Wardrobe essentials for an Indian Wedding

Indian weddings are larger then life. An average Indian wedding last for 3-4 days, with multiple ceremonies. An Indian wedding is lively, full of color and showing off to your relatives. When we receive a wedding invitation our first thought is what outfit will I wear? Even with decent time in hand there is a possibility you might second guess your choice of clothes, because we want to look our best after all.

In fact this happens all the time at a wedding. You always spot a few people who look out of place at a function due to their inappropriate choice of attire. 

Putting together a new and different look for each of these ceremonies is a task in itself. Sometimes it so happens is that you have multiple weddings to attend during the wedding season. Purchasing a new look for each ceremony of each wedding can be really taxing on your wallet and mentally can be very time consuming and stressful. Also if the wedding you are going for is of one of your close friend or relative than you will be in all the wedding functions as well, which means you will clicked numerous times by the photographers… all the more reason to look your best and stress over the outfits!

Sometimes some essentials in your wardrobe can help you mix and match outfits and save a lot of time in deciding what to wear. It can also give a newly styled look every time, without having to purchase a new outfit for each wedding function.

This blog will help you avoid fashion faux pas and help you shop for clothes essential for each weddings.

So who wants to look absolutely stunning at a wedding function?

• Sexy Blouse

Yes it is basic but definitely a go to must have for the wedding season. That is why it is on top of my list. I suggest keep a few basic colors and pattern in your wardrobe

1] Shimmery gold blouse

2] Silver color blouse

3] Metallic gold blouse

4]Embroidered pearl white blouse

5] Multi color Brocade blouse

The above selection of blouses will go with nearly every sarees and lehengas in your wardrobe. Make sure each blouse has a different silhouette and a sexy back. An enchanting blouse can make a simple plain saree look interesting.

Opt for silhouettes like strappy blouse, deep back with a pussy bow, in cut blouse, off shoulder neckline, high neck blouse with tassels and the classic sweetheart neck lined blouse.

• A strappy kurta

This is a modern and interesting version of a simple kurta. This is a go to outfit for those side functions like mehndi, haldi and various Pooja’s. You can team this kurta up with wide leg palazzo or a skirt. It can also go well with dhoti pants or pencil pants. Wear a nice embroidered or a sequined dupatta with this outfit and it will sure be a head turning out fit. If your kurta is simple accessories it with heavy jewelry like Chand bails or chandelier earrings. You can also wear a layered gold necklace with it.

• Heavy Banarasi silk dupatta

A banarasi silk dupatta is colorful and has gold weaves giving it a royal and rich look. I am sure you know this dupatta can be paired with a white kurta or a simple cream lehenga or a palazzo set. Basically you can pair a colorful dupatta with any cream or white color Indian outfits.

But do u want to know a fun way of pairing this dupatta??

You could also go out of the box and pair with dupatta with dark and bold colors.

1] Pair a pink and gold banarasi dupatta with yellow kurta and palazzo

2] Purple and gold banarasi dupatta with parrot green strappy kurta.

3] Royal blue dupatta with a maroon lehenga choli.

By now you get the point I think. This versatile dupatta can be paired with light and bold colors. It can make any basic outfit look outstanding. And then if you team any of the above look up with traditional gold jewellery and a mang tikka you will definitely make a few heads turn.

• Brocade pants

Indian weddings are all about going all out. Maximum noise, color full decorations and lights, flower decorations everywhere and fire crackers. Amongst all the pretty things how can your outfits be simple??? Brocade suit is one such example

Brocade is a new in thing. Brocade pants are like the new brocade kurtas. This wedding season let’s revamp the use of age old brocade blouses and kurtas and make them into pencil cut pants.

You can go all out and do a brocade kurta with brocade pants look pairing it up with Chand bails or dangling traditional earrings. Finish this look with embroidered juttis and soft curls.

You could also wear these pants a little differently. Team them up with a sheer tucked in blouse. While choosing a blouse you could either go with co-ordinated color or a contrasting color like whites and cream.

 You could also wear a co-ordinated crop top and the above mentioned banarasi dupatta.

• White Shirt

Gone are the days where white shirt was only useful for formal office wear. In a world of social media where our choice of outfits are highly influenced by bloggers and influencers who love such unconventional and fusion pairing, are we going to lack behind in trying such looks out?

When the uprightness of a buttoned down white shirt matches with colorful traditional Indian outfit it creates symbiosis. I suggest keep a ruffled satin cream colour shirt in your wardrobe this wedding season.

You can team this shirt with a traditional colourful lehanga, or a traditional embroidered ankle length skirt. You could also do a tie up under bust with the shirt and wear it like a blouse with a cream colour self embroidered lehenga and a traditional multi coloured dupatta. This shirt can also be tucked in and worn with wide legged palazzo pants or pencil pants as well.

You can pair the above looks with a nice chunky necklace and stud earrings.

• Saree

There is absolutely no denying that a classic six yard is a wardrobes centre piece. There is some level of elegance in the way a saree is draped and then each person who wears it looks eternally gracious. And then there are so many kind of sarees to select from

I am naming my top picks for the best wedding look.

1] Silk sarees with gold weaves

(This you can also steal from your moms wardrobe, I am sure she will have quite a few of them)

2] Chiffon or Georgette saree with embroidered borders and tassels.

3] Floral Organza saree

4] Satin saree with pearl work on it

5] Net saree with mirror work

I know what u thinking, saree looks very graceful and stunning but it’s a task to wear it and handle it all day while enjoying the functions.

Well don’t worry now we get Pre stitched or half drape sarees as well. These sarees are basically stitched in a way that you have to wear it like a skirt and the drapes are pre stitched and the fall perfectly on your shoulders and look exactly like a saree.

We call them One minute sarees.

Pair any of the above sarees with a nice tradition kundan necklace and some Indian earrings. You could also wear a kamarband or a tradition belt around your waits. Always pair traditional sarees with chunky traditional jewellery. This combination is perfect for any of the wedding functions. If you are wearing a cocktail saree wear diamond drop earrings or chandelier earrings to go with it. If you wearing big chunky earring you can also go bare on the neck.

• Rajasthani Dupatta

A Rajasthani dupatta is colorful and completely filled with hand embroidery. Intricate colorful thread work done through out the dupatta can make a simple white kurta also look interesting and fancy.

This colour piece of clothing is a must have in your wardrobe because it can be teamed with a simple short kurta and palazzo, it can also go well with a floor length anarkali. Mix and match this dupatta with a crop top and skirt and you can turn any western outfit in to a fusion one.

• Maxi dresses

A maxi dress is definitely a great combination of fashion and comfort. Invest in some flowy dresses with some ethnic weaves or embroideries and trust me this will be the most comfortable and stylist outfit to wear at a weddings side function.

These maxi dresses look perfect in fabrics like Modal satin, Mughal cotton, Muslin, chiffon and georgettes. These dresses are a perfect alternate to those heavy Indian outfits which weigh at least 4-5 kilo. You will be so comfortable in these dresses that other guest will surely envy you.

• Ethnic footwear

Ethnic footwear’s are a must to have in your wardrobe. I suggest invest in some neutral colour kolhapuris or juttis. Colors like gold, cream, beige and silver will go with almost every traditional outfit of yours.

I know what you thinking ethnic footwear’s are expensive and can only be worn during the wedding season.

Well you are wrong!!

These colorful footwear can be worn with a short kurta and denims as well. Carry a nice traditional jhola bag with a nose ring and some dangling silver earrings. Style this fusion when you are tired of wearing the same boring western outfits and it will surely be a hit amongst your friends.

• Jewellery

This is my last point but believe me this is one of the most important one. A well paired jewellery can make a simple white cotton kurta look interesting. And since Indian weddings are always going over board with everything, why not wear chunky statement jewellery as well?

Jewellery essentials you should have in your wardrobe.

1] Chandelier earrings (for cocktail Functions)

2] Traditional Chand Bails (for Indian outfits)

3] Kundan Necklace (can make an Indian outfit look even more royal)

4] Kundan earrings (If the earrings are so interesting and pretty they make you look even more stunning)

5] Chunky hand cuffs.

6] Belly chain / Kamarband

7] Diamond drop earrings (cocktail outfits)

8] Traditional gold necklace set