Every Indian bride’s ideal attire is the lehenga. Bridal lehengas offer a plethora of options, with a range of designs and styles that pay homage to Indian cultural heritage and history. The several distinct regional needlework and decoration styles all share floral designs. These contain numerous additional flowering motifs, as well as shimmering flowers and delicate tendrils. They are also a popular option for wedding guests as well as festive occasions.
The versatility of lehengas means many women wear them for different occasions. To experiment and show off their personal style, many women today are also opting for indo-western lehenga styles that combine the best of Western trends and traditional simplicity. This guide will help you do exactly that, whether it is your big day, a special occasion, or a festive gathering of loved ones. Keep reading to learn more.
How To Combine Western Elements With Traditional Lehengas
1. Whimsical Silhouettes: For a stylish and whimsical style, many brides are teaming the playful element of capes with the blouse of their lehenga. To dress up the ensemble, go for flowing sheer sleeves or a long beaded cloak. Similarly, ruffles are always a good choice, whether you’re going for a unique skirt hemline or voluminous sleeves. Another option is to choose a dupatta with frills, which will give your lehenga ensembles a waterfall-like effect.
2. Switch The Blouse And Dupatta: You can choose to switch the blouse or dupatta and pair a Western style with the lehenga skirt to bring in the Western style. Similarly, not only can you wear your cholis with lehengas, but you can also wear them as blouses with sarees and with solid skirts for a more subdued appearance. They also look great worn as tops with ordinary skirts and pants. Wearing white shirts or satin tops with lehengas and statement necklaces is yet another celeb-approved style for cocktail parties and ceremonies. Similarly, crop tops and t-shirts are also a popular style if you want an edgy look. Denim or leather jackets and shrugs instead of the dupatta are swaps many women are making to look cool and chic.
3. Play With Colours: If you wish to opt for something other than the traditional red, stand out in multicoloured lehenga sets and the popular ombre skirts in contrasting tones. You can play around with a variety of hues and metallic tones, but always make sure the colours you choose complement your wedding’s theme. Choose from ombre lehenga sets in duo or multi-tones with exquisite gota patti work for a chic style that is popular online. This design, which blends a trend with traditional applique techniques, is perfect for fusion wear enthusiasts.
4. Fabrics: Move away from silk and velvet in warmer seasons, and opt for organza skirts with designs and hand-painted accents are a stylish and colourful option. Because it is lightweight and translucent, the fabric is ideal for daytime activities. You can also choose to wear a net or mesh dupatta for a dramatic look. The see-through mesh or net will highlight the best parts of your lehenga skirt and blouse while assisting you in creating the classic silhouette.
5. Floral Prints: Bridal lehengas look more elegant when made of fabrics with elaborate floral motifs using zari or beads and stones. However, opting for printed floral fabrics will help you pull off a boho-chic ensemble when paired with flowing silhouettes and off-the-shoulder tops. Because of their current fusion appeal, the vivid colours and designs made using contemporary printing processes will make you stand out and be easily reused for other occasions in the future.
6. Pastels: The pastel wedding lehenga trend is going strong, as seen on celebrity brides like Parineeti Chopra, Alia Bhatt, and Anushka Sharma. Pastel lehengas, with their blush pink tones and subtle accents of blue and green, will make you look ethereal. Pair these soft-look lehengas with dainty jewellery for a shimmering princess-like look.
7. Fishtail: When wearing a lehenga, the fishtail skirt silhouette will let you show off your curves to the fullest. The fishtail lehengas provide a gown-like silhouette and are fitted from the waist to the knees with a flare at the bottom, creating the perfect hourglass shape.
8. Veils: A lot of women choose ornate veils that have striking trails that are evocative of a Western bridal style. When paired with the soft pink hue, veils lend an air of bygone European nobility to your appearance. Lehenga ensembles in 2024 are also adorned with trails along with sheer embroidered veils, both of which have been influenced by Western bridal fashion.
9. Fun Dupatta Drapes: Brides are adopting a variety of new dramatic drapes besides the traditional waist-tuck and over-the-shoulder dupatta style. The dramatic dupatta drape worn around the neck in Parineeti Chopra’s bridal ensemble was paired with a long veil, and this year’s brides are likely to sport the fun silhouette.
10. Jewellery And Accessories: Minimal jewellery is a favourite to get a Western look while wearing lehengas. You can also opt for rhinestone jewellery and boho-style feather and beaded options for a modern twist. If you wish to add shape, corset-style belts and harnesses are also popular choices. When it comes to footwear, embellished sneakers with elaborate embroidery and stonework are quite popular for comfort and style.
Conclusion:
Lehengas are changing with the times to fit current trends, just like most things in fashion. Now that cropped tops are so, the silhouette is translating to cholis, where the most popular styles are cropped blouses with low necklines and backless details. Indo-Western variations of women’s lehengas also include bralette blouses and the substitution of shirts and blazers for blouses. In addition, a lot of ladies are choosing two-piece lehengas, which do away with the dupatta, for a carefree appearance that is perfect for cocktail parties throughout the holiday season or wedding ceremonies like haldi and mehendi. The most important thing while combining Western elements with traditional lehengas is to experiment and make the trends your own.
