Choosing Lehenga Colours and Fabrics – A Step-by-Step Guide

There are infinite colours & endless fabric options when it comes to getting a lehenga stitched. We decode these for you to help you make the right choice!
Lehenga colours and fabrics cover image

Source: frugal2fab.com

The colour and fabric of an outfit can completely transform the vibe of the whole look. From demure in pastel pink to dramatic in neon orange, you can choose the colour of your lehenga to go with the mood of the occasion. If you are a bride to be then you must pick the colour and fabric of the lehenga as per the time of the wedding, while ensuring that the shade complements your skin tone and makes you look radiant. After all, your wedding lehenga is going to be the single most photographed piece of clothing of your lifetime. Here are some foolproof tips on how to choose the right hue and fabric for your lehenga as per the occasion and your skin tone

Colour as per skin tone

Color of your lehenga dress can completely transform the entire look. Color plays a significant role in enhancing your skin tone. If wrongly chosen, it can make you look dull and dark too. Therefore, the selection of the right lehenga color according to your skin tone is essential

Here are some tips:

1. Fair

A fair skin tone bride wearing a bright colour lehenga blouse

Those with a Fair Skin Tone could use bright colours such as Pink, Emerald Green, Turquoise Blue (Firozi) & all shades of Red. You should avoid using colours like Dark Brown, Burnt Orange etc as that would make you look dull

2. Wheatish

Peach Colour wedding Lehenga on a wheatish skin tone bride

If you have a Wheatish Skin Tone, you could try slightly lighter shade colours such as Peach, Warm Pink, Light Gold, Turquoise Blue (Firozi), Chili Red etc. Avoid going for very pale and milky shades as they might wash you out

3. Dusky/Deep

deep orange colour lehenga on a dark skin tone bride

For Dark Skin Tone, would suggest colours like Medium Red, Apple Red & Deep Orange. Avoid using bright colours, such as neon shades, as they might clash with the undertones of your skin

The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you

-Coco Chanel, French Fashion Designer

File image of french fashion designer Coco Chanel

Colour as per the timing of the event

Daytime Event

A bright mustard colour lehenga blouse and dupatta set for daytime marriage event

Source: Shaadisaga

If the wedding or event is scheduled for the day then you will look the most stunning in lighter colours that look youthful under natural light. Opt for light yellows, blues, pinks or greens as the key hues in your lehenga or you can pair multiple light shades together for a more colourful look

Evening Event

a dark green lehenga skirt paired with a simple blouse but a heavily embellished dupatta

Source: TheWeddingBrigade

If it is an evening wedding or event, then you should opt for colours that look rich and opulent under artificial lighting. Deep reds, greens and blues are ideal colours for the evening and lehengas in these colours look extremely eye-catching and elegant

Colour as per the occasion

1. Festival/Pre-wedding functions

A sleeveless crop top blouse paired with a contrast lehenga skirt & a lighter hue of dupatta

Source: ScoopWhoop

Festivals and pre-wedding functions such as Mehendi and Sangeet are joyful occasions that call for cheerful colours in the lehenga. Stay away from dull and neutral colours and opt for bright shades of green, orange or blue for a unique look. You can also choose from these shades if you are a wedding guest, but make sure not to clash with the bride!

2. Puja

an off white cream colour lehenga blouse & dupatta for a religious ceremony

Source: BridalLehengaSarees

If you are attending a puja or an event that calls for a demure dress code then go for muted shades of peach, beige or pink. Hints of gold in the outfit in the form of embroidery or embellishments at the border will add an elegant and festive touch to the lehenga

3. Wedding

a deep purple lehenga blouse design for a bride

Source: FashionDeal

If you are trying to figure out the best shade for your bridal lehenga then first narrow down on the colour as per the timing of the wedding and your skin tone, as mentioned in the previous sections. Different hues of pinks and reds are timeless colours that are perfect for a classic, traditional look. If you are aiming for a more unique outfit, then you can consider shades of purple, blue, green, and ivory. Here are some unusual bridal lehenga colours for more inspiration

4. Muhurtham

a south indian bride in a lehenga blouse design for the muhurtham ceremony

Source: weddingwire.in

The Muhurtham calls for rich, joyous colours, such as fuchsia, peacock blue, and emerald green. You can also combine multiple colours for a statement look

Colour Combinations

a collage of different colour combos used in lehenga dress designs

Source: ShaadiSaga

When it comes to combining different colours in your outfit, the options are truly endless. You can play it safe and elegant with a monochromatic dress or can create a contrast between the lehenga & blouse. Another option is to go for the same colour for the lehenga and blouse but with a dupatta in a contrasting hue. You can also opt for a multi-coloured lehenga and pick one of the shades from the lehenga for the blouse and the dupatta. Ask your designer for tips on what colour pairings would be the most flattering on you

Selecting the right fabric for your lehenga

Just like the numerous colours, you will be encountered by endless fabric options for your lehenga. The correct approach to selecting the right fabric for your lehenga is to consider the following factors:

1. Silhouette

A bride wearing an A-line silhouette lehenga skirt in red which is paired with same color blouse and a lighter peach colored dupatta

Source: WeddingsOnly

The job will be simple once you have already selected the right silhouette for your lehenga as per your body type. Go for light-weight and soft fabrics such as chiffon, georgette and crepe for flowy silhouettes and for thicker and stiffer materials such as velvet and brocade for structured A-line and fish tail silhouettes. Silk is a classic fabric choice for flared lehengas while net or lace add the perfect amount of volume to layered lehengas. You can also opt for a structured fabric to define the shape of the lehenga and opt for softer materials like lace and organza to create delicate overlays on top to further adorn the skirt

2. Weather

A light blue embroidered lehenga paired with a sleeveless designer blouse

Source: Natasha Dalal Label

Do keep the weather in mind too because fabrics like velvet and silk will keep you fairly warm in winters but can make you sweat profusely in the warmer months. We recommend light-weight fabrics such as chiffon, georgette, crepe, organza and net for the summers instead

3. Venue

A royal blue ghagra choli design with thread work embroidery in white

Source: StyleFiesta

Just like the weather, the venue plays an important role in determining which fabric will keep you the most comfortable. If it is an outdoor event then it will be wiser to opt for light-weight and easy to maneuver fabrics such as chiffon or crepe whereas for indoor venues with an even flooring, you can opt for heavier fabrics such as velvet. Silk lehengas can be customized for both indoor and outdoor events by going for heavier embellishments on the fabric for the former and lighter embroidery for the latter

4. Budget

A floral printed lehenga skirt design with a similar print blouse and plain dupatta

Source: FrugalToFab

If you have a limited budget for your outfit then your fabric options for the lehenga will be limited accordingly. Net lehengas are usually the most affordable whereas the prices increase progressively for raw silk, velvet, georgette and Banarasi lehengas. Of course, the prices will also vary based on the embellishments that you choose. Ask your designer for guidance on how to select the best fabric and embellishment pairing as per your budget

5. Pairing Multiple Fabrics

A rajasthani style ghagra choli using multi colour fabrics & threads to embellish the dress

Source: gunjfashion

Similar to the different colour combinations for the blouse, lehenga and dupatta, you can opt for different fabric combinations for the different components of your lehenga dress. You can either match the fabric of the dupatta and the lehenga while opting for a different fabric for the blouse or can opt for a lightweight net dupatta with a lehenga and blouse in a heavier fabric. Choosing different fabrics for the blouse and dupatta is a great way to break the monotony of the outfit and to give it a modern vibe

6. Semi Stitched Lehengas

A semi stitched blue lehenga blouse with red dupatta displayed on a mannequin

Source: g3fashion

Semi-stitched lehengas offer the convenience of pre-constructed necklines, sleeve styles, borders and/or back designs wherein you simply have to get the waist and hemlines stitched as per your measurements. While this significantly reduces the tailoring effort, you must be aware of the fabric details to visualize the fall and structure of the final lehenga, particularly if you are buying the same from a catalogue. You must ask the seller whether the product comes with can-can which will add volume to the skirt and should also double-check the material of the outfit. If the price of the lehenga seems too good to be true then chances are that the net/embroidery is of poor quality or that the fabric is not pure silk or georgette as being claimed. Hence, it is advisable to buy semi-stitched lehengas from trustworthy sources only

Pro*Tips

From our designers

Blouse Swapping

If you have an event that starts during the day but goes on till late evening, then you can quickly transition from day to night by simply swapping your blouse or dupatta from a lighter hue to a deeper hue. This is an excellent hack for when you do not have the time to change the whole outfit but don’t want to continue wearing your daytime look at night

Coordinated Clothing

For wedding occasions, you can opt for coordinated bride and groom outfits wherein a few elements of the bridal lehenga match with the groom’s sherwani. This coordination could be in terms of matching the colours, embroidery or fabric of the outfits. Let your designer know beforehand that you are going for coordinated outfits, so that the design elements can be chosen accordingly. Here are some examples of coordinated outfits for your reference

Upcycle Sarees

If you do not want to go fabric hunting then you can simply transform a stunning saree that you already own but never wear into a lehenga. A Kanjivaram Lehenga is a prime example of this upcycling technique

These tried and tested tips will ensure that you do not get overwhelmed by the colour and fabric options out there when designing your customized lehenga. Remember, go for something that you feel comfortable, confident and your ravishing best in, that will surely be the best outfit for you!

Shweta William Jaiswal

Shweta William Jaiswal

Senior Fashion Designer at Lavender, The Boutique

2 thoughts on “Choosing Lehenga Colours and Fabrics – A Step-by-Step Guide”

  1. I want to make a heavy zardozi and gota work lehanga… which silk fabric should I use,?
    What is tulle fabric used for??

    1. Lavender, The Boutique

      Hi,
      We will recommend pure raw silk fabric for lehenga if you want to embellish it with heavy embroidery. Pure raw silk will complement the work & enhance it even more.
      Tulle is a net fabric, that we typically use for dupatta.

      I hope this helps.

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