Colors, Colors, Colors!

BridalGal founder, Lilly Rivera giving a guest a pretty new makeover

About the Designers
Shyamal & Bhumika are a designer husband-wife duo that took the Indian fashion scene by storm at  Lakme Fashion Week in November 2006. Bhumika’s training at the National Institute of Fashion Technology and Shyamal’s research of Italian Design in Milan led them to create amazing bridal couture and pret collections. They are based in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, India and showcased their designs for the very first time in the United States this year. According to Shyamal, they are looking for opportunities to open up retail stores all over the United States, mainly where there are large South-Asian American populations, so American brides might have closer access very soon!

The Sari-Clad Bride editor, Farah, with Shyamal!

Shyamal’s Bridal Fashion Tips for Fall/Winter 2010

• Velvet is everywhere this season.
• Muted Indian colors such as beiges, icy blues, muted pinks, greens and yellows are a hit.
• Traditional bridal colors such as reds, rani pinks and mustards will always be in.

The Sari-Clad Bride team absolutely fell in love with Shyamal & Bhumika’s Indo-Mughal collection. When we asked Shyamal where the influence for this collection came from, he told us that he researched South Asian history (particularly the Mogul era) in order to come up with this collection. “I spoke with nobel families, went to museums and talked to curators”, explained SShyamal.

“But, my real inspiration is the modern girl/woman on the run”, said Shyamal. “A woman who is always juggling a lot.”

the perfect red bridal sari, from the “gaam collection”

The event was a total hit with brides-to be’s, mother of brides and fashion lovers alike, all rifling through the amazing collection. We found a particularly enthusiastic bride, Sonalee,  from Edison. New Jersey.  Sonalee is getting married on July 21st, 2010 and came to the event to shop for a Garba outfit for her Rajasthani wedding event.

“I’ve been following Shyamal & Bhumika for the past couple of years” gushed Sonalee. “I’ve been eying this lehenga-choli since the runway show!”

Bride-to-be, Sonalee with a gorgeous Lehenga Choli

The Sari-Clad Bride team with some of their favorites from the collections

If you missed last night, you can catch the trunk show this Saturday, April 24th, 2010 at Shaadi Studio’s midtown location in New York City.

ShaadiStudio
336 West 37th Street, Suite 600
New York, NY
1pm – 5pm

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

Our shopping list included:

-the wedding sari– check

-saris for the bridal trousseau– check

-bridal jewelry–check

-items for decor–check

We had managed to remember every little item needed for a fabulous Bangladeshi Muslim wedding…minus one important factor–the rakhis! We almost became frantic at the thought that we had forgotten such a crucial aspect.

The wedding rakhi is a bracelet that is put on by the mother-in-law of each respective bride and groom during their Holud ceremony.  It is symbolic of the upcoming union of the bride and groom and is meant to be kept on until the day of the wedding (i.e. until the nikkah/akth).

When realizing we had forgotten to purchase rakhis–we resorted to our brilliant plan–why not make our own?!  My mom and I ventured into our favorite shopping center–the craft store and bought everything we needed to make our DIY rakhis!

We bought cardstock that was flexible so it would be able to be tied around the wrist, rhinestones, and beads to ensure that our rakhis would look legitimate.  Also, we used fabric paint to inscribe “Allah” on the rakhis as they symbolize a religious union of two individuals.

And viola! This is what our final product looked like:

DIY Rakhi

DIY Rakhi

For more information on Bangladeshi wedding customs, click here.

the gorgeous Shilpa Shetty as a real-life Bollywood bride!

Gorgeous Shilpa Shetty who’s known for her perfect body and Big Boss fame finally tied the knot with long-time beau, business tycoon, Raj Kundra! After seeing Shilpa in so many bridal avatars in her movies, we were super excited to finally see her as a a real-life Bollywood bride!

Engagement

Shilpa and Raj held a small, private engagement on October 24th, 2009 at Raj’s home in Mumbai, India. Shilpa wore a stunningly simple pink and red chiffon sari designed by notorious Bollywood fashion designer, Manish Malhotra, with a gorgeous kundan set from Anmol Jewelers. Her engagement ring is reportedly worth over 5 million dollars and is bigger than the 14ct ring she was seen sporting before her engagement!

Shilpa and Raj finally make it official!

Shilpa and Raj’s wedding card made quite a splash as it was designed by famed Delhi-based designer and supposedly cost the couple Rs 500 per card.

Love the crest!

The perfect royal theme!

Mehndi Ceremony

Shilpa and Raj’s Mehndi ceremony took place on the morning of Saturday, November 21, 2009 at the Bawa villa. Shilpa and Raj picked a Hawaiian theme and Shilpa wore a bright pink swavorski-encrusted kaftan (designed by Tarun Tahiliani) to match the theme. Popular Mehndi Artist, Veena did the mehndi for both bridal parties.

Raj and Shilpa posing with their Mehndi Artist, Veena

Actress and gorgeous sister of the bride, Shamita Shetty

The bride-to-be gearing up for her big day with a beautiful mehndi design

Sangeet Ceremony

The Sangeet was also held at the Bawa Villa on Saturday, November 21st, in the evening.  Shilpa wore a stunning gold anarkali outfit designed by Tarun Tahiliani for her sangeet. The Sangeet is heard to have been an absolute blast with dances choreographed by Bollywood choreographer, Ganesh Hedge. The Shetty family performed a skit in which they imitated the Kundra family and danced to the song ‘Aahun, Aahun’ from the movie Love Aaj and Shilpa and Raj danced to a romantic number, ‘Teri Ore’ from Singh is Kingh (which is Shilpa’s ex-boyfriend, Akshay Kumar’s movie!).

Shilpa on the way to the Sangeet

showing off her beautiful mehndi

Wedding

The wedding ceremony took place at Shilpa’s friend and business partner’s home in Khandala (outside of Mumbai) on Sunday, November 22, 2009 and only close family and friends were invited. Shilpa and Raj combined both of their South Indian and Punjabi roots in terms of the wedding rituals. Raj arrived at the wedding on a silver horse-drawn charriot in traditional Punjabi style, with a lively baarath. Respecting Shila Shetty’s Bunt community heritage, they were married in  traditional Mangalorean style. The wedding menu included a delectable buffet of Hyderabadi and Awadhi dishes from Mumbai’s Foodlink restaurant.

The couple left no stone unturned in terms of their wedding outfits. Shilpa wore a  Tarun Tahiliani creation–a traditional burgundy and red brocade sari encrusted by Swavorsky jewels and a kamarbandh with rubies and Swarovski crystals. She added a Punjabi touch to her wedding day look by wearing ‘churaas’ (bangles). Shilpa’s jeweler also reports that Shilpa designed her own mangalsutra! Raj wore a maroon sherwani with gold zari work designed by Nikhil and Shantanu, carried a sword by his side and a string of pearls cascaded from his turban, depicting a perfect Punjabi groom behind the sehra.

the groom on his chariott

the bharaathi's (groom's wedding party) with the magnificent chariott

Shamita and her mother mother awaiting the groom

the blushing bride giggling away

newlyweds

we love the blouse and gajras!

the ravishing bride

she looked as beautiful as everyone expected

Reception

After a traditional wedding, it was time for a more westernized reception! Shilpa and Raj hosted a sophisticated event on Tuesday, November 24th at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai. Shilpa wore a  crystal-encrusted gold lehenga-style gown (designed by Tarun Tahiliani) and Raj wore a black sherwani (designed by Nikhil and Shantanu) for the reception.

introducing...Mr. and Mrs. Kundra!

wedded bliss

a very happy Bollywood bride

Shilpa's makeup was perfect!

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.

The palette also makes for a great Bridesmaid gift, especially since it’s only $29!

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.

courtesy of Ayesha Khan

Why do you do what you do?
I have always been passionate about fashion. Makeup is a big part of it. When people meet you, they look at your face first. It makes me happy knowing that I can be a part of someone’s special day and I made them look their best.

Do you work exclusively on South Asian weddings?
No, I do other weddings besides South Asian.

Describe some of your inspirations.
I am inspired by colors. Every aspect of our lives is defined by a color. There are happy colors and there are colors that define other moods. Being a painter, you can liven up something by adding or subtracting colors.

What are some mistakes you see most South Asian brides (and families) make?
Families are very stressed and paranoid throughout the whole wedding planning time. Whatever vendor they choose, they should trust them and not be skeptical about their work. Trust is a very important thing. If you choose a makeup artist, trust their abilities, otherwise don’t book them.

courtesy of Ayesha Khan

Do you only cater to certain budgets only?
I cater to all budgets depending on the requirement of the client.

Tell us about your strongest area.
My strongest area is that I can create a different look for each of my client. I have never repeated the same look twice. Each person requires a different look with colors according to their skin type, their complexion and facial features.

Tell us about your weakest area.
My weakest area is being friendly and acknowledging my client’s needs. Sometimes it gets into a frenzy and clients just think they should get what they want whether it looks good on them or not.

How would you describe your working style?
Being organized is super necessary and scheduling everything on time.

What’s your number one wedding tip?
Don’t stress and plan ahead.

courtesy of Ayesha Khan

Christian Louboutin Jeweled Slingback

Hi ladies! Our last shoe post was all about comfort and style for the practical bride. The Sari-Clad Bride has already given you advice on what you should look for in bridal shoes if you love your feet more than your shoes. But we have to say that if there can be exceptions to the Octet rule of atomic bonding, there are exceptions to our rules as well. Plus, our readers have spoken! You wanted to know about the lavish and just plain outrageous (in a good way of course!) styles for bridal shoes which will make your guests do a double-take at your feet! So here are some of those exceptional exceptions. We do have to warn you: such envious action does come at a price!

If you haven’t  heard of Andrew Gn yet, these shoes will definitely make you want to find out more! The Kaki Stone-Embellished Sandals ($800.00) are just gorgeous and perfect if you have some green in your bridal sari or lehenga or in your wedding color scheme. The ankle strap is not cuffed around the ankle but a wide oval shaped strap which allows room for your anklet (nupur/payaal). But with such embellishments on your shoes, who needs anklets? You may also choose to wear this for your mehndi/henna celebration, if you plan on wearing green.

Andrew Gn Stone Embellished Sandal

The Manolo Blahnik Jeweled Satin D’Orsay Sandals ($715.00) are classic for weddings whether American or South Asian. A lot of modern brides are choosing white, beige, silver, or dull gold bridal wear nowadays and these are just what we recommend for you. If you look around a little bit, you may find them in other colors to match your style as well.

Manolo Blahnik Jeweled D'Orsay

These Miu Miu Alba Jeweled Sandals ($750.00) are a beautiful gold-tone leather with a bejeweled front to fall in love with. Given that most South Asian brides wear gold or gold-tone jewelry, you can totally pull these off with any color bridal wear. Yes, the ankle straps go against our advice, but they are necessary to hold these bad-ass high heels in place.

Miu Miu Jeweled Sandal

Leave it to Christian Louboutin to come up with something so exquisite for your feet! The Sari-Clad Bride absolutely LOVES these Jeweled Platform Slingbacks ($2,830.00)! (note the capitalized love and exclamation point) The allover multicolor bejeweled design makes these shoes as festive as shoes can be in order to represent the festive South Asian weddings. Don’t worry about matching them to your bridal wear – these girls will go with just about anything.

Christian Louboutin Jeweled Slingback

Want to know what shoes we would recommend for you? Whether you are the bride-to-be or just a wedding attendee, leave a comment or email us with your shoe necessities and budget, and we will find what you are looking for!

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

Designer Tarun Tahiliani’s ‘The Painterly Vision’ was the grand finale of this Lakme’s latest season. Tahiliani’s collection wowed onlookers with the spectacular draping and extraordinarily chic and complex color palette that ranged from saffrons velvety blacks to cornsilk blues. Unique touches such as a brocade belt on a sari, an exquisite pave blouse and a slightly shaded sherwani makes this veteran designer’s newest collection a standout choice for ‘haute couture’ brides everywhere. See the collection after the jump.

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

Trends to watch out for:

• Military-style sherwanis for men
• Heavily embroidered sari borders
• Belted saris
• Floor-length Anarkalis
• Layers

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

Popular Bollywood designer, Vikram Phadnis definitely knows how to please the masses. Models sashayed down the ramp in billowy ghagras, brightly-colored and netted dupattas, sherwani-inspired blouses,  splendidly gold dhotis (for men) and transparent half-sari in every color in and off the rainbow. But, Beauty Queen Sushmita Sen stole the show in her ‘dulhan’ avatar.  Phadnis sent Sush down the runway  in a resplendent gold and green lehenga choli with sindoor and a dupatta demurely draped on the Bollywood beauty’s head.  Phadnis’ collection is definitely every bride (and groom’s) dream! See the collection after the jump..

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

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courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

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courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week

courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week