In India, people are obsessed with two things: Bollywood and weddings. It’s a core childhood fashion memory – everything that we saw on these b-town beauties has always been a major trend on the wedding fashion radar- be it their saree drapes or their unconventional silhouettes. One thing that has always captured everyone’s attention on screen were these stunning and daring blouse pieces. We still can’t forget the craze of Bipasha blouse by the master couturier Sabyasachi Mukherjee in the 2010s; this creation was the talk of the town at every celebrity party or wedding. Even today, fashion enthusiasts gush over Priyanka Chopra‘s Desi Girl sequin Manish Malhotra blouse, which was quite ahead of its time.
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One of the biggest upgrades for these blouses this year is the amount of drama they are amplifying, skipping the mundane silhouettes or the go-to backless cuts. Shimmering and sparkling accents and lots of intricate surface ornamentations have taken over the trend reports. With the wedding season knocking at the door, Bollywood and some international faces are ready to serve all the brides and bridesmaids a 2023 blouse lookbook.
1. Pearly Fantasy by Manish Malhotra
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Manish Malhotra’s stunning pearl-embellished or tasselled blouse has just the right blend of drama and chicness. This handcrafted ivory lehenga, worn by Janhavi Kapoor, is exquisitely embellished with their signature chikankari and is coupled with a necklace and a matching chikankari jacket.
2. The Gold Standard by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khoshla
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It’s not everyday you get to dress the supermodel of the new generation, and it’s fair to say that the ace designer duo of Abu Jani and Sandeep Khoshla understood the assignment. Gigi Hadid turned into a golden goddess in a spectacular Kamasutra-inspired, South Indian temple-jewellery cropped sleeve blouse edged with bold tassels paired with a slim chikankari skirt and chikan sari drape. The chikan is exquisitely hand-embroidered by female artisans at the Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla atelier in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Crystals and sequin highlights and bold, gold zardozi borders add to its ethereal elegance to create a masterpiece fit for an icon.
3. Tropical Couture by Rahul Mishra
If I had one word to describe Alanna Panday’s wedding, it would be Insta-swoon worthy. On the fashion front, this specific Rahul Mishra piece was a visual treat for everyone. She donned a custom hand-embroidered ‘Calathea’ bralette with cranes in gold paired with a matching tropical print, which has come to be the designer’s signature tropical-themed embroidery.
4. Structural Details by Amit Aggarwal
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In this list full of gold and silver accent pieces, this blouse offers a gentleness and dreamlike structure. An intricate, pastel-hued blouse with a design vision that makes it perfect for all the summer weddings. This signature Amit Aggarwal structural work will help you curate an ideal look to wear at your best friend’s sangeet, engagement, or cocktail party.
5. Butterfly Dreams by Papa Don’t Preach
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A brand who nails the camp theme every time they appear on our Instagram feeds. But this specific design from the brand has taken over the Indianwear space. As seen on Liza Koshy for the NMCAA opening gala and our December 2022 cover star Shraddha Kapoor, this blouse is embroidered with silver metal embellishments, crystals, 3D flowers, and glass cut beads. What makes it an IT blouse is the front panel with the butterfly wing pattern.
6. Corseted Pearls by Manish Malhotra
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A structured silhouette with embellished pearls and traditional chickankari, this piece oozes major royal energy. And if anyone knows how to wear pearls at their best, it’s Manish Malhotra. The under bra cut and the high waisted pattern serves for your next cocktail look.
