16 Stunning Lehenga Styles And Outfit Ideas For Weddings In 2024

If you hear wedding bells and have yet to try these lehenga draping styles, better hurry up

Reviewed by Traci Jeske, Personal Stylist Traci Jeske Traci JeskePersonal Stylist facebook_iconlinkedin_iconinsta_icon
Written by , MSc Pratima Ati MSc
Edited by , MA (English) Subhrojyoti Mukherjee MA (English) Experience: 4 years
Fact-checked by , MA (English & Literature), Certified Style & Image Consultant Srijita De MA (English & Literature), Certified Style & Image Consultant Experience: 2 years
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The first thing that comes to our minds when we think about making our wedding shopping list is “lehenga”! This is exactly why, today, in this article, we will teach you how to wear a lehenga so that you can rock one for that next big wedding. Oh, and if you are the bride yourself, we have got you covered too. All you need to do is scroll down and find out how you can try out the different ways of draping a lehenga and stealing the show. Trust us when we say this – you can never have enough of them. So without further ado, go ahead and give this piece a read.

protip_icon Ace The Look
  • Hairstyle: A chignon, a messy bun, or a fish-tailed plait decorated with flowers and hair accessories.
  • Jewelry: Wear a statement neckpiece with an off-shoulder blouse or wear a pair of chandbali jhumkas with a traditional blouse.
  • Bag: Silk Potli bags or embellished clutch boxes that either match or contrast with the lehenga.
  • Layering Tips: Add some glam by layering with an embroidered jacket or a lace capelet/overlay jacket.

1. Raw Silk Couture Lehenga And Blouse

Raw silk couture lehenga and blouse style
Image: Instagram

The couture versions have brought back the short choli with lehenga skirt. Go with a heavily embroidered raw silk skirt, and a short zari saree blouse kind of a choli. You can keep them both heavy, and go with a bare neck, big earrings, and a maang tikka. If you are a little conscious, wear a flimsy net or organza dupatta, and let it cover you from the neck to the belly.

2. Backless Lehenga Choli

If you have not had a backless blouse for your saree or lehenga, it means your traditional closet is still incomplete. Go all out with a plain raw silk lehenga skirt, and a backless blouse with embellishments. Keep it simple on the front. You can drape a plain saree style dupatta if you don’t want to scandalize your family.

3. One Sided Floral Couture Lehenga

Image: Instagram @manishmalhotra05

As we discussed, we can never have too many lehengas, and thanks to designers like Manish Malhotra who make any number of them feel inadequate. A one side sleeve choli and floral combination is a perfect balance of contemporary and traditional elements. It’s ideal for destination weddings or sangeet parties.

4. Gold And Black Lehenga For The Bride

Image: Instagram @amaracouture

When we say bride, we think of a red Sabyasachi-style lehenga, which is great, but what about all the other functions that we have to be a part of? Break the stereotype with a black sleeveless blouse, golden threaded skirt, and choli. A contrast choker and earrings with  smokey eyed makeup will be a perfect combination.

protip_icon Did You Know?
Lehenga became a popular attire first amongst women in North India in the 10th century. It then evolved through craftsmanship during the Mughal rule in India between the 12th and the 18th centuries.

5. Lehenga Choli For The Bride

Embroidered lehenga with dupatta draped like saree
Image: Instagram @thedesibride.xoxo

Lehenga for the bride is the epitome of all lehenga styles. If you are a sucker for old-school traditions, go with a heavily embroidered red lehenga and drape the dupatta like a saree, or go with a skirt and short blouse, and put your dupatta over your head and look like a million bucks.

protip_icon Quick Tip
Some of the trendiest and most soothing color combinations for bridal lehengas include orange and hot pink, burnt orange and red, peach and powder blue, and ice blue and navy.

6. Anarkali Lehenga

Anarkali lehenga style
Image: Instagram

How about mixing our all-time favorite Anarkali with the timeless lehenga? How did we not think of this earlier? You could mix and match a long, Anarkali style raw silk kurta with a plain lehenga skirt. Choose a kurta that comes with a center or side slit so that it brings the look out completely and does not look too consuming. You can also choose an anarkali with sequins or patchwork over it and pair it with a plain skirt!

7. Crop Top Style Blouse And Golden Tulle Lehenga Skirt

Image: Instagram

Designers like Manish Malhotra are endlessly innovating with the lehenga and are spoiling us for choice. A fusion crop top style noodle-strap-gold blouse and a heavily embellished tulle skirt without a dupatta or accessories are a great Sangeet look for the bride or her tribe. Put up your hair in a chignon updo and let the dress do the talking.

8. Long Skirt Lehenga Bottom And Contrast Blouse

Image: Instagram

If you are headed to a friend’s bridal party, or something less casual, mix and match your lehenga to bring about a contemporary look. On a similar note, Prerna Chhabra, a YouTuber styled her yellow lehenga with a contrasting navy blue colored brocade lehenga. Talking about her look, she said, “I kept my hair neat because the choker, blouse, and earrings are already fighting for attention (i).” She also revealed that her look was inspired by late Bollywood actress, Sridevi. The YouTuber tried to create a balanced look that looks visually pleasing.

Also, you can pick one of your plain Pick one of your plain long skirts, and pair it with a contrast-colored choli. Keep one of them plain. Perfect lehenga style for millennials.

9. Princess Cut Choli And Skirt

Image: Instagram @nizkayastudio

Marry the traditional green Banarasi long sleeved blouse with a mellow pastel skirt and wear a chiffon or tulle dupatta over your head to look like a bride who knows it all. Go for a nude or no-makeup style look and keep everything else muted.

10. Off-Shoulder Blouse And Threadwork Embroidered Tulle Skirt

Image: Instagram

If you are petite or short, or both – go with an off-shoulder blouse. Since lehengas tend to look overpowering, petite women feel like it is too consuming. Off-shoulder style blouse opens up your shoulders a little, and a dreamy tulle skirt is entirely fitting for this look.

11. Pink Ghagra With Butterfly Sleeves

Image: Instagram

When we say ghagra, we imagine something a little more traditional – a red colored silk outfit that fully encompasses you in the conventional element. You can keep all of that intact by experimenting with milder colors and blouse patterns like this one to keep up with the contemporary game.

12. Full Sleeves Plain Choli With Raw Silk Skirt

Image: Instagram @atelier_zra

Raw silk and tulle are lehenga staples, but the embroidery makes a lot of difference to the outfit. So, the next time you are headed to Mehendi or other bridal parties, go for a plain full sleeve choli for your floral or printed raw silk skirt. Full sleeve blouses look impeccably stylish and wearing this with a plain tulle dupatta is just going to take the look to the next level.

13. Saree Style Lehenga Draping

Image: Instagram

It’s time to flaunt a new lehenga saree! Combine the goodness of the lehenga with the traditional saree style draping technique and have the best of both the worlds. If you don’t want the fully wrapped saree style, just gather your dupatta into thin pleats and wrap it just the way you would wrap a saree.

14. One Piece Anarkali Style Full Blouse Lehenga

Image: Instagram

Most of the lehengas that we see today come with a cropped top style choli, unlike the old times. If you still want to be that and combine it with a modern touch, go for a choli that runs below your belly button and has full sleeves, but with an illusion bodice and a full-blown embroidered skirt.

15. Purple Zardozi Choli With A Backless Blouse

Image: Instagram @sonali.bhadauria

Are you the bride-to-be? Even better, the bride’s sister? You are totally allowed to wear a backless choli. Go with a single color and fabric for the entire outfit, but let them both steal the show. The perfectly pleated lehenga skirt will be a perfect match for the oomph-oozing choli.

16. Umbrella-Cut Lehenga

Image: Shutterstock

The umbrella-cut lehenga is like a twirl-ready fashion dream! Picture a skirt that gracefully flares out like an umbrella with pleats, creating a magical swirl when you move. This traditional Indian outfit is a showstopper seen at many celebratory events, blending elegance with a touch of playfulness. The silhouette is designed to highlight the waist and gracefully descend into a wide, circular shape, resembling the charming outline of an open umbrella. Its versatility allows for both a regal and contemporary look, making it a favorite choice for weddings and festive occasions. The umbrella-cut lehenga is not just an outfit; it’s a statement, turning heads with its enchanting silhouette and capturing the essence of celebration in every spin. And once you put it on, you feel like a royal Indian queen!

Some modern-day trends even include lehenga gowns, pairing A-line blouses with flared skirts, mermaid fishtail lehengas, jacket lehengas, cape lehengas, and much more! Nowadays, skirts have also gotten their much-needed upgrade with blouses and crop tops paired with shararas, ghararas, palazzos, dhoti pants, etc. You can also complement these with a long, heavily embroidered shrug or a designer scarf or stole to complete the look!

Infographic: Types Of Lehengas

If you have to dress up for a wedding, nothing could be a more appropriate choice than a lehenga to suit the festive occasion. There are so many fashionable types of lehengas to choose from.

Check out the infographic below to find your favorite lehenga style.

types of lehenga (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Now that you have a fair idea on how to wear lehenga, you can go ahead and pick one for yourself without any second thoughts. Whether it’s a bridal lehenga, raw silk couture lehenga, backless choli lehenga, or a modern party wear lehenga, choose one that best suits your style, comfort, and preference and rock the occasion wear with grace and elan. You can also add one to your collection or mix and match, and style your previous lehengas as per the occasion to add a whole new vibe to your outfit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side should I wear a dupatta on a lehenga?

In most cases, people tuck one end of the dupatta on the right side, wrap the rest around the torso and then to the left side bringing it to the front, and drape the end over the right shoulder.

How do you wrap a lehenga chunni?

You can wrap a lehenga chunni as you would a saree. But, you can just place the chunni over your shoulder, so it falls half in the front and half at the back.

What jewelry goes with the lehenga?

It depends on the color of your lehenga. If you are wearing a warm-colored lehenga, opt for warm jewelry like gold. If you are wearing a cool-colored lehenga, pair it with cool-toned jewelry like silver.

What should be the length of the lehenga?

This depends on a person’s height. It should be a little longer than your height, so it works if you pair it with heels or flats.

Which color lehenga goes with gold jewelry?

Warm shades and earth tones like yellow, gold, orange, and light brown work well with gold jewelry.

Should a lehenga touch the floor?

A lehenga should be a little longer than your height. You don’t want it short, so your heels or feet are peeking out. But, you don’t want it too long that it drapes behind you like a bridal train collecting dirt.

Key Takeaways

  • Lehenga is a traditional Indian skirt usually adorned with intricate designs and eye-catching embroidery.
  • You can enhance your look with a suitable contrasting or complementing choli or not wear one and draw attention to your blouse or top.
  • There are a lot of choices for your top: you can go for a backless one, an off-shoulder, or a crop-top, crop jacket etc depending on your style and the occasion.
  • For interesting combinations, choose an Anarkali kurta with a slit and a simple lehenga skirt so as to balance the proportions of both pieces.

Banner Image Credits: Instagram


Unleash your inner fashionista and turn up to turn heads! Check this amazing video on 6 unique ways to style a lehenga that will have everyone hooked to your look!

Personal Experience: Source

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