Bridesmaid's Faux Pas
Every wedding has an unspoken rule - the bride must be the most glamorous, the most gorgeous, and the most dolled up at the event. Any time anyone – even mistakenly – overdresses herself, she will become the centre of all scorn for the rest of the event.
Now what about the bridesmaids, i.e. the bride's best friends, sisters and cousins? How must they manage to look grand enough to portray their importance at the wedding without stealing any of the bride's thunder? Here's how!
Firstly, try and avoid wearing the colour that the bride will be adorned in. If she's wearing red, you wear purple. If she's wearing purple, you wear pink. Try avoiding black though— leave that for the guests. You should wear a more cheerful colour that helps you stand out.
Not too difficult, right? But still, there are times when some close relatives will dress up exactly the way they were dressed for their weddings – in the same gorgeous bridal attire and the same bridal jewellery. No one ordered two brides for this wedding - so let there be just one.
Jewellery is another factor. To look just the right amount of fabulous, make sure you are not covered from head-to-toe with sheer bling. Wearing jewellery also has rules, so follow them – if you are wearing big gaudy earrings, try and keep the neck entirely free of jewellery, or if absolutely necessary, slip on a lovely chain of the same colour.
And of course, the rule applies the other way around too—if your neckpiece is big and extravagant, wear little matching studs, or a pair of small drop-down 'jhumkas'. Along with this, a 'tikli' or 'jhapta' can go a long way. That one particular piece of jewellery can help portray exactly the part you wish to play—not the bride, but still very important indeed!
Another thing to remember is decency. While we are masters of our own bodies and can wear anything that pleases us, we must remember that this day is most special for two particular people, and we would want everything to go right for them. Dressing too casually, or openly may get you negative attention, which, in turn, will get the bride and groom (and, considering this is Bangladesh, their whole families too) some negative attention as well. Remember the occasion, remember the people who this is for, and dress appropriately.
Now, this last tip is very helpful. While heels are probably my worst enemy, I cannot possibly wear a gorgeous sari with a pair of flats without looking like some kind of a slob. Heels add grace to your walk and posture, which, for weddings, is quite essential.
So of course, everyone wears their best pairs with their ensembles. But it never hurts to carry an extra pair of flats. Keep it in the car and the moment you realise that you can't walk because your hips and heels feel like they weigh a ton, go to your car and slip on your comfortable pair and let your feet relax for a while.
You can change back into your heels whenever you feel like your feet have had enough rest. Or, just keep them on the rest of the night—they've already seen you with the heels and at your best, right?
These tips will help you maintain your importance at the wedding and will also make the whole ordeal a little easier for you, while making sure you do not, in any way, upstage the bride. So, go ahead and glam up!
By Naziba Basher
Photo: LS Archive, 2014 wedding shoot conducted with Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh and Reelas'
Comments