This past Sunday I attended the Aashni & Co. Wedding Show, held at the Dorchester Hotel in the heart of glam London. From the tickets to the entrance hall to the show itself, every single bit of the day was completely, 100% luxurious.
I was greeted in the rotunda by a circle of mannequins sporting the choicest lehngas, saris, sherwanis, and anarkalis from this year’s Spring/Summer bridal collections. All the top designers, from Anushree Reddy to Varun Bahl were represented, as well as few up-and-coming London-based designers.
In addition to a treasure trove of top fashion, the Dorchester’s ballroom was turned into a woodsy fairyland by Zita Elze to show off beautiful decor, plating, and candles. It definitely looks like Desi weddings and Western weddings are converging on the outdoorsy-type theme. But, I mean, can you blame them? (isn’t it a Disney dream?!):
Each designer had their own mini boutique set up in the ballroom. Anushree Reddy and her cupcake couture lehngas, looking like my tea party fantasy in magentas, teals, and gold, was next to Jaipur Gems.
Photo courtesy of Anushree Reddy
Pallavi Jaikishan was pulling out her gorgeous vintage-style sequined saris and lehngas while mothers and daughters crowded around her dress racks. It felt surreal seeing Tarun Tahiliani chat about upcoming nuptials with a pushy aunty.
Looking around, every designer was offering up a different menu of tastes and trends. I didn’t even see matching color palettes between the displays. Anushree Reddy and Monisha Thahryamal both designed with vibrant pinks while Sabyasachi and Rimple & Harpreet Narula opted for neutral, sedated tones. It was hard to find similarities or quantifiable trends among the vast variety of dresses present. Most of them were from last year so it’s hard to say if they speak to this year’s trends.
Of the few new dresses that I did see, it seems that 2015 is going to be the year of tiny and intricate details. Sabyasachi, as always, was showing off gorgeous tiny sequin work while Anamika Khanna had beautiful fabric feather capes. A lot of the details weren’t visible from a distance, like gorgeous printed lining or tiny zari work, and so felt very intimate. Designers are creating thoughtfully and with the wearer in mind rather than the viewer.
After petting nearly every dress in sight, I got a chance to talk to some of the designers on show. Elisha W says that bridal wear is going to be ‘less jazzy’ this year and will rely on more timeless details. It will be all about creating something that can be passed through the generations. According to Sama Ali, Meera Ali‘s daughter, brides should definitely plan to wear something different at each event. Dresses should be light and airy for the Sangeet, heavy and red for the wedding ceremony, and glamorous for the reception. It’ll be a chance to wear as many of the upcoming looks and trends of this year as you can.
Beautiful intricate beadwork on one of Pallavi Jaikishan gorgeous gowns at #aashniweddingshow x A photo posted by ZOUCH & LAMARE Weddings|Events (@zouchandlamare) on
Aashni & Co.’s wedding show was beautiful and glamorous. I had to pinch myself because it felt so strange that I was in the same room as all the top Indian designers. If this is the way wedding shows are going, I can’t wait to be rishta-d up.