The Indian wedding has undergone sweeping changes and, therefore,wedding dresses have also witnessed a sea change. Gone are the days when bridesused to shop for their trousseau from a local shop in a single visit. Now, it'sa different story. Brides, and even grooms, are choosy, and the collection oflocal shops finds it hard to please them.


The selection of bridal wear eats up a hell of a lot of time,as the bridal ensemble would play an important part on that crucial day. Thisis the reason brides today turn to designer wear and fashion designers are ingreat demand when the wedding season is in full swing.


There is no doubt that a wedding demands a lot of preparation and, hence, many expenses. While your groom and your wedding planner are leaving nostone unturned to make the D-day memorable, you are also topsy-turvy as to whatyou should wear on the big day.


But, your worries end here. Some of the famous fashion designersare here to tell you about your bridal dressing, what is hot and not in Indian weddingdressing. Moreover, the biggest myth about bridal dressing is about to be shattered.


Colors and Trends


Forget what your friends wore in the last season. This year,everything is new from colors to trends. However, it's a back-to-basicsculture. Brides are just crazy for traditional colors. US-based fashiondesigner and founder of SilkThreads, Ruby Bhandari, says, "I think that bridesare finally going back to the traditional colors of reds, rusts, and maroons inthe winters and pinks, creams, and golds in the hotter weather. For a littlewhile, brides were trying to be 'high fashion' and chose colors like purples,blues, and greens, but now, I think that new brides are beginning to realizethat the more traditional colors are what make them look and feel like a queen(which they are on their wedding day)".


"The colors to watch out for this season are metallics likeantique gold, platinum, pewter, champagne, bronze, and copper," says AnitaDongre, a Mumbai-based fashion designer. This is a very neutral color paletteand suits all skin colors. Bright colors are also very much in fashion, likeraspberry, aubergine, crimson, tangerine, and brighter pastels like aquamarine,salmon, mint, and butter yellow. A hot trend to follow is ombre shading for saris,skirts, and dupattas for a more stylish look.



Your Monsoon Medley


With the arrival of monsoon, tension builds up for bridesabout what to wear. It's always difficult to make a perfect choice when showersswamp India. Dongre says, "The most popular bridal wear for young brides areusually lehengas, heavily embellished kurta sets and saris. For cocktail wear,one can opt for corsets teamed with fitted skirts and stoles jazzed up withswarovskis and sequins. For traditional rituals, a classic style is more suitedto the occasion".


 

Grooms also join the designer wear bandwagon


Designer wear is not only for girls. Grooms are no less fashionable than girls, as they also get their dresses designed. Ruby adds that SilkThreads works with a lot of grooms. She observes, "They are much savvier about their outfits for their weddings than a few years ago - the ethnic look has been in for a while - typically Sherwanis, with matching embroidery as the bride, matching embroidered shoes, or open jackets with embroidered vests. They are becoming more adventurous as far as colors are concerned, experimenting with splashes of orange, turquoise, magenta, etc".


"Among Indian grooms, the favorites are bandhgalas, sherwanis, textured kurtas, and unlined jackets for semi-formal looks", adds Dongre. Fabrics can range from jacquards and linens to brocades and silks.



Wedding Dressing Market 2008


More weddings, more buzz in the market. Speaking about the US market, Ruby says that this year has had more weddings than what we saw at the turn of the century. The difference is that now, brides are more educated about embroideries and fabrics, and want to design or choose their own clothing, but do not have time to go to India due to their busy work schedules. So, our job is to bring the heart of India to the American Desi brides by offering a large selection of designer bridal wear in-house, "ready to wear", as well as a designer on staff, who can put together the bride and groom's attire and the matching accessories to make the perfect wedding ensemble!


In India, the trend is inching towards sophisticated flamboyance. Embellishments involve the use of antique gold, swarovskis, glass beads, and lots of fabric effects in tonal and contrast looks. Ombre is also another look to watch out for along with metallics, this season. A total co-ordinated look is boring, and it is far trendier to mix various elements to make a unique fashion statement.


The Myth


The biggest myth is that brides should wait on designing their bridal dresses as long as possible, so that they can follow the latest fashion. In reality, bridal wear doesn't really "go out of fashion". Your bridal attire is about "you" and who you are. It is supposed to complement your skin color and body type, so that your photographs are complementing you. You need to design your dress so that your photographs look beautiful even after 50 years.


According to Dongre, a very common myth and a mistake brides end up making is over embellishment, therefore making an OTT style statement. Bridal wear is not all about being overly done up, but about choosing key pieces that make up a certain style quotient. For example, it is interesting to pair a muted embroidered skirt with a crystal embellished choli and maybe an embroidered leheriya dupatta, with both elements involved.


A word of advice


Before you decide your final wedding date, start looking for your favorite halls, entertainers, and caterers and see what dates are still available, so that you can book the ones that you really like. Most couples do exactly the opposite... They decide the date and then find out that many of their favorite venues are already booked. Why settle for less?


About the Author:


The author is associated with www.firstphera.com as the Senior Editor.


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