Exclusive: Designers Shantnu And Nikhil On Hottest Bridal Trends, Curating The ‘It’ Bridal Jewellery And Future Of Sustainable Wedding Wear
Updated March 10, 2022
Wedding wear plays a pivotal role for India’s fashionable troop, I mean, we all know the larger than life nature of Indian weddings, right? Apart from the decor, mandap, and food, one topic that never goes missing is the dulhan‘s lehenga. Heavily embellished, with all the brightest of sparkle stitched to the bridal outfit, the idea of a D-Day lehenga has certainly changed over time. From mirror-laden to now being emotion-weaved, a bride’s wedding outfit has gone beyond the glimmer. And weaving that right are designers Shantnu and Nikhil Mehra. All set for the Vogue Wedding Show 2022, their label Shantnu & Nikhil is bridging the gap between cultural nuance and modern-day aesthetic in the space of shaadi wear, through a stunning line-up of androgynous, contemporary sartorial styles, sprinkled with the right amount of grandeur. Talking about the latest bridal trends, Shantnu And Nikhil unravel some interesting details about their idea of a modern bride, colour trends to look out for, and much more.
Q. We’ve seen a certain group of brides opting for non-traditional styles of silhouettes. What is that one style you think is gaining prominence?
Shantnu And Nikhil: The millennial brides are all about sporting a chic look without compromising their comfort. Contemporary pieces like a jacket paired with a heavily embroidered skirt, have been one of the massive trends this year, especially during the winter wedding season.
View this post on Instagram
Q. Bridesmaids too are looking for coordinated dressing for their best friend/sister’s big day. What more can we expect to see in that space?
Shantnu And Nikhil: Bridesmaids choose their outfits based on practicality whilst looking uber suave. They are not just attendees, they have a plethora of wedding responsibilities on their shoulders and have to make sure they look good while doing that. Sharara sets or Saree gowns are the safest bet for a bridesmaid. They are comfortable and have a silhouette that complements every body type.
View this post on Instagram
Also Read: Ankita Lokhande And Vicky Jain Had A Fun-Filled Mehendi And Ring Ceremony. See Pics!
Q. Films and web shows have become an integral part of our system today. Share with us a bridal look that you watched on screen and absolutely loved it.
Shantnu And Nikhil: We loved the conscious choices brides and grooms made on the Netflix special- The Big Day. We came across many brides and grooms who cherished our bespoke creation for their big day. Such instances inspire us to create more designs that surpass our expectations as well.
Q. What is the process of curating show-stopper looks for other wedding ceremonies, apart from just the bridal lehenga?
Shantnu And Nikhil: As a brand, we always think of a wedding as a cumulation of small ceremonies, especially cocktail and ring ceremonies. These are the functions where the bride and groom can experiment recklessly with their attires, and this is where we come in. Beautiful pastel shades paired with metallic structure is what defines these events for us.
Q. What is your idea of a Modern Bride?
Shantnu And Nikhil: A woman who is unabashed in her choices and chooses to stay true to herself, without succumbing to the normative rules of bridal dressing. The attire doesn’t make the bride modern, the intent behind her choices do.
View this post on Instagram
Q. In recent years, we’ve seen the growing popularity of a handcrafted veil and its significance in a bridal look. How do you work on that aspect to make it special for the bride?
Shantnu And Nikhil: Veils have been a part of bridal attire since ages and are conventionally traditional for a bride to adore one. Nowadays, millennial brides are choosing contemporary chic which also helps them take forward their roots but in a modern way. At Maison Shantnu & Nikhil we manipulate those veils in the form of our signature drapes, to give our modern bride an interesting edge to it.
Q. Tell us your favourite Celebrity bridal look from the year 2021.
Shantnu And Nikhil: Lately, brides have grown more conscious in terms of their choices and the pieces they choose for their big day. There are brides who embrace the traditional aspect and there are brides who decide on Neo-Contemporary pieces which empower them more. Each attire is a reflection of who the bride is and it’ll be unjust for us to choose one.
Also Read: From Lavender Lehengas To Double Dupatta, Here Are Some Celebrity Bridal Trends That Stole The Spotlight In 2021
Q. What is the one bridal trend we can expect to see in 2022?
Shantnu And Nikhil: Experimental silhouettes and new age detailing is definitely one of the major bridal trends we will be observing this year.
View this post on Instagram
Q. What can we expect to take the centre stage in terms of wedding jewellery this year?
Shantnu And Nikhil: New forms of accessories unlike traditional jewellery is the new “IT”. This season, stay tuned to see our take on modern accessories from the house of Shantnu & Nikhil.
View this post on Instagram
Q. Share with us the hottest, soon-to-be trending colour palette of 2022 in the wedding wear space.
Shantnu And Nikhil: As a brand, we are going big on nude metallics for this season. However, we do feel colours are about to make a major comeback.
Q. Weddings today are more about personalised celebrations. Can you share with us how you incorporate that factor through the bridal look?
Shantnu And Nikhil: Our couture pieces at Shantnu & Nikhil are made-to-measure, which means, each garment is customised according to the bride which is unique to her. We hope to provide the bride with an experience that stays with her. It’s once in a lifetime experience and each bride deserves to live it to the fullest.
View this post on Instagram
Q. Tell us the many factors that help you cater to inclusivity and diversity in bridal wear?
Shantnu And Nikhil: We customise our bridal Silhouette according to every body type until the bride and groom are content with it. They shouldn’t compromise on their attire which is a major part of their Big day.
Q. What according to you is the future of sustainable fashion in the wedding wear space?
Shantnu And Nikhil: Repurpose it. It should be filled with pieces that you can go back to and relive your memories in. Remember the importance of classics and pay close attention to the details. The classics you purchase today will become family heirlooms in the future. However, grooms now, are bold in their choices as they are stepping away from the obvious darker tones associated with the male wardrobe to pastel ones which were conventionally considered feminine.
Image Credits: Instagram/Shantnu And Nikhil
https://hauterrfly.com/fashion/exclusive-manish-malhotra-favourite-celebs-bride-bridal-trends-of-2022-vogue-wedding-show/
