I’ll be honest, even the Paris Fashion Week – perhaps one of the most important annual events, spread over the starting two slices of the calendar, where the precedent for any and every major sartorial trend is set by the biggest creative directors and their mercantile liaisons for future seasons – doesn’t come close to the opulence of a big fat Indian wedding. I was definitely not rummaging through the small squares of my Instagram ‘explore’, each encapsulating a brief moment of haute couture grandeur, like I am with a bevy of Bollywood celebrities who are currently inundating my feed in their designer creations, trying to find an incidental pattern so I could establish a trend – or something like it.
Finally, though, after hours of survey, I’ve come to a conclusion that the Akash Ambani – Shloka Mehta wedding had one predominant colour scheme that every trend-savvy celebrity was seen sporting, and we’re touting it to be the next big thing in summer wedding trends: Pastels!
From Kareena Kapoor’s teal lehenga to Shilpa Shetty’s dusted pink saree, if you’re a bride on a screenshotting spree to find the perfect outfit for a flowery summer wedding, you are guaranteed to find inspiration in the images ahead. It is literally a physical manifestation of your favourite Pinterest wedding board.
Sit tight and take notes, as the imprimatur for this wedding edit has been granted by India’s biggest names in fashion.
Priyanka Chopra in Tarun Tahiliani
This icy steel grey, Chantilly lace saree, embellished with Swarovski and pearls by Tarun Tahiliani is perfect for off-setting the harsh Indian summer sun. We love the cape sleeve-detail on the blouse (please do wear them if you have arms like Priyanka’s) and the fact that she’s gone low-key on the jewelry. Although one usually associates silver only with evening wear, we’re beginning to believe it can become a mainstay in our daytime wardrobe, too.
Kareena Kapoor Khan in Manish Malhotra
The actor makes a strong case for teal, and more importantly, a messy ponytail with this look. Perfect for a beach or a poolside wedding, this Manish Malhotra lehenga with ivory thread embroidery and mirror work checks all the boxes for making it to the trousseau of a very contemporary bride. Sure, you have to possess a certain bravado if you wish to wear it for the pheras, but should you be lacking a little in the courage department, you can definitely wear it for sangeet and switch things up a bit.
Katrina Kaif in Anita Dongre
The usually coy actor shook us all out of predictability by choosing this nu-age cornflower blue floral Anita Dongre lehenga for a day wedding. The skirt, which looks extremely light-weight and devoid of any handiwork whatsoever is perfect for a bride who subverts popular opinions with regard to how a bride is supposed to look on her big day in favour of comfort. Combine it with no-fuss hair and makeup, and minimal jewelry, and it becomes the ultimate choice for a pared-back wedding outfit.
Malaika Arora in Seema Khan
If you thought pastel shades are metonymic to minimalistic, think again. This dusted pink Seema Khan lehenga with unrestrained mirror work and a plunging V-neck blouse is the stuff of dreams for a maximalist bride who fancies herself a little drama. If you were wondering how to team your heirloom emerald jewelry with an outfit, this look gives plenty of inspiration for it, too.
Aishwarya Rai and Kriti Sanon in Manish Malhotra and Mira Rajput in Anju Modi
Heralding the pink crusade at the Ambani-Mehta wedding were Aishwarya Rai and Kriti Sanon in their Manish Malhotra lehengas and Mira Rajput in her Anju Modi one. Pink seldom goes out of style and every hue of this confectionery assortment – as modeled by these ladies – is perfect for brides who are in perfect alignment with their femininity. We suggest pairing it with polki chokers and layering it with cascading kundan necklaces.
Shilpa Shetty in Faabiiana Official and Disha Patani in Falguni and Shane Peacock
Shilpa Shetty’s dusted champagne-hued Faabiiana saree with silver applique work is perfect for a less-is-more approached wedding reception party. We love how she’s used a statement-making enamel choker and chosen to leave her hair in soft beachy waves. Also making a case for pastel sarees is Disha Patani in her Falguni and Shane Peacock netted saree with metallic gota patti. Another glam party outfit that deserves a place in the bridal trousseau.
Gauri Khan in Falguni and Shane Peacock
Speaking of sarees by FSP, the arbitrators of style at Aza are also crushing on this asbestos-hued chiffon saree with crystal embellishments and, of course, this season’s ‘It’ trend – opulent feather trimmings. Comments on how attractive SRK looks here is entitled to its own separate article – which we promise will follow soon.
We understand that picking an outfit (or few) from the smorgasbord of pastel outfits seen here can be a pretty daunting task. To ease the process, though, we, your virtual stylists have curated a handpicked collection of our favourite designer pieces so you have one less thing to worry about in the months leading up to your big day.
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