Accessorizing Indian Wedding Dress

Finding the right accessories to go with Indian wedding wear is not as difficult as it looks. In fact, there is so much variety in purses, bangles, shoes and jewelry available, that deciding on just one is the hardest part. Once the perfect Indian dress is found for the occasion – regardless if it’s a sari, lehenga choli or salwar kameez – add a personal touch with the right accessories. The seven most important ones are:

• Bag
• Bangles
• Bindi
• Hair
• Jewelry
• Makeup
• Shoes

For the Indian bride, one thing to keep in mind is that Indian weddings are all about two colors – red and gold – because they are considered auspicious. The Indian wedding sari or lehenga will have a shade of red from pink to maroon and therefore, the accessories need to match in color or be golden – for example the jewelry and shoes.

What Shoes to Wear With an Indian Wedding Dress

The right pair of shoes is probably the most important accessory for enhancing any Indian dress beautifully. But it is also import not to sacrifice comfort for style, especially for the Indian bride who will be on her toes from morning to night. Fortunately, flats and platform shoes are in vogue right now so that the perfect shoes can be stylish and comfortable.

Shoes should match the dress or other accessories in color – for example, a red wedding dress worn with gold jewelry will work with golden sandals. Shoes usually mean sandals or open-toed shoes that can be plain or decorated, for example with beads or stones that match the dress.

How to Find the Perfect Bag for Indian Formal Wear

Which bag to wear – from tiny clutch to spacious sling bag – depends on everyone’s individual style and the statement one wants to make. Matching the right bag with the right Indian wedding dress is the most important thing; a slim sari will not work with a baggy purse or vice versa – a heavily patterned wedding outfit will not work with a tiny bag that gets lost. Keep these five bag basics in mind before making a decision:

• the strap: long, short or none
• the color: matching the dress or in a universal color like white, black, brown, silver or gold
• the design: crocheted, knitted, beaded or embroidered
• the material: cloth or leather
• the pattern: plain, with flowery designs, in pastels or bright colors

Indian Bridal Hairstyles

For women’s wedding hairstyles, one should keep in mind that Indian weddings are drawn-out affairs, so choose a hairstyle that will last for hours and is easy to touch up if necessary. Popular bridal hairstyles in India are tight buns, decorated with flowers or pearls. Hair can also be worn long and flowing, especially if the bride has naturally beautiful and healthy hair.

Most Indian women have long or at least shoulder length hair; short hairstyles are less popular and therefore hairdressers and salons in India might not always know what to do with short hair. Then it is advisable to carry a photograph of the desired styles as inspiration.

Bridal Jewelry and Wedding Makeup in India

Indian bridal jewelry is mainly gold, decorated with diamonds. The trend is away from heavy sets to sleek designs that usually include a necklace with matching earrings, often also two bracelets. White gold is also in fashion and opens up avenues away from traditional red-and-gold combinations.

Wedding makeup should be special, yet simple and elegant and should not look overdone. Ask for “natural” wedding makeup at a beauty parlor and see a picture before letting the beautician get to work. Also make sure to prepare the skin in advance for a healthy, natural glow by following these simple steps:

• Avoid spicy, deep-fried or fast food,
• stay away from alcohol, red meat and caffeine (that includes chocolate!),
• drink enough water – eight to ten glasses a day – to stay hydrated and flush out the body’s toxins,
• exfoliate the skin the day before the wedding.

Accessorizing Indian Wedding Outfits with Glass Bangles and Bindis

One indispensable accessory for any woman attending an Indian wedding are bangles. They come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges and are the perfect accessory for following a color theme. Indian women wear their gold bangles and mix them up with the cheaper plastic or glass bangles for variety and volume. Bangles are sold by the dozen, so don’t be shy!

Choosing the right bangles is part of the wedding preparations and a lot of fun. Caution when buying bangles with gold or silver glitter – it usually will not last the evening and will start coming off immediately. Those bangles should be avoided, especially when dressing up children. Bangle sellers might disagree and try to convince customers of their superior bangles, so stay firm.

While at the market, hop over to the next stall – the friendly bindi seller! Bindis are self-adhesive little stickers worn above the bridge of the nose, between the eyebrows. They come in all colors and styles from round, long, simple or with designs and are a must for women with any Indian formal wear!

Of course there are also other accessories like rings, watches, brooches, hair clips, nose rings, tiaras, waistbands and many more, but starting with the accessories discussed above will go a long way. Here’s more information on Indian henna art and mehndi designs, Indian wedding traditions and the pros and cons of sari versus lehenga.

Source : http://india.suite101.com/article.cfm/accessorizing_indian_wedding_dresses