Brides of Asia

Bridal glamour inspired by the beauty of South Asia

ARTICLE BY : Abha Shah

Leading makeup artists showcase bridal looks inspired by the beauty of South Asia, from Maharashtra to the Punjab.

The Rajasthani Bride
A radiant glow with nude tones and royal hints

Rajasthan literally means ‘Land of the Kings’, precisely why its brides reflect a sense of royalty in their W-day ensemble. They traditionally wear a lehenga with a choli blouse in jewel-toned silks, paired with a dupatta in a distinctive tie-dye known as Bandhej or Bandhani. Makeup is simple and focused on the eyes. With a Rajasthani bride, it’s the overall look that distinguishes them from other brides.

MAKEUP BY MOMTA
London based, International coverage
T: +44(0)7931 088 099 (By appointment only)
Website: www.momtamua.wix.com/makeupbymomta
Email: momtamua@outlook.com
Instagram: @makeupbymomta

The Pakistani Bride
Beauty sculpted to beautiful perfection

What makes a Pakistani bride? For one, she wears embroidered Ghararas and Kurti with a zardozi-embellished dupatta. Pakistani bridal makeup is all about sculpting. You create the perfect face shape and features using contouring and highlighting with heavy eye makeup and perfect brows. Lips are matched to shades in the outfit or left nude if the eyes are black and smokey. It’s about full coverage and perfect proportions.

SHABINA PARVEEN
Buckinghamshire based, International coverage
T: +44(0)7427 605 959 (By appointment only)
Email: Shabz45@hotmail.com
Facebook: /shabina.parveen.39
Instagram: @Shabina_Parveen_mua

The Punjabi Bride
Vibrant beauty for cultural perfection

A Punjabi bride dresses extravagantly for her wedding day, wearing a red or bright pink salwar kameez or lehenga complete with a heavy dupatta. She wears red and white choora (bangles) to symbolise her status as a new bride. Her best friends and cousins tie the choora with a kaleere before the wedding. Makeup is heavy with deep red or pink lips and gold lids, and finished with a naath.

RAHAT DANISH
London based, International coverage
T: +44(0)7538 385 578
Email: rahat_danish@hotmail.co.uk
Instagram: @rahatdanishmua

The Tamil Bride
A radiant look highlighted with flowers and gold

The traditional wedding ensemble for Tamil brides is a nine-yard Kanjeevaram silk sari in rich reds, oranges, greens or gold. Tamil brides are heavily decorared with flowers and stunning gold ancestral temple jewelry studded with precious stones. Simple makeup balances the heavy jewellery, while hair is also kept simple with a long plait.

LIMA KHAN MUA
London based, Nationwide coverage
T: +44(0)7723 572 602 (By appointment only)
Facebook: /Lima’s Makeup
Instagram: @limakhan_mua

The Bengali Bride
Gilded eyes and ruby lips are her hallmarks

A Bengali bride epitomises traditional Asian bridal beauty. Clad in an exquisite red and white sari with matching jewels and Alta (a red liquid applied on hands and forehead) she looks poised and confident on her wedding day. In terms of makeup, eyes are, as ever, the focal point and accentuated with kohl, voluminising mascara and gold shadow. A red in the same shade as her gown is applied to lips.

TAMY B MAKEUP
Birmingham/London based, Nationwide coverage
T: +44(0)7585 879 798 (By appointment only)
W: www.tamybmakeup.co.uk
E: tamybmakeup@hotmail.com
Instagram:@tamybmakeup

The Marathi Bride
Traditional touches make this modern bride
What sets a Maharashtrian bride apart is her beautiful nauvari sari and the half moon motif bindi on the forehead adorned with the mundavalya. A mundavalya is a headband worn by both the bride and the groom made with two strands of pearls to symbolise the couple’s union. Her makeup is soft, slightly richer than pastel, but not jewel-toned. Think plenty of highlighter and bronzer, soft kohl and a delicate red/pink lip.

JASSI LALL MAKEUP ARTIST
London based, Nationwide coverage
T: +44(0)7580 274 927 (By appointment only)
E: makeupbyjassilall@hotmail.com
Instagram: @JassiLallMUA