More celebrity brides are ditching traditional white wedding gowns and opting for something new. Will Indian brides follow suit?
When actress Reese Witherspoon opted for a blush gown with a lace corset bodice and A-line skirt for her wedding to producer Jim Toth in 2011, most thought that since it was her second wedding, going for a non-white gown made sense. However, recently a number of Hollywood stars have been picking non-traditional wedding dress colours.
Jessica Biel married Justin Timberlake in a voluminous petal-pink tiered strapless Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown, while Anne Hathaway wed beau Adam Shulman in a custom pink Valentino gown late last year too. Amber Tamblyn chose a unique mustard yellow dress for her big day, while Melissa Gilbert opted for a striking red dress that conveyed “passion, fire, love” for her April wedding. Perhaps the most unusual though, is 90210 star Shenae Grimes who flaunted a multi-layered Vera Wang gown in varying shades of black and grey.
STICKING TO TRADITION
Designer Wendell Rodricks says he doesn’t see this trend becoming popular here. “It is a fact that brides are opting for pale blush pink or sashes in all colours from black to red.
But frankly the trend will not catch on in India as Indian Christian brides, at the outer limit, will go for ivory. Western trends will not affect Indian sensibilities and tradition when it comes to a bridal dress. They still go by the custom that a bride should be in white,” he explains.
KEEN TO EXPERIMENT
Designers Falguni and Shane Peacock say they see a change in the colours women are choosing for their wedding gown. “Right now we are designing LA Tattoo artist Kat Von D’s wedding gown where instead of white, we are working with teals, blues and deep violet ombre gradients. Even regular clients are experimenting with gold, beige or lighter shades of red for the big day,” they say, adding, “Brides of today are confident, self empowered women who know what they want. We saw Indian brides move away from the typical red lehenga for the big day and Christian brides seem to be doing the same.”
MIX AND MATCH
Very few brides go for pure white says designer James Ferreira as it doesn’t suit Indian skin tones. “Brides like to add a hint of colour to their gown — be it pale pink or blue, or even an ice blue cloak on a white gown. In fact, the demand is for something they can wear later. So instead of a single gown they prefer an ensemble of 2-3 pieces, a choli or a skirt that can be worn after the big day as well,” he says. Also, communities borrow from each other with Hindu brides wanting a gown for the reception and Christian ones wanting an off white ghagra choli.
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