NEW & NOW
NEW & NOW
Gen Z brides & grooms are rewriting the rules of wedding dressing, finds Anwesh Banerjee. Their MO? Blending tradition with bold individuality, colour & storytelling
When 24-year-old influencer Aaliyah Kashyap tied the knot in December 2024, she skipped the usual suspects for her wedding reception and turned up in a custom gold breastplate by Delhi-based label Roseroom by Isha Jajodia paired with an asymmetrical black skirt. With this one look, she broke many norms around bridal dressing in India. But the bride’s intention was never to be a rebel without a cause. “Aaliyah wanted to feel like herself—modern, confident and unafraid to push the envelope,” says her stylist Sheefa Gilani. “She was just being herself, and that’s very Gen Z.”
TAILORING TRADITIONS
Kashyap is not the only one. Many other brides of her generation too are pushing the boundaries of bridal wear to create their own new rules. Delhi based psychologist Anwesh Datta, who is due to get married at the end of this year, is set on wearing a black Banarasi sari for her wedding day. “I am tired of pastel lehengas. And black is my favourite colour. That it is considered a taboo for Indian brides doesn’t bother me,” says Datta. Anamika Khanna feels such sartorial confidence comes from Gen Z’s fearless sense of identity. “They don’t just wear fashion, they curate it by blending legacy with individuality to tell a story that’s uniquely theirs,” says the designer. “Every element, down to the tiniest accessory, reflects something intimate or quirky about the couple’s relationship,” adds creative director and stylist Rupangi Grover. In an age where social media and constant digital exposure can make experiences seem fleeting or diluted, these tangible, meaningful touches, “such as vows stitched into veils or custom charms on kaleeras, ground their celebrations and make for lasting memories,” Grover says.
MODERN HEIRLOOMS
While lehengas are here to stay, designers are noticing a quiet shift when it comes to Gen Z’s choice of silhouettes. “These brides are experimenting with draped skirts, capes and pre-stitched saris that blur the line between structure and flow,” says Khanna. “The sari is having a renaissance moment, but with a rebellious, new-gen spin,” she adds. Khushi Shah, creative director and co-founder of Banarasi silk and zari specialist label Shanti Banaras agrees. “These are brides who don’t care if they are the heaviest dressed at their own wedding or not. They are opting for saris as it’s a silhouette they identify with,” says Shah. And they are curious about palettes beyond pastels, ivory and sindoori red. Hues like rani pink, panna green, rich rust, stone grey and burnt gold are now reentering the conversation. Shah also finds that Gen Z brides are approaching zari and handloom silks with a level of intention that sets them apart. “While millennial brides are curious about the provenance of their weaves too, their younger counterparts are deeply invested in how it’s made, who made it, and why it matters?” she notes. They are also keen on co-creating these saris with weavers and designers to reflect their personal stories. “One bride even had her entire love story woven onto the body of her sari,” says Shah.
PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE
Blouses are not an afterthought for the Gen Z bride. It has become the real hero of bridal styling, according to Gilani. Sexy, structured and showstopping, they aren’t shying away from blouses that promise a bold statement. Think asymmetrical necklines, backless styles, dramatic bows, statement collars, sculpted bodices, metallic textures, sheer panels and jackets with shoulder pads. “These allow brides to bring a touch of their global lifestyles to their looks,” says Gilani. “It’s less about being traditionally feminine and more about feeling strong,” Gilani adds. Not sure how to style yours? Take inspiration from Gen Z celebrities like Khushi Kapoor and Ananya Panday who constantly experiment with their blouses, playing with a mix of demure and sexy styles depending on the mood and occasion.
IN STEP WITH THE BRIDE
The Gen Z groom isn’t far behind in his choices either. “The new-age groom is looking for silhouettes that are comfortable yet statement-worthy. While bandhgalas and sherwanis remain, we’re seeing more experimental drapes, asymmetrical kurtas and contemporary jackets,” says designer Abhinav Mishra. They are not leaving the sparkle just to their brides either. “There is a rise in demand for gota and mirror work from the grooms.” For Gen Z couples, weddings aren’t about following rules—they’re about flipping the script altogether. With statement blouses, story-laden saris and sherwanis that sparkle on their own terms, they’re fusing tradition with bold, personal style statements. And that’s anything but predictable.
