Bollywood Actresses and Indian Couture Designers are undeniably a match made in fashion heaven! Channeling the flamboyance, intricacy, and visionary panache of each designer’s signature look through their on-point styling and unmatched attitude, Bollywood divas ensure that all eyes are on them when it comes to Indian fashion. In 2021, they have been stunning our feeds with impeccable looks crafted by rising stars in the Indian fashion community as well as veteran designers. Want to take a deep dive into the trenches of high fashion and high-end Bollywood designer dresses?
We’ve listed our top 8 favorites along with a comprehensive analysis of their unique looks. If you are wondering how you can take their signature 2021 aesthetic and curate your wardrobe and even your home, especially during the lockdown period, we’ve got some handy notes for you under each outfit analysis!
So grab a snack, get a cup of your favorite beverage and get set to highlight your style quotient in 2021 with some lush Bollywood-inspired fashion – Let’s get started!
8 Latest Bollywood Designer Dresses:
1) Soft Dreamy Vibes With Janhvi Kapoor:
Entrenched in a subtle, sophisticated and dream-like vibe, Janhvi Kapoor has been the star of designer Abhinav Mishra’s Instagram page, showcasing Bollywood designer dresses from his stunning new Summer 2021 collection. Sparkling in delicate mirror-work and fresh yet misty pastel tones, Janhvi paints a stunning picture of understated luxury.
She looks particularly radiant in this striking monochrome yellow lehenga set with a dainty net dupatta and mirror embellishments in floral patterns along with a simple maang-tika, and delicate earrings. A wavy cascading hairstyle and warm neutral make-up complete this look flawlessly.
Get The Aesthetic: If you would like to channel this ethereal look in your lockdown wardrobe, go for luxury oversized kurta-pajama sets with wide pants and lush fabrics like silk or matka in similarly fresh yet toned-down hues. Opt for one piece of reflective jewellery or sparkly eyeshadow in silvery tones to add the luxe mirror emb accent to your stylish Bollywood dress inspired at-home look. A stand-out style for low-key festivities at home, this one is a must try!
2) Summer Imprint With Aditi Rao Hydari:
Bollywood designer dresses don’t always have to be OTT, but they can also be chic and a bit more low-key without compromising on the style or the luxury element of it. Aditi Rao Hydari in her signature ephemeral style, channels a chill indie-summer aesthetic in this modern desi number by designer Punit Balana.
Rooted in coastal indie-prints, Aditi’s outfit exudes an undeniable summer feel in luxe chanderi fabric. Accented by a long open-jacket that features contrasting thread embroidery in subtle Indian motifs, this celebrity designer dress perfectly exemplifies the convergence between traditional Indian style and a more contemporary take on Indian design.
Get The Aesthetic: Adding hand-block prints on a beige or off-white bed is the key to inculcating this fresh summer aesthetic inspired by Bollywood designer dresses into your home as well as your wardrobe. Go for a simple off-white shirt or kurta featuring a block print in fresh hues or a simple off-white ensemble with minimal thread embellishments in brighter tones on top to add this style to your closet.
You can also upgrade your bedroom with clean off-white cotton sheets and pillowcases in a bright block print on an off-white base fabric, or get curtains with the same style. Include orchids in off-white vases and stylish throws in a similar summer aesthetic to take your home decor to the next level!
3) Burnished Vintage Scenes With Masaba:
When powerhouse artist, designer and actress Masaba Gupta played muse for Indian fashion veteran Sabyasachi Mukherjee earlier this year, she created waves on social media with her raw beauty and panache. A legendary moment for Bollywood designer dresses, Masaba teamed up with Sabyasachi’s team to paint a powerful picture of forward thinking Indian beauty, heritage fashion and an opulent aesthetic like no other.
Featuring stunning vintage silver jewellery with embedded stones, burnished gold and copper tones, sparkling textured borders, vibrant floral prints and striking Indian brocades, Masaba’s outfits were a mixed bag of various influences that came together seamlessly to create an unforgettable aesthetic that’s absolutely unique to India.
Get The Aesthetic: We absolutely love this aesthetic for the opportunities it provides for curating the home into a striking space that makes a statement of its own. Bollywood designer dresses can be a little single faceted sometimes, but this one makes for a plethora of influences and inspirations. Indian craft and textile heritage is a huge mixed bag in itself and that is reflected in this outfit impeccably.
You can imitate this in your home by surrounding yourself with crafts, prints and brocades sourced from different areas of our beautiful nation. The key is to have a solid color scheme with one base color, like a brown or beige and then add a few tonal embellishments and just one contrasting accent to the mix. Get exploring from the comfort of your home!
4) Citrus Freshness With Alia Bhatt:
Spotted playing bridesmaid at a close friend’s wedding and flawlessly complementing the bride’s citrusy summer freshness, Alia Bhatt gave us major Bollywood designer dresses inspo in this stunning Arpita Mehta ensemble! Chic, stylish and vibrant, her stylish outfit featured a butterfly net with delicate yet modern embroidery, a gathered net lehenga bottom and a stylish net dupatta with a dotted repeat motif embroidered all over.
Amplifying the style quotient with a pair of sunnies, she exuded fun-loving and cheerful vibes with her look – something we all like to see in these uncertain times! Fresh peachy make-up and an understated low bun with a middle parting for a traditional maang tika completes her ensemble perfectly.
Get The Aesthetic: Bollywood ethnic dresses like this one have a very modern and millennial appeal, which is definitely Alia’s signature style. Mirror her lovely take on contemporary Bollywood designer dresses by opting for types of kurtis or dresses for women in a bright, almost-neon citrusy shade like Alia’s lehenga set. Pair these up with Jodhpuris or Kolhapuri chappals to stay cosy at home with a touch of summer style!
5) Diaphanous Flamboyance With Sonam:
Sonam Kapoor is definitely the quintessential Bollywood fashionista. Always impeccably styled and is spotted in the best designer dresses of Bollywood actresses overall. Channeling this unmatched verve, Sonam was seen in a vivacious oversized gown in a striking mustard shade by designer Stephane Rolland.
Sporting one of the most unusual Bollywood designer dresses of the season, Sonam shined bright as a beacon of style for the promotional stint of Netflix’s ‘AK vs AK’. The high sequined neckline, the deep center-front cut, the diaphanous sleeves and the broad black tie-up belt add an almost kimono-like vibe to the look. We love this one for its originality and stylish simplicity!
Get The Aesthetic: One of the simplest Bollywood outfits to channel in a stay-at-home situation, you can go for an oversized womens kurti or a stylish oversized dress in this striking mustard color and amplify its style with a jet black accessory like a belt or a scarf. Stunning and stylish, this is a look that you can rock on any zoom meeting or virtual gathering by standing out in a put-together manner. You can also take inspiration from Sonam’s makeup and go for a strong berry lip to up the ante.
6) Warm Sparkle With Madhuri Dixit:
Want to make a striking statement with the latest Bollywood fashion trends? Take a cue from this ultra-glam look donned by none other than Madhuri Dixit. Madhuri elevated her Bollywood designer dresses instantly with her million-dollar smile, and this look is no exception! However, the warm-toned red, the lush sequined texture that features all over her saree-gown and the intricate patterns makes this Ritika Mirchandani ensemble a cut above the rest. The tonal embroidery, the matching belt that cinches in the waist and the head-to-toe lush red outfit is a pinnacle of fierce style and modern elegance!
Get The Aesthetic: Nothing stands out and elevates a wardrobe or home decor like sequined red fabric. You can add this element to your closet with red sequined belts, earrings or footwear or you can incorporate it in your home as small cushion covers, lampshades or trims for various throws and coasters.
7) Velvety Lushness With Vaani Kapoor:
If you are looking for references for Bollywood celebrities in salwar kameez sets, this Bollywood designer dresses inspo is for you! Sporting a lush forest green velvet kurta-set, Vaani Kapoor stuns in this Anita Dongre ensemble. Featuring the signature Anita Dongre gota-patti embellishment along with intricate details in zari and pearls, the silver embroidery stands out beautifully in this ultra-stylish outfit. The deep jewelled toned emerald green adds to the sophistication and vibrancy of Vaani’s look.
Get The Aesthetic: Jewel-toned velvet is an excellent way to add opulence and lushness to your home as well as wardrobe. If you are feeling maximalist, you can upholster key items like sofas in velvet and if you are feeling minimalist, go for subtle additions like a velvety rug, blanket or throw cover to your home. For outfits, you can try a velvety kaftan or loose gown to keep things lounge but luxe.
8) Fairy-Like Charm With Sonakshi Sinha:
Designer Arpita Mehta has been owning the spectrum of Bollywood designer dresses off late with her ethereal and styling Mirror collection. Although it has been sported by many celebrities so far, Sonakshi Sinha has been able to give this collection a certain pixie-like charm. Our favorite from this collection is this stunning mint-green lehenga set.
Unorthodox and a modern twist to the lehenga skirt, this gathered lehenga features ruffled details and a subtle tonal print. This bottom is juxtaposed with a mirrored choli and a modern jacket featuring mirror embroidery in an immaculate cut-work surface design. The stylish blend of the two, and the innovation of the surface techniques take this outfit to the next level!
Get The Aesthetic: You can get a more watered down version of this stylish ensemble by going for a gathered floral printed pastel skirt, styles of which are available on almost any fashion app! If you would like to add a little reflective glamour to this look, opt for an embellished top that either features some mirror embroideries or silver-toned surface designs. Comfy and chic, this is a look that will help you achieve some stunning instagrammable moments at home!
Bollywood designer dresses are a fun fashion collaboration between the movie industry and the fashion industry in India. These tend to set trends in Indian wear on websites featuring the best online shopping in India and are a great space to get inspiration from if you are looking for an aesthetic and lifestyle upgrade.
If you like our list of Bollywood Designer Dresses, try some of our suggestions on how you can include these aesthetics in your home-life and everyday style – you’d be surprised at how refreshing you feel after switching things up! Until next time, stay safe and stay home.
