Brides, here’s how you can build a timeless wedding wardrobe

The one thing a bride never wants to do is to flip through the wedding album in a few years’ time and feel a tinge of regret looking at her Indian bridal wardrobe—That ruffled bodice of her lehenga might have felt on-trend at the time, but now borders on the outlandish. While the biggest day of your life may seem like a license to sample all the trends that the world of bridal couture has to offer, if you are pursuing a look that will stand the test of time, a classic approach is your best bet. You can take heart in the fact that you will find yourself in good company—from Meghan Markle’s minimalist Givenchy gown to Deepika Padukone’s traditional Kanjeevaram sari by The House Of Angadi, celebrity brides have been favouring a more timeless wedding wardrobe in recent years.

The notion is seconded by the grande dame of Indian fashion, Ritu Kumar. “We live in an age where Instagram dictates our choices and interests—brides have a keen eye on the latest trends to get inspiration for their wedding wardrobe. However, the dynamic nature of social media means that something new takes over the zeitgeist every other day and people tend to forget what was trending the previous week,” she shares with Vogue. It comes as little surprise then that she has been an advocate of classic silhouettes for bridalwear with her bridal vertical, RI Ritu Kumar. Harsh Jalan, creative director of Saroj Jalan, meanwhile recommends, “Consider your bridal wardrobe as an heirloom jewel that can be cherished by generation after generation.” To help you get started, we drafted the timeless wedding wardrobe guide of your dreams for every ceremony on the itinerary:

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The mehendi

The textile: “This is a time for the bride to express herself with a flowy lehenga or a sharara in a romantic fabric like organza. Brides can also look at experimenting with different structural silhouettes, like a set of raw silk dhoti pants or a shorter lehenga,” says Kumar.

The embroidery: “Since mehendi is usually a fun day event, something vibrant would suit the tropical climate of our country. Consider phulkari along with touches of traditional Rajasthani embroidery for this event. Playful prints with kantha highlights or handcrafted fabrics with zardozi highlights can also make for a worthy candidate,” says Jalan.

The silhouette: Gaurang Batra, director of bridal label Frontier Raas, says, “Try indulging in minimal and lightweight printed options to enjoy the ceremony and not have to carry a heavy lehenga when you are elbow-deep in intricate bridal henna.”

The sangeet

The textile: “For a night filled with dance and merriment, a jacquard lehenga will look rich but is not weighing you down and will allow you to move and enjoy the night,” recommends Kumar.

The embroidery: “The sparkle of katdana and the bling of sequins in aari embroidery makes for a statement look for this night. Even a classic sutta work lehenga with little metal work makes for an all-time classic,” believes Jalan.

The silhouette: “Nobody enjoys her sangeet more than the bride-to-be, and her silhouette should match her mood. Think exaggerated volume and flared silhouettes for the big performance. A shaded sequin lehenga makes for a fitting choice for the urban bride,” says Batra.

The pheras

The textile: “For the pheras, the classic bride will want to opt for a red bridal lehenga with intricate zardozi embroidery. Trends may come and go, but a classic red bridal look will remain evergreen,” advises Kumar

The embroidery: “For an event that will be cherished forever, it helps to incorporate snippets of nostalgia, such as paring your lehenga with your mother’s bridal dupatta. Zardozi embroidery, a touch of precious stones, metallic threads and bullion make for a timeless classic,” says Jalan.

The silhouette: “Through decades of dressing up brides and working closely with them through the intimate process of crafting their bridal lehengas, we have found that red rules bridalwear. A classic bridal lehenga featuring a flared multi-kali silhouette, a dramatic veil and traditional embellishments have always been a favourite with our clients,” says Batra.

The reception

The textile: “Since the reception is a more formal event, it helps to take comfort into consideration as brides often end up navigating heavy lehengas for hours on end. A well-draped Benarasi sari would instead work wonders for this event,” believes Kumar.

The embroidery: “Kashida work with metallic threads is a go-to for many brides, but a blend of chikankari embroidery and mirrorwork will also offer a classic finish. Swarovski stones, preciosa beads in aari and zardozi embroidery will also help you stand out in a crowd,” says Jalan.

The silhouette: “After opting for a traditional approach to previous ceremonies, the reception is the time to indulge in some contemporary classics. A dramatic and elaborate gown serves as the fitting choice for the newlywed looking to make a statement,” concludes Batra.