Tarun Tahiliani...

Tarun Tahilianis brand is synonymous with the concept of the modern Indian Bride , blending Indian heritage with western silhouettes. His singular aesthetic vision fuses western notions of cut and construct with the finish and work so ingrained within our Indian heritage. Tarun's work treads the fine line between traditional and modern and I think this is the reason so many brides resonate with his vision. His perspective on bridal wear is so unique and clear you cannot confuse it with anybody else's - he is nothing short of a creative mastermind when it comes to understanding how to dress the female form. 

Signature Feature

Crystal Embroidery: Admittedly I'm, not a huge fan of crystals or stone work, but if I was ever going to be tempted it would a Tarun Tahiliani creation - believe me I was tempted when I was in Delhi at his DLF Emporio store, this AMAZING dusky blue saree was calling out to me and has haunted me ever since! Tarun does crystal work like no other, he understands how to use crystals as a defining feature and highlight, which when you start looking many people don't...

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Hello Again!!!

One of my favourite wedding blogs 'The Delhi Bride' recently wrote a post called 'I think I will call this part - acceptance' , a post dedicated to accepting what had become of this infamous writers block and almost chore like feeling, now I have to admit I completely resonated with this post, unlike the Delhi bride I am not am not a writer by nature, I'm law graduate who opened up her own business but who dreams big of opening her own bridal venture, so this blog to me was always a way of finding and reaching out to that base of people who loved what I did - weddings and even more so Indian Designer Bridal wear. 

Now I should explain that I'm not short of ideas of what I want to talk about here on this blog but it all seems to have got a bit lost, I would start to write a post then someone would unceremoniously walk into my room or I would get distracted but something and then the in comes the writers block, and then nothing sounds right anymore or you can't seem to string two words together let alone a sentence! 

So now with a new year comes a new mindset, over this break I've figured out what exactly I want this blog to be, I know now how I want to help all you brides to be out there, I'm sure in a previous life I was one hell of a shaadi planner because I'm packed full of ideas and most importantly I'm a woman on a mission, I want to change the face of weddings here in the UK, I refuse to be resigned to the fact that we will forever be at least a decade behind our family in the east,  I  instead want us to expand our horizons and educate our choices, and most importantly explore the true beauty of our cultures, heritages and traditions because they are so rich and decadent that it would be such a waste otherwise! 

So stay tuned, there's a post following soon!!

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Ghoonghat's - A New Bridal Trend?

It's not always as simple as just choosing your outfit, these days once you've done the complicated part and chosen your wedding outfit you've got think about all the other things to go with it like accessories and  all the different styling options, for example do I or don't I like Pasa's and Naths? - I mean before today you've never really had to consider or needed an opinion on them so how are you suddenly expected to have one now!

And so I suppose why on earth am I  asking you your thoughts on Ghoonghat's (also known as Jhund's)? But here I am  asking you anyway?! I should probably start with telling you what one is just in case you have no idea what one is...A Goonghat is in its most basic definition a veil, but instead of a veil in the traditional sense of the word as you might wear one with a white wedding gown, this is the desi version so basically your dupatta is draped to form the veil aspect of your outfit

If I'm honest I don't see to many on brides these days and I wonder if its one of these things that is better left in its heyday than on modern day brides, my mother who of course is of the traditional school 'loves' them, she herself wore one on her wedding day all those years ago and I have to say that I  can personally see why they were a big thing back then and I've inherited my mum's love for them! I think they're so unusual and look so traditional and styled with touches of modernness can look incredible on a bride. When I have seen brides wear one they're always styled so beautifully, they have either a soft net, georgette or even chiffon dupatta which semi transparent and have lowered over their faces to create a veil.

I do have to say though that I strongly dislike the heavy opaque style ghoonghats which you can't see the bride through! To me it borders on the side of being toooo traditional and really what the point of have all that stunning makeup applied and hair styled if your just going to cover it all up! Plus it majorly hides all those stunning accessories that it took hours to curate and select... A close cousin of mine wore this opaque style of ghoonghat with a Salwar suit on her wedding day  about a year and half ago, I later asked her why she wore a ghoonghat and she told me it was because she was soooo nervous!... this particular style to me is a complete no no though, I just can't see how it looks right and just seems more hap-hazardous than anything, I'd be more likely to trip up on myself whilst doing my pheras!

If you've not considered one before then maybe give it a small moments thought and ask yourself 'what do I think?' Do you think it would look right with your wedding outfit? I would personally love to see more and more brides wearing them on their big days, if I've still not managed to completely sell you - take a look through my scrapbook of pictures and the short video of lovely couple by the name of Ekjot and Harris Rafiq on their wedding where the bride wore a beautiful ghoonghat (around the 3 minute mark in particular)!

Credit: Youtube: Ekjot & Harris Rafiq's lovely wedding...

   

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Delhi Bridal Shopping...

Now that you've selected your shopping city of choice, your probably wondering how on earth your going to even know where to start shopping once your there, because the last thing your going to want to do is waste time and get messed around! You need to have an action plan so to speak, so like the post about Mumbai vs Delhi: I've done a lot of research and culminated a whole lot of information to try and give you the best advise on the local hotspots that are popular and the best places to visit for shopping.

Now I'm going to start with Delhi & Chandni Chowk seen as there's a whole ton of great information to share with you!

Delhi: 

• Frontier Raas in South Extension 
• Lots of Bridal Bloggers have recommend this store for its great diversity and wide range of options, they have everything from swaroski encrusted lehengas to pieces with Gota, Kundan etc...
• They also have a lot of designer look a likes or outifts in the style of certain designers so if you have one in mind you may find they have similar piece at a quarter of the price tag! 
• Being from the UK, I can say that I like to go by recommendation and reputation when shopping for something important and this store is certainly in the running for the most reputable, the amount of people I know who shop in the main Bazaar store in Karol Bagh from the UK is endless so for me this a huge bonus point 
• There is a difference between Frontier Bazaar and Frontier Raas- Frontier Raas I believe focuses more on Bridal Wear 
• Now prices are varied but most brides who have shopped here say that they start from around £600 - £800 mark
• Now whilst ploughing through endless bridal accounts of people shopping here, I noticed that a few said that they had to act 'serious' so to speak about buying their outfit from here so that the sales assistants would start taking them more seriously and start showing  the 'wow' outfits...but all in all most brides have found there is some great finds to be had here...    
• Frontier Bazaar in Karol Bagh
• Now this is the main bazaar store as I'll call it, theres also a branch in Punjab Phawgara, this is a good store for a little bit of everything
• Personally I like this store, I've shopped here and know that theres a great selection of saris, lehengas and suits
• I would recommend this store for mostly Trosseau shopping as there is a great varied selection of work and designs 
• Prices are also pretty reasonable, I managed to pick up some heavy Sequin encrusted saris in a beautiful soft net nude colour for around £110 so I 'd say price wise most things start from around £100+ 
• Dolly J in Defence Colony
• I've read a lot about this store and its been given some high recommendations 
• Price wise you can find some great stuff for around £350 plus 
• They have a really unique and individual collections and many have said they've found some really amazing outfits here so it definitely worth a visit...

Chandni Chowk:

• Om Prakash Jawahar Lal 
• To say theres a lot about this store on the net is an understatement, countless brides have not only recommended this store but have found their dream outfit here
• Now don't be fooled by the samples they can be a little off putting as they're slightly tatty in appearance when looking at their sample but don't worry your outfit will be made new 
• Many brides have praised them for their great variety and price wise they're right on the mark
• They also have pieces in the style of a lot of big designers be it Sabya, Manish or Tarun if you've got a look in mind go right on ask them to show you pieces in that style 
• Also don't be put off by the bling you'll see you just  have to work through it all! 
• Now brides seem to split on whether or not they advise you to get outfits customised, so recount excellent results others not so great! But I think it really depends on what your having done, if for example your simply removing a few borders from the design (which is also a great way to keep down the price) then I would say - worry not. But if your changing huge amount of the design lets say the colour of the lehenga then I would say think about it long and hard because your risking a lot especially if like me they're's a slight language barrier (my hindi is okay/good but not great by any means)!
• Price wise they are right on point £400+ but most brides say that for a 'good' piece they range from £800+
• Asiana Couture
• A store that seems to be growing in popularity, brides report good quality garments and the price range is cheaper than Om Prakash 
• CTC Moti Nagar
• Lots and lots of crystal and stone encrusted Lehengas here so if bling is your thing then be sure to stop by here
• Prices can be varied depending on how heavy your outfit is but they range from £300+ 

Hopefully I've given you a great round up of all the best places to hit up on your shopping journey... 

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Bridal Shopping - Mumbai vs Delhi...

India is vast and large in its entirety so basically trying to narrow down where to shop as a visitor to the country is no minor task and unless you are a planner and researcher and are able to plan your trip down to a tee then its a hard task. I've trailed and trawled many weddings blogs that originated from brides to be in India and have come to some conclusions to help you decide where's best to shop and navigate once you decided which city your going to shop in.

Now for your Bridal Jora, there are two main cities that are most common destinations for shopping for your trousseau and outfit, Mumbai and Delhi. Now the question remains which is best? Having travelled and been to these cities many a times before, I can tell you for starters that they are both great cities to shop in, you'll find great pieces in either city, but for your wedding outfit, there are some things to consider!

Mumbai 

• Mumbai has a great selection of lighter designs of Lehengas and Wedding Outfits here
• You won't necessarily find a lot of selection in terms of heavier outfits so if your looking to find something with Tarun Tahiliani or Sabyasachi or JJ Valaya influences you won't necessarily find it here
• Brands such as Shehla Khan and Mumbai duo Jade by Monica and Karishma have flagship stores here, they house a selection of beautifully crafted garments, 
• If you have the chance I would definitely recommend visiting these stores for any additional Trousseau shopping, you really will find some great outfits in these stores
• There are a lot of lesser known brands and designers based in Mumbai with a wonderful selection of outfits
• Price wise Mumbai is of course a big city so expect big city prices, but in terms of comparing Delhi and Mumbai prices are pretty much the same

Delhi 

• Wide variety and selection of outfits available, you'll find a great range of heavier outfits here so if your looking for that rich and regal look, I really think Delhi's your city...
• If bling is your thing then Delhi also houses a lot of selection of outfits too..
• Chandhi Chowk: Now really navigating Chandhi Chowk is an almost daunting task and I will be dedicating a post to shopping here, because it really is worth a visit. Many upon many ladies have found there dream outfit here you really are going to the heart of India's Bridal Shopping secrets
• Delhi's Karol Bagh: great place for Trousseau shopping in my opinion 
• Stores like Frontier Raas, Frontier Bazaar are housed here, now being from the UK, I'm sure like many of your ladies out there have heard of this particular 'chain' store there's also another Frontier based in Phagwara (Punjab) so its a great place to head for a good selection of outfits, having shopped in the Karol Bagh, I can personally vouch for a good variety of clothes, I personally didn't love their ready made suits and anarkalis as they were a bit to blingy for my liking, but they housed a wonderful selection of unmade suits and saris so for Trousseau shopping its a great place to go - Warning though price wise they are a little high, I'm talking £100+ for most outfits, they also claim that they're 'fixed price' store but I always say that theres always room to haggle, NEVER fall for this line...
• Great Bridal Accessory variety, theres a lot of places to get accessories from in Delhi 
• You'll find a lot of places to get all your additional bits and bobs too that you need for your wedding, if your Punjabi, you'll find your a great Choora and Kaleera selection here and everything else that your parents will need for the wedding! 
• Opportunity to Haggle: especially if you heading to Chandhi Chowk (so ensured your armed with your best haggler!) in the bigger stores and designer stores prices will be the same as Mumbai.. 
•  Navigation - I've been to Delhi a number of times and still find it a little hard to navigate but of you have a list and details of where you want to hit then you'll be fine! 

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Sabyasachi - Bridal Designer...

When I decided to start this blog I wanted to reach out to as may brides to be as possible to help them in making decisions but also to help to introduce you guys to a variety of places to shop on your wedding journey. Here in the UK, information of the ins and out is scarce when brides head to India, and even if you know who and where you want to check out maybe from a snapshot you took of something you've seen on Pinterest or Instagram you still sometimes still feel confused as to where to even begin, so its ends up being completely inaccessible to so many! So hopefully through a serious of posts I will be introducing you to Indian Runway Designers who showcase bridal collections and the key places for you to be hitting when your on the search for your wedding outfit!

So we're going to start with a designer that I think deserves a slot on your shopping list. Now he is amongst the fashion elite in India, his talent is unquestionable and he sits alongside creative geniuses like Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna, Rohit Bal and JJ Valaya. He is fast growing a reputation for making many girls bridal dreams come true I am of course talking about Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

Sabyasachi is an infamous brand in India and his wedding collections are equally famous. He creates lehengas that are demurely stunning and timeless. Timelessness in a Bridal Lehenga/ Outfit is I think the one thing that should remain a priority when shopping for your lehenga, and I know you might be thinking - surely liking something then and there at that precise moment in time is how how you should decide you've found the one, but hear me out! 

You know when you go shopping, and you like something in the moment, its often a little daring and maybe not something you'd usually buy, its maybe a daring colour not usually in the spectrum you'd choose - but you do so anyway but when you get home and you look at it you think hmmmm.. your no longer if you like it sure so you keep in your wardrobe and lo and behold you end up not wearing it! You'll pull it out occasionally but now you just think what on earth was I thinking. That exact moment and that exact feeling should never be  felt when choosing your Wedding Jora, you should be able to pull it out in 5 or 10 years time and still be able to fall in love with it all over again, NOT think oh god what was I thinking or I wish I'd chosen something a little different! Sabya himself has feels that women when choosing their Lehenga fall into peer pressure of what is trendy at the time and forget to choose an outfit that is right for their body shape! 

Sabyasachi's designs favour classic work and styles, featuring work such as zardozi, resham, hand embroideries, thread work and appliqués he layers decedent fabrics such as rich royal velvets as his base leaving you wondering how on earth something so rich and opulent in design can look so understated in elegance and appearance. His work has an unquestionable old world charm that is both charming and refreshing in age where bridal fashion as become somewhat 'samey'. 

Now in terms of price, you have to be mindful of your budget, like most  designer brands there is a price tag attached to their work Sabya's designs range from £1,500+. Now if the budget you had mind was around this figure than Sabyasachi is a must see. This cost is defiantly relative, to what your buying, and you may even be thinking why on earth is it so high! But you have consider all of the  hand work that goes into these pieces, the hand looming and work that goes into these pieces they are not your 'off the shelve' pieces, each piece is carefully crafted and when you see his work close up you truly appreciate the depth of work gone into each and every piece! 

Even if his work is out of your budget, it still worth while taking a trip down to one of his stores to seek some wedding wisdom, you'll see a ton of different creations and ideas and you'll definitely take some inspiration with you! 

If your interested in hunting down  a Sabyasachi in India there's a short list below and some shots of his pieces and some pictures of 'real brides' who have donned Sabyasachi creations for their big day... 

Mumbai - Portfolio 52, 56, Dr. V.B. Gandhi Marg KalaGhoda Mumbai- 400023 Ph: (022) 22623335 Mobile: 9322263359 Email:sabyasachi.mumbai@gmail.com	Kolkata - Bridal Store 80/ 1 & 2 Topsia Road Kolkata – 700046 Ph: (033) 22852381 Mobile: 9830881375, 9836043953 Email: sabyasachibridalkol@gmail.com
Sabyasachi by Sabyasachi 3rd Floor, Upadrastha House, 48, Dr V.B. Gandhi Marg Kalaghoda Fort Mumbai- 400023 Ph: (022)22623365             Mobile: 9323263359 Email: sabyasachibysabyasachi@gmail.com	New Delhi - Carma H-5/11, Mehrauli Road, New Delhi- 110030 Ph: (011) 26644352 Mobile: 9810311155  Email:sabyasachi.carma@gmail.com

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