Franklin Dean
Indian wedding dresses are often expensive and lavish, with heavy embroidery and flared skirts. After the wedding, they are usually dry-cleaned and stored away, perhaps to be worn again on a special occasion. However, there are many ways to reuse and repurpose your Indian wedding dress to get more wear out of it. From altering the design to make it more wearable, to mixing and matching the individual pieces with plain skirts or blouses, you can create a whole new look. You could even cut up your wedding saree and turn it into a co-ord set, palazzos, or a sharara. If you don't want to keep your dress, you could donate it, sell it, or have it professionally preserved to pass down to someone else.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cleaning | Dry-clean your wedding dress to preserve the fabric and remove stains |
| Alterations | Shorten the length, remove the train, or convert it into a two-piece set to make it more wearable |
| Mix and Match | Pair the blouse with a plain saree or skirt, or use the dupatta with a salwar suit or lehenga choli |
| Transform | Convert the lehenga into an Anarkali suit by reducing pleats and adding tassels or hangings |
| Resell or Rent | Make money by reselling your dress or renting it out to others |
| Donate | Give your dress to organisations like Brides Across America or Every Girl's Dream |
| Display | Frame your wedding dress and display it as art |
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What You'll Learn
Transform your wedding lehenga into a designer Anarkali suit
Indian weddings are a grand affair, with the bride's outfit being one of the most important aspects. The wedding lehenga is a popular choice for brides, but it often ends up being worn only once. Here are some ways to transform your wedding lehenga into a designer Anarkali suit and give it a new lease of life:
Stitching Magic:
The easiest way to transform your wedding lehenga into an Anarkali suit is to get it stitched accordingly. Find a good tailor who can attach the skirt of your lehenga with the choli or blouse to create a floor-length Anarkali gown. You can also experiment by attaching a different coloured waistband above the tucked-in blouse or choli to create a unique look. If you're feeling adventurous, try converting the ethnic skirt of your lehenga into a long frock-style Anarkali top.
Mix and Match:
Another way to create a designer Anarkali suit is to mix and match your wedding lehenga with different coloured tops or blouses. You can pair a plain shirt or a contemporary top with your lehenga skirt for a stylish and classy look. If you want to retain the traditional feel, you can use the heavily embroidered choli of your lehenga with a light Georgette saree or a plain skirt. Play around with different dupattas and draping styles to create multiple looks with the same outfit.
Embellishments and Alterations:
To make your transformed Anarkali suit stand out, consider adding embellishments such as tassels or hangings to its borders. You can also experiment with different types of bodices, such as off-shoulder or cold-shoulder cholis, to add a modern twist. If you're feeling creative, reduce some pleats in the skirt to create a fish-cut lehenga, which will accentuate your figure. These small alterations will give your outfit a designer feel without requiring a lot of effort.
Dye and Restyle:
If you're open to experimenting with your wedding lehenga, consider dyeing it a different shade, such as navy blue or black, to move away from the traditional bridal colours. This will give you a completely new outfit to flaunt at future weddings or events. You can also restyle your lehenga by shortening the skirt length or removing any trains to make it more suitable for everyday wear. Layer it with a t-shirt, light knit, or a jacket to create a versatile look that can be dressed up or down.
Transforming your wedding lehenga into a designer Anarkali suit is a sustainable and creative way to extend the life of your wedding outfit. With a little bit of creativity, tailoring, and some mix-and-match, you can create multiple new looks and make the most of your investment.
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Alter your wedding dress to make it more casual
There are many ways to alter your Indian wedding dress to make it more casual and wearable for everyday life. Firstly, you can take care of the dress by dry cleaning it to preserve the fabric and freshen it up. Then, you can shorten the length of the dress to remove the bridal element. You can keep it floor-length and remove the train, or shorten it to an ankle, midi, or mini length. This allows for more styling options, such as layering with roll necks, jumpers, jackets, or blazers. You can also remove any large trains and simplify any details that make it feel too bridal, such as excessive embroidery.
Another option is to alter the neckline to make it more versatile. For example, you could open up a high neckline into a square shape with spaghetti straps, making it perfect for a summer party and easy to layer over a t-shirt or light knit. You could also convert a lehenga into a designer Anarkali suit by adding tassels or hangings to the borders. You can pair it with a button-down top or a plain blouse for a fresh look. Alternatively, you can cut a bridal saree into a pair of palazzos or a sharara and team it with a simple kurti for a casual ethnic wear look.
You can also gain more wear out of your wedding dress by making it into two garments, such as a top and a skirt. This allows you to mix and match and adapt it to your style. For example, you can pair your wedding blouse with a plain skirt or a plain saree with a contrasting border. You can also add a modern twist to your bridal blouse by altering it to a more contemporary design.
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Reuse your wedding blouse with a plain saree or skirt
Indian wedding dresses are often expensive and stored away after the wedding day. Here are some ways to reuse your wedding blouse with a plain saree or skirt, giving your bridal wear a new lease of life:
Plain saree
A wedding blouse can be paired with a plain saree, choosing a colour that is the opposite of the border of the blouse. This way, you can create a whole new look with just one new item. A plain saree can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion, and can be styled in many ways.
Plain skirt
A plain skirt can also be paired with a wedding blouse for a fresh look. The skirt can be a simple way to modernise the blouse, especially if it is an older style.
Alterations
You can also alter the blouse to suit your style and keep up with changing trends. This could be as simple as shortening the length or removing the train, or you could add a modern twist with an altered design.
Accessories
When reusing your wedding blouse, consider the accessories. A plain saree or skirt can be dressed up with statement jewellery, or a waist chain. Adding a skinny belt at the waist can also give more structure and a chic, modern vibe.
Mix and match
Don't be afraid to experiment with different colours and styles of blouses, skirts, and sarees. You can mix and match to create a whole new outfit and embrace new, unforgettable memories.
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Donate your dress to an organisation that accepts wedding dress donations
If you're looking to give your Indian wedding dress a new lease of life, why not consider donating it to an organisation that can pass it on to a bride in need? This is a great way to give back while also freeing up space in your closet. There are several organisations that accept wedding dress donations, and your contribution will help a bride feel special on her big day.
One such organisation is Rainbow: The Women's Outfit, founded by fashion designer Sabitha. Based in Kerala, Sabitha collects secondhand wedding dresses, shoes, jewellery, and other accessories and distributes them to underprivileged women who cannot afford their own wedding finery. She also organises free makeup, henna, and hairstyling sessions for some brides. Sabitha accepts donations from all over, including Mumbai, Delhi, Dubai, and the UK.
Another organisation to consider is Goonj, an award-winning voluntary organisation that delivers Wedding Kits to rural communities in India. Goonj collects wedding apparel and other new material from urban areas, sorts them, and puts together Wedding Kits containing new, fancier clothes by modifying the donated material. They then distribute these kits to brides and bridegrooms in rural areas, encouraging recipients to pass on the outfits to others in need once they are done.
Outside of India, Brides Across America is an organisation that accepts wedding dress donations and passes them on for free to military and first responder brides. They have outfitted over 28,000 women since 2008 and accept gowns, veils, and jewellery that are less than four years old and in wearable condition.
Donating your wedding dress is a wonderful way to give back and support brides who may be facing financial challenges, especially in cultures where weddings are extravagant affairs with multiple ceremonies requiring different outfits. Your donation can make a significant difference and bring joy to someone's special day.
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Frame your wedding dress and display it as art
Framing your wedding dress is a great way to preserve and display your Indian wedding dress as a piece of art. It is a glamorous alternative to hiding it away in storage and can serve as a lasting reminder of your special day.
There are a few options to consider when framing your wedding dress. Firstly, decide whether you want to display the entire dress or just parts of it, such as the bodice. Full-length shadow box framing is a popular option for wedding dresses as it can accommodate the length and volume of the dress. These frames can be made to almost any size and depth, but keep in mind that larger frames can be heavy and unwieldy. A half-size frame is a good option if you don't have much space, as the skirt is folded up behind the bodice, which becomes the focal point. You can also choose whether to display your dress on a mannequin or just on mountboard inside the frame.
Another thing to consider is whether you want to frame the dress yourself or use a professional service. Professional framers can guarantee that your dress won't be damaged and can advise on the best materials and glazing options to protect your dress from pollutants and UV light, which can cause fading and physical damage. They will also be able to advise on the best place to display your dress to avoid direct sunlight. Professional framing can be expensive, with prices starting from £900 and going upwards of $2000, but it may be worth the investment to ensure your dress is properly preserved.
If you decide to frame your dress yourself, you can purchase DIY kits or source the materials yourself. This option may be more cost-effective, but there is a higher risk of damage to your dress if it is not properly mounted and displayed.
Once you have decided on the framing method and sourced the necessary materials or professionals, your dress will be ready to be displayed as a beautiful piece of art in your home.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to reuse your Indian wedding dress. You can repurpose the blouse by pairing it with a plain saree or skirt. You can also transform your wedding lehenga into a designer Anarkali suit by adding tassels or hangings to its borders.
One of the easiest ways to make your wedding dress more wearable is to shorten the design. You can remove the train or shorten it to ankle, midi, or mini length. You can also layer it with a roll-neck underneath or add a jumper, jacket, or blazer on top.
You can either have your wedding dress professionally preserved, donate it to someone in need, or repurpose it into décor. You can also turn your wedding dress into a piece of art by getting it framed.
You can reduce some pleats and turn it into a fish-cut lehenga, which adds an hourglass shape to your body. You can also pair it with a different bodice, such as an off-shoulder or cold-shoulder choli, or with a crop-top.
You can cut a bridal saree into a pair of palazzos or a sharara and team it with a simple or lightly embroidered kurti. You can also reuse the lehenga with just a simple kurti for a whole new look.
