Getting The Wedding Lehenga - What to expect on your visit to Sabyasachi for your Bridal Lehenga | #TSDBridalDiary
Friday, 22 June 2018
Hey lovelies!
This post was long due! A lot of you who had been following my bridal series, not only wanted to see more pictures of my bridal lehenga but also wanted to know my bridal lehenga shopping experience at Sabyasachi.
The first time I started thinking of getting married, I dreamt of being a Sabyasachi bride. I think he is one designer who has taken Indian traditional wear to another level by giving it a modern take with his distinct style. And ever since I saw his designs at the ramp during my initial years of fashion blogging, I absolutely fell in love with his design aesthetics and I always envisioned wearing one of his designs.
So, last December when I decided to take the plunge, the first thoughts I had in my mind were about the wedding lehenga. Having only two months in hand till the wedding date, I was kind of in a dilemma that would I even get a lehenga on time or not as usually designers take a minimum of two months to deliver a custom lehenga.
My First Visit for Bridal Lehenga Shopping :
So in the second week of January, I decided to pay a visit to the heaven of bridal couture - Mehrauli - where all the leading designers have their stores; with my mom and my bestie.
When I called to take up an appointment at the Sabyasachi, Anita Dongre and other designer boutique s in the vicinity - I was told an appointment is not needed, and you can visit anytime of the day to check out the collection. (PS : Sabyasachi store is closed on Sundays and they don't do Billings post 6pm)
I visited a couple of multi-brand boutiques like Kayra and Carma but I didn't find any bridal lehengas to my liking - as they had designs more suitable for a mehendi or engagement function.
So, we finally decided to visit Sabyasachi before checking out other designers in the area. Now, I had been to the flagship store before (for the launch event) but I didn't know then that I will be visiting the place again to finalise my wedding lehenga.
The Sabyasachi Mehrauli space is no less than royalty - the opulent space has two wings - one for bridal couture and jewellery, while the other wing has ready-to-wear saris, kurtas, menswear and other collections by the designer.
While the ground floor of the bridal wing has lighter lehengas and stunning range of sarees, the bridal heaven is on the first floor with all the designs that you have seen on the ramp or on his social media accounts available there.
Price Range :
Now, here's one bummer, if you have always wondered what is the price of a Sabyasachi bridal lehenga - you should keep in mind before visiting the store that the lehengas apt for your D-day are priced above Rs 3,00,000. So, in case you have a budget lesser than this, you should ideally check out Aza Fashions or Carma - both the multi-designer boutiques keep the lower-priced lehengas from Sabyasachi (priced between 1.5-3 lakh rupees).
Even the bridal lehengas in Mehrauli store are in two price ranges : the raw silk lehengas with intricate zardozi work are priced between Rs 3,00,000 to Rs 7,00,000. But if you are looking to buy his famous velvet lehengas, the prices start at Rs 7,00,000 and go up to Rs 20,00,000 or more for his exclusive couture pieces.
Designs :
Undoubtedly, I received a lot of compliments on the gorgeous lehenga - but honestly, it wasn't just for the compliments that I purchased this outfit - it was for the dream that every bride-to-be has - to look the perfect version of herself on her big day.
Here are few more pictures of my wedding lehenga and few shots from my D-day -
Before ending this post, I would surely like to mention that it doesn't matter that you wear a designer wedding lehenga on your D-day or not, but you should pick something that would not only make you feel confident but also make you feel your prettiest self.
Also, don't go by what online magazines or stylists recommend - as there is no one style or dress that you should stick to - just because it is in trend or is out of trend. You should always go out, browse different styles at places you have shortlisted and decide only once you have tried everything on. This is one main piece of advice I would give to upcoming brides.
I am really sorry for the lengthy post but hope you enjoyed reading it and hoping it would help you in your journey to pick your bridal lehenga. If you have any more queries about my shopping experience at Sabyasachi, you can leave a Comment below or get in touch with me on Instagram.
Love
Nitika
UPDATE : As I have been getting a lot of queries regarding my Sabyasachi bridal lehenga, I have added more pictures of the lehenga on my Pinterest account, you can check it HERE.
This post was long due! A lot of you who had been following my bridal series, not only wanted to see more pictures of my bridal lehenga but also wanted to know my bridal lehenga shopping experience at Sabyasachi.
The first time I started thinking of getting married, I dreamt of being a Sabyasachi bride. I think he is one designer who has taken Indian traditional wear to another level by giving it a modern take with his distinct style. And ever since I saw his designs at the ramp during my initial years of fashion blogging, I absolutely fell in love with his design aesthetics and I always envisioned wearing one of his designs.
My First Visit for Bridal Lehenga Shopping :
So in the second week of January, I decided to pay a visit to the heaven of bridal couture - Mehrauli - where all the leading designers have their stores; with my mom and my bestie.
When I called to take up an appointment at the Sabyasachi, Anita Dongre and other designer boutique s in the vicinity - I was told an appointment is not needed, and you can visit anytime of the day to check out the collection. (PS : Sabyasachi store is closed on Sundays and they don't do Billings post 6pm)
 |
| Sabyasachi store in Mehrauli |
So, we finally decided to visit Sabyasachi before checking out other designers in the area. Now, I had been to the flagship store before (for the launch event) but I didn't know then that I will be visiting the place again to finalise my wedding lehenga.
The Sabyasachi Mehrauli space is no less than royalty - the opulent space has two wings - one for bridal couture and jewellery, while the other wing has ready-to-wear saris, kurtas, menswear and other collections by the designer.
While the ground floor of the bridal wing has lighter lehengas and stunning range of sarees, the bridal heaven is on the first floor with all the designs that you have seen on the ramp or on his social media accounts available there.
 |
| The lehenga I tried during my first visit |
Now, here's one bummer, if you have always wondered what is the price of a Sabyasachi bridal lehenga - you should keep in mind before visiting the store that the lehengas apt for your D-day are priced above Rs 3,00,000. So, in case you have a budget lesser than this, you should ideally check out Aza Fashions or Carma - both the multi-designer boutiques keep the lower-priced lehengas from Sabyasachi (priced between 1.5-3 lakh rupees).
Even the bridal lehengas in Mehrauli store are in two price ranges : the raw silk lehengas with intricate zardozi work are priced between Rs 3,00,000 to Rs 7,00,000. But if you are looking to buy his famous velvet lehengas, the prices start at Rs 7,00,000 and go up to Rs 20,00,000 or more for his exclusive couture pieces.
Designs :
All what you see in the store is all what you get! Precisely because all the designs launched by Sabyasachi are available in store and major customisations are not done. You will find each design in two-three color options and the sales assistant will help show you more designs that can be made available on request on their iPads. But don't expect to get a completely new design made or any major customisation to be made to a design you like (at least that's what I was told as they only offer size customisation but any other alterations are not allowed).
After going through the collection, I finalised the below lehenga which is from the designer's Devi collection. I always wanted a lehenga that had all-over work in a monotone color. While this lehenga was available in a red and a deep wine colour as well - my mom, my bestie and even the sales assistant agreed that I looked much better in this bright pink color.
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| Final trial of my lehengas |
Now, after shortlisting this lehenga - we decided to visit the other designers also the same day. We visited Anita Dongre, Manish Malhotra, Sulakshana Monga and Carma that have their flagship stores in Mehrauli - but honestly no other lehenga grabbed my attention and my heart kept going back to the Sabyasachi lehenga.
Also, knowing that we didn't have much time in hand - we decided to book my lehenga the same day and went back to the Sabyasachi store.
Measurements and Booking :
This was my second visit to the store on the day and well right before the measurements I was told to first go purchase a full-cup underwire bra for the correct measurements of the blouse. We rushed to the M&S store in Select Citywalk, purchased a new bra just for the measurements and headed back to the store for booking the lehenga.
Finally, the measurements were done on our third visit to the store on the same day and we were told that we would get the lehenga on 24th Feb - just 10 days before my wedding. Their team usually takes two months to deliver the lehenga, so I was still lucky that they decided to make mine in 45 days.
(But honestly I would not recommend you to wait till the last minute to book your lehenga, as I was stressed out till the time I got my lehenga as it was so close to the wedding day.)
**Also, if you are a UK size L or above, you would have to shell out an extra amount for the lehenga - a fact I wasn't aware of before visiting the store and didn't read even in the posts I had earlier read about the designer's bridal collection. The extra cost could be around Rs 50,000 and can even go upto Rs 1,00,000 or more depending upon the extra number of kalis that would need to be added to the lehenga.**
Anyway, after a long day, I finally had a realisation that I was going to be a Sabyasachi bride - a dream that I had envisioned since many years.
Just 2-3 days before the lehenga's delivery date, I received a call from the store that my lehenga was finally ready and I could pick it from the store. Eagerly, I visited next day to collect my lehenga and to my surprise - it fit me beautifully. I had lost a few kilos in these two months which made the lehenga a little lose from the waist - but the drawstrings to the lehenga made sure I didn't have to worry about it.
To my surprise, they even made a beautiful potli purse to match the lehenga and my outfit was packaged in this beautiful red trunk with Sabyasachi's logo on the top.
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| The Sabyasachi lehenga arrived in this beautiful trunk |
Here are few more pictures of my wedding lehenga and few shots from my D-day -
Also, don't go by what online magazines or stylists recommend - as there is no one style or dress that you should stick to - just because it is in trend or is out of trend. You should always go out, browse different styles at places you have shortlisted and decide only once you have tried everything on. This is one main piece of advice I would give to upcoming brides.
I am really sorry for the lengthy post but hope you enjoyed reading it and hoping it would help you in your journey to pick your bridal lehenga. If you have any more queries about my shopping experience at Sabyasachi, you can leave a Comment below or get in touch with me on Instagram.
Love
Nitika
UPDATE : As I have been getting a lot of queries regarding my Sabyasachi bridal lehenga, I have added more pictures of the lehenga on my Pinterest account, you can check it HERE.
Hey lovelies!
No one loves facing a Monday after a great weekend, especially those who are working in a 9 to 5 job. And now that I have taken a break from my full-time job, I haven't been feeling the Monday blues any more. Which even though I rejoice, I do sometimes miss being at work and getting together my work wardrobe.
And when I saw these amazing side slit trousers at ZARA recently, I could think of so many ways I could I style these trendy pants, especially in my work wardrobe. Even if I am not working full-time, these pants are perfect for a work meeting or a semi-formal event.
So, I ended up pairing this with an oversized sequinned shirt that was one of my favourite finds from my first visit to the Colaba market in Mumbai.
Completing the look were my sleek ankle-strap heels from Mast & Harbour and a pair of statement earrings. And of course I couldn't help styling it with the Gucci pebbled leather bag which is in many ways a wardrobe staple. Not only it has a versatile design, but it is spacious enough to carry all my everyday essentials and has tall handles that are really comfortable to carry.
While I picked an oversized shirt to style these really smart side slit pants, you can pair it with a silk blouse or a tank top for a street smart look. Infact, you will find a lot of versions of these pants - with front slits, thigh-high side slits or even double-sided slits that are a breezy update to your favourite pants.
The best part of this new trend is that no matter what your personal style is, you will find a pair for every occasion, from a casual style for chilling at the pool or a structured style like mine that can take you from work to party.
What do you think about this breezy trend? Let me know in Comments below!
Love
Nitika
No one loves facing a Monday after a great weekend, especially those who are working in a 9 to 5 job. And now that I have taken a break from my full-time job, I haven't been feeling the Monday blues any more. Which even though I rejoice, I do sometimes miss being at work and getting together my work wardrobe.
And when I saw these amazing side slit trousers at ZARA recently, I could think of so many ways I could I style these trendy pants, especially in my work wardrobe. Even if I am not working full-time, these pants are perfect for a work meeting or a semi-formal event.
So, I ended up pairing this with an oversized sequinned shirt that was one of my favourite finds from my first visit to the Colaba market in Mumbai.
Completing the look were my sleek ankle-strap heels from Mast & Harbour and a pair of statement earrings. And of course I couldn't help styling it with the Gucci pebbled leather bag which is in many ways a wardrobe staple. Not only it has a versatile design, but it is spacious enough to carry all my everyday essentials and has tall handles that are really comfortable to carry.
 |
| Shirt - (from Colaba market) Pants - ZARA Heels - Mast & Harbour Bag - Gucci Earrings - (from a Flea market) |
While I picked an oversized shirt to style these really smart side slit pants, you can pair it with a silk blouse or a tank top for a street smart look. Infact, you will find a lot of versions of these pants - with front slits, thigh-high side slits or even double-sided slits that are a breezy update to your favourite pants.
 |
| Location c/o : Flyp @ MTV, Kamala Mills, Mumbai |
What do you think about this breezy trend? Let me know in Comments below!
Love
Nitika
All You Need To Know About Pink City Jaipur | 10 Best Things About Jaipur
Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Hey everyone!
Hotels in Jaipur are known for their exceptional services and traditional style. There are plenty of hotels in the city from which you can choose and enjoy a comfortable stay. Whether you are looking for a luxury stay or a budget hotel, Jaipur has several accommodation options. The list of hotels in Jaipur is extensive. You can go for a luxurious 5-star hotel, 4-star hotel, resort or even a heritage hotel for the luxury experience at its best.
When you book your hotel via Cleartrip, you can get great discounts and exciting offers like cash back on your booking. Take an informed decision after checking customer reviews, pictures of hotel rooms, facilities and price. You can shortlist a few hotels and select the one that fits your needs after comparing them on the basis of price, location and facilities.
At Cleartrip, you can find a hotel by star rating, amenities, property type, localities, landmarks, regions, and hotel chains. So without wasting time, you are presented with a list of hotels in Jaipur that you are looking for.
Top Attractions of Jaipur
Jaipur is located on the border of the Thar Desert, and you can witness the city’s dry landscape that has not been experienced by many. You can also go on organised bike tours that will give you a chance to discover the beautiful city. There are so many things to see in the Pink city. Let’s take a look.
1. Hawa Mahal built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1798 is quite famous. This palace is in the form of a honeycomb and has 950 small windows or jharokas highlighted with exquisite lattice work. This palace resembles the crown of Lord Krishna.
Today's post is all about one of my favourite cities in India - Jaipur - that I have visited numerous times in the last few years. Popularly called the “Pink City”, Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan known for its architectural beauty and rich cultural heritage. It is a must-visit tourist destination attracting visitors from all over the world. One must plan a minimum of 3-5 days trip to explore and experience everything that the city has to offer.
Booking Hotels in Jaipur
One of the key aspects of your trip would be booking the right hotel for your stay because your enjoyment during your trip will depend a great deal on choosing a right hotel in Jaipur. If you are planning to visit Jaipur anytime soon, you can browse the Cleartrip website to book a comfortable hotel at an affordable price.
Booking Hotels in Jaipur
One of the key aspects of your trip would be booking the right hotel for your stay because your enjoyment during your trip will depend a great deal on choosing a right hotel in Jaipur. If you are planning to visit Jaipur anytime soon, you can browse the Cleartrip website to book a comfortable hotel at an affordable price.
Hotels in Jaipur are known for their exceptional services and traditional style. There are plenty of hotels in the city from which you can choose and enjoy a comfortable stay. Whether you are looking for a luxury stay or a budget hotel, Jaipur has several accommodation options. The list of hotels in Jaipur is extensive. You can go for a luxurious 5-star hotel, 4-star hotel, resort or even a heritage hotel for the luxury experience at its best.
You can also go for affordable 3-star hotels or homestays that offer a nice comfortable stay with all facilities. The basic amenities you can get in these hotels are TV, room service, AC, and nice interiors. You also have the option of low-budget guesthouses.
When you book your hotel via Cleartrip, you can get great discounts and exciting offers like cash back on your booking. Take an informed decision after checking customer reviews, pictures of hotel rooms, facilities and price. You can shortlist a few hotels and select the one that fits your needs after comparing them on the basis of price, location and facilities.
At Cleartrip, you can find a hotel by star rating, amenities, property type, localities, landmarks, regions, and hotel chains. So without wasting time, you are presented with a list of hotels in Jaipur that you are looking for.
Top Attractions of Jaipur
Jaipur is located on the border of the Thar Desert, and you can witness the city’s dry landscape that has not been experienced by many. You can also go on organised bike tours that will give you a chance to discover the beautiful city. There are so many things to see in the Pink city. Let’s take a look.
1. Hawa Mahal built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1798 is quite famous. This palace is in the form of a honeycomb and has 950 small windows or jharokas highlighted with exquisite lattice work. This palace resembles the crown of Lord Krishna.
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| Hawa Mahal, Jaipur |
2. Another must visit palace in Jaipur is Amber Fort Palace. The most famous part of this fort is Sheesh Mehal that happens to be the most refractive room ever created as a single ray of light can laminate the entire room.
3. City Palace known for Rajput, Mughal and European architecture has 2 palaces Mubarak Mahal & Chandra Mahal.
3. City Palace known for Rajput, Mughal and European architecture has 2 palaces Mubarak Mahal & Chandra Mahal.
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| Amber Fort, Jaipur |
4. Jal Mahal is a beautiful monument floating on water featuring beautiful marble carvings and has five floors.
5. Jaipur Wax Museum in the Nahargarh fort is worth visiting. It features a 10-foot long bullet and has remarkable wax statues of famous personalities.
6. Chokhi Dhaani is a very renowned village resort that exudes the essence of the city and its culture through its hospitality, traditional food and activities like puppet shows, magic shows, folk dances, camel rides and more.
5. Jaipur Wax Museum in the Nahargarh fort is worth visiting. It features a 10-foot long bullet and has remarkable wax statues of famous personalities.
6. Chokhi Dhaani is a very renowned village resort that exudes the essence of the city and its culture through its hospitality, traditional food and activities like puppet shows, magic shows, folk dances, camel rides and more.
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| Chokhi Dhani, Jaipur |
7. The city is also extremely popular with museum lovers. The Albert Hall Museum is a key attraction of the town. Initially, it showcased various items that were created by the local artists, and but now its collection has grown significantly and even consists of international artefacts including Egyptian Mummies.
8. Jantar Mantar is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. It is an architectural beauty due to its exquisite design but the instruments kept in it are the main attraction for the space lovers interested in studying stars, planet, eclipses or movement of the earth.
9. Other places and things to enjoy in Jaipur are ATV rides, Jeep Safari, Paintball, Horse Safari, Ho Ho Bus tour, Snowplanet, and Elephant village in Amer.
10. If you are keen on Temples in Jaipur, you have a plethora of options like Birla Mandir, Govind Ji Temple, Galtaji Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Shila Devi Mandir, Kanak Vrindavan, Moti Dungri, and Garh Ganesh Mandir.
The palaces and the hotels of Jaipur have made it one of the most visited and famous cities in India. Both national and international tourists visit the city in large number to experience the culture and heritage of this beautiful city.
8. Jantar Mantar is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. It is an architectural beauty due to its exquisite design but the instruments kept in it are the main attraction for the space lovers interested in studying stars, planet, eclipses or movement of the earth.
9. Other places and things to enjoy in Jaipur are ATV rides, Jeep Safari, Paintball, Horse Safari, Ho Ho Bus tour, Snowplanet, and Elephant village in Amer.
10. If you are keen on Temples in Jaipur, you have a plethora of options like Birla Mandir, Govind Ji Temple, Galtaji Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Shila Devi Mandir, Kanak Vrindavan, Moti Dungri, and Garh Ganesh Mandir.
The palaces and the hotels of Jaipur have made it one of the most visited and famous cities in India. Both national and international tourists visit the city in large number to experience the culture and heritage of this beautiful city.
I have enjoyed my stay here every time I have visited the city, and have always looked forward to explore the best of Jaipur. What's your favourite part of Jaipur, let me know in the Comments below!
Love
Nitika
Online Shopping Made Easy With 1GrandTrunk | Three Simple Steps to Ship What You Love from US to India
Saturday, 9 June 2018
Hey lovelies!
You all know how much I love online shopping and discovering deals and discounts that are available exclusively online. However, residing in India, purchasing some of my favorite international brands in US online becomes rather difficult, as either they don’t ship to India or the shipping fee is too costly.
While making one of my online purchases recently, I came across the services of 1GrandTrunk which turned out to be a blessing for me. While looking to purchase the latest Gucci bag I spotted on Nordstrom, I was saddened to know that the particular bag cant be shipped to India. That’s when a friend recommended me to try 1GrandTrunk and I visited their website to get more information.
I had never tried a service of getting my order shipped to a US address and then get it to shipped to my address in India. But after my friend’s recommendation and understanding how simple it is to book your parcel through 1GrandTrunk – I decided to go ahead with the purchase.
Booking your online package through 1GrandTrunk is really simple. You just have to -
Shipping to US and China : You can also use their services if you are staying in US/China and want to get an order shipped from India to your local address in US/China.
I also recently did a guest post on their blog about my five favourite US shopping websites that I often explore to buy luxury handbags and apparel. You must give it a read if you also want to know about where to find best online deals on luxury labels and get them shipped easily to India.
You all know how much I love online shopping and discovering deals and discounts that are available exclusively online. However, residing in India, purchasing some of my favorite international brands in US online becomes rather difficult, as either they don’t ship to India or the shipping fee is too costly.
While making one of my online purchases recently, I came across the services of 1GrandTrunk which turned out to be a blessing for me. While looking to purchase the latest Gucci bag I spotted on Nordstrom, I was saddened to know that the particular bag cant be shipped to India. That’s when a friend recommended me to try 1GrandTrunk and I visited their website to get more information.
I had never tried a service of getting my order shipped to a US address and then get it to shipped to my address in India. But after my friend’s recommendation and understanding how simple it is to book your parcel through 1GrandTrunk – I decided to go ahead with the purchase.
Booking your online package through 1GrandTrunk is really simple. You just have to -
- Sign up to create an account and get your personalized US local address.
- Make your online purchase at any of your preferred online store in US and enter your 1GrandTrunk address while checking out.
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| Image Source : Google |
- 1GrandTrunk will calculate the shipping cost and customs duty (if you want to pay in advance) for your package and you can get it shipped to your Indian address through a carrier of your choice. You can even use their Shipping Calculator tool to get an estimate - the shipping to India starts at as low as $10.
Some other highlights that make 1GrandTrunk better from other shipping solutions are :
Reduced Shipping Cost : 1GrandTrunk helps consolidate multiple packages into one package and remove any unwanted packaging that comes with the order so as to reduce weight and shipping cost.
Also, they send pictures to ensure that the right items are sent or they can be returned in the US.
Shipment Tracking : As you get the tracking details of your package, there’s no risk of losing your package in transit.
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| Image Source : Google |
Assisted Purchase : If you don’t have a valid card to make the purchase on your favorite website, they would even assist you with the purchase.
Low Service Cost : Their service charge is only $4.99 per order and it doesn't matter as per the number of items in a bill, ie. no matter one order has 2 or 5 items, the service charge will still be only $4.99.
Shipping to US and China : You can also use their services if you are staying in US/China and want to get an order shipped from India to your local address in US/China.
I also recently did a guest post on their blog about my five favourite US shopping websites that I often explore to buy luxury handbags and apparel. You must give it a read if you also want to know about where to find best online deals on luxury labels and get them shipped easily to India.
Hope this post would help you out in planning your next online purchase and get it shipped easily from US to India with 1GrandTrunk.
Love
Nitika
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