From androgynous silhouettes to structured evolutionary designs, this Couture week has seen it all. Bridal wear has taken a new curve in what can only be compared to a post apocalyptic era. With people finally stepping out of their houses with a sense of determination and fearlessness, the modern Indian bride is no more afraid to test the waters with unconventional wedding outfits.
With the changing times, the thought process of the generation can be seen evolving. Keeping a close eye on that matter, designers did not confine themselves within the four walls of shimmers, bridal red, lehengas and sarees only. We could see a marriage of “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”.
A daunting sense of self-awareness imbues when one is aware of every one of their layers. Using age old handcraft techniques like zardosi, kashida, and chikankari, Tarun Tahiliani shows us how “old” is an indispensable component for any bride-to-be. “Painterly Dream” reflected that aspect of the modern Indian Bride that does not fail to commemorate her roots as a major part of her identity. Incorporating jackets over lehengas can prove to be a power move, where the bride chooses comfort over anything else.
A pulsating range of garments narrating a floral story through experimental silhouettes, Rahul Mishra, achieves the prerequisite of “something new”. With avant garde details in a golden opulence, it calls for the new age bride to be bold. Steadfast and ready to take the on the world by storm, fitted translucent bodysuits with the sensibilities of Indian Craftsmanship can be the current that sets off waves.
With semblance drawn from the “OP Art movement” of the 60s, a classic example of “something borrowed” was displayed on the ramps by Amit Aggarwal when he sported models in structured silhouettes. Breaking away from the traditional pieces, his collection caters to the need of the bride to stand out. “A glitch in time”, today, women know how they want to portray themselves to the world, irrespective of pre ordained societal constructs, further reflecting the tonalities of the modern Indian woman.
A flight from the traditional hues of red, the modern age isn’t shying away from experimenting. Ramps were majorly consumed by subtle champagne golds, pastels and tints of “something blue”. The “Fibonacci” sequence arranged by Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna was a befitting example for blue becoming the new red. Dainty in all its senses, the collection actualised that aspect of the contemporary bride that basks in the glory of their femininity. The sheer fabrics marinated with the correct amount of blue rightly celebrate the female form.
By definition, modern means “of recent times”. Conjoined with the woman of today, it becomes a powerful term that encapsulates one's entire being. We are living in a world of expressions, where fear doesn’t make the dictionary. Encouraging a sense of new-ness, designers this Couture Week went all out in highlighting the various layers of the modern Indian Bride.