Step out in Designer Langa Voni for your Wedding
Whenever I think of traditional dresses for young unmarried girls from southern India, the stereotypical image that comes to mind is the half-saree or the langa voni. Not having dwelt much on it except in passing, this exceedingly versatile dress comes back to mind in its ‘celebrity avatar’ given the recent slew of Bollywood outings by way of Deepika Padukone and Sonakshi Sinha.
So what is this traditional half saree that the country is agog about?
The Biography of the Pattu Langa Voni
Traditionally, a dress for the young maidens of the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, the newly instated Telengana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the half saree is known as the langa voni or pavadai daavani in Tamil and langa davani in Kannada. The advent of western influence, this traditional dress was being shunned over the past few years for the convenience of modern outfits. However, thanks mainly to the tireless efforts of designers and recently some vastly popular Hindi movies, this traditional attire seems to be back in the favour! Needless to say, the North Indian cousin of this dress is the lehenga (langa) – Choli.
This vibrant and versatile dress is first worn by a girl in the southern states of India at her langa voni or ‘coming of age’ ceremony at puberty. For special occasions, the pattu (the traditional name for silk) langa voni is much sought after. She, traditionally, continues to wear this all through her maiden years up until her wedding.
So what better way to step onto the next stage of your life, marriage, than by wearing an awesome langa voni on your wedding day!
Be Your Own Wedding Stylist
Who says you have to be a southern belle to carry off the ‘langa voni look’ for your wedding?
Mark a place in your plans for the half saree for either your mehendi or engagement or even your sangeet ceremony. Sure, the elders will ‘tut-tut’, but believe you me the cousins and friends will remember your choice and may even be inspired to go for it for themselves.
Search for the perfect colour for you from the vibrant pinks and blues and oranges and greens to the dull gold and pale beige creams. Get a stylish choli designed be it spaghetti strapped or halter or even backless. Team them with the matching jewellery that sets your heart racing.
Mehendi, Engagement or Sangeet – the Light Langa Voni will Do it for You!
Since the fabrics used for this traditional ensemble is no longer limited to silk and cotton but are now designed in georgette, chiffon and crepe, it brings to your wedding trousseau the much needed light and yet dressy wearable.
Beige and Brown Elegance
Team this rich brown bordered beige cream crepe creation, edged with golden zari and a matching red gold-speckled ‘voni’ or dupatta with a matching tassle and a stone embellished ‘kamar-band’ to enhance the grace of that petit waist. You really would not need much more than simple jewellery to complete the look, your langa voni does it for you!
Fuscia Pink and Brocade Choli
Let this fuchsia pink chiffon splendour dazzle your sangeet ceremony! Adding sass to your style will be the Swarovsky edgings and the designer brocade blouse in a blend of pink and orange. Let your hair down in waves and there is no room for more!
Stylish Border Patterns
Or these striking bordered wonders will surely steal your heart. Striking in black (okay so black may not be recommended for your own wedding ceremonies, but surely you can sashay in style for your friend’s) with gold embroidery on the edges and either hot neon pink or brocade red border. The pista green broad embroidered net langa-voni set teamed with a hot pink gold thread work embellished choli and a peachy red voni is a head-turner! Adding oodles of attitude to the blood red blue and dull gold floral bordered langa voni is the matching blue and dull gold tassle!
Ash and Pink Net Langa Voni
This ash-blue and baby pink swarovksy studded net and silk langa voni dsesign is bound to draw attention on your sangeet. Not to say the spaghetti strapped designer brocade blouse in gold with dull gold heavy jhumkas and a light choker on your neck to match, nothing can really go wrong with this look.
How About a Beautiful Langa Voni for your Best Friend’s Wedding!
When every one else is dressed in their lehenga-cholis and dressy salwar kameezes, woulod you dare to step out in the dressy latest langa voni designs? Try these netted heavily embroidered creations in vibrant colours of orange, red or blue. The heavy embroidery in itself has its own beauty and add to it the light make up and the confidence of being dressed traditionally, is a sure shot winner in terms of ‘the look’. Accessorize with traditional jewellery from your mum’s or grandmother’s collection. Of course, if you can plan it together, let the ‘girl power’ rule the day.
Orange Brocade Net Langa
A vision in orange brocade and net with heavy motifs embroidered, this langa voni saree is made all the more svelte with purple net voni and a lavender-orange blend brocade choli! A heavy neckpiece to match and letting your hair down will come so easy !
Black and Gold Classic
The oomph of this black frilled langa voni saree with gold net dupatta and a brocade blouse with three quarter net sleeves is bound to be a showstopper. Add to that the high french hairdo and a black and crystal floral neckpiece. The beauty of this ensemble is the matching red and gold embroidered edging on the langa as well as the gold net voni. Parrot green and pink with halter blouse
Rock the celeb look with the parrot green langa voni saree with a floral embroidery white, purple, green and pink border. Pink and purple dupatta with a green halter neck blouse.
Panelled Design
For the love of purple and green hues … if you can carry off these colours, do give this a shot!
This panelled langa voni design is as unique as it is beautiful. The borders are beautifully embroidered in pinks and greens and lavender too, all a blend to the final look. The sparingly studded with small swarovsky crystals net dupatta in the regal purple makes a princess of you, complete with the retro brocade puff sleeved choli.
For the day ceremonies at your sister’s wedding
The Indian wedding extravaganza is not just about the evening functions. There are those integral day time ceremonies that need dressing-up too! The all important havan or the chooda and kalire ceremony for the Punjabi bride or maybe the haldi ceremony in other part of the country. These day ceremonies are certainly special occasions that you can plan your Langa voni for. Being day ceremonies, you do not really need much jewellery, maybe even flowers in your hair to bring out the earthiness of your choice of attire and light day make-up and you will surely look like the pampered sister of the bride.
Hues of Blue, Green, White, Orange and Gold Shades
The combination of the milk white design with blue and green with gold bordered dupatta in this traditional pattu langa voni makes for a day time goddess. Add to that the orange blouse with blue floral border, flowers in your hair, jhumkas in your ears and smile on your face! Completely mesmerizing.
Yellow and Coral Colours
For the fair complexioned young maiden how about this yellow and coral combo trendy langa voni? With the gold thread work on the border and crystals on the bright yellow net langa, it is bound to draw attention.
Sequined Blouse Pink and Green Langa Voni
Rock the shocking pink and green langa voni saree with heavy gold zari and sequined retro border with an equally shocking low back choli in glitter gold. The border on this entire voni hinges on the slight accents of pink and green woven into the zari, which makes it even more stunning.
Try these Stunning Designs for the Pheras
As you ready for the most important ceremony of all during the wedding, the saat-pheras or the seven vows made while walking around the sacred fire, it is imperative that just as these pheras bind the two souls together in an eternal bond of matrimony, so is the importance of the choice of wedding dress.
Some communities follow the ritual of changing multiple outfits during the course of the wedding ceremony itself – one for the jaimala or the exchanging of the wedding garlands, one for the tying of the mangalsutra and yet another for the actual pheras. If you have to choose the perfect attire for each, surely one of them would be the enigmatic latest design langa voni if only to make a style statement.
Maroona and Blue Rare Combination
Don’t know what is more stunning on this heavily embellished wedding langa voni? The langa in an unusual design combination of summer sky blue on top with the panelled red and blue bottom or the heavy, heavy, really heavy embroidery with silver thread and kundan work. Especially the blue panels! Instead of the typical border that the langa vonis are known for these panels suffice to that task of making this an outstanding design. Teamed off with a red similarly embroidered dupatta, all you need to complete the look is a silver threaded blouse and a heavy neckpiece in diamond setting on platinum or silver to compliment the embroidery. Lovely baalis and a maang-tikka in similar setting and the bride is ready to conquer the hearts of one and all.