Wedding on the Cards

Reader's Request - Trends in Indian Wear

2011-11-13T22:02:00.000-08:00

One of my most adorable reader, Shai of Bows, Hearts & Everything Cute asked me for some tips on the latest trends in Indian suits. You can check out her blog here.
There have been some very versatile designs of suits that I have seen around lately. Though the basics remain mostly the same, the craftsmanship differs across different styles, cuts and details.

Color: Orange / Red Orange/ Coral – whatever you want to call it – is the hottest color of the season. Period. If you don’t have anything of this color in your closet yet, it is time to buy one☺. Some other hot colors are pastels, deep greens and blues or the color blocking (as on Sonam Kapoor). Almost half your job is done if you get the right color.

Style: From what I see, the ultra long anarkalis (those that touch the ground) are out. The suits or kurtas that are more in style right now are slightly shorter in length and hit at your ankle.

You can also change the regular A lines or kali style by wearing a brocade jacket on top of your suit. I see these jackets everywhere – on suits, sarees and lehengas. And, once you have the jacket, you hardly need a dupatta with the suit.

The bottoms vary from churidars, Patialas or straight –cropped trousers. The most in thing seems to be long sleeves, but they would depend a lot of the overall design of the outfit.

Fabrics: Winters are best for silk, raw silk and brocades. Crepes and chiffons with heavy embroidery also do well.

A few other tips:
- Pay attention to your dupatta. I personally like the stole style dupattas. Add variety by using contrasting borders around the dupatta.
- Deep back and broad front necklines work really WELL with long sleeves.
- If you want to add a brocade/ raw silk jacket, keep the inner suit simple (sans any heavy embellishments) and let the jacket take the center stage.

Hope you all find this helpful ☺

All that Glitters

2011-11-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

Sometime ago Not just a pretty dress asked me to do a post on traditional Indian jewelry. Most of my posts earlier this year have been on modern jewelry designs, but nothing better than plain solid gold, right? Specially if you consider the returns that gold investment have given :)

These are from Tanishq’s not so recent collection. I love how they have modern accents to them, while skillfully preserving the traditional heritage of gold. Perfect for weddings!

How would you want to dress up your man?

2011-11-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

Indian ramps are dominated by women fashion, but lately some designers have also started experimenting with different outfits for guys. While the traditional sherwani still dominates most of the Indian weddings and festivals, there is a breath of fresh air with jodhpuris, short kurtas and loose bottoms for guys.

One option is to go with for a more traditional touch and experiment with cuts and lengths for versatility. The fabric used (brocade, raw silk) as well as the work (gold zari, stoles, buttons etc) give a classic look. Don’t forget to pay special attention to footwear – the kolhapuri jutis with intricate work on them will best complement this look.

IF you want to experiment a little more but stay in the Indian Spirit, the outfits below are perfect. The fabric used is much lighter and the colors are subtler. The cuts again make a big difference – these designs are more fitted and kurtas are shorter in length. A dupatta or stole can easily add an Indian touch while the footwear hint towards a more contemporary look. My personal favorite is the last one that has jodhpuri style pants.

Polka Dots, Awards and my rantings..

2011-10-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

A couple of things in this post. First, here are some pictures that were clicked recently.

Dress - F21, Shoes - Miss Sixty, Bracelets - India

Next, sweet Vertu of Vivaciuosblog17 passed the " Kreativ Blogger Award" to me in which I have to disclose 7 interesting things about me.

Here we go:

- I am strong willed, impulsive, adaptive, very selective, impatient, sensitive and hyper active. If some of these clash, don't worry - I am Gemini :)

- I am in finance field by profession.

- I firmly believe that A is A and I love Ayn Rand.

- I don't have any OCD's (not even shopping. I can exercise reasonable self restraint).

- I can not eat hot and spicy food (even a little bit spicy). Not surprisingly, lot of my classmates therefore think I am pseudo Indian.

- You don't want to sit next to me while watching horror movies or on a dangerous ride; I shout my guts out.

- I have a name which doesn't have ANY meaning. Now, being an Indian and having lived 25 years in India, you can imagine how unusual this is and how amusing it can be for people to keep asking and/or guessing the meaning of my name. And, how difficult it was for me to explain to them that my name is just a name..please don't find any meaning in it :)).

P.S: I will pass on the award to some of my favorite bloggers next time. In a bit of rush right now.First, a few photos that were clicked recently.

Lastly, have an awesome weekend, everyone!

Steve Jobs - You will be sorely missed!

2011-10-05T21:33:00.000-07:00

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do”.

"You cannot connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in to your future”.

"Sometimes life is going to hit in your head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.

“You got to find what you love and it is as true for work as it is for your lovers. Work is going to fill a large part of your life and only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work”.

“If you live each day as it is your last someday you will certainly be right”.

"Almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart".

Accessorize with Anklets

2011-10-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

Tradition of wearing anklets goes back many many years ago. In India, traditionally they were worn by married women. But, nowadays it is a popular fashion statement and women/girls of any age can be seen wearing them. Anklets can be of gold or silver or even leather, plastic etc. When investing in them, try to pick the ones that are long lasting and designs that can be worn with both Indian and Western wear.

Just one tip for this: Make sure you have got your pedicure done beforehand :)

Fabric Love – Velvet

2011-09-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

Velvet, a luxurious fabric that dates back thousands of years, is widely used in Indian dresses. Velvet has kind of rich and sensual appeal to it, and it perfect to glam your night parties or attend a wedding / function. Since the fabric is heavy (in weight) and soft (in texture) it immediately gives a dressed-up feeling.

You can either go full velvet (as in 1,2,3 above) on your attire or use it as in some places in your outfit, just as a highlighter. A velvet blouse (4) , dupatta, or as border for your saree or suit (5). The idea is not to overdo and kill the look of it. You would want to carry the fabric with grace and not drowning in it.

Another good this about velvet is, like silk, it can support very heavy embroideries and the hand work that are on most of the Indian dresses. Deep blues, greens and reds are my favorite colors in velvet; black not so much. I am not sure whether velvet is used very heavilt in western dresses as well. I have not seen much of it and don’t own any western piece in this fabric.

Anyone has any western outfit in velvet?

The Right Balance -Takeaways

2011-09-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

First of all, a big thank you to all who weighed in your thoughts on my question here. There are some common themes to all the replies and I thought I would share it with all those who are trying to juggle multiple things in life with blogging:

1) Have drafts for posts or rough outline ready and fill in the details as when you get time or when creativity strikes.

2) Blog during the day or night, in a coffee shop or on the bus, basically whenever you get time OR have some time set aside for your blog every day or every alternate day. Depending on what your work style is, either approach would be fine.

3) Prioritize Prioritize Prioritize...

4) Have two or three key topics/themes to let your creativity and ideas flow and have a mix of shorter and longer posts.

In the end, if you really LOVE blogging, find it exciting and it gets your adrenaline pumping, you WILL find time for it, no matter what :))

Gorgeous Blues!

2011-09-22T06:02:00.000-07:00

Less to say, more to see today!
Whether you are planning a beach or a summer wedding, blue can be a very romantic theme. You can either vary the basic blue towards sky blue, auqa or royal blue colors or mix and match different colors with blue. Here are some ideas to help you along the way.

And, once you have planned the decorations and chosen your colors, here are some outfit ideas for this theme.

Reader's Request - How to drape dupatta on shorter heights

2011-09-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

One my readers Aksar asked me this:

“i liked the idea very much even i was wondering how to manage a heavy dupatta..but as i m short height will it look good on me m having height of 5...my marriage is on dec please help”

Hi Aksar:

There are different ways in which you can experiment with your dupatta. I would assume that if the dupatta is heavy, you would like to make it the center of attraction. For that, you can go with either of the first three styles – cross over the dupatta as in Ist pic below and add a lighter dupatta to cover the head, have the dupatta cover the part of your neck and waist as in IInd pic or just have it on the side as in IIIrd pic below.

I think it would be true for anyone, but especially since you mentioned that you are short in height, I would pay very careful attention to both lehenga and dupatta. If the dupatta is too heavy, you don’t want lehenga to be too heavy and vice versa. Also, try broad neck blouses with not very heavy neck pieces and pulled back hair. That usually adds some illusion of height. You can go heavy on earrings and bangles.

The second set of pictures below are more for the style of lehenga than dupatta. Sleek cuts, like fish cuts or A line would suit you more than a heavy kali lehenga. If you have a lighter dupatta, one trick is to just have it on the side and roll up on your hand from behind as in the pictures below.

Hope this helps and all the best for your marriage ☺

The Right Balance??

2011-09-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pretty soon I will bid goodbye to my summer break and would be back in school. I will be juggling with multi million things to do at the same time and my multi tasking abilities would be put to a severe test. I have thought out of some ways on how to balance all that with my blog, but I wanted to ask this from all my readers out there -

"How do you best balance work, study or generally busy life with regular and interesting blog posts? Are there any useful tips or advice you have? Do you blog at night, day, in the bus or on weekends? Are there some things that seem to work really well for you? "

It would be great if you guys can share your thoughts on this and help me keep my blog as rocking as ever ;))

On a random note, this was what I wore for a trip to the mall.

I guess I was not trying to put together a color blocking sorts of outfit, but it turned out this way. The best thing is that I have grabbed, everything I am wearing, at great deals and fantastic prices. Hope you like it (will have better quality pictures next time :))

How to wear your 9 yards??

2011-09-12T07:03:00.000-07:00

Saree is one of the most graceful Indian outfits and there is no denying the fact that you can wear it in a million different ways. It, however, takes considerable amount of skill and practice to do it right. If you are attempting to wear saree for the first time or want to do it in a perfect way, check out this post from Leia of Leia's Delights - a gorgeous fellow blogger who explains how to master this art.

If you wish to experiment and/or add a little more “oomph factor” to the saree, here are some ways in which you can play with it.

Word of Caution: Well, not literally. But, one small thing to keep in mind while experimenting with these styles is to pay special ATTENTION to your choice of blouse / top. If you are wrapping it around your neck (like a scarf) you want to go a slightly conservative with the blouse. With the regular style (Ist Pic), you are safe with halter or noodle straps or pretty much anything. If you have a dazzling top to show off, then 4th style in the picture above would be the best.

Also, never throw away your old sarees. My mom always recycle them into salwaar kameez or dupattas to make a whole new outfit.

Before I bid adieu to summers!

2011-09-08T06:08:00.000-07:00

Summer in Seattle is really short lived. We survive through nine gloomy, dark and rainy months to get just three months of sunshine. However, those three months are the most beautiful and gorgeous and are totally worth the wait (or so I would like to believe!). Summers are going to be over soon here and even thinking about it makes me sad. Shorter days, little or no sun, and constant drizzling would be upon us Seattleites. But, there will be thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year to look forward to and the cycle will go on and on. It’s amazing how after moving to U.S weather has become such a prominent part of my existence and affects my moods, thoughts and behavior. Back home, I never remember paying any special attention to weather or weather forecast being the hot topic of discussion, as is the case here.

Anyways, coming back to the outfit. You must be thinking that this a wedding and Indian Fashion blog, so where did the outfit post come from? Well, you are right. This blog is all that, but it also is an extension of my personality and this is the way for me to connect with my readers on a personal level. I seldom wear Indian outfits here and hence in most of these kinds of posts you will see me in western wear. The one below is what I wore on a casual day out. Hope you like it!

Yin and Yang

2011-09-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

My blog has been missing some glitter and shine for a while.

Women in India, as elsewhere, love jewelry. Today though, I am not going to talk about traditional Indian jewelry but more contemporary options that can easily translate between Indian and Western wear (as Western (ized) Jackets in my previous post here).With a little attention while building up your jewelry / accessories collection, it is a lot easier to find pieces that can be paired with different outfits. Here are some tips to help you along the way:

- A multi strand kundan necklace and a strand of pearls (best ones are whites) are your best bet with a cocktail dress, saree or salwaar kameez.

- I feel that the traditional gold accessories are somewhat limited when it comes to this, however a solid gold chain (multi or single strand) with a jazzy pendant can make a very chic impression. Usually white or polished gold works a little better than yellow gold.

- Rings and bracelets are something that you can experiment with a lot. While shopping for them try to pick the big and bold ones with modernistic designs.

These accessories are best matched with plain and well-cut silhouette dresses. Pick a color that compliments your skin tone and highlights your jewelry the best. My favorite ones are black and fuchsia. However, if you want to get experimental – deep greens and royal blues will also look gorgeous.

Feeling Green, anyone?

2011-09-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

Green seems to be one of my favorite colors this summer. Though I usually stick to girly pinks, yellow, oranges etc, but this season I have been experimenting with different shades of green. And, so are some of our Indian designers on the ramp. Here are a few pieces that I liked.

And, these are some green outfits that I have in my closet. These pics were taken at random times over this summer and so the picture quality may not be very clear. Hope you like them!

Can't stop listening to this!

2011-08-31T22:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a long long long time that I am waiting for ~~a movie~~ a Bollywood movie with so much enthusiasm. I love hindi (Bollywood) movies but have been very disappointed with the recent releases. This one surely looks like a piece of work :)

For my non Indian readers: This is an upcoming Hindi movie scheduled to release soon.

Indian(ized) Jackets

2011-08-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

What better than clothes and accessories that can transition between Indian and Western wear? I have seen a lot of Indian designers moving away from traditional blouses to versatile jackets / kurtis etc that can be worn either with a lehenga or your favorite pair of jeans or skirt.

A few things to keep in mind when shopping or getting these pieces tailored are:

- Stick with the basic colors – black, blues, whites, gold etc.

- Though most of the Indian tops (blouses) have heavy embroidery, the versatility of these jackets is in keeping them simple.

- Structured collars and/or shoulders are important. Pay special attention to them.

- The most common fabrics for these types of jackets are brocade, silk or raw silk. I personally like linen as well.

- Combine these with dark jeans or pencil skirt, shorts or little black dress and enjoy all the attention that you get ☺

P.S: This last one is my favorite and I hope to get something similar stitched on my next trip to India.

Rewind and Going Forward

2011-08-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

A big warm hello to all beautiful people out there,

Almost a year has passed since I wrote my last post for this blog before going on a short hiatus. I started with grad school last year and it has been a never-ending roller coaster ride since then. MBA demands a lot from you – 18-20 hour workday, never ending team meetings and assignments, networking, clubs - the list goes on. Until this summer, I didn’t have a chance to step back and assess how I truly truly missed my blog and all the wonderful things that come with it. My initial plan was to take a two-year long break from blogging and pick it up after I am done with school. However, as is the case with almost all my plans, my mind decided to alter course in between and wanted something else.

The past one-year brought the deep (;)) realization that career-wise, rest of my life is not going to be very different. I will always be surrounded with excel spreadsheets, networking, teamwork and business world lingo. My practical, business minded, career aspiring side will be very happy and well satisfied (hopefully). However, my creative, fashion-conscious and dreamy side would be left alone and who knows, might actually disappear some day. And, this was not what I expected, planned or wanted. So, after much tussle between my mind and heart, I am going to resume my blog. A big thanks to all of you who have showed so much appreciation for my blog. Your comments and emails over the last year have motivated me much.

Time to update my reader. Please send me your blog links and look out for my new posts.

Pastel Perfect

2010-08-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

What better way to beat the heat this summer than in soft soothing pastel colors? We have been seeing lot of pastels in western outfits, but don’t you think that our Indian designers are far behind. I came across these beautiful designs by Rocky S and loved how perfect these outfits would be for your summer engagements.

Common perception is that Indian outfits are limited to just bold and bright colors. And, if we think of light colors only beige, creams or whites come to mind. But a softer tone of bright colors is truly a breath of fresh air. It can look so much more appealing and elegant and makes for a perfect daytime look and can easily be transitioned to your night out wear.

The rule of thumb here is to not disturb the color palette by adding or mixing any bright color with muted shades. Also the jewelry and make up should be equally subtle and minimal. For instance, pearls would work with most of the soft tones perfectly.

So, give your dazzling side a break and instead go for a soft color palette this season.

Hall of Fame!!!

2010-08-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

In case you are wondering where have I disappeared (too bad if you aren't, still!!! angry face) over the past few days, I am on a short trip back home. And, you know how things are when you have 1000 things to do and never the enough time. But but but, today I received such a wonderful news that I had to come out of my hibernation and share it with everybody. I was featured in the Style Stories in The Telegraph. Below is a snapshot; click here to read the full article.

"If you are poised to get married and need tips on how to look the part of a fashion savvy bride, look no further than www.weddingonthecards.blogspot.com. The woman behind the blog, Sovina Gehlot, a management student based in Idaho, US, says: “I started the blog when I was getting married and putting my trousseau together.” She started the blog in March 2010 with reviews of the latest couture collections from the Indian runways (which she keeps a tab on long-distance) along with advice on jewelery, bags/clutches and shoes."

This is my very first feature and my own sweet Hall of Fame :) So you can imagine how excited I am!!! Without getting into a never ending thank-you speech, I just wanted to share this with everybody (actually i want to shout out from the rooftop!!!). Feels awesome to be featured with such accomplished bloggers. Also, a big thanks to Arundhati Basu from The Telgraph for finding me (:)) and for her super duper write up.

Hope all of you are having a great time. I have lot of blog catching up to do and I will surely be back on my favorite track very very soon.

Samidha & Anurag - The Reception Dinner

2010-08-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

We are still here with very gorgeous Samidha Sharma. You can check out her blog Street Style India and Facebook Page here. Samidha’s reception outfit was from Ensemble in DLF Emporio Mall (Delhi). The tomato red saree in net fabric had gold zardosi work all over it. The makeup and the 70’s retro look given by Ambika Pillai (who is my favorite bridal make up artist) stayed close to the saree and the overall theme of wedding (see how elegantly Samidha is carrying that hair do).

The jewelry was again the star attraction in the whole look. I love gold metal and it makes me so very happy when it is worn gracefully. The gold pendant was inherited by the bride from her grandmother (yes it is that old but the classics never fade, do they?).

Also, how cute is the invitation that the couple sent out to their friends and family. Designed by Fahd Hussien (http://www.onseedonline.com/), the card so beautifully described the couple’s journey till now and invited their friends and family to join them in their new beginning.

Real Wedding - Samidha Weds Anurag

2010-08-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

A stylist. A fashionsita. A diva and a keen observer. When you are associated with so many images, expectations run high. Very high. And, so was the case with Samidha Sharma (of Street Style India ). If you want to get an idea of how popular she is in the world of fashion just have a look at her Facebook page here. When Samidha decided to tie the knot in year 2009, she knew that finding that perfect outfit for her big day would be a herculean task. Friends, family, and relatives - everyone was just waiting to see what Samidha would pick. And, after spending nearly a year (including 4 months in just trials) in looking for her wedding lehenga, she finally zeroed on designer Shamayel Khan (who has her boutique “AARA” in Juhu ).

When I first saw Samidha’s wedding pictures, honestly I was surprised. I have always associated Samidha with western fashion and was hoping that her lehenga would be more on the lines of fusion between Indian and Western. But don’t they say that style knows no boundaries. The classic mahroon (deep red) and green combination was done so tastefully and artistically in this masterpiece with gold gota patti work. The dupatta was of net with motiff work all over it and the border of the lehenga was in velvet to carry the heavy work. What I love most about the lehenga that it was tradional without being too gaudy or over the top. It had all the heavy work but no egg sized sequins or studs. It spoke of elegance and had elements of samdiha’s style oozing from everywhere.

Now, such an exquisite piece demands the same finesse in jewelry. The bridal look is all about putting each and every element together. If outfit speaks one language the jewelry can’t sing some other language. And, the antique gold jewelry (gifted by Samidha’s mom) was in perfect harmony with the classic lehenga. I love how Samdidha didn’t go over the top here too and didn’t wear 3-4 layers of gold sets with massive earrings. My favorite is the nose ring which kind of binds the jewelery and the whole look together.

In Samidha’s own words, “I wanted a very traditional lehenga very unlike my day to day taste. I thought I wanted to look traditional one day and that had to be my wedding”. And, she did how so beautifully. Here is wishing this beautiful couple a very happy married life ahead.

Upside Down

2010-08-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

HAVE YOU EVER WORN YOUR:

- Anklets as head band (mathapatti)
- Long chains (or rani haar) as waist belt (kamarband ) to glam up a saree , fancy dress or your favorite jeans
- Rings in toes
- Anklets as necklace
- Necklace backwards
- Pendant or earrings as a tika
- Cuff bracelet as an armlet.
- Bangles stacked up in a chain, as a pendant.
- Beaded strands as hairband

The idea is to have fun with your jewelry. Experiment and wear it in different ways. Mix and match different accessories and create new look for yourself. After all, you have spent a lot of money in building your collection. It is only fair that you use it to the max.

(I have not been able to visit a lot of blogs recently..Have just been caught up in a few things, but I promise you will see me around really soon :))

The Drama of "Sleeves"

2010-07-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Gone are the days when the choice of sleeves was restricted to short, long or quarter length styles. Gone are also the days when you would be content with a little design, a little craftsmanship or strong border on the sleeves. These days it is all about creating impression with sleeves and I couldn’t help but notice how our designers have unleashed their creativity in the recently concluded DCW (Delhi Couture Week). They have created sleeves that are dramatic, bold and speak for themselves. (Didn’t I tell you I would not bore you with just picture review of DCW)

Most of these designs are not entirely new; we have witnessed these in red carpet gowns and in various fashion weeks across the globe. What is striking is how these have been incorporated into very traditional Indian blouses. The strong shoulder jackets that are in vogue these days have made their way to the lehenga and saree blouses. So have the balloon sleeves that we see in tops and shirts everywhere. These are the global fashion trends served to us in our closer to home Indian Platter, with a "desi tadka".

So, do you think that just the simple sleeves designs would suffice the fashionable diva in you? Or are you game to sing along and wear these trends with your saree, suit or lehenga?

Opulence “Redefined”

2010-07-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

The house of Valaya never ceases to amaze me. And, the latest collection of JJ Valaya did just that. Valaya is one designer who time and again has proved that rich fabrics and a talented designer alone can create “magic”.

Most of the bridal collections that I have seen on the runway are loaded with bling – heavy sequins, stones and over the top embellishments. So much so that it is hard to think of bridal wear without the bling. (Now, don’t get me wrong. I love bling when done in subtle way though not the Manish Malhotra kind of bling, but more on this in the next post) . But once in a while I also want to drift into simpler times - when the outfit is all about designs and fabrics and not about how heavily it is embellished. And, that's exactly why I love Valaya's collection.

He is one of the very few designers which can be worn straight out of the runway. Just like that. Sometimes he does it with innovative printing (read digital printing) on ultra rich fabrics and sometimes with intricate thread embroideries on classic fabrics. And, unlike so many designers he doesn’t resort to overuse of bling to prove that the outfit is perfect for the Indian Bride. And, talk about styling up the models - How dramatic is the disc shape maangtika and how so romantic is the red flower in the previous collection. Valaya scores it again for me.

(P.S.Reviewing designer collections is not what I usually do on this blog, but this time there are a few very interesting things that are forcing me to sit up and pay attention. So, please bear with me for a while.)

(P.P.S : Thank you all for your comments in the previous post and for your helpful suggestions. My hand is much better now and as you can see, I am back to blogging:))

Wedding Theme - Orange

2010-07-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

Orange perfectly fits the bright bold colors that are a hallmark for Indian Weddings. That being said, I think that the best way to play orange is to mix and match with other colors. In summers mix orange with cream, beige or aqua as in the outfit above. In winters, orange with blue or dark mauve would look darn good.

Most of the brides tend stick to the traditional color scheme of orange with red, pink or green. And, it works just fine if you want to say closer to home and want a traditional look. But, I strongly recommend experimenting a bit and playing orange with cream, gold or aqua. The pastel orange (see the lehenga above) is the new craze these days and is perfect for sangeet, mehendi or other functions.

(P.S. I have been going a little slow on blogging these days as my hand has been troubling me a lot. It is showing signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and if anyone experiences the same pains then please share what to do? And, thanks to Splurgerina for sending me those exercises. I am onto them now.)

For the love of "hands"

2010-07-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

A man they say is known by his shoes; a woman by her hands. But often hands are the most neglected part of our body and in the hustle bustle of daily life we forget to give them the proper care that they require.

So, I invited Anamika of Wise, She as a Guest Blogger to share some of her tips for beautiful hands. Anamika is truly a “Pandora box” when it comes to beauty tips, health and fitness advice. You can checkout her fabulous blog here.

This is what Anamika says:

Our hands take the most abuse when it comes to wedding. However, they are one of the most noticeable things after your face. Beautiful, polished and graceful hands speaks thousand words and go a long way in increasing a woman's self-confidence. Below are some tips and remedies can give you beautiful hands to flaunt in your marriage and forever after.

* Take wax and boil it in a double boiler. You can heat it for a minute in a microwave too. When melted add 1 lemon juice and 1 tbsp of glycerin in it. Apply it on your palms, wrist, forearm, and elbow, covering your whole hand. Similarly apply it on your foot, ankle, knee and legs. Make sure that the wax is not too hot for your skin. Rinse the mixture a bit on the applied area and let it get dry.

When dried wash it off with lukewarm water. This remedy helps in making skin soft and heeling cracked heels. It will remove all the dead skin too. If you want you can apply moisturizer after using this remedy.

* Massage your nails with olive oil. Dip your nails into warm olive oil and with the help of a nail filer you can push your cuticles .Get your nail strengthened and conditioned 10 weeks before your big day and get your hands and feet moisturized .

* Keep vaseline or shea butter with you and apply it several times a day. Cover your moisturized hands with a cotton gloves before going to bed every night. This will soften your cuticles and will make your hands really soft.

* If you do not have long nails then go for gel or acrylic nails they look beautiful and stays for long.

* Also stay away from harsh detergents, washing clothes and dishes for few months and if its not possible for you then wear gloves.

* Many of the soaps are drying. So when you wash your hands, use something that doesn't contain alcohol or detergents.

With these simple tips you can be the proud possessor of soft, beautiful hands for life.

I would love you to share any tips or secrets that you have for maintaining your hands. Hope you all are having a great weekend.

Yahoooo..!!!

2010-07-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

Krimly from My Cherry Gum has featured me in the list of ten blogs that she likes (see here). This is my first feature and it means so so much to me. Just want to shout out and say thanks to Krimly and to all my my wonderful friends here on the blog, who make this blog so very very special. Please do stop by and say hi to Krimly from my side :)

Coming back to the original post that I intended to do . This is probably my most favorite piece of clothing these days. I love the linen fabric and the fact that they are so comfortable and can be styled up in so many ways. This is how I wore them on two different occasions.

And, now passing the "A Blog with Substance Award" that I received from Ruth of Underneath his wrappings (here) to the following amazing blogs.

1) It's Uber Chic
2) My Cherry Gum
3) Pink & Black
4) Animated Confessions
5) Someplace Else
6) Miles of Style

A Good Sense of Distaste

2010-07-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

A long time since I have stepped back and pondered over “What Not to Wear” rather than “What to Wear”. Has the sense of distaste of the outside world improved from bad to better. Apparently not.

1) Is it walking in the garden or the garden walking by itself? While I am all for florals & frills (see the good ones here - 6th &7th) but when done in subtle, pleasing way. Here I think the flowers are both too big in number and too huge in size and that is what is making the gown so unappealing. Imagine wearing this to a red carpet or some other event. Oh well! Don’t imagine. It won’t be a pretty picture.
(P.S. – I like the color though. It is not in the face, jarring red that we usually see)

2) I am really on the fence for this. I like the fabric and I don’t mind the color but I think the main culprit here is the border. It is just so huge and has so many frills and gatherings, that it is much too overwhelming. The model is just managing somehow with her fierce expressions but anyone else is sure to get lost in it. Imagine if the belt is not there.

But since I can be crazy at times, lets poll this. What do you say (you can be as mean as you want to)

poll by twiigs.com

And, now passing the "Versatile Blogger" award which I received a few days back (see here) to the following beautiful bloggers.

1) Sherin at HiFashion
2) Katie at Fashion's Maven
3) Leia at Leia's Delights
4) Simratha at Vogue Vibes
5) Kiran at Fitness Solutions
6) Neelam at Being Zara&Zidan

Will be passing the rest of the awards very soon. I know I have been sitting on them for too long now.

Old Gold, New Way….

2010-07-10T23:06:00.000-07:00

In India, we live, eat and breathe gold as far as jewelry is concerned. Most of the jewelry designs in gold have been very traditional up till now, but the designs below break the norm. They are versatile, trendy and exquisite. So, you can have a great return on your investment (in gold) and stay stylish too.

(P.S. : The big chunky necklace and the kamarband totally have my name on them)

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

What Type are You?

2010-07-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

Two very popular Indian designers, Sabyasachi and Shyamal and Bhumika, showcased their Bridal collection recently. I have always believed that clothes tell a story and these designers painted two very different pictures of the Bride.

Sabya’s collection reflects a strong regional flavor for the quintessential bride. Sabya’s bride is a "deep-rooted girl" who represents the ethos of global awareness with the traditional pathos of Indian culture. Sabya’s signature patchwork and motif designs stitched into unusual fabrics gives a feeling of going back to ancient and medieval ages.

COLORS – Earthy muted tones of taupe, violet, cyans, multi-facets of vermilions and somber reds dominates this collection.

FABRICS - Blending velvets, silks, brocades with organzas, chiffons and other lighter fabric, Sabya’s collection is an epitome of textile art.

Shyamal & Bhumika’s collection painted a picture of a bride who is fun, eccentric and does not hesitate to experiment. She has an aura of mature woman-like sensibilities with a girl like vividness.

COLORS - The bright oranges with vivid greens and blues create a with Mixing a kaleidoscope of colors that perfectly encapsulates the lively spirit of this bride.

FABRICS - Inspired by the colors and styles of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the lehengas were free flowing with lavish dupattas and the elaborate saris, accessorized with tassels & mirror work.

One look at the pictures and I immediately associated myself with the second collection. The big bright colors are totally my style (I had three different colors in my wedding lehenga).

What about you? What kind of bride you were or want to be? Are there any particular elements of the collection (like colors, fabrics etc) that you associate yourself with?

Lights, Camera ...Action

2010-07-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

Hey All

In case you were wondering where have I disappeared these past 4-5 days, I went to LA over the long weekend. Needless to say that I missed blogging quite a bit and that’s why I am writing this post sitting at the airport..(talk about addiction).

A little bit about LA and then off to the other stuff of the blog.

I felt that LA is in true sense of the word “a melting pot” of the world. There are people from anywhere and everywhere, in all shape, sizes and colors, presenting a vast cultural spread that ranges from spic and span highly polished people to the colorful hippies. Of all the places that we saw I think the Venice beach and the Huntington beach truly represented two different worlds. While Huntington, with its grand houses, lavish restaurants and impeccably dressed crowd spoke of lavishness and richness of LA, the Venice beach resembled the LA of mafia, gangs and drugs that I saw in movies(of course, I didn't actually experienced them but got a feel like this). I think the rest of the place keeps swinging somewhere in between. I was also so fascinated by the famous Rodeo Drive (well who isn’t?) which has mansion like shops of designer brands, where you can go inside see, see the stuff and come out sulking on its expensiveness (at least I did). And, the big movie buff that I am, it is needless to say that I absolutely loved the Universal Studios.

Anyways, to cut the long story short, if I have to describe LA in one word it would be “Grand”..the architecture, lights (at night), charm of Hollywood, extravagant houses and fabulous beautiful people, shine in all their glory and captivate and fascinate anyone who goes near them.

And, now time for some awards. Last week two of my very dear blogger friends honored me with some awards. I just want to say thank you so so much for all the appreciation...this is what keeps me going on and on.

The Mommy at Mommy Pages gave me "The Versatile Blogger Award". Do check out her beautiful blog here and say hi for me.

Also Ruth of Underneath His Wrappings presented me with "A blog with Substance" Award. Wow! thank you so much Ruth. Ruth is as beautiful a person as her blog, which I insist you please check out here.

Now the rule - Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation and experience in five words. HERITAGE, INSPIRATION, GOOD TASTE, IDENTITY & ENCOURAGEMENT.

Finally, a vibrant young girl Vivarjitha of Life is Beautiful honored me with "Cherry on Top Award". Do check out her fabulous blog here.

As part of the deal I have to spill some beans about myself. So here I go:

1) I am a typical typical gemini. I always want to do ten different things at a time and when I am onto something I find my mind racing in totally different direction.

2)Sometimes readers of my blog think I am a fashion designer or associated with the industry in some way. I am not. I am a management student.

3) There was a time when I was crazy about Suniel Shetty (please don't laugh..it is embarrassing enough)

I am saving passing the award tradition for my next post. I am feeling pretty drained out today.

Timeless Elegance

2010-06-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

When it comes to choosing a clutch to go with that fabulous saree, suit or your pretty dress, choices abound. But very often I have seen Indian women carrying clutches that are so traditional that it is hard to pair them with any specific western outfit. Like jewelry, I believe that a clutch (or a bag) should also be multi functional and should go well with both Indian as well as western outfits.

I came across these pretty clutches a while ago. And on the first look most of them, if not all, look like they would go fabulously well with a pretty gown or dress or any polished (formal, stylish) western outfit. But the fact is that most of them would work fabulously well with an Indian dress too. To get an idea of what I am talking about take a look at the pictures below where I have tried to mix and match the dresses and clutch together. A fabulous clutch is a perfect accessory that can add to or take away so much elegance and charm from the whole look.

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts to help you find this perfect accessory for your look.

- Do hunt for bags/clutches etc that are versatile.
- Do try to add a pop of color to your outfit with the clutch.
- Don’t go for too matching matching look.
- Don’t go for a very unusual (eye catching) clutch on you wedding day. You don’t want to divert the attention away from yourself and from your wedding outfit. (for the same reason I haven’t paired any clutch with lehenga).

- Don’t (usually, unless absolutely necessary) pair a fancy suit or a saree with a big handbag (like mine below). Indian dresses look so much more elegant with clutches.
- Do have at least 2-3 different shapes in your collection. e.g. a box shape, a potli types, rectangular or a coin purse.
- And, as I always say, do stay pretty and stride away in style.

Tagging the Bags!!!

2010-06-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

Following yesterday's post, these are the pretty ladies whose bags I want to tag.

1) Sulagna at Pink & Black

2) Sonali at Bollywood Style Diaries

3) Isabel at Walk of Fashion

4) Anamika at Wise She

5) Tanveer at Addicted to Blush

6) Libys at Animated Confessions

7) Charlotte at Cequiminspire

So, girls what are you waiting for..time to spill some beans!!!

What's in the Bag?

2010-06-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Tamana, a very pretty lady and my dear friend, tagged me here to spill out my bag to all of you. Do check out her fabulous blog here.

I am usually a very simple person when it comes to bags. I usually carry just the basic essentials and sometimes I also leave some stuff back in the car if I feel I am being buried under the weight of my bag. So here goes my list.
(Also please excuse for the bad bad pictures. I am good only at posing :)

1) Animal print wallet – to carry ID, cards, cash, keys etc.
2) Phone
3) Mac Blush and Powder Brush ( this is the only form of make up I ever use unless I am attending a wedding or something)
4) Lens case with solution filled in (even after 5 years, they can go wacky at times)
5) No.5
6) Hair Comb & Clutcher
7) Dad’s watch
8) Burt Bees Lip Balm
9) Ganesh Ji
10) Shades (usually I carry both my rayban’s and vogue. I like changing up my shades a lot.)
11) Mint
12) Mac Kajal ( this is essential always. My eyes look very bad without some black effect)
12) Olay Facial Wipes
13) Nail Polish Remover Pads
14) Sometimes I carry a book too, if its not very big, such as The Money Game (by Adam Smith) that I am reading these days.

Wow..that adds up to a lot. Did I say I am a simple person when it comes to bags..

I will be tagging some of you for this post (so be ready!!!). But in the next post. Had to put up this today as it was long due. And, have to rush out now. Ciao.

Layers over Layers - What's your take?

2010-06-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

Ever since the time I have known a saree or a lehenga, I have always seen a short blouse with it. I mean a blouse technically is supposed be short, ending somewhere on your waist. But the designers are signing a different song these days. Runways in the latest fashion weeks have been marked with long blouses over lehenga and on sarees (see the pictures below)

I personally always felt that a long blouse would create so many layers that it may be unflattering on the body. But, seems the designers have found a cure for this too. Blouses fitted on waist, open from front and with deep necklines define the silhouette in the same way as short blouses do. Moreover these blouses can be paired with a salwaar (trousers) or churidaar too and voila, you have an additional outfit in your closet.

As far as pictures tell, the trend surely looks good and totally wearable. But, as we all know they (read models, designers make up artists etc) can make even a potato sack look good.

The question is do we see ourselves wearing this trend?

Tipi Tipi Tap - What Color you Want?

2010-06-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

This is perhaps the most colorful piece of clothing I have. I bought this dress a year back but couldn't really find a good occasion to wear it. Finally, I showed it some love while vacationing in Hawaii this year and I guess it was just the perfect place to wear it. The beautiful colors in the water & on the ground accentuated the colors in this dress even more.

Another reason I love this dress is because it instantly lifts up my spirits. I am a very color loving person by nature and big bright colors always attract me. The reason I am holding my hat is that it was so windy that day that it kept flying away. Also, as you can see in the pictures my hair are a little messy again because of the wind.

I don't have too many tube dresses or tops in my closet. Usually I am not very comfortable wearing tube and that's why I added the necklace just to feel a little covered up.

What about you? Are you a color person? Do you prefer bright colors or neutrals? Please share in the comment box.

Things that Turn me Off

2010-06-24T20:08:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Tanvi tagged me (here) to list 10 things that turn me off. Here I go:

1) People who are more interested in what’s going on in my life than they are in theirs. (Aunties who keep asking "beta when will you plan for family..i mean come on!!!)

2) Couples, who stay together under the same roof but still send lovey dovey messages to each other on FaceBook (jaanu iam missing you, honey, I love you so much..i mean on FB …seriously so annoying)

3) Advice – tons and tons of it, without any rhyme , reason and obviously without asking

4) Food products containing High Fructose Corn Syrup in particular and unhealthy foods in general

5) Dirty Kitchen

6) Sugar coated extra sweet, extra polite people - I always feel there is something fishy about them & somehow can’t digest their politeness.

7) Indian News Channels or should I say Bollywood gossip channels

8) Unproductive people, who keep sitting on their asses all day and do nothing, don’t even take care of themselves.

9) Going to the so called SALE and finding junk (spl in India)

10) Miser/ penny pincher types who keep track of each & every penny they spend.

I would love to know what all are the things/people that piss you/ turn you off. Please leave a reply in the Comment Box..lets do some girl's talk :)

Featuring - Komal weds Arpit

2010-06-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

Indian weddings are all about opulence & grandeur, where not only the surroundings but the bride is also consider an object of decoration. An Indian bride is often incomplete without a heavily embroidered lehenga or saree, jewelry at every conceivable place and tons of makeup. That’s why when I first saw Komal’s picture I was amazed by her unique style. Unlike the more commonplace Indian Brides, Komal’s choice of outfit was classy, stylish and most importantly wearable (again & again). In her own words – “ I wanted something that could be used multiple times even after the wedding. I did not want to spend so much on something that I would only wear once”

Her Suneet Verma corset lehenga with real sarvoski embroidery was exactly the one that Komal dreamed of. The embroidery was rich, elegant & sophisticated and it had the most unique color combinations – blue, lilac and mauve. I mean, how many times do we see a bride ditching all the big bold bright colors and settling for such soft romantic hues.. Komal was aptly assisted by her stylish sister Kiran, who envisioned exactly what she wanted & helped her in putting together the entire outfit.

A simple diamond choker with light earrings perfectly complimented the overall theme of the outfit. Instead of nose ring and maangtika, a simple stone bindi was used to highlight the face. The chooda was also of mauve color, as opposed to the traditional red or pink. The blue and pink orchids in her hair were synced with the colors in her garland. What a detailing!!!. One look at Komal and I could clearly see how much effort and thought she had put in her outfit. The miniscule details of the décor (also in pink, blue & mauve) were taken care by Komal’s parents, who carefully incorporated all that Komal wanted.

The wedding was held on 16th May 2005 in Jalandhar. Yes, this was five years back but Komal’s outfit is so timeless that I didn’t realize that it is not a recent wedding until she told me so. Wishing this great couple a fabulous married life forever.

This Way or that Way

2010-06-21T20:08:00.000-07:00

If you have been reading this blog regularly you know by now how much I love jewelry that is versatile – that can be worn with anything and everything. More often than not we spend (often overspend) on jewelry during wedding shopping and it is only fair that we wear it as much as possible. I personally have lot of pieces bought during my wedding time that are so specifically Indian, that I can’t pair them with anything else.

These pieces from Nieman Marcus are a perfect solution to wear your jewelry to the max. With pearls, diamonds and exotic stones, these can be worn with traditional suits and sarees as well as with formal wear or a fabulous cocktail dress. So, stride away in style with these eclectic charms.

Images: http://www.southasianbridemagazine.com/

A Special Day

2010-06-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday last week - a perfect occasion to dress up. This is what I wore for dinner date & some shopping with my husband. I like this dress as I can wear it in so many ways - with a jacket, with a belt or just simply with some fabulous heels & clutch.

The belt I added was just to glam up the look & not for fitting etc. Hence I am wearing it a bit loose. The gold & blue look so fab together that I think the belt would be a good idea to glam up the whole look. The heels are the ones that I wore on my wedding day underneath my lehenga. I searched every nook& corner of Delhi to find sandals that would not just be a waste after the wedding day. I wanted to be able to use them multiple times & these are just the ones I was looking for.

And, of course I am haaaapppppieesssstttt after shopping. So, here are the some that we clicked in the mall with my i phone camera.

Have a great weekend. Hope you like them!!!

And, Some More....

2010-06-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

Life is really good these days. I am being showered with awards and I am super duper happy about it.

Neelam at Being Zara&Zidan was generous enough to award me with "The Sunshine Award". Two beautiful children, fabulous pictures, interesting thoughts and one happy family makes her blog so very interesting. Thank you so much for the award. Do check out her blog here. Below is one picture of her daughter which I just adore. Isn't she lovely.

Image Source - www.beingzaraandzidan.blogspot.com

The next one is from The Mommy at Twenty Little Toes. She is so sweet to award me "The Outstanding Blogger Award". Not only she clicks the most beautiful photographs, she also often shares her trick to give them special effects (see below) & hr twins Nael & Ryad never fail to amuse me. Do check out her amazing blog here.

Image Source - mommyspages.blogspot.com

I just want to say thank you so so much for honoring me with the awards. Here are few people I would like to pass them onto.

The Sunshine Award:

1) Tamanna at French Leave

2) Tanvi at The Fabulous Life of Not so rich & Infamous

3) Splurgerina at Splurgerina

4) The Mommy at Twenty Little Toes

The Outstanding Blogger Award:

1) Style She Wrote

2) Noble Beeyotch at Call me Stylista

3) Sonali at Bollywood Style Diaries

An interesting post coming up tomorrow. Stay tuned :)) & Spread the love

Time for some Awards!!!

2010-06-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

Tanvi at The Fabulous Life of Not-So-Rich and Infamous is one of the bloggers who is so generous with her beautiful comments (always) on my blog & just make me feel wonderful. Not only she has an impeccable dressing sense, she also has a penchant for fitness & that is a source of inspiration for so many people (including myself). Her blog is full of optimism, hope & beauty in the most simple things of life.

She presented me with my very first blogging award(yipppeee!!!) in which I have to list 10 things that I love to do. Do check out her fabulous blog here.

And, here are some things that I love to do :

- Shopping, Shopping & more shopping – clothes, shoes, bags, accessories & even window-shopping. This is definitely the top thing that I am crazy about.

- Getting clicked – I love getting shot. I remember as a child I used to spend hours in dressing up, putting on make up, lipstick (yah!!!) & then I used to tell my Mom or Dad to click a picture. I do it now also. Except that I am much quicker now. And, now my husband takes all my pictures. (And I so love him very much for bearing with me. I can be a little annoying with this habit but he does a wonderful job).

- Movies – For me watching a great movie with my husband is the perfect way to end a day. I am big movie freak. And, lucky for me this is the thing that we both have in common (unlike the previous one)

- Reading – A hobby that is getting stronger by the day. I love to read Ayn Rand, non fiction, books on stock market, editorials etc etc.

- Playing the Money Game – Investing, following stock markets, looking for new investment ideas – yup, that’s me.

- Blogging – This doesn’t need any further elaboration.

- Visiting New Places – I have actually made a list of all the places I would like to see..now I just have to be on track.

- I love spending time with my husband, just lazing around the house with him, doing nothing (yup, at times I do that) & I love talking to my MOM on the phone everyday (my day is not complete without that).

I would like to pass this award to following bloggers who make my life so very beautiful :

1) Anamika at Wise She
2) Ruth at Underneath his Wrappings
3) Kiran at Dreamfit
4) The Goddess of boho at Purple Peeptoes
5) Neelam Azmi at Being Zara&Zidan

Spread the Love!!!

Peacock Wedding Theme

2010-06-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

Moving away from traditional wedding theme to a more fun and unusual setting; a peacock-wedding theme can be your perfect answer to grandeur and opulence. Feast your eyes on these beautiful pictures below and read on for some quick DIY for this theme.

- Start by choosing the prominent peacock colors from deep blues, vivid greens and glamorous gold.

- You can use peacock feathers as a table centerpiece or to accentuate the details on the napkins by placing it in a peacock feather tied with a golden napkin ring.

- As seen below the wedding invitations could be done in peacock color and decorated with feathers.

- For the outfit, stick with bold peacock colors like the ones mentioned above. Don’t settle for subtle colors, as the wedding setting would be so vibrant. Also, it is not necessary that you must choose wedding dress in peacock colors. If you want to go with different color outfit then the best way to give a theme feel would be to use peacock accessories like a clutch or use peacock feathers in your hair.

Although peacock wedding would be most suitable in fall/ winter (because of use of bold colors) but it is such a craze that these days’ couples plan it regardless of the season.

Clothes do Speak!!! Do they???

2010-06-12T07:52:00.001-07:00

This post is for my reader N. who asked for latest trends in Indian Suits. I was almost done with the post - had collected these pictures & wrote in detail about the trends that are in vogue etc etc. But, each time I came back to these pictures, an image of a certain type of woman flashed my head. Their clothes, their expressions in the photo, the settings, their hairstyle & accessories - all spoke to me in some way or the other.

So, here I have tried to pen down what kind of "woman" I see in these pictures. These are just my thoughts (maybe a culmination of my beliefs & experiences through these years). Your thoughts and your portray can be same or completely different and I would love to hear that from you.

Now the big question - What kind of "woman" do you most associate with yourself ? It may be just one of these, a mix of two, three or more or may be completely different. Tell me what do you think? I feel myself to be somewhere between 4 & 6, though I would also like to have some streaks of 1 in my personality.

Coming back to the designs, I really liked the 3rd one in which a jacket has been added over the suit and a light net dupatta has been used to balance everything. The traditional Sabyasachi (2) wherein only border has been used for designing is perfect for all occasions. The white kurta in 4th is a must for summers and the last one is a smart alternative to traditional suits. 1 is the most delicious shade of orange, perfect for weddings & other family affairs.

Have a lovely lovely weekend ladies (as for me I have this humongous task of labeling all my posts over the weekend..something that I have been putting off since ages but hopefully will be able to do as my better half will be busy with work :(

Fashion Fixation - Blue Bloom

2010-06-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

I wore this dress a couple of days back for an evening coffee. I always used to wear it with a black belt but this time I thought of pairing it with my brown belt and it worked pretty well (I think). Wearing it with my super comfy blue heels.

Usually we (my husband takes all of the pictures) take 5-6 shots and from them I get 1-2 right. But, on this day I was lucky enough to get 4 of them right. So, here are some we took in the garden.

Dress - G.K, Belt - American Eagle, Jacket - Forever21, Shoes- Urbanoriginal

A Good Sense of Distaste - Update

2010-06-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

If you thought that I was perhaps a bit too critical in my post here, then have look at the first picture. I might be able to digest the lehenga but those shoes!!! I mean, who goes to anybody's wedding (yeah, she is attending a wedding)wearing rubber platforms. And, for the record, the famous celebrity is Ekta Kapoor - the owner of the biggest production house on Indian Television (means that she is in the company of well dressed people all the time!!!)

I have put up the second pic for two reasons. One, is the mermaid cut style which is looking totally unfaltering even on the models. Mermaid style is a very tricky style to get right and can make you look bottom heavy. I also didn't like the color combination, the embroidery, the top and the frills at the bottom of the lehenga. With so many other beautiful options to choose from, the bride (or for that matter anyone) should never settle for these.

So ladies, have a good sense of distaste and stay pretty.

Beauty in Black

2010-06-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

I love love love black. Not only it is the best color to wear when in doubt but it also is flattering on most skin tones and body types. When it comes to wedding however, black may not be the first choice for many people. One reason is the superstitions attached with black (I experienced that during my own wedding too!!!). The other reason is that as most Indian weddings are held at night & black may appear a bit dull and monotonous on the bride. This post addresses the second reason.
Whether for a wedding, family dinner or a night out with friends, rock in black with these options:

- Have black as a base printed bright gold motifs (butis etc) as print, giving just a hint of black to the entire outfit.(pic 1)
- Go for a plain chiffon black saree with gold or silver lace (gota) border paired with a gold or silver blouse. (pic 2)
- Black paired with dull sand gold – Not as bright as the first style but is sure sensuous and beautiful.(pic 3)

- Play with the dupatta – This is perhaps the most common way to wear black. You can choose almost any colored dupatta on a black lehenga and it will look good. But, don’t settle for usual reds, maroons and yellows. Go for something different like in the 4th picture below - pale blue, pink & lemon would be perfect for summers. Gold, though common, never fails with black. So when in doubt combine black with gold (pic 5 & 6).

Fashion Fixation

2010-06-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies

This is a new section that I am adding to my blog - a small retreat where I would rant about my personal style, what I am wearing currently, things that I am obsessed about and lots more... On the surface it may seem as a slight departure from the current theme of my blog, but actually it is just an extension of my passion for style and fashion.

Hope you enjoy it as much as you enjoy reading other stuff on my blog!!! As always, would love to hear from all of you.

Starting right here with my first outfit post

Denim Shorts - Wet Seal, Blazer - Target, Breton Stripes - Forever 21

Currently I can't seem to get enough of stripes. Whenever I go shopping I feel myself drooling over all the striped pieces - shorts, pants, tops, shoes. Combining two of the latest trends of the season - stripes & shorts - I feel all set for the best summer months ahead. Added the boyfriend blazer to give a little shape & edge to the outfit.

I am also a member of StylePile.com - An online social community of fashion enthusiasts!!!

Sepia Symphony

2010-06-02T11:00:00.001-07:00

These shots from Maria.B make me smile. Beautiful clothes in flowy, rich fabrics with antique hand embroideries speak of traditional touch with modern elegance. Tied up hair with flowers bring back memories of old-fashioned beauty that seldom goes out of style. The evenings with tea in the lawn, close friends gossiping sharing their secrets and happy radiant faces – all in all a perfect picture.

Bridal Nail Art – Less is more!!!

2010-05-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

I am kind of an old school when it comes to experimenting with nails on weddings or other similar occasions. Though I love to try new shades in matt, gloss and sparkle but that is about how far I think I would go. The exotic art on nails (like below) sure look very tempting to try but I think the Indian Bride already has so much going on her hands - mehendi, fancy tattoos, bangles and bracelets, accessories like hathphool,that I think these exotic nails can give a clumsy feeling and may be lost in the crowd.

What do you think? Which one do you prefer? Is less really more when it comes to bridal nails?

Yellow Mellow – Bridal Attire & Inspirations in different shades of Yellow

2010-05-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

When I see yellow, optimism, cheerfulness and hope comes to my mind. Yellow often goes hand-in-hand with that clean, grounded New England look, with lots of buttery porcelain and handmade papers.

For Indian weddings, combine soft, cheery yellow with bold colors like green, orange or fuchsia. Yellow with sky blue or turquoise is a perfect combination for a romantic beach wedding. Though this may be a slightly unconventional color for Indian weddings but if you are in the mood to make some heads turn, then this color is sure your cup of tea.

A good sense of Distaste

2010-05-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

Whenever I surf the web for inspirations I come across thousands of beautiful pictures. But, more often than not I also come across a dress a pair of shoes or makeup, that I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing. And, neither I want you to J

So, I would be starting a section – “A good sense of Distaste” – for things that are simply a disgrace in the world of style & fashion and should be avoided at all costs. For, when complimented on her style, Audrey Tautou aptly says in Coco Before Chanel – “ I just happen to have a good sense of distaste”

Continuing form my previous post, here are some shoes that I think would look highly unappealing, especially if you are pairing them with an Indian dress.

I will be adding to this section as and when I find more eye torturing, wretched stuff that I don't want to see anybody wearing.

It's "Shoe" Time

2010-05-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

No outfit is complete without a great pair of shoes. Especially when it comes to wedding shoes great care should be taken in choosing the pair that is most comfortable and stylish at the same time. Indian wedding ceremonies easily run upto 7-8 hours and those stilettos won’t do much good in carrying the weight of your lehenga and jewelery. Luckily, these days brides have lot of options to choose from.

1) Slingbacks – they are a good way to give support and balance if you must wear high heels.

2) Wedges are popular these days but can be tricky as they usually are associated with casual look. However, gold or silver wedges in satin fabric can be easily paired with suit or saree to give a formal, dressed up look (make sure they don’t have a wooden or jute bottom)

3) Good old “pumps” or “peep toes” – you can seldom go wrong with these. Those with block or slightly thicker heels would support better than those with sleek heels. You can also choose studded or embellished heels.

4) Flats: If you are happy with your height, then ballerina flats (or more traditional jootis) are a way to go.

I think kitten heels ,mary jane and thong sandals should be avoided at all costs as they give a very unflattering look on saree, lehenga or suits.
(more on this in my next post)

Bling Bijoux

2010-05-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

Whenever I look at this photo shoot from Vogue India I am reminded of one basic rule that can seldom go wrong – the rule of “understated elegance”. Wearing just the right amount of bling, neither too much nor too little. When wearing statement jewelry pieces, keep the dress simple and when dress is the center of attraction, keep the jewelry minimal.

Coming back to the jewelry – More than anything else I love the versatility of these pieces. They can be worn with almost any Indian dress (lehenga , saree or suit), giving an elegant look to the modern day bride. Moreover, they can also be effortlessly combined with a fabulous gown or an evening dress and still look equally fascinating.

Trend Alert - " Bridal Gowns"

2010-05-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

Gowns seem to be the latest frenzy on the Indian wedding scene. While we are already aware of their dominance in western weddings and on the red carpet, the “gown fever” seems to be catching up in our very own “desi” weddings too.

Indian gowns (that’s what I would refer them as) are designed keeping in mind the specific customs of Indian weddings and requirements of the Indian bride (see the pictures below). Few details that transition this fabulous western outfit into an Indian bride’s attire are:

1) White cannot be the prominent color in most of the cases as white is considered not-so-auspicious for Indian marriages. Colors like red, blue or gold are more prominent.

2) Unlike traditional gowns, medium to heavy embellishments in fabrics such as brocade, silk, organza or tissue set the tone for Indian bride.
3) Instead of going completely off shoulder, sleeveless or corset type, Indian designers create gowns that are a little covered from the top – with a dupatta, jacket or neckline.

After scouting through hundreds of pictures on the web, I found some designs that I really liked. Take a peek here (designs by frontierbazaar.com) and see if they inspire you to try one out – either for your own wedding or the one you are planning to attend.

Want to play "Gold" in summers?

2010-05-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Gold can be a very tricky color to settle for if your wedding is in sweltering Indian summers. You don’t want to look too garish, draped in an outfit gaudy enough to overpower your whole persona. But, I do agree that gold is the most exotic color and here are few tips to help you wear this color in the right way.

1) Combine pastels with gold – The pastel colors offset the brightness of gold and add a more feminine touch.
2) For embroideries opt for dull gold zari or kundan gold, rather than heavy gold sequins or embellishments.

3) For summers, go for muted tones of gold. Opt for sheer light fabrics with delicate designs and patterns.
4) Use gota – Golden gota on the border of your dupatta , neckline of the blouse or along the circle of the lehenga will give a the requisite touch of gold, without overdoing the shimmer.

A Hit & A Miss

2010-05-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday two designers, Vikram Phandis and Riyaz Gangji showcased their lehenga collection. While I loved Malaika Arora in black and gold lehenga, I am not so sure about Jacqueline Fernandez. Neither the rosette choli was something to speak of nor the bizarre design on the length of the lehenga. Though it was a good effort to fuse the traditional style of lehenga with modern day embroidery design, it however was too overwhelming for a bridal attire.

Jacqueline Fernandez for Riyaz Gangji

The black/blue and the gold lehenga below is a departure from the traditional colors but works really well. The orange and yellow dupatta aptly offset the dark color of the lehenga. The kundan set adds brilliance and sophistication. All in all a perfect piece for brides who want to stand apart from the crowd.

Malaika Arora for Vikram Phadnis at Shagun Show

Spice up - with a "touch of Blue"

2010-05-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

After my post on blue lehengas , I received a lot of queries from brides who want a little more fun and uniqueness in their outfit but also want to stick to more traditional colors.

For those who don’t want to go for a full-length blue lehenga or saree, add a little touch of blue in different ways – blue eyeshadow, blue accessories like sandals or clutch or blue jewelry. You can also choose a blue choli or a blue dupatta and pair it with different colors.

A little hint of this unique color will instantly refresh your look and is guaranteed to make you stand apart from the crowd (of course, in a good way).

Bridal Pearls

2010-05-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

For those of you who want to wear pearls on your bridal lehenga or saree, take a look at the collections below from Art Karat. These exquisite designs are exactly what you will need to put your best foot forward.

Nine yards of Seductiveness

2010-05-03T19:50:00.001-07:00

When it comes to Indian weddings, big, bold colors usually dominate the scene. But this summer, pastels and soft colors seem to be everyone’s favorite. Soft colors in light, sheer fabrics accentuate your feminine side and are perfect for spring/summer wedding season.

The trick to wear soft colors and still not look 100 years old is to choose a pastel version of otherwise bright shades like pink, blue, green, gold etc. Keep your make up soft and jewelry minimum. You can add a little punch by a bright clutch or some fancy sandals (see previous post) but definitely don’t overdo it.

So, this season, stay stylish in a saree.

Bridal Fantasies

2010-04-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

Browse through some of the latest designs in bridal lehangas from Vogue India. Use of intricate embroidery, uniform color pattern and delicate silhouettes make these so very sensual and glamorous. I particularly loved the style of the brocade jacket, instead of the usual choli and dupatta.

In the editorial shoes have been used to pop some color and spunk into the outfit. It might be a bit difficult play with this idea in real life (I mean shoes are hardly visible under the lehenga). But, you can take clues and dress up a neutral colored suit or a saree in a similar way. Nevertheless, loved the spread and had to share it with you guys.

Big on Brooches

2010-04-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

Ransacking my mother’s closet as a little kid, I always used to amaze over those fancy safety pins (yes, that’s what I used to call them then) that she had. Embellished with beautiful stones, these tiny little things can glam up any outfit in a jiffy. Whether actually worn as a helping aid (to keep saree, dupatta or straps in place) or just to add a little sophistication, you would never go wrong with brooches.

So, whether you are wearing a lehenga, saree, suit or a fancy jacket, glam it up with the touch of a brooch. Here are a few more to feast your eyes on.

Feeling Blue...

2010-04-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

Experiencing wedding blues is a common phenomenon as your D-day approaches. For those of you who also want to add some blue to their wedding outfits, have a look at the styles below.

Image Courtesy: www.mantraweddings.com

There are different shades of blue that you can experiment with – turquoise, dark or grayish blue or light blue. Blue is also one color that works well in both summer and winter weddings. A light sea green blue for summers or a wine velvet blue for winters are perfect for the brides who don’t want to stick with traditional maroons, reds and pinks.

Is blue the new red for Indian weddings? What do you think?

Back with a Bang

2010-04-21T16:41:00.001-07:00

Hey All

The vacation is over and I am back on track. The break gave me many interesting ideas to make this blog more fun for you and I am starting right away. This was something I wanted to post for a long time, so here it is.

Beautiful You – from Head to Toe

Different kind of head accessories are very popular these days. This is a departure from the days when the bride's only option was to cover their head and content with a paranda or bun pins. These days brides have several option to dress up their head – maangtika, matha patti, side jhoomar and even a flower can do wonders for your look.

Take a peak at some of the accessories that are in vogue these days and pick one for yourself.

On the Aside

2010-04-13T10:42:00.001-07:00

Just stepping in quickly to say that I am out on a vacation in Hawaii and will be missing from the blog scene for another week. I have some really interesting things planned for this blog and I promise to catch up real soon..

Mahalo..

Exquisite Pearls

2010-04-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more sophisticated than pearls ,if worn in the right way. And, contrary to the common perception, pearls don’t make you look older. The trick is to wear them right. One, don’t wear too much in one go. For instance wear only necklace and light earrings or earrings, if they are very heavy. Second, pearls work well with lighter shades and fabrics as compared to brighter shades and heavy fabric. A pale pink chiffon saree, some fancy blouse and a strand of pearls – and, voila you are all set to sizzle.

Pearls are also versatile, in the sense that they can be worn in many ways – for an afternoon lunch, a dinner party, an interview or just for attending guests at home. Also, they are very affordable and fit any budget and require minimum care.

Remember the key is not to overdress with pearls. Leave the heavy pearl sets for middle-aged women. For younger girls light pearl earrings or simple necklaces (with a small or no pendant) works well.

Its all about Jewelery

2010-04-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

One thing that gets unparalleled attention (& share of the budget) when it comes to Indian weddings is Jewelry. Bridal jewelry has come a long way from being traditionally obsessed with yellow gold only to more exotic gems and stones. Diamonds, kundan, polki, meena and even while gold and pearls are what modern day brides desire. Most of these stones are set in gold but there is a huge variety that is available in semi precious form or in the form of fashion jewelry. An assorted collection,having both heavy and lightweight designs, would work best.

Statement Pieces (the Must have ones in your collection)

1) Chandelier earrings – They work with almost anything – saree, suit or even a fancy top. Include them in your collection to make a bold and eye catching statement.

2) Some fancy rings: Buy them in kundan, polki or silver. The bigger and the more eye catching the design the better they look.

3) Plain gold and silver Bangles – These can be wore with Indian or western attire and can be mixed and matched with heavy gold or diamond bangles.

4) A lightweight Kundan or Polki set (preferably in a neutral color)

5) Maangtika – This is one piece of the jewelry that most people think it limited to only brides. But, I don’t agree. A maangtika can be worn in so many different ways and sometimes as the only piece to accessorize the whole outfit.So, don’t forget to add this in your list.

6) A cuff bracelet: A perfect accessory for those fancy night parties, a dinner at a friends place or an evening tea. Mix and match with your watch or bangles.

7) A Strand of pearls

8) Jhumki – A traditional pair of gold or kundan jhumki can be worn with suits during the day or with a cocktail saree at night. They never go out of style.

Blouse Designs

2010-03-31T13:11:00.000-07:00

When it comes to styling your blouse (choli) for the lehenga you will have variety of designs to choose from. One thing that you must keep in mind is your body type. While bikini styles or halters may look very appealing in pictures, they might not look so good in real life. For more guidance on blouse styling according to body types,see the section on The Style.
Here are some front and back designs for your choli.

Designs in Short Choli

Kurta Styles

Back Designs

Dupatta Draping Styles

2010-03-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

Styles With Two Dupattas: Here are some styles using two dupattas. One dupatta can be draped around the waist and the other one can be left flowing to cover the head.

Image Courtesy: Bridal Asia, Kolkatta Fashion Week, santabanta.com

Styles with a single dupatta: Here are some styles with a single dupatta.

Image Courtesy: Bridal Asia, pinkvilla.com

Image Courtesy: CTC Plaza via fashionandyou.com

Image Courtesy: Bridal Asia

Coming Up: Choli/Blouse Designs

The Style

2010-03-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

While selecting your outfit be sure to choose the style that compliments your body type. You will find many beautiful pieces out there but be sure to try them on and see what works best for your body. Here are some hints.

Petite: Go for a style that adds height to your structure. Vertical embroidery as compare to overall jaal or embroidery along the kalis of the lehenga tends to add length to small frames. Go in for sleeveless or short sleeves. For cholis, you can easily go in for shorter cholis, showing your midriff. Leave the dupatta flowing at the back or folded and draped over the shoulder work to give some height illusion. Also, a light dupatta with heavy border all across will works best in creating a flowing look. Square or U-shaped necklines can also help to draw the eye upwards making smaller ladies appear taller.

Sleeveless/short sleeves blouse showing midriff

Lehenga Styles for Petite

Thin and Tall: You can experiment with a wide variety of styles. Opt for styles that are flowing in the bottom. A classic 15-20 kali lehenga would look great. If you don’t want to appear too tall, then go for dupattas that have full embroidery with a light or no border. Quarter or full sleeves will add elegance and sophistication to your look. Your choli design should be long extending to your midriff or slightly lower till the hips. But, don’t make them too long. Opt for deep necklines in front and the back.
Sleeves Designs for long hands:

Lehenga Styles for Tall

Pear shaped : This is the most common body type of Indians. A lines with some flowing at the bottom works best for women in this category. Avoid styles like fish cut or those which are too fitted around the hip area. You don’t want unwanted attention towards your bottom area. If you are busty then avoid heavy embroidery on the choli. Instead have a broad neckline with a well defined border around the neck. Also avoid high necks and, halters or collared necks. Make sure to ask you tailor to give a soft padding in the choli. A very heavy padding will make you look more heavy on the top.
Here are some designs:

Thick Waisted : Opt for cholis that end where the belt of your lehenga starts. Very long cholis will add more volume in your mid riff section. Shorter sleeves with deeper U shaped or sweetheart neck style works best with this choli type. Also, go in for deeper hues rather than soft shades, especially for the top. Make sure that there is some space between the end of your necklace and the starting of your choli. A slight showing of skin here will compensate for covering up of the midriff section. Don’t add an extra dupatta with the lehenga. It will make the whole look much more baggy.

The Color

2010-03-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

I think the most important factor while deciding your outfit is the color. Trust me on this, sometimes color makes all the difference. You may want to stick with the traditional colors such as red, maroon, pink or golden . But you can experiment a little and try on different colors and see what works best for you. If you are anything like me and don’t want to wear red or maroon on your day, then go for some unique colors such as blue, wine, green or a combination of red and blue, red and green or pink and blue.

The important thing is that the color should compliment your skin tone and it should enhance the beauty of the design you have chosen. And, the best way to see what looks best on you is to go and try out lehengas with different colors. Sometimes we tend to stuck on a particular color and don’t try out other options. For instance you might have always visualized yourself in a soft pink lehenga, but may be a red and golden compliments you more. So, my advice here would be try on as many options as you can( until and unless you are rock sure of what is best for you) and then take your pick.

(On the aside – When trying on different outfits, the salesmen would assure you that along with the make up, lighting and proper draping of the dupatta, the lehenga would look absolutely fantastic – even though it is not looking so right now. Don’t buy into this. The lehenga should look good in your most natural self. The make up, lights etc would of course enhance the look. But, first the color SHOULD look good when you are sans any special effects (read foundation, blush and ultra bright lights).

Feast your eyes on some of gorgeous color palettes.

Image Courtesy: desirebysimran.com,santabanta.com

Image Courtesy:lovepaki.com

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Image courtesy: Bridal Asia and Ctc Plaza

Coming Up: Different Styles of Lehenga

The Work

2010-03-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

The workmanship on the outfit is another important area. Well for starters, you should know that there are lot of options to choose from. You can have heavy zardozi work, beads, multicolored stones, emerald, pearls, silver and gold threads. The decision would depend on the overall look, your budget and of course what you want for yourself.

Feast your eyes on few samples of different works below:

1) Pearl and Dabka Work : Pearls add elegance to the lehenga and give a very nice definition to the border. In Katrina's lehenga below, the dupatta is simple overall with just a heavy border around it. This lehenga is a departure from the usually heavily embellished lehengas and is perfect for the modern day bride. This is personally my favorite style of dupattas.

Pearl Work in bright and soft colors

2) The Gold thread and Zardozi : This is the most traditional and opulent kind of work. You will find in ample of designs. The below lehenga is all covered by golden thread and zardosi, giving it a very rich, heavy and traditional look. It also has a long choli as compared to short ones that are common today. Also notice the well played contrast with green emerald drop necklace and the maangtika. I think a green dupatta (in the color of the border) would have looked equally fabulous.

Zardozi and Gota Patti work

3) Silver Thread - Silver thread accentuates pastel colors. If you are going in for soft colors this is probably the most common type of work you will see. Notice how the silver gota border enhances the beauty of the outfit.
This work looks best if you pair it with diamond (or similar white colored stones or pearls) accessories. If you are planning to wear something in gold or kundan then options 1 & 2 above are the best.

Image Courtesy: Bridal Asia and santabanta.com

4) Sequins and Stones: These two designs are heavily embellished with sequins, stones, butis and zardozi. Lot of similar type of work is seen in bridal sarees and suits also.

White Stones & sequins

Image Courtesy: Bridal Asia

Colored Stones & sequins

Image Courtesy: Zeenat Boutique

5) Intricate designs: If you want a rich traditional look without giving into all the bling and ostentation, then these intricate designs with bold colors and festive folds may be your cup of tea.

Image Courtesy: pinkvilla.com

6) Frills Work: Frills seem to be dominating this season. From casual tops to oscar gowns to traditional Indian attire – frills are everywhere. A frill lehenga is the perfect culmination of historical opulence and chic style for modern day brides.

Image courtesy: Birdal Asia and santabanta.com

7) Flower Power : If there is any style that has gain immense popularity and commercialization across all types of Indian wear, it is the flower style. When used with heavy embellishments and in deeper hues, this style gives a soft romantic and youthful look, while looking rich and classy at the same time.

Image courtesy: Bridal Asia

Coming up: The color of the Lehenga

The Fabric

2010-03-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

When it comes to bridal dresses in India, there is a huge variety of fabrics to choose from. From pure crepes, silks and brocades to net, georgette and satin – the shops have them all. You will find lot of designs in silks, raw silks and pure crepes. Net fabric is back with a bang these days and is found everywhere in sarees, suits and in lehengas. But there are few things that you might like to keep in mind before zeroing in on the fabric.

1) The weather – You don't want to be standing and sweating in brocade if your wedding is in our scorching summers. Save heavy fabrics like raw silks and brocades for winters. In summers, slightly lighter variety of silk, crepes or net works best.

2) The color and the design – Well, we all know that certain colors look best when worn in certain fabric. For instance, if you are going for soft pastel shades a pure crepe fabric would accentuate the color more than a brocade or silk. However, if you want to go in for deeper richer hues than nothing beats silk.

3) The whole look – Ultimately it's how the whole piece is put together that makes all the difference. The fabric, color, design and the work on the lehenga should all compliment each other.

Take a peak at some of the fabrics:

Crepe Lehenga with Raw Silk Choli

Photo Courtesy: Lakme India Fashion Week

Brocade Lehengas

Photo Courtesy: Bridal Asia & santabanta.com

Lehnega Styles in Net

Photo Courtesy: santabanta.com

Velvet Lehenga Styles

Photo Courtesy: Lakme India Fashion week, vdiexports.com & highheelconfidential.com

Coming Up:

Workmanship on Lehengas

An "OUTFIT" of a Lifetime

2010-03-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

All the cultures in the world share at least one common thing when it comes to weddings – the attention, hype and anticipation that surround the outfit of the bride.

Zillions of styles, fabrics and designer wear along with tons of (solicited &unsolicited) advice from friends and family make the task even more difficult. The minute you get engaged (and I can say this from personal experience) your mind would be flooded with suggestions on what will look best on you - Rita Aunty (from Amreeka) thinks you would look lovely in pink. Your best friend thinks that a green coored zardosi fish cut lehenga is just perfect for you. There may be a dress in which you have always imagined yourself but are not so sure about. So, with these myriad options available, from where to begin hunting for the perfect outfit for your most special day?

Well, lets start by making ourselves familiar with some of things that work together to create that perfect look for the most important day in your life.

But, before that…..

1) Have a rough approximation of the money you want to spend on your bridal dress. Trust me, this is one area where all of us tend to go over budget. Having an approximation of the money will help you in being selective and will give you some peace of mind. So tighten your purse strings (at least for now) and start hunting.

2) Take a trip to the market and see what’s around. It will give you an idea of what’s available in the market, what are the latest trends, what appeals you and what can you get in your budget. A Designer tag is absolutely not necessary for a great outfit, but yes, a designer feel is. And, there are lot of things that work together in creating this exquisite feeling for the outfit of your dreams.

In the next few posts of this blog I am going to ride you through some and more of these things and hopefully you will get some ideas and inspiration to help you along the way.

Welcome

2010-03-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

Hi

Welcome to my blog. This space is dedicated to celebrate the grandeur, extravagance, festivities and above all the true spirit of Indian weddings. From the splendid bridal outfits and exquisite jewelry to lavish decors and intricate planning required in every aspect of wedding – this blog will have it all.

So if your wedding is “on the cards” or you too, like me, are fascinated by all things “weddings”, then join me for a fantastic ride.