Blessed with a rich history, India is a country that has been shaped by its diversity. Culture drives life here. Literature, music, art, food, and, of course, weddings—everything in this country is influenced by culture. An Indian wedding is a treasure trove of traditions. It is a celebrated event, honoring the country’s heritage with grandeur. The various rituals of an Indian wedding and the vibrant decor make it a visual treat. Everything about an Indian wedding is spectacular, but it's the attire of the bride that takes center stage.
How Indian Wedding Fashion Has Evolved
Gracing the beauty of the bride, attires add to the luxury of an Indian wedding. From traditional sarees to contemporary fusion lehengas, Indian weddings have silhouettes of various ethnic wear. Each generation wears outfits that are highly influenced by the culture of the country, but not without adding a touch of transformation. The Indian wedding lookbook has evolved through the centuries. Over the years, brides have been making statements while experimenting with their dressing. Today, we witness brides wearing outfits with a traditional root and a modern take.
Indian wedding outfits reflect culture as influenced by fashion. Brides flaunt the versatility of various Indian traditional garments infused with the latest trends. This has led to a miraculous shift in the wedding fashion industry. Along with the saree, the lehenga has found a coveted place in the hearts of ladies. Let’s explore and embrace the uniqueness of these Indian wedding outfits, rooted in craftsmanship, art, and culture!
Saree: The Timeless Classic
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For centuries, the six yards of elegance has represented Indian culture around the world. Saree is considered one of the oldest pieces of clothing. Its history dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Different regions have different ways of draping sarees, use different materials, and call them by different names, but sarees are an essential part of women's wardrobes.
Over the centuries, the saree has adapted to various trends and styles. Women of all age groups turn to saree for daily as well as special occasions. With its unmatched elegance, the saree has forever been considered an appropriate outfit for Indian weddings. A red saree with golden work is an ideal representation of traditional wear for weddings. We have seen our mothers and grandmothers looking all beautiful in a vibrant red saree and vintage jewelry on their wedding days.
Sarees are the traditional wedding dress in various parts of the country. From Gujarati Paanetar to South Indian Kanchipuram saree, from Madhya Pradesh’s chanderi to Lucknow’s chikankari, the list can go on and on. Even today, the popularity of saree as bridal wear is unmatched. The comfort level of a saree, along with its cultural significance, has helped it gain popularity over the years.
Today, along with red, sarees of various subtle colors such as golden, silver, or ivory rule the Indian wedding lookbook. The Parsi community is said to have pioneered the use of a pastel-colored saree as wedding attire. With Bollywood rocking an exquisite and shiny avatar of saree in the 1990s, it got the Midas touch of fashion and was accepted by the youth. Indeed, its versatility and adaptability have made it the most widely worn bridal outfit!
Lehenga: The Choice of Modern Brides
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Culture, languages, architecture, and food—everything in India is influenced by various ancestries, especially the Mughal dynasty. The lehenga that we see today is considered to be yet another gift from the Mughals. Lehengas were part of women’s wardrobes during the Mughal era. Its vibrant colors, flower motifs, intricate designs, and works of zari gave it a regal look. Over time, the lehenga has adapted to changes while keeping its authenticity alive.
Lehenga, also known as ghagra choli, is considered a modification of the saree in a way. Just like a saree, it is also a three-piece outfit, where the saree is replaced with a short dupatta paired with a blouse (choli) and a long skirt (ghagra). The short length of the dupatta makes it easy to wear and carry. With the tide and trends doing their magic on it, the lehenga became popular with its increased use in Bollywood movies back in the 70s. It gained popularity among women all around the country as they preferred wearing it on special occasions and festivities.
With its exquisite, rich, and ornate designs, the lehenga is one of the most popular Indian wedding outfits today. The versatility of the lehenga makes it a perfect choice for not only the wedding ceremony but other festivities such as engagement, mehendi, and sangeet. Lehengas' plenty of designs, wide color palette, and options in fabrics have received an approval stamp from celebrities, leading lehenga to become a go-to attire for a millennial bride. When paired with Indian vintage jewelry, the lehenga looks serene as a wedding dress.
Contemporary Outfits: The Fusion of Comfort and Culture
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Contemporary fashion is a playground for lovers of experiments. Modern women redefine fashion by putting comfort and culture together, creating a lovely fusion of Indian and western attire. With social media and influencers becoming the driving force of fashion, this artistic amalgamation of cultures has given a fresh perspective on fashion. Breaking the monotony, fusion outfits have found a cozy place in the hearts of ladies.
Exploring the endless possibilities of expressing contemporary fashion never fails to leave a lasting impression. Building an expressive, bold image, contemporary outfits have very recently made it to Indian weddings. Instead of wearing a saree or lehenga in a conventional way on their big day, brides are turning towards power suits, sarees over jeans, or even wearing a jacket over their lehenga. Contemporary outfits also opened doors for dark color palettes along with silver and oxidized jewelry in Indian weddings.
Brides now walk down the aisle embracing their individuality along with traditions. The timeless classics have their own charm, whereas the fusion outfits have a bold appeal. Honor the traditions with a saree or trendy lehenga or rock fusion outfits such as a dhoti over crop tops or a saree with a blazer; they all enhance the beauty of the bride, adding to her glow and glam!
Choosing bridal wear that is a fine blend of tradition and trend is a tough task. Now that you have accomplished this big task of selecting an outfit that speaks volumes about your personal style, you might benefit from a helping hand that can guide you toward the bridal look that is memorable and uniquely you. Let us be your personal stylist and help you enhance the beauty of your look!
