The one big advantage of having an elder sister is that you learn from the mistakes made during her wedding. My sister got married 5 years ago, and what I realized was that she never ever wore the 11 trousseau sarees we spent a fortune on! They were kept in a suitcase for ages until we both decided to get kurtas and cushion covers made out of them!
When it came to my wedding, I was clear that I’d only buy stuff that was absolutely necessary, and I wanted a good variety of colours and styles. I also did not want anything too heavy or blingy because that’s something I absolutely hate. Plus, I had to keep the number of outfits on the low end because with every new festival and shaadi comes newer styles and designs… I did not want to be stuck with old-fashioned stuff!
My first stop was Chandni Chowk. It was a trip we took to buy sarees for our relatives but I also ended up picking my 3 and only sarees for the trousseau. The first was a lime yellow saree with subtle gota patti work. Gota patti was really ‘in’ then, and this one made for a great choice for day wear. The second one was a beige saree with stone embellishments, and the third a baby pink saree with light embroidery to wear for various upcoming weddings. And in the last 2 years of my marriage, I’ve only worn one of them once!
Also read: #FashionDiaries: 3 Days To The Shaadi & My Lehenga Didn’t Fit!
As far as suits go, I knew I would still get a lot of occasions to wear them. I headed straight to the quaint little village called Shahpur Jat – a hub of designer boutiques and a must visit for every bride-to-be. Abhinav Mishra was working on my wedding day outfit and he even designed 3 gorgeous anarkalis in maroon, white and pista green for my trousseau. Anarkalis are evergreen and while I went for minimal work, the quality of the fabric is what I paid a lot of attention to. With Indian wear it’s essential to invest in quality fabric as it determines the final look and the flow of the ghera. Also, Abhinav Mishra is known for his collection of absolutely gorgeous dupattas and I loved each one of them! I also picked up 2-3 straight suits from the wedding exhibitions we’d been so religiously attending. One with palazzos in fuschia pink, a green achkan, and a royal blue jacket suit with pants. I did spend generously on my suits and I was glad to have a variety of styles and colours in my trousseau.
Lastly, I picked up a floral crop top and skirt set as I knew I had a lot of first birthday celebrations coming up in the family… And you don’t want to dress over the top for them! This too was from a boutique in Shahpur Jat, though I can’t recall the name. Also, for my sangeet outfit, I had Abhinav design two blouses to go with the lehenga. While one was all heavy and blingy, the other one was a plain blouse in a subtle colour for pairing with the lehenga later.
And that was that. Apart from the sarees, I’ve used every item from my trousseau a couple of times already. And this wedding season I am going to get myself some fresh new outfits with zero regrets. I did not buy jewellery unnecessary to match the suits or heels to go with the sarees. I had enough in my collection already and preferred to pick up accessories and footwear as and when I found something great… And not just because I was getting married!
Also read: #FashionDiaries: I Wasn’t Allowed To Pick My Own Sagaai Outfit
My only advice to brides-to-be is to keep it real. It’s not the last time you’re getting to shop! Buy just a couple of outfits that you think you’ll need in the coming year. Keep your personal style in mind and do keep a tab on the colours and styles you choose. Also, I got married during the winters, and did invest in a couple of great overcoats and jackets for my trousseau. And trust me, you’ll want fabulous everyday wear more than anything else. So, don’t stress out, enjoy the shopping and buy smart.
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