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.

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/

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.