As we find ourselves at the brink of wedding season, you may be tempted to give your festive wardrobe an overhaul. With life slowly inching back to normalcy, one can hope for brighter festivities this year, keeping the required safety measures in mind—and what could be better suited than a lehenga for your next celebration? Over the years, Bollywood's best dressed women have made a strong case for the silhouette—from light summery picks to the regal, embellished variety, we’ve seen it all.
Bollywood loves glamour, and leading the pack for ornate, shimmering lehengas are celebrities like Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday and Tamannaah Bhatia. Kapoor, a Manish Malhotra loyalist, loves her high-shine numbers, and for a wedding a while ago, was spotted in a shimmering look—an embellished gold mermaid-cut piece with a stone-studded blouse and dupatta. Another noteworthy look came from Bhatia, who was seen attending a wedding wearing an intricately-embellished lehenga by Ohaila Khan. The outfit, with its exquisite sequin work and embellishment was also an ode to the actor’s love for intricate craftsmanship. And then there's Ananya Panday, whose last sighting at a wedding was at Armaan Jain and Anissa Malhotra's nuptials. The young star was seen in a sparkling ivory and gol lehenga set that came doused in the designer's signature mirror work Of course, while colours and festive season go hand-in-hand, the power of a monochromatic look is not to be underestimated. Take Anushka Sharma for instance—the actor has created a signature style out of wearing black lehengas to weddings and celebratory occasions. We’ve usually seen her add statement earrings and a black bindi to each look. At the other end of the spectrum, Madhuri Dixit Nene recently gave us an elegant ivory look. The outfit showcased the beauty of chikankari—albeit in a contemporary version. While the lehenga skirt showcased a chevron pattern done with kasab work, the bustier-style blouse featured chikankari and delicate lace work along
Bollywood’s favourite faces have also been seen paving the way for lighter and more contemporary silhouettes over the years. Katrina Kaif, whose love for florals is no secret, made waves when she donned a refreshing floral Sabyasachi lehenga set. A white lehenga with delicate pink blooms, this outfit is just what you need for a day wedding in the outdoors. On the other hand, Alia Bhatt made a strong statement when she made an appearance for Diwali 2020 wearing a baby pink lehenga set by Madhurya. Interestingly, the outfit was made entirely out of waste fabric and featured embroidery based on drawings made by school children to create awareness about our biodiversity. Another actor seen giving a contemporary spin to the lehenga recently was Kiara Advani. For the promotions of her latest movie, Shershaah, she was seen in a stylish ensemble—a monochromatic lehenga skirt featuring the chevron pattern again, and a black low-cut blouse. A belt and bejewelled danglers completed the look that was styled sans dupatta.
Clearly, there’s no dearth of inspiration when it comes to Bollywood-approved lehengas. Scroll through for some of the best lehenga looks that promise to see you through this wedding season.