Couture Bridal Gowns: Trends from the India Couture Week Runway

The 12th edition of India Couture Week took place from the 22^nd until the 28^th of July 2019 at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi, India. Yes, I know this was three months ago, but I had a great excuse to take some time off: my own wedding! No big fat Indian wedding for me though, a small intimate affair at a luxurious location is more my style. Just like Bollywood brides Neha Dupia, Anushka Sharma and Mira Rajput Kapoor, I chose to wear a pink lehenga during the wedding ceremony. Traditional red, although still very beautiful, isn’t as popular as it used to be in the past. On the India Couture Week runway we saw a lot of neutral shades, pastels and a lot of silver. The silver, shimmery gowns are very futuristic, modern silhouettes with a hint of tradition. According to Vogue India, even though we see a lot of changes in bridal fashion, away from traditional shades and styles, we still hold on to traditional elements which celebrate the rich heritage of Indian fashion. The collections of Amit Aggarwal, Reynu Taandon, Pankaj & Nidhi, Gaurav Gupta and Falguni & Shane Peacock include several looks for the fashion forward neo-bride. Designer Anamika Khanna once described the neo-bride in Vogue India magazine as: ‘eclectic, she respects Indian crafts and heritage, but has a distinctive style that is modern’.

Designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Rahul Mishra, Suneet Varma, Sulakshana Monga and Shyamal & Bhumika presented designs more suitable for the classic bride. They remind us traditional shades of red are still here to stay and showcase the intricacy of Indian craftsmanship. Floral motifs are also a timeless trend, just as intricate embroideries and eye-catching embellishments.

Check out the gallery for my top picks from this years India Couture Week!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•