Steps to the modern Wedding Trousseau
Traditionally in India, a bridal trousseau is essentially a collection of possessions, such as clothing, jewellery, and linens that a bride assembles to prepare for her wedding day and for marriage. And originally, it consists of a lot of heavy sarees and indian outfits. So much so, that I have heard some of them complain that they did not have anything to wear, on a day to day basis at home since all they had were costume garments in the trousseau.
Keeping in mind the learnings from real life examples, from family and friends over the years and my knowledge of Image Management, I planned my trousseau in the following ways:
I took stock of how I wanted to be presented and perceived by my new family and as a married woman.
I analyzed my Lifestyle after my marriage.
I evaluated my personal style by listing my likes & dislikes in fabric, colour, print and the things I would like to experiment with.
I evaluated my body shape and took note of the fact that I would be gaining a bit of weight post the wedding ( yes, I was in denial before my marriage but it turned out to be true)
I then made a list of the occasions and activities I would be involved in (professional, social, personal, festivals, etc)
Furthermore, I made an excel sheet with the number of garments required for each activity/occasion and the budget I would like to allot for it and the stores/brands I would purchase from. This step made my shopping process more systematic and less time consuming.
I also worked with a concept of creating a capsule wardrobe for each occasion/activity (personal/professional/social). This ensured that I created a better mix and match wardrobe with more variety from fewer garments.
Times have changed, the lives of married women have changed. It is about time we change the way we approach wedding and trousseau shopping. What do you think? Leave your comments below.