Indian Wedding Fashion - Clothing & Jewelry

Wedding day is a special occasion in an individual's life. This day is special for not only for the couple , but also the whole family of both the bride and groom, as well as the relatives and friends. No wonder, since time immemorial wedding fashion is about the most expensive clothes, along with the jewelry. The bride is dressed to look like a queen.




According to Hindu philosophy and mythology the Gods and Goddesses also attend the wedding. This adds to jubilation attached to a marriage. No wonder brides-to-be spend months together searching for the perfect wedding dress. Not only her, but even her family members and closest friends spend a long time searching for what they should wear on the wedding day.




It is not limited to just the bride, well even the groom is particular about what he is going to wear on the wedding day. He is also aware about his clothes and accessories. Like in case of the bride this extends to his immediate family and friends. Such excitement exists in both the houses.

Kundan Jewellery from India

Kundan Jewelry:

One of the oldest forms of jewellery made and worn in India is the kundan jewellery. Kundan work is a method of gem setting, consisting of inserting gold foil between the stones and its mount. Kundan work is often combined with meenakari, so that a piece of jewllery has two equally beautiful surfaces, enamel at the back end and kundan set gems in the front. Meenakari involves the fusion of colored minerals, such as cobalt oxide for blue and copper oxede for green. This gives the effect of precious stone inlay work on the surface of the metal.

Jaipur is the main centre of kundan jewellery. The famous Johri bazaar is the nerve centre of this craft. Nathdwara is known for its silver kundan work. Bikaner is also known for its kundan work.

Anklets and Toe Rings

Paradoxically, the feet are considered to be the most polluted part of the human body and at the same time, the objet of highest admiration and veneration. Humbling oneself by touching the fet of one's elders or prostrating oneself before them or worshipping the feet or sandals of a deity or a holy man are expressions of respect. By the same token of expression of submissiveness, a lover is often portrayed in art of described in literature as falling at his beloved's feet or admiring them with gentle caresses. The feet of a nayika, worthy of a lover's affection, are abundantly adorned with anklets and toe rings. Anklets are of two basic types, i.e. the stiff and the flexible. The stiff anklets are either cas or fabricated by hammering sheet metal into the requisite shape. Using the techniques of chiselling, engraving, repousse, granulation or threading and wire work, anklets are patterned. The flexible variety employs close interlicking of separately made links tied together either by using variations of chain technique or by threading together of links. Known as jhanjhar or pajeb, the flexible variety is often further adorned with jingle bells. There is no better music to the ears of a lover than the jingling sound arising from the steps of his beloved. This has been a subject of innumerable poetic stanzas in Indian lierature over several centuries.
Like the finger and thumb rings described above, there is a whole class of tow rings covered with floral shanks and often inter linked with chains. Similar to a tripartite hand ornament known as hathphul having finger rings, there is a foot ornament having toe rings connected to an ornamental pendant with a chain issuing from eah ring which in turn is further linked to an anklet with a hook. This ornament fully covers the foot from ankle to toes. Toe rings are known as bichhia in northern and western India indicating.

Indian Traditional Silver Jewellery

Silver jewellery has a vigour and liveliness all its own, many of its designs preserving an antique originality. If gold was the preferred metal of the affluent, silver was the staple of the rural and tribal areas. It was a means of saving money, and an indication of a person's wealth. The jewellery was a mobile "bank", serving as both adornment to be kept on the person aned a stand by in times of need. This is perhaps one reason why the jewellery appears so heavy and chunky.
Areas, and communities within areas, had their own distinctive design ocabularies, and local silversmiths fashioned the metal into beaded chokers, long ropes of chains, heavy collars, pendant boxes, a huge variety of bangles, bracelets, wristlets and amulets, nose rings and of course anklets. Of anklets alone, there is an almost bewildering range which seems to go from heavy to heaviest! So large are some anklets that you would think they make silver was studded with semi-precious stones like turquoise, coral or agate. And in the dryland of Banni in Kutch, the dun landscape is like a backdrop for some fo the most spectacular jewellery in India. Here, as elsewhere, the jewellery, the clothes, the embroideries, are all social identifiers, indicating where the woman is from to what caste she belongs and whether she is married.The irony of this poem may make you smile, but contrary to the poet's belief it is a fact that gems exert a strange magnetic pull. Jewellery exhibitions the world over attract adiences who do indeed look twice at "girl-less gems", as much for their beauty and flawlessness as for their rarity and thus value.

Classy Design Bellychain !!!

I love this bellychain. It's elegant and classy. The workmanship is amazing (very solid) and I love that it's silver. The little dangling charms are eye catching and it glams up any outfit. It was perfect at the beach and in the clubs. I can't wait for summer.

Handmade Silver Jewelery

Decorative pure silver as well sterling silver rings, exquisitely crafted and richly embellished in a wide variety, to suit your distinctive taste. Cruise through the vicissitudes of life by wearing finger rings with specific stones designed to ward off bad planetary influences.
According to India astrology, events in ones life are governed by planetary position, which existed at the time of his birth. To prevent the malevolent influence of particular planet, a ring hanging a specific stone related to the planet, is recommended- For example, to avoid the harmful effects of Saturn, a ring set in blue sapphire is deemed appropriated- similarly to counter the harmful effects of Mars, Mercury and Jupiter, red coral, emerald and yellow sapphire are considered beneficial. Jewelry has been in fashion in India for both sexes since time immemorial. It is not uncommon to see men, wearing rings on all fingers, in an effort to ward off evil influences and attract good fortune.
An unique rings set with nine gem stones (Navratna) viz. Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Sapphire, Coral, Topaz, Cats eye and lapis, is considered to be a powerful amulets guaranteed to ensure the well being of the wearer.
Another unique ornament worn in India particularly by brides, is a ‘Hatpul’, which comprise four finger rings and a thumb ring, each connected to a floral pendant through a chain which in turn is connected to a wristlet, by chains – when worn, the rings are slipped on to the fingers and the thumb, and the wristlet fitted on the twist, so as to have a floral pendant in the center of the hand.
ShalinCraft has an impressive collection of silver rings for both men and women, plain as well as bejeweled for both men and women, Engraved or with filigree work Pearl set in silver look particularly fascinating and are popular. Since pearl also stands for peace of mind other gemstones also look very attractive, especially when interspersed with matching or contrasting colors- for men, rings are generally squarish in shape.Silver rings are inexpensive and make handy gifts- you can keep changing the rings to match your dress. Consult a gemologist to ascertain the compatibility or otherwise of gemstones and wear rings on specific fingers as recommended by him. In some cases, the rings may be worn on the right hand as well. Apart from the astrological function, rings are primarily used for beautification of the fingers- Shalincraft’s rings enhance your beauty and make you look sensational and desirable.