Bollywood Stars who Nailed the Navratri Look

You gotta love bollywood stars and the elaborate shows that the directors put up in movies. And one of the most colourful ones tends to be around the Gujarati festival of Navratri. What is Navratri you ask? And how to nail your look for the festival? Read on!

Navratri, as defined by wikipedia, "is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratrimeans 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Devi are worshipped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussehra" (also spelled Dasera). Navaratri is an important major festival and is celebrated all over India and Nepal. Diwali the festival of lights is celebrated twenty days after Dasera."

The festival is celebrated in gusto around India, but one of the endearing traditions is the Garba, which is a lot of fun and often portrayed in Bollywood movies. This is a colourful festival that involves a lot of dancing, so naturally all of us want to look our absolute best!

How do you dress for such an event? Let us look at Bollywood for some much needed inspiration and see how some movies and stars absolutely nailed their looks.

Who can forget Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and their famous grab routine on Dhol Baaje (I list all the videos at the end of the article). I dont like Aishwarya's style, but salman in his kutch mirror work waistcoat for me absolutely nails it. The style is quirky and yet a nod to the origins of garba in Gujarat.

Deepika and Ranveer in Ram Leela's famous grab scene. I think Ranveer's look is meh, but deepika looks stunning and has nailed it! The beautifully detailed blouse and the flowing skirt are perfect for the garba season. The colours and the freedom of movement are absolutely stunning and perfect!

Nimbooda was a cult classic again from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and Aishwarya had the perfect look. A nice vibrant colour and classic styling touches - this is perfect inspiration for a more traditional look that is going to impress. Note the jewellery and accessories - they complete the look in my opinion.

Gracy Singh in a very simple style from Lagaan. I particularly like this style because sometimes you just need to keep it simple so that you can easily dance the evening away without feeling like you are weighed down by 10 kg of accessories. The vibrant colour is important, and she absolutely nailed it.

What do you think? You Agree?

Videos for all the songs / movies listed above:

- Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje (Video Song) - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

- Nagada Sang Dhol - Full Song - Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-leela

- Nimbooda Nimbooda (Video Song) - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

- Radha Kaise Na Jale - Lagaan | Aamir Khan | Gracy Singh

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!

Searching for the Perfect Accessories for Your Indian Wedding Dresses Online

So you chose the perfect Indian wedding dress and need to accessories it properly? While an Indian bridal dress might glamorous enough to wear on its own, you do need the proper accessories to set it off. If you are looking for wedding accessories but are having no success, it’s time to head to the Internet. Shopping for your Indian wedding dress online might be a difficult decision, but buying accessories should not be!

Saree Pins

Not everyone picks a saree for their Indian wedding dress but if you choose to go with one then look for saree pins. Saree pins are delicate pieces of jewelry that add a nice elegant touch to the whole saree. Much like brooches, saree pins are found in a large variety of designs. While some saree pins are more traditional in design, some are also rather modern. Take a look at the large collection available online and see which one goes best with your saree.

Anklets and Toe Rings

While the feet of the bride are usually adorned with henna, an anklet can really make sure that you are perfectly accessorized from your head to your toes. Online stores often feature anklets and toe rings that will match your wedding dress perfectly. The large array of designs ensures that you can easily find any kind of anklet or toe ring that you might be looking for.

Bridal Head Gear

‘Bindis’ and ‘mang tikkas’ are the norm for an Indian bridal dress and if you are opting for one, make sure that it complements the overall outfit. Another thing to keep in mind is that it should not be too big for your forehead size. You don’t want it to look like a large pinpoint on your head. Bindis and ‘mang tikkas’ are also easily found online in a number of designs and at various prices. Whether you are looking for something ornamental and intricate or simple and delicate, searching online is the best bet.

Purses

Indian wedding dresses are incomplete without a little bejeweled purse with them. These can also be easily found online but they are usually offered from designers. A perfect Indian wedding purse should match the color of the dress, be small enough to carry in your hand yet large enough to carry some tissue wipes, some emergency makeup for touch ups and your phone. Many purses mention dimensions online too so make sure you pay attention to those figures and pick one that is petite yet roomy.

Shoes           

Often the most overlooked item on the list of accessories, do not opt for a pair of stilettos from your own collection. Shop online and pick one which goes with your dress and is comfortable to boot. If you want to wear heels, go for one which is not higher than 2 inches. Since Indian weddings are long affairs and you might be on your feet a lot, wearing stilettos will be a pain in your feet.

You can easily find all these accessories and more for your Indian wedding dresses, online. Just make sure that you order them in accordance to your wedding schedule and allow a few days for delivery purposes.

Indian Wedding Outfits for Your Wedding Season

November - January is a big wedding season in India where lots of couples decide to celebrate their union because of the Hindu auspicious dates.

For your special day below our selection of precious Indian wedding outfits, for him and for her.

Want more styles? Take a look at strandofsilk.com!

Time for Designer Kaftans on Strand of Silk!

It’s summertime! 

When the happy season comes there is nothing more appealing than a couple of designer kaftans to show off in your daily activities. This time we want to propose you a collection by Siddartha Tytler, inspired by Indian handwork techniques. Floral prints, ivory, gold, net fabrics make the outfit sensual and flowy at the same time.

No doubts you could choose these beautiful designer kaftans on Strand of Silk to add stylish pieces to your guard robe!

Love Is In The Air: Indian Wedding Outfits

Before falling in love with your future husband, you should fall in love with your bridal dress!

Indian wedding outfits are the perfect balance to be sophisticated, colourful and elegant at the same time.

To create your perfect outfit start choosing a main colour. Everything depends on the emotion you wish to feel during this special event: cream if you want to look graceful, blue for a bit of sophistication, yellow to be stylish.

 

To complete your Indian wedding outfit match your dress with the right shoes, bag and jewellery.

Discover chic collections at Strand of Silk.