Designer Lehenga: Budget Friendly Tips to Replicate the Look

Designer Lehenga: Budget Friendly Tips to Replicate the Look

So, it’s your school friend’s wedding and you have been invited. All your long lost school friends are invited and you are meeting them after a very long time. You have to look stunning to make that arrogant little boy you had a crush on at school come talk to you first, or maybe you want to show the school hottie girl that she has lost far behind in the race! Heck, you just want to look good and enjoy the night. But alas! Don’t have the kind of budget to buy fancy designer lehengas?? After all, it’s not your wedding or your dear siblings’! So this post is for all you ladies out there who want to flaunt the latest styles without poking a big hole in your pocket!

So, here you go! Your inspiration designer lehenga decoded!

So, here we go:

This is a Manish Malhotra lehenga. What’s interesting to note here, is that in the above combination, the lehenga, the choli and the dupatta, are all mismatched but still gather up the outfit beautifully.

For the lehenga:

1) Get a piece of tussar silk in a solid bold colour. Alternatively, if you can find a tussar silk saree which is plain in a solid colour with border, then it will be much easier. (provided, you are willing to sacrifice the saree for the lehenga)

2) If using a sari, the red border that you see in the picture can be alternated with the border of the sari. Otherwise, get a brocade border which is wide enough to your liking in a contrasting yet complimenting colour.

3) Remember, to stick to the colour pallet. Even when creating pieces that are as contrasting as the one shown above, you will notice that Manish Malhotra has kept the tone of the colours same. Warm toned colours are used. So, stick to borders with gold detailing when using a warm silk colour. If using cool toned colours, go with silver in the borders.

4) Similarly, the first border is gota Patti work and the third border is zari work on velvet material.

5) One more thing to observe is that the colour of the border deepens as we move towards the floor. So stick to arranging you borders from light to dark to achieve the look.

6) Intricate details to note: There is light gold flat piping done on both sides of the middle border. Secondly, a gota patti is sewed to finish the look above the first champagne coloured border and thirdly, at the very end of the last border, there is a golden bronze velvet border to complete the look.

7) So, In all ,there are 3 main big borders and 2 piping borders between the 3 main borders and 2 side borders to complete the look.

For the dupatta:

• The red of the dupatta has been picked to compliment the borders.
• 2 borders are used. Use the same borders that I have mentioned in the 6th point of the lehenga. The gota patti from the very top and the thin zari patti below the last border.
• Get badla work done on the dupatta. It is also known as makasih/makesh. (it is those little round polka dot kind of thing you see all over the dupatta. Get it done in gold or silver, as is you colour pallet)

The dots you see is badla work. Get it done from the embroidery wala.
• The dupatta material is chiffon.
• This dupatta will actually be very cheap to make, as the material is chiffon, you can get a plain white chiffon dupatta with badla work done. And all you will have to do is get it dyed in the colour you want and sew the borders. As simple as it goes.
• Extra touch: Latkans on the four corners of the dupatta will jazz it up further.

For the blouse/choli:

• The blouse is a simple golden bronze brocade material blouse.
• Get it stitched in a style you like.
• The colours of the blouse are slightly deeper than those from the border. You can stick to the same colours as the borders if you want to play it safe.

P.S: If you want me to further continue with such inspiration decoded posts, do comment below and let me know.

Image Sources: 1, 2, 3

Bridal Outfits by Ritu Kumar
Bridal Outfits by Manish Malhotra
Top 8 Indian Bridal Wear from Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week A/W 2010
Indian Bridal and Wedding Wear
Indian Maharashtrian Bridal Special
Gold and Maroon Bridal Eye Makeup
23 Best Foundations for Indian Bridal Makeup
Outfit of the Day: Ritu Kumar Lehenga
The Bengali Bride – Wedding Rituals, Sarees and More
31 Ways to Wear Black and White Outfits
Bollywood Actresses in Sabyasachi Outfits
Bollywood Actresses in Ritu Kumar Outfits
Bollywood Actresses in Manish Malhotra Outfits