Trendspotting: Winter 2010

Let it Snow

Because the Bride is Keeping it Hot

Picture Credits from the top left: Seasons India Showcase 2009/Lakme India Bridal Sutra 2009/Lakme India Winter 2009/Lakme India Bridal Sutra 2009/Trends of India Platinum Collection/Trends of India Designer Anarkali (click to enlarge)

Pulled-Together Bride: Pocket Garter

I find that sometimes a purse can be too much for a bride who already has her hands full carrying flowers, gracefully holding the skirt of her dress or clutching the edge of her dupatta. So to keep essentials on hand, why not try a pocket garter?

White pocket garter from weddingstar catalogues. Picture Credit: weddingstar.com

Once, garters had a functional role as a way to hold up stockings, but after the invention of nylons, they were no longer necessary. Instead, they just became a sexy part of lingerie attire. Now, with this neat little piece from Wedding Star Catalogues, they are sure to be a very practical accessory once again. Worn under your wedding clothes, you can store a few essentials here for touch ups or a trip to the bathroom. If you don't like the colour or style of this one, it is a very easy piece to have sewn. Get one to match your colours and theme.

Pulled-Together Bride: Veil Combs

The Bridal veil in South Asian culture is characterized by the heavy and detailed work that goes into its embroidery. Whether it is just the border or an all over design, the final piece is always heavy on the bride's head as she walks. Keeping it secure on your head through the entire wedding can be a little scary, so here is my tip to make it a little easier.

veil combs. Picture Credit: veilsbyroxanne.com

Veil combs are attached to English bridal veils to push them into the bride's coiffure so that it stays secure. Just buy a couple and have a tailor or seamstress hand stitch them to the inside edge of your veil. Depending on you plan to wear the veil, you may have them sewn directly in the middle or closer to the edge if the larger part of your veil will be hanging across your chest.

Worth Noting: Asiana Winter 2009

This magazine is hands down the best resource for any south asian bride-to-be.  Chock full of pictures, every page is a treat.  I love the makeup ideas in the portfolio section and the clothes, OMG, the clothes, I want to buy them all.  This issue is no exception, and there's even a chance to win the outfit Aishwarya Rai wore in "Umrao Jaan" for the dance number "Salaam."

Picture Credit: Scan from my copy of the magazine

Onscreen Bride: Kate Hudson in Bride Wars

Although I know this blog is devoted to South Asian bridal fashion, it is also about fusion culture. So occasionally, when I find ideas in Western wedding styles that I like, I try and translate them into the Indian bride's look.

Kate Hudson in Bride Wars. Picture Credit: Screen shot

This shot of Kate Hudson from the movie Bride Wars is a great example of this. In the scene, Kate looks back at her best friend before walking down the aisle, as soon as she turned, I was struck by how beautifully the powdery lavendar shade of her eyeshadow complemented her bouquet colour choice. It's actually a great thought for the pictures, since if you are carrying a bouquet, you will have lots of shots with the photographer that center on you holding your flowers. I think it's also important to note that Kate's bouquet has only one shade in it, so it was easy to make the visual connection, since neither the make up, which is an updated smoky eye, nor the bouquet, are too busy.

Kate Hudson in Vera Wang's bespoke gown.  Picture Credit: bridewars.com 

This make up look works perfectly with Kate's dress because of the purple ribbon which give it a stylish touch.  It's become a bit of a trend in wedding styling to accent a traditional white gown with a touch of bold colour through the use of an accessory or makeup look, which is then carried throughout the wedding theme.  This works perfectly for the South Asian bride, since even the whitest lehenga is likely to have that accent of colour to make it special.

Here are some ideas to incorporate this trend into your wedding look:

traditional image

Picture Credits from the top left: Preity Zinta in Veer Zaara/purple orchid bouquet/custom palette from MAC 

registry image

Picture Credits from top left: Lengha from Bargello/red rose bouquet/custom palette from MAC 

Tricks of the Trade: Eyelash Glue

Make your eyelash glue do double duty. On my wedding day, as I leaned forward to greet people, my tikka and chumber kept shifting. So, a friend of mine came over to me and pulled a tiny tube out of her purse and proceeded to apply a tiny dot to my forehead. She pressed down my tikka and chumber and said, "There, this should hold it. I was surprised, so I asked what it was and she held up the tube for me to see that it was eyelash glue. I recommended it to my sister-in-law on her wedding day and it held up for her too, even in the pakistani heat.  To apply it, after your make up and dupatta and jewellery are set, just lift your tikka or chumbar a little and put a tiny dot of the adhesive where you want them to hold and just press until set.

Bollywood Bride: Aishwarya Rai in Jodha Akbar

Confession time: although I love all things indian, I am not a huge fan of Bollywood movies. I do, however, make an exception for the historical films. The romantic stories of heroes, conquerers and princesses, the elaborate historical sets and backdrops, the gorgeous, opulent costumes...who can resist?

Jodha on the night of her Nikah ceremony. Picture credit: jodhaakbar.com

I recently saw Jodha Akbar and the whole time I kept picturing myself transported back into the Moghul era, a beautiful princess in a grandiose palace with my ladies in waiting and a roomful of showstopping gowns. Corny? Yes. Fun? Hell, yeah. Naturally, my favourite outfits were all the ones Aishwarya Rai wore as a bride.

JodhaAkbar-Inspired costume jewellery. Picture Credit: fusionjewels.com

But maybe, in this era of cheap production methods, internet and global commerce, I can have more fun. Especially with pieces like these from fusion jewels. Their collection of costume jewels inpsired by the movie Jodha Akbar, is sure to transform you into a maharani on your wedding day. Check them out! USD $359

Full disclosure:  I have not shopped at fusion jewels, but I do know some people who have, and they were happy with both the service and the product.

Tricks of the Trade: Joshiv Bridal Beauty

Joshiv Beauty Academy. Picture Credit: Joshiv Beauty on Facebook

UK Readers: If, like me, you have the joneses for anything bridal long after your wedding, or long before Mr. Right has arrived on his white horse, you could indulge your guilty pleasure with a training course from Joshiv Beauty International. Offering everything bridal makeup to waxing to mehndi, their comprehensive selection of courses is the perfect way to help you get started in the bridal beauty industry, whether you are just pursuing a hobby or considering a serious career.

Love at First Sight: HSY Bridal Lehenga

http://www.imanistudio.com/pakistani-fashion/bridal-lengha,-bridal-dress/bridal-lengha-p-1384.htmlI've never seen a bridal lehenga I didn't like, but every now and then I come across a particular gown that makes me think, I want to get married again just so I can wear this one. This piece by Hassan Shehreyar Yasin under his HSY label is definitely one of those lehengas.

HSY lehenga from his haute couture wedding collection. Picture Credit: imanistudio.com

The wine red colour contrasts with the silver embroidery for a stunning effect. The assymetrical design on the skirt is a great twist on a traditional concept, perfect for the modern, classy bride. The wide scoop neckline with it's bold border is so flattering, creating the illusion of an hourglass shape. The heavy embroidery on the chuni weighs it down so it drapes elegantly along the arms and shoulders. Love, love, LOVE. Price on Request from Imani Studios.

Pulled-Together Bride: French Pins

Asian brides are decked to the nines in rich fabrics, heavy jewellery, and elaborate embroidery. It can be quite a challenge to hold it all together through endless celebrations in a way that is both secure, discreet and does as little damage as possible to the wedding clothes.

french pins. Picture Credit: craftamerica.com

One great idea for pinning your dupatta across your shoulders, around your wrists, or anywhere else is to use a French pin. These handy pins have no coil at the end so they won't snag and will move through the fabric easily to allow you some ease of movement without compromising the way your clothes are set. Like all safety pins, they come in different colours and sizes so you can match them to the embroidery of your dress and they will blend in easily.

Roll Call: Links to my favourite blogs and websites

Blogging:
Maharani Weddings
Style Me Pretty
Asian Fashion Blog
Nirali Weddings
Oxford Jasmine
Slice of Lemon
BubbleGarm
Hijab Style
Desi Fashion Police
The Sari Clad Bride
I Heart Makeup
Happy Muslim Mama


Surfing:
South Asian Life
Sapna Magazine
Mantra Weddings
Asian Woman
Vogue India

What I'm About: Introducing Myself

So, this blog is an outlet for me to express my ideas on a topic I love: all things bridal and South Asian. I have always loved bridal fashion and one of my favourite things is dressing a bride for her wedding day. I am convinced that from the moment she announces her engagement, a bride radiates an inner beauty that only comes with that special time. The excitement of a new life, love and happiness brings out her best. That's what's so exciting to me about bridal fashion, that it's about a woman at her most beautiful, from the inside out.

As an Indian/Pakistani, I am truly in love with my culture and always look for ways to fuse it into my style of dressing. As far as I've seen, no matter how she dresses in her everyday life, every Indian or Pakistani girl wants to wear South Asian fashion on her wedding day. While there are loads of blogs out there devoted to the best of white wedding dresses and their fashions, there just aren't many beauty resources out there that are exclusively for the South Asian bride. Hence this blog. I hope you enjoy your visit to my site.

Real Bride: Index

Pearls and Silk from Shaima al-Khalili:
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/02/real-bride-pearls-and-silk.html

Simple, but Sweet from Forever and Ever Photography:
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/real-bride-simple-but-sweet-part-i.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/real-bride-simple-but-sweet-part-ii.html

The Inspired Bride: Index

Chinatown Bride:
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/inspired-bride-chinatown.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/designs-on-love-chinatown.html

Kareena Kapoor Magazine Cover:
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/inspired-bride-kareena-kapoor-magazine.html

Peacock Bride:
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/inspired-bride-peacock-motif.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/color-theory-peacock-motif.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/hair-design-peacock-motif.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/designs-on-love-henna-inspirations-for.html

Retro Bride:
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/inspired-bride-retro-bollywood.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/tricks-of-trade-retro-bollywood.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/designs-on-love-retro-bollywood.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/02/hair-design-retro-bride.html

Sweet Modesty:
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/01/inspired-bride-sweet-modesty.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/02/hair-design-sweet-modesty.html
http://www.aainabridal.com/2010/02/tricks-of-trade-sweet-modesty.html