India's Bridal Extravaganza - Vogue Wedding Show 2016

Attending the Vogue Wedding Show is an exercise in controlling the spendthrift diva in you. Our experience on the second day of the 2016 exhibit brought no respite with the enticing works of leading designers and jewellers being on display.

And since it was Friday and the weekend was yet to begin, the crowd was not yet overwhelming, though a lot more men were in attendance. As soon-to-be brides and grooms went about with hawk eyes, hunting for the finest couture outfits for their big day, we simply looked, beheld and observed the proceedings.



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Here’s what we believe were the highlights of the Vogue Wedding Show:

Namarata Soni’s Masterclass

The bridal beauty tips offered by Namrata Soni in her much-awaited masterclass were arguably the best part of the day. Ladies who are about to tie the knot watched with rapture as the celebrity makeup artist gave them tutorials on classic trends such as the red lips and new-age techniques of contouring. The ladies got to chat with Ms. Soni one-on-one and she kindly obliged by giving them personalized attention and tips.



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The On-Goings at Durbar Hall

The Durbar Hall was where the footfall never stilled. And why would it? It had all the A-list exhibits including Manish Malhotra, Payal Singhal, Tarun Tahilianai, Indian by Manish Arora, Gaurav Gupta, and Shantanu & Nikhil's collection.



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Distinctive sartorial sensibilities were housed in this sizable space and you could see men and women trying to find their signature style amidst stellar creations. Or, perhaps, like us, just feasting their eyes on the exquisite clothes.

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The Stand-Outs

We were very excited about Anita Dongre’s collection and it goes without saying that we weren’t the only ones. The leading lady of India’s bridal couture was present herself and that just added to the buzz around her exhibit. We managed to get a peek and this year’s style is all about subtlety. The colours were soft with creams, pastels and indigo dominating. Ranjasthani and Mughal influence was evident in the embroideries and prints. There were not just lehengas and bandhgalas but also free-flowing palazzo pants and long-line jackets. And from what we could tell, the crowd was as enchanted by the collection as we were.



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Jade’s collection also caught our eye. Monica and Karishma’s fabulous concept with Videha’s Siya really stood out. Their designs were inspired by the romantic reminiscence of Lord Ram and Sita’s tale. They used Mithila art and motifs from the natural world to create dainty, elegant bridalwear which has a very niche appeal. Meant for the modern, whimsical bride, Jade’s collection was getting much attention from the seemingly young and restless women out there.



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Our wandering eyes were also constantly revisiting Varun Bahl’s exhibit. And that’s because being one of the few designer’s putting up more than just wedding-wear, his creations offered viewers something more. There were several kinds of outfits that you’d never see at a wedding event and the Mr. Bahl’s point is that Indian couture is so much more than just bridal outfits. And we agree! Though we couldn’t help but ogle at his bridalwear which had timeless floral patterns and a very nuanced colour palette!



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Sabyasachi’s collection was the crowning glory of the Vogue Wedding Show 2016. We were unsurprised to find that some of the most stunning handcrafted pieces came from Firdaus which is his latest collection. There was a fusion of decadence with bohemianism and we saw much velvet, mirror work and florals in his creations. If Sabyasachi’s aim was to bring retro glamour back in vogue, we could see that he was succeeding. Nothing could keep people away from his stall!

The Extravaganza

Of course there was more to the show than just the clothes. Leading jewellers such as Amrapalli, Forevermark, Bespoke Vintage Jewels, Hazoorilal, Mehta & Sons by Narendra Mehta and Sunita Shekhawat Jaipur were present with their glittering collections. You almost couldn’t tell what was brighter – their jewels or the faces of the women looking at them in admiration.



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The Vogue Wedding Show 2016 was definitely a brilliant experience for all attendees. We'll be back tomorrow with some more highlights!