Designer Payal Khandwala shares her idea of the perfect bridal attire and the upcoming trends to look out for

Payal Khandwala is an ace designer with her creations worn by big divas like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra and many more. Her aesthetic is an amalgamation of traditional Indian textiles with a touch of modernity. Balance in silhouettes, styles and colours is what her brand embodies. So in an EXCLUSIVE interview with Pinkvilla, she shares her idea of the perfect bridal attire and the upcoming trends to look out for.

1. Your work is an amalgamation of Indian textiles with western silhouettes, what was your thought process behind it and how did it lead you to the kind of work you present?

- This for me is an overall umbrella with which I work for any case - for our pret collections to even the way I dress. So even when we launched our store in 2014, we were doing exactly this. We were using Indian textiles whether it was brocade or its just silk or hand-woven sarees. Our idea was to do with a different prism and not do what was expected. So we took the fabrics and turned them into silhouettes we care about and even wear. So as far as the philosophy of the brand goes, we try to keep the soul of it Indian and in the spirit of it all we like to keep it more international. Our idea is that the wearer should not feel like she’s putting on a costume of sorts. 

2. A lot of people are opting for unconventional ways of wearing their blouses while also playing a little with the necklines (low necks/low backs). Adding to it they are also using a trench coat to layer it all. What are your thoughts about it? 

- I think that as a label we don’t care about trends. It really comes more from a personality type. So people are a little shy, they like necklines to be higher, they want their things to be covered. That is their general vibe. While the other people are more playful, they are okay with a low back or even a low front. Coming to trenchcoats, a lot of people might just be comfortable in wrapping around a shawl while others might actually layer it with the trench coat. I think those kinds of things come from the wearer and not the people who are suggesting it. For me, I’ll make clothes that I’d wear. So if people are making stuff where your chest is getting pushed up or equipped with a push-up bra, I wouldn’t want to push anything up. If I am comfortable with it, only then we can talk. And if I think it is too low then I wouldn’t do it.

3. Since the wedding season is going on, what is that one tip you’d give all the brides and bridesmaid out there?

- When in doubt, just edit. Remove one thing. I think the biggest mistake people do is that they do not know when to stop. It is because you are excited, you are the bride or the bride’s best friend, I think we just tend to overdo a little bit. Either we over accessorise or the garment has too many details or if you’ve got your shoes to match your eyeshadow and that to match your bag, it just gets too much. I think a bit of restraint always goes a long way.

4. If you had the full freedom to dress a bride, what would you make her wear for her big day?

- Well, I’m very practical so I’d pick a brocade choli with a matching lehenga. It is fuss-free and without can-can and it is something that I wore at my wedding. I was actually not at all exhausted and danced till 3 am. It also has to be practical because it has a lot of sentimental value so it should not be tucked in a box in the garage right? Now, this only applies to a bride who is on the same page as me.

5. If we had to look out for that one trend in the upcoming year, what do you think that will be?

- I don’t think this is a trend but I do see the new generation has woken up to the ‘less is more’ thing. Maybe they are quite aware and want to spend their money wisely. I think this paired down aesthetic will be big next year. I think the Indian/Modern thing is really trying to pick up, they like to keep it more functional. People now like to things to be practical and want to be able to use their choli with another lehenga or a shirt with a brocade jacket. However, I hope this is not a trend and stays for long. 

6. Which celebrity according to you embodies a similar essence of your brand? Or that one celebrity you’d like to dress?

- You now the thing with celebrities is that in India, most celebrities are dressed with a team of stylists. I don’t think that there’s anyone in India that matches to the tune of their own drum. For me somebody who has an intrinsic style, they do not care about fashion. For someone who is naturally stylish, they do not really care about people who are telling them what to wear and where. For example, Rekha. She knows that sarees are her thing so you will never see her in a leather catsuit or a flowy gown at the red carpet.

What are your thoughts about it? Let us know in the comments section below. 

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