THE LEHENGA TRENDS OF 2021

The whole world has embraced minimalism in the year 2020. We have also had minimalistic marriages. But now the year is gone, and so is the trend toward minimalism. Even though the pandemic still stays with us and the world is gearing up to get vaccinated, our brides are in no mood to carry forward the minimalistic trend for weddings. They are going back to the full-blown maximalist trend with heavy jewelry and multiple embellished dupattas.

Because the pandemic is still there, there is a restriction on the number of guests allowed at a wedding. This means saving on venue and hospitality costs. Which means more budget for the bride's outfit. Our brides also had to give up the late-night sangeet functions with a DJ and the after-parties, which is obviously not a good thing, so they decided to pamper themselves with the most elaborate, heavily embellished lehengas and walk down that aisle like never before.

Rather than fighting the pandemic, Indian brides are leaning into the situation and working their way around it, and instead of spending on the guests and their hospitality at the wedding, they are spending more on themselves. If you ask me, kudos to the person who started this trend! And I believe this is a trend that should be practiced even after the pandemic is over.

Traditionally, an Indian bride would wear a red lehenga or saree during the main event. Red is known to be the sacred color of the planet Mars (According to Hindu astrology, his planet is in charge of marriage and prosperity).  But today you will see an Indian bride in all sorts of different colors, from bright fuchsia to pastels to illuminating yellow (2021 color of the year) as well. We have put together a list of trends for the year 2021, so if you are getting married this year, this blog will help you make a lot of important decisions.

THE DOUBLE DUPATTA

Well, this trend is not new, but it is definitely bigger and bolder. This year on the runway, we will be seeing a lot of long-tailed dupattas as a head veil, and of course, the normal dupatta stays as it is with the garment. Manish Malhotra, an ace designer in the bridal collection, has also showcased the trend of double dupattas with a long-head veil intricately embellished, adding to the overall beauty of the outfit.

LIGHTWEIGHT EMBROIDERY

Oh, this is my personal favorite! I am all cheers for the outfits that are not 20 kilos and are comfortable enough to move around and have fun. Trust me, while the brides look at the wedding outfits, they do not consider the weight of the lehenga to be an issue, but on the day, you get tired soon of having to wear such a heavy outfit. The outfit weighs you down, and this will make you look a little sad and tired, but if you can move around, then automatically you will feel energetic and confident and have the bride glow.

Brides, trust me, the outfit can be comfortable and lightweight and still be the outfit of your dreams. Go for fabrics like Georgette and Chiffon, which will make you look like a princess without having to sacrifice your comfort level and will allow you to move around your venue and take some memorable pictures with your bridesmaid as well.

CERISE OBSESSION

This color resembles traditional lava red with undertones of fuchsia pink. This color is the latest obsession of our Indian bridal wear designers, like Gaurav Gupta. This is the perfect color for brides who do not want to go too far away from their traditions and also want to experiment a little.

EXAGGERATED SLEEVES

This year, the designers have been experimenting a lot, be it with sleeves or necklines. Till now, we had only seen glimpses of exaggerated sleeves in Western outfits, but now designers are experimenting with bell sleeves in Indian outfits as well.

These sleeves are being seen on gowns and blouses as well. If you do not want to go heavy with embellishment, then do go for these kinds of exaggerated sleeves; they will make the outfit luxurious and make you feel like a princess without making the outfit heavy.

GARNET OBSESSION

Traditional red does not look good in evening lights, so designers are shifting away from the traditional color and bringing us similar hues and colors to bring out the best of traditionalism and modernism in their garments. Garnet is an outstanding color to incorporate and consider if you are a bride-to-be.

The color looks great in sunlight and evening light and can work well both as day wear and an evening wear-out. So if you have a sundowner wedding, you can choose which color to opt for.

LIGHT GOLD LEHENGA

Light gold or rose gold lehengas are in trend, as these lehengas can work as your wedding outfit as well as your after-party outfit. And amidst the pandemic, we cannot have a lavish wedding anyway.

We will hardly have 2–3 functions. Gold is a great versatile color to switch through functions with grace. Generally, the brides have a different look for the phrase and the reception. But a gold lehenga will give you the freedom to wear the same outfit and then just change the draping style of the dupatta along with the jewelry and make-up, which will carry you from your traditional ceremonies to the afterparty.

OMBRE TONES

I know Ombre is on its way out when it comes to hair trends, but it is the opposite when it comes to lehengas. Some of the brides are confused about whether to go with pastels or darker colors. But opting for an Ombre Lehenga will give them the best of both worlds. Also, it is really fun to experiment with the hues and colors and the effect they will have on the final outfits.

LONGER SLEEVES AND DEEPER NECKS

Longer sleeves are very popular this year as they add to the royal, elegant, and formal look of the outfit. Now that the sleeves have gotten longer, the necks have gone deeper. Select a deep V-neck blouse and wear a stunning choker and a lot of heavy jewelry, highlighting your collarbone.

Maximalism is not only about wearing a lot of jewelry or layers of clothes. It is actually about going over the top with your garments and accessories while still looking flawless and elegant.

CAPES AND JACKETS

Designers are making more capes and jackets so the brides can get rid of the dupattas. There is a lot of scope to experiment with this trend. Capes add to the whole royal look of the outfit, and the brides can move around freely as they do not have to keep adjusting their dupatta. This layering trend of having a cape or a jacket instead of the dupatta is here to stay.

Exaggerated ball gowns

Which bride does not want to feel like a princess? Or which girl does not dream of looking like a celebrity walking up the steps of the Met Gala? This trend is perfect for those brides, as they expect new drapes that will create an exaggerated look combined with a silhouette that complements their bodies. This is definitely a win-win situation.

Fabrics like silk organza and luxurious fabrics like silk are used in the making of this beautiful outfit. The richness of these fabrics also adds to the overall royal look and feel of the gown.

Off-shoulder and puffed sleeves

Those days are gone when elegance is equal to a crisp silhouette and neutral colors. Elegance now is about being your playful best and still conducting yourself with the utmost grace.

Fun sleeves are in trend this year as they add a lot of drama to outfits. The fringe details and feathers are on trend this year. Incorporating the fringes at the end of your off-shoulder sleeves combined with pearl embellishments will add a gorgeous, delicate touch to the outfit. This year, we will see extreme exaggeration when it comes to bridal outfits. Right from the sleeves to the drapes, the gowns will have an overall exaggerated look.

SCALLOPED AND RUFFLED DUPATTAS

Lace pearls, ruffles, and scallops in dupattas are going to be a big hit this year, according to ace Indian designers. Ruffled dupattas in fabrics like organza look very tasteful on brides, as organza itself is a very beautiful and delicate fabric.

Even if you are a traditional bride and would like a traditional outfit on your big day, adding a scalloped or ruffled dupatta will add drama to your outfit, and it is a great way to add a touch of playfulness to the outfit. Also, these dupattas fall really well and are photographed stunningly.

INDO-WESTERN SILHOUETTE

Indian designers are moving away from traditional silhouettes and adapting Western silhouettes, blending them with Indian embellishments and color styles to create a seamless combination of Western and traditional India.

Exaggerated ruffled drapes combined with an intricately embellished torso in pearls will look exceptional on Indian brides for their evening functions. Hybrid silhouettes create a symphony and aren’t just beautifully elegant while being feminine as well; they also make a statement about our culture and fashion combined.

GEOMETRIC SHAPES

Patterns like geometric stripes and chevrons are really in style right now. Geometric shapes and chevrons have been given the attention they have long deserved. These inverted v-shaped wavy patterns are a big hit with designers like Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi.

Earlier, this trend was in vogue in 2014, and it is back with a bang five years later. There is a wide range of patterns and colors to select from, right from golden and white hues to a deep fuchsia color.

GOLD DORI WORK

This year, we will be able to see a lot of gold-dori work, as designer Manisha Malhotra has introduced this in his new collection, Ruhaniyaat. Gold work on bright-colored fabrics is a signature outfit for brides from the state of Punjab. Introducing this gold work in a new color palette with unique patterns is a great way to mix traditions with newer designs.

Non-GOLD EMBROIDERY

If you are the kind of bride who just does not want to see the most memorable outfit of your life in the closet and would like to wear it a few times later, then do consider the non-gold embroidered lehengas, as these outfits will be pretty versatile for any of the future traditional functions.

Also, gold can sometimes add age to an outfit and might look dull and worn out after a period of time. So going for a non-gold embellishment might do the trick and will definitely keep your outfit a perfect fit for other events as well.

I hope this blog will be helpful for selecting your traditional lehengas.