Anyone that knows The Sari-Clad Bride team knows that we’re suckers for beauty products (especially since one of us is a former beauty editor!) so when we learned about Birchbox a couple of months ago, we felt as if we had stumbled into heaven. Birchbox is a monthly subscription service in which for $10 every month, you get anywhere from 4-6 samples of amazing and usually pricey beauty products. Most of the time, the sample sizes are pretty substantial so you can try out a product for a couple of days or weeks and then decide if you like it. It’s a way better process than wasting money on products that don’t really work.

Birchbox decided to take it a step further by putting together a bridal package chock-full of goodies tailored for a bride to use on her Big Day.

The Limited Edition: Here Comes the Bride includes:

• Automatic Apparel Roll-up Ballet Flats in Gold
• Ban.do Mini Pom Pom Set
• Benefit Finding Mr. Bright
• Dr. Hauschka Radiant You
• Eboost Natural Orange Tablets
• Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
• Tiny Prints Thank You Cards

While we absolutely love the idea of this package, we think it’s better suited as a bridesmaid gift than for a Desi bride. South Asian bridal makeup is often colorful and intricate and this kit doesn’t really include much to keep that in balance. However, many of the contents of the package could be extremely useful to bridesmaids!

For example, the roll-up flats are perfect when bridesmaids are running around completing tasks or when they’re ready to hit the dance floor after a long day of servicing the bride and groom. Benefit’s Finding Mr. Bright’ contains four illumining products that can brighten up your makeup and keep bridesmaids’ looking fresh. The gals will also appreciate Dr. Hauschka’s ‘Radiant You’ clarifying skincare set, which they could use the night before and keep for after-wedding use. The Oribe texturizing spray is great for fixing updo’s and can be a handy member of the Maid of Honor’s bridal arsenal to use on the bride. The mini pom-pom set is sort of useless as are the tiny prints thank-you cards (a bride will most likely need more than the few included in the kit). The eboost Natural Orange Tablets is self-explanatory and can be useful.

We really adore at least five out of the seven of the products, so we’re definitely sold on this idea. For $55, Birchbox’s ‘Here Comes the Bride’ package makes a great bridesmaid gift or a pretty kit to include in the bride’s beauty arsenal!

Hi Sari-Clad Bride,

I’m getting married in a hindu ceremony in December. I have been looking for modern hairstyles to wear under my chunni that covers my head, but all I find are traditional buns. I was hoping you could post some pics that are of more modern hairstyles that are not all buns. Thanks so much!

Sincerely,

Priyanka

Dear Priyanka,

It’s hard to find the perfect hairdo that’s modern and will look great with our Eastern wear. We scoured the web for a few examples and we are also checking in with our professional hair experts to bring you some step by steps! Feel free to browse through the following looks for some inspiration in the meanwhile.

Topsy-Turvy Bun

A Modern Beehive

The Anarkali Movement

Braid-it

Bridal Bedroom Hair

Bohemian Rhapsody

Side-Tuck

Courtesy of David Schwartz Photography

For Desi brides-to-be that are going to don a beautiful white wedding dress on the day of their wedding, The Sari-Clad Bride recommends adding a mantilla veil to accent and complete the look with a South Asian flare.  Traditional mantilla veils originated in the late sixteenth century in the warmer regions of Spain and are used throughout the Latin American community as well.  As such, this veil is a very ornamental and is often times made of lace.  Similar to ornate dupattas that South Asian brides adore, the mantilla veil provides brides with a similar look of elegance with the perfect detailing.

Check out the stunning photos of a friend of The Sari-Clad Bride: Sara!

Courtesy of David Schwartz Photography

Inspirational Tip: If you’re wearing a lighter-colored or pastel sari for your wedding, consider adding a Mantilla veil for a unique look.

courtesy of Ayesha Khan

Singhar by Ayesha
www.singhar.com
SingharBeauty@aol.com

Who are you?
My name is a Ayesha Khan and I am a Stylist.

What do you do?
I mainly do makeup along with hair and styling for brides, models and anyone who is in need of a makeover.

Where are you based?
I am based in New York.

When and How did you get started in the South Asian wedding industry?
Being a model myself, I started doing makeup for fashion shows and photo shoots since I was 18 years old. One thing lead to another and people started asking me to do their wedding makeup. Every time I would attend a South Asian wedding, I would see a pretty bride with beautiful clothes and jewelry but not appropriate makeup. This inspired me more to become a makeup artist. Read more

Courtesy of www.Akiyohenna.com

Who are you?

www.Akiyohenna.com

Email: akiyo@akiyohenna.com

Phone: 917-607-6897

What do you do?

I am a professional henna/mehndi artist in the business since 2002. I have a degree in fine arts and specialized in pattern design. I also worked in the textile industry for the past 10 years. Besides henna, I design using body glitter as well as crystals and rhinestones.

Read more

Let’s face it ladies; with all the heavy dresses and jewelry we have to wear on our wedding day, it’s no easy feat  to walk in 6-inch heels as well. It’s uncomfortable enough to have all that on along with the makeup and a hairdo under the very bright flashlights of cameras, on top of which we have to be careful of our every move in order not to undo the dupatta on our head or the folds of our sari. At the end of it all, us modern brides want to be able to dance our night away, and those of us without a D.S. degree (Dancing in Stilettos), need alternatives! So I say “No!” to high heels and “Bring on the low and mid heels please!!”

What you should look for while shopping for comfy bridal shoes:

• A medium heel: Perfect for adding a few inches to your height without overwhelming you.

• A cone-shaped heel: Provides more support than pencil heels.

• The slip-on style: For easy access, since various South Asian wedding rituals require the bride to put her shoes on and off.

• Avoid ankle straps: As we usually like to wear anklets (nupur/payalias), shoes with ankle straps may get in the way.

• Open toe/open front: Makes your feet look less official and more fun and flirty. Not to mention,      you don’t want to cover the gorgeous henna/mehndi designs!

• Bejeweled front: With all the decorative clothes and jewelry to wear, an ornamental touch in the front is more than enough to make a fashion statement.

www.piperlime.com

The Bandolino Quitarah evening sandals ($34.99) are a good example of all of the above. Note the medium cone-shaped heel and the jeweled details on the top – this may not be something right out of Vogue, but it will definitely work with a bridal sari or lehenga. We love is that it’s also leather!

Read more

Henna/Mehndi

Henna or mehndi (if you already didn’t know) is a dye used for skin decoration. This is done by applying a paste made from the leaves of a flower plant also known as Henna, Hina, or Mehndi plant. The dye can be bought in a paste or powder form. Although it can be worn for any occasion, it is a century old tradition for the bride-to-be (and sometimes even the bridegroom!) to wear mehndi. For wedding ceremonies, it is usually worn on the hands and feet but sometimes extended over the forearms and legs. Here are a few essential tips that you must consider before putting on your bridal mehndi:

Read more