Silk Lehenga Inspirations Straight from B-Town: From Anushka's Sabyasachi to Neha's Anita Dongre

When Anushka Sharma wore a breathtaking Sabyasachi silk lehenga on her D-day, it changed the concept of how a bridal lehenga should be. The trend instantly became hit with modern brides who not only ditched red for soft pastels but also started opting for ornate silk lehengas instead of other fancy fabrics. In fact, its the rich texture and timeless appeal of a silk fabric that has made it an instant favourite of ace designers including Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, Anita Dongre, Manish Malhotra, Manisha Jaisingh and many more.

While silk lehenga may not be every bride's choice for her D-day, we would suggest you to at least consider one, especially, if you want your bridal look to be a perfect balance of elegance and simplicity.

How to Select A Silk Lehenga

1. Check the base

Silk lehenga; be it crafted out of heavy Raw silk base, or smoother South Indian silk is apt for any weather and all occasions. For summers, you may choose softer and natural fabrics like Cotton silk which looks dressy and feels comfortable too. Whereas for a winter wedding, options such as Raw silk, Banarasi silk, Satin silk, etc., are preferable choices.

2. Check your budget

While considering budget, a pure or mulberry silk lehenga could be tad expensive. However, you can go for other cheaper variants of silk lehengas such as Tafetta silk, finely woven Art-silk, etc.

3. Choose by fall of fabric

Few know that the fall of the fabric you choose can also influence your overall bridal look. So, choose one that flatters your form the most. If you are a larger size, silk lehengas like Benarasi silk, Bangalore silk and Art-silk will be a good choice. Raw silk lehengas look modern and have a shine, but they remain a bit stiff. So if you are a small built, then Raw silk lehengas are a great option as they add fullness to the frame.

4. Check against embellishments

If you are looking for a heavily embellished wedding lehenga, then silk is an excellent choice as the glistening fabric can hold the weight of the embellishments such as Zardozi, Aari, Stone-work, Beads and Sequins, etc.

5. Regional inspirations

Choose silk depending on your occasion. For instance, Banarasi, Kanjivaram or Tussar, etc., are a great choice for the wedding. However, for Sangeet or Mehendi function, you can go for either a Raw silk lehenga or a Taffeta silk with digital print, etc.

You may also experiment with the design and silhouettes with them. Banarasi and Kanjeevaram lehenga looks traditional and has self-gold patterns on it which make it look rich and festive. So, instead of embroidery on silk, you can also experiment with modern lehenga designs and silhouettes.

6. Add some lining

Depending on the kind of flair and volume you want, add lining materials such as cancan under your silk lehenga.

Silk lehenga besides looking classy has an understated glamour of its own. It's not just a piece of fabric; it's a legacy! So, if you are still unsure about how to carry this style, we've got you celebrity brides who wore silk lehenga on their D-day. Take a look!

1. Anushka’s Sabyasachi Silk Lehenga

Image Courtesy: Anushka Sharma on Facebook

Anushka's bridal lehenga gave us major bride goals. Her blush pink silk lehenga looked dreamy with embellished pearls and beads. However, the highlight of her lehenga was elegant Renaissance embroidery in vintage English colours. To complete her bridal look, she chose to go with traditional jewellery-a matha patti, layered necklaces and matching Jhumkas. So, if you choose to go with something like this, make sure you strike a perfect balance between traditional and modern bridal looks.

2. Neha Dhupia’s Blush Pink Lehenga

Image Courtesy: Neha Dhupia on Instagram

Neha chose to be an Anita Dongre bride on her special day. She looked gorgeous in her intricate baby pink Chanderi silk lehenga that was embroidered with floral motifs and had exquisite Gota Patti, Zardozi, Resham, Dori and Sequin work. To accentuate her bridal look, she wore an intricate Kundan choker, matching Jhumkas and a maang tikka. With subtle smoky eyes, petal-pink lips, and a pink bindi, Neha looked like a glam diva. This wedding ensemble is a perfect pick if you have a day or destination wedding. Make sure you don't go loud with your accessories or makeup choices.

3. Sagarika’s Lightweight Benarasi Lehenga

Sagarika's Sabyasachi Benarasi lehenga for her wedding day spelt luxury like nothing else. The golden ensemble was hand-embroidered with Zardosi and paired with a Maheshwari dupatta. She completed her bridal look with classic uncut diamonds and pearl jewellery.
For her reception too, Sagarika chose to wear a silk lehenga from designer Anita Dongre’s Karnika Collection. She styled her red silk choli and a silk 'A-line' lehenga with a sheer net dupatta. So, if you too are unable to decide between red or golden bridal outfit, get both, for different functions though.

4. Sonam’s Traditional Red Lehenga

Image Courtesy: Sonam Kapoor on Facebook

Designer Anuradha Vakil's fiery red bridal lehenga for Sonam Kapoor is an ideal choice if you are looking for something that’s pure traditional. The lehenga, made out of a handwoven textile was crafted using a special gold and silk yarn. Even the lotus motifs embroidered on her lehenga used real gold and silver threads. To match her attire, Sonam adorned a necklace in traditional Kundan and Meenakari work along with the statement matha patti and Jhumkas that perfectly completed her bridal look.

5. Amrita Puri’s Persian-Inspired Silk Lehenga

Image Courtesy: Sabyasachi on Facebook

Amrita Puri wore a bespoke Sabyasachi silk lehenga for her wedding that was a complete mix of traditionality and comfort. Her one-of-a-kind bridal ensemble made use of one hundred and eleven colours of silk thread. Amrita's heavy silk and sequins lehenga in grey is indeed every bride’s dream outfit. So, if you too wish to wear a majestic lehenga with extra flair and volume on your D-day, consider this style.

6. Soha’s Orange and Golden Silk lehenga

Image Courtesy: Sabyasachi on Instagram

Soha Ali Khan chose to wear Sabyasachi lehenga from his Opium Collection for her wedding. Her lustrous golden lehenga was all about delicate beauty and regal appeal. The Passa and heavy jewellery perfectly complemented her bridal look. This lehenga is ideal for both day and night weddings. However, just make sure you wear subtle makeup and bold lips with this kind of look

Feeling inspired by these Bollywood brides yet? Time to get cracking on your final look for the big day. Once you know what you find, find the right vendor who can turn it into reality.

Share with us which celebrity silk lehenga are you thinking to experiment with on your D-day!