Special occasion - something old, something new
Spoiled for choice - that’s how I feel with the sartorial choice we have these days. From ready-to-wear to bespoke, what we are presented with is extensive. But with festive and other special occasions on the rise, one can only revel in that choice. Having said that, I’d like to believe that most of us have a soft spot for a thing or two from our mother’s collection, something that we have long laid our eyes on as little girls - a piece of jewellery, a silk saree, a vintage watch! This post is about picking a beautiful kancheepuram weave or a vintage floral chiffon saree from your mama’s collection and styling it differently to make it relevant for today while also creating a lasting impact. What you derive from this experiment is a look with a vintage appeal, delight on your mama’s face and of course more money saved in your pocket :)
Saree One of the many reasons I’d suggest you take a peek into your mother’s, grand mother’s saree collection is for the stunning colour combinations and beautiful motifs that you are likely to chance upon. They might be quite different from what is available these days and the sheer lightness of the fabric will draw you to drape it. While working with heirloom, you could recreate the look by wearing it exactly as how your mom wore it or style it differently to give it a bit of new and a bit of you. We picked these stunners from our mothers’ wardrobes (my mother’s saree is over 4 decades old and Raaga’s mom’s is over a decade) and paired it with contemporary blouses in brocade.
Jewellery Using a piece of jewellery that suit the age and milieu is a fabulous way to style your heirloom outfit. While our mothers would have typically styled these sarees with traditional South Indian jewellery, we chose statement earrings and rings to bring together this look. Its the fusion of South Indian weaves with jewellery designs inspired by the Mughal era that makes the styling different and unique. Speaking of heirloom, these stunning pieces crafted by CJ Artisan Boutique are a definite investment if you are looking to create your own collection for future generations.
Makeup The No Makeup makeup look is not going anywhere. The fact that the focus is on creating a look that closely resembles your natural self while subtly enhancing your features makes it a clear winner. Some tips that I swear by are
Focus on creating an even complexion which is the hallmark of a no-makeup look. Using a light-weight concealer and a luminous/skin foundation in a shade closest to your skin tone can help you achieve that.
Choose a lip color that is similar to your natural lip color, helping you create the illusion of nude lips. Use a finish which looks natural such as satin as opposed to matte or glossy.
Go easy with the eye makeup. Focus on tight-lining the eyes, using mascara to make your eyes look more open. Stick with neutral shades such as soft browns, taupe for eye shadows.
Heirlooms don’t have to be necessarily reserved for your wedding day, it can be worn several times, styled differently. So, dig deep into your family collection and grab those treasured pieces, each which would have a story or two to say :)
Photography: Alan Jose
