Dressing for the D day

Dressing for the D day

Stylist Megha Makhija and designer Preety Agarwal give tips for gorgeous-yet-comfortable outfit choices for destination and monsoon weddings

The big fat Indian wedding is full of rituals, naach-gaana, food and merry making but just like everything else, it too has undergone a sea change. Weddings are no longer restricted to the aangans (courtyard) of your house, temples and mangal karyalayas (wedding halls). From theme-based weddings, to innovative concepts, and worldwide cuisines, weddings have evolved, with destination weddings being the latest craze. While couples choose to tie the knot at the most exotic locations, it also calls for suitable and comfortable outfits and clothing.

Wedding stylist Megha Makhija from Delhi has a solution. “Indian brides are increasingly looking at ditching the conventional sarees and lehengas and trying ready-to-wear and pre-draped sarees for a more interesting appeal. While destination weddings are fun, it may get hectic given the amount of travelling involved. If you are having a wedding in monsoon at your favourite location, it is important to wear something easy, light and relaxing without compromising on the beauty aspect. Hence pre-draped sarees are a great way to accentuate and highlight your curves,” she explains. Lehengas in soft material and lively hues like coral, peach, mint green or aqua should be flaunted in monsoon.

The one thing we Indians rarely compromise on is the number of rituals — haldi, sangeet, reception and so on. It thus calls for those many outfits for the bride and groom. “Traditional lehengas tend to be the most preferred bridal outfits, but brides can also opt for mermaid-cut padded satin lehenga choli for sangeet. A floor-length skirt and a crop top can be an ideal outfit for haldi. For reception, one could go for a saree gown. These outfits will save your from the hassles of a traditional wear and you can enjoy the functions,” adds Makhija. For a destination wedding, material like georgette chiffon, lace, net, crepe, brocade or fine tissue will not only make you look great but also make for easy transport.

Mumbai-based fashion designer Preety Agarwal, who owns Preety’s Design Hut, says that for a dream destination monsoon wedding, choosing a perfect bridal wear can get quite tricky. She suggests tropical prints for an effortless simple look. Agarwal, who is the first runner-up of  Mrs India Queen of Substance, suggests, “You have to be careful in choosing your outfit for a monsoon wedding but never compromise when it comes to colours — from  bright red to fuchsia with a combination of gold is a great way to look your best in your wedding photographs at the most exotic locations. However, it is also important to select the perfect texture and flow of the fabric to feel gorgeous and comfortable on your D-day. Your choice of colour should match the type of fabric so that there is a balance, instead of clash.” For functions like haldi, mehendi and sangeet you can go for casual material which is flowy but well-fitted,” she adds, while warning against excessively long clothes. “Short kurtas with ankle pants are easy to manage, even ankle-length palazzo with kurtas are good to go when you want to let your hair down. A lot of lemon and peach shades with bright prints will make a good style statement,” adds Agarwal.

She, however, advises against georgette and chiffon for monsoons. “They tend to lose their charm in the rains. Also, stick to light and dry makeup this season. Oily makeup in rains may not be a good idea and may appear slimy. Ensure your product is water proof,” she concludes.


Follow the writer on Twitter @amu_prasad

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