The Styling Edit - The Christian Bride
A Christian bride in an ivory or off white ruffle saree, ruffles adding texture to an otherwise muted saree; sleeves of the blouse embellished to balance the simplicity of the drape. If someone were to ask me my thought process behind this look, this is precisely how it started. As a makeup artist, I get to work with a diverse set of clients, some whose aesthetics find a perfect harmony with mine and others whose might be quite different. I have often noticed that when there is a match in our thoughts, our ideas, the look as a whole translates into a reality that is beautiful not just for the client but for myself as an artist. This look that I have created is a good reflection of my aesthetics, the sort that excites me, the kind that I’d love to be associated with :)
It is the monotony of seeing repetitive and overdone looks; the delight and relief of spotting something fresh in the bridal circuit that got me to explore the concept of styling a bridal look from scratch. And from that perspective, a ruffle saree made sense, one that is chic and sophisticated yet soft and subtle. I worked with my sister to translate this concept into reality. We kept the saree simple with the detailing limited to ruffles on the saree and pearl embellished embroidery on sleeves. The fabric on the yoke being different from that on the sleeve keeps the transition from an understated saree to a detailed blouse balanced.
The very next element that I was absolutely certain was the use of succulents in hair and in the bridal bouquet. It’s the green palette of these otherwise potted beauties, a stunning contrast to the tone of the saree that inspired the thought. And the fact that it offers some needed respite from the overdone flowers was enough to seal the idea. With the hairdo itself, I found the touch of freshness in a texturised pony tail to complement the contemporary nature of the outfit.
With jewellery, I had in mind something rich, something bold , a statement in itself. And I found all of that in this exquisite Navratna choker and pair of earrings, a reflection of centuries old history from CJ Artisan Boutique. The rings are statement pieces themselves, the cluster ring with diamonds in a pave setting that gives it grandeur. The stunning rose gold ring is an interplay of different cuts in diamonds. The splendid baguette cut in the centre is the highlight to the flexible one piece ring.
Moving on to Makeup, to be absolutely blatant, the original concept that I had in mind were soft brown smokey eyes. But in the process, it got a little darker, more of a black brown smokey eye. Sigh!! Several clean brushes were used to tone it down, I am liking the end result though :) The choice of lip color needs to be explained a bit for the benefit of potential clients who may ask for nude lips to be paired with smokey eyes. So, I have always maintained that bold lips along with smokey eyes are not my thing, but so are not nude lips that looks washed out on our complexion paired with smokey eyes. For me, the lip color must have a visible tinge of brown, pink, coral or any other shade that flatters one’s complexion. The shade I have used on the model is ‘Rum Raisin’ from Bobbi Brown, which is a muted rusty red brown. The lips doesn’t overpower the eyes; the eye makeup and lip colour just come together harmoniously.
Collaborating with me to provide a beautiful and fitting backdrop for the shoot is a good friend, Lakshmi and her team at Dream Weaver Weddings. They nailed the brief, that of the decor having a rich green palette with rustic elements. It’s minimal and tastefully put together.
I had a ball working on this look - ideating the concept, putting several elements together and styling it as a whole. If you are a bride-to-be who wants to look unique, wear a fresh, original look and you need help with that, do drop me a message on Instagram/ or an email from the ‘Contact’ tab on the website and I will be happy to share details of the services offered :)
Much love…xoxo…
Credits: Model: Aishwarya Dinesh Photographer: VJ Wesley Outfit: 6 Yards x Shimmerme.co Jewellery: CJ Artisan Boutique Concept, Makeup, Styling: Shimmerme.co Hair: Curlupanddyebangalore Decor: Dreamweaver Weddings
