Indian Accessories

Gone are the days of glittering elegant wedding saris. It is the lehenga that a city bride prefers today and the bolder it is the better. A lehenga is an integral part of a bride’s trousseau.

While the traditional flowing ghaghras continue to hold sway with the blushing bride, the ever-adventurous city girl is favoring bold designs and slim fits teemed with corsets and even bikini tops. The modern designers have experimented with the slimmer fits, even the known retail shops are offering exquisite pieces of bridal lehenga to the bride get her dream look. These eye-catching lehengas are rich in every aspect, including the price. It is very interesting to have a look at some of the gorgeous latest wedding lehengas preferred by the city girl.

Bridal lehengas, with a traditional touch and mostly in conventional cut, could be customized in fish cuts too for a slimmer fit. The color range is diverse from the usual red and fuchsia to orange, green and lilac. Customization can also be done for a higher price range. Multi-colored lehengas having striped border and art work with sequins, stones and gota patti are also available. Prices start from $1250 and can go up to a $2500 and above.

A shimmering and shining bridal lehenga, available in net, georgette, silk and satin is embellished with stones of various colors, like pink, orange, white etc. The cost ranges between $250 and $5000.

A bit traditional lehenga with Swarovski, crystal embellishments, numerous layers of lush satin lining, Benarasi brocade borders and anarkalis with delicate lace arms can make just an ordinary bride elegant and attractive. A bride wearing a lehenga in gold lame with shades of red and white Swarovski with antique gold works will look exceptionally enchanting. The dupatta is in net and the red velvet choli/jacket has Swarovski pearls, beads and crystals. The price is very high starting at $7500.

The modern bride can get adventurous with lehengas in various appealing colors ranging from light pista green to interesting shades like champagne. A saffron-colored georgette lehenga with a halter-neck top in silk or georgette having cut stones in white and red is an ideal choice for a new-age bride. Price starts at $500 and goes up to $6250

Another latest bridal lehenga, a mixture of tradition and glamour, is available in a range of colors from warm hues to ice tones. The gold woven fabrics are textured by way of dobby and jacquard techniques in a unique fashion. Shimmering satins are distinctly embroidered with materials like gold zari and crystals. A bride looks exceptionally charming in a red or orange chiffon layered lehenga with embellished belt and border. The price is around $2125.

The modern designers are prepared to satisfy the ever-changing tastes and trends of today’s bride by bringing out new varieties of bridal lehengas to make the bride-s most special day, a memorable one.

Lehenga-Choli, the traditional Indian dress after going through many variations has attained today’s ultra modern

forms symbolizing the preference of modern Indian women. This lehenga has made its entry into the everyday life of women. In the place of rich embroidered ones present women love to wear ordinary, affordable lehengas that give a feeling of comfort and could conveniently be worn with a tee or a choli. They use a stylish stole to cover it and wear an accessory that fits to the contemporary fashion and style

This traditional attire worn by Indian women resembles a gypsy skirt with a voluminous flare at the bottom. It is a waist to ankle costume accompanied by a choli designed to be mid-riff bearing- The choli is usually short-sleeved with a low neck and cling to the body tightly. Now this type of choli is donned by many western women, mostly by belly dancers as a part of their costume.

At present lahenga-choli is worn everyday by women in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat states in India. However this beautiful outfit displays maximum grace and femininity of a woman. This dress is favored by all Indian women as a perfect wedding dress, a party wear or an occasional wear. Lehenga-choli is a fine perfect representation of the rich Indian traditional styles and its graceful appeal has captured the attention of International fashion designers who have very cleverly added latest tones and cuts to this sophisticated outfit. Dupatta, a long wide veil, is another accessory worn along with Lehenga-choli.

The combination of lehenga-choli is preferred by most of the Indian brides as it makes a complete part of their wedding trousseau. The lehenga-choli looks so gorgeous with heavy intricate embroidery works in zari or gold threads. Various other embellishments like fancy appliqués, mirror works, sparkling motifs or gems enhance the beauty of the outfit. Though the most favored color of the bridal lehanga is maroon or red more vibrant colors or color combinations are available plenty. The dupatta also is similarly embellished to highlight the dress. The borders of the dupatta are more ornate to match the borders/patterns of the whole ensemble.

The occasional or party wear lehengas, though exquisitely designed, are not as ornate as the wedding ones. These party wear lehengas are available in a lot of colors and fabrics, having intricate embroidery and other decorative elements. The modern evolved versions feature slender cuts and perfect drapes to accentuate its attractive looks. Ordinary simple lehengas in printed, plain or moderately decorated designs and are at low prices also found in the markets for lighter occasions.

Fully realizing the growing popularly of lehengas in the international markets the fashion designers very often introduce new color combinations, designs, cuts and motifs to make them more modern and appealing. Now it is possible to buy any type of lehenga from any part of the world by placing orders online.

“Variety is the spice of life”.

Indian Ghagra/Lehenga- choli consists of a long skirt, lehenga, having flair towards the bottom resembling a flowing robe. Starting from the waist it touches the ankle. The top of the lehenga is a short or long- length Indian blouse

called choli. Along with these is a dupatta, a long rectangular piece of cloth that is draped over the head or around the neck to cover the front upper portion. Both ghagra/lehenga and choli are tailored exquisitely in matching colors and beautiful designs made in expensive materials like tusser, silk, crepe, georgette etc. The dupatta also enhances the look of the wearer with its matching shade, fabulous designs and embellishments.

In fact one lehenga choli differs from another in the distribution of designs and patterns. The designs of the costume vary according to the concept of the designer or the manufacturer and also to the demands of the consumers.

Usually the lehenga choli is adorned with various types of embroidery works such as mirror, art, kundan embroidery, colorful beads, enchanting zardozi embroidery and zari work. Zardozi, zari is the Indian name for it, is an embroidery work using gold and silver threads usually practiced in Persia. A proper blend of tradition with modern techniques can produce a lehenga in shot- colors, a base consisting of two different colors, one intermingling with the other. Again you can view the wonderful intermingling display of zardozi and boota works. This is the latest innovation created in lehenga-choli by the modern dress-designers. As time continues its journey human tastes also take new forms. Now days women are more concerned about the simple, yet the perfect mixing and matching of colors and the attractive looks of the drapery.

Sparkling expensive accessories like gold, kundan or gem-studded ornaments highlight the beauty of the lehengas. In a majestic looking ghagra/lehenga-choli a bride looks like a beautiful queen on her wedding day. The ornate look of this pretty costume is preferred as bridal dress among the brides in most of the communities in India. The gorgeous outfit is also suitable for various religious functions, and other special ceremonies. Lehenga-choli is used as a daily wear among the Banjara, the traditional Indian tribe, the beautiful women of Rajasthan and the young girls and women in North Indian villages.

In South India little and teen girls wear a long lehenga-like skirt known as Pavada or lenga. In parts of North India girls wear this long majestic attire called ghagra/lehenga while celebrating weddings. In the East, lehenga is termed as “mekla”, their traditional wear, available in eye-catching designs. The cost of a lehenga depends on the texture used. It may be anything between $7.5 and $750 or even more. Today’s brides wear glittering bridal lehengas ranging $3000-5000 or above.