The word “chikankari” is synonymous with grace, tradition, elegance, sophistication and subtlety. All Indian girls have at least a few Chikankari Lehenga or kurtas or dupattas in their wardrobes. They are lightweight yet beautiful options for everyday wear. But did you know you can use this traditional art form even on clothes for special occasions?
Chikankari lehengas look great on brides as well as others who attend an Indian wedding! Nowadays, craftsmen are also combining chikankari with other craft forms like gota-patti, sequin embroidery, stone work, pearl, mirror work etc on lehengas. Together the outfit that gets created is perfect, even for a bride! These chikankari lehengas prove that versatility can be found even with the most traditional Indian art forms.
43 stunning Chikankari Lehenga
1. Mix of Embroidery Styles
Custom Made Wedding Wear | Bridal lehenga
The blush pink chikankari lehenga on one hand boats beautiful self color chikankari work with a hint of sequin here and there. What enhances the subtlety of the look is the bright floral embroidery on the hemlines and the borders. The colors and the style are perfect for a summer wedding.
@dollyjstudio
2. White Chikankari Lehenga
When you think of chikankari, the first color that comes to mind is white. This chikankari comes with a fully embellished skirt with chikankari and gota work. The blouse is plain and full-sleeve! Checkout more White Bridal lehenga.
3. Perfect for the Bridesmaid
While brides can very well flaunt chikankari lehengas on their wedding days, it is the bridesmaids who can really experiment with the color of the outfit. Chikankari looks very well on pastel shades like mustard or mint green! These colors also photograph well.
@gulatieditions.in
4. Golden work with Chikankari
While silver gota-patti work is quite common in case of chikankari, gold zari work creates a unique look. This peach toned lehenga boasts both zari and chikankari work.
@hannaskhan
5. Chikankari Lehenga Dress
A lehenga dress can be described as an outfit where the lehenga skirt has been conjoined with the blouse. The dress is paired with a dupatta and boasts a long flared drape exactly like that of a lehenga skirt. This one comes in white chikankari paired with panels of gold embellishments.
@xasooma_
6. Elegance in Beige
Traditional chikankari works concerns only a few pastel shades. But with time, more colors are being introduced into the realm of this art. This chikankari lehenga in a warm tone of beige looks great with the plain spaghetti strap blouse.
@thatsanguinesoul
7. Chikankari Lehenga Skirt
This is a new style that can also be flaunted at non wedding purposes. The skirt has a net layer with chikankari embroidery. Instead of a traditional choli, it has been paired with a blouse with collars and long puffy and flared sleeves.
@jhanavichada20
8. Chikankari Lehenga with Top
This light neon green chikankari lehenga has a straight cut and comes with a long top-style blouse. The use or zari threads is prominent and the hemlines and borders have been adorned with vibrant floral embroidery.
@sanghvijigna
9. That Pink Chikankari Lehenga
If you want to go for one chikankari and you do not want it to be in white then go for one in the lightest shade of pink. Pink never fails to bring in femininity, grace as well as grandeur. It also acts as that neutral backdrop for work in white threads, silver sequin, stones etc
@kafiyatchikankari
10. Bright in Pink
This bright pink chikankari lehenga is adorned with golden zari work on the skirt. It is a beautiful piece and the color is sure to impress all!
@rj.trisha
11. The Blush of Love with Chikankari
This blush pink chikankari lehenga is a piece of poetry. The pastel shade is enhancing the intricacy of the craftsmanship. The chikankari work is further adorned by the addition of Japanese pearls and sequins.
@anjulbhandari
12. Baby Pink Chikankari Lehenga
Another very sophisticated choice of color for chikankari is baby pink. This lehenga is adorned with chikankari work in pink and white threads along with zari work and tiny white stones.
@desingsbyabhilasha
13. Lavender for the Mehendi Day
This beautiful bride wears this serene lavender chikankari lehenga with a beautiful net dupatta for her mehendi function.
14. Pastel Pink for Sangeet Night
Chikankari and pastel shades – it’s a match made in heaven. This pretty brides grooves to the beats on her sangeet ceremony in this gorgeous pastel pink chikankari lehenga, also embellished with sequins and baby pearls.
@anjulbhandari
15. Radiant in Yellow
Chikankari when combined with the right type of embellishment can look very attractive on bright colors too! This sunshine yellow chikankari lehenga can be sported both on mehendi or haldi functions. It comes with a strappy blouse, boasts multicolour thread work and cowrie tassel details! Goes perfectly with haldi Ceremony.
@tisha_official
16. Beautiful in Beige
Defying all conventions this beige chikankari lehenga with a boat neck, full-sleeve fully embroidered blouse, is looking gorgeous even during the day time!
@jyotsnasinghunofficial
17. Minimalistic White Chikankari Lehenga
This chikankari has a bit of everything but does not come across as over-the-top! The net details, the gota-patti work on the blouse and the chikankari work make the outfit perfect for the sister of the bride or the groom.
@asthabhattlabel
18. Elegance in Pink
This blush pink chikankari lehenga has an elaborately embroidered floral skirt with a sleeveless crop top or blouse boasting sequin work. The skirt also has latkan details which makes the outfit very elegant.
@kalkifashion
19. Pastel Peach with Chikankari
This chikankari showcases embroidery on the skirt and dupatta. The blouse has floral bootas all over. The outfit comes with e sequin belt.
@aashiluthrastore
20. Fit for a Princess
This gorgeous, larger-than-life chikankari lehenga in light pink and white is fit for royalty. The chikankari work looks exquisitely beautiful on the net fabric.
@jaipurparidhan
21. White for the Wedding Guest
If you are attending an Indian wedding but do not like colors that are too bright or dark, a white chikankari lehenga might be your go-to outfit. Chikankari is sophisticated, no less grand and very importantly lightweight, compared to other kinds of embellishments like sequins, stones or zari. Checkout what to wear to an indian wedding as a guest.
@walkin.melanin
22. Bridal in White and Beige Chikankari Lehenga
Perhaps it is the magic of chikankari that turns white and beige into gorgeous bridal colors. The work is beautifully intricate and the heavily ornated full-sleeve choli looks amazing!
@insta_fashion_stop
23. Designer Chikankari
Sarah Ali Khan is a princess and this larger-than-life pink chikankari lehenga by Manish Malhotra definitely does justice to this part of the actor’s identity.
24. For Morning Weddings
Being lightweight and coming mostly in neutral tones, a chikankari lehenga might be the perfect outfit for guests at a morning wedding. For instance, in this pool themed party, an off-white chikankari lehenga has been paired with a blouse with multi-color motifs. The look goes really well with the theme of the occasion.
@supreetdhillonstories
25. Moss Green Chikankari Lehenga
This bride looks mesmerizing in this pastel moss green chikankari. The color is subtle, the work has light touches of gold and it is the perfect outfit for any pre wedding function.
@labelkanupriya
26. Chikankari Lehenga with Mirror Work
Chikankari looks even more exquisite when coupled with other types of handwork like gotta-patti, stone embroidery or Lakhnavi mirror work. This lehenga is exotic because it comes a unique color with is a cross between matte gold and beige. The outfit also bring together two mutually complementing craft styles.
@saibela_collection
27. Bride in Purple Chikankari Lehenga
This chikankari lehenga is one-of-a-kind for reasons more than one. First, the color combination is exotic. Dark purplish pink has been paired with a much lighter lilac pink shade. This brings out the intricacy of the chikankari work. Plus, the lehenga also boasts the double dupatta style.
@fab.fit.foodie
28. Get Frilly Chikankari Lehenga
Both the blouse and the skirt boast chikankari work! The color combination is very sophisticated – white chikankari fabric has been combined with dusty lilac net frills and gathers at the hemline of the skirt. The dupatta too has a frilly border.
@wingstoursoul
29. Dusty Pink Chikankari Lehenga
Another piece of art – this dusty pink lehenga boasts chikankari embroidery in white threads. The blouse is unique with glass sleeves and a boat neck. The work also contains highlights of pearls, tiny mirrors and sequins.
@anjulbhandari
30. Dark Colors and Chikankari
This jamoon color chikankari lehenga is so dark that it looks almost like chocolate brown. With chikankari, mirror work has been combined.
@myaicha.in
31. For Summer Weddings
Chikankari lehengas are perfect for summer weddings, especially if the outfit is one like this. This rose gold shade lehenga has dense floral work on the skirt. The blouse boasts silver gota-patti work and the net dupatta comes with an embellished border.
@neha_boutique1
32. Breath-taking Chikankari Lehenga in White
No matter how much we experiment with the color of a chikankari outfit, the one color that is unparalleled in the grace-factor is white. Chikankari on white looks ethereal, celestial and breathtakingly beautiful!
@priyanka_gupta_08
33. Chikankari Lehenga with Long Top
This light pink and gold lehenga comes with a kurti instead of a blouse. This outfit would be great for someone who wants to wear a lehenga but also wants to sport a traditional gharara or sharara look. The dupatta is in a contrasting dark shade so is the hemline of the skirt. Gold borders are added to all three parts of the outfit.
@adachikan
34. Cream Chikankari Lehenga
After white, the best color for a chikankari lehenga is off-white or cream. A cream lehenga without other embellishments translates as pure bliss.
@sunnyysides_up
35. Peach Pink Chikankari
Peach complements the Indian skin tone really well. Plus it looks great against traditional chikankari embroidery. Such a lehenga is perfect for a morning wedding or a wedding being held in the serene atmosphere of a temple or a gurudwara.
@divyadchawla
36. White and Lavender Net Chikankari Lehenga
This lehenga comes with a white sequin embroidered blouse and a lavender skirt with a veil of white net which is adorned with chikankari motifs. The dupatta is also net. Such an outfit is apt for the wedding guest or the friend of the bride or groom.
@aakarshanbyaj
37. Bright Pink Chikankari Lehenga
The lehenga skirt is dense with chikankari work and the blouse is pretty unique with full sleeves, puffed near the forearm. The dupatta too comes in a fluffy net fabric.
@tanvigupta11
38. The Gold Piping
Some girls can’t imagine chikankari in a color other than white. But sometimes a white chikankari lehenga is not grand enough for special occasions like weddings. To jazz up your white chikankari lehenga you can pair it with gold jewellery. You can also add a piping of gold on the hemlines to make it perfect for all occasions.
@priyachhabriadesigns
39. Dark Green and Chikankari
Who said chikankari does not look good on very dark colors? This dark bottle green chikankari lehenga looks amazing as the intricacy of the craftsmanship comes through on the dark surface. The contrast between the dark fabric and white thread creates a style of its own.
@vstyle_label
40. Frills and Belts
A very sophisticated take on the lehenga – this one comes with an ornate skirt boasting pleated frill hemline. The choli is long and has gold zardozi work on the neckline and lower hem. Apart from a dupatta it also comes with a belt detail.
@meenu_modi
41. Off-white with Matte Gold
A chikankari lehenga is all about grace. This beautiful one, fit for a bride, boasts detailed chikankari work all over. The off-white lehenga has been infused with embellishments in matte gold at the right places.
@thedivalooks
42. Light Olive Green Net Chikankari Lehenga
A wonderful choice for any morning occasion – this light olive green lehenga has a layer of white net on which chikankari motifs have been embroidered. The net dupatta is in white. Gold border details have also been added.
@theradhikakhatri
43. Mustard Yellow Chikankari Lehenga
This one is a perfect option for the haldi morning. The color makes it so! Plus the combination of chikankari and mirror work will ensure that your photos come out great!
@maitrimehtalabel
Few Fun Facts on Chikankari
• Chikankari hails from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh where artisan families have been practicing the art through generations. The Chowk area of Lucknow can be considered as a hub for the art.
• The word “chikan” means embroidery.
• There are many interesting stories behind the origin of the craft. The most interesting one talks about how a traveller taught the art to a peasant in return for drinking water.
• Noor Jahan, queen of Mughal emperor Jahangir, is also sometimes associated with the origin of chikankari.
• Chikankari began as a type of embroidery when white thread was used on white cloth.
• The film ‘Anjuman’ (1986) starring Shabana Azmi is based on the lives of chikankari workers of Lucknow.
If the chikankari art fascinates you and you want to own a beautiful chikankari lehenga, going to Lucknow is not your only option! Get in touch with us and tell our ace designer what exactly you want your dream chikankari lehenga to be like, which occasion you plan to wear it on, which are your preferred colors etc. We are in direct touch with the artisans and we will get your outfit customized for you and deliver it at your doorstep!
