City Saheli broke down some of our favorite pieces for our Sahelis! All photos are courtesy of Lakmé Fashion Week. 

These modern pieces are perfect for a night on the town!

Break up the routine and change up your wardrobe for those family parties! Here are some amazing styles and pieces we’re sure you will fall in love with!

For our Bollywood fashionistas, these show stopper designs are sure to turn heads at the next wedding event!

For more information on pricing please contact their offices-  shyamalshodhan@yahoo.com

Here is a glimpse of the men’s line.

We love the use of color in this season’s collection.

Bhumika and Shyamal Shodhan started their careers in fashion in 2000, in Ahmedabad, India. Shortly after, the two worked together and established the label SHYAMAL & BHUMIKA. Since then the designers have been nominated for ‘Best Indian Wear’ at the Marie Claire India Fashion Awards 2008 in New Delhi and have developed a huge following.  To find out more about the designers and their lines, check out CitySaheli’s article Shyamal & Bhumika – Ahmedabad and Beyond. 

ShaadiStudio is a full time resource center catering to the South Asian community.  The space brings together a diverse group of wedding specialists including top of the line event planners, dress designers, makeup artists, djs, photographers, and caterers.  The studio is a space that demonstrates the signature elements of a lavish South Asian wedding by bringing together experts in the field.

To top off the evening, BridalGal is offering complimentary makeovers to give you a complete look. And if you can’t make it to Thursday’s festivities, they will continue on Saturday, April 24th with a trunk show at Shaadi Studio. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to update your wardrobe, stock up for wedding season and make a statement at your next event. 

A Night of Glitz & Glam with Shyamal & Bhumika

When: Thursday, April 22 – 6pm to 10pm

Where: Shaadi Studio, 336 West 37th Street, Suite 600

RSVP at events@citysaheli.com and receive up to 15% off your purchase.

CitySaheli found some traditional red, trendy pink and firey orange runway looks for our brides-to-be.
Tarun Tahiliani makes smashing pieces.

Ritu Kumar is known for traditional work but can use very vibrant colors.

Shilpa Shetty’s Engagement sari was designed by Manish Malhotra.

Sabyasachi is taking the bridal world by storm and often his fashion is worn by Aishwariya Rai Bachchan. Here is what he displayed at Bridal Asia.

We loved Manish Malhotra’s display at Kolkata Fashion Week.

If lush, lavish, extravagant and eye catching is your style, don’t think you need to be rich and famous have your dream wedding.  CitySaheli put together a few stylish tips, inspired by Shetty’s memorable affair, so you too can get married like a Bollywood star – only without the hefty price tag! 

Invitations

The ornate gold embellishment displaying the couple’s initials told Shetty’s guests that her soon-to-be affair was going to be extravagant! Heavy embellishment’s can be costly, though, if purchased directly from the card designer.  To cut cost, consider purchasing simpler invitations and adding the embellishments yourself.  Your guests will never know!

Jewelry and Attire

Shetty’s ornate red creation for her ceremony, and golden gown embellished with Swarovski crystals for the reception, were designed by top designer and friend Tarun Tahiliani.  Her wedding jewelry to accompany this apparel was worth more than RS 3 crore (that’s more than $600,000,000!).

Don’t quite have that budget?  If there is a particular designer you love, choose photos from his or her collection and look for similar designs in more affordable shops.  Or consider have something similar made by a designer within your price range.

Also, celebrities often get jewels worth thousands of dollars on loan from famous jewelry designers.  Borrowing jewelry from friends or family, or raiding Nani’s jewelry box, is a wonderful way to create your own distinctive look.

Reception

Shetty’s wedding was held at the villa of Shilpa’s close friend Kiran Bawa. The entire place was elegantly draped in flowers and lights.

To obtain a similar look at a lower cost, consider renting or purchasing inexpensive ornate fabric to use as your ceremony backdrop.  This cuts the number of flowers needed but will still achieve the dramatic red carpet look you’re looking for!

CitySaheli found the upcoming wedding expos being held specifically for South Asian brides.  Here you will find vendors that will be able to provide you exactly what you are looking for.  For example, you’ll find florists with experience creating mundaps, DJs with desi songs, bands that play music from both the east and the west, shops that carry wedding lenghas and saris, and caterers that offer a variety of South Asian foods. 

Save the date and don’t miss these opportunities to make wedding planning a whole lot easier!

South Asian Bridal Expo
Where: The Woodlands at Woodburry
When: Thursday, September 24th

Dulhan Expo            

Where: Skylands at Randolph, NJ
When: September 27, 2009

Where: Melville Marriott, Long Island, NY
When: October 4, 2009

Where: Garden State Exhibit Center, NJ
When: Sunday December 6, 2009

Shaadi Chic                 
Where: Sheraton Parsipanny
When: Sunday, October 25, 2009

To help our brides, CitySaheli sat down with Payal Singhal to get exclusive tips on shopping abroad and to find out what’s in this year for bridal wear.  Payal’s experience as a designer for brides around the world provided us with a very insightful perspective.

Payal’s top five tips for brides traveling abroad were the following:

1. The best time to shop in India is in October.  This is when new collections are revealed for the upcoming holiday season (Navratri, Diwali, Eid, etc). December is known as NRI season and designers get bogged down by the massive crowds.  If you want the first look at the new collections and an more pleasant shopping experience, October is the time to go.

2. If you are looking for a bargain and designer sales, the best time to go is during the summer.  This is when designers are making room for their new collections.  If you are shopping in Mumbai, it’s also monsoon season and designers use sales to attract visitors to their stores.

3. Make appointments with the designers you want to meet to ensure the designer is available.  For example, Payal spends much of the year travelling all over the world.  Making an appointment will allow the designer to spend time with you and focus on exactly what you are interested in.

 4.  If you have a limited time to shop (2-3 weeks or less) buy off the rack.  This means don’t try to add too much to an outfit or change the embroidery.  Brides who try to alter a look in short time are often disappointed with the final product.  If you do ask for something totally different, be sure to request a swatch of the work to ensure you like what you will get. 

 5.  If you’ve seen something you like, bring it with you for inspiration.  Don’t, however, ask a designer to copy another designer’s work.  It likely won’t turn out the way you like it, since each has their own style.

Payal also shared bridal trends with us.  This year, she said, “think vintage.”  Picture your mom’s classic lengha paired with a modern choli blouse.  The silhouette of skirts flare more and are less fitted. Lace fabrics adorned with crystals are popular and net fabric has made a comeback this year.  Popular bridal colors include peaches, dark corals and gem colors.  

Get a glimpse of the new trends, and of Payal’s new bridal collection, below.  See more of her collection at CitySaheli’s exclusive event, Cocktails with Payal Singhal, on Wednesday, 09.09.09. For more information about the event, visit http://citysaheli.com/events.

Traditionally, a man surprises his fiancée with this symbol of his affection, but today more and more women are involved in the decision making process. If you are one of these women, CitySaheli wants to make sure you know what to look for and where to go!

So where does one search for the perfect setting and find that dream bling? CitySaheli has strolled around the streets of Manhattan and here are our picks:

Michael C. Fina: Located right by the Diamond District, on 5^th Avenue, Michael C. Fina houses many of the trendy ring designers. Michael B., Mark Patterson and Tacori all have displays of various settings, so it’s a great place to determine what you really like in a band. Micro pave versus beading? With or without a halo around the rock? This spot has a variety of ring settings and is the perfect place to get an idea of what looks best on you.  

Tiffanys: You walk by it all the time and likely think of Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. This place exudes classic timeless elegance. Tiffany’s engagement ring floor offers Tiffany’s classic ring settings and some of the brand’s newer contemporary designs. This is a good place to assess the cut and size that best suits your finger. Tiffany’s has many ring settings with side stones, so be sure to try on the different varieties.

Diamond District: Almost everyone knows a friend who knows a guy in the Diamond District. Located on 47^th street between 5^th and 6^th avenue, this street can be an overwhelming experience, since as you walk through the district many people will likely approach you to buy diamonds or sell gold. Keep in mind, it’s not as bad as you think. The Diamond District offers numerous unique settings. A visit to this area can help you determine if something a little different is right for you.