Hey gorgeous! This is Shilpa Ahuja, Editor-in-Chief of ShilpaAhuja.com and your style BFF! India Couture Week just got over and so I’m finally able to bring you my fashion forecast. So we combined our analysis of Bollywood and celeb style, Instagram looks and runway collections to round up the 9 latest lehenga trends for 2018’s wedding season. We saw so many chic, new lehenga designs. Let’s dive right in!
 Latest Lehenga Trends for 2018
1. Pre-Draped Dupatta
Girls, this is one of the brand new latest lehenga trends. We’ve already seen pre-draped sarees before, but this season, designer lehenga cholis with pre-stitched dupattas are the #1 trend on our radar. Try hooded cholis with an optional second dupatta. Or go for dupatta that’s stitched to the sleeves for an ethereal gown-like look. Honestly, this is also my favorite trend. ‘Cause who wants to keep rearranging the dupatta when one is trying to concentrate on pani-puris at a wedding, right?!
2. Statement Sleeves
Here’s another trend that’s gonna make a real statement! We saw a mix of vintage European and modern couture styles. My recommendation is to try the asymmetric or one sleeved cholis if you want the contemporary touch. Or go for 18th century Victorian sleeves like short leg-o-mutton or flouncy sleeves. To find out more about different types of sleeves, check out our SlubWords fashion dictionary.
3. Illusion Neckline
Forget strapless and strappy cholis. And welcome illusion necklines. It’s basically embellished net that doesn’t seem to have a defined neckline, so you have rhinestones and crystals just floating on your décolletage. Innit sexy?!
4. High-Low Kurta with Lehenga
Last year’s kurta with lehenga trend has evolved to high-low peplums and empire-waist tops that are hip or knee length in the front, and ankle-length or floor-touching at the back. Wear with matching or contrasting lehengas. Skip the dupatta and go for high necks, or flaunt your cleavage!
5. Jackets
Having a winter wedding? Lehenga designs of 2018 have you covered! Front open velvet coats, long ruffled jackets and crop capes are very trendy, and they’ll keep you warm too. You can also get an embroidered coat that’ll go with multiple outfits – perfect for a winter wedding!
6. Pastels
Pastels are one of 2018’s hottest wedding wear trends, which we’re even seeing in bridal lehengas. Some of the top designers like Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani and Falguni & Shane Peacock have introduced soft color palettes in their collections, like petal pink, powder blue, pale peach and light mint-green.
7. Peplums and Empire Waist
Here’s yet another western-inspired trend we’re spotting in India Couture Week – designer lehengas worn with short peplum cholis or empire-waisted gown-like tops.
8. Extra Crop Blouses
Time to tone your abs, girls, because this wedding season will give you the perfect opportunity to flaunt them! Extra cropped cholis that end at or right above the upper abs are back!
9. High Neck
And last but not the least, if you’re feeling too lazy to pick up a necklace for your outfit, then this one’s for you! High neck cholis with embellished, choker-like bands are very trendy. Although I personally feel they look really uncomfortable!
So, I hope you enjoyed my round-up of 2018’s top lehenga designs. Which one out of the latest lehenga trends did you like the most? And which one did you hate? Lemme know below! And to watch more videos like this, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Muaah!
Shilpa Ahuja the editor-in-chief of ShilpaAhuja.com, which she founded with the goal of inspiring confidence in the modern working woman through fashion. Other than defining the direction of the magazine, she also writes about fashion & beauty trend forecasts, industry analysis, and opinions.
Shilpa’s work has been published in the University of Fashion blog and Jet Airways magazine. She is also an artist, illustrator and cartoonist. She is also the creator of Audrey O., a comic series that represents the lifestyle of millennial women. She enjoys creative writing and world travel. Her art has been exhibited at Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Aroma Hotel, Chandigarh and been published in Chandigarh Times.
Originally from Chandigarh, Shilpa also has a degree in architecture and has worked in interior project management. She is also the author of the book “Designing a Chinese Cultural Center in India”. Shilpa has a Masters in Design Studies degree from Harvard University.
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