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For the bride to be

A beginner's guide to bridal fashion

LOOK AHEAD Divya Gurwara share her passion

The wedding season is on, and for brides to be it's time to update yourself on the latest looks. Divya Gurwara, CEO Bridal Asia, shares a few tips on the look for the season and the year. But first, Divya explains the change in the schedule of The Bridal Asia show 2007. "We saw that the charts showed the auspicious season for marriages has shifted a bit this year so, we decided to move the event up a bit from October. The event will now be held in January, around the festival of Lodhi. What better way to start the year?"

The look

If you are getting married in 2007, Divya suggests that the clothes in your trousseau should have a fitted form. The outfits remain the same — saris, lehangas and salwar kameez, but all of them should be well fitted. Straight cut lehangas or ones with the mermaid cut — fitted at the top and flowy at the bottom work well. South Indian brides should look beyond the Kanjeevarams , she says. "If you must wear your Kanchis, try to do something different with the way you wear your sari, or make different outfits with them."

Give your mom's Kanchi sari a new look by using gota and sitaras. Don't opt for crystals, a common trend that does nothing for you or the outfit, because the traditional look should be made contemporary, not flashy.

Time honoured colours like reds, maroons and magenta will remain alongside newer entrants like peach, canary yellow and sapphire blue. Ice cream colours, that is, darker versions of pastels are hot as well.

Despite being involved with the latest trends and interacting with designers who predict the year's trends, Divya confesses that she herself wore a `frumpy lehenga.' "But that was 17 years ago. I just picked up something from a store in Delhi."

Fit, set and go!

Fit and toned — that's Divya's mantra for all brides this year. To carry off the fitted look, you have to be in shape. Try to add a bit of sexiness in your outfit. "The look is also about showing a bit of skin. This doesn't necessarily mean wear a skimpy blouse and show some cleavage, but you can get a nice deep back blouse or a short, cap sleeved blouse." Make sure you have a well-scrubbed back! If you are a bit heavy, then she suggests that you drape, drape and drape.

Must haves

There are some saris that most women consider as must-haves for their trousseau. For Divya it's a Kanchi sari, a Benarsi sari and a Paithani. "Try to add 10 different types of saris to your collection. If budget is a constraint, make that five."

Also make sure you have the right accessories. Not only will they take you through your wedding, but for many more to come.

Accessories — mainly bags and shoes — in colours like gold, silver and copper or bronze, match almost any traditional outfit.

So make sure you have a good pair of shoes, sandals or chappals and even a matching bag, if possible, in two of these colours.

A good make up kit is another must-have in the trousseau. Jewellery for daywear will also take you a long way. After all, how often can you wear that Jadau set?

"For winter, if you have a nice shawl with the right bag, it's more than enough," Divya says.

RENUKA VIJAY KUMAR

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