The French Flamboyance

Varun Bahl’s floral flamboyance of colors and prints embody the design ethos every bride loves to see in their dream wedding couture.

I ’ve always been fascinated with Varun Bahl’s collection. This time as the runways bloomed with floral grandeur, his latest summer collection, the French Floral Story was inspired by the Bouquet de Reeves. With his repertoire of classic designs, brides are able to recollect stories from what’s been weaved in their trosseau. Non-conformist and acute in his perception of silhouettes, Varun has created the signature saree gowns to the effortlessly flowy gowns. Changing the outlook of the royal burgundy as the wedding color, he has looked into colors that were considered too Western – the pastels. Just like a garden of fine florals, his pastures are satin, the silks, opulent velvets and the classic chanderis. A walk through his collection is like the poet’s mystical setting of the Midsummer Night’s Dream. His artistry transcends beyond elegant seams into a surreal affair.

From your childhood days, what’s the most indelible memory that told you, “ You should be a designer?”

It has been almost 15 years since I started my journey, but the memories seem so fresh. Designing has always excited me. It was challenging and exciting at the same time. Therefore, I decided to further study the art of designing and managed to carve a niche for myself.
I actually started out much before my first runway presentation. I first started designing for my mother, and then for family and friends. I saw that people loved my designs and that gave me a further push to pursue it as my career.
Also, a chance meeting with RohitBal, who also lived in the same neighborhood as I in Delhi, affirmed my decision to take up fashion designing. I visited Bal’s studio and fell in love with his designs and decided to follow suit.

Your saree gown was one of the many iconic things that you designed, what trend do you see in bridal couture that’s now become a standout?

Some of the popular trends in bridal couture are the extensive use of prints, use of ivory and gold, off whites and white lehengas embroidered with heavy gold work, bandhgala jacket styles paired with lehengas and embroidered jumpsuits. This season will see a lot of fusion saris, lehenga sari’s and jumpsuits with embellished trails.

You’ve been adventurous in introducing black in bridal couture, what are some other changes you would love to see in bridal couture?

I’ve always thought black, ivory are classic shades which spell understated glamor when worn for an occasion. I have seen people veer towards less embellished and heavy work and also opting for contrasts instead of only tonal pieces in the ensemble.

What’s one thing a bride should keep in her mind while selecting her bridal couture?

One should select the color of the outfit very carefully keeping in mind the brides personality and even the amount of surface embellishment and type of embroidery. Also, a selection of the apt silhouette makes a big difference.

Bridal trousseau is priceless.Do you feel that it should be a versatile piece and if you do think so, how?

Everyone starts preparing months in advance for their bridal trousseau and I think each piece selected is special as it’s been selected with utmost care for the bride.

A color palette that you think is in right now?

Pale pink, pale blue, peaches and ivories is what everyone favors these days.

Every season calls out for somethign new. Where do you imbibe your inspiration from?

I observe a lot when I visit new places I look out for the smallest of details.

In your years of experience, what’s the major difference designing for a groom and a bride?

Grooms like to go for brighter colors and embroidery. Brides go for more pastel shades like ivory, pale pink and peaches with minimal embroidery.

In this course of fashion, what’s one dramatic change you have noticed in bridal couture and one thing that has always been a classic?

I think in these few years a major change that I have noticed in bridal couture is that brides now go for minimal embroidery and more pastel colors rather than going for very loud or bright colors.
But like I mentioned, pastels, the classic red or tones of deep red are always popular

 Text: Atheena Wilson      Photos: Various Sources