When we think of lehenga, what first comes to mind is the lehenga skirt – how flared it’s going to be, how heavily embellished the skirt should be, what shape it should be in etc etc! Some of us even get concerned about the choli – its shape, the detailing at the back, sleeve length, type of embellishment etc. But a bridal lehenga comprises of a third important component too which is your lehenga dupatta!
It won’t be exaggeration if one says that most brides are not concerned about the dupatta. But in reality the dupatta plays a crucial role. First, it plays a key role in the silhouette of the whole bridal look. The drape of the dupatta goes a long way in complementing the figure of the bride. If draped in the wrong way, the dupatta might make one look broader or leaner, in an uncomplimentary kind of way!
Lehenga Dupatta Draping Styles
1. Over The Head
@bridal_lehenga_ideas
This is the most common way of draping a bridal dupatta with a lehenga. The dupatta is neatly laid on the head of the bride, pinned discreetly to the hairstyle to keep it in place and the rest of the dupatta is allowed a free fall on both sides!
2. Like Gujarati Saree Pallu
@smsy_dress
Just like the Gujarati style saree pallu is draped, the dupatta is pleated and then placed on the shoulder of the bride. The part of the dupatta in front is then spread and pinned like a fan to the skirt. Checkout more of Gujarati wedding.
3. Cross Body
@shaadiwish | Get Custom Made Lehenga
This type of bridal dupatta draping is also pretty common! The dupatta is pleated and draped diagonally across the body, quite like a normal saree pallu. This style is also known as half Saree or manga Voni.
4. One Side Pinning
@pragyaachhajer
In this draping style, a corner of the dupatta is taken and pinned with the skirt on one side of the body, near the waist. Then the rest of the dupatta is taken and draped on the other side of the body and held on to in a casual way.
5. Like a Shawl
@wedabout
If you would like to keep the drape simple and effortless, simply wrap it around yourself like a shawl. This style would be great when you want to display the workmanship on the dupatta. This type of lehenga dupatta goes perfectly in a Punjabi Wedding.
6. Pleated on One side
@venuelook
Another hassle-free draping style is to pleat the dupatta and pin it to the choli, on one side of the body. This style works well when you want to highlight the lehenga skirt and choli and keep the dupatta out of the way. This works in case of contrast dupattas too. This is also a great way to wear your dupatta on a mehendi and sangeet function, when you want to keep it neat and out of the way.
7. Like a veil
@loving_too_much
If you are keen on flaunting a unique dupatta draping style, try this one! In this style you wear the dupatta in such a way, over your head, that it covers part of your face. This works well with semi-sheer, transparent and see-through dupattas like those in fabrics like net, chiffon or organza. Also if you are going to flaunt a semi-sheer dupatta with an ornate or frilly border, this draping style is a clever way to showcase the border. Checkout more of red lehengas.
8. Let it Trail
@wishnwed
A bit of a variation in the ‘over the head’ draping style is letting the dupatta trail behind you just like the veils that go with Christian wedding gowns. This style looks very graceful and photographs well too!
9. Like a Suit Dupatta
@wittyvows
The most common way to style a suit dupatta is by draping it in front, over both shoulders. You can use the same styling technique in case of lehengas too.
10. The Double Dupatta Style
This is the trendiest dupatta draping style in the wedding fashion scene these days. It involves the use of two dupattas. One dupatta that matches the color and style of the lehenga is draped over the head of the bride in a traditional way. The other dupatta comes in a completely contrasting shade and design. For example, if the bride flaunts a sequin embroidered lehenga in a light pastel green shade, the other dupatta might be a bandhej one or a phulkari one in bright purple or yellow!
@wedabout
This second dupatta is draped either cross-body, or pinned on one side or even sometimes draped like a Gujarati saree pallu. The double dupatta draping style allows you and the designer to play around with style and be at your creative best.
@shaadiwish
Checkout Saree Draping Styles.
Various types of Lehenga Dupattas
1. Net Dupatta
@urbanstree
What it is!
Net is a kind of see-through thin material! It is created by knotting and looping yarns resulting in open spaces between the yarns. This gives the fabric a see-through look. The fabric is tough and has the ability to support heavy embroidery or sequin and stone work.
What will it go with?
Net dupattas go with heavy lehengas where the focus needs to be on the embellishments on the skirt and choli. As net material is almost transparent, even draping the dupatta around the body will allow the showcasing of the intricacies of the work on the lehenga skirt and choli.
2. Chanderi Dupatta
@thewardrobestories
What is it!
Chanderi is a luxurious drape with a sheer texture and is extremely light-weight. It is primarily produced in a small town of Madhya Pradesh of the same name. Chanderi weaves use silk yarns and zari. They come in bright shades as well as pastel hues with gold zari motifs. Chanderi fabric has an attractive translucency that looks great with the bridal attire.
What will it go with?
The use of gold zari in chanderi and luxuriousness of the silk make it perfect for any heavy lehenga. If you are wanting to avoid sequin, stone, crystal embellishments, because they are heavy, you can go for the woven zari embellishment look! In that case, chanderi dupattas could work wonders!
3. Brocade Dupatta
@maasha.by.milankaul
What it is!
Brocade implies to any fabric which forms woven, slightly raised motifs usually using gold or silver yarns. Brocade is generally heavy owing to the use of zari threads and never fails in creating a super-glam look.
What will it go with?
Brocade gives out an old-world, vintage vibe! Moreover, on its own, the fabric looks very gorgeous! So if you are going for a light lehenga, low on embellishments, using a heavy brocade dupatta will add the bling factor to your look.
4. Banarasi Dupatta
@eventilaindia
What it is!
Banarasi fabric has a charm of its own and a different place altogether in the Indian bridal scenario, though technically it falls under the brocade category! Benarasi silk hails from the city of Banaras in Uttar Pradesh. The top quality silk and the best gold and silver zari brocade fabric is a class in itself. Banarasi is a cult favorite when it comes to wedding fashion!
What will it go with?
While Bengali brides wear Banarasi sarees on their wedding, you can easily re-create that look in a lehenga! In this case, the Banarasi dupatta will be the star of the show. The same fabric can be used to border the lehenga skirt! A Benarasi lehenga skirt may also be used if the bride is looking for a larger-than-life look!
5. Organza Dupatta
@rohit_chikan_palace
What it is!
Organza is a thin, sheer fabric made with silk yarns! Pure silk organza fabric is comfortable and light weight. Nowadays even synthetic fibres like polyester is being used to create organza fabric. These are tough and can withhold heavy embroidery!
What will it go with?
Organza dupattas should be paired with lehenga skirts and cholis that are high on the embellishment scale. The sheerness of the dupatta adds grace and does not hide the elaborate details on the rest of the attire.
6. Chiffon Dupatta
@urbanstree
What it is!
Chiffon is a very light, transparent, soft fabric which may be made with silk yarns as well as nylon yarns. Chiffon sarees are a mark of class and royalty and chiffon dupattas are extensively used with garments that are heavy on the embellishment scale.
What will it go with?
Owing to the softness of the fabric, chiffon dupattas are usually unable to carry the weight of heavy embellishments. At the most, tiny zari bootis or a border can be added! This is why they go really well with lehengas that are heavy on embellishment or embroidery! Chiffon dupattas are a must with chikankari lehengas or lehengas with aari or zardozi work.
7. Velvet Dupatta
@rajkumari.dulap
What it is!
Velvet has been used in wedding fashion in India over centuries! It is a tufted and woven fabric where the cut threads are arranged evenly to give a very soft, thick and dense feel.
What will it go with?
If you are sporting a lehenga with a velvet hemline or a velvet choli, use a dupatta in the same velvet! You can also combine a net or chiffon dupatta with velvet applique work or velvet border for the same effect.
8. Embroidered Dupatta
@fusionphulkari
What is it!
In India, you will be spoilt for options when it comes to embroidery! Almost every state in India boasts a typical type of embroidery that is exotic and exquisite! From zari embroidery to chikankari, from kantha to aari, from zardozi to phulkari – the list is endless! Dupattas always look exceptionally beautiful when embroidered motifs in thread or zari is used to adorn them. Such dupattas becomes heirlooms.
What will it go with?
This solely depends on the type of embroidery you have chosen! While with a benarasi brocade skirt, a zari embroidered or zardozi embroidered dupatta would look good, with pastel shade lehengas, chikankari dupattas would look great! If you are wearing something bright for a morning wedding, try combining a phulkari dupatta with the same.
9. Bandhej Dupatta
@desiclassybrides
What it is!
This very famous art hailing from Gujarat and Rajasthan deals with plucking cloth, tying then up and dyeing the fabric in bright colors. Bandhej or bandhani is often combined with embroidery and mirror work! This gives out an “ethnic boho” vibe.
What will it go with?
An emerging trend in the ethnic bridal wear scenario is the double dupatta style in which two different types of dupattas are draped to create the bridal look. Designers have come up with a new trend by combining a lehenga in a neutral shade or a light pastel shade with a brightly colored bandhej dupatta draped cross body!
10. Dupatta with Heavy Border
@anju_lamba13
What it is!
Sometimes, carrying a very heavy dupatta with lots of embellishments becomes an issue! Also, it is always not a good idea to keep the dupatta simple and out of the way! The best option in that case is going for an otherwise un-embellished dupatta with an ornate and heavy border! You may add a velvet border or a sequin embroidered one. You may also add frills to your dupatta border or even latkans!
What will it go with?
This one is a timeless trend! This type of dupatta will go with anything! A heavy border can amp up the look of a plain lehenga and even complement the look of a heavy lehenga! When it doubt, go for a plain dupatta with an embellished, heavy border.
Conclusion – Lehenga Dupatta Styles
A beautifully embellished dupatta makes the work easier! With a heavy dupatta, you can get away with a not-so-extraordinary lehenga skirt and choli. The dupatta can easily become the highlight of the look.
Also, when it comes to dupattas, there are a myriad choices that are available to Indian brides! A dupatta is a piece of garment that is also used with other types of attires like a salwar-suit, a sharara, a lehenga dress, a lacha etc. So every Indian state has its share to offer in terms of textile and craftsmanship. In other words, you will be spoilt for choices and this is where we come in! In this blog, we will be discussing the different types of dupattas that go well with the bridal attire. We will also be talking about the draping styles of dupattas that are in vogue in the Indian wedding wear scenario!
While the dupatta is a part of the bridal lehenga, dupatta draping style should depend on the figure type of the bride! Some dupatta draping styles might make you appear leaner and some may make your figure look more symmetrical. This decision should be taken by an expert designer and the type of dupatta you flaunt should also be customized for you. Dupatta is a powerful tool in the bridal wear ensemble and the key to the best style and draping depends solely on customization.
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