Here’s a post dedicated to all patrons of the Indian lehenga. If you’re one of those who love to twirl in colourful ethnic skirts, you’ve hit the right page. While much may have been said about the swirly skirts, their very important counterpart – the choli or blouse remains a little unsung. Well, not any more – for we bring you an imbibe-worthy list of top trending Lehenga Blouse Designs – which you have to have this or the coming season.

Design innovation on the bodice or choli can be done in numerous ways. Designers can be seen experimenting with newer and contemporary as well as rustic blouse designs. While the cultural designs like stringed backs, backless cholis and boat necks continue to be popular, new and westernized choli styles are also entering the lehenga blouse realm with an increasing frequency. Here, we compile a list of 17 gorgeous lehenga blouse and choli designs – just for you –

The Neckline Variations:

Necklines are a good point to start with – if bringing variety to your lehenga blouse styles is on your agenda. This is easy and can be done in numerous ways.

Grey Front Zipper Blouse

For starters, chuck those regular round and V-necklines! Experiment with trendy neck patterns, or the ones you generally don’t wear – like the much in-vogue boat-necks. The Chinese collar style too made a great comeback. It is flattering and can instantly increase chic factor of your dress.

Sported by B-town divas like Kangana Ranaut at red carpet events, this modest neckline, when adorned with ethnic embroidery makes a stunning outfit detail! You can combine other elements like sleeve details or backless patterns for extra oomph with a Mandarian collar neckline.

Collared Blouse

Bring out your love for fusion-wear, by copping this happening trend – the western formal shirt with a collared neckline with a flared lehenga. A plain shirt style blouse with a heavily embellished lehenga creates a kind of contrast that’s hard to ignore! Celebs like Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt and Parineeti Chopra vouch for this look too.

Choose lustrous fabrics like satin and silk to accentuate the lavish appeal of your outfit, keeping your accessories minimal. Ditch the dupatta! Keep the shirt silhouette plain and simple, in a good fit – not too tight and certainly not loose.

High Neck Blouse Design

There are tons of other ways, you can add neckline details – or simply get yourself a bold one-shouldered or halter neck blouse. Too traditional or conservative to sport these styles? Well, you can still go the chic route – with a front zipper, high necked chic blouse styles – that seems to be a favorite of all the girls these days.

Get more Blouse Designs here.

The Sleeve Variations:

As you move your hands, your audience should fall for your style! Break away from the monotony of simple half and full sleeves; try out some new sleeve styles to get your lehenga look right.

Magenta Off Shoulder Blouse

While the cold shoulder style has been a rage in the past season, and looks set to rule for the coming season too – daring girls are going a step ahead and getting their lehenga and saree blouses in the seductive off-shoulder design. Unlike the cold shoulder blouse that is suitable for carefully camouflaging flab, the off-shoulder bares the collar bone, entire arms and much of the neck and shoulder area – so get this choli design, only if you are confident and toned. However, you can add strings or straps on shoulders, as shown in the image – to create an illusion of definition.

sleeve 2

Old is gold! Retro sleeves too have made a big comeback and have been readily embraced by the modern-day fashion conscious women. Up your style-game with a flared or bell sleeved lehenga blouse. Don it over a floral or contemporary lehenga. Antique gold and oxidized jewellery goes well with such vintage silhouettes, while messy buns and back-combed puffed hairstyles accentuate the retro feel

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Going by the mantra to stand out with a little drama, bat sleeves make a captivating detail for an ethnic lehenga choli. After hitting ethnic fashion runways thanks to leading designers in India, this style has been widely embraced as a replacement to the dupatta. So go ahead and sway your bat sleeves with an air of confidence, for that detail is indeed one of the latest! And, if you find the dual bat sleeve too much to handle, you can choose the one sleeved variation – as shown here. Looks like you have draped a dupatta on one arm – quite elegant!

The Back Variations:

Well, how can the seductive back stay behind (pun unintended) when it comes to stylish blouse designs. After all, this is one aspect of bodice design that’s always innovated upon the most. And, why not – for, it shows through quite beautifully.

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In the blouse back design realm, the classic stringed backs continue to rule the roost. But, now you don’t have to stick to the age-old, tried styles. Go a little bolder; borrow from the rustic designs – straight from the Indian hinterland. Take cue from this Gujarati Rabari style bold and brazen backless choli with just a piping tie-up string holding forte at the base.

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Not into the regular strings and latkans? Well, you can cop a Victorian back window design too – and get the chic fusion edge in your party-wear lehenga choli. If you don’t wish to go too far – you can always get a classic and modest neck patti back design – as in the image.back 3

Or, go bare backed with choli-cut, backless styled bold windows – like this one. Opt for a Mandarin or stand-collar patti neckline, and let some skin peep through from a strategically cut window! A high-cut neckline or a boat neck also is a good starting point for creating attractive windows. Get them embellished with handmade potli buttons, cute colorful tassels or statement embroidery.

A back cut-out edged with zardozi or rhinestones is a sensual pick for groovy festive gatherings and Indian weddings. Alternatively, you can sport a back bow tie-up or, taking style tips from youth icon Deepika Padukone’s closet – an oversized Japanese Kimono inspired statement bow fixed to the lower end of your blouse.

Also Check – Lehenga Collection

Here is a quick recap with a saveable infographic for you –

Lehenga Blouse Design

 

Other Variations:

Apart from back designs, necklines and sleeves, there are numerous other ways in which you can play up your choli style. Whether it is the length of your choli, or the silhouette, embellishments or additional jackets and capes – there is just no stopping!

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The easiest and most youthful way to play with your blouse for a contemporary lehenga choli or even for the wedding lehenga is changing the usual length and cut. Instead of the teeny weeny cholis, which typically end at upper ribs – lengthen the style and go for waist length or crop top length cholis. They are not only stylish and easy to carry, but also are any conscious girl’s dream. Rajputi styled cholis with a slit in front are quite in vogue these days!

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Or, get some rustic style inspiration from Gujarat’s Kediya style – which is generally reserved for the menfolk. But then, who’s stopping you from getting it for yourself! This design is quite similar to the western peplum silhouette but is a wrap on/ angarakha.

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Or, simply try the year’s chicest trend by adding a regal throw-on shrug over a regular fit bodice. You may get one such lehenga choli, or simple add on a shrug on your old set. If you’re skinny and have a small frame, a shrug will add good volume to your shoulders.

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Here’s another easy way to experiment with blouses – some tone on tone layering – like in this gorgeous, unique grey bridal lehenga choli – which has a bustier inside and a delicate, feminine small jacket like layer.

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While we are at the flattering layering trend, how can we forget the lovely Ponchos! This is a trend you cannot miss out on, whether you wear sarees or lehengas. Sheer layers or ponchos can be worn over regular bodice blouses or your lehenga blouse can itself be cut like a poncho. Asymmetrical poncho or frill attached to the blouse – as in the image – is another style, you can surely try.others 6

While at ponchos, we must also talk about capes or jackets. This trend is simply awesome, and can add an altogether different dimension to your look. Add a sheer cape, buttoned only at the neckline over a pretty, sharara-style blouse with a hemline that extends till the knees. Truly regal!

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A printed or embellished crisp long jacket worn with a lehenga is another contemporary trend to watch out for. You can button up the jacket as a blouse by itself or layer it over a crop top for a fusion look. You can even mix-and-match to make colourful ensembles and keep your look varied at different occasions by using different combinations of jacket and ethnic skirts. Remember, style is all about creative experiments!

Last but not the least, this lehenga blouse is a twist to the regular wrapped style Angarakha design. Overlapped layers of fabric – cut stylishly – create an illusion of slimmer midriff, while the waist length fabric layer ensures extra coverage.

Well there are so many creative lehenga blouse options that can uplift the look of your ethnic attire! Choose styles that match your individual preference, for you will definitely look better if you feel good about yourself and your outfit. Also give good amount of attention to your accessory details and don’t forget to wear your confidence right.

Let’s again have a nice, saveable infographic for innovative variations in lehenga blouse designs –

Lehenga Blouse Designs