The Perks of Custom Made Dresses for the Brides and Bridesmaids



In the world of weddings, when brides deliberate bridesmaid dresses for their big day, a common thing is for them to automatically think of well known and big name designers. Although this is a valid option, it is ultimately an expensive one.

Picking a unified selection of dresses for a number of women can be a daunting task, every woman is going to be a different shape, size and personality. This is where customisation comes in, aswell as customised the sizes of each bridesmaid dress to suit the individual, you can also keep and certain theme running through the dresses.

By choosing lesser known brands when selecting bridesmaid dresses it can not only mean you save precious pennies, but also be exposed to more unique styles and designs than those available on the market.

For example, selecting styles from Indian designers, like those offered by Strand of Silk, ensures that dresses can be customised to suit the needs and wants of both the bride and the bridesmaids, tailored to a unified look, yet do not cost a fortune.

Aswell as bridesmaid dresses, when it comes to the bride, nothing can bring out their best more than customised wedding dresses that not only fits flawlessly, but enhance their assets and replicate their own unique personality.

This style of customised wedding dress from a lesser known brand can still combine the desired high-end luxury of a designer gown but with the practicality a of ready-to-wear bridal dress that is tailored to the individual perfectly.

Strand of Silk's made-to-measure line runs through the heritage based pieces designed by their selection of contemporary designers. Discover Indian fashion!





The Age Old Trends of Baroque and Brocade within Indian Fashion Design


The baroque art movement has persisted for over two centuries and still popular to this day all over the world. The Baroque technique refers back to a significant era when art was portrayed in its most beautiful and theatrical glory.

The enthusiastic and dramatic Baroque style first began in Italy and from them influenced a variety of countries around the world. English fashion designers discovered their new ideas in traditional books about Continental ornaments. A unique sense of drama and a distinctive ornate style characterise the technique that is Baroque. Within the decade in which this trend first became popular Interiors were lavish with rich velvets and highly embellished furnishings teamed with patterned wood.

The Age Old Trend of Brocade | Baroque Furniture


In relation to this, within Indian techniques and design, the technique of brocade within Indian fashion design is extremely popular and similar in aesthetic. The process begins with a simple pencilled design, it is then transferred onto a larger sheet of paper that shows magnified detail of the weft colours. Tanchoi fabric is used to produce Tanchoi sarees, which was first introduced to Varanasi in the early 20th century.

The Age Old Trend of Brocade | Brocade Detail


Indian Designer Rohit Bal has showcased a number of stunning collections, which feature brocade throughout a number of the garment designs. Rohit’s signature stunning needlework and traditional silhouettes are used, created garments such as floor sweeping anarkalis with gorgeous and extremely traditional brocade detailing. Proving that the trend is still very much in tact after all theses years, especially within Indian fashion design. 

The Age Old Trend of Brocade | Rohit Bal Runway


Current popular bridal trends were seem to be swarming the runways showcased rich velvet textures, chandleries, and heavily textured brocades, teamed with luxurious silks and delicate embroidery which definitely ruled the ramps.

While a number of designers are innovating their Indian fashion design style, and brides are now prepared to experiment more quirky and vintage styles such as brocade, silhouettes that are ultimately overshadowing bridal trends are a blend of both old trend and charm teamed with contemporary styling.

Sources: Wedding Sutra, Strand of Silk, Modern Urban Living



Tarun Tahiliani Bridal Couture Insight

Tarun Tahiliani first launched his design studio in 1990, which has now lead to an extremely popular career in fashion design. His distinguishing signature style has since developed as a combination of intricate textile detail, sophisticated luxury, and extremely detailed tailoring.

The Tarun Tahiliani Design Studio creates unique couture, diffusion and prêt-a-porter, which are all very traditionally Indian in their sensibility, but international and contemporary in their appeal.

The rich heritage of the garments is reinvented as modern and on trend high fashion through the mastermind of traditional Indian craftsmanship, with the finest of Indian textiles; along with detailed Italian pattern cutting and new hi-tech technologies, such as digital textiles printing. His unique and beautiful combination of historical lavishness and innovative contemporary chic also lend themselves to Indian couture.

Tarun Tahiliani Bridal Couture Insight | Bridal Fashion Week Runway

Tahiliani, who graduated with a degree in Business Management from the Wharton School of Business, then gained an associate degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. He then gained the status of the first Indian fashion designer to be requested to showcase his designs at Milan Fashion Week.

The Tarun Tahiliani brand sets out to produce the definitive "India Modern": Combining Indias most loved traditional techniques with todays current fashion trends and innovations such as western cuts, construction and finish whilst being crafted with Indian heritage and craftsmanship.

Tarun Tahiliani's new stunning couture collection embodies these elements by borrowing from India's rich and popular cultural roots, drama, and complexity and infuses it with subtleness paired with a fun playfulness.

His newest collection consists of a burst of shimmering gold, soft hues of pastel tones and a distinctive whimsical bubbliness that is suggestive of a past era of charisma and elegance. Tarun Tahilani's key purpose within his collections is to create beautiful couture that preserves distinguishing Indian crafts, whilst investigating visions of sparkling crystals that reflects emotions for beautiful brides to be.

Tarun Tahiliani Bridal Couture Insight | Bridal Fashion Week Runway

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Abraham & Thakore: A Success Story


Abraham & Thakore is now one of India's most successful and valued brand for fashion, accessories and even home textile products. This unique design label was initially established by David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, both graduates of the National Institute of Design.

Each Abraham & Thakore collection explores an innovative modern design voice whilst also focusing on the rich cultural and traditional vocabulary of Indian design and craft. The design sensibility is low key yet highly distinctive, with a strong respect for material, form and craft. A&T reiterates the belief that real luxury lies in specially crafted product in limited numbers of high quality.

Abraham & Thakore have never simply followed current trends, but approached then in innovative and quirky way, making their own trends along the way. The stylish designer duo have always made up their own fashion rules, sticking to their own personal idea of stylish contemporary Indian fashion with a touch of culture.

Abraham & Thakore Catwalk


For one of their campaigns the quirky designer duo joined forces with well known Banarasi silk leader Ekaya, for a beautiful collection fashioned from hand-crafted brocade in striking tones of bright pink, saffron, bronze and vermillion. The collection was extremely sophisticated in its approach; the garments were created to challenge the current ample Indian silhouettes into more subtle and stylised western proportions. While the modernist styling of the collections offered an interesting angle, the definite standout garment in the collection was decidedly more traditionalist – a stunning liquid gold sari with matching blouse.

Abraham & Thakore Catwalk


Other collections by Abraham & Thakore, which are presented each season, represent the extremely modern collaboration between fashion and lifestyle, with an undeniable unifying vision for the way the contemporary urban consumer dresses and lives - whether in New Delhi, London or Tokyo. Each season both the fashion and home textile collections are showcased to high-end international buyers in prestigious trade salons in Paris. In India, the collection is presented biannually at the India Fashion Week, New Delhi.

Abraham & Thakore Catwalk

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Bridal Indian Jewellery and Top Bridal Trends


Bridal Indian Jewellery is an extremely significant and integral part of the styling and appearance of the Indian bride on her big day. Essentially the bridal look is not actually considered to be complete unless the bride to be is showcasing every piece of jewellery that is intended and chosen for her. 

Traditionally, within most Indian weddings, the bride wears a variety of statement gold bridal Indian jewellery, similar to how every country has its own bridal trends. Among these countries, Indian weddings are widely considered the most glamorous.

The significant occurrence of marriage is an extremely special one for most people. In India, it is considered to be a very sacred and special bond. An Indian woman considers the day of her marriage to be the most important and biggest day in her life. To make this special day perfect, arrangements go on for a number of months within the Indian households. Bridal Indian Jewellery plays an extremely important role within Indian weddings; the Indian bride is normally decorated from head to toe in gorgeous bridal jewellery that accompaniments both her attire and personality.



On par with Bridal Indian Jewellery, bridal attire trends are always changing, and brides often strive to be at the head of their game when it comes to following the top and most luxurious trends, here are our top bridal trends from the most recent Indian Bridal Fashion Week, that stood out to us as being one of the best we've seen so far!

First is rich colours and Mirror work. Designer Suneet Varma was specifically inspired by the rich coloured hand-painted and crafted architecture of ‘Shekhawati’, a well known region in Rajasthan. His collection consisted of vibrant reds and deep fuchsia, perfect for a bride looking to turn heads. Kangana Ranaut stole the show in a deep red coloured saree, heavily embroidered and every inch of glamorous.


Next is the unique colour trend, and the colour of choice is blue. Funnily enough blue is an unusual choice for bridal wear, but it looks beautiful for more reasons than one. To get the most out of this unusual tone trend, add contrasting colours such as reds, oranges, maroons, and a touch of gold to accomplish a opulent look just like the one showcased by Ashima Leena's Jashn Bridal Collection. Her colourful bodice was an instant hit for it’s unique colour contrast.


Last but not least is the Cape trend, it would be fair to state that Sonam Kapoor was the first person introduce this trend when she wore a unique cape over her saree at Cannes Film Festival. But most recently, popular designer Jyotsna Tiwari paired a stunning sheer cape over a beautifully structured gown that made it look all that more special!



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Manish Malhotra - A Success Story


Indian designer Manish Malhotra is one of India’s most well-known and loved fashion designers. But not only does he create stunning garments for Bollywood’s most important and loved names but has also designed for a number of world famous Hollywood stars, such as actress Reese Witherspoon and even supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. Manish is well known world wide for the creation of extravagant and luxury garments with a distinctive traditional Indian style with the use of colour storytelling and glamorous and intricate craftsmanship.

Manish was born in Mumbai, and his swift journey to the top of the fashion industry has ultimately been one of a kind. From his characteristic love for movies, glamour and unique colour to forming an extremely niche category for himself as a top Bollywood stylist/Costume Designer. He is now one of the most well know and influential designer’s in the country, he has without a doubt created an unique pathway to success.

As a self-taught designer, Indian designer Manish’s career first started with a small Mumbai-based boutique. From that moment he chased his dream to be a Costume designer for the top movies. He initiated ‘styling’ in Bollywood as a whole as we now know it today, a visionary that involved not only the creation of the clothing but the development of the character and the aspect of working on each fragment of the look.

Manish Malhotra's imaginative outfits and garments always attract applause from the audience at Lakme Fashion Week, but his most recent cocktail dress collection for the current year's Winter/Festive Season fashion week hosted in Mumbai was all the more incredible and jaw-dropping. We saw a variety of shimmery, beautiful and breath-taking ensembles of couture Indian attire from the Indian designer including unique lehengas, sarees, and fusion outfits.

Manish Malhortra: A Success Story | Lakme Fashion Week Catwalk


Staying very true to his glossy theme, Manish designed his whole collection around shimmering fabrics and dreamy rich colours.

Manish Malhortra: A Success Story | Lakme Fashion Week Catwalk

As the saree develops as more and more globalised as a fashion statement, Indian designer Malhotra used its elegance, detail and charm to design beautifully flowing skirts – doubling up the traditional Indian garment into a stunning ball gown that glides across the room.

Manish Malhortra: A Success Story | Lakme Fashion Week Catwalk

The fashion week festivities wouldn't be completed without some breath-taking and unique lehengas, created from shimmering silver fabrica and embroidered with gorgeous pearl coloured beads! Manish Malhotra's designs are known to feature heavy materials and borders in line with a graceful and royal image.

Cocktail Dresses to Make you Look Hotter than Summer!

Summer? What a bummer!

That is the reaction most of us have, as soon as the temperatures rise up. The month of May usually spells ‘dismay’ for many fashion enthusiasts, as it means no more long flowing dresses, no more dark shades to camouflage those love handles, no more heavy embroideries, and absolutely no layers! In short, it’s time to bid adieu to flattering cocktail dresses, right? Wrong! Summers are the best time to give the ‘Safe Dressing’ a break and bring the funky on! Show the world your fun side,
and be the belle of any event with these super stylish summer cocktail dresses.

Maxi dress:

For all the ladies with an undying love for long flowy dresses, MAXI is the way to go. Initially deemed as more of a comfort wear, these dresses today have become one of the classiest summer cocktail dresses. If you’re tall, you can easily pull off a Maxi dress, however, make sure that the dress compliments your figure instead of giving you a straight, oblong silhouette. This can be easily done by adding a belt at the waist line, which favourably enhances your body. Also, subtle jewellery, such as a long chain with a statement pendant, single or double bracelets, arm jewellery etc can add to the appeal of your outfit.



Strapless:

It’s time to do away with sleeves, and flaunt those shoulders! As glamorous as these dresses are, be sure to choose the right neckline.  Scoop, V-neck , square or sweetheart cuts tend to look good on almost every body type and size. 

v-neck    

sweetheart neckline
                                                                            

The Little Black Dress:

Running late for a party, and have no time to decide what to wear? It’s the Little Black Dress to the rescue! If there’s anything as flawless as a pair of blue jeans and white shirt combo, it’s the LBD. If you decide to go for a minimal classy look, just dab on some lip-gloss and mascara, and voila, the party has a head turner! If you wish to accessorize, go in for gold or silver jewellery, as it will more than compliment this evergreen summer cocktail dress.


Faux wrap:

Want to go in for a casual yet elegant summer cocktail dress? The faux wrap is your best bet. If worn right, the faux wrap can not only be super flattering, but can even help you minimize your problem areas! Women with full-figures can go in for shades like turquoise, purple and red as these aim to complement rather than highlight a curvy body. The way a faux wrap drapes around the body, helps create a feminine silhouette.



Vintage style dresses:

If there’s a summer cocktail dress that favours every type of figure, it is the Vintage dress. These full-formed frocks not only feature a fit and flared shape but can also be paired with a wide belt that further accentuates  the smallest part of your midsection,  that is the waist. Part modern, part retro, this ladylike dress will have you looking and feeling as graceful as a princess. This dress can be paired with a pair of matching pumps to add a modern edge. This chic summer cocktail dress proves beyond doubt that old sure is gold!


Shift dress:

This type of summer cocktail dress lacks detailed shaping. They can be plain or feature A-line skirts and are usually sleeveless. However, the generous cut of the dress in addition to the lack of detail, has a tendency to make the wearer look frumpy, hence several factors should be considered when choosing the right shift dress. In addition to this, the right accessories can be used to draw the attention away from problem areas and turn a shift dress into something spectacular. One of the reasons shift dresses are a hot favourite among women is the shear versatility of the garment. Be it an office get-together or a dinner party, a shift dress is sure to shift all gazes on to you!
 



Sheath dress:

Contrary to the Shift Dress, a Sheath Dress is designed to fit the body intimately, and is a relatively unadorned summer cocktail dress. Since it has a close-fitting shape that encases the body, it is important to ensure that the back slit/back pleat keeps it walkable. In this type of summer cocktail dress, the major focal point is the waist, hence accessorizing with a belt serves to add extra definition.



Peplum:

A peplum dress is a relatively newer trend in summer cocktail dresses that is rapidly gaining popularity, owing to its commendable ability to redefine your natural body shape into the ideal hourglass shape. The peplum attracts attention away from problematic areas such as hips and gives the illusion of a slender waist.


Floral:

This cocktail dress is hands down a summer must-have!  Not only do these perky dresses reflect playfulness, but at the same time, exude femininity. While accessorising, keep the bling to a minimum, as you do not want your jewellery to compete with the much obvious floral pattern of the dress. Not only are these dresses apt for any morning/afternoon event, these floral frocks are also perfect summer cocktail dresses for any evening soiree. Who knew, beating the heat could be so glamorous!