What is Diwali, sans its hue, vibrancy and sartorial drama, right? This time, add gilded glamour to that. A number of stars stepped out in gold ensembles—sarees to lehengas and gowns—making metallic hues cool again. From Kareena Kapoor Khan’s molten-sequin sari to Fatima Sana Shaikh’s zardozi embroidery drape and Nimrat Kaur’s mocha silk-organza creation, it’s time to let gold give you some main character energy at the wedding.
Maximalism, but make it elegant! We see it becoming the fashion blueprint for brides and wedding guests who are looking to infuse a contemporary, royal edge into the upcoming wedding season.
Trust Kareena Kapoor Khan to add a royal touch to her festive ensemble! She did so beautifully for Manish Malhotra’s party in a saree by the designer himself, with the stunning sequinned gold sari giving liquid gold vibes. The Bollywood star balanced her heavy metallic shine with a halter-neck blouse, diamond stud earrings and gold metallic nails and allowed her hair to fall in her signature side-swept waves.
Looking for some bridesmaid soiree glam, take a cue from Fatima Sana Shaikh! Dressed in a custom saree made of champagne gold tissue by Manish Malhotra, she exuded regal festive elegance. The actor wore it for Manish Malhotra’s Diwali celebrations, and the look brought out traditional ethnic charm with the heavy zardozi embroidery, shimmering sequins, and crystal work along the borders that reflect the light beautifully. She paired the drape with a light lavender-gold with a sweetheart neckline and more hand embroidery and accessorised her look with a classic hairstyle – a sleek, low bun wrapped by a fresh white gajra.
Fatima went for the softly defined, dewy look with kohl-lined eyes, a tiny bindi and chaandbali jhumkas.
We loved how Nimrat Kaur dialled up festive fashion with this brown silk-organza saree in warm tones. Designed by Ridhi Mehra, the drape features gold crystals, micro sequins and glass seed beads, running seamlessly along the borders. She teamed it with an all-over embellished, matching brown blouse with a deep V-neckline and full-length sleeves, making the case for the pretty crystals and intricate beadwork. Nimrat chose to style her hair in a neat, centre-parted low bun with a few loose tendrils framing her face on either side. The crinkled-metallic saree totally fits into wedding dinners and gatherings.
The star went in for a sun-kissed makeup look with bronze tones by Mitali Vakil, playing up the radiance well on the festive occasion. Her nude lip hue was a good foil to the already commanding metallic drape.
• Make one piece the focal point: Gold is high-octane drama on its own. So, go minimalist with your jewellery when you wear it. Pick exactly one hero piece—either a structural collar, a set of stackable thick bangles, a gold cuff, diamond studs or giant drop earrings. Let the rest of the mood board remain completely clean.
• Play on textures: The hue is metallic, so avoid matched sets. For instance, yellow gold on yellow gold, which is a no. Instead, mix things up with antique mixed with bright yellow or wear matte temple jewellery with brilliant uncut diamonds in gold for depth.
• Go quirky with your choices: Since this looks like it makes a splash, add more to the vibe with unconventional ornaments and accessories. A statement metallic minaudière works well, so does an ornamental gold waistbelt, or quirky jewellery-inspired accessories like embellished headphones, which are offbeat and cool.