Luxurious & Regal

Those rich lehengas and fancy red carpet suits worn by celebrities look straight out of a regal tale, but are very much tailored by today’s designers. Centuries later, the favourite fabric of princes continues to steal hearts.

It was recently flaunted by Isha Ambani, who chose a red velvet lehenga by Sabyasachi for her reception; Mira Rajput, who opted for a wine coloured velvet lehenga by Anita Dogre; Kendal Jenner, who was spotted in a golden velvet playsuit and Ranveer Singh, who donned a black velvet tuxedo at his 

Bollywood reception. We spoke to Jaipur-based fashion bloggers and designers to know how it’s making inroads in the city.

Winter & velvet

Winter is the perfect time to carry velvet, way better than a sheer fabric, believes Jaipur-based fashion designer, Pallavi Jaipur. “Velvet is a material that has character and many specifications to it; you don’t have to do much to it. However, if you add any embellishments, it will only look better,” she says. “We have been doing a lot with velvet —" from blouses, sharara pants, stoles to complete outfits. It looks royal and a luxurious quality of velvet is also available these days. You can use it for flowy garments, as stiff fabric, or structure it to mould it the way you want. The material just decks up the entire outfit,” she adds.

Luxury, redefined

Velvet not only gives a luxurious feel but also has a high street fashion vibe. “Velvet is by far one of my most favourite fabric trends. Velvet adds regal depth to go-to colours like black, burgundy and red, which is why velvet dresses look so flattering on every body type. Velvet could be included in the wardrobe by wearing it as a whole for evening wear, or by pairing it with denims and skirts. Velvet also looks super adorable when included in Indian ethnic wardrobe. Let a velvet dress take centre stage by keeping accessories simple,” asserts Chitrangi Sharma, fashion blogger.

Dress of the royals

Velvet is the fabric of royals and a makes for a flawless combination of regality and flair. “The material is proving to be more versatile than ever before as it has now entered the men’s fashion domain. Men in velvet suits are sure to attract attention. The market is flooded with coats, suits and tuxedos in this plush fabric,” shares Ranawat, fashion blogger and social media influencer. “It’s being used in Nehru jackets, achkans or for detailing like pocket squares. You can just use the material for very different kind of garments,” adds Pallavi.