Lehenga Styling for Pre-Wedding Rituals

A wedding is a plush affair in India and it is celebrated on a grandiose scale. Every bride to be is very eager to pick out her outfits, be it a wedding lehenga, cocktail dress or reception saree. The colour of the outfits, the matching jewellery, the contrast with the wedding décor are all the things that run in a bride’s mind before the big day. And it is obvious because it’s her special day and she wants to look nothing short of perfect for the groom and the camera.

Indian weddings are a grand affair. They are always celebrated with a lot of colours, themes, rituals and functions before the big day. Starting from the functions like Mehendi or sangeet to the main event a bride has to pick multiple outfits which make her look her best for all the events. Before finalizing on any of outfits a bride needs to do some market research.

Make sure to check out the local stores, online shops and the runaway designer style to check out the latest trends before picking out your outfit.

If you are getting hitched sometime soon and on a hunt for a stunning outfit for your pre-wedding rituals, then check out this monotone lehenga styled by me. A bridal lehenga is incomplete without some detailed handwork and embroidery.

I have styled this flared lehenga with embroidery work from Priti Sahni. The lehenga is a bold deep purple shade. If you are a bride who wants to break the stereotype and move away from the typical reds and pinks, then this colour is your pick. For brides who love to experiment this deep purple colour is very sultry and makes for a sophisticated look for any evening events.

This lehenga is perfect for a Sangeet. This colour block lehenga with detailed zardozi embroidery on the choli and the skirt is stunning enough to let you sizzle on the stage. An ode to Indian crafts and design, this lehenga set can make your evening even more memorable.

For a complete look, you need to pair your lehenga with the right type of jewellery. I paired this extravagant lehenga with Kundan, Emerald and Ruby studded jewellery.  

Kundan Jewelry is very traditional and classic. The elegance of these stone studded jewellery is no match to any other contemporary styles. The light gold colour of the kundan perfectly matches the gold dupatta and the work on the lehenga.

Since the blouse is very heavy I would recommend to not wear too many statement pieces of jewellery. But that doesn’t mean you don’t flaunt some crystal. You can always pair a Maang tikka and bring some oomph to your outfit. Maang tikkas have come back in style and are a great way to style your outfit. The boat neck of the blouse allows me to wear a choker necklace which is traditional yet fashionable.

Now when it comes to makeup and hair, this outfit would look great with some subtle makeup. You can either go for bold lips or eyes, but not both. I also prefer open hair and loose curls for a girly look. One can always tie up their hair into a bun for a sophisticated look but I believe buns are better for post-wedding events like the reception.

What makes this piece even more special for me is the woman behind it. Priti Sahni was an engineer by profession, who quit her job to pursue her passion of designing. Known for her hand embroideries and Indian Craft, Priti’s designs have an interesting mix of colours and fabric which are woven into the most beautiful sarees and lehengas.

So get ready to pick out your Bridal Outfits! What sangeet looks are on your mood board? Let me know in the comments below.

Outfit Details:

Red the Colour of Love.

Every girl desires to look their best when it comes to traditional wear. We all spend a lot of time deciding which accessories to pair up, which hairstyles to do. But when it comes to celebrations and cultural festivities, Indian Lehengas are always on our mind

Since I always try to put a twist on my outfits. Then, why not to this lehenga style?

I enjoy dressing up and love to use my creativity on my outfit ideas. Lehenga is a synonym and reminds of traditional wear. The fashionista in me always strives to look better and even more stylish than before. I, myself, wear western on daily basis, so, I experimented with the traditional look of Indian Lehengas to give it a peculiar and modern look. A little experiment with subtle of twist is just adding glamour to my attire.

Lehenga generally reminds one of Gagra choli paired with a matching blouse, then let me show you how I created this modern style lehenga for myself.

I chose this gorgeous peplum top and skirt from Nakhra by Parthivi. I love this brand and its flair to explore and keep bringing such new chic outfits to serve their customers. Crafted by master craftsmen, using finest fabrics, they keep in mind what modern women want and always aim to make their customers happy by creating various gorgeous looks including fabrics and embroideries for the modern women.

Initially, I was a bit sceptical to style an all plain red outfit, but then getting creative with this look had me excited. This plain red dress looks so gorgeous, great flair and fit, which makes the appearance look even more versatile.

The peplum top is so pretty and well fitted. You can also wear this along with jeans. Even, this skirt can be perfectly paired with another blouse or any other top. The opportunities and outfit styles you can create with this outfit are numerous, even while writing this I can think of more than 10 more ways I can style it. 

More than anything, the simple lehenga and the beautiful red colour adds the elegance into action. No doubt, the red makes it brighter and prettier.

Always remember jewellery is a perfect spice that complements what’s already there. I went with this Kundan neckpiece and added a maang tikka with it. Since the lehenga is plain, I wanted to balance the look. My kundan accessories blended with my look perfectly and added oomph to the complete look.

A lehenga is incomplete without dupattas, chunis. People usually say a dupatta enhances a woman’s look to a whole new level. I paired this with a  silk dupatta. Breaking the monotony of red, I chose this green colour dupatta which added a perfect edge to my outfit. This dupatta is a cherry on the top. It just completed my quirky modern lehenga look by adding extra glamour to it.

Well, this one is worth investment. If you wish, you can play with different items from your wardrobe and create one such personalized outfit for you. Just experiment and be comfortable.

Do you like this idea of incorporating this modern look on Indian lehenga? What did you like? Let me know if you want me to do more posts on outfits that can be styled in more than one way in the comments section below.

“In The Garden” – Summer Wedding Floral Lehenga Look

Indian weddings and festivities are an experience filled with colours, rituals, laughter, joy and family. There are so many functions before the actual wedding that make the whole affair more memorable and fun. From sangeet, mehndi, pheras, and cocktail Indians know how to celebrate and enjoy.

I love seeing everyone decked up in different ethnic outfits like Lehengas, Anarkalis, and Sarees. But at times you get confused which outfit or colours are appropriate for the occasion. You don’t want to be overdressed and look like the bride or immediate family member or underdressed and feel like you don’t belong.

Since it’s Summers on Now, I have decided to write this post focusing on a look for daytime functions. For this garden party look I went in for a light and printed lehenga paired with a gold choli and a bright mauve dupatta with gold bootis. The choli is more like a crop top than a traditional choli as I wanted a modern twist to the entire look. Florals are perfect for spring and an outdoor daytime event which is why I went for a floral printed lehenga in summery shades of pink. The floral print screams out outdoor, colourful, fun, and spring it’s a good twist to the traditional Indian lehengas with embroidery and hand work. It is very light and easy to wear since it’s printed. What I love about lehengas is that you can twirl around in them and it makes you feel like a princess.

The outfit is a customised outfit from Anaya textiles. They specialise in fabrics like chiffon, silk and cotton and have a wide range of designs. The best part is that they do “made to order” outfits where you can create your own outfit, whatever you desire right from the fabric to the colour palette it can all be customised.

I paired up my floral lehenga with traditional Kundan earrings and necklace. I went in for key jewellery pieces to enhance my overall look.  I also added a matha tikka to highlight my outfit. You can match your tikka to your earrings for an elegant and graceful look. To complete my outfit I have also worn bangles, ring and a hath phool. Hath phool or a hand bracelet is a globally loved Indian ornament. Traditionally it was only worn by brides but with designers coming up with modern and lighter variants of the jewellery it has even become a party wear accessory. I have gone for a simple hairstyle to keep the focus on my outfit and jewellery and a very romantic look with my makeup. One of the best parts of this outfit is that you can even reuse the skirt for a western look if you want. Pair it with a white tee or a crop top for a modern look. This look is a great day look and perfect for a garden party like a mehndi or a sangeet function.

Outfit – Ananya Textiles
Jewellery – Master Jewels
Hair & Makeup – Jasleen Kaur
Photography – Shoot and Star
Styling & Ideation – FashionForRoyals

What did you like about this outfit? Let me know in the comments below.

Warp ‘n Weft- Where Modernity Blends with Tradition

Benarasi, the rich fabric that defines the grandeur of the ancient city of Varanasi, truly captures the essence of Indian tradition. Indeed, Benarasi deserves to be called the “Fabric of Antiquity” as it epitomises the culture and heritage of the country. And what I love the most about this textile is that it effortlessly blends with contemporary dressing, making a timeless synergy of modernity with tradition.

Today, Benarasi is making fashion headlines as designers across the globe are taking it to the fore. It is my favourite too and I love to play with these rich weaves. I find it perfect for creating stunning fusion ensembles. The vibrant colours and distinctive weaves of this luscious and rich fabric make an extraordinary combination with the simplicity of western attire making it elegant and chic.

When it comes to Benarasis, Warp ‘n Weft is the brand name that comes to mind. I picked some exquisite Benarasi weaves from this brand to create a unique look with the famed ‘brocade’ and ‘khinkhab’ marrying our Indian cultural heritage with western.

Benarasi Shorts with Jumper 

This glamorous ensemble combines a pair of stylish shorts from Warp ‘n Weft in Silk ‘Khinkhab’ with a mustard coloured full-sleeved jumper. Crafted in rich burgundy Benarasi fabric with floral weave, the cute hot pants are the highlight of the ensemble. And the knee-high boots complete the look to perfection. The entire look is a statement; bold and confident style and can make one standout no matter what the occasion speaking of the adaptability of this vintage pure weave to suit the look of the discerning woman.

Benarasi Lehenga with Leather Jacket

The second look that I have put together brings together the magic and timelessness of  Benarasi and the sassiness of leather. This one is an unexpected combination which has an elegant Benarasi Lehenga in bronzy metallic hues, choli in deep wine not red, teamed with a stylish black leather jacket. The vibrant choli features the traditional Benarasi butti weave. The lehengas which has panels in the subdued shades of bronze and gold, is woven like poetry in thread with the ‘Sunflower Buta’ in design. And the funky leather jacket adds the oomph factor to the look. The ensemble is creatively accessorized with a lovely Kundan neckpiece to enhance the eclectic touch. What’s more it keeps me warm in this chilly English weather. A great alternative to make sure I get to wear my favourite Indian Skirts no matter what the weather. Gives the whole outfit that grunge look. **wink** **wink**

Warp ‘n Weft is a revolution in itself when it comes to Benarasi weaves. The brand has been catering to a global clientele since 1997 showcasing the rich culture and provenance of the master craftsmen weavers of Varanasi. The brand understands the desires of the emerging trends and burgeoning demands of buyers who appreciate the beauty of the significant hand-crafted Benarasi fabric and would settle for nothing but the best.

The flagship store of Warp ‘n Weft is in Mumbai. The brand also enjoys an international presence, as it collaborates with Este Couture in the UK and soon would be exploring new tie-ups too. Additionally, it offers an amazing bespoke online styling service “Warp ‘n Weft Personal”, which brings customised fashion to the doorstep of Benarasi lovers. From colour detail to yarn detail and weave detail, the brand customises the fabric according to the customer’s desire. Buyers can have a unique and personalised look designed just for them by availing this exclusive service.

Benarasi is the fabric that has a global appeal and Warp ‘n Weft continues in their endeavour to get it all the recognition that it deserves. The brand endorses Benarasi, not as a fashion fabric but as a legacy that is to be carried forth to the next generations.

10 Ways To Add Some Oomph To Your Lehenga Ensemble (Lehenga Styling Tips)

10 Ways To Make Your Lehenga More FunWhen it comes to Indian attire, you really cannot go wrong with a well-fitted lehenga in a royal colour; however, there are many ways to accentuate the beauty of your desi two-piece. I, for one, am absolutely dying to see ladies take their lehengas to the next level with some smart and sassy styling. As the end of the year rolls around and wedding season begins, try your hand at one of these ten tips to make your classic lehenga more fabulous and fashionable!

  1. Highlight your hips by adding a belly bauble to your ensemble. You can opt for a traditional and heavy kamarbandh or a light and single stranded belly chain. Either way, they look amazing!
  2. Switch up your regular jewellery for floral jewellery that is made from fresh flowers. I love this look – it is so different and totally stylish!
  3. Explore different ways to drape the dupatta of your To be honest, I have had enough of the traditional styles of draping – it is time to be more adventurous and really push the boundaries. Better yet, try two dupattas for some extra fun!
  4. If you are wearing your lehenga for a daytime function, why not wear it with a matching waistcoat instead of the dupatta? It is bound to put you in the spotlight but even better, it saves you from the hassle of managing your dupatta all the time!
  5. If you are feeling fierce and bold, skip the dupatta altogether and let the rest of your outfit do the talking!
  6. Think about your footwear. They might be covered for most of the part, but even the small glimpses of your feet can make a world of difference. Opt for good quality sandals that match either the colour of your outfit or the colour of the embroidery. Add some cute anklets to the mix as well!
  7. When it comes to a bag, stick to clutches. Bigger bags will detract from the beauty of your two-piece. Classy clutches in metallic tones are always the way to go.
  8. Instead of going all out with your earrings, think about styling your lehenga with a jazzy ear cuff instead. It is definitely less tedious on your ear lobes and makes a serious style statement!
  9. This is a great one for daytime affairs – throw out the shiny choli and wear your heavy skirt with a modern crop top instead.
  10. Sometimes, your hair and makeup can make more of a style statement than your accessories so spend time thinking about what you would like to do.