JOIN USLooking elegant in lehenga
There's something egalitarian about lehengas. They are worn by women, whether they are by the hearth or sashaying down the aisle at weddings and parties. They have withstood the test of time, only evolving better in the process.
The thrust on lehengas lie in the cuts, designs and fabric. Metrolife asked Bangalore-based designer Shammy Choraria to delve into various aspects of the lehenga and talk about how the garment has progressed and continues to acquire new dimensions every day.
Established in couture and not pret, Shammy designs and weaves garments according to an individual’s requirement. She points out that bright colours such as burgundy, olive green, wine and fuchsia are in vogue.
The necklines too stand altered according to the shape of the person. “For bridal wear we focus on V necks so that the jewellery is visible. Then there’s the collar neck for those who don’t like jewellery and right now the halter necks are popular,” Shammy told Metrolife.
She makes sure no two lehengas look the same. She says embellishments and cuts can go a long way in giving every lehenga a distinctive identity. “We have started designing lehengas with a slit wherein a shimmering garment is worn inside the so that the slit is seen,” she says.
Make the right choice
There are different types of lehengas for women of different ages groups. Shammy suggests the younger women go in for georgette lehengas, pastel in shade with minimal jewellery. The 30-somethings could carry off bright colours with kundan, zardosi and temple work on it. The older women, she says, could settle for a more ethnic garment. Shammy observes that the mermaid type of lehengas have almost gone out of fashion and the flared ones are staging a comeback.
“Lehengas look best when they are flared. The umbrella cuts are also popular. A woman is best noticed in these two cuts,” she says. Shammy says great emphasis is laid on the dupatta and the way it is worn makes a huge difference.
“They say that one never carries a bag with a lehenga. You are supposed to hold the duppatta in your hand to show off the work on the garment. You can either drape the dupatta or just leave it on one side. There are umpteen ways to wear the dupatta,” she says.
