upcoming wedding seasons, the designers unleashed the best from their bridal arsenals. Catering to the needs of the new-age modern bride, each fashion house took a nuanced stance when it comes to traditional Indian wear. Deconstructed lehengas, embroidered bomber jackets, and structured gowns with multi-dimensional layers were amongst the few of the many trends we decoded from the various presentations. If you’re a bride-to-be or even just a bridesmaid hoping to make a statement, scroll below for all the contemporary styles you can bookmark and experiment with.
1 Androgynous Fit
Don’t want to be a bride in a lehenga? no problem, you can now strut into your wedding function in your groom’s outfit. Recently, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja Played muse for Kunal Rawal’s India Couture Week show, who is predominantly known for his fusion menswear designs. The actor looked sharp in a neutral-hued kurta, dhoti, and bandhgala combination which she paired with minimal jewellery, giving the regular bridal trousseau a fresh upgrade.
2. Pocketed Gowns
It’s about time women’s garments are made to be more functional and not just fashionable. So what if it’s your reception gown? a girl’s got to carry her essentials. Dolly J studio proposed a collection of intricately embroidered ball-room gowns with a utilitarian element like double-sided pockets. To conceal it in a fancy way, she feathered it up for a more opulent appearance.
3. Handpainted Lehengas
For a much-needed departure from heavy-weight embellishments, Anju Modi’s line of ethereal ensembles came with delicately painted floral motifs. If you’re into fuss-free yet dainty and traditional clothing, this is an elegant route to take. Bright shades bearing flared skirts with artistically painted flowers would look visually appealing in your multiple twirls.
4. Embroidered Co-ord Set
For the millennial bride, Tarun Tahiliani converted his heritage embroidery-infused saris and lehengas into a chic co-ord set with a long jacket. This attire is tailor-made for the pre-wedding functions that require you to let loose and have fun on the dance floor. Style it with ethnic jewellery for that amalgamated balance between your Indian and western sensibilities.
5. Blazer blouse
Rahul Mishra is known for his ability to breathe a new life into the otherwise expected conventional Indian clothing. Putting his might behind the art and the artisan, Rahul manages to explore a free-range when it comes to cut the and styles of the garment as the handcraft weaves it all effortlessly. For his latest collection, he clubbed the lehenga with a painstakingly embroidered contrasting coloured blazer instead of a blouse, serving an exciting new upper torso option for the bride and bridal party to choose from.
6. Concept Couture
Amit Aggarwal’s couture stems from his love for nature and all things that bind it together. Playing to his strengths, his current couture line consists of complicated structure, drapes and forms. Undefined silhouettes in metallic hues are his fashion love language, and if your fashion preference tilts more towards art, his conceptual ensembles will definitely interest you.
7. Exaggerated Sleeves
For the ones who love drama, amp it up on your sleeves. An interesting way to cut down the volume from the rest of your silhouette is by adding lots of it to your arms. Pankaj & Nidhi’s couture collection came in packed with grandeur, owing to the overall surface ornamentation and the larger-than-life sleeves.
8. Bejewelled Veil
Floor-sweeping trails are so last season, it’s all about the pearled veils now. Coined by the fashion-forward bride of the year Rhea Kapoor, who wore her custom-made Anamika Khanna sari with a Birdichand Jeweller’s pearl lattice head covering. Carrying the trend forward, Anamika added this diaphanous dupatta to her brand new collection.
