Pastels upstage red in bridalwear
The quintessential modern Indian bride isn’t someone who does things in a set way. So, bright red as the colour of the bride is no longer de rigueur. Blush pink is the colour of the moment, thanks to the Virushka wedding — while the bride, actor Anushka Sharma, wore a beautiful pale pink lehengacholi-dupatta outfit, the bridegroom, cricketer Virat Kohli, wore a pale pink turban.
Other celebrities who have shown the way — either through their wedding wear or their best trousseau picks — are actor Sagarika Ghatge, who wore a light grey lehenga when she married cricketer Zaheer Khan, and actor Nafisa Ali Sodhi’s daughter, Pia Sodhi, who chose an unusual bird’s egg blue lehenga.
Designer Manish Malhotra says that brides these days know how to “make a statement in their traditionally modern look”. He adds, “Wedding couture is constantly evolving in India and with the clientele becoming more receptive to global influences due to the digital era, we see not only women but also men adapting to newer silhouettes and [becoming] more willing to experiment with colours. The modern bride is selecting from the palette of nudes, pewter grey, powder blue, ivory, lavender, and salmon pink, instead of just the traditional reds and maroons.” “Blush pink is the new red,” feels fashion designer Anju Modi. “Red has become clichéd. Some 90 per cent of the people have moved away from the colour. The new choice for brides include blush pink, orange, and peaches that look young and romantic.” Designer Reynu Taandon believes it’s the nude make-up trend that has led to brides choosing pastels over reds. “Young faces can always carry these pastel colours,” she says.
Muted colours have taken over the wedding-related night functions, too, feels fashion stylist Vikram Seth. “Classy and chic is what the brides are looking for,” he states.
Designer Rina Dhaka cites the excessive usage of red in the wedding trousseau as the reason for people shying away from it now. “Jewellery suits you better in pastels and it’s not overwhelming. You end up looking fresher, younger, and prettier,” she says.