The wedding season is up and about, so it’s time to get our wardrobe right for the occasion. The bride being the centre of attention and reason for celebration is never in want of help and advice — right from what the colour of her lipstick should be, the size of her bindi to the jewellery she should wear, she’s got help at every step. So let’s move over to the other important person at the wedding (besides the groom, of course) — the bride’s best friend.
The best part of being a bridesmaid, according to celebrity stylist Nisha Kundnani, is that “she gets to be the second prettiest lady at the wedding!” Nisha would know best because she is the brain behind Bridelan, a wedding wardrobe consultancy.
A journalist-turned-stylist, who has worked her magic on stars such as Aamir Khan, his wife Kiran Rao, Anushka Sharma and many others, Nisha tells us what it takes to be a perfect bridesmaid.
What are the things to keep in mind while dressing up for your best friend’s wedding?
The bride’s best friend will also have all eyes equally on her so she should select outfits that are young, fun and bring out the best of her personality. She should be very distinctly dressed, whether choosing to sport a sexy choli or an unconventional colour.
How to make sure that a bridesmaid does not overshadow the bride?
By not selecting an outfit that is too coordinated with the bride’s. It should, in fact, be in stark contrast to that of both the bride and the groom. For example, if the bride is in red, the BFF can be in peach or a blush pink. If the bride is in a kanjeevaram sari, the friend can be in a lehenga-sari.
Considering that a bridesmaid has a lot of work to do, how can she also include practicality into her wardrobe?
The lighter and contemporary lehenga trends are meant for bridesmaids. She should stick to softer, flowy and easy-to-move-around fabrics, avoiding too structured or voluminous cancans inside lehengas or heavily embroidered lehenga-skirts. She can instead go for a heavily embellished choli or bustier. The traditional south Indian way of draping the dupatta over a lehenga has made a comeback and can be draped over straight pants, churidaars or even an A-line cut lehenga skirt. Her jewellery should be minimalistic but well-chosen and statement-making.
Were the bridesmaids you’ve worked with willing to experiment?
Most of them are fashion savvy and are willing to take risks. They are well-aware of trends. One of them wore a draped sari gown and made heads turn.
Look the second best
- The best friend of the bride should be dressed up but comfortable enough to be able to do
- She should be practically dressed but bring in glamour in the visuals at a wedding.
- Her jewellery should be a mix of traditional and modern. She can also opt for a minimalist look with just a nath, hathphool or bold necklaces.
