From new shades in the sartorial palette to dress codes for the guests, subtle details are causing waves of change in the modern-day wedding look. We spoke to designers and stylists on how to build the wedding wardrobe when you’re dressing to impress.
Perfection in pastelsWhile the quintessential bridal red will never die out, many brides are embracing the lasting elegance of soft pastels and all-white ensembles, with celebrity and influencer brides leading the way: Kiara Advani in baby pink, Athiya Shetty in old rose, and Alanna Panday in white. “Pastels are versatile and elegant, and bring a fresh perspective to the bridal scene,” says leading bridal designer Manish Malhotra. “They are a lovely departure from the expected reds,” he adds. With many brides adding vow exchanges to their itinerary, the white wedding gown has taken centre stage too, as seen on Nataša Stankovic, and influencers Shloka Narang Sensarma and Arushi Mehra Villaquiran.
Manish Malhotra
Beyond Indian designersSignalling their global aesthetics, brides are also looking beyond homegrown designers. Middle Eastern designers, such as Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, Reem Acra, and Ashi Studio are all big favourites for cocktail parties. Pakistani labels like Faraz Manan and Elan are equally popular for sangeet and wedding looks. There’s also a growing trend of bringing international brands into the mix to marry Indian and western sensibilities, be it choosing brands like Zimmermann, Self- Portrait, and Cult Gaia for the pre-wedding parties, or wearing a custom Versace lehenga for a wedding dinner, like fashion influencer Sonam Babani. “The look should say something about you and your individual style,” says Anaita Shroff Adajania, who styled a bride in a belted Sabyasachi sari with Chanel necklaces for a welcome lunch.
Silhouette shuffleBrides want versatility across silhouettes, making for dramatically different looks at each event. Shetty, for instance, mixed it up with lehengas, shararas, and pantsuits at her wedding. “Vary your looks between functions. Go conceptual for one, traditional for another, and delicate for something else. Upcycle and wear something you already own, too,” adds Adajania. Palak Shah, CEO and founder of Indian handloom label Ekaya Banaras, worked with her favourite Indian designers to create distinct looks for her wedding functions. So there was a bandhgala and dhoti set by Kunal Rawal for the mehendi, a sculptural gown, leggings, and matching heels set by Gaurav Gupta for the reception, and a dreamy white lehenga by Shantnu & Nikhil for the wedding. All were made using fabrics from Shah’s brand. She also wore a strapless gown from Nardos for the cocktails and a turmeric-hued sari for the haldi.
