Exclusive: Designer Shehla Khan Talks About Her Favourite Celeb Bridal Look, Upcoming Bridal Trends And The New Era Of Shaadi Jewellery
Updated February 22, 2022 3:30 PM
Weddings in India get a festival like treatment and I think you’d agree too. As we talk about weddings, how can we ever go any further without mentioning the bridal lehenga? A piece that has everyone’s eye on it and at times turns as a conversation starter for the guests, the bridal lehenga is one of the most crucial aspects that asks for attention while planning a shaadi. With changing trends and popular designs sliding into every bride-to-be’s wishlist, it is important to look out for designs that resonate with your personality and style. And sharing with us some insights about the upcoming bridal wear trends is designer Shehla Khan who is known for whimsical shades and silhouettes in bridal wear. Geared up for the Vogue Wedding Show 2022 with some of his finest collections, the designer also takes me through her favourite celebrity bridal looks on and off-screen and more.
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Q: Tell us about the one trend that will take the centre stage in terms of wedding jewellery or accessories this year?
Shehla Khan: This really depends on each bride and her preferences. A lot of brides are going by solitaires and diamond or emerald diamond modern sets for their wedding ceremony and sticking with the uncut traditional jewellery for the Mehendi or sangeet however I am loving the new Victorian style a lot of jewellery designers are revisiting which is kind of like a marriage of old-world with the modern design of jewellery.
ALSO READ: From Lavender Lehengas To Double Dupatta, Here Are Some Celebrity Bridal Trends That Stole The Spotlight In 2021
Q: The importance of a handcrafted veil has become popular and significant in a bridal look in recent years. How do you work on that aspect to make it special for the bride?
Shehla Khan: We use intricate handwork to create very delicate yet detailed embroideries for our bridal wear. Each bride has a preference and according to this, we create our own version of a bespoke couture design to suit this preference for her veil. We have started using contrast embroideries for the veil to emphasise the work on the lehenga in traditional and modern ways.
Q: Brides today are opting for non-traditional styles of silhouettes. What is that one style you think is gaining prominence?
Shehla Khan: I wouldn’t confine anything to one style or design but yes, there are a lot of brides who are now steering away from the traditional norms of red and classic Indian embroideries for more modern and non-traditional styles of work. There are also those who like to create a mix of both.
Q: Films and web shows today have become an integral part of our system. Is there a bridal look that you watched on screen and absolutely loved it?
Shehla Khan: The last bridal look which I absolutely fell in love with was Anushka Sharma in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. It happened to be a very traditional embroidered Mughal inspired creation by Manish Malhotra. Before that, was every single costume in the film Devdas especially the ones created by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla for Madhuri Dixit. Sanjay Leela Bhansali films always stand out as an inspiration in the women’s costume for me because of his vast knowledge and passion for creating very detailed and specifically studied designs for his heroines.
Q: Every function during a wedding has its charm and requires the bride and groom to be dressed in their best. What is the process of curating show-stopper looks for other wedding ceremonies apart from just the big day?
Shehla Khan: The process is just the same for any bespoke couture design be it for a wedding ceremony or sangeet or Mehendi or engagement. The concept of having an afterparty post-ceremony has become very common now for which the bride and groom change and like to have bespoke designs made for the same. What has changed is that people have become very individualistic about their style and what they want to look like for each occasion rather than just following trends and norms. I love it because it gives us as designers a platform to actually use our creativity blending with the demands of each bride to create unique looks for each occasion.
Q: The year 2021 offered some beautiful bridal looks pulled off by celebrities. Tell us your favourite celeb bride of the year.
Shehla Khan: I’ll never choose one they all looked beautiful but having said that from the few weddings in 2021, I am a fangirl of Katrina Kaif and even though there was a lot of speculation and comparison on her looks for each event I thought she was positively radiant and beautiful as ever in every look she donned for each event. I don’t find a problem in someone repeating outfits, style is what you make of it it’s a form of expression. We are living in times where sustainability is the new trend and vintage has unimaginable value. Someone repeating a past design a designer has created isn’t a bad thing. It is in fact how the person wears it and carries it that matters.
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Q: What is the expected colour palette that will make it to 2022’s bridal trends?
Shehla Khan: Jewel tones, gold and silver mostly tone on tone or gold mixed with silver.
Q: What is the one bridal trend we can expect to see in 2022?
Shehla Khan: Jewel tones to add to the traditional red and also very Avante Garde embroideries using pearls and crystals as an option to traditional embroideries or even as an addition.
Image Credits: Shehla Khan
