HERE COMES THE MODERN BRIDE
HERE COMES THE MODERN BRIDE
Couturier MANISH MALHOTRA speaks with EDITOR
RADHIKA BHALLA about his recent bridal couture showcase,
the blouse cuts he has created, and what the best way of selecting
the wedding outfit is.
When you’ve dressed literally every Bollywood bride—in reel and real life—you know just what a fabulous bridal collection should entail. That, you see, is the power of Manish Malhotra: experimental, flattering, and equally enthused about traditional craftsmanship as modern cuts and silhouettes.
At his recent Bridal Couture Show, Malhotra married his love for glamour with the unexpected—white ruffled elbow huggers styled with a sari, charcoal tones for the lehenga, black velvet salwar suits with organza for hair fasteners, and most unexpectedly, the turban trail. A treat for wedding fashion.
In an exclusive with Bridal Asia, Malhotra tells us about all that he considers essential and trending for the bride of today. “I strongly believe that the modern bride wants to move away from traditional colours…she’s attracted to lighter, calmer tones like ivory and blush pink,” he lets in. But Malhotra isn’t one to follow rules, as is most evident in the way he has reinvented himself over and over again. “A bride should go with whatever style and colour makes her the happiest. No matter how bright or simple her outfit may be, it’s her big day, and she should wear what gives her pure joy,” Malhotra adds.
His current collection is inspired by the modern bride and groom, with an instinct “to introduce a fresher palette and more confident silhouettes.” An army of 80 models presented a total of 105 bridal looks, from traditional lehenga sets with plunging necklines to cocktail-worthy encrusted blouses with long skirts. We must devote a moment to the construction of the blouse: some were like crop tops, others constructed with pearls on the sleeves, and there were even peplum tops and embellished jackets. Something for everyone.
“I played around with deeper necklines, lower backs, and some very refreshing cuts,” Malhotra divulges. “I wanted to work with a bunch of elements and create an array of blouses, ranging from statement-making to classic to sophisticated. Every blouse had its own story.
For the groom, a plain canvas of white and black was highlighted with intricate threadwork on achkans, moving towards more detailed pieces that still remain rooted in elegance. “ Each piece at the show has been painstakingly hand-embroidered with techniques such as zardozi, Kashmiri threadwork, my signature Taban, and others,” Malhotra shares. “I also stuck to a colour palette of navy blue, grey, oyster, ivory, oysters, rose pinks, and earthy tones.”
The highlight for the groom was the introduction of the Turban Trail—a sweeping fabric that added drama to the look. “I wanted to try different styles for menswear, so I introduced a whole new take on dramatic trails, Malhotra explains. Also wanting to experiment with metallic shine, the couturier incorporated metallic badla embroidery to the creations and detailed craftwork.
This year celebrated 18 years of Malhotra’s bridal couture, and along his journey, he has played with styles with a sense of joy and individuality. And that is just the way he would like for the bride and groom to select their own wedding outfits too.