Winter festive: velvet and metal thread

So, the major winter festivals - Christmas and New Year - are over. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. And today I want to share with you my festive outfits. A bit late, maybe, but it's better late than never.
We had a Christmas eve dinner at a rather posh place, so I had to look glamorous and elegant and festive. So, I thought that my embellished velvet jacket would be quite the right choice for such an occasion. It looks beautiful and rich and where else I could possibly wear it if not to a posh restaurant.

Sleeveless beaded dress for a wedding party

On Sunday it was not only Easter but we were also invited to a wedding party. I like it when such parties happen in summer because there is not need for any scarves or coats or jackets. Finally I got a chance to wear this new sleeveless party dress. It is heavily decorated with glass beads and rhinestones (but on the front only). I would be really happy to wear this dress without any pants but it is not possible. Look at this both-side high slits, no way wearing the dress with nothing underneath.

Indian style outfit in black and white

Women here don't favour black and white combination in outfits. I suppose they find it pretty boring, especially if going to a party. But I don't. Sometimes I get tired of bright loud colours and want something as simple as black and white. In my opinion, this "boring" combo too can look impressive, beautiful and festive.

"Indian maharani" outfit

Lehenga-choli-dupatta is ( in my opinion) the most beautiful Indian party anssemble worn on special occasions. Saying in plain English it is a set of a long skirt, a fitted blouse and a shawl. The fabrics used to made such sets are usually silk, brocade, heavy satin and chiffon which are further decorated with metal (sometimes silver or gold) thread embroidery, sequins or stones. On Saturday we were invited to a wedding party that took place in a rather posh place. So I figured my lehenga-choli outfit would be the right choice for the party. It is of black chiffon and the skirt is richly embellished with embroidery and stones which makes it pretty heavy. Wearing this outfit I really feel like an Indian maharani.

Colours of the engagement party

On Wednesday we were invited again to an engagement party. The time of the event's start was at 4 pm and it confused me what to wear: still hot, still sunny. I didn't want to be over-dressed and at the same time to be under-dressed would mean to show disrespect. Finally I chose a black skirt of Western design to pair with an embroidered Indian blouse choli that is a part of another set. Added metallic sandals and a few pieces of  simple jewelry and that's it. I think the outfit had just the right balance between "too much" and "not enough".

Going ethnic at another party

There was one more party yesterday. It was an outdoor party so once again I could wear my newly bought coat, this time with something ethnic. So I wore a long Indian style skirt called lehenga decorated with metal thread embroidery and some beads. Lehenga is usually worn wiht a short tight-fitting blouse but this time I combined it with a black tunic called kurti. Jewelry is also in Indian style - a set of a necklace and earrings in peacock theme.

Anarkali dress and a wedding party

Maybe in my previous life (if I had one) I was an Indian. Otherwise how to explain my love for many things Indian, including clothes. This type of dress is called Anarkali and its name it got from a legendary Mughal dancer of the Akbar court who used to entertain the noble men wearing a dress of similar shape (tight in bust area and flowing down the waist in the shape of an umbrella). Anarkali means "pomegranate blossom" and the girl got this name thanks to her beauty. Her end was tragic however: she had a love affair with Akbar's son Salim and when it became known outraged Akbar ordered to immure her alive in a wall. After Akbar's death Salim built a tomb to Anarkali's memory and on her marble tombstone there are such words inscribed:

Ah! If I could behold the face of

My beloved once more, I

Would give thanks unto my

God, until the Day of Resurrection

Majnun Salim Akbar (Your Lover Salim, son of Akbar) 

(source - Private life of the Mughals of India by R. Nath)

Red colour for engagement ceremony

Today we were invited to an engagement ceremony. I wore newly-bought ethnic style long shirt with Patiala pants. The collar and the buttons of the shirt are decorated with beads. And red is festive colour here.
A few photos from the event.

Festively dressed kids

I like the way kids are dressed for parties and festivals, especially girls. They look like real princesses in those silk and chiffon dresses, embroidered lehengas and even saris.

What women wear at Indian weddings

The short answer would be: their best. The most beautiful, rich and fashionable outfit and jewelry. For the Indians wedding is one of the most important events in life, and so to come in something casual would be considered as show of no respect. And if you are a member of the family organizing the wedding then you have to look even greater.
To be at an Indian wedding is a real pleasure for my eyes: to watch all those beautiful women in amazingly beautiful saris or lehengas of any imaginable colour, adorned with modern or classic types of jewelry. So much effort and creativity in wish to look special, to look different from others, to outstand.