The Lehenga Choli is a three-piece Indian outfit. This attire is very popular among the younger generation in India, and it is typically worn at important events such as weddings and festivals. It consists of:
Lehenga – The lehenga is a long Indian skirt.
Choli – A choli is a form-fitting blouse with embroidery or decoration.
Dupatta – A long piece of cloth worn with the lehenga and choli to lend grace and elegance to the ensemble.
The Parts of an Indian Wedding Lehenga
There are many different parts of an Indian bridal lehenga. Understanding them will help you make the best choices when you’re shopping for your lehenga. Here are the most important parts of an Indian wedding lehenga:
The Bottom or the Pockets: The most common type of bottom for Indian wedding lehengas is the net or the dupion or the chiffon. These are the most common fabrics used for the pockets or the bottom of the lehenga. There are also lehengas made from tussar silk and jacquard silk.
The Top: The top of an Indian bridal lehenga is usually made of satin or chiffon. Sometimes, the top of a lehenga is made of velvet.
Dupatta: The dupatta is an indispensable part of an Indian bridal lehenga. Traditionally, the dupatta is made of silk or chiffon. The dupatta is a rectangular piece of fabric, which is draped around the neck or the head or both.
The Materials Used in Making an Indian Bridal Lehenga
The materials used in making an Indian wedding lehenga are as diverse as the Indian subcontinent itself. The fabrics used to make an Indian bridal lehenga are tussar silk, chiffons, velvet, jacquard silk, and handloom fabrics, like Kancheepuram and Banarasi. There are also synthetic fabrics like polyester and viscose, which are less expensive than natural fabrics. Some of the embroidery techniques used in making an Indian wedding lehenga include zardozi, Kashmiri, and shisha. Other embellishments used in making an Indian bridal lehenga include zari, bugle, and Kundan.
The Different Shapes of an Indian Wedding Lehenga
The shape of an Indian bridal lehenga can vary depending on the fabric used. Here are the most common shapes of a lehenga:
The Traditional or Classic Shape: The traditional or the classic shape of an Indian wedding lehenga is rectangular, with a rounded bottom.
The Gharara or the Mermaid Shape: The gharara or the mermaid shape is an A-shaped lehenga. It has an A-shaped bottom and a rectangular top.
The Banarasi or the South Indian Shape: The banarasi or the south Indian shape is the traditional shape of a lehenga with a rounded bottom.